Please remember. This fic contains instances of panic attacks, nightmares and mentions of violence. If you're not comfortable with them, prioritize your mental health. Again, I will add warnings before and after each scene so you can skip it. If I missed any of the warnings, pm me and I'll add it in.

Honestly, Luffy did mean to go straight to the docks. Really, he did. But, he was sure a small detour couldn't hurt. Right? He had to say bye to Sabo. If he just leaves without saying anything, his older brother would worry. (nope, this had absolutely nothing to do with the recent nightmare, no.)

The gravel crunches under his sandals as he tries his best to seek out the least noisy path out there. There were none, basically. Even the sound of him exhaling could hail the beasts of the jungle. So, Luffy, with the usual devil-may-care demeanour, marches right onto the path connecting the clearing. He grew up in these woods, there's no way he would lose his way.

The journey is eventful, to say the least. To his displeasure, Dadan meant it when she said "some food". Really, that woman should know better. The food was already long gone, settling warmly in his stomach. In a corner of his mind, Luffy knows that maybe he should take it easy with his food, but as quickly as that thought came, it got buried under the avalanche of "It'll work out, somehow's"

So, Luffy took out the critters and animals coming his way with ease and plops it into his sack, snacking on a few along the way. Finally, The clearing becomes visible as the light from the moon casts a soft glow on it. This grove was chosen because of it's tied history to them. A stump is a few paces to his left and directly in front of him is the crudely built cross.

Did you know? If you share a drink, you can become brothers!

Really?!

We might not be on the same ship when we become pirates, but this will bind us together as brothers! No matter who we are or what we do, no one can break this bond.

Luffy lowers himself on the grass and drops his sack beside him. It is completely silent, only the faint whistling of the wind caresses the boy's cheeks. No animal approaches him, even while his guard is down. It is strange, but the creatures avoid this place like a plague. Sabo was the smartest of the three. He said it was because of a mystery plant surrounding the clearing. Luffy didn't understand, but Sabo said so, so it must be true!

"I'm leaving, Sabo," Luffy says, fidgeting with the worn straw hat between his fingers. "I didn't understand what Dadan said, but I have to leave before I turn seventeen. I…..Sabo, you're not mad, right? I promise, I'm training and becoming stronger every day! I punched that big rock; y'know the one, right? Behind the creek. And I could break it!"

Luffy lowers his head and pulls the hood firmly over his head. "So, don't worry about me, 'kay?" He whispers, "I'll become the Pirate King!"

The peaceful slumber of the Foosha village was disturbed when a frantic neighbour banged on the weary barmaid's door. Makino pushes herself to stand on her aching feet and hurriedly moves to open her door before it breaks. Toto, the grandmother of four who lives across the street along with the Mayor spill into her tiny but cosy home. Noting the haggard expression on their faces, Makino tugs them both towards her chairs and pushes a cup a tea into their hands. After taking a sip, Toto talks first,

"It's terrible, dear," she exclaims, voice tight with sorrow and pain, "The kind Mayor here told me. Garp has been imprisoned. They're coming for Luffy!"

Makino almost drops her own cup with horror. Wasn't Garp-san a marine? Luffy and Ace have always been like sons to her. That sweet boy wouldn't do anything to warrant being jailed. And he is just a child!

Toto places her cup back and places a gentle palm on her cheek. "You're all white, dear!"

The Mayor shakes his head grimly. "I don't know the whole story. Garp could only tell me as much before he got taken away. I don't think so, but there is a low possibility of tracing it back here. The bandit will send Luffy away, he will be out by tomorrow. We just have to point the other way when they do arrive."

"But why Luffy?" Makino cries, "He's just a boy!"

"Garp said that he has an outrageous father. The Government would stoop to any level to get the boy."

The old woman makes a noise of indignation. "How ridiculous?! A child is not bound by his parents. Luffy has done absolutely nothing wrong!"

Luffy stands by the docks, the cool waves lapping his feet. The rise and ebb drain him a little, but he still stands stubbornly by the water. It's a full moon tonight. He should be sleeping now and wake up, content in the morning. He has planned to scour the jungle for that delicious mushroom he had found earlier, even if it did make him a bit woozy. But now, he literally had one foot in the opposite direction as he searched the place for a boat he could borrow.

Then maybe, if his luck was good, he could travel to the nearby island and do…...what? Luffy shrugs and skips down the bank, letting events play out as they would. No sense worrying about it now.

The sound of a crack causes him to tense up. When all becomes still and the noise does not resume, Luffy straightens and walks by the Ocean's stretch. He waves his handy walking stick around as he glances around the docks. He does not want to steal someone's boat without asking, but he knew he would get into trouble if he snuck back into the village to ask someone.

So, Luffy lowers his sack into Old Man Higoro's boat. He knew the grumpy old man had three other boats so technically it wasn't that big of a loss, he was sure! The old man wouldn't mind. Even though Luffy bugged him a lot, gramps always gave him a few cuts of meat whenever he raced by his place.

The boat rocks slightly with the added weight as he jumps on the tiny rowboat. Securing his pack, Luffy turns around to slip the knot off, when millions of flashes of light point at him simultaneously. By instinct, he raises his arm to block the light and squint past the brightness to see shadows approaching from all sides.

"MONKEY D. LUFFY! STEP OUT OF THE BOAT AND SURRENDER!"

A grimace travels up his face as he sticks out his tongue. Are these people idiots or something? Why the hell would he do that? Luffy nods and comes to a decision. Leaving his ransack behind; it would only slow him down, he winds up his arms and throws it up over the cliff, hoping to catch a tree branch. With a pleased grin, Luffy shoots up and over the crowd surrounding him. As wind slams on his face, he manages to catch a glimpse on the crest etched on their vests.

'Marines'

There is uproar in the village. Loud alarms blared throughout the place as Marine sigils materialize out of nowhere. Panic and fear are rampant as all the people are huddled together in the town square. Struggling men are carted over like wild animals as babes are clutched close to their mother's chests. Makino casts a worried gaze over the crowd, in hopes of not seeing Luffy with them. With a relieved sigh, she sits back down and waits. This village would not sell out Luffy. He was everyone's kid as much as their own.

There's an ever-present cacophony of noise surrounding their tiny group. Complaints, wails, cries and questions fill the air, but the marines surrounding them are stone-faced and silent, which frightens Makino more. The men just stand still, pushing any ambitious villager back into the huddle with a staff. They seemed to be waiting for something, probably the arrival of their superior.

A commotion pulls her attention as Makino draws up on her knees to look over the swarm of people. Her heartbeat quickens as a tall, buff man wearing a cape pulls along a thin, wiry figure by his elbow. Finally, the small group reaches and stands a few paces away from her. She can hear the collective gasp of shock around her as they stare at the familiar boy.

Mottled black and blue bruises (but shouldn't that be impossible?) covers his body with cuts and scrapes littered across. Blood drips sluggishly from his wounds as he favours his left leg while standing. The boy seems totally drained and yet he claws viscously at his captor, screaming for the stupid guy to let go, already! Wordlessly, the bigger man slugs the boy over to group, eliciting a small cry of pain from him.

Makino slaps a palm on her mouth as tears threatens to fall from her eyes.

"Luffy!"

Reviews and questions are always welcome. I'll try my best to answer all of them.