Chapter 3: Romance Dawn

"Why can't I see Pops friend!?" Luffy whined as Thatch was carrying him downstairs.

"Because he isn't Pops friend, and he is crazy strong." Thatch explained and Luffy whined more.

"But I want to see him! Don't be a meany!"

"Hey brat, hey Thatch." Marco greeted and Luffy grinned.

"Marco! Tell Thatch to not be a meany!" Thatch groaned and Marco raised a brow.

"He wants to see Shanks." Thatch explained and Marco nodded.

"Well, you can't." Marco stated and Luffy gave him the puppy eyes.

"Please! Marco, let me see Pops friend."

Marco rolled his eyes and grabbed Luffy and walked towards the deck "Oi Marco! We are not going to let him be there, right!?" Thatch exclaimed.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure he won't get in trouble." Marco reassured him and Thatch sighed as he nodded.

Once on deck, every member of the crew was reunited to wait for the arrival of the other Yonkou, Red Head Shanks. Luffy saw how the other boat stopped next to the Moby Dick, and Luffy eyes widened in awe seeing another pirate.

"Permission to board, Whitebeard?" A red headed man with three scars over his eye, said and Whitebeard nodded.

"Permission granted brat."

The red headed man chuckled "Thank you, but I still have to take precautions." He said releasing a wave of haki, knocking out many crewmembers.

"Oi! Watch how you use your haki, Shanks!" Marco screamed, more worried about Luffy, that somehow didn't notice the haki.

Shanks grinned at Marco "Hey Marco! Want to join my crew!?" He said raising a brow seeing Luffy.

"Not in a million of years." Marco answered as Luffy tried to get free from his grasp. Finally doing it, by biting Marco's hand, making him flinch and releasing him.

He rushed towards Shanks, ignoring the shouts of the First Division Comander to come back. "Hey! I'm Luffy! Who are you?"

Shanks bent down to be on Luffy eye level "I'm Shanks! Say Luffy, what are you doing here?"

"I'm waiting for my dad to pick me up." Luffy explained and Shanks laughed loudly.

"I didn't know that the Whitebeard Pirates is now a daycare! HAHAAHAH!"

Luffy frowned at that "They are not! I'm also a pirate! Only a mini-one!"

Shanks answer was only to laugh harder, before Thatch went to pick him up "Okay Luffy, that's enough."

Luffy whined "But I want to keep talking to my friend!"

Thatch chuckled "Whatcha say if you draw something for the captains?"

Luffy nodded as Thatch carried him away Shanks smiled at the kid, before turning to Whitebeard. "So, why you called me, Red Head?"

"There are some rookies that annoyed us some islands ahead. There shouldn't be a problem, but we thought you should know." He said before frowning "And a kid Whitebeard? You know how dangerous these seas are for a kid."

"We took him since he was 4. We know the risks." Whitebeard said and Shanks snorted.

"Whatever, I liked the kid. What you say if we party on his honor!" He screamed as his crew cheered.

"Can we go now, Thatch?" Luffy asked the pirate that nodded.

"Yeah, guess that they should be done by now."

*Days Later*

"Shanks!" Luffy screamed on the crow nest of the Red Force as the crew watched. The Red Force had been navigating next to the Moby Dick for a few days now. "Admit that I am a pirate!"

Shanks laughed loudly "Or what Anchor?"

Luffy took out a knife and pointed it to his face. "Do it or I'll cut myself!"

Shanks laughed at his threat, but hoping he didn't do anything. Hi fears were confirmed when Luffy stabbed the knife below his eye, making him scream and fall just as Shanks caught him.

"You gigantic idiot!"

*Later*

"It didn't hurt at all!" Luffy screamed as tears still escaped his eyes. A new scar under his eye.

Shanks laughed "Then why did you cry so much!?" He laughed as Marco scolded him.

"How did he even got a knife in the first place?" He sighed as Shanks shrugged.

Luffy, who was eating like if there was no tomorrow, while ignoring Yasopp talking about his son, turned to an open chest with a weird looking fruit inside.

Hungry and curious he took the fruit and took a bite from it. He swallowed and gagged "Ew..."

"Hey what's wrong brat?" Lucky Roux asked as he ate meat. His eyes widened seeing the fruit bitten on his hands. "Capitain! Luffy ate our Devil Fruit!"

Shanks spit out his beer and went to Luffy. He grabbed his legs and put him legs up and started to shake him "Spit it out! Puke it! I don't care, just give it back!" He screamed and everyone eyes widened seeing how his legs stretched until his face hit the floor.

Marco sighed as Shanks let go of him "What fruit was it?"

Shanks frowned "The Gomu Gomu no mi. He will be seen as a monster in some communities."

Luffy, thinking he had done something wrong to upset his new friend and Marco started to cry. Marco seeing this hold Luffy hand and walked him to see Whitebeard.

Whitebeard seeing his youngest son crying, got worried "What happened my son?"

"He ate a devil fruit." Marco explained and Whitebeard nodded.

"D-Did I do something wrong?" Luffy asked and Whitebeard shook his head.

"No, my son. You didn't do anything wrong. Marco and Shanks must be worried about you."

"B-But I am a monster now?" Luffy asked and Whitebeard laughed.

"Guragura! Of course not my son. If that was the case, Marco and I would be monsters too. Don't you agree?"

Luffy swalloled before smiling and nodding "Tell me, what if I tell you the story about the Pirate King?"

"Shanks said something about him..." Luffy said and Whitebeard rubbed his hair.

"Well, where to start..."

*Next Day*

"Sorry for eating your fruit, Shanks." Luffy apologized and Shanks chuckled.

"Don't worry. What's done is done. Nothing to do there." He said before looking to the sky "Say; are you going to stay here in this crew forever? Or maybe you're planning to join my crew?" He joked and Luffy grinned.

"No! I am going to be my own pirate! Stronger than Marco! Stronger than Pops! And stronger than you!" Shanks instinctively held his straw hat "I am going to be the new Pirate King!"

Shanks starred with wide eyes the young boy before smiling. He took off his hat "Well, when that happen, make sure to give me this back." He said placing the hat on the rubber boy's head.

Luffy smiled at him "Okay! Bye Shanks!"

"Bye Luffy! Until we meet again!"

A/N: Next Chapter will be a timeskip. Because...

Next Chapter: Ace and Luffy Super Duper Pirate Adventure!