Prologue: Will of the King
'Those weren't the words I wanted to hear.' Was the thoughts of 5 year old Izuku Midoriya. Izuku is a young boy with green hair, peach skin, green eyes and freckles and a follow kindergartener at his school. He was also the boy who wanted to become a hero. This dream became his ever since he saw a disaster video which was the debut of the world's greatest hero All Might. The hero that inspired Izuku to want to become a hero in this world of Quirks.
Quirks were superpowers that manifested in humanity beginning with a baby that emitted light. Soon people around the world began to develop these powers or quirks which lead to the Age of Heroes and Villains alike. Practically 80 percent of the human population had quirks while 20 percent remained quirkless or completely normal. Izuku and his mother Inko had headed to the doctor to see if he could manifest a quirk at his age but the trip had less than desirable results.
Due to having an extra joint in his pinky toe which determined whether a person would have a quirk or not, Izuku was diagnosed as quirkless because of the extra joint. He was scared speechless. All Heroes had quirks since their powers could assist them in the dangerous of situations which most of the time were villains with quirks. There was no quirkless hero in existence. He easily saw his dream shatter to a millions pieces. Even his mother gave up on his dream to be a hero and never giving him a quirk.
When his classmates found out he was quirkless, the young boy was subjected to bullying by kids with quirks with his former friend Katsuki Bakugo leading the assault on his being. However today was something he didn't tolerate Katsuki or Kacchan as he called him from doing. There was a kid on the ground crying as Izuku stood between him his ashen blonde and red eyed former friend Katsuki Bakugo with two other bullies with him.
"Kacchan! Leave him alone! Don't you see your making him cry! If you don't, then I'll stop you myself!" Izuku stated although his body was shaking in fear and injured yet his will remained strong. "Then we'll just have to beat you up, Deku!" Katsuki spoke as he and the bullies were about to attack when… "What the hell are you doing?!" A male voice spoke as the group's attention was turned to a new arrival. It was an elderly but fit man with wild white hair, tan skin, a scar underneath of one of his eyes and wore a kimono revealing an X shaped scar on his chest and a straw hat with a red ribbon on it.
"You better stop bullying these kids right now or you'll be sorry." The old man spoke as he cracked his knuckles and delivered a terrifying glare to Katsuki and his bullies. All three were terribly frightened by the glare as they felt they were looking at a dragon before running off leaving Izuku alone with the elderly man. "Thanks for the help mister…" Izuku spoke as he didn't catch the man's name. "Monkey D. Luffy but call me Luffy for short. You are pretty brave young man to defend someone from a group of bullies. Your will and resolve is impressing." Luffy spoke as Izuku smiled.
"Thanks but all I did was took a beating from them. I just couldn't standby and let them bully a kid. After all, that's all I could do since I'm quirkless." Izuku spoke as Luffy looked at Izuku. "Being Quirkless has nothing to do with being weak. Back in my day, I met tons of extremely powerful people with no Quirks at all. I see them slice through mountains with a swipe of their swords, take on armies that would make Pro Heroes quiver in their boots, jump on air, throw cannonballs with the force of a cannon and other incredible feats with the one thing in common was not having a quirk." Luffy began to explain.
Izuku listened to the short tales of explanations from Luffy with his eyes widening with each one. Normally he would have thought it was a lie but the look of Luffy's eyes told his tales were indeed true. Izuku had hope bubbling within his chest with each example Luffy told about his past although it was a little vague.
"If you train hard with your body, spirit and mind then nothing can stop you from accomplishing anything. It takes guts, will and hard work to become strong without a quirk. Young boy, what is your dream?" Luffy asked looking at Izuku. "My dream is to be a hero like my role model All Might! Can I be a hero even if I don't have a quirk? I'm just a quirkless kid without any powers. Can I be a hero just like All Might?!" Izuku asked with hope and determination in his eyes.
Luffy looked at Izuku and grinned. "Yes you can be a hero without a quirk! If you have the will and spirit then you can become a hero!" Luffy stated as Izuku's mind was blown. The young boy did everything he could not to cry but he failed with the burning hope in him that was given by Luffy. "Thank you… thank you so much!" Izuku cried with tears streaming down his face. 'I guess he had no one supporting him but maybe he's the one…' Luffy thought as he looked at the crying kid.
"Kid, what's your name?" Luffy asked as Izuku had stopped crying so he could give Luffy a response. "Izuku Midoriya." Izuku answered wiping his tears. "Izuku huh? So Izuku how would you like if I train you to use my quirk?" Luffy asked as the green haired boy was shocked. "Your quirk? What do you mean?" Izuku asked as Luffy looked at him. "You see I'm slowly dying. I've got 9 years to live and I want to pass on my legacy. Young Izuku, I want to pass on my legacy to you through giving you my power." Luffy explained as Izuku was surprised. "Your legacy? You mean you could give someone else your power? And you are willing to share it with me?" Izuku questioned with wide eyes.
"Yes. I'll teach you to use my powers both quirk and Haki or Power of Will but I must warn you. The training will be hellish and extremely tough. It might break you. However if you succeed my training, then you'll be able to become the greatest hero the world has ever seen. What will it be Izuku? Will you accept my offer or will you give up your dream? You must choose." Luffy explained as Izuku looked down for a moment and clenched his fists. "I'll do it!" Izuku shouted with a determined look and steel resolve causing Luffy smile brightly.
"That's what I like to hear! Meet me at my shop at the east side of town. It's called One Piece so it'll be easy to find. Make sure your mom knows where you are going. You don't want her to have a heart attack. Goodbye Izuku, see you tomorrow." Luffy spoke as Izuku told his goodbye and both of them part ways but it was a fateful meeting indeed. The next day, Izuku had left after school to head towards One Piece where Luffy was waiting for him. Izuku had told his mom about training with Luffy. She was skeptical but the look of determination in her son's eyes had allowed her to drive Izuku to One Piece.
She wanted to see what kind of person Luffy was. Apparently One Piece was an training center where people could workout or train with quirks and Luffy happened to be the owner of the center. Inko and Izuku had walked to see all kinds of training equipment and at one of the punching bags was Luffy. They were amazed of how quick his punches were and how much force they had on the punching bag. Currently he was using one that could withstand a powerful blow from All Might without shredding.
They also noticed that each punch he let loose a dent appeared in the punching bag. He continued his strikes before delivering one more blow with incredible force causing the bag to explode with impact. "Looks like boss broke another punching bag! I still can't believe someone as old as him could still hit with enough force to put All Might to shame! Still those punching bags are hard to make since they are the only ones to withstand a full frontal assault from All Might himself!" Some of the gym instructors spoke as Inko and Izuku's eyes widened to witnessing Luffy's strength.
Luffy turned to see the green haired mother and son looking at him and the destroyed punching bag. "I'm glad you came Izuku. This must be your mother. You definitely inherited her looks." Luffy answered as Inko blushed a bit from the comment. "From the look on your face Izuku, you are ready to get started with what I'm promised. However you need to follow me first, there is something I must explain to you before we do anything." Luffy spoke as the mother and son looked at each other before following Luffy into his office. The office was neat and tidy but the noticeable thing was the small chest on the table. The chest seemed very old.
There were a few photos of what looked like a younger Luffy with a bunch of different people. The pictures seem well preserved though. "Is it true? That you can give my son a quirk?" Inko asked curiously. "Yes though it's not technically a quirk. Let me tell you story. There once was a man named Gol D. Roger who was King of the Pirates." Luffy began as Inko and Izuku seemed very interested in the tale.
"He had fame, power and wealth beyond your wildest. Before he was hung by the gallows, these were the final words he said. My fortune is yours for the taking but you'll have to find it first. I left everything I own in One Piece. Pirates all over set for the Grand Line in hopes of finding One Piece to make their dreams come true. It was the beginning of the Great Pirate Era. Many mysterious things existed within the Grand Line. One such thing were the Devil Fruits." Luffy spoke piquing Izuku's interest.
"Devil Fruits? What are those?" Izuku asked curiously. "They special fruits imbued with the powers of Sea Devils. If someone eats a Devil Fruit, then they gain a unique power depending on what fruit it is at the cost of never being to swim ever again. There are three types of Devil Fruits, Paramecia, Logia and Zoan. Paramecia which alters the users body and abilities like making their body rubber or manipulate gold. Zoan allows the user to take on an animal transformation whether be human, hybrid or animal like a reindeer or leopard. Logia transforms the user's body into a living element like fire or light." Luffy explained.
"But why are you talking about this unless…?" Inko asked as Luffy smiled and opened the chest revealing a purple fruit with swirls on it. "This is the Gum Gum Devil Fruit. The Devil Fruit of the Pirate King after Roger himself or to be precise. My Devil Fruit back when I was the Pirate King." Luffy spoke surprising Inko and Izuku greatly. They were sitting in front of the Pirate King himself and he was offering Izuku his Devil Fruit. "You were a villain?!" Izuku shouted scared.
"No. I wasn't. Pirate King isn't a title of good or bad. It is a title of freedom. I've never done anything that villains have done in current day and age. My crew were peace-man pirates, those who look for adventure and treasure but not trouble. Normally a Devil Fruit manifests when the eater of it has died but I haven't. The reason is that my spirit had killed the Devil within the fruit itself removing the curse of drowning. I still have my powers but I'm practically ancient. The Age of Pirates ended at least a thousands of years ago with the disappearance of the Devil Fruits. The reason I haven't died yet is because I refuse to go without naming a successor to my Devil Fruit." Luffy explained as the two calmed down.
"So you want me to inherit your Devil Fruit powers by having me eat the Gum Gum Fruit but doesn't mean that you don't have your powers?" Izuku asked as Luffy chuckled. "I still have remnants of the Gum Gum Fruit's power. It's as strong as my stubborn will. I heard your plea that you wanted to be a hero. You can become one without a quirk since Devil Fruits don't give out quirks and Haki is the power of your will.
For the next 9 years, I'll will be teaching you on how to use the power of the Gum Gum Fruit and Haki. I will also be lending you my crew's journals if you want to use their special arts as well. You'll be training here in private to learn and control these newfound powers. But I want you to accept a request from me." Luffy spoke gaining their attention.
"What is it?" Izuku asked. "When I die, I want you to inherit my straw hat. This hat was worn by Gol D. Roger, my old mentor Shanks and me. This is the symbol of a free man. This hat is my most precious treasure. I also want you to inherit my Training Center. I have no children to pass it too and I don't want just anyone having this place. So Izuku, will you take my request and last wish?" Luffy asked as Izuku was speechless.
This was a lot to process for the young boy but here it was. A man who claimed to be the Pirate King with a magical devil curse free fruit offering him his old powers and his precious belongings. After some thought, deep down in his heart the boy knew what to do. " I accept Luffy!" Izuku stated surprising his mother greatly but she smiled at the pure determination of her son. She could barely hold back any tears for how proud she felt for her son.
"Shishishishishi! I like that answer. To seal the deal, you have to take a bite of the Gum Gum Fruit. I warn you it'll taste very bad since that's the thing about Devil Fruits but the powers you will recieve are promised. You can't become a hero without making sacrifices." Luffy spoke as Izuku took the fruit and inspected it. It was definitely mysterious and quite neat to him. After a while, the boy took a bite out of the fruit.
'It tastes so bad!' Izuku thought as he wanted to spit it out but decided against it and swallowed the piece of fruit. "Ew! It tastes like someone burnt rubber that was peed on!" Izuku spoke as he shook with disgust from taking the bite of the fruit. "Now pinch the edges of your mouth and pull like this!" Luffy explained as when he did it, his mouth stretched from where it was pulled. Izuku copied Luffy's movements and surprising his mouth did the same too! "Izuku! Your stretching just like rubber! My baby has a quirk!" Inko spoke with a smile on her. Izuku's path to becoming a hero had just begun.