A/n: Hey guys! Happy Holidays! Here's a present, another chapter! Thank you very much to all of you who've begun to support me by following this story, means a lot.

-Ryan Sensei

xX~OP~Xx

Days went by in a similar manner, the two captives would do their respective assignments, get punished, and then licked each others' wounds... Until the prophecy had come true.

The door to the fishmens' hideout flew multiple yards off its hinges, effectively gaining the attention of all present in the room.

With a firm stomp that rattled the building, a battle cry followed. Released by the beyond furious Monkey D. Garp. With a firm inhale, he paused for a moment before booming out the simple question.

"WHAT. THE HELL. DID. YOU. DO WITH MY GRANDSON?"

From within the small cell, a light chuckle and the quiet words, "jii-chan's pissed," could be heard.

It took Garp mere minutes for him to completely destroy the place and end the lives of those that opposed him. Holding up the head of a barely conscious fishman he asked in a authoritative tone, "who's the boss around here?"

The lackey, horrified by the marine, pointed at the two heads of the operation; hopeful that his compliance would spare his life. Garp on the other hand, was not such a forgiving man, and easily crushed the informant's skull.

"Now, you two heads back there. Don't think you'll be able to escape and get off as easy as these guys. This is only proper punishment for taking away Luffy!"

It took nearly three minutes for him to finish off the captors. Some were given quicker and less gruesome deaths than others, but Garp still needed a quick breather to regain his lost energy.

They're still small fries who're barely a warmup, but their fishmen abilities only make 'em more annoying to deal with…

Releasing a small wave of observation haki, Garp quickly located the cell holding his mini demi-god and another presence.

Opening the door, the war hero realized he let many of the fishmen off too lightly. His grandson looked practically like a mummy aside from his bruise littered face.

"Jii-chan! You finally came!" The boy said jumping into his grandfather's arms and being lifted into the air once.

"Luffy, I'm sorry I didn't come sooner to sa-"

"Don't worry, I knew you'd come eventually. Nobody beats my jii-chan!" Garp may've blushed a little at the praise, only to remember the other presence in the room.

The teen looked worse off than Luffy, but he wasn't looking at his savior, but at Luffy; just glad to see the small boy's smile. Dusting himself off and standing, he bowed to Garp.

"I know it wasn't within your intentions to save me, but I am still very grateful. Thank you."

"Ne, Basil? Do you wanna come back and sail with us?" The boy asked with a smile that radiated happiness. The teen felt torn, he wanted nothing more than to stay with his King, but he recalled his earlier fortune, and new what actions he needed to take.

As if he was physically stabbing his heart, he dejectedly responded, "Sorry King, but I'm gonna take a rain check."

Luffy's smile dimmed as he raised a brow. Basil took his silence as his cue to continue.

"I'm still so weak. I can't save or protect anything. I want to get stronger by my own efforts before I sail with you. But don't worry, we definitely will meet again, my cards said so!"

Luffy wriggled from his Grandfather's grasp to give his friend a hug. They only knew each other for a short while, but there was such a close unexplainable bond between them. Luffy knew that Basil's cards were always horrifyingly right, and he wouldn't lie, so this wasn't a good bye. He really hated those. This was just a-

"See ya later!"

"See you in the future… King."

xX~OP~Xx

Months had passed since the fishmen incident and the war hero's ship was docked on one of his favorite stops, Dawn island.

Garp looked out at the sea for a bit before turning back to his precious blood relative. Gritting his teeth, he steeled himself for what he was about to do.

"Luffy… I've been thinking about it since the fishman incident, and I realized I've been too soft on you. Giving you special treatment won't help you in the long run. In the future you'll come in contact with greater foes with unbelievable abilities, and you'll need to be able to protect yourself. Right now we are in Foosha village, it's peaceful here, but this island, Goa Kingdom, will harden you. Get comfy, because you'll be living and training here from now on."

The onyx eyed boy stared in wonder at the village, it was his first time getting to roam freely around one, in the past, he'd always have to be within his granddad's range of sight. Luffy's curiosity reached its peak as he went off in a mad dash through the market, seeing new things and cheerfully greeting himself to new people.

He met the mayor of the village, a man who went by the name of Woop Slap. A fishmonger named Gyoru, a woman named Lady Chicken, and many more. The village gave off a warm vibe that Luffy wasn't used to, but relished in.

The sound of heavy laughter caught his attention as he ran to the source. A building with a bright sign that read 'PARTY'S BAR' practically invited the boy in.

Men happily sang while blubbering lyrics, some folks were sleeping on the floor, but most of the people there were laughing. It was a sight Luffy wasn't used to, asides from when the men on the marine ships got to celebrate, but it wasn't the same, this made Luffy smile with them. It felt like a true community.

The green haired barmaid chuckled before waving the smallest guest into the bar. The child struggled to reach the bar stool for a moment, but effectively sat on the chair. With a smile she greeted the -now that she looked closer- breathtakingly adorable boy.

"I haven't seen you here before, what's your name?"

"I'm Monkey D. Luffy, my jii-chan said that I'm living in this village from now on!"

Makino's head slipped from her palm for a second before recomposing herself. "By jii-chan… Would you happen to be related to Monkey D. Garp-san?"

"Yep! That's him!"

Makino's eyes widened before relaxing. Her smile reached her eyes as she happily gave Luffy a glass of orange juice that was behind the counter.

"Welcome to Foosha village Luffy! I'm Makino, the drink's on me."

"Really? Thank you! You're nice, pretty One-san!" Makino blushed at the comment and smiled happily at the young boy.

xX~OP~Xx

A few weeks passed, and Luffy was acquainted with the villagers to the point where it seemed he'd lived there for years. One of his grandfather's conditions was that he wouldn't provide Luffy with any money, so sleeping on the ship was no longer an option. His training was only getting started!

With some supplies he found in the nearest woods, and what was given to him by the villagers, Luffy was able to make a mini hut in an old, but tall tree that provided the perfect amount of coverage. His new home could be found in the forest, but was just along the outskirts of the village, not far from the village at all. His craftsmanship was lacking, but the hut still served its purpose.

By the end of every week he would -at this point, begrudgingly- head to a clearing in the forest for his grandfather's newest form of "training".

So far he'd been tied to balloons, thrown into dangerous parts of the jungle, a ditch, the ocean-despite knowing he couldn't swim-, and many other scarring situations.

Luffy shuddered when he could see his grandfather cracking his knuckles from where he stood.

On second thought, maybe if I hide; he won't notice. I just have to sneak awa-

"Luffy! Stop playing around and get your butt over here!"

The gods freaking hate me.

"I'm coming..." The boy jogged his way over to Garp before tightening his fists, and strengthening his resolve.

"Um… Jii-chan?"

"Mn?"

"I was wondering… I mean I get that you want me to be stronger, but isn't this all a little much? I was just wondering why the training you have me do isn't fighting or combat, but it's... Well, like this!" He waved his hands in the air for emphasis.

"Simple. Throwing someone into harsh conditions, will make them a stronger person. Now less questions. I'm being sent off to fight tomorrow, and won't see you for a while, so today we're going in the woods!

Multiple bruises and bite marks later, Luffy could be found pouting at the bar as Makino handed him a glass of milk. He gave a slight nod as thanks as he began sipping the drink.

"I have to say though, Garp-san doesn't have to be so rough with you. You're still just a little boy… When is he coming back again?"

"Who cares, jii-chan certainly doesn't! Not about me that is," Luffy whined with his chin to the table.

"Luffy, I'm sure that's not true…"

"Whatever, thanks again Makino! I'm heading to bed."

xX~OP~Xx

The next morning, even from his tree hut, Luffy could clearly hear the frantic shouting of the mayor. Waking up from his morning daze, the boy was able to hear the man's words clearer, and boy was he not excited.

"PIRATES ARE COMING! PIRATES ARE COMING!"

The boy ran to Party's Bar to find his favorite villager, but no matter where he looked, Makino was nowhere to be found in the bar.

She's probably outside, and will come back soon. I should just wait for her back here.

Moving over to the stairs, he made himself comfortable on the first few steps. Temporarily playing with a rubber ball he brought with him.

So he waited… And waited… And just before his worry reached its peak and he'd leave his post, that's when he saw her, entering through the doors, chuckling.

"Maki-!" Except she wasn't alone... She was with the pirates. Luffy froze in horror as he watched the pirates poor into the place by the dozen, just infesting his safe haven.

"Makino-chan, thank you very much for bringing my men and I here, and might I add, you look absolutely gorgeous!"

Lightly hitting the man on the shoulder, she went behind the counter to prepare the drinks. "Shanks-san, you flatter me."

"Just Shanks, and there's no need to add the 'san', Makino." The barmaid blushed before distributing ale and sake to the pirates.

"Real smooth captain, real smooth," the first mate said with a hearty laugh, cackling at the flustered state of his captain.

"Shut up Benn!" Shanks murmured before downing the alcohol in one go.

"Makino! I'm gonna need another one!"

"Coming right up!" She responded with a cheerful smile.