Thank you all so much. I'm so happy, I didn't expect so much in so little time. Thank you all. I hope you continue to enjoy my story. After this chapter it may be some time before get the next chapter up so bear with me. Thank You
I don't own any rights to One Piece or its characters they all belong to Oda-san. If I did own them I would have had to start writing when I was 2. I wasn't that cool.
Chapter 3: Prelude to Romance Dawn
Luffy continued to sit there and stare at a 17 year old Ace. He was wide eyed with his mouth gaped open. "Okay, now you're freaking me out Luffy." Replied the freckled teen. Ace had his ten gallon hat with the funny faces on it on his head, he didn't have his tattoos yet, the ones identifying him as a part of Whitebeard's crew. He wasn't wearing a shirt and had on khaki shorts and sandals. Luffy snapped out of his daze and jumped up and ran towards Ace, crying. He tackled his older brother, causing him to fall backwards onto the grass. "Whoa, hey now. I haven't left yet or have forgotten that already." Ace chuckled but then noticed something was wrong with Luffy. "Hey Luffy, what's wrong?"
"I thought I had lost you Ace. I thought you had died. Waaa!" Ace was genuinely concerned for his little brother. "Luffy you know that would never happen. Remember we promised each other no one could defeat us except each other." It may not seem like it, but Ace cared deeply about his brother. Ever since they had lost Sabo, he had taken on the responsibility of taking care of Luffy, becoming the soft big brother, instead of the hard realistic big brother. If he had to, he would give his life for his little brother (heh-spoilers Ace, spoilers). He looked down at his brother and noticed his vest was open, revealing the X-shaped scar. Ace quickly pulled Luffy away at arm's length, "Luffy how did you get this, who did this to you?"
Luffy stopped crying when he realized that Ace was talking about his scar. Luffy quickly came up with a story, as to not worry his brother, "It happened when I was training with grandpa. It was during one of his training routines" Ace knew that was a lie, Luffy could never lie very well; his tell-tale was that he couldn't sweating like crazy and would look you in the eye. But, he decided not pry; if his brother didn't want to tell him about it that was fine with him. Ace smirked, "Crazy old geezer, I swear, one day he is going to get you killed. Well, you remember that I leave in a few hours right?" Luffy then remembered he had Tashigi send him back right before Ace had left. Luffy nodded, he got up with Ace as they dusted each other off and they then started walking towards the town.
When they reached the pier they found that the whole town was there to see Ace off, even Dadan was there with her crew. She was trying to hide her tears, but was failing badly at it. Garp was there standing next to Makino, with that same cocky attitude he always had. Makino saw the two walking towards the pier, "Hey you two, if you don't hurry up Ace will miss his chance to leave." Ace and Luffy picked up their pace and hurried towards the pier. Everyone was laughing and were wishing Ace luck on his journey. Before Ace stepped onto the little boat, he turned towards Luffy, "Luffy, are sure you don't want to come with me. This is my last offer for you to join my crew. We'll be the strongest team on all the Grand Line." Luffy looked at Ace then stuck his tongue out at him. "Nuh uh. I told you, I'm going to gather the strongest crew and become King of the Pirates." Ace just laughed at his little brother's enthusiasm. "Also if were on the same crew how will be able to fight each other, Ace~." Luffy whined.
"Ah, oh well. Can't blame me for trying." Ace stepped onto the boat, untied it and shoved off. "Bye everyone." Everyone waved and cried goodbye as Ace sailed away from the island. Luffy thought to himself, I won't see him for a long time, but I will see him again. Luffy's thoughts were interrupted by a gruff voice. "Bah, good riddance. That boy was always a bad influence on you Luffy, just like that red haired bastard." Luffy turned and looked at his grandfather. Luffy realized he only had three years left before he had to leave on his journey. He needed to become stronger so he protect everyone. Then idea then popped into Luffy's head (oh no the world is ending).
Luffy tugged on Garp's sleeve, getting his attention. "Hey Gramps, do you think can train me before I set sail? I want to learn about all those things you told me about, like those six powers and haki." Garp stared at his grandson, wide eyed. He then began to laugh, "Bwahahaha, so finally decided to give up on that idiotic dream have you. Are you ready to be a marine?"
Luffy got mad at this, "NO WAY, I just want get stronger, even stronger than Ace." Garp saw the burning flame in his eyes and sighed. "Okay, I'll teach you, but once you give up playing pirates you're joining the marines first thing. Got it?" Luffy just grinned his iconic, idiotic grin.
Time skip
3 years later
A 17 year old Luffy sat atop the hill overlooking the village. He was sitting in front a grave stone, the grave that he and Ace had dedicated to Sabo. "Well, today's the day I set sail Sabo. I'll finally join you and Ace out on the sea. Shishishi." Luffy reached up and adjusted his straw hat. He looked down at the town and saw everyone getting ready to send him off on his adventure. He stood up and dusted himself off. "Goodbye Sabo." Luffy started off down the hill towards the town. After entering the village he walked towards the 'Party's Bar'. He walked in and saw Makino talking with to two people. Luffy had convinced Makino to join his crew after he found out who she was.
Her full name was Monkey D. Makino, when she was 14 she was adopted by Garp. But not only was she Garp's daughter, she also used to be part of Shanks's crew when she was 17. She used to have a wanted poster, 'Never Miss' Makino, Bounty: 200,000 Beli. But Garp had the posters destroyed after Shanks had left her back at Foosha village. He did it to protect her after she was hurt in a battle with the marines. On her adventures with Shanks, she had slowly became his lover. That was why he had left her at the village, he wouldn't have been able to live with himself if she ever got hurt. She had met Luffy when she took over the village bar. He came in there often because he had nothing else to do. The day she saw him walk in with Shanks she was shocked and overwhelmed to see Shanks again. Shanks told her they would be setting port at the island for about a year. The way Luffy and Shanks interacted reminded her of a father and son.
Makino wasn't sure how Luffy had found out about her past, but she was happy to be a pirate again. Luffy was just excited to find out he had an aunt, not only that, she used to be part of Shanks's crew, even better in Luffy's book. Makino had never fully realized how much she had missed the life of a pirate until Luffy asked her to join his couple Makino was talking to were the people taking over the bar. Luffy found it funny how the couple looked just like Makino and Shanks. The couple were Hakuno and Jerrell, a newlywed couple who had just recently moved into the village. Hakuno looked like Makino, except she had waist length black hair, tied into a ponytail. She had helped Makino in the bar as a waitress when they had first had moved to Foosha. Jerrell also looked like Shanks, except he had sandy blonde hair and a full beard, he also had a single vertical scar over his left eye. Jerrell was a farmer with an acre of land behind the bar. So, when Makino had offered them the bar to stay in, they gratefully accepted. Makino was finishing explaining everything to Hakuno.
"Okay, that should be about everything you guys need. Take care." Makino walked out from behind the bar, carrying her favorite rifle. She grabbed her bag she had packed for the adventure. She was no longer in her barkeeper's clothes, she now wore the outfit she wore 11 years ago (I should mention that Makino is 28 here). Her hair pulled up into a ponytail like usual, she had a plaid red and white shirt tucked into a pair of khaki shorts, a tan belt holster and steel toe combat boots. She had a pistol holstered on each thigh, two pistol holstered in to her belt, two daggers, two throwing knives in her boots and two prototype revolvers from her father, holstered on her sides. She slung her rifle across her and walked over to Luffy. "Well, ready to go Captain." Luffy laughed, "Shishishi, sure auntie." Makino groaned at his commented. "I'm seriously going to kill dad for telling you about that."
"Aw~, come on. It's awesome that you're my aunt. I always thought of as my mom, but it's even cooler that we're really related." Makino smiled warmly at Luffy. She had practically raised Luffy, so she kind of thought of him as her son as well. Makino then blushed when she thought about how she and Shanks had treated Luffy like their own son. She quickly headed towards the door, trying to hide her blush "Well then, let's get going Luffy." Luffy nodded his head in agreement, grinning like an idiot, and they both walked out of the bar.
They arrived at the pier a few minutes later, where they met up with the rest of the village. As they were talking to people, the Mayor walked up to them. He grumbled to Luffy, "Hmph, I don't know how you pulled Makino into this boy." He then turned to Makino, "Makino are you sure you want to do this? You can still change your mind." Makino looked at the mayor and nodded, "Yes, I am quite sure." Makino then went to the boat and began to situate her stuff with Luffy's stuff and their provisions. The mayor then looked back at Luffy, "Boy, you better make sure you keep her safe." Luffy just grinned, "Yeah. I won't let anything happen to her. She's family." Then Luffy's face turned serious, "If anyone ever thought of hurting Makino, I'd make them regret it." Luffy's tone sent a shiver up the mayor's spine, that boy is so much like his father. "Well if that's it I wish you two good luck. Now leave, before you shame this village any more than you already have." Luffy grinned again and hopped aboard the boat.
They shoved off waving bye to the villagers. They had sailed about 50 feet when a sea king suddenly emerged from the sea, next to the boat. The sea king was the infamous Lord of the Coast, an eel type sea king; he had dark brown skin and light blue frills. The villagers froze at seeing this, sacred for both Luffy and Makino. It eyed Luffy's boat, causing the villagers to fear that it would attack them. Then, to the shock of the villagers, the sea kings face changed from one of rage to one of happiness when it saw Luffy. Luffy grinned and started waving, "Hey Rex, did you come to see me off?", causing the villagers to sweat-drop. Rex, the sea king, nodded and smiled (well as best an eel can smile) at Luffy. Luffy stretched his hand up and started petting Rex. Luffy had named the sea king after it had confronted him and Garp one day while they were training.
FLASHBACK
"Blegh, you stupid geezer why'd you do that for?" Luffy screamed at Garp. Garp and Luffy were on a boat outside of town, training. Garp was teaching Luffy about the Six Powers, he had just thrown Luffy into the ocean trying to get him to use Moon Walk. He pulled him onto the boat when he had failed. "You idiot, what do you think will happen if your enemy throws you into the ocean. Do think they or someone else will save you, you need to be prepared for anything!" Garp yelled at him. All there yelling had drawn the Lord of the Coast out of his home and slumber, causing him to investigate the disturbance.
He rose out of the ocean next to the boat, surprising Luffy and Garp. "Shit, look what you did, you idiot. You woke up the sea king." Luffy turned to his grandfather, "WHAT, Me. You're the one who's yelling!" Luffy and Garp started to bicker back and forth. The Lord got pissed off being ignored, he then started to attack the small boat, and its occupants, in front of him. Luffy sensed this and quickly sent a Haki infused punch towards the sea king, "Hey, it's rude to interrupt people while they are talking, Gum-Gum Pistol." The punch hit the Lord sending him backwards, the Lord then felt like had just had déjà vu. People don't realize this, but animals are closely connected to the timeline mentally, so the Lord had 'sensed' what had happened before, when Luffy had left his island in the original timeline.
Luffy then sent a blast Conquers Haki towards the sea king as it got back up. The Lord stopped in its tracks, shaking in fear. It slowly sank back into the water until only the top half of its head could be seen. It then went over to Luffy and looked at him, like a dog asking for forgiveness from its master after being scolded. Luffy then grinned and patted the sea king on his head. "That's okay you were just cranky because someone woke you up, I understand. Hey, how about you become my friend, hmm? What do you say?" Luffy said as he stuck out his hand. The Lord's eyes widened at this statement, no human had ever shown him kindness, only pain, anger and/or fear. Yet here was a boy, whom he had hurt in the past by hurting his friend, asking him to be his friend. He reminded the sea king of a man he had met a long time ago in his youth, on the Grand Line. That man had asked the Lord the same thing this boy was asking him now.
The sea king just smiled to himself as he brought his tail out of the water and shook Luffy's hand. "Shishishi, cool. My names Luffy. Do you mind if I call you Rex?" 'Rex' nodded its head in agreement. Luffy shouted out in excitement at making a new friend. Garp just stared at the event unfolding in front of him. He then began to chuckle to himself about how his grandson had just made friends with a sea king.
END
The villagers back at the dock were still shocked at seeing how that boy had tamed a sea king. They looked at one another and gulped thinking the same thing, if anyone was going to Pirate King, it was going to be Luffy.
"Thanks for seeing us off Rex. See you later." Luffy yelled to his friend. Rex had seen them past the island and out to sea. Rex then disappeared underneath the sea; Luffy turned back forwards. I'm finally heading out. Don't worry everyone I'm coming. First is Nami and then Zoro. Luffy chuckled to himself with withheld anticipation of seeing his crew once again, alive and well. He now had a chance to fix things for the better. Luffy then stopped, he felt like he was forgetting something, Nah, I'll remember what it is later. Luffy then sat down and fell asleep as Makino navigated their boat across the sea. Intercepting the path of cruise ship heading towards them.
Near an uninhabited island, a pirate ship was docked; hiding and waiting for its prey. The crew were hustling about around the ship when a woman stepped out and slammed down her iron club onto the deck. "Men, do we have eyes on the ship?" she asked her crew. "Yes Lady Alvida, It should be in boarding distance in a few hours." Answered the man in the crows nest. Alvida was a big woman with freckles and black curly hair. She wore a white cowgirl hat with a large red plume, a red neckerchief, a pink plaid shirt, and a blue captain's coat over it. She also wore rings on her fingers and her long sharp fingernails had red polish. She had a purple sash with a flintlock pistol tucked in it and some jewels. She also wore graying pants and red shoes with gold buckles. "Boys," she yelled, "Who's the most beautiful woman on all the seas." Her crew yelled back, "You are Lady Alvida." An evil grin found its way onto Alvida's face.
Thank you for all the review. I rely on you, my readers, to point out my mistakes. Thank you. I never expected that after just one my story would explode. I was really shocked. I didn't expect so many people. I'm so happy, *silently crying*, I'm not crying, something's in my eye. I hope to have the next chapter written by the end of this week. See you next time.
