Author: Dr Blueneck

Disclaimer: I was ill last week (the flu is a bitch), and my voice is all roughed up... Aaah, I don't like being sick... I don't own One Piece, by the way.

Hey guys! I'm back with a new First for you!

As suggested by one of the readers, SokiKuro, and since I had plans to write on it anyway, this OS will be focused on Luffy's first dream. Garp is here again! I hope you like him, he'll have a lot of moments with Luffy's firsts (although I'll spare you his First Abuse by his First Fist of Love... There's nothing cute in that XD).

I hope I didn't fail you, and that you'll like this one.

Enjoy, and please, let me know what you thoughts are :D

The Apple's' Pie : I'm sorry, I couldn't answer you via MP (you didn't activate the option), so I'll answer here: Thank you for reading, and I'm truly happy you enjoyed the feels and the story :D I hope this new one will be to your tastes!

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xoxoxox0O0xoxoxox

Firsts and Lasts of an Idiot's life

(or, A Trip down Memory Lane)

First Dream

xoxoxox0O0xoxoxox

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"Can... Can I do that, too? Not afraid to die. Maybe I can join the Marines..."

What Luffy enjoyed the most, when Garp was back to Fushia, were the quiet moments the two would share, watching the landscape, the youth perched on the old man's laps or sometimes even on his broad shoulders.

He was always staring at Grandpa with eyes full of wonder, having to throw his head back to look at him, nearly falling on his bottom while doing so. Grandpa was huge, nothing like little him. He was as high as Grandpa's knees, and it seemed to him that he'd never be able to see him in the eye.

Grandpa would always chuckle almost quietly (so different from his loud guffaws that would scare away little animals) while watching his antics, and Grandpa would always pick him up by his armpits, so that he could look him in the eyes (so similar to his own, but not as wide, always showing a little twinkle in it – like a star, he would thought with a smile, his little fingers spread on the rough cheeks).

Those days were days he held dear. Grandpa would take him by the hand, and walk slowly through the town and the beach, letting him run around and catching bugs before his tiny legs would tire and Grandpa would've to carry him on his arms, making him exclaim little 'oh's and 'ah's.

"Jii-chan! Do you think I can touch the sky from this height?!"

Grandpa laughed before setting him on his shoulders, a little nearer to his goal.

"Perhaps not, Luffy! But you can always try."

And Luffy would.

Today, Grandpa decided to forego training. He was so surprised and happy that he blurted, "Why?" before pressing his hands against his mouth, afraid that Grandpa would change his mind. But Grandpa just shrugged, a grin on his face (and this little twinkle in the eyes becoming brighter and brighter).

"I just want to enjoy what little time I have with my grandson. Don't you want to play with Jii-chan?"

Luffy was quick to give an enthusiastic nod, already thinking of all the big bugs Garp will catch for him – these bugs were mean and always bit him.

True to Garp's words, they played a lot, and Luffy was thrilled by his new bugs. They were sitting at the edge of a cliff ("Sit on my knees Luffy, I don't want you to fall." – "Heh? But you threw me down one, last time you came..." – "Sit! I don't plan on fetching you if you fall!" – "Heh! Jii-chaaaan!") and were gazing at the horizon, watching the blue tides rolling under the setting sun. Luffy looked at one of the biggest bug, covered with a sparkling dark shell, reflecting the colour of the orange clouds like flames dancing in the night sky.

His big round eyes sought the ones of his Grandpa who was still gazing at the sea, deep in thoughts.

"Jii-chan..."

"Yes, Luffy?"

"Tell me a story?"

A smile tugged at his lips before becoming a full grin. Grandpa ruffled his already dishevelled hair, making him duck his head to escape the big hand while giggling.

"Alright, brat! Did I already tell you about this old friend of mine, Roger?"

He shook his head, and Grandpa continued.

"Well, we sailed the seas. Not together, mind you, but we always found each other, no matter which sea we were in!"

And thus began the tale of a great pirate, rival and friend. Luffy drank his words, mesmerized by the adventures of the Vice Admiral and the once Pirate King.

"You see Luffy," started Grandpa after finishing his tale, "in the end, he was freer than us all. The sea is a beautiful place, and sailing its waves will always bring you wonderful adventures. It inspires all of us. It did inspire me to become a marine," he stated with pride, a soft smile playing on his lips.

Luffy sat still for a moment before turning to Garp and asking, "Do you think I'll be able to go to sea, one day?"

Grandpa grinned. It was one of these smiles that show no teeth, just one corner of his mouth tugged upwards, and his eyes softening, losing the hard edge that was always there, showing more of that little twinkle that always seemed to tease Luffy.

One hand brought him closer to Grandpa, and he told him, his gruff voice more mellow than usual:

"One day, it'll inspire you, too. I don't doubt it one bit."

Later, as he grows up, maybe he'll forget it, but at this precise instant, he knew that this twinkle in his grandfather's eyes was nothing but love for his grandson, no matter what happens.

That year, as Grandpa was away, he met Shanks. He, too, told him about the sea, the adventures he lived and the man he'll never forget ("You know, I wish I was more like him sometimes... He inspired me more than anything else in this world.") and Luffy listened to him, delighting himself with tales of wonders.

Shanks was a pirate, but a nice one. Sure, he taunted him a lot ("I'm not tiny! I'm growing up, y'know!" – "Okay. Little, is that better?" – "Oi, Shanks! It's not funy!") but he taught him new things along the way, too ("You're the captain, right? You don't seem serious enough... Isn't Ben the real captain?" – "Now that's not nice! A laughing captain is better than a dead serious one! Think about the crew... You have to lighten them up; it's my duty as their captain to make sure they're happy.").

He never gave thought of being a pirate or a marine. He just wanted to set sail, and explore the world, completely free. He wanted to feel the wind through his hair and his clothes, breathing against his skin. What he didn't want, though, was to obey orders, like his Grandpa seemed to do, always mumbling about a Sengoku. It didn't sound fun at all!

So, his logic was that contrary to marines, pirates didn't have to receive orders from anyone apart from the captain. So be it, he'll be the captain of his ship.

But... Didn't Shanks and Grandpa tell him about a Pirate King?

He didn't think about it again until the day Shanks saved him, lost his arm, gave him his precious straw hat.

As Shanks' crew was preparing to leave, Luffy made his pledge:

"I've decided to do it myself... to become a pirate."

Shanks stuck out his tongue, barely taking him seriously. Luffy's fists shook with a newfound resolve. He won't be any pirate. He won't take orders from anyone in the world. He'll be completely free; he'll be his own man.

"I will become the Pirate King!" he screamed at the top of his lungs.

No matter what Shanks would say, no matter what Grandpa would think. He would not go down without a fight.

But Shanks didn't laugh. He put his beloved hat on his tiny head, and as Luffy broke into tears, the face covered by the soft weaved straws; he knew he'll never forget their promise.

"Someday... return it to me... as a great pirate. It's a promise, Luffy."

Gol D. Roger was his first dream.

Grandpa, ironically enough, was the fuel feeding it.

And Shanks was the flame that set it all in fire.

He stared blankly at Coby.

"Marines?"

A new light appeared in Coby's eyes. Determination.

"That's right! It's my dream to catch the bad guys! It's been my dream since childhood. Can I do it?"

He seemed to deflate with his last sentence. Luffy just beamed and answered truthfully.

"How would I know?"

He laughed as Coby seemed to regain some vigour, defending his dream, like Luffy himself was ready to, a long time ago.

And Coby will manage. He didn't doubt it one bit.

A/N: Err... Shanks' part was hard to write...

I really wanted to use Coby for the First Dream... And I like the bit with Garp! He's a great guy, really... It's just that he doesn't know how to show love most of the times! And don't we all know the saying "Spare the rod, spoil the child"? This is for me the (only) reason Garp could appear as abusive as he is in the manga... (I continue to deny that he's completely crazy and should be kept in a cell to prevent him to further harm innocent and defenseless children. Yep, denial is great.)

Anyway! I updated fast, as you can see, but don't get used to it! I'm a lazy ass... And I've got a big WIP on my French account (fucking translation is taking away my life, I swear...) I have to finish. Otherwise, my readers will hang me. (And I'm sure you are the nice ones, so please, put down the guns and I'll forever love you. FOREVER.)

Leave me your thoughts on that one! Maybe I'll try to work on it a bit later... just to change some little things, and make it more enjoyable to you guys :)

Don't hesitate to tell me what First/Last you want to read next! I love sharing ideas with you all :D

Au revoir, darlings, I'll see you when I see you, I guess!

Doc.