Disclaimer: Sadly I do not own One Piece.
Chapter 2: Romance Dawn
3 years ago
"Take care Ace," Luffy said looking down at the older boy standing in a small boat from his vantage point on top of the short cliff.
"Don't get lost since I won't be there to point you in the right direction" Ann grinned from her spot beside Luffy. Makino, Mayor Wood Slap, and the bandits stood slightly behind them as they saw Ace off.
"Yeah, see you Luffy, Ann! I'm going now!" Ace replied right hand keeping his orange cowboy hat from flying away as the wind blew gently.
"Uh-huh! I'll be a lot stronger when I leave here in three years!" Ace smiled at Luffy's statement as he cast off.
"Good luck" sang Luffy and Ann.
"Take care" called the bandits.
"Don't catch a cold" Makino smiled.
"You just wait! I'll make my name soon!" Ace waved back at them.
"He's gone," Luffy stated.
"Honestly! I wander what Garp would say?" Huffed the mayor.
"Ne, Ann, are you still planning on going?" Luffy asked.
"But of course" the petite girl replied. The rest of the farewell wishers had left leaving Luffy and Ann standing at the cliff looking out at the vast ocean.
"Ace won't be happy about that, he told you to stay here and wait for him to come back for you."
"I was never good at following orders. Besides just cause I'm a girl doesn't mean I should have to stay where its 'safe' while you boys go on an adventure."
"When will you leave?"
"In a few weeks. Everyone is watching me right now, I'll have to wait for them to drop their guard a little before I can slip away."
A few weeks later…
The dark eastern sky was faintly brightened by the soft colors of the pre-dawn sun. Two figures stood in dark in the exact same spot where they had watched Ace leave several weeks prior.
"I'm heading out now, Luff."
"Take care, Ann."
"Let's meet again, on the Grand Line!"
"Yosh! Just wait, in three years I'll come find you and you can be part of my crew."
Ann laughed softly, "We'll see Luff. But you know I have no ambition to find One Piece. As long as I eventually find Raftel I'll be happy."
"Then you have to be one of my nakama, because I'm going to be the one to find it and become Pirate King!"
"Like I said, we'll see. First I plan to explore every island on the first half of the Grand Line before heading to the New World. I know I'll need a crew to sail with if I want to survive in the second half. Might as well be yours-"
"Yahoo!"
"That is, if I don't get a better offer." Ann smirked at Luffy's frown.
"Hey there she is!" The two started at the distant voice.
"Ah hell, I didn't think they'd catch on this soon." Ann spoke calmly as she turned to her boat.
"Stop Ann!"
The bandits were racing to the shoreline as fast as they could. Ann wasn't worried; they were still too far away to stop her. Still it wouldn't be a bad idea to get going before they got much closer, she thought as she hopped down, landing silently on the boat.
"Wait Ann" pant, pant, "you can't go!" But it was too late. The small boat was already sailing away.
"Luff, take care of yourself, I'll see you in three years."
"You can count on it."
A/N: Sorry the first two chapters were so short. Now that the story is set up the chapters will be longer.