Luffy knew he was a bad captain. He was too weak. Good captains were strong, because they had to protect their crew. A good captain wouldn't let some stupid bastard push his crew away. A good captain was strong.
But right now he was weak. And Luffy hated it
If he had been strong, his crew would be here. If he was strong, Ace wouldn't be dead. If he was strong, he wouldn't need Jinbe to remind him to keep fighting. But he wasn't strong, because if he were strong he wouldn't have broken his promise to keep his family safe. What good was it to be a pirate if he couldn't have his friends with him? What good was freedom if he had no one to share it with?
This feeling, knowing he was weak, was bad. It was like when Sabo died, but worse, because he was bigger now. He was a real pirate, having adventure, living his life without regrets; but he wasn't strong enough yet to protect everyone. It ate up at his insides, gnawing worse than any hunger, with a tearing feeling that was there even though he was rubber. The horrible heavy feeling that he had after fighting Usopp was back too. Luffy didn't think even Robin had words big enough to describe the deep hole that was in his heart.
Because even though he didn't share a cup of sake with anyone but Ace and Sabo didn't mean that his crew wasn't family. And it was his job to keep them safe and protect their dreams. They did stuff for him all the time, like cook and steer the ship because he was bad at it. It was his job as the captain to kick anyone's ass that messed with them, because he was supposed to be strong.
But Luffy wasn't strong, that much was painfully clear.
So that had to change. That weakness was not welcome on the Sunny. If he was going to have the most freedom on the whole world, that weakness had to go away and never come back. If he didn't want to lose another member of his family he would have to become strong. No, he would have to become the strongest. Only then would Luffy be worthy of the hat that sat on his head.
Luffy knew he couldn't face his crew yet. That's why he stood on the mystery island with the weird weather with Gold Roger's first mate. He listened intently and watched closely as the old man explained and demonstrated haki. When the Straw Hat Pirates saw each other again, Luffy would be sure that nothing could get in their way. They would go to the New World and have adventures and fun, get in fights, and find One Piece. Zoro would be the best swordsman, Nami would make her map, Usopp would be brave like his dad, Sanji would find his fish, Chopper would be the best doctor, Robin would find her mystery words, Sunny would sail around the world with Franky, and Brook would see Laboon. Luffy would make sure of it.
But before he could do that, Straw Hat Luffy would have to go on vacation. In two years they'd find each other like he promised. After two years no stupid bear would push his crew away, no robots (no matter how cool the lasers) would ever threaten him, and no bastards made of magma would ever hurt his family ever again.
Luffy knows he will find his strength, he will protect his family, and he will become the Pirate King. He made a promise, a promise to live without any regrets and he intends to keep it.
And as Luffy put his hat on the rock, he thinks that Ace would approve.
AN: So there's the main cast! Woot woot! You didn't think I was done did you? Of course not, I have two more chapters planned, so stay tuned. And thanks again for all of the support and response, it makes my day.