Live, Luffy!
Chapter 4
Hi everyone! Rocky's here with a new chapter of Live, Luffy! Now, I didn't really update this regularly because prior to the arc finishing, Warming A Cold Heart was and is strictly my main One Piece fanfiction and is my best work to date (Although this story gets better reception). So I hope you understand. Anyway, without further ado, we go back to our favourite time-traveler, Monkey D Luffy! OH YOU COULDN'T DAM THAT RIVER! Or maybe I don't give a damn anyway. I just couldn't resist. Sorry. Hope you guys enjoy reading this story.
Luffy cracked a smile as he watched his two brothers leave for the sea. It was a satisfying few years to say the least. It reminded him of how close the brothers actually were, except that this time he was the strongest of them. Ace and Sabo however weren't far behind. In those years, they became the 'demon children' of Goa, while Luffy continued indirectly tutoring them on being cunning and stealthy by stealing from the nobles. Luffy couldn't save Sabo directly after all, knowing that he was not ready for the consequences of directly being involved in saving Sabo from a Celestial Dragon.
While Luffy couldn't directly interfere with Sabo being taken by his father, Luffy knew that he did his part by giving Sabo the necessary skills to escape from his father. Luffy couldn't be happier when he saw an alive, albeit roughed up Sabo at the door of Dadan's country. While Sabo did want to go to sea early, Luffy had let slip that the Celestial dragons weren't ones to show necessary mercy to those who… 'Disrespect' them. Sabo obviously got the memo and wisely avoided going to sea while the Celestial Dragons arrived to Goa Kingdom.
"GOOD LUCK OUT THERE, ACE, SABO!" Luffy shouted, while Ace and Sabo waved back and proclaimed about how they would make a name for themselves in no time. It was a no brainer, as Ace would eventually become the feared Fire Fist, while Sabo became an equally feared revolutionary, who was the second-in-command of the Army. Things were going extremely well at the moment.
timeskip
Luffy fingered his sword as he got ready to leave his island. His sword was something he got when he and his brothers went on their different expeditions to steal from the nobles. It was something Luffy would never expect to find in Paradise, much less in the peaceful East Blue. The Akatsuki. One of the great O Wazamono blades, just sitting around unprotected in a Goa noble's house. Needless to say, Luffy stole it. In his view though, he saved it from a greedy noble who wouldn't use it other than to sell it for a pretty price, which made Luffy agitated. It was a shame he didn't take lessons from Shanks, so most of his skills were self-taught. He needed a mentor though, if he wanted to improve further.
With a face-splitting grin, Luffy left for the docks, where he had prepared his boat for the journey. Waving goodbye to the villagers and the bandits, Luffy set foot in his boat, impatiently looking forward to revisiting the sea he once so nearly conquered, before that last great battle where he was defeated. The Grand Line. He was going to turn the world upside down again, he was finally was going to be King!
Before that though… How was he going to get out of this barrel? Luffy grumbled at his own idiocy to sail into a whirlpool because it looked… Cool. Before he knew it, the boat broke apart, and he was forced to slip into a barrel to save him from drowning. A deep sleep took him as he rode the barrel, while he mused over how he would react to seeing his old crewmates once more.
'Zoro would be first… Then Nami… Sanji…. Or was it Usopp first..? Then Robin and Vivi… Franky… Brook… Don't forget Merry and Sunny…' Luffy continued to reminisce as he fell asleep.
Hungry. Food. Luffy could only think of both words as he woke up in that barrel. He remembered he was going to meet Coby around this time. He laughed as he remembered the young cowardly boy become one of the most powerful men in Luffy's era. While he heard the pirates bickering, Luffy decided it was time for him to reveal himself. Heaving a deep breath, Luffy burst out of barrel, and knocked out all the pirates (Purposely, of course) while turning to an amazed looking Coby. Luffy could not resist as he started laughing uncontrollably at Coby's look. Coby absolutely looked like a klutz.
"Who are you?" Coby said nervously (who wouldn't be?).
"I'm Monkey D Luffy, the next pirate King," Luffy answered, although it was more of a proclamation than an answer.
"IMPOSSIBLE IMPOSSIBLE IMPOSSIBLE!" Coby started to mutter before he was lightly slapped on the head by Luffy.
"Well, I'm going to be, Coby. That's for certain. That is my dream after all. And I swear not to die before achieving it. What's your dream, Coby?" Luffy said quietly, his voice so full of conviction, Coby found it hard not to nod furtively at his words. However, there was also a deep sadness in his voice, though he did not question it.
"I want to become a Marine! To beat up pirates! Can I do it, though?" Coby asked softly, while Luffy threw his head back and laughed.
Taken aback, Coby glared at Luffy, who only shook his head and said, "Of course! Anyone can do anything if they have the heart, and strength to do it. Train, Coby! Be strong! But first, what do you say we beat up an idiot?!"
His face full of determination, Coby reached out and gripped Luffy's hand, and went out to deck to confront Alvida and her pirates. Coby's bravado however quickly faded when Alvida shouldered her giant mace and said, "Who are you going to beat up?"
While Alvida started to lay into Coby(Calling him a slave, asking him who the most beautiful women is), Luffy decided to pick his nose in response, tilt his head, and look at Alvida to say, "Who is this ugly fatty?"
Gasps sounded across the deck. Luffy started to laugh as he saw Alvida's face change from a pale white to a tomato red, and finally to a deep purple. Coby could only be amazed at his new friend, and seeing Luffy's confident smile, gained enough confidence to shout the same thing. Truthfully, it was Luffy using his Haki to help build on Coby's will to give him more confidence and belief. Luffy truly did want to help Coby, knowing that Coby would become a great visionary and a true example of justice in the future. Also, Luffy was sick of seeing Coby bow down to trash like Alvida(he still can't accept that the badass marine admiral he knew was once this little coward).
"I'LL KILL YOU!" Alvida shouted as she charged with her club.
Sighing, Luffy swiftly moved behind Alvida and said, "Looking for me?"
Roaring in rage, Alvida swung her mace with even larger intensity while Luffy danced around her blows easily. Coby could only gawk at the grace and at the ease with which Luffy dodged Alvida while laughing. This wasn't a fight. It was so one-sided it wasn't even funny. Coby couldn't help but pity Alvida who was being humiliated in front of the watching crew. Finally being bored of toying with Alvida, Luffy decided to end the fight by smashing a fist into Alvida's face, sending her flying to the sea.
"I didn't even need to draw Akatsuki… Boring." Luffy thought, sighing. He really missed the challenges that the New World provided.
Moving on, Luffy then turned to the crew with a death stare and growled, "Give Coby a boat! Or else…"
Frightened, the pirates started carrying out his orders while Coby simply looked in disbelief.
Luffy only winked and said, "I'm going to be the King!"
While on the boat, Luffy spotted a familiar face. Nami. Luffy could only remember the details of her violent death, before quickly cracking down those thoughts. What good was it to dwell upon her 'death' when she was here alive? Besides, he was given a chance, and he intended to use it. He couldn't forget her last words to him though.
"LIVE, LUFFY!"
Next Scene
"So, you were talking about Pirate hunter Zoro?" Coby asked, louder this time, as Luffy finally stopped spacing out.
"Oh! Yeah! Sorry about that Coby! Yeah, I want him to join my crew. Why, Coby?" Luffy replied, while Coby shook his head.
"He's pirate hunting demon! Not a pirate demon! A pirate H-U-N-T-I-N-G demon!" Coby raised his voice, incredulous at Luffy's weird choice of crewmate.
"Huh? H-U-N… What?" Luffy tilted his head, trying to remember and spell it out.
Coby sighed. How could someone so strong be such an idiot at times!
"A PIRATE HUNTING DEMON! There's no way he'll join you!" Coby finally shouted, exasperated at Luffy's stupidity.
There was a moment of pause, before a chilling smile entered Luffy's features and he finally said, "I have my ways. Besides, I'm also going there to see you off to your dream! You're going to be a marine, right?"
Coby furtively nodded, while Luffy introduced another face-splitting grin.
"What are we waiting for then! LET'S ROW TO OUR DREAMS!" Luffy proclaimed, pointing to the direction of Shell Town.
"YEAH!" Coby said, before Luffy fell asleep.
"HEY, HELP ME ROW YOU LAZY ASS!"
=) I am very happy with this chappie. Anyway, Mr Luffy's pretty… Logical and actually plans ahead, although he does have his bouts of dumbness mixed in. I never want to take that away from Luffy's character. That innocent stupidity. Anyway, thank you so much for reading this. Much love, everyone. Toodles… =)~~
Alice in Chains – Dam That River