Chapter 1: Childhood Arc: Shanks

Luffy's head hurt. It was like thousands of hammers were pounding in his brain. Not only that his body also ached.

He tried opening his eyes and immediately regretted it because of the light intensity.

After adjusting, he tried to calculate where he was.

"Let go of Luffy." He heard a voice. A voice he thought he would never hear again.

Shanks.

Then he registered that someone was indeed carrying him, and by the collar nonetheless. The guy had some nerve. Carrying the Pirate King like that.

Luffy looked up to see the mountain bandit he vaguely remembered.

'Idiot.' Doesn't even know he's picking a fight with a Yonkou.'

Then another thought came into his mind.

'Shit. Shanks let the guy get away and lost his arm. That missing arm killed him in the future. I have to do something.'

Luffy tried a little bit of his Haki and it worked. Great.

Then using a calm and threatening voice he said.

"Do as he says or you'll regret it."

Everyone, even the red haired pirates took a minute to absorb that the voice had indeed come from a seven year old kid in the hands of the said bandit.

"Huh?" The leader of the bandits – what was his name again? – Haga – Hogi – no Higuma – Luffy thought – asked dumbly. Luffy sighed and lifted his hand.

Even though Luffy's seven year old body was nowhere as strong, he knew how to attack.

"Gomu gomu no backlash."

He swung his arm giving it momentum to throw Higuma and a few other bandits along with him, jumping out of his hold as the leader flew. He did a summersault midair and landed perfectly on his feet. From the corner of his eye he could see Shanks jaw hitting the floor.

'Great now Shanks in going to worm it out of me. Well I did plan on telling someone about my story. Better be Shanks. If someone would actually believe him it would be the Yonkou.'

An amusing thought came to his mind and he decided to tease Shanks. He turned his head towards Shanks and gave a maniacal grin that could rival Doflamingo's.

Using the voice Nami did when she was in middle of scheming he said,

"I told you I am strong."

To say Shanks was shocked was an understatement.

Only last time he had seen the boy, he was like… you know… a kid.

What happened while he was away? And he thought nothing would shock him being a Yonkou. The world was really a big place.

Maybe some deity was punishing him for drinking too much of alcohol.

"Shanks." The kid walked over to him and he took a step back involuntarily.

Anchor had such a serious face it scared him.

"We need to talk."

Shanks absentmindedly shook his head while squinting at the flying bandit.

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"You're from the future?"

Luffy nodded his head in agreement.

"You became the Pirate King?"

He nodded again.

"You found One Piece?"

Not sure where Shanks was going he agreed again.

Shanks paused for a moment in a thinking posture. Luffy was skeptical whether Shanks would believe him or not. Finally the red haired man spoke.

"So where is it?"

"Huh?" Came Luffy's intelligent response.

Shanks looked at him sheepishly.

"You know… One Piece… so I can go pick it up."

Luffy felt a tick mark growing. He jumped from the stool he was sitting and bonked Shanks on the head with a Haki infused punch.

"Damn you Shanks. I just told you the world is gonna end with a war and only thing that interested you in the whole story is One Piece?"

"Hey I am a Pirate too." Shanks whined.

"And I was joking you know." He added. "It's yours right? I won't touch it."

"Good." Luffy huffed. "I would have Tra-guy dissect you if you did."

"Tra-guy?"

"Trafalgar Law. But you don't know him yet. He was known as Surgeon of Death or will be." Luffy said creepily smiling. Shanks and his crew gave an involuntary shudder.

"And there is something I want you guys to teach me."

"What Anchor?"

"Sword fighting, navigating, cooking, medication, battle tactics and world history." Luffy counted on his fingers.

The red haired pirates sweatdropped.

"And some repair work would be nice considering I broke the ship the most often."

Shanks facefaulted and sighed.

"So what do you plan on doing?" He asked.

"If I am going to take on the World Government and Celestial Dragons I need support. And I am going to go to other seas to gain it."

"So you won't be entering the Grand line immediately?"

Luffy shook his head.

"I just have to set sail an year early and coordinate the dates from then on."

"I see. And Marineford?" Shanks looked at the kid seriously.

"Things went downhill from the battle of Marineford. I am gonna make sure it never happens."

"By killing Teach?"

Luffy disagreed by a shrug and then gave a sad yet mischievous smile if that was possible.

"I'm gonna make sure Ace never joins Whitebeard pirates."

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"I want another bottle." Shanks yelled at his crew.

"You're drinking too much." Benn told his Captain.

"If I don't I'll go insane. Damn that Luffy. Now I have to go on a wild goose chase to find Mera Mera no Mi."

FLASHBACK

"So you're a Yonkou right?" Luffy looked him straight in the eye.

"You don't mind finding the Mera Mera no Mi for me right?" He asked sweetly.

"So he coaxed you into finding it?" Benn asked amused.

"Cheeky brat." Shanks faked tears.

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The port of Fuusha Village bustled as the Red Haired Pirates loaded goods on their ship.

Luffy was following around them inspecting curiously.

"Luffy." Shanks called out to him. "Before I leave I have two things I need to give to you."

Luffy's face lit up. This is where he gets his trade strawhat.

Shanks produce a short sword from under his cloak.

"This is the Celestial sword or Heaven's sword." He said handing it to Luffy.

"Woah. Celestial sword for celestial dragons." And both ended up laughing.

"And here…" He fished out a paper. "…is my vivre card with the den den mushi number written on it."

"That's all?" Luffy looked dumbfounded.

"Huh? Yeah. Something wrong?" Shanks asked.

"No." Luffy hung his head his mind working fast.

A few minutes later Shanks and his crew had boarded their ships and were a far distance in the sea.

"Captain." Luckyroo addressed Shanks as he gobbled a piece of meat.

"Where's your hat?"

"Huh?"

Shanks put a hand on his head to find his beloved strawhat missing.

"WHAT!?"

"I believe it's there." Benn smirked as he pointed towards the shore.

Luffy was waving at them with the strawhat in his hand, a huge grin on his face.

A large tick mark grew on Shanks head.

"THAT DAMN BRAT." He yelled so the whole East Blue could hear him.

"Oi Shanks." Luffy yelled back.

"I can't be 'Strawhat Luffy' without the strawhat, right?" He said cheekily.

"I am going to become the Pirate King." He screamed to the sea.

'Now.' Luffy thought as soon as Shanks and the others were out of his line of sight.

'Time to meet Ace and Sabo again.'

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I just completed this chapter so I thought I'll post it immideiately. I got good feedback. :)

Next update will be sometime next month.