Chapter 3: Childhood Arc: Sabo
As in the previous timeline Luffy had no way to know what day it was he was not sure on which day in this timeline Bluejam would strike if he did at all. So after ditching Ace midway in following he would arrive at Gray Terminal and spy whether Ace would steal from Bluejam's lackeys or not.
Today when he spotted Ace pocketing a huge sum he knew that it was the day to follow Ace till Gray Terminal and hopefully this time not be in need of being beaten up by spiked gloves to gain Ace's and Sabo's trust.
It was time like these which made Luffy wish that he could use King's Haki freely. Life would be so much better.
Throwing his thoughts out of the window Luffy made his way toward Ace and Sabo's meeting place for the day.
"How much do you think we've collected?"
Sabo's voice rang out. How Luffy missed that cheerful tone?
"It's still not enough Sabo. Though I did score a jackpot today." Ace told his fellow blond.
"I just wish we could get a ship and get out of here."
"You won't get a ship with that much money." Luffy interrupted grinning.
Alarmed the other two jumped to their feet, makeshift weapons aka pipes in their hand.
"Who are you?" Sabo yelled while Ace looked at him in confusion, lowering is weapon only by an inch.
"Luffy?" he asked in bewilderment.
Sabo catching on Ace's tone tilted his head.
"The mystery strong crybaby?"
Luffy scowled at the nickname.
Strong was good.
Mystery was cool.
But why was he still dubbed as a crybaby.
Imagine if Kid or Law from the future saw him, they would never let him live this down.
21 years old Pirate King crybaby. *Cough*
"Who gave me that nickname?" Luffy asked sweetly with a dangerous glint in his eyes, a habit that he had, unfortunately picked up from Nami, living with her for so many years.
The other two flinched, Ace because he could see Luffy act as a mother bear who was being overprotective of her cub and Sabo heard the same tone when his mother was trying up to set another arranged marriage for him.
Sabo immediately pointed at Ace.
"Traitor." Ace hissed.
Suddenly Luffy laughed.
Both Ace and Sabo turned their heads back towards him.
"Be my friends." He said rather told them.
"No." The other two screamed.
"Stingy." Luffy muttered to the other two.
Suddenly Ace paled.
"Hide." he hissed.
Luffy and Sabo looked at him in visible confusion.
Their questions were answered as a huge man grabbed Sabo from behind.
"I told you these are the runts who stole from us."
Porchemy jeered at his side kick.
'Oh shit.' Luffy thought.
Luffy did not forget. It just slipped his mind you know, seeing Sabo again.
Sabo whirled and hit Porchemy on his head with the pipe. He immediately let Sabo go who along with Ace who had grabbed Luffy's hand broke into a run.
"I'll kill them." Came a loud angry screech.
Luffy never killed. Pirates may have died because of the injuries he gave them afterwards but he would never kill them directly. He'd give everyone a second chance. This however changed when Luffy killed Akainu on the spot.
And right now he decided that the Porchemy guy was going to die.
Because he had threatened to kill his brothers he was a danger and worst kind of dangers need to eliminated, the lesson he had learned the hard way.
Before Marineford the number of bounty hunters that were after them were surprisingly low. After he had mastered his Observation Haki, he felt hundreds of bounty hunters following him each by the end of tour, dead, killed by no other than his own crew, or to be specific Zoro and Robin.
Later he weeded it out of them that they had been killing for years.
Back to the present, Ace had stopped running ad he along with Luffy were catching their breaths.
"Where's Sabo?" Ace cried.
Luffy turned and facefaulted.
Ace had been dragging him in such frenzy that he had missed Sabo's location. He had not known Ace was such an idiot. Note to him. Do not let Ace lead them to their deaths from now on.
Ace who was trying to keep his scowl on his face and not start panicking was now looking around and then started stealthily walking in the direction they had come from.
"Where are you going?" Luffy asked him curiously.
"To rescue Sabo of course. Do you think I'll just leave him?"
In response Luffy gave him a wide grin.
"I'm coming too."
"Why?" Ace looked at him suspiciously.
"Because you and Sabo are my friends." Came the reply.
"No you're not. We refused." Ace crossed his arms.
"That so? Then I refuse your refusal."
Ace's reaction was quite similar to Sanji's. It was almost comical.
"So do you have a plan?"؛
Ace shook his head in denial.
Theory: Ace was still stupid confirmed.
If someone pointed out that at this age Luffy was even more stupid than Ace he would pointedly ignore him.
"Tell me Ace you at least know where they took Sabo." Luffy said whining.
"Of course." Ace snapped. The little kid was belittling him. How dare he?
"Bluejam's ship."
Luffy stopped in his tracks and sighed. He should start writing the things that were changed in this universe or he would forget no doubt. On the other hand it was too much work. Forget it.
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Sabo gritted his teeth again.
"Like hell I know, Ace didn't tell me before you nicked us." He spat at the man who was called Bluejam.
Bluejam snorted.
"Well if we don't get that money we can always get some for you. Your parents are going to pay pretty well too."
Sabo froze. No he didn't want to go back. Damn it.
He just prayed that Ace had the brains to stay out of danger and not come rescue him.
He stilled as he yet again heard another voice.
"Sabo I came to save you."
A voice rang out in the whole ship. Was that Luffy?
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Ace scowled. As much as he wanted to lead he had to admit Luffy's plan was better than he could come up. Heck it was better than what Sabo usually came up with. What he strongly disagreed with was that he wanted to be the baiter not the rescuer. Then Luffy pointed out how conveniently he had made Ace flew with one punch, at which their argument concluded.
He heard Luffy shout,
"Sabo I came to save you."
This was his cue to move.
As soon as Bluejam heard he motioned his cronies.
"Get him."
Several pirates ran after Luffy who was yelling on the deck of the ship. Luffy sent a weak but controlled burst of Haki, knocking out every one on the ship expect Ace, Sabo and Bluejam who were inside.
On the other hand Ace stealthily made his way towards where he thought Sabo was held.
"You're here too? I thought that only Luffy was stupid enough to announce that he's here to save me."
Ace scowled.
"He announced it so everyone would chase him and I could rescue you." He explained.
"Oooh. Good plan. I bet twenty Bellis that Luffy thought of that." Sabo said cheekily rubbing his veins where he was tied up.
Ace glared at him.
"What makes you think you have slightest chance to escape?"
Both boys jump as Bluejam emerged from the shadows a sinister grin on his face, cracking his knuckles.
Ace grabbed the nearest thing which was a rope and lashed out at Bluejam's eye while Sabo went for the legs.
Ignoring the fact that Bluejam now looked like a sitting chicken, both boys dashed out the door in the momentarily distraction.
At one of the corners they collided with something.
"Luffy?" Sabo looked at the 7 years old kid who had fallen on his bottom. "Where are others?"
"I took care of them." Luffy gave them his wide grin.
"Liar." Ace yelled.
Luffy didn't answer and instead ran in the opposite direction towards the deck.
Luffy's statement justified itself as both Ace and Sabo saw the main deck littered with bodies.
"You weren't lying?" Sabo said his jaw hanging.
"Why would I?" Luffy laughed.
"There's no way you could beat all of them." Bluejam came out of the ship holding his leg painfully.
"Unless, you're a devil fruit user." He pointed at Luffy.
Luffy did not answer instead stared.
"If I remember correctly devil fruit users' weakness is water. They can't swim and we're quite far from shore."
"I can beat you on this ship." Luffy told the guy seriously.
"Ho?" Bluejam lifted his hand which held something which strongly resembled a bomb.
'Shit.' Luffy thought.
"So what if there is no ship?"
The blast was heard in two miles radius as the old ship flew apart.
Luffy had no idea where Ace and Sabo were. He couldn't move. He cursed his weakness and slipped into darkness.
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Luffy's head hurt. Felt like he was drowning. Wait. Drowning? Wasn't he...?
Luffy tried to sit up and hissed and cried as his head hurt again at full force.
"Idiot what are you doing? Don't sit up. You nearly drowned."
Was that Ace? Luffy put his head back on the pillow and groggily opened his eyes.
Both Sabo and Ace were looking down on him... Was that worry? Oh God he was asking too many questions to himself.
"You okay?" Sabo asked him gently. Luffy nodded and gave them their trade grin.
Ace got up.
"Don't go." Luffy made out.
Ace stopped in his tracks.
"You don't want me to go?" Luffy's eyebrows went up. What the hell…? Did the conversation just turned into that emotional drama where Luffy has to declare his undying love to his older brother? Ha… fine stupid fate. He'll go along.
Luffy shook his head.
"I feel lonely when you're not there." Luffy told him.
About time.
"You want me to be there?"
Luffy nodded.
"Do you feel bad when I'm not there?"
Luffy nodded his head again.
"Then you want me to live?"
Ace asked in a hopeful voice.
"Of course. I don't only want you to live but be the big brother I've lost."
"Why?"
"Because I love you." Luffy said innocently. He was sooo giggling inside right now.
Dadan who was in the doorway listening and Sabo who had moved smear inches away started laughing hysterically at Ace's blushing face which resembled a tomato.
Ace tried scowling at them but it came out as a smile.
"Brothers huh?"
Suddenly Ace dashed out of the room. Sabo looked confused while Luffy winked at him. Mentally he was doing a victory dance.
Dadan knew exactly what Ace was going to do but didn't stop him. She'd let it slide this time.
When Ace returned he had a bottle of sake in his hands.
Pouring it into three cups he hand one to Luffy and Sabo each and held one in his own hand.
"Brothers?" Ace asked and Luffy saw him gave one of his biggest smile this time around.
"Brothers." The other two confirmed.
And all three drank together.
"You do know that I'm 5 right guys?" Luffy interrupted.
"DON'T RUIN SUCH EMOTIONAL MOMMENTS!" Ace and Sabo yelled.
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Woah. A long one and maybe a little rushed. Next time I'll finally reach the start of the journey. Some ppl were disappointed that Ace is not with Whitebeard. About that don't worry. You'll find out soon enough. Luffy can't keep him totally away. Fate won't let him. And as for on who's crew Ace is gonna be I'll let you guys guess.