The 14 year old Luffy was battered and bruised and bleeding. She stood in a ripped vest and shorts against the large Pirate Captain. She was protecting the Baratie, her new friends home. She pulled back her fist and charged, slamming it into the spiked cloak of the captain.

"At least, that girl. She has no hesitation." Zeff said to a 16 year old Sanji, who was staring in awe as Luffy blew the larger man back some. Luffy screamed in pain and the cloak slammed into the large pirate captains face. Sanji and the Baratie workers watched as the large man flew back into the water. Luffy smiled at her victory, splashing into the clear and waving water below.

Zoro coughed as he limped across the deck.

"LUFFY!" He yelled when she splashed into the water. Sanji looked over and Zoro pointed at him.

"Oi! Love Cook!" He yelled. Sanji glared.

"What!? Marimo!" He yelled back.

"SAVE HER. SHE CAN'T SWIM!" Zoro stated as he fell forward on the deck. Sanji stood.

"Can't swim? Damn!" He kicked off his shoes and took of his jacket before he dove into the water and saw the girl with an open mouth, sinking deeper. He swam faster and scooped her up and jetted to the surface. Sanji coughed and pushed her onto the deck before climbing up himself.

"Oi!" He shook her. She coughed. Sanji grabbed his jacket and dried her hair before wrapping it around her so she wouldn't catch a cold.

Luffy felt hazy, she opened her eyes a bit.

"Zo-ro?" She called, said boy sat next to Sanji and her.

"Yeah. What were you thinking? Be more careful next time, idiot." He scolded as she sat up and smiled.

"Sorry Zoro!" She grinned. Zoro rolled his eyes. She looked to the wet boy on her other side of her and smiled. "Thanks Sanji! I thought I was a goner!" she giggled.

"You're welcome! Luffy-chwan!" Sanji swirled with hearts in his eyes. Zoro glared.

"Pervert." He shot.

"What was that!?" Sanji glared.

"You heard me!" Zoro and Sanji slammed their foreheads together as lightning shot through their glares. Luffy laughed.

The three sat for a while.

"So. We need to go get Nami and Usopp, oh! And we need to find Johnny-Niisan and Yosaku-Niisan! I think they were on the Merry." Luffy leaned back some, thinking about her crew mates and her and Zoro's old friends who decided to pose as her brothers one day. Johnny and Yosaku insisted the young girl call them 'Niisan' when they became something like a dysfunctional family. It was back when Luffy had fist started traveling with Zoro.

Flashback-

Luffy sat at the bar and waited for Zoro. She swung her legs and picked at her food in a bored manner. She puffed out her cheeks, Zoro had advised her not to talk to anyone until he returned. She heard some yelling outside.

"What's that?" Luffy jumped out the seat and ran out the door. Two boys about a year younger than Zoro were standing up to some mean looking pirate. Luffy took a close look at them. The two were bruised and badly beaten. Luffy looked around.

"Damn... Yosaku! Let's try again!" One yelled.

"You got it, Johnny!" The other boy, Yosaku, nodded and they charged again, swinging their swords. Luffy raised an eyebrow.

"They don't fight anything like how Zoro fights..." Luffy muttered. The two got blasted back again. They flew towards Luffy.

Luffy screamed as the two came flying at her.

"Luffy!" She was grabbed and pulled to the side. She looked up.

"Zoro!" She smiled.

"I thought I told you to stay put." The boy grumbled. Luffy smiled.

"Sorry!" Zoro rolled his eyes and looked to the side.

"Hey... Isn't that a pirate?" He asked.

"Sure is!" Luffy replied.

"Nice. I'm hungry. And you're starting to grow out of those clothes." Zoro muttered as her motioned to the short black shorts and the now tight blue t-shirt the girl was wearing.

Zoro quickly disposed of the pirate, gaining the bounty money after turning him into the marines.

"Great, lets go." He grabbed Luffy's arm and pulled her along. Normally, he'd try to leave the girl behind, but after traveling with her for a few months, he knew she couldn't be left alone. So he dragged her along on his aimless journey. Luffy stopped.

"Zoro, those guys..." she said. Zoro looked back. The two, Johnny and Yosaku were bowing behind them.

"Train us!" They demanded.

"Haaa?" Zoro looked at them. And that's how it all started.

Flashback end-

Zoro yawned as he shifted through his pockets.

"And we need to buy you new shirts..." He muttered, looking at the coins in his hand before dropping them back in his pocket. Luffy stood.

"That too!" She giggled, then she looked to Sanji. "You're coming too! Right?" She asked. Sanji looked up at her.

"What? I told you, I can't..." He muttered. Luffy's face fell. Sanji felt a pang of pain before the large, already broken ship was sliced in half. The three stared at it.

"What was that!" Luffy blocked her face from the large wind that followed the slice. Zoro smiled.

"I think I know." He stood, drawing his three swords.

Luffy looked at the man who stood on the broken ship. He looked about 25, maybe 30, and held a large sword that resembled a cross.

"Zoro? Who's that?" Luffy asked.

"'Hawk eyed' Mihawk." Zoro smiled. "The greatest swordsman in the world." Luffy looked from Mihawk to Zoro.

"You're not gonna fight him... are you?" Luffy asked.

"Of course I am." Zoro smiled.

"Ok... be careful. Good luck!" Luffy smiled.

"Thanks." Zoro charged the man.

Luffy watched them clash. She could tell, Zoro was losing. The man flashed behind him. Luffy tapped her foot in anticipation. Zoro stood and spread his arms.

"What's this?" Mihawk asked.

"A slice to the back is a swordsman greatest dishonor." Zoro stated.

"Well said." Mihawk sliced Zoro across the chest.

"Zoro!" Luffy yelled when the boy started bleeding heavily. Sanji was just staring in shock. Luffy looked at the blond boy.

"I have to help him!" She said, jumping up and hopping swiftly on the drift wood to where Mihawk was walking away on the opposite side of the broken ship. "Stop! Hey!" Luffy yelled at him.

Mihawk turned and saw a girl with blue shorts and a black waiters coat running towards him, a straw hat perched on the top or her head.

"Stop!" She yelled angrily. Mihawk stopped and allowed the girl to punch him in the face. He turned to look at her.

"Hello." He nodded.

"Why'd you do that!? Why'd you hurt Zoro!" She yelled.

"He started the fight young one." Mihawk said. Luffy glared and punched his chest repeatedly, trying to gain a reaction of pain. A reaction that never came. Mihawk picked her up by her shirt collar.

"Put me down." She began to kick him.

"Where'd you get this hat?" Mihawk asked.

"Shanks..." Luffy muttered. Mihawks eyes went a bit wide with surprise.

"Is that so..." He muttered.

Mihawk set Luffy down. She looked at him curiously.

"...Is Zoro gonna be ok?" Luffy asked.

"Possibly." Mihawk shrugged. Luffy sighed, at least there was a chance.

"Oh." Luffy turned.

"How old are you?"

"I'm fourteen..."

"And you're a pirate?"

"Sure am!"

"So young..." Mihawk shook his head. "Well. I'm going." He turned.

"Wait!" Luffy yelled. Mihawk stopped. "Tell Shanks I said hi!" she said, then she turned and ran, and Mihawk was gone. Luffy knelt next to Zoro.

"Zoro? Zoro!" She shook him.

Zoro was in pain. He had a strange dream.

Luffy was hugging Sanji, who had one arm draped around her shoulders. She smiled.

"I don't need you anymore Zoro! Sanji said he'll watch after me!" Luffy hugged Sanji tighter. Sanji smiled.

"Yeah, later, Marimo." He snickered. Luffy smiled.

Zoro cringed.

"Lu-ffy!" He coughed.

"Zoro!? Are you ok!?" Luffy help him sit up.

"Luffy... I'm.. I'm sorry." He said, tears falling. Luffy hugged him.

"It's ok. As long as you're ok." she sniffled.

"I'm sorry... you need the best swordsman for your dream."

"And you'll be the best." Luffy pulled away and smiled at him.

"Yeah." Zoro said, wiping his face.

Luffy's bottom lip quivered and she broke out in a sob. Zoro jumped back at bit in surprise.

"Lu-Luffy-!?" Luffy wrapped her arms around his waist and cried into his chest.

"Zooorrrooo! I thought you were gonna die!" She cried. Zoro patted her head, remembering for a moment that she was just a little girl.

"Yeah yeah, I'm not going anywhere." Zoro cringed. "But Luffy-" He gagged when he hugged him tighter. "It hurts!" He coughed, going unnoticed as she continued to cry.