One Piece - Lionheart of the Sea
Hey everyone and welcome to my new One Piece fanfiction. I'll be honest, I always intended on writing one of these but I was never sure how to go about it, after all, One Piece is a hit-or-miss story where it's really hard to write a good one. But I decided to take a chance. Now to give you a heads up, this story will be about an OC replacing Luffy. And when I say replace I don't mean he comes out of nowhere, he'll still be born to the same family as Luffy and grow up like him. He'll just be a different person, as in being smarter, better trained, not being retarded, and in my opinion a much more capable main character.
I don't hate Luffy, but honestly his stupidity and carelessness, along with the way everyone treats him like a joke most of the time, and his not seeming to care really annoyed me, so I swapped him with someone else. Be on the lookout because he'll have some similar treats to a few characters from different anime.
Disclaimer: The following is a non-profit fan-based parody, One Piece is owned by Funimation, Eiichiro Oda, Shueisha, Toei Animation, and Fuji TV. Please support the official release.
"Pirate" Regular speech.
"Pirate" Thoughts.
Finger Pistol Attack names.
(Pirate) Words said previously.
"PIRATE!" Shouting speech.
[Pirate!] people talking at the same time.
"Pirate" people talking over communication.
Prologue
Somewhere in the furthest corner of an unknown part of the world was a pure-white Island that almost no one knew where to find. On a small part of said Island was a large building that acted as a base. Within this base was a dark room with nothing but four walls and the ceiling inside, the only source of light was the rays of the sun. Standing inside this room were two men who were meeting in secret.
One is a tall, tanned, broad-chested, muscular old man. He has a beard goatee and a scar over his left eye. His hair and goatee were all black with sideburns beginning to whiten. He wore a dark double-breasted suit with a white shirt and a red tie. He had a neutral expression on his face.
The other one is also tall but shorter by a foot and is dressed in a long green cloak, underneath which he wears a dark black suit, with an orange neckerchief. He has spiky black hair that reaches down to his shoulders with a widow's peak and a criss-cross tattoo on the left side of his face, which is colored dark red. He had a stern demeanor. Strangely enough though, in this man's arms was what appeared to be a newborn infant that was wrapped in a white blanket.
"Are you sure about this, Dragon?" The older man asked.
"I can't keep him with me, he would be in constant danger and you know that." The now named Dragon reasoned. "Better to hide him away with you, father."
"Tch, I'm not a nursing service you know." The older man grumbled. "Besides, don't forget I'm a Vice-Admiral and constantly on the Grand Line. How safe could he be with me?"
"Whatever the blood you passed on to him Garp, you know he will still be hated for sharing mine. That is how the world works." Dragon reminded him. "The way I see it, between a wanted man and a Hero of the Navy, it's obvious which is the better of the two."
"You know I'll raise him to be a strong Marine right!?" The man apparently named Garp replied after a moment.
"I know you'll try." Dragon replied, laughing quietly. "One thing the World Government has never understood or allowed for in its plans is the concept of free will, which is prevalent in every man, however large or small, young or old."
The older gentleman frowned lightly at that. "Alright I'll take him, but I swear at least one of these grandchildren of mine is going to become a Marine! And if I ever see you again, son. I'll do my duty, you know that."
"I know you mean well, but what makes you so sure he would desire to follow you into the Marines?" Dragon asked amused.
Garp just had a wide confident look on his face. "Because I can tell. He'll grow up having two strong fists and a sense of justice. After all, he's my grandson."
"By that logic, he would also grow up to have a strong sense of what's right and be a natural leader of others. After all, he is my son." Dragon argued.
"Don't get smart with me!" Garp barked.
Dragon looked more serious. "The way I see it, it could be more likely that he won't be like either of us. In fact, maybe he'll be completely different along with different ambitions as well."
Garp thought about that. "Hmm, who knows you could be right."
"But regardless of what ambition will drive him, I'm sure it'll be one of a great scale." Dragon said looking upwards.
"So what's his name?" Garp asked. "Did you decide on one?"
"Yes, his name is Light." Dragon answered. "It means; A child that shines light illuminating a new Era upon this world. Because this is what I believe he will become."
"Light huh, it's a good name. Monkey D Light." Garp said, satisfied.
After that, Both men fell silent, knowing this would be the last time they would meet without being enemies. Dragon walked up to him and handed over the infant to Garp. Garp reached out and took him, holding him gently.
Garp stared down at the little boy now in his care who was silent and cradled against his chest. "Make sure you never show your face in front of me again Dragon or else I'll try to arrest you!"
Dragon nodded and walked away and between one second and the next disappeared.
With that settled, Garp walked out and made his departure. later as the sunset, Garp was sailing away on a Naval ship with Light and vanished over the horizon. Dragon who was still at the base looked out in the distance facing the East. "Follow your own path, my son."
Seven Years later. The seas of East Blue were quiet and tranquil, the sun was shining down just as a cool sea breeze came drifting slowly over the shore. Seagulls flocked above casting small shadows over the waves they flew by. It truly was a beautiful day. Nearby there was a certain Island that was enjoying this peaceful atmosphere to the fullest, the Dawn Island.
On this Island was a thick green jungle. The trees were green and luscious, and so was the grass, a bird flew by past the beautiful rays of sunshine, and wildflowers were blooming all around. Through all this quiet peaceful nature, the silence was disturbed by the sound of heavy footsteps. Through the trees a large figure walked by, It was Garp, although now he was dressed in a tropical shirt and light-colored shorts, along with sandals. He looked like someone on vacation.
The man was carrying a bottle of liquor in his hands as he hummed quite contently in himself, not having a care in the world. Suddenly Garp stopped moving after he reached a small patch of bushes. "Ah, there you are!" Garp called out loudly to something that had moved among the thick bushes. "Come out here!"
Suddenly a small figure, dirty, tired, and beaten came stumbling through the thick foliage and stood before Garp. It was a child who looked no older than 7 years old. He had raven black hair with dark-purple highlights, often appearing pure dark purple in some angles, and black eyes that were sharp and narrow, like a Cats-eyes. The boy also had clear light-toned skin. He was tiny, dressed in a torn blue shirt, and dirty brown trousers, with white shoes. He was covered in dirt around his clothes and his hair and animal claw-shaped scratch marks all over his arms and torso.
This boy was Light. Now Seven years old.
"H-Hey Gramps." Light stuttered tiredly, coming to a stop in front of the hulking figure of Garp.
"Now, how was your week in the jungle?" Garp asked happily, patting Light fondly on the head.
"Pretty rough." Light answered, not joining in on the happy mood. "After a few days I managed to beat all the wolfs, but I still couldn't take on any of the bears, it was hard just to escape from them." He sounded disappointed in himself despite surviving something most would think is impossible for someone his age. "I could barely sleep."
Garp laughed as he clapped him on the shoulders. "But you survived! That's what matters."
"You're hurting my shoulders." Light complained.
Later on, Light's problems weren't over yet as his grandfather took him to a small clearing through the thick trees, where he was somewhat surprised to see several monkeys there. Garp then practically throws Light at them, yelling at them to start fighting.
But Light didn't complain as he started to fight. His movements were a bit sluggish due to his untreated injuries and exhaustion, but he was still doing well for a child. The monkeys seemed to fight like humans, boxers to be exact and kept attacking as a group. Light jumped back and landed near Garp.
"Uh Gramps, what am I even doing here?" He questioned, feeling fed up.
"Training." Was Garp's answer.
"So we go from bears to monkeys? And didn't I just finish my training a few minutes ago?" Light asked.
"True, but that was survival training and this is combat training." Garp reason. "Those monkeys are skilled at using Martial Arts so they're perfect for training."
The monkey in front of him was making noises and got into a boxing stance, throwing out punches as if he was challenging him.
Light just glared knowing it was pointless to try arguing anymore. "Fine already! I just need to win right?" He got into his own boxing stance and charged back at the monkeys and stopped when he was right in front of them. "I gotta warn you though, they really hurt; these knuckles o' mine."
This time he matched his movements with the monkeys and matched their style. However, he upped his speed and tempo, waiting for them to attack before he dodged and countered. Making sure to switch from one to another in quick succession to avoid giving them a chance to swarm him. Before long all the monkeys were beaten and collapsed on the group in a pile. Light walked away with bruises all over his fists.
Garp laughed patting him on the head again. "That's my grandson! One day you're gonna become the world's Strongest Marine!"
"Marine?" Light thought about that keyword, feeling unsure. "Will I become a Marine? Well, I really only care about being the world's Strongest, but it's not like I dream of being a Marine or anything. In fact, I'm not really sure what I want to do."
These thoughts of what he wanted to be were something that was always on his mind. Though Light didn't exactly hate the idea of being a Marine, he mainly just never felt interested in being one. Truthfully nothing he could think of interested him, but the only thing that ever motivated him was his desire to be the Strongest. If that meant leaving this Island one day and going out to sea then he wouldn't mind. But he didn't worry about something that was years away right now.
"Say, Gramps, do you got any strength training exercises I could use?" Light requested.
"Huh, you wanted more training?" Garp was now confused. "I thought you were exhausted."
"Yeah but, strength training is the best kind in my opinion because it's something I can do without you being around." Light said completely bluntly.
BOINK!
Garp raised his fist and punched Light so hard that he was knocked to the ground. "Don't get smart with me you brat!" He barked.
"I rest my case." Light muttered with his face still on the ground.
"But." The old man calmed down. "I do have some exercises in mind for you. But you better be ready for some pain." He warned.
Light now got back up and simply nodded, not being intimidated.
Outside the forest and at the port end of the island was a small village, barely twelve different houses clustered together around a few larger buildings. Grass meadows behind wooden fences that had cows on the other side and windmills all over the place. This was Foosha Village.
It was now evening and there was a beautiful sunset along the horizon. The sky was filled with color; orange faded to purple as the sun receded across the glassy, blue-green ocean. The sound of waves washing slowly against the shore and the gentle tumble of scattered windmills echoed throughout the village.
At the center of this village was a large tavern with the name, PARTYS BAR, hanging over the entrance. Suddenly a young woman came out of the bar with a broom in her hands as she began to sweep the front way. She is a young and pretty woman who appeared to be in her early twenties, she had brown eyes and dark green hair that goes up to just above her shoulders. She wore a yellow kerchief, an orange blouse with black sleeves, a long light blue skirt, and orange sneakers with white soles. It was easy to tell based on her appearance that she was the bar owner.
"Makino!" A familiar voice shouted.
The woman, apparently named Makino looked to see Light running towards her while carrying a heavy sack. He went straight for the woman at the bar. Light stopped in front of her looking as though he was running for his life.
"Light, what—?" She asked as she heard a familiar booming voice coming down the road.
"WHERE IS THAT BRAT!"
"Don't tell him I'm here." Light asked her, running inside the bar. "Gramps caught me again."
She blinked before she realized what he meant and nodded and followed him inside. The inside of the warm-looking building had a bunch of chairs and tables with a large bar counter with racks loaded with bottles of alcohol, and a lot of different bottles behind the counter. Makino told him to duck behind the counter and be quiet until she got rid of Garp. Light ducked down on the floor and tried to hide the sack.
Suddenly the two doors burst open and in came Garp.
"Is he in here?!" Garp asked as he came up to the woman named Makino, who stood up straight and tall.
"Training hard, Garp-san?" She asked politely, smoothly covering up any hint that she was hiding something.
"That brat… I can't understand what made him into such a troublemaker." Garp sighed as he sat down at one of the tables and pulled out a bag of rice crackers and took a big bite out of one.
"What is it now?" Makino asked, still smiling her sweet smile.
"Makino." Garp grunted, not answering the question. "Did Light come here? I turn my back for one second and he goes off into High-Town and started causing trouble."
"What kind of trouble?" Makino asked, obviously hiding the fact that she knew.
"Stealing, of course." He answered simply. "I try and raise him to be a Marine, and he goes out acting like some thief."
"Well, I haven't seen him." Makino lied.
"That doesn't mean he's not here." Garp stood up. "Gave me a second." He became more focused and didn't say a word, he just looked around, until he looked towards the counter. "Aha! There you are!"
Garp went to the counter and leaned over it to grab Light, but Light was faster as he clambered out of the way by a hair and ran over to Makino, having already hidden the sack before being found.
"How did you find me?" Light demanded an answer. "It's like you knew where I was."
"Bah, that's something you're not ready to know yet without a few more years of training." Garp brushed off. "More importantly, don't think you can get away with acting like a thief while I'm around."
"I'm not a thief, I'm a burglar." Light corrected.
"DON'T GET SMART WITH ME YOU BRAT!" Garp yelled cracking his knuckles together.
Makino then held up her hands and cried out. "Garp-san, didn't you say you had to go somewhere today? Apparently, Navy Headquarters needs you back for a very important job?"
"I do, but I wanted to at least knock Light upside the head first!" Garp barked. "After all the training we got done I figured he'd been too exhausted to try this again."
"Really, what did you do this time?" Makino asked, as Light just sat on a table nonchalantly.
"After sending a week in the woods, he had me fight monkeys and then do strength exercises." Light answered her question.
"I just don't get where all that stamina comes from, it's like he's an animal." Garp grumbled.
"That says more about you than me, considering you raised me." Light reminded him.
Instead of responding to that, Garp now decided to address Makino in a casual manner. "So how have things been here?"
"Quiet and peaceful as always." She smiled. "Though I can't help but think that's because your ship is docked at the harbor."
"I'll be returning to HQ tonight." He said as Makino looked up. "So I'll be leaving this troublemaker with you again."
Makino smiled at him and nodded. "That's great. You know how much I love having Light visit." She then smiled at the little boy and ran her fingers through his hair fondly before she asked. "Do you know when you'll be back?"
"Don't know yet." Garp answered, finishing up his bag of rice crackers. "But don't worry. This village is so small no real Pirate will stop by here again. The last ones who were dumb enough to come by were complete weaklings. Bwahahahaha!"
"Well, please hurry back anyway." Makino said happily, though her expression clearly said otherwise. "Oh, and please let us know beforehand so we can gather enough crackers to cover your next stay." She added as Garp tilted his head back to finish the bag.
Light watched him finish the rice crackers in wonder. "I don't know how he can eat so much of that stuff, I just needed to eat one to know I hated them."
Garp just laughed even harder as he waved goodbye. The sun had all but fallen over the horizon and the bright orange of the sunset had given way to the deep purple and blue of the night. Makino took Light upstairs where she could get him cleaned up.
"He's getting pretty harsh in his training isn't he?" Makino asked in a kind tone, looking sadly at his bleeding hands. "But it looks like you'll be staying with me again tonight."
"Yeah, looks like it. But as for the training, it's nothing I can't handle." Light assured her. "Besides that, thanks for letting me hide my stuff here."
She let out a small laugh. "It's not a problem. But you really are a problem child, why do you always go out to steal?"
"It's not like I have many options. The geezer never leaves me with any money or clothes, so I've gotta get some for myself." Light justified his actions. "Besides, those stuffed shirts in High Town won't miss me taking a few trinkets."
"You're like a Tom Cat." Makino told him, finding it funny. "If you need those things you could just ask, I don't mind looking after you for a bit."
"But I don't want to have to rely on others or be in debt." Light told her with a serious expression. "I want to be able to do things on my own, without always troubling you."
"Well listen to you trying to be an adult." She wiped up more of the dirt on his face and hair. "You're just a child Light, it's okay to rely on others right now." Makino said in a caring manner. "Besides, I told you it's no trouble."
Light just looked away and huffed trying to assert himself, but Makino just giggled thinking it was cute. She then started to bandage up his injuries, after lifting up his shirt, she was surprised to see the number of cuts and bruises he had.
"I know he says it's training, but sometimes he gets carried away." Light told her, knowing she was surprised by the state he was in. "I just don't know why he's so hung up on the idea of me being a Marine."
"Is that not something you want to do?" Makino asked, wrapping his fists in bandages.
"It's not like I hate the idea, I'm all for striking a blow for the little guy and doing what's right. I just want it to be my choice instead of something someone else set up for me." Light admitted. "If I did join I couldn't do what I want, anytime someone higher up said the word, I can't do anything but listen, that's what the old man always does."
"You might be right, but even if you don't want to be a Marine, do you know what you do want?" Makino asked him curiously.
Light thought about it until he shook his head. "…I don't, there are a lot of things I could do, but I don't know which one I want to do. All I really want is to be the Strongest in the World.
"And that's okay." Makino told him, good-naturedly. "You don't need to decide what you want yet. You've got a long time to figure it out, but whatever you decide to do, just make sure it's something you yourself are happy with."
Light listened to her words and smiled. "Yeah, I guess you're right."
"But until you do, this'll be our little secret." She smiled placing a finger over her lips.
"Don't worry about that, I never tell the geezer anything." Light assured her.
After their conversation was over, Makino finished patching him up and led him to a small room inside the house where a bed was already made, She ran her fingers through his hair again before finally closing the curtains as the moon came up. She closed the door quietly behind her and Light could hear her going back downstairs to attend to her bar again. He let out a tired yawn as the fatigue of today finally caught up with him, Light climbed on the bed and closed his eyes letting himself drift off into slumber.
But before he completely fell asleep he could just vaguely hear a voice shouting out through the night. "Pirates! A Pirate ship is docked!"
The next morning when the darkness faded, Light woke up and opened his eyes. Only now there was a bright light shining through the thin curtains. The young boy got out of bed and started to rub his eyes to get rid of his drowsiness. Afterward, he went over to the window and opened the curtains to look outside. Looking out the see the village, he saw that everything looked normal except for one thing. At the docks silhouetted against the bright sun, was a new ship sitting at port. It was a large ship with a black skull and cross-bone marked flag.
"Huh, a Pirate ship?" Light thought a little surprised, having known what that flag meant.
Feeling curious he went downstairs to ask Makino about it. As he entered the bar Light saw that it wasn't just Makino who was there. The whole bar was filled with men, all slumped over their seats, and most of them were passed out drunk. They all reeked of alcohol.
As for Makino, she was standing behind the counter, cleaning some glasses before looking over at Light and smiling.
"Are they Pirates?" Light asked as he looked over them all.
"Yes, they are, Light." Makino answered, still beaming happily, though her smile seemed to be a little forced as she gave the men a nervous sideways glance. "They got here last night after you went to bed. They've been here all night drinking. I'm surprised you were able to sleep through it all." She leaned over and patted his raven hair with an affectionate smile as Light looked at the sorry state of the bar.
"Looks like they really made a mess of the place." Light noticed.
"Who's the kid?" Asked a slightly slurred voice suddenly. "He your little brother?"
Looking over, Light saw that the man who just spoke was raising his head from where he was sleeping a second ago.
He is a relatively tall man just under two meters, well-built, tan-complexioned, and in the prime of his adulthood. Strangely his hair is toned distinctly red almost deep-crimsonish. His hairstyle was a straight, middle-parted one kept loosely down to nape length, with shorter at eye level, curtained bangs in the front. In his face resides a triple set of vertically parallel, linear scars that pass at an angle over his left untouched eye, and under it a simple, white shirt half-buttoned up, exposing the middle of his chest and some of his abs. The man's outfit consists of plain-brown pants cut below the knee, collected halfway up the shin. Initially, the pair was slightly loose, with golden buttons down the outer leg sides, and with a red sash around his waist to keep his shirt tucked, his footwear consists of simple brown sandals, their soles gray-studded.
Something to also note was he happened to be wearing a Straw hat on his head.
Makino smiled at him. "Sadly, no." She answered. "But I look after him when his grandfather's away."
"And who are you, Mister degenerate?" Light asked him curiously and at that, the men who weren't passed out suddenly started laughing, though the Red-haired man looked irritated.
"You brat!" He snapped. "Who are you calling a degenerate?!"
"Sorry boss but, considering you're hungover in a tavern after drinking all night, you do look like a degenerate!" A fat Pirate with red sunglasses commented, enjoying a stab of meat on a dagger before falling over from his seat as he started laughing too.
"Huh?! By that logic, you guys are in the same boat!" He argued.
Makino led Light to the other side of the bar and sat him up on a stool. "Now, now Light, don't anger the customers." However, the look on her face showed that she found it funny too.
"It's all right, Makino." The Red-haired man sighed, waving his hand at his tipsy crew. "Believe me, it doesn't take much to get these losers laughing."
"So who exactly are you?" Light asked, looking at him. "What's your story, Straw hat?"
"Actually I prefer to go by Red-Hair." He corrected the child. "And my name is Shanks, I'm a Pirate."
"A Pirate?" Light asked, his expression not changing. "Well, I figured as much when I saw your ship. Still, haven't seen a Pirate before. You know until right now."
Shank looked somewhat surprised. As if he expected the kid to go and hide at the mention of Pirates. "You're a strange kid." He commented. "So kid, since I told you my name how's about you tell me yours."
"I'm Monkey D Light." Light complied. "Though around here, people call me, the Wildcat of Goa."
Shanks chuckled slightly. "Heh, that's a pretty lame name."
"At least it's not as tasteless or uncreative as Red-Hair." Light reminded him.
"I didn't name myself!" Shanks barked.
"Neither did I." Light pointed out as if it was obvious.
Shanks blinked as if he suddenly noticed something. "Wait… Monkey D?" He thought about the possibility of it being a coincidence but needed to be sure. "You wouldn't happen to be related to Monkey D Garp, would you?"
Now Light blinked. "How'd you know my grandfather's name?"
"You're his grandson!" Shanks yelled, jumping from his seat. Most of the men who were awake had the same reaction.
"Uh… Yes?" Light responded with some confusion, not knowing what the problem was.
And that was the fated meeting between Light and Shanks.
For the next year, Shanks and his crew stayed there off and on, sometimes leaving for a few days or a week before coming back, drinking the place dry during the evenings, and spending time hanging out with Light during the day. This year was also spent on hard training for Light, who learned how to fight, both unarmed and armed, even learning how to use a gun thanks to the First Mate, Ben Beckmann, and the one with dreadlocks named Yassop. He also went to town more frequently for stealing whenever the mood struck him.
Light also absorbed all the tales of adventure and thrill-seeking that the Pirates could tell him. Here he learned of the mysterious One Piece, Gold Roger, Devil Fruits, and the Grand Line. These tales were fascinating to him, and he could never get enough of them. During these tales, Shanks and Ben always took the lead. Yassop would turn the tale to his son, who he had left behind, which Light was interested in at first but soon became annoyed by the fact that Yassop insisted on repeating the same story over and over.
At one point Light asked them about a time when Garp was able to find him without seeing him, and they explained it to him as being a mysterious inherited power called Haki. Shanks explained describing Haki as a power that lies dormant in all the world's creatures. Presence, fighting spirit, and intimidation. It is not different from the things that humans can naturally sense such as these… 'The act of not doubting'. That is strength.
For a more detailed explanation. Ben told him that Haki is separated into two categories, or types, each having levels of usage so that even two proficient users might not be of equal strength. Most people who can use Haki tend to have a type they are better at and, as a result, focus on that type. However, a person can improve their abilities with both types of Haki. It just requires more work. Furthermore, the two types of Haki can also be used simultaneously.
Haki—Colors of Observation, which grants users a sixth sense of the world around them and limited precognitive abilities. Users can hone their skills to such a degree that they can achieve an advanced level that allows them to see their enemy's incoming attacks, sense the presence of living creatures within a certain radius, and feel the intent of those around them.
Haki—Colors of Armament, which allows the user to use their spirit as armor to defend against attacks or to make their own attacks more potent. Some users use this type can cover parts of their body or even their entire body and\or weapons, hardening them to make them be as strong and durable as metal. Users can hone their skills to such a degree that they can achieve an advanced level that allows them to emit the armament a short distance without a medium. Furthermore, when clashing against another Haki user, the one with the lower level will feel the impact to a certain degree, ranging from swelling to physical changes.
Light was amazed, both by the fact that such a power could exist but also that everyone on Shanks' crew could use it for themselves. He immediately asked them to tell him how to awaken it. Shanks told him about different training methods that were useful in awakening Haki and Light in turn adhered to those training methods as much as he could, never skipping a day of training. Although he never awakened his Haki or saw signs of it awakening, he still kept trying, which along with the training Garp taught him was the reason for his extreme growth in strength.
Back to the current day a year after they meet, everyone was gathered in the bar, this time though the Pirates didn't seem as drunk as they had been before. The tavern scene was a lively one, a Pirate crew was laughing, drinking, and eating, all while cracking jokes at each other.
In front of the counter, Light was sitting on a stool, exactly where he had been before, only he looked a little older and didn't have bandages. Sitting next to him was Shanks, who looked exactly the same.
"So let me see if I got this straight." Shanks said to Light while drinking. "You don't know what you want to be, but you do know you want to be the Strongest?"
"That's about right." Light answered him. "If all else fails, I could become a Marine, but I just can't get excited by the idea of being under someone else's authority, nor being unable to go anywhere unless someone else gives the "okay", so it's a Plan B."
"Well, I guess I can't argue with any of that." Shanks said, thinking it over. "Yeah, it's great being a Pirate… I mean sure, it'd be better without the Bounty Hunters and Marines on our tails all the time, but job hazard I suppose."
"Why did you become a Pirate anyway?" Light asked; he had been curious about that for a while.
"Hmmm." Shanks hummed, thinking it all over. "Don't know anymore." He finally confessed. "I guess I just wanted to go out and have as much fun as possible. Like you said, I knew I'd be much freer than locking myself up in Navy Headquarters for most of my life. I mean, when was the last time you heard about Marines going out for adventure? Marines… They're given orders, and they'll do it no matter what… The best thing about being a Pirate is that you can do whatever you want, whenever you want."
"Hmmm." Now Light started thinking about it. "Doing whatever you want does sound nice; I don't think I would mind living like that?"
Shanks laughed out loud. "What, do you wanna be a Pirate now?" He asked in a teasing way. "Get real. How could a kid like you ever be a Pirate?"
"You act like a kid more than me, Shanks." Light told him off. "You make a mess whenever you show up, you always joke around, and worst of all, you and your crew keep singing that stupid song."
"Hey, it's not some stupid song!" Shanks shouted, offended. "Binks Sake is a classic among Pirates. It's timeless."
"It's not catchy." Light argued back.
"Tch, you have no taste." Shanks muttered, turning his head.
"And you never change." Light muttered, not caring.
The crew started to laugh again. "Hey boss, your sulking; looks like your both kids." Lucky Roo laughed while enjoying his plate of meat.
"Who asked you?!" Shanks demanded.
Light chose not to respond, knowing that it would just be giving them what they wanted. Makino then came over to the two of them with a plate of food and a bottle of sake. "All right, how about you two calm down for a bit."
"Don't know what you're talking about. I'm completely calm." Light said before he started to eat.
Shanks chugged down some sake before he continued their talk. "Ha, you should consider yourself lucky that you're a kid, Light. Otherwise, you wouldn't be allowed to eat for free all the time."
"Better check your facts, Shanks." Light argued after swallowing some food. "I help out around the bar in exchange for my food; I've never eaten for free."
That made Shanks do a spit-take. "What?" He coughed a bit before looking at Makino for confirmation.
Makino smiled and nodded. "It's true; Light does odd jobs around the bar and helps with the cleaning up. He's very handy."
"Are you kidding me?" Shanks pointed at him as if he didn't believe it. "This little squirt?"
"It's called being responsible, something you obviously know nothing about." Light told him, with a hint of smugness in his voice.
"Who is teaching you those words?" Shanks questioned, feeling more irritated than usual.
"Still, though, I keep telling you that you don't have to do those things." Makino told him kindly. "I don't mind letting you stay and eat for free. After all, I just like having you around."
Light continued eating. "And I told you I don't want to rely on others. Regardless of who they are, if I can pull my weight somehow, I will. Better that than act like a freeloader or a bum like Shanks."
Makino sighed but didn't look upset. She knew by now that Light was incredibly stubborn about these things.
"You're a strange kind of weird Light." Shanks said, obviously not sharing his opinion. "You shouldn't act so smug; after all, you're just a little Cat."
"And you're just some drunken degenerate." Light replied, not caring to humor Shanks.
Makino laughed a little, finding it funny how the two of them didn't seem to realize how immature they were both actings.
Light soon finished the rest of his food, then looked over at the man sitting next to him. "Hey, Shanks."
"Yeah?" Shanks responded while enjoying his drink.
"How long are you going to stay this time?" Light asked curiously.
"Well…" Shanks said, thinking it all over for a moment. "It's been nice here. But we decided that we'll set sail and we'll finally leave this town for good so we can head back up north. We've stayed in one place for too long."
"So this is the last time…" Light said in a hollow tone. He felt somewhat disappointed to hear that believing things would only be boring once they were gone. Soon though his attention fell onto something else. Resting on the counter was a small open chest. Inside the chest was a violet, spherical-shaped fruit with a stem sprouting out of the top, with swirls that go in a curly "S" like-pattern. "What's that?"
"Huh? Oh, that." Shanks saw what he was looking at and picked the fruit up. "That's the Gum-Gum Fruit. It's one of those Devil Fruits I told you about. This one has the power to turn the one who eats it into a man-made of Rubber. Stretch, twist, and make blunt objects bounce off of you. All that stuff." He explained.
"So rubber powers in exchange for your ability to swim?" Light asked, looking carefully at the fruit.
"That's right." Shanks put it back in the chest. Then a thought occurred to him. "Say, you wanna eat it?"
"What?" Light seemed surprised at the very idea. He could see the possibilities of how this power could be useful and the advantages it could give him. But after thinking it over, he shook his head. "…I think I'll pass. Having my body become rubber would take a lot of getting used to, not to mention it would seriously cut down on my training."
"Well, fair enough." Shanks closed the chest. "Figured I should at least offer, though."
Just then, the door to the tavern was literally kicked in, and a group of men came in. There were around 35 of them, and all of them were dressed mostly alike, with smug smiles on their suspicious-looking faces. As if they were plotting something.
"Sorry for the interruption." The man in the front said as he marched in he was obviously the leader of the bandits. He was a tall man with a long thin mustache and a seemingly permanent sneer on his face. The Pirates fell silent, looking up as if they were curious to see what this man would do. Light, however, was curious to see what the Pirates would do. Makino stopped cleaning the glasses and seemed to become tense, as if she was expecting a fight to break out.
"So these are the Pirates I've heard too much about." The man said, stepping on the door and leaving a boot-shaped print on it. "They all look like idiots to me."
The Pirate crew didn't say anything as they kept a close watch on the bandits, still waiting to see what they would do. The group approached the counter as Makino walked forward to greet them. "Welcome. What can I do for you?" She asked. There was a hint of uneasiness in her tone, but she stood in front of them with a forced smile.
"We're bandits." The man smirked at her. "We're not here to destroy the bar. We just need ten barrels of sake."
"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid we're all out of sake at the moment." Makino answered him politely.
"Hmm?" The bandit asked, raising his eyebrows. "That's strange. These Pirates seem to be enjoying themselves. What are they drinking, then? Water?"
"Its sake." Makino answered him. "But it's also the last of our stock."
Shanks looked up at them. "Oh, sorry." He said to them all. "Looks like we went and drank the place dry. But if you want, there's still a bottle left that's unopened." Shanks then held up the bottle that Makino had just brought him. "If you want it, it's all yours."
The bandit's eyes suddenly darkened as if he couldn't believe that Shanks would dare to speak in front of him before he shattered the bottle. The drink splashed all over Shanks and the bar. Makino gasped, and all the bandits laughed at the sight, though the Pirates didn't seem fazed by it at all as they turned to their Captain—whose head was down with the hat shading his eyes so they couldn't see his face.
"Do you know who you're talking to?" The bandit asked coldly. "I'm a bandit. I'm a wanted man who's worth 8,000,000 Beil." The bandit went on. "One bottle won't nearly be enough. Don't take me lightly."
It was a brief moment before Shanks looked up. "Now the floor's all wet. Sorry about that, Makino." Shanks then knelt down and started picking up the shards of glass. "Do you have a mop?"
Makino shook herself awake and went around from behind the counter. "O-Oh, no, it's fine, Captain." She said at once. "I can manage it."
But as she stepped out, the mountain bandit drew his Sword and slashed it along the counter, cutting a groove into the wood and sending everything on it crashing to the floor, making an even bigger mess.
"Well, if you enjoy cleaning." He sneered at Shanks, who was now leaning up against the counter, soaked with sake. "Now there's more to clean." He put his Sword back and turned back. "No point wasting our time here when there's no sake. Let's go, men!" He then called to his men, and with that, the band of bandits filed out of the tavern—all of them roaring with laughter. "Later, cowards." The leader called over his shoulder with a sneer as he left.
Makino quickly kneeled down next to Shanks. "Are you alright?" She asked, worried, using the towel in her hand to help him clean up. "Are you hurt anywhere, Captain?"
Shanks merely waved his hand at her. "I'm fine. It's no problem." He reassured her before he grinned. And as if he broke a curse, his crew broke out into loud, energetic laughter at their Captain, with Shanks laughing louder than any of them.
"They really got you!" Yassop yelled, laughing. "That's funny!"
"You look pretty dumb on the floor, Boss!" Lucky Roo laughed as well as Shanks kept laughing out loud with Makino still trying to clean him up.
The only one among them who wasn't laughing was Light. He just seemed to look rather disappointed. Similar to someone who was expecting a certain outcome only to see something else happen entirely and just felt to wind completely leave their sails in disappointment. He got up from his stool and jumped to the floor, walking up to Shanks. "What was that all about?"
"Hmm, what was what?" Shanks asked, not seeing a problem.
"Why'd you just let them get away with it?" Light clarified, not seeing the humor. "You could have beaten them whenever you wanted, yet you just sat there and took it."
"It's not that simple, Light. Sometimes there are some fights that just aren't worth it." Shanks said, looking down at the floor. "I know how you feel, but all they did was spill sake on me. It's not worth getting upset over."
"They broke the doors down, slashed the counter, and trashed up the bar." Light begged to differ. "I think that's plenty to be upset about."
Shanks sighed, standing back up. "I can't fault you for feeling that way, but the way I see it. They didn't hurt anyone or cause that much trouble at all, and if that's the case, there isn't really much else I can do."
"Maybe not now, but what about later?" Light followed up, not willing to let this go. "You know what type of people they are, the kind that acts like they're untouchable, like they can do whatever they want because they think no one can stop them. Those kinds of people always go around looking for trouble just so they can get a kick out of it. You say they haven't done anything now, but what happens when they show up again and hurt someone while you aren't around, even though you could have stopped them had you done something now."
Every Pirate in the bar was surprised, both by how seriously he was taking all this and how someone who was just an eight-year-old boy was able to see things in such great detail and so thought out. It wasn't like they didn't see the point he was making, but they still believe that what Shanks chose to do wasn't the wrong choice. Shanks, however, just gave him a smile.
"You really are a strange kid, Light." Shanks had wiped off the Straw hat before he put it back on and looked at Light. "But try to understand what I'm saying. Listen, people can spill food on me, pour drinks on me, hell, they can even spit at me. I'll just laugh it off. But no matter what the reason, I won't forgive those who hurt my friends." He said, truly believing in the words he spoke. "And since that hasn't happened yet, all I can do is laugh."
Light was silent for a brief moment until he sighed this time. "I suppose that's fair. While I don't agree with what you decided to do, I also won't fault you for it or try to judge you. Now, if you'll excuse me." He started walking to the next room.
"Where are you going?" Shanks asked curiously.
"I'm getting a mop. As always, it's my job to clean up your mess." Light explained, not stopping to turn back, and while he was no longer in the same room as the others, he could still clearly hear them laughing energetically again.
A bit of time passed, and the scene was one of the taverns, with Light and Makino being the only ones present. It was quite different when it was just the two of them there, and there were no laughing Pirates drinking or making fun of each other. As for Light, he was simply sweeping the floor with a broom while Makino was cleaning up some glasses behind the counter.
"I almost don't recognize the place without those guys." Light thought, looking around.
"The Captain's been away for a while now." Makino said, breaking the silence. "You must miss them, don't you, Light?"
"I don't know." Light said, honestly not sure what to think. "I mean, this isn't exactly the first time someone just left me. Besides, it's not like I asked them to stay."
"Oh?" Makino asked with a knowing smile. "I thought you always had fun when they were around."
"It wasn't boring." Light admitted. "But, from the very start, Shanks said he wasn't going to stay. He was around for a whole year. That should be enough."
"Really?" Makino asked with a bright smile. "I guess I don't understand these things."
Light put down the broom and walked towards the door.
"Where are you going?" Makino asked.
"Going for a walk. I hate being cooped up." He answered as he reached the door.
"Have fun." Makino told him as he walked out.
Later, Light was walking through the village just a little ways away from the bar—it could still be seen just up the road. All Light thought about was how to spend the rest of his day, aside from training which he was already planning on. Once he was far away enough from the bar and in the middle of the village, he stopped when he heard laughter coming from a large group, except it wasn't the same laughter he was used to hearing from the Pirates, and it was getting closer.
Light got a bit closer and hid behind a tree to figure out who it was without being seen. Soon he saw it was the same group of bandits from before who were walking down the road. They all had smirks on their faces as if they were planning some great big joke.
"Them again." Light whispered darkly.
"I heard those Pirates aren't around today." The leader said with a satisfied smirk as he continued walking. "Guess now we can finally enjoy some sake."
Light's eyes widened, realizing that they were heading toward the bar. The bandits kept talking as they laughed. "We had a great time yesterday! Did you see the looks on their loser faces!"
"They couldn't do a thing!" Another bandit exclaimed. "Even after you gave their Captain a sake bath, boss."
"What a bunch of cowards!" They all roared with laughter as their stupid-looking leader said. "I really wanted to kill them all. That's all Pirates are, after all. Cowards of the sea."
Light clenched his fists and could feel the anger building up inside of him. But more than that, he knew the way the bandits were now they would definitely cause trouble if they reached the bar, and what's more, that would put Makino in danger. He thought about what he could do in this situation.
(You know what type of people they are, the kind that acts like they're untouchable, like they can do whatever they want because they think no one can stop them. Those kinds of people always go around looking for trouble just so they can get a kick out of it. You say they haven't done anything now, but what happens when they show up again and hurt someone while you aren't around, even though you could have stopped them had you done something now.)
(Listen, people can spill food on me, pour drinks on me, hell, they can even spit at me. I'll just laugh it off. But no matter what the reason, I won't forgive those who hurt my friends. And since that hasn't happened yet, all I can do is laugh.)
Light remembered the words he had said before and what Shanks' response was. He thought about his options but knew he had to decide quickly before it was too late. After making his decision, he breathed out a tired sigh and muttered. "It really is my job to clean up his mess."
With that, Light came out from behind the tree and picked up a small brick on the ground. Seeing the bandits weren't too far away, he threw the brick at the leader, aiming at his head.
BONK!
"Gugh!" The bandit cried out in pain as a hard brick hit his head. Said brick was moving at the speed of a thrown tennis ball before it hit. He fell to the ground with a bump on his head. The rest of the bandits gathered around their leader in concern to see if he was injured.
"Boss! You alright?" A bandit asked.
He got back up and looked pissed while he rubbed the back of his head. "What the hell was that?!"
"That would be me!" Light declared, stepping forth and showing himself to the band of bandits.
"You brat! Got a death wish or something!" The leader shouted angrily.
Light started to count the number of bandits with his finger, which served to confuse them until he said. "I count about 35 of you guys, and with one blow each, that'll be 35 punches in one fight."
Now all the bandits were as pissed as their boss. The fact that the one standing in front of them was a child no longer registered in their minds, all they saw him as was someone they wanted to kill.
"Who the hell does this punk think he is?!" A bandit said.
"You're gonna get yourself killed, boy!" Another bandit said.
"Enough babbling already; bring it on!" Light got into a fighting stance. "But I better warn you, they really hurt…" He had an excited smirk on his face as he cracked his knuckles. "These Knuckles o' mine."
"KILL HIM!" The leader bellowed.
By his word, they all charged at Light like wild bulls, though Light charged right back at them. To their surprise, he was much faster than they expected, and he reached them first, beginning his assault by jumping up and hitting the one in front of the pack with a Right-Hook, blowing him backward, and knocking him out once he hit the ground. The rest were shocked at what just happened, thinking this was going to be easy, only now worried. This gave Light an opening, and he lashed out his fists, bringing down three more of them.
"Surround him first, and then do whatever!" One of them suggested.
"Don't back down. He's just some kid!" Another one reminded the rest.
Light kicked one bandit in the knee, which made him fall. Now that he was on eye-level Light punched in the center of his face, knocking him out. After that, three more appeared behind him and tried to rush him, but Light dashed forward before they could reach and falcon-punched the one on the right, and used him as a springboard to get in between the other two and punched out both his arms, hitting them both and knocking them down.
"Quit going one-on-one! Pile onto oh him!" A bandit shouted.
"Ughyaa!" A bandit grunted before he was taken out.
One of the bandits came from behind Light and grabbed him, holding him up by the arms. "I got him! Hurry up and kill him!" Though Light reacted faster and slammed his elbow into the bandit's gut, forcing him to let go because of pain. Light rushed forward and lashed out his arms, punching anything in front of him. This let him take out a few more.
BANG!
Light stopped for a second when he heard the sound of a gun being fired, and the bullet grazed his shoulder. He had never faced down a gun in a real fight before, so it made him hesitate for a second. This second gave the bandits time to surround him, and a group of them piled on top of him, pinning him to the ground.
"We pinned him down!" One of them shouted. "Let's kill him!"
Unfortunately, Light was more swift and agile than they had realized. Just as one of them tried to stomp his foot on Light's head, he stomped down on nothing but the ground, and in a flash, Light was right behind them. Before they could even fully turn around, Light swung his fists at them, and like all the others, one blow was used to knock them out. He then used one of them as a springboard and launched himself at the one with a gun, kicking the gun out of his hands and Uppercutting him in the jaw.
This time a bandit grabbed one of Light's arms, and Light turned and punched him in the face. But there were four surrounding him, so while he punched out one of them, the rest all landed hits on him. They kept that up, Light hit one of them with a Straight punch, and one of them hit Light in the face with a Hook. Light hit one of them with a Hook, one of them pushed Light into the ground, another then kicked him in the face, then a third one rammed into him with his shoulder.
"AGGGHHH!" Light roared out as he freed himself.
Light punched out the bandit in front of him, but more of them were there, and they all lashed out punches at him. Now all of the bandits decided that they had to finish this before the boy in front of them could regain the advantage and used their numbers advantage to swarm him.
A few minutes ago. Shanks and his crew were back at the bar, planning to enjoy a last round of sake before they departed. While drinking, though, Shanks noticed that Light wasn't around, and Makino told him that Light was out for a walk. However, at that moment, someone rushed in through the door. He was a middle-aged old man with a cleft chin, grayish-white mustache and beard, oval glasses, and a walking stick. He was Wood Slap, the village's mayor, and right now, he had a look of panic.
The mayor ran up to Shanks and told him about the bandits that were causing trouble in the middle of town and how he saw Light fighting them. Hearing that made everyone stop what they were doing. Makino looked worried, and Shanks narrowed his eyes. With that, the whole crew got up from their seats and went to see what was going down; Shanks went, hoping Light didn't do anything stupid.
Back to the fight. Almost all of the bandits were flat on their backs, and the ground was covered in fallen bodies that showed no signs of regaining consciousness. Only three, including the leader, remained. Light still stood, breathing heavily, and had bruises from the hits he took. His face was bruised on his cheeks, and both his forehead and fists had some drops of blood on them. But the determined look in his eyes didn't waver for a second.
"Who the hell is this kid?" One of the remaining bandits said, spooked.
Light panted while trying to talk. "Just three more."
"I was wondering why there was so much noise in such a quiet part of town." A casual voice came from behind them. They all turned to see Shanks and his crew walking up to them, with Makino and Wood Slap. "So this is why." Shanks finished, looking at all of them.
"Light!" Makino screamed in worry after seeing the state he was in.
"Shanks?" Light muttered.
Shanks grinned brightly as he came forward. "If it isn't the bandits from the other day." He said before turning his grin towards Light. "What's up, Light? I didn't know you liked starting up fights like this."
Light huffed. "I'm just cleaning up the mess you left."
"Pirate." The leader snarled from where he was; normally, he'd be cockier, but after almost his entire group was taken out by one kid, he wasn't stupid enough to take his chance against an entire crew of Pirates, no matter who they were. "Why are you still here? I suggest you leave and continue cleaning unless you want to get hurt!" He attempted to intimidate him, hoping it was enough.
However, Shanks simply ignored him and kept his attention on Light. "Well, how about, kid, need help?"
Light just shook his head. "I don't, just sit back and watch."
Shanks smiled and nodded, signifying he would comply with his decision and not interfere. The rest of the crew shared that sentiment. Though Makino still seemed worried, Shanks reassured her that if things got bad, he would step in. But he had a feeling that wouldn't happen, the bodies littering the ground being an indication of that.
With that settled, the other two bandits charged at Light, intending the finish him. Light waited until they were close enough, and once they were only a few feet away, he dashed forward and ran past them. Light then shifted his body and turned around. He then jumped and punched one of the bandits in the back of the head, knocking him out. When he landed on the ground, the other bandit tried to attack, but Light built up strength in his legs and closed in first, cocking his fist back and punching dead center in the face.
And with that, there was only one bandit left. Light slowly approached him like a predatory beast stalking its prey while the bandit leader started to feel an ounce of fear coming entering his mind. Yet he still drew his Sword and planned to fight.
Shanks watched, both impressed and interested. "Who the hell called this kid a Cat? There are no Cats out there that are this wild." Shanks thought, watching Light. "He's more like a…." Shanks felt he could almost see the aura of a Lion standing behind Light that had the same eyes as him.
"I don't care what kind of monster you are, I just need to kill you, and this'll be over!" The leader yelled.
He charged at Light, ready to slash him. Light got on all fours and moved right under his Sword. He then kicked out at the center of the blade, and because his kick had enough strength, plus the Sword itself was of low quality, the blade shattered. When the bandit leader looked down at Light, he saw into his eyes, and at that moment, a strange pressure, almost like an inner power, burst out of Light's body.
It was like a strong rippling or shockwave-like effect that burst outwards along with small sparks of some kind of electrical aura, and it covered a small radius around his body. The bandit leader, unfortunately, was within that radius. He could feel something beyond fear enter him. He could feel intimidation so great that every instinct in his body was screaming at him to run, which he would have if his legs weren't frozen in fear.
While neither of them knew what this power was, Shanks and his crew did and widened their eyes before a smile formed on Shanks' face. "Well, how about that."
With his prey unarmed and unmovable, Light pounced, and putting all his strength in his right fist, Light punched him so hard he was slammed face-first into the ground. With that settled, Light looked around and saw that all the bandits were now beaten. Knowing that he had won the battle, Light simply closed his eye and held his fist in the air with pride and accomplishment.
Later that day, the sun was setting, and standing by the shore, enjoying the view of the orange sky and ocean was Light and Shanks. Light was still injured but ignored them because the pain had already subsided, and his breathing was normal again.
"That really was a crazy thing you did back there." Shanks told him, though his tone suggested he was impressed rather than scolding him. "You could've called for help, you know?"
"Maybe, but I only started that fight because I felt I had to." Light said, not seeing a problem. "Besides, no one else was around at the time."
"Normally, I'd chew you out for being so reckless, but considering you won, I won't. Still, I hope you don't make a habit of doing that. There are times when it's better to run away." Shanks advised him. "Even the Strongest can get overwhelmed."
"I know, but for me, this was a fight I couldn't run from." Light looked up at the sky, remembering the reason he fought. "It wasn't just because they were heading for the bar and could cause trouble. While they were walking, they kept talking about you guys, how they thought you were cowards and weaklings, laughing all the while. I felt that he couldn't just not do something. That's why I did."
"Is that right?" Shanks said softly before placing a hand on Light's shoulder and giving him a gentle smile. "Thanks, Light, you stuck up for us back there. I really appreciate it."
Light smiled back and nodded before remembering something. "Actually, that reminds me. Before my last attack, I felt something from inside of me, like some kind of invisible explosion or something, and that bandit looked really afraid afterward." He explained. "Was that the Haki you guys were talking about?"
"So you noticed, huh?" Shanks said, half-expecting him not to of noticed. "We never really told you this before, but there are actually three types of Haki. That was the third kind. Haki—Colors of the Supreme King, also known as the Kings' Power. It's a rare form of Haki that can't be attained through training. You can only be born with it, and only one in a few million people have this power. This type of Haki lets the user exert their willpower over others. Those who are hit by it feel strong intimidation flow their minds, and if the user has strong enough willpower, they can knock their victims out without even touching them."
Light listened to Shanks's explanation with great interest. "So does that mean I have this power?"
"Yeah, you're one of the rare few." Shanks continued. "But yours is still pretty weak, though, and needs work. Not only does it take a lot of training to fully master this type, but those who have always made a big splash on the world. All of the Strongest Pirates I've met around the seas have it. Even the Pirate King had it."
"I'm gonna go on a limb here and guess you've also got it." Light guessed, believing it was obvious.
Shanks shrugged his shoulders. "Well, I don't mean to brag, but I am a master of all three types." He bragged before he got serious again. "But to think, not once did I ever expect to find someone who had that Haki out here in this small village. You know some say that of all the people who have Colors of the Supreme King, the one who stands above them all stands at the top of this Era." Shanks looked at Light. "I wonder how you'll do."
Light thought about what Shanks told him and felt as though he had learned so much and yet had so many more questions now. As the sky darkened and the sun fully set, the two of them decided to finally head back to the bar.
The night had passed, and it was now the following morning. Everyone was at the docks now and the Red-Hair Pirates were just loading up crates of food and barrels of sake onto their ship. They were all preparing to set sail, this being their last time docking at this harbor. Light and Shanks were watching them work, with Shanks now wearing a black cape and a Sword strapped to his hip. Light's injuries were gone now since Light had always healed faster than most he now looked perfectly fine.
"So this time, you're leaving for good?" Light asked as Makino, the mayor and all the townspeople came to say goodbye.
"Yep." Shanks said brightly, tilting the Straw hat back so he could see the waves better. "It's been a nice, extended vacation, but we've stayed long enough. It's about time we moved on." He looked at him and asked. "Sad to see us go."
"…Nah." Light responded, still smiling. "When setting sail, it's best to be left off with a smile."
"Heh, I guess that's true." Shanks said with a small laugh. "By the way, did you ever figure out what you want to be someday?"
Light thought before answering. "Actually, I do have something in mind." He hesitated before saying. "…What if I said I wanted to be a Pirate?"
Shanks blinked for a second, not expecting him to say that now. "A Pirate?"
"Yeah, I've been thinking about it since yesterday." Light explained. "I want to be the Strongest, but I also want to set sail, and when I do, I don't want to do it as a Marine but as someone who can leave under his own terms and do whatever I feel is right. Basically, having the freedom to live however I choose. A Pirate."
Shanks silently heard his words and then asked him something surprising. "…Then, if you want, why not come with us?"
Light's eyes widened, and he looked up at Shanks. "What…? But you said a kid couldn't be a Pirate?"
Shanks smiled and shook his head. "As far as I'm concerned, you're not a kid anymore—You're a man now." He told Light proudly. "Yesterday, I saw you become a man, one that I wouldn't mind letting on my ship. What do you say?" Shanks extended his hand out to Light.
Light considered taking Shanks' offer and almost reached out to take his hand but stopped himself and chose not to.
"You know, if you had asked me this yesterday, I might've said yes. But the truth is, I don't just want to be a Pirate on any ship." Light now had a look of conviction. "I want to set sail on my own ship, under my own flag, and go on my own adventure. There are plenty of things I don't know about outside this island, but I want to discover them by myself and overcome all kinds of adversities; that's what makes the adventure worth it. If I went with you, I couldn't do any of that, and I'd just be following you on a journey that's already completed."
Shanks didn't look upset by his choice. Rather, he looked satisfied, like he was hoping for that response, as if he had told Light a riddle and he got the correct answer. "And what's your goal on this adventure?"
"One day, I'll be the Strongest Man in the world and have the Strongest crew, one stronger than yours. We'll sail even further than the Pirate King and live however we choose. Not even the Navy could touch us." Light proclaimed, with determination in his eyes like he was excited just picturing it.
Shanks listened to Light's proclamation before he looked happy, as if he was feeling nostalgic. "Oh?" He teased. "So you think you can surpass us and that you'll sail further than Gold Roger? Well, in that case." And slowly, he reached up to the Straw hat and took it off so he could place it on Light's head. "This hat is my gift to you."
Light stood confused as Shanks said to him quietly. "This hat is an important treasure of mine. So you have to promise me you'll take good care of it." Shanks pulled away. "It's a promise between men, once you've become the Strongest in the World and a Pirate better than my old Captain or me, then return that hat to me and not a moment sooner. Do you promise?"
Light tried to speak but couldn't find the right words. So he simply looked Shanks in the eye and nodded. That was enough for Shanks, and with that, he went to go board his ship. Makino came up from behind Light and stood with him, smiling as kindly as ever as she looked up to the crew and waved goodbye.
"Raise anchor!" Shanks yelled. "And set sail!"
"Aye!" The rest of the crew yelled before they looked back and waved goodbye to everyone. Light kept his gaze on Shanks as he sailed further away; Shanks also looked back at him. Then Light held out his fist towards Shanks, and Shanks smiled and extended his own fist; though they couldn't reach, it meant something to them. Soon he put his arm down and watched the ship sail away until it disappeared over the horizon.
Once they were gone, Light placed a hand on the hat on his head and smiled. "Now, I'm going to be a Pirate."
That's the chapter. First of all, I decided to throw in that first scene with Dragon giving away his son to Garp because I saw someone else do it at the start of their story, and I honestly liked that idea, so I did it myself. And as for the MC's name, I wanted it to still start with an L but be more unusual, so after so thought, I named him Light. I also changed him up a bit. Instead of wanting to be a Pirate from the start, he didn't know what he wanted. I wanted his time with Shanks to have a different meaning. Shanks was the one who taught him what it was he truly wanted to be. Unlike Luffy being, the Pirate King isn't the freest but the Strongest. In truth, it's both, but you always want one more than the other.
Moving on, He's already stronger than Luffy was at this point because he wants to be the Strongest, so he trains as much as he can as often as he can. The reason he wants strength so much is that its part of him. It's not logic but instinct, as he has shown to have beast-like instincts. The reason I made him similar to a Lion is that I wanted to base him off an animal, like how Mihawk is a Hawk or Zoro is compared to a wild beast. That's also why he has Cat-like eyes.
When it comes to Haki, he just knows about it. He won't be getting Haki right away, so don't worry about it yet. The same goes for Six Powers. But he will keep getting stronger. That burst of Haki at the end, though, was something I wanted to add to show his hidden potential that has already started growing.
For those of you who weren't keeping track, here are all the differences from the canon. The Protagonist is stronger. He didn't eat the Gum-Gum Fruit, nor will he at any point in this story, so don't ask. Shanks didn't lose his arm. The Protagonist defeated the bandits by himself. Shanks told him that he was a part of Gold Roger's crew from the start. And Shanks was willing to let him join his crew, but he said no.
There will be other differences from the canon that comes from having a different lead, but in my opinion, they'll be for the better. And just so you realize, Light is One year older than Luffy at this point. In case you hadn't noticed, they'll be a reason for that later. And just so you know, I plan on going through the rest of his childhood inside of doing it in a flashback later, so the start of his journey won't be a while.
Anyways thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed. If you want more, be sure to leave a review. If you like the story, click the follow/favorite, and as always, have an awesome day.