In a world where myths and powers shape the powerful, legends take hold, and heroes forge their own paths. One such hero is Izuku Midoriya. He carries his wild mop of unruly green hair held back by a headband, dreamy green eyes, and relentless determination as he sets sail for an unforgettable journey.
Clad in billowing white linen, an open-collar shirt with rolled sleeves, brown trousers, scuffed boots, and a leather wristband with a nautical charm, he bored the subtle scar on his forearm as a testament to his dreams of adventure. With his fate locked in course, not even Izuku could predict what new surprises awaited him on his next voyage.
The sun crested the horizon, bathing the vast expanse of the sea in golden light. On a humble raft, the boy stirred, drifting between dreams and wakefulness for a few moments before sitting up with a yawn; light reflecting off water danced across his face as he rubbed tired eyes. He blinked at the endless water surrounding him, staring blankly into space. He muttered under his breath, "...Are we there yet?"
It took a moment for reality to sink in, but the realization struck him like a thunderbolt, jolting him fully awake. Izuku Midoriya was alone on that raft, a solitary figure adrift in the ocean's vastness. The weight of his circumstances settled upon his shoulders, and he couldn't help but recall the words of the great Gol D. Roger before his fateful execution.
'You want my treasure!? You can have it! I've left everything I've gathered in one place! Now you just have to find it! '
The young pirate closed his eyes and balled his hands into fists, taking a few deep breaths to steady his nerves. When he opened them again, he raised his arms in a wide arc and set his jaw in determination as every muscle uncoiled from its slumber. "Rise and shine, ocean! How are you doing on this wonderful…." Izuku analyzed the sun's position directly over the meridian, "Noon? Jeez, I've slept through the whole morning. I hoped to get some training done, but better late than never. Hopefully, I'll find that island sooner or later."
Izuku had been adrift at sea for three days, going from island to island, hoping to find potential crewmates. So far, it hasn't been a resounding success. Rejection after rejection, mob after mob, and bullet after bullet, every adventure had ended with him being run out of town in some way, shape, or form.
Who knew people hated pirates so much, he thought.
He couldn't say he never expected such to happen. Pirates are notorious criminals, after all. But still, he couldn't help but feel a flicker of disappointment: He had hoped to find those who shared his passion for adventure and pursuing dreams, yet every encounter had proven to be a reminder of the harsh reality he faced.
The waves lapped against the raft. The soft, rhythmic splashing soothed his soul like a lullaby. Heavy clouds hung in the skies above, but he savored the brief respite from their fury. His thoughts drifted to the pivotal moments of his life as they had often done on this journey when travel and time were abundant, and there were no deadlines or obligations to fulfill. The day he first stepped foot on a pirate ship. The day he vowed to become a great pirate and a great man.
He slowly stepped onboard, feeling the salty air on his face as he took in the sights before him. The crew bustled around him - beards wrapped in leather straps, fresh tans from days under the sun, and bright smiles that betrayed stories of success and failure. He heard their laughter and sensed comfort in this unfamiliar place. The smell of the ocean brought back memories of home and mentors' words that echoed within him – hope for what may come.
"When there's nothing to be gained, rising to the challenge at those times is surely the mark of a true hero!"
"Yagi-san…" He glanced at a worn-out journal tucked beneath his makeshift bed, its pages filled with sketches and notes from the countless islands he had visited with his mother and father and his journey. Each entry held a fragment of his past, a memory of the people he had encountered, and the lessons he had learned along the way.
The journal also contained his ultimate goal, written in bold letters that seemed to radiate with purpose. It was a testament to his unwavering resolve, a constant reminder of his chosen path.
"I will become the Pirate King," he whispered to himself. He tightened his grip on the worn-out map of the East Blue. His childhood dreams of exploring new territories and uncovering secrets beneath the waves shifted to a greater purpose: to protect those who believed in him when others saw weakness. To prove that even underdogs could rise to greatness.
The path ahead might be uncertain, but he knew every step he took brought him closer to his ultimate destiny. With a smile and fire, Izuku embraced the adventure that awaited him, ready to carve his legend into the annals of pirate history.
He couldn't wait to see what awaited him. The journey would be long and arduous, but he carried the dreams of many within him, and he would not falter. His eyes turned to the ocean, "This is just the beginning," he said, his voice ringing with trepidation and excitement. As Izuku's gaze swept across the horizon, it stopped on a distant island.
"Lougetown!" he exclaimed. A bustling port city known for its vibrant atmosphere and rich history. More importantly, it was Gol D. Roger's hometown. Born here, executed here, Legend began here.
A thrill sang through his veins. It had been a long time since he had felt this way like the sailboat was about to glide away without any direction coming from him. After days of aimless drifting, watching land grow closer again sparked something deep inside him. "I'm following in the footsteps of the King of the pirates himself…." He adjusted the sails, guiding the raft toward the welcoming shores of Lougetown.
As the island drew closer, Izuku couldn't help but imagine the possibilities that awaited him. He envisioned lively taverns filled with boisterous laughter, vibrant marketplaces brimming with exotic goods, and the camaraderie of fellow dreamers yearning for their place in the world.
And food. He could definitely go for some food.
But amidst the dreams that danced in his mind, a part of him remained grounded in the reality of his circumstances. He knew that Lougetown held no guarantees, that rejection and danger could still lie in wait. Yet, that didn't deter him. If anything, it fueled his determination to press on, to prove himself in a world that underestimated him.
A smile formed on his lips. It began a new chapter in his journey that would bring him closer to his dreams, ignite the flames of friendship, and challenge him in ways he could never have imagined.
The city comes into view and the smell of baking bread wafts with the waves. Izuku's eyes widened. The harbor came into view, and he gasped in awe. Swarms of people scurried about, buying and selling goods.
The houses are built from a multitude of different materials. Some of them were salvaged from ships. Others looked handcrafted and made of clay and wood. In the background, you hear hammers striking anvils, saws cutting wood, and metal clinking on metal. The merchants' stalls are filled with beautiful things, wares, and exotic animals.
And food. So much food...
His stomach grumbled at the sight, and he chuckled to himself. "Guess I should've packed more to eat on that last island." Thanks to the townsfolk chasing him out of the last island, that was somewhat tricky. But that was all in a day's work.
So it was settled. Izuku would eat a meal fit for a king, and then he would…
Then he would...
Well, it's not about the destination but the journey.
Izuku's stomach grumbled again as he patted it gently. His shirt was a little tight around his chest, but not enough to attract more stares than he already got in this outfit.
He shifted as his butt started going numb on the small raft, its wooden slats creaking under him. His eyes scanned the harbor, searching for any sign of a food stall or eatery. The air was filled with the scent of grilled meat, and his mouth watered as he trailed his gaze along its source: clusters of bustling crowds and open-air markets that let him see only fleeting glimpses of what lay beyond. His stomach let out another grumble as if echoing his desire for sustenance.
"I know, I know. We'll find you something soon, little guy," said Izuku. The raft rocked gently as they entered the final stretch towards the shore, and the sound of lapping waves filled the air. But Izuku's stomach wailed again, the pangs of hunger gnawing at him. He sighed deeply, trying to calm himself down with his noisy stomach. "Calm down. I'll get us something-."
"You with these scum, kid?"
The hairs on Izuku Midoriya's neck jumped off his skin from the sudden voice. He stumbled back, flailing his arms as he landed flat on his ass. He looked up to find a white-haired man who fit right in with the scowl that pulled at his lips, two cigars between them. However, the main thing to note was the Marine jacket he dawned, and not only did it look like it was worth more than Izuku was, it had SEVENTEEN CIGARS RESTING ON HIS LEFT ARM!
How much Tobacco does one man need?
Another Marine officer of lesser ranking nervously stood by his right, "Sir, I don't think-"
"Which may be why you are not the one talking!" interrupted the cigar-chomping man. "I asked HIM! Now, are you associated with these pirates or not?" he said boomingly.
"Umm…" Izuku thought as he desperately attempted to come up with an answer to the man's question. With his gaze still firmly placed upon the dock, he saw a group of would-be pirates neatly tied together like Christmas presents, with bruises and other wounds covering each of their bodies. "...Noooooo… Never seen them in my life."
The man said nothing but continued to give Izuku a glare that made him feel as though he were naked. His cigar smoke reached out toward him like the claws of a wild beast. Izuku frantically waved his hands as if they were on fire, "Honest! I just came here to see if there was something to eat, I swear it!"
The Marine marched towards Izuku, the sun glinting off his sharp creases and medals of honor. His gaze was intense as he stepped onto the edge of the dock, firmly placing his foot on the ledge - creating a barrier between him and Izuku - and clasped his hands behind his back. He stood still, staring Izuku down. "You look oddly familiar..."
Izuku gritted his teeth. He knew that a 10,000,000 Beri bounty would bite him in the ass. Still, he refused to show any signs of weakness. "Maybe you've seen me around," he replied calmly but guardedly.
Izuku swallowed hard as he took in the man's appearance. He didn't look too old, but his forehead was deeply wrinkled from constant scowling, making him appear far more dangerous than someone twice his age.
The man's dark eyes stared into Izuku's, unblinking and unwavering. His silvery-grey hair was slicked back with a bit of grease but otherwise shone in the sunlight. "I'm not gonna ask you again. Are you with these guys or not?" Smoke slowly wafted out his mouth as he spoke as if to emphasize that it was under his control. Rather than dissipating in the air, it came directly at Izuku, crashing against the shore.
The color drained from Izuku's face as he stared at the smoke before him, hypnotized by the swirling chaos that seemed almost sentient. A devil fruit, maybe? But what type? Paramecia? No, smoke is a natural element, so he must be a Logia user. Which means...
The more Izuku thought about it, the more his head spun. A Logia devil fruit user ready and willing to kill. In the best-case scenario, Izuku wins the battle and is chased off the island, leaving a bounty on his head with no crew to help him. Worst case? He's defeated and executed on this island, shattering his dreams. 'At least I'll be following the footsteps of Gold Roger... let's just imagine I skipped through all the good parts.'
That certainly wouldn't do. Izuku needed to find a way out of this quickly. He considered his options: rush forward and go for a head-on tackle? That would be the only option if he were Quarrel, but Izuku wasn't aggressive. And besides, how else could he stop the man who controlled smoke and all its properties?
Going back to sea? Not an option. They'd quickly chase his small raft, and he'd rather face his adventure with both arms still attached.
Running away to the island? It's an alternative, just a really dumb one. It's a stupid idea that didn't even appeal to Izuku. That wouldn't do at all. C'mon. Isn't there any other option here?
Izuku Midoriya felt his heart sink as he weighed every option before him. Every path he chose seemed to end in dead-end or, worse, put him in even more danger than he already found himself. The latter would be correct, provided he had a team and supplies backing him up. But no matter how hard he tried, only one thing remained: He was alone in this dire predicament. His eyes surveyed the area, but there seemed no way out. Panic set in, and beads of sweat trickled down his face. He had no plan. No team. Every option seemed futile. He could feel the frustration bubbling up inside him, creasing his forehead with wrinkles.
Think, think! He implored himself, racking his brain for a solution. He tried to channel his intelligence and experience into finding a way out of this mess. His heart beat wildly as he searched for an escape route.
But as time ticked by, it became apparent that he was facing an impossible situation with seemingly no solution. The hopelessness gnawed at him until he felt like he would collapse under its weight.
Then, without warning, an earth-shattering growl bellowed from Izuku's core like a foghorn. The sound shook the room and reverberated off the walls of the sailors' creaky ship, startling them right out of their silent standoff. Even the most fearsome pirates jumped in alarm; some even shrieked at Izuku's ferocious roar. His face burned as he realized the sound echoing throughout the town had come from his stomach, and he quickly attempted to muffle the persistent rumble with both hands. As the noise died down, the tied-up pirates began to whisper timidly among themselves as they tried not to laugh.
The smoke man arched an eyebrow. "That was you, kid?"
Izuku shrugged, "I said I was hungry."
"THAT'S ALL YOU HAVE TO SAY!?" Shouted the crowd in unison.
The man huffed and stood back up, shaking his head in disbelief, "Eh, you're too much of a wuss to be with these guys anyway."
"SO INSENSITIVE!" exclaimed the crowd.
Izuku didn't know whether to feel grateful or insulted - either way, he was alive and kicking! He breathed a deep sigh of relief and patted his stomach appreciatively.
"You've done it again, ol' faithful," he muttered gratefully.'
"Wow, somebody must be hungry." said another new, younger voice.
Both men looked to their rights and were greeted by a boy in the distance wearing a red vest and blue shorts, topped off with a straw hat with a red ribbon secured around the base.
Stars formed in Izuku's eyes, "Is that who I think it is…." He tilted his head and scratched his temple, "That was weird," He examined the docks, and his blank look turned to bewilderment, "Wait! This isn't the execution platform! This looks like the docks." He frantically searched his surroundings, his head darting back and forth in the same direction at least ten times before finally noticing the two men, "Hey! Can one of you guys help me?"
Monkey D. Luffy is the man with the highest bounty in the East Blue. He was here in Lougetown, too!? This was the hangout spot for pirates who set sail for the Grand Line until Marines came and made sure to wipe out all of them before they got the chance. Does that mean he was headed to the Grand Line as well?
Izuku squinted his eyes, making out the all too familiar figure. His hands flew to his mouth in disbelief, "It can't be… It really is him! Straw Hat Luffy... It's too early for this..." He waved frantically as if the intensity of it would make the person appear before him. His arms jerked and twitched abnormally at several points, intensifying with each word.
"What did you say, kid?" said the man.
Izuku eyes widened, and his face paled. Did he really just say all that out loud!?
The lower rank officer stammered in confusion, "I didn't say anythin-"
"Not you, dimwit!"
The marine stiffened and saluted as though his life depended on it, "Yes, sir! Sorry, sir!"
Meanwhile, Izuku was re-evaluating his intelligence. He didn't dare utter a peep about the notorious pirate to the Marines! "Stupid mumbling habit…"
"Stupid, what now?" The man asked with a quirked eyebrow.
"Uh...nothing? I mean nothing!" Izuku said. He fruitlessly attempted to hide the sparkle in his eyes but managed to stop his big mouth from doing further damage by clapping both hands over it. The man grunted, his patience faltering. He turned to his fellow Marine officer, "Is he a member of this garbage?"
The lower rank officer stood alert, awaiting his captain's orders.
"I'm talking to you, dumbass!"
He shrieked, limbs stiffening like a wooden plank as geysers of sweat fell throughout his body, "N-n-no, sir!"
"Jackasses. The lot of 'em." The man sighed, doing nothing to prolong the boy's inevitable stride. "Hi there!" He said. "Do any of you three know where they execute people around here?"
"The platform," the man said, voice tinged with annoyance.
Either the boy didn't notice his exasperation or didn't care, "Yeah, I know. I just can't seem to find it." He said.
"I'm guessing you two boys aren't from around here…."
Yup! This is my first time here on the island! This town is much bigger than Gosa village and spread out too." The boy looked to his left, "What's with that guy?"
The Marine captain looked to his right, "The hell's gotten into you?"
Izuku hadn't realized the breath he'd been holding as his face turned red from the lack of oxygen. Hearing his presence called for reminded him of the essential factor to life, and he released his breath, "Nothing. Uh, probably just scurvy."
Luffy's eyes bulged out of his head like two oversized grapefruits. "Wait, YOU HAVE SCURVY!? We need to get you some oranges right now!"
The Marine captain slapped his forehead, "Calm down. Dumbass doesn't have scurvy. He just forgot how to breathe.
"Oh." Luffy scratched his temple, "I see... Hey, Plain-face, how come you don't know how to breathe?"
Okay, now Izuku is insulted. He could breathe just fine, thank you very much! However, before Izuku could defend his pride, the Marine interrupted, "Enough with the chit-chat!" His voice boomed, "Now one of you is going to tell me what the hell you two idiots are doing in my town!?"
Izuku's breath caught as he watched Luffy grin mischievously at him from across the dock. Despite the warm and friendly smile, something lurked behind it. Izuku searched the Marine captain's face for any hint of what he might be thinking, but the hero remained stoic even as Luffy laughed beside him. "A personal quest...to see where the King of the Pirates died."
The Marine captain undoubtedly knew precisely what Luffy meant, but a flicker of surprise briefly lit up his eyes before being replaced by annoyance.
Luffy shrugged, "Guess you don't know... Oh well!"
"Hold it." Each cigar had a smoke trail leading in a different direction. One was down an alleyway into the city's underground, the other to a popular pub across the street. The man pointed to the former. "Just follow the smoke. Straw hat, you go that way, toward the steps. Bubble guts, you go the other way."
"That way? Great!" Luffy darted off, needing no further instruction. He turned his head over his shoulder and said, "I'll see ya guys later!"
Izuku watched as Luffy ran away, and as if a painter's brush had meticulously erased the surroundings, the scene transformed into a solitary tableau. Izuku's gaze tunneled in, fixing upon Luffy. It was as if the entire universe had collapsed into a singular point where nothing else mattered or existed except for the captivating presence of the Straw hat boy. The air felt still, holding its breath in reverence of this profound connection.
He couldn't understand why, but he knew Luffy was one-of-a-kind.
"Weird kid…" said the Marine. He looked toward the spot Izuku occupied, "The hell are you still doing here? Get some food in your stomach, for everyone's sake."
Izuku hastily hopped out of the raft and began a spurt of constant bowing, "Of course! Thank you very much! I hope we meet again in the future."
"...Whatever, kid. C'mon guys, let's get out here. And don't forget to take out the trash." The other marines rallied behind their captain and walked away, dragging the scum bag pirates with them. The moment they left Izuku's eyeshot, his body flopped to the ground, and his eyes turned ghostly white.
"I've lost my appetite. I hope I never see those guys again. Now, where to go next? Luffy mentioned something about the execution platform, didn't he?" Izuku pushed himself off the ground and looked toward the direction the smoke trailed once occupied, "I think Luffy has the right idea…."
His stomach grumbled again, and he looked toward the pub the Marine referred him to. "You know what? Food first, platform later."
A gentle breeze whispered through the surrounding reeds, causing a gentle sway in the nearby boats. The scent of saltwater permeated the air as the man's gaze remained unwavering, absorbing every detail, the intensity palpable.
The lone figure silhouetted against the dimming light perched at the very end of the dock. Positioned discreetly behind the many warehouses built on the pier, they peered stealthily at their unsuspecting target as he walked into the diner. The distant sounds of lapping waves provided a gentle symphony.
The man studied the two wanted posters like he'd done it a thousand times, aptly reading their contents.
WANTED
Dead or Alive
Monkey D. Luffy
฿ 30,000,000
WANTED
DEAD OR ALIVE
MIDORIYA IZUKU
฿10,000,000
Tenya Iida adjusted his glasses. Justice would be served.
So it's been a while...
First, if you're reading this, thank you for reading. I know writers always say this, but it truly means the world you decided to read this all the way through. Wether you loved it or hated it, either way, I am grateful you decided to check out my work
for those of you who are somehow familiar with me, I'm sorry this isn't a continuation of MRNN or of my other stories, but on the bright side, I plan to revisit them sooner or later. I'm not sure when I will, so I can't promise anything. For now, I'm sticking with this story and finishing at least this first arc as soon as possible. Again, I can't promise anything. Life has been a bit hectic lately with school starting back up, working, and some other things I've been dealing with personally. That is to say, that isn't the reason I stopped writing for a while.
Honestly, I just kinda gave up. As much fun as it was, writing took up a lot of my time. Time that I didn't really have to begin with. I wanted to take the time to learn and grow in other ways besides being cooped up in my room and having my daily dose of an existential crisis. Fanfiction is fun, but at the end of the day, it's only a hobby I took up because I had nothing better to do.
So why did I decide to write again, you're probably not asking. Well, One Piece is the reason why. I genuinely love this series. It re-sparked my creativity and art with its themes and characters. You've heard it before, but I truly believe the man is a creative genius, and there is so much to take from him. His visual storytelling, his worldbuilding, and the sheer imagination that goes into his work can't be understated. And the fact that he's done this for as long as he has shows leaps and bounds of his passion for his work. It's awe-inspiring, to say the least.
So it's safe to say One Piece, both the manga and anime are pretty good. I've watched only the first episode of the live-action, and while enjoyable, it isn't really my cup of tea, but I still plan on watching more of it. Perhaps it'll win me over.
Now onto the story itself and how it came about. I have this weird habit of inserting MHA characters into any show I watch in the roles of other characters, mainly due to the tropey nature of the show. Not to say that it's a bad thing. I think My Hero pulls these tropes off very well and can even be subversive at times, making it a great introductory shonen manga, but I digress. What I wanted to say is I had a difficult time trying to insert the characters into the story of One Piece due to how vast the world is, and it made me realize something. That series is truly one-of-a-kind, and the world can be expanded upon in so many ways that it just makes you wanna get up and create something, anything. So I turned back to writing and fell in love with the process all over again. Hopefully, I don't run out of steam like last time, but I've learned some discipline over the years and can hold myself accountable.
But anyway, how did you like this first chapter? Did you love it? Hate it? Did you consider it a horrible day to be literate? Personally, I'm satisfied with this first chapter. Perhaps not as action-packed as I would've liked, but I decided I needed to take things a bit slower for this. This means not every chapter is gonna be ten thousand words. I want time to focus on setup and to flesh out ideas, characters, and plotlines. I considered adding Izuku's backstory at the beginning, but I decided to save it for in-between arcs. Would you have liked it better if I had done it in this chapter? Well, too bad. It's my story, and I'll pace it how I want to.
All jokes aside, I've pretty much known who exactly I want in the crew and when I plan to introduce them. As for future arcs, I plan to create original islands to introduce characters and expand upon world-building. I'm always open to new ideas, though. It's fun trying to figure out what works and what doesn't, especially when you don't have to worry about deadlines. Also please mind the terrible cover art. I made it in Canva, and I tried my best, but I'm not an artist. Well, I sorta am, but you get the idea.
Until next time dear readers.