Flames of the Sun God

A One Piece Fanfic by GreyNimbus

Author's Note:

Thanks for waiting, guys

I realized that Luffy's power escalates whenever he's in highly stressful or life-threatening situations. Luckily, I have many plans for Luffy.

I've read some of the reviews in my last Author's Note and I appreciate your positive input. Shoutout to 'kingofli' for his helpful advice on character development. I will take it to heart.

Also, I've decided to skip the boring details of Luffy's training and figured I'd keep them as a surprise until he uses them in the New World.

GreyNimbus out!

OP/Luffy, Mature/Luffy, EarlyDFAwaken/Luffy, NoPairing

Disclaimer:

One Piece is owned by Eiichiro Oda. I do NOT own anything One Piece related. Obviously(!)

Chapter 9 — Peace-mains & Morganeers

"You want to train Luffy…" Rayleigh said as he glared at Garp in disbelief, "...for the New World?"

"That's right", the Navy Hero simply answered with a nod.

The two veterans were about to get into a moderately heated argument while Luffy remained asleep. Rayleigh gave Garp the benefit of the doubt and decided to hear him out. After all, the last thing Luffy needs is malevolent intruders interrupting his training.

"But why? Based on what Luffy told me, you just want to control him. You weren't even there for him when he was growing up. You just dumped him in the hands of a bunch of outlaws. Is it any wonder he turned out the way he did?"

Garp sighed.

"You're as cut and dry as ever, I see," he chuckled before letting out a sigh, "It's true; I'm the one at fault for letting Luffy pursue a life of piracy. All I wanted was to make him into a man and train him to become a Marine officer, but I was too stubborn to let him enjoy his childhood. Hell, I almost got him killed on multiple occasions. If it wasn't for that Devil Fruit he ate, he might not have survived to see today. I hate to admit it, but I think I owe Red-Haired for that one. That boy was the first of his kind that I haven't seen since Roger's era — a peace-main."

Rayleigh raised an eyebrow, taken back by the thought that Garp, one of the most exalted Marines in the world, actually acknowledged the existence of peace mains.

"I now see that Luffy fits into that category. I tried to convince him that all pirates were just a bunch of bandits that sailed the seas and had no future. I turned a blind eye to the ideology of what Roger stood for, even though I once fought alongside him to defeat a common enemy."

The old war veteran gripped the bridge of his nose, letting out a shaky exhale.

"But you were right, I wasn't there for Luffy. I wasn't even there for Dragon. Just look at what my stupid pride has done — My son became the most wanted criminal in the world, my adopted grandson was murdered by one of my colleagues, I helped spark a war that created probably the most dangerous pirate to date, and despite all the chaos, I chose my job over my family."

Garp then vented his frustration by slamming his fist into a nearby tree, shaking it, and leaving a clean dent in the trunk.

"This…this isn't justice," he growled through his teeth.

"Mmm…wha…?"

Garp's tantrum was interrupted by the moans of his waking grandson, who was most likely woken up by the intense vibrations.

Luffy sat up, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes and yawning, when the first thing he noticed was Rayleigh sitting closest to him. Despite being practically in front of him, Garp had not yet been noticed.

"Hey, old man, can you keep it down?" Luffy muttered tiredly at Rayleigh, "I'm tryin' 'a'..."

Luffy's vision was starting to come into focus as his eyes shifted to the all-too-familiar figure standing just a few feet away with his arms crossed. His mind goes back to the unexpected arrival of his grandfather back in the clearing.

"You…!" Luffy hissed as he squinted at Garp angrily.

Luffy's first instinct was to pull off the blanket covering him and throw an enraged punch into his grandfather's face, just like he did at Marineford. However, he managed to compose himself enough to take special precautions to keep himself from rushing into a fight he can't win. He knew full well what kind of power his grandpa pulled behind those punches. And considering their history combined with how seriously he takes his job, Luffy knew he wouldn't last 5 seconds.

"Easy, Luffy," Rayleigh stepped in to stop his student from getting out of hand.

Luffy stared at his mentor out of the corner of his eye for a moment in silence before glancing back at Garp, seeing the passive look on his face.

Letting out an exhale through his nose, Luffy leaned back into his makeshift bed and folded his arms impatiently, "What are you doing here, old man?"

Honestly, Garp was expecting far worse.

Garp sat down on a log, making himself comfortable before answering his grandson, "Well, I already explained my reasoning to Rayleigh, and I don't like repeating myself. So, to summarize; I'm here to help you."

Luffy flinched in disbelief before exclaiming, "What!? Why should I believe you?! How do I know you're not just here to arrest me?!"

Garp understood why Luffy was giving him this much lip, but that didn't stop him from getting back into his grandson's good graces.

"Luffy, I'm—"

"Why are you really here?!" Luffy interrupted, feeling a surge of anger at the old Marine, remembering how Garp had failed to protect Ace when he had the chance. "No, forget it. I don't want to talk to you. You let Ace die!"

Before he could get another word out, Luffy lowered his head and panted for air. He was still feeling the effects of the intense training from earlier. During Luffy's recovery, Garp monitored him closely, but with the intense guilt washing over him and making no steps to deny it, dark shadows showed on his face, hiding his eyes. He was guilty. The whole kaleidoscope of doubts and emotions he hadn't felt for a long time had pushed him to the brink of vulnerability.

Garp hung his head, his voice barely above a whisper. "I know, Luffy. And I'm sorry. I failed both you and Ace."

Ignoring the pain, Luffy slowly looked up at Garp. He felt a twinge of guilt at the pain he could see in Garp's eyes. He knew that Garp had loved Ace just as much as he did, and that the old Marine had been carrying his own burden of guilt since the war.

"But…I don't understand," Luffy said hesitantly. "Why didn't you do anything to stop it? You're a Marine, you could have stopped the execution!"

Garp looked up at Luffy, a tear starting to form in his eye. "I couldn't, Luffy. I couldn't bring myself to fight against the Marines, even for Ace. I was a Marine for too long, and I couldn't betray my duty."

Luffy looked at Garp for a long moment, then his expression softened. "I don't like it. But I...I think I understand, Gramps. I still can't forgive you, though. At least…not yet."

Garp looked at Luffy in surprise, then a look of relief washed over his face. "Thank you, Luffy. That means a lot to me."

Luffy smiled at Garp, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders.

"I'll keep moving forward, Gramps," Luffy said. "And I'll make sure that Ace's memory lives on. That's what he would have wanted."

Garp nodded, his own resolve strengthening. "Oh! There's something else that I should have told you a long time ago."

This time his tone was so completely different compared to the strict and demanding voice that he used to address him, hit him, and lecture him.

Luffy was stunned momentarily, his voice husky from fatigue again, "What is it?"

Garp nodded gratefully before straightening his posture and clearing his throat.

"Back when Roger first started out as a pirate, he earned himself an unusual reputation. The man became more famous than infamous. Even as a pirate, he never attacked ordinary civilians, unless they asked for it. All the treasure and wealth he gained, before he found the One Piece, came from looting other pirates who attacked him or swiping them from some ancient ruins."

"What's your point?" Luffy asked.

"My point is, Roger was, what we in the Marines would call him, a peace-main."

Luffy looked at him in confusion at the unfamiliar word, "What's a peace-main?"

"They're a type of pirate that cares little about treasure and, instead, are more motivated by the sense of adventure. Not to say they wouldn't steal or fight other pirates at all. They work towards peaceful resolutions and avoid conflicts as much as possible," Garp explained with the tone of a professional story-teller

Luffy scratched his head. "But… isn't fighting necessary sometimes? Like when I fought Arlong and Crocodile?"

"That's where the Morganeers come in," Garp replied. "Morganeers believe that violence is necessary. They're willing to fight to fulfill their selfish ambitions, even if it means getting their hands dirty. Morganeers currently outnumber Peace-mains a thousand to one easy."

Luffy nodded thoughtfully. "So, which one do you think I am?"

Garp smiled. "You're a bit of both, Luffy. Sometimes you need to use your fists to protect the innocent and make sure justice is served. Other times, you can use your words and find a peaceful solution."

Luffy hid his smile, "I guess I'll have to live with it." He turns his gaze to the former Vice-Captain of the Roger Pirates, "Was the King of the Pirates really a peace main?"

"Well…" Rayleigh paused, "The Captain never really put any fancy labels on himself, aside from just calling himself the Captain of a pirate crew. I guess some people just recognized a few of his good deeds, which were unusual behavior for normal pirates, and they started referring to our crew as the peace mains on a few occasions."

Garp chuckled. "That's exactly how I started to see Luffy's crew after I met them back on Water 7!"

Luffy turned to face his grandfather with a skeptical glare. "Wait, if you knew about this all along, then why didn't you just tell me back when I was a kid, instead of trying to force me to become a Marine?"

Garp took a deep breath before answering. "I wanted you to become a Marine because I believe in justice, Luffy. The Marines are the ones who uphold justice and protect the innocent. I wanted you to be a part of that."

Luffy frowned. "But isn't justice about helping people? Like how my crew and I helped the people of Alabasta?"

"Exactly, Luffy," Garp said, nodding. "The Marines are there to help people and protect them from those who would do them harm. I wanted you to be a part of that, to harness your strength and use it to make a difference in the world."

"The Marines aren't exactly the saints that everyone wants to believe they are, Garp. You know that, right?" Rayleigh intervened, his voice calm as usual.

Garp sighed. "I won't deny that the Navy has seen its fair share of corruption among its ranks. But that's why we need good Marines like you, Luffy. Ones who will stand up for what's right and do the right thing, even if it's hard."

Luffy looked down at his hands, thinking. "I like helping people, Grandpa. But I don't want to be a part of something that hurts them too."

Garp shuffles closer to Luffy, putting his hand on his grandson's shoulder. "I understand, Luffy. And I'm proud of you for standing up for what you believe in. Just remember, there are good and bad people in every organization. It's up to us to make sure we're on the right side of things."

Luffy nodded, a determined look in his eyes. "I can do that. But don't think that I've forgiven you yet. I'm still gonna be King of the Pirates one day, so I'm gonna get stronger than anyone in the New World! And I'll help people along the way no matter what."

Garp smiled. "I know you will, Luffy. And no matter what path you choose, I'll always be proud of you."

Luffy smiled back, genuinely.

"Anyway!" Garp exclaimed, patting Luffy on the back, "Since I'm here, I've got a whole year in my schedule to help improve your skills before I have to get back to Navy HQ."

Rayleigh chuckled. "It's good to have you with us, Garp. Luffy could use all the help he can get."

Luffy frowned. "Hey, I'm not that weak!"

Garp laughed. "Of course not, Luffy. But there's always room for improvement."

Luffy pouted childishly, crossing his arms.

"Pfff! Whatever…"

The old Marine couldn't be any more proud of his grandson, pleased to hear the progress he was already making under Rayleigh's tutelage. The old Marine reached into his pocket and pulled out a rolled-up piece of paper. "Here, Luffy. I have something for you."

Luffy took the paper and unrolled it, revealing his latest wanted poster. He looked at the image of himself with a grin, pleased to see that his bounty had increased yet again.

WANTED

DEAD OR ALIVE

MONKEY D. LUFFY

฿400,000,000-

"Wow, 400 million berries! That's a lot! When did it go up?"

Garp chuckled. "You always have been quite the troublemaker, Luffy. After what you pulled off at Marineford, it's no wonder the World Government has put such a high price on your head."

Luffy shrugged. "I don't care about the money. I just want to have fun and become stronger, so I can become King of the Pirates!"

Garp nodded, a serious look on his face. "I know, Luffy. But you have to be careful. The higher your bounty gets, the more dangerous your enemies become. You'll need to stay on your toes if you want to survive."

Luffy nodded, his expression turning serious as well. "I know, Gramps. That's exactly why I need to train harder than I ever have before! And I won't let anyone stop me. I'll keep fighting and growing stronger until I achieve my dream!"

Garp smiled at Luffy's determination, proud of his grandson for his unwavering resolve. "I know you will, Luffy. Just remember, I'll always be here to support you from now on, no matter what."

Luffy grinned back at Garp. "Thanks, Gramps.."

And with that, Luffy tucked his latest wanted poster safely in his pocket. He had a long way to go before he became the Pirate King, but with the invaluable training that is to come, his crew by his side, and his family's support, he knew he could achieve anything.

(One Year Later…)

After that fateful night, Luffy began his training with Rayleigh and Garp. They started with mastering all three forms of Haki that they both knew, teaching Luffy how to use his Observation Haki to not only sense the presence of the world itself around him but to peek mere seconds into the future. Holding nothing back, Garp would dart around Luffy, trying to surprise him, but Luffy's senses were so sharp that he could always anticipate Garp's movements.

Next, they moved on to Armament Haki, teaching Luffy how to channel his Haki into solid objects, bypassing any defense and destroying them from the inside out. Garp was an expert at this, and he sparred with Luffy, showing him how to use the full extent of his strength. Finding nothing harder than stone to test it on, Rayleigh enlisted the help of the Kuja pirates to provide them with large, thick steel slabs to be used as sturdy training dummies.

It was then Rayleigh's turn to help him master his Conqueror's Haki, teaching Luffy how to not only overwhelm his opponent's willpower but also utilize it with such precision that he can avoid accidentally using it on his own allies while his opponents will still feel the full force of his presence.

Finally, they moved on to the Six Powers, teaching Luffy how to use his body as a weapon in the event that his Devil Fruit powers were off the table. Garp was a master of the Six Powers, and he showed Luffy how to use Tempest Kick to slice through objects, Moonwalk to leap incredible distances, and Shave to move at lightning speed, although Rayleigh already taught him that last one. Luckily, Garp was there to perfect it.

It was grueling work, but Luffy was determined to master these techniques. He trained day and night, pushing himself to his limits and beyond. And with Rayleigh and Garp's guidance, he began to improve at an incredible rate.

As time passed, Luffy's training continued. He became stronger and faster, his Haki growing more powerful with each passing day. He was almost at his peak, but there was still one final step in his training that he had to accomplish — Awakening his Devil Fruit.

And finally, the day came when Garp declared that Luffy had mastered everything he had to teach him.

The trio stood on the beach of Luscaina, preparing to bid farewell to each other. The old Marine had been thoroughly impressed with the progress that his grandson had made over the past year, and he knew that he could leave the rest of his training in Rayleigh's capable hands.

"You've come a long way, Luffy," Garp said, smiling proudly. "I'd say you've got what it takes to become the King of the Pirates. However, I know that isn't enough to satisfy you."

Rayleigh clapped Luffy on the back. "Don't worry about a thing, Garp. I'll still be here to see Luffy's training through to the end, every step of the way."

"Grandpa, are you sure you have to go?" Luffy asked his grandfather sadly.

Luffy had come to forgive his grandfather for his follies in the past year. He knew that he couldn't change the past, but he could choose to forgive and move forward rather than hold a pointless grudge.

Garp nodded. "Yes, Luffy. Duty calls. There are some things that I have to take care of, but we'll see each other again before you know it."

Luffy pouted slightly, but he knew that Garp had important work to do. "Okay, Grandpa. Stay safe."

Garp ruffled Luffy's hair affectionately. "Don't worry about me, Luffy. I've been through worse. Just keep up your training and continue to grow stronger. I have no doubt that you'll become King of the Pirates someday."

Luffy grinned, a determined glint in his eyes. "I will, Gramps. And when I do, I'll make sure you're there to see my rise to the throne."

Garp smiled back at Luffy, then turned to Rayleigh. "Take care of my grandson, Rayleigh. He's still a bit reckless, but I know he's in good hands with you."

Rayleigh nodded. "Don't worry, Garp. By the time I'm done with him, he'll have already surpassed both of us."

Garp chuckled, then turned and prepare a Moonwalk trip back to base. As he jumped through the air, he couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness at leaving his grandson behind. But he knew that Luffy was in good hands and that he had a bright future ahead of him.

As he glided away from Luscaina, Garp couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in his grandson. He knew that Luffy was destined for great things, and he couldn't wait to see what the future held for the young pirate.

With only less than nine months left to train and firm determination blazing in his breast, Luffy was going to make every minute on the path to Awakening count.