A Rude Awakening!
Two months have passed since the Gray Terminal incident and Sabo's tragic demise. The pain of losing someone so close to them still lingers in their hearts, yet the brothers understand that life must continue. Nevertheless, the passing of their third brother has undeniably affected Izuku and Ace, a fact evident as it showed in how it affected and altered their daily lives.
Ace has significantly intensified his training since he was the most affected by Sabo's death. The determination to honor his brother's memory and fulfill his dream compelled Ace to push past his limits every day. In an attempt to better himself, Ace followed Izuku's example and began delving into books about the sea and the world, since he was dead set on setting sail in three years when he turns eighteen.
Izuku himself wasn't slacking off either as he too was steadily developing each day little by little. Though he hadn't known Sabo for as long as Ace had, Sabo was still his brother, and news of his death had shaken him all the same. Sabo's demise also served as an eye-opener, making him realize that the world he was reborn into was vastly different from his old world, possibly much more deadly and brutal.
The aftermath of Sabo's death only reinforced his belief about this world as he felt utter disgust upon learning that the person who killed his brother walked away without facing any consequences, even celebrated for three days near the very place where Sabo was shot down. Adding to the pain, Sabo's family completely ignored his death, as if someone like him never existed in the Goa Kingdom. No one searched for his corpse, nor was there any funeral to honor his memory. The tragedy was swept under the rug, treated as if it never occurred, while life continued as usual for them.
Amidst all of this, Izuku encountered a name 'Celestial Dragon'... a name that stuck with him and started bothering his conscience, causing a disgusting itch every time that name flashed through his mind. So, to get rid of that itch Izuku did what he did best and started finding information about it.
Honestly, what he discovered really disgusted him to his core. Celestial Dragons, also known as World Nobles, stand as the apex members of the world government. Their word is law, and there is no authority in the world that can judge their actions. They can go anywhere, kill anyone, enslave people, and nothing can stop them from doing so. Of course, all of this wasn't written in any book or paper. He learned about these things primarily from people, especially Dadan, whose words dripped with spite and venom whenever she mentioned them.
However, the most unsettling revelation for him was the realization that the Marines operated under the World Nobles. How could this be? Weren't the Marines supposed to uphold law and order, to represent justice? How could serving under such people be considered justice? No, there had to be more to this, Izuku reasoned. His grandfather was a Marine, a good person, a hero. There had to be another side to this story. Why would someone like his Grandpa serve cruel people like them? All he can do right now is wait for his grandpa to return and ask some questions.
At that time, Izuku rationalized his thoughts, but little did he know that his trust in the Marines had already begun to wane... a crack had already formed in his dream of becoming a Marine.
It was another bright and peaceful day in Foosha Village, and Izuku was assisting someone at the docks when he spotted a Marine ship approaching the port. After a few minutes, the ship docked, and a familiar voice called out, "Izuku!" Looking up, Izuku saw his Grandpa Garp standing at the edge of the deck, grinning down at him. Garp leaped down and enveloped Izuku in a tight hug, "How is my little Marine doing?"
"I'm good... I guess," Izuku replied, his voice sounding a bit off, noticed by Garp, who chose to let it slide for the now.
"Good to hear!" Garp gave Izuku's back a reassuring pat.
Turning around, Garp shot a stern glance at a lower-ranked Marine descending from the ship, carrying two boxes in his hands. "Hey, don't drop those boxes, or I'll deduct the cost from your pay," Garp warned, causing the junior Marine to pale. "Now, go and drop those off at the local bar in town."
"Grandpa, what was that?" Izuku asked, watching the junior Marine hasten toward Makino's bar.
"Well, you're interested in reading books, right? So, I brought some from the Marine HQ," Garp replied with a grin, making Izuku's eyes go wide.
"From HQ?" Izuku exclaimed. "Are you serious? Is it ok to take them?"
"Don't sweat it," Garp reassured Izuku, waving his hand dismissively. "Those books were gathering dust in the HQ's library. No one's got the time to flip through those pages anyway."
"If you say so," Izuku shrugged, not complaining about the chance to read new books.
"Anyway, Grandpa... I need to ask you some questions if you don't mind," Izuku said, wanting to get rid of a nagging query, that was clouding his mind.
"Questions?" Garp arched an eyebrow. "Save 'em for later. Right now, how about a tour of the ship?" he suggested, a wide grin spreading across his face.
"This ship?" Izuku pointed incredulously at the colossal Marine vessel docked at the port.
"Do you see any other ships here worth exploring?" Garp chuckled heartily, disregarding the irritated looks from other fishermen on the port.
"Is it really okay?" Izuku asked, his curiosity piqued by the idea of exploring the interior of the massive warship. He had been on various ships before—tourist vessels, fishing boats, civilian transports—but never set foot on a warship of this magnitude so sue him for wanting to go inside.
"Of course, why wouldn't it be," Garp replied with a smirk, though the officers standing behind him wore rather conflicted expressions on their faces. Izuku noticed that but decided to ignore them after all not his problem at all.
Turning toward the ship, Garp bellowed, "Oye, Bogard! Get down here!"
Within minutes, a tall man sporting a beige suit and a top hat hurriedly descended the stairs, standing before Garp with a straight back. "Sir, you called?"
"Yes, I want you to take my grandson and give him a tour of the ship," Garp instructed, nudging Izuku forward.
"Wait a minute, sir, are you—"
"Is there a problem?" Garp asked with a glare while a red aura flared around him.
"None at all!" Bogard hastily grabbed Izuku. "Let's go, kid, I'll show you around," he said, swiftly taking Izuku's hand, and guiding him towards the ship.
"Wow, this place is huge!" Izuku marveled as he stepped onto the deck, his eyes wide with wonder.
An amused and proud smile adorned Bogard's face at Izuku's reaction. "Well, kid, this is one of the many Marine ships that protect the seas and uphold justice across the world," Bogard declared proudly, missing a subtle shift in Izuku's expression at his words. "So, what would you like to see first?"
"Hmm..." Izuku rubbed his chin in thought. "Could you tell me more about the Marines and their duties?"
"Really? Sure thing..." Bogard was surprised by Izuku's question. He had expected a young lad like him would ask about the numerous cannons around them or about the huge ass ship they were standing on, but well, he was pleased that the kid was interested in their work, so he gladly started explaining nonetheless. "So, to start with, the Marines enforce the laws of the World Government and safeguard innocent people from pirates and other criminals."
"I see... the world government," Izuku murmured as he jotted down notes in his notebook, leaving Bogard wondering where in the hell that notebook had come from.
Then as they strolled through the corridors, Bogard provided Izuku with insights into different sections of the ship. They passed by the armory, where Izuku saw an impressive array of weapons used by the Marines. Bogard emphasized that the primary goal of the Marines was to capture dangerous criminals, ensure peace across the seas, and foster a sense of security among the inhabitants of various islands.
Next, they visited the training grounds where they were greeted by the sight of Marine recruits engaged in intense combat drills. Bogard stopped at the door, but Izuku absentmindedly walked further into the training area. Some of the newer recruits noticed him and decided to show off.
"Hey, look at the new kid!" one recruit said, nudging his friends. "Doesn't he seem too young to be here? Especially if he's from some backwater village in the East Blue."
"Yeah, let's teach him that a weak-ass-looking punk like him doesn't belong here," another recruit added, cracking his knuckles with a menacing grin on his face.
The recruits swaggered over to Izuku with exaggerated confidence, trying to intimidate him. However, Izuku remained composed and unfazed as this was not the first time someone tried to intimidate him, and if he was being honest, staring down the bloodthirsty Muscular had been far more terrifying than these big-headed chums.
Meanwhile, Bogard stood close by, observing the situation attentively, prepared to step in if things took a turn for the worse. He had a watchful eye, ready to act at the first sign of trouble.
"Hey, little kid, do you even know who we are?" one recruit taunted, puffing out his chest.
Izuku blinked, pretending to be clueless. "Um, no? Should I?"
The recruits exchanged smug glances, thinking they had the upper hand. "We're the future of the Marines! You're talking to future admirals. If you want your little backwater village in one piece, you better show us some respect, brat!"
"Why?" Izuku deadpanned, making them all wear dumbfounded expressions. "Respect is earned; you can't force someone to respect you. So, give me two good reasons why I should even bother to respect you?" he finished, maintaining a calm tone throughout the conversation.
The recruits were speechless at first, but then a tic appeared on their foreheads as one of them stepped forward and seized Izuku by the collar. "Hey, punk! Who do you think you are talking to? We made it into the Marines; that already makes us better than a nobody like you from this backwater village. You will—"
"Taro, cut it out and let go of that boy this instant," Bogard intervened firmly, shoving Taro back and fixing a stern gaze on him and the other recruits. "Do you know who this kid is?" The recruits shook their heads. "This 'little kid' you're harassing happens to be Vice Admiral Garp's grandson."
As soon as the words left Bogard's mouth, the recruits' faces turned pale, and their confident smirks vanished. They were suddenly engulfed by a mix of embarrassment and fear, realizing they had attempted to intimidate the grandson of a legendary Marine and their senior, who enjoyed putting them through the grinder for fun.
'Crap! We messed up!' they all thought, wanting to apologize. But before they could, Izuku had already left the room.
"Idiots!" Bogard hissed at them, then hurried after Izuku, catching up to him quickly. He felt genuine shame that the kid had witnessed the unrefined behavior of the recruits who weren't ironed out yet. "Hey, sorry about their behavior. They were—"
"Mr. Bogard, where are we going next?" Izuku cut in, redirecting the conversation before Bogard could defend the recruits and their actions. So instead of pushing the matter anymore, Bogard just sighed and proceeded to tour him through other parts of the ship.
Finally, after touring for a while, they were at the bridge from where the ship was commanded. Once they arrived there, Izuku's eyes lit up with curiosity as he gazed at the intricate control panels and maps, interconnected with a wide array of complex machinery. Then, after a few explanations about the ship's operations and functions, an officer entered the room and approached Bogard, informing him of a pressing matter elsewhere that needed his attention. Bogard was initially hesitant, about to refuse, but Izuku interjected, stating that he had finished the tour and could find his way back on his own. Reluctantly, Bogard eventually agreed with Izuku's suggestion, bidding him goodbye and leaving with the officer.
Left on his own, Izuku glanced around the bridge once more before setting off to find his way out of the ship, navigating the corridors and staircases while thinking about all the things he learned about the Marines during his tour.
Then as he was walking back, he abruptly halted upon reaching his grandpa's room in the corridor reserved for high-ranking officers. Turning the knob, he discovered that surprisingly, the door was unlocked, so he decided to step inside. Inside, he found a very messy room, with clothes and packets of crackers scattered across the floor. Seeing the mess, Izuku let out an exaggerated sigh, shaking his head with a fond smile tugging at his lips.
As he explored the room, various fascinating items piqued his interest and curiosity. However, what captured his attention the most was a brown-colored diary resting on his grandpa's desk.
Standing before the desk, he found himself torn between his curiosity and his sense of morality. Two options weighed on him: he could turn back, lock the door, return to the village, and forget about the book entirely, or he could succumb to curiosity, open the diary, and read just a little to satisfy his curiosity and potentially find the answers and clarity he sought.
After a few moments of deliberation, his curiosity won out. Taking a seat at the desk, Izuku hesitated for a moment, casting a final glance at the diary. He drew in a deep breath, bracing himself, then opened the diary and began reading the first page.
'I don't know why I am doing this. As a Marine, I shouldn't be helping him. But I made a promise, I gave my word to the King of the Pirates that I will make sure that his child and wife are not killed for his sins. So, after Roger's execution, I set sail for Baterilla to secure Rouge and her child. Meanwhile, the World Government was—'
And then page after page, Izuku delved deeper into the diary, reading secrets and information on the events that a commoner, let alone a 10-year-old should know.
As evening descended upon Foosha village, its residents retired to their homes. Meanwhile, in the local bar, The Hero of the Marines, Garp, could be seen enjoying a drink, with Makino diligently working behind the bar.
"By the way, Mr. Garp, where is Izuku? I haven't seen him since this afternoon," Makino inquired, her gaze fixed on the door, wondering about her little brother's whereabouts.
"Don't worry, I left him with one of my officers for a tour of the Marine ship. But still..." Garp glanced out the window, noting the dusk settling in. "He should've returned by now. I wonder if he's dealing with those new recruits we picked up a few days ago."
"Dealing with recruits?" Makino's worry tinged her voice. "Will he be okay?"
"Don't worry, Izuku's tougher than he looks. He can handle himself against those weaklings," Garp reassured her, taking a sip of his beer. His words might have sounded like a proud grandfather boasting about his grandson, but it wasn't mere pride—Garp genuinely believed in Izuku's ability to handle those new recruits, who couldn't withstand a single punch from him. Izuku, on the other hand, could eat five of those and still keep going.
"Yeah, he's strong, but I'm more concerned about his emotional state right now," Makino shared, leaning on the counter. "Sabo's death hit him and Ace hard. It's remarkable how they've handled themselves, given their ages, but that only makes it more heartbreaking."
"Yeah, it's hard to believe that the little terp isn't with us anymore. He had a bright future ahead, just like my brats..." Garp's voice carried an underlying sadness. Earlier that day, visiting Dadan in the mountains, he was shocked to learn about Sabo's death. His initial shock morphed into anger as he learned the truth about the situation. Yet, he wasn't surprised; it wasn't the first time Celestial Dragons had callously taken a life on a whim.
The incident with Sabo deepened Garp's fears concerning Izuku and Ace. If the world government discovered their lineage, they wouldn't hesitate to initiate a Buster Call on the island to eradicate the children of the Pirate King and The Leader of the Revolutionary Army in one swift, devastating move.
That's why Garp adamantly opposed the idea of Izuku and Ace becoming pirates. He knew that the boys were destined for greatness, but if that greatness came as pirates, then sooner or later their entire history would be laid bare in front of the world, and if that happened, even his influence might not shield them from the world government's fangs.
But if they achieved the same as the Marines... becoming heroes in the public eye, then not even those five coots sitting at Mary Geoise could touch them without risking a backlash from the Marines and the World.
That's why was relieved that Izuku was on the path to becoming a Marine, but Ace... that stubborn idiot was just like his father. But Garp wasn't going to give up, He would do everything in his power to make him a Marine even if he had to hammer it into his brain with his fist of love.
Just then, the bar's door creaked open, and Izuku entered, his head hanging low. A peculiar, heavy aura surrounded him as he trudged slowly toward the counter.
"There he is," Garp announced, giving Izuku a comforting pat on the back. "So, Izuku, how was your tour?"
"Good..." Izuku's voice barely reached audible levels, stripped of its usual warmth, his eyes fixated on the counter.
Makino caught the change in Izuku's voice, a frown etching onto her face as she sensed something amiss. Stepping around the counter, she knelt in front of Izuku, her gentle hands cupping his face. Lifting his chin softly, her shock was evident as tear stains adorned his cheeks. "Izuku, what happened?" she asked, concern and worry resonating in her voice.
Without responding to Makino, Izuku turned towards Garp and bowed deeply, a gesture of gratitude. "Grandpa, thank you for training me and teaching me everything you did." Then, he lifted his gaze, meeting Garp's eyes with steeled resolve. "But I've decided that I don't want to become a Marine anymore."
With those words, he walked out of the bar, without waiting for anyone's response, leaving stunned and speechless adults behind.
To be continued...
So, I wanted to discuss Izuku's devil fruit powers, and I have two ideas in mind:
1)Kopi Kopi no Mi (Copy Copy fruit) - This fruit typically allows users to copy devil fruit powers they've seen before. However, in Izuku's case, the fruit malfunctions, granting him the ability to use quirks from his previous world. Naturally, there will be limitations; he won't be able to master a quirk instantly, and would require practice. Initially, he'll only manage to use two quirks simultaneously. Nonetheless, he'll have a wide variety of powers at his disposal.
2) Gamer ability (Not like the Manhwa 'The Gamer') - Izuku gains a stat page with options like quests and a shop, allowing him to purchase abilities from other games and animes. If I give Izuku this power, the story would be much more light-hearted and goofy as Izuku would literally have and ability to pull solutions out of his ass, however, it will be also much more fun as well.
I'd appreciate your suggestions about which one you prefer, as I'm okay with either. (I will go with the majority opinion)
Thank you for reading ^_^.