Hey Guys! Cresent Rider here and I'm back with another chapter. But before you all start, there is something I'd like to say first.

What inspired me to make this One Piece Fanfic is because of another fanfic story called 'Free Heart' by duaba writes. Despite its long hiatus, reading old chapters is always entertaining for me.

That is all I have to say and enjoy the chapter!

Dadan Family Home

A few years have passed since Garp dropped Marie and Luffy under Dadan's care. Though Luffy would spend most of his time not tending to the chores, Marie was the complete opposite and was happy to do chores around the place.

How she's doing them is considered unique to a certain perspective...

"Dadan! I finished washing today's clothes!" Marie #1 told,

"Good work," Dadan nonchalantly said,

"Dadan, I've finished cleaning the dishes," Marie #2 formally told, "The same goes for the pots, pans, and kitchenware,"

"Good to hear," Dadan repeated,

"Hey, old hag! I finished sharpening your poor excuse for weapons! From rusty old blades to inadequate barrels! Can't you guys do anything without me!" Marie #3 yelled

"Oh shut up, you brat! And quit it the old hag!" Dadan yelled,

Marie #3 just clicked her tongue and went to the original Marie via her shadow, along with the first and second Marie. The original Marie was sweeping the floor and she wiped off the sweat from her forehead after she completed her chore.

"Hey, Marie! Have you ever considered using a much less rude personality to do chores, I'm sick of it calling me an old hag!" Dadan yelled,

"I'm really sorry, Dadan-san. It's just who she is, and she did get that attitude from Ace of all people," Marie modestly apologized,

Dadan just grits her teeth in anger, then she sits on the floor, slumps her head, and facepalms at Marie's honest nature, "Well, at least it's doing its chore right. So I might as well let it slide,"

Marie giggles at Dadan's response and tolerance. Then the door was open and the one who entered was none other than her brothers, Luffy and Ace.

"Hey, Luffy, Ace. How was your training?" Marie inquired,

"We haven't even started yet, not when you're there yourself," Ace said,

"Yeah! Let's go out there and train!" Luffy declared,

"Now hold on, you two!" Dadan interjected, "Marie just finished her chores, and you're asking her to fight with you? Give her a break for once,"

"It's fine, Dadan. I can take it," Marie said, then gave off a carefree smile to the mountain bandit, "And, I always loved spending so much time with my family. Both them and you!"

Dadan felt her heart struck, and it caused her to fall on her back. Moments later, she fixed her posture and cleared her throat, "Fine, you can go! Beat yourselves up for all I can!"

"Thank you, Dadan!" Marie thanked her and ran off with her brothers

Though they aren't related, they declare themselves siblings under a cup of sake and Marie accepts despite being underage for such a beverage.

Minutes Later...

Running across the forest, they'd reach the one place where Ace and Luffy would spar and Marie would take up the time to look at the scoreboard. Though the first letter of the name was written, she never placed hers as she's always focused on Dadan's chores more than their antics.

But it didn't mean she had her share of bouts with these boys...

"So, which one of you will be fighting me today?" Marie inquired,

"Luffy and I have been talking about that, and we've decided," Ace paused while Luffy grinned ecstatically,

Moments later, these two turn towards her with fists raised and a shared grin on their faces, "We both want to fight you!"

Marie was surprised since it was either Luffy or Ace she'd fight. But to have both of them fight her...

...

...

...

She was tempted...

"Alright, I'll fancy you with this fight," Marie agreed, "Under one condition,"

Ace and Luffy simply grin at the idea, and what they witness is something they're tempted to have. A total of three pairs of arms emerged from the back of Marie's body and they have a mind of their own.

Seconds later, these arms grapple onto Marie's arms and what came out were the copies she used to do her chores.

Upon their manifestation, they stand beside her and Marie states her condition, "Instead of two, you'll take on four considering how fun it'll be, what do you say?"

There wasn't a reply between the two, but Marie knew what they wanted. Therefore, she settled for their silent agreement and issued the following orders, "Ecstatic, Purist You two handle Luffy. Fury and I will handle Ace,"

"Understood!" Ecstatic and Purist replied while Fury smirked in response,

Marie then grabbed a small rock from the ground, tossed it up a few times, and kept her eye on her brothers as they waited for her to drop the rock. For this was her signal to start this fight.

After a minute had passed, Marie tossed the rock high above the air and kept her eyes fixated on the boys. Likewise, they kept their eyes on her and clones as well.

As if time slowed between them, the rock was falling in the middle of their faces. After the rock hits the ground, only then do Ace and Luffy clash with Marie and her clones.

The first to land a blow was Ecstatic Marie against Luffy's face, and both she and Purist went after him while Marie and her Fury fought against Ace.

When Marie compares the strength of the two, Ace holds that advantage due to experience alone while Luffy holds an advantage due to his Gum-Gum Fruit.

Marie and Fury Marie would match Ace's ferocity while Ecstatic and Purist Marie would best Luffy through techniques and agility. Regardless, they were getting stronger by the day and Marie felt the same as them.

In conclusion of their match, Ace, Marie, and Fury Marie are tired while Ecstatic and Purist have tied a knot out of Luffy's arms and legs.

"Hey, Untie me! This ain't fair!" Luffy complained while Ecstatic giggled and Purist sighed,

For Ace, Marie, and Fury. They just smirked upon Luffy's defeat, but Marie would untie the knots of his arms and legs.

"That power of yours is really something, Marie," Ace remarked, "It might even be better than Luffy's,"

"Shut up! My fruit is ten times better!" Luffy yelled,

"Of course it is, Luffy," Marie said, "Considering that your body's made of rubber, mine still maintains a human body. Therefore, I had Ecstatic and Purist handle you rather than Fury and I,"

"And boy did they mess you up!" Ace joked before laughing at Luffy, who gritting his teeth at him,

Marie giggles at her brother's reaction, but this causes her to flinch and clutch onto her side.

Another drawback of her Devil Fruit Power...

That aside, Marie recalled something important, "Hey, Ace. If I remember correctly, you'll sail across the seas in a few weeks, right?"

"Yeah," Ace replied,

Marie knew of her brothers' promise; To set sail across the seas after they've reached the age of 17 and Ace would be the first to depart before Luffy.

However, this topic reminded him of another particular matter, "Now that you mentioned it, you still intend to be part of Luffy's crew?"

"Why of course, Ace. Grandpa has made it clear that I would look after him specifically, and Luffy's intentions of becoming a pirate are made clear as well," Marie clarified, "Whether he becomes a Pirate or a Marine, I would follow him to the end. Even if it meant going against everything Garp stands for,"

Ace lets out an exasperated sigh, "Then I guess you've made up your mind too,"

Luffy gets all giddy about it, "That's my big sister for you, Ace! We're going to be the best pirates in the whole world!"

"Not if I become more famous than you two combined," Ace contested,

Marie just smiles at her brothers' antics and makes it last until Ace's departure.

Three Years Later...

When Luffy turns seventeen, he and Marie plan to set sail and become pirates. While Luffy's attire only consists of a red vest, blue shorts, and sandals, Marie's attire has changed to a long-sleeved white shirt, long jeans, black leather shoes, an orange scarf belt wrapped around her waist, and a small red beads necklace.

Though Marie is a year older than Luffy, her height only reaches above his shoulders.

"Hey, Guys! We're leaving now. You're not gonna see us off?" Luffy asked while leaning in the middle of the door frame,

"How annoying. The mayor and Makino won't mind, but the people in Foosha Village will be scared of us," Dadan said,

"But..." Luffy insisted,

"Why don't you just go already?!" Dadan yelled, and Marie just giggled since she knew her all too well,

"Alright. Then you guys, thank you for everything!" Luffy thanked,

"Thank you for everything," Marie repeated, and bowed her head,

The bandits scratched the back of their heads and looked sheepish to the two.

"Don't say it, I feel awkward!" Dogra remarked,

"Well, well, take care you two," Magra said,

"Same goes for you guys," Marie said as she straightened her posture, "Also, I've finished the last of chores before we leave. I even polished your shoes until they shined too,"

"Good, now why don't you just go already," Dadan said,

"Yeah, okay!" Luffy agrees and walks out,

"Luffy, aren't you forgetting something you want to say to Dadan?" Marie reminded,

"Oh, that's right!" Luffy replied, "Dadan, I don't like mountain bandits..."

"Shut up, you brat!" Dadan yelled,

"But I like you guys!" Luffy finished with a cheery demeanor,

Dadan gasps in response and then proceeds to ball her eyes out for hearing such heartfelt words, "Stop talking nonsense and go away already, you bastard! Dammit! Why am I surrounded by such fools?!"

Marie laughs at her reaction, then she tugs onto Luffy's vest, "Come on, Luffy. Let's go, I think Dadan needs to be alone for a while,"

"What? Why is she crying? What is something I said?" Luffy inquired,

"I'm not crying!" Dadan blatantly denied through her tears,

Foosha Village

Having said their goodbyes to the people of Foosha Village, Luffy, and Marie board a small boat that they've prepared themselves.

The village expressed their concerns and offered their boats for their sake. But Luffy rejects their offers and insists that the boat they have is fine as they need to start small for their voyage.

The Mayor, however, had a say in the matter, "Hey, Marie! I understand that Luffy is sure about being a pirate. But I don't think you should be involved in too! Why don't you stay here and keep yourself out of harm's way!"

"Sorry, Mr. Mayor!" Marie apologized, "But Garp made it clear that I'd watch over my brother! And he never once said that I'd have to be Marine whenever he visits us!"

The Mayor scratched the back of his head at her declaration, and gave up as there's no amount of convincing will get through this girl. The only thing he'll do now is hope that Garp won't be too hard on her.

Though such a scenario is impossible since he's by all means against piracy.

With that settled, Luffy only has one thing left to do, "Sabo! Watch over me! We're gonna go out to sea!"

The villagers asked Luffy about his declaration and assumed that it was some sort of incantation. Luffy would only correct him that it was a challenge to his brothers and what followed was their departure as the rope line had been untangled.

Marie then manifested Purist and the two rows the boat away from the docks. Everything seemed peaceful at first, but that changed when a shadow loomed over them and what emerged was a Sea King.

As large as it looks, neither Luffy nor Marie feared this Sea King. For Luffy, he had a score to settle as he recalled their first encounter.

"Here comes our local sea monster!" Luffy remarked with hand on his straw hat, "You don't know who you're messing with. Look at this technique I've been training for 10 years!"

Marie just smirked as she saw her brother clenched his fist and stretched it back as he intended, "Gomu-Gomu no..."

The Sea King screeches at them and plans to chomp them down its massive jaw. But just as Luffy said, things weren't going to down the way it was 10 years ago, "Pistol!"

Luffy lands a strong blow against the Sea King and sends it crashing back into the water. It may cause some waves that rock the boat, but he and Marie remain steadfast as they savor the first mark of their voyage.

'He's become strong as he promised he'd be,' Marie said, 'That's my little brother,'

"Now let's start with finding a crew!" Luffy declared, "I'd want at least 10 of them and a Jolly Roger. Alright! Let's go!"

"Right, Captain!" Marie and Purist replied before rowing the boat further away from Dawn Island,

"I'm gonna become..." Luffy paused as he buckled himself down, then raised himself with so much pride and enthusiasm, "The King of the Pirates!"

Never looking back to the Dreams they wish to fulfill...

That is it for this chapter everyone! As for what comes next, It'll be the first episode where Luffy is inside a barrel.

On the topic of Marie's Devil Fruit, the name hasn't been said just yet. But it does allow her to manifest copies of herself and they vary in personality that contradicts her own, An Honest but Modest Girl.

As for how it works, I won't state the mechanics but I will say that the way these clones emerge is similar to the Bloom Bloom Fruit and the way they merge back to the user is similar to the Shadow Shadow Fruit.

The little details about her fruit are yours to find out. Because I won't explain them all at once.

That is all I have to say, and I'll see you all in the next chapter!