The small boat was sailing listlessly as Luffy hung over the side of the boat and groaned, "I'M HUNGGGGGRRRYYYY!"
"When the hell are we going to reach land anyway?" Zoro asked as he leaned on the other side of the ship.
Raven just sighed, "No clue, sadly none of us are navigators, so we aimlessly wander the blue," She was polishing her favorite hammer, Lucy. The large hammer glinted in the sunlight.
"As my sister said, don't know maybe we'll reach it someday," Luffy said carelessly.
Zoro just gave him an annoyed look. "Don't you find it dumb! That someone who proclaims to want to be the King of the Pirates doesn't have anyone who can do navigation!" He said bluntly.
"Not really, I just drift around," Luffy said before turning to look at Zoro. "How about you? Aren't you some famous bounty hunter who sailed the seas?"
"I don't have any recollection of calling myself a bounty hunter," Zoro said before leaning his head back. "I sailed out onto the open sea to go after one man and I couldn't get back to my own village. By that point, I had no choice to go after pirate ships and make a living."
"It's easy, you're just lost," Luffy said which got Zoro angry and he started to rock the boat.
The sudden rock of the boat woke up Lea as she had rolled over and accidentally hit Raven in the face with the back of her hand. "OW!" Yelped Raven in annoyance.
Lea winced apologetically before glaring at Zoro, "Zoro, watch what you are doing!" She said annoyed.
The boat was still rocking as Zoro ignored for a second as he kept trying to get to Luffy but the rocking of the boat made Luffy lunge forward and it resulted in his hat coming off.
Luffy then started to freak out as he tried to grab the hat before it touched the water. Lea quickly followed in suit and tried to climb the mast to grab it but it was just out of her reach."Not my Shanks hat…" Luffy said in a distant voice as he watched it move farther away. A flashback hit him hard.
"This hat means more to me than anything you could ever know, I can't even give my hat to you or Lea," Echoed a voice.
Ten years ago, a little black-haired boy was running towards Partys Bar where Makino was outside sweeping. The boy was crying as he tugged on the young lady's skirt.
"Makino! I don't want to do any more training with grandpa," He sobs to her as the tears ran over his small bruises on his face.
"Luffy...what?-" Makino was about to ask more when she heard the booming laugh of his grandfather.
"Makino, hide me!" Luffy begged.
A young girl with black hair opened the door from the inside, "Makino, the bar is all clean- Luffy?" She asked.
"Raven, please hide Luffy and tend to his wounds," Makino replied quickly as she ushered the two kids into the bar.
Raven's face was now serious as she gently grabbed Luffy's hand and dragged him behind the bar. When she got there she took the small med kit that was underneath it as well and started to tend to his bruises when Garp burst through the door.
"Is he here?" He asked Makino.
"Training hard Garp?" Makino asked politely as she masked the small squeak of fear coming from the boy behind the bar.
"That brat…" Garp sighed roughly, "I never had this problem with Ace,' He said before he pulled out a chair and sat in it. He soon took out a pack of rice crackers and started to chomp on one.
"What is it now," Makino asked with a faux smile.
"Makino," Garp grunted, "Did Luffy come here, I go to the trouble of gathering all those balloons and he insists on running and hiding from training."
"Balloons for what?" Makino asked a bit curious.
"Flight training," Garp said simply. "I'm trying to figure out what else to do since he's a horrible swimmer."
"I CAN TOO SWIM!" Luffy said loudly in defiance before clamping his hands over his mouth.
"Luffy!" Raven hissed through her teeth.
"AHA!" Garp called out before he got up to head to the bar as he leaned over to grab the boy. Luffy escaped by a hair and made his way over to cower behind Makino. Instead of Luffy, he grabbed the nine-year-old girl instead.
"Hey!" Raven said as she tried to get out of his grasp.
"Oh, wrong kid," He said before putting her down quite roughly before turning to look at his grandson.
"No! He's going to kill me, I don't wanna die!" Luffy said from behind Makino.
"Luffy get back here!" Garp yelled at him as he started to crack his massive knuckles, a sadistic smile on his face. The sound scared Raven and she went and stood beside Makino as well.
Makino then held up her hands and cried out, "Garp! Didn't you say that you had to go somewhere today, apparently Marine Headquarters need you back for a very important job," she said.
"I do, but Luffy spent all day running from his training," Garp barked, "It's lucky that we even got ANY training done this week."
"What did you make him do this time?" Makino asked as Luffy didn't dare come out from behind her. Raven just made sure that she was standing in front of Luffy.
"He left me down a giant hole for two days," Luffy whimpered.
"So how have things been here?" Garp asked now addressing Makino, he ignored Luffy's small comment.
"Quiet and peaceful as always," Makino smiled," Though, I can't help but think that's because your ship is docked at the harbor."
"I'll be heading to HQ tonight," Garp 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 Luffy visit," She said as she turned to look at Luffy and smiled. Her fingers then whisked over his black hair before she glanced back at Garp. "Do you know when you'll be back?"
"Don't know yet," Garp answered as he finished off his rice crackers. "But don't worry, this village is so small, no real pirate will stop here again. The last ones who were dumb enough to come by were complete weaklings," Garp said before erupting into his boisterous laugh.
"Well, please hurry back anyway," Makino said happily though her facial expression clearly stated otherwise. "Oh and please let us know beforehand so that we can gather enough crackers to cover your next stay," she added as Garp tilted the bag towards his mouth to finish it off.
Garp laughed even harder as he waved goodbye. He soon closed the door as he exited, the light of the setting sun streaming through the windows. Makino then turned to fully look at the two kids and asked Luffy, "He's getting pretty harsh in his training isn't he?" She then looked at his wrapped hands. "But you'll be staying with me for a while,"
"I can lead him to the guest bedroom Makino, he can have the bedroom next to mine," Raven said.
Makino smiled and nodded, "Please do Raven," She said as she went to tend other people that came into the bar.
Raven nodded and gently grasped Luffy's hand as she started to lead him upstairs and to the one spare bedroom beside her own. "Here Luffy, you can stay in this one. I'm right next door," She said as she opened the door to the bedroom. Luffy nodded as he went in before he curled up on the bed. Before Raven could say anything, Luffy was starting to fall asleep. She gave a soft smile before turning to the open window where she heard a man scream.
"Pirates at the Dock!"
The next day Luffy woke up and looked out the window as he heard voices. It was then that he saw Shanks ship and eagerly got up and rushed out of bed. He made a beeline to Raven's room and hits the door as he tried to wake her up. "Raven!"
It took a few minutes before Raven sleepily opened the door. She wiped her eyes and mumbled, "Luffy…...what is it?"
"I..it's a Pirate Ship!" Luffy said excitedly. Raven just shakes her head, knowing all too well of his excitement over the idea.
"I'll meet you down there," She mumbled before closing the door to get dressed. Luffy lets her be as he ran down the stairs and slams open the door to the bar.
"MAKINO! DID YOU SEE IT! THERE'S A PIRATE SHIP AT THE PORT!" He hollered to his friend. As he waited for an answer, he took this time to look around the room. There he saw many men passed out. Most from too many drinks. It was then that he realized that they must all be pirates.
Makino looked up from her spot at the bar and smiled brightly at him. "Yes Luffy, I know," Makino said still beaming happily though her smile seemed to be a little forced as she side glanced at the sleeping men. "They came here after coming to port. They've been here all night drinking, I'm surprised that either of you could sleep through it all."
"I slept through it all?" Raven asked as she finally appeared.
Makino chuckled at Raven though leaned over to pat Luffy's head.
A red-haired man then leaned over and asked in a slightly slurred voice, "Who're the kids? Your little siblings?" He asked Makino. The man had a sleepy smile on his face as he looked at the two. His three lined scar was the most pronoun feature on his face.
Makino smiled and said, "Sadly no, I look after Luffy when his grandfather is gone, and Raven here lives with her father in my inn.," She explained.
Luffy just looked at him as he asked, "Where you come from old man?" The men who were not asleep burst out into laughter.
"OLD MAN! I'm not even in my thirties yet, you brat!" Shanks said a bit annoyed.
"Compared to him, you are old Captain," Said a fat man as he took a bite out of the meat on his dagger as he fell off his chair in laughter.
"Who asked you!" Shanks demanded.
Makino then gently took Luffy and led him to the other side of the bar and sat him down on the stool. "Now, now Luffy, don't anger the customers,"
"It's alright Makino," Shanks said as he waved off his tipsy crew. "Believe me, it doesn't take much to get these idiots laughing,"
"Who the hell are you?" Luffy asked as he looked at him. "Where did all these people come from?" He asked Makino in great interest.
Shanks had gone back to his food as he started to chow down, "The name's Shanks and I'm a pirate."
Luffy's eyes lit up like stars in excitement, "Did you say that you are a pirate? As in you guys aren't Marines? Does that mean you go on adventures? TELL ME!" Luffy begged.
Raven just shook her head as she turned to look at the door as someone else came into the bar. A girl with flaming red hair walked in, she looked to be the same age as Raven. "Morning everyone," said the new girl as she made her way over to Shanks. She goes and sits on the stool next to the pirate.
Luffy just watched with wide eyes. "Who is she?" He asked.
"This is my niece," Shanks said as he pointed to the girl. Lea, the girl, raised her hand in acknowledgment.
"My name is Alandai D. Lea, nice to meet you," The girl said happily as she quickly grabbed Shanks' hat and placed it on her head.
"Oi," Shanks remarked in mock anger. "What have I said about my hat?"
"That it is your treasure and that it should be handled with respect?" Lea asked. "I don't see the problem with me wearing it," She said to her uncle in a teasing way.
Raven just comes to stand beside Lea and asked. "So you're a pirate too?"
"Not officially, Uncle Shanks doesn't me to be one until I'm seventeen," Lea said as she looked at the black haired girl. "So what are your names?" She asked Raven and Luffy.
"I'm Raven, and that little monkey over there is Luffy," Raven remarked.
"Hey!" Luffy called as the two girls burst in laughter.
A few months later, Shanks' crew was back at the bar again. Luffy was sitting at the bar with Shanks as he drank some Sake. Raven and Lea were walking into the room when they headed towards the two.
"Hey, Shanks you got to take me on an adventure sometime!" Luffy said as he looked at him. "I wanna be a pirate like you!"
Shanks had turned to look at the small boy as Lea came and laid on his shoulder to watch the two's conversation. Raven just stood beside the man. Shanks started to laugh, "Right, as if you can become a pirate."
"Why couldn't I?" Luffy asked.
Beckham who was sitting nearby chuckled as Yassop was leaning on his chair next to Lucky Roo. "You may be a good swimmer, but that doesn't mean that you'll be a good pirate," Yassop said as Lucky Roo ate his ham.
"But I'm a good fighter! My fists are like two pistols!" Luffy countered as he started to punch the air.
"Well, are they now?" Asked Shanks as he continued to eat his meal.
"What does that suppose to mean?!" Luffy asked as he looked at Shanks angrily.
"Hehe, he means that you are too much like a kid, kid," laughed Lucky Roo.
Yassop then nodded in agreement. "He's right,"
"I'm not a kid! I'm a grown up!" Luffy said as he punched the bar. "Besides Lea goes with you guys,"
"Luffy, I pretty much live with them, I have nowhere else to go. I'm not even a pirate yet," Lea said as she folded her arms.
"Here, have some juice and calm down," Shanks said as he slid over a glass of orange juice to the boy.
"Wow! Thanks, Shanks!" Luffy said as he gently took the glass from the bar and started to drink it.
"I don't know what pirate drinks juice," Shanks said as he started to slap the bar as he laughed, Luffy started to yell at him in annoyance. Lea then slapped Shanks in the back of the head to calm him down.
"Seriously Uncle?" She sighed.
"Stop laughing!" Luffy screamed to the crew.
Makino was cleaning some glasses behind the counter and smiled at the boy when she quickly looked over as a man broken the swinging door off its hinges. It fell to the ground and slid away. The sudden smack made Raven jolt in her spot.
"Excuse us," Came another voice, as he and his gang walked in. "So these are what passes as pirates in these parts," The man said as he stepped on the door as he made his way to the bar. "It's pretty sad to me,"
Shanks was still eating as the leader came to stand next to him, as Lea and Raven moved over to Luffy.
"Hello gentleman, how can I help you?" Makino asked as she stood in front of the newcomer.
"We are mountain bandits, but we didn't come here to tear your place apart. All we want is some sake, and I say ten barrels should do," The man said as his gang was smirking from behind. All the while Shanks kept eating.
"I'm sorry but we are fresh out of sake right now," Makino said.
"Interesting, it seems like these pirates are still drinking," The man said. "Is that water in their glasses?"
"No, that just happens to be the last that I had stocked up," Makino said gently.
The man scowled as Shanks spoke up, "My apologies gentleman, Me and my friends drunk the whole place dry. But, you can have this if you want, it hasn't been opened yet," He then hands up a bottle. "Go ahead,"
The leader of the mountain bandit then balled his fist and broke the glass bottle in Shanks's hand. Luffy just watched in shock.
"I'm wanted, I have an eight million berry on my head, one bottle isn't enough for a nightcap, so don't insult me," He said threatening.
Shanks just muttered, "Just great, now the floor is wet. Sorry about that Makino," He said as he bent down to clean the mess up. "You got a rag I clean this up with?" He asked.
"Oh, don't worry about it, I'll take care of it," Makino said as she went to go get a rag. Meanwhile, the mountain bandit leader pulled out a sword and he destroyed all the dishes on the bar. It made a loud clatter as Shanks quickly ducked out of view to dodge the blade.
"If you like cleaning up messes, then here you go," The mountain bandit said as he stood over Shanks as he sheathed his sword. "Let's go, guys, this place is not worth our time," He said bluntly as he walked towards the front. Everyone was quiet but Lea was holding back her irritation as she watched the leader go.
As the bandits left, Luffy was clenching his glass of juice really tightly as he gritted teeth in anger. It was silent for a few seconds before the whole tavern erupted into laughter. Lea sighed in annoyance before grabbing the hat and a towel that was nearby before starting to clean it off before putting it on her head as she folded her arms. She let a small chuckle before glancing at her friend. Raven just sighed.
Makino was bending down to help clean off the drinks that have been spilled on Shanks. She only looked up when Luffy stood on the bar stool and yelled at the lot. "WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING!WHAT'S SO FUNNY? YOU SHOULD'VE FOUGHT BACK SHANKS! IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW STRONG THEY LOOK OR HOW MANY THEY ARE, JUST LAUGH IT UP YOU ARE NOT A MAN OR A PIRATE!"
"Luffy, I know how you feel," Shanks said as he lounged slightly upon the bar. "The guy just spilled some booze on me, it's not worth getting bent out of shape."
"Besides, the guy was a weakling, there was no point on fighting him," Lea added as she watched the two.
"Whatever," Luffy huffed before looking at the open chest next to him. He spotted the light purple fruit that had swirling designs all over it. It seemed tempting The two adults on the ground were sharing a moment. The two girls next to them were snickering. Shanks chuckled before snatching back his hat. The four of them then turned to look at Luffy as they heard him chomping away.
"You shouldn't eat out of frustration," Shanks said.
"Yeah, it'll give you a stomachache," Raven said as she folded her arms.
"Shut up!" Luffy said without looking at the man. He just continued to eat the purple fruit.
Shanks then went wide-eyed as he saw the fruit he was eating, "Hey wait! You shouldn't eat that! No! You didn't!" He said as he stood up quickly and looked down at him. "Don't tell me you ate the fruit that was in that box!" He said in a worried but angry tone.
Lea just facepalmed and shook her head.
Shanks quickly took Luffy by the legs as he started to shake him up and down. "Spit it out right now! Every single bit!" He said in a desperate way, though it only made Luffy freak out a bit
"What are you doing! Stop shaking me!" Luffy said before his legs stretched and his face hit the floor. Everybody was in silence before his body stretched back to normal and Luffy looked shocked. "What's...going on…." He said slowly before Shanks got in his face.
"Luffy! You just ate the Gum-Gum Fruit! Part of the group called the Devil Fruits. If you eat them, it takes away your ability to swim!" Shanks said as Makino gasped nearby. "You can't swim for the rest of your life, but that one also turns your body into rubber!"
"N0 WAY!" Luffy screams. "IT CAN'T"
"YOU DUMBASS!" Shanks replied.
Lea just sighed before hitting her uncle in the head. "You can put him down now, Uncle Shanks. It's not all that bad having a Devil Fruit, you know."
Shanks just sighed before putting Luffy down and turning to his niece. "I know Lea, but every Devil Fruit is different, he can't transform as you do. He still has to make sure he's careful. Especially around water," He said as he calmed himself down.
"Is that how you got your powers? " Luffy asked as he turned to Lea, completely ignoring Shanks for the time being.
"Yup, that's how I got them. That fruit was disgusting," Lea said as she made a face of disgust.
"It's supposed to," Shanks said as he folded his arms.
"I know that!" Lea snarked before explaining herself, "It's not that I knew what it was when it was given to me. "
Raven just listened quietly as Makino gently brought her close to stroke her hair. The two watched the trio. As they got used to the new situation, Raven piped up, "Well, life won't be boring." The small group laughed.
A week later Makino was running to the mayor, with Raven and Lea by her side. The tavern was trashed and Luffy was in trouble. Makino burst through the door and begged," Mayor! We need your help!
The older man turned his head to Makino and the two girls before she explained everything. Raven and Lea were both extremely worried before the group of four then burst out the door and towards where Luffy was being beaten up at. As they got to the scene, the bandit was pressing his foot against Luffy's head. Sandwiching it against the well.
"Hold on! Let the boy go!" The mayor pleaded as Makino grasped her hands over her chest. Raven bit her lip and clenched Lea's hand. Lea was glaring at the bandit and she was clenching her friend's hand back even tighter. "I beg you!" The old man pleaded "I don't attend to fight you for what he's done. If you accept, I will even pay you to stop this!" The man then got onto his knees to show his submission. "Just spare the poor boy's life, PLEASE!" He said as he bowed his head to the ground.
"Mayor!" Luffy said from underneath the shoe.
"While the oldest generation knows the ways of the world better than us all, I"m sorry but this rotten kid has already made me angry. Nothing can save him now," The bandit said as he started to unsheathe his sword.
"You're the rotten ones around here!" Luffy spat at him.
"And you're a lost cause, so you can forget it, in the next life," He said before raising his sword. Lea quickly let RAven's hand go before darting forward and transforming her arm into a sword and blocking the hit as she slid in front of Luffy.
"You will not touch my little brother!" Lea spat at him with fire in her eyes.
Raven just let out a squeak as she saw Lea's actions. She hid her face in her hands as Makino squeezed her hands tighter and the mayor was crying out disbelief. Raven turns as she hears footsteps behind them and she got ready to run, only to see Shanks and his crew coming up.
"I was wondering why the bar was so empty on such a fine day," Shanks said casually from behind the trio.
Lea just shakes her head as she kept up her blocking. "Really Uncle Shanks?" She said with a sigh.
"So it's the Mountain Bandits again," Shanks said as Makino looked around and saw the whole crew now by them.
"Captain Shanks!" Makino said in a slightly swooned like voice.
The leader grunts in annoyance as he gazed back at Shanks. "Pirates, now you show up?" He said in a rather blunt and sarcastic tone.
"They just got back," Lea huffed as she kept her force on his sword.
"Do you rely on Lea for protection now," Shanks said to Luffy as he ignored the mountain bandit.
"You aren't helping in this situation Uncle," Lea said as the man pushed harder on her sword arm.
Luffy was about say something but he was cut off by the bandit. "I don't know what you think you're doing here, but you should leave if you know what's good for you." A snort was heard from Lea. Raven was hiding behind Makino as she watched.
Shanks just started to step forward when a guy with a gun pointed it at his temple. "I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to you," The bandit snarked.
The man next to shanks muttered, "I'll blow your head off if I have to, but that's up to you my friend." The other bandits around the group smirked and snickered.
The bandit leader snickered as Luffy watched in worry. Shanks just looked down a bit. "Would you risk your life?" he said simply and the man holding the gun looked confused. "Now that you've drawn your pistol, would you use it?"
"What the hell are you talking about?" The man said.
Shanks turned to point to the pistol barrel, "I"m saying, guns aren't for threats, their for actions," He said simply before a gun was fired making Raven jump and squeak in fright. She peeked from around Makino to see that the former gunman was falling to the ground and Shank's crew member Lucky Roo was standing with his pistol drawn. The larger man then took a bite out of his meat. Raven blinked as she watched.
"You! You are a dead man!" Screamed one of the bandits with a few others shouting their agreement.
"These guys fight dirty!" Shouted another one.
Lea just muttered, "Hypocrites!"
"Dirty?" Yassop said as he stood by his captain.
"Who did you think you were dealing with?" Beckham said as he towered over his crewmates. "We never claim to be saints or anything."
"You guys are staring down at a group of pirates," Shanks said
"We're going after the boy, not you," Snarled a bandit.
"Listen up boys, it doesn't' matter whether I'm sprayed with alcohol or doused with food, hell even if I'm spit on, I'll just laugh it off and forget about it. But if you hurt a friend or family member of mine, you'll pay for it regardless of your reason." Shanks said darkly.
Luffy was beginning to cry as he whimpered, "Shanks.." Lea had ruffled his head a bit with her free arm.
The bandit leader laughed loudly, "So we're gonna pay? Louzy pirates. KILL THEM ALL!" He ordered as his bandits unsheathed their swords and aimed for Shanks's crew.
Beckham stepped forward as he took out his rifle. "I'll take care of this, shouldn't be a big deal," He said simply to his captain. He then swung at the oncoming bandits, his rifle like a club. After many grunts and cries of pain, a lonely sword embedded itself next to the bandit leader. His face contorted to that of panic.
"If you really wanted to fight, you should've had a battleship or something," Beckham said as he pointed his rifle at the leader now. He was the only one left standing out of his group.
Luffy and Raven murmured a wow, while Lea giggled.
The bandit then snarled as he turned to the pirates. He started to back up a bit. "Hold on, please! It was the kid who attacked us!"
"I thought you were a wanted man," Shanks said and it made the bandit leader squirm. "There's also a fact that you pointed a sword at my niece."
The bandit then snarled as he quickly took out a smoke bomb and slammed it onto the ground. A dark plume of smoke then obscured the area. The man quickly grabbed Luffy and Lea as he made his getaway. A small yelp of surprise was voiced by Lea as her arm reverted back to normal.
Shanks grimaced as he tried to see through the smoke. Raven gasped and started to cough as she inhaled some of it. "Luffy? Lea?" Shanks as he grabbed his head in worry. Lucky Roo grimaced and snarled a bit. Raven' started to cry as she didn't see her friends anymore. "Oh know! I let the guy take them! What am I going to do!"
"Boss calm down, you're freaking out," Lucky Roo said as Beckham grinned at his Captain with a long toothpick in his mouth. "We'll find them in no time."
"What a goof," Beckham said with a slight chuckle.
Meanwhile out in the bay, the leader of the bandits was holding both Luffy and Lea in the air. His small boat swayed as the waves rocked it. He chuckled darkly, "Looks like I made a clean getaway. They would never think to look for a mountain bandit in the water."
"Let go of us you big dumb assed idiot~" Luffy huffed as he was being held by the back of his shirt. Lea was just quiet as she was thinking of a plan. "I really hope you die!" He screamed.
"Yes, I know that's what you want, but you are the one dying today," The bandit sneered.
"Over my dead body," Lea huffed under her breath, though the guy didn't hear it. Without another word, the man threw the two into the water. Luffy quietly cursing all the while. His body sinking as Lea had morphed her body so that she could help him. She grabbed him with her arms that were morphed into water, she then brought him up to the surface so that he couldn't flail about or drown. Though she knew she couldn't do this forever and silently hoped that Shanks would get there in time.
"Sorry kids, I just don't have any use for you two anymore," laughed the bandit as he watched the two struggle. He didn't realize that the water behind him was starting to tower as a Sea King appeared. Lea's eyes went wide as she peered into the giant red eyes who were staring intently at the bandit.
Luffy was starting to freak out more and that got the attention the bandit as he turned to see the giant eel-like creature looming over him. After a shriek of terror, the man was swallowed in one bite nothing was left of him or the boat. The two kids treaded water with shock still in their eyes. After a second of silence, the creature then charged at the two. In a split second, Shanks had grabbed the two and pushed them out of the way. Lea then changed back to normal from the small shock that she experienced.
Luffy had looked over and whimpered, "Shanks…"
Shanks had ignored him for a second as the Sea King reappeared and stared at them. "Get lost," He said simply but his eyes said murderous. Lea felt some energy from the look. The Sea King then swam away in terror. He then looked at the two, "Makino told me everything, how you stood up for us back there," He said softly. Lea was in his arm as she started to sob. "You put yourself out there for us, you can't cry, you're a man now," He said gently.
" but Shanks! Your arm! Your arm!" Luffy said as he pointed out the spot where his arm was missing. He was holding onto Lea as she was being held by him.
"Luffy, it's just an arm, I have another one. I'm just glad that you both are alright," He said gently as he tried to soothe both the girl and boy in his arm.
A few days later Shanks had healed and his men were packing up their boat with supplies to leave. Makino and the mayor were standing near the docks to watch them pack.
Luffy was talking to Shanks at the top of the docks. "So you're leaving?" Luffy asked sadly. He turned to look at Lea and Raven nearby.
"Yeah this was just an extended vacation, I have to go now, but don't worry you won't be alone. You will have Raven and Lea will be joining you," He said before smiling at the boy.
Luffy's eyes widened, "She's staying?"
"You bet I am!" Lea said before leaning on his shoulder in good nature. "It's pretty much one of the reasons we came to this town, the Marines were getting too nosy," Lea said with a shrug. "Sure I'm not happy that I'm leaving my family but I still gonna keep two members of my family."
"Two?" Luffy asked curiously while Shanks just smiled at them all.
"You and Raven of course!" Lea said and smacked Luffy gently in the back of the head. Luffy just chuckled a bit.
Shanks then piped in and said, "I bet you guys would miss me,"
"Of course I'm gonna miss you, you big goof, what other uncle do I have?" She asked playfully.
Raven ran up and hugged Shanks, "Me too, even though I haven't known you long, I consider you a friend and an Uncle," She said happily with some tears in her eyes.
"Yeah, but this time it's different," Luffy said as Raven then came to his side as she got a smile and a hug back from Shanks. "I won't beg you to take me with you, because I'm gonna be a pirate all on my own,"
"All on your own?" Lea asked with a raised brow. "I don't think so Captain, you aren't gonna go anywhere without me,"
"O...or me!" squeaked Raven as she joined in the convo. Luffy laughed as he felt more encouraged by his going to be nakama.
Shanks just put out his tongue and said in a teasing way, "Nah, I wouldn't have taken you anyway," He said playfully.
"Well you sure kept me around for a while," Lea said playfully to her uncle.
"You'll never make it as a pirate just by yourself, so good thing you have these two." He said
"OF COURSE I'LL MAKE IT AS A PIRATE!" Luffy screamed as the rest of Shanks crew stopped to listen. "SOMEDAY I'M GOING TO GATHER A CREW EVEN BETTER THAN YOURS! I'M GONNA FIND THE GREATEST TREASURE IN THE WORLD AND THEN I'M GOING TO BE KING OF THE PIRATES! I'LL SHOW YOU!
Lea just chuckled and muttered under her breath, "That's my brother," she said happily and Raven chuckled.
Shanks just chuckled, "You think you're going to surpass us? In that case, I'll leave this hat to you," He said as he plopped his most prized hat onto Luffy's head. "It means more to me than anything in the world, except maybe my family. So you better take care of it, you hear me?" He said and Luffy started to cry. Shanks just chuckled before turning to Lea and taking off his jacket. "Lea, you can take this one as another token to remember me by. It's a little big now but you'll grow into it, take care of it," He said with a smile.
Lea quickly took it and puts it on before watching him get up. She nodded her head in thank you. A small tear formed at the corner of her eye but it disappeared just as quickly as it came. Without another word, Shanks waved goodbye and rejoined his crew on his ship. His 'Jolly Roger' flapping in the wind as the ship set sail. The three newly dubbed siblings watched as his ship disappeared over the horizon.
Luffy was sitting down as he stared at his hat after he explained their whole backstory to Zoro
"So you guys aren't actually blood-related?" Zoro asked curiously.
"No, we are not," Raven said, "But from then on we were thicker than blood."
Luffy chuckled before putting the hat back on his head but he was stopped when Lea stopped him, "Uh-uh! You know the deal Luffy," she said before he huffed and placed it on her head. Zoro just rose a brow but didn't say anything. Raven just playfully rolled her eyes.
Zoro just shrugs, "Oh, I'm so hungry! It's killing me!" He said in exasperation.
Luffy just quietly nodded and he saw a bird flying above them and he then smirked as he got an idea. Quickly he grabbed his hat back, "I'm going to get that bird," He said simply.
"Uh oh…" Lea said as she felt it was going to be a bad feeling.
Luffy then stretched his arms so he could grab the mast before flinging himself into the air and in the direction of the bird.
Zoro just gave a weird look before shaking his head as he heard Luffy's pleas of help as he got his head stuck in the beak of the giant bird.
"Not again," Lea huffed before Zoro quickly grabbed the oars and started to paddle like a maniac.
"YOU MORON!" Zoro screamed, "WHAT THE HECK DID YOU THINK YOUR DOING!"
As they tried to follow the bird, they come across three men treading water. They saw their small boat and tried to get their attention.
"I can't believe that we found shipwreckers at a time like this," Zoro said in annoyance.
"Tell me about it," Lea said as she shook her head.
"We can't stop, you just have to jump on," Raven said as she kept her gaze on the bird.
As the small boat sped past the three, they somehow made the jump and got on board.
"I'm surprised that you made it on," Zoro said as he kept rowing.
"Stop this boat right now, we are members of Buggy's crew, this boat is ours now," The man said with a hat that had the jolly roger of his captain on it pointed his sword at the three. The three hostages each gave a death glare to the new pirates.