The first proper chapter, I am so excited to explore the universe. Updated 25/08/2024 - I changed quite a lot cause I wanted to add some future bits and also to expand Luffy's bond with Shanks.
Luffy gasped as he awoke to a world untouched by the horrors of the future, on an island he knew had long since perished. His breath came through in painful bursts, sending a blaze of fire through his tender lungs. His hands came up clawing at his face as if he could scratch away the terror of what could be.
As he lay there trying to calm his mind, he gingerly taped into his observational haki, something he had been avoiding since the war when the empty world around him consumed him from within. Gently sending out feelers Luffy found it was severely weakened, he pushed against his mental walls testing his limits, desperately searching, feeling for something, anything familiar.
It had taken years for Luffy to be ready for this journey, Shank's gently stitching together the remnants of his mind which had irrevocably broken after the war. The red-haired captain trying to find salvation from his own actions in caring for the young captain, forcing him to eat, soothing him from his vicious nightmares, forcing him away from dangerous habits. Telling him stories, gently prodding him back to life, reminding him how to hope, and finally giving Luffy a reason to live.
Shanks had told the straw hat captain all he knew of the one piece, a legendary artifact that would grant the user one wish, one that awaited its true master to return and ring in a new generation to a broken world. In another life Luffy could have been that very person, but he could no longer hear the drums, his connection to Joy boy disconnected.
Shanks told Luffy the one piece could still bring them to liberation, that it could do the impossible and bring back all that was lost. At first Luffy had raged against the truth, desperately trying to find a way to escape the red-heads constant watch, to find his own way back to his crew, but slowly he began to listen and eventually he felt the glimmers of hope peering through the darkness.
Luffy found himself on the deck of the Red Force staring out at the endless sea, the sun peaking through on the horizon. Shanks had carried both Luffy and the still closed treasure chest from the ruins of laugh tale, fleeing before any remaining forces were sent to inspect the wreckage of the country. They had spent years mostly at sea, alone except each other, only stopping when they needed supplies.
The sea air had been good for the rubber boy, the voices of the ocean soothing.
"Can't sleep?"
Luffy glanced over at Shanks as he leaned gently against the mast.
"Sleeps not good" Luffy muttered softly. "Brings back the bad thoughts"
Shanks sighed as he approached. "If you need company, my doors always open."
Luffy quirked his lip up at Shanks in a half smile. "I know, Shanks is always there when I need him."
Shanks avoided eye contact, guilt still a constant companion.
"You nervous about tomorrow?" Shanks asked changing the subject as he joined Luffy against the rails, looking down at the gentle blue waters.
"I'm a strong pirate captain." Luffy nudged his mentor gently, before returning his eyes to the water suddenly serious. "Of course I'm nervous, what if I'm too different and I ruin it all?"
Shanks put an arm around Luffy's shoulder bringing him gently in. "Lu, you can do this, I believe in you. You're ready."
"Why me?" Luffy muttered burying his face in his mentors warm hug.
"Anchor, from the moment I met you, I knew." Shanks sighed pulling back to meet Luffy's eyes. "You are special, a force no one could fight. I couldn't face you till the end because I knew if you asked I would throw it all away."
"That day..." Luffy trailed off, his voice pained but his eyes determined. "You could have taken the treasure, claimed it for yourself. You could of changed the story."
"Luffy." Shanks began looking pained. "I spent my whole life trying to prove I could live up to the legacy of what I was born, you make me want to be better, to do better, but without you... I'm not sure what I would do."
Luffy looked at Shanks calculating before nodding. "Shanks-san is silly, he doesn't believe in himself, so I need to make him."
Shanks spluttered.
"You saved me Shanks, so when I go back I'll save you, even if it is from yourself." Luffy had a determined look, one Shanks hadn't seen on his face since he was a kid.
Shanks laughed, weightless at seeing a side of his charge he had thought long gone. "Okay Luffy." He ruffled the boys hair making him look disgruntled.
As he rose from his vertical position Luffy could tell instantly that he was smaller, a young teen as opposed to the man he had been. Looking around, Luffy's heart stuttard as he saw the familiar sights of his childhood home at Dadan's, a painful jolt hit him as he noted the tell-tale signs that neither Ace nor Sabo were here.
Taking a deep breath Luffy mentally prepared himself for what was to come, he had to be perfect to save his Nakama and bring back what he lost. He resolutely refused to fail this time; he would save them all. Locking away the traumas of the future Luffy forced a reckless grin on to his face, pausing briefly before he tore through the mountain bandit's hideout purposely causing destruction as he fled. His cackle thundered through the air as Dadan called after him in resigned anger.
First things first he knew where he was, he needed to know the when. He slowed to a jog as he resigned himself to the truth, the best place to search for clues would be the hideout.
His feet knew the path as he trekked to the treehouse, confident he was alone with a quick check of his haki.
It was bittersweet being back here; a simpler time full of hopes and dreams, but also scarred with what he had thought was his first taste of loss.
There was only one bed roll laid out on the floor, that was the biggest clue to Luffy that he had arrived some time shortly after Ace's departure. He could feel the once daily feeling of bruises and scrapes, unhealed from what he could assume was one of their many duels so Luffy knew it could not have missed his brother by much.
Maybe it was for the best, Luffy needed time to prepare before running into one of the people he had lost so cruelly, he needed to be ready so he didn't break down at their feet.
No, Luffy reminded himself, it was important that he tried to keep to the script and not go off book, he sat for a while alone with his thoughts.
It had worked.
Luffy let the thought sink in, a reckless laugh bursting from his chest, one that morphed the longer it continued, ending in body shaking sobs. It was the first time he had been able to break down since the end had begun. The emptiness he had once drowned himself in, used for protection from the endless losses he had endured had fled. As he sobbed he mourned, he said goodbye to the versions of his Nakama he had lost, the version of Shanks he had abandoned. As he mourned he allowed himself to close the chapter on the future that could have been, one that it would never be again. Hope blossomed as he sat there sobbing, a promise cemented, he would be better, find his crew, allow them to grow as they once had but this time he would challenge them to be better, to gain the strength to meet their dreams.
As his sobs subsided a new version Luffy rose from the ashes, one who was tainted by the darkness but had enough light to drown it out.
He knew what he had to do, and he would succeed.
Bouncing his way through the forest Luffy looked around at the once familiar sights, part of him still couldn't believe it had worked, he had a chance to rewrite the story and give it a better ending. He knew he would need support, even with foresight at his disposal Luffy would need allies, people to help him grow stronger before he left for his grand adventure.
Arriving at the bar Luffy paused as he watched the smiling face of his pseudo mother serving drinks and talking to the regular patrons enjoying the day.
Thankfully he had never learned for sure what had become of one of his mother figures, he only knew that the island had been one of the first to fall, childishly he had clung to the blind hope that Makino and Dadan had escaped the clutches of the vengeful Marines, but the tightness he had seen behind Shanks eyes told a different story.
Inhaling deeply Luffy prepared himself to play his part before rushing into the bar.
"Makino!" Luffy cheered excitedly, part of his brain capturing the image of the barmaid, so alive and vibrant in a way his memory had never captured.
The green haired woman glanced at the young boy her eyes sparkling with joy. "Luffy." She smiled as the boy extended his arms desperately pulling himself into her arms.
His grip wrapped tightly around her, and the boy stilled eerily, his face squashed into her so she could not read his expression. Makino instinctively brought her arms around the boy squeezing him softly. "Everything okay Luffy? I only saw you yesterday." Makino's voice was soft her worry growing as the boy remained still in her grasp. "Is it Ace?" she enquired. "Do you miss him already?"
Luffy's heart stopped at the use of a name he had not heard in years, one that had cut a deep scar in his soul. He nodded, his movements jerky, part of his mind at least thankful for the excuse for his odd behaviour, it wasn't even a lie, he did miss his brother, for longer than Makino could know.
"it's okay Luffy, Ace is special just like you, I know he'll be okay." She gently advised, her hands rubbing soft circles. Luffy sniffed starting to pull back his tight grip, Makino caught only a glimpse of Luffy's despaired expression before it was forcibly morphed into its usual grin.
"Makino, I need to use the Den Den." Luffy exclaimed his voice forcibly excited making Makino question what she had seen.
"The Den Den? Who are you looking to call?" Makino was surprised by the sudden change in both conversation and tone, but then again she thought it was very Luffy to get distracted.
"Shanks-san" Luffy exclaimed excitedly.
"Luffy you can't..." Makino started before stopping, once more seeing the desperate look cross over the young boy's face, she sighed resigned. Garp would kill her if he knew, but she could not stand the look on her boys face. "Luffy please, I can have a look but why do you need to call him now?"
Luffy searched his brain for a viable reason that would not alarm Makino. "Because Ace is going to look for him of course, I have to let Shanks know."
"If that's all Luffy-kun I can let him know."
"No, it has to be me." A look of determination covered the young teens face, one that made him look older.
"Fine" Makino gave in nodding, anything to prevent Luffy from acting strange. She lead the boy into the back, to her hidden Den Den Mushi provided by the red-haired pirate himself.
"Just one more thing Makino-San, I need to make this call alone. I have some things I need to say to Shanks." Makino almost shuddered at the dark determined look that flitted over the young boy's face, but as before as quickly as it appeared it left leaving only a cheeky grin behind it.
The last thing Makino heard as she left the room was; "Hello, this is Monkey D Luffy future king of the pirates." She smiled despite some worrying signals it was still her Luffy.
The call was answered by one of Shanks crew who rushed to tell an intoxicated Shanks he had a call from the famous Anchor himself. The only person Shanks would willingly give an arm to protect.
Shanks was surprised by the call having not heard from the child in years, kept away by his promise to the boy's volatile grandfather.
"Anchor" he jovaily greeted the boy.
"Shanks-san." Luffy's voice was different, serious and urgent, the kind of tone that had the Redhead sobering instantly. "I need you to come get me."
"What happened? Are you okay?" Shanks asked panicked.
"I'm fine." Luffy responded sharply. "I just need you to train me"
"What happened to you becoming king of the pirates without me?"
"The one piece is hidden on Laugh Tale." Luffy's voice dropped, his tone dissociated, protecting himself from his words. "I found it. The world was burning as I claimed my prize." Luffy's voice dropped further in volume, a whisper on his breath. "We were the only two survivors."
Shanks drink fell from his hand as a cold shock drove through him, drawing eyes from his crew. Waving them away Shanks picked up the Den Den hurrying to find a more secluded place.
"Kid, how do you know where the one piece is?" Shanks tone was urgent, wracking his brain, stuck on where this 14-year-old kid could have found out about one of the biggest secrets of the modern era.
Luffy sighed, frustrated this was turning out to be harder then he had hoped. His frustration bled into his tone. "I just told you I found it, that's not important what is important is that you told me I needed to be stronger this time and for that I need you to train me before I set out."
"Kid I..."
"If you're worried about the dragons don't be, this time we can work against them."
Shanks eyes bugged out of his head, the speaker almost falling from his hand. He was glad to be alone as he shook, never had someone come close to the truth, but this kid, the one that had wormed his way into Shanks cold dead heart was implying he knew. "Anchor it's not that simple" His voice came out small, shaky.
"You didn't tell them I ate the Nika Nika fruit, so just don't tell them you're training me." Luffy huffed urgently, desperate to get through, he knew he could do it. He was Shanks weakness, well him and a certain green haired waitress. "As for your promise to Gramps, leave him to me. There are a few things he also needs to hear before it's too late."
Shanks put his head in his hands defeated. "Give us two weeks, but Luffy I'm only coming to see for myself what's going on, I make no promises."
Luffy grinned triumphantly, he knew that the older pirate would not be able to deny him anything face to face. "Great Shanks-san see you then!"
Shanks hung up the Den Den conflicted, he had long since thought he had made his choice but the moment he had seen the maternal bond between his chosen love and the young ambitious boy his heart had been opened to new possibilities. A whisper of a familial bond forming, one that Shanks would give anything to protect.
There was only one thing for it, he needed to return to the one island he had promised to avoid.
Let me know what you think.
As far as any relationships Shanks/Makino are kinda the only ones I'm working with for sure but I have ideas for Luffy/Law with Ace Luffy and Sanji/Zoro, but the focus will always be more around familial bonds.
Let me know your thoughts.