"Welcome back! What was your adventure like this time? Tell me!" Merrily, Luffy warmly welcomes the red-haired pirates back oblivious to the solemn scarlet sunset as the red haired pirates silently exit out of the ship, none of them looking at the brightly beaming Luffy, a solemn sadness hanging heavily in the air as Ann watches on from above.

"Oh what's your problem guys? You look down. Forget it I'll ask Uta…Uta! Uta!" Smiling, Luffy calls out to the girl as the man head into the bar.

"…Shanks…" Ann furrows her brow at her captain approaching Luffy.

"I'll let you brag about your adventures again where are you Uta!? Hm Shanks? Where's Uta!? Where did she go?" Innocently, Luffy looks up at the solemn Shanks, his hat hiding his facial features.

"…" The silence speaks volumes as Luffy begins tearing up.

"No way don't tell me…did something happen to her?" Horrified, Luffy gasps grabbing hold of Shank's trousers.

"Don't worry Luffy Uta left the ship to become a singer. That's all." Shanks softly sets his hand on Luffy's head.

"What? No way why!?" Luffy slaps said hand away.

"To accomplish her dream." Shanks sighs but…

"She loves you too so much! She'd never leave the ship! Something must've happened!" Tearfully, Luffy screams scowling at Shanks.

"…" Silently, Shanks stares down at Luffy.

"Say something Shanks!" Luffy screams, tears in his eyes however…

"…" Silently, Shanks stares down at Luffy.

"I'm done with you! Waaahhh!" Luffy turns on his heel heading off, the tears freely falling fleeing.

"Luffy!" Ann calls out but it falls to deaf ears as the boy flees from them.

Warm smoke spews into the kitchen air as the chefs tend to their respective meal, a young blonde boy skinning the salmon smiling as he does it. The sound of chopping echoes throughout the kitchen as the chefs continue doing their job, the newspaper casted to the side showcasing two photos of a smiling shanks straw hat on with another photo of a winking Ann posing almost for the camera.

"I can't believe the residents are all dead. How cruel…" The chef murmurs eyeing said photos.

"They destroyed the country?! What a crazy fruit punch!" A man with muscular arms adds.

"Those two are irredeemable villains!" Another chef throws in.

"She's so pretty though…" Timidly, the young shy boy shyly whispers eyeing the pink haired woman, heart eyes in his hearts until.

"Ow!" Said shy blonde holds his head bump bouncing out of his head from the leg.

"She isn't called the Lilith of pirates for nothing…" Another chef throws in.

"What can you expect from the marine traitor!?" Disgusted, another aggravated voice adds.

"Not to mention the two were crew members of the King Of the Pirates." Zeff throws in, taking hold of the newspaper eyeing the two teasing pictures of the two taunting those reading almost.

"Eh?" The chefs perk up at the head chef's words.

"I wouldn't be surprised if they did that." Truthfully, Zeff admits eyeing the two on the paper.

"Your bad cat did it again!" A officer with a windmill hat scowls at the mohawk woman while below a young girl with bright orange hair holds a book of maps grins cheekily.

"What do you want?" The mohawk woman exits out of her house greeting the two.

"What kind of education are you giving her, Belle-Mere!?" Brow furrowed, the police officer demands from the ex-solider.

"What kind? Unconstrained." Smirking, she answers cigarette in her mouth.

"Too unconstrained!" The ma with the windmill roars back.

"Go play with Nojiko over there." Belle-Mere tells the girl with orange hair.

"Uh huh!" Smiling, she follows the blue haired girl away from the adults.

"I'll overlook it just this time from the next time I'll…" The police office sighs softly.

"Okay, okay I'll make sure to talk to her…have you read about it?" Belle-Mere turns her head towards the paper inside, her brow furrowing from the playful pose of the once stern studious vice admiral now winking in the camera cheekily.

"Yeah that's a big deal, you worked under her didn't you?" The officer recalls making Belle-Mere grimace.

"I did…I'm sure the navy won't keep quiet especially if it's to do with her." Honestly, Belle-Mere sighs sadly staring at the paper brow furrowed as said mohawk woman couldn't help but ponder…

"Ann…the hell happened to you?"

"Elegia has been annihilated they say it's devastated…" Sengoku tells Garp residing in his office.

"I heard Red-Haired did it." Garp adds holding the paper in his hand.

"Along with Ann." Sengoku adds eyeing Garp sat by his side staring down at the paper brow furrowed.

"…Ann…the hell are you thinking? Did Ohara mean nothing to you…!?" Tense, a certain tall, towering figure furrows his brow by the wanted poster plastered on the article, shy smoke of ice spewing out of his lips, brow furrowing from the paper.

"…I think they went a little too far…" Frowning, Garp admits as he eyes the paper in Sengoku's office.

"Just a little…? The two have revealed their true natures it's inexplicable. Roger must be crying Red Haired…" Segou snarls scowling down at the printed photos of the two.

"…Ann." Garp growls his grip tightening around the paper perturbed, pondering what the hell she was thinking…

"Urgh…" The low groans of both boys echoes throughout the forest as Ann smirks sitting upon a nearby branch bemused by the tired two below beneath her unfazed flawless form, not having been hurt even an inch as she stares at the heaving huffing pair.

"Again you got to be kidding me!?" Mad, Ace growls glaring up at the smirking Ann, one leg over the other.

"You two have gotten better." Ann offers optimistically.

"Better we've barely touched you." Sabo sighs staring up at the woman above.

"But you're still standing not wheezing like last time." Smirking, she reminds the two pointing at them.

"Hmm…" Huffing, both boys share a look.

"You two will get there all good things take time." Smiling, she assures both boys before dropping down.

"Tch…" Ace clicks his tongue tense glaring to the side scowling.

"Heh…" Ann couldn't help but smile softly down at the two.

"What's so funny?" Sabo queries confusion clear in his tone towards her.

"Nothing just makes me think of the old days." Fondly, Ann smiles down at the two.

"Old days how old are ya?" Ace asks.

"Ace…!" Scared, Sabo turns to him but…

"Don't you know it's rude to ask a lady her age." Amused, Ann quirks her head to the side smirking down at the two.

"Tch…" Ace glares to the side scowling.

"Did you know pirates drink sake to form a nakama? Blood ties mean nothing to the nakama you form on your ship…" Smiling, she tells them.

"Really?" Sabo perks up at her words.

"Yeah… " Ann confirms calmly.

"Have you shared sake with people?" Ace asks her.

"Oh yeah probably illegal now for someone so young to have but we did, the three of us." Dubiously, Ann admits smiling softly at the thought of a certain bumbling blue haired clown and red head scarred faced straw hat.

"The three of you?" Sabo says surprised.

"Me and my brothers." Ann smiles softly fondness clear in her tentative tone towards the olden days of the three of them, sharing a bottle they would nick from the crew chattering with one another, in a world of their own.

"I have more?" Ace furrows his brow.

"What did I just say about blood ties? Dummy." Ann sighs softly bonking the head of Ace.

"Hmph." Huffing, Ace holds his head grumbling glaring lightly at the unfazed Ann.

"Still I wonder what sort of pirates you'll be someday." Smiling, she turns to the two.

"What sort of pirates…" Soba begins…

"We'll be…" Ace ends, both boys sharing a look a still silence hanging heavily in the air between both brothers…

"Hey Luffy!" Ann perks up at the anchor shirt wearing boy brow furrowing sat down on the stone step pouting almost as he leans over, his head in his hands however he soon perks up at Ann's voice.

"Oh it's you Ann." Disappointed, Luffy soon falters his bright beaming smile soon stopping from the fight of the woman before him.

"Don't be so disappointed you could at least pretend to be happy to see me." Mischievously, the woman whines playfully bonking his head as she takes a seat by his side smiling softly at him.

"Oww!" Luffy whines holding his head hissing.

"Wish I was Shanks?" Smirking, Ann asks bemused by it, quirking her head to the side leaning into her inner palm towards Luffy.

"No way! I'm done with Shanks." Swiftly, said boy turns his head away angrily as Ann could easily see said lie.

"That so…hey Luffy forgive Shanks." Sighing, Ann leans back from her lurched form staring at the shining sea, seeing the washing waves before her, seeing the rocking red force as the seagulls squeak screech into the open air.

"Why!? He's not telling me what happened so it's his fault!" Luffy accuses agitated.

"Everyone has a thing or two that they can't talk about." Ann tells Luffy furrowing her brow by her words, ignoring the bustling emotions swelling within her.

"I don't understand! That means you can't talk about it either!?" Luffy turns to furrow his brow at Ann.

"If Shanks won't talk about it I won't talk about it." Aloofly, Ann simply shrugs stating the fact firmly.

"Forget it!" Luffy stands scowling turning on his heel heading off.

"Luffy!" Ann calls out to him however it falls to deaf ears.

"You've always been a soften for kids…" Ann perks up at the voice utring thr ponytailed male.

"…I just worry I've made things worse." Ann admits brow furrowed fretfully crossing her arms over her chest worriedly watching the fleeting figure flee.

"You did what you could, he'll understand one day." Benn assures Ann.

"…I hope so." Shakily, she whispers watching the fleeting figure retreat.

Solemnly, sadly, Luffy bows his head pained as he looks up at the tall towering rocky wall where Luffy looks up at it, staring sadly at the rocky wall. His hues soften slightly seeing a faint figure of himself and a brightly beaming Uta up ahead during their rock climbing contest, a contest that of course Uta won….

"Uta!" Luffy perks up at the brisk bristle of a bush turning towards it hopeful however he soon falters from the men coming out.

"You're the squirt from the other day!" The bandit points out wearing a snow white shirt with the bandana of sorts strapped to his heat hiding his hair. He wears a pair of olive trousers with a shorter man wearing blue trousers with a white shirt. The two are armed with blades strapped to their side thanks to the fabric around their waist.

"You guys…" Alarmed, Luffy trials back by the sight of the armed older men.

"Are you alone today?" Teasingly, the shorter one of the two with the beard leans down, eyeing the boy below.

"Did you guys have a fight?" Tauntingly, the other bandit throws in smirking smugly hands on his hips.

"Shut up! Argh!" Luffy cries out as he is suddenly snatched up by the collar being dangles down in the air.

"You shut up, shitty brat! I'll make you pay for the attack that day!" Growling, the man raises his fist to Luffy.

"Argh!" Luffy cries out from the swift strike sent his way.

"I'm…s…s…strong…" Sniffling, Luffy whimpers weakly while he is forced on his hands and knees being belted by the older man above as the tears freely fall from the crouched form of the crying child that is Luffy being beaten black and blue by the two above.

"When I return I'll test you to see if you became any stronger Luffy!" Smiling, Uta calls out as Luffy beams brightly as the red force takes off, leaving Fuchsia village…

"Don't worry Luffy Uta left the ship to become a singer. That's all." Shanks softly sets his hand on Luffy's head.

"Everyone has a thing or two that they can't talk about." Ann tells the young Luffy, his hues widening when noting the strange swirl of emotions in her darkened eyes.

"You're always talking about becoming a pirate, but what do you wanna do when you become one? I have a dream! I will travel around the world with Shanks and Ann make so many songs and make the world happy with great performances and my singing! I'll build a new genesis!" Uta declares determined.

"Wow…Okay I'll build a new genesis too!" Luffy joins in.

"Don't say it like it's easy so what's your new genesis like?" Uta asks Luffy.

"I wanna explore all over the world! I wanna go to a variety of places, meet a variety of people and eat a wide variety of food! Just like Shanks!" Smiling, Luffy gushes giddily.

"That won't change the world!" Uta argues.

"Yeah? Heheh, I'll think of what to do soon." Smiling, Luffy dismisses.

"That's so you!" Uta giggles.

"Yeah I'm flattered." Luffy smiles.

"I didn't mean it as a compliment!" Uta frowns as soon the two burst into laughter.

"Let's build a new genesis!" Luffy offers his hand in a fist to Uta.

"Yeah!" Uta agrees, slamming her fist into his, the two vowing it.

"Damn…damn…" Luffy whimpers weakly while the tears freely fall from the boy.

"Heheh…ARGH!" Suddenly said fierce fists hitting his back stop startled he peers behind his shoulder seeing said shaking men above him eye…

"I'll be taking the boy back now…" The cool composed voice of Ann announces hand on her hip.

"A-Ann…!" Sniffling, Luffy whimpers weakly while the black dots flicker in his vison before descending down into the dark depths of the unknown…

"T-The hell is with that look?!" Scared said males stagger back terrified.

"Run little boys." Smoothly, she orders as with one look in her eye both men flee frightened of the lone woman approaching the bruised battered beaten boy, picking him up taking him home…

Quietly, Ann silently stares ahead as the starry sky shines down upon the two below making their way back to Fuchsia village. Silently, she continues on holding the boy piggyback style only then to take notice of the low groan from behind.

"Had a nice nap?" Ann asks as she peers behind her shoulder seeing said boy beginning to open her heavy hues.

"Hey…I wanna be strong…" Sniffling, Luffy tells Ann.

"I know…" Ann sighs softly nodding her head at him.

"I wanna be strong." Sniffling, he repeats, the tears freely falling.

"I know…" Softly, Ann whispers, her grip tightening on the sniffling little boy leaning on her back as the moon glistens glows before the two as Ann slowly but surely takes the child back to Makino's to be treated…

Loudly, the piano played as the red-haired pirates enjoy the food and beverage provided by Makino. Ann softly sips the ruby red substance within the wineglass while Shanks happily enjoys his meal that is until a still silence fills the air as a familiar raven haired boy approaches, a fair few eyes on the badged boy.

"Hey Luffy." Shanks greets the boy silently approaching him.

"Let me board your ship." Seriously, Luffy orders.

"No." Shanks refuses.

"Cheapskate!" Luffy takes a seat by Shank's side between both Ann and Shanks.

"Aren't you done with me?" Shanks recalls.

"No I'm not." Luffy replies.

"Oh why are you hurt?" Shanks eyes his bandaged head as Ann eyes the boy, Benn watching on from afar.

"I fell." Firmly, Luffy answers.

"No way how did you fall to get hurt like…" Shanks scoffs but…

"I fell!" Fiercely, Luffy cuts him off.

"Okay you fell. The I have no further questions for you." Shanks exclaims.

"I have no further questions for you too, because its yours and Uta's business." Luffy states.

"You're talking like a grown up." Shanks smirks at Luffy.

"Then can I come on board!?" Luffy asks hopeful but…

"You must be hungry." Makino smiles placing a tray of food down for Luffy.

"Thank you Makino I'll pay you back with treasure!" Luffy promises bringing a small smile to Ann's lips.

"Luffy I've got something to celebrate your maturity too." Shanks smiles.

"What?" Luffy asks as Shanks sets a small flag with a cross on it in his food.

"Cool!" Luffy gushes over the ruby red cross as just then the whole bar bursts into laughter.

"See you're a kid." Shanks cackles slamming his hand down on the bar counter cackling.

"That's not fair Shanks!" Luffy glares at him.

"Hahaha!" Ann soon joins in with the rest of the crew.

"Don't laugh!" Luffy yells but it falls to deaf ears as the roaring laughter continues throughout the bar.

"Where's Redhaired and the marine traitor?" In the pitch black, one of the Gorōsei ponder brow furrowed.

"They've disappeared." Another of the Gorōsei reports.

"They've become troublesome." One remarks.

"Really troublesome…" The other agrees as the group bow their heads, the darkness descending down upon them…

Quietly, Ann approaches the small hut in the world while walking upwards towards it easily making it to the top of the steep hill pathway of sorts, seeing the windmills standing tall towering over the people of windful island as the brisk breeze brushes through the longer roots of the older pink haired girl. Her ears perk up at the rough ruffle of leaf's, her nose twitching at the sea salt in the air as she makes her way to the top, recalling her grandfather's words, nothing was getting through to him, for her to step in like this…

"Dadan…" Ann approaches the wooden hut, spotting the back of the woman hoisting up the washing.

"Ann! About time you showed up, Ace has been nothing but trouble!" Angrily, Dadan rants to Ann angrily agitated as Ann sighs. Dadan is a rather tall and overweight middle-aged woman with long, orange, curly hair and a big, masculine face.

"…What did he do this time?" Tiredly, Anna asks exhaustion etched into single said, preparing herself for what would come, Garp had told her bits but he wasn't exactly forthcoming on details no doubt another attempt at probing her to come here.

"He's been heading down into the town and beating people half to death!" Dadan glares glowers at the pink haired woman simply sighing at the familiar melody of it all…

"That so…" Softly, she whispers looking towards the tall towering trees of the forest frowning, her hues narrowing a part of her pondering if he was about, hunting around with that pipe of his however she doesn't spot said boy.

"That so?! Do you know the trouble that brat could bring to us?" Angrily, Dadan glares at the pink haired blonde not even batting an eye to the fuming orange haired woman glaring glowering attempting to yell at the rather bored blonde.

"Dadan Ace wouldn't fight without cause did you ask why he did?" Drained, Ann asks Dadan, hands on her hips, brow furrowed at the woman.

"You'd think he'd tell me?" Mad, Dadan raises her voice to the bored blonde.

"…I'll talk to him." Tiredly, Ann sighs softly, exhaling exhaustion etched into that single sigh as she goes over to find the boy behind all the trouble.

Silently, Ann hears the sharp screech of the seagull setting off to who knows where with the trees ruffling ringing even as she makes her way through the jungle easily dealing with the beasts about to place not even batting an eye to the bear she slaps to the sight as she finds the boy sat on the cliff of greenery, looking out at who knows what with the waves washing over one and another as she approaches the boy, his back to her.

"Like the ship?" Smirking, she asks noting the boy looking out at the port below.

"…Hmph." Huffing, he turns his head puffing his cheeks.

"Sabo told me how you like coming here to see if our ship's here." Smiling, Ann crosses her arms over her chest.

"T-That's a lie!" Angrily, he accuses agitated, red faced steam spewing out of his ears.

"Geez you could at least be honest about missing me." Pouting, Annie huffs.

"Who'd miss a psycho like you?" Grumpily, Ace glares to the side scowling.

"Well this psycho would have liked her little brother to welcome her with open arms as normal though from what I'm seeing and from what I heard I doubt the little brother would want his big sister to see his face all mucked up…" Sighing, she lightly knocks his head, a little bump beginning but the boy doesn't even bat a eye to said love tap faltering from her words as he tries to hide his head.

"I…" Ace begins but soon falters furrowing his brow going quiet from her truthful words.

"Ace…" Ann's facial features soften sadly at the back of the battered, bruised, beaten boy, a nose plug of tissue shoved in his nose, his wave black locks dangling down.

"Hm?" His freckled features turn towards the pink haired blonde with a similar set of freckles.

"That's quite the nasty face…" Gently, Ann smiles softly reaching out to take the boy by his chin eyeing his bruises.

"Tch!" Grumbling, the glaring boy tuts clicking his tongue tense before moving his head away.

"Heard you beat up some guys half to death." Dubiously, Ann smirks slightly at the sad state of her baby brother grumbling glaring to the side scowling.

"What? And here I thought they were dead…" Disappointed, Ace grumbles glaring to the side.

"A real shame still you say that so casually…and here I thought you were a good fighter, seems to me those guys gave you quite the number." Amused, Ann leans over pinching his cheek making Ace glare at the bemused woman.

"I let them!" Whining, he huffs slapping her hand away as she simply smiles.

"I'm sure you did." Smirking, she shakes her head at him.

"They were talking about him…" Ace grumbles glaring at who knows what.

"So I heard, Makino mentioned you going down to the bar and asking about him." Ann recalls her brief visit to the bar.

"…" Silently, Ace bows his head.

"I'm disappointed." Ann admits as she leans back against the grassy terrain below feeling the teasing traces of stray strands of greenery brush against her wrist while she plucks some strands of grass gingerly.

"…Huh?" Astonished, Ace blurts out.

"You going to take the word from some strangers over the person who worked with him?" Ann ask as she leans over, looking down at the stray strands of greenery she fiddles with.

"You…you worked for him?" Ace perks up at her words brow furrowed, why hadn't she told him!?

"I was an apprentice…Ace…dad was dying anyway…" Aloofly, Ann shrugs.

"…What?" Ace blurts out shocked.

"He was dying Ace. " Ann states the fact firmly to her baby brother.

"So what? I should just forgive him for being a murder for being…" Brow furrowed, Ace angrily sneers scowling making Ann furrow her brow holding her breath before she said anything unwise, he was a child, she had to remember, he wasn't given the chance she was to know him as she had…

"You're not letting me finish." Frowning, she tells him making him flinch briefly by the sheer severity of her words.

"Then say what you want to say and go." Grumpily, Ace crosses his arms over his chest cross.

"…Alright then, I was like you before all that." Truthfully, Ann admits to her baby brother.

"You were?" Astonished, Ace looks up at her.

"Yeah, I'd get into fight after fight when people would talk bad about our old man…" Ann confesses, grimacing briefly by it, she wasn't proud looking back on it but she supposed she was like her father more than she realized…

"You'd defend him?!" Angrily, Ace glares at the bored blondish pink haired girl simply staring ahead as she fiddles with the stray strands of green below in her hands.

"He was my dad, I wanted to know more about him, sure he'd visit now and again but…it was never enough. So…when the old man was diagnosed with that illness he begged our mother for me to join the crew…" Calmly, Ann explains to her brother brow furrowed from the memory of it all.

"He…he did?" Ace says surprised.

"Yep wanted to get to know me better with what little time he had left." Lazily, Ann mutters blowing the stray strands of green into the open air into the brisk breeze heading to the sea…

"And…you were okay with that?" Tentatively, Ace eyes his sister.

"I wanted to know him better besides an adventure out on the ocean who can say no to that?" Teasingly, she winks at her baby brother.

"Was he…what they said he was?" Anxiously, Ace looks down at his fidgeting fingertips furrowing his brow by the thought.

"He was many things Ace…just as you will be when you grow up, you'll have to figure that out for yourself." Sighing, Ann furrows her brow she couldn't say he wasn't a murderer nor that he was perfect, no one was…

"Sis…" Softly, Ace begins looking out at the sea.

"Hm?" Humming, Ann turns to look down at the boy below.

"Was it…good that we were born?" Ace asks as he leans his head into her side, her happy to return said side hug of sorts however her features furrow from the question.

"I was happy you were born Ace you being born made mom very happy…" Honestly, Ann answers as her warm browns meet her baby brother's own, no words needing to be said as they sit side by side, watching the waves wash over one another, enjoying the salty air around the open air as they sit together, no words needing to be shed between both brother and sister.

"Hey Luffy what are you trying to do?!" Shanks calls out to the boy as the crew watch on.

"Luffy get down from there!" Tense, the anxious Ann calls out to the boy on the dragon like head of the red force.

"He'll be fine." Smirking, Shanks assures Ann.

"I'm really serious! I'm so pissed!" The boy declares knife in hand.

"Who gave him a knife!?" Alarmed, Ann turns her heated hues to Shanks.

"Don't look at me." Shanks raises his hands up fearful of the woman's wrath.

"I'm gonna prove it to you!" Luffy raises said knife.

"Yeah do it! I don't know what you're gonna do though!" Shanks smirks, one hand raised up in the air the other in his pocket as before the crew knew it, he stabbed his eye.

"OUCH!" Luffy cries scarlet spewing out of his wound.

"You idiot what are you doing!?" Shanks says shocked.

"Luffy!" Ann screeches horrified.

"Cheers guys! To Luffy's guts and our great journey!" The crew cheer clinking glasses.

"Oh it didn't hurt at all." Tear eyed, Luffy with a path over his scar says.

"The tears beg to differ." Dubiously, Ann remarks.

"What tears?" Luffy lies.

"That's a lie don't do such a stupid thing." Shanks scolds Luffy.

"It's not a lie I'm not scared of getting hurt! Take me on your next voyage! I wanna be a pirate too!" Loudly, Luffy's voice echoes throughout the bar bringing a small smirk to the pink haired woman striding in.

"I see you're as determined as ever Luffy." Ann smirks softly down at the boy with the marine top as she lightly ruffles his hair.

"Ann!" Animatedly, Luffy beams brightly up at the woman taking a seat at the bar counter.

"You took your time." The man with red hair huffs adjusting his straw hat.

"All good things come to those who wait." Smoothly, she flicks a stray strand of pink to the side.

"Did you rehearse that?" Teasingly, Shanks smirks at Ann.

"Why do you ask?" Ann arches a brow by his query.

"It sounds super corny." Shanks snickers.

"Oi you wanna fight ass!?" Agitated, Ann lightly glares at the smirking Shanks.

"Looks like cap and vice cap are at it again…" Amused, Yassop smirks smugly at the pink haired blonde butting heads with the roaring redhead.

"Oi Ann not in front of the kid." Bemused, Ben bellows smirking smugly at the pissed pink haired blonde.

"I'm not a kid!" Luffy yells but it falls to deaf ears.

"Tch fine…Makino you got some sherry wine?" Ann asks of her.

"Coming right up!" Makino smiles softly taking out the bottle.

"Someone's fancy…" Shanks eyes said substance being poured into a wine glass.

"Not my fault I have taste." Teasingly, Ann smirks as she takes the glass giving the belli needed.

"I swear Mihawk's been rubbing off on you…" Shanks whines.

"What? No he drinks red. Sherry is VERY different from red wine – way sweeter, much less bold, just a completely different flavour. It's a good accent flavour for a bisque or something but it would be crazy overpowering and not at all delicious in a beef/lamb stew." Seriously, she tells the smirking Shanks.

"Oh ho the foodie's side taking over better watch your back captain!" Cheekily, Roux calls out.

"Not my fault Mihawk's the only one I can talk to about this…speaking off I should go check to see how his farm is doing." Ann hums slightly to herself, he had promised her some spare veg he grew…

"Ann tell him to take me on the ship!" Luffy whines tugging at the girl's brown trench coat.

"Eh? And give gramps double the reason to come after us? No thanks!" Smirking, she refuses.

"Besides as if you could ever be a pirate! It's a fatal flaw for a pirate to be an anchor!" Shanks points out.

"I'll be okay as long as I don't fall out of the ship Ann will save me!" Luffy points to the girl softly sipping her drink.

"Oh will I?" Dubiously, she smirks slightly lowering her glass.

"And I'm good at fighting too! I'm well trained so my punches are like pistols!" Proudly, Luffy firmly fires his fist into the air as the brisk breeze from the outside rush through her pink blondish roots held in a low ponytail, wearing a snow white wrap shirt with soft sakura petals printed on top wearing brown boots with high heels and a pair of dark blue jeans.

"Pistols eh?" Ann smirks slightly one leg over the other.

"In short you're too much of a kid I'll consider it when you're 10 years older!" Shanks smirks pointing his spoon at Luffy.

"Stupid Shanks I'm not a kid!" Cross, Luffy yells as Shanks enjoys his meal oblivious to the smirking Ann asking Makino for another drink.

"Now, now Luffy don't get so mad have some juice." Amused, Ann smoothly slides said orange juice over to the boy bemused by his happy smile.

"Wow thanks!" Happily, he downs said drink.

"See you are a kid ha!" Shanks slaps his hand down on the counter cackling tears in his hues laughing alongside his crew.

"That wasn't fair Ann!" Angrily, Luffy turns to glare at the amused Ann playfully poking her tongue out and winking at the mad boy as just then the sharp slam of the door being kicked down interrupts the merry moment of comradery.

"Pardon us. So these are "pirates." Looks pretty damn dumb…" The bandit with his crew come in as Luffy munches on a strange purple fruit while everyone's eyes remain glued on the group approaching.

"We're mountain bandits. But we ain't here to tear up the place. Sell us some booze." The bandit smiles at Makino.

"I'm sorry. I just ran out of alcohol." Politely, Makino tells the leader.

"These pirates seem to be drinking something…what is it water?" The bandit leader gestures to the beer glasses all over the bar.

"No what they're drinking is the last of it." Makino tells the bandit.

"My apologies. Looks like we drank the whole place dry. Sorry! You can have this if you'd like it hasn't been opened yet." Shanks smiles offering said bottle but before Luffy knew it, Ann had lunged over to his side shielding him from the sharp shards as the bottle was slammed back in his face, shards scattering all over with the booze below.

"Hey you bastard who do you think I am!? One bottle ain't even enough for a bedtime drink!" The bandit sneers scowling fist raised.

"The floor's all wet!" Disappointed, Shanks sighs sadly at the mess.

"Look at this. There's an eight million berry bounty on my head. I've killed 56 people they were all impudent like you so be careful hereafter. But since we're in the mountains and you're on the sea I don't think we'll see each other again. Eh?" The bandit boasts showing said wanted poster of him.

"Sorry about that Makino-san. Do you have a rag?" Shanks blanks him out turning to the barmaid.

"Oh I'll do that!" Makino insists only then to gasp at the bandit pulls out his blade as Luffy feels an arm around his midsection as next he knew, he was thrown down, crouching down with Ann as she held him while he gawks said fruit in his mouth while gaping at the bandit leader.

"Seems you like to clean. Then maybe you'll find this more fulfilling. Later wimps!" The bandit leader smirks down at the still silence Shanks holding his straw-hat before leaving, his goons leering at the pirates as they then leave the establishment, a still silence hanging heavily in the air…

"Captain-san are you all right?" Makino rushes over to the slumped Shanks side.

"Oh no problem at all." Shanks assures Makino as next she knew…

"BWAHAHAHAH!" The whole bar boisterously erupt cackling.

"Talk about lame boss!" Roux roars.

"He got you boss!" Yasopp throws in.

"The look on your face when he showed that bounty of his too!" Amused, Ann throws in unable to ot cackle as Luffy gawks gapes at the adults before him.

"Why are you laughing!?" Mad, Luffy pushes himself out of Ann's arms angrily glaring at them.

"Hm?" Shanks turns to the cross child.

"That was so uncool! Why didn't you fight them!? You're not men or pirates if you laugh after something like that!" Luffy yells at them.

"Luffy it wasn't that big of a deal." Ann chuckles shaking her head at the boy.

"But…!" Luffy begins but…

"I can understand how you feel but he only spilled some booze on me. It's nothing worth getting mad over." Smiling, Shanks places his hand to his hat however…

"Luffy!" Ann scowls at the boy heading towards the door.

"Hey wait Luffy!" Shanks joins grabbing the boy's arm.

"I've had it! I don't wanna be a coward like you!" Mad, Luffy roars continuing onwards unaware of everyone's eyes widening when…

"His arm stretches!?" Shocked, Shanks gasps as said arm flops about in the open air as the whole crew Ann including do a spit take, a geyser of sherry spewing out of her lips like a geyser.

"Don't tell me you…!" Ann leaps out of her seat stunned.

"What's going on!?" Scared, Luffy screeches.

"It's gone!" Roux roars showing said empty tiny treasure chest.

"What!?" The group roar, Ann included holding her face.

"The gum-gum fruit that we robbed from our enemy! Luffy don't tell me you ate a fruit like this!" Roux shows said drawing to the boy.

"I-I did…it tasted so bad." Luffy bows his head.

"THEN WHY EAT IT YOU MORON!? GRAMPS IS GOING TO KILL ME! HE'S GOING TO TRACK ME DOWN AND KILL ME THEN DIG ME UP THEN KILL ME AGAIN! HE'LL BURY ME ALIVE!" Ann screams scared almost at the thought of facing the man.

"The gum-gum fruit is a hidden treasure of the sea known as a devil fruit! Eating it turns your body to rubber and makes you lose the ability to swim for the rest of your life!" Tense, Shanks scolds scowling, grabbing the boy his face fuming.

"Eh no way!?" Luffy gawks at the news.

"YOU DUMBASS!" Shanks scowls screaming at the boy.

"Pirates are nothing but a bunch of useless cowards with a ship…!"

"Stop it! Don't make fun of Shanks and Ann! They're not cowards!" Cross, Luffy roars raising his voice to the bandit leader with his goons glaring at them.

"Stop it Luffy!" Makino rushes over attempting to stop said boy but…

"Don't make fun of Ann and Shanks you stupid bandits!" Stubbornly said boy repeats himself as next Makino knew she was running to the mayor…

"That was a poor choice of words kid no one has ever pissed me off and lived to tell about it." The bandit leader slams his heel into Luffy's head hitting him as he hits the wooden barrel behind him.

"Please wait! Let that child go I beg of you. I don't know what Luffy's done but we don't wany any trouble! We'll pay as an apology! I beg you please let that child go!" The mayor with Makino rush over said male bowing his head to the bandit.

"Mayor!" Luffy clutches the bandit foot attempting to take it off but it's a futile endeavour.

"You old folks sure know the ways of the world! Unfortunately, you're too late to save him he's gone and pissed me off." Growling, the bandit reaches for his blade.

"You're the one pissing people off mountain monkey!" Mad, Luffy roars.

"What a hopeless brat you can regret what you've done in the afterlife." The man draws out his blade.

"Luffy!" Makino cries.

"Please let him go!" The mayor begs but…

"Hey Luffy I thought your punches were as strong as pistols." Perkily, the crisp click of heels echoes.

"A-Ann!" Luffy gasps at the sight of the ponytailed woman with by her side stands Shanks and the crew.

"Eh?" The bandit turns to the group.

"There was no one in the bar so we figured something was up and if it isn't our friends, the bandits." Bemused, Shanks smirks at them.

"Captain!" Makino gasps at the sight of him.

"Shanks!" Luffy exclaims.

"You're still in town pirate? Have you been mopping all the floors in the village? I don't know what you want but you'd better beat it before you get hurt. If you come any closer, you'll get your head blown off coward." The bandit leader growls glaring at the group, but the man simply steps forward smiling.

"He told you not to come any closer…unless you want your head blown off." One of the bandit goons raises his gun touching the side of Shank's head.

"Heheheh…" The others join in chuckling at the man's supposed death.

"You're risking your life." Shanks smiles staring ahead.

"Eh?" The bandit blinks oblivious to the crisp click of heels and removal of safety from a certain flintlock.

"When you wield that pistol you risk your life." Shanks smiles at the bandit who has his gun to Shanks' head.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Angrily, he demands.

"I'm saying that this isn't a toy." Smiling, Shanks responds as the sharp sound of gunfire echoes.

"So noisy…" Ann mutters staring down at the body below before lazily rubbing the inside of her ear, one eye closed acting aloofly as she sighs glancing to the side.

"Y-You killed him!" Horrified, the bandit gawks gapes at the woman alongside those that live around the island.

"You dirty bastards!" The other bandit glares at the group.

"Dirty? Don't be stupid." Smirking, Yassop scoffs.

"Did you think you were fighting saints?" Smirking, Benn queries.

"You're looking at pirates." Shanks smirks at them.

"Shut up! You got nothing to do with this in the first place!" One of the lackeys roar.

"Listen bandits you can pour drinks on me. You can throw food at me. You can even spit on me. I'll just laugh that stuff off. But...good reason or not...nobody hurts a friend of mine!" Determined, Shanks states the fact firmly.

"Shanks…" Luffy whimpers weakly.

"You won't allow it huh? Pathetic pirates! Men kill the lot of 'em!" The leader orders as his men roar raising their blades charging at them as Benn steps forward.

"You want to deal with them or should I?" Ann asks them.

"Ladies first…" Benn smirks smugly at Ann.

"Thank you Benn, you could learn a thing or two from him Shanks." Smirking, Ann advises as she lunges forward firmly dealing with them.

"I'm sure I can." Shanks smirks watching her easily handle the men, releasing a shockwave of sorts startling said men that come crashing down to the ground far from the world.

"What arrogance…if you want to fight us you better bring a warship something to carry the bodies." Bemused, Ann smirks sadistically, a hand on her hip smirking smugly at the terrified men noting the terror in their hues from the sheer severity and intensity of her words.

"So strong…" Luffy says in awe.

"W-Wait a minute! This kid is the one who started it!" Scared, the bandit tries to argue…

"And we're ending it." Ann draws her blade back into its sheath scowling.

"I believe there's a bounty on your head." Haughty, Shanks smirks.

"SHIT!" Suddenly, said male slams down a bomb of sorts.

"A smoke bomb!" Shanks calls out as smoke soon spews into the air.

"Luffy!" Alarmed, Ann cries out as said smoke fades revealing both the bandit and Luffy gone.

"Crap! I let him get away with Luffy! What should we do!" Panicked, Shanks holds his head horrified.

"SAVE HIM DUMBASS!" Ann angrily snaps scowling at him.

"This is no time to act like an idiot and panic boss! We'll find him if we all look!" Roux reminds him.

"Jeez…this guy…" Ben smirks down at the three below seeing Shanks seemingly being berated by the two.

"That was easy they'd never think a bandit would take to the sea…" Smugly, the bandit smirks smugly holding Luffy up by his collar swinging him almost as if taunting him as they stand in the sea thanks to the row boat below…

"Damn! Let me go you stupid mountain monkey! Why don't you drop dead!?" Luffy flails attempting to get a hit on him but doesn't do so…

"You're the one who's about to die idiot. You've really pissed me off. Bye bye sorry but you're of no further use to me hahahah! Huh? W-What the hell is that!?" Terrified, the bandit gawks gapes his laughing fit faltering from the geyser behind him as the sea beast looms over the bandit before devouring him and the boat whole…

"Someone help! ARGHHH!" Luffy screams as the sea king lunges down about to take him whole as it had done with the bandit but before it could, a bright blur of red rushes in…

"Shanks!" Surprised, Luffy stares stunned up at the redhead holding him.

"Get lost!" Shanks stares deep into the soul of the terrified sea beast before it flees frightened.

"I owe you one Luffy Makino told me everything you stood up to them for us oi don't cry you're a man right?" Shanks smiles softly down at the crying child clinging to him as scarlet stains the washing waves of the sea.

"But Shanks…your arm!" Anguished, Luffy sobs screaming into his hurt anguished at the stump of a once apparent arm.

"One arm is a small price to pay I'm glad you're safe…" Smiling, he pets his hair assuring the boy before noting the boat approaching with a panicked pink haired blonde rushing over to their side, saving the two, taking them back to land with Luffy clinging crying to Ann's side as she tries to do what she can….

"You'll never be a pirate!" Playfully, Shanks smirks down at the huffing boy watching his crew carry cargo on their ship about to head off, Ann lingers briefly looking up at a familiar hill smiling sadly up at the frowning boy above glaring down at her as she simply smiles, shaking her head at the grumpy boy.

"I will too! Someday I'm gonna gather a crew every bit as good as yours and I'm gonna find the greatest treasure in the world and I'm gonna be the king of pirates

"That's quite the list." Amused, Ann remarks.

"You're gonna surpass us huh? In that case…I'll leave this hat with you." Smiling, Shanks sets said straw-hat down upon the crying child eager to see what this boy and his next generation of pirates will bring…


So what do you think of Luffy and Ann?