"Ow, ow, ow, dammit! My body is rubber but why is it painful?! Let me go, grandpa!" Whining, Luffy cries as he is dragged through the forest, his cheek stretching out as grandfather Garp drags him through the forest.
"It was a mistake to leave you in the Windmill Village! Of all things, you like pirates?! What a fool! You can't make friends with "Red-Haired" Shanks! No doubt Ann influenced you on this path, that little when I get my hands on her." Growling, Garp scowls seething, his hues narrowing at the thought of Ann oblivious to Luffy curling his arms around the tree.
"Don't hurt Ann!" Angrily, Luffy yells as he remains rooted to the tree he hugs.
"Oh you think you'll stop me?" Mad, Garp growls glaring as he tugs him forward.
"You won't stop me I wanna become...a strong man like Shanks and Ann!" Luffy yells as he is tugged from the tree that comes crashing down.
"Hey!" Garp growls at the tree that bonks his head however…
"What's this place?" Perplexed, Luffy doesn't bat an eye to the tree he had hit his grandfather with, turning his focus on the hut of sorts.
"Stop it! Whoever you are, do you wanna get killed?!" A woman with a rather tall and overweight middle aged woman with long, orange, curly hair and a big, masculine face opens the door from Garp knocking on the door being met by the woman's yell.
"It's me." Unfazed, Garp answers.
"G-Garp-san!" Shocked, said leader leaps back terrified of the marine hero.
"You're looking good." Garp says to them politely.
"Give me a break! Please, you gotta have mercy on me! Ace is 10 years old now!" Dadan scowls slamming her heeled boot down on the ground below as Luffy wanders about the place.
"Oh yeah, already? How is he?" Garp asks hands shoved into his pockets.
"It's not funny! We can't handle him anymore! We could only do so much with Ann around he settled but with her gone, you have to take him!" Dadan tries to explain to Garp, brow furrowing from the chaotic being that was Ace, he could be so difficult, Ann was the only one who could keep Ace in check.
"Ann came here!?" Garp growls glaring, his blood boiling, bubbling, burning even enraged at the sheer mention of the name.
"EEEP!" The terrified trio of bandits cry out.
"Couse she did damn brat…putting that aside... Look after him, too. Hey, Luffy, say "hi" to them." Garp calls out grabbing hold of his grandson by his collar.
"Yo!" Dangling down, Luffy greets waving his hand to the trio.
"Who is that kid?" Dadan ponders perplexed.
"He is my grandson." Garp reveals to the trio.
"What? What?! One more?!" Mortified, the trio screech scared.
"He's Garp's... I mean, Garp-san's grandson?!" Taken aback, the trio of bandits gawk gape at the kid being held up before them.
"We can't!" Immediately, the three refuse as Garp drops the boy down.
"Alright then, Here's your choice. Do you wanna spend all your life in prison or raise him? There are many crimes you committed that I've overlooked. For one hiding a no good yonko officer under your roof!" Garp stands over the seated states of the three bandits as Luffy wanders about fascinated by a nearby dragonfly as his grandfather threatens the trio of bandits.
"EEP! W-Well, I don't wanna get arrested but..." Meekly, Magra turns to Dogra anxiously. Magra overall appearance resembles that of a chicken. He has what appears to be a wattle on his chin, and a comb on his bald head. He has a moustache and sideburns, and big eyelashes. He wears a decorated jacket paired with a scarf around his neck, and a pairs of shorts held up by a standard sash. He also sports what appear to be long, striped socks. He carries a sabre on his right hip.
"Sometimes I think that maybe it's better to be in prison than take care of Ace..." Anguished, Dogra bows his head at the thought of that wild child, a part of him thankful for Ann's influence manging to calm the boy down at the least a bit for a while.
"But you want us to look after your grandson, too? I bet he's also a monster." Dadan assumes.
"Crappy shack!" Smiling, Luffy points at the house.
"You wanna fight?!" Fuming, Dadan roars raising her voice to the young Luffy straw hat on.
"Not listening!" The trio gawk at the boy wandering away.
"Boss! Are you alright?!" The two fuss over their boss falling flat to the ground at the mess of a wild child she would have to deal with as just then Luffy gasps at the sudden sharp sticky substance on his cheek.
"What is it?! Ugh, spit! Gross! Who did it?!" Disgusted, Luffy places his hand on his cheek grimacing at the stretchy substance of salvia.
"Hey, you! Say "sorry"! It's gross!" Luffy takes note of the glaring glowering boy perched upon the dead boar.
"…" Silently, said male with the pipe glares down at Luffy.
"Ace!" Garp smirks sauntering over to the boy.
"…Ace?" Luffy perks up at the name.
"I'll be sure to give it Ace." Makino assures Ann.
"Thanks." Ann nods her head thankful.
"Are you back, Ace?" Garp asks Ace.
"Hey, say "sorry!" Scowling, Luffy glares at the stoically silent Ace.
"Luffy, this is Ace. He's 3 years older than you. You're gonna live here with them from today." Garp tells Luffy.
"What?! You can't just do that!" The trio of bandits holler however…
"Be nice!" Garp bonks Luffy's head.
"Is it decided?!" The group of bandits gawk at Garp.
"Any problem with that?" Garp growls turning to scowl at the trio of bandits.
"We'll take him!" The trio agree anxiously.
"That's all from me. I'll stop by when I have time." The marine turns on his heel to leave.
"-Um... What about some child support?" Scowling, the smaller one, Dogra hollers. He wears a polka-dotted dungarees and, much like many other Mountain Bandits, he has a turban on his head. He carries a sword fitting his size on his back. He seems to be always carrying a dictionary around.
"Put it on my bill." Briskly, Garp shrugs the three off.
"-This is not a bar..." Brow furrowed, Dadan tries to argue but…
"-Huh?" Garp glares terrifying the trio.
"-You're always welcome!" Terrified, the trio bid farewell to the marine hero heading off…
"-Boss, we can't take care of one more kid!" Dogra hisses at Dadan once Garp is out of sight however…
"-Shut up! Let's just eat first!" Fuming, Dadan snaps scowling storming inside, the boys following her in.
"Say "sorry"! Hey wait!" Luffy yells glaring at Ace simply leaping down brushing by the boy not even batting an eye to him.
"I'll leave this hat with you…" Shanks' voice echoes in Luffy's heads, his hands darting up towards his straw hat bringing it close.
"I-I know Ann!" Luffy calls out to the boy stopping in his tracks, his hues narrowing.
"…" Silently, he glares at Luffy.
"We're friends!" Luffy smiles shyly but the boy brushes him off.
"H-Hey wait! Where did he go?" Luffy furrows his brow hopeful he could at least having something to talk to the boy about but finds him long gone, darkness shrouding the hut he entered until…
"Who are you?" Luffy gasps at the teasing touch of a blade across his neck.
"Let me go!" Luffy growls at the sudden hold on him.
"Give me your money or I'll kill you!" The bandit growls.
"I don't have any!" Luffy reveals.
"Then tell your parents to bring some money here!" The man's grip tightens.
"Grandpa is my only..." Luffy begins but…
"-That's fine. What's his name?" Impatiently, the bandit cuts Luffy off.
"Garp-san. He's gonna live here with us." Dogra comes in as the lights seemingly flicker on as next Luffy knew…
"Why did you accept?!" The bandits bellow.
"This is not a day-care!" Another bandit roars.
"Our boss has no guts!" Another angry voice joins in.
"Shut up you all! It's time to eat!" Enraged, Dadan strides in, a huge plate of meat on offer.
"Give it to me, fool!" Fuming, a bandit snatches said meat from another bandit.
"It's my meat!" Mad, the bandit tries to pry his meat back but…
"I want some meat!" Another body slams the both of them.
"You already ate!" Angrily, the voices scream back by the man taking both bones of meat.
"I want more! I'm not gonna give in to young people!" Passionately, a voice vows.
"You got to share!" Scowling another agitated voice asserts.
"It's a dog-eat-dog world." Dadan tuts watching the bloodbath.
"Dog? Can I have some more, pops!" Hopeful, Luffy asks as he watches the group of bandits devour the meat leaving him with nothing but rice and water as he turns hopeful to Dadan.
"I'm a woman! Do you even know where you are now?!" Dadan roars at Luffy.
"No." Luffy answers.
"Then I'll tell you. This is a den of the Dadan family, mountain bandits that rule Mt. Corvo!" Cockily, Dadan reveals to Luffy.
"Mountain bandits? I hate mountain bandits!" Brow furrowed, Luffy scowls at the thought of mountain bandits and his history with them.
"Shut up, you little shit! We're annoyed by having a kid like you! If you don't wanna stay here, that's fine! Go away and die like a dog somewhere!" Shouting, Dadan roars ripping a piece of meat of her bone brow furrowed at the little kid.
"Easy, easy, boss." Magra tries to calm Dadan down.
"I wanna eat more... I wanna have that meat, too." Hungrily, Luffy groans eyeing the meat on Ace's plate.
"These are all from a bison that Ace brought. He gave us a cut of the take so everybody can eat. The mountain bandits' world is rough sailing. You're gonna have to work pretty hard from tomorrow! Cleaning, laundry, polishing shoes and weapon, burglary, robbery, fraud, and murder! Remember, you can't tell Garp what we make you do! One bowl of rice and one glass of water for a day! That's all I can guarantee you. You gotta get everything else by yourself and grow up on your own.
"Okay!" Luffy agrees astonishing Dadan slamming his head into the floorboards below baffled by the boy's agreement.
"Okay"?! Why don't you cry or something?" Scowling, Dadan gawks at Luffy.
"I'm fine because grandpa threw me into a jungle once and there was water to drink and frogs, snakes, and mushrooms to eat in the forest! Plus, I'll become a pirate someday so I must be strong like that!" Luffy reasons as Ace spares a glance over at the boy perking up at the word pirate before returning to his meal.
"-Boss!-Are you alright?!" Magra rushes over to his boss's side concern clear in his tone towards him, a fair few bandits rushing over trying to pry their boss out of the floor.
"Hey where's he going?" Curiosity getting the best of Luffy, he takes off after Ace.
"And where are you going!?" Dada roars at him however it falls to deaf ears.
"Did you just say "pirate"? He's not listening!" Perturbed, Dadan screeches but it falls to deaf ears as Luffy goes on ahead.
"Hey!" Luffy calls out only to falter from the door swiftly slammed in his face…
"Hey! Wait for me! Hey!" Happily, Luffy calls out smiling.
"…" Quietly, Ace continues on his way, pipe in hand however as he reaches the peak of the hill.
"My name is Luffy! I'm not mad about you spitting on me anymore!" Luffy calls out catching up as Ace looks down at the boy below brow furrowed.
"Why are you laughing?! He only spilled some booze on me. It's nothing worth getting mad over.
"It's nothing worth getting mad over. Let's become friends! Are you going somewhere?!" Smiling Luffy clutches his straw hat smiling.
"…" Silently, Ace stares down at the boy below before kicking the tall, towering tree by him, breaking it in two as it comes tumbling down towards Luffy.
"EEEEH!?" Luffy screeches shocked by the tall, towering tree being kicked down by the glaring glowering Ace as next he knew he was running until…
"It's a dead end!" Luffy panics perturbed at the dead end before him before being bashed by both rock and tree…
Quietly, Ace continues his trek, pipe in hand brow furrowed firmly focused on the task ahead as he goes through the rickety old bridge until perking up at another layer of a tremor from the bridge. He turns his hues narrowing at a familiar bright bema of the straw hat boy huffing, heaving beofre smiling from ear to ear at Ace as leaf's and such lay littered in his hair. Happily, he smiles as Ace approaches unaware of his grip tightening on the pipe until his hues widen when Ace leaps upwards into the air, hitting the rickety old bridge as next Luffy knew he was screaming descending down into the dark depths of the ravine, the last thing seeing is the ice-cold glare of Ace watching him fall to his death.
"Hey! Ace is back! Food!" Beaming, the bandits cheer at the sheer sight of the boy returning to the bandit's base, a fish strapped to his back with a fair few fish on the ground below. The bandits gawk gape at said fish their mouth-watering from the sight of said fishes gushing over Ace's achievement.
"Ace, did you come back alone?" Magra ponders perplexed surprised to see no chasing child following after Ace.
"Where is Luffy? I thought that you were with him." Dogra adds brow furrowed from the lack of a certain smiling straw hat.
"Hell if I know…" Aloofly, Ace dismisses stone faced bored simply staring ahead, pipe in hand, the bandits rushing after him heading in for food…
"That fool, where is he and what is he doing?" Magra curses as he and Dogra sit on the lookout of the bandit base, binoculars in hand hoping to find Garp's grandson, hoping not to die as the night sky hangs over the two, the stars shimmering shining above with the bright ball of light that was the moon shining down upon them.
"Maybe he's dead already." Dogra considers unapologetic.
"We are dead if Garp finds out about this." Terrified, Magra frets fretfully, furrowing her brow.
"Boss must be pretty worried I bet!" Magra assumes anxiously however…
"Get hold of yourself, boss!" Dogra calls out to his boss, the tow of them trying to handle the drunken Dadan downing sake cup after sake cup.
"What did you say?!" Scowling, Dadan growls glaring at the rest of the bandits enjoy their meal.
"I said it's not good that we lost him on the first day!" Dogra reminds Dadan.
"Who cares! if he dies, he dies!" Dadan scoffs.
"Garp is gonna kill us!" Magra cries scared.
"First of all, why should we look after Garp's grandson?! We're not nannies! He has to take care of his own grandson!" Dadan roars raising her voice slurring swaying from side to side.
"Why don't you say it to him?" Magra challenge scaring Magra.
"You have a problem?!" Dadan roars raising her voice to the chicken looking bandit.
"What if Gold Roger had a child? Of course I know what'd happen to him! He'd get his head cut off for sure!"
"I want to hear from him as he dies: "I'm sorry I was born! I'm just a piece of trash!"
"HAAHAHA!"
"I'm already giving up on Ace, too! I don't care if he dies or not. I'll just tell Garp it was an accident. It's true that "the devil's children have the devil's luck"! He's the devil's son! If the Government finds out about this, what do you think they'd do to us?!" Slurring, Dadan dictates slurring said tone, smirking slightly, a heavy hue of ruby red dusting her crimson cheeks just as the door creaks open to the stone faced Ace, towel draped over his shoulder swiftly shutting said door behind him with his foot simply staring ahead…his hues widening when hearing her words.
"Easy, easy, boss. You're drinking too much! What if Ann shows up? What if she found out?" Anxiously, Magra frets fearful of facing the woman's wrath.
"Please that lousy woman, acting all high and mighty, coming and going as she pleased as if she could be a mother, as if someone would love a devil's child! She's better off dead to the world with that little brother of hers too!" Dadan scoffs smirking shaking her head oblivious to the tense teeth of the gritted grinded teeth of the scowling Ace…
One week later...
"Boss! Boss Dadan!" Dogra calls out to the sleeping Dadan swiftly shooting out of her bed, Dogra and Magra by her side as they turn to exit the house turning to greet…
"You!" Dadan's hues widen when seeing the battered beaten boy before them, hearing the dog bark at them as the boy stands beofre them with scratch marks and a claw mark on his shoulder, his shirt torn.
"Luffy came back!" Dogra beams brightly relieved to see the child alive despite his bloodied battered beaten state.
"You fool! You're alive! You...!" Dadan rushes over to Luffy's side, her hands on his shoulders shaking him stunned to see him even alive.
"Easy, easy, boss." Magra tries to calm Dadan down once more.
"Where were you?!" Dadan demands from Luffy.
"Easy, easy. Where were you and what were you doing?" Gently, Magra stops Dadan lightly setting Luffy down gently asking what had happened.
"I've been chased by wolves at the bottom of the valley." Luffy reveals.
"What were you doing at the bottom of the valley?" Dogra demands from Luffy baffled by the reasoning of it all.
"Anyway, it's nice that you're okay." Meekly, Magra smiles softly relieved, glad Garp wasn't going to come after them.
"Yeah. It's not okay! The pest came back! Why don't you go to bed tonight? You gotta work from tomorrow! Already?!" Agitated, Dadan snatches Luffy swiftly sliding the door open tossing the child inside before slamming it shut about to leave however as soon as she does, she swiftly opens it again gawking gaping at the now snoring mess of Luffy, snot bubble going up and down as Ace annoyed by the interruption, watches on from his bed.
"Hey Ace! What's up? Are you gonna go somewhere today? Take me with you! Let's become friends! Wait for me!" Merrily, Luffy beams brightly at Ace attempting to chase after the rather done Ace.
"Boss! He's going after Ace again!" Dogra calls out to Dadan spotting said child chasing after the annoyed Ace.
"Hey! You gotta do chores around the house!" Hollering, Dadan calls out to the child chasing after Ace but…
"No thank you!" Smiling, Luffy politely declines before heading off.
"You little shit! You're out of control!" Cross, Dadan snarls scowling at the beaming boy.
"Easy, easy, boss." Magra tries to calm Dadan down.
"Bring him back right now!" Dadan roars raising her voice to her bandits.
"Yes, ma'am." The bandits bow before their boss before heading off, trying to chase after the wild child that was Luffy.
"Hey! Ace! Ace! Let's become friends!" Smiling, Luffy chases after Ace once more as the chase continues…
"Hey Ace what'cha got there?" Luffy asks curiosity clear on his facial features towards the scowling Ace, a letter in his hand.
"None of your business." Bluntly, he moves said letter away from Luffy.
"Come on tell tell!" Luffy whines however…
"No!" Ace scowls shoving Luffy back before storming off.
"Ow!" Luffy whines wincing while rubbing his behind from said shove.
"Don't take it personal Luffy. Those letters are Ace's rare treasures." Dogra helps Luffy up.
"Letters?" Luffy raises a brow by his words.
"He always looks forward to one of her letters." Smiling, Magra adds.
"Who?" Luffy furrows his brow befuddled.
"Who do you think? His sister." Dadan huffs hands crossed over her chest.
"Oh Ann then that means there could be something about Shanks hey Ace let me see!" Smiling, Luffy
"No!" Angrily, Ace glares at Luffy.
"Why not?" Luffy whines.
"Cause she's my sister you don't even know her!" Harshly, Ace angrily glares at Luffy.
"Yeah I do! She's a part of Shanks crew she's super cool!" Luffy insists his grip tightening around his hat.
"Tch…! " Agitated, Ace turns on his heel huffing storming off.
"O-Oi Ace! Hey wait up!" Luffy goes after the boy storming off.
"Luffy is chasing Ace again?! How does he never learn after getting hurt so many times? Damn! He has to stop making me worry!" Dadan scowls watching the child chase after Ace simply staring scowling ahead, letter shoved into his pocket.
"So you're worrying." Dogra smirks smugly at Dadan, noting the numerous cigarettes in her mouth.
"N-No way! Stop talking nonsense!" Blushing, Dadan snaps sharply at the two a heavy hue of ruby red crossing her crimson cheeks clearly in denial as just then the trio of bandits perk up at the soft sound of footsteps.
"A bee-hive fell on me…" Meekly, Luffy returns to the group with a huge heavy head.
"Who are you?" The trio gawk gape at the boy before tending to his injuries.
"Ace! Ace! Hey!" Smiling, Luffy chases after Ace as Ace scowls down at the boy.
"I can't believe he's coming this far. He's so persistent..." Ace curses kicking his foot, numerous boulders from the rocky wall he hits come crashing down upon the boy to Ace's surprised climbs up, it worked the first time, crap he's learning, Ace curses as he continues on ahead…
"Oh crap!" Ace dives down into a nearby bush when seeing a huge tiger approach.
"Damn! I lost him again! Ace runs so fast!" Luffy complains oblivious to the huge orange and black striped tiger.
"Is it Ace?!" Excitedly, Luffy turns towards the bush but soon screams seeing said beast before him falling flat on his behind.
That's the beast of Mt. Corvo! No one can beat it! Why is he not running?! Astonished, Ace demands lost watching on from afar.
"It's gonna eat him! I-I feel weak at the knees!" Luffy cries out loud, the tears freely falling gawking gaping up at the tall tiger before him.
That fool! Ace curses, biting his lip tempted to fight only then to stop, his hues widening when suddenly a bear stands towering over the terrified Luffy as Luffy flees leaving the two to fight…
"I'm at the end of the forest eh? What is this place?" Perplexed, Luffy eyes the garbage dump, rough men and women littered about the place, sharp shards of trash of metal of all sorts littered about the wasteland.
Discarded junk lies around everywhere, and smoke fills the air. This is Gray Terminal, a town of outlaws.
"Treasure, treasure! Is there anything valuable here?"
"Here's something!"
"Someone finds petite pearls forming a necklace.
"Give it to me!"
Another hand swiftly snatches said necklace.
"That's mine! Stop it! I found it!"
"Don't touch it, you fools!"
"Let me cash it in for you!"
"You can't have it!"
"Stop!"
"Damn you!"
"Give it to me!"
"Sabo! Sabo, are you there?!" Ace smirks smugly looking up at the blonde boy looking over at the loot within the empty branch below.
"Oh, Ace!" Sabo smiles down at Ace.
"Sorry I'm late." Apologetic, Ace smiles showing a bag of sorts.
"You sure are. I've already done some work in the city." Sabo smiles smirking showing said wad of cash.
"Oh yeah? Well, I did, too. At once!" Ace boasts showing said bag of money to him.
"Whoa! You got a lot! Way more than I did! That's a lot of money! How'd you get that?" Sabo says in awe at the bag below.
"I robbed some thugs near the main gate!" Greedily, Ace smirks smugly.
"Damn! You won again!" Sabo huffs.
"It doesn't matter if you win or lose." Ace reminds Sabo gesturing to the loot below within the branch.
"It's been years since we started to put money in our "pirate savings". We worked hard for it." Sabo nods his head in agreement.
"Yes, we did. We're gonna leave the East Blue and go somewhere these people have never dreamed of. It's exciting just to think about it!" Eagerly, Ace beams brightly staring down at the glistening gems in his bag below.
"Yeah. Now put it away. We can't let anybody to see it." Sabo says to him.
"I wonder how much we need to get a pirate ship." Ace ponders out loud.
"I don't know. million or million maybe? Long way to go…" Sabo guesses.
"A pirate ship"?! You guys! Are you gonna become pirates?! I'm gonna become one, too!" Surprised, the two jolt up at the familiar voice turning towards a familiar straw hat.
"Be quiet!" Ace hisses harshly at the beaming brightly below as he leaps down, soon enough tying Luffy to the tree.
"Ace! I didn't know that you travel this far everyday!" Sabo soon joins him.
"Shut up!" Ace growl.
"Is this the Luffy that you were talking about?" Sabo asks intrigued.
"Oh, you told him about me?!" Merrily, Luffy beams brightly.
"I told him how annoying you are." Ace huffs glaring at Luffy.
"He also told me that you're empty-headed." Sabo adds.
"Oh yeah?" Luffy smiles.
"You don't realize that we're dissing you, do you?" Sabo furrows his brow at Luffy.
"He finally got me here although I didn't take any walkable routes." Ace curses.
"Are you a friend of Ace's? Be my friend, too, buddy!" Luffy smiles at Sabo.
"Shut up! You can't call me "buddy!" Sabo scowls.
"Then what's your name?" Luffy pries.
"Sa... I'm not telling you! This is why I told you to live here with me! The daily round trip-training on the mountain road turned out to be bad! What should we do?" Sabo demands from Ace.
"He found our secret. He's gonna tell somebody if nothing is done. We gotta kill him." Ace asserts.
"Alright, let's do it." Sabo agrees as the two arm themselves with their pipes as the scared straw hat soon started screaming…
"No don't Ann wouldn't like you trying to kill me!" Miserably, Luffy wails, the tears freely falling from his tied up form flailing about trying to escape the tree tied to him.
"Don't use my sister as an excuse!" Enraged, Ace snaps scowling.
"Wait you know Ann…?" Surprised, Sabo perks up at the name.
"Oi Sabo!" Scowling, Ace glares at Sabo.
"Y-Yeah Ann and Shanks are my friends!" Luffy beams brightly.
"…I don't exactly want to kill one of big sis Ann's friends…" Fretful, Sabo bows his head.
"He's lying, my sister wouldn't be friends with such a weakling!" Angrily, Ace refuses raising his pipe.
"Don't kill me! Help me! I don't wanna die!" Luffy screams sobbing his heart out.
"Shut up, you fool! Sabo, kill him already!" Angry, Ace lowers said pipe turning to scowl at Sabo.
"What?! You do it! I've never killed anybody before!" Sabo refuses.
"Me, neither! And I don't know how!" Ace admits anxious.
"Don't throw me into water!" Wailing, Luffy begs catching both boy's interest.
"Okay, let's head to the river!" Ace decides.
"Why did he tell us that?" Taken aback, Sabo queries.
"He's stupid!" Scowling, Ace answers.
"Help me!" Luffy continues crying.
"Shut up!" Both boys bark at him.
"I don't wanna die!" Luffy continues crying.
"I hear a voice from the forest! A kid's voice!" Both boys flinch from the voice.
"Oh no! Somebody's coming! Set him free for now! We gotta move from here or they're gonna find our treasure!" Ace curses turning to Sabo as both boys free him.
"Are you sure that it was Ace who took the money?" Porchemy furrows his brow by the group he wanders with through the forest. Porchemy is a very large man with long whitish blue hair, narrow eyebrow-less eyes, and a broad chest with an open red, ruffle-edged vest. He has tattoos on his left bicep and wore an earring on each ear. He also wears a yellow sash with stripes around his waist and a belt over it. He wears regular pants and boots. He is seen carrying a large sword as well.
"Yes. We're sorry. We shouldn't let our guard down." Apologetic, his lackey bows his head. The lackey is a thin stick like frame wearing nothing but rags with blonde locks, looking ahead worriedly watching, trying to search for the troublesome kid that had gotten the best of him. He places his hand on his bandaged head, hissing slightly from the tense throbbing pain in his head, hissing as he has a cast on him. His fingertips fretfully fidgeting around the gun in his hand.
"How outrageous that kid is! He can't just steal our money! If Captain Bluejam finds out about this, he's gonna kill all of us!" Panicked, Porchemy growls grumbling.
"Dammit! I didn't know that those thugs were working for Bluejam!" Alarmed, Ace curses.
"You mean that you stole the money from them?" Sabo scowls at Ace.
"I shouldn't have taken that money..." Ace sighs.
"He has a real sword. That's Porchemy who works under Bluejam. He's crazy. Did you know that? He skin you alive after you lose a fight with him!" Worried, Sabo reminds Ace anxious.
"Let's just let them pass for now... Oh? Where is he?" Ace sighs before furrowing his brow taking note of…a certain lack of a straw hat.
"Let me go! What do you want from me?" Both boys perk up at Luffy's voice as he is held up before the group.
How could you get caught? Both boys chorus in their heads horrified.
"Let me go! You bastard!" Luffy yells thrashing trying to escape the adult's hold.
"Who is this little shit?" Scowling, Porchemy eyes the boy in his hand.
"Help me! Ace! Help me, Ace!" Luffy cries calling out to him.
"That fool! He's calling my name! Internally, Ace panics bowing his head further into the bush before him.
"Help me! Ace!" Luffy continues crying calling out to him.
"Did you just call for "Ace"?" Perturbed, Porchemy's hues narrow at Luffy.
"So what?!" Luffy glares glowers growls at Porchemy.
"Do you know Ace?" Porchemy demands from Luffy.
"I'm his friend! Oh, but he just tried to kill me." Luffy answers only to falter furrowing his brow.
"That fool! He's such a big mouth! Internally, Ace angrily curses at the brat.
"I don't know if you know about this but I heard that Ace stole some money from us and ran today. You don't know where is it now, do you?" Porchemy presses, his grip tightening around Luffy.
"Oh no! They're gonna take all our treasure away! I hope that fool doesn't tell them!" Tense, Sabo panics.
"So? What do you say?" Scowling, Porchemy demands from him.
"I-I don't know..." Luffy's lips form into what looks like a duck, glancing to the side.
A terrible liar! Internally, Porchemy sees said failure of an attempt at lying.
"Alright, alright! It can't be helped that you don't know. Don't worry, I'll help you bring back the memory!" Growling, Porchemy promises, his grip tightening around Luffy before taking him away.
"What are you doing?! Let me go! Where are you taking me?! Dammit! Stupid! Let me go! You bastard! Let me go! What are you doing, bastard?!" Luffy thrashes trying to escape but it's futile as he is taken away.
"What should we do?!" Sabo questions conflict clear on his furrowed features.
"You know what we have to do... " Ace gathers the jewels and money rushing off, turning his back to Luffy.
"Let me go! I'm not gonna tell you anything! I told you that my body turned to rubber after I ate the Gum-Gum Fruit!" Frowning, Luffy refuses as he is hung from the rope trailing from side to side in the hut of sorts.
"The Devil Fruit, eh? Looks like you had the real one. Get me a pair of gloves." Porchemy orders his men.
"Y-Yes, sir!" Scared, said male goes to get said gloves preparing for the interrogation to come…
"Hurry up, hurry up! We're screwed if they come back! We gotta move our treasure somewhere else! It's a matter of time before Luffy tells them!" Ace encourages, prompting Sabo to do the same, stuffing boxes upon boxes of their treasure taking them to their second safe spot recalling Ann's advice as they follow through on it, the boys never thought Ann's idea of a second safe would come in handy until today…
"They'll take not only what we stole from them but all of our "pirate savings" that we've spent years collecting!" Sabo agrees as he too follows Ace's advice, heaving jewels after jewels into the box, snatching snow white pearls and glistening gems of ruby reds and pretty looking golden glistening blades and all sorts shoving them into the box below, following Ace to their secret second safe.
"Listen, you little shit. The money that your friend Ace stole is very important to our pirate crew. And you know where it is. So I need you to tell us." Porchemy adjusts the sharp spiked gloves handed over to him, staring down at the bloodied battered beaten mess of the tied up Luffy, scarlet smearing dropping descending down his battered beaten bruised frail form swaying from side to side within the hut.
"No!" Luffy weakly wheezes out.
"You don't wanna make a pirate mad! Our captain Bluejam is very brutal!" Brow furrowed, Porchemy poisonously spits sharply out attempting to warn him.
"It hurts! I'm scared! Help me!" Luffy cries, the tears freely falling.
"Guys, go look for Ace and Sabo! We don't have time to stand around!" Agitated, Porchemy orders his men.
"Y-Yes, sir!" Scared, said blonde boy bows his head heading off to do so, rushing towards a man with a bunny plushie for answers.
"Ace!" Seriously, Sabo rushes over to Ace alarmed as Ace continues transferring their treasure fund.
"Sabo! What's wrong? Have they shown up to look for the money?" Alarmed, Ace demands from Sabo staring down at him worried.
"No, they haven't! And I bet they won't!" Sternly, Sabo tells Ace astonished at his words.
"What do you mean?" Ace's hues narrow.
"That kid, Luffy... He hasn't told them anything! I'm sure that they're torturing him! I thought that he'd just tell them because he's dumb and cries so much! It doesn't make sense! If nothing is done, he'll..." Upset, Sabo attempts to explain to Ace bowing his head trailing off uneasy at the thought of Luffy's fate or what could be.
"Spit it out already!" Agitated, Ace snaps just wanting the answer already, fed up with Sabo's still silence, fed up with the trailing off, fed up with it all just wanting answers just wanting Sabo to get to the point.
"P-P-P-Porchemy-san! It's no use doing it anymore! He doesn't have the energy to even scream now! I bet he won't say anything and to be honest, I can't stand watching it-it's too cruel! Show some mercy!" Begging, one of his lackeys beg beseeches his leader, clasping his hands together praying, he hated seeing the child be beaten black and blue pained to no longer hear the child's cry, pained to see such a young child be battered bruised and bloodied. He could feel his stomach squirm just from the tied-up child alone.
"Look for Ace and Sabo if you have time to speak for the kid! We're the ones that are in danger of death! Can't you see?! We're already too late to give that money to Captain Bluejam!" Porchemy roars raising his voice frightening the lackey rushing away anxiously too terrified to dispute further.
"How could they do that to the little kid?" One of the terminal residents eye the hut.
"Should we call sheriff in the city?" Conflicted, another thief in the terminal ponders.
"It's no use. This area is not covered by the country's law. Plus, he's a member of the Bluejam Pirates. And they're paying money to the Nobles. They'll be overlooked for any crime and murder they commit in this country. One more dead body will draw no one's attention here." Miserably, another voice joins the conversation as a still silence of sorrow hangs heavily over the group of adults at the hopeless situation the child was in.
"Answer me!" Mad, Porchemy slams his spiked gauntlet into Luffy's stomach.
"I won't say it…" Weakly, Luffy spits scarlet to the ground below.
"You little shit! Stop trying to keep a secret like a grown-up! Say it!" Impatiently, Porchemy reels the boy back swinging him back to meet his fierce fist.
"I won't say it!" Sobbing, Luffy refuses.
"Fine. Then you die." Porchemy dictates ready to finish this when…
"STOP IT!" Together, the two boys bellow pipes in their respective hands as they both crash into the hideout, ready to fight for their tied-up ally.
"It's him, Porchemy-san!-He stole the money from us!" The lackey gasps pointing to Ace.
"Damn you!" Ace curses glaring at the adult.
"Hey! Do you know what happens when you mess with adults?!" Porchemy snarls.
"I'll fight you! Sabo, help him!" Ace calls out pipe in hand eyeing Porchemy.
"Ace! He has a sword! Be careful!" Sabo tries to warn while swiftly stealing said knife from one of the lackeys cutting Luffy loose.
"Let's go, Ace!" Sabo holding the still tied Luffy to his side calls out to him however…
"Go ahead!" Ace barks back.
"You fool! Hurry up!" Sabo scowls at the fool.
"When I come to face someone, I won't run!" Resolved, Ace growls glaring at Porchemy.
"What'd you say?! You little shit!" Porchemy snarls slamming his fist down as Ace avoids said stirke.
"Don't do it! He's not like the thugs in the city!" Sabo tries to warn him.
"You got that right! Alright! Enough playing around! That's our money. Give it back to us peacefully, brat! You must been possessed by some evil spirit, right? Give the money back so you won't regret it." Porchemy demands from them.
"We have better plans for that money!" Ace states the fact firmly.
"Wh... What did you say?!" Snarling, Porchemy growls.
"Wait here for a minute! You're so reckless! Why are you always like this?!" Sabo sighs softly setting Luffy down joining Ace's side.
"I won't run!" Resolute, Ace refuses.
"Stop talking crap! If I'm beat by kids, I may as well quit being a pirate!" Porchemy slams his fist into his palm.
"We'll make sure you quit!" Sabo snarls as both Ace and Sabo lunge forward pipes in hands.
"I'm gonna kill all of you!" Angrily, Porchemy yells reeling his spiked gloves back ready to end the children holding their ground, pipes clutched in their hands as both boys glance over at one another, understanding clear as day recalling the lessons done by Ann as the two rush forward ready for the fight ahead as next both boys knew they were running, Luffy with them, escaping victorious.
"I heard the whole story, Porchemy. How pathetic. Did you honestly get beat by kids?" The tall towering figure looks down at the battered beaten body of Porchemy…
"I'm sorry, Captain Bluejam... The money is..." Pathetically, Porchemy begins but…
"Don't look at me! I don't even want to see your face! Now, who will get my money back? Don't tell me we'll let it go without a fight." Furious, the man snarls drawing out his gun.
"Of course not. We'll get it back right away." Porchemy promises only to be met by the swift shell of a flintlock.
"You have a bad habit, Ace! When faced with a real pirate it's best to run! Why do you have such a death wish?" Sabo scowls furrowing his brow at Ace bandaging his pipe.
"This doesn't feel right. I liked the one I had." Huffing, Ace blanks Sabo out eyeing his weapon.
"We made a stupid mistake. The Bluejam clan won't forgive us. They'll come after us!" Sabo scowls at Ace.
"Oh, that was scary! I thought I was gonna die!" Luffy whimpers, the tears freely falling from the relieved boy.
"You're so annoying! Shut up! Stop crying already! I don't like cowards or people who cry a lot!" Agitated, Ace snaps scowling at Luffy.
"Th-Thank you! You... You helped me!" Sniffling, Luffy tries to stop said tears, bowing his head to Ace.
"You...!" Ace growls glaring at the cry baby.
"Whoa, he's just being thankful." Sabo swiftly intervenes.
"Why didn't you cough it up in the first place? They're kind of people who'd kill women or kids without hesitation!" Ace snaps pointing at Luffy.
"I thought if I said anything... you wouldn't be my friend." Sniffling, Luffy admits.
"It's better than dying, isn't it? Why do you wanna become my friend that much?" Mystifed, Ace demands.
"Because..." Luffy begins sniffling slightly, his voice cracking as a sharp sob threatens to break through…
"Didn't I give you a hard time until now? How could you follow me this far?" Agitated, Ace barks brow furrowed at Luffy.
"Because... Because I have nobody else to trust! I can't go back to Windmill Village and I don't like the mountain bandits! If I didn't follow you, I'd be all alone! Ann seems to trust you so can I! Being lonely is more painful than getting hurt!" Luffy confesses the tears freely falling from the crying child.
"Where are your parents?" Perplexed, Ace queries.
"Grandpa is all I have." Luffy answers.
"Is it easy for you when I'm around?" Ace asks anxious almost.
"Uh-huh." Luffy nods his head.
"It's hard without me?" Meekly, Ace's grip tightens around his pipe bowing his head unable to look Luffy in the eye.
"Uh-huh." Luffy confirms sniffling slightly.
"What if Gold Roger had a child?
"I hope that there isn't such a child!
"He must be some kind of devil who'd be better off dead!
"Do you want me to live?" Ace asks shakily brow furrowing, a still silence hanging heavily in the air around them.
"Of course I do! I see." Sniffling, Luffy answers as a still silence hangs heavily over them both.
"But I don't like spoiled kids like you." Ace argues as he looks away.
"I'm not spoiled! I'm strong!" Scowling, Luffy dictates determined.
"Strong?! You're not strong at all! You cry like a girl!" Ace compares.
"Have you ever gotten hit by a spiky thing? I'm only seven! When I become your age, I'll stop crying and become stronger!" Seriously, Luffy vows.
"I wouldn't cry even if I were seven, stupid!" Shouting, Ace roars at Luffy.
"I'm not like you! I'm gonna become stronger than anyone! I promised Shanks and Ann that I'd become a great pirate!" Proudly, Luffy swears.
"You? Become a pirate?" Arrogantly, Ace scoffs smirking at the thought.
"Yes!" Luffy slams his head into Ace's.
"No way!" Ace's head pushes back against Luffy's.
"Yes way!" Luff roars, him on his tippy toes as Sabo sweat drops at the two.
"Okay, that's enough! Hey, by the way, I have a little problem." Sabo sighs at the two.
"What? A problem?" Perplexed, Luffy quirks his head to the side.
"Uh-huh. Bluejam and the others will try to kill the three of us after this for sure, right?" Sabo prompts to the two.
"Well, I think so." Ace answers.
"This forest that I've been living is close to where they are - the Cove of Pirates! What if they attack me when I fall asleep exhausted?" Sabo proposes the question to the two.
"You're gonna die." Deadpanned, Ace answers.
"Yeah, you're gonna die." Luffy agrees unapologetic.
"Right? That's why I need your help. Guys, huddle up." Sabo tells the two complying as the brothers all huddle together for their next move.
"Whoa! Boss! Boss! We have a problem!" Perturbed, Dogra reports to her.
"Hmm? It's still early. What's wrong...Whoa! What's going on here?! Ace, Luffy... Huh? Ace, Luffy... Huh? Ace, Luffy...Huh? Ace, Luffy...Huh? Ace... Luffy... Huh? Ace, Luffy, huh? Ace, Luffy, huh? Ace, Luffy, huh? Ace! Luffy! Who is that?! Who is who? It's still early-" Dadan gawks gapes counting the kids still shocked but…
"You're too loud!" Annoyed, Ace huffs covering his face further burrowing it into the blanket.
"How come there is one more kid?! Who the hell are you?!" Dadan demands hands on her hips glaring at the blonde below.
"Are you talking about me? I'm Sabo! Hey, you must be Dadan!" Sabo realizes.
"Sabo? I've heard your name before!" Dadan's hues widen when hearing said name.
"Oh yeah? That makes it easier! Thank you for taking care of me from today!" Thankful, Sabo smiles softly at Dadan.
"Taking care"? Don't tell me that you're gonna stay here..." Dogra says shocked.
"Don't answer me with a fart! You must be kidding! I heard that you're a worthless brat, too!" Dadan glares glowers down at the beaming blonde.
"Oh yeah? I heard that you're a worthless old bag, too!" Sabo smiles at Dadan.
"That's unnecessary information! I don't wanna look after one more brat!" Dadan complains out loud.
"But I heard that you're a good worthless old bag because you can't refuse a request. I heard that you're a truly manly worthless old bag!" Beaming, Sabo tries to compliment her however…
"Truly manly"? I'm a woman! I'm not a gender bender! Ace, Luffy, Sabo! I'm giving you a place to stay! You gotta get to work already!" Agitated, Dadan orders them trying to be strict but…
"Thank you, Dadan!" Sabo smiles thankful for the roof over his head.
"See ya!" Ace and Luffy chorus.
"Hey, Luffy! You stay here and do some laundry and clean the house!" Ace orders.
"No way!" Luffy refuses.
"Oh, Ace, Sabo, wait!" Magra calls out to them attempting to put his foot down however it falls to deaf ears.
"Honestly! What annoying brats…!" Dadan growls glaring at the three fleeting figures.
"Oh yeah! I forget to tell them. Hey, Dadan! While we're gone, the Bluejam clan might come by so be careful!" Casually, Sabo smiles giving them a heads up.
"The Bluejam clan might come by? Why?" Alarmed, Dadan demands from the three but…
"Because we beat some of his crew up! Bye!" Beaming, Sabo smiles waving them off before heading back into the jungle…
"What?!" The bandits gawk gape unaware of the trouble to come…
"Dadan sure is an understanding worthless old bag!" Beaming, Sabo smiles as he, Ace and Luffy run through the forest.
"She's still a worthless old bag!" Annoyed, Ace huffs brow furrowed.
"Plus she's a mountain bandit and her face is scary!" Smiling, Luffy between both brothers beams brightly.
"What are we gonna do now?" Ace asks Sabo.
"First... Eat something!" Luffy leaps forward beaming brightly at the thought of crocodile meat.
"Okay, let's eat!" Ace agrees as the group go to get some food.
"Luffy, so you ate the Devil Fruit? No wonder you can't swim. Here, you can have this, too." Sabo says as he and Ace sit across from one another eating the fish they had hooked having cooked it of course as he tosses the tail of said fish over to Luffy from afar.
"Thanks!" Luffy beams brightly leaping up, catching the fishtail thrown his way.
"You're too kind, Sabo." Annoyed, Ace grumbles gnawing away at his cube of fish frowning.
"Well, what's wrong with that? So, what fruit did you eat?" Curious, Sabo asks Ace.
"Gum-Gum!" Luffy beams brightly devouring the fish in one whole.
"Gum-Gum?" Sabo raises a brow his hues widening when seeing Luffy expand his mouth swallowing said fishtail in one gulp.
"That's right!" Luffy beams brightly proud of his fruit.
"In exchange for the ability to swim, your body turned to rubber? So crappy!" Cheekily, Ace smirks smugly, using a fish bone to clean his teeth leaning back on the cobbled floor of stone hearing the washing wave of the river rushing by behind them.
"It's not crappy! I can use a lot of unbeatable attacks!" Annoyed, Luffy snaps scowling at Ace.
"Oh is that right? A guy who can't even catch a fish shouldn't talk like that." Teasingly, Ace turns his back to both boys, leaning back to sleep.
"Your body really is rubber! Interesting!" Sabo smiles stretching Luffy's cheek.
"Don't play with my body!" Luffy whines while trying to move forward, his mouth stretching out being pulled by Sabo.
"But rubber surely stretches and shrinks and expands so maybe it's useful when you're fighting!" Smiling Sabo releasing the pinch as it bounces back hitting Luffy back making him hiss, cradling his cheek but…
"Right?! Oh yeah, I came up with another attack. It's called "Gum-Gum Balloon"! I can deflect cannonballs and everything!" Luffy easily ignores said pain eager for the praise sent his way while gushing to Sabo over it.
"Wow! Can you do it for me now?" Sabo asks.
"Okay, I'll do it just for you! Ace can't see it. Don't look! Here we go! Gum-Gum..." Luffy glares at the dismissive Ace back still turned as he inhales.
"What?! What is it?! What the hell?!" Sabo's hues widen when seeing balloon boy form, bouncing up and down after inhaling some air.
"Awesome! You're getting bigger and bigger! You're a...Balloon!" Sabo describes.
"See it?! It's cool, isn't it?!" Luffy smiles floating up in the air as Ace smirks leaping up behind him.
"Well, I don't think it's cool... It's good for working off my meal!" Ace smirks smugly kicking Luffy down.
"What are you doing?!" Luffy screams as like a beach ball he bounces up and down.
"Sabo, kick it back!" Ace calls out.
"Ah, okay." Smiling, Sabo kicks ball Luffy back.
"Stop it!" Luffy cries but it falls to deaf ears.
"Is that the unbeatable attack that will deflect cannonballs?!" Cockily, Ace teases.
"Stop it!" Luffy cries.
"Then, why don't you deflect my kick?!" Ace challenges confidently.
"Stop it!" Luffy cries as just then he lands in water where an alligator comes out of nowhere devouring the boy whole in one.
"Wait! You can't just eat and run! You bastard! Take this!" Angry, Ace and Sabo scowl, throwing their pipes prying open the alligator's mouth for them to reach forward dragging the balloon boy back out…
"Let it go." Ace sighs as he, Sabo and Ace carry the crocodile back to the hut.
"I can't! I almost got eaten!" Luffy snaps scowling at Ace's back.
"Calm down. You can have a lot of crocodile meat for dinner." Ace assures Luffy.
"Then I forgive you guys." Luffy forgives.
"That easily?" Sabo does a double take.
"I wanna eat the crocodile already. I can't wait until dinner." Luffy's mouth waters.
"Ace! I wanna check something quickly. Can you come with me?" Sabo asks Ace as they go to do so, glad that they moved the "pirate savings".
"Do you wanna check the Gray Terminal, too?" Ace asks him.
"Yeah, okay. Why don't you go home now?" Sabo turs to Luffy.
"No!" Luffy refuses.
"He won't listen to anyone. There are hooligans from the city and Bluejam's people everywhere. They're serious! I bet that Bluejam got really frustrated." Sabo sighs as after delving the crocodile they go to do so faltering from the numerous guards around the terminal.
"Hey, guys! The kids that you're looking for are all here! There they are!" The trio perk up at a traitor of a terminal worker pointing at them.
"Stop! You can't run from us!" Bluejam's crew tries to chase after the boys but they easily outmanoeuvre losing the group…
"We'd better lay low for a while until things calm down." Dutifully, Sabo reasons as the boys hide behind a rock for cover.
"Who cares? We'll just fight if they find us." Aloofly, Ace dictates.
"That's true but we don't have to look for trouble ourselves." Sabo sighs.
"I agree with Sabo!" Luffy joins in.
"You just shut up!" Angrily, Ace roars raising his voice at Luffy.
"Bluejam... The kids made quite an enemy!" Dogra frets.
"I'm sure that they're gonna find this place and come by pretty soon!" Scared, Magra admits anxious.
"There is no way that we can defeat them... Maybe this is the end of the Dadan family! I have to say goodbye to the humble-but-sweet mountain bandit's life?" Dogra's grip tightens around his dictionary.
"It's better to quit the mountain bandit business than to get exterminated!" Magra bows his head.
"We can't defeat them"? "Out of business"? How pathetic you guys are! Don't you take pride in being a mountain bandit?! It's easy! If they come by, we can just hand Ace and the other two over to them!" Tiredly, Dadan berates her fellow bandits brow furrowing fuming from their cowardice.
"But, boss, how do we explain it to Garp and Ann?!" Anxiously, Magra worries.
"Plus, Bluejam is not the kind of guy who will be satisfied by just handing them over!" Dogra joins in.
"Th-Then..." Tense, Dadan trials off anxiously.
"Then?" The tow turn to look up at her expectantly, hopeful for some semblance of an answer.
"Let's just pretend that we don't know anything! Now, try it! We gotta practice! You guys, are Ace and Sabo here? Just spit it out!" Dadan demands her bandit brethren all of them knelt down before her as they stand in the hut.
"I-I don't know..." Together, the group chorus duck lips forming glancing to the side sheepish, sweat sliding down their tense temple.
Terrible liars! Internally, Dadan couldn't help but sweat drop at the duck lips formed upon her bandit brothers as the bandit group try to come to terms with their soon to be demise courtesy of Bluejam.
"Here I come! Gum-Gum...pistol!" Luffy reels his fist back before stretching it out towards Ace who doesn't eve bat an eye to it as Ace simply steps aside as the fist bounces back from the tree it had hit, hitting him in the face, swiftly losing the match.
"One point!" Sabo smiles giving Ace the win as next it was Ace and Sabo standing across from one another.
"I won't lose a fight! And I will...Ace furrows his brow as he rushes forward towards Sabo.
"I wanna get stronger! Sabo soon rushes in as both boys deal blow after blow until they both leap upwards into the sky.
"I'm gonna get stronger and I will...Ace smirks smugly as he bows his head dodging Sabo's hit giving him the perfect opening…
"I win, Sabo!" Smirking, Ace swiftly slams his firm fist into Sabo swiftly winning his fight.
"Dammit! Damn!" Sabo curses cross.
"It's always a close match between Ace and Sabo! Hm? What's this? Looks old!" Luffy gushes in awe as he then falters from the scoreboard noting the small board of wood below.
"That's an old scoreboard." Smiling, Sabo sees said piece of wood dangling down from the huge scoreboard of Sabo, Ace and Luffy's wins.
"Eh!? 100 who got one hundred!?" Luffy says shocked.
"…Ann." Ace growls.
"Eh?" Luffy perks up.
"Ann set up the whole scoreboard for us, we wanted to learn from her and she said if we beat her she'd train us, you can see where that went." Sabo smiles explaining it to Luffy.
"Oh…" Luffy exclaims.
"Tch not that it matters…" Aloofly, Ace huffs.
"Sabo! You gotta fight me next!" Luffy tells Sabo.
"Shouldn't you run?! I have no mercy!" Sabo smirks rushing over to him about to strike but…
"Gum-Gum..." Luffy prepares…
"Gum" again?" Sabo furrows his brow.
"...Shield!" Smiling, Luffy stretches his fingers out forming a net.
"That's just stretching your fingers... How interesting is this?" Sabo snatches said finger net.
"N-N-No, stop it!" Luffy grunts grimacing at it before crying out as the net of his fingers is flung back at him throwing him towards a nearby tree.
"Like I keep saying, is there any point in having that power?" Ace sighs hands on hips huffing.
"Dammit! It's not working! It was so close! One more time!" Stubbornly, Luffy frets.
"No! The rule is only matches per person a day. Wait until tomorrow." Sternly, Ace reminds Luffy.
"But why?" Luffy whines.
"Cause we need breaks, big sis Ann says if we don't it'll do more harm then good for us." Sabo says.
"She did?" Luffy perks up at the name watching Sabo approach the scoreboard chalk in hand.
"Luffy lost times to me and Ace. Me vs. Ace is- I lost by…" Sabo stares sadly at the scoreboard.
"Dammit! You guys! When I become years old, I'll beat you two up!" Luffy declares determined.
"We'll be thirteen by then. Long gone from here." Ace crosses his arms over his chest.
"Hey!" Luffy whines.
"Let's go get something for dinner." Sabo decides.
"Okay, let's go for crocodiles!" Cheering, Luffy smiles as the boys go to do that…or so they had hoped.
"The son of a noble?!" Both boys gawk gape at Sabo staring stunned at him after that close encounter with that noble after sneaking into that restaurant.
"Who is it?" Luffy quirks his head to the side.
"I am!" Agitated, Sabo snaps scowling at the thought of his father's attempts at calling out to him.
"And?" Ace prompts.
"And?" Luffy repeats.
"You two asked me first! The truth is, both of my parents are alive. So I'm not an orphan and I didn't grow up in the Gray Terminal. The man who called to me today was my father. I was lying to you guys. I'm sorry." Scowling, Soba snaps soon faltering from it bowing his head pained.
"He said "sorry" so we gotta forgive him." Luffy tells Ace.
"Let's hold off on forgiveness - it all depends on your motive. Why were you living there if you are from a noble family?" Frowning, Ace argues.
"The reason I ran away was... They love those who can maintain their status and defend their property. Not me! If I can't marry a woman from the royal family, I'm worthless! That's why they made me study and take culture lessons. And they were arguing everyday because I wasn't doing well. I had no place to be in that family! I'm sorry for both of you but I was all by myself even if I had parents!" Sabo furrows his brow by the thought of his old home…
"It's you again. If you walk around a place like this, you might get robbed and killed someday!" Those around the fierce flames in the terminal try to warn the young noble that was Sabo approaching them.
"Let me hear the stories again! About countries across the sea that you guys have seen or visited!" Sabo begs the man around the fierce flames of the campfire.
"You're a strange kid! Come and sit down." Smiling, the group of men warmly welcome him as he sits listening to their stories.
"Nobles have a low opinion of the Gray Terminal but it's better than the stifling High Town where your life has been arranged for years to come! Ace! Luffy! We gotta set out to sea someday! Let's get out of this country and live freely! I wanna see the world out there and write a book about it! I'm happy to study if it's about sailing! Let's become stronger and become pirates someday! I'm gonna become one!" Seriously, Sabo confesses to the two.
"You don't have to tell me to! I'm gonna become a pirate and defeat others and become infamous! It'll be the only proof of my life! It doesn't matter if all the people in the world reject me or despise me, I'll become a great pirate and show them what I can do! I won't run from anybody or lose to anyone! Because I'm feared or hated or whatever, my name will be known all over!" Ace beams brightly as he confesses his own dream too.
"I got it! Alright then...! I'm gonna become...!" Luffy begins but the washing waves soon cut him off.
"You're funny, Luffy! I can't wait to see how you turn out in the future!" Sabo chuckles cheerily at the dream.
"We can all become pirates but isn't it a problem that we all wanna become captain?" Confused, Sabo soon points out after laughing.
"I wasn't expecting that. Sabo, I thought that you'd wanna be navigator on my ship." Ace admits.
"You guys can come aboard my ship!" Smiling, Luffy exclaims.
"No thanks!" The two chorus.
"Huh?! Come on! Come aboard! I said "come aboard", so you gotta do it!" Luffy whines.
"That will never happen!" Ace refuses.
"Yeah, never!" Sabo agrees.
"What did you say?! But that's okay." Luffy goes back on himself.
"What's that?!" Taken aback, Ace exclaims.
"Man, you're funny, Luffy! Well, let's just leave it until the time comes. Maybe we'll set out independently." Sabo smiles at the two as Luffy's hues widen when seeing Ace take out a bottle.
"Oh, you stole that from Dadan!" Luffy gasps seeing said booze bottle in Ace's hand.
"Did you guys know?! We can become brothers if we exchange this cup of sake!" Smiling, Ace opens the bottle.
"Brothers? Really?!" Luffy gasps as he and Sabo sit either side of the trunk they all sit around sake cups in hand as Ace pours them each a cup.
"When we become pirates, we might not be on the same ship but our brotherhood will always be with us! Wherever, whatever, we'll always be bonded together! So from now on, we're brothers!" Ace dictates setting the bottle down as they each raise their respective sake cup.
"Yeah!" Together, the trio of brothers beam brightly clicking their respected sake cup celebrating their newfound brotherhood.
*Sooo...what did you think of this chapter? Of Ann and Ace? Of her with the boys? Heck of her and Garp?!*
