*Sorry for the delay on this chapter. This basically serves as the conclusion to this story's prologue, so I wanted to take my time with it. Hope you like how it turned out. :)
Chapter 4: A Pirate's Life for Me
Approximately a year later in 1512…
Since establishing it as their base in the previous year, the Red-Hair Pirates continued to visit Foosha Village every so often. Uta's bond with Goku and Luffy grew with each subsequent visit, yet it wasn't strong enough to prevent her from mysteriously disappearing one day. The two boys had no idea what happened to the girl and were, unsurprisingly, frustrated when Shanks wouldn't explain anything about it. All he would say was something about Uta being left in a place called Elegia, which either boy had never heard of before.
Luffy was upset enough to never speak with Shanks again, but through some coercion from Goku and Benn Beckman, he slowly forgave him overtime. Regardless, the two boys would continue to think about their lost childhood friend, and hoped that she was doing well. Maybe someday, they'd be able to reunite and talk about the New Genesis phenomenon she wished to create.
However, with Uta gone, Luffy was more determined to join Shanks' crew than ever before. The boy even went as far as to stab a knife underneath his left eye to prove how tough he had become. It was a borderline insane action that ended just as badly as any normal person would expect.
"YEOWWWWW!"
Not long after that, Makino quickly put a bandage over Luffy's wound to help stop the bleeding. The Red-Hair Pirates ended up declaring a toast to honor Luffy's courage and bravery for doing something so extreme. It might have just been done as an excuse to drink more booze, though. That's what the owner of Partys Bar herself assumed.
Goku blew out a sigh. The nine-year-old boy was wearing an orange collared shirt with green triangles spread throughout, and a white tank top underneath it. He also wore tennis shoes and blue jeans, which had a hole cut out for his tail. His grandpa's blue fedora was still hung along his neck as well.
"Did you really have to cut yourself with a knife, Luffy?"
"Well, yeah. It was the only way to show them I'm as tough as they are, big bro." Luffy grumbled while massaging his cut face. "And as tough as you too…"
"That's just dumb. Hehe."
"I don't care! That knife didn't hurt one bit. I'm ready to go on Shanks' next voyage and be a pirate!"
"LIAR! That was a foolish thing to do!" Shanks growled from his seat at the bar. He then snorted at the thought of Luffy becoming a pirate in his current condition. "And you can't even swim! What good is a pirate who sinks every time they touch the water? That's why you'll always be an anchor, unlike your brother there. DAHAHAHA!"
Goku quirked a brow at this comment. It seemed inaccurate, given how many pirates have achieved great success without even touching the water themselves.
"But aren't there a load of famous pirates who ate Devil Fruits and lost the power to swim? That's what Garp-Pa told me."
The pirate captain blinked a few times in surprise. Admittedly, he didn't think the boy was smart enough to catch onto his bluff. He wondered if that was Makino's influence rubbing off on him.
"True, but those pirates need to be incredibly powerful fighters to make up for such a weakness. And Luffy, at his age, is just nowhere near close to that level yet."
Luffy slammed a fist on the table in abject protest.
"But I am a strong fighter. I've been training with Goku and Grandpa these past few months! My punch is as powerful as a pistol now!"
Shanks rested a hand on his cheek, looking a bit disinterested in the seven-year-old's proud boast.
"A pistol, eh? Is that so…"
"ARE YOU DOUBTING ME?!" Luffy barked like some rabid dog.
The rest of the Red-Hair Pirates grabbed each other's shoulders and heartily laughed in amusement while partying. Lucky Roux stood in the middle while Yasopp hung along his left shoulder and their crew's doctor, Hongo, stood to the right. He was a lean man with dirty blonde hair that tied back into a ponytail and a few missing teeth. His outfit comprised of a striped black-brown shirt, blue shorts, and orange sandals.
"Calm down, Luffy!" Bonk Punch cried.
"Let's just have a good time!" Yasopp happily added.
"Yeah! Pirates always have a good time!" Lucky Roux continued.
"The sea is vast and there's a lot of islands to explore!"
"And best of all, pirates have FREEDOM!"
Both Goku and Luffy were in complete awe of this description. It was the type of carefree life they had always dreamed of and more.
"Wow!"
Shanks let out a sigh of frustration. He was holding a spoon in between his teeth. "They're still kids, guys. Stop filling their heads with such crazy ideas."
Lucky Roux and Yasopp glanced at each other in confusion. They weren't sure why their captain was acting so dismissive about the lives of the average pirate.
"But it's true!"
"Right!?"
The infamous pirate captain groaned and went back to eating his meal.
"Oh, c'mon, Cap'n. Let's take the lad just this once. Even Goku can come along and get some benefit out of it." One of the other Red-Hair Pirates suggested. "They did want to gain more experience as pirates, after all."
His fellow shipmates nodded their heads in agreement. "Aye."
The two boys glanced at each other in surprise. Even Goku was getting more excited at the mere idea of boarding an actual pirate ship, let alone one operated by a person as powerful as Shanks.
"Yeah!"
"Seriously?! You mean that?"
Shanks didn't even turn around to address this suggestion.
"Okay, but two of you will have to stay behind to make room on the ship…"
Not wishing to be left behind on a place as boring Foosha Village, the pirates immediately changed their opinion and went back to partying. It was as if their prior approval of Goku and Luffy's inclusion didn't even happen at all.
"Sorry, lads. You've just been beached! Let's drink! HARHARHARHAR!"
The seven-year-old boy snarled. "Hey! Whose side are you on?!"
"You're just too young, boys. Maybe in ten years or so, I'll give you another chance, Luffy…"
Goku quirked a brow. He didn't find Shanks' use of the word, 'maybe', all too convincing. From his experience with Grandpa Gohan, that was another way to say 'don't get your hopes up' or flat out 'no'. He knew Luffy, however, would never accept that answer.
He clamped down on his teeth with fully narrowed black eyes.
"Erggh! Cap'n Shanks! I've already told you… I'm not a little kid!"
Shanks slyly grinned and gave Luffy a small glass to drink from.
"Hey, there's no need to get upset now. Have some milk."
"Oh boy! Thanks!"
The redheaded pirate captain then proceed to burst out laughing in amusement. The bait, as expected, was taken hook, line, and sinker.
"See! A real pirate would never drink milk! HARHARHARHARHAR!"
"Grrr! THAT WAS A DIRTY TRICK!"
Goku shook his head in confusion. He supposed there were some things he still had yet to learn about pirates and what they considered normal.
"Makino told me milk is pretty healthy, though. Why wouldn't it be alright to drink it?"
"Because milk doesn't have the special kick that a fresh brew of sake does, Goku." Beckman said while lighting his cigarette with a match. "Not that either of you would be mature enough to understand that yet. Like I told you before, being a pirate isn't all fun and games, you know…"
The two brothers looked up at him in curiosity.
"How so, Mr. First Mate?"
"As a captain, the safety of the entire crew and ship rests on Shanks' shoulders. Then, in return, the crews' duties include pillaging, hostage taking, heavy drinking, and… in most cases, swimming!" Beckman continued. "And the captain, especially, knows all about the dangers of the sea, too! It can kill you in a thousand ways! It's not that he wants to crush either of your dreams of becoming a pirate. He's just doing what's best for everyone, including you two brats."
Luffy grumbled in response. "Hmph! Well, I'm getting tired of it. I stabbed myself in the face and he still won't take me with him."
"Maybe Shanks just likes messing with Luffy too." Goku added.
Beckman blew out a puff of smoke from his mouth.
"How do you figure?"
"Hey, anchor! HARHARHAR!" Shanks childishly giggled. "Ho boy… I just love making fun of this kid!"
Luffy then pointed over to the man, causing Beckman to contemplate whether his previous description was accurate or not.
"Hmm… Maybe you do got a point there…"
Coming from the back of the bar, the now-nineteen-year-old Makino walked in with a large barrel of beer in her hands. Goku immediately smiled and ran up to help her carry it with a single hand.
"I can help you with that, Mom!"
"Aw, thanks! I can always rely on you, sweetie. Place it next to Lucky Roux's table, please." The bartender beamed affectionately. She then smiled over at Shanks. "I'm glad to see you and your crew are enjoying yourselves, Captain Shanks! Hope the boys haven't been giving you too much trouble."
"Hmph. You should be telling him that, Makino…" Luffy snorted.
Knowing how to speak his and her adopted son's language, Makino smiled at both kids with even more enthusiasm.
"How about I make you and your brother something to eat, Luffy?"
"Really? Alright! You're the best, Mamakino!"
The young proprietor of Partys Bar playfully wagged her finger in mock annoyance.
"Just 'Mama' or 'Mom' is fine, mister. I won't accept anything different."
Goku rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. I know…"
The monkey-tailed boy then sat at the bar right next to Luffy. The seven-year-old was holding a fork and knife in each hand, respectively.
"You can put the bill on my treasure tab, Makino! I'll pay you back in gold and more once I'm a pirate!"
"Treasure tab? Don't try to swindle the lady, boy." Shanks said.
"I'm not! I'm gonna become a pirate, find lots of treasure, and then I'll come back and pay her. You'll see."
"Hahaha! Not if Goku gets back to me first." Makino giggled. "When that time comes, we'll have to celebrate together once both of you return."
"Hee hee! Definitely!"
"And I'll make sure to pay you back for everything too, Mom."
The bartender, although grateful for Goku even suggesting that, shook her head.
"That's sweet of you, kiddo, but there's need for there to be two treasure tabs around here. Helping around the bar is all the payment you'll need to give me, okay?"
She then winked, causing him to blush ever-so-slightly.
"Okay…"
"Still a mama's boy! HARHARHARHARHAR!"
"SHUT UP!"
After the Red-Hair Pirates had enough fun laughing at Goku's expense, Makino served a fresh plate of steak for him and Luffy, respectively. Some other parts of their food included potatoes and fresh pieces of bread. They each gorged down on the meal as soon as it was given to them, filling the entire bar with loud chomps and munches.
While biting down on his steak like a dog, Luffy looked over at his role model curiously.
"Shanks…"
"Yeah, kid?"
"How much longer will you stay at this village?"
"Hmm… Let's see. We've been using this village as our base for about a year…" Shanks recalled whilst striking his spoon into the plate's surface. "So I'd say after two or three more voyages… we'll leave here for good and head north."
Luffy, with his mouth full of meat and bread, looked somewhat dejected by this information.
"I see. Two or three more trips, eh? Hmmm…"
Makino sympathetically blew out a sigh and took Luffy's empty plate without saying a word. Goku, meanwhile, was still busy finishing his second helping.
"I'm gonna learn how to swim by the time you leave!"
"That's good, kid. Do whatever you want."
"Don't worry. I'm sure you'll swim just as good as I do once—"
Before the boy could even finish speaking, one of Partys Bar's doors was roughly kicked off its hinges. The perpetrator was a tall, forty-six year old man with unkempt black hair tied into a bun, a black goatee, and an X-shaped scar located above his right eye. He wore a long red coat draped over a white shirt and black trousers with two matching shoes. A golden necklace was additionally wrapped around his tan-skinned neck.
Known by the name, Higuma the Bear, this man had made quite a name for himself at one of Mt. Corvo's most dangerous bandits. He would mug, threaten, and outright kill anyone who so much as looked at him the wrong way. Even the company of pirates wasn't enough to throw off his bloated ego.
"Make way for the Scourge of the Mountains!" He shouted, cockily smirking while darting his beady black eyes from left to right. "Huh. First time I've seen pirates… you look like a sorry lot to me."
The Red-Hair Pirates remained almost completely silent. They watched as he walked up to the bar with his fellow bandits following closely behind him.
"We mountain bandits of the legendary Kuma Mercenary Clan are looking for a boy… with the tail of a monkey. You see him anywhere?"
Makino gulped and broke out into a somewhat nervous sweat. Whatever they wanted with Goku, it couldn't have been any good.
"Y-You… must be mistaken. There's no boy like that around here…"
Luffy didn't catch onto her tactic, however, and slammed a fist on the table in anger. He then stared the mountain bandits down without a single ounce of hesitation.
"That's my big brother you're talking about! What's it to you, you big, ugly—"
Beckman then placed a hand over the boy's mouth before he could say anything else.
"Shut up, Luffy! This is serious!"
Higuma's smirk slightly widened. Upon locking eyes with Goku, he recognized the monkey tail and spiky black hair right away. A villager had described the boy as such before he snuffed out their insignificant little life.
"Big brother? That must be you, eh, pipsqueak?" The bandit asked. "Gotta tell ya… we've been spending a long time looking for you. We almost thought we'd never be able to avenge our boss's humiliating demise… until now, that is."
Goku didn't have the slightest clue what this man was talking about. He simply gulped down the rest of his food and tilted his head to the side in puzzlement.
"Avenge who now?"
"Kuma the Bear Thief, you irksome little brat! You can't even remember the man you murdered in cold blood?!"
It was then that Goku vividly recalled everything that took place several months ago. The bear thief was so weak that he didn't even bother thinking about him again, apart from his attempt to kill Ace and Sabo.
"Ohhh! That guy was your boss? You must be bad people then. He would have eaten my friends if I hadn't decked him one."
Higuma grit his teeth in annoyance.
"I don't give two shits about who your friends are! They're worthless scum compared to Kuma and all he's done for our clan."
To Goku's confusion, he then proceeded to bring up a wanted poster. There was a large number of berries in bold black text located below his picture.
"See this? My head's worth 8,000,000 Berries. I'm a wanted man. I've killed fifty-six people… and I'm willing to kill again, especially an insignificant maggot like you, boy."
The monkey-tailed boldly stuck out his tongue, much to Higuma's clear infuriation.
"Nyeh! I'd like to see you try, you big bully!"
Makino gasped aloud. "Goku!"
The current leader of the Kuma Mercenary Clan clenched down his teeth and brought out his sword. He then positioned it close to Goku's face, ready to slice or stab him at any moment.
"Big mouth for such a tiny waste of space. I'd watch what you say in front of me… if you're fond of breathing." He then glanced over at the bar's wide collection of alcohol and other beverages. "But look, before you start wetting yourself in fear, I'll cut you a deal, kid. Have that bar wench sell us ten bottles of grog at half the usual price… and we'll only give you the bare minimum amount of torture to help even the score. Sound like a deal?"
In concern, Makino stood behind Goku and clutched his shoulders protectively. She, ironically enough, resembled a mama bear protecting her cub from harm.
"I'm sorry, sir. We just ran out of liquor." She said while gesturing to the Red-Hair Pirates. "I served the last of it to these gentlemen here."
"Hmm. How coincidental… and unfortunate…"
Shanks then kindly smiled and brought his own bottle of booze. There was zero ounce of fear in his expression or body language.
"I guess we drank up all the liquor. Sorry about that." He showed the bottle to Higuma. "But hey, why don't you have this? It's still unopened."
The bandit, after saying nothing in reply for a brief moment, grabbed the bottle and smashed it against Shanks' face. Makino placed a hand over her mouth in shock while Higuma's toadies chuckled sinisterly. The Red-Hair Pirates, however, stood silent.
Shanks was now drenched from head to toe with the bottle's contents. He, once again, didn't take it all that seriously.
"Oh my… What a mess…"
This action caused Goku to angrily clench his fists. He was more furious than words could even describe.
"HEY! WHY'D YOU DO THAT?!"
"What this fool deserved. One bottle of grog isn't worth anything." Higuma sneered, looking down at Shanks condescendingly. "If you even have half a brain, you'll sail away from here, so I never see you again! Got that, coward?"
Shanks ignored him and began gently picking up the damaged bottle's contents from the floor. Luffy couldn't believe what he was seeing. He didn't think his role model, even after Uta's disappearance, could stoop so low.
"Sorry about this mess, Makino. Give me a rag and I'll clean it up."
The bartender shook her head. "No, it's okay. Don't worry about it."
Annoyed, Higuma slashed his sword against some bottles along the wall and drenched Shanks' body even further. Makino shut her eyes and clutched Goku's shoulders a bit tighter in response to this moment.
"So, you like to clean? That ought to keep you busy for a while…" The mountain bandit snickered. His cronies proceeded to laugh the same way. "Now, it's time for your torture, monkey boy. Come quietly and you'll only lose a limb or two… maybe even that freakish tail of yours."
Higuma then thrust his sword forward in an attempt to slice Goku's arm, leg, or both. After pushing Makino away from him, he, with little hesitation expertly deflected this blade with the Nyoibo.
"Eh? A red stick… blocked my sword?!"
Goku then spun around his staff and powerfully jabbed Higuma in the stomach. To add even greater insult to injury, the boy additionally wacked him across the chin and sent him flying toward one of Partys Bar's nearby walls.
"HYAAAH!"
"DWAAH!" Higuma spat. The force of the impact was so great that a large, rather deep imprint was imbedded into the wall where his body hit it.
Afterwards, Goku stuck his staff into the ground and nodded in satisfaction.
"Hmph. That's what you get for messing with Shanks, dummy. And for wrecking my mom's bar too."
Try as he might, Shanks could not contain the large smile threatening to break out on his face. He was more so impressed by the faint traces of Armament Haki being imbued into the Nyoibo's surface.
This kid is really something else…
The other members of the Kuma Mercenary Clan attempted to help out their boss, but to no avail. With fresh blood trickling down his lips, Higuma stood back up and massaged his aching jaw. He wasn't used to his opponents fighting back like that.
"Well, looks like you have more balls than that so-called pirate there, brat. I respect your bravery." He then glared daggers at Goku in ever-present rage. "But being brave has its costs. There may be no grog in this village now, but once there is, we'll be back to take all that… and your life."
Goku boldly jerked a thumb at his chest.
"Bring it then! Just call for Son D. Goku and I'll be there to kick your butt as many times as I need to!"
"YEAH! You tell him, Goku!" Luffy shouted.
"Your funeral then… Son D. Goku."
Higuma and his fellow then exited Partys Bar with confident, almost bloodthirsty smirks on their faces. Once they were gone, Shanks let out a sigh of relief.
"Phew! Thought he'd never leave…"
The rest of the Red-Hair Pirates then broke out into a fit of laughter. They had, in fact, been struggling not to laugh the entire time Higuma was there.
"HAR HAR HAR! HE GOT YOU GOOD, CAP'N!" Lucky Roux chuckled.
"No surprise Goku stepped in with his Power Pole! That was mighty impressive, lad!"
Makino, however, was not so amused. Shaking with anger, she bopped Goku on the head as hard as possible. It surprisingly hurt more than one would expect from a woman her age.
"And completely stupid! Why do you always have to worry me like that, Goku?! You should know better!"
"Sorry, Mom," The boy muttered. "I just didn't like how he was talking to Shanks! He's way stronger than that jerk will ever be."
The Red Force's captain took off his straw hat and waved it like a fan.
"I'm fine, kid. It's not like I was hurt at all. Hahaha!"
"Erggh! You… YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY?!"
"Huh?"
"Big bro's right! You're a thousand times stronger than that idiot, yet… you let him make you look like a weakling! Why didn't you fight him?! Sure, they outnumbered you, and maybe they looked pretty tough, but what kind of man lets himself be treated like that, then laughs about it?! You're a disgrace to all pirates!"
"Exactly. You could have done what I did to him in seconds, Shanks! I mean, what would Uta think of you right now?!" Goku added in confusion.
Shanks paused for a moment. He didn't take either of their comments to heart and simply smirked at them.
"You'll understand when you're older, kids. Uta, no doubt, would say the same thing." He replied in a calm, almost wise tone. "He just got some grog on me. That's all. Needless killing doesn't make you a man. It's protecting what's most precious to you that does."
He then put his straw hat back on before speaking again.
"And you did just that, Goku. Higuma was after you, so it was your fight to take part in, not mine. Knowing when and when not to fight is all part of growing up."
While the nine-year-old slowly began to comprehend his point, Luffy, in contrast, acted stubborn and looked down at the floor in annoyance.
"Whatever! You're still a joke as far as pirates go!"
It was then that Goku and Luffy noticed a brown treasure chest in the corner of the bar. Inside was an unusual purple Devil Fruit with swirl-like patterns drawn into it. Both boys felt hungry enough to eat their emotions away.
Shanks and Makino were too distracted to notice what the two boys were staring at.
"That's a weird-looking fruit, but… using the Power Pole did make me hungry."
"I saw it first, big bro! I'm angry and I need it more!"
"Hey, don't be like that. We can share it!"
"No, it's mine!"
Staring each other down, both Goku and Luffy then leapt for the wooden chest. They proceeded to wrestle each other for the Devil Fruit until Luffy, surprisingly, thought fast and latched onto Goku's monkey tail.
"Shishishi! Got ya!"
Due to this action, Goku plopped down onto the floor in newfound exhaustion. He couldn't even move normally if he tried.
"T-That… was a dirty trick, Luffy…"
Smiling from ear to ear, the seven-year-old victoriously chowed down on the fruit. These loud munching noises caught the attention of Shanks, Makino, and everyone else.
"Huh? What are you kids—"
The red-haired captain's eyes widened in horror upon seeing the Devil Fruit in Luffy's hands. He stood up straight and ran towards him before it could be fully digested.
"W-WAIT, LUFFY! DON'T EAT THAT!"
"Huh? What's the big deal?"
"Did you just eat the fruit in that box?! Spit it out before it's too late!" Shanks yelled.
Snorting, Luffy ignored these orders and swallowed the rest of the fruit's contents down his throat. The Red-Hair Pirates gaped at the boy's sheer audacity in utter perplexment.
"Hmph! Why should I listen to you? You're not my role model anymore!"
"Wait, Luffy! Listen to me before it's—"
Grabbing onto Luffy's arm while he walked away caused it to stretch from one part of Partys Bar to the next. Makino placed a hand over her mouth while Shanks' shipmates either spit out their drinks or had their jaws drop low to the floor.
"Oh no! He couldn't have!"
"His arm's stretching!"
Goku's eyes practically bulged out of their sockets from shock. "EH? WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED, LUFFY?!"
"AAAAH! I DON'T KNOW! WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME?!"
Lucky Roux broke out into a nervous sweat upon seeing the empty treasure chest.
"The fruit from we took from that enemy ship… gone! Just like that!" He stammered. He then pointed at a picture of the Devil Fruit and showed it to Luffy. "You did eat that fruit, right?!"
"Yeah, I did. I eat when I'm upset and Shanks kinda pissed me off. Too bad it didn't taste all that great…"
In anger, Shanks grabbed onto the sides of Luffy's face and yelled at him.
"That was the Gum-Gum Fruit! Because you ate that Devil Fruit, you'll become a rubber man and lose the ability to swim for the rest of your entire life!"
"WHAAAAAAAAT?! NO WAY!"
"YOU DUMBASS!"
Hearing this, Goku was almost grateful that he hadn't eaten the Gum-Gum Fruit in Luffy's place. He wiped some sweat off his brow and blew out a sigh.
"Good thing I don't have one of those Devil Fruit thingies. Not being able to swim would be a pain." He said. "And make Garp-Pa pretty angry too."
Beckman quirked a brow. "Not that it'd do anything. According to Garp, you already ate the Monkey-Monkey Fruit, Model: Sarugami, right?"
The monkey-tailed boy scratched the back of his head in confusion. Even when the Vice Admiral explained it to him, he couldn't recall a day in his life where he actually came across that Zoan-type Devil Fruit.
"Huh? I did?"
The Red-Hair Pirates spit out their drinks again. Goku and Luffy really were cut from the same cloth in terms of stupidity.
"YOU FORGOT?!"
A few weeks later…
Despite his prior chagrin over not being able to swim anymore, Luffy quickly grew to love being made of rubber. It made his training with Goku and Garp a lot easier than before, even if his new proportions would still take some getting used to. It didn't do much to change his personality or past convictions, at least. If anything, the powers of the Gum-Gum Fruit increased his chances of becoming a successful pirate later on. He might even be able to increase the force of his normal punches and kicks with enough practice.
Neither he or Goku knew how Shanks got their hands on such a fruit, but much like with Uta's disappearance, such information was kept private by the Red-Hair Pirates. They had left for another voyage quite some time ago, and were getting closer to leaving Foosha Village altogether. The two boys tried their best not to think about it, however.
Instead, the both of them sat in Partys Bar and ate their meals. Makino – being observant as ever – could tell that Shanks' absence was taking a slight toll on them emotionally.
"You really miss those pirates, huh?"
Goku drank from a glass of milk and nodded. "Eh, Shanks said he'd be back soon, Mom. I just dunno how much longer him and the others we'll be staying here…"
"Tch. After the way those dumb mountain bandits humiliated them?! Not at all!" Luffy spat.
"Oh, come on, Luffy. You don't mean that. Shanks said it wasn't his fight to take part in, remember?"
The seven-year-old 'anchor' rested his chin on the bar in annoyance.
"That's the problem! I thought he was brave and tough… but he's really just a big wimp who makes bad excuses like that. Same with everyone else!"
Makino smiled whilst polishing a wine glass in her hands.
"Are you sure about that? Maybe sometimes it takes more courage not to fight."
"But a real man stands up for himself, no matter what. Big bro did just that and showed that bandit who's boss!"
Goku awkwardly scratched the back of his head. The damage to Partys Bar's wall was still being repaired as they spoke. Higuma's imprint remained visible to anyone in close proximity to it, including themselves.
"To be fair, he did end up getting away…"
"You're right. Letting me, the Terror of the Highlands, escape was the worst mistake of your life, Son D. Goku!"
To the three's shock, Higuma busted his way through the front entrance with multiple Kuma Mercenary Clan bandits in tow. He smiled in satisfaction upon seeing that there were no longer any pirates around to protect them.
"Wha…"
"You!"
"I'm here to uphold our end of the bargain, kid. Hope you didn't forget." The mountain bandit plopped himself down on a nearby seat. "Well? What're you waiting for, bar wench? We're customers! SERVE US DRINKS!"
Makino froze in place, uncertain if she should protect the boys or serve them like any normal customer. Before she could even reply, Goku and Luffy stood protectively in front of her.
"Get out of here! Makino doesn't serve scum like you!"
The nineteen-year-old bartender winced. "Luffy!"
"HAHAHAHA! I'm scum? What about that loathsome pirate? I broke a bottle over his head, and there wasn't a single word of protest. How pathetic! HAHAHAHA!" The thief chuckled with a condescending smirk on his face. "Spineless cowards like that make me sick. I would have killed him if given the chance. Ol' Kuma would do it in a heartbeat."
Hearing this remark, Luffy's suddenly exploded with anger.
"TAKE THAT BACK!" He yelled. "TAKE BACK WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT SHANKS! HE'S NOT A COWARD!"
Panicking, Makino tried her best to hold Luffy back, but to no avail. The kid was far too angry at this point to calm down.
"Luffy! Stop!"
"STOP TALKING BAD ABOUT SHANKS!"
He then, to Higuma's surprise, charged at the bandit and wound up his arm, hoping to create a punch as powerful as a pistol.
"Ahhhhh! Gum-Gum Pistol!"
He, unfortunately, failed to do so. The boy, instead, stretched his arm too early, giving Higuma the ample opportunity to grab onto it and toss him outside Partys Bar. Luffy went careening outside the door and landed on the ground with a firm, painful smack.
"Gah!"
"LUFFY!" Goku cried. He then took out his Nyoibo and stood in a fighting stance. "You jerks are gonna pay for hurting my little brother!"
Higuma, with a barely audible snort, snapped his fingers and pointing towards him.
"Take this brat down, men, but… keep him alive. I want to honor Kuma by making his demise extra slow and painful."
"Hehe. With pleasure, boss."
While some bandits followed Higuma outside, a select few brandished guns and swords as they began to corner Goku's position in the bar. The monkey-tailed child, of course, wasn't afraid of them at all.
"Duck for cover, Mom!" He cried aloud. "POWER POLE, EXTEND!"
Glowing with red energy, Goku increased the size of his bo staff and spun it around the entire room. It made direct contact with the bandits' bodies, knocking them out instantly from its sheer force alone.
"A-Amazing…" The boy's adoptive mother murmured. Her kerchief had fallen off after ducking down behind the bar, revealing short green hair underneath it.
"Go tell Mayor Woop Slap what's happening. I'm gonna help save Luffy!"
"B-But Goku! You can't just—"
Unfortunately, her adopted son, as always, had made up his mind before any arguments could be made. He bolted outside, leaving her alone to do what was asked of her.
"Please… be careful, sweetie…"
Outside, Higuma and his remaining mountain bandits beat down on Luffy's rubber body. The boy's cries of pain and anguish were music to their ears. The townspeople of Foosha Village wanted to help, but they were too afraid of being killed themselves.
"You've got a strange body, boy. Our punches and kicks aren't hurting you at all."
He pulled on Luffy's cheek, causing it to stretch and contort in a way that wasn't normal.
"Damn you! You'd better take back what you said!" The seven-year-old boy tried to punch him in the face again. "YOU JERK!"
"There sure are some weird creatures in this world. Eh, rubber boy?"
With one hand in his pocket, Higuma clutched Luffy's lips and roughly flung him across the ground. He bounced like a stone in water, causing blood to trickle down from his mouth and forehead. His front tooth seemed to be missing as well.
"Dammit! I'll make you sorry for this!"
"Maybe after I slaughter your brother, I'll sell you to a freak show. I bet they'll pay good money for you."
Undeterred by the man's taunts, Luffy grabbed a stick and charged Higuma full throttle.
"YAAAAAAAAHHHH!"
"You stubborn little… BRAT!"
The mountain bandit would have slammed a foot on Luffy's face if not for Goku blocking it with his fist. Blood spurted from the boy's knuckles, but he didn't care one bit. All he cared about, on the contrary, was beating this criminal to a bloody pulp.
"I told ya… you'd pay!"
"What?!"
Grabbing ahold of the man's foot, he used his superhuman strength to spin Higuma's body around and leave him open to another attack. He tilted his Power Pole at a certain angle, preparing to launch himself forward.
"Power Pole, Extend! HYAAAH!"
He held onto the staff as it grew and, shockingly enough, managed to knee Higuma straight in the face. The mountain bandit careened uncontrollably towards his followers and crashed into them like a set of bowling pins.
"GAAAAGH!"
Goku took advantage of this moment to help up Luffy off the ground. He smiled at him with a prominent sense of relief.
"You okay, little brother?"
"Y-Yeah… thanks, Goku…" Luffy grunted. "ERGH! SERVES THAT MOUNTAIN APE RIGHT FOR BADMOUTHING SHANKS!"
"Who are you calling ape, you little rubber-spined freak?!"
Looking over towards the Kuma Mercenary Clan, their leader began to develop a similar man-beast form to his predecessor. He grew larger and more muscular in size while develop a bear-like appearance. Even his clothes adjusted to this new form without any issue.
He narrowed his bloodshot, almost glowing yellow eyes and glared at the two boys. Fresh blood oozed from the spot where Goku struck him beforehand.
"My name is Higuma the Bear for good reason! And as the new owner of the Bear-Bear Fruit, you've done the unpardonable by attacking me. No one can save you brats now."
Goku grimaced. He had the same Devil Fruit as that bear thief from several months ago. It was something he didn't think would be possible until now.
"Whatever. I beat one bear already. Another one is no problem at all!"
Higuma, unlike Kuma, got on all fours and held his sword tightly in one paw.
"It's too late for mercy now. I'M GOING TO KILL YOU! GRAAAAGH!"
Before he could commence his next attack, Makino and Woop Slap appeared with looks of horror on their faces. They expected to see a murderous bandit, not an actual monster.
"I-Is that—"
"LEAVE THOSE BOYS ALONE! We had no intention of ever fighting you people! I don't know what they did to make you hate them so much, but if it's money you want, you'll get it! Just don't hurt them!" Woop Slap cried out in desperation. "Have some common decency!"
Luffy was surprised by the man's words. "Mayor…"
Higuma lowly snarled in his bear form. The mayor's pleas meant less than nothing to him. Back at Mt. Corvo, showing sympathy for a victim's plight was beyond pathetic.
"Nice try, old geezer, but Son D. Goku struck me more than once thus far. Fool me once, shame on him. Fool me twice, shame on me. And fool me three times, he's as good as dead." The bandit said. "It's been that way since he first screwed with the Kuma Mercenary Clan! Nothing can rectify that error in judgement!"
At incredibly fast speeds, Higuma leapt toward the two boys with his sword wound up, ready to strike down any moment now.
Makino gasped. "GOKU! LUFFY!"
"PLEASE! FORGIVE THEM!"
The Bear-Bear Fruit-user then, all of a sudden, stopped in place. A cold chill went down his spine due to some unforeseen force coming from behind Makino and Woop Slap. He didn't know what it was, but this power certainly felt far stronger than his own by a large margin.
"Nobody came to greet us at the harbor. I was wondering what was going on…"
Higuma's eyes widened upon seeing Shanks appear with a black cloak wrapped around his shoulders. He smiled, yet was secretly exerting a bit of Conqueror's Haki without anyone else's awareness besides, of course, the mountain bandit in question. Even Goku couldn't detect it all that easily.
"Shanks! You're back!" Luffy happily shouted.
"So, those mountain bandits came back again, huh? Looks like their leader had a makeover of sorts."
Goku lightly tugged on Shanks' cape and pointed over at Higuma's body.
"He has the Bear-Bear Fruit! The Kuma guy I beat had the same thing, yet he died! How did this guy get it too?!"
The redhead captain blinked a few times before stroking his chin in thought.
"Hm. Well, it is possible for a Devil Fruit to reappear whenever their original user dies. These guys must have found it somewhere near Kuma's corpse."
"Wow, really?! I didn't know…"
Regaining his lost composure, Higuma burned figurative holes into the pirate captain's head. He wasn't expecting him to interfere like this.
"I don't know what you pirates want, but you'd better back off before you get hurt. Come any closer or we'll have to kill you cowards…"
"Funny. I should be saying that to you." Shanks said.
A mountain bandit then boldly walked up to him and pointed a gun at his head.
"Didn't you hear him? Don't come any closer… or I'll blow your head off! Hahaha!"
"I don't know. Didn't you hear my warning?"
Suddenly, Lucky Roux emerged from behind Shanks and shot the bandit's head with his own pistol. He ate from a slab of meat while doing so, showing that typical pirates weren't opposed to killing at all.
Higuma and his bandits were stunned speechless. One of their own was brutally murdered within seconds, yet they could do nothing to stop it from happening.
"Wha—"
"Like I said, don't come any closer to these boys… or there will be hell to pay." Shanks glowered. "Look, 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 as a pirate – good reason or not – nobody hurts those who are friends of mine!"
Goku's eye lit up in response to this statement. He perfectly lined up with the advice Shanks gave him and Luffy after Higuma left Partys Bar.
He's fighting to… protect those precious to him!
Higuma guffawed, showing off his sharp teeth and longer tongue.
"HAHAHA! Nice speech! Very intimidating!" He said, pointing at them accusatively with one claw. "You pirates spend your time floating around in your little ships. And you think you can stand up to the Kuma Mercenary Clan?! Don't make me laugh! Kill them!"
The remaining mountain bandits then charged the Red-Hair Pirates all at once.
"ARRGGGH! DIE!"
Benn Beckman brought out his rifle and frowned.
"Cap'n… I'll take care of this."
"Not if I do it first, Beckman!" Goku chuckled.
Within moments, Goku and Beckman used their respective weapons to beat each bandit senseless. The boy smacked them with his Nyoibo while Beckman either burned their faces with his cigarette or used his rifle like a baseball bat. In any case, both succeeded in leaving Higuma completely defenseless and unguarded.
Beckman then lit another cigarette and smirked at his young, monkey-tailed friend.
"Nice work, mama's boy."
"Thanks… for the first part, anyway. Hehe."
Afterwards, Shanks' first mate cocked his rifle and aimed it at the still-standing Higuma.
"You were saying something about mountain bandits and pirates? If you wanna fight us, you better bring a battleship." Beckman muttered before jerking a thumb at Goku. "Especially if you're seeking to kill our little one-man army here."
Luffy was awestruck by Beckman's strength in comparison to his brother's.
"Wow, he's strong!"
"Wow…" Makino whispered.
"But… But the brat started it! He killed our leader! He didn't need to go that far!"
"None of that matters when I'm the one finishing it. There is a price on your head, isn't there?"
Breaking out into a nervous sweat, Higuma suddenly threw a smoke bomb on the ground. The ensuing chaos allowed him to pounce on Luffy and hurriedly flee with said rubber boy in tow.
"C'mere, kid!"
"HEY! LET GO!"
Once they were gone, it took a while for Goku, Shanks, and the others to regain their lost vision. They, as expected, freaked out in response to Luffy's kidnapping.
"Oh shoot! That jerk ran off with my little brother!"
"Dammit! I let him escape! We've gotta save Luffy!" Shanks screamed.
"Calm down, Captain! We'll all go out and look for him! We'll find him!" Lucky Roux assured him.
"No need, Lucky Roux. I'll find him in no time."
Closing his eyes, Goku took a moment to concentrate. He could hear the voices of both Luffy and Higuma somewhere in the distance. They sounded faint, but both were undoubtedly coming from the ocean near Dawn Island.
He then, despite Makino and Woop Slap's protests, extended the Nyoibo's size and used it like a pole vault. This caused him to slingshot himself straight across the sky at near- immeasurable speeds.
"I'M COMMMMING, LUFFFFY!"
The Red-Hair Pirates looked oddly impressed by this strange spectacle. Turns out the kid, even at nine-years-old, had a knack for thinking outside the box.
"Hmm. That kid really is something else."
"I better go after them!" Shanks replied.
Meanwhile, Higuma and Luffy were sailing away from Dawn Island in a small wooden boat. His appearance as a bear, of course, was rather distracting, but he could still remain inconspicuous for a short while. He would just need to dispose of this brat and his brother without getting caught.
"HAHAHAHA! What a brilliant escape! And nobody would ever expect a mountain bandit to hide out at sea!" Higuma the Bear chuckled. He then glared down at Luffy's face with little care. "I brought you along as bait, but now that Goku's coming for you, regardless, you've outlived your usefulness! I've already killed fifty-six people who were foolish enough to make me mad; what's one more?"
"Erggh! Die!" Luffy screamed in an attempt to punch him a third and final time. The mountain bandit dodged said attack and slashed his arm, causing some blood to burst forth from the wound.
"AAAAGH!"
"Tsk tsk. Goodbye, you—" Higuma's ear perked up. "Hm? What's that noise?"
Squinting his eyes, the man-turned-bear caught sight of a familiar speck in the distance. It was none other than Goku rocketing towards them like some kind of fast, heat-seeking missile. Gohan's blue fedora struggled to hang onto his neck as his spiky black hair trailed backward in the wind.
Luffy clutched his arm and beamed happily. "Goku!"
"I-Impossible!"
"LUUUUUFFFFFFFY!"
Unfortunately for him, Higuma turned around at the worst possible moment. Goku's head powerfully slammed into his stomach, causing an indescribable amount of pain to surge through the thief's body. He couldn't even stand up any longer, and hacked up a sizable clump of blood from his mouth in response.
"DWAAAAAH! Y-YOU DAMN BRAT!"
The force of their collision, however, also capsized the little boat and sent all three passengers flying into the water. While Goku could swim, the fatigue from smashing into Higuma's stomach drained him of his energy and left him nearly exhausted. The bandit and Luffy, on the other hand, couldn't swim at all due to their respective Devil Fruits.
"N-No! What gives?! Why can't I swim? Did Kuma's fruit—"
A looming shadow then emerged from the bottom of the ocean. It was a massive eel-like Sea King with brown, scaly skin and blue fins. Its eyes were bloodred and had pupils that narrowed into slits when furious. This legendary sea monster was known to the inhabitants of Dawn Island as The Lord of the Coast.
And it has eaten many people foolish enough to tread its waters. Higuma, much to his growing despair, would be no exception.
"AAH! GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
The Lord of the Coast proceeded to chomp down on Higuma and the remains of his boat, killing him instantly. Catching a glimpse of both Goku and Luffy, it swam towards them in a state of blind fury.
"L-Luffy… no…" The monkey-tailed murmured in exhaustion.
"YAAAH! SOMEBODY HELP US! YAAAAAAH!"
The two tried their best to huddle close together before The Lord of Coast made its move. As the Type-C Sea King attempted to swallow them whole, Shanks miraculously brought both boys out of harm's way. This action, sadly, would deal a significant cost to his body. He just didn't have enough to reach Luffy or Goku before the brown serpent clamped its jaws shut.
"SHANKS!"
The pirate captain was done messing around for that reason. He dangerously narrowed his eyes and stared the Lord of the Coast down without a single ounce of fear present.
"Get out of here!"
The eel-like Neptunian didn't take Shanks' demand seriously at first, but thanks to the man's intimidating aura and fierce glare, it decided to run away. Even this particular sea creature was smart enough to avoid death at all costs.
After that, everything was quiet in the ocean. All that could be heard were Luffy's cries of despair and Goku's faint breathing.
"Good job taking down that bandit, Goku. I'm proud of you." The pirate captain said with a smile. "And Makino told me you stood up for me at the bar, Luffy. Thanks for that."
Taking a look at Shanks' body, Goku flinched and felt small tears brimming in his eyes.
"W-Why are you smiling? Your… your…"
Hey, stop crying, boys! You're tough guys, remember?"
"B-But… Shanks… WHAT ABOUT YOUR ARM?!"
As Luffy stated, there was now a bloody stump where Shank' left arm used to be. He, nevertheless, endured this significant loss with a wide smile and held the two brothers close to him.
"It's a small price to pay. Just an arm. I'm just glad both of you are okay."
Goku choked back his own tears. "S-Shanks!"
"WAAAAAAAAAH! WAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAHHH!"
It was that day Luffy and Goku learned what a pirate's life could really be like. That included its positives… and its many negatives. Whether they'd, one day, be ready for the dangers of the sea was up to them.
They would just need to keep getting stronger and, hopefully with time, become as great of a pirate as Shanks was.
Many hours later…
It took some time for Makino to patch up Shanks' wound, but as soon as he recovered, the Red-Hair Pirates made preparations to set sail. They said their goodbyes to the villagers, gathered a few additional supplies, and, overall, took some time to unwind before setting off on another adventure. This next expedition, after all, would be their last near or on Dawn Island.
Goku and Luffy didn't how to react to Shanks' departure. Nonetheless, they tried to contain their own emotions as much as possible when in his company.
"So… this is really it, huh?" The monkey-tailed boy asked.
"You won't be coming back to the village after this voyage?" Luffy continued.
Shanks covered his missing arm underneath a black cape and took a deep breath.
"That's right. We've been using this harbor as a base of operations for a long time. Maybe too long. Are you sad?"
"Well, maybe not as sad as when Uta disappeared, but… yeah, a little. But I won't ask you to take me with you!" Luffy proclaimed with a content smile on his face. "I still want me and Goku to become pirates on our own… with our own crews, ships, and everything! It'll be awesome!"
Shanks playfully stuck out his tongue.
"Nyah! Maybe Goku has a chance, but not you. You're still too little. There's no way you can become a pirate!"
"Oh yes, I will! One day, I'll have a ship and crew better than yours! And we'll have the biggest hoard of treasure in the world! Even big bro won't be able to compete!" The seven-year-old boy replied with the utmost confidence and determination. "Since I won't be just any ordinary pirate… I'M GONNA BE KING OF THE PIRATES!"
"Sounds like a pretty big challenge, Luffy. Hehe." Goku laughed.
Shanks and the Red-Hair Pirates also regarded Luffy's ambitious dream the same way. Despite his small size, they could tell the boy meant every word.
"Hmm… you're gonna be better than us, huh? Well then…"
Shanks caught everyone by surprise and placed his famous straw hat atop Luffy's head. The boy hid his bitter, melancholic tears behind this yellow hat's shadow.
"Do me a favor… and keep this hat for me?" The Red-Hair Pirates' captain requested. "This hat means a lot to me. Promise that you'll give it back to me someday… when you've become a great pirate."
Luffy sniffled. "O-Okay… I will!"
After smiling back at him one last time, Shanks glanced over at Goku with just as much confidence and enthusiasm.
"You too, kid. Take care of Luffy while I'm gone and… become the most powerful pirate this world's ever seen. If anyone can do it, I sure as hell know you can. You've proven yourself time and time again." The redheaded pirate exclaimed. "All you'll need to do now is show that same fighting spirit… to the entire world. Got it?"
"Yup! I won't let you down, Shanks!"
Casually waving both boys goodbye while walking away, he boarded the Red Force and met up with Beckman on deck.
"I tell you what. Those kids are gonna make something of themselves one day."
Shanks closed both eyes and felt the wind brush past his face.
"Yeah… they'll be a very troublesome duo in the future. Makes me wonder how far they'll really go… in both the Grand Line…and the New World…"
With that, the Red-Hair Pirates' Jolly Roger hung high as they finally parted from Foosha Village on good terms. It would be a long time before they'd ever see it or Dawn Island itself again.
"WEIGH THE ANCHOR! RAISE THE SAILS! WE'RE OFF WITH THE TIDE!"
Luffy and Goku continued to watch Shanks' ship leave until it was nothing, but an invisible speck in the horizon. They then sighed in disappointment and sadness.
"Wonder when we'll see him again…"
"At least you have Shanks' straw hat to remember him by." Goku then placed Gohan's blue fedora atop his head again. "Now, we both have that in common. Hehe."
"Guess so… but mine is better! Shishishi!"
The monkey-tailed laughed along with him. "Have to admit, it does look pretty good on you, Luffy. Maybe even better than it does on Shanks."
"Eh, I wouldn't go that far. I still need to get stronger first! And then I'll be great enough for this straw hat!"
As they watched the Sun shine down on Foosha Village, Goku placed a single fist in front of Luffy and smiled from ear to ear.
"That's settled then. Let's keep training ourselves silly until we're both worthy of wearing our hats. Sound like a plan, little bro?"
Luffy eagerly nodded and bumped fists with the older boy.
"Sure! We'll both be great pirates in no time, big bro!"
"You said it! Hehe!"
Both of their stomachs then made loud, gurgling noises in unison. It was all the indication they needed to know that lunch was ready.
"We can't train on an empty stomach, though, so let's eat!"
"MEAT!"
Together, the two brothers scurried back to Partys Bar to eat some food with Makino. Years and years would then continue to pass until finally, it'd be time for Goku to leave Foosha Village at seventeen-years-old. That would mark the day his adventures as a pirate would officially begin.
Eight years later… in 1520…
A lot had changed since Shanks and his crew left Dawn Island almost eight years prior. For one, Garp decided to have Curly Dadan raise Luffy for training purposes while Goku, in contrast, stayed behind with Makino at Partys Bar. This further strengthened their bond together as mother and son, even if the boy still felt a bit uncomfortable with how overprotective she could be. There were even times where she yelled at him for training on his own the entire day. Those moments, however, still weren't enough to deter Goku from appreciating her affection when she showed it. He'd do anything in his power to keep her safe, in fact, and absolutely adored the meals she cooked for him each day.
Goku's bond with the two boys, Ace and Sabo, also improved significantly with time. The four kids, including Luffy, agreed to become 'sake brothers' in order to express their loyalty to each other and strengthen their resolve to become great pirates together. For a while, the four brothers would get into all sorts of big trouble with one another. They'd especially drive Dadan and Garp off the wall with their goofy, mischievous antics. Sabo was the worst in that aspect by far, even with his past as a former Goa Kingdom aristocrat in mind.
Unfortunately, those days wouldn't last. Sabo tried sailing off to sea on his own and was blasted to smithereens by a Celestial Dragon as a result. There was no sign of the body, yet Goku, Luffy, and Ace were all completely devasted by their brother's loss. It was just like the situation with Uta, but somehow, even worse by comparison.
All they could do to cope with this tragic loss was continuing to follow in his footsteps as future pirates. Ace, at seventeen, had left Dawn Island in 1519 to do just that and, now, it was Goku's turn.
He had eaten, slept, and fought for eleven long years on this island. Next to Mt. Paozu, it was the only real home he knew. It'd be hard to just leave it behind like this, but in the end, all successful pirates set off on their own journeys alone. He, as Vice Admiral Son D. Gohan's grandson, should be no different. Change was a part of growing up, after all.
"Welp, guess it's time to go."
At seventeen-years-old, Goku was a lot taller and more muscular than his younger self. He had the same basic facial features, but unlike before, managed to wear his grandfather's blue fedora without any noticeable issues. His main outfit comprised of a white dress shirt with rolled up sleeves and an brownish orange vest that accentuated his athletic physique. Wrapped around his waist was blue fabric tied down like a belt, which, at times, covered his monkey tail from certain people. He also had matching blue wristbands on each arm that functioned the same way. His pants, meanwhile, were black and were paired with similarly colored shoes. Blue fabric was also wrapped around the portions of his legs above them.
Once he secured the Nyoibo's holster on his back, the former boy – now man – with a monkey tail was about ready to become a pirate. He smiled at himself and took a good look at the Four-Star Ball left behind by his grandpa. Even years later, he still didn't know much about what it was or where it came from. Neither Garp or Shank were much help in that regard, unfortunately.
Nevertheless, he tightly clutched the orange ball in his hand, thinking about his grandpa and all that he achieved in his life as a marine. Being 'The God of the Marines' was a tough act to follow, but as a pirate, he intended to become stronger than Gohan ever was. Not being chained down by the World Government definitely gave him that extra advantage.
And deep down, he understood that's what his grandpa wanted for him. He wasn't sure Garp, Sengoku, or Tsuru would feel the same way, however. The man supposed he'd deal with that during his eventual reunion with those three. Considering how powerful and important they were, hopefully that wouldn't happen anytime soon.
Before leaving, he took a moment to pray to this Four-Star Ball. It was a pastime he got used to doing as a kid.
Don't worry, Grandpa. I'll make you proud of me. I promise…
Goku, with an eager smile on his face, then tipped his fedora upward and stood up straight. At the doors to Partys Bar, he saw a twenty-seven-year-old Makino standing there. She was wearing a white T-shirt with blue sleeves that read 'PARTYS BAR' on the front, and a mint green dress. Her kerchief was also yellow that day, which went with her hair's usual green hue.
She tried to act happy for her adopted son, but it was difficult to do so. An overwhelming feeling of sadness was washing over her, and she couldn't understand why. She never acted this way when Ace left one year ago.
"It's true then. You're really leaving, hm?"
"Well, I am seventeen now, Mom. That was kind of the deal I made with my brothers." Goku pointed out. He sighed a little thinking about Sabo's unfortunate fate. "Ace went on his own last time, so it's my turn. I've been waiting for this moment a long time. You know that."
Makino's smile is replaced with a deep frown. Her lip quivers, remembering all the times she cooked meals for Goku as a little boy or put him to sleep. He, to an even greater extent than Luffy, brought a sense of joy to her life that could never be replaced. It was hard to believe such moments were long past them now.
"Of course I know that! Your dream was always to become a pirate… and you're about to walk out this door to achieve it." Tears start to build up in the bartender's eyes. "I-I just… thought I'd be more prepared to say… goodbye…"
Goku was a bit surprised. By comparison, Makino was happy for Ace when he left Dawn Island behind. What made his departure so different?
"Mom… are you okay?"
"N-No… I mean, I want to be okay, but I can't help it! Y-You're… my son, Goku. And the world out there… is such a dangerous place that there's a chance you won't come back… and… and… I'll never—"
The young man immediately pulled her into a soft embrace.
"And you'll always be my mom, Makino. I know being a pirate will be dangerous sometimes, but… I'm pretty much used to all that stuff. I have enough strength to take care of myself." Goku calmly assured her. "So don't worry about a thing, Mom. I'll come back to you someday… whenever I finish sailing across the world, that is. Hehe!"
Makino felt a little better hearing these words. It still didn't stop her from worrying about him, but that kind of behavior came with being a parent. She hugged him one last time and lightly kissed him on the cheek.
"Well, wherever you end up going, just know that your mother will be thinking about you every day, Goku. And… she loves you so much."
"Okay. I love you too, Mom." The monkey-tailed man then came to a sudden realization and cried comical tears. "Oh man. I'm gonna miss your delicious cooking too…"
"Don't worry. I made you some spare lunches just in case." Makino giggled in amusement.
"Seriously?! Alright! You're the best, Mom!"
The bartender playfully stuck out her tongue and winked.
"Teehee. I know I am."
After he finished packing these meals and other miscellaneous items, Goku was given a small boat to start off with. It was a wooden vessel with a single sail and some paddles to move around with. It would definitely work as a placeholder for whatever ship him and his crew ended up owning in the future.
He tossed his backpack into it and nodded affirmatively. That was when he locked eyes with a taller fifteen-year-old Luffy. Still wearing Shanks' straw hat like before, he wore a red tank-top with yellow buttons, blue shorts that were slightly rolled up, and brown sandals. He still didn't quite reach Goku's height, but was getting close to it.
"I bet you're excited, big bro! Your training with Gramps is going to pay off and then some! Shishishi!"
Goku placed a hand over his blue fedora and laughed.
"You bet I am, little brother. I can't wait to see what else is out there." He then looked around the harbor in confusion. "By the way, where's Dadan? Did she not want to see me off?"
"Nope! She said something about her having a soft spot for you, so saying goodbye in-person wouldn't be necessary… I think."
Goku didn't buy that explanation, but decided to smile about it, anyway. Dogra, after all, told him she was bawling her eyes out when Ace left.
"Sounds like Dadan, alright. Well, tell her 'I'll miss her' when you can, Luffy."
"Hehe. Will do. Sure she'll be happy to hear that."
Before he could fully step onto his boat, Makino gave Goku one last, affectionate hug. Unfortunately, it was far longer and tighter than he expected it to be.
"Come on, Mom. You can let me go now. Everyone's watching…"
The bartender sniffled and tried to hold back her tears, but couldn't. When hugging him for dear life like this, it was too difficult not to picture Goku as the sweet, chubby little boy he used to be.
"Just a little longer, okay?"
"Mom…"
Makino then sighed in disappointment and let go her son while rubbing both eyes. This gave him an actual chance to breathe again.
"Promise you'll write letters to me every day. I'd like to know where you are, even if it's the same place for an extended period of time. It'll make me worry less."
Woop Slap listened in on this conversation with a few other Foosha Village townspeople. He crossed his arms with a look of displeasure on his face.
"Hard not to worry when he's bringing great shame to the village as a pirate…"
Makino deadpanned. "Not what I meant by that, Mayor."
Goku blushed a bit in embarrassment. He could tell Luffy was getting a kick out of Makino's overbearing nature, much to his slight displeasure.
"Well, I don't know about every day, but I'll… I'll try to write you when I can, Mom. Supplies are kinda limited in the middle of the sea, you know? Hehehe!"
Makino let out another small sigh before grinning.
"As long I know you're safe, that's all that matters to me."
Luffy snorted in amusement. "Shishishi! Some things never change. You may look different, Goku, but you're still just as much as mama's boy as you were before."
Goku let out an audible groan.
"Aw, man. Lay off, would ya?"
Rolling his eyes, he gave Makino a small kiss on the cheek and smiled.
"Thank you for everything, Mom. I love you."
"I love you too, sweetheart."
With those last farewells over and done with, Goku hopped into his first boat. He stood confidently inside it, giving Luffy a thumbs up.
"Take care of everyone while I'm gone, okay, Luffy?"
"You can count on me, big bro. These next two years will be smoothing sailing from here on out. Hehe."
"Well, don't talk about sailing just yet. I'm about to head out."
Hoping Luffy didn't jinx him, Goku moved his boat away from Foosha Village's dock and began to leave. The start of this new adventure brought back memories of the people he, unfortunately, lost over these past few years. One was unquestionably dead while the other two's fates were a mystery to him.
Grandpa… Uta… Sabo… wherever you three are, I'm doing this all for you. I won't let you guys down.
Smiling at the thought of their faces in his head, Goku took one last look at Foosha Village's departing form. He then held in his breath for a moment before letting it out as one loud yell.
"BYEEEEEE, EVERYBODY! SEE YA LATER!"
Apart from an irate Woop Slap, the denizens of Foosha Village and members of the Dadan Family – excluding Dadan herself, of course – all bade Goku farewell. Makino and Luffy, obviously, were taking his departure the hardest, but they didn't let it show.
"Take care, sweetie! Remember what I said!"
"Wait for me, big bro! In two years, we'll meet together at sea with our own pirate crews! Just like we promised!" Luffy shouted.
"I'll hold you to that promise, little bro! Keep getting stronger and work on perfecting the Gum-Gum Pistol!"
Hearing this, the rubber boy started to break down. "Y-You… got it…"
The two boys then start to both tear up with ugly looks on their faces. Memories of their time spent together came flooding back in one single moment. Despite their alternate paths as pirates, they would always be brothers no matter what.
"GOKUUUUUUU!"
"LUFFFFFFFYYYY!"
Concealing their tears through each respective hat, Goku and Luffy look at each other one last time before shouting one final goodbye in unison.
"TAKE CARE!"
No more tears could be shed from that point onward. Parting from Foosha Village for good this time, Goku beamed from ear to ear and clenched his fists together in excitement. The possibilities for him were now, in more ways than one, endless.
"Gentle breeze… Not a cloud in the sky…" He muttered to himself. "It's the perfect day to set off to sea!"
Goku then pulls out his Nyoibo, expertly spins it around, and poses with it by his side. He had an eager, almost confident smirk on his face.
"Time for me… to become the strongest pirate in the entire world!"
From then on, a new, hopeful light would be shone on Son D. Goku's destiny. Where his next destination would be was anyone's guess at this point. It would, no doubt, end up being a great adventure, at least.
*And that's the end of Chapter 4! It was mainly an adaptation of One Piece Chapter 1 (with some elements from the anime/manga versions since they're a bit different from one another), so hope things didn't feel too same-ish here and there. The main changes came from having Higuma be related to the Bear Thief that Goku killed in Chapter 3, which I thought was a nice touch due to Higuma's name translating to "Brown Bear" in Japanese. I also tried to make Goku a bit more active some of the action scenes this time around. More of that stuff will come in later chapters.
Goku's adult design for the pre-timeskip (as a 17-19-year-old), by the way, is based on Sanji's early concept art. That early design had elements of both Sanji and Luffy put into it, so I thought their clothes worked well with Goku. You can look up 'One Piece Beta Designs' if you want to check them out. Nami's early design with the giant axe will be my inspiration for Bulma's look too.
But anyway, not that Chapters 1-4 are over and done with, the main story will now finally begin. Goku's journey will start with him rescuing Turtle and being led to Kame House in Chapter 5, so I'm looking forward to writing my One Piece version of Roshi. He'll have a few notable differences from his canon counterpart here and there.
Until that chapter releases, let me know what you think. It should be posted a lot faster than this one, I think.
P.S. If you're wondering who Goku's pairings are, these are the four main ones I have so far:
Robin
Hancock
Nami
Vivi
TBA (To be revealed later... )
There will be a little more than that, but Uta is not one of them. She'll be Luffy's main love interest in this story.