Chapter 16: Training
Day 1
Luffy felt as if every bone in his body was jello now as he couldn't move a muscle. He had tried dodging every one of Sabo's attacks but couldn't. Sabo was stronger than he ever was when they were kids. He and Sabo had begun their training with racing around whole island, around the jungle and through the Grey Terminal.
When noon came around Luffy was denied lunch unless he defeated Sabo in a hand to hand combat. This was an instant loss on Luffy's part as he hadn't protected his face or head. After this Sabo had nabbed his prized treasure from Shanks and claimed it until Luffy defeated him in another fight, this one with a weapon; he'd lost.
So here he was, a pile of human jello unable to move on the jungle floor. He still couldn't believe how strong Sabo was. Yoosh! I will get stronger! He thought as a big smile crossed his face. I'll get stronger than either Sabo or Ace! For now he'd just lay and allow himself to rest.
Ace jumped from the Striker to the top deck of the Moby Dick using his flames to push himself through the air. Landing perfectly on the deck he surprised a few of his brothers. "Ace!" Izou yelled out in surprise, the flamboyant samurai was extremely happy to see the youngest of their family.
"Ace!" Haruta cried out, truly surprised to see the younger man.
"ACE!" The rest of the crew on the top deck yelled out. Each and every man was happy to see the youth.
"Yo." Ace waved at the men, a wide grin spreading across his face as he looked around at the group. "Heard what happened and thought I'd come see how Thatch was doing."
"Humph." Haruta snorted, the sound causing Izou to chuckle. "He's being a big baby, that's how he's doing." He crossed his arms over his chest as his face distorted into one of annoyance. "He's been complaining daily of one thing or another."
Ace grinned at this information. "Thank goodness he's still the same."
"He may have lost his arm but he is very much himself." The new voice caused Ace to look over his shoulder to see the first mate, a.k.a. Marco. "Welcome back, yoi." He and Ace clasped hands in a friendly manner.
"Thanks." Ace rubbed the back of his neck. "How much trouble am I in?"
Marco pushed his glasses up his nose as a smile spread across his face. "Not too much." He promised as he nodded for Ace to follow him. "Pop isn't too upset since the warning from your brothers had us somewhat aware that something may happen." He looked towards Ace as they began to go down below deck. "It also means Pop is taking the fallout a bit harshly as well. Teach was our brother for longer than you've been alive and Pop was forced to end him." They stopped at their Pops room. "Don't be too shocked by his disheveled appearance."
As the door open Ace's eyes widened. The old man had several dozen empty sake jugs lying on their sides, though that wasn't much of a shocker. The dark circles under his eyes were. The clothes he wore were stained with blood, his face was pale and there was uneaten food on the side table next to him. Ace knew Pops wasn't in the best health but he looked ragged. "Pop." He said trying to keep his voice even and not whine like a child.
The old man put down his current jug he was drinking from down. "Son?" He questioned that he was truly seeing Ace before him. In the months since his youngest had left, they have only spoken twice on the denden mushi. "Ace has something happened?"
His question threw Ace off as Marco shook his head. "No Pop. I came to you because of Teach's deception." He stepped forward. "I thought I'd come and make you were okay and that Thatch would live."
The old man smiled softly. He knew that Ace may show the world that he was tough, but he knew his youngest was a gentle person by nature. "I will be alright son. I am only mourning." He sat up the best he could without dislodging the medical i.v. that Marco had put into his body to make it easier to get the medication into his system. He sighed sadly. "I am mourning the lives that boy destroyed. I am mourning the pain my son has felt in losing his arm." He growled angrily at the empty bottle in his hand. "I am angry at myself for being fooled by that man and taking him in as my son." His eyes scanned Ace. "Had your brother not warned us and had I not had set things into place to protect everyone, we may have had a war amongst ourselves." He placed a hand over his eyes in grief. "We owe your brothers a debt of gratitude for their actions."
"I agree, yoi." Marco stated. "I for one can't wait to see the trouble that younger brother is going to bring to the sea once he comes out."
"Gararara!" Whitebeard laughed. "A warning from the future and he hasn't even begun his journey now. Your little brother just might be a bigger troublemaker than Gol D. Roger!"
Marco chuckled at Ace's shocked look. "It'll be an interesting wait, yoi."
"What do we do now?" Ace inquired. He was still shocked that his Pops said he owed Luffy.
"We do what we've been doing." Whitebeard stated. "Once I'm done mourning, we will call a meeting of the commanders and then we will reassure our allies and begin to assess the damage that boy has done." The two nodded in agreement. "Go. Deal with Thatch. Help him regain his sense of self and reassure him that he is still my son and that he is needed." With those words the two sons left their Pops to check on their injured brother.
Day 6
Luffy was all happy today. He and Sabo had trained for a week and today he had managed to snag back his strawhat and place it back on his head. Still though, Luffy growled lowly, glaring at his arm as it darkened with armament for less than two minutes, before dispersing just as fast. He needed to make his newly acquired ability to last longer. He needed to get stronger in order for him to be able to protect his future crew.
Luffy turned towards King Tiger and grinned. Just beyond the tree line Sabo watched as his little brother went toe to toe with the monstrous beast that he remembered from his past. King Tiger. He couldn't believe the beast was still alive after all these years. The orange and black striped tiger was just as huge and imposing as ever.
Luffy's gum gum pistol connected with the tigers face and chest, Sabo saw him coat his fists with armament haki. He's learned to do that so quickly. He blanched. It took me six months to learn that technique!
The tiger snarled in pain and annoyance. It seemed the beast was suddenly interested in Luffy as a possible threat now. It then jumped at Luffy who barely dodged the beast once again. Luffy ran at the creature in a zig zag pattern. The beast extended its claws to strike Luffy when suddenly the teen glared at the beast. The glare caused the Tiger King to falter, this falter causing Sabo to straighten himself. Did Luffy just- He stopped himself in his thoughts with a shake of his head. No. No. No. I'm just imagining that.
Luffy looked at the tiger confused. He hadn't done anything, just glare at the beast and it had taken several steps away from him. Grasping a handhold from two trees, Luffy pulled himself backwards like a slingshot and then retracted his hands, letting himself become a projectile. Throwing himself high into the air at high speeds. "Gomu Gomu no Rocket!" Was yelled out as the boy slingshot himself into the air before he twisted his body around as he begun to descend back to the ground. "Gomu Gomu no Hammer!" He outstretched his legs downwards and using the momentum of falling downward he slammed his feet into Tiger King's head.
Sabo facepalmed. Does he really think he can gong a tiger! Watching Luffy jump back and land safely, Sabo watched the Tiger King take one step and then another before it's body fell face forward unconscious. Sabo felt his jaw drop in shock. I guess he can. Sabo grinned. Perhaps he's stronger than I've given him credit for. He sighed happily. It felt like a weight lifting from his shoulders. Guess it's time to go on to lesson B.
Day 30
Sabo slammed the spiked club into the ground as Luffy dodged the attack perfectly. His little brother's observation was coming along nicely. Luffy's eyes were covered with a blindfold as Sabo attacked him with a club. So far Luffy had only messed up once. The egg on his head proved that he needed to continue working on his training. However, over the last month of training he had noticed that his little brother seemed to have latent ability. It was possibly Conquerors and he didn't know how to train that. His Armament was coming along, as he could now last up to five minutes with it but after those five minutes he needed to rest.
Swinging the club again, Sabo changed the trajectory mid swing and went for Luffy's middle onto for his brother to dodge it perfectly. The rubber teen held his hands up to prepare for the next attack. Pulling his favorite pipe weapon from his back, Sabo threw the club before rushing forward towards Luffy, jumping as Luffy dodged the club. As he swung downward towards Luffy's head suddenly his brother grasp the weapon in mid swing before flinging Sabo to the side. Sabo grunted as he landed hard on his side on the ground. His blue tunic now torn from the ground debris. Looking up at Luffy, Sabo realized that there wasn't anything else he could teach him about haki and it would be up to Luffy himself as to how strong he'd become with it. I've given him the tools, it's up to him to train with what I've taught him now.
Standing up Sabo dusted off the dirt from his clothes. "Luffy, take off the blindfold." The teen did as he was told. "I think we're done here."
Luffy's eyes widened. "Did I do something wrong!?" He asked dropping the pipe that was still in his hand. "I can do better!"
Sabo held his hands up and gently placed them on Luffy's shoulders. "You did fine. Better than fine; great!" His smile was full of pride for his brother's accomplishments. "You've far surpassed anything that I can teach you now." He released Luffy. "If you continue with your training, you'll surely surpass even the likes of Whitebeard. However, I've been noticing something else. I think you're developing Conquerors Haki and I don't know how to teach you how to use it properly."
Luffy looked at his fist. "So I'll need another teacher?" He asked a bit saddened by the thought of being taught by someone other than his brother. The past month had been the best time he'd had in a long time. He had learned how to use this haki that his brother was teaching but also had learned so much about Sabo, about the revolutionaries and the world government. Sabo talked a lot about that last one. "Who can teach me?"
Sabo shook his head. "I don't know anyone personally who uses conquerors haki. You may find someone once you begin your own journey."
Luffy grinned at that. "Shishishi." He laughed before looking up at his brother. "I bet they'll be strong."
No doubt. Sabo it thought grimly.
"BRAT!" Gnarly yell was heard causing a shiver to run up Sabo's spine as the memories of the owner of said voice came forward. "WHAT THE HECK HAVE YOU BEEN-" The owner of the voice paused in their tirade. "D-Doing?" Sabo turned in time to see Curly Haired Dadan drop her spiked club to the ground. Her eyes going wide as she took his form in. "Y-You died." She took a step forward.
Luffy giggled. "Sabo didn't die after all Dadan. He just got misplaced because he had an-amanisia."
"It's amnesia Lu-" Sabo began but was interrupted when he was suddenly crushed against the large mountain bandit lady's chest.
"Dogra said you died boy!" She half yelled half cried. Tears of joy were running like rivers down her cheeks.
Sabo now wished he had gone to see her sooner. Oh she going to Andy once Lu tells her how long I've been on the island. He already knew he was going to be dodging her attacks like he had done as a kid, but first. As soon as she released him, Sabo bowed to her. "I'M SORRY FOR MAKING YOU WORRY!" He yelled out at her, hoping his apology would calm her soon-to-be rage.
"Tch." She snorted. "Damn brat." She turned away from him to blow her nose. "Damn allergies!" She cried a little more.
Luffy snickered before Sabo as he just smiled softly at his once guardian and the memories he had of her.
M-Angel: Sorry for taking so long to get this out. I'm fighting off an ear infection, sinus infection and left eye inflammation; also to make matters worse my allergies are acting up. Fuuuuuun. So I made this chapter a bit longer.
FallenSage - Thanks! I'm glad you're enjoying the story.
Kharaki Takan - Just the giants from Little Garden. I don't think he ever met Oars Jr until Marineford. Shanks has always been on Luffy's side. There's still a lot that'll happen. I'm glad you're still reading my story though.