The scene changed again to Luffy waking up in bed. "Good morning!" There was no response. He walked around the house getting ready for the day. "Hope today will be better than yesterday, don't you?!" Again, there was no response. Except for Luffy, the house was otherwise empty. The house looked unkempt, with dust bunnies and cobwebs making themselves at home around the termite chewed furniture.
"What the hell Garp!" Sabo yelled. He had no idea why the way Luffy was living felt like a personal insult. His head was still pounding something fierce. Ace glanced at the Luffy-obsessed man from before. His hoodie seemed to have fallen off. Ace stared at the man's face as he felt a cold stabbing pain in his chest. He looked so ridiculously familiar it hurt. So he looked away, but the feeling persisted.
His stomach growled. "Breakfast!" he yelled as he ran out the door. Luffy skipped towards Makino's Party Bar. On the way, he saw a group of kids kicking a ball around. Luffy gazed longingly at the sight of the kids laughing and having fun. He wanted to join them but he hesitated.
Usopp, from his hiding spot underneath the rafters, was confused. Luffy never hesitated to do whatever he felt like doing, and reveled in playtime. The Luffy he knows would never turn down a chance to play. Usopp's nose tickled. The dust from his hiding spot was a necessary evil he was willing to deal with. He'd deal with anything as long as it keeps him out of Yasopp's sight. Contrary to his own prior belief, he most certainly was NOT ready for any form of interaction with his...Dad. Good thing he hid up here as soon as he realized Luffy was headed his way. Usopp sneezed. "Bless you," a voice whispered. "Thank you," Usopp whispered back. Then he realized he wasn't alone. Who the hell was up here with him? A few feet away Yasopp wondered the same thing.
Luffy shook his head as if he was shaking away all his hesitation. He took a deep breath, and walked towards the group with a big smile plastered on his face. The kids noticed Luffy and gasped. "OH NO THE MONSTER CHILD IS COMING!" "LET'S SCRAM!" "MAYBE IF WE IGNORE IT, IT'LL GO AWAY LIKE LAST TIME!" " NO WAY! THAT TOOK HOURS!" Hearing all of this, Luffy halted. His smile wobbled.
"THOSE BASTARDS!" Chopper, who was now in Heavy Point, shouted. He had tears in his eyes. This had brought Chopper's own bad memories to the surface. He also remembered Luffy with a smiling face saying that he was a monster too. The rest of the Strawhats were in similar states. Akainu's veins bulged. He didn't understand why people were upset at Absolute Justice at work. Dragon's son is a pirate. Pirates are demons and scum of the World. Each and every one of them. You might think that one is different, or isn't so bad. But you're wrong. They will eventually turn to evil. They can't fight what's on their nature. They can't fight what's in their blood. They might be good at the start but they won't stay that way. It's just a delusion and common people get hurt because of them. Then it will be all your fault because if your naivety and stupidity.
The kid who had the ball lost control over it, too distracted by Luffy. Luffy saw this as a chance. "I'll get it!" "NO!" the kid's shouted. It was too late. Luffy already reached the ball and kicked it towards the kids. Luffy was a child, but he still underwent grueling training that made his muscled far more developed than regular children. He still hasn't learned to control his strength. The ball hurled towards them with great speed and velocity. What was an ordinary ball in other children's hands was a bullet in Luffy's. The other children ran but the ball still hit one of them in back, causing their spine to fracture. The little boy screamed in pain.
The room let out a collective gasp. Luffy could do even this damage as a kid? All the doctor's in the room cringed. They knew even without physically checking the little boy over that if by a slim chance that boy would ever walk again, it would be with a severe limp and he will suffer back pain for the rest of his life. Luffy was clinging to Shanks with shaking hands. He has been ever since he saw the group of children. He's tried his hardest to forget this day and now here it is in front of him. The room was filled with whispers of people feeling bad for the boy but not wanting to condemn Luffy, as he didn't mean to hurt anyone. "Luffy..." Luffy turned his head at the sound of his name and saw Sabo's ghost, another thing he tried to bury. He flinched and buried his face into Shanks' shoulder as he shed a few tears. Ace was by Luffy side in an instant rubbing his back as he whispered sweet nothings, trying to console him. Garp hung his head. He still believed training Luffy was necessary...but maybe he should've thought about this negative side effect.
"MENMA!" The children all crowded around him. "Are you okay!" "Of course he isn't! Didn't you hear that sound of all his bones breaking!" "What should we do, Genki?" The children all looked to the boy that seemed to be the eldest. Luffy, who was in shock, suddenly snapped out of it. "We shouldn't touch him! We have to get the doctor! I can-OUCH!" Luffy grabbed his head. When he looked at his hand, blood looked back at him. Menma had thrown a rock at him. "GO AWAY YOU MONSTER! This is all your fault! You did this! Just leave us alone and go find some other monsters!" Menma threw another rock. The kids, who had been looking to him for direction, followed his lead. "Yeah go away monster!" "Why do you always hurt everyone?!" "You should go back to your cave and leave us humans alone!" "Monster!" "Monster!" "MONSTER!" Luffy heard every word while being pelted with rocks.
Hancock cried at the treatment her beloved was getting. She understood their perspective, but this was just cruel. Chopper was back in brain point, crying on top of Zoro's shoulder. Zoro gripped his hip where Wado should've rested. He wanted to jump into his Captain's memory and protect him. Akainu smiled. This is what he meant. Now they will all see that he was right with their own eyes. Sabo's body moved behind Luffy without a thought. In his incomplete memories, he sees the blurry images of two boys. One of the boys voices he knows for a fact is Luffy. The other boy, he assumes, is Ace since they're brothers. Based on the way Luffy flinched and both of them looked like they've seen a ghost every time they make eye contact, they must recognize him. He knows with his visceral reactions to Luffy being hurt that Luffy is someone precious to him. He'll confront them about it later. Right now, he needed to make sure Luffy was okay.
Luffy sobbed as he ran away. He ran all the way to the doctor's clinic and slammed the door open. Everyone went quiet at the scene Luffy made. Everyone knew Luffy. The adults were well used to dealing with the trouble associated with him: a collapsed building here, a raided pantry there, some bruises and black eyes. They never blamed Luffy. So when Luffy came through the doors they thought they were ready to deal with what happened. They were not. Menma was now in a full body cast, being pushed by his mother in a wheelchair that he will never leave from. Luffy locked himself in his empty house. He never got the breakfast he left the house for. Nor did he leave to get dinner. He wouldn't answer when people knocked on the door and left the food that Makino would bring him rotting on the porch. This continued for a week until Menma's mother approached the door. She didn't blame Luffy. He never meant to hurt anyone. He shouldn't keep himself locked away from the rest of the world like this. She didn't blame him, but she also couldn't bare the thought of Luffy being around any of the children. It wasn't his fault but that doesn't change what he did. She told him this bluntly without sugarcoating. It was harsh, but it was exactly what Luffy needed. Luffy finally opened his door.
The room was completely silent. The air was heavy with a sense of gloom hanging over everyone's shoulders. No one said anything, for there was nothing to say. A boy would never walk again because of Luffy and Luffy will live with that for the rest of his life. "Is he okay? I feel we should ask if he's okay" Shachi said turning to Bepo. "Should I give him a hug?" "Yes! You should! You give the best hugs!" Penguin chimed in. Bepo bowed his head. "I'm sorry." Everyone sweat dropped. "Why are you sorry? That's a good thing?" Bepo bowed his head even further, "I'm sorry." The rest of the Heart Pirates cried in unison, "Stop apologizing!" "I'm-" Shachi and Penguin covered Bepo 's mouth. "OI!" they screamed with tick marks on their foreheads. Everyone chuckled at the scene. As much as Law disapproved of his bear hugs being donated to enemy pirates without his approval, he let it go as it lifted the heavy atmosphere a bit.
Luffy was back to gallivanting down the streets of Foosha Village. He never approached any of the children again. In fact he went to great lengths to avoid them. Luffy started frequenting places were the adults were, like Makino's Party Bar. The adults got into the habit of playing with Luffy so he wouldn't feel lonely, but that could only do so much. He still felt the crushing loneliness all the time. The adults tried their hardest but sometimes the loneliness got to be too much and Luffy would disappear, not wanting to be around the adults. During this time, Luffy liked to go to the cliff overlooking the sea and watch the horizon. He often wondered what lies beyond it, and if he would ever get to see it. He wondered if he would be alone if he does.
Nami was wiping the tears from her eyes. She couldn't bear seeing her captain like this, having the same thoughts she had not so long ago. Robin placed her hand on Nami's shoulder. She felt the same way. Nami smiled at her and was going to say something when a pair of arms wrapped around her. She gasped when she saw the owner. "You can't! You can't acknowledge us Vivi!" Nami whisper-shouted. Nefertari Vivi just smiled. "I don't care! You need me. Besides, it'll get exposed anyways." Vivi hugged her tightly. Robin removed her hand from Nami's shoulder as she watched Vivi. Robin didn't know what to say to the girl whose country she helped fall in strife, so Robin said nothing at all.
Luffy's thoughts were distracted by a ship. He saw the ship coming towards them a while ago but paid it no mind, seeing as Foosha is a port town so he's used to seeing ships come and go. What caught his attention was the sail. It was too far away to see before but now he can see it clearly. The sail was black with a picture of two swords forming an 'X' underneath a skull with red slashes on the left eye.
"Hey it's us!" Yasopp yelled excitedly. In his excitement he gave away his position to Usopp, who screamed, which then gave away his position to Yasopp, who also screamed. "WOULD YOU TWO SHUT UP!" The heavy atmosphere was completely lifted and the air buzzed with excitement. Everyone wanted to see how one of the Four Emperor's were before they were given their title.
Luffy stood up. Black and skulls...must be evil pirates. Luffy had to protect the village. He ran through the town, bumping into people as he headed to the docks. "Evil pirates are here! GO HIDE!" People stood in shock, not knowing if this was a new game Luffy was playing or if their small, often overlooked village was actually under attack. Luffy grabbed a knife from the butcher who had stopped to gape at Luffy. "HEY! THAT'S DANGEROUS LUFFY! GET BACK HERE!" Luffy left him in the dust. He would take a scolding later. Right now he had to protect everyone, seeing as his Grandpa wasn't here.
"This is so weird" Zoro said, as a shiver went down his spine. Seeing Luffy so against piracy, so unlike himself, was unnerving. "I know what you mean" replied the rest of the Strawhats, also shivering.
When he got to the docks, Shanks, Benn Beckman, and Lucky Roo were on the docks seemingly facing off with Mayor Woolslap and a few other villagers. Luffy, seeing his chance, threw the butcher's knife at Shanks. Shanks dodged it easily, but it did cut off a few strands of his hair and landed deep in the stern of Red Force. If Shanks didn't move, the knife would've ripped straight through his throat. He was impressed. Just who was this kid with a killer throw and such a vicious look in his eyes? "GET OUT OF HERE EVIL PIRATES! YOU CAN'T BURN OUR VILLAGE!" Luffy screamed. "Luffy! Get out of here!" the villagers tried to get to Luffy but Shanks beat them to it. Shanks cocked his head. "I don't want to burn your village, and I'm not evil." Shanks looked straight into Luffy's blazing glare. The air was tensed. Then Luffy smiled. "Oh, okay!" Everyone fell on their back in shock.
Everyone in the room did the same. Everyone except the Strawhats, who sighed in relief and finally stopped shivering. "Finally! I was starting to get really weirded out by him acting sane. I was starting to think this was a doppelganger or a long lost twin" Sanji said shaking off the last of the unnerving feeling. "OW! That our SUPER captain we know and love!" Franky shouted in his signature pose. Everyone looked at the Strawhats in shock. What did they expect? These are people who follow Strawhat willingly after all.
Shanks work his way to his knees. "Oi, kid. You shouldn't take things at face value like that. I could just be lying." Luffy frowned. "Are you lying?" "No." Luffy beamed at him again. Shanks let out a bellowing laugh. "Kid, you're killing me here!" The villagers were bouncing between wanting to hide Luffy in their arms and wanting to strangle him. "You don't feel like you're lying. You don't feel evil." Shanks stopped laughing and looked at Luffy differently...Did he say feel? Luffy was still smiling largely at Shanks. It filled Shanks up with a warm, soft feeling he couldn't comprehend. Shanks couldn't help but smile back, abet a bit wobbly. What the hell is this? He's only ever felt this with Uta. The rest of the Red Hair Pirates looked at each other knowingly. "Say, it's Luffy, right? I'm Shanks!"
The memory faded away. The room was filled with conversations. The were discussing how tragic Luffy's backstory seemed to be. They were discussing whether or not Shanks adopted Luffy, and how this information would make them have to be more cautious not wanting to offend an Emperor. They were discussing how Shanks had two arms. Interrupting these important discussions, was Vegapunk. "Greetings again! Vegapunk here, for those of you who forgot!" "As if we could forget something as shocking as that!" a marine shouted. "That was a whole lot to watch so I'm offering an intermission to discuss! You're welcome! In compensation, you should fund my research, you greedy bastards!" "What the hell?!" The room was in disbelief. Was this women really Vegapunk?