Chapter 3: The Arrival of Luffy

The days blurred together in a haze of training and the rhythm of mountain life. The seasons changed without ceremony, and yet, the boy felt as though time itself had stalled. The sun rose, the moon fell, and they continued their daily routines. Garp, ever the hard taskmaster, drove them all forward, but there was something different in the air now, something subtle but undeniable.

The boy had sensed it long before the sound of a boat engine rumbled through the mountain pass. It was the way the earth trembled, the way the wind carried a new scent, something foreign but full of promise. Luffy was coming.

The first time the boy had met Luffy, he was only a tiny thing, no more than a bundle of energy and curiosity wrapped in a messy, unkempt package. But now, as the boat drew closer, the boy could feel it—Luffy had changed. There was a fire in him, the spark of someone destined for greatness, someone whose journey was just beginning. He was a force of nature, and the boy knew that nothing would ever be the same again.

"He's finally here," Ace muttered, his voice low but laced with an unspoken excitement. He had never fully understood Luffy's enthusiasm, but the boy knew that even Ace, with his guarded exterior, couldn't help but feel the pull of Luffy's reckless ambition. They all did.

The boy stood on the Cliffside, his eyes fixed on the horizon as the boat drew closer, cutting through the waves with a purpose that mirrored Luffy's own. There was a storm brewing inside him, an uncertainty that he hadn't felt in years. The arrival of Luffy, of his younger brother, marked the beginning of something new. Something that would change everything.

As the boat finally landed on the shore, the boy's heart clenched. There, standing at the bow, was Luffy—grinning ear to ear, as usual, his messy black hair wild in the wind, his eyes wide with excitement. The boy could see it in the way Luffy stood, the unshakable confidence in his posture. But he also saw the hunger, the unspoken question in Luffy's eyes. The question that had been there since the day he first arrived—what's next?

"Big brother!" Luffy shouted, practically bouncing with excitement as he leaped off the boat and rushed toward them.

The boy's chest tightened. There was so much he wanted to say, so much he needed to teach him, but at the same time, there was a part of him that wanted to hold Luffy back, to protect him from the world that was waiting for them. The world that was so much bigger than this mountain.

He caught Luffy in a bear hug, lifting him off his feet before slamming him back down to the ground with a laugh. "You're really starting to get on my nerves, you know that?" he said, his voice full of affection despite the teasing words.

Luffy grinned, unfazed. "I'm just excited, big bro! I'm gonna be the Pirate King, and I need you to help me get there!"

The boy's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Luffy's dream. He had always known Luffy's determination, the single-minded pursuit of his goal. But hearing it spoken aloud, seeing the fervour in his eyes, made the weight of it all settle in.

"You're serious about this, huh?" the boy asked, looking down at Luffy with a steady gaze.

"Of course I am!" Luffy beamed, puffing out his chest with pride. "I'm gonna be the strongest, the best, the Pirate King!"

The boy exhaled slowly, taking a step back as the others gathered around. Ace's smirk had softened into something more akin to understanding, while Sabo's gaze was filled with quiet contemplation. But the boy remained silent, his mind racing.

The weight of his Lunarian heritage pressed down on him, as it always did, a constant reminder of the power he wielded and the responsibility it came with. The boy had always known that his powers were dangerous, unpredictable, and that no matter how hard he tried to control them, they were a part of him. But Luffy… Luffy had no idea what he was about to face.

He wasn't sure if he was ready to teach Luffy everything he knew—if he could even protect him when the time came. There were dark forces in the world that even someone as strong as the boy couldn't face alone. And if Luffy was truly going to become the Pirate King, he would need to be prepared for everything. For the betrayal, the loss, the sacrifice.

But there was something else, something the boy couldn't ignore. The spark in Luffy's eyes reminded him of his own younger self, the way he had once dreamed of a world beyond the mountain, beyond the confines of Garp's harsh teachings. And he realized then that Luffy's fire, no matter how reckless or impulsive, was something he couldn't quench.

"You're gonna have to train harder than ever," the boy said, his voice low and serious. "And I'm not going to go easy on you. You want to be Pirate King? You'll have to earn it."

Luffy's grin only widened. "Bring it on! I'll be the best, you'll see!"

The next few weeks passed in a blur of chaos and growth. Garp pushed them all to their limits, but there was something different about Luffy's presence. His raw enthusiasm, his unshakeable belief in himself—it made everything feel lighter, more alive. It was as if the very air around them had changed, filled with possibilities.

But for the boy, the weight of the world had never been more real. Every day, he found himself watching Luffy with a mixture of admiration and fear. Luffy's reckless optimism was infectious, but it also terrified him. He had seen the dangers of the world, the darkness that could swallow anyone who was unprepared. And the boy wasn't sure if Luffy understood the gravity of it all.

At night, as they sat around the fire, the boy would often stare at the stars, lost in thought. The others had already settled into their usual banter, their laughter filling the air. But the boy knew that soon, things would change. The world outside their little mountain was waiting, and Luffy, with all his unshakable resolve, was going to lead them straight into it.

"I'm gonna make you proud, big bro," Luffy said one evening, his voice full of determination. "I'm gonna be the Pirate King. And I'm gonna take you with me!"

The boy's heart tightened. He knew Luffy's dreams were bigger than him, bigger than anything he could protect. And yet, he couldn't help but feel a surge of warmth, a flicker of hope. Luffy was ready to take on the world, and no matter what happened, the boy would stand by him.

"Just promise me one thing," the boy said quietly, his voice heavy with meaning. "Promise me you won't lose yourself in the process. Promise me you'll never forget who you are."

Luffy's smile softened for just a moment before it returned to its usual mischievous grin. "I won't, big bro. I promise."

The days that followed were filled with laughter and training, but also an unspoken understanding. The boy knew that the road ahead would be perilous. That there were dangers lurking in the shadows, waiting for Luffy and the others. But he also knew one thing for sure: No matter what, he would be there to guide them. To protect them. And if it meant standing between them and the world, then so be it.

The future was uncertain, but as long as they were together, there was nothing they couldn't face.