Brotherly Bonds 2...

Chapter 10.5 - Brotherly Bonds 2...

"Zoro!" Nami called after him as he headed to the door.

"Quiet!" he called back in annoyance, "I think I hear them all talking here!"

He walked through the wall to see that Garp was there, sharing a heavy drink with Dadan.

"You think that a grandfather would at least try to visit his grandsons more than just a few times a year," Dadan spoke to him gruffly.

"I do try. But I'm surprised here. I don't hear you complaining about them as usual," Garp told her as he drank more Sake, making Zoro's mouth water.

"I don't mind it so much anymore," Dadan confessed. "That Ace certainly has changed since you brought that second monster here. If you had told me back then that he would be like this now, I'd have said that you were drinking too much. I didn't see any hope for him."

"That is good to hear," Garp confessed. "To be honest, even I was starting to grow worried about him."

"What's going on, Zoro?" Usopp asked, as the other Straw Hats came to his side.

He didn't answer as he watched the two sit there. Suddenly, Garp reached into his front shirt and pulled out a wrinkled sheet of paper. "The reason I came here tonight was so that I could show you this. I think, you might find this interesting."

"What's this?" she asked in annoyance, taking the sheet from him and looking over it before staring at it with wide eyes. "So this is…?"

"Just the latest wanted poster issue from the World Government," Garp said softly. "He may not be a pirate, but he's just jumped up to the top of their most wanted list. In fact, did you hear what they're calling him? The 'Most Wanted Man in the World'."

"You mean…?" Chopper said softly, suddenly realizing who the man in the picture had to be.

"Luffy's father," Robin said, thinking of Dragon.

"So…" Dadan said, giving the paper back to Garp. "Dragon's officially on the top of the Government's hit list?"

"Ha! Right now he is the list," Garp sighed with a bitter laugh. "But I say good luck trying to track him down. Already, they consider him the biggest demon to have ever lived since Roger. The World Government thought that the era of pirates would end with Roger's death, but in the end it backfired on them. Now Dragon's causing trouble in the world. The World Nobles have already demanded that we use all our resources to hunt him down. HA! As if it would be that easy! It's almost impossible to find that man if he doesn't want to be found." He leaned back against the wall and said, "If they can figure out how to catch the wind… then maybe they have a chance."

'Well said,' Robin thought to herself. Yes, Dragon was very much like the wind itself… here one minute, and gone the next.

"I still can't believe that's your kid they want dead," Dadan snapped. "On second thought, I can believe it. I guess we know whose side that Dragon takes after." She stared at her bottle of Sake before she said, "And I guess that makes him…?"

"Luffy's father," Garp nodded. "He may not act like it, but I already see a lot of Dragon in him."

"So now it's like with Ace," Dadan asked, "If the government finds out about Luffy's birth?"

"They would never let them live," Robin answered knowingly.

"Could they really want them both dead just because of their fathers?" Chopper asked her.

"Of course they would," Robin answered grimly. "As far as they're concerned, those two were 'born evil' just because of their fathers. To the government… they were never supposed to exist. The fact that they're alive is considered nothing but a sin to them."

"That's a load of crap," Franky said, glancing at her. "You once believe that you didn't deserve to live… that your own existence was a sin… don't you remember what I said to you?"

Robin gave him a sad smile, remembering the ride to Enies Lobby. "That being alive… just existing… can't be a sin."

"Truer words never spoken," Usopp said, all of them looking at Robin with fierce determination. Franky was right. It wasn't the government's place to decide if someone should be allowed to live or not. If they were never supposed to exist, then why were they ever born at all? The Marines were just using this as an excuse for their murderous habits.

"They'll hunt him down," Garp sighed, throwing the empty bottle over his head and reaching for another one. "Believe me, it wasn't easy keeping this secret at HQ. It's the main reason why I want them both to become Marines! If word ever got out…"

"It wouldn't matter though will it?" Dadan asked him, "We both know that all the Government needs is proof and they'll kill them both! You don't honestly think that they'll let this go simply because they join the Marines do you?"

Garp was silent for a moment. "No," he confessed. "But I don't see any other way out of this. Right now, as far as the world is concerned, the two of them are just a couple delinquent orphans. Which they are now that you think of it. But no one could ever imagine otherwise… and I intend to keep it that way."

Dadan sighed. "Boy, of all the children that you had to bring here… the sons of the two most infamous criminals that the world's ever known! Just why did you bring them to me?"

"We've known each other a long time," he grinned at her. "And I know how soft you are on kids."

"SHUT UP!" she barked at him.

"Now, I think I see what he's getting at," Brook laughed. "She really does seem fond of children."

"It's in a woman's nature I guess," Sanji sighed, wondering just what made women care about kids so much…

"I can't begin to guess what's going on in his head however," Brook said, looking at Garp. "This must be so hard on him. He was doing all this to keep them safe, but in the end, it wasn't enough."

"But I agree wholeheartedly with what Dadan said," Robin answered him. "There's no way that they would ever be left alone even if they joined the Marines."

"Hey," Chopper said softly, just realizing something, "How are we seeing this when Luffy's not even here?"

They all glanced at each other, slightly surprised by the question.

"Just because Luffy doesn't remember doesn't mean that it didn't happen?" Zoro offered, though not even he knew what he was saying. Luffy was right in the other room, but just because he didn't hear what they were saying didn't mean that this conversation never happened. Perhaps Luffy could vaguely hear their voices but not make out anything? He didn't know. All he did know was that the truth of Dragon seemed to be a big shock to him when he did find out about it at Water 7.

"You gonna tell Luffy?" Dadan asked suddenly. "About his father?"

"Right," Garp said, rolling his eyes, "And how do I tell a kid this? Not even Ace was supposed to know about his father and I still don't know how he found out about it. Plus, it doesn't help that Luffy has a big mouth. No, it's easier if we keep this quiet from everyone else."

"That makes a lot of sense," Nami sighed. Yes, she couldn't blame Garp a bit for keeping this quiet.

Dadan finished her drink as she cleaned her mouth. "You leaving for the Marines tomorrow again?" she demanded. "That Ace is already almost thirteen now you know."

"Time flies," Franky whistled out, repeating what Brook said before.

Garp laughed. "Right… but I'm afraid that Navy HQ can't do anything on their own. I have to stay with them little longer, though I often wonder if it's worth it." He raised his eyebrows at her and asked, "You won't tell anyone about this will you?"

"About Dragon?" she asked irritably. "Why should I care about who their fathers are? It's no business of mine."

"You know, I think my respect for her just went up a notch just for saying that," Franky smiled. But soon afterwards, the two adults passed out where they laid; their faces red from all the drinking.

Nami sighed. "Honestly, I don't understand them."

But as they were about to head to the back room, they heard another door open and Ace stepped in. He was certainly much older, though still young, he was quickly leaving his preteen body behind and looked more mature than they had last saw him. There was a towel over his shoulders and he already had his signature orange hat on his head.

Judging from the wet hair and towel, they guessed the he had just taken a bath… but his eyes were emotionless as he slowly stepped into the room, staring at them both on the floor—looking completely lost in thought. Sanji's one revealed eye suddenly widen and he said, "Wait… you don't think he heard what they were saying about Dragon do you?"

"Most likely," Zoro commented as he watched Ace slowly walk to the back room where Luffy was. "If he was outside that door, I don't see how he couldn't…"

Quickly following Ace, they walked to the back room where Luffy was already half asleep. Ace sat down next to him, just watching him with an unreadable expression on his face.

"Is he going to be ok?" Chopper asked, staring at Ace's empty expression.

"It's just a shock for him," Robin said softly. "All this time, neither one of them had any idea… but he just realized that he and Luffy are in the same situation. The only difference is that Luffy has no idea."

Luffy was almost completely out of it now, the memory darkened a little more. But Ace stared down at him and said softly, "It's taken you a long time to be able to look at fire without having nightmares hasn't it?"

"Huh?" Luffy croaked out, looking up at him sleepily. "Why bring that up?"

"Just thinking," Ace answered. "But you still have nightmares sometimes I notice…"

"He had nightmares about the fire?" Nami said softly. "Even after all this time?"

"I can't say I'm surprised," Robin sighed, knowing that trauma often took years to heal… she had only just begun to recover from the horror of the Buster Call after all. "Something like that would be hard to get over."

Luffy turned on his side, his back to Ace, as if ashamed. "Only once in awhile," he confessed. "But they're not as bad as they used to be. I mean, it's just big fires that I don't like. But I'm ok with it… really."

Ace smirked a little as Luffy yawned and shut his eyes, fading out.

"You haven't changed," he said smiling as the memory began to fade. Ace laid down and gently wrapped a protective arm around Luffy's neck, hugging him close. A small, contented smile appeared on Luffy's mouth as everything went dark… as if he felt safe with Ace there shielding him from any nightmares.

"Man, that really is something special," Brook said softly. "I only wish I had a chance to meet Ace-san in person."

"I think he's really starting to see how much he and Luffy are alike," Nami said smiling, jealous at how two people could be so close

"Wait!" Usopp said suddenly, "You mean that Ace knew all along who Luffy's father was?"

"It would appear so," Robin answered. "If he was listening in at the door…?"

"But then why didn't he ever tell him?" Usopp asked confused. "You think he would if they were that close and everything…?"

"You think he'd do something like that?" Sanji demanded harshly, "He knew better than anyone to be considered the child of a demon. For years he'd been tormented with the belief that he was never supposed to be born! That the world would've been happier if he wasn't around! You think he'd push something like that on his little brother?"

"He just had another reason to protect him," Zoro said, sighing as he tilted his head back, gazing up at the endless sea of darkness. "It doesn't matter who Luffy's father is."

No one said anything to that for a long time as they continued to watch memories flying by. The boys both grew older and continued to grow stronger while living in the forest. They'd go into the trees to hunt and train for days on end before they came back for some rest before running off again. The seasons came and went and things continued to change around them. But nothing changed more than Ace… the angry child was no more and a patient and more polite young man was emerging.

Luffy remained the same personality wise, but the stronger he got, the less he cried. He was growing confident in his abilities, and even Ace had stopped mocking his powers once he finally learned to throw a decent punch…

Though he was still known to tease him for it to make him angry.

But that soon changed one time when they were watching the two running from guards in Goa after they pulled another dine-and-dash. Ace looked to be about fifteen here and Luffy couldn't have been more than twelve.

"You know, one of these days they're going to get into some really serious trouble because of this!" Nami called, running with them, now tired of all the constant running they'd done since coming here.

The words were no sooner said when one of the guards held up their rifle and pointed it at the boy's retreating backs.

"Hold on! Isn't that a bit extreme?!" Usopp yelled out as Chopper screamed. "They're only kids here!"

"I guess there's only so much you can take from someone before they snap," Sanji hollered.

"Why should they worry?" Zoro asked, "Luffy's immune to bullets!"

Suddenly, the gun fired and the bullet nailed Luffy right in the back. Ace, next to him stopped dead and stared in horror as Luffy's eyes widen in stunned surprise before he fell.

"LUFFY!" Ace screamed as Luffy's body slowly fell forward, but then he stopped himself as the skin stretched out and the bullet bounced back towards the guards.

"What the hell just happened?" one of the guards screamed out, dropping the gun as he watched the bulled go flying off.

"You think that they've never seen a bullet bounce off a rubber person before," Franky commented.

"I think they just discovered that," Robin said, watching at how Ace caught Luffy, panic now setting into his eyes as he looked around desperately—much like how he did when Luffy had been attacked by that bear. The guards behind them were also freaking out, having no idea to what happened, and Ace used their confusion to make a quick escape. He dragged Luffy off with him, quickly getting out of High Town, and ducked down an alleyway back into Edge Town so that he could examine Luffy.

"Luffy!" Ace gasped, setting Luffy down on the ground. "Are you hurt?"

Luffy seemed to come out of his stunned shock and sat up so suddenly that Ace's jaw fell open. Luffy gave his body a pat down. "NO," he said, eyes wide. "I'm ok?"

"LIAR!" Ace yelled at him, forcing him to turn around so that he could see, "I SAW YOU GET SHOT!"

But as Ace pulled the shirt up so that they could see his back… there wasn't anything there. Perhaps a slight bruise in the shape of a perfect circle… but nothing else.

Ace's eyes suddenly widen. "I get it! It makes sense! If blunt attacks don't work on you, then it makes sense that a bullet can't do anything!"

"Finally, he gets it," Zoro said.

"Well, they never been shot at before so they never had a chance to find out till now," Brook pointed out.

"Lucky thing too, otherwise, Luffy be dead," Robin offered.

"Why must you love that morbid imagination of yours, Robin?" Usopp moaned out.

"So I'm bulletproof?" Luffy asked, his eyes shining at the thought, "That's so cool!"

Ace just sighed as he bonked him on the head. "DON'T DO THAT AGAIN!"

On they watched as the boys continued to change and grow up in the future memories. They both became tall and lanky, completed with messy black hair and wide eyes—both were big eaters and strong fighters. It was near impossible for anyone not to recognize them as brothers. It warmed the Straw Hats hearts to see these scenes, yet at the same time in felt like a knife wound with each memory. It only made Ace's death seem that much more tragic.

But finally, the day had come. The day before Ace's seventeenth birthday…

"Happy birthday, Ace!" Luffy cheered, jumping on his back, after they caught another large gator for their dinner.

"That's not until tomorrow runt," he grinned back, grabbing Luffy in a headlock and giving him a noogie.

"So this is gonna be the last night they spend together?" Brook asked them all.

"So you really leaving tomorrow?" Luffy asked excitedly, asking the same question.

"Yep," Ace grinned back.

"Then I'll enjoy this last birthday with you," Luffy said contentedly.

"He's taking his big brother leaving very well," Sanji said in mild surprise.

"Oh, he's glad that Ace is finally ready to leave," Robin smiled sadly, "But I can tell that he's already starting to miss him."

"But he hasn't even left yet," Chopper pointed out.

"Just the idea that soon his brother will be going out into the world without him is making him sad," she explained. "Since they became brothers they've always been together and now, for the first time since then, they'll be separated. Ace will be going off into the world on his own. Luffy still has to wait another three years before he's seventeen."

The two were sitting inside a fort in front of Dadan's house, only this time, the two old huts had been put together to make one. They were sitting up enjoying their dinner as they gazed up at the sky, Ace pointing out the names of several stars as Luffy watched in amazement. It was funny how the littlest thing seemed to make Luffy smile like a child for hours.

The night was asleep, snoring lightly as her darkened skies allowed veiled clouds to pass by, occasionally blocking the moon and its stars. Yet, as if in retaliation, they seemed to gleam more brightly, as if to spite the clouds.

"Ace?" Luffy suddenly said as he finished another leg of meat.

"Hmm?" Ace asked looking at him.

"I… no, it's nothing," Luffy said smiling. "Forget it."

"Ok, now I know that something's wrong," Usopp said, "He's never been like that before."

"He's hiding something," Franky said at once.

Ace obviously sensed this as well as he looked at him with a mixture of concern and disbelief. "I think that's the first time I'd ever heard that before," he said with a small smile tweaking his features. "What's bothering you?"

"Nothing!" Luffy said at once, "It's not important!"

Ace raised his eyebrows. "My little brother keeping secrets from me already?" he murmured, half to Luffy, half to himself. "Come on… I know you better than that. Tell me what's wrong." He lightly prodded Luffy on the back. "Or do I have to wrestle the answer out of you?"

"No!" Luffy yelled happily, an evil grin appearing.

"That's it! This means war!" Ace cried out and suddenly they were fighting again… probably for the last time. Luffy leaped out of the way and immediately retaliated, grinning wildly, not willing to forfeit this fight. Several thumps and crashes banged throughout the tiny house, shaking it thoroughly like a leaf. Laughter rang out, loud and clear.

"Don't they do anything but fight?" Usopp asked exasperated.

"That's what brothers do best," Zoro answered.

Finally, the sounds of fighting stopped. They lay there, stretched out on the ground, breathless and slightly bruised from their momentary fistfight. "Damn, that was a good punch," Ace chuckled, rubbing his cheek. "Not a knock-out but hey… you've gotten better."

Luffy grinned as he laughed to himself.

"It's almost like they're still little kids," Nami said watching them laugh with each other. "It's been a long time since I've seen Luffy like this."

"Hey, Luffy?" Ace suddenly said, sitting up.

"Yeah?" Luffy asked, mimicking his every movement.

Ace paused, as if trying to find the right words to say. "Take care of yourself for me, all right? While I'm gone?"

The Straw Hats looked at Ace… he wasn't looking at his brother as he stared ahead of him at the sky… lost in thought. It was strange to see the usually confident, smug look was now clouded with… was it hesitation?

Robin smiled. She could tell that this separation was hard on Luffy, it could only be even harder for Ace. For years, his one purpose was to protect his little brother, but now he would be going on to find a new life for himself. He would be leaving his brother here… though Luffy was now strong enough that he could handle the monsters in the forest and the thugs in town by himself. Ace was still worried.

She knew that the idea of finally leaving this island behind and becoming a pirate and heading out on adventures was irresistible to him, but the idea of leaving his brother alone was a difficult thing for him to do. But she also knew that this had to happen. Ace was finally ready to step out into the world and Luffy needed to wait a little longer before he would be ready.

"It's not like we won't see each other again," Luffy said gleefully, "And when we do, I'll be a pirate too!"

Ace laughed. "Yeah, you will. But still… I can't help but worry. So promise me that you'll take care of yourself for me? I'm not worried about leaving you here alone. You can pretty much take care of yourself here. But when you do set out… it'll be like starting over from scratch."

"Don't worry!" Luffy said eagerly, giggling to himself. "I'll be a lot stronger in three more years! And once I leave here, I'll find a pirate crew! I want… maybe ten guys! Yeah, ten'll be good! Then we'll set sail for the Grand Line!"

"Ten?" Nami repeated, "Where'd he come up with that number?"

"Yeah, when we finally set off for the Grand Line from the East Blue, there were only five of us," Sanji said, thinking back.

"Only five in a crew heading to the Grand Line?" Brook said in surprise. "My that's practically unheard of!"

"You want ten crewmates?" Ace asked smiling. "You sure that's all you need? After all, a crew is gonna need more than just a captain."

"Like what?" Luffy asked, as if he never thought of that.

"Like a doctor, navigator, a few swordsmen is always a good idea," Ace listed off.

"You got that right," Zoro said as Brook laughed.

"Oh, I know!" Luffy said, thinking it over. "A musician!"

"Yeah, he had been asking for a musician since I joined," Nami said thinking it over. "Funny that the one he wanted most took so long to join."

"Luffy can be surprisingly picky when he wants to be," Usopp said, thinking it over.

"Luffy-san, I'm so touched!" Brook said tearfully, glad that out of all the musicians in the world, he wanted him to be part of his crew.

Ace laughed. "Well, I think you get the idea. I'll tell you what. Once you get your first bounty, I'll come and meet up with you and your crew."

"And you'll join?" Luffy asked excitedly.

"Are you kidding me?" Ace asked, rolling his eyes and Luffy looked away disappointed. The Straw Hats laughed. It was too much like how they were always arguing before that they couldn't help themselves.

"But you'll get to meet my crew when I find them?" Luffy asked him, as if making sure that he wouldn't go back on his promise.

"Only if you promise me that you'll look after yourself till then," Ace said strictly.

"Ok!" Luffy said beaming. "Sounds fair. It's a promise!"

"Good," Ace said, before he suddenly shoved Luffy's head down into the dirt and started another fight.

"So that's why we met up with him in Alabasta?" Chopper asked.

"I think he wanted to see what kind of people would be crazy enough to follow Luffy," Sanji smirked. "I often wonder that myself…?"

It was the next morning when the next memory came and now they were standing near the ocean. Ace was standing in a small fishing boat, finishing packing a sack and swinging it over his shoulder as he looked up at everyone. Luffy, Makino, the bandits, even the mayor were all there to say goodbye.

"Ace!" Luffy called, beaming at him proudly. "Take care of yourself!"

"Looks like Ace is finally setting out," Usopp said, feeling strangely honored that he could see such a special moment.

"Funny how it is now Luffy-san telling his brother to take care of himself," Brook said fondly.

"Well, Ace is leaving," Sanji said smiling sadly. "He's heading off into a world that they know nothing about… he's gonna need it to survive out here."

"Sure!" Ace called happily. "See you later, Luffy! I'll be going on ahead!"

"Right!" Luffy called eagerly. "And when I set out to sea myself in three years, I'll become much stronger!"

"Don't we know it," Usopp said, thinking back.

Ace merely grinned, and it was here that they saw the man they met in Alabasta. This was how it all truly started for him as he shoved off, all of them waving goodbye. "Do your best, Ace!" Luffy called waving joyfully, but still a little sadness in his eyes shown through.

"Take care of yourself!" Dogra called, waving a handkerchief after him.

"Try not to catch cold!" Makino added.

"Still so kind, Makino-san!" Sanji swooned, suddenly reminded of the day that he left the Baratie.

"Just you wait!" Ace declared, "I'll make a name for myself real soon!"

"That he does," Robin said softly, knowing that he would soon become the feared 'Fire-Fist Ace' in only three years.

"There he goes!" Luffy called, grinning as he stared long after his older brother until he was out of sight.

"Really," the mayor said. "How is Garp going to take this?"

"I don't want to be around when he does," Usopp gulped.

"I'm gonna miss him," Makino sighed, "He really has come a long way since I first met him."

"You're telling me," Chopper said, remembering how cold Ace once was. "Hey, wait…" he added looking around. "Dadan's not here."

"I guess she couldn't bring herself to say goodbye," Nami said softly.

Luffy didn't say a word as he went skipping off on his own. After seeing all the memories of him and Ace together, it was a little lonely to see Luffy by himself now. But he was still smiling as he went along the now familiar path to the old fighting ground.

"Only three more years for me," Luffy said to himself, turning to face the giant rock. He then ran forward with a Gum Gum Pistol and ended up taking the top of the giant boulder off.

"He hit it!" Chopper called happily.

"And he's now strong enough to break apart rock with his bare hands," Franky said with a smirk, "About time."

"But his aim still sucks," Zoro pointed out. Luffy seemed to agree as he cursed to himself and frowned at the rock.

He stared ahead, as if imagining something was there.

"Just aim a little bit lower," Usopp said at once.

And as if Luffy heard him, this time when he tried, he ended up hitting the rock dead center and smashing it to pieces. Grinning in pride, he punched the air, loudly declaring to all of Goa, "I'll become stronger! Much stronger!"

And that's how life was for Luffy now that he was on his own. It was hard for him, at first, to train on his own, but he soon got used to it as he went running through the forests, challenging every beast he saw. Only occasionally would he go to Goa… since everyone there knew his face, he couldn't walk the streets without someone crying out and guards coming. But Luffy just laughed as he let the guards chase him, easily slipping through their fingers every time. Now the Straw Hats knew where Luffy learned to become so skillful in escaping from authorities.

They thought that they wouldn't see or hear about Ace again until Luffy set out to sea himself, however that changed. In only a few months since Ace had left, and Luffy was relaxing in the fort when Dogra came running towards him, waving a newspaper around. "Luffy! Luffy! Look at today's paper!"

"What is it?" Luffy asked quickly as he stood up.

"There's only one reason why Dogra would be so excited about a paper," Nami said as Luffy looked at the front page, and sure enough, a large grin appeared.

"Amazing!" he called out, staring at it, beaming with pride. "Ace made a name for himself! This picture shows him with his pirate ship and crew! Amazing! Ace is amazing!"

He dropped the paper as he went running back into the forest.

"Luffy!" Dogra called after him in surprise, "Where are you going?!"

"I'm not gonna lose to him!" he yelled back, and soon they heard a boom and a giant smoke cloud appeared over the trees as if Luffy had just destroyed something big and heavy.

"Look like Ace-san was a big inspiration to him," Brook said softly.

"I noticed that too," Sanji said, looking down at his cigarette. "Shanks was his childhood hero, but it was really Ace that was like a guiding light for him. Even when he wasn't around, he kept Luffy motivated and determined to grow stronger. So that's how he became the Luffy we all knew when we met him."

Usopp sighed, "I'm jealous. I never knew just how close these two were… and that's something really one of a kind. Who knew coming to live here with bandits could shape them into the people we knew?"

"I find the change in Ace simply remarkable as well," Robin stated, looking up at the bright sky before the memory changed again. "Now I understand why you were surprised when we first saw him here. You can hardly tell that it's the same person."

"Without even realizing it, Luffy changed Ace completely," Usopp said smiling.

"By giving Ace something to look out for, he had a reason to live," Robin said to herself softly. She wondered… what would've happened if Ace never had what happened to Sabo happen? Or if he never had such a wild child like Luffy to look after? Would he have become like her? Bitter and angry with the world… never able to find a place? She smiled… yes; her captain had unknowingly saved at least two lives here without even trying. She wished that she could've met Ace…

When the vision came back, they were surprised to be standing in front of the tree where the trio's old hideout was. It looked completely run-down, now covered with a thick layer of moss. It couldn't have been clearer that one had been here for a long time. But Luffy was standing there, gazing up at it.

His back was to them, but when he turned around so that they could see his face, it was a pleasant surprise to see that this was their Luffy. He was much older here than in the last memory… he was now a swinging seventeen-year-old looking just like how he did when they met him two years ago. The only difference was that he wasn't wearing his straw hat… he just didn't look right without it. Nonetheless, there was a bright light shining in his eyes as he turned away from the treehouse and went running through the forest.

"Again with running?" Usopp sighed as they gave chase. But this was different from before. Luffy almost flew along the ground as he ran, jumping over the crocodile pond, lightly landing down cliffs, and the rest of the monsters who lived here seemed to be afraid to go near him as if thinking that he would eat them… which he probably would.

He had certainly come a long way from the little boy who would constantly chase after his big brother. The bright sun was shining and Luffy seemed out of his mind with eagerness.

"Yohoho, he's like the boss of the forest now!" Brook laughed.

"Boss of the island if you ask me," Nami answered, wondering just why got Luffy so happy here. Bursting through the clearing where the bandit's hut was, Luffy stopped by his fort where he picked up a few coins to shove in his pocket and his precious straw hat from a tangle of blankets. Standing back and smiling long and hard at the fort he turned and called to the bandits inside, "Hey! Come on!"

He leaned in the front doorway, so that he could see inside, "I'm going now! Aren't you coming to see me off?"

"So this is where he's finally ready to set off on his own?!" Brook called excitedly.

"Oh, shut up," Dadan said, her back to him. "Makino and the Mayor wouldn't mind. They know us, but we'd scare the other villagers if we came down from the mountain."

"Yeah but…" Luffy started, looking disappointed that they didn't want to come.

"Just get going already!" she snapped.

"Nice way to say goodbye to someone after all they've been through," Usopp muttered to himself.

Luffy sighed. "Oh, well, then guys…" he brightened up, nothing could dampen his mood here, "thanks for everything!"

They all turned red. "Oh, don't embarrass us," Dogra said with an awkward laugh. "No need for thanks!"

"Now, now…" Magra added, rubbing the back of his head as he raised a hand in farewell. "Take care!"

"You know… they aren't so bad after all," Franky said, smiling at them. "I'd love to have a good party with them when we come here to raise hell for the nobles."

"Good idea," Usopp said happily.

Luffy only smiled, "Sure, I will!" he turned to leave before he stuck his head back in one more time, as if he remembered one last thing to complain about. "Oh, right!"

They all stopped as he said, "Dadan, I told you that I hate mountain bandits…"

"Luffy…" Nami sighed, she had hoped that he would at least learn something from Makino's lessons.

"Shut up, you little brat!" Dadan called annoyed.

But Luffy held his hand up, "But I like you guys!"

Dadan gasped a little, and she pulled out a handkerchief from her blouse and began crying. "Don't say dumb things like that, and just get lost, damn you!" the other bandits merely smiled. "Sheesh you guys are all so…"

"Why are you crying?"

"I'm not crying!"

"She's just like you, Franky," Chopper said, as the cyborg started to tear up from the touching scene.

"Oh, shut up! I'm a real man! I never cry!" Franky sobbed out.

Luffy only laughed once more as he went running off, waving goodbye to them all as he raced down the road that he hadn't used since he came to this house the first time. Again, it was exciting to follow him down the pathway that would undoubtedly lead them to the village. The trees grew smaller and spread out farther as they slowly turned to farmlands and soon they could see the familiar windmills in the distance.

It was almost a culture shock to see the village again after all this time as Luffy went running down to the town, calling out to the people there.

And finally, the moment came. The next stage of memories was when they were standing on the same dock that Luffy once stood on to wave goodbye to Shanks and his crew. It was truly coming full circle because this time, it was Luffy setting out on his own. Luffy was in an old rowboat, and putting in a large barrel that was filled with what looked like apples. He had just closed the lid as he started saying goodbye to what looked like the whole town.

"I kinda expected him to pack meat," Zoro said.

"Well, apples would keep a lot longer than meat in this case since you can't cook anything in a tiny boat," Nami said as Luffy turned back to the villagers.

"Hey," one man called to him. "If you're going out to sea, you should take my old fishing boat, Luffy. You'll sink right away if you take that thing."

"A rowing boat?" another said. "Come on…"

"Yeah, I have to agree," Franky said, looking at it. "That thing's gonna sink soon."

"I'm fine with this," Luffy said, shaking holding his arms out wide. "I'll start my journey here! It begins now!"

"Typical he would want to start out with that little bathtub," Nami smiled.

"Shows how far he's come since then," Brook laughed proudly, thinking of the Sunny and how they were now in the New World. "This is truly a wondrous thing to see! So this is how our captain started off! And here we are now!"

Luffy was now facing the sea, and suddenly shouted out, "SABO! Look at me! I'm setting out to sea too!"

"I'm not gonna cry," Usopp said, though tears were filling up. "I'm not gonna cry…"

Luffy had a determined look in his eyes as he whispered to himself, "Sabo was first, Ace was second… and now I'm the third to go. But I won't lose!" He then cried out at the top of his lungs, "Wait for me, Ace! I'll catch up to you soon!"

"What are you doing, Luffy?" a villager asked as the rest of them all looked at each other completely lost. "Shouting and muttering to yourself like that. Is it some good luck charm?"

"That's not it," he answered, turning back to him, holding his fist up proudly. "It's a challenge."

"Who's Ace?" someone asked.

"No idea," another answered.

"Wait, they don't know about Ace?" Usopp said in surprise as Makino and the Mayor both shared a secretive look.

"Well, if Ace was brought to Dadan as a baby, and if he practically grew up in the mountains, I'm guessing it's reasonable," Sanji offered.

"Alright," Luffy called happily, waving to them all. "I'm going now!"

He untied the rope, and soon was rowing out as the town waved goodbye.

"There he goes, mayor," Makino said sadly, her hands on her hips like how a older sister, or maybe even how a mother would look to see him going off on his own. "I'm gonna miss him."

"Don't worry my dear!" Sanji proclaimed to her, "Once I find the All Blue, I will come to you! Wait for me! Just wait for… OWWW!" he called as Nami pulled his ear sharply from behind. "OWW OWW OWW! MY EAR IS ATTACHED YOU KNOW!"

"No more of that," she said firmly as she let go and he rubbed his sore ear.

"He's a disgrace to the village. Becoming a pirate…" the Mayor muttered to himself as Chopper said, "I wish that Dadan and the boys could be here."

"They are," Robin giggled softly.

"Wait? Really?" Franky said looking around. "I don't see them."

Robin merely pointed far behind them to see Dadan, Magra, and Dogra all peeking out from behind a building. "I guess they wanted to see him off too. But this is probably better for them. At least they don't have to worry about causing trouble."

"So touching!" Brook sighed happily, now dancing around in a circle. "Yes, what a marvelous thing to see here! Yohoho! And so this is where the journey officially begins!"

"Yeah!" Usopp and Chopper called out happily as they jumped to the sea, and ran out to chase after Luffy for as long as they could before this memory faded.

"Hey, wait a minute!" Nami yelled as Brook and Franky also joined them.

"No point in trying to stop them," Sanji smiled, waving goodbye to Makino and some of the other women in the village. But soon the happy waves turned into gasps of terror and a giant roar was coming from beneath their feet.

A familiar face suddenly burst out from beneath the sea… the glowing red eyes, long eel-like body of the Sea King that had almost eaten Luffy years before.

"Is that…?" Usopp screamed as he and Chopper hugged each other, running back a few feet as the Sea King looked down at Luffy—as if he had been waiting for another chance to eat him.

"The same sea king that took Shank's arm," Brook stated with a cry of shock.

"Wow, didn't see that coming," Zoro smirked.

"He doesn't mean any harm, he's just hungry," Sanji added.

"Can't you be a little worried?!" Usopp yelled back.

"Relax," Zoro said, "It's not like we're dealing with a defenseless little kid anymore. Watch…"

Luffy was standing calmly in the little boat and tilted his hat down so that his eyes were covered. "So, there you are, Lord of the Coast," he said with a wide smile, glancing up at him, "You don't know who you're messing with. Look at my technique. I've been training for ten years."

Luffy threw his arm back and shouted out, "GUM GUM… PISTOL!"

And it was here that the attack hit the beast perfectly, knocking it with such force that it was knocked out of the sea and fell backwards in the water with an enormous tidal wave.

"Looks like he's finally got that move right," Sanji smirked.

"That was amazing!" Chopper said, eyes shining. "And look at how the crew was created from this!"

"Learned your lesson yet, you dumb fish?" Luffy spoke up smugly, but here, he deserved it. Finally, payback for Shank's arm… it was sweet justice. The villagers from the shore were now cheering and whistling loudly in pride as he gazed out at the sea, tilting his hat back to see that clear, blue sky.

"First I gotta gather a crew!" Luffy said to himself as they joined him on the sea. "I'd like to have about ten people! And then a pirate flag…" he beamed at the thought. "Alright… here I come!"

The other Straw Hat were just watching with satisfaction—wondering just what was in store for them all next as Luffy punched the air, and screamed out at the top of his lungs, "I'M GONNA BE THE KING OF THE PIRATES!"

*Luffy*

Luffy went running through the thick forest, following Ace closely, as if terrified of losing sight of him. But even after not seeing the Middle Forest for so long, it was just how he remembered…

"Ace!" Luffy called happily, "Where're we going?!"

Ace laughed ahead. "Come on, Luffy! I know you're slow, but I would've thought you know the way here by now!"

Onwards they ran until they both came to a stop, both knowing where they were now. Up on the highest tree was the old hideout. It had been years since they had been here, but it brought back so many memories that Luffy couldn't hide the smile as he gazed up at it. But Ace nudged him in the side and pointed at the base of the tree.

As Luffy looked, he spotted him…

Leaning up against the trunk was a young man… about the same age as Ace. He was also as tall and muscular as Ace, and was still wearing the same attire he wore as a child but made bigger to fit his size, while there was a bo staff attached to his back. He had longer hair, and his eyes were hidden by his hat's brim—looking the same as it always was. As soon as he heard them he looked up, and a familiar pair of eyes shown from under his hat, as the smile he had was beaming at them both.

"I see you brought him, Ace," he said, standing up, "Took you long enough."

Luffy gapped at him. "Sabo?" he croaked out, before his eyes shown like stars as he ran forward and embraced his long-lost brother, the tears now back in full as Sabo and Ace grinned at each other over Luffy's head happily.

"Still a crybaby I see," Sabo teased.