Chapter Text
"Pirates are evil, the navy is Justice… but that's only true because history tells us so"
The morning after Luffy's third birthday dawned bright and early, the Revolutionary Army camp was already bustling with its usual mix of purpose and chaos. Luffy, still groggy from the celebration the night before, was perched on Dragon's lap in his office, nibbling on a piece of bread as Dragon worked on yet another map spread across his desk.
Dragon, as ever, was quiet, his sharp eyes scanning the parchment before him. Luffy swung their legs idly, too small to reach the floor, and hummed a little tune they'd picked up from the soldiers. The atmosphere felt… different, though. A heaviness hung in the air, and Dragon's usual intensity was tinged with something that Luffy couldn't quite place.
Finally, Dragon put his pen down and looked at Luffy. "We need to talk," he said, his voice measured but firm.
Luffy blinked up at him, their cheeks still stuffed with bread. "'Bout what?"
Dragon hesitated—a rare moment of uncertainty from the revolutionary leader. He reached out, brushing a crumb off Luffy's cheek. "About where you're going."
Luffy tilted their head, confused. "But I'm 'ere."
"Not for much longer," Dragon said, his tone softening slightly. "You're going to live somewhere safer. With family."
The words hit Luffy like a stone sinking in water. "Ya mean I'm leavin' the army?" they asked, their voice small.
"Yes," Dragon replied. "This isn't a place for a child to grow up. You need somewhere stable. Somewhere… normal."
Luffy frowned, their tiny hands clutching the edge of the desk. "But what 'bout ya? An' Iva? Kuma-san? An' everyone else?"
"You'll still see me," Dragon said, though his voice lacked conviction. "But you'll be living with someone else. My father."
The docks were unusually quiet that afternoon. Luffy stood on the weathered planks, their small pack slung over their shoulder, staring up at the enormous man before them. Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp loomed large, his broad frame casting a shadow over the ship behind him. His grizzled face was split by a wide grin, though the sheer volume of his presence made it hard to tell if he was friendly or frightening.
"Oi, kiddo!" Garp barked, his booming voice startling some nearby seagulls. "So, you're my grandkid, huh?"
Luffy blinked up at him, wide-eyed. The sight of Garp triggered something deep in their mind—an old, half-forgotten memory surfacing like a bubble breaking through the depths of a pond. The name… the face…
The sea breeze caressed their face.
Suddenly, it hit them like a lightning bolt. One Piece.
They remembered.
The manga. The story. The adventures of a boy named Monkey D. Luffy, who set out to become Pirate King. The plot, the characters, the world—everything came rushing back in vivid fragments. And standing before them, larger than life, was Garp, the fearsome Marine hero who had once thrown cannonballs for fun.
"...Oh no," Luffy muttered under their breath.
"What's that, brat?" Garp leaned down, his grin widening.
"Nothin'!" Luffy squeaked, forcing a smile. The last thing they needed was to explain how they knew his life story—or the fact that they were apparently destined to become the protagonist of it.
The journey to Foosha Village was mercifully short. Garp, apparently taking the role of caretaker very seriously, spent most of the trip lecturing Luffy on the virtues of strength and justice.
"Listen up, kid!" Garp said, crossing his arms as they sat together on the deck of the Marine ship. "You're gonna grow up to be a fine Marine, just like your grandpa! None of this pirate nonsense, you hear?"
Luffy nodded absently, their mind still spinning. Pirate nonsense? That was supposed to be their future, wasn't it? Gathering a crew, exploring the Grand Line, saving countries, becoming Pirate King—it all felt so distant now.
But as the ship approached Foosha Village, the sight of the small, peaceful town nestled by the sea brought an odd sense of calm. This wasn't a Revolutionary Army base, full of soldiers and plans for war. It wasn't the chaos of the wider world. It was… quiet. Peaceful. Luffy wasn't sure if they liked it yet.
The first person they met in the village, other than the fishermen at the docks, was Makino. Garp had dragged Luffy to "Party's Bar," a cozy little establishment in the heart of town, and immediately ordered a drink.
"Makino!" Garp bellowed, slamming his fist on the counter. "Bring me something strong! And get the kid some milk."
Makino, a slender fifteen-year-old with kind brown eyes and a warm smile, peeked out from behind the bar. "Welcome back, Garp-san," she said, her voice soft and cheerful. Her gaze shifted to Luffy, and her smile widened. "Oh! Is this your grandchild?"
"Yep!" Garp boomed, ruffling Luffy's hair with a rough hand. "Meet Luffy!"
Makino leaned down slightly, meeting Luffy's wide eyes. "Hello, Luffy. It's nice to meet you. I'm Makino."
"Hi," Luffy said quietly, their voice barely above a whisper. They studied Makino carefully, their memories tugging at them. She looked so young compared to how they remembered her from the beginning of the manga. There was a gentleness to her, a warmth that made Luffy relax despite themself.
Makino straightened, brushing her hands on her apron. "Are you hungry? I can make you something if you'd like."
Luffy nodded, feeling their stomach growl. "Yes, please."
As Makino bustled about the bar, preparing a simple meal, Garp leaned back in his chair, already halfway through his drink. "Makino, you'll be looking after the kid while I'm gone," he said gruffly. "Teach 'em some manners, will ya?"
Makino paused, her brow furrowing slightly. "Me? But, Garp-san, I'm only—"
"You'll do fine!" Garp interrupted, waving a dismissive hand. "Just keep 'em out of trouble."
Luffy watched the exchange, unsure how to feel. They hadn't expected to be dropped off in a small village and left with a teenager to look after them. But when Makino returned with a plate of food and a gentle smile, they decided it might not be so bad.
"Here you go, Luffy," she said, setting the plate down in front of them. "Eat up."
"Thank you," Luffy said quietly, picking up a fork. As they ate, the hum of the village filled the background—a stark contrast to the chaos of their life with the Revolutionary Army.
Foosha Village was quiet.
At least, too quiet for someone like Luffy, who had spent their long three years surrounded by the constant movement of the Revolutionary Army. The sleepy seaside town offered none of the chaos of planning missions or the daily drills with soldiers. Instead, it was a place of calm, with waves lapping gently against the shore and the calls of seabirds filling the air.
At first, Luffy hated it. They didn't know what to do with themself in this stillness, where no one was rushing off to fight for a better world. But Makino made things easier.
Makino had become like a big sister to Luffy, always patient and kind. She seemed to understand that Luffy's boundless energy wasn't something to scold but something to guide. The bar, Party's Bar , became Luffy's second home. The fifteen-year-old bartender made sure Luffy always had something to do, whether it was helping her wipe down the counters or running small errands around the village.
"Luffy," she said one morning as she watched them balancing on a chair to clean the windows, "you've got to slow down. You'll finish everything before lunch."
"But I wanna help!" Luffy replied, their small hands scrubbing furiously.
Makino laughed softly and gently took the cloth from their hands. "And you are helping. But sometimes, it's okay to take things slow."
Luffy frowned, but they obeyed, hopping off the chair to sit by the counter. They kicked their legs, staring out the window.
The truth was, they didn't like taking things slow.
They didn't like the quiet.
Because every 'quiet moment' was constantly filled with memories of another life, of the world of One Piece they had read about as a teenager.
(And while some of those memories were hazy, the big ones weren't.)
They knew what was coming: the era of pirates, the rise of warlords, the chaos of the Grand Line. And somewhere, deep in their gut, they also knew that their destiny was tied to it.
As the months turned into years, Luffy began to adapt to village life, but they never stopped yearning for something more. Makino noticed the way they stared out at the sea, their eyes filled with a longing that no amount of games or chores could satisfy.
"You're always thinking about what's out there, huh?" she asked one evening as they sat together in the bar.
Luffy nodded, their small fingers tracing patterns on the wooden counter. "There's so much outta there, Makino. I just… I wanna see it all."
Makino smiled gently. "You're a dreamer, Luffy. That's a good thing. But you're still young. You've got plenty of time to see the world."
Luffy didn't answer.
(They knew Makino was trying to comfort them, but time felt like a luxury they didn't have.)
When Luffy turned five, Garp returned to Foosha Village. His arrival was as loud and chaotic as ever, his booming voice echoing through the village as he strode toward the bar.
"Luffy! Where's my grandkid?"
Makino stepped outside to greet him, smiling warmly. "Garp-san, welcome back. Luffy's inside."
Garp stomped into the bar, his presence filling the room like a storm. He spotted Luffy immediately and scooped them up into a bone-crushing hug.
"Oi, brat! Look at you! You've grown!"
"Gramps!" Luffy squirmed, gasping for air. "Too tight!"
Garp laughed, setting them down with a hearty slap on the back. "You've got to toughen up, kid! Can't have my grandkid being weak!"
Luffy gave a half-hearted nod, already planning their escape. Garp's visit wasn't just a chance to catch up—it was an opportunity. For months, Luffy had been honing their skills, sneaking around the village and practicing what they had learned during their time with the Revolutionary Army. They had even discovered something strange: a way of sensing people's presence without seeing them. They didn't fully understand it yet, but it had already proven useful when avoiding the village fishermen during their escapades.
Now, it would help them sneak aboard Garp's ship.
Late that night, as the village slept, Luffy slipped out of the bar with a small pack over their shoulder. The air was cool and quiet, the only sound was the gentle crash of waves against the docks.
Luffy moved with practiced stealth, their small frame darting between shadows. As they approached Garp's ship, they closed their eyes and focused, reaching out with the strange sixth sense they had been developing. They could feel the faint presence of the crew members aboard, their energy like tiny flickers of light in the darkness.
Carefully, Luffy avoided the strongest presences, slipping aboard the ship unnoticed. They found a small storage room near the back of the ship and tucked themself inside, hidden among crates of supplies.
For the next few days, Luffy stayed out of sight, sneaking food and water from the stores when no one was around. They stayed quiet, their presence so faint that even Garp didn't notice them.
They were going to cross the Red Line.
When the ship docked at an island in the North Blue, Luffy slipped off undetected, their pack slung over one shoulder. They had studied the maps Garp kept in his quarters, memorizing the route they needed to take to reach Minion Island.
Luffy managed to steal a ship from the harbor, using their limited knowledge of navigation to set a course for the abandoned island. The journey was long and grueling, the small boat rocking dangerously in the waves, but Luffy's determination never wavered.
They practiced their Observation Haki during the journey, using it to sense the presence of fish in the water or gauge the distance to nearby islands. It was still a raw ability, but it grew sharper with each passing day.
When Minion Island finally came into view, Luffy's heart sank. The island was shrouded in silence, its barren cliffs and dense forests cloaked in an eerie stillness. And above it all, glinting in the moonlight, was a massive Birdcage .
Luffy's breath caught in their throat as they stared at the deadly threads encasing the island. They recognized it immediately—Donquixote Doflamingo's power. The threads stretched across the island like a giant spider's web, their razor-sharp edges gleaming menacingly.
Steering the boat closer, Luffy reached out with their Observation Haki, searching for any signs of life on the island. The sensation was faint but unmistakable: a flicker of energy deep within the Birdcage.
"They're alive," Luffy murmured, their small hands tightening on the rudder.
They guided the ship to the shore, jumping into the water and swimming the rest of the way. The air was heavy with tension as Luffy dragged themself onto the rocky beach, cold and soaked but determined.
The island was a graveyard of silence, the Birdcage casting long, jagged shadows over the ground. Luffy's heart pounded as they stepped onto the island, their small figure disappearing into the darkness.
The Birdcage loomed high in the sky, its razor-sharp wires glinting ominously in the fading light. Minion Island lay desolate beneath it, a place abandoned by all but whispers of pain and desperation. Luffy's small frame moved swiftly through the shadows, their steps silent but purposeful.
Observation Haki pulsed faintly in their mind, guiding them like a compass. The sensation of life—faint, flickering, yet stubbornly clinging on—drew them closer. They pushed through the underbrush until they reached a clearing, and what they saw made them freeze.
A man with shaggy golden-blonde hair lay sprawled on the ground on a dark-purple feather mantle, his white shirt with pink hearts soaked with blood. The blood was coming out his mouth and reached the dark red lipstick—over his right eye was a dark blue heavy eight pointed rectilinear star tattoo—but his shallow, ragged breaths marked him as alive—just barely.
Beside him knelt a boy, older than Luffy but still just a child. His face was streaked with tears, his trembling hands clutching at the man's bloodstained shirt.
Luffy's eyes softened as they stepped into the clearing. The boy's head snapped up, his golden eyes locking onto Luffy with a mix of suspicion and desperation.
"Who're you?" he demanded, his voice cracking.
Luffy crouched down, tilting their head as they studied the blond man. "Hey, Cora-san," they said, their voice quiet but steady.
The boy flinched, his tears momentarily forgotten. "How do you know that name?"
Ignoring the question, Luffy leaned closer to the injured man. "I'm gonna take out them bullets Mingo shot, so don't move, 'kay?"
"What?" the boy sputtered, shaking his head. "You can't—"
"I ain't askin'," Luffy interrupted sharply. They pulled a wipe and a pair of tweezers from their small pack. "Now, stop bawlin' an' help me, or he ain't gonna make it."
The boy hesitated, his hands trembling as he reluctantly moved to hold Cora-san steady. Luffy's small fingers worked quickly, disinfecting their hands and the tweezers before leaning over the first bullet wound.
"That's one," Luffy muttered as they extracted the first slug and tossed it aside. They worked with the precision of someone much older, their focus unyielding.
The boy watched, his suspicion slowly giving way to awe. "You've done this before?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Nah," Luffy replied, their tone matter-of-fact. "But I've seen plenty worse. Ain't no time to mess around when someone's dyin'."
The boy fell silent, his gaze flicking between the child and the blond man. Luffy pulled the second bullet, then the third, each movement precise and deliberate.
"Five more," Luffy said under their breath, their small face furrowed in concentration.
The boy swallowed hard. "He… he saved me. And now…" His voice broke, and he looked down, gripping Cora-san's hand tightly.
"He ain't dead yet," Luffy said firmly, their tone leaving no room for argument. "Now hold him steady."
By the time the eighth bullet was out, Luffy's hands were slick with blood, and sweat dripped from their brow. They sat back, exhaling sharply as they wiped their hands on a rag.
"There. All done," they said, their voice tired but satisfied.
The boy looked at the blond man, who was still breathing, albeit faintly. "Thank you," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.
"Don't thank me yet," Luffy said, pulling out a roll of bandages. "We still gotta wrap 'im up, or all that work'll be for nothin'. Yer helpin'."
The boy nodded quickly, his shaky hands moving to hold the bandages as Luffy worked. Together, they wrapped the blonde man's torso, securing the makeshift dressing as best they could.
When they were finished, the boy sat back, staring at the ground. "My name's Trafalgar Law," he said softly, his voice hoarse.
"Monkey D. Luffy," Luffy replied, their grin breaking through the tension. "An' I'm gonna be a pirate!"
Law blinked, startled by the sudden declaration. "A pirate? You?"
"Damn right," Luffy said, jabbing a thumb at their chest. "An' not just any pirate. I'm gonna be the Pirate King!"
Law stared at them, his brow furrowing. "You've got the will of D," he murmured.
"Yeah? So what?" Luffy asked, tilting their head. "It's just my name."
Law said nothing, the weight of that letter settling in his chest. This child—this strange, determined child—spoke of the "D" as if it were nothing more than a family name.
Luffy stood, brushing off their shorts. "C'mon," they said, looking back at Law. "We gotta get off this island. Got a boat waitin'."
Law hesitated, glancing at Cora-san. "But what about him?"
"He'll be fine," Luffy said confidently. "We patched 'im up good. Now we just gotta get outta here 'fore Mingo shows up."
Law nodded reluctantly, following Luffy as they carried Cora-san to the boat. They laid him carefully in the cabin before returning to the deck.
Luffy frowned as they watched Law lean heavily against the railing, his breath coming in shallow gasps. "Oi, what's wrong with ya?"
Law shook his head, clutching his chest. "It's the Amber Lead Syndrome. It's… it's killing me."
Luffy's eyes widened as the Sea whispered in their mind. They crouched in front of Law, their face serious. "Yer Devil Fruit. The Ope Ope no Mi. Ya can use it to cut out the lead."
Law blinked, confusion flashing across his face. "What are you talking about? I don't even know how to use my powers like that."
"Ya gotta try," Luffy said firmly, pulling out a disinfected knife and handing it to him. "If ya don't, ya ain't gonna make it."
With Luffy's guidance, Law activated his Devil Fruit, a faint blue sphere forming around the deck. His hands trembled as he gripped the knife, the weight of what he had to do bearing down on him.
"You can do it," Luffy said, their voice steady. "I'll stay right ‘ere."
Hours passed in agonizing silence. The deck was stained with blood, Law's ragged breaths filling the air. Finally, with one last shaky motion, he collapsed, the knife clattering to the floor.
"Oi!" Luffy shouted, catching him before he hit the deck. "Don't die on me now, ya hear?"
As they carried Law to the cabin, the ship veered sharply, caught in a sudden current.
Luffy cursed, unable to grip the wheel. The ship drifted aimlessly, carried by the unpredictable sea, and Luffy saw black.
To be continued…