Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Luffy was sitting in the Party Bar with Shanks talking, well more like fighting, about how Luffy's punches were like pistols. Which they most certainly were not. Makino was giggling away at their fight when a ugly looking bandit slammed the doors open.

He walked up the counter and looked at Makino. "Me and my friends here would like some 'ol booze you got any?" While watching the bandits walk up to the counter he saw a fruit, and being Luffy of course, he ate it. It was a bright red color like a fresh picked apple and had large and small swirls all around it. Luffy almost spit it out when he ate it but food was food.

"I'm sorry but we don't have any booze left." Makino says slowly, taking a step back.

"Then what are these pirates drinking, water?"

"No, that's the last of-." That was when luffy passed out. Nobody really noticed until the bandits left, and Shanks was yelling at the kid to wake up.

"Hey Anchor, wake up!" He noticed the half eaten fruit lying on the floor and panicked. "Dammit! He ate the devil fruit!" While this was going on Luffy's mind was racing knowledge of fruits of weird shapes and colors where forcing themselves into Luffy's brain and it hurt like hell. Every fruit that ever existed was known by Luffy, their shape, size, hell even their weight and where to find them. Whether they are at the bottom of the sea or already bonded with another singing proudly of their partner. It was all there.

When he finally woke up he was surrounded by familiar faces all looking very worried. "Luffy, are you ok?" Makino whispered.

Luffy looked up to meet her gaze and beamed, "YEP!"

"Luffy," Shanks said, "YOU JUST ATE A DEVIL FRUIT THEY GIVE YOU POWERS BUT THEY TAKE AWAY YOUR ABILITY TO SWIM!"

"Yeah I already know that," he said deadpanned, "isn't that like common knowledge?"

"NOT IN THE EAST BLUE!" All the pirates yelled. Shanks still looked worried when he asked.

"Luffy do you feel any different?"

Shanks stood there dumbfounded. Luffy expressed knowledge of fruits he shouldn't even know of let alone how they worked. "So," he started, "it was like all the information was shoved into your mind?"

"Yes."

"And now you know everything there is about every fruit?"

"Yes."

"So is this like a fruit that just gives you knowledge about fruits?"

"No it didn't look like any of the fruits that do that."

"Well what fruit was it that you ate then?"

"Who knows?"

"YOU SHOULD! YOU'RE THE ONE WITH ALL THIS KNOWLEDGE!"

Luffy just laughed at him while Benn spoke up, "wow captain, now it's luffy who's making fun of you."

Shanks' face went beet red while he yelled at his first mate.

Quick note before you keep reading this is gonna be a time skip to when he leaves to go off to become a pirate. I know it leaves out all the adventures and stuff with Ace and Sabo but for me I would just like it to stay the same except luffy has a different fruit. Sorry if you want that but not really. The fruit's powers will be shown and better explained in later text.

-Coby-

From some unknown reason my luck just had to be this bad. After some scrawny kid about my age burst out of the barrel and claimed to be the future pirate king things just started to go downhill. We were talking about our dreams when I shouted I wanted to be a marine and catch Alvida when she burst through the wall. "WHO ARE YOU CATCHING!"

I squeaked up" n-no one miss a-alvida."

The kid next to me looked up at my captain before turning to me and asking, "Who's the dying baby whale?"

Jaws dropped all around. Everyone close enough to hear what he had said stared at him. "What did you say?! COBY!"

"Y-yes?"

"Who is the most beautiful lady on the seas?" she asked, smirking.

"W-well i-its y," I stopped remembering what luffy had said about stopping at nothing for his dream, and I looked back up, "DEFINITELY NOT YOU YOU UGLY HAG!"

Luffy started laughing his ass off while I still looked up at Alvida. She looked dumbfounded. Yep, that look was totally worth it .

After the shock wore off she picked up her mace and swung it down. The next thing I knew was that I wasn't in the room anymore and were now on the top deck. Luffy must've picked me up by the collar because I'm pretty sure I blacked out before the mace hit the ground. "GET 'EM!"

We were surrounded by pirates all with their guns and swords pointed at us. I was trembling knees weak when I saw Alvida come out from the now destroyed kitchen room.

She was right there and we had nowhere to run and all Luffy was doing was standing there! That's when I noticed him pull out what looked like a gold coin and played with it with his fingers. Twirling it in his hand when suddenly threw it up in the sky catching the light of the sun and making the coin look like it was glowing. It came back down and Luffy caught it in one swift motion moving the hand with the coin out in front and yelled, "GAMBLE!"

Chapter Text

"GAMBLE!" As Luffy shouts a huge golden glass like spinning wheel that seemed to glow was suspended in the sky behind him. The edges of the wheel looked blurred as if there were pictures of something on it. It was clearly spinning, spinning so fast it looked like it could have created gusts of wind strong enough to push a small dingy.

It kept spinning for what seemed like ages squished down to seconds where it stopped. A picture of a deep green fruit with swirls resembling leaves. After the wheel stopped Luffy smirked and yelled, "BET!"

The wheel disappeared and vines started to crawl up his arm. Before anyone could act he yelled out again, " FOREST FLOOR TRIP!" Vines sprouted out of the ground and rapped themselves around the pirates legs, tripping them while they continued to move forward at an alarming pace growing trees and flowers soon covered the deck, it now looked like a mini forest.

Coby was snapped out of his daze of shock as Alvida yelled, "YOU ATE A DEVIL FRUIT!"

Luffy started laughing, "Wow you have horrible luck! This was a great draw!"

As he spoke Alvida's face turned more red, if that was even possible, and looked like she was gonna burst. "YOU DAMNED BRAT! NOBODY MESSES WITH ME AND GETS AWAY WITH IT!" She lifted up her mace ready to bring Luffy down only for Luffy to get into a fighter's stance, one leg planted back and the other planted in front, pulling his arm back, still holding his coin and covered in vines, and hit her in the stomach, hard. The vines that covered his arm started to rip at the sheer force of how hard he had hit her.

She was, obviously, set flying back until you couldn't see her body flying away anymore. "Geez that wasn't much of a fight, I could've easily beaten her with a bluff draw." Luffy stated, one finger up his nose.

"W-what was that, w-what are you!" Coby squealed.

"Shi shi shi shi, I ate the Gamble Gamble no mi, I can make bets on which devil fruit I get to use next! Fun isn't it?" Coby stood there dumbfounded when Luffy called out to one of the only crew members that weren't covered in vines and flowers to get us a boat to leave on.

"So what do you mean you make bets on which devil fruit you use?" Coby asked, they had left the ship an hour or two before and were heading to a town close by.

"Well, basically it's like spinning a wheel of every devil fruit in the world on it and whichever one it lands on is the fruit I use. Shi shi shi shi, good thing the one I used back there was a good one, that fruit was a lot of fun to play with!" Luffy beamed. "It's a mystery power, cool right?!" Luffy's eyes were literal stars.

"Oh uh ok? Well you said you were a pirate, where's your crew? Or did they get washed away?"

"Nope, don't have one yet," Coby sat there thinking over his words when he was about to say something on it he was cut off, "Yeah! Heading for the grandline after we stop at the town near here and pick up my crew as I go!"

Coby got up and yelled, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN HEADING THERE THIS SOON!"

"Ne it doesn't matter, so which town are we heading to anyways?"

"Shells town, I heard it's where they're keeping Roronoa Zoro."

"Who the hell is that?"

"Shhhhh! Don't say things like that! I heard that he's like a demon in human skin! He serves his bounties in pieces because he cuts them up so badly!"

"Wow! Cool! Yosh! Imma gonna ask him to join the crew, well maybe, have to decide if he's a good guy first!"

"WHAT THE HELL HE'S A BOUNT-"

-A little while, and a very boring talk, later-

"Wow he really is just sitting out here in the sun," said coby.

"See I told ya!" chriped luffy.

"Come over hear, I'll make it worth your while to release me. Maybe a big bountie you want cut down?"

"NO LUFFY DON'T LISTEN TO HIM HE'LL KILL YOU!"

"No he wouldn't, I wouldn't let him." Zoro looked up at luffy and an annoyed huff was let out when a girl shhhed them and climbed over the wall.

"D-don't go over there, it's dangerous!" Coby shouted to the girl.

"Whadda you want?" Zoro asked.

"Luffy do something she'll get hurt!" Coby squealed.

"GET LOST, do you want to get yourself killed?!"

"I made rice balls!"

"I ain't hungry, now beat it!"

"B-but."

"Leave or I'll stomp you to death!"

"Wow, the Roronoa Zoro speaking so harshly to a little girl, how ruthless you are~!"

"Well at least she's safe now, the marines are here." Coby sighed.

"I wouldn't bet on that." Luffy mumbled.

"Well if it isn't the prissy son of the marine captain!"

"Idiot! Know your place, scum!" Helmeppo walked over and picked up one of the rice balls. Tension rising and luffy moved to sit on the wall, watching everything still happening. "Ew what is this disgusting rice ball!"

"I-it was my first time making them and I thought they would taste better with sugar."

"They're rice balls, they are supposed to have salt, SALT!" He started smashing the rice balls into the ground. She started crying at the hard work lost in her rice balls when he annoyingly spoke out again, "it's your own damn fault, you should read the signs! You have committed a crime by helping him!" He turned and pointed at one of the marines behind him, "you there, throw her over the fence!"

"B-but sir!" Luffy moved from the fence and back onto the ground behind it waiting for the girl to come over the wall.

"L-luffy what are you doing!"

"Waiting for the girl."

"But the marines would never do that!"

"And I don't take chances Coby." At the same moment the girl screamed as she was thrown over the wall.

"RAISE!" Luffy shouted. Vines quickly moved up from the ground and towards the girls catching her before she hit the ground.

Luffy walked up to the wall again when he saw the prissy boy leave the grounds, and scaled the wall to the other side.

"What the hell are you still doing here?"

"Well you seem like a cool guy and I'm looking for a crew!" Luffy beamed at Zoro.

"Ha, like I would even join in on being a pirate! I ain't a criminal you know!"

"Well you're the one who's tied to the pole and I'm not."

"I've never done anything I ain't proud of! All i have to do is stay here for a month and I'm free to go back to full fill my dream! So scram and look for a crew somewhere else!"

Luffy turned to walk away with a smirk playing on his lips when Zoro called out, "hey wait!" Luffy turned, "do ya think you can give me that food the girl brought," luffy's smirk grew into a wicked grin before he licked his lips and picked up the crushed rice ball and gave it to Zoro while he ate the whole thing, "tell the girl it was good."

At that luffy turned and picked his coin out his pocket and flicked it into the air, the light from the sun bouncing off it, "fold," he quietly mumbled before turning his head back to face zoro locking eyes with the man, "let the games begin Roronoa." The knowing grin on his lips sent shivers down his spine, for some reason it felt like his life was in his hands now, tied up like a marionette. All choices and actions all planned nothing unnoticed. He just walked into the devil's game and the only way out was to play.

-------------------
Welp, that was fun. When I think Gamble I think poker. So the fruit's terms are going to be heavily based on the game, can you guess what each term will mean?

Chapter Text

"What is life if not a gamble?" F.E. Higgins

Walking back to where Coby was wasn't hard considering the loud yell, "LUFFY!" Stopping he turned and saw Coby running up to where he was.

"Hey Coby," despite his best intentions he couldn't hide the excited look on his face, "where's the little girl I have something to tell her."

"O-oh she's over there," pointing to a restaurant over in the distance.

—

"Really!?"

"Yep! He ate every little bit!" Luffy chirped.

"Is he really as bad as everyone says?"

"Of course not! He helped us, he's there because of me, Captain Morgan's son had a bunch of mean dogs and they attacked me. Zoro saved me."

"Oh~ So he was put in prison because he hurt that prissy's dog?" His smirk grew and a crazy glint in his eyes made themselves present. His hand twitched

"Yes! He's supposed to be released after a month," smiling she answered, "that's why I've been bringing him food!"

"For someone clearly one for honor, you would've thought he would've noticed that dip shit wouldn't keep his promise," Luffy mumbled.

"HEY BOW DOWN YOU LOWLY SCUM! Do you want to be jailed like Roronoa!? We're going to execute that brute in three days, we'll make an example of him!"

Luffy looked up, bingo, his eyes glowed for a split second, smirking and head on his elbow, "but you promised him?"

"HA, that promise was just a joke! He's just a stupid beast for believing that!"

An inquisitive, dark look replaced the happy smile once on his face. Swaying a little bit as he stood. His feet dug into the ground with each step forward, "you know I hate it when people don't keep up their promises," he stopped, "but~," he locked eyes with him, "I can leave it to the beast to deal with you later."

Before Helmeppo could say anything Luffy dug his feet into the ground with a scratching sound from the rocks and dirt mixing. And he moved.

His fist met his face with a loud pounding sound radiating through the deafening silence that had taken the town's people.

"Rule number one," he said with each word punctuated , "never wake a sleeping dragon, rule number two, never touch a dragon's treasure." A condescending smile took its place on his face, "and you, just broke both those rules, so what do you think is going to happen now? Now that that beast is 'caged'?"

Helmeppo was shaking, Luffy leaned back up from his place into front of his face and walked away.

After he was a decent distance away Luffy heard Coby, "LUFFY! Are you trying to get the navy to fight you!?"

"I don't care, scum is scum no matter who the father is and scum like him deserved much worse than that," he said calmly.

"They won't let you get away with this!"

"Yeah whatever," he waved him off with his hand, "I need to talk to Zoro."

—-

"Hey!"

Zoro looked up, "oh it's you again, what do you want this time, if this is still about joining your crew the answer is no."

Smiling, "Luffy."

"Hm?"

"You can call me Luffy, hey, I'll untie the rope if you join my crew."

"You don't listen do you? I've got my own mission and it doesn't include becoming a stupid fucking pirate."

"Why? Do you think you're too good to be a pirate? You, a bounty hunter, who everyone thinks is a demon?"

"I don't care what other people think of me, I live by my own code, I've never done anything I don't regret and I don't plan to in the future either. Which is why I would never become a pirate!"

"So tell me," a smirk crossed his face, "you seem to be a bounty hunter that's known for his swordsmanship, so where are your swords?"

His throat went dry, "my swords are my treasure, and for your information if I was out of these ropes I'd show you how much better I am then what you've heard. And to answer your question that priss took them."

Luffy turned towards the base and started walking, "HEY, where're you going!"

He turned hand on his head holding onto his own treasure as if it would blow away if he didn't and smile grew into one that could blind a person, "I'm getting your treasure back!"

A panicked look came across Zoro's face, " Hey wait!"

But, he was already too far- that's a lie, Luffy… just didn't give a shit.

—-

Who knew that walking into a marine base like you own the base would allow you to walk wherever you wanted? Well luffy did. After walking around he found the human waste-of-space out on the roof where he's been standing watching some tall dude yell at everyone, Luffy's throat hurt just watching. And of course the mature thought the first came to his mind when he saw the man was, of course, would he be bigger than a normal sized fat person, if he was fat, because he's bigger? Clearly, a philosopher in the making.

"Hey onion topper!"

Everyone turned from what they were doing, eyes bulged from what he had just said.

"Him! Father, that's the man that punched me!"

And at that everyone, besides that tall not fat man, lost focus and the statue fell and broke.

. . . "Sorry"

"Seize him! I'll have his heart!"

"YES SIR!"

"AYE, AYE SIR!"

"O-onion topper!? You dare call me nam-! H-HEY LET ME GO!"

Luffy sped off back into the ugly zebra print building.

"SIR."

"What!?"

"Someone's in the parade ground!"

—

"What!? Luffy went into the fortress!?" Coby sighed, "Why is he so reckless?"

Coby moved forward and started to unite the ropes, "hey! Now you're being reckless! Do you want to get killed?!"

"You were imprisoned unfairly, I hate seeing the navy act like this, I am going to become a proper sailor! Like how luffy's going to be King of the Pirates!"

"What!? Doesn't he know what that means?!"

"Haha I was shocked at first too, but he'll succeed or die trying! That's how he is."

BANG

Zoro looked up to the top of the building with pure loathing at the Captain.

—-

"THERE HE IS GET HIM!"

"Where's Zoro's swords?"

"I'LL TELL YOU, JUST STOP DRAGGING ME!" He stopped, gasping, "they're in my room we just passed it."

"DROP THE CAPTAIN'S SON OR WE'LL SHOOT!"

"Don't wanna,". He moved the pansy wagon up as a shield.

"H-HEY WAIT, D-DON'T SHOOT!"

"He's using Helmeppo as a shield!"

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

—-

"I'M GONNA DIE!"

"Good, you're alive! Now get outta here before they get out here."

HuFf HuFF, "I, haven't …. Untied you yet."

"Don't worry about me, I just have to survive the month and they'll let me go. So just beat it —"

"THEY'RE NOT GOING TO LET YOU GO! YOU'RE GOING TO BE EXECUTED IN THREE DAYS!"

"WHAT'RE YOU SAYING THAT IDIOT FROM BEFORE PROMISED ME AFTER A MONTH I'LL BE SET FREE!"

"He never intended to keep his side of the bargain, that's why Luffy punched Helmeppo! He found out he was lying to you!"

"What?!"

"Please, the navy is your enemy now, let me untie you! I won't ask you to be a pirate but at least team up and get out of here, you're both strong so I know you can do it!"

"STAY WHERE YOU ARE!"

"CAPTAIN MORGAN HAS REQUESTED YOU'RE IMMEDIATE EXECUTION!"

—

"This must be it," he looked around the room, "ah! These must be his, hm~," smirking, "a three bladed swordsman, how fun." Grabbing the swords he turned to the window, "Cody!"

—

"SURROUND THE FORTRESS! IF THAT STRAW HAT ESCAPES, YOU'LL ALL BE SORRY!"

"You three aren't simple outlaws, are you!? You're going to overthrow me!"

"Roronoa Zoro! Peasants and pirates may tremble at your name! But you're no match for the great one! You may be a barracuda, BUT I AM A GREAT WHITE SHARK!"

"TAKE AIM!"

Sweat rolled down his face, fear in his blood racing against his heart. Every sound resentanting through the air, every smell, everything was on display, he could feel everything, no, no nonononono - I CAN'T DIE YET. What is life if not a gamble.

"FIRE!"

BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG

"huh, where'd they go!?"

The dust cleared revealing Luffy, Coby, and Zoro away from where the bullets were aimed. Covering the top of his head and moving down his neck and arms was fur of greys and browns. Eyes pointed up and followed every sound that could be heard. Sharp calculating eyes roamed the firing squad. The three swords were tied to his back and his hands were a mix between paws and hands, claws from between his fingers that were shortened. He was crouched over.

He stood up and gave the swords to Zoro, "TRY HARDER NEXT TIME, IF I CAN'T EVEN DODGE THAT I AIN'T WORTHY OF BEING KING OF THE PIRATES"! Turning back to Zoro, who was now standing up, "well since I untied you your apart or my crew now, but still if you decide not to fight you'll die and if you do fight you'll become a outlaw like me, so Mr. Roronoa will you really join my crew." Checkmate.

His eyes widened, "what are you? The spawn of the devil? You're lucky I don't fancy dying yet, ALL RIGHT, YOU'VE GOT YOURSELF A PIRATE!"

They both turned to the marines seconds passed before Luffy finally spoke, "looks like the beast was let free from his cage, my bad."

Please read!

Thank you for the suggestion for a linx, Monxu Aki! Now to answer your question think of every battle he plays as a game, if you win game you take all chips in the pot, but if you lose then you lose all the chips you had bet, so if Luffy has a fruit that affects someone like Lin Lin's fruit and he wins the battle he will keep all the changes he has made but if he loses that battle, he loses everything he had changed.

Chapter Text

"He's no ordinary human, he ate a devil fruit! WHAT ARE YOU DOING, CHARGE!"

Luffy's teeth shined in the light, glinting off the sharp canines. KLANG. Zoro moved to in front of Luffy catching all the swords of the marines swords in his own three.

"WOW, aren't you cool!" Luffy chirped.

"The first one who moves, dies." Terror swept through the souls of poor little shits that tried attacking them. "Alright, I'm a pirate, I gave you my word. I've fought the Navy, therefore I'm officially an outlaw," his arms and legs held his body against the heavy weight of the marines perfectly, "but hear this I have a mission to fulfill! I'm going to be the world's greatest swordsman! All I have left is my destiny! My name may be infamous but it's going to shake the world! But you are making me become a pirate! So if I have to abandon my dream for whatever reason, then you shall commit Hara Kiri!"

The dust from the first attack had settled around the feet of the figures standing on the grounds. Luffy's eyes were like a cat's, the slits down the middle had become thin, staring at the swordsman before he answered, "The world's greatest swordsman, is that all, if I'm going to be the pirate king i wouldn't have any less or I'd make me look bad."

"Hmph, you sure talk big."'

"WHY DID YOU HESITATE!? HACK THOSE FREAKS INTO MINCE MEAT! NOW!"

"ZORO, DUCK!" Luffy moved forward using his sharp claws to cut all the swords into pieces. Pressure from the speed of the attack knocked the marines back.

"WOW, he's incredible!"

"What the hell are you?!"

"A gambling addict!"

Zoro sputtered, "WHAT THE HECK IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN!"

"Shishishishishishi."

"ANSWER THE QUESTION!"

"Captain they're too much!"

"It's hopeless! We can't win against whatever he is!"

"And that demon, Roronoa Zoro at the same time!"

"Hear me! All you cowards who're whining just now, will shoot yourselves in the head! I won't tolerate DEFEATISTS IN MY OUTFIT! ON MY ORDER, FIRE!"

The shoulders stood up sweating in fear holding their guns to their heads. The sounds of guns clicking, reading themselves to fire was deafening in the quiet grounds.

"Somethings wrong with those Naval marines!" He and Luffy moved, running over to stop the deaths of the marines.

"HEY, I'm your enemy, OVER HERE DUMBASS!" Shock from the marines was clear from the lowing of their guns and awestruck faces. "MORONS WHO USE THEIR PEOPLE AS FODDER ARE SCUM!"

"LUFFY, DESTROY THESE LOUSY MARINES!"

"Hmph! You have neither rank nor status! I'll teach you to defy your betters!"

A crazed look found its place on Luffy's face, shadows covered his face, highlighting the features of his face, "Isn't that what makes this so much fun," his smile grew, "when you fight for your life status doesn't matter, everyone has the same chance to win, isn't that so wonderful!"

"I'M CAPTAIN AXE-HAND MORGAN!"

"piss off," Zoro snorted at that one, not that he'd admit it.

Anger grew, evident on Morgan's features, "DIE!" He swung his huge axe hand at Luffy, cutting through the air like a fish in water. And just. As easily Luffy dodged the swing by gracefully jumping over the axe. The trail following the swing cut the barbed wire fencing and concrete walls.

"Wow, t-that's sharp!"

Spinning mid air using both his feet, Luffy planted a strong kick to Morgan's face which was stronger than usual because the amplified strength from the devil fruit. He fell backwards from the hit skidding across the ground. "Th-the Captain!"

"Boy.." Gathering his strength, "I sentence you TO DEATH!"

Luffy charged, running at the swinging axe, using his hand on the ground he spun away from the quickly falling axe. "I ain't gonna die just yet!"

Leaping up using the strength from his legs he grabbed the sides of the Captain's head and brought him back down onto his back. "He's just too strong!"

"CAPTAIN MORGAN!"

Walking onto the fallen body he kneeled in front of the Captain's head and pulled his shirt up. "You and your damned Navy are ruining Coby's dream!"

Click

"STOP!" Sure. Surprisingly, Luffy didn't stop, and instead punched the Captain's head as hard as he could causing it to bleed. "I SAID STOP, YOU IDIOT!"

And there he was, in all his glory, Helmeppo, *jazz hands* yaaaaaay~.

"ONE FALSE MOVE AND FOUR EYES GETS IT! IF YOU EVEN, BLINK I'LL SHOOT!"

"Helmeppo!"

"HEY LUFFY! DON'T LET THEM WIN BECAUSE OF ME! LET THEM KILL ME!"

Luffy snorted then smiled a bright cheery smile, "You're a good guy Coby! Hey son-of-a-bitch! Coby means it!"

"Hey! I told you not to move or I'd shoot!"

"Fine then do it then."

Luffy was getting ready to run to the other side of the court, "LUFFY BEHIND YOU!"

"YOU'VE ASSAULTED AN OFFICER OF THE NAVY!"

Zoro got ready to fight off the captain, "LINX'S RUN!"

"DADDY KILL HIM!"

In the blink of an eye Luffy was grabbing the gun pointed at Coby and twisting the twig's arms. And Zoro had taken comfort in keeping the Captain down by quickly cutting him down. Back to Luffy twisting the arm behind his back and kicking as hard as he could in the no no stop, quickly, and effectively, knocking him out. "If I hadn't moved I would've been hurt, thanks." Helmeppo was on the ground, soul leaving his body, and the fur over his body seemed to be retreating back.

"No sweat, Captain."

—-

"THE CAPTAIN LOST!"

"CAPTAIN MORGAN'S BEEN DEFEATED!"

Zoro sheathed his swords with a slow metal shrill following along, "any of you still wanna capture us?"

The marines looked around, "HOORAY!"

"WE'RE FREE!"

"MORGAN'S REIGN OF TERROR IS OVER!"

"BANZAI FOR THE NAVY!"

"Well isn't an interesting reaction," Luffy said cackling.

"That means, Captain Morgan was ruling by fear!"

Zoro fell over seconds later, "Zoro?"

—-

"DAMN! I'm stuffed! Not eating for nine days was worse than I thought!"

They were now in the restaurant eating their fill, "see," luffy pointed his fork at Zoro, "You'd never make it through without me!"

"Funny, you seem hungrier than me!"

"Wow mister you're great!" Spoke Rika.

"So, what's next?"

"We're heading straight for the Grand Line!"

Coby spit his drink out, "HUH!? THAT"S SUICIDE! THERE ARE ONLY TWO OF YOU, YOU'D BE WALKING INTO YOUR DEATHS! THE MOST BLOOD THRISTY PIRATES ARE THERE!"

"Well, I guess if we're after the one piece that's where we need to go."

"Why're you agreeing with him!"

"What's it to you? You're not coming with us."

"No, but I'm still worried about you! And Luffy I know we haven't known each other for long but we're still friends right?"

"We're going our separate ways, but of course we'd still be friends."

"Hmmm, what are your plans?"

"Huh?"

"You were a cabin buy for 2 years, watch out for the Navy's intelligence, if they find out they won't let you enroll," Zoro spoke calmly.

"Excuse me. You gentlemen are pirates, correct?"

Smirking, Luffy answered, "that's right, just got my first mate which would make me an official pirate captain."

"Um, you saved our base and this town, however we're marines and we can't shelter pirates. I'm sorry but we're asking for you to leave, but to show our gratitude we will not report you."

"NAVY SCUM! WHAT'RE YOU DOING!"

"YOU HATED MORGAN JUST AS MUCH AS US!"

"THEY SAVED US!"

"Took you lot long enough, we'll guess we'll be leaving now, thanks for the meal ma'am."

They stood up and walked past Coby towards the door. "Aren't you going with them?"

"Huh?"

"I, I'm, I'm not with them!"

Halfway out the door Luffy stopped for a second to quickly look back and smirk, happy at Coby finally getting to reach this chance. "Excuse me, pirates? Is that true?"

Luffy stopped, looked back with a dark shadowed look and spoke out calmly, "why would I be associated with a marine wanna be?"

Luffy snorted and kept on walking, "see you at the top Coby."

They were gone, outside of the restaurant, "catch us if you can~."

"PLEASE LET ME JOIN THE NAVY, SIR! I'LL BE A CABIN BOY, OR ANYTHING, BUT LET ME PLEASE JOIN!"

"Lieutenant! I don't think that's a good idea. I still don't trust him."

"Pirates have been known to plant spies in the navy. We should do a thorough background check."

"I'M NO PIRATE! I'M GONNA BE A MARINE OFFICER!"

"Many fellow sailors have been killed by pirates, don't take being a sailor lightly. You're accepted."

"Yes sir! Thank you very much!"

—

"That was some pretty crappy acting, I wouldn't be surprised if they saw through it."

"Yeah well it's all up to Coby now, whether he can get in or not."

"Well it's a good time to leave, everybody hates us, that's the way pirates should leave a town."

"Shishishishi, I guess that's true!"

"L-LU, LUFFY!"

"Hm? Coby?"

Coby stood at attention, "thank you very much, CAP'N LUFFY! I'll never forget all that you did for me!"

"That's a new one, a pirate being saluted by a marine."

"Shishishi, we'll meet again Coby!"

"'Ten-SHUN!" All the marines behind Coby stood at attention, giving their thanks to the pirates.

—

"You've got some good friends, sailor."

"YES, SIR!"

—

"NOW WE'RE ON ARE WAY TO THE GRANDLINE!" 

Chapter Text

This is going to be a scene from the anime and not the manga. Where Luffy talks to Zoro about the pirate king and his promise to shanks.

—-

The water lapped at the sides of the boat. Moving them forwards. Earlier Luffy said real pirates let the water move them to their next adventure, but that was just a horrible cover up story for the fact he had no clue where he was going.

"Hey Luffy?"

"Hmm?" He was sitting on the front of the boat looking out onto the horizon.

"Well, it's just that you talk a lot about this whole pirate king thing and I was wondering why you're so adamant at becoming the next one."

"Well part of it is my hat," he placed his hand on his head gripping onto his treasure, "I made a promise to someone that I would become a great pirate one day."

Zoro took another sip from his drink, moving to sit up from his lying position on the ground, "and what's the other part?"

Luffy turned a sharp grin on his face showing some of his teeth. A twinkle in his eyes that made the swordsman shiver, "I think he's awesome, in his dying breath he took the biggest gamble ever, he didn't know whether or no toe pole would actually listen, or who would actually make it to the last island. And there was no going back, he gave his life for a gamble. Isn't that awesome?"

Zoro stiffened, a crazy smirk came across his face, "I think only you would think of it like that, Captain."

"Well I'll live by it, life is none but a gamble of choices. Hey, is that a bird?" They looked in each other's eyes, "FOOD!"

Chapter Text

Open seas, nothing but the clothes on his back and the stolen boat from that really fat pirate.

“I’m starving!”

“Don’t you think it’s strange how you can’t navigate?”

“Nah drafting has worked pretty well for me.” Luffy paused and sat up. “What about you aren’t you supposed to be the holy terror of the seas?”

“I don’t recall calling myself that, I followed a pirate I was looking for out to sea, but I couldn’t find my way back to my village. So I made the best of the situation and went after pirates that were in the area. I had to make money somehow.”

…

“Pfffft, you got lost!”

“THE VILLAGE MOVED! Anyway what kind of a pirate doesn’t know how to navigate a ship, that’s stupid. At this rate we will never make it to the Grandline. We’ve got to recruit a navigator soon.”

“And we need a cook, and a musician, and a-”

“Those can wait!”

“I’M STARVING!” They both fell onto their backs, looking up at the sky when a bird passed by.

“Hey there’s a bird.”

“It looks pretty big.”

....

….

“Let’s eat it!”

“Huh how?”

Luffy stood up and made a bird call. Surprising the bird up in the sky it came flying down. And it started to get bigger and bigger the farther it came down. A look of dread came over Zoro. The bird swooped down, grabbed Lufffy and kept on flying. Fuck.

“DAMMIT LUFFY!”

------------------------

Luffy punched the bird once he saw there was land under his feet. Causing him to fall right into some people on the ground. “Boss! You came to rescue me!”

One of the girls that he had run into started running away and leaving the people running after her to him. “HEY SHES GETTING AWAY!”

“FORGET THE GIRL! WE GOT THE BOSS RIGHT HERE! He’s a bigger catch than she is!”

The three men surrounded Luffy swords out and being extremely intimidating. Luffy, on the other hand, was having the time of his life, that girl was very intriguing to him. ‘How fun.’

One of the men thought it was a good idea to try to punch him in the face so the man hit Luffy’s hat instead. “ISN'T THAT RIGHT BOSS!? THAT MAP BELONGED TO CAPTAIN BUGGY!” In return, Luffy quickly spinned, leg up and digging his foot into the side of the man’s face. A resounding crunch echoed through the streets.

“Don’t touch the hat.”

“WHY YOU-” Another kick to the gut and a punch thrown to the face both men were out.

“Wow~” Luffy’s smile grew, “you’re pretty tough, you beat those swordsmen with your bare hands!”

Luffy turned, hand on his hat, “Hmmm~ who might you be?”

“The name is Nami! I specialize in robbing pirates. Wanna team up with me?”

“Robbing pirates? That sounds like loads of fun, I mean think of all the money you could make!”

“I know right!” Nami and Luffy’s eyes had turned into berry signs.

“Ah, but I am kinda busy at the moment,” Luffy turned and looked away, “sorry!”

“Hey! Wait a minute!”

“Why’d you get so mad over that guy touching your hat? Is it valuable?”

“This hat is my treasure.”

“Treasure huh? Do you keep money or jewels in there? Or a treasure map!?”
“Nah, but in retrospect, they do say Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”

----------------------------------

“Weird… so you lost your other crewmate at sea?”

“Yeah, I got caught by a really big bird, shishishishi, that was really fun. This your house?”

“No. my work keeps me on the move. I don’t know whose house it is. The town is practically deserted. Everyone wants to stay away from the town because it’s being used by the pirate Buggy the clown.”

“Ohhhh~ how scary.”

“Buggy, the infamous canon happy buccaneer. They say some kids in a village made fun of his nose. Buggy then used his cannons to blow the town down to nothing, and what’s more I’ve heard that buggy has mysterious powers.”

“Yeah I know, he's got a really cool one considering where we are.”

“Cool one?”

“Hmmm I wonder why there’s no one here?”

“I TOLD YOU ALREADY IT’S BECAUSE OF BUGGY THE CLOWN!”

“I’ve got to get a hundred million berries! Then Imma by a certain village!”

A dark look crossed Luffy’s face, but was gone the moment it came. “Buy a village? What for?”

“Hmph doesn’t matter, anyway I’ve gotta plan to get it. See this?” Nami held a map up for Luffy to see, “This is a map of the Grandline, after I steal buggy’s treasure, I’m gonna head to the Grandline, and I’ll steal the treasures of even bigger pirates. What do you think? Team up with me and you’ll make a fortune!”

“Well I was headed to the Grandline as well,” Nami’s face lit up, “but I was thinking of just winging it and see what happens.”

“What, winging it in the Grandline!”

“Hey you know anything about navigating!”

“ Course I do I’m the best navigator around! I love the sea!”

“Wow that’s great, we were looking for a navigator, so how about you join my pirate crew!” Luffy knew the answer. She reminded him of Sabo, close minded about their situation, and they only figure out the world is bigger than they think when someone finally sits them down and tells it straight to their face. Hopefully this time he could save her before she thinks there’s only one way out.

Chapter Text

“Hell no!” Nami rejected.

Luffy’s smile grew anyways. “Why not?” Luffy tilted his head to the side like an innocent puppy.

“I told ya already! I hate pirates!” Nami responded pointing back at herself. 

“NO!” Nami jumped and whipped around to look at Luffy. 

A knowing look crossed her face, “see your all the sam-”

In a calm collected voice Luffy seemed to look right through Nami, tilting his once again a crazed look edged its way into his eyes, “you hate the idea of a pirate.”

Nami was frozen, “w-what,” she croaked.

“Not even five seconds ago you were all over me about having fun and robbing some pirates, you hate the idea of a pirate which was why you only then hated me after you found out I was one, so why do you hate your fabricated idea of a pirate so much, navigator-san~ .”

Nami was shocked, how could a complete stranger see through her carefully built up walls to hide herself behind so easily, it was chilling. Nami looked up,  “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I’m bored.” Luffy was turned around and started eatting again, leaving Nami dumb founded. 

“HUH!?”

Turning around and pointing the loaf of bread at her face, berrie signs lit up in his eyes. “Let's go rob some pirates.”

------------------------

Nami was excited, not that she would admit that the moronic idiot she was dragging behind her, but she was. The plan he came up with was alright but the money! 

Oof

“Captain Buggy! I’ve captured the thief!” She pulled the map out, “and here’s your map!”

Luffy sat on the floor looking down at his feet trying to keep the smile off his face. 

“Hmmm, what’s this? You’re returning the map, are ya now?”

“I had some problems with my employer, he’s an idiot. And I was thinking I could join you!”

Laughs rang through the air. “An Idiot eh?! YOU’VE GOT SPUNK! I THINK I’LL LET YOU JOIN!”

While Luffy was being moved into the cage in the back he caught the disgusted and scared look that crossed her face. ‘ Fascinating. What could possibly have caused that horrified look.’

--------------------------

“ So you want me, to take you, and turn you in to trick the pirates into thinking I’m on their side?”

Luffy was practically vibrating with excitement, “ohh yeah, this is gonna be good, imagine all that money!”

Nami swooned and grasped her hands together, “KYA~ I can’t wait!”

Luffy rubbed his hands together and cackled, “yeah, yeah, and then,” Luffy sat forward, “we can rob all those unsuspecting morons at the pub later in poker!”

Nami stopped and quickly spun around grabbing both of Luffy’s hands, “poker~.”

Luffy grinned, hat shadowed his eyes, “poker <3.” 

The cackling laughs that followed after words would send shivers down every decent pirate's spine. 

Nami stopped and turned around, “how will you get out though?”  

Luffy stopped laughing and met her eyes, “1000 berrie bet on my swordsman breaking me out in time.”

-----------------------

From across the sea Zoro paled, stopping his quick rowing to the upcoming island on the horizon. Shit. And then started rowing faster than before. 

----------------------

Chapter Text

Stepping out of the boat, Zoro looked around the harbor, “C’mon, take me to you captain, maybe he knows where Luffy is.”

---------------------

“THE MAP OF THE GRAND LINE IS MINE AGAIN! AND WE HAVE A NEW CREWMATE, EVERYBODY RAISE A GLASS! LIVE IT UP MEN! HERE’S TO OUR CONQUEST!”

“HOORAY!!”

“NAMI! ARE YOU KNOCKIN’ THEM BACK!?”

“AYE! AYE! CAP’N!”

Nami was tired, and bored, sure drinking these sleazy pirates till they’re passed out was easy, but… turning she eyed Luffy, he was lying back on the bars on his cage, a fucking cage , if she’d known they’d put him in a cage she would’ve never signed up for this idea. A lazy smirk was on his face and he was spinning a gold coin between his fingers. 

“HAHAHAHAHAHA, YOU’VE PICKED THE WRONG PARTNER LITTLE THIEF! The punishment for stealing my treasure is severe! I’ve already decided what your fate shall be.”

Leaning forward Luffy's head slightly passed the bars an inch away from the other captain's face, “you gonna let me go?”

“That’s right I’m gonna let yo-,  OF COURSE I’M NOT LETTING YOU GO! LOAD THE SPECIAL BUGGY BALLS!”

“HOORAY!”

“BUGGY BALL READY CAPTAIN!” People were moving, rushing around and getting the cannon set up… straight for Luffy’s cage.

“VERY WELL! NOW FOR A DEMONSTRATION OF POWER!”

Moving the cannon so that it was facing the town instead, Buggy loaded the cannon ball into the cannon. And completely decimated the row of houses. Nami was terrified.

“BREATHTAKING! WITH THESE BUGGY BALLS AND SPECIAL POWERS I GOT FROM THAT DEVIL FRUIT, I’LL RULE THE GRAND LINE!”

“NOW IT’S YOUR TURN! PROVE YOUR LOYALTY BY BLOWING YOUR FORMER BOSS INTO NOTHING! KILL YOUR FORMER BOSS!”

Nami tensed and looked over to Luffy, he was smiling, “you want me to k-kill him?”

“ DO IT. ”

“DO IT! DO IT!”

“BLOW HIM TO PIECES!”

“BLAST HIM!”

What do I do? This wasn’t part of the plan- “ 1000 berrie bet on my swordsman breaking me out in time .”  The words Luffy had said played over and over in her head. 

“NAMI! STOP STALLING AND LIGHT THE CANNON!”

Nami light the match while looking into Luffy’s eyes, he was practically vibrating in his spot from excitement, “a good gamble always pays off.” Was all he said before the cannon went off. 

A blur. Green. One second the cannon ball is going straight for Luffy and the next its been cut in half and going past Luffy on both sides to the village. “ZORO!”

“You hurt?”

“Nah I’m all good. Anyway, it took you long enough, you got lost, didn’t you?”

“I DON’T GET LOST!”

“H-Hey didn’t he just call that guy Zoro?!”

“What’s Zoro the pirate hunter doing out here!?”

“The swordsman was pirate hunter Zoro?” Whispered Nami.

“Zoro! Get me out!” 

Sighing, Zoro walked over and cut the cage open with ease, “happy?”

Jumping up and flicking his coin high into the air Luffy responded, “very~.”

“So you’re Roronoa Zoro, Eh? You must’ve come to capture me!”

Zoro calmly drawled, “No. You are of no interest to me.”

Irked Buggy respond quickly, “well I am interested in killing you! GIVE ME ALL YOU GOT PIRATE HUNTER ‘CAUSE I’M ABOUT TO GET A LOOK AT YOUR BLOOD!”

“You asked for it!” 

Before the two could clash Luffy came up from behind Zoro and whispered, “A swordsman should not let their emotions take the helm for a spar.” Faltering and backing off Luffy quickly moved into front of Zoro, “ call .” 

(note call means in poker to copy and put exactly the same amount of money, or chips, as another person into the pot, or the money pile, thus Luffy is copying one's fruit by using this move)

The daggers in Buggy’s hands sliced into Luffy with ease, “C-Captain!”

Buggy was once again irked, “How dare you move in the way of our battl-” his eyes widened at the sight before him, the thief's body parts that had been cut were floaty around, just like his fruit . “H-how!”