The chaos above deck is almost intoxicating, pirates darting between piles of loot, the air buzzing with shouts and laughter. I move through the commotion like a shadow, barely noticed among Alvida's crew. We'd herded the cruise ship passengers into the cellar below, leaving the upper decks to the victors. I glance around, searching for Coby. There, his pink hair bobbing nervously as he tries to slink away toward the food stores. A grin tugs at my lips. That's my cue. If I tag along, I'll finally get to meet Luffy, the future Pirate King. My muscles tense with anticipation, and I slip after Coby, each step careful and silent, honed by countless hours of shinobi drills. Even so, I know this is just the beginning; my skills will have to improve if I want to survive in this world. It may be enough for the East Blue, but Paradise and the New World?
Coby glances over his shoulder, nerves written all over his face, but he doesn't spot me before slipping through a half-open door. I ease in after him, pressing myself into the shadows behind a stack of crates. The last thing I want is for the other pirates to realize I'm lurking here. My eyes follow Coby as he moves to a giant barrel in the corner, straining to roll it across the wooden planks. I can't help but grin. If memory serves, that's no ordinary barrel. Luffy is inside, waiting for his big entrance. My heart thunders in my chest, a mix of nerves and exhilaration. I'm about to witness one of the most iconic moments from the story, and I'm right here, part of it.
Coby's efforts are interrupted by raucous laughter echoing from the hall. A trio of Alvida's pirates swagger into the room, their boots thudding against the boards. They barely glance around before their gazes settle on Coby, predatory grins spreading across their faces.
"Well, look who it is, our favorite little coward," sneers the stocky one in a blue-and-white bandana that's seen better days. He saunters closer, arms crossed. "Trying to skip out on your share of the work again, Coby?"
"N-no, not at all! I was… just trying to haul this big barrel of beer for you guys!" Coby blurts, voice high and shaky. His hands tremble as he gestures helplessly toward the barrel.
I stifle a laugh from my hiding spot. These guys have no idea I'm here. If it came down to a fight, a single kunai could end things quickly, but I'm more interested in watching this scene unfold. It's surreal, seeing the anime play out before my very eyes, and I find myself grinning in anticipation.
The stocky pirate snickers, "Heh, why don't you let us lighten that load, huh?" The taller one in the back, clad in a sun-faded orange shirt, cracks his knuckles and smirks. "Yeah, I could use a drink right about now."
"Wait, you can't! Lady Alvida will kill us if she finds out!" Coby's voice cracks, panic rising. Sweat beads on his brow, and his eyes dart between the pirates, searching for an escape. I tense, instinct urging me to intervene, but I force myself to hold back. This is Luffy's moment, and Coby needs to make that connection with him.
"She won't know if you keep your mouth shut, right, kid?" growls the pirate in the ragged purple sleeveless shirt, looming over Coby with a menacing scowl.
The stocky pirate bends his knees and grips the barrel, grunting as he tries to heft it. "Yeah, sure. Hehehe, whatever you say." Coby's face pales; he knows he's powerless to stop them, and it shows in the way his shoulders slump in defeat.
"Jeez, this thing's heavy," the stocky pirate gripes, wiping sweat from his brow. "Perfect," the orange-shirted one replies, eyes gleaming. "Step aside, fellas. I'll open it up the old-fashioned way." The stocky pirate cracks his knuckles, clearly relishing the chance to show off.
The stocky pirate bends his knees and grips the barrel, grunting as he tries to heft it. Crack! The barrel splinters under the pressure. Fist. Impact. A pair of fists explodes upwards, the pirate's chin caught perfectly in the chaos of the sudden eruption. Silence. In the aftermath, every eye is glued to the scene, mouths ajar in shock at the unexpected turn.
A wild, irrepressible grin stretches across my face. It's him. Luffy. The energy in the room shifts instantly. Anything could happen now, and I'm right here to witness it.
"YEAH! I SLEPT SO GOOD!" Luffy shouts, his arms stretching high above his head as he bursts from the barrel with infectious energy. His wide grin lights up the room, utterly oblivious to the chaos he's just caused. He blinks down, finally noticing the pirate sprawled motionless at his feet. "Eh? Who's that?" he wonders aloud, scratching the back of his head as if he's just woken from a pleasant dream and found a stranger in his bed.
The two remaining pirates stare in open-mouthed disbelief. Their minds scramble to process the absurd sight: a scrawny kid just burst out of a barrel and flattened their crewmate with a single, accidental punch."Who the hell are you guys?" Luffy asks, peering curiously at the pirates as if he's just wandered into the wrong party.
"Who the hell are you!?" both pirates shout back, voices cracking with confusion and outrage.
Luffy points helpfully at the unconscious pirate. "Your friend will catch a cold sleeping like that," he says, voice as cheerful as if he's offering helpful advice, still blissfully unaware he's the one who knocked the guy out. Both pirates jab their fingers at Luffy, shouting in unison, "You're the one who knocked him out!"
One of them yanks out a sword and levels it at Luffy's neck, voice trembling with anger. "You messing with us, brat? You know who we are, right? We're Alvida's pirates, the meanest on the seas!" Luffy blinks at the sword, utterly unfazed. "I'm starving. You got any food?" he asks Coby, his attention already wandering from the threat.
A smirk tugs at my lips as I watch from the shadows, ready to jump in if things turn ugly. Only Luffy could be this carefree in the face of danger. He's infuriating, and yet, if there's anyone I'd want beside me in a fight, it's him.
"Hey! I'm talking to you!" growls the pirate in the sleeveless shirt, his patience snapping. The one in the orange shirt snarls and lifts his sword. "You little brat! We'll teach you some respect!"
Coby's eyes are wide with panic, and Luffy, unfazed, tilts his head. My heart is pounding so hard I'm sure someone will hear it. This is my shot; if I mess up, I'll look like an idiot in front of everyone, but if I do nothing, I'll regret it forever. Just as Luffy's arm starts to move, doubt claws at me. Can I really change the course of my life by stepping into this fight, or am I destined to watch from the sidelines? I hesitate, lingering in shadow, the fear and uncertainty almost pulling me back into inaction. But something takes hold, maybe it's the spark of adventure that being around Luffy inspires, a realization that it's now or never. My footfalls barely make a sound as I launch myself at the pirates, adrenaline making my movements sharper than ever. I slam both pirates into the wall, their swords clattering from their hands, then knock them out cold with the back of my kunai. For a second, I almost can't believe I managed it. Luffy blinks, momentarily startled, then his face lights up with tremendous, childlike excitement. "Whoa! That was awesome! How'd you do that shadow thing?"
My face heats up, and I rub the back of my neck, fighting the urge to fidget. "Just... some basic shinobi techniques I picked up," I say, hoping I sound cooler than I feel. Did I impress him? Or did it look like I was showing off? Luffy's eyes go wide, and he practically bounces on his toes. "A shinobi? Like a ninja? Can you do ninja tricks?"
I can't help but smile at his enthusiasm, even as my palms sweat. "Want to see one?" I ask, my voice a little shaky despite my best efforts to sound confident.
He nods so hard his hat nearly falls off, and my heart leaps into my throat. I take a steadying breath, hands shaking just a little as I form the hand sign. This is it, my big moment. Don't mess up, don't mess up. A puff of smoke erupts around me, and when it clears, I'm standing there as a perfect copy of Luffy: same grin, same posture. I force myself to stride over and, in his exact voice, say, "This is my henge no jutsu. I can turn into someone else, usually a person. But to really pull it off, I have to study how they talk and move first."
Luffy's eyes go impossibly wide. "WHOA! That's so cool! You gotta join my crew!"
I blink, shocked at how easy that was. Did I really win him over that fast? My stomach flips, equal parts relief and disbelief. "Y-yeah, sure, I'll join you," I manage, my grin a little shaky but genuine.
Luffy pumps his fist in the air, already celebrating. I turn to Coby, my voice softening. "You okay, Coby? I told you to call for me if you found trouble, remember?" No matter how tough he'll become, I know I'll always look out for him."Hey, do you guys have any food? I'm starving!" Luffy pipes up, patting his stomach with a hopeful look.
A nervous laugh escapes me, the adrenaline wearing off. "You're hopeless, Captain. Come on, let's get you something to eat." The word 'Captain' feels weird, like maybe I haven't earned it yet, but I want to. I motion for Coby to join us, still hoping I haven't come on too strong. "Stick close, Coby. It's safer together." It sinks in all at once: I might have pulled it off. I might really belong here now. But I know I'll be second-guessing every step until I've truly proved myself.
I lead Luffy down the dim corridor toward the food cellar, my nerves buzzing with every step. Coby shuffles behind us, muttering under his breath about how we should try to escape instead, and how, apparently, I've already thrown my lot in with a stranger. The moment I swing open the door, Luffy is gone in a flash, springing straight down into the dark room below." It's a gold mine! Food, food, food, food, food!" Luffy crows, his voice echoing off the crates as he dives into a pile of supplies, already stuffing his face.
Coby edges in, glancing around, fidgeting with his fingers. "Maybe we'll be safe in here… as long as no one else gets hungry," he mumbles, not sounding convinced. I reach out, awkwardly patting his head, trying my best to sound reassuring even though my voice wobbles a bit. "It'll be alright, Coby," I say, forcing a small, nervous smile. Luffy's here. He's strong. And maybe I can be strong, too, if I stick with them. The thought is both terrifying and thrilling. Coby hesitates, then musters up the courage to speak, clutching a can of food to his chest. "Uh, hey, my name's Coby. You're Luffy, right? That was… really cool, what you did with that barrel back there."
Luffy glances at him, mouth full, and grins. "These are awesome!" he says, waving a half-eaten sausage in the air before immediately going back to shovelling food. Coby looks both embarrassed and a little awestruck. I can't blame him. Luffy pauses long enough to swallow and turns to us, curiosity shining in his eyes. "So, are we on a pirate ship or what?"
I clear my throat, trying to sound knowledgeable, as if maybe I can earn some points with my new captain. "Captain, we're actually on a passenger ship that's being raided by the Alvida pirates."
He nods, unfazed, already plotting his next move. "I don't really care about them. What I want to know is, are there any boats on board?" Coby blinks, thrown by Luffy's indifference. "I… I think there are a few?"
"Great!" Luffy exclaims. "Mine got sucked into some big whirlpool."
"That one outside? No way! No one could've survived that," Coby stammers, staring at Luffy like he's seen a ghost. Luffy laughs, completely unfazed. "Hehe, yeah! It was wild!"
He glances at us, suddenly curious. "So, were you guys pirates or passengers?"
Coby ducks his head, clearly uncomfortable, so I jump in, hoping my honesty will prove I'm trustworthy. "We were both forced to join the Alvida pirates," I admit quietly. "But now we're using this raid as our chance to escape, and maybe chase after our real dreams."Coby's voice is small, barely audible. "I never could escape. I was too weak… too scared. They made me a cabin boy instead of… well, instead of killing me."
Luffy bursts out laughing, his smile broad and honest. "So you're a moron and a coward! Haha! I hate people like you!"
Coby winces and looks away. I bristle with frustration on his behalf, but I hold back. Coby has to face this himself. Luffy's attention swings to me, suddenly curious. "And what about you?" A lump rises in my throat as all eyes turn to me. I take a shaky breath, hoping I don't sound too pathetic. "These pirates destroyed my hometown. They let me live, but only if I joined them. I figured… if I played along, maybe I'd buy myself enough time to get stronger, and one day escape, and actually live for something I chose." Luffy's laughter fades, and he gives me a searching look, as if he's weighing what I've just confessed. "So, what's your dream?"
The question hits me harder than I expected. My hands clench unconsciously, and for once, I don't try to hide how much it matters. "My dream is to find a family, one that'll stick together through everything. People I can count on, and who can count on me. And… I want to be strong enough to protect them, no matter what."
Luffy's eyes soften with understanding. For a moment, there's a wistful smile on his face, like he's remembering someone, too. He beams at me, completely sincere. "That's a good dream. I'm glad I've got someone like you on my crew!"
A wave of relief washes over me, and I can't help but grin back, a little bashful. Luffy then turns to Coby, who fidgets with his sleeves but manages to answer, "I… I want to be a Marine. Someone who protects people, who stands up for justice and the weak."
Luffy nods in approval. "That's a dream worth having."
Curiosity flickers in Coby's eyes. "What about you, Luffy? Why do you want to sail these seas?"Luffy's answer is immediate and unashamed. "Well, I'm gonna be king of the pirates!"
Coby's jaw drops, stunned. I can't help but smile, half nervous, half excited, at Luffy's sheer confidence. "We've got quite the journey ahead of us, then, captain," I say, the title tasting new and a little intimidating on my tongue.
"A king?" Coby repeats, voice cracking with disbelief.
"Yep," Luffy says, as if it's the simplest thing in the world.
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah!"
"But—but that means you're a pirate too!" Coby sputters, looking at me for confirmation.
"Right," I say, grinning at Luffy's total lack of shame. He doesn't care who knows his dream or what they think.
Coby frowns. "You're crew?"
"Just him for now," Luffy says, jabbing a thumb toward me. My cheeks burn, and I look down, fighting a shy smile.
"So, I'm the first mate?" I ask, voice barely above a whisper, even though I already know the answer.
"Mmhmm!" Luffy confirms, laughing. "I'm looking for more, but for now it's just us!"
Coby freezes, staring at us both, as if trying to process how quickly everything has changed. Luffy waves a hand in front of his face, grinning, until Coby finally snaps out of it and stands up abruptly. Coby's voice rises, growing passionate. "King of the pirates, that's the title given to the one who attains everything in the world! You're talking about seeking the greatest treasure, wealth, fame, and power. The One Piece!"
He's getting worked up, so I step closer and rest a hand on his shoulder. Luffy smiles, easy and unbothered. "Yeah!" I give Coby's hair a gentle ruffle, lowering my voice so only he can hear. "Easy, Coby. You wouldn't like it if someone said your dream was impossible, right? Let's give Luffy the same respect."
He slowly relaxes, though his brow stays furrowed, still wrestling with the idea of Luffy's dream and what it means for all of us. Luffy stands, placing a hand on his worn straw hat, tipping it low over his eyes. "It's not about whether I can do it. I'm doing this because I want to."
Coby stares with wide eyes, as if he's just learned something important.
Luffy's voice is steady. "I decided a long time ago, I'll be king of the pirates. If I die fighting for that, then that's how it'll be."Luffy stretches, grinning. "Alright, now that my belly's full, I'm off to get us a new boat!"
I squeeze Coby's shoulder again, giving him a quick, nervous smile. I might not be strong yet, but these pirates aren't invincible. If I try hard enough, maybe I can keep up.
"Wait for me, Captain!" I call, hurrying after Luffy, adrenaline tingling in my veins. Before we reach the door, Coby's voice stops us. "If I put my mind to it… If I were ready to risk everything, could I do something like that?"
Luffy turns, and I pause at his side. Coby is hunched on the floor, staring at his hands.
"Like what?" Luffy asks, curiosity piqued.
"Do you think… do you think I could join the Marines?"
"Marines?" Luffy echoes.
"Yes! Catching bad guys—it's all I've ever wanted. It's been my dream since I was a kid! Do you think I could actually do it?"
Luffy shrugs, honest as ever. "How should I know?"
Coby's hands ball into fists. "Then I'll do it! I won't be a cabin boy forever. I'll break out, and then I'll turn right around and catch Alvida myself!"Before the words can settle, a thunderous crash splits the air, the ceiling explodes above us, and wood splinters rain down. Through the swirling smoke, a hulking silhouette emerges, casting a long, menacing shadow across the wreckage.
"Who is that you plan on catching, Coby? And you actually think this twig is gonna help you? Well? Answer me!" Alvida's gruff voice shoots out from the smoke.