Chapter 1: Potential and Promise

"It didn't hurt at all!" a small kid, with messy black hair, black eyes and a fresh scar under his eyes screamed, tears in his eyes. His name is Monkey D. Luffy.

Shanks, a red-haired pirate laughed at him "Then why are you still crying!?" he mocked angering the small kid even more. Seeing this, Shanks handed him a glass of juice "Here, take this as an apology."

The kid grinned "Thank you Shanks!" He said drinking the juice making the pirate break out in laughter.

"You idiot! Only little kids drink juice!" All the pirates laughed as Luffy frowned.

"You tricked me! You bastard" Luffy accused him as the doors opened and some bandits entered. The pirates laugh silenced as the bandits walked to the counter and Makino, the barwoman gulped "We wanted to buy 12 barrels of rum." The bandit demanded.

"I-I'm sorry, but I don't have any." Makino said and the bandit growled.

"Then what are these pirates drinking!? Water!?"

"Hehe, I'm sorry. But it looks me and my men drank all." Shanks apologized and held a new bottle of rum towards the bandit "Here, this one isn't open yet. You can have it."

The bandit grabbed the bottle and smashed it on his head, making Shanks fall from his seat. "Sorry Makino, now everything is dirty. Let me help you clean."

Shanks grabbed a towel and started to wipe the alcohol from the table and the floor. The bandit smirked as he took his sword and wiped the bar with it, throwing everything on the ground "If you enjoy cleaning so much, then here you go." He mocked as he and his men walked away laughing.

Silence was ruling until one of Shanks' crew members screamed "He got you good cap!"

Everyone, including Shanks laughed loudly at that. Luffy frowned and stomped his feet. "What are you all laughing about!?"

Shanks chuckled and turned to the kid "Luffy, if I took seriously every single thing someone says to me, I wouldn't be here, y'know?"

Luffy wasn't satisfied with that and continued eating a piece of meat he had. He tried to open a chest, but it was locked, so he quickly forgot about it.

*1 Week Later*

"Apologize!" Luffy screamed as the bandit that insulted Shanks held him from the back of his shirt.

The bandit smirked "To who? The coward pirate?" His men laughed and Luffy wiggle, trying to get free.

"Shanks is not a coward! Apologize!"

The villagers gathered around to see the horrifying sight. Mayor Woop Slap took a step forward "Please... we'll give you anything you want. Just don't harm the boy." He begged and the bandit smirked.

"But the one thing I want right now is to see this brat dead." The bandit said, taking out his sword and was about to kill Luffy when another voice came.

"Hey Luffy, getting in trouble as usual, I see." Shanks said, as he and his crew walked into the scene, making the bandits laugh.

"Oh, so the coward pirates show up. Don't have anything else to clean?" The leader of the bandits mocked.

Shanks face got serious "Look, you can insult me, throw alcohol on me, spit or step on me... but if you harm one of my friends, I'll make you pay."

The bandits laughed at his threat and one pointed a gun to him "Guns aren't for show, but for use. So, I am guessing that now you had drawn it, you are ready to die."

The bandit scowled and was about to press the trigger when Lucky Roux appeared in front of the bandit and shot him before he could react.

The body fell to the ground to the shock and surprise of the bandits. The leader growled "Kill them!" He barked, still holding Luffy. The bandits screamed and rushed to the pirates.

Ben Beckham got in front of them "I'll take care of them captain."

Luffy watched amazed as Ben beat up 10 bandits as the leader shook in fear. He pointed the tip of his sword to Luffy's neck. "B-Back off! Or I'll kill the brat!" He threatened as Luffy try to break free.

"Let... me... GO!" Luffy's eyes turned purple for one second and a wave of energy knocked all lookers and the bandit out. Luffy fell to his butt as Shanks looked amazed.

"That was... haki?"

Luffy breathed hardly as he slowly closed his eyes due to not being used to that type of power. When he woke up, he was in Makino's room, with Shanks and Makino looking at him.

"Shanks? What happened?" Luffy asked.

"That's what I want to know. You know what you did back there?" Shanks asked and Luffy shook his head "You used something called Haki. It is like a sixth sense." Luffy tilted his head and Shanks sighed. "Makino, blindfold me." Makino nodded unsure and as she complied. "Now Luffy, put up fingers and I tell you how many you raised."

"Okay?" Luffy said and raised three fingers.

Shanks smiled "Three."

Luffy blinked surprised and raised two fingers in one hand and 4 in the other.

"Six."

Luffy grinned as he put up both middle fingers making Shanks smirk "Cheeky."

"That was awesome! Are you going to teach me that!?" Luffy screamed as Shanks removed the blindfold.

"Kind off. You will have to learn most things by yourself. I am going to leave behind some books and two other things." Shanks said and Luffy pouted.

"I don't like books..."

Shanks laughed at that "Well, I can't stay here to teach you and I can't take you, so you will have to learn by yourself. Makino can help you read, right?"

Makino nodded smiling "I would love too."

Shanks laughed and turned to Luffy "Well, I still have a couple of days before we set sail, in that time I can explain everything to you."

Luffy grinned and nodded "Yes!"

*2 Weeks Later*

"I really can't go with you?" Luffy asked Shanks that smiled.

"Where we are going, it is really dangerous. You aren't ready just yet." Shanks smiled and Luffy pouted.

"It doesn't matter! One day, I will sail the sea, find my crew and become stronger than you!" Shanks touched his straw hat as he smiled "I will become the Pirate King!" Luffy announced and Shanks removed his hat and placed it on the kid's head.

"Well if that's the case, make sure to give me this back when we meet again." Luffy tears started to fall as Ben Beckham handed something covered in a black cloth. It was long and thin except for one end that was in a triangle form.

"Here it is captain." Ben said handing him the object.

"Thanks Ben. Luffy, take this." Luffy wiped the tears from his eyes and took the heavy object as he stumbled with the thing on his tiny hands.

"What's this?" Luffy asked and Shanks smiled.

"It is a spear made out of Sea Stone. I know you'll find a way how to use it." Shanks said as he got on his boat.

Once the red force has left, Luffy took a peek of the spear after setting it on the floor. (A/N: The spear of the cover) and he grinned.

He knows he will use this.

*Years Later*

Luffy was shirtless, with black jeans, black combat boots, resting against the railing of his small fishing boat, his spear leaning next to him.

He opened one eye to see a sea king glaring at him making him grin. He stood up and stretched "So... want to fight?"

The answer of the sea king was to lunge itself at him. Luffy right arm was covered in a black armor and before the sea king could eat him, he punched it sending him flying away.

Luffy laughed "Shishishishi! That was fun." He grabbed his spear and rested it on his shoulder "I am going to become King of the Pirates!"

Next Chapter: The Mysterious Girl, the Hunter, and the Pirate.