Chapter 1: Beginnings

Stopping in the middle of a grassy plain, the shore's breeze flowing under its legs, the ant stared at the sun in awe until laughter echoed across the ground and a gigantic shadow blocked out the sun and shook the ground.

Frightened and trembling spreading through its body, the ant watched as Monkey D. Luffy ran past it, a large brown sack dashing back and forth on his shoulders and the steps of his nakama soon following.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!" Nami screeched as she breezed by Usopp, leaving him behind her and in front of a crowd of monsters.

"We're all going to die!! Especially Chopper! They'll eat him!!" Usopp declared as fate.

"What?! No!! I don't wanna die!!" the young reindeer panicked, looking back at the rampaging demons catching up to his shadow.

"Screw this running!" Zoro said as he halted and quickly turned around, his blades already locked in his hands and teeth.

'These shitty bastards aren't going to touch Nami or Robin. But they can kill Marimo if they want." Sanji said as he joined him in the fight.

"Oi!" Zoro yelled.

Night had crawled into the sky's color spread and the crew decided to sleep next to the beach but not until dinner was done.

"And of course I ordered Zoro and Sanji to take down the demons as part of my strategy." Usopp bragged, leaving Chopper in awe.

"Wow! That's amazing! I didn't even see or hear you do anything but run away! I had no idea you did all that!" Chopper cheerfully stated, innocently taking in every word as truth.

Calmly smiling Robin pressed her lips onto her cup until she noticed Nami was missing.

"Mr. Captain, where is Ms. Navigator?" she asked loudly yet gently.

Luffy turned his head to realize she was gone but the pain swelling in his head disturbed the thought. The pain had come from Nami earlier, who struck him on the head.

"I can't believe you brought us here! We almost died and for what? There wasn't any treasure at all, there were just bones! Bones of other pirates who came here looking for treasure!" She yelled as the rest of the crew got back on the ship.

Every word was focused on Luffy who could only stand there with a clueless expression.

What can I say? He thought.

"Oh well. It was fun wasn't it? An adventure!" he responded, a huge grin brightening his face as his large teeth widened his face.

POUND!

Nami walked off to her room, shutting the door.

Luffy stood up and walked towards the ship, his earlier smile seeming impossible compared to the frown he now wore.

"Hey guys, you think something's wrong?" Sanji asked.

"What makes you say that?" Usopp asked, muddled by the situation.

Sanji directed one finger towards Luffy's plate.

"There's still food on his plate. Meat too." He revealed.

Knock, knock, knock.

Luffy didn't get a response from behind the door, bringing his heart down a little more.

"I'm on the deck." A voice yelled out.

Luffy recognized the sound and slowly walked over to Nami as she watched him grip on to the railing and joined her in star gazing.

"Is everything alright Luffy?" she asked, her worry poking through her voice.

"Do…..you think I'm too stupid?" Luffy asked, his seriousness emphasized by the shadows over his eyes.

"What?...too stupid? Luffy, what, what brought this on? No!" she asked, her eyes shaking in fear.

"What's wrong Luffy?" she asked, her light voice almost whispering what her feelings, her hand resting on his.

Remaining silent he bent his head lower and his lips began to tremble.

"I'm sorry for bringing you to places you don't like. I know I'm stupid for just jumping onto islands and I know you don't like it but I……."

Nami watched as he tried to finish his words, tightening his grasp on the Merry's railing for strength.

"I just thought that maybe you would have fun running around with me and going on adventures. I try to look for treasures so you can be happy but I've failed as a captain." He finished, waiting for her to confess her dormant agreement.

Viewing his lips as he talked, she slowly shook her head in disagreement as each word came out.

"Is it because I hit you? Luffy, I'm sorry, but I do have fun…….I just let the bad…..I guess I just overreact to everything, I know what to expect from you. Luffy, I like being here and going places. Please don't feel bad about anything." She rubbed his back as his head slowly rose.

"I don't care if you hit me, I'm alright with that but maybe I should try better as a captain and a nakama. Nami, thank you for coming as far as you have." Luffy said, his joyous tone returning.

Nami smiled as he glowed more.

"I promise Nami, I'll get you a big treasure! Something really awesome that you'll dance for 8 and a half years!" he yelled out as he stretched out his arms to show her how big, her open mouthed laughter glorifying the night.

"That's real sweet Luffy but you don't have to. I really do enjoy these adventures of yours. Life would be boring any other way, wouldn't it?" she grinned, her eyes shut and a smirk of adventure gleamed.

Nami looked up at the moon and then yawned.

"I should head off to bed. Good night Luffy." Finishing the conversation by rubbing his head and walking back to her room.

Luffy grinned and turned back to view the moonlit ocean.

"I'll find some treasure, because you're happiest when you have it."

Crew Commentary:

Usopp: Holy Crap! We tried to eat all of Luffy's food while he was gone but it was too much! After all those times he stole from our plates we couldn't even avenge ourselves.

Chopper: I wonder where he went.

Usopp: Whatever…..I can't move………of course, I just had a giant sea king for lunch earlier.

Chopper: Really?!

Usopp: Yep! Killed it so fast no one saw me do it or eat it.

Robin: I can't wait for Chapter 2.

Sanji: I can't either when Namiswan will come to me and say "Oh Sanji! You're the only treasure I'll need! Show me what love truly is!" "No sea or beast could keep me from you Namiswan. Here comes my embrace!"

Zoro: "Lame as hell."

Sanji: "Stay out of my fantasy!"

Zoro: "Why should I?! That's all it'll ever be!"

Usopp: "TO BE CONTINUED."