Chapter Text
This story is one of those stories that change the course of the original route. One man changed his destiny to a different one. It could change history and didn't at the same time. Then, there was a kid on an island. His name is Monkey D. Luffy. The kid had many curiosities within him. He wondered if there have been this or have that—so many questions inside every child's mind.
When he was 5 years old, he was visited by his grandfather, Monkey D. Garp. Garp was someone important in the marine, and many pirates feared his status.
"Luffy! Your grandpa is here." Makino told Luffy
Then Luffy saw his grandfather standing in front of the door. The boy wasted no time running and hugged his grandfather, "Grandpa!!!"
"My cute grandson is hugging me. I'm so happy. Hahaha!" Garp smiled
Luffy laughed and released the hug.
"How's your day?" Garp asked
"I'm great, grandpa! Today, I went to the forest and fought a bear and won," Luffy said with a big smile.
Garp laughed, "That's my boy." Luffy laughed along
After they were both calmed down, Luffy wanted to ask this question for his entire life. "Grandpa?"
"Yes, Luffy?" Garp responded
"When can I leave this island? I wanna explore the world." Luffy asked
Garp chuckled, "If you are a marine, you will explore the world eventually."
"How 'bout the pirates?" Luffy asked another question
Garp looked into his grandson's eyes. Garp didn't want to fail as a grandfather as he did with his son. And, He would give Luffy an explanation of how the world works.
Garp looked seriously at Luffy, "Not all people are good people, Luffy. Some people do this for necessity and individual satisfaction. And some people do the opposite. There are many things we don't know about what other people think. But I don't think it's a bad thing. What I want to say is you can do something selfless or selfish. But you need to know your limit and capability in any situation." Garp explained
Then, Garp patted his grandson's shoulder.
"Please, be careful if you meet strangers."
Luffy smiled wide, "I promise, grandpa. I'll be careful with strangers."
Garp laughed, "HAHAHAHA, That's my grandson."
Garp had never been proud like this since he raised Dragon. He cried.
"What's wrong, Grandpa? Why are you crying?" Luffy asked
"Nothing's wrong, Luffy. It's my happy tears." Garp replied
---
When this particular pirate came to the island, Luffy met a red-haired man in Partys Bar. The young boy asked questions about the pirate's life.
"Well, I would say it's amazing for me. Thanks to my crewmates, I don't know if I could live without them. I treat them like family." Shanks replied while drunk.
"What do you think about pirates that use people to gain their satisfaction?" Luffy asked
"Please, Luffy. You can't talk to our guest like that." Makino reminded the boy
Shanks chuckled, "It's okay, ma'am. I don't have a problem with it." Shanks had a hiccup.
But Shanks focused on Luffy again. "And that's a good question, I suppose." Shanks thought about it for a minute. "I hate them, but I can't do much about it."
Luffy was confused, "I don't understand why you don't stop them. But, I am the one who will stop those pirates."
Shanks laughed, "Well, good luck, then."
Shanks and his crew left after their finished their drink bash.
Luffy decided to join the Navy.
---
When Garp was back in the village, Luffy met him at Makino's house.
"Grandpa! I miss you." Luffy hugged
"I miss you too, Luffy. How's your day?"
Luffy let go of the hug, "You won't believe this, Grandpa. The pirates visited Partys Bar, and They were nice to me. If you ask what they did to me, I answer they didn't hurt me."
Garp was worried but relieved, "Luffy, I already told you that don't talk to strangers."
"You did, grandpa. But I got the feeling that they wouldn't hurt me. I am sorry that I didn't listen to you." Luffy apologized
Garp sighed, "I don't know why all of you are like this. Next time be careful, okay?"
Luffy nodded, "Grandpa, can I ask you a question?"
"You are already asking me, Lu-" Luffy jabbed at Garp
Garp laughed, "You won't hurt me, Luffy, if you attack me like that."
Luffy stopped.
"Now, what's your question?"
"Can I become a marine?"
Garp was so happy right now. He couldn't believe it.
"Yes, but until you reach 10 years old, got it?"
Luffy nodded, "That's my boy."
---
Then, Luffy joined the marine when he was 10. Of course, he was a chore boy. With his determination, Luffy went beyond what everyone expected, even his grandfather. He was a captain when he was 17.
When he worked in the Navy, what Luffy noticed was the less freedom in the Marineford. He felt that everyone deserved to be free but that freedom needed some rules to balance them. But he wanted to change the system that but didn't know how to do it. He decided to think about it later.
Besides thinking about Marineford, Luffy likes to hang out with Smoker. When the young captain met Smoker, Luffy always teased him whenever he met Smoker.
Luffy always took a mission alone but only around Marineford. And he never got the chance to go outside.
---
One day, Luffy walked into his grandfather's office. Luffy saw Garp doing his paperwork.
"Why did it send to me? Did they know who I am?!" Garp muttered
"Morning, Gramps." Luffy greeted
Garp looked at Luffy, "Oh, Morning, Luffy. How are you?" and Garp didn't stop working on his paperwork.
Luffy chuckled, "I'm fine. You?"
"This paper makes me sick. Why did everybody need my approval? Why did they not send it to Tsuru anyway?" Garp groaned
Luffy chuckled, "I agree with you there, Gramps. That sucks. But anyway, Sengoku-old man gave me a mission to East Blue to check the situation."
"I wish you the best, Luffy." Garp realized something, "Oh, Luffy? Would you please say hi to everyone on the island for me?"
"Don't worry, I will. Thanks, Gramps." Then, Luffy closed the door.
Garp sighed, "Welp, time to continue my suffering."
---
On East Blue,
Luffy sailed to Fusha village first. Because he wanted to go back to his home island. Luffy was alone on a ship that only held 10 people. Of course, the marine captain learned navigation and cooking. When he arrived on the shore, Luffy put down the anchor so that the boat wouldn't be missing.
Luffy landed on Dawn island for the first time in 7 years. Then, He took a walk to Makino's bar. He felt like this was a dream, but it wasn't. He saw a few houses that were new to him. And a lot of children played some games he didn't recognize.
At that point, there had been no change in the bar since he left the island. So he decided to enter the bar.
The marine went to the bar counter. Makino arrived to serve the customer.
"Welcome to Partys Bar. How can I help you, sir?"
"I take a rum, please," Luffy ordered
"Okay, a rum is coming right up."
Then, Makino poured the rum into a glass and served it to Luffy.
"Here you go." Makino put the drink on the counter
"Thanks, ma'am." Luffy thanked Makino
"Wait, I know that laugh." Makino noticed
"It took you a long time, Makino-san," Luffy said with his signature smile.
Makino realized the marine was Luffy, "Luffy? Is that you?"
Luffy chuckled, "It's nice to meet you, Makino-san."
Makino didn't wait and jumped and hugged Luffy.
"It's good to see you too, Luffy." Makino released the hug, "How are you, Luffy?"
Luffy chuckled, "I'm fine, Makino-san. If everyone asks how Gramps was, tell them he was fine."
"I'll do that." Makino winked, "So, why do you here?"
Luffy drank his rum, "Oh, Sengoku-old man sent me here to investigate the East Blue. But, I want to visit you first."
"You don't need to do that, Luffy." Makino became embarrassed.
"But, I wanna visit you, Makino-san." Luffy insisted
Makino noticed Luffy's eye puppy and sighed, "Thank you, Luffy."
Luffy smiled, "Your welcome."
Luffy continued to drink his rum. When the glass was empty, Makino cleaned the drink.
"After this, do you want to stay here or continue your patrol?"
"I'll stay for a day. I'm tired because I have no crew to help me."
Makino was surprised. "Wait! You don't have a crew? Why don't you recruit any crew in Marineford?" Makino worried about Luffy's condition
"Honestly, I forgot to do that." Luffy actually forgot about that.
Makino sighed, "What was your grandfather teaching you when you were still in Marineford?"
"He was teaching what he could do." Luffy shrugged.
Makino glared at Luffy. "I'll talk to him after this."
Luffy gulped, "Uh oh,"
Makino came as her usual self, "You can sleep in your old room. I never changed it since you left."
Luffy was grateful for this, "Once again, Makino-san. Thanks for helping me."
"Just go to your room. And you don't need to pay for your drinks."
Luffy did what Makino told him. The marine still remembered the way to his room. Then, he opened the door and looked around his old room. Makino was right about his old room. It never changed.
Then, Luffy took off his jacket and went to sleep.
---
Luffy was on the ship. And a green-haired man approached him.
"Where will we go, captain?" the man asked.
"We'll go to Grand Line. I want to see what the sea brings us." Luffy answered
"It's just two of us. Are you sure about this?" the man was worried
"Of course not. We will recruit Navigator, a good cook, and a Musician. Then, we sail to Grand Line."
the swordsman smirked, "I don't know why you want Musician. But, you are the most interested man I met."
Luffy smiled, "Shishishi."
---
Luffy opened his eyes. He had a weird dream. Then, he decided to go to the bathroom and wash his face. The marine went downstairs to meet Makino. In the dining room, Luffy saw Makino carrying a pot of soup.
"Oh, you wake up, Luffy. Breakfast ready." Makino said while bringing the soup to the counter.
Luffy smiled, "Thanks, Makino-san."
"C'mon, sit down before the food gets cold," Makino told Luffy
Luffy chuckled and sat on the dining chair. And he ate his soup with his wooden spoon.
Makino looked nervous at Luffy, "How is it?"
Luffy smiled, "It is still good as I remember."
Makino chuckled, "I'm glad you still like it."
After he finished breakfast, Luffy took a shower. Then the marine used his old shampoo because it solved a lot of his hair problems. After a shower, Luffy wore his Marine outfit.
He went outside and walked to his ship. The marine began his patrol in East Blue. Before Luffy left, Makino was running toward the man.
"Luffy!" Makino shouted
Luffy looked back.
"Please, be careful, okay?!"
Luffy smiled, "Of course, Makino-san." Luffy pulled the anchor, "I'm off!"
"Bye, Luffy! I'm proud of you!" Makino shouted
Luffy chuckled.
And then, Monkey D. Luffy sailed off on his journey.