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Luffy screams so much that his throat burns, his lungs heave, and his stomach threatens to propel all the food he ate earlier upwards. This couldn’t be happening! This couldn’t actually be real! Could it? And if so, how? How could five people, a reindeer, a cyborg, and a skeleton just vanish into the air without a trace? Even with knowing of Kuma’s Devil Fruit powers, the entire ordeal simply defies every case of reason. For that, Pirate Captain Strawhat Luffy laments, his howling shriek echoing throughout the mangrove trees on the archipelago as he slams his fists and body into the cold, unforgiving ground. There is agony in the sound of silence that is normally filled by his boisterous crew.
He would rather be dead than live in a world without his faithful crew.
His crew… They all mean the absolute world to Monkey D. Luffy.
All that time ago, his first recruitment into the crew had been the infamous “Demon Pirate Hunter Zoro” after they fought Axe Hand Morgan together. Even following his critical injuries in his battle with Mihawk, Zoro had sworn to Luffy that he would never lose again lest he cause insult to his captain, the man who they believed would be the future King of the Pirates. Seeing the nearly lifeless body of his loyal, dragon-spirited first mate lying on the ground as he fought to protect his captain and crewmates would haunt Luffy forever. Usopp, the former cowardly liar from Syrup Village had fought so valiantly with his trusty slingshot to protect Zoro and Brook from Kuma before he, too, fell. Black Leg Sanji, the love cook from the Baratie, had joined the crew fourth, and Luffy watched in pure horror as the blonde nearly shattered his leg attempting to avenge Usopp before he was gone as well. Nami, their resident thief, navigator, and money lover had technically been Luffy’s second recruit, though she didn’t acknowledge being a member of the crew until after Sanji due to her former hatred of pirates. Her scream for someone to rescue her like Luffy, Zoro, Usopp, and Sanji did when they destroyed Arlong Park would follow Luffy to the end of time. Chopper, their fluffy, cute reindeer doctor who wanted to travel the world was cut down brutally. Robin, formerly the elusive and cunning Miss All Sunday, the woman who just wanted to live was the last to fall as she reached out for Luffy. Though Franky and Brook had both only been with them a short time, they already melded with the crew so well that Luffy wept as they disappeared as well.
As the light from Kuma’s hand shines, Luffy is smiling, knowing that even if he dies, at least he’ll be reunited with his friend, his nakama, his Straw Hat crew family again.