Dawn Island, Foosha Village – Morning
The morning sun spilled across the sleepy seaside town of Foosha Village, painting the rooftops in warm gold and setting the ocean aglow with a gentle shimmer. Gulls wheeled overhead, their cries mingling with the sound of waves crashing lazily against the docks. Fishermen were already up, hauling in their catches. Children darted between streets, chasing each other with sticks and laughter.
To an outsider, the place seemed like any ordinary little harbor town on the edge of East Blue. Peaceful. Quiet. Forgettable.
But everyone who lived here knew better. This was the home of the strangest brat to ever walk the island. A boy with a straw hat bigger than his head, a grin wider than the sea, and a dream so ridiculous that even the drunks at Party's Bar had learned to nod along rather than argue.
That brat was none other than Monkey D. Luffy.
And on this particular morning, something very unusual was happening inside his small bedroom above the bar.
A Strange Awakening
"—hhaah!"
Luffy shot upright in bed, gasping for air. His chest heaved like he had just run a marathon. Sweat plastered his black hair to his forehead, and his wide eyes darted around the room. For a moment, he didn't recognize anything—the wooden beams, the salt-stained walls, the faint smell of alcohol drifting up from the bar below.
His head throbbed. Images—flashes—assaulted his mind like a storm.
A burning fist raised to the sky.A man with a white mustache falling to the ground.A war of giants, admirals, and pirates clashing at Marineford.A dark, endless throne room.A shadowed figure… a name whispered. Imu.And then—A strange heartbeat, drums pounding like thunder. Joy. Laughter. Light.
The visions came in pieces, disjointed and frantic. His mind screamed that they weren't his memories… but they felt real.
Luffy clutched his head, groaning. "Nnnn… what's all this stuff? My brain feels funny…"
Then, a voice. Echoing faintly, as if from another world:
"You were supposed to replace him… but his will was too strong."
The words faded like mist. The headache lessened. Something—someone—vanished, leaving behind only scraps.
And then silence.
Luffy sat frozen for a long moment. He looked down at the straw hat resting on the nightstand. Slowly, almost reverently, he placed it back on his head. His lips curled into a grin.
"Heh… weird dream…" he muttered. Then, louder, full of conviction: "But I'm still me! I'm Monkey D. Luffy!"
The Failed Transmigration
Deep within his mind, fragments lingered. Not a soul, not a personality—just echoes. Faint knowledge, scraps of instinct, whispers of battles yet to come. Whoever had tried to take him over was gone, erased by sheer stubbornness. By sheer will.
But the fragments remained.
When Luffy swung his legs off the bed and stood, his body felt… different. Sharper. He reached out for the doorknob—only to jerk back as a loud thud! rattled the window.
A coconut had fallen from the tree outside, bouncing off the sill.
Without thinking, Luffy had already sidestepped it. Smooth. Effortless.
He blinked, scratching his head. "Huh? I didn't even… think about moving…"
Somewhere in the jumble of his half-dreamed memories, a phrase surfaced: Observation… Haki. He didn't understand what it meant, but it felt natural. Like remembering how to breathe.
Still confused, Luffy pulled open the shutters and let the sunlight pour in. His grin returned in full force. "Shishishi! Whatever! Meat's waiting!"
The Villagers' Morning
Down in the village square, life was as lively as ever.
"Oi, oi, that Straw Hat brat's finally awake, huh?" an old fisherman grumbled, watching Luffy bound down the road. "Hope he doesn't steal my breakfast again."
"Don't be silly, he only steals meat," laughed one of the housewives, carrying laundry.
A younger villager leaned in, whispering, "Did you hear? Today's the day. He's finally leaving."
The words spread quickly. Some villagers peeked out from their windows, others paused their work. Everyone knew about the boy's dream. They had heard it a thousand times, shouted with childish certainty: "I'm gonna be King of the Pirates!"
Most dismissed it as foolishness. But this morning, with the ocean breeze carrying the scent of salt and adventure, even the most skeptical couldn't help but feel a strange anticipation.
One little boy tugged his father's sleeve. "Papa, do you think he'll really do it?"
The father chuckled, ruffling his son's hair. "Who knows? But if anyone's stupid enough to try, it's him."
Party's Bar – Makino
The bell above the door jingled as Luffy pushed into Party's Bar.
"Meat!" he shouted immediately.
"Good morning to you too, Luffy," Makino said, smiling warmly as she wiped down a glass. Her green hair was tied back, her apron neat despite the early rush. "You're leaving today, aren't you?"
"Yup!" Luffy flopped into a chair, arms spread wide. "I'm gonna go find a crew! And then—" He grinned, eyes sparkling. "I'll be King of the Pirates!"
Makino laughed softly. She had heard it countless times, but somehow it never grew old. "Just make sure you don't drown before then."
Luffy puffed his cheeks. "I won't! Shishishi!"
Still, Makino noticed something different. The boy sitting before her looked the same—wild hair, simple clothes, endless grin—but there was a sharper glint in his eyes. A strange focus behind the usual recklessness.
She placed a plate of meat in front of him, watching as he devoured it with his usual enthusiasm. "You seem… different today," she teased.
"Different?" Luffy tilted his head, cheeks stuffed full. "Nah. Just hungry."
But even as he spoke, he remembered something odd. Shanks' words, from years ago, when he gave Luffy the hat. Normally, memories blurred in his head, but now they were clearer. Sharper. As if he could still hear Shanks' voice ringing in his ears.
He clenched his fist unconsciously.
Makino noticed but said nothing. She only smiled, reaching over to fix the scarf around his neck. "You've grown up so much."
"Shishishi! Thanks for the meat!" Luffy beamed, completely oblivious.
Small Foreshadowings
As he left the bar, villagers called after him.
"Oi, Luffy! Don't come back crying when some bandit beats you up!"
"Bring us back treasure, you hear?"
"Try not to sink your boat before leaving the bay!"
Luffy just laughed, waving. "I'll be fine! I'll definitely get stronger! You'll see!"
A few villagers shared uneasy looks. Stronger? The brat had always been strong in strange ways, but the way he said it now—like he already knew how—sent a small shiver through them.
The Farewell
At the docks, a tiny boat bobbed gently in the waves. Barely more than a dinghy, patched and weathered, but seaworthy enough for one reckless fool.
Luffy hopped aboard, hat shading his eyes. He stood proudly, looking out over the endless horizon.
For a brief moment, he was quiet. No grins, no shouting. Just silence. The memories—fragments of a war he had never fought, friends he hadn't yet met, powers he couldn't yet name—swirled faintly in the back of his mind.
He didn't understand them. Not yet. Maybe not ever.
But he understood one thing: his dream.
A grin spread across his face. He raised his fist to the sky.
"Alright! First stop—finding a crew!"
The villagers watched as the little boat drifted from the shore, carried by wind and fate.
Some shook their heads. Some smiled sadly. Others whispered among themselves. But all of them felt the same unshakable truth in their hearts: whatever awaited that boy beyond the horizon, it would never be ordinary.