Year 1511
"Another one, Makino!" a loud, childish voice echoed through the cozy bar.
"Yes, yes! Coming right up!" Makino, the ever-smiling bartender and newly minted owner of the local bar in Foosha Village, placed a freshly poured glass of milk in front of a small boy with wild, untamed black hair that stuck out in every direction.
"Thanks!" Luffy grinned, grabbing the glass with eager hands.
"It's rare to see you here all alone, Luffy," Makino remarked with a warm smile as she began wiping down the countertop with a clean cloth, keeping her eyes gently trained on the boy.
It was no secret to anyone in Foosha Village that Garp's grandchildren were practically inseparable. The youngest of them, Luffy, was usually glued to either his big sister or one of his two older brothers, sometimes even all three at once. Among them, it was the eldest sibling who often acted as the guardian, especially when their grandfather, the famously busy Marine hero, was away on duty.
But lately, the villagers had noticed something peculiar.
The girl who would occasionally pop into the village and brighten everyone's day with her energy had not been seen in quite some time.
"Today's my turn to buy groceries! They finally let me be a grown-up!" Luffy proudly announced, puffing out his chest as if he had just achieved a legendary feat.
As the baby of the family, Luffy was often coddled and fiercely protected, mostly thanks to Naru's unshakable authority and influence.
Even Dadan and the rest of their rough band of mountain dwellers refused to let him wander around unsupervised. Leaving Mt. Colubo alone was practically forbidden unless one of his siblings accompanied him, especially Ace, whom Luffy usually clung to like glue whenever Naru was away.
Unexpectedly, before Naru left the island a week ago, Luffy had managed to impress and convince her that he could also be strong and independent, just like his older siblings. His determination and relentless pestering must have worked because, with a smirk and an amused chuckle, Naru finally ruffled his messy mop of hair and handed him his first true 'grown-up' mission.
Grocery shopping. Alone.
For the very first time in his six years of life, Monkey D Luffy had been entrusted with a mission of great importance.
Because of this solo mission, his brothers, Ace and Sabo, had gone off to handle other tasks, leaving Luffy with a rare opportunity to fly solo.
Tucked safely in his pocket was a small wad of bills and a meticulously written shopping list courtesy of the ever-organized Magra. The items were not many, likely a kind gesture from Magra to ease Luffy into his independence. Still, instead of heading straight to the market, the little adventurer decided that his most urgent priority was to fill his stomach with something tasty, even though he had already devoured a hearty breakfast only a few hours earlier.
And that was how he ended up in Makino's bar, sipping milk and grinning like the king of the world.
"That's great and all, Luffy," Makino said gently, her tone both caring and firm, "but being out on your own can be dangerous. I've heard rumors about mountain bandits causing trouble nearby. You wouldn't want Naru-chan to scold you again, right?"
The mere mention of his sister's name caused an immediate reaction. Luffy visibly flinched, a shiver crawling down his spine. His imagination conjured a vivid image of Naru, arms crossed and brows furrowed, scolding him with that fearsome tone that could make even Garp think twice.
It was uncanny how she always seemed to know everything. Even when she was not around, she would always find out about things that she was not there to witness or hear. It was as if she had eyes watching from every corner of the island.
Well, he was not entirely wrong, but that was a mystery he did not need to dwell on.
"I-it's fine! I'm strong, really! I can take care of myself!" Luffy declared with exaggerated bravado, shaking away the terrifying image in his head. "I don't need Nee-chan, or Ace, or Sabo to protect me! My punches are just as strong as Grandpa's fist! Shishishishi!"
Makino could only smile helplessly, both exasperated and amused by the boy's unshakable confidence. What else could she do?
Despite his scrawny and energetic appearance, Luffy did have some skill. After all, he had been raised among fighters, surrounded by Garp's iron fists and Naru's relentless training regimens. Granted, Garp had gone easier on Luffy than on his older siblings, but the boy still inherited a surprising degree of strength.
Sure, he wasn't as skilled as his brothers or as strong as his sister, yet he wasn't helpless either. Luffy was far from average when compared to most kids his age or even the occasional thug.
Besides, Sabo's formal training had only begun after meeting Ace and Luffy, so in a sense, Luffy had a bit of a head start. He didn't let his current weaknesses bother him. Instead, he made it his personal mission to grow stronger, to one day surpass them all.
He would train until his fists became mightier than even Grandpa's infamous Fist of Love, as he had proudly declared more than once.
A little while later, just as Luffy was busy stuffing his mouth with food (and completely forgetting his original task, naturally), the bar's door creaked open.
A group of unfamiliar faces strode inside.
At the forefront was a tall, cheerful red-haired man, his presence commanding but not intimidating. The straw hat perched atop his head caught Luffy's attention instantly. It was simple in design, yet so striking.
Makino remained composed even as the room became louder and livelier.
"Welcome!" she greeted warmly, ushering the newcomers inside with her usual professionalism.
"We just docked and need to restock supplies!" the red-haired man declared, his voice rich with cheer. "Miss Bartender, we'll take all the sake and beer you've got!"
The crew behind him erupted in joyous shouts, echoing his energy.
"Coming right up!" Makino replied brightly, then leaned down toward Luffy and lowered her voice. "I heard earlier that a pirate ship was spotted heading for our island. These folks must be those pirates. Luffy, stay here and take your time with your food, alright?"
After giving a gentle pat to his head, she disappeared into the back room.
Luffy, still chewing the last bite of his meal, stared at the newcomers with wide, curious eyes.
He was the kind of child who had never learned caution, especially when it came to interesting strangers.
Finishing his meal, he slid off the stool and casually made his way toward the red-haired captain and his crew, completely unbothered by social norms or basic common sense.
Naturally, the sudden appearance of a tiny kid approaching their table drew the pirates' attention.
With big, inquisitive eyes, Luffy looked up at the man with the straw hat.
"Are you guys really pirates?" he asked without hesitation.
The red-haired man blinked before breaking into a chuckle. A moment later, his face split into a wide grin. "That's right! I'm Shanks, the captain!"
Luffy tilted his head, eyeing the group carefully. "But you guys don't look that strong."
Instead of taking offense, Shanks burst into hearty laughter. His crew joined in, finding the comment more endearing than insulting. Before Shanks could speak again, Luffy continued boldly.
"But you guys don't seem like the bad pirates my grandpa and sister warned me about either!" he declared proudly, puffing out his chest and jabbing a thumb at himself. "I'm Luffy!"
Shanks' grin grew wider, matching the spark in the boy's eyes. "Well then, Luffy, pleased to meet you. We're the Red Hair Pirates!"
At that, the crew erupted in another round of cheers, louder and livelier than before.
As Luffy looked around at the boisterous pirates, he couldn't help but form a strong first impression.
Shanks was kind of goofy, kind of cool, and clearly the only guy with actual red hair in a crew named Red Hair Pirates, which made it both funny and memorable.
What none of them noticed, however, was a tiny, almost invisible spider perched quietly in the upper corner of the ceiling.
It watched everything in eerie silence, unmoving, until it vanished with a faint poof of smoke, leaving no trace behind.
.
.
.
Meanwhile, while Luffy was happily making acquaintance with a pirate crew he had just met, Ace was fully focused on finishing his task before the sun reached its peak.
At their usual fishing spot, the nine-year-old wore a wide, triumphant grin as he hauled a heavy fishing net out of the river. Bulging with wriggling fish and all sorts of slippery freshwater creatures, the net glistened brilliantly in the sunlight. A few meters away, Sabo stood waist-deep in the clear, flowing water, his eyes narrowed in concentration, a spear poised firmly in his hands.
He remained still, silent as a statue. Then, through the shimmer of the river's surface, he spotted his chance. A bold little fish brushed against his calf, completely unaware that it was seconds away from becoming lunch. Without hesitation, Sabo drove the spear downward with swift precision. The water splashed, and the spear struck true.
"Yosh! Got it!" Sabo hollered, a huge grin spreading across his face as he raised the spear above his head like a victorious warrior. The fish flailed helplessly at the end of it, but the boy beamed as though he had just won a grand tournament.
Ace looked over and snorted with amusement. "Not bad, Sabo, not bad at all."
Wading back through the shallows, Sabo's shorts clung to his legs, completely soaked. "Not bad? Are you kidding me? That was flawless!" he declared proudly, still grinning as he yanked the fish from the spear and dropped it into his bamboo basket.
Ace gave a casual shrug, pretending indifference. "Yeah, sure. Flawless, if you are aiming for second place."
"Second place?!" Sabo gasped dramatically, then burst into laughter and bumped his shoulder against Ace's. "Come on, you saw that! One shot, dead center!"
"Yeah, yeah," Ace replied, cocky as ever. "Meanwhile, I've got this." He lifted his own basket with a bit of flair, revealing it nearly overflowing with fish, some still twitching.
Sabo leaned in to get a better look and let out an impressed whistle. "Okay, okay, I'll admit it. That's a serious haul."
"Exactly," Ace said with a smirk sharp enough to slice through mountains. "Clearly, I'm the champion here."
Sabo chuckled, rolling his eyes as he plopped down beside Ace on the riverbank. He poked around in his basket, making sure all his catches were still accounted for. "I think we've got more than enough now. What do you think?"
Ace nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we're set. Let's head back before Magra starts throwing another fit about us being late."
At the mention of Magra, Sabo grinned. He could already picture the man pacing like a mother hen, arms crossed and scowling while glancing at the horizon every few seconds. "Good call. I'm starving anyway."
As they started down the forest path, the word home echoed quietly in Sabo's mind.
Before meeting Ace and Luffy, he had never imagined himself living with someone else's family. Certainly not with a wild, chaotic bunch like the Dadan Family. Back then, the idea of having a home, of being accepted by people who genuinely wanted him around, had felt like something out of a fantasy. He never would have believed that he would end up not only with friends but with brothers and even an older sister too.
And yet, here he was. And it was real.
It felt as if fate itself had thrown him a lifeline when he needed it most.
Since the day he agreed to move in with the Dadan Family, Sabo could not deny that everything had changed. In all the best possible ways.
He had found himself a loud, messy, warm family. People who did not simply tolerate him but truly cared about him. People he could rely on without fear or doubt. They gave him a sense of belonging he had never realized he longed for. Now, the very thought of losing them was unbearable. He would not trade them for anything in the world.
He was genuinely happy. The happiest he had been since the day he decided to break free from the suffocating reality of his old life.
As they walked through the woods, sunlight streaming through the leaves above, the smile on Sabo's face remained calm, steady, and full of quiet joy. Life as not perfect. It was still rough around the edges, unpredictable, and full of challenges. But for once, it belonged to him.
And for now, that was more than enough.