As evening approached, storm clouds gathered on the horizon, casting long shadows across the Going Merry's deck. Luffy sat cross-legged on the ship's figurehead, trying to remember the important parts of the future he'd seen. Most of it was already getting fuzzy - his mind naturally filtering out what he didn't consider important, keeping only the big moments that mattered to him.
But he remembered clearly about Sabo, his other brother who was alive but had lost his memories. 'Dad will be in Loguetown,' Luffy thought, a determined look crossing his face. 'If I can talk to him, maybe he can help Sabo remember us... remember Ace.' The thought of both his brothers made his chest feel tight. He knew he had to do something about Ace and Blackbeard too, but that part was still unclear in his mind.
"Everyone!" he called out suddenly, jumping down to gather his crew. "Meeting time!"
The crew gathered around their captain. Zoro leaned against the railing, while Nami stood with her arms crossed. Usopp approached cautiously, and Sanji joined them while taking a drag from his cigarette.
How would you like the scene to continue from here?
You"What's up, Luffy? We should reach Loguetown by tomorrow morning if the weather holds."
"Shishishi!" Luffy grinned, but there was something different in his eyes that made even Zoro pay closer attention. "I need to meet someone there. My dad!"
"YOUR DAD?!" The crew exclaimed in unison, except for Zoro who merely raised an eyebrow.
"Yep! He's the leader of the Revolutionary Army," Luffy said casually as if discussing the weather. "I need to talk to him about my brother."
"DRAGON THE REVOLUTIONARY IS YOUR FATHER?!" Nami, Zoro, Usopp, and Sanji shouted in unison.
"Yep!" Luffy picked his nose casually.
"Hold on..." Nami's eyes widened in realization. "First your grandfather is that crazy Marine hero, and now your father is the World's Most Wanted Man?!"
Zoro took a swig from his sake bottle. "That's interesting."
"V-Vice-Admiral Garp is your grandfather?!" Usopp's knees were shaking. "The Hero of the Marines?!"
"The one who cornered the Pirate King multiple times?" Sanji added, cigarette nearly falling from his mouth. "But doesn't that mean that the hero of the Marines is the father of the most wanted man in the world?"
"What's wrong with your family?" Nami looked like she was about to faint, while Zoro appeared both shocked and amused by the revelation.
"Shishishi! Yeah, Gramps is scary!" Luffy shuddered, and then his expression turned more serious. "But I need to meet my dad. It's important. I need to ask him about Sabo."
"Sabo?" Nami asked, noticing the unusual tone in Luffy's voice.
"Yeah! He's my brother!" Luffy said cheerfully, though something in his eyes seemed distant.
"BROTHER?!" They all exclaimed again, completely overwhelmed by these consecutive revelations about their captain's family.
Wait, wait, wait!" Nami held up her hands. "You have a brother too? How many more family members are you hiding from us?"
"Well, there's also Ace!" Luffy grinned.
"ANOTHER ONE?!" Usopp fell backward.
Sanji took a long drag from his cigarette. "So you have two brothers?"
"Yep! Ace is really strong! He's a pirate too, with the Whitebeard Pirates!" Luffy beamed with pride.
Zoro raised an eyebrow. "Whitebeard? The Emperor?"
"That's right! He's their Second Division Commander!" Luffy said proudly.
Nami clutched her head. "Let me get this straight - your grandfather is a Marine hero, your father is the Revolutionary leader, one brother is with an Emperor's crew, and there's another brother we're just now hearing about?"
"Shishishi! My family's pretty interesting, right?"
"THAT'S AN UNDERSTATEMENT!" The crew shouted together.
"But..." Luffy's smile faded slightly. "I haven't seen Sabo in a long time..."
The crew noticed the shift in their captain's usually cheerful demeanor, but before they could ask more, Luffy's stomach growled loudly.
"SANJI! MEAT!"
"YOU JUST ATE, YOU RUBBER IDIOT!"
"But Sanji, I'm hungry!" Luffy whined, momentarily distracted from the serious conversation.
Nami wasn't letting him off that easily. "Luffy, what happened to Sabo? Why haven't you seen him?"
The straw hat shadowed Luffy's eyes for a moment. "He... he died when we were kids."
A heavy silence fell over the crew.
"I'm sorry, Luffy," Usopp said softly, all his earlier fear forgotten.
"But why do you need to ask Dragon about him?" Zoro asked, his eye sharp and focused on his captain.
"Because..." Luffy clenched his fists. "Sabo is in the Revolutionary Army, he is the second commander!"
"WHAT?!" everyone shouted in surprise. "But you just said he died!" Nami exclaimed, confused.
"I thought he did!" Luffy's face lit up with his characteristic grin. "but it seems he lost his memories about me and Ace, and that is why I need to meet with my dad"
"Your family is really something else, Captain," Sanji commented, lighting a cigarette.
"But Luffy," Nami said, trying to make sense of everything, "how can you be so sure about Sabo being alive? And how do you know he's with the Revolutionary Army?"
Luffy's face scrunched up in concentration. "I just know! And I need to talk to my dad about it in Loguetown."
"That's quite a claim," Zoro commented, studying his captain carefully. There was something different about Luffy today, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was.
"Shishishi! Trust me!" Luffy grinned, though there was an unusual glint of determination in his eyes.
"And what's this about helping Ace too?" Sanji asked, taking another drag from his cigarette.
Luffy's face grew serious for a moment. "There's just something I need to warn him about. That's all."
"You're being unusually cryptic, Luffy," Nami observed, crossing her arms. "It's not like you."
"I'm hungry!" Luffy suddenly whined, changing the subject. "Sanji! Meat!"
"YOU JUST ATE, YOU BOTTOMLESS PIT!" Sanji yelled, but he was already heading toward the kitchen.
"Shishishi!" Luffy laughed, but Zoro noticed his captain's eyes drift toward the horizon where Loguetown waited, that same determined look returning to his face.
As the crew sailed toward Loguetown, Luffy sat in his special seat on Merry's figurehead, unusually quiet. The sea breeze ruffled his hair as he stared ahead, lost in thought.
"Oi, Luffy!" Usopp called out, working on one of his inventions. "Want to help me test this new weapon?"
Usually, Luffy would jump at such an offer, but this time he just shook his head. "Later, Usopp! I'm thinking!"
"LUFFY'S THINKING?!" The entire crew shouted in shock.
"Hey! I can think sometimes!" Luffy pouted, but his eyes remained focused on the horizon.
Zoro, who had been "napping" nearby, opened one eye to observe his captain. Something was different about Luffy today, but he knew better than to push for answers. Whatever it was, he trusted his captain would tell them when the time was right.
Nami called out. "Loguetown's coming into view!"
Luffy's entire demeanor changed instantly. He jumped up, his familiar grin spreading across his face. "Yosh! Let's go on an adventure!"
The Merry docked at Loguetown's harbor, and Luffy immediately jumped onto the pier, vibrating with energy.
"Remember everyone, we need supplies before heading to the Grand Line," Nami said, counting their money. "And DON'T cause any trouble!"
"Shishishi! I'm going to see the execution platform!" Luffy announced, already running off.
"Wait, Luffy!" Nami called after him. "Don't draw attention to—" But he was already gone, leaving a dust trail behind him.
"That idiot," Sanji lit a cigarette. "Should someone follow him?"
Zoro shouldered his swords. "He'll be fine. I'm going to find a sword shop."
"Don't get lost, Marimo!"
"Shut up, Love-cook!"
As the crew split up, Luffy ran through the familiar streets. He got lost again. Still, he couldn't help but grin – this town where the Pirate King died would also be where another great adventure began.
"Hmm... the execution platform should be this way... or maybe that way?" Luffy scratched his head, looking between several identical-looking streets.
"Everything looks different from last time... or was it next time?" As he wandered, the smell of food from a nearby restaurant made his stomach growl. "Maybe I should eat first... No, no! Platform first, food later!"
He turned another corner and bumped into someone - a tall figure in a white Marine coat.
"Smoky!" Luffy started to move past, then froze. Standing before him was Smoker, the Marine captain who would give him so much trouble in the future.
Smoker's eyes narrowed at the casual nickname. "Do I know you, kid?"
Luffy mentally kicked himself for the slip-up. "Nope! Just heard about the strong Marine captain in Loguetown! I'm just a tourist looking for the execution platform!"
Smoker studied him for a moment, his cigars trailing smoke. "Tourist, huh? The platform is in the town square. Straight ahead, can't miss it." He paused, then added, "Lot of pirates trying to see it these days. You wouldn't happen to be one of them, would you?"
"Me? A pirate?" Luffy laughed nervously, trying to edge away. "I just want to see where the Pirate King died!"
"Is that so?" Smoker's hand drifted toward his jitter. "Funny, most civilians don't call me 'Smoky'..."
Luffy knew he had to think fast - which wasn't exactly his strong point. "Well, uh... it's because of all the smoke! Anyone would call you that! Shishishi!"
Smoker took a step forward, his expression darkening. "You're a terrible liar, kid. And something about you seems... familiar."
Just then, a commotion erupted from a nearby street - shouts about some pirates causing trouble at the marketplace. Smoker's head turned toward the noise, his sense of duty conflicting with his suspicion.
"Ah! Look! Pirates!" Luffy pointed dramatically in the direction of the chaos. As Smoker's attention shifted, Luffy stretched his arm to grab a distant rooftop. "Gomu Gomu no... ESCAPE!"
"Devil Fruit?!" Smoker's eyes widened as Luffy catapulted himself away. "Hey! Stop right there!"
"Sorry Smoky! Gotta go see that platform!" Luffy called back with a grin, bouncing from roof to roof. "See you later!"
"WHITE LAUNCHER!" Smoker's body transformed into smoke as he pursued Luffy across the rooftops. "You're not getting away, pirate!"
"Shishishi! This is fun!" Luffy laughed as he bounced between buildings, though he knew he needed to lose Smoker fast. He'd changed history enough already just by meeting him early.
The execution platform came into view in the distance. "There it is!" Luffy exclaimed, but his celebration was cut short as a cloud of smoke materialized in front of him.
"Got you now," Smoker growled, reforming with his jitter raised. "No pirate escapes from me in Loguetown."
"But I'm not supposed to get caught here!" Luffy protested, ducking under a swing from the jitter. "That happens later- I mean, never!"
The confused look on Smoker's face was interrupted by a sudden gust of wind that swept through the street, strong enough to make both men stumble.
As the wind died down, Luffy heard familiar voices from below:
"Is that... Straw Hat?!" "Captain Buggy, it's him!" "And look how scrawny he still is!" came Alvida's smooth voice.
Luffy peered down to see Buggy and Alvida with their crew, staring up at him in shock. "Oh hey, Big Nose! And... who are you again, pretty lady?"
"HOW DARE YOU CALL MY NOSE BIG!" Buggy exploded, his body parts separating as he launched himself toward Luffy. "And how dare you forget about me, you flashy idiot!"
"Chop Chop Festival!" Buggy's body split into pieces, surrounding Luffy who was still trying to dodge Smoker.
"Wait a minute..." Luffy said, dodging both smoke and flying body parts. "This isn't how it's supposed to go! We're not enemies yet!"
"What do you mean 'yet'?!" Buggy shouted, confused but still attacking.
"Gomu Gomu no... Whirlwind!" Luffy spun, catching all of Buggy's parts in a spinning attack. But instead of hitting hard, he gathered them up and landed on a nearby roof, away from Smoker.
"Listen, Buggy," Luffy said seriously, still holding the clown's scattered parts. "I know we fight a lot, but you're not a bad guy. You were on the Pirate King's ship too, right?"
Buggy's floating head turned purple with rage. "How do you know about- wait, 'too'?"
"Shishishi! Let's just say I know some things," Luffy grinned.
"Buggy!" Alvida called from below. "The Marine Captain is coming!"
Indeed, Smoker was approaching through the alley, his smoke form billowing menacingly.
"Hey Buggy," Luffy said quickly. "Want to help me escape? For old times' sake... well, future times' sake?"
"I don't understand what's happening," Buggy muttered, "but I hate Marines more than I hate you right now. Alvida! Get ready!"
"Chop Chop Cannon!" Buggy launched his hands, creating a diversion while Alvida used her Smooth-Smooth powers to create a slippery escape route.
"Shishishi! You guys are fun!" Luffy laughed, sliding down Alvida's slick path while Smoker's attacks missed them.
"Don't get the wrong idea, Straw Hat!" Buggy yelled as they escaped. "I'm only helping because... because..."
"Because deep down, you're not such a bad guy!" Luffy finished, grinning widely.
They landed in a quiet part of town, away from the Marines. Alvida studied Luffy curiously while Buggy tried to maintain his angry facade.
"Look," Luffy said, becoming serious for a moment. "I know we're supposed to be enemies, but we don't have to be. You guys could be like... funny rivals instead!"
"Funny... rivals?" Buggy's eye twitched.
"Yeah! Like when we meet, we can fight a little, but not seriously. More like... playing around!"
Buggy's face contorted through several emotions before settling on exasperated confusion. "You're insane, Straw Hat! Playing around? We're pirates!"
"But you're not evil," Luffy insisted. "You were on Roger's ship! You know what real adventure is like!"
At the mention of Roger, Alvida's eyes widened. "Buggy, you never told me you..."
"SHUT UP!" Buggy's head detached and flew around frantically. "That's not something I advertise!"
"Look," Luffy said, adjusting his straw hat, "I'm going to be King of the Pirates. But that doesn't mean we can't all have fun along the way! The sea's big enough for all of us!"
"King of the..." Buggy started laughing hysterically. "You're just like HIM! Just like that red-haired idiot!"
"Shishishi! Shanks is pretty great, isn't he?"
"NO HE'S NOT!" Buggy exploded, but there was less venom in his voice than usual.
"Well, see you later, I need to go and see the execution site" Luffy started running off.
Alvida looks at Buggy and says "Are going to continue the plan or not"
Buggy replies while looking at luffy back with complicated emotions " Let's forget, he took the fun out of it."
After parting ways with Buggy and Alvida, Luffy wandered through Loguetown's streets, trying to find the execution platform.
While Luffy chased his dreams and buried past grudges, his crew prepared for their journey to the Grand Line, each in their way.
Nami strolled through a bustling marketplace, her eyes darting from stalls filled with vibrant fabrics to tables laden with navigational tools. As she browsed, something peculiar caught her attention—a small glass orb with a compass needle suspended within. Intrigued by its odd shape, she stepped into the shop to inquire about it.
The shopkeeper, a portly man with a welcoming smile, greeted her warmly. "Hello, dear customer! What can I help you with today?"
Nami pointed at the strange compass. "What's up with this compass? Is there something special about it?"
The owner leaned in, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Ah, that! It's our special for the week—the Log Pose for the Grand Line. We got it from a traveler just back from the Grand Line." He paused, watching for any flicker of interest on Nami's face. "You see, the Grand Line lacks reliable magnetic fields. This is the only way to navigate through its waters."
Nami's curiosity deepened. "Really? Why haven't I heard about this before?"
"It's no surprise," the shopkeeper replied, shrugging. "Not many folks from the East Blue venture to the Grand Line, and vice versa."
"How much?" Nami asked, her mind already racing with possibilities.
The shopkeeper grinned. "How about 100,000 berries?"
Nami's eyes narrowed, a determined glint shining through. "No way! I want all the mapping tools and the Log Pose for 10,000 berries."
The owner blinked, taken aback by her boldness. Initially feeling a twinge of regret for trying to overcharge her, he quickly shifted gears, a competitive spirit igniting within him. "Well, that's quite the negotiation! Let the games begin!"
With a smirk, Nami launched into her bargaining tactics, deftly picking apart the shopkeeper's offers while simultaneously eyeing the various treasures around her. It was a dance of wits and strategy, each of them vying for the upper hand, and Nami was determined to come out on top.
In the bustling market, Sanji wandered with a twinkle in his eye, mesmerized not just by the fresh ingredients but also by the charming women passing by. His culinary instincts tingled as he scanned the stalls, searching for the finest produce to prepare for their journey to the Grand Line.
Suddenly, something caught his eye—a glistening fish displayed prominently at one of the stands. Its vibrant colors and unusual shape hinted that it didn't belong in the East Blue. Sanji's heart raced; this could be the perfect addition to his menu. He approached the stall, ready to negotiate.
But just as he was about to make his offer, a burly man stepped forward, tossing down a handful of berries—triple what Sanji could afford. The vendor grinned, sealing the deal before Sanji could say a word. Frustrated but determined, Sanji sighed and turned away, continuing his search for ingredients worthy of the Grand Line.
Meanwhile, Usopp leaned against a nearby wall, engrossed in his new glass. His brow furrowed as he read about the latest developments in the world, but he wasn't done. He needed more than just information—he was on a quest for ingredients to upgrade his arsenal. The recent battle with Arlong had opened his eyes to the strength of his captain, Luffy, who seemed relentless in his pursuit of power, training daily to master Haki.
Usopp couldn't afford to fall behind. He had seen Luffy push himself to new limits, and it sparked a fire within him. "If Luffy's leveling up, then so do I!" he thought, determination surging through him. He dashed off to gather the materials he needed, ready to invent new weapons that would make him a worthy ally in their adventures ahead.
Zoro stood in the sword shop, still reeling from his encounter with a girl resembling Kuina. He felt a strong urge to find a sword that honored her memory. His gaze fell on the Sandai Kitetsu, its alluring hilt calling to him.
As he gripped it, he felt an electric thrill and declared to the shopkeeper, "I'll take this one." But he needed another sword.
The shopkeeper warned him about the sword's cursed nature, but Zoro shrugged it off. He searched for a second blade, spotting Yubashiri priced at 5,000,000 berries, which he couldn't afford.
Seeing Zoro's determination, the shopkeeper offered both swords for 100,000 berries. Surprised, Zoro gratefully accepted, promising to honor the swords.
Strapping them to his side, he felt renewed purpose. With these weapons, he was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, determined to become the world's greatest swordsman.
Meanwhile, Luffy wandered through the market, scanning for familiar sights. "Hmm... Nami said it should be in the town square..." he muttered, the overcast sky darkening ominously, hinting at impending rain.
As he turned a corner, he nearly collided with a tall figure cloaked in dark green. Looking up, Luffy found himself staring at a familiar tattooed face—one he had only ever seen in newspapers from the future.
"Dad," he exclaimed simply, recognizing him instantly.
Dragon's eyes widened slightly, taken aback by Luffy's casual acknowledgment. "You... know who I am?"
"Shishishi! Of course! You're my dad!" Luffy grinned, adjusting his straw hat, his excitement palpable.
"Yes," Dragon replied, though his voice carried an unexpected weight. His gaze seemed to cloud over momentarily, lost in thought.
"I see," Dragon said finally, his tone low and even. "I didn't think he would tell you so soon."
Luffy's grin faltered slightly, sensing a hint of sadness in his father's voice. "Dad, what's wrong?"
Dragon's gaze snapped back to Luffy, his expression returning to neutral. "Nothing, Luffy. I'm just... surprised, that's all."
The air between them was thick with unspoken words, the tension palpable. Luffy, sensing the awkwardness, shifted the topic. "Dad, you know Sabo is your second commander, right?"
Dragon's interest piqued a glimmer of curiosity in his eyes. "Yes."
Luffy's smile widened. "he is my brother."
"Your brother? But he never…" Dragon paused, taken aback. "Do you know him from childhood? How certain are you that he's your brother?" He assumed Luffy had seen Sabo's image in a newspaper and recognized a resemblance. Despite the confusion, pride swelled within him for his son's perceptiveness.
"Yes! Me, Ace, and Sabo exchanged sake cups to become brothers!" Luffy's face lit up with joy as he reminisced. But as he continued, the happiness faded. "But Sabo sailed first, and his boat got shot. I thought he was... gone. Until I saw him again. I was really... really happy."
Dragon's heart twisted at the raw emotion in Luffy's voice. "But importantly—I know he lost his memories. I want you to arrange a meeting between us in Alabasta in a month, okay?"
Dragon struggled to keep up with Luffy's emotional shifts. "Okay…"
Hearing his father's agreement, Luffy's excitement surged. "And can you protect my ship while I'm here? I want to try to fight Smoker seriously this time!"
Dragon's interest sharpened at Luffy's determination. "All right," he replied, a fierce protectiveness brewing within him. As long as I'm here, nothing will happen to my son.
Luffy nodded eagerly, then asked, "Do you know where the execution site is?"
Dragon looked at him, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "Follow the wind," he said, and with that, he vanished into the shadows.
Luffy's eyes sparkled with admiration. "Sugoi!" he exclaimed, his heart swelling. My dad is amazing! But still, he is even more amazing! He nodded sagely, filled with innocent pride. If Dragon could have heard Luffy's thoughts, a bittersweet ache would have settled in his heart, knowing just how deeply his son looked up to that guy
Meanwhile, at the Marine base, a Marine greeted the Smoker. "Welcome back, sir," he said, but the Captain didn't respond to the pleasantries. Instead, he asked, "Do you know about the pirates with the rubber Devil Fruit?"
"Yes," Marine #1 replied, flipping through reports. "The latest HQ intel indicates it belongs to a new pirate named Monkey D. Luffy, with a bounty of 55,000,000 berries."
Before the conversation could continue, the door swung open, and Marine #2 rushed in. "Captain, urgent news! The Straw Hat Pirate, and Buggy Pirate, are all in the city. Each group has arrived from different ports, but it looks like they're finishing their business and…"
He hesitated, glancing at the Smoker, the urgency palpable in the air. "...and they're converging on the town square!"
The Captain's expression sharpened, his mind racing. "This could turn chaotic quickly. We need to mobilize our forces. If they're all in one place, it's a perfect opportunity to capture them."
Marine #1 quickly organized the information. "We can set a trap in the marketplace."
"Prepare the troops," the Smoker ordered, determination evident in his voice. "We'll surround the area and catch them off guard. Luffy's not getting away this time."
As the Marines began their preparations, Luffy wandered the streets, thoughts of Sabo filling his mind, blissfully unaware of the trap being set for him. He turned to his crew, excitement bubbling. "I can't wait to see what new trouble we get into today!"
As Luffy made his way through the increasingly crowded streets, the sky continued to darken. Thunder rumbled in the distance as he finally spotted the execution platform rising above the buildings.
"There it is!" he grinned, memories of the future flickering through his mind. This was where everything truly started- or would start.
As he approached the square, he noticed Buggy's crew members trying to blend in with the crowd.
As Luffy raced toward the execution platform, his sandals slapping against the cobblestones, the square began to clear. The civilians, seemingly guided by an unseen force, naturally drifted away from the center.
"Shishishi! Time to see the view from up here!" Luffy grabbed the platform's base and began climbing, his rubber arms stretching to pull himself higher.
Meanwhile, around the square:
Zoro emerged from an alley, his new swords clinking at his hip. His eye narrowed as he noticed the subtle movements of Marines taking positions behind market stalls and in doorways. "So they're setting up an ambush..."
Sanji appeared from another street, bags of provisions in his arms. He took a long drag from his cigarette, observing the situation. "Looks like our idiot captain is about to start something troublesome again."
Nami hurried in from the east, clutching her new Log Pose. "That moron! He's drawing too much attention!"
Usopp crept along the edges of the square, his new ammunition ready. "Why do I have a feeling this is going to turn into another crazy battle?"
As Luffy reached the platform's top, Marines suddenly emerged from their hiding spots, forming a perimeter around the square. Captain Smoker stepped forward, his cigars trailing smoke.
"Straw Hat Luffy!" he called out. "You're surrounded. Come down from there quietly!"
Luffy stood atop the platform, his grin widening as he looked down at Smoker.
"Nope! I'm the man going to become KING OF THE PIRATES!" shocking everyone, while his crew gave different reactions from amused to angry.
Then Luffy jumped from the top platform directly at the smoker saying "Let me test something!"
The crowd gasped as Luffy's haki-coated fist connected with Smoker's face, actually making contact instead of passing through smoke. Smoker's eyes widened in shock as he was sent stumbling backward.
"What?!" Tashigi exclaimed, her hand gripping her sword. "How did he hit Captain Smoker?"
Smoker regained his footing, wiping his jaw with the back of his hand. His eyes narrowed at Luffy. "Impossible... your punch shouldn't have been able to touch me. What did you do?" The confusion and anger were evident in his voice.
"Shishishi! I've gotten stronger!" Luffy grinned, bouncing on his feet with excitement. "Come on, Smoky! Fight me seriously!"
From their positions around the square, the Straw Hat crew watched with varying reactions:
Zoro smirked, his hand resting on his new swords. "So the captain's showing off his new trick..."
"That rubber idiot actually landed a hit on him?" Sanji muttered around his cigarette, impressed despite himself.
"It really works!" Nami whispered fiercely to no one in particular.
Usopp's jaw dropped. "He hit him!"
The smoker's body began to billow with smoke. "Whatever trick you're using, Straw Hat..." He raised his jitte, his expression darkening. "You're not getting away this time!"
Luffy grinned, cracking his knuckles. "I scucses! I did!"
From his hidden vantage point, Dragon watched intently. 'armament haki... where he learned from?'
"Captain Smoker!" Tashigi called out, her sword drawn. "The other Straw Hats are heading for their ship!"
"White Launcher!" Smoker shot forward, smoke trailing behind him.
Luffy dodged, barely. "Gomu Gomu no..." His fist turned slightly black again. "Pistol!"
The impact sent Smoker crashing through a market stall. Marines gasped, seeing their captain hit.
"This is insane!" Buggy shrieked from his hiding spot. "How is he using haki? I'm out of here!" He turned to his crew. "Back to the ship! Now!"
Thunder cracked overhead as the rain intensified. The wind began howling through the streets.
"Luffy!" Zoro's voice carried over the storm. "We need to go!"
"Right!" Luffy grinned, stretching his arm back. "See ya, Smokey!"
Smoker emerged from the wreckage, his eyes blazing with fury. "STRAW HAT!" His entire body transformed into a massive cloud of smoke, pursuing Luffy through the rain-slicked streets.
Meanwhile, at the harbor, the Buggy Pirates scrambled onto their ship. "Raise anchor!" Buggy commanded, his body parts flying around in panic. "That rubber brat's gotten too dangerous!"
"But Captain," Mohji protested, "What about our revenge?"
"We can get revenge when we're not dealing with a haki user, you idiot!"
Back in town, Luffy rocketed between buildings, barely staying ahead of Smoker's relentless pursuit. The wind grew stronger, almost supernatural in its intensity.
"White Vine!" Smoker's smoke formed tendrils, reaching for Luffy.
Suddenly, a massive gust of wind tore through the street. The smoker's smoke form dispersed, his concentration broken. Through the chaos, a cloaked figure stood atop a building, their presence commanding the very storm itself.
"Go, Luffy," Dragon muttered under his breath.
Luffy landed on the Going Merry's deck with a rubbery thud. "Set sail!" he shouted, grinning despite the danger.
The Going Merry's sails caught the powerful wind, pulling the ship away from the harbor with unexpected speed.
"They're getting away!" A marine soldier shouted from the docks.
Smoker reformed his body, watching the Straw Hats' ship disappear into the storm. His eyes narrowed at the cloaked figure on the rooftop, who seemed to command the very elements themselves.
"Who..." Smoker growled, but another gust of wind kicked up a blinding sheet of rain. When it cleared, the mysterious figure was gone.
On the Going Merry, the crew fought to keep the ship steady in the turbulent waters.
"Nami!" Usopp called out, clinging to the mast. "This isn't natural!"
"I know!" Nami replied, her hands steady on the helm. "But whatever it is, it's helping us escape!"
Luffy stood at the stern, his hat held firmly against his head as he watched the marine base shrink into the distance. His trademark grin spread across his face.
"Shishishi! That was close!"
The storm continued to push them further out to sea, leaving the marines and a furious Smoker far behind. Gradually, the violent winds began to die down, and the dark clouds started to part.
The crew started to gather on the deck, their clothes still dripping from the rain. Nami leaned against the railing, studying her charts with a thoughtful expression.
"I can't believe we made it out of there," Usopp said, slumping down on the deck. "I thought we were goners for sure!"
Sanji lit a cigarette, shielding it from the dying wind. "The Grand Line... we're really heading there now, aren't we?"
"Shishishi!" Luffy grinned from his special seat on Merry's figurehead. "Of course we are! That's where the greatest adventures are waiting!"
Zoro crossed his arms, a slight smirk on his face. "After what just happened in Loguetown, the Grand Line better be ready for us."
Nami looked up from her chart, her eyes sparkling with determination. "According to the chart, we should be approaching the entrance to the Grand Line soon." She frowned slightly at the strange markings on the map. "Though something about these routes looks... unusual."
"To the Grand Line then!" Luffy threw his fists in the air. "And then... One Piece!"
The crew shared knowing looks and smiles, each lost in their own thoughts about the journey ahead. As the last rays of sunlight broke through the clouds, the Going Merry sailed forward, carrying their dreams toward the greatest sea in the world.