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Chapter Text

General POV: The Straw Hats are running for their lives, terrified, because they know... they know that they can't win. The only way out of this situation is to run.

Luffy is observing his friends as he runs, making sure they get away safely. But instead, he falls into despair as he sees his crew slowly, one after another, being sent away by a Warlord.

First Zoro—puff—disappeared. Then Sanji, Chopper, Robin, Franky, Brook, Usopp, and lastly Nami. As each member vanished, Luffy could feel his heart being crushed. Finally, it was his turn. He looked up at the Warlord with hatred and anger in his eyes, yet so deep in despair that he couldn't stop himself from crying. And then, the moment came—he was suddenly flying through the sky in some strange bubble. After all that crashing and crying, he finally fell asleep...

⸻

Kuma's POV:
Straw Hat... Monkey D. Luffy... I can see that you are not ready for the New World at all. You should know that you are weak, and you will be crushed immediately if you go now. You must train, get stronger, and learn your weaknesses. Because I know that one day... YOU WILL save this world from despair.

Looking at Luffy crying and being torn apart, Kuma can't help but feel sorry for the kid.

Kuma's thoughts: Here, Dragon, this is a departing gift from me. This will probably be the last act I do as myself. I hope my actions helped, even if just a little...

"Puff." Luffy is sent off.

⸻

Three Days Later – In Baltigo

A huge explosion echoed across the island, followed by a small earthquake that shook the ground. The Revolutionary Army rushed outside to investigate. They scattered across the island until one of the revolutionaries spotted a strange, yet familiar, paw-shaped mark in the earth.

They called the others, and together they surrounded the crater, staring at the figure lying motionless inside. It was a person who seemed lifeless. A revolutionary with medical training approached to check for signs of survival. As he leaned closer, the figure began mumbling. Everyone went quiet to hear.

"...foooood... I neeeed fooood..."

Dead silence.

"HHHHAAAAH!" The revolutionaries were in shock. Then one of them muttered, "You're dying, and this is what you're worried about? Just who are you, and how did you end up here?"

The boy croaked out: "GIVE MEEE FOOOOD, I'M DYING!" before collapsing back into sleep.

"Well, we might as well feed him, since Kuma is the one who sent him to us," a revolutionary said.

Just what is Kuma trying to do? He's been acting so strange. He hasn't contacted us, yet out of nowhere he sends us a half-dead little boy.

The revolutionaries carried Luffy, treated his wounds, and then brought him to the main cafeteria.

Inside, silence fell. The cooks, the people who had brought Luffy, and everyone else present were stunned into stillness. The boy was inhaling food—eating for a hundred people like it was nothing.

One of the cooks finally broke the silence. "Is the food good?"

To everyone's surprise, the boy answered: "It's good, though it's not as good as Sanji's cooking."

"Stop eating then, you pig!" the furious cook snapped back.

Another revolutionary leaned forward. "Just what happened to you, man? You looked so beaten up when we first saw you."

The boy paused, reaching for his head. But he couldn't feel it—the thing that always made him feel safe when he was anxious. His hat. His straw hat was missing.

"Oh no! Where is it? It's not on my head!" The boy looked devastated.

Then, another revolutionary walked in, holding a straw hat in his hands. "You mean this?"

The boy leapt from his seat, startling everyone, and snatched the hat from the man's hands. He placed it back on his head with a huge smile.

"It was all wrecked and dirty, so I cleaned it for you. Sorry if that made you mad," the man said.

Luffy stared at the clean hat with sparkling eyes, then jumped up and hugged him. "Thanks a bunch, it looks brand new! Shishishi!"

He then went right back to his plate, ignoring the earlier question.

"Man, you guys are so kind. You treated my wounds, fed me, and even fixed my hat... I've decided—I like you guys! Shishishi."

With that, he was bombarded with questions.

"Who are you?"
"What's your name?"
"What are you doing here?"
"How old are you?"
"Where are your parents?"

The flood of voices made Luffy frown. He hated when people disturbed him while eating.

"Man, you guys are so loud—it's annoying!"

"Sorry, but we're curious. You kinda just dropped in on us, and you're not answering anything we ask," one revolutionary said.

"Fine, but one at a time! Not all of you together—that's just rude."

"Hehe, okay then. Why don't you start by introducing yourself?"

"Alright!" The boy stood up, head held high. His smile stretched from ear to ear, bright enough to lift the spirits of everyone watching. Finally, he spoke—

Meanwhile, in Dragon's Office

Dragon stretched, sighing. "That was a pile of work..." He leaned back, satisfied with his progress.

"Oh, right—there was that explosion earlier, but no one reported anything. I'd better check. Probably nothing serious. A short break won't hurt anyway. I could use some fresh air... and some coffee."

(Author's Note: I love how Dragon convinces himself it's okay to slack off sometimes, hehe. Back to the story...)

Dragon left his office, trudging down the stairs toward the cafeteria. He needed caffeine before he collapsed where he stood.

But as he approached, a voice rang out, loud and proud—

"...I'M MONKEY D. LUFFY, AND I'M GONNA BE THE KING OF THE PIRATES!!!"

Dragon froze, eyes wide.

No coffee in the world could have woken him up faster.

To Be Continued...

Chapter Text

In the Cafeteria

Everyone burst into laughter after hearing Luffy shout those words.

That's when one of the staff members said, "Oh! I remember now! You're Straw Hat Luffy, aren't you?!"

"No way—you're the Straw Hat Luffy?!" another exclaimed.

"Is that really you?! The same person who declared war on the World Government and saved the Nico Robin?!"

"Yeah, I did that," Luffy replied simply, his face showing the resolve that he would do it a thousand more times if it meant protecting a friend. "But that's only because they were hurting one of my nakama, and I can't stand for that."

"Man, you're a hero of ours, you know that!" one revolutionary said proudly.

"No. I'm no hero to anyone. Don't call me that," Luffy shot back immediately.

"You know... being called a hero isn't a bad thing. It's great, actually."

"Well, I don't like it. Being a hero means putting others before yourself, and I'd never give my food away if I'm hungry," Luffy said with his mouth full, chomping on a huge pile of roasted meat.

The soldiers laughed, but one insisted, "We don't want your food. But you're still a hero to us. You saved Nico Robin, something we'd been trying to accomplish for years. Even our boss has taken a liking to you—and believe me, that's rare."

Luffy paused, then grinned. "Listen, I like you guys. But I don't like being called a hero. So how about we just become friends? I'll help you whenever you need it. But you never call me a hero. Deal?"

"Alright, if that's what you want," the chef said, setting another steaming dish in front of Luffy. "Oh—and by the way, did any of you make a report to the boss about what happened? You know how grumpy he gets if we slack off."

"Oh crap, you're right! We'll never hear the end of it!"

"Man, your boss sure sounds like a pain in the ass. I could never be friends with him," Luffy said casually.

"Yeah, he is," one of them admitted with a sigh. "He expects us to finish a mountain of paperwork in a single day. Sorry, but we're humans, not machines like him. He never smiles, and he's always so serious. But for some reason, he's taken a real liking to you."

"Yeah, I once saw his desk drawers," another added. "He had all your bounty posters stacked neatly inside. He was staring at your first one so deeply he didn't even notice me walk in."

Luffy didn't react. To him, that was a boring conversation.

"So, what do you think that's all about?" one revolutionary asked.

"Well, he either sees you as an obstacle or enemy... or he's interested in forming an alliance with you," another guessed.

"Nah, I wouldn't wanna befriend someone that grumpy," Luffy said, shaking his head. "And if he wants to fight me, then bring it on—I'll take him head-on!"

"Easy there, little guy," a soldier chuckled nervously. "We're not here to pick a fight with you. But don't get on the boss's bad side. He may look like he just sits in his office all day, but trust me—if he needed to, he'd crush you. He's strong."

"Yeah, I heard he once went head-to-head with Admiral Aokiji and won without even breaking a sweat."

"Admiral who?" Luffy asked, tilting his head curiously.

"You mean you don't know Aokiji?! He's one of the three Admirals. He's known for freezing his opponents to death."

"Oh... the ice guy," Luffy muttered, his body tensing.

"So you do know him?"

"Yeah. He once attacked us and tried to take Robin away. That guy's strong..."

⸻

Meanwhile, Dragon

Dragon walked into the cafeteria—only to see Luffy standing on a chair, proudly shouting about becoming King of the Pirates.

Dragon's POV: Is that... Luffy?! What's he doing here?! When—where—how did this happen? All I wanted was a cup of coffee before checking out that explosion... Don't tell me that noise earlier was him crashing onto our island?! Why here of all places?

Does he know I'm his father? No... I doubt the old man told him. But still—why here? He's covered in bandages... so he must've been beaten badly before he arrived. Just what happened to you, boy...

Even though Dragon entered through the main door, nobody noticed him—which was highly unusual. Normally, the entire room would fall silent and tense whenever he appeared. But this time, all eyes were fixed on his son.

Quietly, Dragon slipped to a nearby table, close enough to overhear but far enough to avoid attention. One of the servers noticed him, but Dragon raised a hand, signaling for silence and his usual order.

Dragon's POV: Looks like no one saw me come in. Can't blame them—Luffy's declaration was shocking. Still... he looks happy, even while bandaged and bruised.

Hearing his son's laughter echo through the hall eased Dragon's heart. He rested his elbow on the table, propping his chin in his hand, eyes fixed on Luffy.

Although... he's always been that way. Every time I saw him, he was smiling. With Makino, with the old man, even with those mountain bandits—he smiled. Even at Loguetown, when he was on the brink of death... he smiled.

I hope you're happy, Luffy. As long as you keep chasing your dreams and living free, you'll never have regrets. Show the world what freedom really means.

The server placed a steaming cup of coffee in front of him.

"Here's your coffee, sir."

"Yes, thank you," Dragon replied absently.

"Hehe."

Dragon looked up, puzzled. "What is it?"

"Nothing—it's just... rare to see you smiling, sir. It makes me happy to see it today."

Dragon stiffened, embarrassed. "You should get back to work."

"Yes, sir!!" The server hurried away, grinning.

Dragon nearly choked on his coffee when he suddenly heard his own name coming from Luffy's table.

Did I just hear that right? No—not exactly my name, but... they're talking about me.

Then came the sting. Someone called him "grumpy."

"I'm not grumpy," Dragon muttered under his breath. "I just like to get the job done quickly. They're the ones who slack off all the time..."

But his expression betrayed him completely.

The sting got worse when he heard one call him "a pain in the ass," and another describe him as "an emotionless machine who only works."

"That's not true," he thought, though his clenched jaw said otherwise.

And then, the dagger: they mentioned his private stash of Luffy's wanted posters.

Am I really that careless when I'm deep in thought?

Dragon's chest tightened further when he heard his son shrug off any connection with him. And finally, Kuzan's name—Aokiji—pulled him back into troubled thoughts.

To Be Continued...

Chapter Text

In the Cafeteria

Dragon was still lost in his thoughts when it finally happened—the revolutionaries at Luffy's table noticed him sitting alone.

"Why is he here?"
"How long has he been sitting there?"
"He's so out of it—look at him. He hasn't even noticed us staring."

Luffy suddenly chimed in, tilting his head. "Who's that weird-looking old man?"

The table went dead silent.

"Well... that's our boss," one finally said nervously. "The guy we were telling you about—the one who fought Aokiji and won."

Luffy squinted. "He doesn't look that strong to me. But yeah, he looks grumpy."

"Grumpy?! No, don't say that out loud!" another hissed. "What if he heard us?"

"Dragon-san does get hurt pretty easily," someone whispered.

"You think he heard us talking earlier??"

"You just had to comment on his work habits, didn't you? Couldn't you keep that to yourself?"

The revolutionaries bickered, but Luffy cut in again, frowning in thought.

"Dragon...? Dragon...? Dragon? I could swear I've heard that name before. Who was it again?"

"You mean—you don't even know who Dragon the Revolutionary is?!"

"Wait—do you even know where you are?!" another snapped.

"Nuh-uh. No idea." Luffy said proudly, arms crossed.

"Oh god... just how dumb are you? You're sitting here way too comfortably in a place you don't even know!"

"Shishishi!" Luffy laughed.

"Man, I don't even know how you've survived this long. Are you sure you're the captain of your crew?"

"Yeah! Why are you saying that?"

"Because your actions say otherwise."

Another revolutionary sighed and tried to spell it out. "Alright, listen carefully. You are on an island called Baltigo—home base of the Revolutionary Army. We are the Revolutionaries. And that man over there? He's our leader. The most dangerous criminal in the world. The biggest threat to the World Government.Dragon the Revolutionary."

"Okay, got it," Luffy said proudly. "I'm on a revolutionary island with a criminal government boss."

The man slapped his forehead against the table. "...I give up."

Silence.

Then, Luffy suddenly smacked his fist into his palm. "I remember now! Dragon the Revolutionary!" He leapt to his feet and marched straight toward Dragon.

"Luffy, wait! What do you think you're doing?!" one of the soldiers called nervously.

But Luffy didn't stop. He plopped down way too close to Dragon, leaning in and staring straight into his soul.

Dragon snapped out of his daze, turning to find his son's eyes boring into him. The sudden shock nearly made him choke, but he forced himself to stay calm.

What the hell is going on? Why is he staring at me like that? Could it be... does he know? No. That's impossible.

The Revolutionaries, however, were trembling in panic.

"Do you think he's about to pick a fight with Dragon-san?"
"I don't know... you can never predict what this kid is gonna do next..."

Finally, Luffy spoke.

"Oh, so you must be my dad!!"

The silence that followed was deafening.

Then—

"HHHUUUHHH?!"

The Revolutionaries' collective scream shook the cafeteria walls.

Dragon himself only managed a stunned "...huh."

"You know," Luffy continued casually, "Gramps told me once that my dad's some revolutionary leader named Dragon... Monkey D. Dragon. So, you must be him."

"...Huh," Dragon said again, utterly frozen.

"Dragon-san, say something!" a revolutionary pleaded. "Is this true?! Is Monkey D. Luffy really your son?!"

Dragon finally cleared his throat. "...Yes. Monkey D. Luffy is indeed my biological son." He said it so casually, it was as if he'd just commented on the weather.

"Wow! I never imagined you'd look like this," Luffy said cheerfully.

"...What's wrong with how I look?" Dragon asked flatly.

"Nothing. I just thought you'd look more like Gramps."

"Well, I don't. I just look this way."

"OH MY GOD, CAN YOU TWO STOP ACTING LIKE THIS IS NORMAL?!" a revolutionary roared, veins popping.

"Does anyone care to explain what's going on here? I'm lost!" another cried.

Dragon sighed, then spoke plainly. "When Luffy was born, I cared for him until he was 3 years old. But I couldn't raise him myself because of the Revolutionary movement, so I left him in the village where I grew up."

Luffy nodded, as if that explanation made perfect sense.

The room erupted in outrage.

"Annoying! Absolutely annoying! How are you two taking this so easy?!"
"Dragon-san, why have you never told us? I thought we were closer than this!"

"I didn't see it as necessary," Dragon said firmly, his tone suddenly cold.

"But sir, he's your son! How could you leave him for so long and act like he doesn't exist?!"

"That's enough," Dragon snapped. His voice was sharp and commanding. "You all have duties to return to, don't you?"

"YES SIR!!"

The Revolutionaries scrambled to their feet, backs stiff, clearly terrified of their leader's commanding aura.

But then—

"WAIT!" Luffy shouted. "Can you guys lend me a boat? I need to get to Sabaody. My friends should be waiting for me in a few days!"

He turned toward Dragon expectantly.

Dragon narrowed his eyes. "Luffy... if we give you a boat now, will you even be able to reach Sabaody on your own? Do you know which direction to sail?"

"Of course I do!" Luffy said, pulling off his hat. From it, he produced a small piece of paper. "See? This is a vivre card. It belongs to Rayleigh. We all got one, and he said he'd be waiting for us in Sabaody."

Dragon's gaze hardened. "...And are you certain no danger will be waiting for you there when you arrive?"

Luffy faltered, his words catching in his throat.

"Tell us exactly what happened to you," Dragon said firmly. "Then together, we'll find a solution that gets you to Sabaody safely."

Luffy clenched his fists. He wanted to protest—he wanted to run straight to his crew. But deep down, he knew Dragon was right. Rushing in could only endanger them again.

For the first time, Luffy held back.

To Be Continued...

Chapter Text

In the Cafeteria

The revolutionary soldiers went back to their work, and only a few stayed behind to help Luffy. They sat at a bigger round table, Luffy sitting across from Dragon.

"So, tell us everything that happened up to the moment you stepped on Sabaody. Can you do that?" Dragon asked, signaling the server to bring them something to drink.

"Yeah, okay... Our next destination was supposed to be Fishman Island. That's when we met Camie and Hacchi. They were in some trouble, so we helped them out. Then they told us the Sunny needed to be worked on before it could sail underwater. Hacchi said we'd find someone on Sabaody to help us, and that's why we landed there, looking for Rayleigh..." Luffy paused to take a sip of the milk the server had just placed in front of him.

"No way―you mean Dark King Silvers Rayleigh?!" one revolutionary exclaimed.

"Yeah, old man Rayleigh. At the same time, while we were looking around and exploring the place, some thugs kidnapped my friend Camie..."

Luffy stopped again, but this time it wasn't for milk. He was angry. His hands clenched, and his straw hat shadowed his furious eyes.

"She was kidnapped to be sold as a slave to those ugly things known as the Celestial Dragons." His voice dripped with anger.

Dragon wasn't happy about it either―he knew exactly what Luffy was talking about. He took a sip of his red wine and set the cup down harder than intended, the loud clink echoing through the silent room.

Realizing he was letting his anger get the better of him, Luffy forced himself to calm down. "After that, we decided we'd buy Camie at the auction with the treasure we had, since it was the only option left. But even that wasn't enough, so I had no choice but to get her out myself. As I was trying to help her, that Celestial Dragon shot Hacchi, and that made me even more furious―so I gave him a good punch to the face. Not long after, we were surrounded by Marines."

Luffy said this as if it were the only possible response. Dragon smirked slightly to himself, thinking: I bet punching that thing felt good.

"Oh wow, you really punched a Celestial Dragon?! Just like that?" a revolutionary asked in disbelief.

"Yeah. What of it?" Luffy replied matter-of-factly, as if anything else would have been wrong.

"Man, you're reckless! I don't know how you're still alive after that... What do you think, boss?" one of them asked, glancing at Dragon.

Dragon ignored it. He didn't want to admit that, reckless or not, he would have done the same thing.

"And then, what happened after that?" Dragon asked, giving his full attention to Luffy.

"Hmmm..." Luffy tilted his head, thinking. "I don't know... everything was pretty chaotic. The Marines attacked us, Rayleigh used some trick to get Camie out of her cuffs, and I met some other great pirates..."

One revolutionary groaned internally: Oh man, I can't follow this anymore. He tells it like we were there―it just makes it more confusing. Yet somehow, Dragon-san is following perfectly... Is this some family gene?

"Anyway," Luffy continued, "Rayleigh then took us to a coffee shop to treat Hacchi's wounds, and we talked about Gol D. Roger and stuff. Rayleigh said working on the ship would take about three days, so we spread out around the archipelago and agreed to meet again after three days. But as soon as we stepped out, the Bear Guy came and attacked us... He was too strong. We couldn't win, so we focused on running. But he sent each one of us flying... and that's the last time I saw my crew. So now you understand why I need to go back as soon as possible! My friends are waiting for me―I said I'd see them in three days, so I have to go!"

Luffy's eyes shone with desperation as he looked at Dragon.

"Oh, by the way," one revolutionary added, "when he says the Bear Guy, he means Kuma. When we found Luffy outside, he was lying in a paw-shaped crater―the same kind Kuma makes."

"K-Kuma?!" Dragon said in shock. His thoughts spiraled: Why, Kuma? What's happening to you? You vanished, and when we finally saw you again, you were working for the World Government―the very ones you despise. I was hoping you'd at least tell me what was going on. You know I hate being kept in the dark... especially when it's a friend who's suffering.

Luffy interrupted Dragon's thoughts. "So that's what happened at Sabaody. Do you now have a plan for how I can get back and meet up with my friends?"

Dragon took another sip of wine, steadying himself before answering. "Listen, Luffy... I don't know why Kuma did what he did. But I know for certain he had a good reason. As for you, getting you to Sabaody is no problem―but are you sure your friends will be there when you arrive?"

"They will be. We made a promise," Luffy answered firmly.

Dragon shook his head. "Let me explain how Kuma's power works. With just a fling of his hand, he can send a person flying to any place he's been before. It could be here... or the other side of the world. The trip takes three days, but the return? That's not so simple. Your crew will have to find their own way back to Sabaody. Depending on where they landed, it could take months... maybe a whole year."

Luffy froze, unable to respond.

"What I'm trying to say," Dragon continued, "is that with the vivre card you have, your crew won't need to stop at islands―they just have to keep sailing until they reach Sabaody. But it will take time. So why don't you stay here and use that time to train? I'll make sure you get much stronger than you already are."

Dragon's tone was calm, almost hopeful. He wanted to spend time with his son.

"Thank you for the offer," Luffy said, standing firm, "but I want to be there when my friends arrive. As their captain, it's my job to welcome them back."

Dragon smiled faintly, proud of his son's resolve.

Just then, a revolutionary shouted: "Oh, it's Sabo and the others―they're back from the mission already!!"

⸻

To Be Continued...

Chapter Text

“Oh, it’s Sabo and the others—they’re back from the mission already?!”

“Yo!” the blond-haired man greeted, raising his right hand to his head in a casual salute as he waved at the revolutionaries gathered in the cafeteria. “Yeah, no—we’re not finished yet. We just stopped by to drop off more supplies we liberated from the Celestial Dragons.” His remark provoked hearty laughter from the room.

Then, suddenly, his eyes widened as he spotted a familiar figure seated quietly at one of the tables.

“No way!! Am I hallucinating—or is that our Dragon sitting here in the cafeteria instead of being chained to his office, drowning in paperwork day and night?” Sabo exclaimed, half astonished, half mocking his commander for being a notorious workaholic.

“No way, you’re right!! This is Dragon-san!” Koala popped out from behind Sabo, equally surprised.

“So, you’re back just to restock supplies? You could have delivered them directly to those in need.” Dragon turned toward them, deliberately ignoring their dramatics.

“Well, I could have,” Sabo admitted, walking closer, hands clasped together in mock supplication. “But I missed the base, so we stopped by. Please accept that as a decent excuse—I’d rather not file an official report about it.” Then, with a mischievous grin, he added, “So tell me, why are you here? Did you finally decide to be social and sit with us?”

“No. It’s far more significant than that!” one of the revolutionaries burst out, nearly trembling with excitement.

“WHAT?! REALLY?!” Sabo blurted in shock. Then, before anyone could explain, he began rattling off guesses. “Don’t tell me—let me guess! Are we finally launching a full-scale assault against the World Government?!”

“Nope,” the revolutionary replied flatly.

“Of course not, you idiot. We’re nowhere close to that,” Koala interjected, visibly irritated by Sabo’s absurd leaps of logic.

“Oh! Then we must be welcoming a powerful new recruit!” Sabo guessed, his eyes gleaming.

Again, the revolutionary stifled a laugh. “Wrong.”

“Then it must be his birthday!” Sabo declared triumphantly.

“Also wrong.”

“Well of course it’s not—I don’t see any cake around,” Sabo reasoned, as if that were the sole definitive proof.

“Oh, just tell us already!” Koala snapped, her patience fraying.

Dragon remained silent, visibly exasperated by the circus unraveling around him.

“You won’t believe this—Dragon has a son!!” the revolutionary finally announced.

“…” For a heartbeat, silence crushed the room.

“WHAAAAAAAAT?!” Sabo and Koala shrieked in unison.

“Yes—our Dragon has a son, and he’s right here.” The soldier pointed triumphantly toward Luffy.

Another “Whaaaaaat?!” erupted from both Koala and Sabo.

“And wait—there’s more!” the revolutionary added breathlessly. “It’s Monkey D. Luffy, captain of the Straw Hat Pirates—the same man who declared war on the World Government at Enies Lobby to save Nico Robin!”

This revelation drew an even sharper “WHAAAAT?!”—shorter, but far more devastating.

Sabo’s gaze snapped to Luffy, who sat rigid, pale, and expressionless.

Removing his hat, Sabo approached. “Hi, I’m Sabo, a Revolutionary Army officer. It’s an honor to meet you,” he said warmly, extending his hand with a radiant smile.

Luffy flinched at the sound of his name. His hands clutched his straw hat so tightly his knuckles turned white. Tears streamed down his face, his expression twisted with grief and rage.

Dragon’s eyes softened with paternal concern, though he remained wordless. He had no idea why his son was so distressed—but the sight alone filled him with a violent urge to obliterate the source of his boy’s suffering.

“Shut up. Don’t say that name,” Luffy growled, his voice trembling with fury. “You could never be him…” His words fell quieter and quieter. “You impostor. You could never be like him. Even if you looked like him or carried his name, you would never be Sabo. Sabo died ten years ago—killed by one of those wretched Celestial Dragons.”

The words left Dragon bewildered. He had never seen his son so broken.

Sabo, equally confused, tilted his head. “I’m sorry, but perhaps you’ve mistaken me for someone else?” he said gently, maintaining his kind smile. “This is the first time we’ve met.”

Those words shattered Luffy. His tears intensified. That smile—the little laugh Sabo let slip—it was unmistakable. This was his Sabo. The brother who collected treasure with Ace to one day buy a ship. The brother who shielded him from Ace’s scolding. The brother who endured his cruel family to protect them both. The brother who set sail at ten to chase his dream. The brother who was supposedly slain by the so-called “gods.”

How could a dead man stand before him now? Luffy didn’t know. He only knew the truth in his heart: this was Sabo. His brother.

Lifting his tear-streaked face, Luffy cried out: “Sabo—it’s me, Luffy, your brother! Don’t you remember?!”

The entire cafeteria froze. The revolutionaries, Koala, even Dragon himself—all were dumbstruck.

Brother? Impossible. They knew little of Sabo’s childhood—he had lost all memory of it—but for him to be Luffy’s brother would make him Dragon’s son as well. That was unthinkable. Dragon finding an injured, amnesiac son and bringing him here? It didn’t align with anything they knew about their leader.

Dragon, however, knew the truth. Sabo was not his child. He had found the boy in the East Blue—but far from Foosha Village, on the coast near Shimotsuki Village.

“I don’t think I’m who you’re looking for,” Sabo said at last, his tone serious. “It’s true I don’t remember my family—but I do know they were vile people, and I want nothing to do with them.”

Luffy seized Sabo by the collar. “Look at me! I’m your brother! I might be taller and stronger, but I’m still me—your little brother, Luffy. You left your parents because they were cruel—you lived with me and Ace at Dadan’s. You remember Ace, don’t you? You two hunted treasure to one day buy a ship! And don’t you remember when we became brothers? We drank sake together—we swore it, all three of us!”

Luffy’s voice cracked, frantic with desperation. “And our dreams—you wanted to be a pirate, to sail the world and write a book. Ace wanted to be the strongest pirate alive. And I… I…”

Dragon intervened, his hand firm on Luffy’s shoulder. “That’s enough, Luffy. I don’t think this Sabo is the same one you’re talking about.” His voice was steady, but it was an attempt to protect his son from further agony.

“No… Dragon-san…” Sabo’s voice trembled. He clutched his head as stabbing pain wracked his skull. Memories surged violently.

“I… I remember now,” he gasped. His eyes widened, brimming with tears. “I am your brother. We swore to set sail on our own—when we turned seventeen.”

Luffy’s face lit up, a beaming smile breaking through his tears. In the next instant, he leapt into Sabo’s arms, hugging him with everything he had.

The two brothers clung to each other, crying openly for what felt like hours.

The revolutionaries stood in stunned silence. Some wept at the reunion. Others stared on, bewildered, their minds racing with unanswered questions.

Koala’s heart overflowed with joy, watching Sabo’s memories return.

As for Dragon—seeing his son’s tears of happiness filled him with an indescribable sense of peace. For the first time in years, he felt as though the world itself rested in his hands.

⸻

To Be Continued…

Chapter Text

Night had fallen, and the two brothers lay in the infirmary beds. They had both collapsed after enduring a roller coaster of emotions. They hugged, they cried, they laughed, they mumbled to each other, even fought―and they kept at it until their bodies gave in. When they finally collapsed, Dragon immediately lifted his son into his arms and carried him to the infirmary. At the same time, Hack, who had been waiting aboard the ship for Sabo and Koala, came to investigate why they were taking so long. What he found was a collapsed Sabo and Dragon running with a boy in his arms. Confused beyond belief, Hack quickly scooped Sabo up and followed Dragon inside.

The doctor examined both boys and assured everyone that they were fine. They simply needed rest―their exhaustion came not from physical wounds but from the overwhelming emotions they had endured all at once.

The Revolutionary base, usually known for its strict, work-only atmosphere, was in shambles. No tasks were being done. Instead, gossip and speculation buzzed in every corner.

What do you mean our most reliable leader has a son? And that son is Monkey D. Luffy?! On top of that, Luffy has a brotherly connection to Sabo?!

Theories ran rampant.

"I never would've thought Dragon-san had a son."

"Yeah, it's insane. How did he manage to hide that all these years? He never mentioned it once in seventeen years. I think he doesn't even care―he abandoned him in childhood and never visited, not even once."

"You're right. Luffy even said he only knew about Dragon through his grandfather. What a cold-hearted man."

"No, I don't think he's cold-hearted at all. Didn't you see his reaction? When Luffy cried, he looked furious. I swear I saw fire in his eyes. And when Luffy laughed, he smiled."

"What? Dragon-san actually has a soft spot for someone?!"

"Apparently, for Luffy he does. Sure, he likes us too, but he always keeps that tense look on his face―even when we're joking around."

Three revolutionaries debated in the head workstation, while others whispered in the cafeteria, the pharmacy, and even the bathrooms. Dragon was the talk of the day.

Meanwhile, Dragon tried to lose himself in paperwork, hoping to forget the storm of emotions―but it was useless. He stared at the words, but they refused to register. His focus shattered again and again. Hours passed, his mind spinning until it felt ready to explode.

When midnight finally arrived and the base grew quieter, Dragon left his office for fresh air. The halls were dark and empty―an atmosphere that would feel eerie to most, but to him, it was comfortable. The darkness embraced him, and in it, he felt strangely at ease.

Stepping onto the balcony, the strong breeze slammed against his blood-red tattooed face. The moon hung brilliantly above, casting a silver glow over the ocean, which shimmered in a deep midnight blue. For a moment, Dragon allowed himself to relax, to collect his scattered thoughts.

But that peace did not last.

As he neared the railing, he noticed a shadow already perched at the balcony's edge. Black hair fluttered beneath a straw hat, swaying in the wind.

Luffy? What is he doing here? Dragon thought.

What should I do? I can't approach him―it might make him uncomfortable. No, it would make both of us uncomfortable. He hasn't noticed me yet. I'd better retreat to my office before he does.

He began to turn back, but a strong gust of wind blew Luffy's hat from his head. The boy hopped down from his spot to catch it, and in doing so, spotted Dragon standing stiffly by the doorway. Their eyes locked.

The air grew heavy.

Dragon froze in place, but Luffy only giggled, dusted off his hat, and set it back on his head.

"Sorry," Dragon muttered quickly. "I didn't mean to disturb you. I'll just head back."

"Why are you leaving so soon? Didn't you just come up here?" Luffy asked, his voice casual.

"Well... yes. I came for fresh air, but I don't want to intrude. I'll return inside," Dragon replied, once again trying to slip away.

"I don't mind the company," Luffy said, flashing his wide grin.

"...Well. Excuse me, then."

Dragon straightened his posture and stepped toward the railing, positioning himself not too close yet not too far from Luffy, who had climbed back onto the edge of the balcony fence.

Together, they gazed out at the moon mirrored across the sea. Neither spoke. The silence was deafening, yet strangely more comforting than words―at least for Dragon. His heart pounded, nerves frayed.

I didn't expect this. Just the two of us alone... it makes me uneasy. I thought I could handle it after the cafeteria, but this is different. Look at him―so calm, while I'm the one unraveling. How does his mind work? I can usually read people so easily, but with him... I'm lost. It feels like he's the mature one here.

Dragon stole a glance at his son.

Luffy wasn't thinking of anything. He was simply enjoying the night―the view, the wind, the moonlight brushing his face.

Dragon was still lost in thought when Luffy suddenly broke the silence.

"So, is this your favorite spot?"

"...What?" Dragon blinked, startled.

"You know, on the Sunny, my favorite spot is the figurehead. When I sit there, the strong wind hits me, and the sun shines down so brightly. It's really nice."

"...Yes, you could say that." Dragon answered, his shoulders loosening in relief. The ease with which Luffy spoke warmed him―he had feared the conversation would be much harder, considering this was their first true face-to-face meeting in seventeen years.

⸻

To be continued...

Chapter Text

“Yeah, you can say that. I always come up here when I’m stressed or stuck in difficult situations. Facing east reminds me why I’m doing all of this.” The words spilled out before Dragon could stop himself. He was stunned—he had never been one to open up. He was the listener, not the speaker. Yet with Luffy, it felt… natural. Like his heart insisted on making up for the seventeen years lost.

“East…?” Luffy tilted his head. “I thought east was that way.” He pointed to his right.

Dragon raised a brow. “No, it isn’t. Why would you think that?”

“Are you dumb? East is always to your right,” Luffy replied matter-of-factly.

For the first time in years, Dragon burst into laughter—a deep, genuine laugh. He couldn’t even remember the last time he had laughed like that. Clutching his head, he shook it with a smile.

“No, Luffy. That’s not how it works. It’s only correct if you’re facing north,” he began explaining about compasses—

“Uuugh, stop! Too confusing, too boring,” Luffy interrupted, clearly irritated.

Dragon sighed, realizing his son wasn’t the type to pick up a book for fun. “Enough about me. Don’t you have questions? Aren’t you curious about anything? Ask me—I’ll do my best to answer.”

“Oh yeah, I do.” Luffy’s eyes lit up. “Why east? You said it helps you out… but why? Does the wind blow differently from that side?”

Dragon blinked, caught off guard. Of all the questions he expected, that was not one of them. He thought Luffy would ask why he had abandoned him, or who his mother was. But no—the boy was hung up on directions.

Dragon chuckled softly. So this is who he is…

“Well, it’s because I had some special people living in the East Blue. Facing that way helps me think of them.”

“Reaaally?!” Luffy’s eyes sparkled. “I’m from the East Blue too! I’ve got special people there—Makino, Dadan… and that’s where I first met Shanks!” He turned eastward as well, reminiscing with a grin.

Dragon studied him quietly. Does he really not understand what I mean when I say he is one of those people? Does the word “father” mean nothing to him? Perhaps it doesn’t… perhaps I’ve made it meaningless. Regret gnawed at him. Maybe he should have stayed. Maybe the world’s corruption wasn’t worth leaving his son behind.

“So tell me,” Luffy said curiously, “who are the people you care about in the East Blue?”

Dragon exhaled. If Luffy wouldn’t connect the dots, then he had to spell it out. “There were two people. The first is you, standing here beside me. And the second…” He hesitated. Should he bring her up? Yes. Luffy deserved the truth. “…The second was your mother. She… passed away after giving birth to you.”

Shock froze Luffy’s face. Dragon immediately regretted saying it so bluntly. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have dropped it on you like that.”

“No, no,” Luffy waved his hands, still processing. “I was just surprised… surprised that you cared about me.”

Those words pierced Dragon deeper than any blade.

“I mean why would you?” Luffy continued. “We haven’t spent any time together. We don’t know each other. We’re like strangers. Sure, you’re my father… but that’s all. Nothing special.”

The words echoed painfully within Dragon’s chest. Tears welled and fell freely. His heart clenched.

“I’m your father. How could I not care? Luffy, I love you more than anything in this world. I became the fearsome leader of the Revolutionary Army because of you. I wake up every day and breathe because of you. When I first held your tiny, fragile body, when you gave me your first smile—I knew I had to give everything to change this world. I wanted children like you to grow up free of fear, without divisions of right and wrong, rich and poor, weak and strong. I wanted parents to raise their children with peace in their hearts. But I failed. I was too focused on other families and forgot my own. I abandoned you, thinking you would understand. But how could you? I wasn’t there. You grew up without knowing a father’s love. I’m sorry… I failed you.”

His voice broke. He trembled, feeling lower than he had ever felt.

“I won’t blame you if you hate me… if you resent me. I deserve it.”

Luffy stood in silence, overwhelmed. He wanted to comfort his father, but words felt strange. Instead, he simply removed his straw hat and placed it gently on Dragon’s head.

“It’s okay. I don’t hate you. I don’t resent you. I’m happy with how I lived my life. I met Makino, Shanks, Dadan, Ace, Sabo—they made me happy. And now, I’m glad I got to meet you too.” Luffy smiled warmly. “I’m glad you’re a good person. You’ve been helping other children, making them happy. You even saved Sabo! So thank you… Dad.”

The word struck Dragon like lightning. Dad. It felt surreal. Overwhelming. Beautiful. When Luffy placed the straw hat on his head, it was as though the entire world embraced him.

“I’m glad you’re my father,” Luffy said, ending with his signature giggle. “Shishishi.”

⸻

To be continued…

Chapter Text

“I’m glad you are my father..” those words struck Dragon’s ears.
What does that mean.. he thought to himself. Clearly, Dragon and Luffy each had a different interpretation of this sentence. For Luffy, it just meant that the person he has to call father because they are blood-related is a good person, and that made him happy.

As for Dragon, the word father had a much deeper meaning than that. For him, a father deserves to be called father only when he acts like one, which is why he now calls his old man “old man”. So hearing Luffy call him that made him happy and sad at the same time. He knew very well that Luffy was not calling him father in the way he wished he was.

He still was unsure about his decisions. Was it really the right thing to do - giving Luffy up at the age of three? He was still a baby who needed care, and who more than a parent can care about their children? He knew that Makino and the other villagers raised Luffy with all the love they could give, but that is still nothing compared to the love of a parent, and he robbed Luffy of that.

He also knew that sitting here now and regretting the choices he made was not going to change the past. All he can do now is be there for Luffy when he needs him - not as the father that he thinks he should be, but as the father Luffy is expecting him to be.

“Well.. I guess I will be the father that you think I am.” Dragon finally spoke with a sad smile drawn on his lips.

Luffy said nothing. Nothing needed to be said. They understood what the other was thinking of the matter without having to speak. It could be because of their bloodline relation or the will of the Monkey D. that they both carry, but the look and the small smile they gave each other said everything that needed to be said.

“Say Luffy,” Dragon said after some deep admiration of the moon, “aren’t you even a bit curious about your mother?”

Luffy just looked at Dragon bluntly. “What do you mean.. you did say that she died, didn’t you?”

“Yeah..” Dragon replied with clear confusion. So what, she is dead? Do we not speak of the dead? he wondered.

“She is gone and I’m never gonna see her, so why bother learning about her in the first place.”

“What do you mean!?” Dragon was surprised and irritated at the same time. “She is your mother.. yes, you may not have seen her or ever will, but she is still the person who carried you in her womb for nine months and the one who brought you to this world. Don’t you think you have to at least honor her by knowing who she was, or at least know her name!?!”

Dragon was clearly irritated. At that moment he wasn’t being a father or a husband to a mother; he was being a man in love. All he could think of at that moment was that the woman that he loved so much died and nobody, not even her son, wanted to know what kind of person she was.

Luffy saw that irritation in his father’s eyes and he knew things were really getting serious.

“No,” Luffy responded with an intense look in his eyes, “what is the meaning of learning who she is if I can’t even meet her..” He was slowly getting sad. “..it’s just gonna be more annoying to learn about her yet not get to meet her..”

Dragon was starting to see the picture. It’s not that Luffy didn’t care about her; it’s more like he was going to get sad by it, so he chose to ignore it. Dragon was back to his normal self again. He now understood Luffy’s perspective.

“Sure. If that’s what you want.” He gave a faint smile.

“But you know!” Luffy expressed curiosity. “I would like to know what kind of person your wife was.”

“Oh!!” Dragon was stunned. “You want to know her as my wife and not as your mother, is that right!!?”

“Oh, and I would love to know how she looks like because.. hmmm, you and I don’t really look alike..hehe.” Luffy laughed awkwardly, which made Dragon chuckle.

“Yeah sure, but I think we should continue this inside..” Dragon said, looking at the sky. “The sky is getting so cloudy it might rain.”

Luffy looked up and the bright shining moon was nowhere to be found anymore; the clouds filled out the sky hiding the moonlight and the stars around it.

“Oh you are right, we better go inside.” Luffy responded kind of worried.

Luffy jumped down the fence, skipping his way inside. Dragon followed behind and he had a ‘proud dad’ grin drawn on his face.

Dragon took them to his office. The lights were still on - it seems he forgot to turn them off when he left earlier. That is not good; he just remembered someone who would be really mad about it if they were here..

Dragon let Luffy in and closed the door behind them. Luffy sat on the red settee placed under the window and Dragon started talking while going through some cabinets.

“Well.. let me start by telling you her name, which is Merisa.. and it means belonging to the seas.” Dragon was blushing just by remembering the old days with her.

“Oh, here it is!” Dragon pulled out a small treasure chest that was all dusty, and it looked like it hasn’t been opened in years. Dragon squeezed himself next to Luffy and he placed the chest on the table in front of them.

He dusted it off and slowly opened it. Happiness was all over his face; his smile was from ear to ear. He couldn’t believe that he is actually opening that treasure chest that he decided to lock and not open it unless he achieved his goals. This chest contains all his happiness so he kind of locked it away until the world can laugh once again.

He took some old-looking photos from the box. “Here it is..” He stared at one picture for some time before giving it to Luffy. In the picture, there was a girl standing on the beach waving to the camera; her happiness is as deep as the ocean. “This is her, your mother..”

Luffy stared at the picture as well, but he wasn’t admiring it like Dragon was. He was surprised to see how much that person in the photo looked like him. She had big round eyes and a cute round face. Her hair was a little over her shoulders; it had the color of navy blue and it was waving like the wind was hitting it from all different directions, making it look a bit messy. She had cute little bangs. She looked small, around 1.50m, and her smile.. her smile would make anyone feel happy just by looking at it.

Luffy’s eyes were filled with tears. He didn’t know why; he wasn’t sad yet he felt like crying.. it was as if that was the right thing to do, his heart was telling him so.. Dragon gave him a tissue.

“You are right, you look nothing like me, but you are a cute copy of your mother, though you do have my colors.. you can’t really tell from the picture, but she had ocean blue eyes and navy blue hair. Being around her is like being hugged by the Ocean itself..” Dragon was talking and his voice was filled with overjoy.

As for Luffy, we see a sight that is so rare to come out of him; he was focused.. he was fully focused even a pile of meat wouldn’t budge him.

“How we met?.. we met back when I was still in the marines, I was around 20 years old and she was 17.”

“Wait what?!!” Luffy cut him mid sentence “you were in the marines!?!”

“OH, right..” Dragon just remembered that Luffy doesn’t know anything about him either. “At the age of 15, your gramps enrolled me into the marines and in 2 to 3 years’ time I was at a vice admiral rank signed to the front fleet, but after the God Valley incident I asked to be signed to the patrol fleet in the East Blue. Of course, it wasn’t that easy to go from a fully active fleet to a less active one but it was my wish, so I had to manage.”

Dragon stopped talking mid conversation because he noticed that Luffy was slowly getting bored of this, so he skipped to the important part.

“In my third year of being the admiral of that patrolling fleet, we got new recruits and Merisa was one of them.. the more we spent time together the more I learned that we are from 2 different worlds..” Dragon ended his sentence with a chuckle. “She is the kind of person who would jump into action without thinking things through, she wasn’t the kind to use her brain in critical situations, when pirates attacked our area she would be the first to fight back with no plans or backup, so I always had to go into her rescue. Just like that, my 3 peaceful years were long forgotten. Every day was a new adventure with her; she gave me headaches.” Dragon leaned back, letting all those joyful memories sink in.

“Shishishi, I bet she was fun.” Luffy was grinning, he was enjoying himself.

“If that is your idea of fun. There was that one time when the Roger pirates were sulking around in the area and she attacked Dark King Rayleigh head on, that was a disaster..”

“Wait you mean old man Rayleigh. He is the one who freed Camie from her cuffs, he is really strong, how did you fight him off?!”

“I was no match for him back then so fighting him off wasn’t an option, to my luck because of our old interactions he let us off but of course your mother wasn’t okay with that, she insisted on capturing him so I had to lift her and flee away.”

Luffy set there and his small giggles filled the room; he was playing the whole scene in his head.

“You seem to be enjoying this, huh?”

“Well yeah of course, mom was a great person but you on the other hand, you are no fun; you sound like Nami when I choose the next island we go to.”

“Yeah, she was a fun person and full of life, exactly the opposite of me.. she had everything that I was missing, she may not have been good when it came to logical thinking but she was the best at reading emotions and assisting emotional situations. Her choice of words made the people around her feel safe and comfortable..”

“We were so different yet alike.. we both had a strong sense of justice and freedom, but the marine way of fighting for justice didn’t sit right with us, so we decided to start a revolution where we would fight for people’s happiness and freedom.”

“We resigned from the marines and set sail looking for people with the same ideals as ours. That wasn’t easy at all, people were too scared of standing up for themselves; the terror of the Celestial Dragons were eating them up from the inside. With that, we still didn’t give up, we sailed from a place to another making allies and spreading our ideals into the people.”

“That journey is what really brought us closer to each other. After some time, we decided to settle somewhere and operate from the shadows, we weren’t strong enough to make our revolution known to the world.”

“..,” Dragon took a glimpse of Luffy who was sitting there motionless; he was either fully focused or asleep, one of those two options. “Do you want me to continue?” Dragon posed the question; he wasn’t sure if Luffy was enjoying this or not, like he mentioned he is really bad at reading emotions.

“Yes. I want to know how and when did she die.. if that is okay for you.” Luffy was polite.

Dragon then continued. “Like I said we settled on an island for quite some time working from the shadows. In that time your mom would teach the children and play with them when their parents were busy making a living.”

“Merisa has always been fond of kids and she always wished to have one herself but because of the harsh training in the marines it made that dream of hers harder; the doctor said that pregnancy could endanger her life, yet she was willing to take that risk to fulfill her dream of having a baby. After some time she got pregnant with you and that was the happiest I have ever seen her..” Dragon didn’t know if he should continue with the story, he didn’t know what effect this will have on Luffy, he really is bad at reading the room. He took one glance at Luffy and his heart told him that he has the right to know so he continued.

“Through her pregnancy semester, her condition got worse each month, there were times when she couldn’t even sleep because of the pain but she would always put on a brave face to not make the people around her worried and I was there helpless.. I couldn’t be as brave as her, she was there to comfort me when it should have been the other way around..” “heh heh” he laughed awkwardly “I guess I have always been the pathetic one..Just like today, I didn’t know how to approach or talk to you.. I was awkward all the time, I could only ease down once you talked to me.” he

thought to himself before speaking once again "I guess the only thing I'm good at is leading the Revolutionaries.."

The room was getting heavier and it was starting to get uncomfortable for Luffy or at least this is what Dragon thought, so he continued "After 9 months of enduring the day finally came, at dawn on May 5th, the usually silent morning was filled with your mom's screams.."

Flashback:

Merisa was lying in their bedroom bed, screaming her lungs out, waking up the neighborhood. She was in labor.

Dragon stood there helplessly, holding tight to his wife's hand with eyes filled with tears. He couldn't handle seeing his wife in so much pain. The nun of the nearby church came in to see what was going on. She checked on Merisa and decided that she was going to deliver the baby right now. There was no time to go to a nearby hospital or anywhere - the baby was in a hurry to come to this world.

Merisa was pushing with all her might; the pain was unbearable, all she could do was scream ― and she screamed like there was no tomorrow. To make  the matter even worse, the baby's head was too big and got stuck, making the pain ten times worse.

Merisa was in pain, but Dragon was the one crying.

"WHY ARE YOUUU CRYYYYYYINNNGG!!??" Merisa squeezed Dragon's hand harder. "YOU are not the one giving birth, AAAGHHHH."

"I KNOW sniff sniff" Dragon was sobbing, his tears pouring down. "BUT I cAN'T HeLp IT, you look in so much paiN."

"OkEy, we are almost there, one final push!!" the nun said.

Merisa pushed as hard as she could. Dragon closed his eyes; he couldn't watch this anymore. He squeezed her hand just as hard as he squeezed his eyes shut. A second felt like a minute, and a minute like an hour. He wished everything would be over soon.

"OwAA OwAA!" He was erupted by a sudden cry - a child's voice. The screaming and hand-squeezing stopped, the room was silent. The only thing that was heard was a loud baby's cry.

Dragon slowly opened his eyes. His wife looked exhausted but was smiling as if all the pain she just went through had vanished. In her hand, she was holding a small, fragile figure that barely fit in her small hands.

"Smile a little, Dragon, it's a boy. You've got a boy now. Hihi, he sure is a hairy one, just like you." The nun said, trying to crack a joke.

Dragon was still in shock. He couldn't believe his eyes. His child was right there in his mother's arms, the baby gurgling and moving his little hands around; it looked so wholesome.

Merisa held Dragon's hand once again and spoke, "Come on sweetheart, don't you want to hold our little baby boy?" She gave a warm smile.

"N-no... he is so small, wha-what if I hurt him?" Dragon was struggling to speak.

"Shishi, don't worry sweetheart, you are not gonna hurt him. Just hold him close to your chest and let him smell your scent. Here." She gave him the baby.

Dragon slowly took him and moved him closer to his chest. "Wow, he is so tiny, he barely fills one of my hands!! Is that normal?! And look at his hair, it's so thick and black!! I thought babies were born with no hair, is that normal?!" He wasn't waiting for an answer; he was just shocked because that is not how he imagined babies looked like when they are born.

"He's got your hair, black and rough, shishi."

"And he has got your face round and adorable, haha."

"Come on now, all babies are born with a round and adorable face!"

"No, this is different; he's got your round face and your cuteness, isn't that right.. uh little one." Dragon looked at the baby who was holding his baby finger with both hands.

"What do we want to name him? Do you have any ideas, honey?" Dragon handed the baby back to Merisa.

Merisa stared at the baby for some time and then she spoke, playing with the baby's hair. "His hair got a rough texture yet it's so fluffy.. how about we name him Luffy?!!"

"I mean, it fits and all, but don't you think it's a bit weird for a name?"

"No, I think it's a special name only created for him. No one in the world is gonna have the same name as him. Just listen to it, MONKEY D. LUFFY.. doesn't it sound great?!"

"Hehehe, if you say so, honey."

And with that, the name Luffy was born, and the sun shone so brightly high up in the skies and the birds were singing in a welcoming voice for Luffy.

End of flashback;

Dragon got back to the present. Luffy was staring at him, waiting for the story to continue.

"Oh, sorry I just remembered the whole event on that day.." Dragon spoke awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. "Where was I?"

"Mom was screaming!!" Luffy was so impatient.

"Oh yeah, it was dawn and everyone was asleep, your mom went into labor at home with the help of one of the nuns from the church nearby."

"What is labor??" Luffy tilted his head.

"Uh.. uh?" Dragon didn't know how to answer that; it was kind of a surprise question. "Uh, it's when a woman is about to give birth." Dragon tried to say as few words as possible to not confuse Luffy, yet Luffy was still confused but he didn't dig deeper because it was unimportant right now. So he settled with an "okay."

"After fifteen long minutes of struggle, you came to life. You were so small, barely fitting in one of my hands."

"Yeah, you were small, but your head was really big and full of hair, you looked like a little Monkey. Hehehehe."

"Shishishi, that is funny." The father and son were laughing, that moment so wholesome.

"Do you want to know how you got the name Luffy?!"

"Ooh yeah, that sounds interesting. Was it because of some crazy monster or something? I mean, you are called Dragon because Dragons are cool, right?"

"Hahahaha, I mean that is an interesting theory but that is not it. Your mother chose the name Luffy because when you were born your hair had a rough texture, but it was fluffy, and a mix of both words it makes Luffy."

"Huh, that sounds dumb and uncool." Luffy was not satisfied with that answer.

"Yeah, I thought the same back then, but the way your mom saw it made it into a cool name."

"And how is that?"

"Let's say the name Dragon is inspired by a mythical creature which is cool and all, yet it's still an inspiration name. Your name, on the other hand, was created with you in mind. That name is yours and only yours; it was created especially for you."

"Oh yeah, that does sound cool, like I'm the only fluffy-roughy hair in this world!!" His eyes were sparkling. Though that did not sound as cool as it did in his head.

"Now I'm curious how my hair looked like when I was younger.." Luffy was thinking out loud.

"Oh, I think I have some pictures of when you were still with me.." Dragon took a new pile of pictures from the chest. They were pictures of Luffy when he was a toddler with Dragon. He handed them one by one to Luffy to look at.

"This one, you were only a month old, the first picture I ever took of you."

"This one is when you tried meat for the first time; you were so happy that you lost your balance and fell back."

"Your first crawling."

"First words.."

"First steps.."

Dragon showed him all kinds of pictures, telling a story to each one of them; he knew them all by heart. Luffy was really enjoying himself; it felt great to see and learn about your younger self, especially since it came from his so-called father. That moment made Luffy feel the special bond of a family; it drew them closer to each other, and suddenly Luffy could let all his guard down around Dragon, knowing he is gonna be safe. He felt like he was in a warm place that is surrounding and guarding him from all his sides, like when a wind hugs the air creating a tornado to protect what is inside of it.

"I don't see any picture of mom with us, why is that?" Luffy was curious.

"Because.. because your mom passed on after 10 days of your birth. The exhaustion caught up to her and she passed away.." The room was filled with silence.

"Can.. can I visit her one day.. is that okay?"

"You can visit her every day whenever you want. She, she wished to be returned to the sea, so I gave her that wish. You can talk to her whenever you feel like it, just face the sea and she will hear your voice."

"Your mother is the sea itself now." The atmosphere was heavy; it's not easy to speak of the dead.

"Thank you mom.. thank you for carrying me and my crew all this time. Please keep looking out for us and watch me become the next king of the Pirates, shishishi." Luffy once again loosened up the atmosphere.

After a long talk and stories about Luffy coming from both sides, Dragon and Luffy fell asleep in their place, and the world didn't feel like a horrible place for the moment.

To Be Continued..