"Time really flies, doesn't it?" Amidst the biting chill of a snow-covered landscape, a hand reached forward, gently brushing away thick layers of frost and snow to uncover a straw hat that had long been buried beneath the cold blanket.
"I can't believe it's already been two whole years…" Luffy muttered quietly to himself, cradling the treasured straw hat in both hands. As he swept off the last of the snow, a flood of emotion shimmered in his eyes. All the memories, regrets, determination, all colliding in silent waves behind his gaze.
For two years, he had not worn that hat. Not even once.
"The boat is ready for departure now!" Margaret announced, arriving with several others following closely behind her. Their unexpected presence stirred the massive beasts lurking behind Luffy. Perceiving the newcomers as threats, the animals released low, ominous growls, only to instantly fall silent under a single disapproving glance from the young man they followed.
"Look carefully. These people are my friends," Luffy said firmly, his tone brooking no argument. The beasts hung their heads, chastised, whimpering quietly in response to his rebuke.
Watching how effortlessly he subdued those ferocious creatures, Sandersonia raised an eyebrow. "So, you really went and became the boss of the whole island, huh?"
"Yeah, kinda," Luffy replied with a sheepish grin. "The only problem is… since we are friends, I can't eat them anymore. And I bet some of them would have tasted really good too." He sighed dramatically, rubbing his stomach as if lamenting the greatest tragedy in culinary history.
The giant animals stared at him in pure horror, their eyes wide and glassy as if silently begging the heavens to spare them from becoming dinner.
"It's alright, Luffy! I already packed all of your favorite food aboard the ship!" Hancock announced cheerfully, rushing to his side with a bright, hopeful smile. Her cheeks blushed a deep shade of crimson as she clasped her hands lovingly. "Such a thoughtful and devoted woman like myself would make the perfect wife for you, don't you not think so?" she added with a bashful pose that sparkled with confidence and longing.
"I'm not marrying you," Luffy replied bluntly, "but thanks for the food." Despite his curt rejection, his words were sincere.
Instead of being heartbroken, Hancock practically melted. Her blush deepened until her face resembled a ripe tomato, her heart thundering with explosive affection. She pressed both hands dramatically over her pounding chest.
"Even when you reject me, I love you even more!" she squealed, eyes sparkling with starry admiration.
Elder Nyon could only sigh and shake her head at the all-too-familiar display of the Pirate Empress's relentless infatuation. At this point, she had grown too accustomed to it to even try intervening.
"Since Rayleigh left six months ago, he'll probably be waiting for you by now," Nyon offered with a knowing nod.
Luffy grinned proudly. "Yeah. He taught me everything I needed to learn in only a year and a half. I owe him a lot. But now… it's finally time to say goodbye to this island, and to all of you."
His eyes wandered over the wild, untamed island that had become his training ground, his refuge, and his second home. Taking in one final, deep breath, he exhaled. "Alright then… Let's go."
With that, Luffy, Hancock, the rest of the Kuja Pirates, and Elder Nyon boarded the ship. Their voyage from Rusukaina Island took them to a point just shy of the Sabaody Archipelago, a place thick with memories and meaning.
"You should wear this," Hancock said, holding up a disguise kit that included a comically fake moustache and an equally ridiculous nose. Her expression was determined.
"I really don't need that. Relax, no one's gonna recognize me!" Luffy protested, though he didn't resist when she adjusted his cloak and fussed over hiding his face. The gentle care reminded him of his older sister's doting ways, it was oddly familiar.
Minus that squeling and being all red of course.
Hancok was just a weird woman.
"Still," Hancock insisted, "you should at least cover up. You may have been gone for two years, but there are still people out there who would recognize you in a heartbeat. If you stir up trouble, it could slow down your journey."
Recognizing that she was only trying to help, Luffy decided to go along with it. Besides, the moustache was kinda funny. Usopp and Chopper would absolutely die laughing when they saw him wearing it!
Hancock went on to list all the things she had prepared for him, but Luffy's ears perked up at only one thing.
Packed lunches. Lots of them.
At least he would not have to starve while looking for his crew.
"We of the Kuja Pirates will always be ready to come to your aid, should you ever need us! Please remember that!" Hancock declared proudly, flanked by her crew, all of them smiling brightly at him.
Luffy beamed right back at them. "Yeah! Thanks a lot, you guys!"
"We'll be praying for your safe journey," Margaret added, her voice earnest, quickly echoed by a chorus of encouragement and well-wishes from the others.
Meanwhile, Hancock was still blushing, hands clutched to her chest like a schoolgirl in love. "Also… there's just one thing I want from you…"
"What is it? If it's marriage, the answer's still no," Luffy replied immediately, deadpan.
"N-No! Not that!" Hancock exclaimed, flustered. She closed her eyes, cupping her face with both hands. "I just… I want you to leave without saying 'goodbye.'"
Luffy tilted his head in confusion, then chuckled. "No worries!" Flashing his widest grin, he said, "Besides, I wanna see you again. We're friends, right?"
He meant all of them, of course, but Hancock, being Hancock, interpreted it as something far more intimate. Her imagination ran wild, and Elder Nyon could only sigh again, as though she had aged ten more years in a single second.
As Luffy prepared to depart, Hancock reminded him again not to attract any unnecessary attention. He promised he would be careful. Climbing into the small boat the Kuja Pirates had gifted him, he waved enthusiastically as it began to drift away from their ship.
"Well then, I'm off! See ya!" he called, his eyes turning toward the horizon where the silhouette of the Sabaody Archipelago waited like a long-lost friend.
With the island just ahead of him, his journey across the water passed without issue. Upon stepping onto dry land, a surge of emotion hit him square in the chest. The last time he was here… was also the last time he saw his beloved crew. Even though he knew they were safe, the ache of missing them never fully went away.
Had any of them already arrived?
Well, knowing his crew, they'd find their way here. He had complete faith in every one of them.
He was sure they'd all become so much stronger by now.
He slung the ridiculously oversized bag that was stuffed to the brim and threatening to burst, over his shoulder without breaking a sweat. He adjusted his cloak to keep his identity concealed. He had not put on the fake moustache yet. Maybe now was a good time.
Not feeling anything bad from the person in hiding, Luffy only turned his head slightly to a certain direction where his instinct was telling him that the person was definitely there. A gentle breeze suddenly passed by the place, causing the leaves on the trees to sway gently as if they were waving themselves at him.
Not feeling anything bad from the person in hiding, Luffy only turned his head slightly to a certain direction where his instinct was telling him that the person was definitely there. Gentle breeze suddenly passed by the place, causing the leaves on the trees to sway gently as if they were waving themselves at him.
A moment after that, a person suddenly stood before him. Luffy blinked a couple of times before his eyes widened in surprise. Instantly recognizing the person before him.
Well, they had not met for a long time, but that person was unmistakably his dad!
"Dad!"
Dragon saw the flash of recognition across his son's eyes, though he had not seen the boy for more than a decade, his heavy heart was relieved and a proud gentle smile adorned his face.
"How are you, Luffy?" As an absent father, whatever he said to his children would always be awkward.
The awkwardness between him and Naru gradually lessened since they communicated once a while for the past twelve years, but he had not talked or seen his son for that twelve years as well. Therefore, the same awkwardness he felt when he first interacted with Naru came back.
Dragon cleared his throat. "Yes." Showing a rare smile on his face, he said "You've grown so much since the last time I saw you."
Thankfully, Luffy was not someone who overthink about certain things like the rest of his family members.
"Shishishishi! Yeah, I've gotten much stronger now!" Luffy beamed, full of infectious energy.
"I can see that," Dragon replied, his sharp eyes scanning his son with a critical but approving gaze. The last time he had laid eyes on Luffy, which was back in Loguetown, the boy had been leaner, almost wiry, lacking the physical bulk that now filled out his frame. But now, Luffy stood taller, broader, and radiated a quiet power beneath his usual carefree grin. There was an unmistakable aura of maturity about him that was subtle, but very much present, although it was easy to miss if one was too distracted by his boyish enthusiasm.
"What are you doing here, Dad?" Luffy asked, the word 'Dad' slipping off his tongue with such natural ease that it momentarily stunned Dragon. It was as though he had been saying it his entire life, and not, as Dragon had feared, uttering it for the very first time.
For a moment, Dragon was speechless. A strange flutter of emotion rose in his chest—surprise, yes, but also deep and unexpected joy.
"Ahem," he cleared his throat, regaining his composure. "I... came here to see you," he admitted, before promptly redirecting the conversation. "My team is here to send off your friend, Nico Robin. We just arrived, actually."
"Oh?! Robin is already here? That's good to hear." He was happy to hear about his crew. Since Robin was already here, it was possible that all of his crew were already here! Now he really could not wait to see them soon!
Noting the excitement on his son's face, Dragon decided to continue. "All of your friends have arrived safely. You're actually the last one to show up. If you meet with them soon, you can all set sail without much of a hitch. But be warned. There are a number of Marine forces positioned around the area. They're on high alert and on the lookout to capture you and your crew."
"Marines?" Luffy frowned, his brows knitting tightly. "Already? That was fast!"
"It's not because of you that they're here," Dragon said quickly, anticipating Luffy's concern.
Luffy blinked, confused. "Not us?"
Dragon gave a solemn nod. "There's a group of impostors operating under your name. They're calling themselves the 'Straw Hat Pirates' and have been using your reputation to recruit others into their so-called crew. It's caused quite a stir. I suspect they may become a problem for you and your real crew later on, so stay sharp."
Luffy pondered his father's words seriously. If this fake crew could cause problem for his crew later, then it might even delay their journey. Luffy did not like that. He also did not like it when some people using his crew, his friends for their own greedy desires. But he already promised Hancock that he would keep a low profile and stay of out trouble!
So what was he supposed to do in a situation like this?
"Just focus on reuniting with your friends as quickly as possible," Dragon advised calmly. "As long as you don't get recognized by the Marines, you should be fine. They're zeroed in on the impostors for now. In a strange way, this might actually work to your advantage. Let them be the decoy while you and your real crew slip away quietly, undetected."
That idea made Luffy pause, and then grin. Yeah. That made sense. Stay out of trouble, find his crew, and get going.
Easy peasy.
"You're right!" he said with a nod. "Someone told me that I should keep a low profile as well, so I'll just go find Zoro and the others now!" With that, he flashed a brilliant, toothy smile at his father.
"Thanks, Dad!"
Stunned, Dragon was surprised but also happy when he received the genuine smile from his son. He thought that Luffy would not accept him as a father, at least not as quick as his daughter did... Let alone being called a 'Dad' as soon as they met.
It made him happy.
It also made him feel deeply unworthy.
He stepped forward, slowly, until he was standing directly in front of Luffy. Wordlessly, he placed a hand atop his son's head.
"Wha-"
"Luffy," Dragon cut in quietly, his voice low and uncharacteristically tender. "I know I failed you. I wasn't there for you or your sister. I don't have any excuses to offer, not a single one. I won't pretend that what I did was right. But..." His voice caught slightly before continuing. "I want you to know something—something true. Not a single day has gone by where I haven't thought of you. Both of you. I've thought about how you're doing, what you like to eat, what makes you laugh, what your dreams might be. Even though I was absent, even though I was… the villain in your life, I never stopped loving you."
He lowered his hand from Luffy's head and rested it firmly on his shoulder, gripping it with quiet strength, just enough to say: I'm here now. And I mean it.
"I know it's selfish of me," Dragon continued, his voice still low but steady. "But... I hope, I truly hope, I can still have a chance to be a father to you. Even now."
Luffy looked into his father's eyes. There was no hesitation in Dragon's expression. The affection was sincere, unwavering. So was the guilt. But behind all of that was something far more powerful, hope. Hope that maybe, just maybe, it was not too late.
Dragon had no expectations. He did not dare to dream what Luffy's response would be. Like Naru had once told him, Luffy was unpredictable. You never really knew what he was going to say or do.
He began to withdraw his hand from Luffy's shoulder, preparing himself for disappointment.
But then Luffy flashed another grin, that was wider, brighter, more dazzling than before.
"Dad," he said confidently, "I hope I get to see you again soon in the New World!"
Dragon blinked, momentarily stunned. It took a second for the words to truly register.
But once they did, a genuine smile broke across his face.
Simple. Straightforward. That was his son's answer.
And for Dragon, that was more than enough.
Out of nowhere, a booming laugh escaped his lips, deep and joyful. And almost immediately, Luffy joined in with his trademark chuckle, "Shishishishi!"
"Sure, son."
And in that perfect moment, father and son stood face to face, wearing matching, radiant smiles for the first time in nineteen long years.
They both silently agreed,
Today was a damn good day for a reunion.