One Piece: The Emperor Luffy

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The Red Force glided smoothly into the Sabaody Archipelago, the scarred mangrove trees casting long shadows on the water.

The vibrant yet tense atmosphere of the island was a mix of pirates, Marines, bounty hunters, and the looming menace of the World Nobles.

Shanks stood at the helm, his red hair catching the golden glow of the late afternoon sun. He turned to his crew, a relaxed smile on his face.

"All right, guys," He said, his voice carrying an unmistakable authority mixed with warmth. "We're stopping here for supplies. Yasopp, Beckman, make sure the crew doesn't get into too much trouble."

He gave a playful wink, which was met with laughter from the men.

Ben Beckman raised an eyebrow, lighting a cigarette. "And where are you running off to, Captain?"

Shanks grinned. "Just visiting some old friends. I won't be long."

The crew exchanged knowing looks but didn't press further. They were used to Shanks' unpredictable tendencies. With a wave, he strode off the ship and headed into the bustling town, his sandals crunching against the gravel paths.

In the dimly lit interior of Shakky's Rip-off Bar on the Sabaody Archipelago, the air was thick with the scent of tobacco and aged spirits. Shakky, the ever-observant proprietress, leaned casually against the counter, her eyes glinting with curiosity.

Beside her sat Silvers Rayleigh, the legendary 'Dark King,' nursing a glass of whiskey. The door creaked open, and a familiar figure stepped in—red-haired, with a carefree demeanor.

Behind the counter, Shakky looked up from cleaning a glass, her sharp eyes immediately recognizing the visitor. "Well, well, look who's wandered in. Shanks, it's been a while."

Shanks' grin widened as he stepped inside. "Shakky, you haven't aged a day."

"Flatterer," She said, smirking. "You're lucky I don't charge you for compliments. So, what brings you here?

Shanks smiled, his eyes briefly scanning the room before settling on Rayleigh. "I had to see you both."

His gaze shifted to the corner, where Silvers Rayleigh sat with his feet propped up on a stool, sipping whiskey. "Rayleigh, it's good to see you."

The old man looked up, his eyes gleaming with recognition. "Shanks, you red-haired rascal. I take it life on the sea hasn't dulled your wits?"

"Not in the slightest," Shanks said with a chuckle. He glanced around the bar. "Still as quiet as ever. This place hasn't changed a bit."

"Unlike you," Rayleigh quipped, gesturing for Shakky to pour another glass for Shanks. "What brings you all the way to this side of the world?"

Shanks' expression grew serious, a rare sight for the usually carefree pirate. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the counter. "I met someone. A boy. From the East Blue."

Rayleigh raised an eyebrow. "A boy?"

Shakky tilted her head, intrigued. "What's so special about him?"

Shanks took a deep breath, his voice soft but steady. "His name is Monkey D. Luffy. He's got this… spark. The same one Captain Roger had."

At the mention of the name, Rayleigh's eyes widened slightly, a knowing smile forming. "Luffy, you say?"

Shakky chuckled softly. "Seems like he's left an impression on you."

Shanks nodded. "When I first met him, he reminded me so much of Captain Roger. The same determination, the same hunger for freedom. He even said the exact words Roger once did: I'm going to be the Pirate King."

Rayleigh nodded and laughed, swirling the whiskey in his glass. "Sounds an interesting guy. I also met quite an interesting lad two years ago. He barged in here like he owned the place, carrying trouble on his back and dragging the Boa sisters along. He couldn't have been older than five, but he had more guts than most grown men."

Shakki leaned against the counter, exhaling a puff of smoke. "And you even let him stick around, chatting with him happily. You're getting soft, Rayleigh."

Shanks was amused that someone could make his former vice-captain praise him so much. "Hoh, what is the name of that kid?"

Rayleigh stared straight at Shanks for a few seconds before he smiled and said slowly. "Monkey D. Luffy!"

Shanks, seated on the other side of the bar, was startled, staring at Dark King in shock. "Luffy? But that's... the name of the kid I met in Foosha Village a few days ago."

"Wahaha... I know. We are talking about the same guy here. So you have met him too, huh?" Rayleigh laughed heartily. He stared at Shanks, his lips curving into a small smile, his expression unreadable. "That boy… I met him two years ago."

Shanks froze, his eyes widening. "You've met him? Here? On Sabaody?"

Rayleigh nodded, swirling the whiskey in his glass. "That boy come here to ask for help... He wanted to save some slaves of the World Nobles."

Shanks, seated on the other side of the bar, raised an eyebrow as he sipped his drink. "Luffy? That kid... He sounds exactly like the kind of reckless brat I remember."

Rayleigh chuckled, setting his glass down. "Reckless, yes. But there was more to him than that. When I walked in, he didn't so much as flinch. Just grinned at me like I was an old friend and called me the 'Dark King.'"

Shanks leaned forward, intrigued. "He knew who you were?"

Rayleigh shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Yes. That boy... He had no idea what kind of trouble he was getting himself into, but he didn't care. He was focused on helping the sisters and getting them to safety. Stood here and demanded we help them like he owned the place."

Shanks let out a low whistle. "Helping slaves? That's no small thing, especially if they were running from the World Nobles. Did he know who he was dealing with?"

Rayleigh nodded. "He knew. And it didn't stop him for a second. That boy has something rare—something I haven't seen since Roger."

Shanks froze, his expression turning serious.

Rayleigh leaned back, his gaze distant. "He's not just reckless. He's got a fire in him, a refusal to bow to anything. Even at that age, you could see it. He doesn't fight for power or glory—he fights because he values freedom above all else."

Shakki poured herself another drink, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "He does sound like Roger. But if that's true, then the world's not going to make it easy for him."

Shanks grinned, setting his glass down. "When I met him, he was just a kid but I quickly realized that he is something else... He reminded me of myself back then. But I never would have known he had already pulled stunts like that…"

Rayleigh chuckled. "You gave him your hat, didn't you?"

Shanks scratched the back of his head, laughing sheepishly. "Yeah. I saw it too—that spark, that raw potential. He's the kind of person who pulls others toward him without even trying. That's the kind of leader who changes the world."

Rayleigh raised his glass, his expression filled with nostalgia. "If he keeps walking that path, he'll leave a mark on this world—one way or another."

Shakki exhaled another plume of smoke, her voice tinged with amusement. "Well, if he's anything like Roger, we'd better buckle up. The world's in for one hell of a ride."

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