The Last Mate
It took four years for the Mugiwara to be ready to sail to Laugh Tale.
Luffy was never able to deny help to a soul in distress and it led him to war. The war at Marijoa alongside the Revolutionary Army, led by his own father, would stay in History. They won it, taking down the five Elders, but it was a long, painful and dreadful war. Many lost their lives or a loved one. Monkey D. Dragon died to protect his son, "Knight of the Sea" Jinbe didn't make it out Marijoa, neither Penguin from the Heart Pirates. It took time to heal the physical injuries, and even more for the soul's ones.
Many pirate crews had joined the fight alongside the Mugiwara, including the Red Hair Pirates. But they didn't fight together. While the Mugiwara attacked Marijoa, the Red-Hair Pirates had held the front against the Marines who hadn't taken Luffy's side.
Shanks and his crew could have waited to meet Luffy after the war, but, much to Yasopp's chagrin who was eager to see his son again, they had set sail as soon as possible. But none of the crew members had objected. Luffy was mourning for his father and his friends, it wasn't the right time to keep their promise.
They reunited a few months later at Lodestar Island.
If the last time it was Shanks' decision to take part in the fight against the World Government, this time was a real coincidence. They were chasing Blackbeard crew after they had destroyed an island under their protection when the fight broke out between the Mugiwara's fleet and their prey.
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The sound of explosions reached them before they could see the island.
"What's going on?" Shanks shouted at his man on watch duty.
"A fight, Cap'tain! And a big one!"
Who the fuck was stealing his prey?
"How many fighters?"
"Dunno, Cap'tain! Never seen so many ships at the same place! There's a whole armada."
Shanks approached the rail and let out his haki. An ocean of masts spread out before his sharp eyes. There weren't many captains capable of lining up so many ships. Not anymore. He had a few names which came to his mind. And, at the exact moment he spotted the main ship, his man shouted:
"It's the kiddo!"
No need to name him. Only one pirate had been named so by this crew.
As the other members of the Red Hair crew cheered loudly, a traitorous warmth arose in their captain's chest.
"What are we doing?" Ben asked, right behind him.
Shanks' gaze hardened.
"Let's go. Luffy's too kind to kill him," he hissed. And then, he shouted, "Let's go to show these impertinent youngsters how real pirates fight!"
The men cheered loudly before rectifying the ship's trajectory.
Shanks remained at the bow, looking at the horizon still empty of ships. After only a few minutes, a moving black mass appeared in the sky.
The terrifying power of Blackbeard.
As soon as they reached the shore, they threw themselves into the battle that was beginning on the outskirts of the city.
There were corpses and injured people everywhere. Shanks and his men were slicing through the fighters to advance without even knowing if they were friends or enemies. The Mugiwara's armada was too big to know everyone but it was important for them to get to the heart of the confrontation quickly. They all knew how powerful Blackbeard's power was and they were worried about Luffy and his crew.
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The Prima Alpha 2: The Last Mate
FanfictionIt takes Luffy four years to become the Pirates King. And Shanks is here on Lodestar Island, waiting for his return from Laugh Tale. It's time for them to fulfill their long-term promise.