𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧 || ᴏɴᴇ ᴘɪᴇᴄᴇ

𝕰𝖆𝖘𝖙 𝕭𝖑𝖚𝖊 𝕾𝖆𝖌𝖆 | ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 𝟸

AFTER LUFFY SAID THAT to Koby, the area around them was surrounded by silence. Though, it wasn't a comfortable one where you enjoy each other's presence, it's awkward.

It was like that until Koby finally decided to speak up. "Yeah, that's right." He shyly lowered his head with his brows furrowed. "If only l had the courage to drift the ocean in a barrel.."

"Um..." Koby stumbled over his own words again, finally having the courage to look at them in the eyes. "What compelled you two to set out onto the sea."

"Huh?" Luffy let out a hum, before a huge smile spread across his features. "I'm gonna be King of the Pirates!" He told Koby, who got terrified.

"Yeah!" Riona chimed in, slapping Luffy on the shoulder multiple times, which resulted in him doing the same to her. "I'm gonna be the Pirate Queen!"

"Pirate Queen!?" Koby exclaimed, his mouth agape in shock. "King of the Pirates!?" Drops of sweat ran down his forehead, "Are you serious?"

The two cousins nods their heads with a carefree smile as they saw Koby panic. "Wait, you guys are pirates?!" He questioned, earning another nod from them. "What about your crew?!" Koby asked, adding in another question.

"Don't got one." Luffy replied with a nonchalant tone. "I'm just about to look for one." His gaze shifted over go Riona. "Though, I have Rina, but she doesn't count."

"What do you mean?!" She glared at him, grabbing both his cheeks and stretched them out as she yelled at his face.

"Look," He began, his head tilting to the side slightly in thought. "You're my cousin, so it's different." Riona let out a groan, and Luffy turned his gaze back at Koby. "You agree with me, right?"

Koby didn't reply, he was too stunned to say anything to them. A million thoughts filled his mind, one after another.

Luffy noticed his silence and frowns before scooting close to the pink haired boy. He lifts his hand up, and waved it in front of Koby's face, trying to snap him out of it.

Then, Koby stood up to his feet, his hands clenching into a fist. "King of the Pirate is the title given to the person who obtains everything in this world!"

"That means seeking the great treasure of wealth, fame, and power." Riona and Luffy nodded their heads as the short cabin boy continued his rambling. "The One Piece."

Luffy stared at him, his lips curling up into a huge grin that reached to his ears. The only response that Koby got from him was a, "Yup."

"Yup?!" Koby exclaimed, frustration evident in his features. "Pirates all over the world are after that treasure!"

"Us, too." Riona suddenly replied with a smile as she nods her head. "But the difference between them and us is that, Luffy and I will accept take a hold of the One Piece, not them!"

"Yeah!" Luffy cheered, throwing his hands up in the air. "That's right!" He looks over at Koby with determination. "We're gonna find it!"

"No way! No way! No way!" Koby shook his head furiously, sweating more and more. "Absolutely no way! There's no way you can stand at the apex of this Great Pirate Era! No way!"

Luffy quickly stood on his feet with a frown on his face, slightly annoyed. He raised his hand, and bonked Koby on the head.

The pink haired boy stumbled down, his face planted down against the ground as he grabbed the back of his head. "Why did you hit me?"

"Just because." Luffy replied, as Riona stood up next to him. The straw hat teen leaned back to stand upright.

"But it's all right." As Koby said those words, he raised his head, letting out nervous chuckles. "I'm used to it now..."

"It's not about whether I can or not." Luffy smiled softly, placing his hand on top of his straw hat and pressed it down. "I'm gonna do it because I want to. We've already decided to be King and Queen of the Pirate."

"Exactly," Riona nods her head in agreement, tilting her head to the right. "So, if we die fighting for that, that's fine with us!"

Koby stayed silent, as the two cousins walked right past him to reach the door. "Now, then! My belly's full, guess I'll go get me a boat!" Luff said with a huge grin.

"I wonder if they'll give me one ff I ask." He continued to speak, the planks creaking under his weight. "Hopefully they're generous."

"Doubt it." Riona told him, sighing softly as she glanced back at the pink haired boy. "You okay back there, Koby?"

"I never once thought about it..." She heard him whisper, his head lowering down. Koby's back facing them. "Do you suppose I can do it, too? If I'm prepared to die for it?"

Luffy glanced over his shoulder to look at him, confusion and curiosity evident in his features. "Do what?" He asked, his brows creasing.

"Do you guys think..." Koby began, keeping his eyes on the wooden planks, his voice slightly shaky. "Even I could join the navy."

Riona's eyes widened, her mouth agape as a surprise expression crossed her face. After a brief second, a small smile curled into her lips.

"Catching bad guys is my dream!" The young boy stood up abruptly, his teeth gritting as his fist clench. "I's been my dream ever since I was little!" A few tears welled in his eyes as he looks at them. "Do you think I can do it?!"

"How would we know if you're gonna join the navy or not?" Riona kneels down to his level and pats his head, making him blush. "It's not up to us to decide that, that's yours."

While blushing, his eyes narrowed as they were filled with determination. "I'll do it! If I'm gonna be a chore boy for the rest of my life," Koby raises his fist to the air. "Then I'll break out of here and catch even Alvida-sama, no, Alvida!"

Then, the ceiling suddenly came crumbled down to the floor, making the three of them to stand there with a shock look. As a huge dust of dirt filled the area, they saw a silhouette of a person stand in front of them.

Riona's eyes squinted, trying to have a better view of who could that be. "Is that Alvida?" She whispered to Luffy.

"Who the hell is Alvida?" He whispered back, shrugging his shoulders, his brows furrowing in confusion.

After a moment, a female voice spoke up in a stern, angry voice. "You're gonna team up with him to catch who, huh, Koby?!" She asked the said boy, who's shaking in fear.

By the time she got those words out, the dust had already cleared out. It was just as Riona suspected, it was Alvida.

~•~