Chapter 3 Second Chance

Luffy sobbed softly on the ground. The villagers and pirates processed this information calmly. Then when Luffy woke up they were shocked by what they saw. Now he had a bright smile on his face and determination in his eyes.

"But it won't happen again." he said. "I will find them again and this time I will become the Pirate King!"

Shanks, surprisingly started laughing.

"Dahahahahaha! It's been a crazy day, kid!" His Crew also started laughing beside him and the civilians smiled in agreement. Then Luffy stood up and started laughing beside them. Then he spoke again.

"Everyone, please don't tell anyone about this. Not even my family and friends. Keep this to yourselves," he begged. They looked at each other. "...please. I don't want my chance to be ruined because of my big mouth."

Everyone nodded when he finished speaking.

Then Shanks walked straight up to him and took his hat and put it on top of Luffy's head. The villagers and other crew members alike were shocked to see this. Shanks was very protective in that hat. He once got angry when Luffy tried to take him when they first met.

"Here, kid. I wanted to give it to you from a while ago." Shanks said.

"Thank you Shanks. I will always protect it," replied Luffy. "Actually, I knew I would protect this hat!"

"Oh?"

"He has it. The other me has this hat too."

Shanks' eyes widened at this, but then he smiled warmly.

"Let's party kid! Let's celebrate this crazy day and your second chance!" he announced in a loud voice.

"You're going to party like nothing happens, Shanks?!" replied Luffy. Everyone laughed and Shanks pouted. "Okay, but only if you give me lots of meat!"

"Dahahahaha! What's with you and meat?" asked Shanks, his expression happy again now. "Let's go everyone! Let's party!"

With those words, a big party was immediately held and this time even the villagers also participated. Luffy and Shanks exchanged stories, and Luffy talked a lot about his nakama and his adventures.

Shanks often interjects with comments of his own, such as when Luffy was talking about his nakama:

"Pirate hunter joins you, then a thief? Are you serious Luffy?!"

"Liar? What use is a liar in a Pirate Crew?"

"Y, Yassop's son... that explains his liar part *BONK *(sound of head slap) HEY?! WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM, YASOPP?!"

"A perverted cook with a foot fighting style? Could he possibly be related to Chef Zeff?"

"Beautiful royal princess? Oh, but then she left?"

"A deer that can talk and change? I... That's AWESOME!"

"WHAT? NICO ROBIN? The demon of Ohara? *BONK* Sorry Luffy! I promise I won't say Demon again! *BONK* I'm sorry! PLEASE FORGIVE ME! *BONK* LUFFY, STOP NOW!"

"A mafia cyborg boat builder with a speedo?"

"Oh, he helped you save your demon? *BONK* No, don't hit me again! ... Honestly, you're the scariest seven year old I've ever met!"

"A perverted skeleton musician? ... No, I'm not drunk enough to believe that!"

"Oh so that's the one singing in that spooky Triangle... No, I won't try to recruit him!... Yes, I promise, Luffy!"

"Jinbei? Fishman pirate Jinbei? That strong man promised to join you?"

-----------------------------------------------------------------

After a while of eating and drinking the pirates fell asleep, the villagers left the place and Luffy fell asleep in Shanks' mantle.

"Captain-san, what do you think?" asked Makino, the bartender who was the only sober person in the room. Shanks sighed.

"I know this is totally crazy and preposterous...but I believe him." He paused for a moment and looked Makino in the eye. "He has to be a very good liar to concoct all of that so convincingly."

Makino smiled somewhat sadly at this.

"So you think he really went through all of this?" She asked, her eyes welling with tears.

"Yes," answered Shanks. "I... I didn't expect that I would cause such a disaster."

"That's not true, captain-san!" Makino said to him.

"Me. I made him a pirate, I-" said shanks, but the sleepy voice of a boy who had just woken up interrupted him.

"Stupid Shanks!" Luffy said sleepily. "It's Akainu! Akainu and all those bastards!"

Shanks smiled gently hearing this. He was glad Luffy didn't blame him.

"And you owe me a hand, stupid Shanks! So you better stay a while!"

Shanks and Makino were both confused by this.

"What do you mean... his arm, Luffy?" she asked.

Luffy smiled.

"In the first place, I wasn't strong enough. Shanks lost his arm saving me from the bandits."

Shanks and Makino looked at each other in shock.

They chatted again for a bit longer, but then it got dark and they decided to go to bed, Shanks in his boat and Luffy laying down behind the bar.