This is just something I've had on my mind for a while. Constructive comments are important, so let me know what you think.

Dark, cramped, loud...three words that sum up the entire existance of the two young men somehow crammed into a single barrel. Both snore loudly, lost in their perspective dream-world. That is until the barrel jolts rather violently, and the red-head among the two begins to come around. "Hnnh? What the...?" mumbles the red-head, opening his eyes...and finding himself face to face with someone's jean-covered ass. "Luffy...your ass in in my face, brother. Please, move." A loud snore is his response, and for a moment he's half-tempted to simply go back to sleeping.

After all, there isn't much else to do while bobbing about on the ocean in a barrel...which is not exactly how he imagined the first leg of their journey going. He pauses, however, when he notices that their barrel is no longer bobbing but stationary. "Luffy. Luffy, time to get up. I think we've-" The barrel begins to roll, slowly but surely and the red-head has to brace himself to stop from squishing against Luffy...but his deeply asleep friend can't do that. "First it's bobbing, now it's rolling...well, at least we're not bouncing." Muffled voices reach his ears over the sound of snoring, and moments later the barrel is lifted, and set back down. "Oh, gimme a break."

He moves one hand, fumbling in the darkness and eventually finding Luffy's face. "Oi, oi, rise and shine, Luffy." A few firm slaps halt the snoring for a brief moment before he begins snoring again. "Oi! Wake up!" A firm slap wakes him, and he surges straight up without warning...

'Smash!'

The top of the barrel is pulverized without warning, and a young man surges straight up hitting a man in the chin and knocking him out cold. "Yeeeeeeaaaaaahhhhhh! I SLEPT GREAAAT!" bellows Luffy, moments before taking stock of his surroundings. "Huh?" Three grown men and a pink-headed boy with glasses...not much of interest or to be worried about really.

"C'mon, be a little quieter after waking up, huh?" asks the red-head popping up just enough to hang his elbows over the edge of the barrel and recline against it.

"How'd you sleep, Run?"

"Pretty good...until your ass ended up in my face, at least." Luffy ignores the comment, choosing instead to step out of the barrel and making it unbalanced for Run. As a result it immediately starts to tilt. Run glances briefly over his shoulder at the floor which is beginning to grow closer and then sighs heavily. "Naturally." It falls back and slams loudly against the floor with the young pirate. "Owie." Run looks up at Luffy, who is standing by the pink haired kid and sighs a bit. "Little help, Lu-"

"Hey, I'm starving, ya got any food?" Run sighs again and slowly crawls out of the barrel to lie on his back. The pirates continue their ranting, much to the annoyance of the Luffy, and Run but it isn't until their raise their weapons that the two actually pay them any mind. Run might have interfered if he thought there was even the tiniest chance one of them would actually connect with Luffy, but when both weapons were destroyed by a single blow from his closest friend he could only chuckle.

Thoroughly intimidated by the display, the two gather up the unconscious third and scramble out. "Little help?"

"Huh?" Luffy looks down at Run, still lying on the floor and then chuckles. "Are you still lying down there, Run? You're gonna catch a cold if ya sleep there, ya know!" Luffy helps him to his feet and then suddenly goes ram-rod straight, before looking around, sniffing wildly. "I smell...FOOD!" His eyes lock on a door across the kitchen and he heads for it without hesitation...or hinderence by the young boy clinging to his arm...

"...So, basically, our ship got swallowed up by that whirl-pool, Coby," Run finishes, a crisp snap following his final bite into the apple. He drops the core into the small pile by his feet, at the base of the crate he's sitting on. "I don't think I left anything out, did I, Luffy?" Coby follows his line of sight to Luffy, busy stuffing his face with apples from the crate, two at a time.

"Man, these things are great!" exclaims Luffy, pausing in his eating only to toss another back to Run, who catches it with ease. "Hey, Coby, are there any boats on board?"

"I...I think so," replies Coby. "I don't...how does someone survive something like that..."

"We had just enough time to cram ourselves in that barrel you found us in," Run tells him, biting a huge chunk out of the apple. "Honestly, we got lucky...plain and simple." He turns to look at Luffy's back. "But next time we might not be so lucky, which is why I said we needed to find ourselves a navigator, Cap'n."

"Aah, we'll find one, don't worry!" retorts Luffy. "But I'm curious...those pirates from earlier, you're not one of 'em, are you? It didn't look like you were getting along with them." Coby is silent for a few moments before beginning his explaination, telling the two what had happened and how. When he's finished Run is left slowly shaking his head in disgust, staring intently at his now half-eaten apple.

"Disgraceful," remarks Run simply.

"E-Eh? What is?" Coby questions him.

"This lady, this 'CAPTAIN' Alvida, I mean. Any Captain worth the name wouldn't treat his crew like that. Pirate or not. Luffy-" An apple sails towards him and he snatches it from air again. "Thanks."

"But you know, you're awfully dumb, kid!" Luffy taunts him, laughing at his misfortunte.

"C'mon, you don't have to pile on, too, ya know."

"If ya don't like it then you should just run away." Coby shakes his head violently, quickly announcing that he would be too afraid of Captain Alvida finding him to do something like that. "A coward and a wimp, too. Man, I really can't stand guys like you."

"Luffy, he's a little kid."

"N-No, it's fine," Coby tells him, offering a small smile. "He's right. I wish I had the courage you two have...ah! I haven't even asked, but where were the two of you headed?"

"The Grand Line!" proudly exclaimes Luffy, only to recieve a half-eaten apple to the forehead with little effect.

"Like Hell!" Run retorts with a growl. "I think this little incident has proved that I was right from the beginning! We need a navigator before we go ANYWHERE!"

"The G-Grand Line?! What are you heading there for?!" screeching Coby, staring at the two as if they've lost their minds.

"I'm gonna be the King of the Pirates!" bellows Luffy two loud enough to rattle the hull of the ship. If it were possible, the two were sure that Coby's jaw would have struck the floor but it only takes a moment for him to recover, and quick enough to quickly begin tell them it is impossible. While Run is content to sit and listen, Luffy quickly silences him with a punch to the top of the head.

"Why'd you hit me...?"

"Why do ya think? Insulting someone's dream is an easy way to earn a beating, ya know."

"He's just a kid, Luffy," Run tells him. "Even so...I do agree. If you aren't brave enough to have a dream of your own then you shouldn't mock someone elses, kid." Run hops down off of the crate and sighs a bit as he rolls his shoulders. "Well...I'm stuffed, if you're ready we could try finding a boat."

"Mm! Let's go find ourselves a boat, Run!" The two start towards the door calmly, sandles scraping and geta clacking on the wooden floor.

"A dream," mutters Coby, causing the two to pause. "I...I do have a dream. If I'm prepared to die for it...do you think I could do it to?"

"Definitely, kid," replies Run without hesitation.

"Then...I'll do it! I'll definitely do it! I'll join the Navy, because that's my dream!" The two blink in surprise watching silently as the boy goes on a rant...which climaxes with the entrance of a rather large woman through the ceiling of the pantry, nearly resulting in Coby being crushed.

"Who are you going to catch, Coby?!" demands a fat woman, staring at the small boy. Luffy gives her a once over before looking at Run and pointing in her direction.

"Oi, Run, who's the big fat lady?" Luffy asks his partner, recieving a shrug of his shoulders in response. Without warning the fat woman raises a huge iron club, and the two scatter in opposite directions to avoid her blow.

"Can't fight here, Luffy!" exclaims Run, snagging Coby by the back of his shirt and leaping straight up with Luffy to deck above with ease. Run sets Coby down the moment he lands and looks at the startled crew scattered across the deck. Behind them Alvida some how manages to climb out of the hole onto the deck. "Hate to say it but...I think we're sandwiched here."

"Guess we'll just have to beat up everyone then, huh?"

"Good plan. Simple, and easy to remember. But...I'll take care of the small-fry if ya don't mind. You can handle the Captain, Cap'n." Luffy grins from ear to ear in response, and reaches up to adjust his straw hat.

"Alright, then. Have fun." Run nods, raising his hand to crack his knuckles loudly. Without warning, one of them rushes forward and Run simply turns his shoulder, avoiding the man's saber. "Sea King's Sway!" The red-head drives his knee into the man's gut hard enough to lift him off his feet, and he finishes it by driving his elbow into the man's back with enough force to send him crashing through the deck of the ship into the hold below. He weaves through the group of pirates, sending them sprawling to the deck with ease. It isn't really much of a fight...more like he's delivering a beating to the many crewmen. Everything is-

"Gum Gum Pistol!" Run looks sharply in Luffy's direction just in time to weave backwards, avoiding the large body of Alvida as she sails by curtosy of Luffy's punch. Run watches her disappear into the distance, and whistles softly in appreciation.

"Good hit..."

"Hey! Give Coby a boat right now! He wants to join the Navy!" bellows Luffy, glaring at the men as if daring them to defy him...

Beautiful blue water, and sky passes by as slowly as the time does. They've been sailing for a few hours now, having left behind the pirates and the Navy coming to the rescue. Luffy sits on the small figure-head of the boat, gazing out across the horizon while Run reclines against the edge of the boat, arms spread across the railing, and head tilted back towards the sky. "So, um, you two are heading to the Grand Line together?" Coby finally asks, attempting to break the silence.

"Yup!" replies Luffy, spinning in place to face them with a huge grin. "We're going to build a strong crew and head there right away!"

"So, then, what are your positions on the crew? Who's the-"

"He's the Captain," Run says simply pointing at Luffy. "And, naturally, I'm his first-mate." Coby nods in understanding and then looks at Run.

"Um, can I ask you something, Run?"

"Shoot, kid."

"Why do you want to go to the Grand Line? Luffy wants to be King of the Pirates but...what about you?"

"I have someone I need to surpass, that's all." Luffy grins from ear to ear in response. "The easiest way to do that is to stick with Luffy, who's going to be King of the Pirates. We're going to fight a lot of strong enemies doing that, right? It's only natural for that to happen."

"If you don't mind me asking, who is this person?"

"My father." Coby waits silently for him to elaborate but only recieves a chuckle in response.

"You'd know him if you ever saw him, Coby," Luffy tells him. "They look kinda similar."

"Huh. That's strange. My old man swears up and down that I look more like my mother."

"I said 'kinda', Run." The two share a small laugh while Coby looks between the two in confusion.

"Well...time to change the subject. Where are we heading to, Luffy?"

"Hmmm...well, when I was fighting that fat lady I heard her mention someone named Zoro. Apparently, this guy hunts pirates! So I've decided that's where we're going to be heading! Let's recruit him to the crew!" Coby's face goes pale at the mention of his name which Luffy and Run interperate to be a good thing. Coby immediately launches into a rant about how dangerous he is, and how he's claimed bounty after bounty without mercy...which only serves to make the two burst out into laughter.

"So, how long if we keep on this course?"

"Haah...at least another hour or so."

"I'm gonna get some shut-eye then," Run tells the two, letting his head fall back again. "Wake me when we get there, huh...?"

The gulls cry loudly over-head, loud enough to awaken Run from his sleep...and the first thing he's aware of is the face that he's face to face with one of the winged rats. "What the- get outta here!" calls Run, shooing away the sea-bird and lifting his head slowly. He loudly cracks his neck as he begins to fully come around. "Oi...the least you guys could have done is shoo away the gulls. It's not like I'm some kinda statue for them to hang around on, ya know?"

With no response forth-coming he is suddenly made aware of two things. One, they have made port, and two...he has been left to sleep on the boat while Luffy and Coby have gone on ahead. Run pinches the bridge of his nose in frustration, and heaves a heavy sigh before slowly standing. "Well...might as well go try to find those two. No telling what kind of trouble Luffy has gotten himself into looking for this Zoro guy." A huge rumble in the distance attracts his attention and he glances towards the center of the city. "I'll bet that's Luffy..."

Coby is sweating bullets along side Zoro as they stare down the armed marines and 'Axe Hand' Morgan. "This is bad! This is really bad!" Coby panics quickly. "Where is Luffy? Or Run?"

"Hurry and let me go!" demands Zoro, looking from the boy to the marines and back large man points his axe at the two standing before them.

"Fire!" commands Morgan, moments before the wall surrounding the yard explodes, and a series of loud 'clangs!' fill the air. The bullets whiz past the marines, one of them passing close enough to Morgan to graze his cheek and cut him. "What the...?" The dust slowly settles, revealing a red-haired young man standing in front of Coby and Zoro. He lifts his saber and rests it on his left shoulder casually, as he stares at the marines. Coby can't see his face but he recognizes him by his short red hair alone.

"Who...?"

"Run!" exclaims Coby, breathing a sigh of relief when he glances over his shoulder at the boy.

"Coby," replies Run, and favors him with a kind smile...seconds before smacking him on the head. "What the hell, kid?! I told ya to wake me when we get here not-"

"Fire!" bellows Morgan a second time, not even letting him finish his sentence. Run turns but stops when Luffy lands in front of him, intercepting the rounds and ricocheting them back at the marines a second time.

"That won't work on us!" Luffy tells them simply, grinning like a fool. Strapped to his back is a trio of swords, which Run can only assume belongs to the man tied to the imitation cross beside Coby. Luffy turns to face Run and grins even wider if possible. "Yo, Run! I see you finished your nap! Ohh! And you picked up a cool sword on the way here!" Run attempts to give his friend a dirty look but eventually just sighs and smirks.

"Yeah, I did, Cap'n," retorts Run, stepping up beside Luffy to face the marines. "I bumped into a marine on the way here and was kind enough to lend this to me, so I also have a general idea of what's going on. I'll take care of these guys...you want to deal with the big guy yourself, am I right?"

"Hey, you, Red," calls Zoro, earning Run's attention despite the nickname. "Cut me loose, would ya?"

"Luffy?"

"You want me to join your crew, right? The way I see it, it's either fight the navy and live, or don't and die. The choice seems kinda obvious, doesn't it?" Luffy grins in response and Run turns, cutting the man loose without a second thought. The second his hands are free, Zoro has seized his swords and charged the marines without a second thought. He doesn't kill them, but he destroys their weapons without a second thought. Those who are able to, gather their wits and fall back towards their Captain in fear.

"Oh-ho!" exclaims Luffy, grinning at the display. "So cool!"

"Now, then, let's get one thing straight, I'll join your crew...but it's simply to fulfill my own ambition of being the best swordsman in the world. That's it, Captain."

"Well...the King of the Pirates needs the worlds best swordsman on his crew, don't you think?" The marines are sweating bullets, it's clear for all gathered to see the difference in strength between themselves and the three gathered before them. "So...I guess we should take care of the rest of these guys, then."

"What do you want to do now? These guys are too strong!" babble the marines, terrified of their strength. Morgan growls and steps forward, ignoring the complaints of the marines entirely. Luffy rushes forward, ignorin the marines as well to challenge Morgan. The fight is rather one-sided, with Morgan being too big to do much in the way of defence against the far more agile Luffy. The fight is all but decided in three blows by Luffy, and he smashes Morgan into the dirt.

"S-S-Stop! Now!" all heads turn towards the voice, and Run cringes as he takes in the mans appearance.

"Looks like...some kinda onion on his head," mutters Run, ignoring for the moment the fact that the man has a weapon held to Coby's head.

"I-I-I'll kill this guy, I swear! If you value his life, don't move!" Rather than listen to the man, Luffy just grins from ear to ear and cocks back.

"Gum-Gum-" Morgan rises up behind Luffy, raising his axe. "-Pistol!"

"That axe has just gotta go!" exclaims Run, covering the distance between them nearly at the same time as Zoro. He brings the weapon down as Run brings his saber up, slashing through the blade just as Zoro slashes through his torso and Luffy sends the man sailing through the air.

"Nice!"

"Well, that was entertaining," remarks Run, tossing his saber to the side. "Can we go get somethin' to eat now? I'm starving..."

"So, 'Red', huh?" remarks Run, reclining in his chair across from Zoro. "You couldn't come up with something more original? Well...it's not a bad nickname, I suppose." Zoro doesn't pay him much mind, intent on stuffing his face after, from what they have heard, going three weeks without a bite to eat. Luffy and Zoro continue to stuff their faces without saying a word, and when Zoro has at last finished he leans back in his chair and pats a hand against his stomach with a huge grin.

"Whew! I'm stuffed!" exclaims Zoro before noticing Luffy still eating. "How the hell can you eat more than me?"

"What do ya mean? It's good food, right?" Luffy asks him, earning a chuckle and shake of the head from Run.

"Luffy...I know that this lady offered to treat us for saving the town or whatever," begins Run, looking at the stack of plates next to his closest friend. "But that doesn't mean you should take it as a go-ahead to eat her outta house and home!" Luffy mumbles out something like an apology around a mouth full of food.

"I assume that Red here is a part of the crew, so how many others are there?" Zoro asks Luffy, trying to get a feel for their strength. "You said you're gonna be King of the Pirates, so how many have you gathered besides me? It's a good number, right?"

"Hm? Oh, the three of us is it," replies Luffy simply.

"Just us three?! How the hell can you have a crew of only three?!"

"It'll be four when we find ourselves a navigator," Run tells him plainly. "Which we'll need before we start to sail for the Grand Line." Luffy opens his mouth and Run looks pointedly at him. "And not before. We got lost on the way here because neither of us have any navigational skill at all. It's fairly obvious that we need a navigator before we do ANYTHING else." He nods his head in agreement, swallows his food and grins broadly.

"Yep! Then we can head for the Grand Line!" exclaims Luffy, making Zoro and Run smile.

"Yeah, Cap'n, then we head for the Grand Line."

"Y-You're still going to the Grand Line?" Coby questions them, recieving a nod from each in response. "Why?! Why would you go to a place like that? It's a pirate graveyard! No one comes back from there alive!"

"Why do you care? It's not like you're coming," Zoro tells him plainly.

"Even so! Luffy and Run are my friends! I've never had friends before, and now that I do I don't want to lose them!"

"Why would you?" Luffy and Run ask in tandem.

"H-Huh?"

"Just because we're going to the Grand-Line doesn't mean we'll die, and it doesn't mean that you'll never see it again," explains Luffy. "Even if you don't see us for a while that doesn't mean we'll stop being friends. We'll always be friends, Coby! Right, Run?" His long time friend chuckles a bit and nods firmly in agreement.

"They're right, besides, you got other things to worry about," Zoro tells him. "Whether or not you were an actual pirate, it doesn't change the fact that you were, at the least, a chore-boy on one of their ships. Which means, if the Navy finds out you'll never be able to join them." The doors open and everyone looks over as a group of marines enter the restuarant.

"Hm. Looks like the welcome mat has just been yanked out from under us," mutters Run. "We should probably leave."

"You three," speaks one of the marines. "Is it true that the three of you are pirates?"

"Yup!" chirps Luffy, grinning broadly.

"I see. Well, if that's the case then even if you saved this town we have no choice but ask that you leave, immediately." The resulting fall out from the locals is less that pleasant but regardless, the three stand up from the table without any fuss, and start for the door. The man looks at Coby, who doesn't make any move to leave. "You. Are you with these three."

"No. I don't know them," Coby replies quickly, earning hidden smiles from the three. It would be best if he just denied everything.

"Let's go, Cap'n, we-"

"Actually, I know this kid here," Luffy admits to everyone, and making Coby's blood run cold. "You see, this kid here..." Luffy begins to approach slowly, smiling like a fool the whole time. "...for about two years, he worked for..." Before he can finish, Coby socks him square in the jaw, silencing him.

"Hnnn...alright, now you're gonna get a beating!" Without another word, Luffy begins to give Coby a beating that goes on for at least minute before Zoro and Run call for him to stop.

"That's enough! You made your point!" call the two in unison. Luffy stops, and lets the kid collasp onto the floor.

"Obviously, you aren't a member of their crew," calls the marine commander. "Leave...!"