𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕡𝕠𝕤 𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕤 • One Piece

Of Dreams and Hopes

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𝕆𝕙, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕒𝕝𝕝 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕡𝕖𝕠𝕡𝕝𝕖 𝕀'𝕧𝕖 𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕟𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕠 𝕝𝕠𝕧𝕖

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"𝕃uffy, are you sure you know what you're doing?" Liliana asked, slight amusement in her tone as she looked at her cousin across from her in their small rowboat with nothing but the endless ocean around them. High above her, the sun was shining on them as Liliana squinted her bright violet eyes, blocking the sun with her palm, her long black hair fluttering behind her with the gentle breeze. It was the perfect day to start their adventure that the two of them had only dreamed about. With their home island behind them, there was nothing but possibility and hope, filled with ambition ahead of them.

"Of course I do! In order for me to be the King of the Pirates and prove to Shanks, I need to know how to sail a boat." Luffy shoots a big grin her way as his eyes sparkled with nothing but freedom and adventure. The prospects of new beginnings and something greater than Luffy can ever dream about, sparking the eternal flame inside his heart to drive his way forward.

Liliana giggled at Luffy's bright smile and assured tone of voice. However, even though Luffy was more than prepared to take down the Lord of the Coast, Liliana knew better. Tilting her chin towards Luffy with a knowing smile. "You have no idea where you're going now do you?"

"Not a single clue."

At the nonchalant laugh that left Luffy, Liliana shook her head, leaning against her hand as she looked at Luffy's smile with fondness. "Sometimes I wonder who's the older one between the two of us." Liliana merely raises her hands with nonchalance. "Oh well. There's no helping it, now is there. Thankfully, I'm the more responsible one who actually has an idea."

"Well, who cares about that when we're finally on the seas of adventure. Just think about all the things we could get into," Luffy said with wide eyes, throwing his hands out making the boat rock from the action.

Luffy for all intents and purposes is the biggest dope. So that says a lot about Liliana who willingly agreed to be Luffy's first crew member. It is however too late to rethink the decision. Luffy is her only hope in getting towards her goal, coupled with the fact that she couldn't bear the thought of saying another goodbye, she would've still gone with him. No matter what.

Plan or no plan. She will not leave her family.

Looking at Luffy with a hint of a smile, Liliana thinks of all the trouble he could get themselves into, whilst having full faith in him. "Luffy, since you have no idea where you're going at the present, do you at least have a semblance of a plan?"

Luffy turned towards Liliana with a huge grin, whilst nodding his head excitedly, his plan already formed in his head as his megawatt smile stretched across his lips. "I need at least ten crew members. Strong crew members, then we are going to the Grand Line so I can be the King of the Pirates." Liliana smiles back, knowing that as long as they are together everything will work out in the end.

"I already have one crew member–you–now we just need to recruit more," he thought, grinning at his cousin with the utmost confidence in his goals. Daydreams of their pirate adventures going through his head, the type of crew he will get when a sudden thought goes through his mind.

"Right, we will definitely need someone to navigate—"

"A MUSICIAN!"

Liliana sweatdropped at his excitement and would've corrected him but realised it was futile. Stubbornness runs in the family after all. Just go with it, Liliana thinks to herself. "Right, yeah ok. While we're at it we will need a navigator. Also a bigger boat," she informs him, more so to herself as she thinks of vital roles they need to recruit. We need a navigator, definitely a doctor because who knows what will happen, a chef because of Luffy's enormous appetite and for a good distribution of nutrients. People who can fight are another important thing, especially in this day and age. We did manage to get rid of the Lord of the Coast earlier and we are quite able ourselves but still, you can never know, she thinks to herself checking off her mental list before looking towards Luffy with a sigh. Also reluctantly, a musician.

"You could be the musician, you know." Luffy has always loved when Liliana would play music as the dancers would twirl around as the fire danced all around them. The bright lights shone in Liliana's eyes as she played a fast-paced rhythm on the drums. It was one of the rare times where his grandfather wouldn't be on his ass to train as they enjoyed the festivities. The only times Luffy believes where everyone actually got along without a care in the world.

Liliana huffs in exasperation at the topic, tired at his ongoing perseverance. She, however, is as stubborn as him. After all, she did inherit the Monkey D. Family blood from her father and her mother's headstrong determination. "For the last time, Luffy. I'm not a musician. It was only a hobby that I no longer practice anymore."

Luffy also huffs, pouting at Liliana. "Why can't you start practising now?"

Liliana once more sighed before brightening up once more. "It's not like there aren't musicians out there. We'll find someone amazing. Spectacular even!" Luffy nods in understanding, dropping the subject not wanting to push his cousin. She, however, knows he'll bring the subject up again.

With all his faults, Liliana knows Luffy just wants her to be happy. However, with Liliana currently running away from the memories, she just doesn't have the heart to play. She tiredly lays herself on the floor to get a power nap before reaching some sort of destination, tiredly telling Luffy to be on the lookout.

Liliana wasn't asleep for very long before she was suddenly shaken awake. Glancing blearily up at him with her brows drawn together. "What in the world do you—"

"We're heading towards a whirlpool!" Luffy yells, looking away at something on the ocean as he scratches the back of his head in confusion. However, there wasn't mistaking the sight of the excited grin on his face.

Whirlpool?

Liliana blinks in confusion before looking towards a colossal whirlpool that their small dinghy was heading towards. "Oh," She says flatly, "That's not good."

"What do you think we should do?" Luffy asked, turning towards Liliana.

Liliana shrugged, scratching her cheek in thought before glancing towards the two innocent barrels just sitting there. "There's an idea."