Please consider supporting me if you like this novel. I don't usually ask, but you know my situation, so I will ask for this once. Any support helps me and allow me to write more!
--xLOVEx--
I want to write this because some of you still think Coby acted like an A-hole in the Marineford battle. But let's make it clear—Coby's emotions are mine too.
I got angry when Ace invited Luffy to give up on his dream and join Whitebeard's crew just to make the old man Pirate King. I was furious when Ace died after all the effort Luffy put into saving him. I was devastated when Whitebeard died, sacrificing himself for his son—only for that same son to spit on their efforts by turning back to die just because Akainu said a few words.
So no, Coby couldn't save him. I could have changed the story, added other elements—called for help from other places, sent Ace away with Kuma's power. As the author, I had that power. But Coby, as a character, didn't. Because I didn't want to.
--
Coby sat up from Hancock's lap and stretched, offering a hand to Hancock with a casual smile. Hancock, without hesitation, took it, and they both stood up.
"We should go see him," Coby said, brushing off any awkwardness lingering in the air. Hancock nodded, regaining her usual composure. Together, they left the castle, passing through the city streets of Amazon Lily, with curious eyes on them.
Once they reached the outskirts of the city, where the dense jungle met the open sea, the edge of the island was visible. The Amazonian warriors kept their distance from the outsiders, but they tolerated them for now—barely. Only Coby was fully welcomed into the island. The others—Jinbe and the rest—remained on the outskirts, waiting by the ship.
As they arrived, the tension in the air became palpable. Coby's eyes immediately found Luffy. His fists were smashing into trees, rocks, anything that stood in his path. He was wild, lost in a frenzy of raw emotion and anguish. Coby frowned, sensing just how much pain Luffy was drowning in.
Coby approached Luffy carefully. "The war is over, Luffy," he said softly, but his words barely reached Luffy through the haze. He continued attacking, destroying everything in his path.
"Luffy! The war is over!" Coby called again, stepping closer, but Luffy spun around, his eyes wide, filled with fury. "Don't say it!" Luffy's voice cracked as he screamed. "Don't say anything!"
Coby stood his ground, his voice calm but firm. "Whether I say it or not, Luffy, it won't change the outcome."
Luffy's punches faltered. He dropped to his knees, panting heavily, his face twisted in anguish. "I pinched my cheek enough to wake up from this nightmare," he muttered, his voice breaking. "It's not a dream, is it?" His head hung low, his fingers digging into the dirt. Slowly, his tear-filled eyes lifted to meet Coby's gaze. "Ace is dead, isn't he?"
Coby knelt beside him and pulled him into a tight embrace. "Yes, Luffy," he whispered. "Ace is dead."
Luffy's cry ripped through the jungle—a raw, primal scream that echoed for miles. His body trembled in Coby's arms as tears poured down his face. His mind flooded with memories—his childhood, the time spent with Ace and Sabo, all of it now feeling like a distant dream shattered by harsh reality.
"I'm not Pirate King," Luffy choked out between sobs. "I'm still so weak…"
Coby held him tighter, his grip firm. "Stop punishing yourself, Luffy," he urged. But Luffy squirmed in his arms, fighting against the comfort, as if he didn't deserve it.
"Get away from me! It's my body, and I'll do what I want!" Luffy shouted, trying to break free, but Coby didn't let go.
"You did your best. You fought against impossible odds," Coby said, his voice unwavering. "Do you remember what you said to Robin? When she asked why we went to save her?"
Luffy stopped struggling, his breath hitching as he looked at Coby, his eyes searching.
Coby met his gaze. "You said, 'I'll save you. And if you still want to die after that, you can do whatever you want.'"
Luffy froze, his tears still flowing but his mind slowly processing Coby's words. It was like a mirror being held up to him, forcing him to confront his own logic.
Coby added, "Ace also said, he is a pirate too. He chose his own adventures, he had his own friends and life. You saved him, Luffy. You brought him down from the scaffold, saved him from the brink of death. But in the end, he decided for himself. He died to protect Whitebeard, just like you would've done for Ace."
Luffy's face twisted with grief as he listened, his fists gripping the dirt beneath him.
Coby's tone remained unwavering as he leaned closer, making sure Luffy understood. "You're right, we were weak, Luffy. That's why we're scattered all over the world. Ace's death... the war… we couldn't stop any of it because we weren't strong enough."
Luffy's head sank lower, his hands digging into the earth, but Coby wasn't done. "The confidence we had, thinking we could overcome anything—Ace, Marineford, all of it—was nothing but a fucking illusion. We never even doubted our strength, and that made us sloppy."
Silence stretched between them, the weight of Coby's words sinking into Luffy's soul like anchors. Luffy's body shook as he tried to process everything, his tears mixing with the dirt beneath him. The world around them, from the distant jungle sounds to the steady breeze, seemed to still in that moment.
"You can't let what's gone blind you, Luffy," Coby continued, his voice dropping. "Ace is dead, and nothing can bring him back. If you keep focusing on what you lost, you'll lose everything you still have."
"You gotta focus on what's still here, Luffy. What do you still have? What's left that you want to protect?"
There was a pause, and Luffy's breathing was heavy. He stared at the ground, silent for a moment before his voice came out, broken but clear, "My friends… I still have them. I still have you."
Coby's words hitting him like a punch in the gut. For a moment, it was like time stood still. He squeezed his eyes shut, his body trembling. Then, with a sudden burst of energy, he flung himself at Coby, wrapping his arms around him, gripping his shirt as if holding on for dear life.
"I still have my friends!" Luffy cried, his voice raw, cracking through the night air. "You're here, Coby! And the others… I still have Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Sanji, Chopper, Robin, Franky, Brook... We promised to meet them again at Sabaody! We got to go back, we got to be together again! We need to go see them. I want to see all of us together again!"
Coby nodded, staying quiet, letting Luffy's own words sink in. "That's it, Luffy. They're waiting for us. And when the time comes, we'll all meet again."
After Rayleigh caught up with Hancock and the others, he approached Luffy and Coby. His sharp eyes scanned both of them. "You said you want to return to Sabaody, right?"
Luffy nodded eagerly, but Coby crossed his arms, shaking his head. "We're not ready," he said bluntly, cutting through Luffy's excitement. "Like we said, we're too weak."
Rayleigh nodded in agreement, locking his gaze onto Luffy. "Coby's right," he began. "Do you remember what happened to you there? Do you really want to experience that all over again?" His words cut deep, and Luffy's expression faltered. He looked at Coby, then back at Rayleigh.
Luffy hesitated, his excitement dimming under the weight of Rayleigh's words. He had barely survived the last time he was on Sabaody. The Marine Admirals, Pacifistas, and the overwhelming power of the Navy had almost crushed them.
Rayleigh broke the silence. "I have a proposal for you," he said, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "Naturally, it's up to you whether to accept it or not." He glanced at Coby, then back at Luffy. "I can train you. Both of you, if you're willing."
Luffy's eyes lit up instantly, his signature grin returning. "Train me? Hell yeah!" he shouted, his enthusiasm burning brightly again. He turned toward Coby. "Come on, Coby! Rayleigh's gonna train us both!"
Coby crossed his arms, looking directly at Luffy and Rayleigh with a firm expression. "No. I won't join your training, Luffy," he said bluntly. "You need to depend on yourself and learn what it means to be strong and a captain. Rayleigh-san will train you in Haki, and you'll thrive until we're ready to return." Coby paused for a moment, letting his words sink in before adding, "Before that, don't come back."
Luffy blinked in confusion at first but quickly understood what Coby was saying. He scratched his head with a grin, accepting it as only Luffy would. "Alright! I'll get stronger!" he said, not taking offense.
Rayleigh glanced at Coby with a knowing smile but said nothing. He respected Coby's decision and understanding of what Luffy needed.
--
Read up to 100 chapters ahead!
patreon.com/pinkisjustice
Tell me what you think!