Over the past couple of weeks, Luffy had been dropping by the camp often whenever he lost track of Ace while chasing him.
Usually, he'd show up in the afternoon for lunch, since Ling didn't mind his company and sillyness. Though he found it shameless, it's Luffy's personality, and it brought him comedic relief.
During those visits, Luffy would always talk about Shanks. He spoke of the red-haired pirate, Ace, and he lives with Dadan and her gang of bandits. Though he often says he hates bandits.
He had also asked for some pointers on how to improve his strength. Ling always responded plainly because Luffy would always be strong even without pointers. It's better to leave him at his own pace and training.
"Just train," Ling had told him.
Not wanting to sit around and wait, Ling laced his boots and went on his evening run.
"It's time to visit Grey Terminal, see if I can spot Naguri," he muttered.
An hour earlier, just outside Grey Terminal, two boys were crouching behind a bush, keeping their mouths shut.
Nearby, Luffy was being hauled off by his shirt collar by a tall guy with a big sword on his shoulder, taking him to Grey Terminal, while three men followed behind him.
"What do we do?" Sabo whispered.
"You know what we should do..." Ace said, also whispering.
"We move the treasure."
Sabo and Ace ran and jumped into a tree with a big branch. On it, there's a hidden door where all their money is located.
They began taking all the money as fast as they could and putting it all in a bag, before Porchemy and his gang arrived after interrogating Luffy, and take all their years of hard-earned money.
"Hurry up, hurry up! We're screwed if they come back!" Sabo was stressed, sweat visible on both their faces.
"We gotta move our treasure somewhere else!" Ace was out of breath.
"It's a matter of time before Luffy tells them!"
"They will take not only what we stole from them, but also all our 'pirate savings' that we've spent five years collecting!" Sabo said.
Back in the present time, Ling had finally arrived at the edge of the forest after thirty minutes.
Bright light greeted him; the Grey Terminal loomed ahead, scrap piles, smoke columns, and worn-out paths twisting between heaps of rusted metal.
At that very moment, Sabo snuck into Grey Terminal, after feeling guilty and worried about Luffy.
He ducked behind a sheet of rusted steel when he heard someone talking about them.
"Do you know where Ace and Sabo are?" asked one of the men.
"You guys are delinquents, aren't you?" replied a man clutching a raggedy doll.
"You'd better not mess with those two."
From behind his cover, Sabo was shocked by what he heard.
Then he bolted away from the Grey Terminal.
Ling, who had just stepped into Grey Terminal, spotted him darting through the smoke with a panicked look on his face.
"Sabo?" Ling muttered.
He watched Sabo disappear into the forest, worry etched clearly into his expression.
And just like that, Ling understood why Luffy hadn't shown up today.
He followed Sabo and who met with Ace.
"I'll wait for those two and watch from here and save Luffy with them." Ling was a couple of trees away, standing on a branch and hiding behind the leaves.
Sabo finally arrived, almost out of breath.
"Ace!" Sabo shouted.
Ace looked down and asked. "Sabo! What's wrong? Have they shown up to look for the money?"
"No, they haven't! And I bet they won't!" Sabo looked guilty and worried.
"What do you mean?" Ace asked, confused.
"That kid, Luffy... He still didn't snitch on us!" Sabo explained.
Ace's face darkened, shocked by what he just heard.
"I'm sure that they're torturing him! I thought that he'd just tell them because he's dumb and cries so much!" Sabo continued.
Ace gritted his teeth, clenched his fist, and his body was uncontrollably shaking.
"It doesn't make sense!" Sabo snapped.
"If nothing is done, he'll..."
Fifteen minutes later, Ace and Sabo arrived at the Grey Terminal, each wielding their infamous pole. Without wasting a second, they rushed forward.
Ling moved the moment he saw them. He flickered into them. Ace and Sabo skidded to a stop, raising their poles defensively.
"Who are you?" Ace demanded.
"No time for this, Ace! We have to go!" Sabo urged.
"Relax," Ling said calmly, he raised his hands.
"I'm Ling. Luffy's friend. I recognized Ace from the way Luffy described him. You two look worried. Is it about him?"
"Ling…" Ace muttered, lowering his pole slightly.
"Yeah, Luffy did mention a friend recently."
Sabo grabbed Ace's wrist. "We really don't have time!"
He pulled Ace, and the two took off again.
"Wait! What happened to Luffy?" Ling called after them.
In a ragged shack deeper within the Grey Terminal, Luffy was hanging by his arms on a rope. His face was really swollen, and blood trailing down his chin.
"Tell me where it is!" Porchemy was running out of patience.
"I… won't," Luffy rasped, his voice barely audible.
"I won't."
"I won't tell you."
"I won't tell you."
Porchemy scowled, he finally had enough. "Fine. I'm done asking."
He stomped over to a box in the corner and drew a sword. Without a word, he approached Luffy slowly, the blade dragging along the ground.
"Die."
He raised the blade.
CRASH!
The wall exploded as Ling burst through it. He launched into the air mid-leap and precisely kicked the sword clean from Porchemy's grip before it could hit Luffy.
Before the others could react, Ace and Sabo charged in.
"Stay out of my way!" Ace growled, swinging his pole with full force. The bandana-wearing pirate was knocked back instantly.
Sabo dove toward the remaining two, the blond man and the one with the cap, swinging his at them.
"Ace! Ling! Sabo!" Luffy cried out, his voice cracking with emotion.
Porchemy's blade went flying. The pirate barely had time to register what happened before Ace leapt high into the air, pole raised.
With a furious yell, Ace brought it down on Porchemy's head. The pole snapped on impact.
Porchemy staggered backward.
"Ace!" Sabo shouted. He was surrounded by the three remaining thugs.
Ace hesitated for a split second, unsure whether to stay or help.
Ling's voice cut through the tension. "Don't worry! I'll handle him. You two deal with the others!"
Ace nodded and bolted toward Sabo.
"Sabo, I've got your back!"
Ling rushed Porchemy and threw a punch. Porchemy blocked it and caught Ling's right hand mid-swing.
With a grunt, Porchemy drew a pocket knife and thrust it forward.
Ling vanished.
'Time Skip.'
He reappeared, his arm freed.
Porchemy was surprised but attacked again.
Ling disappeared once more, then he used the incomplete version of Shave, reappearing behind Porchemy. He slammed a punch on its back.
Before Porchemy could fully turn around, Ling had already leapt into the air.
With a sharp exhale, he swing his foot as fast as he could, trying to replicate 'Rankyaku', but due to his current strength and speed, he failed.
But still the kick landed solidly, slamming into Porchemy's temple and sending him crashing to the ground. He was knocked out cold.
Meanwhile, Sabo and Ace finished off the last three pirates.
Panting, the two looked up just in time to see Ling descend from the air.
Ace and Sabo stared at him, eyes wide with shock.
Ling approached Luffy and carefully untied him.
Luffy was crying silent tears.
Ling felt bad, but he knew this was necessary for his growth and one of the many incidents Luffy had to face to become the 'Luffy' he know from the show that he loved.
Sabo and Ace stepped closer, checking on Luffy.
Ling gently lifted him onto his back. Luffy clung to him tightly, burying his face between Ling's shoulders, muffling his cries.
"Let's go before Bluejam himself shows up," Ling said.
Ace and Sabo nodded.
"I know a safe place. Follow me."
Ling sprinted through the woods, with Sabo and Ace right behind him.
Twenty minutes later, they arrived at Ling's camp.
Ling set Luffy down gently on a large rock.
"Waaah!" Luffy wailed.
Sabo stood quietly behind a tree, arms crossed.
Ace slumped onto a nearby rock, frowning.
A few minutes later.
Ling busied himself by tending to the fire, roasting some meat.
"Ling, right? You're pretty strong. I'm Sabo."
Sabo said with a half-smile, trying to lighten the mood.
Everyone has been silent for a few minutes except Luffy, who's still sobbing.
"Nice to meet you. You guys hungry? It's done," Ling replied.
Luffy immediately stopped crying and lunged for a piece, chomping into it hungrily.
Sabo sat on a log while Ace grabbed a chunk and began eating too.
"Earlier you vanished and...poof out. How'd you do that?" Ace asked between bites.
Sabo looked over curiously. Luffy kept chewing, eyes wide.
"I ate a Devil Fruit," Ling said.
"It's called the Time-Time Fruit. I can send myself into the future anywhere from milliseconds to years."
"That's so cool!" Sabo's eyes sparkled.
Ace looked equally impressed.
"I did too!" Luffy exclaimed, swallowing a huge chunk of meat and pulling on his cheeks.
"I ate the Gum-Gum Fruit! I can stretch and I don't get hurt unless it's sharp stuff!"
"You too, Luffy?" Sabo shocked.
"Ohhh, so that's how you survived falling off that bridge," Ace said.
While eating, Sabo sighed, getting Ace and Ling's attention.
"We messed up. Bluejam's pirates won't let this slide. They'll come after us."
At the mention of Bluejam, Luffy started tearing up again.
"Waaah! That was so scary! I thought I was gonna die!"
A tick mark popped on Ace's temple. He jumped to his feet.
"You're so annoying!"
"Shut up already! Stop crying!"
"I hate crybabies and cowards!"
Luffy froze, his mouth clamped shut.
Ling silently watched.
Luffy stood up and bowed his head.
"Thank you… for helping me." His voice trembled, and tears slipped down again.
"You…" Ace started, but Sabo cut him off.
"Hey, he's just being thankful."
Ace clicked his tongue.
"You should've just told them where the treasure was. They were ready to kill you!"
Luffy clenched his fists, his straw hat shading his eyes.
"Because… if I did that, you wouldn't be my friend."
Ace's eyes widened; he didn't know what to say.
"It's better than dying! And why would you want to be my friend that badly anyway?"
Luffy trembled.
"Didn't I give you a hard time all this time? Why would you follow me?"
Luffy gripped the fabric of his shorts tightly.
"Because… living alone is more painful than getting hurt!"
Ling, who was watching amusedly, he felt his chest tighten at those words. They hit deeper than he expected.
Memories of his past life the loneliness, the isolation came flooding back.
Without realizing it, Ling's eyes drop a tear.
"Ling? Are you okay?"
Sabo asked, noticing.
"I'm fine," Ling wiped his face.
"It's just… Luffy's right. Living alone is far more painful."
Sabo nodded solemnly. He, too, remembered his days before meeting Ace.
"You're right."
The conversation between Luffy and Ace continued, same in the anime. When Luffy said he wanted Ace to live, there was no hesitation in his voice. And continued to banter after that.
After a long pause, Ace frowned.
"What the hell! Why's everyone getting all mopey now?"
"Ahem!" Sabo cleared his throat, changing the subject.
"I have a problem. My place is near the pirate cove where the Bluejam pirates and Blujam himself are currently staying. If I fall asleep from exhaustion and recognize my face, I could get attacked by them."
He stood and raised a hand.
"That's why I need your help. I'll stay with you guys from now on."
"I wouldn't mind," Ace shrugged.
"Me too!" Luffy added.
Sabo turned to Ling.
"What about you? Where do you live? Now that you clashed with Bluejam's pirates, you're probably on their hit list too."
Luffy beat him to the answer.
"This is his place."
"Really? Then you should come with us too!" Sabo said.
Ling paused.
'Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. I've been alone this whole time…'
He nodded.
"What do you think, Ace?" Sabo asked.
"I don't mind," Ace replied.