Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece.
O - O - O - O - O
The East Blue is known to harbor the weakest pirates amongst the four blues. Ironically, however, the greatest pirate to ever live, known as "Pirate King" Gol D. Roger, was born and executed in a town in the East Blue known as Loguetown on the Polestar Islands. Due to this, the town earned the nickname "The Town of the Beginning and the End". Many ships, especially pirate ships, often passed through the town to collect materials and necessities before making a voyage to the Grand Line, or stopped as tourists to see Roger's execution stand in person. As it just so happens, a certain pirate crew had landed on the island to make a short stop before entering the Grand Line. This crew would change one man's life forever.
With the nice weather outside, Loguetown was bussing with as much life as ever. An 18 year old slightly hefty man with round eyes, long eye lashes, a pointed nose, short but puffy black hair, and predominant, round ears wearing a short sleeve black cardigan, a white sash, blue pants, and brown shoes, walked around town aimlessly. He only carried with him a brown bag with his extra clothes and spare berries. Sadly, he had a late night and ended up missing the first, and only, departure time for the passenger ship he arrived on. Not having enough money to rent a hotel room, he would be forced to spend the rest of the day and night on the streets. However, fate would have other plans for him.
While walking around town, he saw a thin man who wore a red vest, blue shorts, sandals, a straw hat, and had a small scar right under his left eye running straight towards him.
Wait a minute, where have I seen this guy... his thoughts were interrupted when the thin man stopped when recognizing he was about to run over someone, but then tripped forward. His right hand fell onto the hefty man's belly. However, the heft mans belly absorbed the thin mans hand and subsequently his arm, and shot it back out out, causing the thin man to firmly land back on his feet.
"Whoa, that's so cool!" he exclaimed with stars beaming from his eyes. The hefty man didn't normally get that kind of response to his powers. "How were you able to do that?"
"Well, I didn't do anything, really. I ate a devil fruit called the Jello Jello Fruit, which turned my body completely into gelatin, and nearly any physical attack will just bounce off of me. In addition, I can morph my body around," the hefty man explained. He opened up his cardigan a bit and demonstrated by turning his belly into a perfect six pack, waving his belly around in a cartoonish style, and morphing a giant hole through his torso. While many gave stares and murmurs directed at him, the thin man only gaped wide open in aw. "I'm a gelatin man!"
"Shishishi, that's awesome! Will you join my crew? It would be awesome for someone with a devil fruit like yours to join us!" thin man said. The hefty man gave a blank stare.
"Well that was fast, hahaha! We haven't even exchanged names yet!" The hefty man responded.
"Oh right." The thin man took out his right hand. "My name is Monkey D. Luffy, future King of the Pirates!" he proclaimed with a gleeful smile.
"Heh, my name is Wyatt Errol, uh... traveler..." Errol took out his right hand a shook Luffy's. Firm grasp, he must be one of the stronger ones in this blue, Errol thought. Wait that name also sounds familiar to me... Ahh yes! He's the guy with the new bounty. 30,000,000 berries if I'm right. Errol smiled, feeling flattered to be asked by the pirate with the current highest bounty in the East Blue to join his crew.
"Now that we've exchanged names like you wanted, you can join my crew, and set sail to the Grand Line, shishishi!" Luffy stated.
Uhh... Wait can he do that? Errol thought. In truth, Errol didn't know if he actually wanted to join Luffy's crew. He may have the highest bounty in the East Blue as of now, but this is the East Blue, the weakest of the four blues, and even then, his bounty doesn't even compare to the monstrous bounties in the Grand Line. He would prefer to live to the ripe old age of 19 before kicking the bucket.
"So hey, I'm tryna look for Roger's execution stand right now, do you know where it is?" Luffy asked.
"That old thing? It's in the town square. Follow me." Errol responded.
O - O - O - O - O
Right in front of the duo stood none other than Roger's execution stand. Even though Errol has seen the stand at least fives during his stay at Loguetown, the sight of it never gets old. On the entire Earth, they were at the very same spot where the greatest pirate of all time, the pirate who flipped the world upside down died. Through stories, he's heard that Roger treated his execution day like his coronation ceremony. He also heard that he died with a smile on his face. What a man he must have been.
"The execution stand. There it is... So that's where the great Pirate King was executed... The place where the greatest pirate in history was put to death, and the place where the great pirate age began..." Luffy murmured to himself. Errol turned to Luffy, noticing the sudden change of demeanor in Luffy. It was clear that Luffy had a great respect towards Roger, but what pirate wouldn't?
With a giant grin, Luffy pulled his right arm back, then flung it straight forward. His arm stretched out all the way to the top of the stand. Grabbing onto the platform, Luffy shrunk his arm, flinging him all the way to the top. Wait a minute, did I just see him stretch his arm out that far? He must have some kind of rubber devil fruit! Wow, what an interesting guy to run into... Errol thought. Errol knew that the platform was World Government property, standing on it would lead you into trouble with the proper authorities. Deciding not to stir any commotion, at least for now, he decided to walk around town to make sure authorities thought he wasn't associated with him. After all, he hadn't actually decided if he was going to join his crew yet.
"Ohhhhh! Whoaaa! So this is what the pirate king saw before he died!" It looks like Luffy will be standing up there for a good while.
"Yo Luffy, I'm going to walk around town for bit. I'll be coming back later!" Errol yelled out to Luffy.
"Ok, see ya later later, shishishi!" Luffy responded, and Errol began walking through the main street.
Man, what weird guy. He not only asks me to join his crew before he even knows my name, he then proceeds to state that I'm joining, without my consent. I knew that it was surprising someone looking like him would have a 30,000,000 berry bounty on his head, but I never would've figured he would act so... carefree... Errol pondered. Huh, I wonder what his ship looks like, I think I'll go check it out. Errol walked to the bay at the end of the island. A couple of ships and dinghies were docked. Walking along the bay, he noticed that none of the ships showed Jolly Rogers. "I thought this place had many pirates coming here for supplies before their voyage to the Grand Line. Heh, I guess whoever's in charge of the Marine Base here sure does a good job of not letting pirates escape," Errol said to himself. Suddenly, recognized one ship with a jolly roger. It had the skull on it like most jolly rogers do, but with a straw hat. Not very original for a design… Knowing that Luffy wears a straw hat, it must be his.
Moving closer, Errol recognized that ship had a figure head of a sheep. He also noted that the ship had three tangerine placed on top. Errol moved right next to ship and put his left hand on it "This ship looks like a caravel class ship. It most likely isn't built for traversing the Grand Line," Errol said to himself.
"Riding of my richie bike- who's that you say, it's me!" Errol heard someone singing behind him. Turning round, Errol saw someone wearing a pink helmet with bunnies ears sticking. white fur vest, blue pants, and a yellow sash. He was riding a tamed lion with green fur and a purple mane.
"Who are you?" Errol asked. He noticed that clouds began to form. "Why, my name's Mohji, and I'm here to burn down that rubber brat's ship." Errol looked behind his shoulder. Huh, so I was right about it being his ship. "He won't be needing it anymore. He should be getting his flashy execution from Captain Buggy right about now, but in the one in a million chance he escapes, he won't have a ship anymore." So not only does Luffy get ambushed, but by Buggy the Clown of all pirates? Oh boy.
"So am I to take that you're apart of his crew?" Mohji asked preparing to attack.
"Well, I don't really know…" Errol shrugged.
"Don't know? Hahaha, get out my way you little shit, before I kill you." Mohji threatened. His lion, who Errol presumed to be Richie, started growling.
"Threatening people isn't nice, someone should teach you some manners," Errol stated.
"You just sealed your fate," Mohji said preparing to attack.
"Well if you want to kill me so badly, come and get me!" Errol challenged.
With that, Mohji and Richie rushed straight towards Errol. However, Errol blitz right in front of the two. Catching Mohji and Richie off surprise with his speed, Errol dealt with the two swiftly by taking out his right hand and pushed his finger into Richie's and Mohji's chest, leaving them fully unconscious and falling to the ground. Errol, snapping out of his trance, realized he used too much strength.
Errol rubbed the back of his head "Ooh, I'm so sorry you guys, I got really tense and went overboard. I really wanted to have a fun fight. Ugh, I really need to control myself," Errol pouted. He completely forgot what he done, thinking about Luffy's situation. "Oh yeah, Luffy getting ambushed right now, I should go see what's happening." Suddenly, it started pouring rain. "Hahaha, guess Mohji wouldn't have been able to burn down Luffy's ship anyway."
O - O - O - O - O
"Uhh, ok, what the hell is this?" Errol stood back in confusion. Standing in the back of the town square, he saw Luffy, trapped in a shackle, and none other than Buggy the pirate on the execution stand bickering at each other. It seemed to be that the crowd was under hostage by Buggy's crew, as well a lady pirate and her crew. Though their conservation was barely hearable to him, Errol could tell that Luffy didn't seem scared, only bored and annoyed.
"I'm the man who'll become the Pirate King!" Luffy yelled in declaration.
Wow, Luffy is very determined to achieve his dream, even in the situation he's in right now, Errol thought. Errol was taken aback at those words. He couldn't believe the amount of sheer determination Luffy had, even though he was about to die. He formed a deep respect for Luffy. Maybe joining his crew wouldn't be so bad after all?
"Is that all you have to say, rubber brat?" Buggy asked.
"Sanji! Zoro! Errol! Help me out here!" Luffy asked.
"Oh boy, the marines are really going to get pissed at me for sure!" Errol couldn't believe what he was about to do. He began dashing towards the execution stand.
"Take care of them, boys!" The lady asked. "As you command, Lady Alvida!" her crew responded. Wait, that's Alvida, the fatass pirate? No way, how did she get so thin? Errol thought while stretching his legs. He didn't have time to think about that any further.
Alvida's crew were heading straight towards Errol. Not wanting to fight them, Errol jumped high in the air. Then jumped again in mid air, then again and again. Errol began what seemed to be flying through the air by repeatedly jumping. Eye balls from nearly everyone in the crowd popped out.
"Whoaaa, that's so cool you can do that!" Luffy, once again, said with stars beaming from his eyes.
"Luffy, I'm going to free you!" Errol exclaimed. Errol was heading straight up towards Luffy and Buggy.
"Gyahahahaha! You're too late! Just watch carefully from there! Witness the last moments of your captain!" Buggy exclaimed. Buggy drew up and positioned his sword, ready to execute Luffy.
"Zoro! Sanji! Errol! Usopp! Nami! Sorry, but it looks like I'm dead!" Luffy grinned. Errol was getting closer and closer to Luffy. As He was about to grab Buggy's arm, Buggy began the final blow. It looks like this was the end for Luffy. Just as Buggy landed his sword on Luffy's neck, a flashing bolt of lightning struck out of nowhere. The platform suddenly bursts in flames, and collapsed. While Buggy bursted into flames along with the platform, surprisingly, Luffy was completely fine. All three feel to the ground. Buggy fell to the ground, with the rain quickly putting out the fire on him, while Errol fell down face first, borrowing his head right through the ground. However, Luffy managed to land on his feet and pick up his hat, Alvida and her subordinates only stood back aloof.
"Shishishishishi, looks like I did survive! How lucky!" Luffy said. Two of Luffy's crew members came running towards him.
"Hey… do you believe in God?" asked a blonde man with a spiral eyebrow and wearing a tuxedo.
"Enough talking and let's leave this town already. We've got more trouble heading our way," said a man with moss colored hair, a white shirt, a green haramaki, and black trousers.
"Hey Zoro, you know this guy?" the blonde man asked pointing Errol whose torso and legs were facing straight up while his head was buried underground. He had minor burn marks all over his body, and his left leg was twitching.
Wait a minute, this guy mentioned Zoro, just like Luffy did. Are they talking about Zoro, as in Zoro the Pirate Hunter? Errol thought with his face stuck in the ground.
"No, but wasn't he the one who was trying to reach Luffy by jumping through the air?" Zoro added.
"Oh, right, Zoro, Sanji, meet our newest crew member, Errol!" Luffy exclaimed, pulling on his right leg and lifting him up.
"Hey guys, nice to meet you, hahaha," Errol said in an aloof manner while waving. Yup, that seems like Zoro based off the descriptions I've heard about him. Wow, I don't even know how Luffy could've gotten him to join... And the one on the left must be Sanji, then.
"Surround the town square! Corner all the pirates!" One marine yelled. A group of marines were present at the town square, ready to capture every pirate present.
"They're here!" Sanji yelled.
"Run for it!" Luffy yelled excitedly.
"Which way?" Zoro yelled.
The trio ran from the marines while Luffy carried Errol with his right leg, dragging and bumping his head face flat along the pavement.
O - O - O - O - O
"The winds are getting worse," Zoro stated.
"This storm is just not letting up..." Errol murmured, still with his face dragging on the ground and drenched in rain. "Luffy, you can let me go no-".
"Jeez, these guys are so persistent Should we just stop and fight them?" Luffy asked. Trying to move his face up as far as possible, Errol saw the marines still on hot pursuit on them.
"Don't, there'll be no end to them. More importantly, Nami told us to return to the ship as fast as possible," Sanji said. Wow, sometime it's like Luffy isn't the captain at all, Errol thought. Though even knowing Luffy for just a short while, Errol thought it might be best it's like that…
"Ah!" Sanji gleefully cheered.
"Roronoa Zoro!" a lady called out.
"Wait, what's going on, who's there?" Errol panicked.
"Sgt. Major Tashigi!" the marines behind called out. Oh shit, Errol thought
"To think that you were Roronoa Zoro! And a pirate at that, too! You were just using me all along!" Tashigi yelled. Heh, sounds like lovers quarrel, Errol smirked.
"You bastard! What did you do to that lady!?" Sanji yelled at Zoro.
"Never would've thought you were a marine," Zoro interjected.
"I shall take back that Wadou Ichimonji!" Tashigi responded
"Just try it." With that, Zoro and Tashigi clashed swords. "Go on ahead," Zoro said. Luffy nodded and dragged Sanji by his shoulder who has threatening Zoro not to hurt Tashigi.
Sanji and Luffy kept running towards the exit to the bay, all while Luffy was still dragging Errol. Errol was beginning to feel his entire face flatten. "Luffy, seriously, you can let go of me no-"
"Someone's up ahead," Luffy pointed out. Luffy finally let go of Errol's right leg.
"Ah thank god!" Errol yelled, face to the ground.
"Another one?" Sanji asked. Errol sat back up and rubbed his eyes. His face didn't hurt so much that it had completely flattened. With his gelatin body, his body is known to flatten up when parts of his body are pressed against something for a period of time. *Poof*, Errol shaped his head back to normal. He looked up ahead to see a white-haired muscular man wearing a white jacket with green fur lining and cigars strapped on him, blue jeans, brown leather gloves and boots, carrying a large jitte for a weapon, and was smoking two cigars at once.
"Guys, I think that might be the guy in charge of the marine base around here," Errol said. Hearing this, Luffy and Sanji posed in fighting positions.
"So you've come, Straw Hat Luffy…" the man stated.
"Who are you?" Luffy asked.
"The name's Smoker. As your friend said, I'm a captain of the Marine Headquarters and in charge of the Marine Base operating here. And I won't allow you to set sail from here!" Errol got back on his feet prepared to fight. As much as he didn't like it, marines would now be coming after his head, whether he stayed with Luffy or not. Looks like he really is joining.
Smoker's arms turned into smoke and suddenly expanded in size and length to catch the three. Smoker caught Luffy but Sanji and Errol dodged. Errol stood back, paralyzed in fear realizing the futility in what he now recognized Smoker to be a logia user, Sanji attempted to land a kick in Smoker's face, but hit kick flew straight through him.
"What!?" Sanji exclaimed.
"I don't have time for runts," Smoker stated as he caught Sanji with his other arm and pushed him back against a building.
"Sanji! Why you… Gum Gum Pistol!" Luffy attempted to hit Smoker while still caught but the punch went straight through him.
"Huh?" Luffy questioned as Smoker disappeared and reappeared behind him. "Are you really worth 30,000,000 berries?" Smoker asked. Smoker fully materialized back into human form and pushed Luffy to the ground.
Wait a minute, the tip of that jitte Smoker has is made of seastone! If I can grab it from him and pin him down, I can damage Smoker! Errol smirked at the opportunity.
"Hmph, looks like your luck's come to an end," Smoker said about to grab his jitte. Errol blitzed to Smoker and grabbed the jitte at the same time Smoker did. Smoker turned to Errol when a third hand suddenly grabbed. "Or perhaps not…?" a mysterious man said.
Both Smoker and Errol turned to see who it was. It was a man completely dressed in a dark green cloak.
"You're…!" Smoker said. Both Smoker and Errol realized who it was… Wait a minute, why is he helping Luffy of all people, unless…
"The entire government is after your head, you know," Smoker said interrupting Errol's train of thought.
"What!? Who's there!?" Luffy said with his face planted to the ground.
"The world awaits our answer…!" the man in the cloak said. Suddenly, a huge gust of wind blows everyone back. The gust of wind incidentally reunites Zoro back with Sanji, Luffy, and Errol, while managing to rid of Smoker and the other marines.
"Luffy, run for it, or we'll be trapped on this island! A huge-ass storm is coming in!" Zoro yelled. He grabbed Luffy back on his feet and the four of them began running towards the bay. Guess Zoro managed to deal with a Sgt. Major pretty quickly, as I expected. Man, I wonder how Luffy was able to get Zoro of all people to join him… Errol reassured himself.
Making their way back to the bay, Errol saw two other crew members. One appeared with a long nose wearing brown overalls, a white sash, and a green bandana, the other had orange hair wearing a green shirt and a small black skirt. It seems this one is Nami, possibly the only female in the crew based on Sanji's flamboyant reaction to seeing her again.
"Luffy!" the long nose man yelled.
"Hurry and get on board. We're setting sail immediately!" Nami yelled. Everyone got on the ship and set off immediately before the storm got worse, or if more marines came by.
"Hey who's this guy? Is he a new crew member?" the long nose man asked.
"Shishi, yup!" Luffy cheered. "He can do a lot of really cool stuff!"
Errol stepped forward. "Hello everyone, the name's Wyatt Errol!"