-Chapter 1-
It
was an exceedingly mild day on the Thousand Sunny, the sun was high
and there were gentle waves playing against the hull of the one of
the newest additions to the Strawhat Pirates, it was a relaxing
period of downtime for the pirate crew. Rest for Zoro was sword
practice and weight training in the crow's nest. Robin was on the
deck reading, enjoying yet another book from the expanded library
along with an amazing drink made by Sanji. Chopper was next to her
reading about the latest advances Medical Technology, all the while
eating cotton candy. Nami was at the wheel of the Sunny with the safe
of what money remained in their ever dwindling funds under her high
heel, her senses ever aware of the wind's every fluctuation. Franky
had taken a break from the wheel to sunbathe for the simple fact that
there was no ship work to be done (also that, thanks to Robin's
cruelty, standing or walking were not fun at the moment). Sanji was
busy in the kitchen organizing his new cooking area ever prepared for
Luffy to ask him for food, yet again. But at this point in time he
would not be interrupted before he brought Nami her bento of love.
Usopp was napping in a hammock, his newly framed wanted poster in his
arms. Luffy was on his seat on the head of the Lion head at the front
of the ship. He was having trouble keeping his excitement at bay, for
there was an energy in the sea air that could not be detected by the
untrained eye, the day held the promise of an adventure. Luffy was
always the keenest to these changes in the air, more so than Nami was
to any change in the sea, or Chopper to anyone's health, or Franky to
the slightest creak in the ship. The sun shone from behind the myriad
clouds like Luffy's dream of being pirate king through the adversity
on the grand line.
"Nami, turn
the ship to the left" Luffy said suddenly
Nami was
trying, as always, to pretend like Sanji's advances were getting him
nowhere. "Huh? wh-wha" Nami said coming back to reality.
"We are in perfect alignment with the log p…"
"NOW"
shouted Luffy standing up on the bow of the boat in a fighting
stance. With Franky's help Nami the turned the ship just as a wall of
water rose inches from where the ship had been headed towards,
splashing water on deck and rocking the Thousand Sunny from top to
bottom.
"GOMU GOMU NO....."
shouted the soaking wet captain through an entirely out of place
smile as he twisted his arm as he threw it backwards. His arm
stretching twirling like so much rubber, became taught at
its furthest length only to be sent flying in the other direction at
an alarming rate "RIFLE!!!" Whatever happened to be in the
rising wall of water never had a chance. The puffer fish like sea
king was in the direct line of an unstoppable attack with no cover in
sight.
All eyes were on the sea king, but
there was something different about this one. Something that Zoro had
noticed three seconds before the attack landed. The sea king, was
made entirely of crystal.