Chapter I- Escape
Lightning walked into the general shop. The skeleton musician was playing a sad tune. She headed towards the maps counter. She passed in front of the straw hat wearing boy who was cleaning the floor. He smiled at her, she didn't smile back. Lightning knocked on the counter, once, twice.
"Coming!"
The redheaded mapmaker walked out of the back room smiling.
"Hello sheriff. Going anywhere?"
"That doesn't concern you, Nami. I need a map of the White Forest, north."
""Until Smith village or Laroque city?"
""Laroque."
"Right away."
Nami searched around the maps.
"I'm sorry, we don't have either version."
Lightning frowned.
"Then give me the original. I will bring it back intact."
"That's not a good idea." stammered out Nami.
"Just give it to me." snarled Lightning, hitting the counter.
"Oh, look, I found a copy..."
"Thank you."
"Thank you...Sheriff." said Nami, an air of bitterness around the last word.
Lightning took the map and left. Nami smacked her head on the wall.
"Goddammit."
Brook shrugged.
"It's fine, we have plenty of time without her getting lost."
Luffy cracked his knuckles.
"The plan is ON."
Lightning walked into the sheriff's station and jail.
"Deputy Zoro?"
Upon finding the deputy sound asleep, Lightning frowned and smacked him with her gunblade.
Zoro woke up startled.
"Yes, sheriff?"
"The prisoner?"
"Asleep."
"Very well. I must depart for the mission. Are you sure central headquarters said it was today?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"I will go after lunch. Take care of the town while I'm gone."
"I will."
"Excuse me?"
Robin put her book down and headed for the counter..
"may I help you?
"Is this the museum?"
"Indeed, it is."
"Oh good." said the woman " I'm here with my son . You see, we're on a cultural trip."
"Your son seems to be playing with centuries old vases, please make him stop."
The woman turned around , shocked.
"Hope!"
"Sorry".
The kid stopped fiddling with the vase.
"Actually said Robin, adjusting her reading glasses "The museum is closing now. For lunch."
"Oh, sorry! We'll come back later."
They left. Robin sighed in relief and walked over to the vase, from which she removed a small bomb.
Nami sneaked into the station.
"Zoro?"
"Feeding the prisoner."
Nami walked over to the cells. She glanced at the girl behind bars.
"The hell did she do?"
"Unauthorized entry into town."
"Dammit Light...Hey, girl?"
The tiny redhead stared inquisitively at Nami.
"How would you like to help us escape the country?"
"That's illegal."
"We know."
"Then why?"
"We've been living under this tyranny for five years, and I'm sick of it. We all are."
"Where will you go?"
"Outside the reach of the government."
"Hm. Okay!"
Zoro pulled Nami aside.
"Why?"
"If the soldiers come after us, we can throw her as a distraction."
She turned back.
"Hey, can you fight?"
"Yes."
"Good. I'm Nami. This is Zoro."
"I'm Vanille."
Sazh walked into the small shop, near the east exit of the town.
"Wood seller. Here to sell wood."
Franky turned back.
"Now?"
"No, I'm just making small talk. Yes, now! I don't have all day!"
"We're busy, go away."
Sazh grumbled and left.
Franky looked at his assistant.
"Do you have the second bomb, Usopp?"
"Yeah, right here."
Lightning walked into the restaurant. Robin and Chopper were sitting at the counter. Sanji grinned and walked to the door.
"Good morning, sheriff! Would you like a window table?"
"I can't stay, just give me the usual to go."
"Yes, right away! Lucky you, it's today's special! Just let me wrap it up..."
He quickly prepared and handed it to her.
As the restaurant was right on the west exit to the town, they watched her walk out. Sanji skipped to the telephone on the wall and called the store.
"Luffy? She's gone. Go meet Snow. I'll call Franky and we can start the operation in 30 minutes."
Lightning waved to the guard, who stopped in his tracks, apparently very surprised.
"Sheriff Farron? What are you doing?"
"What are you doing?"
"Uh, well, I'm not supposed to say it, but there's a surprise search today."
"That can't be. I was called to a meeting in Laroque."
"Sheriff" muttered the guard "There's no meeting today."
An explosion was heard in the distance.
"Dammit, that bastard!"
She started running back.
"Snow!" she yelled in frustration.
"Snow!" Usopp yelled in fright "There are guards here!"
"What?" said Snow "It must be a surprise search! Nami, take Serah and run, the smoke bombs will conceal you!"
"I won't go!" cried out Serah.
"Yes, you will!"
"Snow..." muttered Nami, a tinge of worry in her voice "Will you meet us there?"
"Of course!"
"Come one" said Chopper, as he changed to his walk point "hop on."
Serah reluctantly climbed onto him.
Robin and Franky ran to them.
"There's a problem" said Franky "The boat was seized"
"Then we'll go by foot!" yelled Nami "Vanille?"
"Nami, there's a kid here! He says his mother was shot!"
"Shit! Bring him along!"
"Zoro and Brook are already outside the town." said Sanji.
They ran to the nearest exit. Suddenly, soldiers appeared out of nowhere.
"Run!" screamed Nami "Don't stop until you're safe!"
They started running.
Lightning was running. It all started to click. Surprise meeting, as said by the deputy, getting her out of town. No maps, getting her lost to make sure she wouldn't be back so soon. Special of the day, getting her out as soon as possible. They were all in it together. The archeologist was probably in it too. They would definitely escape by the ruins. The explosions! Smoke bombs, that's what the mechanics were doing for the past week! Snow and Luffy...They were running the whole game.
And Serah was definitely with Snow.
They would get caught.
"Catch them!" yelled out the leader of the soldiers.
Sazh hid in an alley. On the day he decided to travel to this town, a rebel group escapes and a surprise search party appears.
"Old man with the guns!" yelled Luffy "You're not safe here!"
"Gee, really?"
"Come with me!"
They ran to Snow.
"Snow, let's go!"
"Right!"
They ll met in the forest. Just as everyone was catching their breath, Lightning appeared.
"Idiots! Where is my sister?"
"She's right th-" muttered Nami, stopping as she noticed Serah was not right there. Chopper sobbed.
"I'm sorry! A soldier grabbed her! I didn't notice, you said don't stop!"
"What?" gasped Lightning. Infuriated, she started punching Luffy.
"Knock it out!" screamed Nami, pulling her away " She choose to come with us, it's not like we forced her!"
"Serah..." mumbled Snow.
"Is everyone else here?" asked Robin.
"I think so..." said Sanji, looking around " And three people who aren't supposed to be here. And Miss Farron."
"I'm just a merchant caught in your crazy plan. The name's Sazh."
"I'm Vanille. This guy lost his mom just now..."
Hope looked away.
"What now?" asked Franky.
"We save Serah." said Snow.
"Yeah!" yelled Luffy "We don't leave anyone behind."
"I'll save Serah." bitterly mumbled Lightning "You'll just screw up."
"You're going to get her from headquarters?" asked Sazh "That's crazy! I'll go too, there someone I need to save as well."
Nami turned to Vanille.
"You?"
"I'll go too! Uhm...Little guy? Want to come with us?"
"What choice do I have?" muttered Hope.
Luffy cracked his knuckles.
"It's decided! Everyone is going north!"
Lightning frowned and started walking.
"I won't protect you."
"We won't need you." flatly said Nami.
NEXT WEEK ON HAVEN:
Luffy: We're ambushed by soldiers, but it's okay, there's a backup plan.
Snow: We thought of everything!
Luffy: "We'll save Serah, it's okay!"
Lightning: "What if you can't?"
Luffy: "We will."
CHAPTER II: SEPARATED