"This is the Going Merry!" Merry said proudly as she gestured to the large ship. "Now, listen carefully when I say this," She said, suddenly serious. "Supposedly a ship will only reveal it's true self -it's soul- to a crew with a worthy captain. I don't know if it's true, but rumor has it that it only appears when there are at least three crew members, not counting the captain."
"Woow!" Luffy and Nami clapped while Zoro nodded appreciatively at the vessel. "Shishishishi!" The captain grinned, "Sounds cool and we have three members!"
"It looks awesome!" Luffy said with stars in his eyes as he stretched his arm to climb onboard. He touched the white railing gently and already felt a warm feeling fill him. "I won't let anyone harm you, Merry," He whispered protectively and he could have sworn the boat hummed. He turned to his two crew members as they made their way onboard as well, "Isn't Merry amazing?"
"She is," Zoro nodded, running a hand lightly on the railing.
"Guys!"
The three Straw Hat Pirates turned to see Usopp standing at the stop of the hill with a large pack on his back. He was making his way down the hill when his foot slipped and he started rolling.
"He's going to hit the ship!" Nami shouted.
Luffy and Zoro's eyes narrowed and they jumped off, using their foot to stop Usopp. Unfortunately for the liar, they hit him in the face.
"Thanks'sh," He muttered around their foot.
Luffy jumped onboard once again when Usopp continued, "Thanks for all your help, guys. When I'm out on sea, maybe we'll see each other again-"
"What are you talking about?" Luffy cut in, already getting tired of listening to him. He grinned widely as he extended an arm towards the boy, "Just get on!"
"YATTA!" Usopp cheered, grabbing the hand, "I'm a captain!"
"What?! I'm the captain!" Luffy said firmly, "And we'll need a flag!"
"Behold Captain Usopp's finest work!" Usopp grinned proudly as he looked at the pirate flag only to be bopped on the head by the navigator.
"That's your flag!" She huffed, "Not Luffy's."
"Fine. Fine," Usopp muttered, already working on another. "Behold!" The flag was the typical skull and crossed bones topped with a straw hat.
"That looks awesome, Usopp," Luffy grinned.
"It was nothing," The sniper shrugged though he looked a bit flattered.
"We should be off," Nami said to the boys. "It'll be a while before we hit the next island."
"Set sail!" Luffy ordered excitedly.
"Aye aye, Captain!"
"No way!" Luffy said as he looked at the blonde haired cook. "I said I was sorry!"
"You still injured our head chef!" The male yelled, "And you damaged the Baratie so you have to pay off your debt by being a chore boy!"
"Fine," Luffy pouted, crossing his arms. "But I won't like it!"
"You're not supposed to," The blonde snorted, lighting a cigarette and taking a drag. "Now, get up, Chore Boy."
"My name's Luffy!" The Captain yelled, "And I'm going to be king of the pirates!"
The cook merely blinked at him before speaking, "Sanji. Who are they?" He nodded to the Straw Hat members.
"Oh, that's my crew! There's Zoro; my first mate and swordsman. Nami is our navigator and Usopp is my liar slash sniper. He's really good."
"And the other guy?"
Luffy blinked at the chef, "What other guy?"
"The one right next to your swordsman," Sanji said like it should be obvious.
"Next to my..." Luffy looked over and blinked again... and again. Right just behind Zoro was, what seemed to be, an eighteen year old. He had wavy black hair and startling green eyes that sparkled like the sea. When they made eye contact, the raven haired male tilted his head and smiled; as if they shared a secret. "That's..." Luffy struggled to find the words to describe the strangely familiar man, "That's my new crew member."
"Why didn't you mention him earlier?" Sanji wondered, looking at the pirate.
"Because I just decided that he'll join my crew!" The rubber man grinned widely and Sanji couldn't help but fear for the dark haired man.
"Oh," Sanji looked at the male across the room, who held up an empty cup of punch with a raised brow. While Sanji would usually only serve women hastily, the cook found his legs moving on its own. In mere seconds, he was refilling the glass with the cool beverage, "Here you are."
"Thank you," The man said with a lopsided smirk, eyes sparkling. His voice was smooth and calming, not at all patronizing or arrogant like other people he met.
"You're welcome," The blonde nodded. "I've never seen you around here before."
"I've never been here before," The male shrugged, taking a sip of his punch. "I was just following my captain."
"And who would that be?" Sanji asked, for some reason, curious about the man.
"Why, that would be-" The man was cut off when someone walked in, demanding food.
Sanji looked on with a strange expression while the strange man kept drinking his beverage calmly. "He seems hungry and desperate," The raven haired male finally spoke, looking over at Sanji. "Are you going to let him suffer?"
"You should join my crew!" Luffy grinned at Sanji after they exchanged their dreams, both of their eyes still alight from speaking about them.
"No way," The blonde answered immediately. "My place is here at the Baratie. I have to pay the old geezer back."
"Sounds interesting," A voice said behind the men.
Luffy and Sanji turned to see the same raven haired man from earlier. "Who are you?" The Straw Hat captain asked bluntly, having been wondering it.
"Percy Jackson, Captain," The man said with a lopsided grin. "But you'll probably know me as the Going Merry."