"Yay! Chapter 2 is here!
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I do not own One Piece.
Chapter 2 Wilting willow retreat
(Nora's POV)
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Is this real?
A cold liquid spilled from my eyes as I watched Crow slowly walk up to me. Am I crying? That is not important at the moment. Is Crow really here? Can this really be happening?
Stopping in front of me she gave me a warm smile that reminded me of when we were younger. I could not help but smile back as I retracting my talons and gave her a back breaking hug. My feet barely touch the ground, mainly because of our height difference (Me being shorter than everyone here other than the strange reindeer). I still hugged her none the less. A sob escaped my lips as she wrap her arms around me, returning the hug. She has finally came back!
"You are here—You came back—You remembered!" I stuttered through the tears.
Her chest rumbled as she chuckled, something I have not heard in a long time. "You didn't think I would forget did you Nora-san?"
I pulled back from the hug and shook my head furiously, making my damp red hair fly in my face. "No, it is—this is such a joyous occasion, I have not felt this happy in a long time." I heard whispers as I glanced to the pirates. They talked among themselves, looking over to Crow every so often.
A confused expression filled my face as I looked over to Crow, my eyes silently asking her for a answer. She smiled and looked over to the strange people.
"Nora. These are my friends and my captain."
. . . W-what?
My eyes widened as everyone looked at me, confusion and anger shown in their eyes. Uh oh.
I blushed furiously before bowing my head. "I am very sorry," I squeaked. "I did not know. I told them to leave because they cannot be here and—WAIT!" My eyes widened in shock as I let the situation settle in. She is here . . . Crow is here . . . SHE IS HERE!
No. Not now, not with everything going on!
"You cannot be here!" I turned to Crow as I tried to explain the situation, nervously fidgeting with my shoulder length hair. "Well, you can be here, but you cannot be here or else you will be killed—!"
"Nora-san." she stopped my rant by putting her hands on my shoulder. "What do you mean—?"
My eyes widened as I heard a loud deep horn sound fill the air, catching the attention of Crow and her friends.
"W-what was that?" The long nose man sputtered as he started shaking. He reminds me much of a woodpecker . . .
I hissed, curse this bad timing. We were to loud "They must have heard the fight." Ignoring the stares I looked at Crow. "Robin," I started, taking her by surprise by using her real name. "You must go to the retreat, you will be safe there." I turn to look at her friends. "All of you will be safe there."
"Hang on a second—"
"Okay." Said the boy with a straw hat. I gave him a astonished look, not only was he so quick to accept, but the straw hat he wore reminded me of someone I knew.
. . . why does that hat seem familiar?
"Wait, we're just gonna trust her, l-like that." asked mister woodpecker. Yes, I think that suits him very well.
"Sure," for some strange reason the young boy had his pinkie up his nose, not really caring for anything Mister Woodpecker says. "Robin trusts her and she'd said she was sorry."
"But—"
Another loud horn sound filled the air as I inwardly cursed. Breathing out I released my damped feathers and flapped a few times to make sure I can still fly.
Glancing over at Crow's unsettling form, I notice the flash of worry that crossed her piercing eyes as she clutched the pink spiral whistle shell tightly, but refused to question my sudden request. She was still the same girl I met all those years ago.
"I must leave," I gave her a reassuring smile "I will meet you when I am done."
With that I took off toward the loud horn call, glancing back one time to make sure this is not a dream. I dived through the untamed jungle as sense of assurance spread though me, calming my nerves. Crow will be fine, she is a strong woman, and has many strong friends . . . friends that I accidentally attacked.
Curse these blasted rules! If it were not for them then Crow would be welcomed, along with her friends . . . all but the reindeer.
A smile spread through my face. Shane would like to hear about the glorious news! . . . I frowned as I finally flew through the curtain of green.
. . . Now what do I tell my brother?
Soft waves pushed against the lion figure head ship. The Straw Hats set sail to what Robin called the retreat, the place Nora had told them to go. So far the crew (minus Nami who seemed pretty relaxed) didn't like the idea of trusting someone who just attacked them, even Chopper and Usopp kept jumping at every little thing, expecting for someone to come out and attack them. Why should they trust her? Better yet, who was she? Finally, after gathering everyone on deck, they voiced the question that was on everyone's mind. Who was Nora?
"EH?!"
To say the crew (minus Nami) was shocked to hear that their attacker, Nora, was actually a good friend of Robin, was a understatement.
Eye popping, jaw dropping news left everyone speech less as they tried to understand what was happening. Nora is a old time friend of Robin. To think this day can't get any stranger . . .
Robin merely smiled as she sat on the lawn chair, clearly amused by the situation.
"That's so cool!" Luffy exclaimed with stars in his eyes. "Why didn't you tell us you had a bird as a friend?!"
"How—what—FRIEND!?" Usopp stuttered, not understand how Robin could be friends with that killer bird girl.
"Something wrong Mr. Long nose?"
"Yeah! How can you be friends with her?!"
"The better question is why didn't you tell us?" All eyes shifted to Zoro's stern gaze. His arms crossed over his chest.
"Let's face it; you'd been acting strange since we got attacked by the weird 'mermaids'." Zoro pointed out, letting his stern gaze met her mischievous eyes. Of course he would be the one to figure it out. Almost nothing gets past the first mate.
Zoro continued. "You knew where we were going, and you must have known we were gonna run into her sooner or later, so why didn't you tell us?"
The corned of Robins lips curved. "Where's the fun in that?" something flashed in her eyes before she continued. "Besides, I didn't know she was going to attack you. Even if you do provoke her she's still pretty harmless."
"H-harmless?" Chopper cried.
"Though it has been a while since I've last seen her . . ." Robin puts a finger to her chin thoughtfully.
"Eight years."
Startled, everyone's gaze went to the side of the ship to see Nora sitting casually on the railing. When did she get there?
"Ahh!" Chopper and Usopp cried, still a little shaken up from earlier fight.
-BAM-
"Would you two shut up!?" Nami shouted, annoyed by them jumping at every little thing.
"How can you be so calm?!" Usopp asked, rubbing his bruised head. That was the second time she'd hit him. When will it end?
"Cause Robin already told me!" Nami sighed. "Honestly I think you're blowing this out of proportion."
"I am sorry if I startled you." Nora apologized but Nami waved it off.
"No worries," Nami turned and flashed her a smile. "We haven't officially met, I'm Nami." She sticks her hand out and Nora shakes it.
"You must be the Navigator."
"Huh?" Nami blinked. "That's right. how did you know?"
"Is it not obvious?" She turns Nami's hand over. "The log pose." She stated, staring at said device. "Only a true navigator knows how to use it."
"Perceptive as always I see." Stated Robin from her seat. "Eight years huh?" She rested her cheek on her left palm. "Didn't think it would be that long."
Nora giggled, her hair bouncing slightly.
"Oh, Nora-chan!" Sanji said, getting on one knee and taking Nora's sun kissed hand in his. "It's a pleasure to meet a beautiful angel such as yourself. I would never be able to stay away from you for that long! I'm Sanji, the—"
"Major pervert." Zoro grumbled.
"Shut it, marimo!" Sanji shouted, glaring daggers at Zoro.
"What did you call me, dartboard!" Zoro growled in reply, as he grabbed the hilt of his katana. Nami sighed as Zoro and Sanji fought, soon they were nothing more than a blur of swords and kicks . . . that is till Nora started giggling again.
"You must be the cook." she stated as she stared at Sanji who had his leg in the air.
"Yeah, I am . . ." Sanji answered slightly confused.
"H-How did you know?" Chopper asked shyly as he hid behind Franky's leg . . .the wrong way.
"Uh . . . gorilla dude, you're doing that wrong." Franky pointed out.
"Oh I am?. . .Stop calling me that!" Chopper yelled as he hid correctly behind Franky's leg.
"Seriously, how do you know?" Usopp repeated. She gave him an all-knowing smile.
"The same way I know you are the sniper." Her eyes settled on him as he tried to maintain his gaze. "Your smell, mister wood pecker." A few snickers could be heard from the sidelines as the crew tried to hold in their laughter from that ridiculous nickname.
"DON'T CALL ME THAT!" Usopp yelled shark-teethed. "My name's Usopp, the grea—" She ignored him and continued explaining.
"You smell of gun powder while he—" she pointed to Sanji," —smells of smoke and spices." Nora explained. "He as well refuses to fight with his hands, a clear indication that he cares much for them."
"Really?" Zoro mused, sheathing his swords. 'Robin's right, she is perceptive.'
"Yes, mister bushido."
"Name's Roronoa Zoro." he smirked at her.
"I see, not many people use santoryu*, though they are not many doctors who are reindeer either." She turned her gaze toward the blue nose reindeer.
"How'd you know that?" Asked Franky.
"His bag," She said pointing to said bag on Choppers back. "I could hear the medical equipment clinking against each other."
Chopper blinked. "You can?"
Nora nodded her head. "I can also smell the medical herbs."
He blinked again. "You do?"
"Yes." she giggle at Choppers perplexed expression before turning her gaze at Franky. "You also are not fully human, are you?" She smiled at Franky who was still eyeing her warily. "No person is able to eject their hand from their arm, and I highly doubt that you at a devil fruit."
He nodded his head. "That's right; I'm Franky, the cyborg and shipwright." He jabbed his thumb to his chest. "Build the Thousand Sunny myself with a little help."
"And what a fine vessel she is."
"Yep, she's SUPER!" Franky struck his signature pose.
Nora smiled at Franky and then changed her gaze to Luffy who was sitting on the floor, zoning in an out of the conversation. "That leaves only the captain."
Luffy grinned as he touched his trade mark hat, causing Nora to smile. Nora hopped off the railing, letting her bare feet hit the ground before she made her way toward Luffy. "Only a captain deserves to wear that hat, is that not right?" She grinned. "Anchor."
Luffy stared wide eyed at the giggling red head. Only one person called him that. "H-Hey, who told you that?!" It couldn't be . . .
"I believe you already know . . ." she walked back and leaned on the railing, red hair dangling on both sides of her face. "Would you believe me if I told you I meet Shanks?"
Now this got Luffy's attention.
"Oi, you met Shanks?!" Luffy exclaimed as he jumped up. Nora smiled at the energetic boy. He's just like Shanks described him. How she longed to see him.
"Funny." the attention fell back to Zoro who was staring at Nora with suspicion. "Y'know all 'bout us, but we know nothing 'bout you." Zoro stated as he saw Nora shift slightly before regaining her composition. This time, her smile didn't seem to reach her eyes as she responded.
"I am Nora the . . . guardian of Omar." Her eyes quickly darted to Robin, who nodded her head slowly. She understood the message and wouldn't say anything. It's not a lie after all. Though the slight pause didn't go unnoticed by a certain moss-head.
"Omar?"
"Guardian?"
"Yes, Omar; the Island." A low humming sound caught Nora's attention, but no one else seemed to hear it so she continue, "I protect the people of Omar from . . . intruders."
Luffy slammed a fist in his hand. "So you're an angel."
. . . A chorus of sighs sounded throughout the ship as everybody sweat-dropped at their captain's sense of 'logic'.
"I believe you are mistaken," Nora started, not understanding why Luffy would call her that. "I am a harpy, not an angel."
Everyone just stared at the poor girl. She has no idea what she's getting into.
"You have wings and protect people, right?" Luffy asked as he remembered the way she transformed during the fight.
"Yes, but-"
"So you're an angel."
"Demo—"
"Nora," Nami placed a hand on Nora's shoulder, "Just give up. When it comes Luffy, nothing can change his mind."
"Yeah, at least he knows you're good." Usopp added in.
". . ."
"Nora?" Nami asked worryingly. Nora's face became blank and her orb's seemed empty; staring ahead with a intense gaze. Curiously, Nami followed Nora's eyes to see that she was staring at the door that lead to the aquarium. She furrowed her eyebrows as she turned back to Nora. "Nora, wha—" before she could finish her question, the red-head raced through the door, making the crew stop and stare.
"Where's she going?" Luffy asked.
Robin stood up and walked nonchalantly to the door. "Let's go and find out."
Slowly, the straw hats followed after Robin and entered the aquarium. They had nothing to worry about. It's not like this day can get any stranger . . . right?
Sanji's eyes suddenly turned to hearts as he looked at the shining beauty that floated in their aquarium. "Mermaid~"
Surely, through the glass, floated a white haired girl with purple glowing eyes, her silver tail swished slowly behind her. A white bra covered her breast as her long hair flowed behind her.
"Lili!" Nora went to touch the glass but a hand stopped her.
"Y-you know h-her?" Ussop asked.
Nora gave him a soft smile. "She is friend, not foe." she said as she tried to calm him down. Abruptly, she turned to Franky. "How do I release her?"
Drip
Water fell from Lili's wet form on to the deck as she tried to breath. Long, white hair sticked to her curves as bright purple eyes look up to Nora, who is holding her arm.
"Breath Lili, breath." Nora repeated as she patted Lili's back.
"How did you know she was there?" asked Nami.
"We can hear things that other people cannot." Nora explained as she helped Lili on her feet, her tail instantly turning into a silver flowing skirt.
"I don't get it," Zoro looked closely at the human-fish uh . . . thing, "What is she?"
"Lili, is a siren, her people guard our borders." Nora explained as she steadied Lili, who was having trouble staying up.
"Border?" Nami mussed. There wasn't a border when they past through. . .
"The mist." Emerald eyes wandered toward the horizon where a blanket of gray covered the surrounding ocean around the Island. Is that the fog they went through? "It is what protects Omar, without that we would have been discovered a long time ago."
"You keep saying 'we', why is that?" Zoro asked as he leaned on the railing. Though the answer's obvious he just wanted to hear it. Though Nora doesn't know that.
"Is it not obvious?" Nora pondered. "I am not alone on the Island. I have my people, the harpies," Lili jabbed Nora's side, "a-and the sirens." Nora laughed nervously as Lili stared at her.
...
"Harpies?!"
"As in more than one?!"
"Yes," she looked back at the Island they were circling with a calm gaze. "We flourish deep within the jungle, in the hollowed out trees."
"And my sisters live in the willows, where you are headed." Lili proclaimed as she was finally able to stay up.
...What?
"I thought you said we were going to the retreat?" asked Franky.
"Yes, the siren's retreat." answered Lili.
...
...
...!
"WHAT?!" Way to much yelling for one day. . .
"Ah, beautiful sirens~" swooned Sanji, "first Nora now them, can this day get any better?"
"Oi Robin! You never said anything about that!" Usopp yelled at Robin.
Robin, who was amused by their reactions, shrugged. "You were going to fine out eventually," She turned her back at him as a sly grin graced her face. "Besides, you wouldn't have agreed to go if I told you."
"Hold on!" Usopp started as he put his hands in a stop position, "How can we go to the same place where the sirens that attacked us live?!"
"Attack?" Nora mussed.
"Yeah, they—" Usopp pointed at Lili, "—attacked us an—"
"Helped." Lili said.
"Huh?"
"I helped you." Lili stated as she moved forward only to have Usopp back up.
"How do you call that helping?!"
"You-" Lili pointed to Usopp, "—were going to get killed by the cannon so I pushed you."
Usopp was going to retort only to find a loss for words. She didn't save him, it was that wave that crashed into him that made him fall. But, then again, it did feel like something more than just water pushed him. There was also that scream he hear just before the wave came. Thinking it was the crew he simply ignored it, but now that they think about it; no of them did say it. So, was that her?
"So that wave we saw, that was you?" Nami contemplated, finally understanding how Usopp survived.
"Yes."
"I understand," Nora moved to place a hand on Lili's shoulder. "Sirens are gentle creatures, but they can act a bit . . . rash when it comes to the safety of one of their sister." Lili gave Nora a warm smile.
"So, she's good?" Luffy asked.
"Yeah Luffy, she's good." Ussop explains blatantly, hoping the teen would understand.
". . . COOL!" Luffy's eyes shine bright at Lili, who backs away slowly. "Hey, what are you, a fish or a person?"
Nobody could help but sigh.
This is a long day.
Deep within the jungle echoed a faint splashed followed by an unruly chuckle.
"You can't hide anything from me, little sparrow." The man snickered as he watched the water in the pond ripple before stopping. News travels fast in the jungle, and he's always the first to know about it.
"But I'll play along with your little game, after all you've been playing mine." His black hair fell slightly in his green eyes as he put on his navy blue cape. "Perhaps it will benefit me in the end, wouldn't you agree?"
Hissing laughter can be heard as second figure emerged from the shadows. "Yeessssssssss." the figure said with a slight hiss. "Ittttt might work quite wellll witthhhhh the plannnn."
"A few more day's before our plan is complete." The man chuckled. "I hope you enjoy the few days you have left, Sparrow," He looked back to see the giant ravine that acted like a border between the jungle and the Outland.
"For it will be your last."
To be continued . . .
so, yeah that went... well.
I'll post chapter three sooner this time. Warning oc alert.
Demo- but.
don't forget to review. I want to know whether you're still alive or not.
