Later that day the Thousand Sunny found itself drifting out at sea with little aim. The sky was clear and blue. A beautiful day in the New World. One that would have the crew basking in the sun under normal circumstances. Nami sat up front with Franky as they discussed their plan to make it back to the island where they had purchased that strange fruit.
"I guess the only thing I can think of is to find the nearest island and see if anyone there has an Eternal Pose to Apale Island." Nami said.
"There aren't any islands in sight at the moment. This may take some patience." Franky said while scratching his chin. Down on the deck Luffy was shouting and acting as his/her normal self. Robin sat on the bench, watching the entertainment.
"C'mon, Usopp! Let's go fishing!" Luffy shouted.
"Are you seriously just going to act as if nothing's wrong? Don't you feel the slightest bit weird?" asked the long-nosed sniper. There had been many instances in the past where Luffy had shrugged off some pretty bizarre stuff, so it probably shouldn't be surprising anymore.
"Aw... You're no fun." she said, looking around. "Hey, Chopper! Wanna go fishing!? I bet we can catch a huge one this time!"
"I'm sorry, Luffy." Chopper said in disappointment. "I just can't look at you when you're like that."
"Huh? Why not?" Luffy asked. Chopper bowed his head, trying to resist bursting into tears.
"You... You and Zoro are always telling me how to be a real man! What happened to all of that!? Is it now meaningless!?" he wailed. Luffy's cheery grin faded softly as she thought about it.
"Chopper..." she said.
"Huh?..." the reindeer-boy sniffled. Luffy walked up to him and rest her hand on the top of his hat.
"You're right. You should be a man. But what about Nami and Robin? Or any of the other girls we've met on our adventure? There are plenty of awesome people in this world and it doesn't really matter if you're a guy or a girl. Being a man is about taking action, nothing more." A big cheery grin appeared on her face. "You don't have to have balls to be a man!" she said with pride. Chopper looked up at her as the information processed.
"Oh..." he said.
"Now... Let's go fishing!" Luffy shouted. Robin chuckled from the sideline.
Sanji had locked himself up in the men's bedroom while this was taking place. He leaned up against the door and watched through the tiny window.
"What the hell is going on...?" he asked himself. His heart had yet to stop sinking. "This can't be happening. This has to be some kind of sin against nature. And yet..." he peered over his shoulder to get a better look out the window. He saw the new Luffy and his sight immediately locked on to her healthy, bouncing cleavage. "Mellorine~!" he shouted as blood shot out his nose and flung him across the room. He hit the floor with a thud. "Dammit." he spat.
"I see an island." said Franky, immediately spinning the wheel in its direction.
"Thank god, that didn't take too long." Nami said. "I really hope this doesn't mess up the log, though."
"We don't have many other options do we? Unless you want Straw Hat to look like that forever." he said. Nami shivered.
"Absolutely not!" she shouted. "The very thought of it creeps me out." she looks down towards the deck, ready to make the announcement. "Alright, guys! We're gonna be making a stop at this island for a bit. Understand?"
"Hm? Why's that? I wasn't told about any of this." Luffy looked up, somewhat disappointed that she didn't get to make a captain-ly decision. The Sunny reached the island and dropped anchor. Nami was the first to get off.
"I'm probably fine on my own, but the rest of you might as well hang out or go shopping for a bit." she said. The men's bedroom door slowly creaked open and Sanji finally made his re-entrance. He observed the island they had arrived at calmly, lighting a cigarette as he made his way over to the group.
"Sanji..." Chopper softly gasped. Nobody was sure what was going to happen.
"I've done a lot of thinking." Sanji said. "Sometimes there are things that just must be done." he looked over at Luffy. It was shocking to see him so sure and collected at a time like this. He grabbed one of his captain's feminine hands and held it in his own. Luffy blushed. "Luffyko, darling..." Sanji continued.
"Luffyko...?" Usopp raised an eyebrow. Sanji ignored him. He continued to look Luffy straight in the eye.
"Will you please go on a date with me!?" he shouted. The rest of the crew went dead silent. Even Nami waited on the dock, trying to overhear the conversation. Luffy blinked.
"OK!" she said with a big smile. Everyone else's jaws dropped in horror.
