Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece

Italics: thought

Bold italics: flashback

Bold: Title

Enter: Serena the Blacksmith,
Adventure calls in the South Blue!

The sun was shining down on the South Blue sea, the morning after Merry's encounter with the Navy officer. Brook, and Merry were now begining their quest of locating the nearest Island.

"Ok, I think North...is that way!" Merry said fully confident, as she tried to read on of the sea charts from the trunk. Only she was pointing West, not North.

Brook was about to change the position of their plain white sail when..."Or, maybe that way?" She asked, still trying to line the chart up with their cordinates. Now she was pointing South.

Brook again was about to change the position of their sail when..."Or, that way?" This time the map was upside down, and she was pointing East.

"Ugh, why does this have to be so hard?" She complained particularly to noone, and sat on the bench placing the chart next to her in defeat.

Brook left the sail as it was, and they continued sailing North. He sat next to Merry, and placed a hand on her shoulder. 'I really should have payed attention in Nami's navigation course." She grumbled.

"Merry, what happened to the compass we had?" Brook asked hoping for some good news, but the look on Merry's face said otherwise.

"Traded it for the charts, remember." She explained as they both sighed, and layed on the floor. She took one more look at the chart.

"You wanna know something Brook? These charts aren't even half as good as Nami's use to be." They both sighed again, and Merry's stomach started to grumble.

"There's no Island in sight for miles, were going to starve!" Brook whinned as Merry just giggled.

"Thats what you always say before we find an Island, and right after you finish off the last of the grog." Merry said as they both began to laugh.

A few hours passed out at sea. Merry was examining her swords, while Brook was watching for Islands.

"Ah man, my swords are dull." Merry complained as she re-sheathed them. For a while now she's been noticing that her sword attacks are getting less, and less sharp. last night pretty much proved her worst fears.

"So have you seen any land yet?" She asked trying to keep her mind off her swords, and hopeing for good news.

"No, not yet." He replied depressed, and he was about to call it a day when he saw something nearby and his jaw dropped in shock.

Merry saw that his mouth was wide open, and was confused until she followed his gaze. Her mouth dropped open in shock, and they both looked at each other.

"Brook?"

"Uh-huh."

"Is that what I think it is?"

"Uh-huh."

She grinned as they both jumped off the benches.

"WE FOUND AN ISLAND!" They both shouted excited, as they fist pumped into the air.

Yes it was true, close by there was an island. There was a dock on the sandy south shore of the Island, that lead up to the villiage right outside of the forest.
But the most noticiable thing about the island, was the Navy base stationed there.

"BEST NAVIGATORS IN THE WORLD!" They both shouted proud of their success, completely unaware of the pure dumb luck involved. They set sail for the Island as they high-fived.

Meanwhile on Mordor island, the sixteen year old girl was still laying in her hammock. A knock came at her door, and she started to get out of bed.

Her long blond hair reached her mid-back, with bangs that were shaggy. She rubbed her Auburn eye's awake as she yawned, and strechted her arms. She was wearing a green shirt, and dark blue shorts. She put on her tool belt, with thick brown leathers gloves on her hands.

Another knock came at her door, and she was about to open it.

"Sensei, we have orders to fill today remember." The voice of a ten year old boy came from the other side of the door.

Sure enough standing outside her door was a Ten year old boy with short shaggy brown hair, and brown eye's. He was wearing a white shirt, and orange overalls with brown boots.

"Morning Yusae, sorry to keep you waiting." She greeted as she walked outside, and headed towards the forge she made next to her hut.

She made it to her anvil, and stood infront of it looking at the sky.

It's a beautiful day, so why do I still have this uneasy feeling like somethings gonna happen?

"Is something wrong?" Yusae asked concerned, pulling his sensei out of her trance. She looked at him, and smiled.

"Nope, nothings wrong. Now, lets get started on these orders." She said as she put her hair in a pony tail, and pushed her bangs back with an orange bandana.

Meanwhile on the east side of the island, Brook, and Merry were docking their vessil out of Marine sight.

"Alright, lets go check out this island!" Brook said excitedly as they left their boat, and started walking towards the villiage.

After a while of walking around they spotted a diner. As they were about to enter it, three people walked out. One of them was a middle aged woman who they suspected to be the owner. The other two were a sixteen year old girl with blonde hair in an orange bandana, and a Ten year old boy with shaggy Brown hair.

"Thank you so much Serena, for polishing my husbands old swords from the Marines, and turning them into decor of the diner. I'm sure he would have loved to see it." The woman said appreciativly as she was starting to become teary eye'd.

"No problem Mrs. Smaugs. Now at least a piece of your husband will always be apart of the diner." The owner smiled, and and nodded as she as she went back in the diner.

"Wow, your a blacksmith?" Merry asked amaized, gaining the attention of Serena, and Yusae. Suddenly the uneasy feeling hit Serena again.

There's that feeling again, could it be these two?

Serena asked herself as she looked at Brook, and Merry. She was wondering why everyone was staring at her, then she realized she hadn't answered Merry's question.

"Oh, yeah. I am a Blacksmith." Serena replied turning a little pink, and rubbing the back of her kneck embarrased.

'Thats perfect, because I actually need your help with my swords!" Merry Said cheerfully as Serena looked surprised.

Meanwhile, at the Marine base. A middle aged man with short red hair, and a mustache was sitting at his desk in his office when a knock came at his door.

"Come in." The man said as another man entered. He was in his early thirtys, and he had short dull-brown hair, and onyx eyes.

"Lieutenant commander Gimbly, we got word from a nearby island that a rouge pirate was seen escaping. Officer Pipin James Alver was attacked yesterday, and the people there seem to suspect that the rouge pirate might come here." The Petty officer informed his commander, as Gimbly began to rub his chin intrigued.

"Tell me Petty officer Hussie, did they manage to say who this rouge pirate is?" Gimbly asked as Hussie handed him a bounty poster.

"They sent over her bounty, and also said she mentioned something about a friend." Hussie said as Gimbly grinned meniacly.

"Well five thousand isn't alot, but speaking of money. How was rent collection this time around?" Gimbly asked Hussie just smirked.

"Rent collection went down 8% since last time sir." He replied as Gimbly laughed.

"Well, lets keep our eye out for this rouge pirate. But in the meantime, how does a tax raid sound to you?" Gimbly asked as they both grinned at each other.

"That sounds like a wonderful idea sir, and the weapons we confiscated from that blacksmith brat will finally come in use." and with that they both left the office,
sitting on the commanders desk was the bounty for Monkey D Merry.

Serena brought Brook, and Merry to the forge next to her hut. "Ok, so you just want me to examine your swords?" She asked as Merry nodded.

"Also there is a question I want to ask you." Brook said as he was standing next to Merry. "May I see your panties?"

Serena's face turned red, and she grabbed one of the three stone hammers connected to her belt, and smashed it into Brook's face sending him flying across the street into a street venders cart.

"GET BENT YOU DAMN PERVERT!"

Serena yelled gaining a small crowd by her forge, and Merry just laughed. Serena started to calm down, and took the swords from Merry. One had a Black handle, and sheath with brass plating. The other one had a Yellow handle, and sheath with brass plating. She also read the ingravings on the sheaths.

"Hell slayer, and Heaven breaker. Nice." She complimented as she unsheathed the swords, and examined them.

"Well, their getting dull alright. Jezz, your really rough with your swords." She noted as she looked at the blades, the re-sheathed them.

"Now, working as a Blacksmith I only have one rule. Thats is: I don't smith weapons to marines or rouge pirates, but im only sharpening these so everythings fine. Also I must ask, what are your swords?" Serena asked as Merry was rubbing her chin thinking.

"Wait, I think I remember Zolo telling me something about this. Yeah, he always use to tell me that your sword is an attachment to yourself. You put in your strength, and in return it cuts whatever the wielder deams necessary. So that is my answer!" Merry grinned , and Serena was surprised by her answer, she didn't get that answer much anymore. She smiled at Merry obviously pleased with her answer.

Brook had gotten up, and dusted himself off. He walked back, and stood next to Merry a little upset.

"Oh great, the Pervy skeleton is back." Serena said sarcastically as Merry chuckled.

"I know, isn't he just awesome. Thats why good old Brook here is my First Mate of the crew!" Merry said as she put a hand on Brooks shoulder, and grinned.

"Thanks captain!" Brook grinned, feeling better from that comment.

Wait a minute, crew, captain, are these guys...

"Rouge pirates." Serena said shocked as she almost dropped Merry's swords. She began to understand why she's been having this uneasy feeling.

"Yeah, were rouge pirates." Merry chuckled seeing Serena's expression.

"Hey speaking of crew mates, your a really good smither right? So how would you like to join my crew?" Merry asked as Serena's heart started to race, remembering the last person who had asked her the very same question long agao. He was a Ten year old boy with short blond hair, and orange eye's.

The future pirate king only accepts the best crew, so what do you say Serena, wanna join?

Those words still rung in her ears. She shook her head trying to forget that memory. She had a plan to fix everything, she couldn't fail now because she decided to freeze up. She turned to Yusae who had heard their conversation, and was now looking at the ground. She then turned to look back at Brook, and Merry.

"No." Serena answered finally, and she took Merry's swords to the sharpening wheel.

"What, but wwhhyy?" Brook, and Merry whinned like little kids as they followed her. Serena's grip on the swords got tighter as she turned to look at them.

"Because I said so thats why!" she snapped.

"I'll sharpen, and polish your swords for you, but thats it. I'M NOT JOINING YOUR CREW!" Serena then began to sharpen the first sword, and Merry placed a hand on her shoulder.

"K, but when you change your mind we'll have some grog to celebrate our new crew member. It's going to be awesome!" Merry grinned excited just thinking about the celebration.

Serena stopped what she was doing, and grunted. "Yusae, whay don't you show our friends here around town. Hopefully by the time you get back, i'll be done and they will be able to leave." She gritted through her theeth clearly annoyed. Yusae took noticeof her annoyance, and nodded at Serena as he motioned to Merry, and Brook to Follow him.

Walking the two pirates around gave Yusae time to think. Even when Serena said she wouldn't join them, he felt like he would have to say goodbye to his sensei. He would answer any question Merry, and Brook had about the town. But he just wasn't into the tour. He knew they were good people, even if they did seem a little...
different. If these pirates were as bad as the Marines say they were, this town would have already been destroyed.

If sensei had to join a rouge pirate crew, i'm glad it's this one.

He kept thinking to himself while looking back at the two pirates. Finally he stopped, and turned around to face them.

"So, you want sensei to join your crew?" Yusae asked, trying to sound as intimidating as possible.

"Yep, she's going to be our blacksmith!" Merry said confidently as Brook nodded in agreement.

"Well then, I guess I should tell you about her first day here on the island."

Four weeks earlier a dinghy docked at the pier of Mordor Island, and a sixteen year old girl got out of it.

"Well now that I'm here, might as well find some food." Serena said as she left a barrel of swords, and rifles in her dinghy as she walked towards the villiage.

She found a diner, and went inside to eat. the inside was covered in wooden panel walls, florescent lights were all over the ceiling since there was only one huge window wall by the front door. the place wasn't to crowded, so Serena found a seat at a table and ate. The food was so good that nothing could ruin it, until a Marine Petty Officer entered the diner and walked up to the breakfast bar where the owner was at. The owner was a middle aged woman with brown hair that had gray streaks in it, she had amber eye's, and wore a pink short sleeve dress. The Marine was a man in his early thirty's, with short mouse-brown hair, and onyx eyes. Serena couldn't help but over hear their conversation.

"Why officer Hussie, what a pleasnat surprise seeing you." The owner said nervously as she noticed his presence, knowing exactly why he came.

"Well I'm afraid Mrs. Smaugs, that this isn't a pleasant visit. Rent was due yesterday, and your the only one that has yet to pay." Hussie said with a smirk enjoying every minute of seeing her look at her cash register nervously, and pulling everything out of it. When she handed him the money, he counted it all and started to chuckle.

"Sorry, but I'm afraid commander Gimbly raised the rent this month." Mrs. Smaugs couldn't believe what she was hearing, her eye's widened in utter shock.

"B.b..but thats all the money I have, I was lucky to even get this much this month." She stuttered frantically, wondering what she was going to do now.

"You know the rules, if you can't pay rent that issues a tax raid. You don't wanna burden the people of this villiage with that again, do you?" Hussie asked now grinning sadistically, and was on the brick of tears. She had no idea how she was going to finish paying off her rent.

"Well thank you for my meal ma'am, hope this is enough to cover it." Serena said as she finished eating, and she walked up to the breakfast bar where they they were at. She handed the confused Mrs. Smaugs a medium bag full of money.

"But dear, you already..." She was about to finish when Serena cut her off.

"You cooked me an excelent meal, and I would not be doing my duty as a citizen if I didn't pay for it." Serena said as she gave the woman a wink, fully knowing she had already payed for three days worth of food. Mrs. Smaugs caught onto this, and she smiled as she handed the shocked Hussie the bag of money.

"Well I believe this covers my rent, and ends our buisness here. Goodbye officer Hussie." She said as she showed him the door, and he just glared back at Serena who waved him goodbye sarcastically.

Once he was gone looked back at Serena and smiled. "Thank you so much, I don't know what I would have done without you!" The woman said as she hugged her.

"No problem, what was that about anyway?" Serena asked as the woman just looked at the ground.

"Well you see dear, a few years back Lieutenat commander Gimbly of the Marines bought this Island. When he did, he started making the residents pay rent. Every month it will get higher, and higher. We all have to pay, because if we don't he issue a Tax raid. Which means he can go into everyones home, and take anything he deems valuable." Mrs. Smaugs looked like she was about to cry again, so Serena hugged her.

"Well you shouldn't worry about it now, your rent is payed. Noone is getting anything taken away." Serena should have known she would jinx herself, because at that moment one of the villiagers came into the diner.

"The marines are conviscating someone dinghy!" He said surprised, and Serena looked shocked and imediatly walked up to him.

"Why would they do that?" Mrs Smaugs asked confused.

"Well apparently someone left a barrel full of weapons on it, and now their conviscating it as a threat." As soon as those words came out of his mouth, Serena ran out of the diner to the docks.

{Please don't be mine. Whatever is going on, please just don't let it be mine.}

She kept thinking to herself as she raced to the docks. When she got there life had decided to cock the fuck you gun, and she watched as her dinghy was getting destroyed, and her merchandise was getting taken away by the marines.

"Wait, I was going to sell those! You can't just take my stuff!" She yelled outraged, but no one would listen. Finally she decided to walk up to what seemed to be the leader of this little mash. He was facing the sea, so she only saw the back of him. She saw the word justice, written on the back of his Petty Officers coat.

"On what rights, do you have to damaging, and stealing my property you damn bastard?" She asked gaining the attention of the Petty officer, when he turned around to face her she couldn't believe she was staring into those Onyx eyes again, and that bastards sadistic grin.

"These were unauthorized weapons on my boss' property, so by law they are now his." Serena wanted to do something, but it was to late. Her dinghy was destroyed now at the bottom of the sea, and the men with her merchandise were now out of sight. She wanted to punch him, but she knew that would only land her in trouble with the goverment. She decided to walk away back to the diner, clenching her jaw every moment she heard Hussie laugh as he saw her leave.

When she made it back to the diner she just sat in a booth trying to figure out what she was going to do next.

"Was that your boat the Marines destroyed?" A voice asked as she looked around, and saw it came from a Ten year old boy with short brown shaggy hair.

"Yeah, that was my boat." She replied as the boy just invited himself to sit on the other side of the booth.

"So why don't you just by another, or steal one?" He asked as Serena already began to find this conversation vexing.

"Because I just spent all my money, and the only ships docked here are Marine." She gritted through her teeth, as the boy noticed her tool belt and gloves.

"So are you a black smith?" He asked as she just sighed in annoyance, already knowing she wasn't going to get rid of this kid any time soon.

"Yes kid, I'm a blacksmith." She replied as he looked then looked at her amaized.

"Wow, so can you smith any weapon? Can you make me your apprentice? I have always wanted to learn how to smith!" He said excitedly as he kept interuping her every time she tried to answer.

"Ugh, listen kid if it will keep you quiet sure, you can be my apprentice. And although I might be a good smither, I'm sorry to dissapoint you but there are things that I still need to learn too." Serena managed to to say before he could interupt her.

"Sweet, this is going to be awesome! And my names not kid, it's Yusae." Yusae stated a matter-o-factly as Serena just smirked.

"Nice to meet you Yusae. My name is Serena, but call me Sensei. Cause while I'm teaching you, thats what your going to be calling me."

"Wait, your really going to teach me?"

"At least until I find a way of getting off this island." Yusae just grinned happily.

'Can I ask you one more question, what did you mean when you said there are still things that you have to learn?" He asked, and as for once Serena didn't mind answering his question.

"Well, there are always new things I can learn how to smith. Especially if I want to become the weapon Meister. You see, there are many different types of smithers. Bow, gun, and sword are just a few of them. But the weapon Meister can smith any weapon from all the blues, and is know as the greatest smither in the world. That kid, is my dream."

As yusae finished his story, Merry was about to say something when all a sudden they heard gunfire. They looked around to see where it was coming from, and they narrowed it down near the center of the villiage.

"Hey yusae, whats going on?" Merry asked confused, as Yusae heard the familiar sounds of people panicing.

"Tax raid!" He gritted through his teeth realizing what was happening, and the position where it was happening to. He ran straight towards the sound of the gunfire,
leaving Brook, and Merry still confused.

Serena just finished polishing the last sword when she heard the first gunshot. Villiagers were panicing as they ran past her hut, and she went to go check it out.
She saw the horrific scene of marines breaking in, and raviging peoples homes, and businesses. She wasn't surprised when she saw it was Gimbly leading the assult with Hussie at his side. Both of them were laughing as they watched panicked villiagers running.

"Residents of my island, since rent count was low, a tax raid has been issued." Gimbly said grinning as more buildings were being ransacked.

"Sensei!" Serena heard Yusae call, as she turned around and saw him running toward her.

We have to stop him." Yusae said as Serena nodded and grabbed two of her hammers.

"Yusae stay back, I'll handle them ok." She said as he was about to protest, when Gimbly spotted them.

"Well if it isn't that blacksmith brat, and her puppy. Let me ask you something, recognize our weapons?" He asked as she took a look at the weapons, and was shocked.

The swords were shining, and newly sharpened. The rifles looked quality made, and barely used. They did look familiar, because she made the. She was about to ask how, when she remembered the day she got here they were confiscated.

"YOU.."

"YOU BASTARDS, I'M GONNA KICK YOUR ASS!"

Serena was stunned, thats what she was going to say. She looked next to her and saw that it was Yusae. She watched him pull his beginner dagger that he had smithed, and charge at Gimbly, and Hussie . Everything seemed to be going fast, she couldn't talk or move.

"MEN READY!" Gimbly shouted as Marines surrounding him raised their swords towards yusae.

"NO!" She finally shouted, but was to late. The marines were about to attack. She sheilded her eye's, she just couldn't watch.

"DRAGON SCALE!" She heard someone shout, the next thing she heard was the sound of swords being disarmed.

She looked , and couldn't believe it. The Marines had been disarmed, their swords were flung twenty feeet away steaming.

Standing infront of Yusae was Merry, with both her swords unsheathed. Serena saw flames surrounding Merry's swords, and was dumbfounded. Untill she realized, Merry's hands were the flames themselves.

Gimbly just continued to grin. "Well I didn't think it would happen so soon, but we've been expecting you...Dragon Empress."

TO BE CONTINUED

A/N Sorry it's late, but yesterday was really busy. Anyway here's the next chapter, hope you enjoy! I finally picked the crew name, and the jolly roger has been made, so I am pumped.

Until next time Hetaliafan98 is out...peace