Yay~ UPDATE! Please enjoy and read the author's note at the bottom for an explanation of the quick update.

"A MOUNTAIN!?" Usuop yelled, his head tilted to the side, mouth hanging open, and sweating nervously. Sanji was leaning against the countertop, his visible eye wide while smoking his cigarette. Zoro was leaning his head o his hand, elbow on the table, and an aggravated scowl on his face. Luffy tilted his chair back and holding a glass cup up with his teeth. And Aqua…

Aqua interlocked her fingers together, hiding her mouth from view and her elbows resting on the table. Nami couldn't tell is she was listening to Nami or if she was pondering on something else entirely.

"That's right!" she responded, mentally shaking her head from the thought. "When I first looked at the chart, I didn't believe it, but…" she trailed off, and then pointed at a spot on the map. "Look here." The boys crowded around the table and leaned a bit to get a closer look at the map while Aqua quietly got up from her spot next to Usuop. "The guiding light was definitely pointing toward Reverse Mountain on the Red Line." She pointed towards the black line separating the mountain into fourths.

"We have to run into a mountain?" "No, there's a canal here." "A canal!? Don't be ridiculous!" Usuop exclaimed, the background behind him randomly chaining to the Going Merry up the Reverse Mountain and an arrow pointing to the canal it's riding on. "Canal or no canal, a ship can't sail up a mountain!"

"Well, that's what the map says." Nami retorted, holding the map up to prove her point and not noticing Aqua staring through the porthole.

"Listen, you guys," Sanji said, spreading his arms a bit to give emphasis. "Nami's always right when it comes to charts and navigation."

"But you stole that map from Buggy," Zoro noted, lightly narrowing his eyes as memories played in his mind. "Can we trust it?"

"We're climbing a mountain in a ship? YIPPEE!" Luffy exclaimed, realization hitting him and causing him to grin like no tomorrow. "Must be a mystery mountain."

"Why do we have to go through an entrance, anyway?" Zoro questioned. "Can't we just sail South and go in from anywhere?"

"NO WAY!" Luffy yelled, pointing at Zoro for emphasis as Nami nodded her head in agreement. "He's right. There's a good reason for it."

"Are you crazy?! I'D FEEL ALL WRONG IF WE DIDN'T GO THROUGH THE ENTRANCE!"

"That's not it!" Nami interjected, punching Luffy behind the head in anger as Usuop looked through the porthole and Aqua left the room.

"Hey! How weird," Usuop exclaimed. "The storm's gone all of a sudden."

"Yeah, it's calm," Sanji confirmed, glancing at the porthole before following Aqua outside.

Nami turned around in shock. "What? That's impossible. We're supposed to ride the storm right up to the entrance!" She then went outside to see herself.

"Ah! The weather's beautiful!"

"What's going on?"

"HA HA HA HA!"

Nami's expression turns from confusion to grave shock. "Oh no…we're in the Calm Belt."

"Calm Belt?" "What's that?" "The storm's still raging over there, but there's not even a breeze here."

"CUT THE SMALL TALK! LOWER THE SAILS AND START ROWING!" Nami yelled, fear clearly shown on her face. "WE'VE GOT TO GET BACK TO THAT STORM!" "Aye, aye, Nami! 3"

"Why are you so worked up?" Luffy asked. "'Row'? Don't you know this is a sail ship?"

"Why do we have to get back to the storm?" Usuop asked as well.

"JUST DO WHAT I TELL YOU!"

"But the weather's great," Zoro interrupted, closing the door behind him with a klak.

"Fine, I'll explain it to you!" Nami shouted, pointing a finger at Zoro. "This ship is drifting south, just like you said a moment ago!"

"So does that mean we've entered the Grand Line?" Zoro asked, a little surprised that they already made it.

"IF IT WERE THAT SIMPLE, ANYBODY COULD DO IT!" Nami yelled back with blank eyes and shark teeth. Then she sighed, forcing herself to relax and begin to calmly explain, the background randomly switching to a rough diagram of the Grand Line between lighter shaded areas. "The Grand Line is sandwhiched between two other seas. They're called the Calm belts, where no winds blow!"

Calm, hu?" Zoro questioned, lazilu walking down the staris. "So there's no wind. So what?"

"So this ocean is—"

!

Suddenly, the Going Merry started to shake violently, causing its passengers to stumble and brace themselves. "Hey! What was that? An earthquake?" Luffy yelled-slash-questioned.

"We'rea t sea, you fool!" Usuop responded.

Then the skip was hovering in the air.

And bellow them was a whole group of giant, SEA MONSTERS.

And the ship was on one of the monster's foreheads.

!?

…!

?

Here are their current reactions to the sticky situation they are in.

Sanji: shocked, mouth open wide, grave expression, and has a slightly teary eye "…!"

Usuop: has fainted, blank eyes, foaming at the mouth, eyes tearing up badly, and sweating professedly "…!"

Zoro: shocked as well but not as much as the others, eyes wide, mouth open wide, sweating as well "…!"

Luffy: shocked too, eyes comically wide, mouth open wider than the others "Th-they're HUGE!"

Nami: hugging the ships mast, sitting at its base, sobbing and sweating horribly "It's a nest of NEPTUNIANS! big ones…"

Aqua: …

Wait, where is she anyway?

Where is the girl that I have purposefully ignored the whole time since the Straw Hats came outside from the cabin?

Oh there she is!

She's just scratching the Neptunian while sitting Indian-style on its head.

…

Wait, what?

"AQUA!" The conscious boys and Nami yelled out with 'WTF' appearing above their heads, clearly more shocked and surprised than before while fearing for the silent girl's safety.

"HOLD ON, I'LL GET YOU!" Luffy called out, using his Devil Fruit powers to stretch his arms, wrap then around her thin waist, and bring her back to the deck, surprisingly as he gently plops her on the wooden flooring.

"LADY AQUA!" Sanji yelled, almost teleporting to her side as he kneeled towards the somewhat-dazed girl and checking her for any possible injuries she could have received. "ARE YO ALL RIGHT, MY LADY?! YOU'RE NOT HURT, ARE YOU?!"

Aqua stayed silent, though her eyes were slightly wide as she's hit by an onslaught of questions and concerns from the womanizing cook.

Then the screen suddenly pauses and rewinds, going back all the way to the moment the crew came out of the cabin except at a different angle and view.

~FlAsHbAcK tO fIvE minUtEs AgO~

Aqua stepped out into the deck, closing the cabin door behind her before she walked down the stairs. As her foot stepped on the deck, she moved toward the lowest section of the Going Merry's rail and leaned over it, crossing her arms over the wood to brace herself. She closes her eyes as she enjoys the wind gently brushing against her face and causing her hair to dance to the silent tune it's playing. A barely noticeable smile graces her lips as she accidently ignores the sounds of the pirates' voices and yells. She was positively glowing from the natural winds, the gentle waves hitting Merry, the soft cawing of the sea birds flying above in the sky, the rough vibrations underneath merry that were causing Merry to shudder from the sheer force-

Wait, what?

Blinking her eyes open, she leaned forward on the rail staring out into the now murky waters bellow. She narrowed her eyes as she could faintly identify the irregular shapes below the surface, already feeling the vibrations becoming more violent as each second passes by. She leans over a little more for a closer look-

FWOOOOOSH~!

…and~ the Going Merry was suddenly some stories high. With the combination of the momentum from the sudden event plus the precarious position she was in at the start, her upper torso went over the edge…

Causing her to front-flip off the ship.

How did they not. Notice. That? O-O?

Luckily, the descent didn't last long-only four seconds-as she lands on the Neptunian's forehead, legs and arms spread apart eagle-style while she blinks owlishly from the sudden actions that has taken place. She then sat up, sitting Indian-style and looks back at the ship. Staring at the boys jaw-dropping expression for s short while, she looks back at the 'chair' she's on and gently brushes her fingers across the creature's skin, slick from the sea water it was emerged in. She then started to scratch its head, sensing the confusion emitting from the Neptunian and feeling light vibrations coming from it, obviously purring from content.

"AQUA!"

Aww~ Flashback Over Now~ -3-

After that…horribly traumatic incident for the crew (except for Aqua as her face never broke from the calm exterior throughout the whole period of time, in which the crew mentally said 'poker face') and from the time it took for the viewer to read the flashback, we now see the crew sprawled out on the deck, obviously worn out and feeling extreme exhaustion, except for the bluenette. (All of them simultaneously thought 'Poker face…') She was just sitting at the bottom ledge of the staircase and enjoying the feeling of the raining hitting her skin with closed eyes. She faintly acknowledged Nami's realization as she explained the reason behind the canals and the currents made from the seas merging at one point at the mountain, causing the water to go up stream.

She slowly snapped out of it as she heard Luffy shout, "THERE'S THE MYSTERY MOUNTAIN! IT'S HUGE!" She then got up and walked toward them, gazing at the rocky wall along with them.

"THAT'S THE RED LINE. THE SUMMIT IS LOST IN THE CLOUDS"

Luffy was grinning so much that it looked like it hurts as he slightly jumped up with joy. "WE'RE BEING SUCKED IN! STEER CAREFULLY!"

"Leave it to us!" Sanji and Usuop chorused, grabbing the whipstaff and getting into position in the process.

"Wow…" Nami trailed, somewhat in shock as she saw the canal up close.

"I don't believe it," Zoro said as well, a pair of binoculars over his eyes as he got a closer look at the rushing water.

"IT'S TRUE! THE OCEAN IS RUSHING UP THE MOUNTAIN."

"IT'S THE ENTRANCE TO THE CANAL!"

"Hmm~"

Zoro blinked back the shock from the sudden noise as he his looked at Aqua at the corner of his eyes. Even though the crew didn't know her for long, he could already detect the slightly lax shoulders and light emotions passing through her eyes. She looked exactly like Luffy when he talks about his straw hat being his treasure and memories flash through his eyes.

Did she actually visit the Grand Line before us? And most likely long ago?

SNAP

The moment disappeared as both strangely-colored-haired teens turned their heads to see Sanji and Usuop falling back on the floor with the broken whipstaff in hand. Zoro slightly sweatdropped while Aqua looked on with an indifferent look (although her right eye very, very faintly twitched).

"The whipstaff!" Nami yelled, already crying for fear of her life. Luffy, however, already snapped out of his shock and gritted his teeth as he bolted toward the bow (the front of) the Going Merry. As he passed Zoro, he flung his straw hat to him who caught it with one hand ("!") and started to chant, "GUM-GUM…" Then he jumped off, his body already inflated like the move's namesake. "BALLOON!"

If Luffy didn't cushion the impact, the ship would have crashed into the arch. As luck would have it, he did. After a few tense seconds with Luffy fighting back from the discomfort, the ship suddenly bounced off with a BWOING!

!

"WE'RE SAVED!" Nami yelled, face lighting up with joy,

"Luffy, grab hold!" Zoro commanded, his arm stretched out towards him. Luffy did so, but with both hands as the rubberman came closer and closer to the ship. Zoro was a little confused as he flung the boy to the deck, but instead of the wooden flooring he collided into Aqua's chest and causing the two to comically fall down, Aqua accidently being pinned by Luffy. (Sanji later socked Luffy for doing such a "PERVERTED ACTION ON MY BELOVED LADY!").

Apparently, when Zoro stretched his hand out to Luffy, the bluenette did the same thing simultaneously with the swordsman to the captain as well. Luffy didn't know which one to choose, so he picked both of them. This lead to their awkward position which will later on in the story be teased about.

But for now, Sanji and Usuop sat on the horizontal pole on top on the mast, Zoro stood with a smile and Nami leaned over the ship's bow's rail with a grin, and Luffy purposely pushed Aqua on to his Special Seat™ with a grin. The crew was feeling euphoric and giddy, cheering for their success and the adventures they were about to face. Hell, even the joy was affecting Aqua as her shoulders lax with each passing second and her lips began to quirk up-

"It's a WHALE!"

BWAAH~

The half-smile disappears.

"What'll we do?"

"Should we fight it?"

"Are you crazy!? We can't fight a monster like that!"

"But it's blocking our way!"

"Up close like this, it's a wall!" Sanji said. "Where are the eyes?"

"Oh!" Nami exclaimed. "Then it may not be aware of us yet!"

"But we're headed right for it!" Zoro shouted, pointing to the very convenient opening at the whale's side. "There's an opening to the left! HARD TO PORT!"

"THE WHIPSTAFF'S BROKEN!" Usuop retorted.

"Do something! I'll help you!"

"HEY! I'VE GOT AN IDEA!" Luffy shouted. He then proceeded to grab Aqua's hand, made both of them jump down to the deck, and dash into the room underneath the bow while Nami looks on with confusion and worry. "What are you going to do, Luffy?" As for the boys, they were still trying to move the whipstaff while chanting, "Hard to port!" as the ship kept coming closer… and closer…and closer…

"IT'S NO GOOD! WE'RE NOT TURNING!"

Until-

KA-BOOM! "!?"

"THE CANNON!"

"Well? Has the ship stopped?"

"…" (Aqua, btw)

The ship did indeed, although in the process the figurine head of the Going Merry broke, flew over Nami's head (who was almost crying in shock) and onto the deck, which just so conveniently landed in Luffy's viewpoint. This caused his eyes to pop out of his head in shock, and the next moment to have his jaw dropping and his expression grave.

"!? MY SPECIAL SEAT!"

Aqua just stares at Luffy's quivering body. "…"

Outside, the atmosphere was tense with anticipation and fear, the crew wondering if the whale even felt that cannonball.

…

…

…

"L…LET'S GET OUT OF HERE WHILE WE CAN!"

"What the heck!? Didn't it even notice the cannon!? Or is it just slow?"

"Who knows! But now's our chance!"

BWAAH!

"OW! MY EARS!"

"ROW! JUST ROW!"

"Let's get away from it!"

Nami glances behind her as she saw Luffy with his arms crossed and a pissed-off look on his face, eyes glaring daggers at the giant behemoth, Aqua standing some ways behind him with her arms behind her and blankly staring at the whale.

"Listen, you!" Luffy yelled. "That was my special seat!" Then he moved his arm back and, with the power of his Devil Fruit, punched the whale in the eye. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO IT!?"

!

"YOU IDIOT!"

The whale blinked, and then stared straight down at the little ship beside it. "IT'S LOOKING AT US!"

"…" (you should know by now who this person is)

"C'MON, DARN YOU!" Luffy shouted, putting up his fists for emphasis only for Usuop and Zoro to kick him behind the head. "SHUT UP, FOOL!" "AAH!"

The whale suddenly opens its mouth, and the Going Merry was being pulled in with the water in the process. BWAAH…!

"AAH!"

"AAH!"

"LUFFY!"

"AAAAAH!"

"GWAAAH!"

"AGH! I'M GONNA FALL IN!" then Luffy jumps on a piece of driftwood, to the whale's tooth, and then to its mouth, climbing up reverently to get away from the rushing water. "I'M NOT GONNA DIE!"

Finally, after the whale seems content enough, it closed its mouth, the ocean returning to its natural silence…

And throughout that whole ordeal, Aqua never broke her poker face.

I had actually thought about ending the chapter here, but figured that I could add in another page of two to this story. Beside, I'M ON A ROLE HERE, BABY! XD

Anyways, ~TIMESKIP~

"What do you think?"

"What do I think?"

"I don't know what to think. I was sure that whale swallowed us."

Aqua only blinks as she eyes her new surroundings, taking note of the 'sky' and the island with a house and random palm tree.

"Is this a dream!?"

"Yeah. It's got to be a dream…"

"But what about that house on the island?"

"Probably a hallucination."

SPLOOSH

"… *blink*" (This is Aqua by the way.)

"…"

"What's that?"

"A NEPTUNIAN SQUID!" Usuop and Nami yelled as they ran towards the stern of the ship, leaving Zoro, Sanji, and Aqua to their own devices. The boys began to place themselves into a fighting stance while Aqua reached for something on her hip-

Until harpoons pierced the Neptunian with a BOOM, BOOM, BOOM! sound effect.

Zoro ("…!"), Sanji ("…!"), and Aqua ("…") just stares as the (literal) giant squid was being pulled into the island's home. "It looks like somebody lives here," Zoro notes.

"I hope they're human," Sanji replies.

"Hmm…" Aqua hums.

Usuop and Nami look back as they still continue to cry. "Hey, where's Luffy?" Usuop questions.

"I hate this. I want to go home."

As the occupant of the house came out and the crew looks on, nobody notice the slight widen of Aqua's eyes.

AAAAAANNNNDDD~ DOOOONNEEE~! WOO HOO~!

Allie: Wow, I'm impressed! You actually updated a chapter in a span of three days! That's a new record.

Yeah~. I scratch my cheek in slight embarrassment. It's easier for me to write this story because I actually have the material I need to reference it. Plus, this is all based on the American version of the One Piece© manga, so that acts as a big plus. Also, the manga I have is actually the combination of three volumes, so it not only saves me money, but it also makes the writing quicker and easier.

Allie: Okay~ But you only have the 10-11-12 and the recent addition of the 13-14-15 volume compilation. How are you going to write this fic if you don't have the English translated manga?

Use as my temporary references, duh~.

Allie: …Okay~ I guess it works. So, how are you feeling right now?

Like shit.

Allie: Good to know. So how come you didn't update this story last night? You would have been able to finish it by the time the clock strikes midnight.

First off, my whole body felt so lethargic that I couldn't even finish typing up the words I wrote in my notebook, let alone post it up on my FanFiction account's document. Second, I was on my mom's account on the home computer (which I highly recommend to my dad to either [a] trash it and get a new PC or [b] trash it and get a new PC) and, for some reason, has a time limit to which I could go on. By the time I snapped out of my sleep-induced haze, it was already 11:53 or something like that.

Allie: Couldn't you just switch it and got to your account on the home computer?

I could, but the Safari internet explorer was acting up so I couldn't go to that. On the plus side, I may actually get a new laptop soon!

Allie: O.O What, why?

Well~, my dad deduced that because it was always in its case the whole time it was on, the laptop couldn't breathe properly and cool off. So, it is probably…dead.

Allie: …um, sorry, I guess-

Sorry? SORRY? Dude, I'm HAPPY about that! I could finally get a laptop that actually works better and is up-to-date with the current software provided in all laptops instead of having to manually download them onto my laptop. It will make downloading doujinshis much easier and more enjoyable for me~! HOORAY~! *proceed to dance like an idiot*

Allie: But didn't they give you that laptop for your Christmas present two years ago?

A random record broke in the background.

…

Allie: …

…

Allie: …

… Meh, whatever.

Allie rolls her eyes and crosses her arms in response.

Btw I'm thinking about changing my username on here.

Allie: What? Why?

Well one thing is that the name is actually a basis for you my dear. Plus, I find it to be a mouthful, especially if you correctly say the full name.

Allie: And how do you do that?

*smirks* Wouldn't you like to know…

Allie: *sighs* whatever~ hey I have a question for you.

Shoot.

Allie: Who does Aqua remind you of?

What are you talking about?

Allie: Well, as I am just a figment of your imagination, I am entitled to all the nooks-and-crannies of your mind. So as a result, I know all the different stories and plots you are planning to do (which I have to point that you better get your ass into gear if you want to include them into you fics, might I add). At one point, as I closely think more about who Aqua truly is-

DON'T GIVE AWAY SPOILERS!

Allie: I won't, sheesh~. Anyway, as I look, I notice a startling resemblance to a very stuck up bastard that we know and love.

And that is…

Allie leans to me and whispers into my ear. She then pulls away and leaves me with a blank but thoughtful look.

…

Allie: Now do you see.

I do actually, and I didn't even mean to do it!

Allie: maybe you should change her positions in the crew to fit it.

But then it wouldn't even be original.

Allie: who cares? I find her moody, stuck-up, horrible picker of outfits-

Uh…

Allie: -totally fit to be a Mary Sue-

Umm, Allie?

Allie: -whiny bitch as a child and as an adult-

Are you done yet?

Allie: no, why?

'Cause she's right behind you.

Allie: …what?

Allie whips her head behind her and, sure enough, Aqua is staring at her with her arms crossed and a totally blank look on her face. But as she is a figment of my imagination, the two of us could clearly see the massive tick mark on her forehead and the burning flames from hell flaring behind her, giving her the image of not only an angry angel, but an angry, beautiful devil in an angel's guise.

Aqua: …

Allie: Uh~ hehehe… No hard feelings…right?

Aqua: …

She then grabs Allie's arm and drags her out of the room, closing the door behind her and almost causing it to come off out of its hinges.

Allie: Um, look Aqua, I didn't mean to-wait, what are you doing with that-WAIT! Please drop the your weapon-HAVE MERCY ON MY SOOOOOOOUUUUUULLLLLLL~

Crashes, shrieks of pain and fear, and very maniacal laughter was heard outside of the room. I sweatdrop as each second passes and more crashes are heard, the laughter becoming more evil as it is sung.

Umm~ Well I might as well go and stop the two before the completely demolish my home. BTW if you would like to know who she reminds me of, here's a hint: In my favorited stories, this specific anime/manga is the most favorited in my account.

More crashes are heard.

Umm…gottagoBYE!

Bolts out of the room. More shouts are made, then a duo of fear-filled shrieks, and finally silence.

Published on 16/03/13.