"PIRATE KING. PIRATE KING. I'M GOING TO BE THE PIRATE KING!~"
"Nothing ever changes, does it? Yohohoho."
They'd been walking for hours, and they still seemed to be getting nowhere. Luffy was acting as Luffy usually does, and seemed unconcerned about their seemingly lack of progress. Nami and Law were walking behind him, discussing the islands unusual atmosphere. Zoro and Brook were acting as look-outs in case any dangers decided to jump out at their group.
"Mugiwara-ya, are you sure we haven't come to the wrong island?"
"Nope." Luffy shakes his head. "I already told you, Tra-guy. I can feel it. Right here." Luffy pats his chest, where his heart his. His hand hovers over his scar; the scar that serves as a reminder to what he had lost that fateful day. The scar that had encouraged him to become stronger, for himself and his nakama.
Law nods in understanding.
The group continue walking in silence. They pass through a clump of dead trees. Many of these trees have been ripped out of the ground, exposing dead roots and bits of soil still clinging onto them. The lack of life is... eerie. Brook is reminded of the times before he met Luffy- how dead and lifeless his very existence was. This island replicates that exact atmosphere he felt then.
"Luffy-san." Brook begins, before he is interrupted by a loud squawk from Nami.
"Luffy! Up head at 2 o' clock! There's something there!"
"Yosh!" Luffy shouts in excitement, as he stretches his arms to grab hold of his walking companions and propels them forwards towards 2 o' clock. Zoro had started walking the opposite way, but Luffy caught him in time. They crash around 5 meters from the 'something'. Luffy scrambles to his feet instantly, eager to get his One Piece, whereas the others take their time, nursing any small bumps or bruises they may have just gained.
"I swear, one day I'm going to kill you." Zoro mutters, as his pulls himself to his feet, and follows his captain towards the 'something'. The others follow behind him. By the time they reach Luffy, he is kneeling on the ground besides 'something'.
"What is it, Mugiwara-ya?"
Robin makes her way back to the Sunny as quickly as possible. After translating the poneglyph, she'd scribbled a few notes in a small notebook that she had carried around with her. This poneglyph was the one. It'd told her everything. The lost history, the weapons... everything.
But right now, she was concerned. The One Piece was dangerous, and she needed to warn her Captain as soon as possible so that he didn't wreck havoc across not only the Grand Line, but the entire world too.
"This... is the One Piece?"
"Somehow, I thought it'd be bigger."
The group are stood around a small grave. On the headstone there is writing, with a small skull and crossbones engraved beneath it. However, none of the group could translate it, as it was written in some lost language... unfortunately, the Straw Hat's archaeologist is elsewhere.
The engraving, however, was not the focus of interest. On the grave, was a small box- a chest, to be exact. Luffy's hands hover over this very chest.
"This is it! Shishishi!" Just as he is about to open the box, Nami whacks her fist over his head. Luffy winces, and gently nurses his own wound instead of picking up the chest.
"Baka! We're taking it back to Sunny first, remember? We all want to see you do this!"
Luffy nods seriously, and gathers up the chest in his arms, treating it like a new-born child. "Yosh. Let's get going then! Gogogogo!"
He sets off at a print, leaving a cloud of dust in his wake. Nami delicately raises a hand to her face, whilst Zoro and Law just stare. Brook chuckles.
"Nothing ever changes."
During their Captain's absence, the Heart Pirates had decided to relocate over onto the Straw Hat's ship, where both the remaining crews awaited their Captains return.
They'd had around a few hours of peace, which the Straw Hats and the Heart Pirates used to relax for awhile. Sanji and Shachi are slaving away in the kitchen, preparing a banquet fit for a King. Which really, they are.
Usopp and Chopper are busy playing some card game with a few of the Heart Pirates. Usopp is about to pick up a card when he can hear indistinct shouting in the distance.
"Oi, minna! They're back!"
Franky stops hammering. Sanji and Shachi stop cooking. Usopp, Chopper and the Heart Pirates throw down their cards. They all rush to the edge of the ship, where they can get a clear view of the 'retrieval group' running full speed towards the ship. Luffy's trademark grin can be seen a mile away.
"WE DID IT!~"
The deck clears as Luffy rockets himself forwards, landing in the center of the deck on his back, the chest still clasped to his chest. Laughing, he pushes himself upwards and crosses his legs as everybody assembles themselves on deck. He places the chest on his lap.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Open it already!" Usopp urges, as he impatiently eyes Luffy. Luffy shakes his head once again.
"We have to wait until Robin gets here."
Luffy grins at Usopp as he sheepishly rubs the back of his neck. Usopp receives another kick from Sanji for "forgetting the ladies."
"Speak of the devil." Zoro smirks, as he senses Robin running back to the ship. Then he frowns, noticing the hurried and panicked aura surrounding her. Sanji frowns too, also noticing the same.
"Robin-chwan, what's wrong? Do you want a cup of-"
"No, no time for that." Using her devil fruit abilities, Robin manifests a pair of lips on top of the chest, so that she can speak directly to Luffy. "Captain, whatever you do- do not open that chest."
"Neh, Robin- what are you even talking about?" Luffy whines. "This is the One Piece. I'm gonna be the Pirate King!"
"Stop." Robin is now stood on deck, both crews and Captains staring at her flushed appearance and breathlessness. "Captain I, if you open that chest, the world as we know it will cease to exist. If you open that chest, everybody but us will die."
Ooh, dramatic. Any idea of what the One Piece does. Is it a weapon? Something else? There is a hint though, I guess. ^O^
Reviews are, as always, welcomed. A reply is guaranteed. xD