Disclaimer: I still don't own One Piece

Note: Wow, I honestly didn't expect this story to be as successful in such a short time. I'm honestly really happy you guys like it so much, makes me feel all tingly inside. Heh. Hm, I've also had someone ask me why I chose the Straw Hat's that I did and I do have my reasons (a small reason was for fluff reasons but that's later on), I was thinking about it from an enemies perspective.

I chose Nami to not only be reverted into a baby but to end up washing ashore simply because she's the navigator, a position vital to traveling the Grand Line. Luffy was chosen because he's the strongest and well...he's the captain, not to mention that the whole crew looks up to Luffy so if you take out the captain, even if the crew is strong, it'd still hit them hard. Robin was picked as well because she's one of the smartest on the crew with a very broad knowledge of many things. There's a 4th crew member that has been reverted into their child-like form but they aren't gonna be shown until chapter 4 when we take a look at what's going on in the Sunny. Oh and this is after they get Brook so the whole crew is there (yes, this is before the timeskip).

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"Are they...?"

"Yes, yes, they're all alive. Thank the Gods too, I mean, what were they thinking? Sailing out in weather like this..."

Shal only hummed her agreement from her chair which rested beside the bed, currently occupied by the man with the green hair. The storm continued to whip and rage outside, rattling the windows and creaking the foundation but the tavern stood strong, as it had for many decades. The back room, usually reserved for drunkards who needed a quick place to crash for the night less they wander off to the shores and drowned, was where several people were gathered. It was a decent size room for three beds, so the space wasn't too cramped but everyone who needed to be there was and anyone who wanted to be there simply were left outside the room.

After returning to the tavern with the man and children in tow, Shal had been bombarded with questions she honestly had no answer for. They knew nothing about the man, only suspicion which wasn't something she wanted to use. Suspicion was what started rumors and rumors only caused problems, Shal wanted to avoid as many problems as she could. A few people offered assistance but she declined, simply telling everyone to enjoy their stay at the tavern and that she'll deal with what was wrong. One person, a man she remembered to have children of his own, did offer to lend some clothes to the young boy and girl that he was sure would fit. Shal accepted and he returned no less then 10 minutes later, a plastic bag full of dry clothes and panting heavily from the run to his house and back. Shall and two of the four men who had accompanied her began to strip them bare of their soggy clothes before drying them off and checking them over for any injuries.

The baby had been fine, not a single scratch and they even found out it was a girl. While they had no change of clothes for her, the baby was simply wrapped carefully in a spare but warm blanket and settled onto one of the bed at the back, pillows crowded around to make sure the baby girl didn't fall out of the bed. The older girl, looking to be no younger than six and no older than eight, simply had a small cut on her left forearm. It wasn't anything serious, thankfully, but it was still cleaned up and wrapped up. After quickly changing her into a pair of black slacks and a brown sweater (the man had two sons but both were relatively the same size as the two children), they moved onto the young boy who seemed to be around the same age as the older girl. There weren't any scratches or bruises but they didn't miss the small scar under his left eye. Felix Patchier, the doctor they had brought with them who had arrived moments after they had returned themselves, checked it over and said it looked a few years old. The boy was changed into a pair of blue pants with a green sweater (placed in another bed with the young girl beside him) before they finally moved onto the man.

Just as Shal thought, the man had sustained a small injury to the back of his head, most likely when he had come closer to the shores and banged into the rocks. It required a few stitches but besides that and a few bruises, he was healthy and fine, aside from being very chilled. Shal had also been right in thinking the man was a fighter of some sort, having saw the long scar that ran across his torso from his left shoulder to his right hip. The scar itself was a mess, jagged and unclean which must of meant his patchwork had been done by inexperienced hands and in a rush. Not that she'd blame anyone for it being a rushed job, judging by the scar tissues, she'd say the wound must of been very deep. They were surprised to see two, perfectly straight scars that wrapped around his ankles, almost as if they had tied to be cut off. He had various other marks on him but all were too faded against tanned skin to tell, Shal simply shook her head and continued with their treatment. They dried him off, wrapped him up, and settled him into one of the beds with a various assortment of blankets piled onto him. Having no spare clothes for him, Shal simply had him go commando as to wait for his clothes to dry (after she'd cleaned them, of course). His sword had been placed back in its sheath and laid against the bedside table where his earrings laid, close to him for comfort but close to Shal as well just in case the man decided to lunge for it though she doubted he'd be up anytime soon.

With everything set and out of the way, the two men from before went back into the front to enjoy their drinks and maybe answer any questions the others had for them.

Shal frowned as she stared at the man and the children, Felix also looking troubled by their presence but not as noticeably as Shal, "What are you worried about, hm?" Felix asked as he began to put away his instruments he had brought along with him. Felix was a good friend of her's, knowing him since he was a baby. She was a good 20 years older than him but sometimes it felt like the other way around. Felix was smart, very smart, and he didn't have to know someone for a long time to get an idea of how they thought. Most people were disturbed by him due to the fact his facial expressions were always so calm and lazy, even when he smiled or frowned or scowled. He ran a hand through thick strands of dark red hair, dark blue eyes flickering over to her once before landing back on the people before them, "They're in good health, you know. Just a little bumped and tired, they'll be fine in the morning."

"That's not it."

"Hm?" He raised a lazy brow as his hands paused over his bag, still open and yet to be closed. Her gaze was strained, as though trying desperately to remember something within reach but it kept slipping through her fingers. Felix smirked in amusement before finally closing his bag, "Then what troubles you so?"

"I...He looks familiar, like I've seen his face before." Shal leaned forward with a huff, resting her elbows onto her knees and grasping her chin, "You know me, I'm good with remembering names to faces but this guy eludes me..."

"Perhaps you've seen his face in passing?"

"No, that's definitely not it. I've been on this island for more than 30 years and this guy doesn't even look to be in his 20's just yet. He's not from around here or I'd know it, plus why would he be near the shore with children? You didn't see it but he was very protective of those children, there's no way a guy like that would be out during a storm unless he came from the ocean."

Felix gave her a calm calculating stare, "Then...from the paper? Or a bounty?"

Shal scoffed at the mention of bounties, "I don't approve of bounties being in my tavern."

The doctor simply chuckled and raised his hands in defense, "I know, I know, but I'm just saying. They are still all over town so perhaps you've caught a glimpse of one before and just can't remember."

"Maybe...can you do me a favor then?"

"Give me $150 off my tab and I will."

Shal scowled again but this time directed at the doctor who smiled patiently at her, knowing full well she would do it, "$100 and not a beli more."

"Deal."

"Go to the marine outpost on Garnet Hill and check their bounty updates. I don't know if he'd actually be in there but it's worth a shot, it's the only thing we have to go by for now." Shal eased back into her chair, folding her arms below her breasts, "But don't let any of the marines think for a moment we might have someone with a bounty on their head here. I don't want trouble, I just want answers. If he has a bounty then fine but its none of my business what he's done to get one, I just wanna know."

"Consider it done. Oh and by the way, my services will come to about...hmm...$50." Shal blinked, quickly turning her head to Felix who was quietly chuckling to himself at having out smarted the bartender, "Of course, you can just take that off my tab along with that $100 you so kindly promised."

"Out, worm!" Shal snarled but remained seated as the doctor bid her farewell and a wish of luck. The bartender sighed as she eased back into her chair, crossing one leg over the other, "This whole thing is probably nothing and I'm over reacting. He'll wake up, say his thanks and leave. Hm...probably owes me but whatever, that can be up to him." Shal listened to the laughter and chattering of her customers through the walls, she could simply imagine what the atmosphere looked like at the moment, "This is gonna just be another tales to be told at the tavern."