Phase 4: Unsuspecting Twist

"The stalking is real!"

Loguetown

"Hahhh...see ya!" Replied the nurse in a confused state as Mellie walked out and closed the door behind her, well that's great! Apparently I somehow hit an impossible growth spurt…she sarcastically reprimanded herself.

"Varston, get your ass over here and start lifting them weights!" ordered the marine superior in charge. Sheesh who tied up his knots? Mellie thought to herself as she the noted that there were only three guys left, one of them was currently struggling with something close to 150lbs…Don't tell me I have to carry that much?! I can barely lift 50lbs…well that's back in my world…I'm not even sure how much stronger I am here…I hope it's enough…I'm guessing the other three failed. Walking over to a bar she positioned herself to carry the 50kg barbell. This is so not gonna work out! I've never done barbells before! Preparing herself she pulled the bar up and then above her head, relieved that she was actually strong enough and didn't have it falling upon her head, but then she was dragged over to carry two 75kg dumbbells. Shit!Is he trying to kill my arms here?! This is definitely more then what the dude earlier lifted!

"Varston, I'm expecting ya to do two reps of ten dumbbell presses," he said in an irate manner. What the fuck are dumbbell presses?! Someone help me out of here this guy must be nuts he said 2 or 10 something?! Okay calm down…let's just get him to show what he means…

"What dumbbell presses?" Mellie asked as calmly as possible.

"Right," he said with a rub to his head, "you don't know our language…"No…I just don't know what a dumbbell press is…Mellie quickly thought to herself as the Marine Superior then looked over to the three who passed and said, "One of you guys there! Do a dumbbell press!" Although he said one of them all three went and grabbed weights, laid around somewhere, and brought the bells up together demonstrating a press.

"I said one of you guys! No matter…" he said and then turned towards Mellie, "You got it now Varston?" Mellie saluted in response, unsure of how many he had requested she kept doing the presses until she got ordered to stop.

"I said two reps Varston! Not one rep of twenty!" he barked. Regardless, Mellie didn't actually understand him but recognized he said the numbers one, two, and twenty somewhere…

"Argh, just get to the testing room now, follow those three to the exam room," he muttered annoyingly. Unfortunately, Mellie still didn't comprehend what he had just said but followed the three anyway. Throughout the walk to the room the three guys kept on giggling for some reason and were whispering but Mellie paid no heed to their gossip as she tried to decipher what the marine superior had said. Once they arrived to the exam room Mellie was hit with something akin to nostalgia as she sees table-like desks reminiscent of a school classroom. The only thing out of place is that there were a lot of these desks and she assumed something was up with the obvious staggering amount. One of the proctors then came up to her and asked, "Varston right? I'll be reading out the questions for you for this exam."

Mellie only shook her head in response and replied with a bow, "Thank you, but, I no need help," and then sat at one of the tables that had an exam on it. Taking a glance at the questions she then literally did a face-desk to the stupidity of the questions given. You're kidding me…this is just basic middle school math problems…these kinds of question put all highschoolers in the world to shame! Quickly Mellie breezed through these algebra word problems but midway through a familiar sounding scream went over the building distracting her for only a split second as she thought to herself, some kid just got catapulted…

Mellie in fact wasn't wrong as Luffy had just misaimed himself when he had tried to punch Smoker under the execution stand.

She then comes face to face with the only non-math question on the test, the last question: Why do you want to be a marine? Why do I want to be a marine? I don't though…wait is this what the doctor meant? I'll just answer it anyway...The response ended up like this:

Honestly, I don't want to be a marine, nor did I ever consider joining the marines. However, after a series of events I am currently separated and unable to contact the people I know. A group of marines kindly took me in and I guess I am taking this exam as a way to help them. If it's for my own beliefs I don't want to be a marine, I just want to be an individual who can help. Even if I may be weak, powerless, useless, or disregarded I still want to be able to help anyone. I want to save people…

Looking over what she wrote, Mellie gave a blank stare at it…Did I really write this? Since when did I want to save people? The time was unfortunately called and Mellie hastily erased her last sentence, turned the exam paper in, and then sat there. She couldn't think at all at that point, it's not like she's tired…she was just utterly confused…Since when did I start to care? Why am I even doing this? I could probably just go to some random store and work there until I find a way back to my world… Why am I joining the marines again? Right…It was Smoker's great idea to add me into his crew to lessen the female to male ratio…

"Varston!"yelled the marine superior, who seemingly appeared out of nowhere and lifted her by her marine jacket's collar and forced her to stand on her feet. "I thought someone told you that you don't have to answer the last question since you're technically forced into the marines! No matter, here," he stated as he then handed Mellie a card. As a matter in fact, it was one of those marine license, somehow…her picture was of her smiling. A rare serene smile was donned on her face, and honestly Mellie was unsure as to how, where, or when they took it…The stalking is real! She thought to herself with a wry look. As for her rank, it seems like she was classified as a petty officer a rank below Tashigi most likely to allow her to wear her current marine jacket.

"Honestly, you didn't even need to take this exam if it was Captain Smoker who had enlisted ya…Now get out! I don't want to still see your face in this room! Within the next ten seconds! OUT!" All Mellie got was that she had to get out ASAP, running for the exit she grabbed her bag and swords that she had almost forgotten by her desk, and left the room.

Well now that I'm out… now what? That's when she started to hear the echoes of wood hitting against wood through the halls. Following the sound she got to somewhere that looked like something along the lines of a courtyard and there, sees Tashigi and a bunch of other marines ganging up on her using wooden swords, most likely bokens. Across the yard she then spots a certain green-haired swordsmen holding three brush brooms ganged up by marines as well. Oh, so the stuff with Zoro breaking Tashigi's glasses happened this would be his breakout attempt right? And right at that moment Roronoa Zoro knocked out the two marines who had cornered him and made a mad dash for the exit. Mellie decided to walk on over to the other side only to find said pirate back and then placing a wad of berries on the marines and then finally left. Oh yahhh! Nami gave him some money! She thought to herself with a chuckle, knowingly due to Nami's money schemes. Jumping over the railings she then goes over to Tashigi who was still sparring with the marines and jokingly in a clingy voice stated,

"Nee-chan! Two people down!"

"Oi! Mellie! I thought I told you not to call me that! And what do you mean by two people down?" Tashigi asked still flustered. Mellie pointed behind herself to the hallway with the knocked out people and Tashigi headed there with the other sparring marines. Mellie herself stayed by the railing and watched. Already at the scene was another marine attending to the two fallen marines, Tashigi ran over and asked, "What happened!?"

"It seems they were attacked. The perpetrator has escaped!" responded the marine officer.

Tashigi mulled for a bit and then ordered, "Round up our men and prepare ourselves for any situation!" She then turned to Mellie and said, "Would you mind dragging captain back to his office, I'm going to go pick up Shigure now." Once again, Mellie was left alone and then she walked out into town to look for Smoker. Uuuuu…why me? I barely know where anything in town is…BONK!

"Varston! You brat! You done with the exam and all now?"

Standing there was Smoker and having slammed the living daylights of her head, Mellie was now on the ground clutching her head.

"Ow!Captain, Tashigi, want you back…"she whimpered in agony.

"Alright, I was heading back myself anyway. Are you doing anything at the moment?" he asked. In response Mellie nodded her head no as she still held her head in pain.

"Be on the lookout for a kid with a straw hat. You can probably take him on, bring him in if you catch him," he said as he headed back to the marine base.

Mugiwara? He did say straw hat right? Did he just tell me to catch him? Muuuu...Troublesome! Luffy would beat me easy! What's he thinking?! She groaned out loud due to the head bonking she got and the thought of having to try and take on Luffy.

No sooner after she thought that and wandered around through town she comes across a weird duo…or more of people she should recognize, Buggy being messed around by Luffy down below in the lower parts of town. By the time she got to where they were they had already left the area most likely having head to the execution stand and the storm started to whip up. Did anyone ever consider that maybe Dragon caused the storm? Probably…Welp this isn't gonna go well…do I head back to marine quarters or to the execution stand?

"Whatever I'll just head back…stupid Smoker…"she grumbled to herself.

Reaching to the quarters she noted the marines heading up to the highest floor of the building and then many running out of the building. Heading up to the higher echelon she then walks up the stairs to the final floor and hears a marine ask,

"Captain, are we swooping in right away?" at that point Mellie was up on the floor and then stood straight against the back wall squinting her eyes a bit to see Buggy and Luffy on the execution stand.

"Idiot. Don't be hasty," Smoker replied.

"But if we don't hurry…"

"I'm the one in command here!" Smoker then demanded. That tone in his voice sent shivers against Mellie's already cold back against the wall and made her wince and feel like she somehow was at fault too. He then turned around and then ordered,

"Listen! Once that Straw Hat's head falls, surround Buggy, Alivida, and their gangs!"

Right I forgot about Alvida…she slightly grimaced to herself. It's what she gets for not watching One Piece in five years, there's too many characters to remember. It's surprising how she somehow managed to remember every character in Akamatsu Ken's longest running manga.

"I'm the man who'll be King of the Pirates!"

Luffy's shout brought Mellie out of her stupor, surprised that his shout somehow managed to reach here. Anime physics? Mellie from her position managed to spot Sanji and Zoro then decimate Alvida's troop, beautifully knocking them down as they charge towards the execution stand. Buggy, sword in hand now raised above Luffy's head. It was a sight to behold for Mellie, after all, she already knows what's going to happen.

"All units get ready for battle," Smoker then stated, as he raised his hand readying a signal to attack. The glimmering sword Buggy held in laughter then went down but not without Luffy shouting out the names of his crewmates and the words, "Sorry.I'm…Dead."

Funny thing is seeing Smoker's eye pop out and shocked, "He smiled." For some reason, at that moment, Mellie wanted to laugh at that almost picture perfect moment of a shocked Smoker. He just looks so ridiculous! She thought to herself covering her mouth in attempts to silence her possible laughter, it didn't last long thanks to the lightning bolt that then came crashing down.

Bzzt Bzzt Bzzzzt!

Windows shattered and then the execution stand was set ablaze by the blue lightning, light blue flames engulfed and the stand then collapsing on its side. Smoker then called the signal, once more it shocked Mellie to see how so many marines just converged on the town center instantly surrounding them.

Smoker then turns to a random marine asking if they've ever seen a pirate smile at death's door. The reporting marine who Mellie assumed was higher ranked then her then tells smoker of the bad news about the gunpowder due to the sudden rain.

"It's as if heaven is trying to let that man live," Smoker then stated.

Wait a second…is there some sort of power over weather itself? Kind of like Nami's climatact? Does Dragon have something like that? I don't remember anymore! Maybe a devil fruit? Once again while Mellie was distracted Smoker had already managed to leave having left to capture Buggy and Alvida's gang.

"Mellie! Snap out of it we're giving chase!" Tashigi shouted as she yanked Mellie along. Along the way Tashigi had went ahead and then Mellie almost became one of the people leading the charge after Sanji, Zoro, and Luffy. Well actually, she managed to somehow break off from the group and got onto the slippery roofs, somehow went on ahead, and found Tashigi standing in the Straw Hats' path and the chase group not too far behind the gang.

"You lied to me!" Tashigi lashed out. No sooner after that Tashigi and Zoro were in a deadlock Luffy and Sanji left after Zoro's claims of being able to handle the situation. After a few more swings, Tashigi was on the defensive, pushed back in the sword fight, the chase group having finally caught up had instead stood and just watched. Seriously people… do something instead of just watching this, then again that's hypocritical of me since I'm up here watching like the stalker I am…Zoro then pulled out his other sword, knocked Tashigi's Shigure away from her grasp, and then pinned her against the wall. Sheathing his swords Zoro then started to walk away…

"Why aren't you finishing me off!?" Tashigi angrily shouted with a frown on her face. At that moment, Mellie had to groan and facepalm herself. Why can't she just be satisfied that she's alive!? No sooner after she thought that, the two then started to bicker like they were a married couple about to break up. Well it would look like that to people who don't know what's going on…And that's when everyone started to get separated by an unsurmountable wind that just sucked everyone. Whoop-dee-doo… the crazy tornado or gust or twister or whatever is here…Mellie mumbled in her thoughts as she was easily pulled in by the wind and kept a tight grip on her belongings. Somehow, she landed in the same area with all the other marines along with Tashigi and Smoker. Smoker just having ordered that they'd be heading out to the Grand Line.

"Varston you're coming too!" ordered Smoker. Mellie could only salute in response after their determinant statements to catch Luffy. It wasn't like she could do anything else, was there? Surprisingly no one else so far besides Smoker had pointed out her four swords…Tashigi is probably too focused on Zoro to notice…Notice me senpai!Mellie comically thought to herself with fake cries. Welp, guess I'll get on the ship…

Loguetown Marine Ship

Trying to help ready the ship, Mellie honestly wasn't sure what to do but stood at the deck staring at the cloudy dark skies as she tried to recall the certain parts of a ship like the hull and mast. It wasn't like she ever learned how to man a ship…

"Mellie?" Tashigi asked with a huff as if she was trying to look for Mellie. "Smoker wants you to report to him as to what you were doing during the entire incident."

"Ehhh…?" Mellie responded in a worried manner. Not having want to explain how she practically did nothing but was just a bystander watching things play out.

"Come on let's go!" Tashigi said as she then grabbed Mellie's arm, instead she grabbed nothing but air.

"What the!? Tashigi!" Mellie cried out as she also then tried to get a grasp on Tashigi only to phase through her as if Mellie was a ghost. What the hell is going on?

"Mellie!" Tashigi desperately shouted with a worried look on her face. Mellie couldn't tell what was going on and took a look at her body almost as if it was shimmering? Fading in and out of existence? All of a sudden, poof, the scenery had completely changed and she found herself inside somewhere and having crashed onto someone's desk.

"Ooof! Sis?" Mellie winced in pain from the impact of a small drop as she sat herself up. Honestly, she expected worse since she does have four swords.

"Well then Mr. Zero…it looks like we got a surprise visitor," stated an all too familiar mature voice.

"I can see that Miss All Sunday,"

Oh god…how did I end up here of all places…Melliie thought to herself as she found herself on or rather, the Warlord, Crocodile's desk, and smack dab in-between a probable secret conversation that he and a certain Nico Robin were having. Quickly, Mellie got up and ran for the doors in an attempt to escape. Which in her mind, no doubt, she already knew she couldn't. After all, Robin and Crocodile's devil fruit powers can both catch and restrain people. Unconsciously, she tried to reach for a sword only to find it missing…or rather them…actually there was no weight on her side at all! All her swords were missing and she then noted she was back in the clothes she wore when she first got to the world of One Piece, a mismatched black sweater and gray sweatpants. The only thing would be the weight on her back most definitely her backpack. WHERE THE HELL ARE MY SWORDS!? She desperately cried in her head and like she had assumed, Crocodile had turned into his sand form and then dragged her back to him.

"Now what do we have here?" he said with an evil smirk as he held her up by her sweater hood by the end of his hook.

Quote Comment: I decided I won't do a outside quote…or more of I was lazy and couldn't think of one…You guys can comment your suggestion for a quote to put up, I guess? Or I'll come up with one eventually…

Trivia: What is Akamatsu Ken's longest running manga?
Last Chapter's trivia answer: The reference is to Blazblue's Jin Kisaragi!

Author's Thoughts/Notes: DID YOU EXPECT THAT!? XD Admit it you did not see that coming…I hope…XD So like after chapter three I spent a day writing this but then I got stuck on the execution half. I was halfway done but I wasn't sure how to write this out. I'm sorry but I think this was my worse chapter yet so far. Suggestions for the fillerish/parts that seem boring…I tried…I didn't have writer's block, I already planned this out I just need to keep it detailed and organized and write out what happened. At least you guys didn't have to wait for a year just uhh four months? Gomen! TwT