I know I am late... and it's my fault that I was out on vacation... I am really sorry... so I made this chapter extra long! Chapter 4, go!
Somewhere in Miami, Florida, USA...
"Tessa! Lizzie's here!" A voice of a woman in her late 30's voice echoed through the room, much to the confusion of the girl on the carpeted floor... All of her knives and switchblades were exactly were she had left them. her motor controls seemed completely in sync, her mental abilities were also normal...She looked around the room which was supposed to be the bedroom, except there was no bed. The study table in the corner was piling up with books. Blue walls with florescent yellow stars on the ceiling with a straw hat with a red ribbon hanging off a nail on the wall. Otherwise it was empty, as if some thing big was missing. She shifted to her knees quickly at the sound of footsteps... reflex alerted due to experience snapped her hand to her nearest pocket, gripping the hidden knife...
"Tessa!" a blond girl about seventeen years old walked in, abruptly stopping and staring at the girl on the floor... She panicked, not knowing what to do...
"Tessa, where did your bed go? And your laptop?" Lisanna asked, noticing Tessa's prized commodities gone. The girl immediately noticed that the girl Lizzie had not noticed that she was not talking to the person she wanted to talk to. "did you move rooms or something?" Was this 'Tessa' a real life dopleganger of hers- enough for her friend to not be able to tell them apart?
She thought about what she should do. Blowing her cover seemed to be the most stupid course of action. Playing 'Tessa' seemed to be the best. This place itself was much different from what she was familiar with, so having someone who thought she knew her would be very helpful.
"Yeah..." Not willing to entertain more questions, She stood up, looking around nonalchelently, spotting a window-
"Then let's see your new room!" Lizzie declared, pushing the girl by her shoulders out of the room, urging her to lead the way. The girl thought frantically, while putting up an act of playful shyness. She had absolutly no idea about her counterpart's likes, dislikes, behavior...infact, She didn't even know if 'Tessa' was a real name! Playing Tessa was definatly not going to fly for long.
"I-I don't want you to see it before I have set it up!" Tessa was a teen after all, and maybe she would make this excuse. The girl was not sure, but she decided to play the gamble.
Unexpectedly, Lizzie stopped, hopping infront of the confused girl, smirking. Had she said something she would regret saying? She waited apprehensively for the result...
"off course, are you afraid that someone would steal your One Piece?" The raven jerked violently at the all familier name, her mind jumping to conclusions way beyond her reach. Did this Tessa actually find One Piece? Why was it such a casual topic? Did this Tessa person actually keep something that valuable at such an insecure place as a home? or did she do that because she knew people in their right mind would never do this and played bluff? Did she-
"I mean you did pirate a hell lot of it" Lizzie chuckled slightly. The girl was officially confused now. Pirating One Piece? What was this blondie talking about?
"Ok, I have one more hour before I have to leave... So shall we take the stroll?" Lizzie said, an ever present smile etched onto her features. The girl considered it, deciding to agree. She nodded.
"Ok, we take the window!" Lizzie skipped towards the bedroom window sitting on the rail. The raven-head was a bit surprised, but she decided to agree. Another set of footsteps prompted the raven to quickly shut the door, so as to not reveal the missing bed to the world...
"Tessa! Use the door when you want to go out! You'll break something sooner or later if you always use a window to get one floor down!" A floor? Seems like her counterpart was quiet an eccentric person... people here, as far as she could see, were dressed similar to what she was used to... but they were very much unguarded... she couldn't even see a dagger on the 'friend'.The woman voiceing the warning appeared...why did this woman look exactly like her mother? She suppressed her emotions with minimal effort- after all, this was a different place. If she looked exactly like Tessa, this was probably Tessa's mother...
"Fine." 'Tessa' replied, walking towards the staircase at the end if the corridor. She could hear Lizzie following her, and they quietly slid down the steps and a rather obvious route to the door, she was thankful for that- it wouldn't sit well for her to look like she would not know the way to her own front door...
"Now that was strange..." Lizzie skipped in front of the raven-haired girl, cocking an eyebrow at her. "You always just jump out of the window regardless of what your mom says." Lizzie slowed down to her pace, walking alongside her.
"I thought maybe for once I should listen to her." She said, putting up a well apracticed forced smile. "She is my mom, right? She only wants what's good for me." Lizzie's dissatisfaction was not lost on her...
"Now that's not how you normally talk..." Lizzie paused, suddenly grabbing the girl's shoulder. Her reflexes almost caused her to slice the blondie's hand off... but she managed to keep her switchblade within her pocket as Lizzie stared deep into her eyes...she was afraid of what Lizzie would see in her eyes. She was afraid of every person she saw on the street... would they recognise her? Would they chase her away like they always do? Will she have to kill to live here as well? What were the complications of killing in this world. She had enough blades to defend herself... hopefully...
"Testarossa... " Lizzie paused, pulling the girl back to reality. "Is something wrong? Are you in trouble? You don't seem like yourself." What did 'testarossa' mean? And she had thought that she was good at keeping her emotions in check... this girl was way too observant.
'Tessa, I am your best friend...you can tell me stuff that you can't even tell your parents. I may be able to help you, right?" The raven-head watched her 'best friend' carefully, debating whether or not to make a run for it...
"I am fine, really..." she said, smiling yet another forced smile...
"No you're not." Lizzie said, squeezing her shoulders "You have a high fever my friend, and a very down to the dumps look radiating behind that forced smile! Gimme your mobile phone, I should call your mother." Lizzie's palm was dancing in front of her, asking for a 'fone'.
"You really need not worry, I'm just tired of being cooped up at home."
"You can't lie to me!" Lizzie announced, triumphantly. We have known each other since we were six!" No, we haven't. She was beginning to get out of options. She stared at the bobbing hand in front of her...What was this 'fone' anyway?
"I just got out and you want to send me back home? Some friend you are..." the girl sulked throwing her head to the opposite direction.
Lizzie sighed dramatically "for someone with fever, you sound very energetic. If you are so sure then I won't force you." Lizzie let go of her shoulders, continuing her walk " how about continuing to the pool?" Even though that wasn't what most people suggested to a person with a fever, the raven nodded. The idea of a pool was tame and it didn't sound very dangerous...
"That was one of the smallest episodes of fever I have ever seen!" Lizzie exclaimed. " How can a person get high fever for fifteen minutes?" The girl didn't answer, silently following Lizzie through the gate and beside a pool. She strolled around for a while, before sitting down. She had noticed the absence of people at the gate, and she couldn't risk asking the blondie a reason.
"Would you like to take a dip?" Lizzie asked, shaking a thumb at the pool. The raven shook her head, pointing at her cloths.
"You forgot? They provide swim-suits...you have come here countless times!" The blond pushed her to the front of a door. "You change here, I'll take that room." The blond pointed to an adjacent room skipping in. The raven took her chances and entered the room, finding washed, blue, full-body swim-suits of many sizes hanging inside. She changed quickly, stalking out of the room and positioned herself at the edge of the pool, sitting down without touching the water... she dumped her cloths beside her, still armed with all of her blades.
Just when she thought the blondie was taking too much time... Suddenly, she was pushed into the water, and saw an innocently smiling Lizzie trying to hold her laughs back...
The water felt different... her limbs were starting to get non-responsive and her entire body was tiring... and she was feeling sick and weak. Fighting was futile as she sunk into the water and swallowed her first gulp of water... which was salty...
Realization seized her...she had been careless, thinking that the blondie did not know her identity... and she would pay for that with her life. She shouldn't have trusted some random person who walked in one day into her life... Terror, and desperation had seeped into her usually calm and analytical mind...
Her brain was starting to shut down, and she was going in and out of consciousness as an arm suddenly gripped her upper arm, dragging her back to the surface. She was so relieved to be back on solid ground and had completely missed her saviour... coughing up water, the first person she saw was her assailant...Lizzie.
Instantly she was on her knees, grabbing her switchblade from her dry clothes. She knocked the girl's ankles from under her, straddling her and holding her hands down with her knees, the switchblade at her throat. All of that happened as one, fluid motion.
As her vision cleared a second later, she saw fear on the blond teen's eyes and a stare clearly stating that she had never fought for her life before... but observation could wait.
"Why did you try to kill me?!" She demanded, staring at the immobiled Lizzie under her.
"I-I never thought that would kill you!" Lizzie stuttered. The raven could see that she was not lying. But how could that be true?
"Who could possibly not die of drowning?" The raven demanded, her blade inching a millimetre closer.
"Tessa is the best swimmer in the school despite being one of the youngest swimmers. She would never drown like that. You are not Tessa, are you?" Lizzie gazed into her eyes. The raven realised that maybe her assumptions were incorrect about the girl. But she needed a lot of answers and also had a big decision to make, now that Lizzie knew she was fake. She let the blade touch the blond's throat, sending a shudder of apprehension though her.
"No. I have no idea who this Tessa is. But you need to answers some of my questions if you want me to answer any of yours."
"O-Ok" Lizzie refrained from nodding her head.
"Do you really not recognise me as anyone other than this 'Tessa'?" The raven started, keeping her hand touched to the blond's pulse, checking her for lies.
"No."
"What were you referring to when you were talking about One Piece at the house?"
"The anime...?"
"What is that?"
"Japanese animations." The raven had no idea what that was, but she realised it, provably, was nothing to do with the treasure.
"Who is this Tessa?"
"She's my best friend. She's a great swimmer who could never drown and she is crazy about animals."
"What does she do for a living?"
"She isn't working. She's still a student."
"Where is this place?"
"Cedar Rapids."
"Where is that?"
"Iova."
"Where is that?"
Now Lizzie was starting to feel awkward... "USA"
"Where is that?"
"Really? On Earth."
The raven saw that this was not going to go anywhere. And that most probably Lizzie was saying something that even the most ignorant person would know, which, off course she would not. She could see that this frail girl had zero experience fighting, and could not ever be a threat. And that this blond was the only one who may help her. She felt the girl under her suck in a breath, and looked down to her.
"What have you done to Tessa?" Lizzie asked, looking quiet threatening for a person with no leverage. The raven chuckled at the expression, before answering.
"Like I said, I have no idea what you are talking about. Now, if you attempt another stunt like that" Lizzie could see her eyes get sharper and her grip on the knife got firm "I will kill you."
"OK! OK..." Lizzie agreed quickly, hinting with her eyes that she would never do anything like that again. "But seriously, do I look like a threat to you?"
" No. And that's precisely the only reason you are still alive." She flicked the blade closed as she slipped it into her pocket and stood up. Lizzie picked herself up rather slowly as she saw the raven snatch her cloths from the edge of the pool and stalked back to the changing room.
Lisanna was dizzy with relief when she her 'not friend's left her alone. She felt saddened that the face that was her best friend's had tried to kill her. Lizzie trusted Tessa with her life...but now there were two of them, and her's was nowhere to be found. She would be lying if she said she was not scared of the Tessa that was currently occupying the dressing room. She didn't know if this Tessa had really not done anything to Tessa... she shook her head, displacing the thought. She walked back into the room. Now, if she strained her ears, she could hear all the knives or blades playing next door. An involuntary shudder passed through her system. She changed quickly and quietly, thinking of her position. She couldn't leave this person here, she would end up killing people for touching her. She was doubtful of a long life-expectancy if she stayed with her. Placing her mobile back in her pocket, she opened the door, and was face to face with the Tessa - dopleganger. The raven backed off, and Lizzie exited the now congested changing room.
It was already past one hour and the blond knew her mother was waiting for her... she started walking briskly towards the gate with the raven tailing her half-heartedly, a good ten feet distance between them.
"What are you thinking?" The raven asked.
"That's not your business." As if on cue, the familiar ring-tone and the vibrations deep in her pocket made her aware of her mother's call. She dug the communication device out and ( 'Tessa's' inquisitive stare was not lost on her) and accepted the call, holding the mobile to her ear. "Mom?"
"Honey, there's an emergency in the hospital, and I really need to be there... would you mind spending another four hours at Tessa's?" Lizzie stared at the raven in front of her, wondering where all that luck was coming from. She wasn't very keen on spending time with someone who clearly was not a friend, but she didn't want ten murder cases on Tessa when she came back...
"Sure..." Lizzie replied, after a momentary pause.
"You don't seem so exited about it..." the voice from the mobile noted.
"It's not whatever you think it is, mom." Lizzie may not want to tell her mom the truth, but she didn't want to lie either.
"OK...have fun!" Lizzie could hear a lot of shuffling and the bang of a door closing in the background...
"Bye..." she cut the call, staring at the raven, who was in turn, staring at the communication device which was still snug in her hand. The stare, coupled with the fact that the raven didn't know where USA was, gave her only one conclusive answer. She raised the device to 'Tessa's' face, causing her to back off.
"What is this?" Any person from no matter which rural world (advanced enough to make the t-shirts and jeans that the raven was wearing) would know what a mobile phone was...
"A communication device?" The raven replied, with a hint of a question in the statement. Lizzie sighed, realising things were even worse than what she thought them to be.
"What is a mobile phone?" The blond tried again, not really expecting an answer. The raven thought for a while before finally sighing.
"I am not from here."
"I already know that. No one in this world other than the Bushmen of the Kalahari or some other indigenous tribe would not know something like a mobile phone. And another thing is that we cannot help each other without mutual trust..." Lizzie and the Raven had reached the entrance to the pool.
" I am not obliged to inform a person who tried to kill me of my personal details." The raven hissed out, in an unmistakable icy tone. Lizzie did not look impressed at all about.
"You know? If I really wanted to kill you, I wouldn't have pulled you back out of the water." Lizzie said, making sure to sound bored.
The raven stared at the face of the self proclaimed best friend of 'Tessa'. It was indeed true that Lizzie was the only person around the pool when she had been pushed in. And if that was so, she could have been the only person who could have helped her. And for now, she couldn't afford to not trust Lizzie at all, as she was the only thing that may help her until she could get back to Paradise. The raven sighed, deciding to start off with details that were absolutely necessary.
"My name is Ashley." The blond cocked an eyebrow at the sudden information. Dhe paused for a moment before greeting the raven back.
"Nice to meet you, Ashley." But Lizzie didn't stop there... " First things first, loose the switchblades and knives. They are illegal here. And second, do not threaten people with death under any sircumstances. You'll find yourself behind bars. And-"
The raven cut her off, speaking smoothly under the same tone... "great advice, exept I don't intend to follow it." She paused, sucking in a breath. "I need to get back to Paradise. Do you know of that place?"
"Sure," Lizzie smiled. "It's just around the corner." Lizzie knew that the 'paradise' the raven was talking about was most defiantly not the place she was going to lead her to- especially if a person didn't even know how to operate a phone... but she still wanted to annoy the raven by leading her to a nursery...
"I'd also like to borrow a Den-Den mushi." The blong literealy jumped at the last word uttered by her guest. She turned her full attention to the raven before clearing her doubt.
Lizzie took a deep breath and intently studied the girl's visage,"What?"
"I said I'd like to borrow a Den-Den mushi." Ashley repeated, slightly annoyed. Lizzie couldn't comprehend the piece of information... was the 'Paradise' Ashley was talking about what she thought it was?
"Did I say something strange?" Ashley glanced at Lizzie in half slitted eyes, managing to look intrigued and bored at the same time. Lizzie knew that there was no point at wasting half an hour and acting surprised. She braced herself for the possibilities as she once again questioned the raven.
"So, are you from the first half of the Grand Line?"
"So people here do know about the Grand Line..." Ashley paused, "that makes it easier for me-"
"No! It doesn't make it easier for anybody!" Lizzie announced, hopping in front of the girl. "Not in my wildest dreams did I even think of this possibility..."
"Slow down. What are you talking about? What's wrong about being from the Grand Line?"
"Everything is wrong about being from the Grand Line!" Lizzie glanced at Ashley's confusion before replying, "you want me to give it to you straight?" The raven nodded.
"But before that, may I ask you to show me your Haki?" The raven was instantly on her toes.
"Do you have a specific reason to do that?" Her eyes were slits and her brows were nearly touching. The blond held her arms up in surrender.
"I am not trying to do anything that you are thinking about. I just need to know if this is not a prank." Her lips quirked up in a smirk. "Your dopleganger has enough reasons to take revenge on me." Ashley didn't know what the blond meant by that statement, but still she decided to trust the blond who was watching her expectantly. She concentrated just enough to see Lizzie's motor controls slightly failing, obvious be the shaking knees and closing eyes...
"Conqueror's Haki...?" Lizzie slurred, and Ashley let up on her Haki.
"You know quite a lot." Ashley watched as Lizzie steadied herself.
"OK, so as I was saying, I'll tell you what's going on. It's your choice whether to believe it or not." Lizzie paused and motioned the raven to follow her to a nearby seat, and sitting down. Ashley took the hint and settled down beside her, even though not too close.
"My name is Lisanna Matson. I am 17, and my best friend is Testarossa, who is your dopleganger. She and I have been together since grade school, and are quiet inseparable... untill now." Ashley didn't miss the distasteful glare sent her way, she ignored it.
"Now, both of us watch something I have already mentioned to you- anime. They are ...uh... television series...? Anyway, the point is that one of them is called One Piece. I guess that name is more than familiar to you."
"You didn't say anything about the treasure." Ashley hissed annoyed.
"Actually, it's a book about a certain guy who wants to become the Pirate King by finding One Piece. So he enters the Grand Line and gathers his crew on the way."
"That's not exactly a new story, is it? I bet a lot of people are doing that." The raven looked pretty bored. "That wouldn't sell."
"Actually, it's ranked no.1 of all mang- sorry, books. But that's beside the point. What I want to say is that that is a story. It's not something that exists. The Grand Line, Haki, Paradise, New World, Devil Fruits.. all of them are a writer's imagination in this world." Lizzie glanced at the raven who met her gaze with questioning- not shocked- eyes. Lizzie was confused at the small chuckle that escaped the raven's lips. "You're not upset?"
"Why should I be?" Ashley replied "I just discovered the connection between this world and Paradise." Ashley sighed.
"I just told you that there is no connection between them." Ashley shook her head.
"You think so because you don't know the complete story." Ashley slipped a hand into her pocket, drawing out a switchblade.
"Please put that away, that was uncalled for..."
"You know my name and nothing else." The raven slashed the air in front of her, as Lizzie watched. The air parted as if the blade was drawing a line through water..." and I am a Devil Fruit user who can cut through time and space." Ashley glanced at Lizzie's astonished face and chuckled. "As long as I know the connection between two places, I can cut a door through it and get anywhere I want... " Ashley thrust the blade into the air, and Lizzie jerked back at from the blade dancing in front of her eyes even though Ashley's thrust was in the opposite direction."See? It's paramecia and it's pretty powerful.
"So you purposefully came here." Ashley slumped. "And still you say you didn't see Tessa."
"I don't know what happened to her, OK?" Ashley exclaimed "This is the first time I am cutting through different dimensions, and it's stranous. I won't be able to go back for at least 3 days. I couldn't have hidden her!" The raven let out a sigh and slumped her back, leaning against the lumbar of the seat. Simultaneously Lizzie straightened up, glaring at the raven.
"I'll be stuck with you for three days?!"
"Unfortunately, yes." The raven smiled the glare away, infuriating the blond even further. "The first time, I tried cutting back to Paradise, but I can't completely get through. I guess it was a longshot to even try getting so far." There was silence for two whole minutes before Lizzie prodded the raven, asking for her attention
"Did you choose to land in that very same room in that very house at exactly that time?"
"I have control on where I want to land if I have been there before. But for this world I just set the coordinates and somehow landed in your friend's room." Ashley replied, looking away again
"And was it never a problem before? No one disappered or anything? " Lizzie questioned standing up and pulling out her mobile.
" Nope, that never happened... "the raven got up as a reflex, when her partner did.
"Then probably that this world is trying to play by its own rules." Lizzie whispered, "and now I know Tessa maybe had her phone on her. She's out of covarage area."
"is that supposed to mean something?"
"Yes... It means you and Tessa swapped places. "
" how can you conclude that? "
" Tessa does not go anywhere without her beloved phone. And there are no places nearby that does not have signal. You didn't choose to land in her room and I know she had to be there before you cut through Paradise and came here. And there are laws of science in this world that are obeyed under any circumstances. According to that, nothing can be created from scratch. Which means if you suddenly popped up somewhere, something of the same mass may disappear, since the rules don't know what to make of it. And another rule is that the same thing cannot exist at two places at once." Lizzie sucked in a huge breath. "So, when you cut into this world, you probably took Tessa's place and she used the same route to get to where you were, back in Paradise. I didn't know someone could be lucky enough to visit the One Piece World... So, where were you?
"I was at the Human Shop in Sabaody Archipelago... but wait, About that second law, how can you say that your friend and I are the same thing?" Ashley Jerked her head back to Lizzie's direction.
"You may not know it, But Tessa is a lot like you. You look like carbon copies, and you behave a lot like her-though she is not as touchy as you and definitely is a better friend to saltwater. Probably you are the same individuals from different worlds. OK, so you were at the slave trading centre... Grove 1, right?"
Ashley frowned, "you know too much for a person who only read a story about it." Lizzie smiled at the statement.
"I am a die-hard fan of One Piece. So, why did you want to get away from there?"
"Do I look like I enjoy being sold? Beside, Straw Hat Luffy was already in Sabaody Archipelago. He wrecks havoc no matter where he is. I have a bounty on my head, so I can't afford to stay there." Ashley noticed Lizzie's astounded expression and frowned. "What's so astounding?"
"Luffy was there?!" Lizzie exclaimed, clutching Ashley's shoulders and shaking her, hard. Ashley shrugged her hands away.
"You sound like you're his best friend."
"I don't care what it sounds like to you! I can't believe Tessa's that lucky!"
"About encountering a pirate? Hardly. Besides, if your friend looks like me, best case scenario is that she's already in deep trouble."
"Why?"
"Because I am worth 200 million." Lizzie jaw virtually dropped to the ground. She stared at her best friend look-alike, contemplating about her course of action... Ashley smirked. "surprised?"
"N-Not really... Luffy's worth 500 million..." Ashley denied, shaking her head. Ashley met her gaze immediately.
"No he isn't. Strawhat's worth 300 million." She corrected. Lizzie's brows shot up.
"Of course..."
"Besides, how do you even know Strawhat? Our world is just a story to you, ain't it?" Ashley added, starting to walk away.
"One Piece is his story... Monkey D Luffy's journey to the Pirate King's throne." Lizzie whispered, with serious way beyond Ashley's understanding. "Luffy broke in to Ennis lobby and earned that bounty, didn't he? He also did in the Crocodile, Buggy the Clown, the Cp9..."
"You know way too much for my comfort... but then, if you knew so much, why don't you know about me?" Ashley looked uncomfortable.
"Probably because you never crossed paths with him."
"Are you saying that you know everything that happens to him?" Ashley scoffed, coming closer to Lizzie. "I guess your lucky you don't know much about me... I would have already killed you if you did."
"That aside, you said you were worth 200 million... so Tessa will be hunted down?" Lizzie brushed the threat off, closing the distance to Ashley. "What are you to deserve that high a bounty?"
"That's classified." Ashley hissed, hostility short-lived, but potent.
"Then bring her back, NOW!" Lisanna demanded, her eyes reflecting the hostility back at Ashley chuckled, easily seeing the panicked and desperate girl within the angry one.
"I told you, I can't. I'll be here for about three days, regardless of if you like it or not!" Ashley stated firmly, her tone clearly ending the discussion. But Lizzie was not going to end it that easily.
"Then do something by which I can contact her...I am not letting her get executed in your stead-She's never held a knife exept to butter her bread!"
"That may be possible, but I need at least a few hours before I can make a meaningful connection... and remember, that elongates my stay here and your friend's stay there. "
"I understand..." Lizzie sighed. but her desire to know her best friend's whereabouts were weighing more than her need to ignore her. "So please make the connection, I need to know what is happening to her."
OK, done! It was done hurriedly, so forgive me for typos...and as I said before, updates may not be regular... please tell me if you want certain things to happen, or if you want to criticise my work, and please don't hesitate!
Ja mata!