A/N: Hello, I do hope you like this chapter and will continue reading. I love 18:37 to 18:55 it's the best for the same reason as the last one.
Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece or its characters nor do I want to.
Chapter Four: Crocodile Bounty
Luffy's POV
I heard the man who was trying to help say something regarding Ace. So the latter was the reason I'm not feeling any pain right now. "You actually came" I smiled surprised he even showed.
"Your friend's tough, he never once spoke about your Treasure. He spoke of another Treasure though, it's the mother lode" Porchemy said worrying me.
He held Ace in the air by the front of his neck scaring me for what might happen to him. I bought time so they wouldn't get hurt but now they are. "I wonder why he was so determined to keep your Treasure safe?" Porchemy asked.
Ace never commented just told Sabo to 'do it' before I saw the latter hit Porchemy. The hit, though not hard, made the Pirate drop Ace.
"Don't do that you two!" I told them seeing that Sabo was scared. Ace was trying to get up taking his time and I know he doesn't mean to. Porchemy said we're all 'dead meat' worrying me.
Ace told Sabo to help me before I told them to be careful. Sabo went after the injured man since he's the only one besides Porchemy who's still here.
Sabo took the injured man's Knife before he jumped cutting me down. I was carried under his arm until Ace said he was staying. He's just like Uncle Roger.
I smiled when he said he doesn't run from his enemies. Finally getting to see something of Uncle in Ace made me really happy.
Even if I was dropped on the ground. Porchemy slashed slicing off half of Ace's Pipe almost making it hit me. I didn't watch the rest of the fight though.
Grabbing the half of the Pipe that was by my head turning away. After the fight we left Gray Terminal.
Scene Change: Forest
"Why'd you go back for me? You wanted me killed right?" I asked tears falling. I was happy I wasn't alone.
They weren't listening though Sabo is right. They shouldn't have made enemies of Pirates so quickly.
Ace told me to stop crying mentioning me wanting to be a Pirate. I bit my lip having my Hat cover my eyes. They were shocked at how quickly I stopped.
"Thank you… for saving me" I told them. I felt a tear falling after I said it though.
Ace yelled at me to stop again but Sabo told him I was just happy. He is right though. I am happy but I also caused them to get hurt by being punched for so long.
Ace asked why I didn't tell them what they wanted to know. "Did you hide your Treasure?" I asked instead of answering.
He said they did asking why that matters. "I knew for a long while that you've never trusted me Ace. The Treasure matters because I decided to get captured to stall for time" I told them.
"That's a stupid reason" Ace told me. "They could've killed you if you didn't tell them" this made me smile however.
"They were going to kill me as soon as they confirmed the Treasure I spoke about was 2x the amount you stole from them. I would've been slashed regardless" I told him. "Besides… you would never even come close to being able to be my friend if I did" I smiled.
He said dying isn't worth that asking why I would want to be his friend because it's dumb. I tried to tell him but he said he's never been nice to me asking why I haven't given up.
"You're the only one I can be friends with. I can't talk to the Mayor or Makino in Windmill Village, the Mountain Bandits can't tolerate me that well.
If I didn't follow you I'd be completely alone, being alone hurts a lot worse than torture" I smiled looking up. He asked why I'd be alone making me frown. "My father talks to me through Letters because he's an infamous person.
My caretakers kicked me out of the house for some reason, meaning Grandpa is the only one" I stated. He asked if I feel better around him making me nod with a smile.
Nodding again when I heard him say something that's also true. 'Otherwise you feel lonely?' he had asked. He gripped the Pipe tighter and I knew he was going to ask something that would break or create a chance for a companionship.
He asked if I think he deserves to live my breath getting caught in my throat when I heard that. That was why he kept running off?
To find a reason to think he deserves to live? "Of course! Why would I think differently" I chirped before he said weak crybabies anger him. I don't think I've cried that much since I met him.
Jumping off the hill I was on I told him I'm not a crybaby. "You were crying the whole time you were tied up" he argued.
Scowling I asked which time. He said it was when they had tied me up. "I can barely remember what you guys were doing! I was stuck in a painful memory" I told him.
He said that was no excuse saying that I was lying. "I'm not lying" I told him before he asked what the memory was even about.
Sabo butted in then saying that we have a problem now. "You live close to their Hideout so it'll be hard for them not to find and kill you right?" I asked. He nodded shocked to hear it from me.
We decided he was going to sleep at Dadan's with us when he asked us for help. I know Dadan will say no but they told me she'll have to deal.
Time Skip: Morning
Dadan yelled our names, minus Sabo's, asking who was with us. "Sabo" I said collapsing back on the floor. I was tired from cleaning with the injuries that haven't healed yet.
When Sabo spoke with her I could tell that she wasn't going to leave Sabo out there with Pirates. She sighed telling the three of us there won't be any free rides.
After that we left the house telling her 'see ya' making her yell at us. She yelled at me to clean the house making me turn with a sigh. "I cleaned last night" I yelled back before I went after Ace and Sabo.
Sabo had heard what I said and told me to hold it. "You cleaned the whole house last night?" he asked making me nod.
"When?" was his next question so I told him. "When everyone was asleep" I was confused as to why he was asking. He asked if I even noticed the wounds on my legs.
"Yeah I did, I don't have a sharp edge or thin strips to stitch it back together" tilting my head still confused. What does that have to do with anything though?
I was actually glad I cleaned last night with injuries because it was helpful. "Come on Sabo! Luffy!" Ace yelled. I nodded smiling at Sabo.
He sighed before we ran over to Ace. Sabo and Ace were ahead of me when I caught up.
I had to run slower than normal because of the wounds Sabo mentioned. Sabo said he likes Dadan because she lets us do what we want. That however is not the case.
Ace said she's a 'worthless hag' anyway but I never commented. I don't have anything mean or nice to say that I would feel okay saying out loud.
Sabo asked what we were going to do before I told them we could eat. Ace looked the other way while Sabo said it was a good idea. While they went fishing I went Berry hunting.
I had found Blackberries, Raspberries, and Blueberries. I did want Meat but I don't have anything to kill an animal with.
Sabo asked if I ate a Devil Fruit making me look up as he ate. "Yeah I did why do you ask?" tilting my head in continued confusion. The question seemed out of the blue.
He said that it meant I can't swim but I can't live on nothing but Vitamins and Elements. He threw me the Tail saying I can have it.
I caught it with my hands when I plopped all of the Berries in my hand into my mouth. "Thank you Sabo" I smiled when I caught it. He asked what Devil Fruit I ate when I swallowed the Tail whole.
"The Copy-Copy Fruit" I told him smiling. He asked what it does confusing me. "I think it copies other Devil Fruit Abilities but I don't really know" I told him tilting my head.
"Then you didn't eat one" Ace told me making me scowl at him. "I did to! It was in Shanks's Crate that he got in the Grand Line" I scowled knowing I'd get scolded if Grandpa was here.
"Then show us, if you sink you ate a Devil Fruit" Ace said throwing me at the water. "Ace that's going too far!" Sabo yelled from the land when I struggled to keep my head above water. I know this is Croc Pond so I didn't like being in here, even if I could swim I would still feel that way.
That was even more pronounced when I felt myself rising out of the water. I saw my friends' wide-eyed expressions and I knew I was in a Croc's mouth.
When it closed it was dark. Seeing my Hat being spit out of the Croc's mouth when I was swallowed whole worried me (1). I was glad that my Pen sized Versatility Staff (2) and Bottomless Pouch were at Dadan's instead of in my Hat.
Time Skip: Sunset
Gritting my teeth I forced away my anger. Getting angry won't change the past, plus there's no reason to really be angry.
"Did you get enough proof Ace? Or do you want to throw me in Crocodile Pond again?" narrowing my eyes when I asked. "I believe you" he said making me sigh.
"Good" I smiled before coughing into my arm. I was helping to carry the Croc Carcass so I just moved my head into my arm.
"What's wrong with you?" Ace asked but I told him it was nothing. I get coughs for a few days after being exposed to Sea Water, fatigued to. "Good because now we have Croc Meat for Dinner" Ace said proudly.
Whether I meant it to or not I ended up being bait, just the same as a decoy. Sabo told Ace they have to check on something before we dressed our hair with Foliage Hats.
He wanted to check to see if the Bluejam Pirates found the previous hiding place. He said it was a good thing they changed it before Sabo thanked me. I was confused furrowing my brows.
"You got tortured buying us time to hide it. Way more than enough to" he told me.
"While here do you want to check the Terminal?" Sabo asked Ace. "You shouldn't do that alone Sabo" I told him but I was being too loud apparently. It wasn't even above a whisper and I was tackled to the ground by Ace who told me to be quiet.
"I'm not going without Sabo" I told him strictly. Sabo said I don't listen to anyone making me narrow my eyes at him.
Scene Change: Gray Terminal
Ace was on my shoulders with Sabo on his when I realized I need to get physically stronger. My legs were about to give from holding them up. They started talking about Bluejam when I spoke.
"They're all after us which is why I didn't want him to go alone. To watch out for each other" I told them.
They asked why I didn't say anything sooner alerting someone behind us to where we are. We all fell when the man told everyone at the Gate where we were. We started running since we were being chased.
We entered the Forest losing them there. I hung upside down on a low hanging Tree branch when Sabo said something sucks.
More specifically being hunted down by everyone in Terminal sucks. "Why hide when we can fight?" Ace asked a determined gleam in his eye. Before Sabo said we should stay low anyway.
The latter said it's not a good reason to fight and I nodded. "Sabo is right Ace" I told him before he glared at me.
He said nobody asked me but I wonder if the 5 Million Belis weren't enough. We went back to the Crocodile Carcass picking it up to bring to Dadan's. Everyone was shocked to see what we brought back.
A/N: Hello, I finished writing this at 6:28 P.M. on January 21, 2017.
1) He's worried that he'll lose the Hat he promised Shanks he wouldn't lose.
2) Can create Portals, does whatever he says with one word, if he loses it no one else can use it, and it'll return to him if he calls its' name, etc. If he says 'Catch' the thing/being he points it at will stop at the fixed point if it's in the air. 'Freeze' is said for the same thing if it's on the ground.
I do hope you like this chapter and will continue reading.
