Hello everyone,
This is it, the chapter when the plot changes dramatically, from this point fordward I know many of you shall enjoy the fic a lot more.
I'd like to thank my beta for this chapter "I only Need One Piece", with her help, updates should come at a regular pace.
Enjoy, and don't forget to leave a comment,
thanks
As if Fell From the Sky
Turn of events
The crew spent a couple of days without much change aboard the Merry, except now Luffy and Robin had recovered completely. Strangely, Edd joined the ship's daily routine without much effort, and Robin, who desired nothing more than to have a more extensive collection of books had already begun to decode the runes.
Much to Sanji's misfortune, the brat, as the cook called him, slept in the women's quarter, most of the time with Nami. With the captain and archaeologist already on their feet ... it was due time to make a decision.
"Luffy… what are we going to do…" Nami said with a worried glance, standing next to Robin with Sanji and Zoro on the foredeck, while Usopp and Chopper were playing with the child around the main mast area.
"There's nothing to think about, we are setting sail today," the captain said with determination.
"Luffy ... we can't have a child on a pirate ship, it's very risky," Nami said with genuine concern, after all, they had just gone through a traumatic event a few days ago.
"Zoro, TELL HIM" she said as her hands waved in frustration.
Zoro just scratched his head in hindrance.
"Nami, Edd is our nakama" the captain interrupted; as if that was all and there was nothing further to think about it.
"But he is just a kid Luffy! He can't defend himself and what about his family? They must be looking for him!" As she said this, their voices began to rise as they glanced at each other with furious gazes.
"And what do you suggest then huh? Leave him here on this island that has no one on it? If he has a family, they are not here," the captain shouted back, tempers flaring... He knew how horrible it was, the feeling of being a child and be left alone...being abandoned.
And then they heard a small sob and turned to see Edd's tear filled eyes, with trembling lips, he was trying to hold back a cry.
"Are you guys gonna leave me?" he asked with a wobbly voice.
Luffy crouched before him, "Edd ... you are our nakama! We don't leave our friends behind" the captain said with a smile.
"Luffy!" and the boy jumped up and clung to him with his arms around his neck, Luffy opened his eyes in surprise, but he couldn't help hugging back, and stood up with the child still in his arms, climbing like a little monkey with his head buried in the crook of Luffy's neck.
"Let's go steal something from the kitchen," the captain said as he walked away with the child still clinging to him.
"HEY!" Sanji shouted running after them.
"Fufufu captain-san will be a good father one day," Robin laughed.
"Robin don't say such disturbing stuff" Zoro said with all seriousness ..
Nami just stared at them, "What is that idiot thinking ..."
"What do you suggest Nami, seriously, leave the boy on the island? Alone?" Zoro said, somehow defending Luffy's decision. Nami sighed and the archeologist put a supporting hand on her shoulder, encouraging the navigator to accept the situation.
They decided to set sail the next day, perhaps on the next island Robin could get more information or books that will help decipher the mysterious medallion, or some clue about the boy who seemed like he had literally fallen from the sky.
That night, they threw a party to celebrate a new nakama, Robin and Luffy's recovery and why not? The mere fact that they were setting sail the next day, as for a pirate any excuse was good enough to throw a party.
They were in the meadow of the island some yards away from Merry, with a bonfire, sea king meat (that Luffy had caught earlier that day) roasting in the fire and cool drinks provided by Sanji.
"Why don't you guys have a musician?" Edd asked between bites of his piece of meat.
"Again with the musician, we need a shipwright first" Usopp said.
"that's true, your ship looks like crap." He laughed loudly, to his memory came flashes of a big, beautiful ship.
"Hey, don't mock our Merry!" Usopp said giving him a noogie on the head. Eddie laughed and stuck out his tongue at the marksman.
"And watch your language" Nami corrected,
"But pirates should have a musician" Edd said all serious, and Luffy nodded,
"Do you see Nami? Ahaha I like this brat hahaha"
"Guys, I know a pirate song!" Edd said suddenly and Robin, interested in any information Edd could share assuming it would be useful to unravel the mystery surrounding the child, encouraged him.
"Come on, sing it to us" the woman said.
The boy nodded,
"Binkusu sake not wo
I Todoke or yuku
Kimakase Umikaze namimakase
Luffy immediately smiled and sang along
"Shio no mukou of
Yuuhi mo sawagu
Sora nya wa wo kaku "
Nami looked at them, totally surprised, "Wait wait, what are you guys singing?" Luffy and Edd, stopped mid sentence.
"Nostalgic" Robin said with the barest hint of a smile on her face, "It's an old folk pirate song, great pirates of the past used to sing it"
Luffy nodded, "Shanks and his crew used to sing it all the time when I was a kid ... Where did you learn it Edd?" he asked forgetting the agreement the crew made about not asking the kid about his past.
"My dad taught it to me" Edd answered almost automatically... and then a flash blinded his sight as he clutched his head while memories shook his small body.
His father, covered in shadows with a sad gaze, their ship on fire, an explosion, his mother yelling for him to run ... he had disobeyed his mother that day ... he had slipped away from his ship and gone to that island because he wanted to play with some children he saw on the coast.
- Find a navigator
He heard a voice in his memory he couldn't identify,
- Find a navigator ...
Screaming in anguish, he grabbed his head and knew no more.
The party had ended after Edd's episode… Chopper checked him up and then they moved the boy to Nami's bed… the crew reunited on the outer deck and Robin had a series of annotations scribbled on her notepad… she started to talk.
"That child grew up on a pirate Ship", she affirmed, very sure of herself. Sanji exhaled smoke trough his nose and nodded… he had grown up with a pirate after all.
"Who would be so stupid as to raise a child on a pirate ship". Nami said crossing her arms… unsurprisingly enough, all eyes fell on their captain, who wore an oblivious face, of course.
Luffy, whose IQ borded on mental impairment but had lapses of good judgment –sometimes- looked pensive, "When I was a child… Shanks wouldn't take me with him… I was so angry at first but then… now I can understand why…" He couldn't help to think about how he almost lost Robin on Aokiji's hands.
Everyone nodded; glad their captain grasped the situation.
"But… maybe… the people who were taking care of Edd... had no other choice…" he ended after a moment.
"What do you mean with that Luffy?" Usopp asked, but their captain had nothing further to add... he stood silently, with an unusual pensive look about him.
Robin started to talk, "I have a hunch about this medallion, but my theory… I don't think you guys would be willing to accept it… I still need further evidence to reach a certain conclusion" she said with cold seriousness.
"What do you mean Robin-chwan" the cook asked, his interest peaking.
"This… is an old medallion of the Cirilean civilization, its ancient, even older than the lost century, two thousand years at least, that civilization believed in mystic portals, but legend says that a god punished them for playing with time, and that led them to their annihilation"
"Mystery portals, sounds like fun!" Luffy grinned.
"Sounds DANGEROUS" Nami corrected pinching the captain's cheek and stretching it, the rubber captain, only got more excited about it, of course.
"And… what would that mean Robin-chan…" Sanji was even afraid of hearing the answer.
"I believe this child.. is a time traveler, that would explain the flash of light everyone witnessed, and even his mysterious appearance out of nowhere" she was deathly serious as she explained her theory.
Everyone gazed at her with wide, incredulous eyes but she continued without hesitation in her voice, "This is the grand line… after all, impossible things can happen".
"The sky island… really did exist" Chopper whispered with a little hoove on his chin in a pensive gesture… he started to believe in Robin's hypothesis.
"Then… if Edd comes from the future…" Usopp swallowed a lump and started to sweat profusely… he glanced at his captain.
"What… huh?" Luffy said with a look of total incomprehension on his part.
Nami clasped a hand to her mouth, eyes widening, and incredulous look on her face… her brain just couldn't process Robin's words, it was impossible, ridiculous even.
Zoro clenched his teeth, sweat started to roll down his temple, thinking about all the implications something like that could have. Sanji only smoked looking disturbingly silent.
"Captain-san…" Robin began with cold seriousness, "I believe Edd-chan…. Its your future son"
There, she said it, what everyone was afraid to hear, Usopp had mucus running down his nose, Chopper had his jaw open, Zoro looked spooked and Sanji was deathly serious. Nami… looked in shock.
But Luffy looked relaxed enough, he cocked his head to the side, "Oh, that would explain a lot! Hahahah", boisterous laughter filling the uncomfortable silence.
Finally, Usopp slapped his captain's nape and with shark teeth he shouted, "You should be more shocked than this!"
Sanji exhaled a whiff of smoke trough his nose, "I don't really care about that… " he began with danger in his voice, he took another drag of smoke and exhaled slowly.
"What I'm worried about is… who is the mother"
And as if on cue, Edd is little head poked from inside the galley, he was barefoot and sleepy, but he searched amongst all the adults and smiled when he saw Nami.
"Nami" he said with a small, childish voice, "I had a bad dream…" he ran to her and threw his small body on her lap…. The woman, at first a little shocked just smiled and held the child in her arms. Everyone looked at her with incredulous looks.
"Nami… you… you" Usopp stuttered.
"What Usopp" she said while she patted the child's back, who had started to fall back asleep in the woman's arms… Robin smiled knowingly.
Zoro was almost having an aneurysm and massaged his temple in annoyance and finally, with a commanding, harsh voice, in the same way he usually spoke to Luffy when he required his captain to be serious for once, said.
"Edd" he began, he got the child's attention, eyes wide, the boy made eye contact with the swordsman without flinching,
"Edd" Zoro continued, "A pirate should never deny his name, and now that you are our nakama on our ship, I believe it's high time you reveal us your full name" the first mate demanded.
Edd nodded and got off Nami's lap, he stood up straight and glanced at the man in front of him with a very serious expression.
"My name is Monkey D. Edward" he said proudly.
The cigarette fell from Sanji's mouth as if in slow motion; Usopp's eyes rolled back, Robin smiled knowing her theory to be true. Zoro's mouth was hanging slightly open, and Chopper looked really surprised…
Nami's soul however, was trying to escape through her mouth.
Strangely enough, Luffy looked really at ease, smiling… and even somewhat proud.
Nami stood up from her sitting position on the floor, as if offended, "What foolishness are you babbling about Robin! How would that be even possible? Maybe this is a trap, or some other confusion. Edd" she said glancing at the child with harsh eyes, "Is there anything else you can remember? Who is your mother! How did you get here" she almost screamed at him while clutching his small shoulders.
"Nami… you are scaring me" Edd whispered, lips barely trembling.
"Oi Nami" Luffy warned, noticing the child's frightened eyes, It didn't make much difference to him whether he was really his future son or not, Edd was their friend, their companion on their ship, If he was frightened, he would protect him.
"Edd, don't lie to us, Who is your father" the navigator demanded…
On Edd's mind, a flash of a big, imposing man echoed loudly.
"Edd my boy! You should be SUUUPER PROUD, Your dad is the Pirate King!"
The child widened his eyes, feelings, memories, filling his mind, his dad's wide smile, his strength, he could remember that now, stepping up, with his back straight and eyes full of confidence, he shouted.
"My father... IS THE PIRATE KING"
Nami let go of his shoulders and stepped back with her mouth hanging open. Luffy started to laugh boisterously… of course, he thought, in the future he WAS going to BE the Pirate King, no doubt about that, if the child really came from the future, that was to be expected.
"Nami, just leave him" Luffy half pleaded, half ordered, because the woman kept regarding the child with a cold, hard gaze.
"And your mother?" she demanded.
"My mom…" Edd whispered lowering his gaze… long pretty hair flaring on the wind… her touch, her comforting voice filled his mind for a moment.
But then, her panicked face filled his mind, her frantic screams echoed in his head,
"Edd, RUN!"
She had shouted in sheer desperation.
"My mom…" he whispered, "My mom is gone because of me!" eyes filled with tears when the memories started to pour back on his young mind.
"And because of that…. My father hates me!" he ran away to hide inside the galley, and everyone stood there frozen with no idea of how to act next.
It was a very strange night for everyone. Neither Luffy nor Nami had gone to look for the child, and the task fell on Usopp and Chopper, who took him to the men's quarters trying to comfort him after they found him crouching behind a barrel, crying silently.
The captain just stood sitting on Merry's head all night long, and not a word came out of his mouth, besides, no one dared approach him either. Nami stood by her tress for a long while, feeling very guilty about scaring Edd. And above all, she was confused, very very confused.
Robin was in the kitchen, rolling the medallion in her fingers, her notepad besides her and a thoughtful look on her face, she had managed to decode some of the runes,time, ties, window…
A cup of coffee next to her notepad while Sanji stood by washing the dishes…
"Robin-chan…" he said suddenly, "Are you sure…"
"Absolutely" she answered.
Needless to say, it was a weird night for them all…
Nightmares plagued Edd all night long, but he was so tired he couldn't seem to wake up, and his small whimpers kept everyone on the men's quarters awake. Luffy and Zoro hadn't shown up in the room and Sanji just stood there for a short while, but after a couple of hours of listening to the child, he couldn't handle it and stood up.
By the time the child rose, he could remember more things, more details, he was hungry and he went to the kitchen to beg Sanji for something to eat. When his little head poked out of the hatch to the men's quarters his gaze fell on Luffy's back, still sitting on the figure head.
He thought Luffy was very funny and cool, but at the moment, something told him the captain didn't want to be disturbed, so his stomach decided his next course of actions as he went to the kitchen.
When he stepped in, he saw Robin asleep over the table, a small blanket covering her shoulders, papers scattered messily in front of her and a half, cold unfinished cup of coffee besides her. Sanji was silently preparing breakfast and glanced at the boy when he stepped in. He made a signal with his finger, asking the child to be silent for the woman's sake.
Edd nodded and obediently took a seat at the table… his eyes fell on the ancient medallion
A voice echoed on his mind, somebody talking with his dad, both men were shadowed, their backs to him.
"…you should search for a new navigator.." a harsh voice told his father.
"…there is no other navigator for me… its over…" the pain filled voice answered… his father's voice.
After that, he had remembered his uncle's stories… his funny uncle, the one that usually exaggerated a lot but who was also very brave…
A flashback of him sitting on his bed, legs crossed, eyes wide as his uncle told him an amazing bed time story.
"…and the small brave crew, with the intrepid Ship called the Going Merry, sailed up and up mounting the knock up stream, they FLEW right up into the sky!"
"How did they fly?" he had asked full of wonder.
"the small crew, had the very best of the world, I told you that Eddy-chan"
"Tell me again uncle, plweaseee!"
"Alright alright, here it goes again,
There was the Pirate Prince, brave and powerful, he was the Captain of little Merry and he loved doing crazy stuff all the time.
Then there was the cranky samurai, who acted tough but also protected his companions with a fierce passion
Then there was the Navigator, she was the very best in the world, that is why…"
"MOM IS THE BEST!" he had shouted, offended.
"Of course Edd, your mom IS the best in the world, but this girl was very good, almost like your mom ok'"
"Ok" he nodded still not very convinced.
"Ok, let me go on, the Navigator, who was almost as good as your mom…
Then there was the
The SUPER sniper, SOGEKING, who was the King of Snipers,…. Before I took his place.
The SUPER SEA COOK; who cooked delicious food even out of the worst ingredients.
The SUPER TANUKI DOCTOR, who could cure any illness.
And the SUPER HISTORIAN, who knew how to reveal the mysteries of the past.
Such was the crew of the legendary Ship Going Merry!" his uncle had finished with a dramatic voice.
Edd had grown up filled with such stories almost every night… stories about that legendary crew… he wanted to meet them, but his uncle told him he couldn't… they lived in the past, he had said… a long… long time ago…
He barely remembered the place he grew up in, but he had a flash of the medallion, it was kept in a safe on their ship. He was helping clean up on a bored, rainy day, as his aunt entertained him with tales of the different and cool artifacts stored on their vault.
They say this is a magic medallion- she had said with a mischievous smile.
When he lost his mother… when desperation shattered his father's spirit… Edward decided he needed to seek the help of the legendary navigator… with her… they may be able to find his mom… right?
Last thing he remember was putting on the medallion on his neck and think about the heroes of his uncle's stories… he didn't remember anything else after waking up with Luffy and the rest…
And his eyes widened…
He WAS on board the Merry! His breath accelerated, his heart thundered inside his chest, he took the medallion and his hands shook.
"Edd-chan, what is wrong" Sanji asked letting go of his knife… Robin woke up and saw the child shaking.
"Robin… you are the historian… and Sanji… you are the cook… Luffy… is the prince? And the rest…" he babbled to himself.
"What is he talking about" Sanji said taking out a cigarette from the packet as he watched Edd step out the galley in a mad dash to the helm of the ship.
"LUFFY!" He shouted loudly.
Luffy spun around and glanced at him with tired eyes, "Huh?"
"Luffy, is this the Going Merry? The ship that went to the Sky island Skypiea?" tears fell down his eyes and the shouting drew out the rest of the crew to the deck. Nami stood by the upper railing glancing at the child with curious eyes.
"Yes" Luffy responded simply.
Now, fat tears of emotion stated to pour out Edd's eyes… he made it… they could still go and save his mother… he spun around and glanced at Nami.
"Nami! Are you the navigator?" he asked desperately.
"Yes.. that's right Edd… why…" she said cocking her head to the side.
Edd climbed the stairs and ran to her, clutching the fabric of her grey shirt with the EVIL letters on her chest, glancing at her face with frantic, desperate eyes full of tears.
"You have to help me Nami! I have to search for my mom! And our Ship has no navigator anymore! And dad won't search for another! You have to go with me PLEASE!" he was shouting madly.
"What are you talking about Edd, go where? I can't understand you" and Nami kneeled in front of him, gentle hands on his shoulders and offered a smile.
But Edd wasn't listening to her, with a scowl on his face, he put on the medallion and surrounded Nami's neck with his arms.
"Navigator-san, be careful!" Robin shouted… in vain.
"Take me home, please!" Edd shouted while clutching the ancient artifact.
And with a thundering and blinding flash of light, both disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
Luffy's eyes widened in surprise
"NAMIIIIII!" He shouted… in vain…
To be continued...
There, you see? You have read before about kids who go back in time... but this is the plot twist I was waiting to reveal.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter and if you did, please, drop me a note! thanks
