A/N: Hey, everyone! Sorry for the late upload. I was gone for President's Day weekend and had a fever the day I got back. Still not fully recovered yet, but had enough energy to work on a chapter for both this story and Overwhelming Hate.

Anyways, make sure you guys place your vote(s) for Isaac's pairing. It will be closing before the Alabasta Arc due to some of the choices becoming active at that point. For those who don't know, the poll can be found on this story's forum, "Windy Landing." Make sure to check it out and choose who you want Isaac to get together with. Also, I will not be counting votes in the comments. Make sure they are applied to the poll itself, or they won't count.

Here is the tally so far:

~Tashigi: 3

~Jewelry Bonney: 3

~Rebecca: 1

~Princess Shirahoshi: 1

~Perona: 1

~Boa Hancock: 1

~Margaret: 1

~Vinsmoke Reiju: 1

~Charlotte Lola: 0

~Wanda: 0

Kind of surprised, but excited to see the results. I will be taking away the three lowest-scoring choices after Arlong Park, so make sure to place your votes now. Also, if I take away your vote, you are free to let me know and I will allow you a vote through the forum, PM, or review (preferably the first two) to make up for it.

Anyways, on with the show!

Revelations and a Choice

I continued to stare at the ceiling as sleeping men snored around me. Luffy's limp arm was once again batted away by a grumbling Usopp. Sleeping with the Straw Hats was definitely a unique experience. Stuffing six guys into a single room with hammocks was not a good idea, but we did what we could with it. That wasn't what was on my mind, however. I turned in the rope-woven bed, shifting my gaze to the glinting fruit that was invading my thoughts.

'So much power in one bite…and yet, it could be all for naught. I don't even know what it could be,' I reasoned, considering my options. I had a pretty good idea as to what the fruit would bestow me. Realizing I would not be getting any form of sleep, I slowly rose form the hammock, grabbed my Devil Fruit, and wandered out to the deck without waking my roommates. I breathed in the midnight air, reveling in the salty tinge. At first, the constant sea life had literally sickened me. Now, I was accustomed to it. The thought of making my life out here had been appealing and novel at first…until I realized the truths behind this place. Death was always imminent, even more so now that I had chosen to be a pirate. I glanced down at the black-and-white fruit once more. This would instantly wash away all my worries. Instant power that could be molded over time and strengthened…who wouldn't choose that? However, I continued to question the obvious choice. What if it was a useless power? What if I couldn't control it? What if…it ended up not mattering, and I died anyway?

"No. I will survive," I whispered, determination causing my gut to steel as I looked at the fruit in front of me. Then, the most shocking, unprecedented thing happened. The fruit changed. The smooth texture gave way to a fluffy one reminiscent of bird feathers. The fruit itself became perfectly white—no patterns, no blemishes. The absence of color was what confused me. The texture obviously denoted a bird. A seagull, maybe? Or an eagle? My decision suddenly became less stable, less concrete. I quickly hurried back to my room and plopped into my hammock, shutting my eyes and forcing myself to drift off to sleep.

The next few days were thankfully quite normal, causing the hubbub surrounding my newest possession to dissipate. I had resumed my training with Zoro earnestly, going through the next level of strength exercises with some difficulty. I was now doing one-handed pushups, upside-down sit-ups, and one-handed pull-ups on the sail bar.

It was the fourth day since the discovery of the Devil Fruit, and I was on my final set of the last exercise when I heard a very unmanly shriek from Usopp in the crow's nest above me. I glanced up, following his extended finger to an oncoming behemoth of a ship. Its imposing figure was tarnished by the worn-down and overall wrecked appearance of its hull, mast, and railings. 'Looks like Mihawk enjoyed himself,' I mused mentally. I shimmied towards the mast, sliding down its sanded surface easily. I gathered myself before joining Zoro and Usopp as they made their way inside the Baratie as the ship docked. I glanced back at Johnny and Yosaku, nodding at their nods of encouragement. As we neared the top of the staircase, we began to hear shouting from Patty. I groaned as the scene came into view. The Popeye rip-off was currently screaming his head off at a pale Don Krieg and a tearful Gin. I watched as Luffy came out of the kitchen, punching the babbling chef out of the way.

"Here you go, Gin," he offered, placing the plate in front of the first mate and his ravenous captain. I smiled at the scene before remembering a slightly different version from before. I vaulted the railing, rolling over the tabletop I landed on. I whipped out my two gleaming sticks with a shout of warning towards Luffy as Don Krieg rose to his full height. I crossed the weapons defensively as I leapt in front of my oblivious captain. Krieg's armored fist plowed past the wooden sticks, impacting my face with insane amounts of force. I flew backwards, barely missing the crowd of stunned chefs, and slammed into the wall of the restaurant. I flopped to the ground, gasping for breath and wincing at the intense pain spreading throughout my entire body.

"Isaac?! ISAAC! Hey, get Carne over here!" yelled Sanji as he knelt next to my bruised face. He brought out a warm dishcloth and began to clean up the minor gashes on my face, ignoring my wincing. A short, grizzled man in a cook uniform came into view, kneeling down to check my face. He probed it gently, his frown growing deeper as my pain increased.

"His bones are fractured. There might be a concussion as well," he stated, getting a worried gasp from Usopp, who had come down with Zoro. The swordsman was no glaring at a laughing Krieg along with the rest of the staff, Luffy included. Carne turned to Sanji and Zeff. "Clear the countertop in the kitchen. I'll need to place him on it." They nodded their understanding while Carne quickly but gently shouldered me to my feet. I groaned at the movement, feeling my legs and back nearly give out. "Shoot. Looks like there's more damage to the lower body as well. This is bad, kid." I ignored him, instead shifting my gaze to Usopp. Or, more specifically, the fruit in his hands. He noticed my gaze before nodding in understanding, quickly following Carne into the kitchen. I heard a large thump, followed by many chefs protesting. I smirked weakly, coughing from the pressure on my ribs.

"Urk…looks like…Luffy and Sanji are…going to kick their…" I tried to say before devolving into bone-racking coughs once more. This was not good. With no professional doctor, I was in a serious dilemma. Unlike Zoro or any of the other freakishly strong people in this restaurant, these kinds of injuries could not be slept off in a week. They had the potential to be permanent. I turned my gaze to Zeff as he walked in, his arms folded and a cross look across his furry face. He glanced at the fruit in Usopp's hands. His eyes nearly flew out of his head before it whipped to me.

"Kid…where did you find that fruit?" he breathed, causing Usopp to tense up. I merely continued to stare at the head chef blankly, confused by the volatile reaction. Realization hit, causing my own eyes to widen. Zeff noticed and he sighed before nodding, confirming my suspicions. "I know exactly what fruit that is…and it is both a blessing and a curse." He took it from Usopp and studied it. "When one wishes for power, whatever the reason is, and is holding a Bird-Bird Fruit…it changes. This shows another thing as well: the user's will is specialized for Haki and very strong." My eyebrows nearly flew off my head, which he noticed. "Not quite Conqueror level, as that would give a fruit with even greater raw power." He returned his focus to the fruit. "No, that would give you the Mythical Zoan Rawk-Rawk Fruit, turning you into the legendary bird itself with unparalleled speed, strength, and control over wind. However…this fruit has the potential to be greater than even that." My disappointment quickly dispersed upon hearing that. "This is the Mythical Zoan Bird-Bird Fruit, Model: Boobrie." I heard a horrified gasp from Usopp, causing the three of us to look over to him.

"That…that's impossible," he breathed, staring at the fruit in shock. "The last user of that fruit…he was killed in a duel years ago, the fruit lost to the seas." He turned to me, a grave expression on his dark face. "The boobrie is a mythical beast that was begun by an ancient warrior clan that no one seems to know about any more. In essence, this bird shapeshifted into whatever bird it wished, including mythical ones, and even took on the form of a majestic stallion. It would draw in unsuspecting travelers and animals with its ability to change its voice as well while also taking on an unassuming form. Then…it struck, killing its prey and feasting on it." I shivered at the implications while the sniper continued. "The Boobrie Bloodlust was infamous after the last wielder of this fruit, O'Hare Lassi, ravaged the West Blue with it, nearly destroying the entire ecosystem there. And then, one day, he was killed in a battle with an unnamed pirate. The only way they knew he had been defeated was when his blade, the Chiryūkiba (A/N: "Blood Dragon Fang"), was found at a Marine base. It was then returned to the island where the tale originated, where the local royalty locked it in their castle, waiting for a true wielder of the Bloodlust to come and claim it." Zeff nodded along before returning his gaze to the fruit. He set it down on a table before his head whipped towards the direction of the restaurant's entrance.

"Carne, get out there!" he ordered, causing the chef to quickly grab a serrated knife and sprint through the kitchen doors and out the front entrance. He turned back to me, a dark expression on his craggy face. "Kid, listen up. This fruit will most definitely heal you. Not only that, but it will greatly speed up your body's adjustment to your new climate and diet. However, as the long-nosed brat has said, you will have to constantly fight against the Curse of the Bloodlust until you can fully control it. This is a great power, but it comes with an even greater cost." With that, the tall-hatted chef set the fruit down next to me, ducked under the doorway, and left to defend his restaurant. I merely continue to lay on the countertop, considering my options.

On the one hand, I would be probably be permanently malformed because of my injuries. However, I wouldn't have to deal with trying to control this new power along with my training. On the other hand, I would gain an unprecedented power that had literally unlimited and untapped potential. And yet, the power did not come free by any means. What's more, I apparently had a high aptitude for Haki. Put that all together, and you have a very sticky situation on your hands. My mind continued to run a mile a minute as I thought through my options. Suddenly, I heard Luffy scream out Zoro's name in fear and anguish. I quickly hopped to my feet, finding a resolute Usopp immediately by my side, fruit in hand as we made our way towards the door.

"I gotcha, Isaac," he affirmed, making me smile as we hobbled outside the restaurant to a horrific sight. Zoro was floating in the water, the immediate around him colored a deep red from the blood pouring from his wounds. I grimaced at that before making my way with Usopp over to where Johnny and Yosaku had just jumped from to retrieve their "big bro." I continued to stare at the fruit in my friend's hand before refocusing on the sliced-up swordsman as he was placed at my feet. I knelt down next to him, wincing at the painful action. I took that moment to glance at my arms. Nasty gashes lined them, most likely to turn into scars. One arm was slightly bent weird, probably never to return to normal again. That wasn't even considering my bandaged torso, which probably looked like it had been put through a meat grinder. I groaned in both mental and physical pain before looking up at Johnny and Yosaku, taking note of their self-loathing expressions.

"Nami…she left with the Merry, didn't she?" I presumed, getting two hesitant nods in response. I sighed and prepared to continue speaking, but I was interrupted by Zoro, who had just regained consciousness. His normally flinty eyes had tears gushing out of them, pouring down his dirtied face. He slowly raised a single, tired arm, holding the shaking lift aloft along with his precious blade.

"Luffy! I promise that I will never again lose a battle. I will become the greatest swordsman in the seas!" pronounced the young man, causing a smirk to appear on my beaten face. "Is that okay with you…King of the Pirates?!" Our captain's face was blank for several tense moments before it broke out in his trademark grin and giggle.

"Sure!" he agreed before turning his attention to me, a grave expression on his face as his eyes bounced between the fruit in Usopp's hand and my injured body. "Whatever you choose to do, Isaac, I will support you." Warmth filled my stomach at his trust in my discernment. I had always been questioned at every turn by either myself or someone close to me on my decisions and their validity. Now, here was a young man who would somehow change the world telling me that whatever I decided was the right choice. My gaze became blurry as tears welled up in my eyes. I quickly wiped them away, chuckling at my captain's answer.

"Aye, aye, captain," I saluted, raising my hand to do just that. He smiled and gave a curt nod before returning his intense gaze to Mihawk. They spoke for a short time before Luffy turned to Don Krieg with a deadly gaze. What ensued was a fight worthy of a fantasy novel. Undeterred by Krieg's versatile arsenal, my captain blazed forward, intent on defeating his foe. He ended by sending a fearful Krieg hurtling into the sea…but not without being caught up in the net himself. I leapt to my feet, ignoring the searing pain, and dove into the salty depths. Cringing as the brine seeped into my open wounds and bandages, I kicked towards my descending captain, pilfered knife in hand. I had grabbed it from Carne as I leapt in. I quickly cut through the thin ropes with some difficulty before grabbing the immobile Luffy and kicking my back to the surface.

"You idiot!" screamed Sanji as he pulled me onto the deck roughly. "If you hadn't rested earlier, you would have died for sure!" I felt something inside me snap. This impudent brat was telling me what I could and couldn't do. I decked him across the face, causing him to take a step back from my weak hit. His shock, though, was much more satisfying.

"So what?!" I retorted, grabbing his immaculate suit by the collar. "My captain was in trouble, you jerk! He can't swim, but he knew that. He trusted his crew to grab him if he fell in. Last I checked, I fit that description just fine. I'm tired of being the weak one who needs help and who needs saving. I have a way out, but it feels like cheating. Until I can stand on my own two feet and face a foe, I am not worthy to take the potential power that has been given to me." My rant obviously got to the smokestack as he made no attempt to move away as I let him go. His face was reflective and thoughtful as he considered my words. Satisfied with my speech, I limped back to where I had set Luffy down, smiling at the now-awake boy.

"Thanks for the save, Isaac!" he praised. He giggled as I sat next to him. "Without you, I would've been a goner!" He became serious as Krieg broke the surface, his eyes pupiless and unfocused. Gin quickly knocked him out once more before turning to us, his face apologetic. I laid back, tuning out his declaration to Luffy. I glanced back to a nearby crate, once again considering the blank Devil Fruit that unassumingly rested there. Why was I given this power? Were the beings that brought me here just that bored? Or…was I meant to change something here? So much happened that could change, but it was vital to shaping my crew. Maybe that was just it. I was here to influence them, but not change them. My musings were cut short as Carne and Patty lifted me to my feet gently, massive smiles on their grizzled faces.

"Nice work today, kid!" praised Patty as we slowly made our way back inside the fishy (heh heh…) restaurant. He rubbed his head sheepishly. "I doubted you, but you came through for your captain when it counted the most." I nodded before turning to a conflicted Carne. He looked over to the Devil Fruit that Luffy had just grabbed on his way inside. He turned his confused gaze back to me.

"I hope you made the right choice, Isaac…because I feel like you didn't," he warned, causing me to hum in understanding. However, I merely smiled back. I remembered the excitement I felt from being accepted on the crew…the hellish training that Zoro put me through, but always giving me encouragement in his own special way…the smile on Johnny, Yosaku, and Usopp's faces when I completed a difficult task…the sweet sound of Nami's voice, praising me for a job well done.

"I didn't do it because I'm not ready yet," I realized aloud, clenching my fists as my gut steeled itself in determination. I returned my gaze to Carne's before looking up at the sky. "My crew believed in me when I didn't have it. I feel like, until I show that trust was not misplaced, I am not worthy of the power and responsibility the Devil Fruit will give me." We lapsed into silence as we joined the celebration. However, my mind never once forgot that, sitting in the kitchen, just waiting for me to take a single bite, was a limitless power source that would solve all of my problems. 'Soon…very soon, I will need it. But not yet…not until I prove that I don't need to rely on the power it gives.'

The fruit has been revealed! For all those who do not know, the Boobrie is a mythogical bird that can shapeshift and change its voice, as stated here. Specifically, the legends state that its voice can change to a sheep and it transforms into a horse, but I am taking creative liberties. This is my story, darn it! Thank goodness for FFnet, or else my creative juices would probably cause my brain to explode.

The boobrie was not my first choice actually. I first had an owl in mind, as evidenced by the original story photo (it has been changed to include my other original choices). I then changed it to an ostrich, a cassowary, and lastly a penguin. The fruit was actually originally going to be the Penguin-Penguin Fruit, Model: Macaroni. However, I changed it. The whole point of those three birds is their lack of flight. I was going to allow Isaac to later fly with them. And the penguin was because Devil Fruit users often cannot go in the water, but penguins can, so it would annul that as well.

In the end, I chose the boobrie because it can naturally fly, but also change into a penguin to swim. I also hinted at this, but this fruit has the potential to shift into any of the legendary birds, such as the roc (which was actually suggested by Raidentensho and got me started on the legendary bird path), phoenix, etc. I know this was completely unexpected, but I also like the idea because I could incorporate the bloodlust aspect. In essence, this is also part of the story description. Isaac will learn to control the bloodlust, but to the extent where he can instantly turn it on and off, allowing him to use it on foes, but not on allies.

Hope you guys liked the reveal! Isaac will be eating the fruit before they enter the Grand Line, so don't worry. I just don't want to give him the power right away. He will be on par with crewmembers such as Sanji and Zoro by the timeskip and may even be Luffy-level powered-up afterwards. Who knows? Just go with the flow and where the winds take you :) Don't forget to vote, review, and follow the story! The link to the forum can be found on my profile. Until next time!

~Sir Zesto