Francis "Picture it as you will" cover album – Picture 5

Cover page title:"Grand Line High School – Class 11-2 - Delinquents?"

"It's the third period before lunch hour at Grand Line High School, and the student from class 11-2 are having a Math class. Our heroes are separated into two rows. (From left to right) At the front row, theres Alix, who's petting with the classe's pet rabbit that she took from it's cage, Marilyn, who's hiding a boat magazine inside her math textbook, and Kit, who's making a crazy upgrade on her calculator. On the back row, Amelia's tuning up her violin, Alex's playing with a GameBoy (for which game he's playing, ask Jason Southwell for it), and Francis is sleeping on his table, doozing off to la-la land."


CHAPTER SIX - THE TIME TO SOAR HAS ARRIVED!


(The day after the fight)

"AAAAAAHHH~~~~" said Francis stretching his arms and legs "Well, I had a nice sleep... Where am I?"

"You're inside my bar, or what used to be it." said Alix entering the front door with a bag of groceries.

"Oh, yeah. I remember now."

He was lying down on a futon. The rest of the room was empty, even the kitchen and storage room. All that was left was a lantern next to the flat mattress and a bag for the futon.

"Where's everyone else?" he asked getting up on his feet.

"Heh, Captain... You're in your underwear!" said Alix putting down her groceries on the empty counter.

Francis looked down and realized that he was only wearing boxers "WHAT THE HELL?" he yelled around looking for his clothes and bagpack.

"Here you go" she said handing him his washed clothes and bagpack from behind the counter.

"Thanks. How long was I out?" he asked while putting his shirt back on.

"It's ten o'clock of the morning, so you've been down for seventeen hours . Alex said that you won't get a scar from that" she pointed at his chest, where the cut from the operation had been made."

"What happened? All I can remember was being locked inside a cage and then waking up next to the beaten up dust captain." he said while feeling the back of his neck with his hand, looking for signs of having taken a bump or something "Between those two moments, my memory is a total blank."

"Do you remember this?" she asked, giving him a brown cover notebook.

Francis finishes putting on his pants and grabs the notebook. After a long look, he says "Note 44?"

"Note 44" she confirmed with a smile.

"Now I remember..."


(Flashback from two hours after Francis passed out)

"He's gonna be fine" said Alex removing his mask and bloody gloves "All he needs to do now is rest, or the stitches will burst."

"Will take him back to my bar" said Alix "The Marines will take a lot of time to recover from this assault, so we'll be safe there."

"What did he say about his bagpack?" asked Kit picking Francis bagpack from the floor.

"Brown and note 44, I believe" said Amelia, who was sitting on a large crate "Where's Marilyn?"

"Here I am" answered Marilyn entering from the backdoor of the warehouse.

"Where were you?" asked Alex.

"Checking on something to make sure the Marines hadn't touched it" she answered.

"What thing?" asked Alix, taking off a work apron she had been wearing, since she was serving has a nurse, knocking Francis back into sleep each time he would wake up (with sedatives that Alex fortunately kept on his doctor's kit.

"A surprise" answered Marolyn pulling down her eyelid and sticking out her tongue.

"Anyway" said Kit turning to Alix "What did our Captain said before passing out?"

"44 of something brown" she answered taking the bagpack from Kit and looking inside it. "Maybe this?" she asked taking out a brown colored notebook.

"Probably,... look inside" said Amelia.

Alix opens the notebook and starts skipping pages until:

"...44: Beer roasted cat:

-1 cat cut into roast;
-1 can of mushroom soup;
-1 cube of beef bouillon;
-1 clove of garlic;
-1 bottle of dark beer.

Cover and soak cat roast in salt water for 24 hours. Drain water and then cover and soak in beer for 6 hours. Drain and place in crock pot with your cans of soup. Add a clove of garlic, and a cube of beef bouillon. If you start to slow cook your cat in the morning with your cooker, you'll have finely cooked feline in time for supper.

If a slow cooker is not available, a cat can be baked at 350 degrees for 2-3 hours in a conventional oven and still come out pretty good. Beer Roasted Cat is fantastic served with mashed potatoes, collard greens, and fresh, homemade egg rolls. When planning a full meal just remember- cat is a course best served hot!

(Everyone) "?"

"KYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAA~~~~!" shrieked Alix, throwing the notebook far, far away.

Using his devil fruit powers, Alex was able to catch the book in mid-air before it fell anywhere dangerous "What the hell?"

"Who cook's ca~~t's?" whined Alix who was now seated in a fetal position and crying like a little girl.

"The girls crazy I tell you" said Kit "Give me that!" she ordered, taking the books from Alex's hands. She passes by the pages and stops in one. "Here it is! Note 44, not page 44...*ahem* Note 44: Soulless Mode:

- Another day, another Island here in North Blue. The island's name is Gishiki Island and I've been stuck here for three days now. The locals, the Lokooki tribe, have been performing several strange rituals. Today, I've witnessed the battle between what i've found out to be two of the top ten warriors of the tribe. The battle is to the death, like it's been here in this island for over one hundred years, or so i've heard. Each combatant was at least over twenty years old. Both men had their kids given to the village elder, and for my own horror, the offspring of the loser was to be sacrificed to the gods (good thing I don't pray anymore). When the match started, my mind was sent into a new dimension. Each warrior sent a howl that shook all tress in a 100 meter radius. Each started to bleed from their eyes like tears. Their eyes went blank like some sort of zombies. And then they started...

When the bloodshed ended, there wasn't anything I could do to stop the sacrifice of the looser's child, except turning my eyes away. That was two deths in less than ten minutes. When the elder called me, he told me all about this misterious ability. It appeard to be transmitted through several bloodlines, such as: Hyato, Mikoto, Froler, Dente, Joll, Extor, Tounshira, Newlo ... and for my own surprise, Wolfang!

The elder revealed to me that he knew who I was. He told me that when something that I hold dear to me is to be taken away, my true abilites were sure to be revealed. My mind doozed off at this information. I have seen the destructive power that this ability can unlock. I was told that within the users mind, he is allowed to turn to a maximum of nine living beings he knows into "link-chains". They shutdown the users offensive against these people he chose. But for each "link-chain" that it's created, one tenth of the unlocked power is taken into custody. Create, let's say, five "link-chains", the user would only be given half of the unlocked power.

Another downside is the fact that although it increases one's resistance to being hurt or damaged, it doesn't heal the damage, so when time's up, the user will be rammed with everything he had just been put through. (...)

"Looks like he did wanted to protect us..." said Amelia looking at Francis unconscious on the work table.

"Let's get him to the bar. The Marines will take their time to regroup and come after us" said Alix.

(End of Flashback)


"So you guys did read it" whispered Francis.

"Sorry, did you say something Captain?" asked Alix coming out of the kitchen with a glass of purple liquid "Now drink this."

"What is that?"

"Juice..."

"Since when does juice bubble?"

Francis is then shoved to the ground by Alix, who starts to pour the medicine down Francis's throat. At the same time, Kit entered the bar, and interrupted the strange scene.

"heellrrerp~~~~" cried Francis, drowning on the medicine that Alix was pouring into his mouth.

"That's enough, Alix" said Kit picking her like a little girl from untop of Francis "I don't think that the Captain hasn't got the ability to breathe liquids."

"Thanks" said Francis "Where is everyone else?"

"Well" she started to count with her fingers "Marilyn was preparing our journey off this island, Amelia wondered off to get food supplies, me and Alix were encharged of looking out for you and Alex said something about medical supplies".

Francis looked at Kit. The look on her eyes gave away that something was bothering her.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"It's about what you wrote in that book of yours" she revealed pointing at the book on his hands.

"What's wrong with it?" asked Francis.

Kit looked at Amix, who was standing between "Can you give us a moment?"

"Ok" she answered.

(...)

"I think she means if could you give us minute of privacy" said Francis.

"Oh, ok. Now don't do any funny bussiness you two" she teased while entering a door that lead to an upstairs office.

"DO NOT!" yelled the both of them throwing the futon and pillows at her.

(...)

"Sit down and tell me what bothered you" said Francis when the both of them calmed down.

"Well" she started "It's about those names you listed on note 44 of your book"

"The one about..."

"Soulless Mode" she finished.

"What do you want to know?"

"Tounshira"

"Your last name?"

"It's in your notes. Have all people written there been able to tap into this hidden power?" she asked.

"Well... I've been hearing reports from several of those people. Those nine I've written there were the only ones that weren't from that island and that the chief had knowledge of. In my case, he simply looked at me and found out immediately. In your case, someone from your "Tounshira" bloodline" he answered.

"Tounshira comes from my father, but my mother is the one with the sword abilities"

"Then your mother most have visited North Blue sometime in her life after getting married with your father. The man told me that all names were from people of a generation before his. He was almost eighty years old, so it must be people with an age of forty to fifty years."

Kit sits down on her knees and starts thinking to herself. At the same time, Francis goes to the bag of groceries that Alix had brought and makes a dozen sandwiches. She's thinking... He's chewing... thinking...chewing...thinking...chewing...thinking...chewing...

"STOP CHEWING WHEN SOMEONE'S TRYING TO THINK!" yelled Kit.

"Sorry" he said "*gulp*Want one?"

"*sigh* Sure, why not..." she answered taking a sandwich from the pile.

*BOOOMMM* The front door opens with a big kick.

"I SMELL FOOD!" yelled Alex, entering the bar with bags and bags filled with all kinds of stuff.

"First of all" started Francis "How can you smell a sandwich from behind a door?"

"And second, you're supposed to take care of medical supplies, so, why are you carrying bags of food?" continued Kit.

"He found me on the market, so he brought me back" said Amelia, also entering the bar "Hi" she saluted raising her hand a little.

"Why would he need to bring you back?" asked Alix coming out of the office with a box full of stuff.

"She was playing her flute in the middle of the market" said Alex giving Amelia a gentle bump on her head "and every pidgeon within a ten meter radius were dancing with the rhythm".

"I had finished buying food an hour before, so I was bored" said Amelia like it was a perfectly made excuse.

"Why didn't you read a book instead?" asked Kit.

"They're all in my suitcase, and Marilyn asked for our luggage a while ago. So, I'm, only left with the instruments I carry with me".

"I've been meaning to ask that" said Alix putting down the box she carried "I've been moving my stuff all day. What are we doing, checking-in a cruise ship into the Grand Line?"

"I was hoping you guys would say something like that!" said a voice in the entrance.

At the front door, there was Marilyn. Her face was dirty from black paint and her clothes were full of sawdust.

"What happened to you?" asked Francis looking at her attires.

"I've been working on our way out this island." she answered "You don't mind that I've been using your money, right?"

"No, not at all, that's ... crew money. It's meant for..." he shakes his hands in a way to say whatever she was doing.

"Great. Then everybody grab their things and follow MEEEEE!" she ordered, leaving the bar.

(...)

"Was it just me, or was she a little too excited for a simple cruise or boat trip?" said Alix, tilting her head to the said with a ?

"... I wonder..." said Amelia with a small smile.


(Location: Harbour 27, owner: Marilyn's private work station)

The harbour was filled with piles of lumber, boxes that used to carry metal pieces, even some used parts from other ships. Marine Ships! On the corner there was a small division that was used by Marilyn when she slept at the harbor. Besides that, the last thing that was there was a simply... 20 meter length by 12 of height (including the main mast), ready-to-depart, white sail caravel.

Francis - jawdropped; Alex - Jawdropped; Amelia - small smile (the usual); Kit - jawdropped; Alix - jumping up and down with excitment; Marilyn - Next to the ship with a triomphant pose.

"" repeated Alix jumping up and down faster.

"Sure, come on board" said Marilyn starting to climb the rope ladder to get onboard"

The inside of the ship was completely made out of manually carved wood. Not a single splinter on the walls and floors. The first stop was below the main deck: the crew's quarters. The six rooms were equal to one another, and there was room to build another two, just in case. After a quick tour over the ships power supply, the crew made their way to the Kitchen. Francis was amazed by the details that each furniture and cooking equipment had been placed into the structure.

"So when do we leave?" asked Alex.

"My calculations of today's weather showed me that until five of the afternoon, every current will be leading ships away from Reverse Mountain" revealed Kit.

"So there's time for lunch! Good, I'll get right on it" said Francis "... but first, I ask that everyone takes a seat" he requested.

When everyone is seated, Francis sits himself on the kitchen counter, not on the chair.

"I thought that the head seat was meant for the Captain" said Marilyn.

"That's precisely what I want to discuss with you all" said Francis " Everyone here has already saved my life, and I DO mean Everyone" he said, cutting Marilyn's attempt to say "Not me". "The moment that I seat here on this chair, and everywhere else, you will adress to me as either Francis or Cook. The title of Captain is nothing more than a title given to leaders who stand out in their crews for their strength. Since I consider our abilities to be unique, there isn't anyone here that is stronger than the other. Therefore, I will only assume the title of Captain to respond in the name of the crew, like a spokesman. Is that understood?"

"YES, mister Cook" answered Alix.

"For those replies, you can call me sir" replied Francis.

"AYE" said everyone else.

"Well then..." said Francis getting up and looking to the clock on the wall "it's mid-day. It will take one hour to pack all the food into the kitchen and cook lunch. After that, will have three hours, max, to get the ship into water and sail into the current. Dismissed."


(Fifteen minutes later)

"Whew!" said Kit whiping her forehead "Finished unloading my stuff, now for a shower" She remembered that Marilyn had said that there was a hatch on the opposite end of the corridor entrance that lead to the kitchen when someone needed to use the bathroom in the middle of the night or during a bad weather day, so she took it.

"Need any help?" asked Kit sticking her head out of the hacth.

In the kitchen there was just Francis doing lunch and Amelia composing a new tune.

"No thanks, I'm good" replied Francis.

"Then I'm off to take a shower" said Kit entering the bathroom.

When the sound of running water was heard, Amelia stopped writing and said "No peeping, sir"

Francis facepalmed himself and with a strong blush he said to himself "That's the second time that someone insinuates that! What's wrong with them?"

Behinf his back, Amelia let out a small giggle of victory.

"What have I got myself into..." joked Francis.


"SO COOOOOL!" yelled Francis.

It was four thirty and Marilyn was showing the last surprise of the day, their Jolly Roger! It was an awesome painting of a wolf with wings on each side instead of bones (DevianArt on my profile).

"And I've already painted it on the sails" she said pointing at the images on the sails.

"Soooo COOOOL!" mimicked Alix, but in her way, she glomped Marilyn, taking her down.

Alex took the flag and with a high jump, he reached the crownest. Amelia was already their.

"Need help" she asked.

"WHAT THE...?" yelled Alex, almost falling down the mast with the surprise. Fortunatelly, Amelia grabbed him by the shirt's collar and pulled him back inside.

"Don't scare me like that" he said.

"I just wanted to help raising the flag" she answered.

"If it's just that, here, you can raise it" he said giving her the pirate symbol.

"Thank you" she said with an unnusual bright smile.

The flag was then raised. Of course, because there was no wind inside a warehouse, it just stood there, lifeless.

"Time to make that flag soar guys" said Kit from the main deck "It's time for the sea current, let's get the ship into the water!".

"I got it" said Marilyn.

She hoped outside the ship and made her way to the wall near the warehouse boat entrance gate. In that wall, there was a switch that said "raise" and "lowered". She moved it from "raised" to "lowered".

"Wait" said Francis "What does that switch dooooooooooo..."

The moment she clicled it, the gate opened and a ramp that separated the dry dock, that the ship was in, from the wet docks that were outside. With a huge splash, the boat slided into the port waters of Loguetown.

"Wait for me!" said Marilyn giving the longest jump she could make. With a loud thump, she landed right next to Francis.

*WOOOSSSHHHH* A large splash of water washed the deck of the boat.

"Boy, you're heavy, even enough to cause such wave" Alix to Marilyn.

"AM NOT!" she cried in reply.

"She isn't" said Alex landing on the other side of Francis after jumping from above.

"What is it?" asked Francis. In the backround, Kit was scribbling notes.

"Marine cannons firing from the main harbour" he replied "And Obutsu is commanding the assault" he grunted.

"Spare me the sarcasm. Wait here" said Francis going inside the kitchen.

"What's he doing?" asked Kit, joining the group in the deck.

"Incoming cannon fire" said Amelia coming down from one of the side nets of the mast.

Water and water. Both shots missed the ship, altought the distance was getting shorter.

"I'm back!" said Francis returning with an empty barrel and a wooden box.

"What's the stuff for?" asked Marilyn.

"It's tradition" he replied "Before we set sail, we must name the ship and share our dreams for this voyage" he lays the barrel and puts he's foot on top "To travel the Grand Line" he said (didn't said the love part, the sneaky bastard, hehehe).

Alex puts his foot "Conquer the Grand Line, love, friends and become a great Doctor"

Amelia puts her foot "To play my songs all around the Grand Line and on the beaches of Raftel".

Kit puts her foot "To find my father and to become a great swordswoman".

Alix (on top of the box, due to being short) puts her foot "To live a great adventure!"

Marilyn puts her foot "To make a ship that's capable of flying"

Francis then concluded (with more waves crashing on them) "This, is where our legacy STARTS. With this ship at this point."

"How about "THE LEGACY" for a ship's name?" suggested Marilyn.

"Fine by me. EVERYONE IN FAVOR?"

"AYE"

Everyone then puts down their foot, crushing the barrel (Mazel Tov :P).

"To stations! Bring down the sails and prepare to run! HAHA!" ordered Francis.

"But we are still within range" informed Alex looking through a sailing telescope.

Francis looks at the sails and a lightbulb ligts up "Marylin, what are these sails made off?" he asked.

"Water-proof silk" she proclaimed proudly "Why?"

"I'VE GOT AN IDEA!"


(On Loguetown Main Dock)

"FIRE, FIRE, FIRE!" yelled a patched up Obutsu to the gunners "DON'T LET THEM GET AWAY"

"Don't worry, sir" said a Marine "We've got two battleships ready to cut them off".

Suddenly, the Legacy jumped out of the water, and soared into the skyes, with a giant leap, passing above the blockade. Obutsu and the Marines were finally left behind, speechless to say the least.


(On the Legacy, a few moments before the jump)

"Do it fast!" said Alix on the ship's front "because there are two battleships on our front"

"Ready?" asked Francis, putting his sword on a horizontal with his body and pointing it at the sails.

"As I'll ever be" answered Kit doing the same, but on the ship's rear, pointing at the water.

"Wait..." said Marilyn "NOW!"

(Francis) "COUP DROIT"

(Kit) "KAON YARI"

From Francis sword, comes an air blast, that hits the sail, speeding the ship on a direct course to the battleships. Then Kit's blast creates a small burst of energy, launching the ship into flight.

"WE'RE FLYING! WHOOOOOO!" yelled Marilyn, feeling the breeze on the crownest.

"See ya!" said Francis and Kit to the stunned Marines on the battleships below.

It was like a dream. The ship must have already flown two kilometers. It was a marvelous view to look at the blue ocean below.

"Ahh, sir..." interrupted Amelia "We're starting to fall"

(Francis):

O ,, O

IVVVVVV

I

I

I^^^^^


My thanks go once again(and what do you know, again) to: Jason Southwell; Dandy Wonderous; TimesUnfettredImaginationBomb (former: TwilightFever-FutureCullen) and Allycat18. I love you guys, take care.

Next chapter is on sight, as well as the Grand Line. The true adventure as just begun, will they be up to the challenge?

Don't forget, if you haven't voted in my poll, why not doing it today.

Also, I'm taking any suggestions for antagonists. I'll warn people if I'm using them beforehand.

Another information - I've finished our Jolly Roger! Tell me what you think!

Next Chapter: DAR SHE BLOWS!

Soo long everybody and gooooooodnight!