Ch. 24- Merry and the Fourth
One Piece © Oda
Blizzard, Monkey D. Aika, Kumi, Kovar, and Monkey D. Star © Me
"YES!" Aika cheered. "He did it! Big Brother beat the butler guy!"
"Yeah! Luffy's unstoppable!" Kumi added.
"Serves him right!" Usopp added as he watched Kuro fall, to the Black Cat Pirates' shock.
"I don't believe it! That kid actually beat Captain Kuro!"
"Kuro of A Thousand Plans, the man who managed to outsmart the Marines...beaten by this scrawny runt?!"
"Hey, kid! Who the hell are you, anyway?!"
A pause...before Luffy turned to the Black Cat Pirates with a confident grin.
"The name's Monkey D. Luffy," he said. "You think I'm one to let someone who gave up on being a pirate beat me?!"
"You tell 'em, Big Brother!" Aika added.
"A real pirate would die before he'd do either the things this guy did!" Luffy declared. "You all better remember my name...because someday, I'm gonna be King of the Pirates!"
Hearing that caused the Black Cat Pirates to balk in disbelief.
"Now do me a favor," Luffy said as he picked up Kuro. "Get out...and take your TRASH with you!" He then hurled the Black Cat Pirate Captain at the pirates, who screamed as they turned and fled, some being mindful to take those who were injured.
"And don't you ever show your faces around here again!" Luffy shouted.
"HAHAHAHA!" Usopp laughed. "Look at 'em run!"
"Hey, I think I saw some of them soil themselves!" Sanji added before he also joined in laughing at the Black Cat Pirates.
"What a bunch of sissies!" Franky chimed in.
"They actually took Kuro with them?" Chopper asked. "But why? He said he'd kill them."
"Because Kuro was right," Blizzard answered. "Those pirates are nothing but simple-minded sheep...and Kuro is their shepherd. Without him, they can't function properly."
Just then, Luffy began to collapse, the adrenaline subsiding as the pain from his wounds began to settle in. Luckily for him, though, Past Nami was there to catch him.
"You did a pretty good job back there," she said.
"Aww~!" Aika and Kumi cooed while Nami smiled a bit as she watched her past self gently lay Luffy on the ground.
"Hmph...who'd have thought that even the great and mighty Luffy would collapse from blood loss?" Past Nami mused. "I guess that proves that in the end, you really are human."
"He sure is," Chopper agreed.
"...So...what made you so pissed off in the first place?" asked Past Nami.
"...I hate that bastard," Luffy answered. "They're nothing but garbage."
Past Nami raised her eyebrow before she sighed.
"Well, you shouldn't be so surprised," she said. "Not many pirates have morals like you do."
A pause...until the Straw Hats heard Luffy's stomach rumble.
"I want some meat," he said, which caused Past Nami to sigh in exasperation.
"Good grief," she muttered.
Soon, the memory ended right there.
"You know, I didn't think it was possible for me to hate Kuro more than I did, that day," Usopp said, "but hearing him say he was going to kill his own men, even if the plan did succeed...I gotta wonder what he was even thinking. He really was sick."
"Luffy gave him a fitting punishment," Nami said. "If Kuro hated being a pirate so much, then Luffy gave him a fate worse than death, in my opinion."
"Serves him right," Sanji added as another memory appeared, this one showing Luffy eating in the same restaurant that Past Usopp brought him, Past Zoro, and Past Nami to. For some reason, Luffy was searching around for something in his mouth until he finally pulled it out: a fish bone.
"Bwah!" he gasped. "Got it...this thing was poking my cheek."
"You really ought to work on eating fish bones," said Past Zoro.
"You know," Past Nami began as she held up a fish skeleton, "normally, people don't eat this part."
"That's not true," Sanji said. "You just have to pulverize the bones into dust."
"Well, we're done eating," Past Zoro said. "Should we get going?"
"Yeah, I think so," Luffy answered, gnawing on the fish bone, but just before they were about to do so, someone else entered the restaurant: it was Kaya, who looked a bit livelier than she did when the Straw Hats first saw her in earlier memories.
"There you are!" she exclaimed.
"Oh, hey there, Kaya!" Luffy greeted. "How goes it?"
"Shouldn't you be resting?" asked Past Nami in concern.
"Oh, don't worry about me," Kaya assured. "I'm just fine. You see...I was never really sick to begin with. This so-called illness I had? It was really the shock and sadness of my parents' passing. It's because of Usopp that I was able to keep my spirits...but I realize now that I can't depend on people forever."
The Straw Hats, both past and present, all smiled at this.
"So," Kaya began, "it's my understanding that you three need a ship, am I right?"
"Oh!" Luffy exclaimed, excitedly. "Are you gonna give us one?!"
"Mm-hmm!" Kaya nodded. "It's the least I could do everything you've done."
Some of the Straw Hats, particularly Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Sanji, Robin, Chopper, and even Franky gaped, realizing what this meant. As the memory shifted again, the Straw Hats found themselves standing at a cape...staring at a familiar ship: the Going Merry.
"Behold!" exclaimed Kaya's other butler, Merry. "The Going Merry!"
"Whoa~!" Luffy exclaimed.
"A caravel!" Past Nami said in awe.
"Sweet," Past Zoro grinned.
"...Merry...!" Usopp whispered with tears in his eyes.
"She looks...like new..." said Nami, trying to hold back her tears.
"So this was the Going Merry," Brook said. "I do say, she does look quite beautiful, doesn't she? Little Lamb takes after her."
"You mean Mini Merry?" asked Aika.
"Wait...what happened to the Thousand Sunny?" Kumi asked.
"Yeah, I thought we always had Sunny," Blizzard added.
"We didn't have Sunny back then," Chopper answered. "Merry was our first ship...before she was..." He then trailed off and sighed, which caused Robin to gently pet him on the head, which caused him to look up and smile at her.
"She's not the latest model," Merry said, "but I designed her, myself! She's a caravel with a jib and a central stern rudder." He then looked to the Original Trio. "So you're the ones who chased off the Black Cat Pirates? Honestly, I thought you'd be a little taller."
"You're really gonna give us this new ship?!" Luffy asked.
"Indeed," said Kaya. "I hope you accept it."
"Let me explain the rigging," said Merry to Luffy. "First, regarding the adjustment of the yard with the clew garnet and..."
"Uh, excuse me!" Past Nami called. "You're talking to the wrong person! I'm the navigator!"
The Straw Hats chuckled a bit at this.
"What a cool ship!" Luffy said as he looked up at the Merry.
"I stocked it with everything you all might need at sea," said Luffy.
"Gee, thanks!" Luffy said. "You sure are adding insult to injury, huh, Miss Kaya?"
"I think you mean 'adding icing to the cake'," Past Zoro pointed out.
"WHOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAA~!"
The trio turned to see something huge rolling towards them.
"What's that?" asked Chopper. "A boulder?"
"SOMEBODY STOP MEEEEEEEEEE~!" cried a familiar voice.
"Oh, my gosh!" Kaya cried. "It's Usopp!"
Indeed, it was Past Usopp, rolling down the slope with a giant backpack strapped to him.
"Usopp, why did you have such a huge backpack in the first place?!" Nami asked.
"Uh...I overpacked," Usopp sweatdropped.
"What's he doing, now?" asked Luffy.
"Dunno," Past Zoro answered, "but we better stop him before he hits the ship."
On that, they both raised their legs and ended up stopping Past Usopp right in his tracks...and they ended up stamping their feet against his face.
"Thanks, guys...!" Past Usopp groaned.
"Anytime," Luffy said.
"Did you seriously have to use your feet?" Usopp asked as he side-eyed Zoro, who only shrugged.
After getting his backpack off, Past Usopp had announced his departure to Kaya, who seemed sadenned at this news.
"So you're really leaving?" asked Kaya.
"Yep," Past Usopp answered. "I have to act now before I change my mind. Don't try and stop me, Kaya."
"...Honestly," Kaya began, "I knew this day was coming...and I have a feeling I couldn't be able to stop you if I wanted to anyway, right?"
"Yeah," Past Usopp answered. "Just you wait, Kaya! When I come back, I'll have lots of stories to tell you, and this time, they'll all be 100% true!"
"I look forward to it!" Kaya smiled...before she went up and kissed him on his cheek, causing him to tense up and blush a bit, while Luffy, Past Zoro, and Past Nami all snickered. Even the present Straw Hats chuckled a bit at this while Usopp found himself blushing as well.
"Not your girlfriend, huh?" asked Franky.
"Shut up, Franky!" Usopp barked. "It was just one kiss on the cheek! It's not like I kissed her on the mouth!"
Soon, Past Usopp put his baggage in a dinghy before he looked up at Luffy, who was standing at the stern of the Merry.
"Well, good luck out there, you guys!" he called. "I hope we meet again, one day!"
"But why?" Luffy asked.
"Huh?" Past Usopp asked. "What do you mean, 'why'? You have no manners at all, do you? I mean...since we're pirates, it'd make sense for us if we saw each other again out at sea and-"
"Will you just shut up and get on board, already?" asked Past Zoro.
"W...wha...?" Past Usopp asked.
"Come on," Luffy said. "We're friends, right?"
A pause...but then Past Usopp grinned before he jumped into the air excitedly.
"YES!" he cheered. "I FINALLY GET TO BE A PIRATE CAPTAIN!"
"YEAH, RIGHT!" Luffy shouted. "I'M THE CAPTAIN, HERE!"
On that, the memory shifted, once again, and the Straw Hats soon found Luffy, holding up a black cloth...with what looked like a poorly painted version of their Jolly Roger.
"Yes!" Luffy exclaimed. "I did it! I made our new mark!"
"...Is that really what Luffy wanted our flag to look like...?" Blizzard asked in disgust.
"Unfortunately, yes," Zoro answered.
"I put a lot of thought into it," Luffy said, "and I decided that this is gonna be our new flag! What do you guys think?"
"...Wow...your art skills suck, man," Past Usopp said, bluntly.
"N-now, hang on a second!" Past Nami said with a thoughtful expression. "Maybe the mark is supposed to look something like abstract art!"
"I never thought you'd have an eye for art, Nami," Robin mused.
"Well, during my time as a thief, I kind of saw some...pretty neat artwork," Nami said.
"Well," Past Zoro started, "they say that the Jolly Roger is supposed to strike fear into the hearts of our enemies."
"I hate to say it," Aika began, "but...that looks really bad."
"Meh," Kumi shrugged. "I've seen worse."
"Hang on a sec," Past Usopp said. "Lemme try something."
After a while, he came back with a new mark...only it was a Jolly Roger that used his face for a skull and a slingshot for one of the crossbows.
"So, what do you think?" Past Usopp asked.
"Are you kidding?!" Luffy questioned as both he and Past Zoro bopped him on the head. "Who said it had to be YOUR mark?!"
"Man...you had a real ego problem," Franky said.
"As funny as that was," Brook began, "that was also quite disrespectful."
"...I know," Usopp said. "Man, I wonder how Luffy even dealt with me."
A bit later, the quartet found themselves surrounded the mark that they all knew and loved: the proper Straw Hat Pirates Jolly Roger.
"There," said Past Usopp. "How's that?"
"Now that's much better!" Past Nami exclaimed.
"It looks like it's brand new," Past Zoro mused.
"Shishishi!" Luffy laughed. "It's perfect! Hey, let's paint it on the sail, too!"
"The sail?" Past Usopp asked. "Uh...okay, sure! Besides, I spent years painting on walls of my neighbors' houses! How hard can painting on a sail be?"
A bit later than that, the sniper had finally finished painting the Jolly Roger on the sail and was panting heavily as he lied on the deck.
"I did it...!" he rasped.
"Yes!" Luffy cheered. "We got a new ship and a new Jolly Roger! Can this day get any better?!"
"How about we make it official?" Past Nami asked. "So...what exactly do we call ourselves?"
"Uhh...I dunno," Luffy answered.
"How about the Straw Hat Pirates?" Past Zoro suggested.
"The...Straw Hat Pirates?" Past Usopp repeated.
"Think about it," Past Zoro said. "I mean...our captain wears a straw hat and our mark has a straw hat...do the math."
"Straw Hat Pirates..." Luffy repeated before he grinned broadly. "Yeah...yeah! It's perfect!"
"You know, it does have a nice ring to it!" Past Nami agreed.
"Well, not as nice a ring as 'Usopp Pirates'," Past Usopp began, "but you know, who cares?"
"The Straw Hat Pirates it is!" Luffy exclaimed.
"Let's break out the drinks!" Past Zoro said as he put down a barrel and four mugs of beer.
"Uh...wait," Luffy said. "I don't drink alcohol."
"You don't?" Past Nami asked.
"Come to think of it," Nami began, "I've NEVER seen Luffy drink even a lick of booze."
"Yeah, you're right," Zoro agreed. "He usually gives it to me, rather than drinks it."
"Ah, one drink won't hurt," Past Zoro said as he handed Luffy a mug while Past Nami and Past Usopp took mugs of their own. "Now come on, Captain! Start the toast!"
"Uh...yeah, sure!" Luffy exclaimed before he held up his mug. "Here's to us: the Straw Hat Pirates!"
"Cheers!" the quartet exclaimed as they all clinked mugs...and with that, the Straw Hat Pirates were officially formed.
"How touching..." Brook whispered with tears coming out of his eye sockets.
"BWAAAAAAAAAAAH~!" Franky sobbed. "WHAT A MOVING STORY! I AIN'T CRYIN', YA JERKS!"
"The official founding of the Straw Hat crew," Blizzard smiled, fondly.
"I didn't know that Zoro was the one who came up with our pirate name," Aika said.
"What can I say?" Zoro asked. "It just...hit me."
"Well, who knew you were so creative?" Robin smiled, which caused her boyfriend to chuckle with a light blush on his cheeks.
"I guess...Luffy was kind of an inspiration," Zoro answered, and that's when a new memory soon appeared. It was nighttime, and the Merry had been anchored for the night to keep from drifting. The Straw Hats noticed Luffy lying on his stomach on the figurehead as he looked up at the starry sky with this wistful expression on his face.
"...Hey, Mom," Luffy said. "Hey, Sabo. I know it's been a while since we last talked, but...I just thought I'd see how you guys are doing."
The Straw Hats felt a momentary pang of sadness, because this reminded them for the time being, Luffy really believed that Sabo had died and was somewhere up in Heaven with Star.
"So...I got a crew, now!" Luffy exclaimed. "There's Zoro, and he's a swordsman who uses three swords, and Nami, our navigator...and between you and me, I think she's kinda pretty..."
Nami blushed at the comment while Robin, Aika, and Kumi giggled.
"Oh! And there's Usopp, too!" Luffy added. "He's a liar!"
"...Did he really think that lying was my only profession, back then?" Usopp deadpanned while Blizzard snickered a bit.
"And we got a ship, too!" Luffy said as he rubbed his hands on Merry's head. "See? This is the Going Merry! Isn't she great?"
There was no response...except for a slight twinkling of the stars, which made Luffy smile.
"Shishishi!" he laughed. "I know I should be asleep, right now, but I'm just so excited! My tummy feels all warm and my heart won't stop beating so fast!"
The Straw Hats all chuckled softly.
"...Hey, Mom?" Luffy asked. "Can you and Sabo do me a favor? I know it sounds like a lot to ask, but...could you look after Ace for me, too?"
The Straw Hats gasped silently.
"He left home, 3 years before I did," Luffy said. "I heard he got a bounty and a crew of his own and all, but...I don't know how he's doing, these days. I hope I'll find him out there. He's probably out in the Grand Line by now...oh! I hope he didn't find the One Piece, yet! Ohh, that would make me so mad!"
A pause...but then Luffy sighed.
"Nah, who am I kidding?" he asked. "I know Ace wouldn't do THAT to me. He knows how much being King of the Pirates means to me."
"Of course he does..." Sanji whispered. "He's your brother."
Luffy then let out a yawn before he got up and walked away from the figurehead, heading towards the men's quarters, but not before he turned back at the stars and smiled again.
"Goodnight Mom," he said. "Goodnight Sabo. I'll talk to you again, soon."
On that, he headed inside to sleep, and the memory went black.
"Even back when he was just starting out," Zoro began, "Luffy would still worry about Ace, just like how Ace would worry about him."
"Big Brother is so thoughtful," Aika smiled.
"I think somewhere inside, Luffy still wanted to be in a pirate crew with Ace and Sabo," Nami said, "but...it was probably better if he had a crew of his own."
"Why's that?" Chopper asked.
"Luffy can't depend on his brothers forever, Chopper," said Sanji. "I think Ace knew that and that might also be why he decided they would go out to sea, separately."
"Ace sure was a smart one," Brook said. "Makes me wish I got to meet him, personally."
The memory shifted and it was now daytime. Luffy was out on the deck with Past Zoro and Past Usopp, trying to fire a cannon at a rock in the water.
"What's he doing with that cannon?" Kumi asked.
"...Uh-oh..." Usopp muttered with dread. "I remember this."
"What?" Blizzard asked. "What happened here?"
"Yeah, Usopp, what happened?" Chopper queried.
"Just keep watching," answered Usopp.
"What are you up to, now, Luffy?!" Past Zoro asked, annoyed the his nap had been disturbed.
"Cannon practice," Luffy answered. "I'm trying to hit that rock out there, but I can't make the cannon shoot far enough."
"You've gotta be kidding," Past Usopp said as he gently pushed Luffy aside. "Here, lemme take a crack at it."
"Okay," Luffy answered as he pointed at the rock. "See that rock? See if you can shoot it."
"Just watch and learn," Past Usopp boasted as he adjusted the cannon. "Okay...just a hair to the right and...perfect!" He then lit the fuse. "FIRE~!"
KABOOM! The cannon fired and destroyed the rock with one shot.
"WOW!" Luffy exclaimed. "You hit it on your first shot!"
"I-I did?!" Past Usopp questioned. "Err...I mean, yeah! Of course I did! What can I say? I'm an ace when it comes to shooting! So, how about you go ahead and call me 'Captain', now?"
"Hmm...nah," Luffy answered. "I think 'sniper' works better!"
Usopp scratched the back of his head.
"I was REALLY bad, back then, huh?" he asked.
"Pretty much," Zoro said with a shrug.
"Yep," Nami agreed.
"...Wow," Usopp said. "You don't sugarcoat anything, do ya?"
"Nope," Sanji answered.
A while later, the quartet was now in the kitchen, sitting around the table. Past Nami was writing in the crew's journal and Past Zoro was lounging against the wall while Luffy and Past Usopp sat next to each other.
"Fine," Past Usopp said. "You can be the captain for now, but if you ever feel like you can't cut the mustard, then I'll have to take over, got that?"
"Sure," Luffy shrugged.
Usopp had to groan. He couldn't believe how egotistical and disrespectful he was toward Luffy, back then. It made him glad that he joined up with Luffy, but if he had joined anyone else, he would've easily gotten the boot. What made it a bit more unnerving was that Luffy seemed to accept it so easily. He didn't know if he was actually humoring him or not.
"Hey, I've been thinking!" Luffy exclaimed. "There's still one more position we need before we head to the Grand Line!"
"Well, this kitchen has all the equipment," Past Nami said. "I'd be glad to help out...for a price, of course."
Now it was Nami's turn to groan while Robin gently assured with a pat on her shoulder and Aika gave her a hug.
"Good idea," said Past Zoro. "That skill's essential for a long voyage."
"Then it's decided!" Luffy exclaimed. "What we need is...a musician!"
"WHAT?!" the others questioned while the present Straw Hats burst out into laughter.
"Just when I thought you would say something smart for once!" Past Nami shouted.
"This is piracy, not a pleasure cruise, you moron!" Past Zoro barked.
"Well, pirates like to party, don't they?!" Luffy asked.
"I think Luffy spent a little too much time with Shanks," Blizzard smirked.
"Yohohoho!" Brook laughed. "I do say, I never thought Mister Luffy wanted a musician so eagerly! Honestly, I feel a bit honored!"
"Shishishi!" Aika laughed. "Big Brother is so silly!"
"HEY, YOU BASTARDS!" a voice shouted. "GET OUT HERE AND FIGHT ME! I'LL SLICE YOU ALL TO RIBBONS!"
"What the hell was that?!" Luffy questioned as a ruckus soon started outside.
"...Oh, no," Zoro muttered. "Don't tell me..."
That's when Luffy came out and saw a young man with sunglasses and a dark blue jacket.
"Who's that?" Aika asked.
"...One of my old bounty hunter friends, Johnny," said Zoro. "Come to think of it, I wonder what he and Yosaku have been up to? I haven't seen them for a while."
"Hey!" Luffy shouted. "Who the hell are you?!"
"What's it to you who I am?!" Johnny asked as he swung his sword at Luffy, who dodged the attack and easily landed behind him.
"...I've claimed the bounties of the world's most infamous pirates," Johnny scowled. "How dare you nobodies...TRY AND KILL MY PARTNER!"
"What partner?!" Luffy asked before he jumped over Johnny again and grabbed him by the head. "Sorry, pal...but I can't let you destroy our new ship!" On that, he hurled the bounty hunter over his head and slammed him into the wall.
"UGH!" Johnny cried in pain as blood sprayed from his mouth and nose before he collapsed on the ground. "D...dammit...!"
"Phew..." Luffy sighed as he caught his hat in his hand after it went flying into the air. "What the hell was that all about anyways?"
"What's going on, Luffy?" Past Zoro asked as he came outside. "Need some help out here?" He then glanced down at the defeated Johnny. "What the...? Johnny?! Tell me that isn't you!"
"Huh?!" Johnny asked in surprised before he got to his feet, as if Luffy's beating never happened. "Zoro! Big Bro Zoro, it's you!"
"What are you doing here?" asked Past Zoro. "And where the hell is Yosaku?"
"Big Bro, it's terrible!" cried Johnny. "Yosaku...he's...he's dying!"
"What?!" Past Zoro questioned. "Where the hell is he?!"
Soon, Johnny brought another young man aboard: a man in a green long coat and wearing one of those helmets that boxers would wear around their faces. His skin was very pale and there was blood dripping out of his mouth. Almost instantly, Chopper gasped in horror upon seeing the poor man.
"He has scurvy!" the little reindeer cried.
"Scurvy?" Kumi repeated.
"It's a common disease that sailors can get if they don't have enough Vitamin C!" Chopper cried.
"What's wrong with him?!" Luffy asked.
"He was just fine until a few days ago," Johnny began, "then all of a sudden, he got all pale and was just randomly passing out! I don't know what happened! His teeth are falling out and he's bleeding from old scars that shouldn't even hurt him, anymore!" He then put a hand to his forehead, trying to fight back tears. "I didn't know what I could do for him, so I took him to rest on a rock in the middle of the sea...then outta nowhere, someone shot at us!"
Luffy and Past Usopp both gasped in horror before they looked at each other with worry, then bowed their heads.
"We're sorry!" they cried.
"Don't worry about it," Johnny said, tearfully. "I know it was an accident, now...but what can apologies do? Yosaku and I have been building our reputation for a long time, now...! He's my trusted partner...no, he's like my brother! We've hunted pirates together for years, now! If Yosaku dies...what have I got to live for?!"
"...Man..." Zoro said. "This almost makes me miss those two."
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH~!" Franky sobbed, again. "WHAT A GREAT GUY, WORRYING FOR HIS PARTNER LIKE THAT!"
"Quit being so stupid!" Past Nami shouted.
"What did you say?!" Past Zoro questioned, angrily.
"How dare you make light of this, girl!" Johnny cried, but Past Nami only sighed and pointed to the kitchen.
"Luffy, Usopp," she said. "There are some limes in the kitchen. Squeeze them and bring out the juice."
Luffy and Past Usopp only stared blankly.
"Did I stutter?!" Past Nami questioned. "Get moving!"
"AH! YES MA'AM!" Luffy and Past Usopp cried as they ran to get the limes, but in their haste, they accidentally ended up getting wedged in the door.
"AAH! Usopp, move your butt!" Luffy yelled.
"You move yours!" Past Usopp barked before they both fell into the kitchen. After a while, they returned with some lime juice, which they proceed to pour into Yosaku's mouth while Past Usopp held up his head. During that time, Past Nami explained Yosaku's illness to Past Zoro and Johnny, who were both relieved that he was going to live.
"Wow, Nami!" Luffy exclaimed. "It's like you're a doctor or something!"
"I always knew you were pretty smart," Past Usopp smirked.
"Are you kidding me?!" Past Nami questioned. "These are basic things you need to know if you expect to survive at sea, dumb-asses!"
"They were really stupid back then, huh?" Chopper asked.
"Yeah, pretty much," Nami agreed.
That's when Yosaku stood up, just whooping and hollering.
"YAHOO! I'M CURED!" he cheered, and soon, Luffy, Past Usopp, and Johnny also rejoiced.
"...He does know scurvy isn't something that's cured right away, doesn't he?" Chopper asked.
"What do you think, Chopper?" Zoro inquired.
"Man, talk about stupid..." Blizzard muttered.
"Will you idiots settle down?!" Past Nami shouted, and after things simmered down, the two bounty hunters introduced themselves.
"The name's Johnny," said Johnny.
"And I'm Yosaku!" Yosaku added, holding a cigarette in his fingers.
"What is he doing?!" Chopper questioned. "He's not supposed to smoke when he has scurvy!"
"That's Yosaku," Zoro said. "Stubborn to the end. Kinda like a certain cook I know."
"Zip it..." Sanji snarled.
"We're Big Bro Zoro's old bounty-hunting friends," said Yosaku. "A pleasure to meet all of you. I don't know how I could ever thank you guys for your help. I thought for sure I was done for!"
"He will be a goner if he doesn't rest!" Chopper yelled.
"I still can't believe it," Johnny said. "Big Bro Zoro is a pirate, now!"
"Yeah, well...you see..." Past Zoro started, but then, out of nowhere, Yosaku ended up coughing up blood.
"YOSAKU!" Johnny cried.
"LIE DOWN AND GET SOME REST, YOU DUMB-ASS!" Past Zoro barked.
"THANK YOU!" Chopper yelled. "...Wow...I never thought I'd agree with Zoro about that."
"Not one to take it easy, is he?" Brook asked with a sweatdrop.
"That guy really is a dumb-ass," Blizzard muttered.
The memory shifted once more, and Luffy, Past Zoro, Past Nami, and Past Usopp were all sitting around, having a small discussion of what to do next.
"So, what have we learned?" Past Nami asked.
"A long voyage on the seas is fraught with all kinds of dangers," said Past Zoro.
"Yeah," agreed Past Usopp. "Zoro's old buddies would've been dead if we hadn't shown up."
"Technically, you shot at them," Franky pointed out.
"Yes, Franky, I know," Usopp sneered.
"We still need to someone who can actually to put the foodstuffs we got in storage to good use," the sniper's past self pointed out. "What we need around here is a cook."
"Usopp's right," concurred Past Nami. "Having a cook on board a ship is absolutely necessary!"
"Oh, yeah, a cook," Luffy realized...and soon after, his stomach growled long and hard, causing the Straw Hats, past and present, to sweatdrop while Robin and Aika giggled.
"I think that settles it," Past Zoro said.
"It's decided then!" Luffy exclaimed with his tongue sticking out of his mouth. "Let's go get a cook for our crew! Besides, what good is a ship if we can't have any decent grub around here?"
"Oh! Big Bro!" Johnny exclaimed as he raised his hand, like a student waiting to be picked by his teacher.
"What is it, Johnny?" Past Zoro asked.
"If you need a cook," Johnny said, "then I know where you guys can find one! But getting him to join you guys is easier said than done."
"...Wait a minute," Sanji said. "I think I know where this is going."
"There's this seafaring restaurant called the Baratie," Johnny said. "I guarantee that's where you'll find a cook for your crew!"
"A seafaring restaurant?!" the four Straw Hats asked, though Past Zoro sounded skeptic.
"You bet!" Johnny answered. "It's only 2 or 3 days of sailing from this exact spot, but I'd watch it, if I were you. It's pretty close to the Grand Line and some pretty rough customers frequent the place." He then looked over to Past Zoro. "And get this, Big Bro Zoro...they say that guy you were looking for, Hawk Eye, sometimes goes there, too."
Hearing the name 'Hawk Eye' caused Past Zoro to tense up while Johnny walked passed him.
"If you want, I can take you all there!" he offered.
"Yes, please!" Luffy, Past Nami, and Past Usopp exclaimed eagerly while the memory faded to black.
"Wait...who's Hawk Eye?" Aika asked.
"Dracule 'Hawk Eye' Mihawk," Robin answered. "He's one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea...and is currently the World's Greatest Swordsman."
"World's Greatest Swordsman?" Chopper repeated. "Wait! Zoro! That's what you're trying to be!"
"So if what Mister Johnny said is true about this Hawk Eye fellow," Brook began, "does that mean you attempted to fight him, here?"
"...Yep," Zoro said, although he didn't give the little reindeer and the skeleton any contact.
"What's wrong with you?" asked Nami.
"Nothing, okay?" Zoro asked.
"What is it, seriously?" Nami asked.
"Nothing!" Zoro barked. "Drop it, all right?!"
"Hey! Don't yell at Nami like that!" Sanji shouted. "Who do you think you are?!"
"Enough, already!" Robin chided. "Look, whatever questions we have, I'm sure Zoro will answer them when he's ready."
"...I don't have to," Zoro answered as another memory appeared, and the Straw Hats soon saw a familiar ship before them...no, more like a familiar restaurant: the Baratie.
"Wow!" Aika exclaimed. "It's a big fishie!"
"That's the Baratie, Aika," Sanji smiled. "It's...my home."
"Wow, Sanji!" Aika said. "You mean you got to live in a restaurant?!"
"I didn't just live there," Sanji answered. "I was the sous chef."
"The...soo...?" Aika repeated.
"The sous chef is like the second-in-command in the kitchen," said Robin. "He helps the head chef cook all the meals and also tells the other cooks what to do."
"...Hey!" Aika realized. "I'm kinda like that, right, Sanji? I help you out in the kitchen and make sure Big Brother doesn't steal the food when you're not looking!"
"You sure do," Sanji smiled as he gently pet Aika on the head. "You're my little sous chef, Aika."
"Shishishi!" Aika giggled while Kumi went up and licked the Straw Hat cook's face, causing him to laugh.
"Okay, okay!" he exclaimed. "Cut it out, Kumi, you're getting puppy drool on me!"
"There it is!" Johnny exclaimed. "The seafaring restaurant! Big Bro Zoro, Big Bro Luffy, Big Bro Usopp, and Big Sis Nami! Wake up!"
"Who said you call me 'Big Sis'?" Past Nami asked in irritation.
"Yeah! I thought I could only call Big Sis Nami Big Sis Nami!" Aika added.
"Don't worry, Aika," Nami assured as she gave Aika a hug. "I'm still your Big Sis."
"Whoa!" Luffy exclaimed as he spotted the Baratie. "That's a huge fish!"
"Amazing!" Past Nami added.
"It's so cool!" shouted Past Usopp.
However, at that moment, another ship suddenly sailed passed the group, bearing the Marine insignia on its sail.
"Whoa!" Past Usopp exclaimed. "It's a Marine ship!"
"Where'd it come from?" asked Luffy.
"I dunno," Past Usopp answered, nervously. "I just hope they don't shoot us!"
"Why shoot at us?!" Johnny asked as he ducked behind the rail with Yosaku. "We're not pirates!"
"Hey, look!" Yosaku exclaimed. "Who's that guy in the fancy suit?"
Everyone looked up to see a man wearing a light blue, pinstriped suit and lavender hair, and for some reason, it looked as if a metal brace had been literally screwed into his knuckles.
"W-who's that?" Aika asked, slightly nervous.
"That's Marine Lieutenant Fullbody," Nami said. "Also called 'Iron-Fist' Fullbody...although I hear that the got demoted to Seaman Recruit after Luffy kicked his ass."
"Damn," Franky cursed. "What happened to his hands?!"
"Yeesh...!" Blizzard grimaced. "I swear, some Marines are so creepy, the way they modify their bodies...I mean, steel jaws, axes for hands, screws in their knuckles...we even ran into a guy with a robotic arm!"
"Ahh, I don't wanna hear anymore!" Chopper yelped as he put his hooves over his ears. "La-la-la-la-la, I don't hear anything~!"
"Hmph," Fullbody scoffed in disinterest. "A few pirates...unknowns." He then held up his fist. "I am Lieutenant Iron Fist FUllbody, a minister of the Marines. Which one of you is the captain? Speak your name."
"I'm Monkey D. Luffy," Luffy spoke up. "We just made our pirate flag a couple days back."
"Psh...!" Johnny scoffed. "A couple days ago?!"
"Talk about amateurs, right Johnny?!" Yosaku laughed, which caused Zoro to sneer a bit, but he decided to let it slide...for now, anyway.
"And I'm Usopp," Past Usopp added.
"Hmm..." Fullbody hummed as he noticed Johnny and Yosaku. "You there...you look familiar. I think you visit the government agencies quite a lot, don't you? I believe you are Johnny and Yosaku...a couple of of two-bit bounty hunters that roam the East Blue. So, you idiots finally got captured, and by some no-name pirates, no less?"
Hearing that caused the two bounty hunters to glare up at Fullbody.
"Oh, no..." both Zoros, past and present, groaned.
"Hey, Yosaku," said Johnny. "I think this jackass just insulted us."
"Two-bit bounty hunters, eh?" Yosaku asked. "No one goes and calls us that. It's like stepping all over our honor! Maybe we can make Mr. Fancy Pants up there change his opinion."
On that, they brandished their swords and let out loud battle cries.
"Prepare yourself, you Marine dog!" they yelled as they both rushed Fullbody...and in a matter of seconds, they were back on the deck of the Merry, bloodied and bruised.
"...Wow," Franky muttered. "Those guys were wusses."
"Yeah, but they were my wusses," Zoro concurred.
"Yohohoho!" Brook laughed.
"Wow," Luffy said, bluntly. "You guys really are wimps, aren't you?"
"I-it's not that...!" Yosaku denied. "He's just...really strong...!"
"What are you idiots even doing?" asked Past Zoro.
"Oh, Fullbody~!" a voice called from the room behind the lieutenant. "Quit playing with those sissy-boys and let's go."
"Of course, love," Fullbody grinned before he glared at the past Straw Hats. "It's your lucky day, pirate scumbags. It just so happens it's my day off today and I've come here to dine with my company...but watch yourselves. If I ever see you again, you're all dead, hear me?"
"What a jerk," Aika said.
"Aika!" Nami scolded.
"What?!" Aika asked. "He is!"
Luffy blinked down at Johnny and Yosaku before he glanced over at Past Nami, who was looking at some wanted posters that the duo had dropped. For some reason, she was shaking and a bit sweaty, too.
"Nami?" Luffy asked. "You okay?"
"Huh?" Past Nami muttered. "Oh! Uh...yeah...I'm fine."
"...Are you sure?" Luffy asked.
"Yes," Past Nami answered.
"...Are you absolutely sure-" Luffy started.
"WHAT AM I, ON TRIAL HERE?!" Past Nami questioned, causing Luffy to yelp as he stumbled back.
'...She's lying...something on the wanted poster scared her...but what?'
"...Nami?" Robin asked. "What was on the wanted poster that scared you so bad?"
"... ... ..." Nami didn't answer, but instead looked away and chewed her lip.
"...Arlong," Sanji said, causing Nami to look at him. "It was Arlong's wanted poster...wasn't it?"
"...Yeah," Nami whispered.
"...Oh, Big Sis," Aika said, sadly.
"...It's okay, Aika," Nami smiled. "I promise."
"...If you say so," Aika said.
"But do let us know if you want to talk," Brook added.
"...Thanks," Nami nodded. "I'll remember that."
"AAAAAAAAAHH!" Past Usopp screamed. "GUYS, THEY'RE AIMING A CANNON RIGHT AT US!"
Everyone looked up and saw the Marines aiming a cannon at them from the aft, and soon after Fullbody's order, it was fired at the Going Merry.
"OH, NO, THEY'RE SHOOTING AT US!" Past Usopp cried.
"I got this!" Luffy exclaimed as he stood up on the railing and took a deep breath.
"Wait, Luffy!" Past Zoro cried.
"GUUUUM-GUUUUUUUM...BALLOON!"
He then inflated his stomach and caught the cannonball, to Past Usopp's, Johnny's, Yosaku's, and Fullbody's shock.
"Have this back, because we don't need it!" Luffy shouted as he shot the cannonball back...only for it blow a hole in the Baratie's roof.
"What the hell?!" Sanji questioned. "So that's what happened to the roof, that day?!"
"Sorry, Sanji," Nami apologized.
"How could you not know what happened?!" asked Usopp. "You were there!"
"I was in the dining hall, serving people their meals!" Sanji answered. "I didn't know Luffy shot a cannonball at the restaurant!"
"It was an accident!" Zoro countered.
"I hope he didn't hurt anybody," Kumi said, worriedly as the memory shifted, only to see an old man wearing a very tall chef hat, a bloodied head, and a peg leg. "AAH! HE'S GOT A PEG LEG!"
"Hold it, Kumi!" Blizzard called. "I think he's always had that!"
"Oh," Kumi realized.
"AAAAAAAH!" Luffy screamed. "I BLEW YOUR LEG OFF!"
"QUIT YOUR SCREAMING, BOY!" the old man barked.
"Well, I'll be," Sanji said. "It's Old Man Zeff."
"Zeff..." Aika repeated before she looked up at Sanji. "Sanji, he's your mentor, isn't he?"
"That's right," Sanji answered before he chuckled. "...Wow...I never thought I'd say this, but I actually miss that crap geezer."
After a while, Luffy calmed down after Zeff explained to him about his peg leg. The two were now sitting in the head chef's quarter's, which had a big hole in the wall.
"So, you don't got any money, do you?" Zeff asked. "In that case, you'll have to work for me to pay off your debt."
"Sure," Luffy answered. "I'll do it."
"It's decided then," Zeff said. "You're gonna work here for me one year! Then we'll call it even!"
"WHAT?!" Luffy questioned. "A WHOLE YEAR?!"
"EEEEEEEEEEEEHH?!" Aika shrieked in shock.
"...Jeez...even I gotta admit that's kinda steep," Sanji muttered.
"Your boss sure didn't cut corners, did he?" Franky asked.
"Talk about being firm," Brook added.
"Gimme a break, pops!" Luffy said. "I'll work for you for...a week!"
"Don't you try and insult me, boy," Zeff replied. "Your witless bombardment damaged my establishment, not to mention, you injured me! One week isn't enough to make up for it! You're gonna work for me for one whole year, got that?!"
"No way!" Luffy answered, defiantly. "I waited 10 years to be a pirate, and I'm not waiting another year!"
"You tell him, Big Brother!" Aika shouted.
"That's my final offer!" Luffy emphasized. "Take it or leave it!"
"You don't decide that, eggplant!" Zeff shouted as he kicked Luffy in the throat with his peg leg, causing him to gag as he hit the wall. "What I'll permit is up to me decide!"
"Ugh..." Luffy coughed. "You must be feeling better."
"Yeah, it'll take a lot more than a cannonball to kill that old-timer," Sanji said. "He used to be a pirate, after all."
"I believe it," Usopp concurred.
"SHUT YOUR MOUTH!" Zeff yelled at Luffy before he gave an almost sinister grin. "Fine, boy. Since your time seems to be so precious, I'll offer you a quick way outta this..." He then held up a hacksaw. "Gimme one of your legs and leave it here with me."
"EEP!" Aika squeaked in fright before she fainted.
"Aika!" Robin and Kumi.
"No thank you," Luffy declined. "You're crazy, man."
'Okay, suddenly, I'm thinking about Grandpa...'
"With the way he acts, I can see why!" Blizzard agreed.
By now, Zeff was getting frustrated before he leaped up into the air.
"What you want DOESN'T MATTER, KID!" he shouted before he slammed his knees into Luffy, who cried out in pain.
"...You know, it just hit me," Sanji said. "I think the old man might've had Haki."
"Really?" Zoro asked. "I guess that explains why he can hit Luffy and damage him."
Suddenly, the floor gave way, and before either Zeff or Luffy knew it, they both ended up falling through and into the dining room below. There, the Straw Hats could see Fullbody...only his face was covered in blood, and they also spotted someone else: a blonde-haired man with bangs of hair covering the left side of his head and wearing a fancy black suit, and the only kind of facial hair he had was a barely visible goatee, and for some reason, he was being held back by the other members of the Baratie staff.
"Hey, Sanji!" Chopper exclaimed. "That's you!"
"Heh," Sanji smirked. "About time."
"Ugh..." Aika groaned as she woke up. "What happened? Did Big Brother get his leg cut off?"
"Nope," Kumi answered. "Oh, and Sanji's here!"
"Really?" Aika asked as she looked up and saw Past Sanji. "Oh, hey! It is him! ...Wait, Sanji, how come you look so angry?"
"Well...you see that bowl of soup on the floor?" asked Sanji, pointing to a bowl of soup that had been spilled. "Fullbody threw at the floor...to spite me."
"...Oh, yeah," Chopper realized. "Sanji, you hate it when people waste food."
"Yeah...and I got so pissed, I beat that crap Marine," said Sanji with a scowl on his face.
"Boss!" exclaimed one of the staff. "What are you doing?!"
"Urrgh...dammit!" Zeff cursed as he looked up at the hole in the ceiling. "That's another hole I have to fix!" He then looked down at Luffy. "This is all your fault, you brat!"
"How is it MY fault?!" Luffy questioned as he got in the head chef's face. "You attacked ME!"
"BOSS!" shouted one of the cooks that was trying to hold Past Sanji back. "CAN YOU STOP SCREWING AROUND AND MAYBE GIVE US A HAND?! SANJI'S GONE CRAZY, AGAIN!"
"Huh?" Zeff muttered before he finally noticed Past Sanji. "Sanji!"
Past Sanji gasped as he turned to face his employer.
"What do you think you're doing?!" Zeff questioned. "Attacking the customers again, are you?!"
"Yeah, and this one was one of the Marines, no less!" cried one of the staff members, which made Past Sanji growl as he finally got himself free.
"Put a cork in it, old man!" he barked.
"Oh, so now you're ordering me around!" Zeff argued. "Just who the hell do you think you're talking to?! You wanna sink my restaurant to the bottom of the sea, YOU PUNK?!"
On that, he kicked Past Sanji in the face with his peg leg.
"You and your boss certainly don't get along, do you?" Brook asked.
"Well...not all the time," Sanji answered. "...He sure treated me better than he ever did..."
"What?" Nami asked.
"Nothing," Sanji replied as he took a drag of his cigarette and blew out a puff of smoke.
"...Hey!" Luffy called as he pointed at the bloody Fullbody, who was chuckling at Past Sanji getting beat up. "I know that guy! He's the one who shot his cannon at us!"
Fullbody gasped before he looked up at Zeff, who glowered down at him.
"You, too!" the head chef yelled. "Get your ass outta my restaurant!"
WHACK! He kicked the lieutenant in the face with his peg leg, too, to Fullbody's shock.
"Jeez...he doesn't go easy on anyone, huh?" asked Franky.
"Nope," Sanji answered. "Honestly, though, if he were a bit nicer, that would scare me."
"I'd ask if he was afraid of getting in trouble with the Marines," Usopp began, "but you said he used to be a pirate, so it doesn't really matter to him, right?"
"Not really," Sanji replied.
"How could you forget our motto that the customer is king?!" questioned another one of the cooks, Patty.
"Only if they're willing to eat the slop you call 'food'," Past Sanji replied as he glared at his co-worker.
"Patty! Sanji!" Zeff ordered. "If you two are gonna fight, fight in the kitchen, not out here!"
"L-Lieutenant! Lieutenant Fullbody!"
Everyone turned to see a Marine soldier...only he was bleeding from his forehead.
"W-what happened to him?!" Chopper asked in surprise.
"Sir...I-I'm sorry!" he apologized. "He...he escaped from the brig!"
"Wow..." Luffy whispered. "This is a real mad house, isn't it?"
"Says the one who sometimes causes the madness," Blizzard said.
"The...the pirate from Don Krieg's crew!" cried the soldier. "He's escaped! We were trying to question, but he beat seven of us to death and then escaped!"
"How is that possible?!" Fullbody questioned, although he coughed a bit from both Past Sanji's and Zeff's beatings. "When we captured him a few days ago, he was half-dead from starvation, and we haven't fed him since!"
Hearing the name 'Don Krieg' caused the whole roomm to clamor in shock and fear.
"D-Don Krieg?!"
"Of the Krieg Pirates?!"
"They're the toughest pirates in the East Blue!"
"Yeah, right!" Aika denied. "No one's tougher than my Big Brother!"
"Okay, settle down, missy," Sanji said.
"I'm sorry, Lieutenant, I-" the soldier started, but then, KABANG! He screamed in agony as a hole appeared in his chest...and not long after, he dropped to the floor as blood pooled around his body, and behind him stood a shadowy figure. Instantly, every patron in the restaurant screamed in terror, preparing to run for their lives if need-be.
"W-who's that...?" Aika asked, nervously.
"It's...it's Gin!" Sanji exclaimed, recognizing the man, instantly.
"Well, well," Patty sneered. "Looks like we got us a customer."
"He better not try and bust up this place, too," Zeff warned
"A pirate?!" Luffy asked in surprise, while Past Sanji just nonchalantly blew out a puff of smoke. As for Fullbody, he looked like he was about soil himself while Gin staggered toward a table. Chopper worriedly eyed the man, taking a good few seconds to analyze him: the dark circles under his eyes, his pale skin, his skininess...he knew that this man was greatly malnourished and close to death.
Gin grunted as he sat down in a chair and propped his feet up on a table.
"...Bring me...some food," he demanded as he looked up. "Come on...this is a restaurant, right?"
"Hello and welcome, you damn crook!" Patty said with mock politeness, to the fright of the other customers.
"I'm only gonna say this once," Gin said. "Bring me something to eat."
"Oh, man..." Fullbody huffed. "That cook's gonna get us killed...!"
"Of course sir," Patty began, "but if I may ask...how do you plan on paying for your meal?"
A pause...before Gin pointed his pistol at Patty's head.
"How about I pay you in lead?" he asked a with malicious grin...and yet, Patty didn't even flinch.
"So what you mean is you don't got any money, right?" Patty asked...before he slammed both fists into Gin, who cried out in pain and destroyed the chair he was sitting. Of course, the customers all ended up smiling at this while Fullbody gaped in disbelief.
"Whoa!" Luffy exclaimed. "He's strong!"
"He certainly is!" Brook agreed.
"Talk about a violent place!" Franky exclaimed. "Even the bars I went too weren't that bad!"
"Damn that Patty!" Zeff cursed. "He broke another chair!"
"If you don't have any money," Patty began, "then don't call yourself a customer, got that?!"
Soon, the customers and the staff began to cheer loudly...but the Straw Hats could hear the sound of Gin's stomach gurgling from extreme hunger.
"That man's gonna die..." Chopper whispered, grimly.
"...Damn that Patty," Sanji cursed.
"Oh, I can hear your stomach growling from here, pirate!" Patty said with mock pity.
"Dumb-ass," Gin said. "That was just a fart...now get me something to eat!"
"Hell no!" Patty shouted as he kicked Gin in his very empty stomach. "I wouldn't give even a grain of rice to a flat-broke sea wolf like you!"
"Hey!" Blizzard barked. "I resemble that remark!"
"Me, too!" Aika added.
During the commotion, Fullbody took his chance to escape, but Luffy didn't really seem to care. He just kept watching Patty beat on poor, starving Gin without a single word.
"Dear customers," said Patty, bowing before the other patrons. "Please enjoy the rest of your time, here!"
"YEAAAAAAAAAAH!" the other customers cheered while Patty went and tossed Gin out. Luffy blinked, having finished his little analysis before he looked up at flight of stairs, then quietly hurried up to the upper deck. Once there, he looked down and saw Gin, lying on the floor, weak and coughing up blood.
"Damn him...!" he cursed. "How dare he get away with that...!"
"...Hey!" Luffy called. "Are you okay? You sound pretty hungry!"
"Sh-shut up!" Gin barked. "Mind your own business...I'm not hungry at all..."
His stomach gave another lurching gurgle.
"His stomach sure says otherwise," said Franky.
Just then, the door opened, and out came Past Sanji, holding a plate of hot rice and a glass of water, which he set down in front of Gin before he sat down himself.
"...Eat up," the cook said, causing Gin to gasp silently and swallow the saliva forming in his mouth...and yet, he looked away.
"Forget it!" he shouted. "I don't accept charity from anyone! Just take it and go away!"
"Quit putting on the act," Past Sanji said. "To me, if anyone is hungry, they're a customer."
Aika smiled up at the present Sanji, who glanced down and smiled back at her before he pet her on the head, causing her to laugh.
"I...I can't pay for this," said Gin, shamefully.
"...The ocean can be a cruel mistress," said Past Sanji as he looked up at the sky. "If you're stuck out there without any food or water...it's a death sentence..."
"Boy, don't I know it...?" asked the present Sanji, while Nami looked at him before she put a sincere hand on his shoulder, causing him to smile at her and nod his head in gratitude, and meanwhile, Gin was staring at Past Sanji in surprise.
"...I understand starving people more than anyone else," he said. "I mean...I get it if you wanna keep your pride...but don't you think it's better to eat so you can continue to have pride now and in the future?"
Gin gasped silently before he looked down at the plate in front of him, and then, without a moment's hesitation, he finally began to eat. As he did, he soon burst into tears, praising the deliciousness of the food, which made Past Sanji grin with pride, and sobbing about how he thought he was truly done for. All the while, Luffy grinned excitedly, and it was then that the Straw Hats realized he had made his decision.
"Well, I think I just found my cook!" Luffy declared.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Next time on One Piece: The Fire Within!
Luffy: Hey, buddy! How about you be our new cook?!
Past Sanji: You kidding me? Dream on! Get someone else!
Luffy: *is trying to wash dishes, but they keep breaking* Uh...oops.
Sanji: ...Wow...I can see why hiring him was a mistake.
Past Usopp: Luffy! We got a problem! Nami took the Going Merry!
Luffy: What?! Someone go after her!
Gin: Hey! I need help! *is holding the starving Don Krieg*
Aika: What happened?! That ship just got cut in half!
Past Zoro: It's you...!
Mihawk: *drifts in on his coffin boat*
Next time: A Test of Loyalty
Yay, a new chapter!