The Confusion of An Over-Average Deliquent

Glimpsing Into My Future

It had been a whole day since we left Drum Island and everyone was all settled in.

The climate was warm so the snow had melted all away in a matter of hours and we all changed out of winter clothing.

It was night time, and I was resting in my crows nest.

You want to spar some Screaver? Michael asked.

Nah, I just want to relax for a little bit. How about tomorrow?

Your call Screaver. He said.

I got to my feet and walked out to the empty deck. I had to clean the entire place seeing how everyone had trashed the whole thing with spilled food, broken plates, and snot covered chopsticks. But it was clean now, thanks to me.

The sky was calm, the water splashed against the side of the ship, the salty air gave a slight breeze.

"Such a calm night." I said to myself.

"It certainly is." A voice said behind me. I turned around and saw Vivi out of the doorway.

"Oh, hi Vivi. Can't sleep?" I asked.

She nodded. "I can't stop thinking about Arabasta. We need to get there any tell them the truth."

I nodded in agreement.

"I'll make sure you do Vivi." I said, pounding my fist.

We stood there in silence, looking at one another.

Come to think of it, we hadn't known each other very long, but when I looked at her I felt...comfortable.

"Say we've only known you for like, what, a week? Or...God how long has it been?"

She gave me a look that said really? "We've been sailing together for almost a month!"

"Really?!" I said in surprise. "Well, time certainly flies doesn't it?"

She smiled timidly. "It certainly does.

More silence.

Vivi finally spoke up. "May I ask you a question?"

I nodded.

"Why did you attack that deer like that?" She asked.

I explained to her about Chopper's past. His father abandoning him, Dr. Hiluluk adopting him, etc.

When I finished, she said, "He's had a rough past."

"Haven't we all?" I said bluntly.

She nodded in agreement.

"I didn't want that guy to be in Chopper's way so I head butted him! Violence…solves all my problems."

"Violence isn't the answer to everything." Vivi told me.

"I don't mean to be rude but…well…In my experience, talking out a problem has never worked for me. So I use my fists to talk for me most of the time."

"But that isn't the same for all situations. What about what happened when we got to Drum Island? What would have happened to us if you attacked them?" She reminded me.

I shrugged. "Well, you got me there."

"See? You don't need to use violence all the time! You need to remain calm and…"

I cut her off. "Look Vivi, I appreciate the input but…I've lived this way for a long time. You can't change a person with words alone, you need action."

"But action alone won't help either!" She implored.

"Why are you telling me this anyway?" I said, starting to get annoyed.

She looked down and rubbed her hands. "It's just that…you could get hurt."

"So?" I said.

She looked at me in shock.

"So what if I get hurt? So what if I die? If I die protecting my friends then there's no shame in that."

"How can you say that? If you die then you'll cause pain for all those who cared for you! Luffy and the others and…me."

I raised an eyebrow. "What are you exactly saying Vivi?"

She bit her lower lip.

"What does it sound like? I…I do care for you Screaver. I would be devastated if you died for my sake!"

"If a man pointed a gun at you and I was alert to the situation, I would gladly push you out of the way and take the bullet!"

That did kind of happen already, and you just stood there and…Michael began to say.

NOT THE BEST TIME TO BE A SMART ASS!

"You don't have to die for me!" She pleaded.

"Look at you and look at me! You are a princess of an entire nation. Then look at me! A rude, violent, lowly pirate who hasn't done any good his entire life!"

"What do you mean? You've done so much for me and for everyone else!" She said.

"I mean before that!" I shouted.

She looked at me and seemed confused.

"I can't say much but…before I met Luffy…I was labeled a loser. A delinquent. Living life my own way, doing no good for anyone except myself. Sure I did a good deed once in a while, but that was out of anger and rage!"

Vivi was beginning to cry a little, but I didn't really notice.

"I had little friends, no girlfriend, and no goal in life. I was a loser and a screw up! I had nobody…I was a nobody…no one gave two shits about me! And if I could have ended that stupid life if it meant that it would have done some good then…"

Vivi came up to me and…kissed me.

Her tears rubbed on my face.

She pulled away and said in a shaky tone, "Don't ever say that! You're a kind, selfless person Screaver! Whoever told you different is wrong! Sure, you may act violent sometimes, but think about everything you've done! You're not the person they say you are, whoever they may be. I…I couldn't love a man who was a kind as you!"

She…she said she…loves me?

Vivi was crying. She pressed her body against me.

"Don't…don't die…you can't die." She shouted in tears.

I looked at her in shock.

She really cares about me?

I hugged her and said calmly, "Don't worry. I never said I planned on dying anytime soon."

She looked right in my eyes and said, "Promise?"

I looked into her gray, tear filled eyes. "Promise."

She let up as I wiped the tears away fro her eyes. "I can do that myself." She said.

"I thought is was only fair seeing as how you wiped my forehead." I said.

She smiled. She sniffed her nose. Her cheeks were all red from crying.

"Let's get some rest Screaver. We'll need it." She said cheerfully.

I nodded as she went back inside.

"My first confession from another girl. I guess it never would have happened in Texas."

"I hope you know what you're doing Screaver." Michael said as he appeared behind me. I almost jumped.

"Don't do that!"

"You need to choose Screaver. Choices, choices, choices." He repeated.

"I know but…"

"Hang on Screaver." He said as he rubbed his head.

I raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing?"

"What I use to do; predict the future." He said.

"WHAT? You could do that this entire time?" I said, about to hit him.

"No no no, I told you. I need time to gain enough power in order to do these sort of things. It takes me about two months to give one glimpse into the future."

"Two months? I've really been here for two months?" I said in disbelief.

"Almost. Hard to believe it's been that long huh? Now quiet." He said. He removed his glasses and his eyes were lit with that neon blue.

The scene changed.


The ship and sky melted away to a stone room. It had windows that were filled with sunlight. I looked out and saw a huge city of white stone, filled with bustling people wrapped in clothes.

"Arabasta, Kingdom of the Desert." He said.

The room was big, with a double queen sized bed, several desks with papers and pencils, bookshelves packed with books, a huge fancy rug on the floor, and a bunch of engraved pictures on the walls.

A guy walked in the room. I quickly put my hands up in defense, but Michael appeared next to me and tapped my shoulder.

"This is just a vision. They can't sense us." He said.

I continued to look at the man. He looked like he was in his forties, wearing a fancy purple robe. He had brown hair that was cut short and a tied up beard. He sighed and rubbed his hands like he had arthritis.

He sat down at a desk and began writing on some papers, reading a few books, boring stuff.

"Umm…can we fast forward?" I asked Michael.

"Wait." He said, holding his hand up and pointed towards the door.

A woman walked in. She looked just as old as he was; mid thirties to early forties. But she seemed familiar. She had long blue hair and gray eyes. She looked pretty, had a nice body that's all I'm saying.

DAMN IT! YOU LIKE…Umm…Well, NOT HER!

"You just might." Michael said, as if he read my mind.

But after a minute I finally recognized her; It was Vivi! All grown up!

She walked up to the man and looked over his shoulder. He looked up at her and smiled happily. She smiled as well as he turned to kiss the future-Vivi.

"Should I really be watching this?" I said, kinda weirded out.

"What's the problem? You're just watching yourself making out with Vivi." Michael said bluntly.

"WHAAAAAAAT?"

Now that I got a good look at the old guy, he was ME! The smile, the brown eyes, even the scars! MEEEEEEEEE! MAKING OUT WITH VIIIIIIVIIIIIII!

"What is this?" I said in shock.

"This is the future you will have if you choose to be with Vivi. After the battle on Arabasta Vivi confronts you and begs that you stay with her at Arabasta. If you say yes, you stay and become her personal guard. Soon afterwards, you two get serious about each other and eventually get married. Making you the next king of Arabasta!" Michael said.

"Whoa whoa whoa…You mean…I'll end up with Vivi?" I asked him, freaked out.

"Like I said, it's your choice. Remember how I said that one's fate is locked in by certain actions well…this is one of those times! No matter what world you got to, fate will act the same in every occasion."

"Wait wait wait wait, back up. Hold on! Why would she...how could...this is unreal. Like in an almoststupid sort of way. I mean, really? Me and Vivi? That's a bit far-fetched to say the least."

"Don't blame me. Blame the twisted writer of fate." Michael sighed.

-sigh-

"Well…what about Nami? And Luffy and everyone?" I asked him.

"Well, I suspect you will stay on this ship. Just so you know, I can't predict what will happen if you choose Nami over Vivi, or that she will ever even love you. If you choose Vivi, that future is set in stone. But if you choose Nami, your future is still vague. She might not ever love you, and you two could even die. Choices, choices, choices."

"That doesn't make any sense! I'm a pirate, I have a bounty!"

MIchael shrugged. "No matter what you do, it WILL happen. Unless you die, nothing stops death you know."

I was having an entire internal discussion with myself.

Wait, what about Vivi? She was so kind to me and cares for me so much. One part of my brain said.

But I promised to be with Nami, and she's already starting to like me. And I have done so much crap in order to protect her. I climbed a freaking mountain! The other part said.

But Luffy did the same, and he doesn't love her. And she could just be teasing me, like she does with Sanji on a regular basis. And Vivi is so pure, and I'll become a king!

But I'll have to become a follower of the damn government and won't be able to out to sea.

But then I won't be put through all that pain that lies down the road like the Water 7 or when we all get split up by Kuma...

But then I won't even have a chance at saving anyone else!

HANG ON! I need to think about who I actually like, not the stupid pros and cons! Who am I, Ruban Feffer?

"ENOUGH!" I shouted and the scene dissipated. I was back in that neon blue room that I met Michael all those weeks ago.

What…what should I do?" I asked him.

He looked at me with a sad face. "I'm sorry Screaver; I can't help you on this. I don't even know! I can't begin to tell you every possible outcome that could happen. Choosing Vivi will give you a peaceful life as king of Arabasta, that's all I know. Choose Nami and anything could happen! She may be the more dangerous decision but you promised to keep her safe forever. And may I remind you that if you choose one…"

"I know," I said finishing his sentence, "I can't go back."

He nodded.

"You don't have to decide right now. You have until the end of the war in Arabasta. Think about it, and choose well. Whatever you decide, I'll stay with you till the end." Michael said hopefully.

He snapped his fingers and I reappeared in my crows nest, leaving me with a lot to think about.