Meeting the Crew

Part Four

Cade kicked her legs harder against the current grasping for her. Somehow everything had gone so wrong when they landed on an island called Water 7. She had taken off with Robin and Chopper. Suddenly, Robin disappeared on them. She and Chopper looked for her but had no luck, even when they ran into Sanji who said he saw their dark haired friend. Still they couldn't find her. They returned to the ship and learned that the Merry would never be able to sail again. It was a bit of a shock to her, but it made sense. Ships couldn't heal like humans and fishmen could. It was only a matter of time before they'd have to get a new ship.

But that was only the beginning of their troubles. Usopp got beat up by a group of thugs on the island. It didn't take them long to take the thugs down, but the money they had gotten to repair the ship was gone. Usopp took it the hardest. So much so that he fought Luffy for ownership of the Merry. Then he left the crew after they fought.

The next day added more trouble as Iceberg was shot. And they were getting the blame for it until Luffy spoke with Iceberg. The mayor told him that it was Robin who shot him. None of them believed Robin had anything to do with it until she appeared before Cade, Sanji, and Chopper.

Sanji sent Chopper back to the crew. He wanted Cade to go as well, but she insisted on staying with Sanji. They ended up on the sea train heading towards Enies Lobby. And that inevitably led Cade to where she was now: swimming against massive whirlpools to try and get to Robin before she was forced through the Gates of Justice while the rest of the crew fought against CP0. Robin didn't want to die like she had claimed. And none of the crew was going to let her die now that Robin revealed she wanted to live despite the darkness that followed her around.

Suddenly the current let loose. Cade shot forward before righting herself. "What the heck? Oh no! The gates must be opening!" She shot through the water. "But why now? There's no way they could have gotten there already."

Several muffled booms sounded above. Cade surfaced to find several navy ships shooting at the island and a warning siren going off. "What in the world is going on here?!"

Cade dove. She had no idea why the navy was attacking their own island, but that could be sorted out later. Right now she had to stop the ships so they could get away. Reaching the navy vessels she tugged up some seaweed and wrapped it around the propellers before bending the blades. Then she shot up to the bridge where she found Robin and Franky, Robin free of her cuffs. She rushed to her friend and threw her arms around her. "Robin!"

"I see you've finally gained trust in me," Robin said with a chuckle.

"Sorry I doubted you." Cade stepped back to look at her friend. Robin had a few bruises but nothing that wouldn't heal in a few days. "You are our friend and crewmate. Now all we have to do is wait for Luffy and the others."

"I hope they get here soon," Franky said pointing at the navy ships. "We've got company."

"Don't worry about them." Cade smiled just as the ships started turning to each other.

"I see. You paid them a visit." Franky smiled. "Being a fishman comes in handy."

"At times it does." Cade nodded. All they had to do was wait for the rest of their crew. Finally they showed up, but for Luffy. While Luffy battled with Lucci the crew faced off against the navy soldiers that had made it onto the bridge. Cade gathered her water and blasted it at the soldiers, occasionally glancing back at Luffy when she had the chance. Worried filled her chest. Even from far away she could tell that Luffy was having trouble defeating Lucci. She wanted to go to him but the distance between them was too far. There's so way she could make it.

Coldness seeped into her body when Luffy fell to the ground and didn't get back up. Usopp, still dressed as Sniper King, walked closer to the edge, took off his mask, and yelled over at Luffy to hurry up and beat that guy. Cade whispered along with Usopp's shouts. "Come on, Luffy. You can do it. Let's go back to the sea. It can't end here. Not like this. Not now. There's still so many adventures we have to go on."

Upon hearing Usopp's pleas, Luffy stood up and defeated Lucci. But they weren't out of trouble yet. They still had to escape the marines that had them surrounded.

"Jump into the sea!" Usopp shouted.

"What?! Are you crazy?!" Cade snapped. "I can't carry you all! I barely made it through the whirlpools myself!"

"I know! It's not that! Trust me! Jump!" Usopp said.

And they did. All of them, Robin rolling Luffy with her devil fruit, jumped. Much to their surprise Merry appeared. Cade's lips blossomed into a smile. "I can't believe it! Merry!" She all but kissed the deck. "How in the world did you get here?"
"Good question," Nami said.

"Yeah. I can't find anyone else on the ship," Sanji said.

"That's weird." Cade looked around. "A ship can't sail itself. Can it?"
"Who cares? We're back on the Merry." Tears flowed down Usopp's cheeks.

"Yeah." Cade nodded. For the moment we are. But we still have to say goodbye to her. She's far too damaged. It's amazing she made it this far. And survived that storm.

Cade hated how she was right. As soon as they left Enies Lobby they met up with Iceberg on one of his ships. The Merry started collapsing. Despite Luffy begging Iceberg to help Merry, it was time to say goodbye. The crew left the Merry for the last time. Gathered together on small boats they watched as Luffy lit the Merry on fire and gave her a burial at sea. "Goodbye, Merry. Thanks for carrying us this far. You were a great ship."

Once it was done the pirates climbed aboard Iceberg's ship and headed back to Water 7 to heal. Cade helped Chopper dress everyone's wounds before curling up beside an already sleeping Luffy to rest.

The next few days were peaceful. Most of the time the Straw Hats stayed inside, only occasionally going out to get some air or do some shopping. They never would have guessed to have a certain visitor come calling on them. But their peaceful day was broken when a certain marine came busting through the wall. It was none other than Garp himself. And he gave Luffy and Cade a typical greeting. With his fists. The greeting quickly faded when two familiar guys appeared and fought against Luffy and Zoro. Though the two pirates came out on top.

"Huh? Hey! Coby!" Cade smiled when Coby revealed himself to them. "I see you're well on your way to being a fine marine. She eyed his new form and the scar on his face. You've definitely improved since the last time we saw you."

"Yeah." Coby blushed and rubbed his head. "It's not easy though. Garp is really tough on us."

Helmeppo nodded. "Definitely is."

Cade and Luffy laughed as they headed off with their two old friends, well one old friend and one enemy. They listened to Coby talk about how they came to the Grand Line and about a place called the New World. "The New World, huh?"

"Do you think you're brother's there?" Coby asked. "I've been looking around for him when I can. Sorry. I haven't found anything about him."

"It's okay. I know it's going to be hard to find him," Cade said. "I hope he's not in the New World. It's hard enough searching for him here."

"Well, we have to get back." Coby stood. "I'll continue to keep an eye out for your brother."

"Thanks, Coby." Cade smiled. The groups waved goodbye and went their separate ways. A couple more days later their new ship was finally ready. Iceberg handled the reveal as Franky was nowhere to be seen and didn't want to be there since he would accept Luffy's offer to be their shipwright. It was an amazing ship. Franky had even put her in not only her own bedroom but added a sewing room to it. "Finally. Space of my own." She stepped back out onto the deck. "So, when are we going after Franky?"

"Already on it." Luffy grinned.

Cade nodded. She should have known Luffy already had a plan to get their shipwright to come with them. If only she knew what it all entailed. Little did she know the wild shipwright would end up being naked when he joined the crew. She gave a heavy sigh. Crossing her arms over the railing she watched as Franky continued to cry as if Robin was still grabbing ahold of his most sensitive body parts. "Wonderful. We've added another nut to the crew."

"He's such a crybaby, isn't it?" Robin grinned.

"It really is great to have you back, Robin," Cade said.

"Good to be back," Robin said. "I'm never leaving this crew again."

"I'm glad to hear it." Cade nodded. "Because we'll just go through all of this again to get you back. And I'd rather avoid doing that again."

…***…

"I hate this island! I hate this island! I HATE THIS ISLAND!" Cade jumped, avoiding another massive fist from Oars. Zombies. Zombies. Zombies. Nothing but zombies. She hated them and plowed them down with her water attacks whenever she could. She even smashed a couple back into the ground with a water attack.

If she knew she'd have such a reaction to zombies she would have stayed on the ship. And, to make matters worse, Luffy was nowhere to be seen. She was worried. There was no way for her to protect him if she couldn't see him. Of course Luffy could take care of himself, she knew that, but with all these zombies and shadow stealing warlords around she was feeling on the side of insecurity.

They were currently in battle with Oars, a zombie brought to life by Luffy's shadow. The massive zombie was about to bring his foot down on Usopp and Nami. Cade was trying to get to them but her body had been beaten too much for her to move fast enough. Oars foot collided with the ground.

Cade flinched. Her heart jumped into her throat. Before her mind could go too far she saw him. Standing on a broke building was Luffy. Though his skin was blue and he was taller and had more muscles she knew it was him. "Luffy!"

"Luffy?" Franky asked. "What happened to him?"

"Are you okay?!" Cade called out.

"Yeah. I'm fine." Luffy nodded. "Sorry to worry you."

"You always do." Cade chuckled knowing Luffy would always worry her no matter where they were. While watching Luffy battle, again, she wondered if all captains were like her brother. Did they fight the strongest like Luffy did? Or did they have their subordinates do the fighting? She wasn't sure. Surely if the captains cared about their crew they would do everything they could to save them. Though she knew for a fact no one was like Luffy. He would always be special.

The fight ended. Cade raced towards Luffy to tend to him but was knocked back. When her sense came back to her she found a tall man with broad shoulders walking off with Zoro. Cade pushed herself to her feet and followed. She watched as Zoro attempted to sacrifice himself in order to save Luffy. Sanji soon wandered onto the scene, but Zoro knocked him out. Cade stayed behind the debris concealing her. Her feelings were conflicted. She wanted to run out there and defend Zoro. After all she was the crew's lifeguard. But, at the same time, she knew Zoro had to do this. Zoro was as loyal, almost as much as she was, to Luffy. So she held her ground as Kuma transferred pain to Zoro's body. When it was over Kuma disappeared and she ran to Zoro. She touched his blood cheek. "Zoro?"

"Hey! What happened here?!" Sanji asked when he woke up.

"What happened? Absolutely nothing." Zoro stood strong despite all the blood running down his body.

"You idiot." Cade's voice shook. Her lungs continued to clench. It felt as if someone put her lungs in a vice. Tears blurred her eyes. Never before did she think she would come to care for another person almost as much as she cared for her brothers. Yet there she was. Wanting to actually kiss Zoro for what he did. Of course she held back. Kissing was something she reserved only for her brothers. "Idiot. Idiot. You stupid idiot."

"Sorry to worry you. It was something I had to do." Zoro's eyelids threaten to close. "Cade?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't tell anyone about this."

"What?"

"Give me your word. Luffy doesn't need to know. You know how he is about people fighting for him." Zoro looked into her eyes.

Cade swallowed but she understood. Luffy wouldn't like it one bit if he knew what Zoro did for him. "Yeah. Okay. I give you my word as the crew's lifeguard."

"Great. I'm going to sleep now," Zoro mumbled before losing consciousness.

Cade grabbed him and lowered him to the ground. A soft smile came to her lips. "You really are an idiot."

"Is he going to be okay?" Sanji asked.

"I think so. The wounds are bad, but not life threatening," Cade said as she started first aid treatment on the swordsman. "Chopper really needs to look at him."

"I'll go see if he's awake." Sanji headed away from her.

A few minutes later Sanji came back with the doctor. They moved Zoro inside.

Cade held Zoro's arm up as Chopper wrapped a bandage around the wound. The crew was once again partying with the others whose shadows had been taken to create the zombies. All that was left of the undead was Brook, the musician who Luffy had recruited to their crew. Brook was at a piano playing for them. And Luffy was back to normal as he spoke with Brook. She was glad. She'd love Luffy no matter the form he took, but she was use to his normal look. Her eyes dropped back to Zoro. "How's he doing?"
"Fine despite the injuries," Chopper said while wrapping Zoro's leg. "What happened to him? He was fine before we all got knocked out."

Cade only shrugged. If the rest of the crew ever found out then it would be by Zoro telling them. She would keep her word and never tell of the sacrifice their swordsman had made.