Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece.
O - O - O - O - O
"Well, wasn't that interesting?" Law said.
"Huh? You've been here the whole time?" Errol asked.
"I never thought someone would be insane enough to even hit a Celestial Dragon, let alone kill two of them. I highly respect you, and you're truly deserving of your bounty. How about you leave the Straw Hats and join my crew? I'm sure someone like you isn't appreciated enough on your ship," Law offered.
"He's taken!" Luffy yelled as he stretched his arms out and grabbed a hold of Errol, then flung himself on his back.
"Shouldn't you be helping Camie? And get off my back, please," Errol said.
"Franky is working on finding the keys to Camie's collar. Since you scared off all the guards, he should have no trouble finding them. And no, I'm not hopping off you. Who is this guy, anyway?" Luffy said.
"You're… Trafalgar Law…! Luffy, this man is a pirate," Robin said.
"See the shit I have to deal with? And please get off my back," Errol grumbled as he tried to shake Luffy off.
"Now that you've killed a Celestial Dragon, battleships and an admiral is going to come after you! I need to protect you!" Luffy said.
"The marines are already here, Straw Hat. The marines have been here since the auction started. They've surrounded the auction house. After all, they have a headquarters right here on this archipelago. I don't know who they wanted to catch… but I'm sure they never dreamed that someone would actually attack a Celestial Dragon," Law said.
"You see, my dear giant? This place is completely messed up. The auction is over, and I've stolen their money… looks like it's time to do some gambling…" an old man said as he walked out on stage. He had long white hair, a white beard and wore glasses, an orange t-shirt, green and black shorts, sandals, and a silver hooded cloak with the hood down. The wall behind him began to tear open, which showed a giants fingers.
"You're a pretty sneaky old man… were you here just to get some money?" the giant asked as he completely tore down the wall.
"Well, I was hoping to steal some more from whoever bought me. Just think about it… who would possibly want an old man for a slave? Wahahahaha! Why aren't the guards here…?" the old man said. He then noticed that there were two dead Celestial Dragons in the seating area. "Hm? Looks like two Celestial Dragons are dead, and we're also getting some attention. Hey, you! The fat one! Did you kill those two Celestial Dragons? Your aura seems like the murdering type!"
"Yeah!" Errol answered.
"Ra… Rayleigh…!" Hatchan said.
"Eh? That's the coding guy!? Which one!?" Chopper asked.
"Ohh!? Is that Hachi!? Hey, it's been a while! What're you doing here!? Where did you get that wound!?" Rayleigh asked. Camie was about to speak up, but Raleigh started talking again. "...Ah. No, no need to say it. Hmph… hmph, hmph… I see… in other words… you've gotten yourself into a real mess, Hachi… you guys helped him out? Thanks…"
"Actually, only Errol here helped him!" Luffy said, still hanging on Errol's back.
"Luffy, shut up!" Errol said as he began to blush.
"So the fat one's name is Errol? Well, it's a pleasure to meet you! Anyway… that straw hat… suits a fearless man…! I've been waiting to meet you, Straw Hat Luffy!" Rayleigh said. A voice was then heard speaking on a microphone from outside of the auction house.
"Attention! Agent of Darkness Wyatt Errol, please surrender yourself immediately! Soon, an admiral will arrive! We are willing to give you a quick death if you come out now! Otherwise, who knows how painful and gruesome your death will be at the hands of an admiral!" the voice said.
"I better take care of them," Errol said as he managed to shoved Luffy off his back and began walking towards the exit.
"Wait! I'm coming too!" Luffy said as he began to follow him.
"No, go meet with that old guy. Aren't you wondering why he has an interest in you?" Errol said.
"I'd suggest you listen to him. He caused those marines to go after him, so it's his fight," Rayleigh suggested, which stopped Luffy from following Errol.
"This should be fun… I think I'm going to help Errol," Law said as he stood up and followed Errol.
"I got to see just how scary Agent of Darkness Wyatt Errol is. No complaints here… but I'll pass on taking on an admiral…!" Kid said as he stood up and followed Errol. "The longer we wait, the more soldiers there are. We'll even land you guys a hand!"
"Actually, I'll be lending you guys a hand," Errol retorted. The three of them walked outside, and found a line of marines surrounding the auction house with rifles, mortars, and swords aimed at them.
"They're coming out!" a marine yelled.
"Get ready!" a marine yelled.
"Those are two of the captains, and the other is Wyatt Errol…!" a marine pointed out.
"Their advance guard is coming out…!" a marine yelled.
"From right to left, they're worth 350,000,000, 315,000,000, and 200,000,000!" a marine said, looking at their wanted posters.
"If you try to order me around again, I'll start with you, Eustass," Law warned.
"I thought I told you two to stay back," Kid said.
"You guys aren't going to have very much fun fighting with me. I don't like sharing enemies," Errol said.
"Mortars! Fire!" a marine ordered. The marines then fired off cannonballs from the mortars they carried. Errol stood still, allowing the cannonball to hit his belly. The cannonball only stretched Errol's belly back a short distance before retracting and deflecting the cannonball toward the marines, causing an explosion to occur.
"Are you guys even trying...?" Errol groaned as Law and Kid deflected the cannonballs aimed at them with their own devil fruit powers, causing two more explosions to occur.
"Be careful! The cannons won't work on these guys! All three of them… have devil fruit powers!" a marine warned.
"Hey! Help me! What's going on!" the head of a marine panicked as Law was juggling him with one hand.
"My, my… there are more of them than I thought…" Law said as the smoke from the explosions began to dissipate.
"So Kid has magnetic abilities, and Law has the ability to create a room where he has complete control over the placement and orientation of the objects inside it…" Errol mumbled to himself.
"The mortars wont work on any of them," a marine said.
"Looks like their reputations are well deserved…" a marine said.
"We have to hang on until Admiral Kizaru arrives!" a marine said.
"You really think you can hold out for that long...?" Law taunted.
"They won't…" Errol said as he walked forward, "I'll defeat all of them by myself!" A small ripple effect then bursted from Errol as every marine in the vicinity suddenly fell unconscious and dropped to the ground. Afterwards, Errol took a couple of steps back in shock of what he had witnessed.
"You took out all of the marines… just like that!?" Kid asked.
"Uh… I… honestly don't know what happened..." Errol admitted.
"I think… you unlocked Conqueror's Haki," Law said.
"Conqueror's Haki…? Oh, that power… I guess it makes sense that I have it," Errol said.
"Your really going to just brush off discovering Conqueror's Haki like that!? You're a freak of nature!" Kid stated.
"Hey, can you put my head back on my body… please?" the head of a marine asked.
"I don't know if I should…" Law said as he juggled the marines head.
"Just help him out. He isn't going to attack us on his own," Errol said. Law then turned to the head he was holding.
"Hm! You better be grateful that Errol is sparring your life, marine," Law said. He then created a spherical spatial barrier in the form of a light blue aura around him and the marines body, and reattached the marines head to his body. After removing the barrier, the marine quickly stood up and ran off.
"Hey, what happened out here!?" Zoro asked as he, along with the rest of the Straw Hats and pirates from Law's and Kid's crew also came running out of the auction house.
"Woah, all of the marines are already defeated!" Sanji exclaimed.
"Hey, these two are devil fruit users! Looks like we have some competition!" Errol pointed out.
"Shishishi, well of course we do! This is the Grand Line after all!" Luffy laughed.
"Ahh ahh, looks like the captain didn't use his powers too much. That's probably a good thing, he probably would've went overboard with his powers at some point," a white polar bear said. He wore an orange jumpsuit with Law's Jolly Roger on it and brown boots.
"Wahahahahaha! I knew I felt someone using Conqueror's Haki just now!" Raleigh laughed as he walked out of the auction house with Hatchan hanging on his shoulders. Camie and Pappag also followed him outside as well.
"What exactly happened out here…?" a man asked. He had long blonde hair, and wore a white and light-blue striped full-head helmet with many rows of holes in it and headphones on both sides, a black shirt with white polka-dots on it, blue pants with blue riding chaps over it, a red sash around his waist which held a pair of handguards with detachable scythes connected to them.
"This victory against the marines mean nothing in the end! The admiral will arrive soon, and this island will fall into chaos…!" Law said.
"Then you and Kid better take your crews and get out of here. If you guys choose not to, then don't blame me if you or one of your subordinates gets killed," Errol said.
"You got that right. I'm not the one who killed two Celestial Dragons, so I don't deserve to get sacked here. That being said… see you later, Agent of Darkness...! I'm glad to have met you here… I wish I had the chance to learn more about the guy who got someone like you to follow him, but I guess fate has other plans!" Kid said.
"Well why didn't you say so earlier?" Luffy asked as he walked up to Kid. "My name's Monkey D. Luffy! I'm the one who's gonna find the One Piece!"
"Hey, Kid! What're you standing around talking to these morons for!?" the masked man growled as he stomped up to Kid.
"Hey, Killer…!" Kid greeted before speaking again. "On the course we took… saying something like claiming that you would find the One Piece would just get you laughed at. Though I killed everyone who laughed at me…! But from here on out… those without the guts to say that won't survive…! Let's meet up in the New World!"
"Let's go, guys!" Killer said. He, Kid, and the rest of Kid's crew consisting of four other members then walked away from the auction house.
Well… the deed is done. I won't be able to run from Kuma. I might as well get this over with, Errol thought as he began walking off.
"Where are you going? Let me come!" Luffy said as he ran up to Errol and followed him.
"I'm just heading to a bar to get a couple drinks. Just stay with the others," Errol replied.
"Oh come on! Let me come!" Luffy pouted.
"Wahahaha! Why don't you guys let me show to a bar that I frequently visit!? All of you can relax there for a bit!" Rayleigh called out.
Son of a Laogharian whore… Errol thought as he rubbed his forehead before putting on a smile, "That sounds great! Let's go!"
"Consider it my treat! All rounds are on me!" Raleigh called out.
"Heeeeey! Young Master!" Duval yelled out from a distance.
"Flying Fish!" Luffy yelled back while waving his hand. "It's all good now! We don't need you anymore! Sorry for all the trouble we put you through!"
"Ehh!? I'm handsome!? More importantly… it's all good! Just call me again if you need us to plan an escape again! We'll help you guys out whenever you need us too! Isn't that right, men!?" Duval exclaimed.
"Yes! Life is rose-colored!" Duval's men chanted in unison.
"I'm glad that we won't have to be in their debt again," Sanji said.
"Okay, lets go to the bar!" Luffy said. As the group began walking away from the auction house, Kuma was standing on a mangrove tree root from a distance, observing the group.
"I will alot you a little while longer with your friends for your cooperation, my dear friend... but then I must do what I have to do, and you must do what you have to do," Kuma said to himself.
O - O - O - O - O
Inside the bar, called Shakky's Rip-off Bar, Hatchan was lying on a mattress being treated by Chopper with Camie and Pappag standing next to Hatchan, Luffy was going through a fridge picking out food, Errol, Brook, and Rayleigh were sitting at the bar, and the rest of the Straw Hats were resting on the couches in the bar. A woman smoking a cigarette, who Rayleigh called Shakky, was cleaning the counters at the bar. She had short black hair, and wore a pink v-neck t-shirt with a black spider on it, a black jacket with pink lines running down the sleeves, a yellow beaded necklace, pants that had a giraffe-like pattern, a white cardigan tied around her waist, and white shoes.
"Eeeeeeehhhhhhhhh!? On the Pirate King's ship!?" Luffy exclaimed with a wide open gape.
"Yeah… I was the vice captain… name's Silvers Rayleigh, nice to meet you," Rayleigh said.
"Vice captain!?" Nami, Usopp, Sanji, and Franky exclaimed in unison.
"Hatchan, didn't you tell them?" Shakky asked.
"Nyuu… we just needed him for coating," Hatchan said.
"Oh my, didn't you notice?" Robin asked.
"I know that name all too well," Usopp cried out.
"It's in so many books!" Nami commented.
"It's definitely a name that everyone's heard of at least once," Sanji said.
"Gold Roger… I remember a rookie by that name… or maybe not. Beans, beans," Brook said as he ate a plate of beans.
"Why does the octopus know a legend like you?" Zoro asked.
"Over twenty years ago… Hachi… he saved me when I was shipwrecked. Since then, we've been friends until he joined the Sun Pirates," Rayleigh explained.
"He owes Hachi his life… he was just a kid at the time, though," Shakky added.
"But Gold Roger was executed twenty-two years ago. They didn't get you, the vice captain…?" Usopp asked.
"The crew was captured by the marines, right?" Sanji asked as Rayleigh poured himself a glass of whiskey.
"We weren't caught… Roger gave himself up…" Rayleigh said as he drank a shot of whiskey, "the government… as a show of power… may have acted like they captured him…"
"The Pirate King gave himself up!? Why!?" Nami asked.
"...Because he could see… the end of our journey… about four years before the public execution… Roger… came down with a terminal disease… a disease that nobody could cure, that nobody could do anything about… even Roger was suffering. At the time, the most famous doctor, who was also a lighthouse keeper, was a man from the Twin Capes, called Crocus. He was the only man who could ease Roger's suffering. We asked him to come with us on our last voyage, as the ship's doctor. Finally, after three years… Roger's life was stopped… we were told it was impossible. Our conquest of the Grand Line was over," Rayleigh explained.
"C… C… Crocus!? From the Twin Capes…!? How nostalgic!" Brook exclaimed.
"Eehhhh!? Wasn't that the old man on that cape for fifty years!? And he was on the Pirate King's crew!?" Usopp asked.
"Now that you mention it… he did say he was a ship's doctor for a few years. So for those three years he was a pirate! Errol, you met him as a kid, right? Did he tell you about him being on the Pirate King's ship?" Nami asked.
"He only told me that he was on a pirate ship as a kid, but never explicitly said who's ship he was on. That being said, I was able to put the pieces together later on and realized that he was on Roger's ship," Errol said as he drank a glass of whiskey and poured himself another.
"You all met him… that must mean he's still doing well! He was taking care of a whale… Crocus… more than anything, came with us because he was looking for a certain pirate crew," Rayleigh said.
"Brook! He must have gone looking for you guys!" Usopp said.
"C… Crocus… you went that far!?" Brook said as he began to cry.
"He was only with the crew for three years, but make no mistake, he was our friend…! At this age, I still want to see him again…!" Rayleigh said.
"So after you conquered the seas…? That's where it really started… the world began to call Roger the Pirate King…" Sanji said.
"It's not like he was always the Pirate King… titles don't mean anything for a man about to die… but Roger was happy… he was a man who loved doing things the flashiest way possible… that was how he partied, and how he fought… he didn't have a future, but he didn't seem to care. He looked like he was enjoying it. But before long, under the captain's orders, the Roger pirates secretly disbanded… the entire crew split up… and one by one… they disappeared. I put my life on the line with those men, but now, I don't even know where they are or what they're doing. And then, about a year after we disbanded, Roger gave himself up… was arrested… and in his hometown, Loguetown, in the East Blue, he was to be publicly executed. On that day, in the square… I hear that lots of men who would become famous pirates today showed their faces… the whole world watched as the Pirate King was executed. I didn't go… these were the last words he said to me… I'm not gonna die… partner… the World Government and the marines… must've been shocked. They intended the execution to be a warning to other pirates, but with one word before his death, Roger set off the Great Pirate Age…! In his last few seconds, with the fading spark of his life, he set the whole world ablaze. I've never laughed more… I've never cried more… and I've never drank more either…! He was my captain, and he lived a magnificent life…!" Rayleigh said. Rayleigh then heard snoring, and turned to find Errol sleeping at the bar with a glass of whiskey in his hand. "Looks like we've got a sleeper! Sorry if I bored you guys! I forget how long I can speak when I'm thinking about Roger, wahaha!"
"I don't know how someone could sleep through a speech like that… I feel like I just heard something amazing… it's totally different hearing it from someone who lived through it," Nami said.
"Then… it's almost like Roger planned and made this era," Usopp said.
"...Well, I don't know about that… Roger is dead. The only people who can create an era… are the people living in it…!" Rayleigh said as he drank whiskey out of a bottle. "I'm certain it that the people in the plaza that day received something from Roger… you know one of them, Shanks, pretty well."
"Eh? You know Shanks, old man?" Luffy asked as he sat at the bar, stuffing himself with food from the refrigerator.
"If you're from East Blue, then maybe you know a pirate called Buggy?" Rayleigh said.
"Buggy," Nami and Zoro grumbled with annoyed faces.
"Hmm… Buggy...? Who mentioned Buggy?" Errol mumbled as he woke up.
"Those two were cabin boys on our ship," Rayleigh revealed.
"Eehhhh! Shanks was on the Pirate King's ship!?" Luffy exclaimed as crumbs began falling out of his mouth.
"Just about ten years ago… I ran into him on this island. He was missing his trademark Straw Hat… and his left arm," Rayleigh said. As he poured himself another glass of whiskey.
"Uuh!" Luffy mumbled as he swallowed all the food in his mouth.
"When I asked him about it, he looked happy and talked about you…! Now, I can't run my mouth on things that Shanks hasn't talked to you about… but anyways, you've done well coming this far…! I'm sure he's waiting for you in the New World," Rayleigh said.
"...I see! ...Okay…! I've wanted to see him too!" Luffy said.
"Well then, what's the situation? You wanted me to coat your ship, right? I'll get on that now…" Rayleigh said.
"Nyuu, now that you mention it, coating is really expensive," Hatchan pointed out.
"No, it's fine. Hachi, you're my friend, so I won't take any money," Rayleigh said.
"That's great! Thanks, Rayleigh!" Pappag thanked.
"Uwoooh! I'm not really sure what happened, but if we're getting it for free, that's great!" Usopp cheered.
"Thanks for that. That's generous of you," Sanji thanked with a smile.
"Rayleigh… I have a question…!" Robin spoke up, gaining Rayleigh's attention. "Just what is… the Will of D…? Roger's name was carved into the Poneglyph I saw on the Sky Island in an ancient language. How did he know that language…? ...Do you know what happened in the world 900 years ago, during the Void Century!?"
"...Yeah, I know. We... knew all of the history," Rayleigh answered. Robin's face went cold as sweat dropped from her before Rayleigh began speaking again. "...But… little lady… you can't rush things… just go forward one step at a time... on your ship. Maybe we… and Ohara, too… maybe we all… tried to go a little too fast… even if I told you… everything I know about the history of the world, as you are now, you won't be able to do anything about it…! Take your time, and after you see the world, perhaps you'll find a different answer…! But if you must ask, then I can tell you everything about the world." Robin pauses for a moment, letting Rayleigh's words ring in her head, and decided that he was making sense.
"No. I'll stop asking here… I'll continue my journey," Robin said.
"Someday, you'll see everything… it makes me sick, what happened to your hometown, Ohara… but it's not like Roger understood those words. We were pirates… we didn't have intellects like the genius Clover or the scholars of Ohara. He just… heard the Voice of all Creation… that's all it was…" Rayleigh said.
"Are you okay with that, Robin!? Are you letting a huge opportunity go here!? Um, old man! I have a question, too! The one great treasure, One Piece, is it really on the last island…" Usopp said, but Luffy shortly followed him.
"Usopp!" Luffy shouted as he stood up on the bar. "I don't want to hear where the treasure is! I don't even want to know if it exists or not! I don't know anything about it! But that's how we all set out on this journey! If the old man tells you anything here, I'll stop being a pirate! I'm not going on a boring adventure!"
"I… I'm sorry! I get it! My mouth just… went off on its own! I…" Usopp started, but Errol interrupted him.
"Wait! Don't back out, Usopp! I want to know what the One Piece is!" Errol exclaimed.
"Be quiet, Errol! You're going to wait just like the rest of us!" Luffy yelled.
"I just want to know what the One Piece is already! You guys don't have to hear it! Just cover your ears!" Errol retorted.
"Why would you want to know anything about the One Piece so early!? Why would you want to have a boring adventure!?" Luffy asked.
"I don't care about having a fun adventure! I just want to find the One Piece!" Errol retorted.
"Yeah you do! You said your dream was to have an adventure of a thousand lifetimes!" Luffy retorted.
"I never said that!" Errol exclaimed.
"Actually, you did. Remember when you just joined, we did the ritual with the barrel where we had to recite our dreams, then smash it together?" Nami pointed out.
"I… oh, yeah. Well then, that was a lie," Errol said.
"I figured it was," Sanji said.
"Well… what actually is your dream?" Luffy genuinely asked.
"...Dunno, don't have one, and I've never had one. I know I told someone this before," Errol said.
"Ahem…" Robin said.
"Oh, yeah," Errol said.
"From here on, I'm ordering you discover your dream! You can't be a true pirate without an aspiration!" Luffy ordered.
"Why? Aren't we just sailing around and shit to find the One Piece? Why be so dramatic about everything?" Errol asked.
"Wahahahahaha! Kid, you sound just like your old man!" Rayleigh laughed. Everyone in the room turned to Rayleigh.
"Huh?" Errol said.
"You're old man… Wyatt Jones… boy, did Roger and Jones hate each other at the time! I'd imagine that Crocus might've told you this already if really did visit him as a kid, but your father was a well known pirate, just like Roger was. During our last voyage, his crew and our crew fought each other multiple times. Not one person from both ships died in any fight we had. Despite the age difference, Jones was just as strong as Roger… he was a monster," Rayleigh revealed.
"Well that's nice, I guess. But what do you mean by me sounding like my dad?" Errol asked.
"I mean you and him never had any life purpose, or really cared or appreciated the adventure, just wanted to have a good time. That was until the idea of the One Piece popped up, in which he started searching for it. Doesn't mean he ignored all the good things that came with the adventure though… he liked hanging out with his crew and partying with them all the time. He also liked terrorizing every island he came across for the thrill of it," Rayleigh explained.
"Did he claim any territory in the New World and become an Emperor?" Errol asked.
"No… like I said, he'd just go from island to island terrorizing people, either from looting or mass killing sprees, and then leave. Roger always thought your father was an asshole, but he still had respect for him as a pirate. That being said… he did manage to piss off one Emperor… Whitebeard. He killed one of Whitebeard's crewmates, or sons as Whitebeard likes to call them, so he constantly sent his sons to go after your father and kill him… but not one of them ever managed to kill your father, up until the very end of his voyage," Rayleigh said.
"Oh… after hearing all of this, he seems like he'd be a pretty big figure. Why haven't I ever heard much about him till now?" Errol asked.
"Well, he was loved by pirates, feared by citizens, and hated by marines. He was a big figure… until he was imprisoned in Level 6 of Impel Down. Prisoners kept there are considered major threats to the World Government itself, so the World Government attempts to cover up their existence. It seems that they've done a pretty good job of covering up your father's existence," Rayleigh explained.
"Thanks for the info, I appreciate it… now, about the One Piece…" Errol said, but Rayleigh quickly began speaking.
"Look, I get that you want to know really badly. Everybody does, even many of the marines! Whether they'll admit it or not… I know a lot about you, more than what the newspapers will ever say about you. I know what happened to your hometown, Laoghaire, how you were a CP9 agent, and that you've probably been nearly all around the world at this point, completing missions and killing a bunch of people. Considering all of that combined, I understand that you wouldn't really care much about adventures, and that it probably wouldn't bother you if you knew anything about the One Piece right now. To be honest, I didn't really care about adventures at first, either. I only agreed to go with Roger all those years ago because he wouldn't stop pestering me till I agreed to follow him. I imagine Luffy did something similar with you," Rayleigh said.
"Yeah, he just kind of decided that I was joining without even asking me. I didn't really have a choice," Errol said.
"Shishishi! I guess that is how it happened! Man, that whole thing felt like it happened a year ago!" Luffy smiled.
"I wasn't really the pirating type as a young lad, and I can tell that you aren't, either. But tell me, were you at least amazed when you arrived at Sky Island, or at least in the White Sea?" Rayleigh asked.
"Yeah, I guess…" Errol admitted.
"Well trust me! In the New World, many of the islands there will amaze you just as much! Much more than the islands in paradise ever could! It's a marvelous place! If possible, you guys may even want to visit some of the Emperor's territories! That is if you think you can escape alive…!" Rayleigh exclaimed.
"I guess they could. I've never been to the New World before…" Errol said.
"Aside from that, there has to be some reason you decided to stay on your ship, like I did on mine. If I told you anything about the One Piece right now, your journey would end, because Luffy wouldn't want to be a pirate anymore. I urge you to stay with your ship and continue to enjoy whatever it is that makes you want to stay around. If you still really want to know, I'll tell you, but you have to agree to leave your ship," Rayleigh said.
"...I want to say on the ship..." Errol pouted in a hushed tone.
"Say it louder…" Luffy ordered.
"I want to stay on the ship…!" Errol pouted in a louder tone.
"Phew! We don't have to worry about Errol running his mouth anymore!" Luffy smiled.
"Man, I thought Errol was really going to get the answer he was looking for," Zoro said. Rayleigh then turned to Luffy
"Can you do it…? What the Grand Line has in store for you is beyond your imagination! Your enemies will be strong! Can you control this wild sea?" Rayleigh asked.
"I don't want to control it. The Pirate King is just the freest man on the sea!" Luffy exclaimed.
"Is that so…?" Rayleigh said with a grin.
"I'm definitely a fan of yours, Monkey," Shakky smiled. Rayleigh then stood up from his seat and began walking towards the door.
"Your ship's at… Grove 41, right? I'll go check it out. What'll you guys do? An Admiral might already be on the island," Rayleigh said.
"If we stay here, will just attract trouble, so... why don't we go shopping somewhere?" Nami suggested.
"What kind of easy going life are you leading!? We're being pursued here! We've got to hide, you idiot!" Usopp yelled with bulging eyes and shark teeth.
"That's true. If we're with you, then they might come after us. If we want this to go smoothly, it would be best for us to escape this town," Franky said.
"Then let's split up. When the coating is finished, we can meet up again," Zoro said.
"Where do you get off talking about meeting up…?" Sanji asked rhetorically.
"Shakky, there's some of that left, right?" Rayleigh asked.
"Yes, one sheet," Shakky said.
O - O - O - O - O
Rayleigh headed outside and prepared to coat the Thousand Sunny, and everyone else followed him. Zoro suggested that they split up because of the danger of an Admiral on the island. Rayleigh handed each of them a Vivre Card that would lead them back to their ship. He explained that he is a wanted man, so he needed to take the ship somewhere private, and that it would take three days to coat the ship. Grateful for the Vivre Cards, the Straw Hats left as a group before they split up, leaving Camie, Pappag, and Hatchan behind.
"Who would have thought that we'd meet some of the Pirate King's crew here? I'm shocked… how should I say this… even though he was an old man, he was really intimidating," Franky said.
"Well… he is the most famous member of Roger's crew," Usopp pointed out.
That was one of the Oro Jackson's crew members. That was one of the pirates that Tom bet his life on…! Franky thought. "I'm glad to have met him…!"
"I didn't know you were so respectful to your elders," Usopp commented.
"I can be like that sometimes!" Franky yelled.
"Hey Errol… how about we go to the amusement park…?" Luffy asked.
"Why are you asking me?" Errol asked.
"Because your coming with me during the three days we have to hide, of course!" Luffy answered.
"First of all, the amusement park would be the worst place to hide, but I'm pretty sure you just want to play. Second, don't you think you've been a little overprotective recently?" Errol asked.
"Actually, we'd like to go with Luffy," Chopper and Brook said in unison.
"To be fair, your a bit of a wild card on this ship. Unlike the rest of rest of. After everything that's happened with you, Luffy probably can't predict whether you'll make it out of a situational live," Robin pointed out.
"Exactly!" Luffy said.
"Come on, Robin! You've been so nice to me as of late! I thought you'd have my back!" Errol pouted.
"Oh she has your back, but not in the way you like it," Zoro sneered.
"Shut up!" Errol yelled with shark teeth.
"If you don't want to play at the park, then we can visit any bar you want! I'll even pay!" Luffy suggested.
"Do you even have any money?" Errol asked.
"Err…" Luffy mumbled has he checked his pockets for money, "no."
"I don't think any of us have any spare berries on us. We used any money we had on us to buy supplies, and we can't go back to the ship to grab more money for three days," Nami said.
"Well shit, then it looks like I'm going to be a robber," Errol said. Errol continued walking, but stopped when he noticed the others were following him. He then turned around to see them staring at something off in the distance. "What's wrong? Fine, I won't go around robbing people."
"Who are you!?" Luffy exclaimed.
"What are you…" Errol started, but stopped when he turned around and saw Kuma standing right in front of them, "well shit."
"Errol, get back here! You're not going with him!" Zoro yelled.
"Errol! Please don't leave us!" Usopp yelled.
"He's one of the Warlord's!" Nami yelled.
"Warlord!? How come… you guys all know him!? Wait… hey, you! Are you the one that blackmailed Errol!? Answer me!" Luffy yelled as Kuma began taking his gloves off.
"Errol! Get out of the way! Don't let him hit you with that attack!" Sanji warned.
"I… I…" Errol stuttered as he began sweating profusely. He stood still out of fear as his legs shook. He knew something was off with Kuma, but he realized that he couldn't beat him. Kuma aimed his hand at Errol.
"Errol, what are you doing!? Run!" Zoro warned as Kuma aimed his hand at Errol. Kuma then blasted a laser at Errol, causing an explosion to occur on his body and knocking him out.
…
…
…
"Cough! Wha… cough! what's going on…?" Errol mumbled as he woke up. His jacket and pants looked like it had dirt and grim covered all over it, and bruises and blood to cover his entire body. There was rubble surrounding him, and the other Straw Hats were on the ground, just as battered as he was.
"Errol… are you all right?" Zoro asked.
"Yeah… what happened?" Errol asked.
"That fake Kuma blasted you with some kind of laser, and you must've gotten scared or something, because you didn't dodge. You've taken the full brunt of his attack," Sanji said.
"Fake Kuma...? What are you talking about?" Errol asked as he rubbed his eyes.
"He's not the real Kuma. Whatever that thing is didn't use any powers that the real Kuma used against us back at Thriller Bark," Sanji explained.
"Huh...? What do you... whatever actually…" Errol said as he sat back up.
"...Haa… he's stopped…! That bastard!" Franky said, looking at the fallen Kuma, or whatever it was.
"...Well that's… as expected…!" Usopp said.
"He looks like he'll start moving again… creepy…" Nami said.
"...If that happens, we're done for… I... I'm so exhausted. I can't move a muscle, haa…" Usopp groaned.
"...Zeeh... maybe instead of fighting… We should focus on getting away…" Chopper suggested.
"...We should get rid of the people that we can, since they'll just come after us later anyway," Robin pointed out.
"...but… just what was that guy…!?" Zoro asked.
"If he's an enhanced human… then that means he was originally a human who looked just like that of Bartholomew Kuma… twin brothers… or maybe they just modified someone who happened to be a super look-a-like… that would be the most probable way… whatever the case, you can't just make a person…!" Franky explained.
Errol then stood up and walked over to the Kuma look-a-Like lying on the ground. Errol noticed the shirt he wore has a ripped collar, revealing a side of his neck. On his neck was tattooed "PX-4".
"Hey, do you know what PX-4 means? Surely your inside government knowledge can give you an answer," Sanji whispered, who was standing right next to Errol.
"I don't know what PX-4 means… but from the looks of it, it seems that this guy is an enhanced human of some sort… and it seems to be the work of Dr. Vegapunk. He's the leading scientist who is employed by the marines," Errol explained.
"...Haa… let's just rest for a minute… I didn't think that… we'd be fighting at full strength all of a sudden!" Luffy groaned.
"We shouldn't fight, we should hide. If one of those things nearly took all of us down, then we have no more strength to fight with. If anyone else finds us, we're done for," Errol said.
"Zeeh… zeeh… that's true… but just give me a second here…" Luffy groaned.
"Jeez, what have you guys done!" a voice yelled.
"Uh oh… someone's coming!" Errol yelled as he and the rest of the Straw Hats turned to the origin of the voice.
"Above! Look up!" Chopper yelled as he pointed out two figures falling from above, and they landed on the ground in front of the Straw Hats. One figure was another Kuma look-a-like, and the other was a large man with a large scar extending from his left eye to the left corner of his mouth, and wore a red shirt that resembled an apron with an emblem meaning "heaven" on the front, a large red and white rope, bandages wrapped around his right fist and elbows, a symbol tattooed on his left shoulder, and carried a huge two-edged axe.
"Hey, hey… you're looking pretty pathetic, PX-4…! Building one of you Pacifistas costs as much as a battleship! Jeez, what am I supposed to report to that punk…!?" the large man grumbled.
"Uwaaaah! There's another Warlord!" Chopper screamed with bulging eyes.
"...Cou… could that be the real one!?" Usopp screamed with bulging eyes.
"Doesn't matter if he's real or fake, we don't have the strength to fight him now…!?" Sanji said.
"Did he say… Pacifista just now?" Robin asked.
"...Maybe that's the name of one we beat..." Nami said.
"Who are you, broadaxe!?" Franky insulted.
"Who do you think you are, calling me by my weapons name? It doesn't matter what you ask me, I've got nothing to tell you! I'm a hard-working man who is the best guard in the world...! Even my mouth is hard!" the large man retorted.
"...You won't even tell us your name!?" Usopp grumbled.
"I have no reason to answer you… I thought I told you, I'm the man with the hardest mouth in the world, Sentoumaru," Sentoumaru said.
"...Sentoumaru is it, huh? Are you sure you're a man? You look and sound like a woman," Errol pointed out.
"Ah, I just said that accidentally. I wasn't answering your question. And yes, I am a man! Let's start, PX-1!" Sentoumaru said. The Pacifista standing next to him then shot a laser at the Straw Hats, knocking them back.
"He's shooting beams from his palms, too! They're not paws...! I hate to say it, but that means he's a third one…! Just why is going on!?" Sanji exclaimed.
"...Now's not the time for that. We need to focus on our safety. If we fight again, someone is going to get seriously hurt! Before we run into an admiral!" Zoro stated.
"Yeah… haa… haa… we're running!" Luffy declared. The Pacifista shot another laser at Luffy, but he managed to jump out of the way in time. "We can't stay together! Split up and run to safety!"
Sounds like a plan!" Usopp and Chopper exclaimed in unison.
"The four of us need to split up!" Luffy said, referring to himself, Zoro, Sanji, and Errol.
"All right…! Are you two okay?" Sanji asked Zoro and Errol.
"Shut up!" Zoro yelled, but Errol didn't say anything, instead looking at the Pacifista.
"Errol…? Errol…!" Sanji yelled, but Errol didn't answer his his entire body began to tremble.
"Errol! Don't worry about us! Just run!" Luffy ordered. Errol then snapped out of his trance and used Shave to blitz out of the scene as fast as he could, leaving the others behind. Even after leaving the scene, he continued to run.
I can't stay! I can't stay! I can't beat that guy! There's just no fucking way I'm staying! Errol thought as he ran. Suddenly, he tripped over a mangrove tree root, knocking him to the ground.
…
…
…
"How pathetic of you," Shamrock said.
"Shamrock…? Get out of my head!" Errol said as he opened his eyes.
"Ya are running from an enemy ya can't beat… again. Most importantly, ya are running away from ya friends. No, I'm not getting out of ya head," Shamrock retorted.
"So…? Luffy told us to-" Errol started, but Shamrock interrupted him.
"Yeah, he told ya guys to run, but it's pathetic that ya decided to leave your friends behind instead of helping them escape with ya. Ya left them behind because ya were scared of sticking around with an enemy ya believed ya had no chance of winning against," Shamrock explained.
"So…? I'm just trying to survive!" Errol said.
"I know. Ya learned this nasty habit from your training back at Guanhoa. I explained this to ya in the dream sequence ya had with me. ," Shamrock said.
"And…!?"
"The whole reason I explained your habit was so that ya would change it!" Shamrock yelled.
"I… I can't…! I'm too scared!" Errol grumbled.
"No! I don't want to hear any of that nonsense from ya ever again! Ya are better than that! Ya are the strongest one on ya ship! Everyone looks up to ya to protect them and back them up! If you don't go back there, ya friends will die! If they die, then that means ya failed them! Ya need to get rid of this nasty habit for you own sake, and also for their sake! Ya need to be there for them, no matter what!" Shamrock chastised.
"You…. you're right…!" Errol growled as he stood back up. "I can't fight that Pacifista, or whatever it's called… but I need to go back and get my friends out of there!"
"That's the spirit! Now go, now!" Shamrock yelled.
"...Thanks Shamrock…" Errol thanked.
"No… thank yourself. After all, I'm a part of your subconscious, remember?" Shamrock said.
"Whatever…" Errol said. Errol used Shave to blitz back to the scene as quickly as he can. When he arrived. He found the Pacifista attempting to shoot a laser at Brook with his mouth. Errol jumped towards the Pacifista and kicked it end the head, knocking it back, and causing the laser to misfire off to the side.
"Thanks for saving me! I could've died! ...Though, I'm already dead… yohohoho!" Brook thanked.
"We need to get out of here, now!" Errol yelled. The Pacifista sat up and prepared to shoot a laser at Errol.
"Errol! Get out of the way!" Sanji yelled as he jumped in front of Errol and took the full brunt of the laser. Errol, as well as Zoro and Usopp who were nearby, were pushed back from the explosion. When the debris dissipated, Errol could see a giant furry monster with horns in the corner of his eye.
"Chopper! He's using the form he used back at Enies Lobby, isn't he!? That idiot!" Errol said.
"Brook, I need you to help me carry Zoro out of here! Errol, grab Sanji! We've got to get out of here, quick…! That beam is coming again!" Usopp yelled.
"Roger that!" Brook said as he ran back to Brook. Errol used Shave to blitz to Sanji and pick him up.
"Alright! Let's…" Errol started, but stopped when the Pacifista in front of him instantly finished, and the real Kuma was seen. "...You're the real one, aren't you?"
"Ehhhhhhh!? Another one!?" Usopp panicked as fell on his backside. "What the hell is going on here! I'm sick of this! Just how many of these guys are there!?"
"Wyatt Errol… I apologize for what is happening to you and your crew members," Kuma said as he took off his gloves. "It is time for us to move forward with our plan. And Roronoa… I see that your still alive."
"Thanks to you mercy," Zoro said.
"Hey, this isn't the time for chitchat!" Usopp exclaimed.
"Errol…! Don't leave us, please!" Luffy begged from a distance near the giant Chopper.
"Kuma! Why is that bastard here!? And why did he send PX-1 away!?" Sentoumaru yelled as he dodged an attack from Chopper.
"Finally, the real one…? He made the Pacifista disappear!" Franky said.
"There's no mistake… I've seen that ability before. At Thriller Bark… he made a girl disappear like that, and she never came back… I guess now he's going to do that too Errol..." Nami said.
"Correction: I will be sending Errol to where he needs to be first, yes, but then I will be sending all of you to a safe place," Kuma said.
"Run! Everyone, just get away from here! Think about what to do next after you're safe!" Luffy yelled.
"Errol… I thank you for your choice in only killing two of the Celestial Dragons. St. Shalria, the one you spared, has demanded that you have an execution broadcasted throughout the entire world at Marineford. It is now a guarantee that our plan will succeed," Kuma said.
"You're welcome… I guess," Errol said as he gently dropped Sanji and stepped up to Kuma. "Well, because of your devil fruit, I can't run away from you. I'll just have to accept what's coming to me."
"Errol, run! I'll stall him!" Zoro yelled.
"No. You can barely move, let alone fight. This is the only way. Once I'm gone, Kuma will send you all to safe places so that you can reconvene again at some point and continue the voyage without me," Errol said.
"Errol! You can't go! You can't! Please don't do this!" Usopp screamed as he began to cry.
"I urge all of you to not place any blame on Errol for separating you guys. Even if Errol weren't a factor in this, I still would've came here," Kuma said.
"Errol! Don't go! Don't go and die! Please!" Luffy begged again. Errol slowly turned around and faced his captain.
"I'm not gonna die… captain…!" Errol declared with a thumbs up.
"We will not meet again. Farewell," Kuma said. He then touched Errol, and he vanished within a blink of an eye.
O - O - O - O - O
An extremely tall man that had short black two tailed-style hair and wore bat wings and horn-like ornaments on his head, and black-colored suit with a red shirt underneath was escorting Errol in Level 6 of Impel Down. Some of the prisoners become rowdy from seeing a new face, and started hollering and banging on the cell bars, but the tall man fired poison at them, shutting them up. He then walked to the cell which held a mysterious figure.
"Hey, remember when I said that we'd capture your son? Well look who just happened to land on the front yard out of thin air!" the tall man said as he put his hand on Errol's shoulder.
"Kuhahaha! It's been a long while, Mr. Agent! How's that rubberhead captain of yours doing!?" Crocodile asked as he sat in the same cell which held the mysterious figure.
"...You never told me he was fat, Crocogirl…" the mysterious figure remarked.
"Stop. Calling me. Crocogirl!" Crocodile yelled.
O - O - O - O - O
A/N: Happy one year anniversary of this fanfic! That's right, the first chapter of this fanfic released on this exact same day one year ago! Man, just thinking about writing the early chapters brings is nostalgic to me… oh yeah, Merry Late Christmas, I guess.
Anyway, next chapter will mainly be Errol's interactions with the other prisoners in the cell… you know, his dad, Crocodile, Ace, that blue fish guy, and Douglas Bullet? Or maybe Garp will pay a visit!? Well, stick around for the next chapter.
P.S. For those who like reading Dragonball fanfics on here, would a story about a Saiyan Galactic Patrolman that regularly interacts with the Dragon Team (or Z-Fighters) be a good premise?