Journal 3 - Strong World: The Golden Lion's Return
Five weeks seemed to just fly by. I thought for sure by this time I would have blown up like a balloon but the only thing to show was just a small bump that could be taken as four months along instead of nearly seven.
With everything that's happened since leaving Water Seven I felt like I have really neglected my own Devil Fruit research. Not to mention that I had hit a bit of a plateau after getting sneak mode and the silence bubbles perfected. Robin wasn't any help trying to understand how devil fruits worked, she was too young to fully remember when she had gotten her fruit and her fruit was fairly straightforward. Luffy's as well was fairly straightforward - though how his second and third gears fully worked I had no idea.
Zoro thought that a good brutal spar was all I needed to push out the other powers of my fruit, but Chopper was always quick to throw himself at the swordsmen whenever he brought it up. So this left me on my own, meditating and hoping that my Haki would decide to be helpful for once.
Sitting out on the grassy deck of Sunny had quickly become my favorite meditation spot, sitting under the shade of one of the trees and just letting my breathing match the waves as we sailed slowly. I made myself silent, focusing on the feeling that it caused me. It had taken some time to get used to the weird feeling. Not hearing your own heartbeat or blood rushing through your veins when adrenaline hits is off putting.
The sudden feeling of urgent hands shaking my shoulder made me jump, the calm feeling that I had achieved was roughly torn from my grasp.
"Shi!" I opened my eyes to Nami sprawled out on the grass like she had fallen trying to get to me. Behind her Usopp was rushing towards us. I had a moment of confusion before the rush of PanicWorryWhatSuprise bombarded me.
"Wha- what?"
Nami's hands on my shoulders were shaking.
"What happened? What is it?" now they were getting me worried.
"Y-you just disappeared!" Usopp's yell brought Sanji and Luffy out from the kitchen, looking down at us from the railing. Zoro, who had been across the deck, opened a single eye.
"Me?" I took Nami's hands as she tried to pat me down, looking for something wrong.
"I-I was just walking to the garden" Nami's voice shook, "I looked over a-and it was like you blinked out of sight! Then I couldn't feel you with Haki."
Usopp nodded "I felt you disappear from below deck, I thought you had maybe fallen overboard but then you just appeared out of nowhere when Nami touched you."
The implications began to run through my mind "I-I was invisible?"
"Yes! And you gave me a fucking heart attack!" Nami took a deep breath, settling her heart "don't do that again"
A large smile pulled at my lips, invisible? I went invisible! And somehow hid my haki presence! Everything I've been able to try and learn about Haki is that it's impossible to completely hide your presence from it. You're literally sensing the life presence of someone, and that's impossible to hide. It's possible to trick someone into thinking that you weren't awakened, since being able to use it has an affect on your presence and some people are able to sense your strength. It's possible to limit yourself, to seem weaker than you actually are, but that takes serious practice.
"This is amazing!" I jumped to my feet. "I need to record this, Usopp! Come here, we got training to do!"
"Oh no… I know exactly where this is going..."
The wooden bench creaked as I dropped my weight onto it. Nami is dear to my heart, don't get me wrong but this is the LAST time I let her drag me into shopping with her.
My feet were killing me and it was not because of the pregnancy! The island we stopped at had a large city and an even larger jungle that Luffy was excited to explore. My balance was completely fucked because of BB and I was not interested in twisting my ankle from trying to navigate through thick roots on a pathless hike but that meant I was left to Nami's tender mercy.
It's pure luck that she doesn't make me carry the dozens of bags that she's collected, we've pretty much hit every single store on the island and I was ready to get back to Sunny.
"One more place Shi!" Nami all but popped out of nowhere, arms mysteriously empty and an even larger smile on her face than when she first set her sights on a fancy boutique.
"What poor schmuck did you leave the bags with?" I asked, pulling myself up off the bench. BB may seem small, and not noticeable but over the last few weeks it's taken a big turn to me. My flexibility is well and truly gone now, and even just the simplest of movements take a bigger effort nowadays. I was dreading the days when Chopper decided to not let me do anything. I'm pregnant, not an invalid I swear.
"Just Sanji" Nami smirks, grabbing my hand and starting to pull me down the street. "There's no marine base on the island, and pirates haven't visited for months."
"I could have told you that" I shook my head. The island was too peaceful, their docks overrun with fishing boats and too many friendly faces. Their shops and fishing mostly serviced the smaller islands in the area, they didn't get much outsider traffic as most just head straight to Sabondy.
"But that means we can go here."
The store she had stopped in front of had a bright blue and pink sign. A raddle carving hung outside the door, a crib sat in the main window.
"Nami…" I looked around the street, it was deserted. "This isn't a good idea" apprehension and nerves sat heavy in my stomach.
"Shi" Nami said quietly "no one here is looking for Nightmare, hell you don't even look like your bounty right now. And mine's small enough compared to Luffy and Zoro's that no one is going to pay attention, especially here on this island"
I had to grant her that. If someone had held up my bounty to me today they would be hard pressed to find any similarities… Since the bump had become larger I hadn't been able to fit into any of my pants, and in the last week have been borrowing's Zoros. The loose pants matched with the sweater I had stolen from Pell before leaving Alabasta and my brown hat I looked like a completely different person. No pirate here, no bounty hunter. Just a young woman, with swollen ankles.
And… I couldn't argue the small part of me that held a want. A need to explore through the baby clothes, the little toys and things BB was going to need as they grew older.
I let Nami pull me through the door. A little glass bell chimes as we walk in, followed by a greeting from a young woman standing at the counter.
Nami is immediately in her element, chatting away with the woman. Words like maternity clothes bottles, onesies, and blankets all get thrown around and I can feel my head start to swim. Sitting innocently on a show crib is a little stuffed white tiger. I feel myself drawn to it, running fingers over it's incredibly soft fur and squishing the plushy insides.
"Do you like it?" Nami is suddenly beside me once again, eyes soft as they examine the stuffed animal.
I could only nod, it felt like there was something in my throat as my emotions began to overflow. There was a burn behind my eyes as I tried to keep from crying.
The sales girl gives me a soft smile that makes me want to burst into tears. "And this is the new mom? Let me show you around the shop." I let the two women corral me to the back of the store, the white tiger doesn't leave my death grip.
Well… it's not like I can just drop off the baby with absolutely nothing.
"Hey Sis!" Franky's call grabs my attention as I climb down from the library. Robin and I were just doing some more Devil Fruit practice, I have yet to make myself invisible again but hiding the sense of touch, smell, taste and my Haki presence have become just as easy to hide as hearing/sounds. Sight though has eluded me so far.
"What's up Franky?"
I hadn't seen the shipwright for a few days, he had been holed up in his workshop with Usopp doing who knows what.
"How do you like the new bed!"
I grin "It's great! Thanks for putting it together so last minute"
"OW! No problem" he struck a pose "are you SUPER busy? Usopp and I made something for you!"
Intrigued I shook my head which caused Franky to call out in excitement "Follow me!"
Down into the depths of Sunny I followed the cyborg towards Usopp who was so smug with happiness.
We reached their shared workshop where Usopp struck a matching pose to Franky, both of them standing behind the project they had been working on. It was covered with a stained sheet, sticking up in random directions that made it impossible to guess what it could be.
"Franky started making it as soon as we left Thriller Bark!" exclaimed Usopp "I helped fine tune it and do the paint!"
With a flourish Franky pulled the sheet away. "Ta da!"
I could feel my nose filling with snot. The tight feeling behind my eyes on impending tears.
"W-what Shi don't cry" Usopp floundered, looking at Franky in worry.
"I" I sniffed "I'm just."
Standing between them was a beautiful cradle. It looked like it was carved out of one piece of wood, and made exactly in Merry's likeness. I ran a shaky hand over the figure head, warmth burst from my chest. It even had a mast that had a mobile hanging from it. Little carvings of Zoro's katana's, our crew's symbol, Nami's tangerines, Sunny, Usopp's slingshot, there was something that matched everyone on the crew. There was even a little spade symbol for Ace's first crew.
"I love it"
I couldn't hold the water works back any longer. Franky pulled me into an embrace as I let the overwhelming emotions rush through me. Usopp, awkwardly patting my head.
I took the shake from Sanji with only a small grimace. After Sanji and Chopper's speech about staying healthy I couldn't fault them for making me the various smoothies. As much as they actually tasted amazing, the look and texture of the drink always made my stomach flip uncomfortably.
Everyone was riding out the post-battle high. A warship of Marines had, unfortunate for them, crossed our path earlier in the day. Luffy and Zoro were more than excited to start a fight which left the Marines limping off like dogs, their ship just barely staying afloat. Chopper had yet to fully ban me from battles and fights, but at seven months pregnant he always glared when I try to join any battle off of Sunny's decks or not on solid ground.
Usopp and Luffy were sitting on the railing, antagonizing the news coo with their fishing rods, after being unable to catch anything for lunch.
The newspaper always had a specific way of making its way around the crew. Nami always got it first, because she paid the fee for it, then usually Robin would get it next, and If they thought anything was interesting to share then I would get my turn. Brook would then skim the main articles, getting himself refamiliarized with the world fifty years later. From there the paper would be ruthlessly divided. Sanji would take the cooking section for any new recipes, Chopper the medical section or any story about a medical procedure. Usopp would steal the funny pages to share with Luffy and Franky would take whatever was left over to recycle and reuse. Zoro was the only one entirely not interested.
"Anything interesting?" I asked Nami, sliding onto the bench beside her. There was a tenseness to her shoulders, her hands wrinkling the paper as they formed fists. Something was wrong, worry began to poor off of her in waves.
I lent over her shoulder, quickly reading the words tucked away in the middle of the issue. This didn't seem good. But of course the Marines didn't seem to be doing anything, hell if this happened to GrandLine Islands it would have been front page news. No one cared about the blues, even less the 'weakest blue'.
Everyone began to crowd around, Usopp slid up to Nami's other side and frowned with worry as he read quickly. "Something's attacking East Blue islands," explained Nami, she passed the paper to Luffy. Letting him read the page slowly carefully.
The picture was gruesome, large mutated animals laying amongst rubble and fire.
"Nami, Luffy, Zoro, Usopp and Sanji are all from the East Blue right? " Chopper asked nervously "Are your home islands alright?"
Nami sighed, "I didn't see them in the list of islands affected. But it doesn't seem like the attacks are stopping any time soon."
Sanji lit up a smoke as a blanket of worry and anxiety started to cover the deck "I'm originally from the North blue, but grew up in the East. The old fart will probably be fine on the Baratie, he and the other chefs can take care of themselves."
Luffy still had the paper in hand, indecision worming it's way around his heart.
"I'm fine if we want to take a detour Captain. I'd love to see your home Sea." I gave him a comforting smile.
"I've never been outside the GrandLine" Chopper stated excitedly.
Brook laughed, bringing the mood up "I have never had the chance to visit the East Blue! I am from the West Blue originally, though I'm sure that has changed a lot since I died! Yohohoho!"
Robin and Franky also expressed an interest in visiting, the two of them had been born in the West Blue before immigrating to the GrandLine, which made Chopper and I as the only true GrandLine born members of the crew.
"If we use Sunny's Paddle mode we could cut across the Calm belt and make it there in no time!" Cheered Franky. Luffy had been getting better at controlling his Conqueror's Haki, and between all of us it shouldn't be too hard to keep the various seakings away.
"Alright!" Luffy put the paper away, careful not to destroy the article "Nami set our course! We're going to find the bastard destroying the East Blue and kick his ass!"
The good thing would be that the Log Pose wouldn't reset in the smaller blues, it would continue to point towards Fishman Island even if we left the sea for a bit. We'd be able to get back to where we started quite easily. As long as we survived through the calm belt.
Everyone's moods began to lift, we were all excited at the prospect of visiting everyone's home islands. Usopp couldn't stop waxing poetic about his girl, Kaya. The young woman who had gifted them Merry. Though he denied when asked if she was his girlfriend, I could see the young blond sitting under a tree, three kids running around her as she studied. The girl was obviously smitten.
Brook began playing a semi-familiar tune, as Franky declared he was going to get the paddles ready. Luffy was drooling, no doubt thinking about the food he once had at Sanji's old restaurant.
"Are you excited to go back to the East Blue?" I asked Zoro.
The swordsmen shrugged "I wasn't born at the dojo as much as Chopper likes to think, I only left to get stronger. But… it doesn't deserve to be destroyed by rampaging beasts." he gave me a smirk "Whoever's doing this doesn't know what's coming for him."
"Hey Shi!" Nami ran back from her map room, no doubt already planning a course. "It should only take us a few weeks to get to the East blue, but maybe you could leave the baby with my sister Nojiko."
Nami had talked about her sister a lot, they had even managed to set up a sort of coded message in the newspapers to get word to each other every other month. Letters were hard to send when we were travelling so frequently, and even more likely to get 'lost' to the Marines.
From what I knew of the older woman, she was kind, loving and very protective of her younger sister.
I let the idea sit for a moment, It actually wasn't that bad of an idea. The baby would be safe, hidden in the weakest blue, like her father before her. And like the idea of leaving it with Vivi, it felt better knowing BB would be with someone that my Nakama trusted.
"Thanks Nami" I smiled. "That's a wonderful idea" Nami loved her village, and after what they had gone through for years at the hand of the Fishman Pirates. Then what Nami and Luffy and the others had done for them. I felt comfortable knowing that they would do anything for BB if given the chance.
It felt like a warship approaching. Way too many people crowded together to be able to fit on a regular sized ship. As they got closer, one presence stood out among the rest, strong, old, probably the captain.
"Incoming!" I called out, It hadn't been long since we veered off course. Nami had to keep an eye on the Log Pose since we were following it nearly backwards. Everyone's eyes turned to the bow, it felt like the ship was close but no one could spot it on the water.
"There! In the sky!"
Descending out of the clouds, it looked like an actual piece of an island sailing through the sky. Paddles stuck out of either side, moving like they were pushing through water and not air. As it lowered out of the cloud cover we could see that it wasn't all just dirt and grass. It looked like someone had just covered a ship in dirt and trees. Franky was whistling in appreciation of the work of art.
But how it was staying up in the air had everyone amazed. It was much too low to be sailing on the white white sea of Skypiea. Something had to be holding it up.
"WOAH!" Luffy yelled "It's HUGE!"
"Luffy!" Nami's voice cut through everyone's excitement. She had her eyes forced on the horizon, watching the waves and changing weather. "Cyclones incoming! Everyone to your stations!"
I darted to the railing, Chopper joining to help me unfurl the sails while Zoro got the ropes opposite of us. Luffy was waving his arms wildly. Trying to get the flying ship's attention. Franky was already at the helm, moving us off course.
I barely noticed the tone dial fly down, landing lightly in Luffy's grip before he tossed it to Nami.
We watch as the ship above us adjusts course, sitting above us as the sky darkens suddenly. A hundred meters away a literal hurricane of winds and water whip up as over a dozen cyclones burst into the sky.
"Good work Nami!" Luffy grinned, he was way too excited about how close we were to getting stuck in that.
A speck of a person begins to float down from the ship after a few moments. The strong presence that I had felt before, it felt muted, like the man was hiding it but this was no doubt the same person.
He touched down on Sunny's grassy deck with a soft clink of his sword leg prosthetics. It wasn't the weirdest thing about the man I first noticed, but Zoro was definitely interested now. The top of the man's head had half of a wooden steering wheel sticking out of his skull. From what I could see it hadn't healed well, the skin puckered grotesquely around the wood red and irritated even though it looked like an old injury. Thick blond hair, striped with silver grew out after a ring of baldness, the color matching his yellow overcoat contrasting to the formal black yutaka. He also sported a golden bushy tuft of hair for a beard at the bottom of his chin, and a black goatee with pointed edges surrounding his mouth. A thick cigar sat between his lips, lazily smoking.
Luffy, Chopper and Usopp were immediately upon the man, amazed at how he was flying and asking so many questions he couldn't keep up. There was something about the man that didn't sit right in my stomach.
"Thanks for the warning" his smile made shivers run down my spin. "Who is your navigator?"
"Oh, ah that's me" Nami raised her hand.
As the man praised Nami's skills, I glanced around. It was a pirate flag that his ship flew, and I could feel that Robin had a careful blankness to her presence that she usually did when she wasn't comfortable. Zoro, too, was keeping a close eye on his interactions. But then I turned to Brook. The utter rage that the musician had tightly reigned in was startling. I smoothly moved myself beside the skeleton, putting a hand on his cane. I don't know what's come over my Nakama, but he looks like he was about to jump the old man.
The stranger definitely knew how to use Haki, the careful way he manipulated his presence to give off good vibes didn't fit his large figure, and the fact that he knew exactly what Brook was broadcasting and laughing inside.
Luffy always seemed to have a 6th sense about his Nanaka's emotions, even without awakening Observation gave Brook a 'look' before turning to the old man and distracting him with questions regarding his Devil Fruit. But there was a new tenseness to the air.
He explains like he's talking to young children that he can make objects fly with just a touch, which is how he sails his ship. Luffy is upset that he can't make people fly other than himself.
Conversation quickly turns to where we're headed, when the man invites us to his 'hideaway' and that isn't the slightest bit creepy. I could feel Brook's control over himself slipping, just barely hiding.
Usopp explains what they had read in the paper. The destruction happening in the East Blue. I almost missed the sharp burst of satisfaction, the creepy grin across his features as Luffy went on to say that we were headed that way.
"Why don't I give you all a lift there!" the man grins. "With my power you'll be there in no time!"
He bends down, a single hand resting upon Sunny's grass for just a moment. I wonder how his Devil Fruit actually works. There's no moment to deny him as Sunny slowly floats up out of the ocean, I catch sight of Robin who hasn't taken her eyes off of the man. I start to wonder if he was a big player in the last Pirate Era, he certainly looks old enough to be part of it and by Brook's reaction it might even be from before the great Era. It's not very often that pirates get to his age.
Robin slides up to Brook's other side, I can feel the skeleton shaking. The only reason he hasn't darted over and tried to take the man's head was because of us.
Luffy eyes the three of us carefully as he runs around the ship, taking stock of how high we were going and where. All while putting on the face of an excited child.
I see Zoro straighten his back, idly stretching his muscles, ready for when the tension breaks.
"So, who is he really?" I asked under my breath.
"Shiki the Golden Lion." Brook's voice is as cold as ice. "He was a member of the Rocks Pirates."
"Ah" Anger simmered in my gut as Insight flowed through my brain, filling in the gaps of my knowledge. "Isn't he supposed to be in Impel Down?"
"According to the Marines," Robin glances at me out of the corner of her eye, she had shown a hit of confusion when Brook brought up his former Pirate crew. "But he broke out a day after the Pirate King's execution. Chewed off his own legs to break out."
There was no doubt in my mind that this encounter was going to end in a fight. Luffy kept sending Brook looks, asking him to wait.
Luffy is usually all in for a fight, but I could feel his hesitation. Shiki had us right where he wanted us, thousands of feet in the air. He could easily just drop us and that'll be the end of that.
We cleared the cloud cover and everyone gasped at the sight before us. Dozens of islands hung in the sky all of them orbiting around each other in a mockery of a solar system.
"Welcome to Mereville!" Shiki announced. Of course he ended up taking us to his 'hideaway' anyway. The man had no intention of helping us to the East Blue.
Hopefully he could set us down soon, there was a fight to be had.
Then I felt it. The sharp feeling of smugness.
Brook moved first, near gliding on air as he rushed Shiki. The sudden loss of Sunny under his feet did little to stop his momentum.
Nami was in Shiki's grasp.
My stomach jumped to my throat.
We were falling.
Sunny was falling.
I watched as Brook managed to get to Shiki, but there wasn't enough power in the swing to push the pirate back. Shiki used his leg swords to parry and throw the skeleton, making him spiral on the descent.
To my left, Sanji was able to use Geppo to get back up into the air, kicking out at Skiki's head but the man easily pushed the chef side.
Luffy was screaming for Nami as I desperately tried to maneuver through the air. Everyone was falling at different speeds, knocking into different directions as we tried to maneuver around our falling ship.
No one was close to me.
This was not good.
The island below me looked like it was covered in a forest, no water mass in sight. So at least I'd not drown to death if I did end up landing safely. My only chance was going to be the trees and hope it's branches slow me down enough.
Front or back it wasn't going to matter. Inky black armament tingled across my skin as I quickly pulled it up, covering the little life inside of me. I could only hope that it was going to be enough protection from this far of a fall.
Something touched my back and suddenly my sweater stopped mid air - with me still in it.
My stomach jerked from the lack of movement, fucking physics. The collar painfully cut into my throat and I nearly lost my breakfast but at least I wasn't falling anymore.
I glared up above me, Shiki was chuckling a hand outstretched with Nami tucked under his other arm. She had tears in her eyes, her emotions running rampant, flickering too fast to pick out.
"Well, well, well" Shiki growled "How did I not notice that little spark earlier humm? You're a lucky girl. My new navigator was begging for your safety."
Well, Fuck.
An entire week as Shiki's 'guests'.
I was utterly fed up within an hour. I could feel everyone scattered around the islands, slowly making their way towards each other. Brook's simmering anger wasn't hard to pick out.
Nami and I were kept in a gilded cage. The green house was filled with lively plants, gorgeous flowers and a pool big enough to be called a lake. Outside the glass walls, the days were eerily and constantly gloomy. The snow fell endlessly, the outdoor gardens looked useless sprawled across the palace's grounds. Random hedge mazes filled with statues of Shiki himself or of grotesque monsters.
I was ready to break out within the day, it would have been easy enough to get out. The two of us were left alone, with only a locked door keeping us in. Food was brought by a different person each time, and Shiki had only shown himself once or twice. Mostly to try and convince Nami to join his crew, or to complain about something one of his crew members did. He also never visited at night.
Those were the times that Nami let me sneak out and explore the palace.
It was a sprawling building, built like an old Japanese manor house, with many different hallways to get to the same area and smaller buildings all connected to the main house.
It was easy to gather all the information we could have wanted. Shiki wasn't even trying to hide that he was the one behind the East Blue attacks. It was apparently the big project that he had been working on for the last twenty years. And that there was a big meeting for all of his pirate alliances coming up. Then finally he'd destroy the entire East Blue.
The only reason his army of rapid beasts didn't attack the palace itself was because of a certain type of tree that he had planted around the grounds. Poisonous leaves that I wasn't in any mood to get close too at all.
Other than my night time snooping, Nami and I spent our days bored out of our minds by the pool. I stubbornly stayed in a lawn chair, the skimpy bikini Shiki left was insulting and the pool was salt water - I had thought about shoving the man in during one of his visits too many times to count, I didn't want to give away that I had eaten a Devil Fruit.
Skiki's latest visit included both of his right hand men, a literal clown and a gorilla man that couldn't talk. The three of them tried to put on a stupid comedy show, and I had to wonder if that wooden wheel that Roger stuck through his skull caused him to have brain damage.
As some sort of incentive to make Nami join, he left us a 'pet'. The duck kind of reminded me of Carue. The animal was nearly as tall as I am, and had a sunset colored peacock tail.
As Nami made friends with the duck, I turned my attention to feeling out everyone's Haki presence.
Robin, Franky and Brook had managed to meet up. Luffy was still on his own, and the closest to us. Chopper and Zoro weren't too far off, then Sanji and Usopp were somewhere on an island above the palace.
"Shi" Nami shook my shoulder "It's time to go"
"Finally!" I cracked my knuckles "Can I destroy the entire glass house?" Chopper probably wouldn't have been happy with me, but I was in a destructive mood.
"Nope, we're going through there," Nami pointed at the pool.
"What… Nami you know I can't swim anymore right…?" I stared at her unamused, but she only grinned
"I know, the duck will help you. There's a current coming from the vent. It should pull us through the pipes and right out to the source. I saw on our way here that this island has part of the ocean still connected to it. So the pipes should spit us right out over the edge."
"But then we fall to our deaths…"
Nami shrugged "The duck can fly."
I did not like this plan! The duck gave a warbled quack, smiley dumbly.
So of course Nami had her way.
Ripping a towel to shreds, Nami made some makeshift rope and tied me securely to the duck. The water was cold, all I could do was hold my breath against the exhaustion and weakness in my limbs. Months since I've eaten the fruit and I don't think I'll ever get used to the complete feeling of helplessness when in the water. The ocean was such a beautiful and cruel mistress.
Thankfully the current moved quickly and we were spat out exactly like Nami said, the water around the island ended abruptly and we were quickly falling through the air towards another island that had a lake.
We hit the lake's surface hard, I barely had the time to lift armament for coverage and still had the wind knocked out of my lungs. Nami and the duck dragged me ashore as I took big gulps of air and tried to focus my racing heart. BB also didn't like the stress that hole mess took and was unhappily kicking at my bladder.
"Please don't make me do that again" I heaved and panted, shaking the lingering weakness from my arms.
"Come on, we aren't far from Luffy"
Warily I glanced up at her and groaned. But she wasn't wrong. I could feel the sunshine presence of our captain just a few miles to the west. He was moving fast, so we should reach him quickly. A thick forest surrounded the lake, I could pick out all sorts of huge creatures hiding in it's trees and large growth.
It didn't take us long to reach a clearing in the thick forest. Sitting in a mess of toppled trees was non other than the Thousand Sunny. I was so excited to get out of my wet clothes.
Luffy had perfect timing as he burst from the tree line, yelling our names and grinning like a loon. Just behind him a gigantic salamander jumped out, trying to eat him whole.
In our shock the duck ran forward first, bypassing Luffy and letting loose a huge bolt of electricity that completely fried the lizard.
"Did you know he could do that?" I asked Nami
The navigator just shook her head, just as shocked as I was.
Luffy of course loves the duck upon first sight. Laughing even as he got electrocuted while pulling the animal's cheeks.
"I found you!" He grinned up at us.
Nami and I changed out of our wet clothes as Luffy started a fire and began roasting the salamander with glee. Nami put on a halter top and shorts as I ditched my sweater for a grey and white romper that ended just above my knees. It was probably one of the most girly things I owned, of course bought by Nami. Though I did like the flowy sleeves and it was baggy enough to disguise the baby bump.
My swords were still safely tucked away in our bedroom. I took great glee in strapping them to my back before awkwardly trying to sit on a tree stump by the fire.
One thing I find very annoying with being pregnant, is the getting up and down. Oh my god it was like I was an on woman now! I could barely keep my balance and even the act of standing up caused my joints to creak.
After eating, and Luffy playing around with the duck which he had named Billy. Nami and I were able to share what we found out about Shiki and his plans.
"What was up with Brook back then too?" Asked Luffy "He was really angry."
I sighed, "He recognized Shiki. The bastard was once a part of the Rocks Pirates, the same ones who slaughtered Brook's first Nakama."
Luffy's mood immediately darkens. A glare across his features. "What?" He was beyond angry
I nodded, to Nami's shocked grasp.
"That bastard is going down"
Sanji is the one that ends up freeing me from underneath a thick pile of dirt and rocks.
Shiki's attack on the village had razed it to the ground. The literal tsunami of earth had knocked all of us off of our feet. The sky above us was dark, we couldn't have been unconscious for more than twenty minutes. But it was enough to let the beasts run rampant. The few villagers that were still around were picking through the rubble of their homes, and trying to put out some of the fires.
Shiki was just toying with us. He didn't see us as a threat. But we'd make him rethink his decision. Brook was raging, taking out his emotions on the pile of dirt he, Robin and Franky had found us in. Nami was gone, and in her place was just a single tone dial.
Nami's message to us started off as something I didn't think I would ever hear coming from her mouth - from any of our mouths. Luffy refused to continue listening to it, getting angry and like Brook, taking it out on a pile of dirt. More than ever he was determined to get her back, kicking and screaming if needed. And kicking Shiki's ass then letting Brook have whatever was left of him.
He stomped off into the forest, headed towards where we had left Sunny.
The rest of us gathered around the dial, listening to it in detail. It wasn't until the very end that everyone's determination settled in our hearts. Nami had trust in us, we were going to get her back, and we were going to raze Shiki's dream to the ground.
Franky managed to get Sunny into the lake and do a few last minute repairs as Robin explained about the big meeting happening tonight. All of Shiki's allies were going to be in the palace.
"I believe there is a dress code to adhere to," she said idly. "It'll be rude of us to not crash a party we're not dressed for."
And Robin being the prepared person she was, already had outfits ready for everyone.
While everyone was getting ready I saw Luffy take Brook to the side, I didn't eavesdrop they were having a personal conversation. But when I next saw them Brook looked sated, and more excited to storm the palace.
I changed into the fitted suit with glee. We didn't have a lot of chances to dress up while being a pirate, and while I usually didn't care what I wore daily there's something empowering about a nice suit.
My pants had to have an elastic waist to fit around BB, but they were still formal and probably the most comfortable thing I'd ever worn.
Everyone stepped on deck in their formal wear. Chopper had a black suit jacket, with a purple shirt and skinny red tie. Robin wore a short black dress with black overcoat and stocking. Sanji and Franky were pretty similar with black jackets and floral shirts. Franky even put pants on for the occasion.
Zoro and I were matching as well, a black jacket with white button up and black tie. I tied mine properly while Zoro just left his in a loosely tied knot. Brook had a red neckerchief and orange shirt with black jacket and Usopp's was probably the most different outfit with a black and white pinstripe suit under a samurai armor chest plate and matching helmet.
My short hair was a bit messy, but I didn't bother doing anything with it. I completed my look with a pair of sunglasses, borrowed from Franky.
Everyone was ready to go until Luffy tumbled out of the kitchen being strangled by his tie.
"I don't know why I have to wear this" He grumbled, somehow getting his fingers tied in a knot.
I laughed, and saved him from the black stripe of cloth, easily tying it into a simple knot. "We want to make a spectacular entrance, before we kick his ass."
"Yeah!" though he still slipped on the suit jacket over his red shirt with a pout.
Robin draped a large black captain's coat over his shoulders and straightened his signature hat.
"Ready Senshou?" asked the historian.
He nodded. "Franky, hit it!"
"AYE AYE! COU-DE-BURST!" Sunny flew through the air, sailing over trees up towards the palace. Franky really put some power behind the burst because we skidded through the entire front garden, landing on the doorstep.
I had never felt so empowered as we marched through the compound with Luffy leading the way. Waves of Conqueror's Haki flashed out as small fry men tried to get in our way.
Zoro and Sanji busted down the doors that led to the meeting room, everyone filed in quietly letting Luffy walk in last, his eyes hidden behind the shadow of his hat.
We made for an intimidating sight, I could feel the nervousness flutter around the men sitting at his feet. Shiki just looked amused, even daring to laugh.
Nami wasn't in the room but I placed her in a courtyard further into the compound.
Luffy and Shiki exchanged a few tense words as I kept my attention on the captains and men hiding behind paper walls. But when Shiki had that gleam in his eye as he told us Nami was 'taken care of'.
The blast of Haki from Luffy instantly knocked out the captain's gathered, and even Shiki had some sweat appear on his forehead. I could feel the recognition finally hit him as he focused on Luffy's hat.
A rival of the Pirate King wouldn't be able to ignore how familiar it was.
The men hiding behind fake walls began to pour in as Shiki's shaky laugh echoed. But we were ready for it.
Zoro was first to pull out the duel cannons he had strapped to his back. I never bothered with guns usually, preferring my swords to make the fight up close and personal. But there was something rewarding about blasting holes into the rooms and blowing people up with the bazooka Franky had given me.
There weren't many people left after we ran out of ammo. Luffy during the initial attack just kept his eyes on Shiki, his anger tipping the scales.
I smirked while drawing my swords, Chopper hadn't said anything about staying out of this fight so I was going to take what I could get before it was too late.
"Usopp, Chopper. Get Nami!" ordered Luffy as he discarded his coat and jacket. "This bastard is mine."
"AYE!"
I jumped into the fray, maybe the pregnancy hormones were making me a bit more blood thirsty than usual. But tearing through the small fries was very therapeutic. Zoro and Sanji chased after Shiki's generals after the room was cleared.
It was time to start my job of spreading explosives throughout the castle. We were going to completely destroy Shiki's world.
The invasion of Shiki's own beasts was just the cherry on top of Shiki's karma. Though they were annoying to deal with.
Luffy and the bastard were still locked in their fight when I made my way back to Sunny. Franky and Robin and Brook were getting ready for our departure when Chopper and Usopp returned with Nami.
She looked a little worse for wear, having gotten in contact with the tree's poisonous pollen when trying to destroy a part of the palace's defenses. Chopper promised that she would be back to 100 percent within a few days and got her settled into bed.
We all watched the end of Luffy's fight as his leg grew to giant size above the castle, the limb crashed down onto the building with great prejudice. The explosives I had placed around went off right on time, destroying the rest of the island.
I could feel Shiki's unconscious presence fall through the air, disappearing past pieces of island towards the ocean below. Billy shows up as we slowly drift down to the surface, using Shiki's pirate flag as a parachute. Luffy has shrunk down to chibi size as a result of his Gear third but he was grinning like a loon as Franky activates another Coup-du-burst.
Just as we leave another Cyclone storm erupts, destroying the rest of the islands that were still falling down from the sky.
Hopefully Shiki hit the ocean and is drowning slowly.
Nami was up and out of bed within the next day as everyone was enjoying the nice weather. Luffy had an entire speech ready for Nami in regards to the message left on the tone dial. Of course because he didn't listen to the entire thing.
Usopp brought out the dial in question, having kept it and started playing the message agan much to Nami's embarrassment.
The three of them started a desperate game of keep away as I sat myself on the swing. Sanji appeared at my side with a shake and laughed at my scrunched up nose.
Brook began to play Bink's sake in the background, soft enough for everyone to hear the end of Nami's message before the dial disappeared into the water.
"... so I'll say this. Definitely save me."
A stack of bounties were sprawled out on the otherwise pristine desk. The man who sat behind the deck did so with a stiff back. His fingers tapped idly on a single poster.
"What has so distracted you, Rear Admiral?"
"Cut that shit out Sengoku. You know as well as I the only reason I got that promotion was to keep me here at headquarters."
"And that particular bounty?" The fleet admiral sat himself down on the only other chair in the office, hands folded in his lap. Even seated, he could see the flimsy piece of paper clearly. "I thought the order had already gone out to ignore the lesser pirates. StrawHat and his crew may be causing some trouble but there are bigger things to worry about."
His voice was far from casual conversation, the stress was almost physically in the air around him. They were getting ready for a war after all.
"Just thinking"
"There is nothing ever good with you 'just thinking'" Sengoku snapped "What is it Wayne? I could feel your apprehension from across the floor"
Bruce was silent for a moment, eyeing the smile hidden in the shadows of the picture. She looked good, she had better after getting a crash course by yours truly. You couldn't even tell if anything was poking out from beneath the thick jacket. Smart.
He's bought her as much time as he could, hopefully she's ready.
"Shadow"
"What about him?" Sengoku snarled. "There's more to worry about than a small time pirate Wayne."
Bruce frowned, his blue eyes turned icy "He's got insight."
The room's temperature skyrocketed. A golden sheen bubbled across Sengoku's skin, face flush with anger as he tightly controlled his Devil Fruit from erupting and destroying the west wing.
"He has what?"
"You heard me" Bruce sat back in his chair, flinging the poster to the floor at Sengoku's feet. "It's apparently stronger than the Shyarly's."
"Fuck" Sengoku stood sharply, all but throwing the chair across the room. "I can't deal with this right now. You can tell the council!" his finger, a brilliant gold pointed sharply at Bruce's nose. "And get his bounty adjusted. The faster we bring him in the better. Thank fuck he's not a D. at least."
Bruce took one last look at the poster, nearly torn by Sengoku's stomping. Well kid, here's hoping you're ready for what's to come.
That's the end of Journal 3!
just a reminder that weekly updates happen on Archive of our Own. you can find me under the same username StudiousMusings :)
Hope you enjoyed it!