Last time, the inspection of Marine Base G2 goes off without a hitch, if only the same could be said about Akainu and Luffy's reunion.

A long time ago, when Akainu got assigned a rotation at Mariejois that Luffy is forbidden to attend, the young raven is deployed to the North Blue. It is the darkest time of his life, not that Luffy would put it in so many words. He must've been somewhere around 16, and whenever he thinks about it, he feels frostbite on his fingers and an island where you never saw the sun. His cycle lasts only 3 months, Luffy had some excellent colleagues, and maybe, he's aware that most marines would be thankful for a gentle cycle, but all that Luffy thinks is that he'd never go back. He cannot explain how everyday blended together until his cycle was just one big, never-ending routine. That no matter how much he trained and yelled and played, the empty expanse of tundra could never be filled. That he sang and danced and talked, and the echoes on the mountains only made him all the more lonely.

Being alone is worse than being hurt.

At his core, even two years after joining the navy, Luffy has not changed, but after the North Blue, something in him does. Maybe between sensei and Garp and Seagull Guy, he's been distracted. Alone, halfway around the world from everyone he cares about, it dawns on Luffy what he's committed his life to. His feelings for Justice are mixed, but his feelings for the navy aren't, and Luffy holds on tightly to his memory of Ace.

Garp picks him up; there are 3 months to go before sensei returns to HQ.

In contrast with the faraway northern island, the East Blue is tedious but not depressing. Luffy enjoys his visit to Windmill Village briefly, even though it reminds him of a million promises he will never keep. It carries the bittersweet taste of home, and of an incompleteness, not enough. He travels around on Garp's ship, his grandfather wanting to keep him close even though Luffy is a captain.

Then, he reaches Shells Town and meets a dream; the dream has a man attached to it. He is honorable and loyal and strong, but more importantly, he is resolute and unflinching. Luffy wants it. He knows that feeling like he knows the emptiness of the sea, and he makes Zoro join his crew. Together, they find Coby, and Luffy gets a crazy idea that maybe, he can build something of his own. Nakama, even if he's a marine.

Zoro and Coby walk to the post office; it's a familiar route after a couple of months in Sabaody and an equally familiar ritual for the pair. Out of their crew, only the pair of them maintain constant contact with anyone outside the crew, though often enough, Ussop and Nami join them, and Coby brings in Sanji's occasional letters as well. It also has to do with the fact that Zoro and Coby's correspondence is meant for people inside the Grand Line, which is a less timely affair than sending out letters to the East Blue. Zoro's taken the crew's teasing well-enough, but he's thankful that Coby, who's in a reasonably similar position, never seems to have an opinion to share on Tashigi's letters. Or maybe he's just returning the favor of Zoro's discretion.

"Zoro," the other man breaks the silence as they stroll through town. By now, they receive a lot less staring from the locals, but a lot more glaring from the petty thieves. Luffy's squad has been merciless with any sort of crime taking place in their presence, and Zoro spots more than one known pickpocket scurrying away. He grunts more in displeasure than answer, but Coby continues. "What do you think of Akainu's visit?"

Honestly? Zoro has no opinion on it. The man came, grouched and complained as he's known to do. He and Luffy did that weird thing of arguing while also catching up simultaneously, and then he was gone. Zoro's not sure what exactly in that equation he's supposed to have an opinion on. He also knows that out of the gossipmongers in his crew, Coby is the least likely to meddle into Luffy's business without good reason, and so he spares it some thought.

"He seemed to be in a worse mood than usual," he finally settles on and figures this is also shared by Coby, who's nodding even before Zoro finishes speaking.

"Helmeppo said something along the same lines," Coby informs him, toying absentmindedly with the light blue envelope he carries in his hand. "He… also overheard a conversation between Luffy and Akainu that left him very confused," Coby says this part a little sheepishly, most likely aware how zealously Zoro values privacy, both his and others. "He wanted to know about Luffy's father, which isn't surprising, but… he also said that Akainu seemed to taunt Luffy about a Straw Hat? And that they talked about the pirate Fire Fist Ace? And also, Akainu seemed mad that Luffy is protecting someone? Helmeppo considered Fire Fist briefly, but how would Luffy even know him? He's been a marine most of his life."

Zoro raises one brow, urging Coby to get to the point.

"Well, eh… do you think Luffy is in some kind of trouble?" Zoro ponders about the dicey question.

"Luffy wouldn't say that," he finally says. "And you need to tell Helmeppo to mind his business. Luffy's things are his own." And, Zoro thinks, remembering a late night in East Blue, there's not much to do for Luffy, not yet.

"But you would," Coby states. Zoro turns around to face him, where the pink-haired man stops walking.

"Hah?"

"You would say he's in trouble." Zoro's reflex answer, that when isn't Luffy in some problem or another, would only serve to deflect Coby's honing intellect. Even now, Zoro can see the way his brain is furiously breaking down everything he knows into some new conclusion. Zoro sighs.

"Maybe," he agrees, "but there's nothing to do for now. I mean it, Coby, Luffy's business is his own."

The other man seems to hold onto his stubbornness. Eventually, though, he lets out all the air he'd been holding. He gives Zoro a hesitant smile, filled with trust.

"I'll trust you to keep the captain safe, Zoro."

"I will die before him," he answers, "that I can assure you."

"Jeez, Zoro," Coby barks out a laugh, "that is so not what I meant."

"Hum," Zoro huffs out, mildly embarrassed. It's the truth, though.

"Man," Ussop whines coming into the office, "I still have the shakes from Akainu being here. The only person I would've been more afraid to see is Garp."

Chopper laughs incredulously from where he's leisurely filling in some paperwork. There is significant work to do as the head of the infirmary, Chopper enjoys having minio… subordinates plenty. All those able hands chopping ingredients and sorting through files. Ahhh, Chopper never wants to go back to being solely responsible for the health of an entire ship.

"How is Vice-Admiral Garp scarier than Akainu?" he questions Ussop, who has now sprawled dramatically against the sensible couch. He barely raises his head, just enough to make eye contact with Chopper.

"You wouldn't understand," he dismisses, illustrating his seriousness with a full-bodied shudder, Chopper's response is to laugh again.

"He barely stopped by the infirmary," Chopper responds, "he gave me the nerves. Just looked over everything and walked out without a word. According to Helmeppo, it means he was impressed?" His tone drifts upwards in question because he's still unsure about the validity of such a statement.

"Probably," Ussop mumbles, "from what I hear, Luffy used to be his favorite person," Chopper thinks back on Akainu. Could such a man even have the notion of a favorite anything? "And he called him Brat all the time, so, who knows?"

"How is your latest assignment going?"

"Nerve-wracking as always, which Nami finds hilarious, as always." Usopp groans, voice muffled where he's trying to sink into the couch. "But… it's working. The information network on the island will be ready on time. It's not foolproof. Obviously, we couldn't take in everyone without it blowing up in our faces, but… it'll be enough, I think."

"They'll be arriving any day now."

"Yeah… I don't like how much it's riding on this, though." Chopper nods, agreeing with Usopp; it's something he's been thinking about himself. "Almost no pirate has made it past Saboady since we got here, but it's the big fish arriving basically at the same time that HQ cares about."

"You know, Sanji said something on our first day here," Chopper recalls, "that they were setting us up to fail."

"I wouldn't go that far," Ussop turns around, crossing his arms below his head and seeming to appreciate the ceiling for a moment. "We'll bring them down, most of them, at least, I think." He chuckles suddenly. "I never thought this would be my life."

"I know what you mean," and then curious, "Usopp?"

"Yeah?"

"Your dad, he's a pirate, right?"

"...He is."

"Did you ever want to be one?" It's a logical question, but it's also one Usopp usually avoids. There's something today, though, maybe the time of year. So close to another tropical Christmas that has Chopper remembering a very different life.

"It was my dream."

"...Mine too."

"Ehh? For real, Chopper?"

"My father - I mean, the man that raised me - Dr. Hiriluk… he used to keep a Jolly Roger in our lab. Told me it was the symbol of freedom. I knew nothing about pirates then, not really, and when Luffy and Wapol fought, my flag burned. I kept it because I always dreamed that one day, eventually, I too would know the freedom of pirates."

"I used to play a pirate every single day in my home village. My dream was to be like my father, who my mother often called a brave warrior of the Sea. When I saw Luffy beat up the pirates trying to invade my island, I thought that he was the first person I could describe as a brave warrior of the sea. When he invited me to join him, it had never occurred to me to become a marine… even now, it seems so silly, but it made sense, you know?"

"Yeah."

"It helped that Luffy knew my dad, and he thought he was cool. I think, maybe, even being on different sides… this journey that we're on will lead me to him. I… hope I can still make him proud."

Chopper wouldn't know, and so he stays silent. A thought occurs to him.

And then, in a moment of uncharacteristic inspiration: "We'd be great pirates."

"With Luffy as captain?" Usopp speaks unconvinced. "I don't know, Luffy takes the whole Justice thing pretty seriously."

"But you know what he does to some of the pirates that come through here," Chopper argues.

"Yeah, and I also know what happens to most of the pirates that come through here."

"...fair."

Ace is accidentally snoozing during one of the commander's meetings… again. Marco sighs as he kicks the younger man under the table; the freckled-man doesn't even stir.

"There are two strange reports coming in from Paradise," Haruta speaks, quickly grabbing his attention and starting the meeting without preamble, "the first is an emerging batch of rookies, nothing much out of the ordinary other than reports indicating they will all coincide in Sabaody with bounties of over 100 million berries."

Marco spares Vista a glance, making sure he's taking the required memo of the meeting.

"Anyone worth scouting?" Thatch asks, polishing his knives.

"Too early to tell, I'd say, they all seemed rather… stubborn. More than one has openly stated the will to reach Laugh Tale." Ah, paradise rookies are adorable. "Besides, who knows if they even make it to our side of the Line."

"How come? Last time I was there, Sabaody had become no one's land," Namur pitches in.

"Yeah, except that now there's a Rear-Admiral in the area, and his team has barricaded Sabaody," Haruta details, "it started half a year ago. The influx of rookies was high as always, but the number of them who arrived at the New World was tiny." The short commander turns to Marco's right side of the table. "Izou." The crossdresser offers the table a smile as he picks up on where Haruta leaves off. At this, Marco notices an extra presence in the room, almost hidden behind Izou's frame. Marco knows he's a brother, seeing as he's passed him by often around the ship.

"Right, so, you know how we got some new brothers on the last island?" Izou begins, signaling to the man beside him. "This is Dave; he was a pirate captain before joining us. His crew sailed through Sabaody two months ago." So, long enough to have seen the rumored Rear-Admiral, huh? "Dave, can you tell them what you told me?" Dave is a short man with long, dirty blonde hair. His smile is a little hesitant, and it's a little too kind for his overbearing frame.

"Sure thing," he consents gruffly, eyeing the commanders with nervous eyes.

Next to Marco, Ace sleeps on.

"We weren't prepared," is how the story begins.

This chapter came outta nowhere haha!

Just letting you know that if you enjoy The Devil is a Part-timer, I've started writing for that fandom as well. The story is called Rise and Fall of Satan Jacob and the blurb is:

Emilia Justina has spent a decade driven by the sole purpose of ridding the world of the Devil King Satan, who now lays captured within the church.

Like all my stories, it's available both here and in AO3.

Also, FF doesn't allow me to see reviews, I only read them through my email but I cannot answer any of them. I've reported it and hopefully it'll be fixed soon. Thank you for your kind words anyway, I treasure them deeply.

much love,

dee