Straw Hat Dovah

by Spider's-Frost04

The Dovahkiin has been travelling the multiverse for a while now. Spider currently finds herself on a ship with a lively crew and even more energetic captain. She's been roped into being their nakama, and upon learning it's meaning she resigns herself to guiding them to their dreams. Anyone who gets in her way won't last long. (Fair warning, Spider will be overpowered).

1. First Impressions

So I've gotten into a new story for Spider to completely fuck up, for those of you that care, let's see how badly she handles things.

Fair Warning: the story is fast paced

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

The darkness around her was strangely comforting, it was the only semblance of peace she could get these days as she waited to be moved onto the next adventure, into the next world. Voices slowly sifted through her consciousness as Spider gained awareness of her surroundings.

"She could be an enemy, we should tie her up at least." a girl's voice broke through the haze.

'Young, but with a steel in her voice. Unusual for one her age' Spider thought.

"Hehe, it's nothing the great captain Usopp can't handle!" Another voice boasted.

"Her armour looks so cool! Do you think maybe she'll join our crew?!" Came an overly excited youthful voice.

Opening her eyes Spider eventually rose to a sitting position causing the girl and the boy with the long nose to take a few steps back but a straw hatted teen stayed crouched besides her smiling widely. Looking more closely at the crew Spider saw that they were all human, and all staring at her curiously.

First was the raven haired straw hat wearing boy beside her, his smile was admittedly infectious when she looked him over, obsidian eyes full of light and a scar below his left seemingly from a very long time ago, he wore a red vest with blue shorts and sandals.

Next was the girl, she had orange hair just shorter than her own and troubled brown eyes that held something more than simple caution. A frown across her face made her feelings towards the new arrival clear as day so Spider decided to view the others.

The boy with black curly hair and long nose seemed to have calmed down seeing her as less of a threat. His whole aura seemed to radiate false confidence and Spider knew she was in the presence of a practiced liar, just not a very good one.

The other one of interest who had yet to speak had green hair and three swords at his side, his eyes assessing her and almost just waiting for a fight if his grip on one of the handles was anything to go by.

There were another two men there who seemed like they were picked up off of the street but well enough clothed they had money.

Looking down and taking stock of herself Spider saw she still wore her daedric armour sans the helm which was placed on her left side.

Dirty blonde shoulder length hair on fair skinned features revealed Spider's outer beauty, not that she was one to notice. Contrary to her actual age she appeared to be a 21 year old imperial woman with emerald eyes and defined cheekbones.

The straw hat boy was now in front of her still crouching but there was unrestrained curiosity in his eyes that Spider swore sparkled for a moment, His huge toothy grin forming. "Hi! I'm Monkey D. Luffy and I'm gonna be the king of the pirates!" He all but shouted at her in his refreshingly jovial manner.

Spider returned his grin with a small smile of her own. "Spider Alicia PoisonBlood, I'm the Dovahkiin."

"What's that supposed to be?" The green haired man asked causing Spider to redirect her attention to him. "Zoro, by the way."

"I'm sure it will sound strange to you but the Dovahkiin is a mortal born with the soul of a dragon." Spider responded hoping that just once she wouldn't be questioned too much about it.

"Whoa for real?" Luffy and the long nosed boy Spider assumed to be 'the great captain Usopp' said in unison.

"Okay stop for a second. One weird thing at a time, first you suddenly appear passed out in a flash of rainbow coloured lights in what is clearly battle armour, and now you're saying you have the soul of a dragon." The young woman surmised their situation.

"Congratulations, you're smart enough recall the last 30 seconds. Whoever raised you must be so proud of that invaluable skill you have." Spider bit back venomously. She'd been through this enough times that she'd lost all patience for the subject when people tried to call her crazy.

The retort caused a hearty laugh from Zoro and a barely contained giggle from Usopp, Johnny and Yosaku. Luffy however wasn't listening and was staring intently at something on Spider's waist.
Not paying him any attention for the moment Spider saw a pained expression shadow the orange haired girl's face which was quickly overtaken by a baleful glare.

Spider's own eyes hardened. She was a killer that had slaughtered entire armies of men, mer, monsters and dragons, no one stood as her equal, not even those among the daedric princes to match her strength, a fact she proved after eliminating one of their number and taking his very soul for her own. Spider's entire being was that of an insurmountable wall of power, getting into a contest as to who can glare with the most ferocity has only one winner, predictably the other girl's face dropped into shock at her intensity before turning away.

Suddenly Spider felt Luffy reaching around and prodding her sheathed dagger. It was then that she stood up and drew the blade which caused everyone bar Luffy to momentarily put up their guard only to drop it when she offered it to the captain, his face lighting up as he too stood to receive it.

After playing with the dagger for a few moment, flipping it between his hands with the odd combat pose he asked her with excited yet pleading eyes. "Can I keep it?"

"Of course, provided that offer to join your crew is still available" Spider offered hoping it was since it would be no coincidence she was dropped here, this must be the place Sheo wanted her for the adventure. Once again that signature grin brightened Luffy's face and he struck out his open hand which Spider grasped with hers making the decision final.

"Hey Zoro look, we have a new Nakama!" Luffy had turned to call over to the swordsman without releasing Spider's hand.

"I see that captain." Came the easy going reply, a knowing smirk gracing his features as he knew that this woman had no idea what she'd just gotten herself into.

Without the group noticing however a marine vessel had approached the pirates, a man with pink hair in a white suit held a gun out to Luffy's head, given the short distance it was near impossible to miss and only Spider was able to react fast enough.

As the marine pulled the trigger Spider pulled Luffy close and reversed their positions in time for the bullet to instead spark harmlessly off of her demonic armour.

By now everyone had taken notice of the ship sailing alongside them, Zoro had drawn his swords alongside the other two men, Nami had a wooden staff and Usopp a slingshot loaded with lead pellets.

Releasing her captain Spider did a check to ensure he was okay and got a smile in return which quickly changed to a serious expression as he too inspected the marine that had shot at him. Both she and Luffy headed to the starboard railing in order to better talk to the offending marine who looked more pissed off that his shot was wasted than interested in talking to them.

"Listen here pirates!" He yelled out to them. "I'm here for nice dinner on a date with a beautiful girl, I don't need you ruining the event."

Spider was quick to decide this man was not to her liking and looked to Luffy seeing the same thoughts run through his head given the way his brows had furrowed.

"Captain, if I may?" Spider inquired, her intentions quite clear given the devious look on her face.

Luffy turned to his newest crew mate quickly studying her features before giving a nod and a big smile. it was time to see if awesome armour was her only peculiarity.

Which it wasn't. Definitely was not given her immediate course of action as soon as she got the okay. Spider raised her hand to her chest and summoned a ball of flames that caused a brilliant golden glow to encompass the deck of the Going Merry even in broad daylight, and released it onto the enemy ship causing a fiery explosion to take out half of the vessel and sent the marine who'd fired upon her captain flying out into the sea along with several crew members and a nicely dressed woman.

On the sinking ship Spider could see a prisoner they'd been keeping crawl out of the wreckage. She could tell he wasn't part of their crew from his malnourished complexion and distinct lack of uniform, instead he wore a jacket with snakes on either side slithering up from his waist to his collar bone, and a bandanna with blue stripes. His green under shirt, white trousers and brown shoes completing the look.

looking away from her handiwork Spider turned to see Luffy and Usopp staring at her with stars in their eyes, Johnny and Yosaku dancing about 'having a new big sis', Nami looked like she'd just witnessed the devil himself rise from the ocean, and Zoro stood rather impassively with an impressed look in his eyes.

"Shall we discuss my position on the ship?" Spider asked the rest of what she assumed to be the Luffy's crew.

…

About a day had passed and Spider was told the details of the crew she had joined, it turned out that it was only Luffy, Zoro, Usopp and Spider that made up the Straw hat pirates and that they had a temporary alliance with Nami, the orange haired girl she had conflict with. And the other two were old acquaintances of Zoro's from his bounty hunting days.

A ship had appeared on the horizon which she assumed to be their destination, the Baratie where they would be on the hunt for a cook to join them. It didn't make much difference to Spider since she no longer even had to breathe let alone eat anymore, though on occasion it was nice to indulge.

Spider was on the deck of the Going Merry but quickly moved towards the women's quarters she shared with Nami. Through sheer force of habit from her early days of being both an accomplished thief and assassin she entered the room without a sound and sat on the bed she'd been given, quietly watching the navigator fuss over a bag of valuables the crew had collected.

"This is close but it won't be enough to pay him back with. I'll have to make one more trip but after that... stop, just focus on getting this to the village." Nami whispered to herself as she carefully recounted the treasure, valuing each piece with superb accuracy.

"Wouldn't have thought you were the type to be in debt." Spider suddenly spoke from her position on the bed causing the shocked Nami to spin around as if a ghost had appeared, and judging from the look on her face one may well have. "What? You can't be that surprised I'm in the room we share"

"How much of that did you hear?" Nami took a defensive position around the bag. 'I have to get this back to them, even if it means going through this crazy bitch' She thought.

"Enough to know you're going to leave soon." Spider replied easily while ignoring the position Nami had placed herself in. "You could let us take care of the guy your worried about." She offered off offhandedly.

A flash of hope briefly flickered in Nami's hazel orbs but was quickly snuffed out and her eyes turned serious again. "Why would you of all people want to help me?" She all but sneered suspiciously "We didn't exactly start off on the best terms." She finished.

"No but I can see the captain likes you and is dead set on you being part of the crew, even if he's got to go through someone else to do it." Spider told the woman in front of her who had slightly lowered her guard. "And if you become part of this crew, anyone who messes with you had better be ready to go through me first." Her words held conviction Nami had rarely heard before and somehow she knew them to be true, but she would be foolish to trust them when she was so close...

"It's none of your business who I owe the money to and I don't need your help." The navigator almost yelling at Spider had now started storming out of the room. 'No matter what anyone says no one is stronger than a fishman, especially Arlong.'

'The world is a big place, often those you think stand at its peak are merely targets waiting to be struck down' Spider's voice echoed inside Nami's head yet she didn't see the woman physically speak the words.

Shrugging it off as being her imagination Nami continued out the door and across the deck of the Merry until she reached the starboard railing allowing the fresh sea air to fill her lungs. She had to find a way to escape, Spider wasn't likely to keep what she had heard to herself and no matter how cheery Luffy might be it's not like he'd be pleased with Nami making off with his portion of the treasure.

'But what if they can help?' The navigator briefly thought back to how Spider had destroyed half a marine ship like it was nothing. Then the unwanted memories of twisted corpses and destroyed buildings surfaced accompanied by his laughter, the same laughter that haunted her dreams. 'Shahahahaha'

Shaking her head clear Nami regained her resolve to return to her village, the same one that was filled with people counting on her payment 8 years in the making. She couldn't let them down.

After a few minutes of seeing their next stop get closer Nami saw Spider exit the women's quarters, the navigator swiftly made her way back inside for no other reason than to avoid the only other woman on the ship. Upon entering she was surprised to see a small bag on her bed with a note next to it. Sitting down and picking up the note she began to read.

Whomever it is you are dealing with I trust you to handle the situation as you see fit, though once your business is concluded I hope you will return to the crew. Perhaps these may help you along in your venture.

Spider PoisonBlood

Quickly looking from the not to the bag Nami tugged at the cloth to reveal its contents. Three solid gold bars, several diamond encrusted pieces of jewellery, and an assortment of precious gems resting inside.

Nami covered her mouth with her hand to hold back the gasp before it could escape as she valued the bag of treasure Spider had left for her. Even without half of it Spider had given Nami more than enough to reach the 100,000,000 beri she needed to make the trade. She could finally be free.

…

It wasn't long until the ship docked outside of the mobile sea restaurant. The Baratie was rather impressive looking despite the exterior taking the form of a giant fish. Honestly no one would expect any form of resistance if they were to attack this place given the nature and appearance of the ship.

Inside it was relatively fancy for the part of the sea they were in, grand circular tables and chairs stood in a large dining area, filled with happy customers chatting to each other and enjoying the excellent looking cuisine on their plates. Near the middle of the room was a spiral staircase leading up to what could be assumed to be the kitchen given all the noise coming from there, it was also where the food was coming from and going to so it was a safe bet.

The Straw Hat crew plus their guests took their place at a large enough table that could accommodate a group of their size and waited until someone came to take their order.

"This place looks so fancy, you guys better behave yourselves." Nami told them sternly.

Zoro only made a "Tsch" sound but remained settled in his seat closing his eyes after briefly looking at a menu.

Luffy was eying other people's food but at Nami's words pouted and thoughts of stealing from them fell away in favour of viewing what he could order.

"I'll have three of those, four of these, a grandeur steak, and eight of whatever this is." He said excitedly flipping the menu and pointing out everything he wanted to Nami.

"You can have one of each Luffy." Nami stated sternly, refusing to give in to his pleading eyes she heard a muted 'fine' from the captain of the Straw Hat pirates. Turning to the rest she took note of their orders until she got to Spider.

"I'll have the rest of what the captain ordered." She said much to everyone's surprise. Surely there couldn't be another person with Luffy's appetite, they'd run out of supplies after a few days at sea if that was the case given how much the merry could store.

Nami quietly wrote it down (much to the surprise of everyone else at the table given her usual stinginess) and flagged the attention of the bald man who was trying his best to take orders in a professional manner yet failed by how inadvertently rude he was.

"Hello there you worthless bastards, and welcome to the Baratie." The man said with his hands together and a strained polite smile on his face. "What the hell do you want?"

While Nami relayed the order for the group Usopp who was next to Spider leaned in and asked. "Why didn't Nami stop you ordering so much like she did with Luffy?"

Despite it being in a hushed tone several others at the table leaned in, clearly interested in the answer. "I helped her with a problem she was having, that's all I'm going to say about it." Came Spider's simple response and there was no chance to speak about it again as the door burst open to reveal two very wet looking marines and a woman who was in clear distress at what she'd experienced.

The pink haired marine in front stomped his way over to the table the crew was situated at pointing an accusing finger at them. "YOU PIRATES!" he shouted before he was intercepted by another waiter.

He was a blonde haired man with strange eyebrows and dressed in a nice black suit with matching dress shoes. "Hey, hey stop right there asshole, if you want to pick a fight with our customers you can wait until they've eaten and left." He firmly told the shocked marine.

Fullbody raised a fist to remove the obstacle that had appeared to block his path "Out of my way waiter" but was suddenly sent flying by a kick from the very man he had tried to attack. The force of the attack left him in a bloody mess as the man effectively struck the marine's face where it would cause the most damage.

"I'm the Assistant Head Chef you damn moron, we're just a little short staffed" The blonde man replied to the now unconscious marine who was being dragged away by one of his underlings.

They'd barely made it to the door before the man carrying his commanding officer was shot by the new arrival. It was the prisoner they'd been holding on their ship Spider surmised given while he looked wet and worse off than she'd last seen him, it was unmistakably the same person.

As the poor guy dropped to ground pressing a hand to the new gunshot wound in his chest, the new arrival passed by and sat at an empty table for two and pointed the gun at the one who'd taken the crew's order before.

Spider turned to her captain. "Do you always have to deal with such people captain?" She asked, ignoring the scene unfolding before them. "Because I feel I should warn you I may not have the patience for talking our way out of their anger."

Luffy's grin spread even wider. "Don't worry, we're pirates! If anyone messes with us we'll just beat them up." He said simply as if it was the obvious answer.

Nami swiftly bonked Luffy on the head causing a lump to form. "Violence isn't always the answer for these things."

"Hey! What was that for?" The boy held his head where the strike had hit him. "It's only if people are being annoying, Spider knew what I meant, right?" Luffy looked across the table to his newest crew mate.

"Of course, though I must admit violence is usually the easiest answer." Spider smiled over at her captain.

Nami took on a solemn demeanour all of a sudden. "And what about when you come across someone stronger than you?" She practically whispered and despite the crashing of a person going through a chair and being kicked out of the Baratie, Spider focused her attention of the orange haired girl.

"I haven't found someone that can so much as scratch me in the last thousand years, I'm not worried about picking a fight I can't win." Came the serious reply that only Nami payed attention to. Everyone else was too concentrated on what happened between the cook and pirate.

The navigator looked up with shadows in her eyes searching Spider's for any sign of deceit but found none, only the same confident and steely look she always seemed to carry. 'Delusional.' Nami thought.

'Not quite.' Spider responded inside her head again causing Nami to bolt up from her seat. At this point everyone at the table was staring as she looked at Spider slightly horrified that what happened before hadn't been her imagination.

"HOW DID YOU DO THAT!?" She screamed in what surely looked like a hysterical manner.

Before anyone could question Nami or call her crazy Spider reached out to everyone around the table and spoke again in their heads. 'She's talking about my telecommunication.'

"A little trick I picked up in Alagaesia." Spider told her calmly. "If you sit down I'll explain it." At this Nami slowly if with a mistrustful look, lowered herself back into her seat and waited for the stares to stop coming from the other customers.
"I project my consciousness into yours allowing me to communicate with you through thoughts alone." The entire crew was staring with great interest. "However you're all less able to detect my presence in your minds than the people in Alagaesia, perhaps due to the fact it isn't something anyone in this world is capable of."

Usopp was the first to pipe up. "So does this mean that you can read our minds?" He asked nervously.

"If I wanted to then yes I could, but that's not all I can even explore your memories or take control of your body provided my will was greater than yours. I'm also able to give strength to a certain extent." Spider listed the possible uses of the power she had learned while travelling with the Varden. But stopped when she saw the looks on everyone's faces. "I'll leave it at that before I give anyone a heart attack."

Nami's complexion paled at Spider's words, Zoro looked concerned but said nothing, Usopp was to put it simply stunned into silence (same with the bounty hunters), and Luffy was bouncing in his seat asking question after question.

"That's so cool! Can you read my mind? What am I thinking right now? No wait… now!" He had a beaming smile as he stared happily at the woman next to him.

Spider looked at him for a moment and took a peek hoping it was nothing too bad she was going to see. Quickly a small laugh escaped her and she raised a gauntleted hand to cover her lips. "You're imagining riding a flying piece of meat towards the Going Merry, there's myself, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, the blonde chef from earlier, and five shadows on deck. We're all waving at you as you pass by."

The stars in Luffy's eyes grew with every word Spider spoke as she perfectly described what he was imagining in perfect detail. 'She's so awesome!'

Spider again smiles at the compliment though it wasn't clear if she was meant to be privy to it. "I take it that means you've decided on who our cook will be." Spider changed the subject and prompted her captain to nod rapidly and jump up to chase after the chef who had disappeared through a door leading to where the pirate from before had been kicked out.

Not long after he left the food arrived and it was an impressive feast Spider had to admit, with the lion's share being placed in front of her given that she'd essentially taken over Luffy's order. Speaking of the captain he came back through the door looking a little dejected but that soon disappeared when he saw the food, bolting to his seat Luffy ravaged the food and ate exactly as one would expect a pirate to.

"Hey, you gonna eat that?" Luffy asked Spider with his mouth half full staring at the many plates of untouched food in front of his crewmate.

"Go ahead." Spider gave him the affirmative and it seemed her captain was one step ahead of her, already reaching for the food at the word 'go' much to her amusement. 'I've certainly been given a rather interesting group this time. Less serious and more fun than wars on evil tyrants. Good job Sheo.'

The blonde chef from the kitchen soon appeared heading down the spiral staircase with a glass of wine in one hand and two glasses in the other, a smouldering cigarette in his mouth.
He soon crossed over to the table Spider and the rest of crew were seated at and set the glasses down between Nami and Spider herself despite the person (Luffy) between the women seemingly ignoring his existence, and poured the red liquid into the two glasses. "For the most exquisite beauties in the East blue, I humbly offer my apologies for not attending to you when you first arrived." He spoke in a suave manner.

Spider accepted the glass with a polite smile but inwardly frowned. 'I can already tell this is going to be the kind I enjoy.' This was when she noticed Zoro looking to the glass in her hand and caught onto his thoughts.

'It's been at least a weak since I've had any kind of booze, but everything here's too damn expensive and I doubt the witch (Nami) will help me out given how closely she watches our spending.' He thought to himself as he reached for his glass of water and held it for a moment only for it to be replaced in a small puff of greenish mist with the wine Spider had been given. He looked up to see Spider taking a sip of his water smiling at him and he smirked back drinking the entire thing in one gulp.

The blonde chef was too distracted by Nami seducing him into giving her the food and drinks for free to notice the switch or that the bottle he'd set on the table had vanished from its original position and was now next to a content looking green haired swordsman.

When he'd been thoroughly scammed by the orange haired girl the chef went to pick up the wine he placed down only to find it wasn't there, seeing this Spider quickly leaned around the back of her ravenous captain and got his attention before he could discover the bottle's new home. "Excuse me." She called over and immediately got the desired response.

The chef was down on one knee in front of her and holding one of her hands in both of his, hearts in his eyes. "Yes my dove, what is it you desire? Anything, just name it and it will be yours I swear it."

Perhaps she was too quick to use the term 'desired' but this was good too. She gave him a polite smile before speaking. "Charmed, but I'm afraid I didn't catch your name."

Just as it looked like he was about to answer another blonde man with a very tall chef's hat made his presence known behind him. He had a large moustache and only one organic leg, the other being made of wood.
"Sanji you good for nothing eggplant!" He called over.

"Damn that old geezer." He cursed quietly before standing and turning to the other man. "What do you want you old geezer?"

Spider could see the familiarity with which they talked to each other and easily identified the father son relationship between them even if they weren't blood related. (Okay she peeked a bit to be sure). An argument broke out between them and given how readily each side presented their points it was one they'd had before, the head chef wants Sanji to go, but Sanji himself wants to stay.

It quickly ended when the older man did a rather impressive spinning kick, his wooden limb connecting with the younger's face and sending him crashing into an empty table.

"I'll leave when you're dead and gone!" Sanji still managed to grumble from his position causing a spiteful chuckle from his boss.

"Dead? I still got at least a hundred years of kicking your ass left." He said as he rounded the corner to go outside.

"Damn old geezer, always has to get the last word." Sanji had gotten up and set the table and chairs back to their proper positions. He made his way back to the Straw Hat table. Luffy had finished eating and watched the proceedings but still took the occasional look at someone else's food.

"Why don't you want to sail with us?" Spider asked him when Sanji got close enough. "I understand it's not an easy decision to make. To leave behind those who you've known practically all your life for the unknown with people you've just met, but there must be something we can do to convince you." Spider pressed on.

Sanji had a small smile tugging on his lips at her words. "I'm afraid I owe the old man too much to just up and leave him. Even if I really want to find my dream." The last part was directed at Luffy though Spider couldn't fathom why but didn't get chance to pursue the subject when Sanji also took off back up the spiral staircase and into the kitchen.

…

A few days of milling around the Baratie followed the events as Luffy refused to leave without their chef. This had led to Spider's current impromptu meeting with Zeff.

He was leaning against the wall by a side entrance to the Baratie watching Sanji serve the customers with the excellent looking food the young man looked proud of as each customer's eyes lit up upon tasting the superb meal.

Spider had slid in the empty space next to him, purposefully letting the head chef notice the movement but neither said anything to the other for several minutes until Sanji had disappeared from view.

"You know, you're going about it the wrong way if truly want him to fly the nest." Spider spoke up.

"And what would you know about it? You look the same age as the brat I'm trying to get rid of." Came the response from the grizzled looking chef.

"I was a parent too." Spider let the words hang in the air for a moment before continuing. "Sanji doesn't look like the kid who wants to prove you wrong, he's the kind who wants to prove you right." Was all she said before lifting herself from the wall and going back outside to the ship.

That was when things got interesting as a huge galleon slowly sailed towards the restaurant. With her superior vision and ability to see the auras of people on the vessel she could make out the poor condition of both.

"I wonder who they could be." She muttered to herself not having been privy to what happened to the pirate that was kicked out of the Baratie four days previously.
Pushing the matter aside for the moment Spider continued to the Going Merry finding Johnny and Yosaku looking through bounty posters and talking about who they could reasonably capture or defeat.

Spider walked up to them and knelt down on one knee slightly surprising the bounty hunters with her presence but they soon went back to looking through the posters.
Only two caught Spider's eye, the highest two. Don Krieg with a 17 million Berri bounty and Arlong with a 20 million Berri bounty.

The last one had caught her eye due to the man being rather irregular looking, having a strange nose with sharp pointed teeth, he more resembled a shark in these aspects Spider mused but wasn't one to judge.

"Do you mind if I keep these?" She asked the bounty hunters who complied saying that they were 'out of their league' anyway. It was when Spider was walking past the stairs that Nami who had been in the upper deck gasped suddenly while looking down at the poster in Spider's hands. She looked up to the young navigator and saw fear flashing in her eyes when it was quickly stomped out. "Friend of yours?" Spider inquired.

Nami's hand unconsciously went to the tattoo on her arm that happened to be on display given the short t-shirt she had opted to wear. Looking from the tattoo to the poster Spider noticed the similarities and nodded to herself. "I see, not a very nice guy then."

Nami inwardly cursed. Had she been figured out or was Spider simply assumed it was someone else she'd scammed along the way after the rest of the crew had told her of Nami's profession? Either way it was time to leave. Yet the thought escaped her mind as quickly as it had entered when the galleon carrying one of the most feared pirates in the East blue finally came close enough to be appreciated for how big it truly was in the dense fog.

Spider for her part ignored it. Mostly due to the fact that everyone on it besides one was mostly dead and anyone who couldn't win a fight like that was truly a lost cause in her opinion. 'What are they gonna do, nurse them back to health and then fight them?'

Instead the Dovahkiin opted to go inside of the women's quarters and focus on calculating how much she should take out of her pocket dimension.

Without going into too many details, Spider has lived a long life (at this point I imagine her being around 1440 years old due to Alduin's godly soul granting her immortality plus the soul of a daedric prince.) and as an accomplished magic user she has been able to store much of her items inside of her own small pocket dimension. Alright maybe small is a relative term as inside she has stocked over a thousand years' worth of gold, silver, coins, ore, weapons, armour, gems, and almost anything else of value you can think of including daedric artefacts. She called it her inventory.

She'd managed to conjure a note pad and pen using her magical capabilities and soon had several lists of items she thought would be useful to bring out of storage, though looking back at the ship she had a feeling it wasn't big enough to quite fit everything comfortably.

Spider heard an explosion set off from the direction of the restaurant. "Surely they aren't having trouble with someone I could practically see the reaper hovering over." She commented aloud before returning to her notes. 'Perhaps I should hold off on most of this until we get a bigger ship.'

A number of voices soon gave their own opinion on the subject, not many being very helpful.

'You shouldn't waste resources on them.'

'They're weak.'

'Agreed.'

'Maybe she just wants to play with them, the boredom has been creeping up on us recently.' This last one got many, many mumbles of agreement from the souls within her. Most of which being dragons though a number of human, mer, animal and monster souls with weaker voices were also heard.

This happened from time to time, despite how clear she'd made it that conversation with the ones she'd killed wasn't something Spider particularly wanted to partake in they crept in with their own thoughts on her actions.

'By my standards everyone I come across is weak, even all of you.' Spider responded in a tone that made everyone quiet down. 'I see their potential to be more than what they are, besides the atmosphere my young captain radiates is so… nostalgic.' She thought the last part more to herself with a smile.

Banishing the note pad and pen back to her pocket dimension Spider decided to try and use more of her magic. Travelling to a new world often came with the downside of her power taking a while to bleed through the gap created to get her there.

The more free form spells were still out of the question for now, not that she didn't have the strength for the task, that came from the souls she'd harvested, no the magical power that would come through gave her the control that she needed otherwise even a simple spell could end up killing everyone.

Readying the purple fire in her hand Spider bent the spell to her will connecting it to a draemora in oblivion and shaped the creature into a perfect daedric bow fully stocked with arrows. Taking a closer look Spider inspected the weapon and was pleased to find that it was flawless.

"Time to see what all the fuss is about I suppose." She spoke to no one and opened the door with her new glowing purple bow still in her grip. What she saw was however not quite what she had in mind.

Nami had pushed the bounty hunters off of the boat and said something about telling the others 'if it's meant to be we'll meet again' but that wasn't what Spider was focused on. Banishing the bow with an audible bang she leaned forward onto the railing looking down on the navigator with a sly smile.

Her face was priceless. Nami had immediately looked up at hearing the noise Spider's banishment had made and paled when she saw who it was. Knowing full well she wouldn't be able to explain away this one Nami just stood, frozen in place staring at Spider's unnerving smile.

Spider spoke first. "You planning to push me off too?" She asked Nami playfully and revelled in the fight or flight thoughts she could see racing through the girls mind. Then the galleon a few meters away was cut in half.

Briefly Spider's attention flitted to the sight of the sinking ship and a man travelling on a small boat lit with green candles sheathing his oversized black bladed sword. She soon dismissed him as a threat to her crew seeing as his intent was focused on the enemy pirates. That was until she heard the distinct sound of Zoro challenging the man.

Spider looked back to the Baratie seeing that Luffy, Usopp, the bounty hunters, and Zoro were stood outside. The last of which jumped to the sinking ship where his duelling opponent would be.

Spider herself to refocus when she caught Nami attempting to leave out of the corner of her eye. She swiftly made her way down the stairs and across the deck until she was to the side of the other girl.

"Don't keep them waiting, we'll be along soon enough." Spider told her and began walking again.

"Wait!" Nami found herself yelling after her. The other woman stopped for several seconds, the only thing breaking the silence was the sounds of Zoro's clash with the other swordsman. "Why are you helping someone who just betrayed you?"

All traces of the smile that had once graced Spider's features were gone. In a serious tone no one could ignore she said, "Because when this blows up in your face and you feel more desperate than you ever have without any hope left, we'll be there to pick you back up and show them that anyone who fucks with our crew won't live long enough to regret it."

This effectively ended the discussion as Spider left the Going Merry and crossed the Baratie to get a better view of the almost finished battle between the swordsmen. Zoro had his arms spread out after having sheathed his last unbroken blade.

Spider took up position next to Luffy as she watched the last part of the fight, readying a ball of healing magic in her hand, the soft golden glow only slightly distracting her captain.
"He didn't stand a chance did he?" Spider asked offhandedly but didn't get a reply from any of the shocked spectators. 'They didn't really expect a great swordsman to beat the best in the world did they?'

As Mihawke slashed across Zoro's body causing blood to burst in a shower from him, there was a touching speech from the world's greatest swordsman about waiting for Zoro at the top until he could eventually challenge him. 'I do miss the early days when such feats seemed so far out of reach.'

Spider released the ball and watched it float over and into the defeated man. All his wounds stitched together and he felt his strength return to him as the last of the golden light dispersed from around his form.

Mihawke's glare was soon felt by Spider who returned it without blinking. 'Does he really think his skill is anything compared to mine? What am I saying of course he does after all he's never met me.'

"Why do you interfere with the honour of our duel?" The man called to her.

"The duel was over, you won. However I'm hardly going to just let my crewmate bleed to death" Spider told him evenly. "Though if you really have a problem with it, come and stop me."

Mihawke smiled ruefully. "Why would I fight someone who's stronger than me?" He asked her.

This took Spider aback slightly, along with everyone else. "And just how do you know that?" She questioned the swordsman with a raised eyebrow.

"I'm sure you'll find out." Was the last thing Mihawke said as he drew his blade and in a small whirl of slashes, he disappeared along with his boat.

Zoro had by now swam back over to the rest of them and had a look on his face that Spider knew she would have to address later, but for now the man on one of her newly acquired wanted posters leaned over the side of the Baratie's second floor railing.

"Coward." The purple haired man in gold armour said to seemingly everyone.

"Friend of yours captain?" Spider asked Luffy and this time she actually got a response.

"No, an enemy." He stated, straw hat shadowing his eyes as he said it somehow giving him an insidious look.

'I like it.' Spider thought to herself. "Nami will be waiting for us here." She handed the captain the bounty poster containing Arlong's details which helpfully included his location. "You think you can handle things here?" She asked him after he took the poster.

"Of course I can! Who do you think you're talking to here?" He asked her loudly and even pouted a little at what he perceived to be a lack of trust.

Spider put on a reassuring smile. "Then may I accompany our navigator? I want to make sure she doesn't run into any trouble."

"HEY DON'T IGNORE ME!" Came the crude yelling from Don Krieg above them until he jumped down to block Spider's path.

"Captain?" Spider asked.

"Shishishishi go ahead. But don't kill him, he's mine to fight" Luffy told her, the pout now replaced by his brilliant gleaming smile again.

Spider nodded and closed the distance between her and the commodore. Weapons had sprung out from the hidden compartments in the armour but Spider merely increased her speed to throw him off guard. In the blink of an eye she punched the man in the gut and slipped past him towards where the Merry was still surprisingly docked.

Looking down at her new piece treasure, being an accomplished member (then leader) of the Thieves guild Spider had easily slipped the gauntlet with the huge diamond off of Krieg's hand and admired the beauty of it. Solid gold with several smaller diamonds surrounding the main one, this must be worth something.

Slipping it in her inventory for later Spider searched for Nami and soon spotted her aura on a small boat rowing away from the Baratie. Big enough for her, the treasure and one other person Spider was pleased to see as she readied herself for the sudden change in environment.

…

Nami, to her credit didn't scream in shock when purple flames swirled around the other end of the boat and Spider appeared out of them sitting comfortably in the other seat with the bag of treasure between them.

Both of the women were quiet for a few minutes aside from the locomotion spell Spider placed on the boat causing it to move in their desired direction.

"Thought you'd be with the others." Nami finally broke through the tension in the air.

"They don't need my help, you though I'm worried about." Spider told her, her face not betraying any kind of emotion.

"So it was a lie when you told me you'd meet me there."

"Not at the time, but when I saw who it was I'd be helping fight I thought I'd rather talk to you." At these words Spider could see Nami's surprise stretching across her features.

"Why did you give me so much treasure? When we first met we didn't exactly click so when you just gave me millions of berries worth of gold and… it just doesn't make sense to me." Nami said and watched intently as Spider thought for a moment.

"I suppose it's because I know how I can seem… to put it simply horrible towards anyone remotely hostile. But when I learned you weren't my enemy I wanted to do something to make up for it." She told the younger as she looked to the side, watching the waves roll on the vast sea.

"I guess there's no point hiding anything since you've seen my memories. You understand why I don't want any of you guys to fight Arlong don't you?" Nami questioned.

Spider looked confused for a second. "I didn't look at your memories, I just figured out you owed this guy from what I heard you say on the Going Merry and your reaction to his wanted poster." As her words left Nami's reaction became more and more unsettling. After a few moments she spoke again. "If you can, tell me what this man did to you. Show me."

Nami had tears in her eyes, a few even escaping as the memories burst forth from the recesses of her mind. From Bellemere's death to her being forced to draw maps for the fishman pirate group. She'd suffered as the people of island were terrorized by their reign and saw herself stepping over the corpses of a village who had finally refused to pay. The destruction was beyond what she'd ever seen and entire families were torn apart in each other's arms. The deal she'd made came next as the last eight years of stealing and lying came back to her and how hard it had been at first, but it was all for them. So that they could be free.

Spider rose from her sitting position, picked up the treasure bag and threw it behind her where her seat was. She crossed the small gap and pulled Nami up to a standing position. The girl looked so vulnerable as tears flowed freely down her face and sobs wracked her body even as she sank into the hug Spider enveloped her in.

What felt like hours passed and Spider could see the series of Islands they were going to was approaching quickly, as was the end to the Navigator's nightmare, Spider was going to make sure of that.

A green tinted swirling mist flowed around Spider's hand as the other held Nami close. Eventually she let the spell flow into the young woman calming her nerves enough that she could pull away and dry her eyes. With only a few minutes until land fall Spider took the opportunity to talk about what she saw.

"My deepest apologies." She said kneeling down on one knee shocking the navigator. "I didn't know of your mother's demise when I met you and… with your permission," Spider raised her head to meet Nami's eyes, they were glowing with determination. "I want to avenge both her and you."

Spider's desire to help her had baffled Nami when it was just about the treasure she'd given up but this was something else. Arlong had always made her feel scared as his presence carried with it a sense of dread but here she felt safe from that as if inexplicably, Spider had an aura that was stronger than her tormentor's.

She could feel tears stinging her eyes again. "Yes… help me." With those words she fell to her knees only to be caught by Spider's reassuring arms.
The boat then beached on the shore and Spider helped Nami off of the boat, not forgetting to grab the bag and throw it into the inventory.

"Go home Nami." Spider told her as they stood together. "This isn't something you're going to want to see." Were the last words she spoke as Spider pulled a demonic looking helmet from seemingly nowhere and equipped the last piece of armour.

…

Spider wasn't far from the gates of Arlong Park after around ten minutes of travelling, she knew where it was after seeing Nami's memories of the place. It was around four in the afternoon when she'd finally arrived and tore down the door. Images of the destruction these pirates caused fresh in her mind.

The dust hadn't yet cleared but she walked through into the lion's den and felt all eyes on her. A pick octopus looking man had moved to intercept her but a swift back hand sent the now unconscious creature flying out into the sea a fair distance beyond Arlong Park. The others after getting over the shock blocked her path to her target who still lounged on a deck chair hardly giving Spider a glance.

Spider unsheathed her daedric sword, and with it, her control.

The one with a martial arts stance started talking about a 200 brick fist as he punched towards Spider only for her to stop the blow with her left hand, raise her sword from under his arm and sever the limb completely in one fluid movement before slamming the arm into his face with enough force that it exploded into meaty chunks.

Seeing the other officer out of action the second fishman attempted take her off guard by spitting water at her at high velocity. Spider moved faster than should've been possible for a human and was already in front of the fishman. She reached and grabbed his tube shaped mouth and in much the same movement as she'd used to sever his comrade's arm she cut his mouth off. Moving to avoid the spray she ignored the screams as the officer showered the horrified fishmen with his own blood. He managed to run screaming without words for several minutes as Spider slaughtered his kin.

Guts splayed across the floor after being ripped out of the poor souls, a few even being strangled with them, eyes bulging out of their heads. And what could Arlong do? Nothing.

Something was keeping his body pinned to his seat and forcing his eyes to watch as his crew was torn apart by the human woman who had burst through the gates only minutes ago.

All of his crew were screaming for help from their captain. Those who were still breathing anyway. As the entire place flowed with a river of blood and entrails a deep feeling of terror settled in the remaining fishman's gut

Spider had a hold on one of his men's throats lifting him off of the ground. She gave him a cursory glance. The endless darkness of the eyes in the daedric helm held no comfort, only causing him to suffer a greater feeling of dread as the thing in front of him crushed the fishman in her grip.

"Time for the fun to begin."

…

The entire village was staring at the massacre in Arlong park, the sight had made a few of them throw up as the viscera inside had been spread like Christmas decorations, body parts hanging from the building itself to along the wall that protected the area.

But above the entrance Arlong himself was pinned to the middle of the arch, his body was cut in half and most of his intestines flowed out of his body but didn't quite reach the floor along with an assortment of his other entrails. When one looked to the fishman's mouth, pierced between the razor sharp teeth was his own heart that still oozed blood down his chin, dripping into the slowly growing pool below. Moving up his nose had been torn off given that a cut would've left less flesh clinging to the face, it had evidently been shoved in Arlong's left eye and stuck out like a sore thumb.

The finishing touch was the straw hat pirate logo carved into the guy's chest large and clear enough that who was responsible for the work was absolutely clear.
The bounty is going to be a big one for this.

Nami stared at the gruesome sight and for some reason felt… relief. The weight on her shoulders from all the years of torture she'd endured was lifted from her and she had one person to thank.

That person now stood next to her, watching as the emotions ran across her features. "I might have went a little overboard." Spider commented on the scene but was surprised by Nami giving her another hug.

"Yeah, but if I had the chance. I would have done the same." Nami's voice came from somewhere buried in Spider's chest.

'Surely nuzzling metal can't be comfortable for her.' Spider though but returned the gesture all the same. "I told you before, anyone who fucks with our crew…"

"You still want me to join?" Nami asked.

"It's not my crew, but I saw how badly Luffy wanted you as a navigator. In fact I don't think he'll accept anyone else." Spider replied remembering the picture her captain had in his head back at the Baratie.

"Nami wait! Don't tell me you actually want to try and join these savages!" A older gentleman with many scars and a hat with a pinwheel on top suddenly appeared from the crowd of villagers.

Spider had yet to remove her daedric helm and still looked like a demonic warrior so her intimidation factor was pretty damn high right now. "Would you rather I let them live?"

The man took a step back at the threatening tone in her voice but still found the courage to respond. "Killing them is one thing but this…" He gestured behind him at the utter carnage. "This is inhumane."

"You're right, but maybe that's because I've found there's only one thing everyone truly understands. If I show that when someone messes with me I let them go it invites others to make an attempt knowing its risk free, but how many do you think will dare if they think I'll rip out their heart and make them eat it?" Spider's cold voice sent shivers down the man's spine.

Genzo just looked down at his feet, he knew that she was right in her own twisted way. No one would even so much as look at the woman if they thought she was capable of such brutality. He looked back up into the darkness of the demonic helm she wore. "Why?"

"Nami's part of my crew. As my captain said, she's Nakama." Spider's voice had softened at that and she even felt the emotions of the man in front of her bubbling up.

"Hang on." Nami interrupted after thinking for a moment. "I thought everyone here hated me for what I did, for joining the Arlong pirates. Why are you pretending to care about me now?" She asked the older man.

"We've always cared! We knew about the deal you made with him about the money we just didn't show it because we didn't want to hold you back if you wanted to run away." This was bringing up a lot of tears from Nami as she took in the information.

Spider could really only watch the encounter and reflect on what she'd done. 'Perhaps it would have been better to let Luffy defeat the fishman instead, it certainly would have raised the trust between the navigator and the rest of the crew.' She inwardly shrugged. 'I'm not even going to pretend I'd be able to just sit by and watch someone else beat him.'

When Spider decided to focus back onto Nami and the older man she saw them both hugging and Nami whispering in his ear. "Don't worry, for the first time in eight years, I feel safe."

The touching scene was short lived as a squadron of Marines could be seen sailing towards Arlong Park and everyone grimaced at seeing the division. "Would it be correct to assume that these aren't the heroic type to save the day?" Spider asked.

Nami's eyes hardened as she recognised the man in front on the others even from this distance. "No, that's Nezumi, he's been in Arlong's pocket for a long time."

"Then what do you say we raise the reputation of our crew a little." Strange light glided from Spider's hands over her body extorting her image, bending and shaping it in a haunting glow until finally in front of everyone stood a perfect replica of Monkey D. Luffy, height and all.

Nami stared along with everyone else at the smiling face of her captain. "How…" She spoke while reaching out a hand to touch his face only for his smile to drop.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." He said and she stopped.

"Why?" She asked curiously.

"Well this is illusion magic and since Luffy is shorter than me his head is where my… 'chest area' would be, so if you were to try and touch Luffy's head you'd really be grabbing my…" Spider didn't need to finish the sentence for Nami to blush a deep red and start sputtering.

"S-still it's kind of strange that you can even copy his voice." Nami quickly fought to change the subject trying to move on from her near miss.

It was then that they heard the cries of shock and horror from inside the Arlong Pirates' base of operations and Spider, or rather Luffy walked inside to greet the new guests.

"Hi there!" He called out to the marines, the leader of which was a rat like individual that even had whiskers to top off the appearance. Just act like Luffy and it will all be fine. Spider thought to herself.

"You boy!" The man yelled trying desperately to keep his lunch down. "Who did this?"

"Well that's easy! I did!" 'Luffy' told him with the toothy grin not leaving his face even as his sandals were slowly soaking in the blood that hadn't dried yet.

There was an incredulous look of Nezumi's face as he all but screamed "IMPOSSIBLE!" At the boy. That was when his throat was suddenly seized by the boy's outstretched arm all the way from the destroyed gate to the where the ship had docked. Nezumi was snapped towards 'Luffy' and thrown out side towards where the villagers were gathered.

Regaining his bearing Nezumi looked up to see half the corpse of his former business partner hanging, heart in his mouth and nose in his eye. The boy who threw him standing directly below, shade from his straw hat covering his eyes.

"You calling me a liar?" The boy asked in a low growl.

"Wh-who are you." Nezumi managed to say through the lump that had formed in his throat.

'Luffy' looked up revealing obsidian eyes that burned with passion. "I'm Monkey D. Luffy, and I'm going to be king of the pirates!" His voice carried across the area with absolute clarity and even the villagers who knew it was actually Spider forgot and were lost in the moment.

'Luffy' crossed the distance between him and the marine grabbing him by the collar and dragging him to his feet. "And don't you forget it."
Releasing the marine the man soon sprinted away back towards his squad who were still too shocked by the gory sight before them to even move against the pirate captain.

"RUN YOU IDIOTS!" Nezumi cried as he scrambled to get everyone away from this crazy pirate that was strong enough to tear the Arlong pirates to pieces.

After they'd scurried back to their ship 'Luffy' turned to Nami. "That was disgusting." He said out of nowhere.

"What?" She had other questions like how the hell did she copy Luffy's devil fruit power but right now she was too interested in what Spider of all people would constitute as 'disgusting'.

"You saw me stretch my arm right? It felt-" She paused for a moment as the illusion dissipated and she appeared as her regular imposing self again regaining her own voice. "Awful, I need a drink after that." She finished and began walking back to the village leaving no time for questions. 'There are times when the fact I can do magic really bites me in the ass.'

…

The next day Luffy and the others arrived on the island and everything was explained to them, though Spider had to have a private conversation with her captain that she had to use his image in order to maintain the reputation of the Straw Hat Pirates (That being the captain was the strongest) since he wasn't here and apologised for not letting him be the one to beat Arlong.

Surprisingly her captain punched her in the cheek though the daedric metal protected her from the blow.

"Don't apologise for helping a crewmate, if I can't be there to protect them then I want to trust that someone else on the crew will be." He'd said very wisely given his usual childish disposition.

Spider nodded to her captain and noticed the slight pained expression he was giving. "You hurt your hand didn't you." Spider phrased it like a question yet it was anything but as her captain finally gave in.

"SO BAD! What is that thing made of!?" He yelled blowing on his bruised hand. He felt Spider ruffle his hair and looked up at her a little confused but could almost feel her smiling through the armour. A golden glow flowing over his injured hand wiping away any pain he'd previously felt from assaulting her.

It wasn't long until they re-joined everyone else and helped prepare for the celebration after Luffy was finished marvelling at her magical prowess. He even tried to make her the crew's doctor and was still attempting to convince the woman when they bumped into Sanji and Usopp.

"For the last time captain I can't be the doctor of the crew, if someone comes down with a disease or gets poisoned I don't have the medical knowledge to come up with a specific antidote." Spider told him.'Technically true, though I can make a cure all poisons/diseases potion. If I didn't show up they'd offer the position to someone else and I want to see who that person is.' She reasoned with herself.

"But your healley beam is so cool. Can't you just use that?" Luffy asked, not giving up his position.

"Unfortunately no I can't." 'Okay now you're flat out lying to him.' "Besides I can't do surgery either, unless ripping out the object then healing the mess counts but I can't say it would be very comfortable." Spider informed the straw hat wearing boy.

"Alright we'll look for someone else to be our doctor." He pouted. "But we still don't know what your position in the crew is." Luffy pointed out.

"Maybe I don't need one." Spider responded.

The frown on her captain's face grew comically. "That's stupid. Everyone has a place they belong to on the crew! Nami's the navigator, Sanji's the cook, Zoro's the swordsman, Usopp's the sniper, and I'm the captain. You've got that super awesome magic so maybe…" Luffy's face suddenly lit up and he was about to say more when a gauntleted hand suddenly clamped over his mouth.

"I swear if you're about to make me 'Ship's magician' me and you are going to have problems." Spider warned him and could almost feel the disappointment radiate off of him in waves. Sighing Spider released him and contemplated what she could be to the crew. "How about guardian?" She suggested thinking back to their earlier conversation. "I'll be there to protect the crew when you can't."

At this Luffy brightened again and made it official. Then the party could take place in full swing.

…

Logue Town. That was the destination they were sailing towards and it was going slowly for their captain's tastes. Constantly bouncing around the deck trying to amuse himself or laying sprawled on his 'special seat' on the Merry's figurehead yelling "It's so boring!" every few minutes.

Sanji was in the galley making lunch, Usopp tinkering with some new ammunition in the men's quarters, Nami updating her maps after tending to the new tangerine trees they'd had transported onto the Going Merry courtesy of her sister Nojiko, and Zoro was having a nap by the mast.

Spider herself was sat on a black and red deck chair by the tangerine grove enjoying the pleasant scent coming from it, instead of her usual daedric armour she wore a black polo shirt and matching shorts and running shoes (She looked like a well-dressed jogger pretty much). In her hands was a book on the recent history and events of the world she'd bought back at Nami's village. The rather strange look she'd adopted in comparison the usual armour wasn't commented on in front of her but up came the one person who thought she looked perfect no matter what.

"Spider my beautiful dove." Sanji called over to her causing him to receive a brief glance up from the book and a smile as he placed the snack and drink on the table beside her. "Enjoy my love." The cook told her with hearts in his eyes as he did what could only be described as a noodle dance away back to the kitchen.

Spider, to her credit had held the smile until he'd left and returned her attention to the book. Sanji didn't seem to get the part where she told him that she didn't physically have to eat or drink, if she did it was purely recreational as her body used magical energy to sustain itself. But every day he brought her food and drink in between meals and eventually she gave up on getting him to stop.

The drink was some kind of pink lemonade and the snack had an assortment of strawberries, biscuits and marshmallows around a chocolate dip. 'Why doesn't he give Luffy this crap, he'd appreciate more than I would.' She thought when an idea struck her. "Captain!" She called with no sense of urgency so as not to alert anyone.

"Yeah what's up!?" He replied from the other side of the ship, when he didn't get a reply Luffy made his way across the ship and over to where he knew Spider was reading and found her holding two plates in her hands with several others littering the floor around her, each containing an of an assortment of snacks she'd collected over the last few days that ranged from Ice cream to chicken kabobs.

Spider held a finger to her lips cautioning him to be quiet and he obeyed while drawing closer visibly drooling at the sight. "Captain, look at me. Luffy my eyes are up here." She managed to tear away his attention from the food. "You can have all of this so long as you promise not to tell Sanji, it'll be our secret." She told him and was surprised when Luffy lunged forward and hugged her with tears in his eyes.

"You are officially my favourite crew member." He told her while Spider just sat there holding the plates out awkwardly so they wouldn't fall.

"And you're my favourite captain, but you'd better eat these before Sanji comes back." Spider warned though the words had barely left her lips as Luffy had already started munching on the meats first then moving on to the sweet treats. "I've seen you eat countless times and it still amazes me how much you can devour."

Luffy took a few seconds to gulp down the last of the food and turned to face her, but rather than an answer he just offered her a signature smile of his and Spider found herself smiling back.

'I'm smiling almost as much as I did in the old days' she'd thought. "Are you going to go and play now that you've eaten?" Spider asked him curious as to if she'd have to go back to the "I'm bored" Luffy from a few minutes ago.

Her captain's happy demeanour drooped slightly and the smile left. "Usopp's busy making ammo, and no one else on the crew will want to" He told her.

"You didn't ask me." Spider reminded him and frowned slightly as she said so at the casual dismissal.

"Nami said that 'a mature woman like Spider wouldn't be interested so I just shouldn't ask.'" Luffy repeated what his navigator had told him.

"Luffy." Spider got his attention. "You're the captain, you can ask whatever you damn well want to ask, besides there's something Nami doesn't know, I used to be the best at hide and seek, even tag back in my home." Spider remembered back to when she used to take the children of Whiterun on play dates with her own child as the 'fun parent' all those years ago.

Luffy's face was positively beaming at this and he started bouncing around artfully dodging all the empty plates. "Really! You'll play!? Okay Hide and seek, captain's orders and you can hide first." Luffy turned and shot off to the front of the Merry and started loudly counting down from ten.

Spider readied a bluish spell in her left hand holding her book in the right and released the magical energy. Spider along with the book was now completely invisible. 'Never said I got there by playing fair' Spider thought cheerfully and returned to her book.

Should still see and read it due to her magical attunement, hell not even ghosts could hide from her sight at this point but she'd found it was best to ignore them, nothing can pester you more than a ghost after all.

She was now on the section about devil fruits and the information was rather disturbing. 'Why would anyone eat one of these things if it leaves you open to so many weaknesses?' Spider thought about it. 'I suppose I have a quick and easy method to get rid of any devil fruit users now though given we are pirates and presumably most of our fights will be at sea.'

Luffy suddenly dashed across the deck searching around the tangerine grove for his new game partner but had no luck and soon started looking elsewhere. 'Maybe she's in the kitchen with Sanji' He thought.

Waiting for him to leave Spider silently flipped to the next page in her book, the next chapter was on the different types of devil fruits.

Paramecia devil fruits are the most common and give the user superhuman powers and offer the most variation in abilities seen so far.

'Luffy must have eaten one of those given his rubber body.' Spider thought.

Zoan devil fruits allow the user to transform into other species and hybrid forms associated with the fruits animal at will. Many kinds have been discovered like regular animals to prehistoric and mythical creatures.

'Sounds strange, I wonder if that marine I threatened back on Nami's island ate a rat devil fruit.' She mused.

Logia are the devil fruits that give the user control over natural elements including the ability to make themselves intangible to physical attacks as the element it gives power over.

'I know which fruit I'd rather eat, a blood related logia would be interesting to play around with though is it worth the risk of eating a mucus fruit or something equally disgusting?' Spider shivered slightly at the thought, she had a high tolerance for many things including gore and even Luffy's eating habits but some things crossed a line for her.

She read a little further and found a picture depicting the life cycle of a devil fruit, when one is eaten and the user dies the fruit is reincarnated into another fruit to be eaten again. 'I'm surprised no one has openly exploited this yet.' She thought then turned to look at the tangerines growing behind her. 'I wonder…'

Spider snapped out of her thoughts when a tired looking Luffy made another round, he'd been bouncing all around the ship searching for her yet it had been fruitless. "Phew I'm beat, Spider wasn't kidding she really is the best." He said o himself as he unceremoniously flopped onto the deck chair Spider was currently occupying.

Spider's invisibility ended with a quiet 'whoosh' and Luffy found himself sitting in Spider's lap, head resting on her chest peering up at her. Eventually she smiled at him. "Comfortable down there captain?" She asked.

"Yeah." Luffy replied smiling but looked back to the front of the ship still laying his head back into Spider's breasts with a small pout. "But, I still haven't found you yet and I've looked everywhere!" He accentuated this by raising his arms and gesturing to the whole of the ship.

Spider continued to smile. 'Why do I find his idiocy so endearing?'
"Would you like to take a rest before looking again, I'm sure you're closer than you think."

"Good idea, a quick nap and I'll be good as new." Luffy agreed and swiftly fell asleep still on top of her lightly snoring.

Setting the book aside Spider wrapped her arms underneath Luffy's and held him in her embrace.

They stayed like that for hours as the day bled away, the sun just hanging over the horizon. That was when Nami climbed the steps to call Spider for dinner before searching for Luffy but had to cover her mouth to keep from giggling at the sight of her captain sleeping on Spider.

Spider held a finger to her lips telling her to be quiet. She reached across to the other woman's consciousness, 'Go have dinner with the others, you can have a quiet meal for once.' She joked.

Nami nodded to her and silently left them to join the rest of the crew, eager to share what was sure to be the main topic for the night. 'Luffy will never live this down.' She thought still giggling.

'I'll have to make sure Sanji leaves something for him.' Spider thought looking down at her captain's sleeping head, yet she just kept laying back in contentedness. 'I've missed this.'

It wasn't until the moon was high in the sky bathing the two in a silvery glow that Luffy began to stir. Groggily he rubbed his eyes and stretched before getting up from Spider's lap after she released her hold on him.

Luffy yawned and said "That was the greatest nap ever." Then his stomach rumbled and he held a hand to it smiling sheepishly. "Man I'm starving, hey where'd the sun go? How long was I asleep?" His voice growing more distressed.

"Well if today is the 7th then… you fell asleep 3 years ago today I believe." The look of terror/shock on her captain's face was priceless, until she realised he wasn't moving after a few seconds. "Captain?"

Still nothing.

Luffy was completely paralysed by the fact that he had missed over five thousand meals, his brain struggled to process the amount of food he'd have to eat to catch up.

'Well this isn't good.' She thought. Spider reached into her inventory and pulled out some spiced chicken kept indefinitely fresh by her pocket dimension. Her captain's nose twitched, on instinct he opened his mouth and quite literally bit the hand that fed him. The whole hand.

"Luffy." Spider said after a moment. "Let go of my hand." Spider saw a determined look in his slightly crazed eyes and actually felt him clamp down harder. "You'll break your teeth." Spider warned him but his position remained the same.

With a resigned sigh Spider conjured a flame spell and instantly Luffy's grip was released as he ran all over the deck screaming "HOT! HOT! HOT!" until Spider caught him by the back of his vest and covered his mouth with her hand, healing magic flowed into his burning throat and soothed his tongue causing him to make a relieved "hmmmmph." Noise into Spider's palm.

When he was let go Luffy turned to face the Dovahkiin. "That was pretty mean you know." He told her, arms crossed showing his obvious displeasure.

Ignoring the fact he was biting her Spider decided to be playful instead. 'I've been different ever since meeting this crew.' She concluded.
"And what are you going to do about it Captain?" Spider asked.

"Well I'm… hmm." He tried to think and finally seemed to come up with something when his eyes lit up again. "You have to play with me whenever I'm bored. No exceptions." He added the last part with a nod of his head, evidently happy with himself.

"Alright captain you have a deal. Now, shall we see what Sanji left for us?" She asked

"Yeah I want meat!" Came his usual happy response.

The two of them left to go to the dining area and enjoyed a rowdy meal together which surprisingly didn't wake anyone up, even if it was just Luffy making most of the noise and eating all of the food.

…

Docking at the port Nami set about laying down the ground rules. "Okay a storm is going to be blowing through soon and I want to set sail before it hits. Just get the supplies we need and try not to draw attention, the marines in this town are known for capturing pirates before they even make it to the grand line."

"I wanna go see the execution stand I'll meet you guys back here." Luffy stated and shot off into the crowd.

"Luffy wait!" Nami yelled after him but it was half hearted at best. "We're dead." She said sounding a little hopeless.

"I need to buy some swords since Mihawke shattered my other two." Zoro told the group only for Nami to gain a devious smirk.

"But you don't have any money right…?" She asked him.

"Well… not exactly but-" Zoro was cut off by the navigator.

"I can loan you the money but I'll charge up to 200% interest depending on how soon you pay me back." She told him in what was clearly a practiced statement.

Spider leaned close to the swordsman and said. "I could give you two swords for free, better quality than any you'd find here."

"I prefer using katana so unless you got any of those I'll have to take the witch's offer." Zoro mumbled back.

Spider thought for a moment then pulled out a pure black katana that had an insidious aura pulsing around it. "This is the best I've got matching your request." Spider told him as she handed the sword over to him. Spider watched as Zoro appreciated the fine craftsmanship of the weapon and gave him a rundown of its traits. "It's a daedric artefact so if you hear a voice every once in a while when you use it just try to ignore her. Inflicting damage to an opponent with the blade will return a portion of the damage back to you as raw power so you'll get strength back for landing a hit." Spider explained to him.

"Daedric artefact. Does that mean it belongs to one of those princes you told us about?" He asked referencing Spider's explanations of her homeland while they were travelling.

"Technically, though now it belongs to you if you'd like since I don't have use for it."" Spider told him.

"Thanks now that just leaves one sword." He turned back to where Nami was standing and grimaced at the devious sparkle present in her eyes.

"Just take this." Spider handed him a bag with some gold coins in it after Nami had informed her exactly how valuable each one was in terms of beri here she'd been able to better judge how much to give out. "They'd be crazy not to accept gold." She told him smiling at Nami's crest fallen expression.

Zoro smirked too. "Thanks." He said before leaving.

No sooner had he left Nami was upon her. "What was that? You know you owe me for this now right? Stealing a customer like that is unforgivable." She said with her arms crossed.

"No." Spider said simply.

"Wha- but… that's not how this works!" Nami yelled.

"If that's how you want to play it." Spider said and paused for a moment as Nami's expression changed to confusion. "You owe me 3 billion berries." Spider said it with a completely straight face.

"WHAT!" Nami screamed.

"For services rendered to both you and the crew since you are the treasurer as well as the navigator, I hid your secrets from the others despite knowing it could harm them and helped you out with the money you needed to pay off Arlong regardless of if it was used for that purpose. Then I rid your village and you of the scourge which is a life debt if I've ever heard one. Then there's the personal loss of time keeping the captain from disturbing you and the other members of the crew when you are busy with your own tasks that keep the ship running or just allow everyone to relax. That's not even mentioning the food I supply him in order to satiate his appetite until the allotted meal times." As Spider listed the things she was owed for Nami paled.
"I could go on and keep the debt running, or we could call it even right now." Spider said with a hint of smugness.

Nami only found enough will power to nod. She was dealing with a master here, not some run of the mill schmuck like most other people on the seas, She's have to be careful not to get herself tangled in Spider's web of debt let alone trying to trap Spider in hers.

"Sanji would you mind taking Nami for a shopping trip, I think she needs it." Spider asked the chef who immediately complied and rushed off with the semi reluctant navigator towards a nearby clothing store.

"That was amazing." Usopp spoke for the first time since getting off the ship. "I never thought anyone could out manoeuvre Nami when it came to money." He clarified and Spider turned to him.

"Is there anything you'd like to get from here? I think you should be able to find a tinkerers shop of some sort to explore." Spider inquired.

"Well of coarse I'd like to but I got the same problem as Zoro until you helped him out." The sniper said with a hand at the back of his neck and a nervous smile.

Spider again just handed him a bag of gold coins. "Not an issue, a well outfitted crew is one that survives, and I'm not letting any of you die on me."

Though her choice of words was rather unusual Usopp thanked her for the money and set off in search of a store.

This left Spider by herself guarding the ship, leaning against the hull. She stayed like that for an hour when a white haired man in marine attire with two cigars in his mouth walked over to her and huffed to get her attention.

"Can I help you?" Spider asked him politely. She was in a similar outfit as when she'd had that nap with Luffy and so didn't look particularly intimidating.

"That your ship?" He asked gruffly.

"It belongs to my crew yes." She responded keeping her voice even.

"Then I'm placing you and your crew under arrest on suspicion of being pirates." The man stated and pulled out a pair of handcuffs. "Don't make this any more difficult than it has to be."

Spider surprisingly complied and held her hands towards him so he could place the cuffs on her and once they were secured he placed a hand on her shoulder to guide her to the cell block only to find she didn't move an inch. He pulled and shoved but the woman refused to budge.

"Oh I'm sorry." Spider said then pulled her hands apart ripping the metal cuffs apart in the process. "Did you think this was going to be easy?"
The tension rose tenfold as the two stared each other down though Spider seemed more to be humouring him than anything else when they were interrupted by a woman with blue hair and glasses rushing towards them.

Smoker caught sight of her. "Not now Tashigi." He told her but she continued regardless.

"Captain Smoker sir. Someone is about to be killed on the execution stand, we believe it's Straw Hat Luffy. He's surrounded by the Buggy pirates who have taken over the square." Tashigi reported briskly as the wind from the incoming storm Nami was talking about started coming through.

"Looks like we both have to be elsewhere." Spider concluded as she broke the rest of the handcuffs off of her wrists. "I'll be going now. She told the two a little indifferently only for her voice to grow several times darker, the air itself growing still and the temperature dropping ten degrees as her final words to the two left her lips. "Don't be here when I get back."

This left the two of them paralysed for a few minutes as they watched her retreating form. It was a mystery how the words had had such an effect on seasoned Marine officers but the fact remained, even if it was for a moment. She scared them.

Spider powered through the streets towards where the centre of the commotion appeared to be not doubting that it would lead her to Luffy. 'Why does he have to get into so much trouble?' She thought ruefully but shook it from her head. 'Like I'm any better.'

As she drew close Spider sensed a presence strikingly similar to her captain's, only this one was… stronger. Curious she dipped into an alley and followed until she reached the end. In the opening was a cloaked man watching Luffy on the execution stand with a small, almost imperceptible smile.

Now the storm was in full swing as lightening flashed across the sky. 'This isn't entirely natural weather.' Spider surmised as she approached the cloaked figure.

"So what's he to you?" Spider asked when she was next to him. He looked at her in slight surprise having not noticed her approach earlier. "I'm just making sure my captain doesn't have any stalkers." She joked to ease his concern.

"Shouldn't you be rushing to save him like those two?" He asked nodding to Sanji and Zoro who had appeared on the scene.

Spider took a look at the two and analysed the situation. "They won't make it in time, and while I could act, something tells me you've got this handled." She told him.

"Dragon." The man said to her. "My name is Monkey D. Dragon."

"Interesting, I'll be sure to look after your child." Spider replied still looking to the execution stand.

"You know I'm his father?" Dragon asked her.

"You have similar auras so I assumed you were." Spider explained as Luffy yelled his desire to become 'king of the pirates' in front of all the pirates in the square.

"What about when it's a choice." He turned to Spider revealing his half tattooed face as lightning struck the execution stand reducing it to rubble, giving him an intimidating look. "Between your life and his?"

"Luffy has my life in his hands but luckily I can't die. Believe me, I've tried." Spider responded not the slightest bit thrown off by his appearance or display of power. Staring down a daedric prince and winning will do that to you.

Dragon didn't ask, he just nodded and turned back to the chaos in the square as marine's and pirates fought with the Straw Hat's trying to escape a certain captain smoker who had revealed his devil fruit power. 'What came first, his smoking addiction or the fruit?' Spider thought absently as she left Dragon to go back to the ship.

Luffy had never divulged anything from his past and though Spider had told the crew of her homeland, no one knew of her own history either.

Exiting the network of alleyways she continued thinking on how little everyone knew about each other's past. 'Something for another time. As we travel there'll be the addition of more crew members and I'll be less inclined to repeat myself.'

Turning the corner on the final street Spider came across the marine who had attempted to accost her earlier, pinning her captain to the ground using his logia powers to press his advantage and keep Luffy from twisting out of his grasp.

"I'm taking you in Straw Hat Luffy, in the name of justice." Smoker him with a gruff sense of victory in his voice.

Spider snapped. Crossing the distance at inhuman speed she grabbed the marine captain by his throat and smashed him into the nearby building causing a crater to form as it crumbled under the force. "You dare speak to us of justice." Spider gripped him tighter cutting off his airway with each word applying more pressure. No matter how hard Smoker clawed or tried to use his devil fruit powers it was useless, nothing worked.

Luffy had gotten up at this point and tentatively approached the two. "Spider its okay, we've got to-"

"The Conomi islands." Spider spoke and relieved enough pressure that Smoker could choke in some air. "Eight years Arlong, a known pirate terrorised those people and made a little girl his slave. All while you sat here with the power to stop him and did nothing." She leaned in closer to his face so they almost touched and to Smoker the entire world disappeared, all except for Spider. Her emerald eyes burned as if an unholy fire raged within her and they turned to draconic slits. Fear gripped him as for a moment he saw her for what she truly was when her soul seeped out around her.

A pitch black dragon head on a malformed human-dragon body adorned in demonic armour that was covered in black scales, claws sharper than any sword cleaving into his neck as his breath was once again taken away. Large black wings sprouted from her back completing the demon dragon hybrid look but worst of all was the overwhelming aura of despair she radiated around her, consuming everything.

With a low draconic growl she watched the life start draining from his eyes as his very essence was being devoured when a hand on her shoulder made her stop. Turning Spider saw her captain looking at her without a speck of fear, only concern. (Though that was likely because her power wasn't being directed at him).

Spider released Smoker and he fell to the floor in a coughing fir holding his throat that had already started to bruise. "You're alive because of Luffy. Don't waste it again." Her voice was low and demonic.

Turning to her captain Spider's form shimmered and seemingly blew away with the strong winds until she was once again stood in the rain wearing her daedric armour sans the helm. She nodded to her captain who nodded back and wordlessly they made their way back to the Going Merry.

...

"You can't go up a mountain!" Zoro exclaimed as they headed towards the Red Line, the water currents pulling them towards it.

"Then what do you call this!" Nami yelled back at him as they managed to hit the river at the right angle to escape smashing against the rocks, and the ship actually started travelling up the mountain.

"This is impossible!" Spider heard Zoro shout back but quickly lost interest in the conversation and returned to another book Nami 'procured' from a shop back in Logue town.

She was reading about the so called 'New World' which was really just the second half of the Grand Line and the many strange things that happened there. She read about the Four Emperors and Seven Warlords in more detail too. "I want to fight this one." Spider talked out loud looking at a picture of Kaido. "I'd befriend this one." Gesturing to Boa Hancock. She turned a page. This one was dedicated to the officers of the Big Mom pirates, scanning over them she stopped on a particularly tall and muscular man with short spikey crimson hair. He wore a black scarf with white fur covering the fringes and had it wrapped around in such a way that it covered the bottom half of his face. The name Katakuri plastered above his head on the page. "And I'd sleep with him." She concluded to Luffy who was sat beside her. "Now it's your turn."

The Going Merry burst through the clouds yet continued on its upward trajectory rising further up the Red Line as Spider showed Luffy how the game worked, her own version of snog, marry, kill.

"Well the guy you picked last looks strong so I'd fight him." Luffy declared pointing to the picture of Katakuri. "Go back a few pages… stop, I'd be friends with that guy." He said as Spider stopped on the page focusing on Donqixote Doflamingo, his wide and almost insane grin paired with the strange glasses hiding his eyes left a rather distinct impression.

"Might I ask why you would be friends with someone named the 'Heavenly Demon' captain?" Spider inquired given that this warlord appeared to be on a different wavelength than her captain. Just looking at him gave her the feeling that eventually she'd have him on the end of her blade. 'If I don't have to give him up to my captain that is.'

"I like his coat." Luffy said simply and gestured to the bright pink fluffy coat Doflamingo wore.

She accepted the answer despite the misgivings she had about the man's look and waited for the final selection, admittedly she was curious as to who Luffy would choose to sleep with.

"Hmmm." Luffy gained a contemplative expression as he thought back on all the people he'd seen in Spider's book. 'Who would be the most comfortable, can't pick Mingo again even if his coat looks soft. Would any of them bring a midnight snack?' Suffice to say Luffy did not understand what his crew mate meant by 'sleep with' one of them.

Just as it looked like he was about to make a decision the Merry tipped over the edge and began the descent down the other side of the great land mass and towards the Grand Line.

Luffy's eyes widened and he shot away towards the bow of the ship and perched on his special seat as excitement took over the boy. They were finally here!

"Hey guys!? Why is there a mountain in the way!?" Usopp yelled out pointing to the huge black wall at the foot of the Red Line.

Spider immediately stood and stormed towards the front of the ship and shouted a single word with enough force to slow the Merry down. "BO!" (MOVE!).

Suddenly the wall of blubber shifted back before splashing down and disappearing into the ocean's depths though the shadow below the water remained showing the colossal size of the animal. This allowed the Straw Hat's to dock by the lighthouse that was nearby.

An old man was sat outside looking from the Going Merry where all the crew was watching him, to the slowly rising mass as the whale resurfaced. "You guys aren't looking to hurt Laboon are you?" He asked them.

Spider took in the strange hair style and peacock headwear the man wore as well as the holiday like clothing. Dismissing it as something that was common to this world. 'I'm sure I'll come across much stranger things on this adventure.'
"Not at all, your whale was just blocking the way so I told him to move." Spider explained and was pleasantly surprised to find the man didn't demand an explanation or even call her crazy. She hated it when people called her insane, even if it was sometimes true.

"Good, because if you did someone would have to get hurt." He stated in a serious tone.

"Oh yeah! And who would that be?" Usopp asked with broken confidence in his voice as he took a single step behind Spider just in case.

"Me." The old man replied.

This caused a fuss over if the old man was just trying to annoy them but eventually led to an exchange of names and stories. Spider listened to Crocus's explanation of Laboon and his pirate crew that had to leave him due to the whale being too young. Luffy at this point was busy playing with said whale as the two made a game of splashing each other. Luffy was losing.

Then she heard about the two people who were attacking the poor creature. The whale already had deep scars on his head from bashing into the Red Line, to think people would hurt him even more upset some of the other more sympathetic Straw Hats.

"Hey old man, what do those people look like?" Luffy asked weakly having been sufficiently soaked in sea water from the island whale.

"Like that." Crocus said pointing to a small boat that carried two relatively well dressed people aiming rocket launchers at Laboon. The male wore a dark green suit, white lace trimming his collar and sleeves, a crown adorned his head, though a discerning eye could clearly make out the cheap materials. The woman had long light blue hair and wore a light green jacket with a purple and light blue vest underneath. Her white shorts were matched by white boots.

Spider watched in slight irritation as the two fired their weapons towards the whale, before Luffy could gum gum rocket himself towards the deadly projectile and more than likely drown trying to save Laboon, she raised a hand to the rockets. Suddenly they stopped mid-air as Spider's magic held them in place.

A small grim smirk adorned Spider's features as she turned the rockets back to the original owners and sent the crashing back towards them. The two promptly abandoned ship screaming and just managed to make it out of the blast radius when the boat exploded sending splinters of wood in all directions.

"What should we do with them when they get here captain?" Spider asked turning to the others only to see Luffy and Usopp right behind her with stars in their eyes both mouthing the words 'so cool' at her. She rolled her eyes and just opted to wait for the offenders to swim their way to shore. Sure enough they dragged themselves up to the lighthouse by the Merry.

"Would either of you like to explain why you're trying to kill Laboon?" Spider asked them with relative politeness given the situation, her captain had taken a liking to the creature after all, it won't do for someone to try and kill it.

"ARE YOU CRAZY!? YOU COULD HAVE KILLED US!" The girl screamed at her once she could stand.

All pretence of politeness gone Spider stepped up to the other woman and both physically and mentally, towered the now very fearful girl. "That is still subject to change Joor" (Mortal)

Spider was soon whisked away by Luffy to see if she could do anything about Laboon's scars while the others talked to the two offenders. This way it was less likely for anyone to die.

Spider listened idly as the two explained their reason for hunting Laboon (We came from Whiskey Peak the next island over, we need him for food, everyone will starve before long) while she washed the whale in restoration magic and the scars on his body faded away and instead fresh and healthy flesh stood in its place. The two who had identified themselves as Ms Wednesday and Mr 9 had slack jawed looks on their faces when Spider turned around to hear the rest of their story.

"No I didn't eat a devil fruit, I use magic." Spider told them pre-emptively answering their question. "Now would you be so kind as to tell everyone your real names before we depart to this Whiskey Peak."

"We're sworn to secrecy by the organisation we're a part of unfortunately so our identities can't be revealed." Mr 9 stated as if he was repeating something he'd said a thousand times before.

Fine if that's how they want to handle this. Spider reached across with her consciousness towards the minds of the two, gently sifting through their heads and learning who they really were. She looked to Ms Wednesday with a smile the devil himself would die for. "How interesting, it's been a while since I've partook in a war."

The colour drained from Ms Wednesday's face and her eyes were wide as saucers.

"War? Spider what are you talking about?" Sanji asked her.

"Nothing." She told him as her expression went to a blank one. "I'll be on the ship if you need anything but we should get going soon, don't want to keep those people waiting." Spider said as she went to board the ship.

…

Docking at Whiskey Peak was easier than expected given the entire town had thrown the pirates a party, the mayor being a particularly jovial fellow and insisting they use the food and drink to welcome the new arrivals. Luffy looked fatter then Spider had ever seen him, Sanji had girls all over him, Usopp had followers listening to his every story, Zoro was drinking and Nami was scamming everyone in a drinking contest.

Spider stood in the building leaning against the back wall resisting everyone's attempts to get her to drink something and lighten up. These came from both her crew and the town's folk though she didn't know how she was meant to relax when everyone in there had such hostile intent directed at her crew.

'I dread to think what they would do without me.' She thought to herself as the party seemed to slowly die down. Eventually people had forgotten she was even there as she blended into the background.

The Straw Hats were all sleeping in the early hours of the morning and that was predictably when the plan to betray them started being discussed. By the more prominent members. Mr 8 and Ms Monday were stood in the doorway with Ms Wednesday and Mr 9 outside.

"I can't believe how long it took for them to go out, we're practically out of food." The heavyset partner of the mayor said as she folded her arms.

"Yes but with their bounties it will be worth it, the boy is worth 42 million berries and the woman wearing the armour has a 30 million berry bounty. Enough to keep us going for a long time ma ma maaa."

"That's if you can claim it." Zoro said from above them on a nearby rooftop. "You guys didn't really think we'd be so trusting did you?"

Spider then saw Nami get up and start looting since the only people awake were distracted by the commotion going on outside. 'I've got to give those two credit at least.' She thought to herself.

Spider walked towards the group talking with Zoro. Well 'talking' was pushing it a bit since Zoro was now fighting dozens of henchman, presumably bounty hunters themselves, just when the four elite players in this place began to make a move to go after him Spider appeared behind them.

"Try it and I'll kill you." Her voice rang with a serious tone, one that told the group she was not joking around and would quite literally end their very existence in a heartbeat.

Ms Monday turned on their new opponent and without hesitating raised a fist swinging at the woman in the doorway. To her surprise Spider caught the fist and held it in place effortlessly even as Ms Monday struggled against the grip.

"Let her go!" Came a cry from Ms Wednesday as she equipped her peacock slashers.

"Quiet princess." Spider retorted tightening her grasp on the other woman who was clearly in pain given the expression she was pulling.

Ms Wednesday gasped and took a step back along with the mayor leaving a confused Mr 9 wondering about their reaction but it was quickly forgotten when his companion let out a scream indicating Spider was crushing her hand again.

"I'll say this one more time, and I don't care is your country does hang in the balance. Stand down or I will tear each of your spines out through your throat and mount the corpses on a few of those graves." Spider threatened indicating the thousands of gravestones that marked the bounty hunters' history in Whiskey Peak.

Spider had decided to forgo wearing her daedric helm with her armour though the deathly cold in her voice and malice they could see in her eyes revealed she wasn't lying about killing them, it was as if they were surrounded by her presence and every word was irrefutable truth.

Once Spider decided they were sufficiently terrified of her she released Ms Monday who immediately dropped and dragged herself away from the demonic figure.

Just as it looked like Spider would be able to properly converse with them without being attacked Luffy came up from behind her. "Excuse me, need to take a leak." He told her slipping past despite his heavily rounded form even managing to fit through the door. He seemed fine until he saw Zoro beating up the people that just a few hours ago had been partying with the Straw Hats.

Spider could see the twist in her captain's face and the tensing of his muscles, reacting instantly she had a hand on his shoulder halting him from advancing on his first mate.
"Do you trust your crew?" She asked him.

Luffy rounded on Spider looking directly into her emerald eyes. "With my life." Luffy responded quickly and confidently.

"Then trust that he has a good reason, I'll explain once you get back from… your errand." Spider told him slightly cringing at her own words.

Luffy said nothing but nodded and headed off towards the docking area leaving Spider alone with the still horrified group of Baroque Works agents.

She turned to them. "I'll cut to the chase, I know about your situation Vivi but the question is are you going to make it back to stop Crocodile before he destroys your country?" Spider asked.

"How… how do you know about that?" She managed to get out despite her current state.

"I can use magic, I can do almost anything you can think of including read minds." Spider told her honestly, it was just an easier explanation of her abilities if she said they were magic without getting too complicated.

"Wait you're actually a princess?" Mr 9 asked incredulously.

"More to the point three people have arrived on the island, two of which are carrying hostile intent towards you two." Spider looked pointedly at Vivi and Igaram. "So if you two want to live long enough to have a chance at living I suggest you ask my captain for help, he has a soft spot for these things."

Ms Monday and Mr 9 looked from Spider to their partner/superior. "What is she talking about?" They asked in unison.

"My name is Vivi Nefertari princess of the Alabasta and this is my loyal servant Igaram. The leader of Baroque works wants to destroy my home country Alabasta and turn it into one that he'll be able to rule over, I joined so that I could find out who it was and save my people from the civil war he's igniting back home. I've been able to discover his identity but if what Spider says is true then he knows I know and sent someone to kill me and Igaram." Vivi told the two agents unsure of how they would react upon finding out she wasn't truly one of them.

"That's exactly what we came here to do." A voice came from just down the road as a pair of oddly dressed individuals sauntered down the path. The male wore a pair of sunglasses and a brown trench coat with the number 5 embedded on it. The woman wore a yellow and orange hat with a yellow dress that had lemons on it as a pattern. She also carried a parasol with blue stripes.

"Don't bother trying to run, I'd hate to make the boss worry any longer than he already has been." The lady said to them while offhandedly swinging her parasol.

Ms Monday and Mr 9 were the first to stand in order to get between the incoming pair and their comrades.

"Don't worry, we'll stop them." Mr 9 told Vivi.

"I'll take your friendship over anything the boss could offer me." Ms Monday confirmed causing the two targets to feel strengthened at the prospect of having allies even after revealing their betrayal.

"No need" Spider said stepping through the gap between Ms Monday and Mr 9. "These two would destroy you in a fight anyway."

"What makes you say th-" Mr 9 didn't manage to finish his sentence as an explosion right in front of him sent the man flying into a nearby wall making a crater he slowly sunk down into.

"That." Spider replied as she kept walking towards her new opponents.

"Wait! They'll kill you too! STOP!" Vivi screamed after the woman but silenced herself when Spider took a direct hit from an explosion but remained standing, in fact the woman continued walking as if nothing had even hit her.

The look of shock on both Mr 5 and Ms Valentine's face was priceless though to Spider it made little difference, they wouldn't be alive for long anyway. Spider was soon upon them and in retaliation Ms Valentine jumped into the air floating their getting into position above Spider.

Spider spared the woman a glance before releasing a single word of power. "FUS!" This sent her sailing into the night and out of view allowing Spider to focus on her other opponent.

"The hell!?" He exclaimed but soon recovered. "Screw it I'm ending this, 'full body explosion!'" Mr 5 yelled dashing towards Spider closing the remainder of the distance for her.

Spider drew a daedric dagger and quickly stabbed it into the man's chest effectively cancelling his explosive move. She dragged the blade down severing the centre of his rib cage before ripping the dagger away and sheathing it. Ignoring the cries of pain from her victim Spider tore into his chest cavity with her left hand and readied a bluish spell in her right, when she'd found the right organ Spider pulled her bloodied hand out holding Mr 5's heart then shoved her right hand in front of him covering the wound in frost magic closing the wound and keeping the blood trapped in his body, forcing him to stay alive for a little longer in excruciating pain that from his screams must have been nightmarish.

"Why don't you hold onto this Spider opened the man's hand placing his heart inside then closed it for him. Despite his condition Mr 5 pathetically kept pressing the organ against his chest as if hoping it would connect back into his body.

A few moments passed as Spider watched the display, clear contempt for the man before her rested in her gaze. Then his partner came hurtling down from the sky directly over Spider's head screaming "10,000 KILOGRAM GUILLOTINE!"

As the woman rocketed closer Spider reached up and caught her ankle without so much as sparing a look in her direction, easily keeping the huge weight aloft. Swiftly Spider smashed Ms Valentine forward into the dirt still holding the limb. In one smooth motion she drew her sword and severed her opponent's leg at the knee.

Spider moved past her writhing figure blatantly ignoring the screams until she was beside the woman's head, Spider proceeded to smash the severed limb into Ms Valentine's head knocking her unconscious on impact. Her still body slowly bleeding out onto the ground.

Vivi's legs gave out and she fell back towards the ground on Spider's approach only for a pair of hands to catch her, turning she saw the straw hat boy, the captain smiled at her and suddenly Spider didn't seem so scary. It was strange but the two balanced each other.

Luffy looked up from the princess and at Spider. "You know I don't mind if you defend yourself but do you really have to go so far?" He asked the Dovahkiin.

"This way they can't come after us again, it's a mistake I made one too many times in the past." Spider replied.

"Even so it doesn't feel right to me. Try not to do it unless one of us is in danger, that's an order." Luffy commanded. The two locked eyes and didn't break contact until Spider nodded her agreement on the matter.

The rest of the crew was awakened and gathered to get updated on the situation and discuss their next voyage. Nami had looted the place and Zoro beat everyone who'd tried to capture them barring the four agents they were now conversing with.

"Princess, I'll go ahead in a different ship disguised as you to throw them off your trail." Igaram stated showing he was determined in this course of action.

"Or," Spider interjected. "You could let me take care of any would be assailant as and when they appear."

"And needlessly endanger Princess Vivi!? No it's far safer if I go." He argued back.

"I won't let you die for me Igaram, I would never forgive myself or be able to face Terracotta if something happened." Vivi told him tearing up slightly.

"The fate of our country hangs in the balance Princess, it won't matter if a servant makes it back, the people need to hear it from you and I'll risk my life to ensure you get the chance to tell them." He replied kindly.

"And don't you worry, we'll be sure to get her home." Nami reassured him, only for her eyes to turn into berry signs. "For the low low price of a billion berries." She finished.

"Of course you'd be thinking about money at a time like this." Usopp sighed and received a swift knock to the head for his trouble leaving him to nurse a bump that was forming.

"If we do this stuff for free how will we be able to buy supplies and survive, someone has to think about these things." Nami reasoned.

"And it's not actually a bad plan to have a distraction go on ahead to draw the heat away from us." Zoro voiced.

"Then we'd better get moving otherwise the 'unluckies' will get word back that we're alive." Igaram said and quickly went to hide in order to get changed.

Luffy for once was rather quiet and when Spider looked to him she saw he was staring off towards the edge of the town. "Do you think they taste good?" He suddenly asked causing everyone else to turn to where he was looking.

At the end of the road was an otter and vulture who were busy scribbling down something on pieces of paper. Once they realised they had everyone's attention they turned the papers around and revealed several well drawn sketches of each member of the Straw Hats.

"Oh no." Vivi said. "They report directly to Crocodile and with those pictures every Baroque Works agent will know what you look like." She told them with panicked eyes.

Rather than respond with words Spider summoned a ball of flame in her hand and looked right at Vivi who stared back. Spider then sent the spell flying towards the two animals who unfortunately didn't react fast enough to escape and were engulfed in the flames when the fireball impacted the ground in front of them. Once the light faded all that remained were two blackened corpses and the ashes of the paper they carried.

"That takes care of that problem." Sanji broke the silence.

…

Now back on the Merry Vivi had said a tear filled goodbye to Igaram and watched as he set sail along with Mr 9 and Ms Monday as his back up in case they really were pursued.
He was using an eternal pose to get to Alabasta while the Straw Hat's would go the long way around to make them harder to follow, they were now on their way to Little Garden. The straw Hat's were also introduced to Karoo, Vivi's animal companion.

The ship carrying the fake Vivi was still visible in the distance and close enough for them to hear the explosion as it went up in flames.

"IGARAM!" Vivi screamed only to feel Spider's hand on her shoulder.

"Hold on." She told the girl. Spider sensed they were still alive and wondered briefly how that was until a voice came from somewhere to her right.

"Lucky you thought to send a decoy." The feminine character called out.

"Yeah I guess." Usopp replied. "That was almost Vivi too."

"They're alive." Spider informed them. "Currently swimming back to shore."

"How can you tell?" Vivi asked turning to the blonde.

"Magic. Everyone has an aura, I can still see theirs is alive and moving back towards Whiskey Peak." Spider explained which calmed the young princess. She then turned to the woman wearing a purple cowgirl get-up complete with the hat, and crossed her arms.
"You work with Crocodile." Spider's tone wouldn't be mistaken for a question, it was stating a fact.

Everyone else on the crew rounded on the newcomer as if noticing her for the first time and each having their own shocked expressions over the fact someone had snuck onto their ship without them noticing.

"That would be correct." Ms All Sunday responded casually sitting on the railing above them.

"So you're one of the people trying to destroy Vivi's country." Luffy came forward to look up at the woman.

"I have my own reasons for allying with Crocodile, her country is just collateral damage." Ms All Sunday replied a little coldly.

"Captain?" Spider asked and received a small nod from the now steely eyed Straw hat boy. She raised a hand towards the woman and an eerie purple glow appeared around Spider's hand and chains were conjured around Ms All Sunday, the panic in her eyes was clear, obviously not expecting anything like this.

She fell from the railing towards the deck of the ship but was caught by Sanji before she could hit the floor and was gently placed against the wall.

Spider came up to face Ms All Sunday who was struggling against the restraints. "A woman after my own heart." She said. "But Crocodile has no idea what kind of ally his enemy has just made." Something positively feral in her smile.

Spider reached out with her consciousness and delved into the woman's mind sensing the fear of what will happen before she could get to the poneglyph followed by regret, she just had to try to play with them a bit didn't she?

'Don't feel too bad about it, after all I've killed creatures stronger than anything on this world so you never stood a chance in the first place.' Spider's voice echoed in her head. '"Nico Robin" that's a nice name.' Spider sifted through Robin's head gleaning information from her memories from the past few months. 'Interesting.'

Spider retreated from the woman's mind and took in the shocked eyes she was becoming all too familiar with. "Thank you for coming, you've been very useful."

Luffy then stepped up and placed a hand on the magical chains ripping them off causing the spell to shatter. The straw hat shadowed Luffy's eyes as he said to Robin. "I want you to give Crocodile a message, I'm coming to kick his ass."

Before she could so much as reply Robin vanished in a purplish fiery mist that swirled around her, Moments later the mist slowly dissipated leaving no trace of the Baroque Works agent

"WHAT WAS THAT?!" The whole crew screamed at Spider, who else could it have been?

"I transported her to Crocodile. It was faster than letting her travel by sea." Spider said as if it was obvious.

"If you can teleport people then why not send us to Crocodile so we can kick his ass now!?" Luffy asked.

"Yeah we could've avoided so much trouble using that." Nami chimed in.

The others then started adding their own voices to the argument against her, except Sanji who was simultaneously defending Spider and agreeing with Nami.

"Niid." (No) The single word silenced them all, its meaning crystal clear despite being in a language they couldn't understand. "If I do everything for you and you achieve your dreams the easy way then what was the journey for? Wouldn't you rather work hard and earn what you all strive for?" She asked them and from the quiet she could tell they knew she was right.

Vivi spoke first. "That may be true but my country is on the brink of collapse and the sooner we get there the better chance we have of saving it."

"And what if I wasn't here?" Spider asked. "Because I'll let you in on a secret, this story has an end already and the only reason I'm here is a daedric prince wants to keep me occupied before I decide it would be a better use of my time to kill all of his kind for all they've done to me."

Everyone was quiet letting it sink in that even though they were living through this themselves right now, their fate was already decided.

Spider composed herself before speaking again. "If I take you straight to your country then there's no telling who's story I mess up along the way, a crew member missed, a conflict unresolved or even an enemy left to roam. It's not a risk I'm willing to take."

A long silence stretched over the crew with only the quiet rocking of the ship. Until a sudden and loud grumbling sound came from the captain's gut causing everyone to focus their attention on him.

Luffy looked a little embarrassed and had his hand on the back of his head while grinning. "Sorry, I kind of ruined the moment huh?"

Everyone sweat dropped at this with mumbles of 'typical' and the like going around and the crew started moving away getting to their own business, Sanji in particular heading to the kitchen before their captain even had to ask.

This left Spider and Vivi together on deck, one awkwardly looking down clearly conflicted on the situation and the other patiently awaiting the response to her earlier explanation.
"It won't go the same way."

Vivi suddenly looked up when Spider spoke to her. "What do you mean?"

"I might want the journey to remain as intact as possible but any situation we encounter won't go as it did when I wasn't here. It's difficult to explain but know that the timeline where you all went through this without me, Crocodile was facing an inexperienced pirate group and wayward princess, now he's facing a two thousand year old hero of legend, slayer of the dragon god of destruction and daedric prince of enslavement. Neither the armies of mortal or god have been able to defeat me. If this joor believes himself capable of succeeding where countless others have failed, then I look forward to crushing that fantasy" Spider finished her speech and swiftly left to her quarters in order to make preparations for the conflict ahead. It was time to show the crew just how good she was at dismantling an evil scheme.

The door swung shut behind her and inside Nami was sat on her bed with an oddly blank expression clearly mulling over what Spider had said and when she entered suddenly looked over to her, a new conflicted emotion spreading.

"Is what you said true?" Nami asked having finally decided on a course of action.

"Every word." Spider replied as she strode towards the centre of the room. With a wave of her hand she conjured a round table of daedric design as it had wicked spikes protruding from regular intervals, on it were several large sheets of paper with information scribbled down that she had gleaned from Crocodile's agent.

"If you know that 'our story' has an end already then why are you even here if you know what's going to happen?" Nami's expression was replaced with a determined look.

Spider briefly looked up from her notes to answer. "I haven't the slightest idea what's going to happen, think of this as a book that I'm in the middle of reading, I know it has a end but I'm here reading the first chapters. Only difference being I can have a very drastic effect on what happens."

"And that's all we are to you? Characters in a book!?" Nami yelled at Spider causing the Dovahkiin to fully remove herself from her planning to face the distressed navigator.

"I have never considered anyone I have befriended to be a mere character. Of the worlds I've visited so far I've forged bonds with people ranging from the last known dragon rider to a saviour of the galaxy. Even so I've not felt anything with them like I feel here, you're all special and I'm honoured to be considered part of this crew." The two women were quiet for a while as Nami thought over what was said and Spider cursed herself for letting a crew mate think like that, even if it was someone she didn't always get along with.

"Thanks. I needed to hear that, I'll make sure the rest of the crew know too while you're busy in here." Nami finally responded and made her exit.

Spider turned back to the table and studied the papers looking at one in particular. A man named Bentham AKA: Mr 2 is meant to trick the population into believing their king has betrayed them, admitting to using 'dance powder' to make it rain in the capital by transforming into him using his devil fruit.

"Hardly seems worth my time if I can foil the other plan." She looked to separate sheet which detailed a Ms Merry Christmas and Mr 4 kidnapping King Cobra in order for Mr 2's plan to work without suspicion.

"A few wards in his room and capable guards should do the trick, Sanji would be perfect given his combat ability and perhaps Usopp and Nami too just to keep them safe." She decided.

The new location of the rebel base being close to the port town of Nanohana rather than half way across the country was useful information to say the least. "If nothing else I could end this would be war by taking out the rebel leaders." Spider quickly shook her head to clear the idea. "I'll let Vivi talk them to death."

Finishing up Spider looked to the last sheet with any relevant information pertaining to her plan of attack. Crocodile's headquarters is situated at some place called Rain Base and the best way to stop someone is to go straight for the head. "That will be where Luffy, Zoro and myself go."

With the plan in place and everyone having their own role to play provided she could get them to agree to it Spider gathered the papers and set out to find Luffy. She needed the Captain's permission after all.

...

The island of Little Garden was just coming into view as a speck in the distance and Spider could feel the presence of two large lifeforms inhabiting the island as well as one other in the ocean itself. drawing closer it looked more like a jungle than anything.

"This is it! Our second island in the Grand Line!" Luffy yelled out from his special seat on the Merry's figure head.

Though as the Straw Hat's entered deeper into the island via a river they started to argue about the possible dangers of the island, those being the giant monsters Usopp was raving about.

"Look I'm sure we can make it to the next island without going to shore on this one!" Usopp exclaimed in a clearly panicked voice.

"The only way to reset the log is to go ashore." Nami responded.

"Not to mention we're in dire need of restocking our food supply, we didn't get so much as a sack of flower in the last town and we can't rely on Spider's supply of food forever." Sanji added.

A loud screeching noise suddenly erupted from the skies above the jungle causing almost everyone to cover their ears.

"The hell is that screeching?" Nami asked.

"It's alright love, only a bird and perfectly harmless just like this jungle so nothing to worry about." Sanji replied easily to the orange haired girl who was currently looking absolutely terrified along with their sniper at the large bird taking a dive straight for their chef.

Just when it looked like the creature would grasp Sanji in it's talons a shard of Ice pierced it's skull instantly killing the bird and sending it careening to the other side of the river, pinned against an even larger tree.

"Whoa that's huuuuuge! Could be tasty!" Luffy announced when an explosion rocked the island.

"That definitely doesn't sound like something you'd hear in a normal jungle."

"IT SOUNDED LIKE A VOLCANO ERUPTING, WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!" Usopp screamed at the top of his lungs when a hand covered his mouth to cease the noise.

"Grow up, we have a mission to complete. Remember that." Spider told the boy sternly. Everyone was offset by her sudden change in behaviour since picking up Vivi, she wasn't as easy going or smiling as much, as if when she was 'given a mission' as she put it, then it was her top priority.

This was when a large tiger appeared from the jungle, striding along the river bank perfectly in line with the Going Merry causing Nami and Usopp to start sweating but as per Spider's orders they held it in so as to not seem quite so scared.

Suddenly the tiger roared then keeled over covered in blood stains. "WHAT! This isn't normal, what are we going to do against Something that can kill a giant tiger with one blow without us even seeing it!" Nami yelled being unable to hold back any further.

Spider released Usopp and went to the front of the ship. "There are currently four of us that aren't useless in combat, shouldn't be too difficult."

This gained some startled looks from the crew, a loud 'hmph' from the three she was clearly taking a dig at, and a hearty laugh from Zoro. "What do you mean four? Can't seriously be counting ero-cook over there can you?"

"You wanna go moss head, bring it on!" Sanji yelled back, an intense staring contest quickly took place with no one daring to intervene. Except one.

Spider walked calmly in between the two. "Sanji said we need food supplies, if the captain agrees then I'm assigning you two to the job."

"Who the hell put you in charge?" Zoro asked.

"Anything for you Spider my darling." Sanji replied doing his signature noodle dance in the background.

"Yeah sounds like a good idea but first, Sanji, make a great big pirate lunch with lots of meat and no veggies, I'm going to need lots of energy." Luffy joined the conversation smiling like a mad man.

"Hey where do you think you're going? you need to stay here." Nami cried.

"Oh you know, fun stuff." Luffy replied looking even happier and excited.

'Out there is something dangerous enough to grind a mammoth tiger into paste and e still wants togo!' Usopp inwardly bemoaned.

Vivi looked thoughtful for a moment before asking. "Say Luffy, would you mind if I come along too?"

"Sure sounds great." Luffy responded merrily.

"WHAT!? Vivi you can't be serious!" Nami interjected.

"Well yeah, I'd rather not sit here with nothing to do but worry about my troubles, this will keep me busy till the log's reset." Vivi told her new friend.

Spider quickly went over to put out the next fire, resting a hand on Nami's shoulder before she could protest more. "Let them go, Luffy will keep her safe. Though if it makes you feel better." Spider raised her right hand and drew an unfamiliar symbol in the air which shot forward and onto Vivi's wrist.
"That will tell me if you're in any danger I should worry about."

"Oh, thank you." Vivi said while marvelling over the new mark.

Before long Sanji had packed a lunch for Luffy, Vivi and Karoo who had been dragged along, everyone waved them off telling the trio to be safe then did the same when Zoro and Sanji set off to find food.

The two were clearly making it a competition by the conversation they were having as they walked away which is why Spider called out after them. "Just because we have a Luffy doesn't mean it's all about meat, find any fruits or plant life of nutritional value too!"

The cook and swordsman nodded back at her then made a sub competition by who could find the most edible plant life as a bonus to the meat they'd hunt.

"I don't understand why those two have to be so competitive all the time." Nami spoke out after the two had disappeared from view.

"If it makes you feel any better I don't understand either." Usopp told the navigator.

"Their personalities conflict with each other but Luffy's forged a bond between them so the closest they'll get to all out fighting are these competitions." Spider helpfully informed the two.

Nami nodded, it made sense. "I'm surprised you haven't run off too since there'd be plenty to explore on this island, not like you'd be in any danger."

"I'd be a fool to leave you two alone, you have no training and wouldn't be able to handle being by yourselves in this environment, honestly if they'd left you before I asked them too then I wouldn't have much respect for them." Spider responded to her.

"You know, you can go from super stern to really caring in a flash. It's kinda weird." Usopp spoke as if in deep thought.

"Side effect of immortality, you develop a few quirks along the way." Spider smiled at him, the first one in at least a week.

"Hold on a minute, I swear I've read a book recently with Little Garden in it." Nami suddenly proclaimed while heading for the women's quarters.

"You did, it's called 'Brag men' an explorer's diary, talks about how the island is stuck in the prehistoric era." Spider told her before she could enter.

"So that means..." Nami stopped when booming foot falls were heard coming towards them.

Spider looked to the side of the ship seeing that one of the large life forms she'd sensed coming closer though it had no hostile intent. Looking to the other two she could see fear plainly etched on their faces as they looked up at the towering giant that just appeared through the trees. "Don't scream, he's friendly." Spider warned them.

"How can you tell he doesn't want to eat us and use our bones as tooth picks!?" Usopp asked clearly agitated.

"Because if he did I'd have killed him and harvested his bones by now." Spider replied to the sniper.

The giant came closer and kneeled down peering at the three, He wore a Viking style horned helmet and had a full blonde beard, large nostrils too, clearly a defining characteristic of his. When he spoke his voice boomed echoing across the jungle. "Hi! I'm Broggy, it's nice to meet you!"

"My name is Spider, these are my crew mates Nami and Usopp." She gestured to each respective member. "Is there something you wish to discuss?" Somehow Spider's voice rang out on par with the giant's showing she was by no means a regular human.

"As a matter of fact there is!" Broggy said with a big smile reminding Spider of her captain. "I wondered if you had any alcohol to spare."

Spider nodded, raising her hand she gestured to the riverside where a swirling portal of purple flames materialised bringing something into existence. When they'd vanished in it's place was a giant sized tankard filled with a frothy liquid.

The giant took the tankard and sipped at it's contents tentatively before laughing heartily and taking a huge gulp. "This is the best drink I've had in years! But how did you make it come out of no where like that!?" Broggy asked Spider then took another swig of the rapidly depleting drink.

"Magic, it makes things like that a simple matter." Spider told him. Suddenly she reached out and batted the giant to the side with a large ethereal claw like limb appearing out of thin air just as a dinosaur clamped down its jaws where Broggy was just stood. The magical appendage quickly grabbing the dinosaur's head in a vice like grip. Spider spared a look towards the giant to see if he was unharmed given how she'd swatted him aside, apart from the spilled beer he looked fine. Happy with the assessment she crushed the skull in the claw's grip causing blood to splatter everywhere around it.

The etheric claw vanished as quickly as it appeared leaving only a dead dinosaur in it's wake and a rather confused looking giant.

"My apologies." Spider said turning to Broggy. "I didn't have time to warn you so I moved you instead. I hope you don't mind"

Broggy stood and looked to Spider with a serious expression, his voice low. "No human I've seen is that strong even with a devil fruit."

She smiled at him. "I might look human but most who make that mistake die before realising the truth."

The two stared intensely for a good minute when the silence was broken by Broggy's booming laughter.
"You can't be that bad if your kind enough to give a stranger free alcohol!"

This change elicited sighs of relief from the two very much human crew members. Both having been holding their breath during the intense minute that Spider and Broggy stared each other down.

"Well you're all free to come to my home and have dinner, if you don't mind me taking the dinosaur you killed!" Broggy offered

"We'd be delighted to have you host us, wouldn't we?" Spider turned to her companions.

Nami and Usopp were still a little fearful but nodded their heads if a little shakily. "Yeah, yeah of course."

Broggy laughed and turned to lead them away while they exited the ship, not before Spider left a not and placed several protective wards on it though.

"When will we get to visit an island without running into something terrifying?" Nami asked quietly not wanting to offend the new arrival.

"Never." Spider told the girl. "You're travelling with a monster after all."

...

That's unfortunately the most I can do since the charger for my laptop has once again stopped working and I'm too broke to get a new one (Not sure if it'd be worth it since I don't know if the laptop's charging port is also broke). I know people have been waiting for updates on other stories like A New Kind of Wolf but I really don't know what direction I can take it in and I've lost the motivation I once had for it, sorry.

But thanks for reading.