Ch 10

When everyone is back on board the Sunny following the evacuation of Vale the Sunny begins going towards Patch towards Ruby and Yang's childhood home. When they get there they land and disembark. The pirates stay on board to discuss some things while everyone else clears the perimeter. Its during this time that the spirit of the One piece shows up again.

Spirit "Its time for some of you to return. Some of you will stay who is who will be determined by you guys but know this I need half of you and don't worry time has been stopped outside of our area."

Luffy asks "can we have time to discuss it amongst ourselves in private?"

Spirit "of course take as long as you need as I said time has stopped outside of our bubble"
Luffy "thank you"

So the spirit departs leaving the straw hat pirates to talk both about who is going back and what will happen when they do. In the end it's decided that the original crew will stay and every member who is returning to their world will be given a letter to be opened upon arrival with their next steps written on it. Luffy calls for the spirit to return and tells them they have chosen.

Spirit "I'm glad you have chosen don't worry anyone who was dead when you chose them will not be returning to the dead but they will no longer be the age they are here rather an age of my choosing to best help you on your journey forward."

Whitebeard "I'm glad to hear I wont be returning to the land of the dead but might I ask where I will be returning?"

Spirit "Good question you will be returning to the place your body was when you left not to worry your realm has been frozen while you all journeyed here however now that some of you are returning that freeze will be lifted."

Whitrebeard "I figured as such we made plans accordingly."

With that the spirit takes those that have been chosen back to their original world leaving the crew at half strength and then unfreezing time.

-S.H.A.M.-

Its shortly after this that everyone returns to the ship. When they get on board and realize that half the crew is missing they have nothing but questions. Luffy explains to them that the same power that brought them to this place and brought some of them back from the dead came back and required some to return to their universe without really explaining why. This pacifies them for now but they still have many a question for later. It's at this point they need to decide what to do next if they are staying together if they are all going their separate ways if they are all going to take different missions and meet up later.

Coco "When I signed up to be a huntress I wanted to help others and I still want to do that but this war I can't be a part of anymore I am sorry but I will be leaving to Shade academy."

Velvet "I to will be leaving for Shade academy Coco said it best I can't be a part of this war. I'm sorry but this war terrifies me and I can't continue."

Ironwood "I'll reach out to Shade and make sure you ladies get in war is not for everyone there is no shame in not wanting to be a part of it."

With that said Coco and Velvet head out to catch a bullhead to Vacuo.

Ironwood "I and my forces must return to Atlas and soon I'll be having a military transport come and pick us up. When you go on the offensive let me know and I will join you at the very least if not the whole might of the Atlas military."

Winter "I'll be coming along on that as well."

The Ace Ops all nod their head in agreement.

Blake "I think some of us should go to Menagerie what the White Fang did here is inexcusable and the people there need to know what happened. I have family with influence as such I believe I should at least one of the members going."

Jimbei "Your absolutely correct what they did is excusable I will travel with you as long as my captain says I can."

Chopper "If what you have said about Menagerie is true then you will need a doctor and so I to will travel with you"

Weiss "I want to try and fix my family situation I believe I can make a real difference in Atlas and I would like to take Nami Robin Ruby Nora Ren and Brook with me"

Luffy "I will take everyone else and we will begin making our way towards the Haven Academy. That's where those evil people where supposed to be from that means that they have questions to answer to and I will be the one asking them. It would also make sense that would be the next target as Salem likely has an in with the academy making it an easy target. We will be going on foot as Weiss will need the ship."

Now that everything has been decided they all prepare to go their separate ways. They decide to stay that night all aboard the Sunny. That next morning Luffy calls for a meeting.

Luffy "We have been talking for awhile now and we may not have a chance like this for awhile yet so we want to do this today before everyone heads their separate ways." He pulls out a bottle of Sake and a variety of cups "we would like to formally ask all of you to join the straw hat pirates. Don't take this lightly it's not something that you can change later once a straw hat always a straw hat. That said there is no shame is saying no or even not right now."

Yang "I am in."

They go around and everyone but Qrow and Ironwood responds in the affirmative.

Qrow "I am not sure yet I have been many things in my lifetime but I am not sure a pirates life is for me."

Ironwood "I have obligations to Atlas that won't allow me to become a pirate at this time. I appreciate the offer though."

Luffy "Everyone who is accepting come forward and grab some Sake. After you drink it you will be family and pirates. Also we have a gift for everyone. So please line up to receive them. Nami Zoro if you will go get them."

Everyone lines up as Nami and Zoro return. Luffy explains this is something of a reward for being friends and for helping with the evacuation. "To Juanne I give to you the sword used by a truly great man the dark king. It's a far superior sword to yours one of the 12 strongest swords in all of our world. To Yang we give the Kira Kira no mi its ability will allow you turn yourself into diamonds this is a power you can turn off unlike my rubber self. To Nora I give the Gora Gora no mi it's a lightning devil fruit need I say more. Blake we give to you Neko Neko no mi model Bast this will allow you to become a cat God. Winter you will be receiving Ace this is a sword wielded by the pirate king himself use it well. Ironwood we are giving you the dragon horn. It allows you to control a dragon, you had best not let anyone else know you have it. Ruby to you we give Lassoo it's a dog gun enjoy. Ace ops we give to you money as we are not aware of anything else you need at the moment. Weiss we would like to give you something called the burn blade it's a fire sword it should compliment your style quite well. Qrow we give you the Raki Raki no mi a luck stealing fruit. Pyrrah we are giving you the Eisen Whip it's a cloud sword it's a shape changing weapon that is cloud shifting and steel hard. Ren Franky has upgraded your weapons so that they are locked onto your genetic signature and will fire a higher caliber round without increasing the recoil and the spikes on the end can enlarge either against an object or before impact."

They all nod their thanks some not sure what to do with said gift others already thinking of new things they can do. Yang being the impulsive one she is eats the fruit immediately. Winter examines the sword next to her regular sword seeing they are almost the same size and weight she decides to wait until they get to Atlas to try it out. They all head their own way no military transport being called as the group heading to Atlas will be departing on the Sunny.

-S.H.A.M.-

In the grand line

Whitebeard and Ace wake up next to each other in front of the shrines erected in their honor and feel this immense honor that people loved them so much. They decide to open their letters and read them together as a father and son would.

Ace,

I have a very important mission for you and you alone. You need to go find Sabo he is with the revolutionary army convince him you are alive and that I have found the one piece. Tell him that I am on a mission right now to gather strength for the coming war. Convince him to get the army on our side. Once you have accomplished this you need to find Gramps. I know you guys have always had your differences but we will need him to either join us or retire and stay out of our way. He knows several marines that would jump at the chance to enact true justice in this world. Any who wish to join may journey to an island of your choosing for training. I leave training up to you and Whitebeard. Stay alive no matter what I can not loose you again.

Your brother,

Monkey D. Luffy

Ace after reading this knows what he must do but waits to hear what Whitebeards letter says before they discuss how they will enact this plan of Luffy's.

Whitebeard,

You are assumed dead this is a good thing for now. Gather your children decide with Ace on an island to use a staging area for the war to come. I will need you to journey to Fishman Island and return them to freedom. We will need their loyalty in the war to come. You are in charge of assembling our fleet and assigning people where they are to go and how they are to train. You should be alone for long everyone has their assignments moving forward. Expect some strange people to be coming to the island but if one of the ones you journeyed with says they are good trust but verify. I need your experience here as I have none build me a fleet something to decimate the navy and tear down the red line.

Your captain,

Monkey D. Luffy