Ch. 2- Enter Vice-Admiral Langstrom
One Piece © Oda
Story and OCs © Me
The following day, Luffy had gotten out his backpack and was preparing for the little outing with Aika. He had gotten all the necessary essentials: matches, his water canteen, some extra clothes, an umbrella in case it rained, a Mini Transponder Snail, and of course, three of Sanji's Pirate Lunchboxes. The Straw Hat Captain smiled at his work before he began to close it up while Nami sat nearby, watching him.
Luffy had even changed his clothes for the day: he was wearing a red shirt with a roaring lion's face on the side, plus his usual blue shorts and his yellow sash.
"You sure you got everything?" she asked.
"Yep!" Luffy said as he slung his backpack on his shoulders. "Everything I need!"
"Well, the island should be coming up in a little bit," Nami answered before she stood up and put her hands on Luffy's shoulders. "You and Aika have fun out there, okay? How long do you plan on being gone?"
"Not long," Luffy answered. "2 or 3 days, tops."
"Well, okay," Nami said. "Remember to call us if you need anything."
"Well, you'll barely hear from me," Luffy said. "Aika and I will be fine. Promise."
"I hope so," Nami replied before she kissed Luffy on the cheek, causing him to chuckle. "Be careful, please."
"I will, Nami," Luffy replied.
"And remember to keep an eye on Aika," Nami said. "You know how she is, sometimes."
"Yeah, I know," Luffy said. "Seriously, I don't know where she gets this wandering off stuff from..."
"Of course, you don't..." Nami muttered.
XXX
Meanwhile, in Aika's room, she was just getting ready to pack up her things, too: a sleeping bag, some snacks to eat, her PJs, water bottles, her wolf plush, Timber, and some bug spray. As for Aika, she was wearing a white T-shirt with turquoise stripes, a magenta skirt, and her favorite cowgirl hat.
"There," she said. "All packed."
She smiled to herself as she closed her backpack as she thought back to the days when she first joined up with the Straw Hats. The last time that she and Luffy had any fun together was when they went out onto a snowy island with Kumi and had a run through the snow. Of course, Vice-Admiral Auguste and his men came after them, but it all turned out fine in the end.
'This will be the first time since then that Big Brother and I actually spent any time together,' she thought, but then she gasped as she heard a knock on the door.
"Aika?" Luffy called from the other side. "You ready to go?"
"Yeah, I'm ready!" Aika answered as she grabbed her backpack. "I'll be out soon!"
Soon after, she heard the sound of Luffy's sandals slapping against the floor as he walked away, causing her to smile as she looked at her backpack.
'For this time, only...it'll be just me and Big Brother...nothing will get in the way of that.'
She then thought back to what she told Blizzard a few days prior...and she frowned, momentarily, but then she quickly shook her head.
'No...I won't think about that, now.'
She soon opened the door and headed outside.
XXX
"Island, dead ahead~!" Carrot called from the Crow's Nest, just as Luffy, Aika, and Nami came outside. There, on the horizon, was an island that was completely covered in a dense, green forest.
"Well, there's the island of Hetheren," Nami said. "We should be there, shortly."
Aika gasped excitedly while Luffy gently ruffled her hair.
"You're excited, huh, Aika?" Luffy asked.
"Yeah!" Aika answered. "I can't wait!"
"Shishishi!" Luffy laughed while he momentarily thought back to his childhood. He remembered the camping trips and hikes he would take with Ace and Sabo in the jungle. They'd sit around a bonfire, telling spooky stories and eating crocodile meat. Luffy always loved going camping. It always made him feel closer to his brothers...and now, he hoped it would help him and his sister get closer, too.
As the Sunny reached Hetheren's shore, the D Siblings soon headed down the gangplank.
"Well, we're off now!" Luffy said. "See you guys! We'll be back in 3 days!"
"Remember to call us if something goes wrong," Sanji said.
"Be careful out there!" Carrot added.
"Try not to get hurt out there, okay?" Chopper asked.
"Aika, you be good for your brother," Nami said, "understand?"
"Mm!" Aika nodded. "Yeah! I will!"
"Come on, Aika!" Luffy called. "Let's get this vacation started!"
"I'm coming!" Aika replied as she ran after Luffy. Once she caught up, she soon grabbed his hand, causing him to look down at her before he gave her a big, toothy grin, which she returned.
XXX
On the Sunny, Nami, Chopper, and Carrot watched as Luffy and Aika disappeared into the forest from the railing.
"Well, they're gone, now," Chopper said.
"Yeah, they are," Nami replied before she stretched her arms. "Well, at least it'll be quiet around here for the next 3 days."
"Yeah...but it'll seem pretty lonely without Luffy and Aika here," said Carrot.
"...Yeah...I guess you have a point, there," Nami agreed.
As for Sanji, he was heading into the kitchen so he could think about what to make for lunch later. However, as he made his way up the stairs, he noticed Blizzard sitting near Nami's tangerine grove, watching the forest. The cook sighed before he went over to Blizzard, who glanced back at him.
"...Yes?" Blizzard asked.
"How'd you know I was gonna ask you something?" Sanji asked.
"I just do," Blizzard answered. "So what's going on?"
"...Blizzard...why did you tell me first and not Luffy?" Sanji inquired. "Aside from Moss-head, you're like his best friend...so why didn't you tell Luffy?"
"...You're talking about what Aika said, right?" Blizzard asked. "I told you about it first and not Luffy because I think he should hear it coming from Aika, not me."
"And what will that do?" Sanji questioned.
"...Think of it this way, Sanji," Blizzard replied. "This is a test of their bond as brother and sister." He then turned to face Sanji completely. "If Aika decides to tell Luffy the truth, it could make their bond stronger...but if she continues to keep quiet about it, only then will things get worse."
"So what do we do?" asked Sanji.
"...Just sit by and wait," Blizzard said as he looked back to the forest. "That's all we can do."
"...I hope you're right about this," Sanji said.
"To be honest, Sanji...so do I..."
XXX
Meanwhile, somewhere within the forest...the sound of heavy panting and footfalls filled the air. Blood dripped onto the soil, staining it red as whoever it fell from ran. Wide eyes darted back and forth occasionally, trying to find the pursuer.
A spiky-haired pirate, wearing a dark red shirt with torn sleeves, a white headband around his forehead, and a pair of dark green pants, groaned as he clutched his wound. He then glanced back at the trees behind him, still panting heavily...but then he smirked before he turned to run...only to bump into someone. As he looked up, he gasped in horror upon seeing a taller-than-average man wearing a bluish-green suit and a Marine coat over his shoulders. He had slicked-back dark green hair, a thin mustache, and a cigar in his mouth. He glowered down at the pirate, who gulped as he tried to back away...only for the Marine to grab him by the throat.
"Well...looks like I finally found you," the Marine whispered.
MARINE VICE-ADMIRAL
"LION FIST" LANGSTROM
"No! No, wait, please!" he cried. "I'm sorry! Truly, I am!"
"No, you're not," Langstrom whispered. "Not yet...because I'm not the one you should be apologizing to."
"I don't understand!" the pirate cried. "What the hell do you want from me?!"
"...I want you to suffer," Langstrom hissed with narrowing eyes...and soon after, he began to change. His muscles grew at least 2 times in size, his face grew long and turned into a muzzle with a dark red nose whiskers growing out of the sides of his snout, his flat teeth sharped into fangs, a long tail with dark green fur grew out of his rear end...and his dark green hair turned into a long, thick mane. Langstrom opened his eyes, revealing them to be a golden yellow with slit pupils.
"Oh, my god...!" the pirate whispered in horror...as brief images of other pirates being viciously mauled death by this same feline-like monster appeared in his mind's eye. "No, please...! Not that! I beg of you!"
"I would have just left you and your crew alone," Langstrom began, "but you were the ones who attacked my men without provocation...and I don't forgive anybody who hurt my friends!"
With a roar, Langstrom opened his jaws while the pirate screamed in horror...but then, there was a loud CRUNCH! Then blood splattered on the ground...then...silence.
XXX
At the southwestern shore of Hetheren, a few Marine soldiers were seen sitting around a base camp...some of them wearing bandages on various parts of their bodies. Among them was a man of at least 20 years, about as tall as Zoro. He had tanned skin and auburn hair. He had no shirt on, but he did wear a Marine coat over his shoulders, just like Langstrom. His only attire was a pair of dark blue pants with a wakizashi sword strapped to his belt.
MARINE CAPTAIN
"100 SLASH" DEREK
"How are you all holding up?" asked Derek.
"A little sore, but we'll be fine," answered one of the soldiers..and at that moment, Langstrom soon appeared, back in his human form...with a tiny speck of red smeared on his mouth.
"Vice-Admiral Langstrom, sir!" Derek saluted.
"How is everyone doing, Captain Derek?" asked Langstrom.
"Still recovering, sir," answered Derek. "I'm afraid these soldiers will be out of commission for quite some time."
"We're sorry, Vice-Admiral," said one of the soldiers. "We should have been more careful." He then gasped silently as Langstrom put his hand on his shoulder
"It was a surprise attack," Langstrom assured. "I should have been here to prevent it in the first place." He then smiled. "You've got nothing to be sorry for. Just rest, for now."
"...Thank you, sir," answered the soldier.
"Vice-Admiral, sir!"
Langstrom turned to see another soldier come running up to him, panting before giving him a salute.
"Sir! A report!" he declared. "The Straw Hat Pirates' ship has been spotted off the western coast!"
"The Straw Hat Pirates?" repeated Langstrom, raising an eyebrow in perplexity. "Here?"
TO BE CONTINUED...
Next time on One Piece: Trek!
Luffy: This looks like a good spot to set up camp, Aika!
Aika: *is watching some butterflies*
Luffy: *smiles at her, lovingly*
*On the Sunny*
Sanji: ...I don't know why, but I have a bad feeling.
Blizzard: Usually, it's me who gets the bad feeling.
Carrot: *comes rushing into the kitchen* Guys, come quick!
Brook: The Marines are attacking us!
Sanji: What?!
*In the forest*
Soldier: *snickers as he aims a gun at Aika, whose back is turned* Say goodbye, kid...
Luffy: Hey! *has a very furious look in his eyes*
Next time: Trouble Always Finds Us
Yeah...I might have rushed this one a bit. I actually lost some progress on it last night, so I had to start over from where I left off. Hope you guys still enjoy!
Review, please!
