Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece.
"One Piece." – Speaking
'One Piece.' – Thinking
One Piece. – Flashbacks
One Piece. – Devil Fruits and Techniques
Deadly Drinking Pirate
Turning Point
Previously on Deadly Drunken Pirate,
"Mugiwara!" It was safe to say that these rookies are getting predictable a bit in their response. "Are you here to bring us in like the government dog you are!?"
"Nope, and I am not a dog." 'Luffy' said in a deadpan. "Not anymore, I quitted." This shocked everyone within hearing range. Even the stoic likes of Law showed it in his expression and the ever-smiling Urouge grew a frown. "Before you guys ask, I never intended to be a dog to the Government but it was a chance to do something that would have benefited them and us too, but they went back on their word. And I rather not stay and be another dog for them to send out on the battlefields."
"Battlefields?!" This was spoken with unison which was kind of freaky, it was clear that this was not practiced before.
'Luffy' nodded and his grim look was so bad that everyone felt it in the air. "Yes, something that the world hadn't seen since Roger had been executed, starting the 'Golden Age of Piracy'."
Back at the bar and restaurant building,
After a moment of silence, Kid started to laugh. He found this development rather amusing instead of annoying. "Ha! Still the unpredictable pain in everyone's ass, I see! And what brings a guy, that took his time in the clouds, back down to the ground?" Kid was now interested more than anything and no one knew just how ironic he spoke just now.
"I am here to announce to you all, that war looms over the horizon and whatever or not you want to fight, the world will change again." 'Luffy' moved from leaning to standing and addressed with all his attention to whomever was in hearing range with a deathly grim tone. "It has been in the works long before any of us had been born and I gave my all to slow it down but war is inevitable. My only question is this: are you ready for it?"
XXXXX
"All I want is a certain old man with a beard and a love of booze then I am out of here. Is that too much to ask for?" Luffy tried to be civil, yet it was looking hopeless. "But fine, if you won't let me in…" The guards readied themselves when Luffy reached for Reimei Itami (Dawn Pain) and took a swipe. When it looked like a fluke, the guards were about to laugh at it until, "…look up you idiots." Luffy cut them off with a deadpan tone.
When the guards did, they nearly shitted their pants. Luffy's swipe of his katana had actually cut off the roof of the Auction building but also the massive tree next to it! Both the roofing and the tree fell to Luffy's right with a mighty thud that was followed by the definite screams of fear and alarm. "You might want to attend to that before your boss sells you two next." Luffy said more casually and smirked when the guards ran without their weapons at hand.
With no one or nothing else guarding the door, Luffy let himself in with a mighty kick that sent the door flying inside off its hinges and lock. The room inside was a dark and cold room with two large cells to contain the slaves before being presented for auction. "Relax, I am not here to harm any of you. I am here for an old man in a discarded cloak with a beer flask in hand. And I know that he is here."
With that said, the slaves had no idea what Luffy wanted with just one of them but something had told them to point out who the pirate captain was looking for. Or else, they might go out like that door just then. And every arm pointed towards a shadowed figure just relaxing in a corner, not even budging to all the racket until he spoke,
"Is that you, little Luffy? I knew that if the room suddenly smelled like fresh sake after being held up for days on an empty bottle, my savior will come." Luffy was not amused and spoke with a sold tone while facing him through the bars.
"Hello again, First Mate Raleigh."
"Ha! I haven't been anyone's First Mate in over twenty years! Don't make this old man feel any older! Ha-ha-ha!" Raleigh responded with a hardy laugh while the other prisoners were either shocked or confused; the former because they actually recognize the name 'Raleigh' while the others didn't. Luffy, on the other hand, was not amused.
"Yeah, yeah. Look, your wife is tired of waiting six whole months since you got caught and we are in a hurry. If you don't move your wrinkly old ass, I will do it." Then something caught his eye, "Hold that thought…" The pirate captain moved as if he owned the place, entered the other, undamaged door and came back as swiftly as he exited. In his hands was something metallic and gave off a jigging sound that the slaves were more than happy to hear. It was the keys to the cages and cuffs."
Luffy then snapped the key chain half, dividing the number of keys perfectly in half and threw each half into the large cages, through the metal bars. "Take your time and don't be greedy, those keys are not going anywhere."
And while the slaves were grasping for the keys as if they were air bubbles underwater, Luffy walked right up to Raleigh, still smiling like a trickster caught in the act. "Now come on!" In a drastic switch of circumstances, the old man was being pulled by the ear by the young one. Funny thing was that, instead of muttering pain, Raleigh just chuckled heartily; somehow, he found this to be more amusing than painful.
XXXXX
Meanwhile, back at the bar and restaurant,
"You got a lot of nerves, telling me to be careful." Kid was still grinning like a hyena but anyone could pick up the irritation in his tone. He truly was the unruly and rowdy type, hates to be bossed around even by for the slightest of demands. The crowds gasped when the pirate captain himself grasped 'Luffy' by the collar, lifting the latter into the air. "Nobody tells me what to do, unless they are ready to die!"
"Keep talking like that, and you will die, very soon and very painful at that." 'Luffy' didn't even struggle when Kid pulled at his collar and once he spoke that retort, a horrible and nauseous stench filled the entire proximity. Kid even yelped like a wild animal in a bear trap, dropping what used to be 'Luffy' onto the ground where the stinky blob burned at the grass.
And that same time,
"There is a terrible storm coming that will shake the world once the sky clears. If you value your safety, I suggest take shelter or else watch from a safe distance." The other 'Luffy' was delivering the same warning but in another sense. Not that the rookies seemed to be intimidated. Law, of course, was not to going to take it too well.
"Do you want to die yourself? Because we are not garden-variety pirates. If the Grand Line hadn't killed us yet then…" Law started off polite until he placed his hand on 'Luffy's' shoulder with a tight grip, only for another grip to seize the first.
"You, all of you, have not seem what the Grand Line can do to scare you. I promise you, the worse has yet to come. And you all will know once war comes." 'Luffy' spoke with a threat underling his tone until the same stench invaded the air and was followed by a man's painful shriek. Law seized back his hand just in time for his aggressor to dissolve on the spot, into yet another puddle of smelly and sizzling goo.
And despite this happening in two separate locations, a good distance apart, those words of warning and caution echoed off the massive trees that make of the mangroves. Whoever paid heed will soon enough see what the world will come to and everyone else will also feel the changes as well.
XXXXX
Back to Luffy and old man Rayleigh,
"You can stop with the ear; I can still walk on my own." The man with the silver hair pointed out without a hint of frustration and still no pain; very impressive considering his old body was being dragged along like a heavy sack of potatoes. Just ask the trail of disrupted grass behind them.
"Why? So, you can wander off and disappear for another six months? We have no time for games, old man." Luffy responded, feeling like the old man dealing with a runaway that won't cooperate. "Besides, you ought to pull me by the ear after that stunt I did out of impulse and impatience. Now the navy will be on our asses for sure. And another thing…"
Luffy suddenly stops and releases his hold on Raleigh, causing the latter to bump into him slightly. It didn't hurt, just annoy the old man a bit. Before he could ask what changed the young man's mind, it was clear to behold. "Fuck me sideways and to the moon…" Luffy mumbled to himself with dismay and disbelief.
In front of both of them, with a crowd surrounding the area, was a man in a suit lined with a bubble helmet. He has the same hairstyle as the two from before. He has a wide, obese face and what appears to be stubble around his thick-lipped mouth. He has snot hanging from one of his nostrils. The truth is, he is the brother to the woman and son to the man that made a spectacle about an escaped slave whose collar killed him. And, at that point of eyes meeting, he saw an attractive woman and had just openly declared her as her bride; despite the protests about her already being engaged, with the fiancé even joining her at the spot. His name, is World Dragon Carlos.
"YOU!" And now, Carlos screamed like the overgrown man-child that he is. "What the hell are you doing here!? We ordered you killed! You were supposed to be dead!"
"We are as tough as the cockroaches you made us to be, you big baby." Luffy got out of his stupor and shocked the witnesses to how disrespectable he was to a World Noble. "Now you be a good big baby and forget about that nurse, get rid of that man you had been beating all day and walk away." Luffy looked like dead meat standing right there until he said, "Or else I can tell all to hear about the reject, Do-!"
"Wait!" Carlos cried out which got everyone's eyes on him again. Then the large spoiled brat turned to the same woman he demanded to come with him, "You lazy slugs, get out of my sight now!" The woman and her fiancé were part of a team of nurses with an injured patient until they crossed Carlos's path; they ran like the Dickins, glad to be let off the hook. Then Carlos turned to a sad shell of a human that had to carry the large, fat World Noble for what looks to be hours. "You guys, get rid of this thing and get me a better slave to ride next! I hate the smell already!" Two men in black with matching glasses got to work without a word. "Now get me to the slave house! I am late already and it's all you guys fault! I will get daddy to sell you for good!" Also, without a word, two men in black 'helped' Carlos out of the proximity area.
It took a while to move that man with all his fat and the large suit but the crowds couldn't even breathe, fearing for the wrath of the World Nobles. Raleigh, however, looked amused. "Well, that was not something I had ever seen as a pirate. This new generation sure has its own moments." Turning to Luffy, the pirate captain merely glared at him as if daring to not cooperate even after all that. He just raises his hands to settle down the young man, "Don't worry. I am letting the new kid in town lead to the way."
XXXXX
In another shopping district,
"We made quite the haul girls!" Alvida yelled out like a big sister after a successful shopping trip and that was just about the case. "And these bubbles rock too!" Aside from the loud voice, the other girls agreed. Apparently, here on Sabaody, the special bubbles can be used more than vehicles; they can be used to carry supplies as if they were carnival balloons.
Kaya, of course, had bought several medicine bottles and medical tools along a few more medicine books. She got most of it for her training as well as restocking the medical closets for Chopper's office. Speaking of whom, the little reindeer was for all intents and purposes to be a child that is also a doctor but he turned out to be an effective supervisor and teacher. Or is it because Luffy gives a pat on the head to the little doctor when the latter does a good job.
Carol and Grace had been hanging out a lot since they were plucked off Little Garden ages ago, they decided to spice things up by buying things for the other for a change. Nevertheless, the results can't be denied. For Carol, several cookbooks on deserts but mostly chocolate brewing along with several ingredients to try out later; For Grace, several new paintbrushes with color tubes along with a few artist books. Its safe to say that they are the closest to being sisters as strangers can be; they practically can read each other minds.
As for Alvida, she preferred more snacks than supplies; not that she had to worry about gaining extra fat, it all just 'slides off'. The rest of her allowance was spent on a couple of barbells, a makeup kit and even a polishing kit for her trusty mace. Then there was, "And you quit the whining, blondie! Captain ordered to get our groceries, not ogle us!"
The other girls just shook their heads at Alvida who yelled at a tired and crumpling Sanji, carrying over half a dozen bags filled the brim with food items. Now, he is carrying them in his arms and not the bubbles because he still couldn't resist trying to 'get a good look' at the ladies. The passersby just think the weight is a solid punishment for the lack of self-control.
However, that all changed when this was heard. "I am serious! That kid scared off that World Noble!" That scream got everyone's attention and before anyone could wave it off as a lie, that same guy was joined a woman with the same look on her face.
"Truly! A man and an older man appeared in the way of the World Noble and ordered him to leave. And the World Noble did exactly what that man with a straw hat said!" That got the Straw Hats present raise their eyebrows at how their captain had caused another bout of trouble and wondered what the big deal was. But not for much longer,
"That kid is going to doom us all! The other World Nobles will call in a Navy Admiral for this outrage! No one will be safe here once an Admiral comes to kill that kid in a Straw Hat!" An elder who heard it from his stall walked out with his cane and ranted up a storm, with an audience to boot. As for the Straw Hats, they all canceled any more shopping plans and hurried over to the Grand King's Brew.
Elsewhere,
"And just when I had seen it all…" Kuro mused in company of Frank, Gin and Yokogao the Otter. The former had gathered a few new books to read, a kit to keep his claws sharp and, tell no one, a new glasses case with a spare set inside; he is still a bit guilty about how he acted ages ago in the East Blue. "They let a walking furball walk up and-!" The former pirate captain had to dodge a swipe from a sharped shell that broke his muse.
"And I keep saying, welcome to the Grand Line." Gin responded and calmed down Yokogao with a genuine rub on the head. The otter loved those but was gruff about being petted more than necessary; he refused to be reduced to be a house pet. "I guess that animals acting a lot like humans are just rare, not unbelievable."
Yet, before anyone else could comment, "Everyone! We are in deep shit this time! A World Noble has been harassed in public!" That got the Straw Hats' attention and they were wondering why everyone was starting to panic until they got an answer.
"That damn straw-hat wearing bastard has gotten a Marine Admiral on our asses! I hope that he and his gang get caught before we get killed in the crossfires!" That was the final nail in the coffin that confirmed things were about to go to hot shit. The Straw Hats hurried back to the ship.
Overall, once Luffy and his company return to the Grand King's Brew, a major headache is coming to the straw-hat wearing captain.
XXXXX
Eventually, Luffy and Raleigh had finally arrived at Shakky's Rip Off Bar. Thankfully, they didn't encounter anymore trouble after that 'incident' with Saint Carlos. And somehow, that did not make them feel any safer. Both of them felt something angry and waiting on the other side of the door. Once the sound of a door creaking open was heard, it was followed by a;
"WHAT IN THE LIVING HELL!?" Luffy could only smile sheepishly while catching his hat falling back in the outburst. "We have been hearing about a World Noble being assaulted in broad daylight and now everyone is panicking about a freaking Marine Admiral coming here!?" Nami led the charge against her boyfriend and while everyone's complaints were soon drowned and unable to be understood, the entire room was flooded with heavy pressure.
"I have taught you all better than that." Luffy said in a solid stern tone. "What you heard were witnesses going overboard and spreading rumors like wildfire. If there was a Marine Admiral heading this way, you all would have picked it up by now." The pressure was uplifted but not Luffy's expression of annoyance and slight disappointment. "Now, like you trained, stretch your senses towards the sea around Sabaody, are there any signatures like that of a wild beast packed into a small package. Remember what you picked up at the Long Islands back then."
The Straw Hats knew that Luffy was not in the mood for nonsense did as ordered. They let out their anger and focuses on their Haki. Soon enough, they could feel the signatures on the archipelago, the next was the surrounding waters. And there were no sets of signatures that could be marine ships were sensed near the ports. However, there was this outline, faint but strong, that worried them.
"That's better. You caught the edge of an aura that could only belong to a Marine Admiral." Luffy responded. "And given how far the source is, we still have a good hour to get ready for them. If they are taking their time, we have two hours actually so let's have one last meal and drink before the cannons start firing. Besides, Raleigh has a lot to tell you all."
Sitting on a stool without a care in the world, casually taking a glass of whisky with a large ice cube, "About Roger." Luffy finished with a large sip that sealed the deal.
End of Chapter 59.
*Hello Everyone. Some of you complained that I had made the idiotic yet bright hearted Luffy from Canon into an Overpowered Gary Sue. I am afraid that as I have the rights to my work, it ultimately falls on me to direct it. If you don't like, then don't read!
Besides, I got to do what I wanted with Carlos's debut and I promise that I will give the full story one day. Lets just say that Luffy followed a certain Fisher Tiger's example but a tad more extreme.
Finally, I must apologize for the wait. March was going to be a tizzy with the whole Jury Duty business I was informed of in late January. Especially when you are the only one in the whole family to be summoned. My dad is an attorney lawyer and attended court sessions but never Jury Duty so there you have it. And then there was the whole crisis and all. Please be patient because that is what I am trying to do. Later!*
