Chapter 2: The Phantom Isle
The Straw Hats, one of the two newest crews to be inducted into the Four Emperors- the strongest Pirates on the Grand Line, are heading to their next destination according to the Log Pose.
The Thousand Sunny, is a brigantine, a type of ship that relies on the skills of its navigator. The ship has a lawn on her deck, complete with a swing and a slide, as well as an observation tower for a crow's nest. The huge masts give the ship extreme maneuverability. Much like its previous life, the Going Merry, the figurehead is an animal's head, specifically a lion with a stylized mane. The ship holds sixteen cannons: seven traditional cannons on each side of the ship and two specialized air cannons—the Gaon Cannon in the figurehead and the Coup de Burst cannon astern.
Yamato looks at the sea with amazement and shouted-
"The seas' beautiful! I can't believe that you get to see this all the time!"
Yamato is biologically an 8-foot 8-inch tall woman that had long, white hair that is bound between orange rods into a ponytail at the back, which fades into aqua green and then blue the further down it goes, and ends in rectangular locks. He had large, orange eyes with prominent eyelashes, wears gold hoop earrings on both ears, and has horns on the top of his head which are mostly red, but gradually become more flesh-colored toward the base. He wears a sleeveless white garment with a diamond-shaped design on both sides and an indigo, wisp-patterned bottom half. He wears a pair of red hakama pants and sandals, and, much like Oden, wears a large purple and white nio-dasuki behind his back.
"Ice Wolf"- Yamato- Straw Hat Chronologer.
"It seems one of our new recruits is enthusiastic about going out to see.," said Robin as she looked on.
Nico Robin is a tall and slender young woman with wide blue-iris eyes with visible pupils, long limbs, a long, thin defined nose, and back-length black hair. Her outfit is a long salmon sarong skirt with a partially-zipped navy blue leather vest with a V-neckline and an image of her Devil Fruit or of an actual Chrysanthemum morifolium is printed on the left breast near the shoulder that exposed her stomach, pink high-heeled pumps, and a pink backpack. She wears orange sunglasses which she hangs on her forehead.
"Devil Woman/Light of the Revolutionary"- Straw Hat Archaeologist.
"Are you sure about leaving Zou to Wanda and the others to join us? I know that Shishilian and Wanda are taking over your old boss' positions since they're staying with Momo but are you ok with being with staying with this kind of crew till the end? The W.G already wants us dead for two years and they're gonna chase after us even if we're an Emperor crew now. Wow, never thought I'd be able to say that.," questioned and remarked a large man has a powerfully built physique of at least seven feet. His eyebrows are rather long and stern, and he has three prominent lower Matsuge on each eye. His chin is very angular and tapers off in three-pointed clefts. He has an equally angular prosthetic nose made of iron with several rivets and jagged edges. He has cyan hair styled in a pompadour. He has two stitch-mark scars on his torso running down from the back of his neck indicating that he had sewn his skin back on. He has studded robotic hands with red fingers. He wears metal-rigged suspenders. He has replaced his elbows with large, light blue hinges, his shoulders with a large red ball and socket joint with "BF-37" written on them, and his forearms with large, light blue cubes, with his trademark star tattoo being split by an edge. Surprisingly, his forearms also have hair on them even though they are clearly robotic. He wears a red coconut tree-motived Hawaiian shirt and red swim briefs.
"Iron Man" Cutty Flam/Franky- Straw Hat Shipwright.
"Yeah. The others are ok with it. And Luffy was fine on binding his beliefs of a ten-member crew a bit for me. I wanna help you out and see the world as well.," Carrot.
Carrot is a white-furred, blonde-haired rabbit humanoid- a mink with brown iris eyes, rabbit ears, a rabbit-like nose, and a large round fluffy tail, but with a body otherwise similar to that of a human teen girl. She wears an orange crop top with a black shirt with pink sandals. Her previous short blond hair was now ankle-length with volumetric and flowing locks. She also has a neck collar resembling a lion's mane.
"Lightning Rabbit"- Carrot- Straw Hat Lookout.
"We're approaching the next island very soon. Hopefully, it's not a big battle like last time. I'm exhausted. complained Nami.
Nami is a slim young woman of average height with orange hair and brown iris eyes. She has a tattoo of blue on her left shoulder, resembling a mikan with pinwheels. On her left wrist, she wears the Log Pose, which she needs in order to be the navigator of the ship, and a gold bracelet. She wears orange high-heeled gladiator sandals and a black belt with four spheres on it- red, blue, yellow, and white respectively. She currently wears her back-length long hair in a ponytail, a sleeveless denim jacket over a revealing green and white bikini halter top, tight low-rider jeans that expose a few of her hips and rear, orange high-heeled sandals, and a pair of pearl-like earrings that she constantly wears.
"Storm Queen"- Nami- Straw Hat Navigator.
"You look different.," Nami remarked as she examined the Mink.
"Yeah, I've been training with Jimbei to be able to use my Sulong during the day so I can be more useful.," replied Carrot.
"Like the guys in the training hall. Chopper's feeling like he's not pulling his weight.," said Nami.
"It's not all that bad to get stronger. Who knows what we'll face on the next island?" said a cloud with a red and white striped hat with a yellow brim and a carefree, sleepy expression.
Zeus- Nami's Homie/Climate-Tact Guardian.
"It's heading to Lodestar Island...it's kinda weird that this is close to Wano. If it were that easy Roger wouldn't be so famous to have found it. Maybe you are right.," said Nami as she absentmindedly tugged Zeus's face as Carrot and Yamato laughed nervously.
The men then emerged from the training hall-
A slim, muscular, long-legged man with blond hair which he kept brushed over the right side of his face. He has a spiral but at different ends. His right eyebrow forms a spiral at the outer end, while his left eyebrow forms a spiral at the inner end which used to be on the right side, but is now on the left side like his siblings. He wears a black double-breasted suit with golden buttons and a yellow dress shirt together with a brown tie. He wears dress shoes. He has grayish-blue iris eyes and a dark anchor style facial hair, with stubble on his upper lip.
"Devil Leg"- Vinsmoke Sanji- Straw Hat Cook.
A muscular man of average height with lightly tanned skin. He always carries his three swords along with him, bundled up with a green haramaki over his right hip, allowing him to easily draw them with his left hand. He has three identical gold earrings on his left earlobe. He has a scar over his left eye. He has cropped slicked-back green hair. He wears a long, open dark-green coat closed on his waist that's held by a red sash, into which his three swords are tucked. His black bandanna is tied around his left forearm. His coat exposes his bare chest, revealing his green haramaki underneath his coat.
"Dragon Slayer"- Roronoa Zoro- Straw Hat Combatant/1st Mate.
A large blue whale shark fish-man and the current tallest member of the Straw Hat Pirates at 9'10 feet tall. He has a stocky build similar to that of a sumo wrestler and a face that is commonly associated with various Japanese demons such as the oni. His yellow eyebrows and sideburns are distinctly shaped like those found on such demons, in addition to a bulb-like nose and an angular lower lip pointing upwards. He has a lightning-shaped scar that can be seen from his left sideburn. He also possesses two tusk-like conical lower fangs associated with Oni as well; the rest of his teeth from the upper and lower rows are pretty much the same, albeit much smaller. He also has a severe underbite, which makes room for his huge fangs.
He has long, two-toned black hair, with two long stripes, colored gold in the manga and white in the anime, coming from the roots over his forehead and trailing down the back, a topknot, and a tuft of hair on his chin with a slightly green hue. This topknot did not exist during his time as a member of the Sun Pirates, instead, his shorter and flowing black hair trails off halfway to a light color concentrated at the back of his head. He kept his chin clean-shaven before joining the Sun Pirates, after which it gradually grew out over time. His hands and feet are also webbed, typical for a fish-man, and his limbs are somewhat thin in comparison with his enormous girth. His gills, which are pale and pinkish in color, are in between his shoulders and neck.
Under his black coat, he appears to be wearing Coral colored traditional Japanese clothing covered all over with black and white square-shaped patterns with the black and white layers alternating each other beginning with the black outline from the edge and ending with a dark square at the middle of each and every one of them. He also ties this attire up with a purple obi like a ribbon around his waist.
Jinbe- Straw Hat Helmsman/Former Warlord/Former Member of the Sun Pirates.
An extremely tall skeleton at 8'8 feet with a top hat and a cane. He currently wearing a top vest complete with coattails, with a vertical monochromatic pattern with black on the right side with the left being white, a gray buttoned undershirt, a purple cravat, the pants with the same vertical monochrome pattern as the vest. In spite of being a skeleton, the still has an afro which he says is because his hair has very strong roots.
"Soul King"- Brook- Straw Hat Musician/Swordsman/Former member of the Rumbar Pirates.
An anthropomorphic reindeer with the left antler is braced at the base by a metal plate because it was reattached after an incident in his past. He wears a blue cap that has a ring of dots around the circle, while the cap has buckles hanging from it. Underneath is a pink fuzzy top hat with a sideways medical cross. He wears a blue backpack with the same sideways cross and a maroon pair of shorts. He currently has an open red leather jacket on him. He also has a blue nose. Unusually, instead of his usual toddler-sized self, he looked more like a young teen that was almost as tall as his captain.
"Cotton Candy Lover"- Tony-Tony Chopper- Straw Hat Doctor.
A muscular, tan-skinned young adult with black-length curly black hair, prominent lips, and a long nose. He wears green goggles with blue on his head, a green open jacket with a ring of circles on the arms, and a green hat with a yellow sun symbol. He also wears brown rounded shoes with yellow baggy pants.
"God Sniper"- Usopp- Straw Hat Sniper.
And lastly, the leader of this crew- a young man with black shaggy hair, round black eyes, and a slim muscular build. He wears an open, long-sleeved red cardigan with four buttons, a yellow sash, tied around his waist, short, blue trousers with white cuffs, and sandals. He has a scar under his left eye. He wears a straw, rounded hat with a red band.
"Sun Straw Hat"- Monkey D. Luffy- Straw Hat Captain/One of the Four Emperors.
"We're about to approach it. Let's be calm about it.," said
"WHO'RE YOU?!," shouted Carrot, Yamato, and Franky.
"It's Chopper. Don't you see the hat?," Zoro said as he pointed to Chopper's hat.
"Um, you've gotten bigger.," said Carrot as she blushed.
"Yeah, I needed to be able to build up my foundations so I have a new base form that's able to fight while enhancing my Boost forms.," explained Chopper.
"He made good progress in a short amount of time.," said Jinbe.
"Um, where's Luffy?," asked Brook.
Usopp, Sanji, and Zoro all shared the same annoyed aside glance look as Luffy jumped towards the island- a seemingly blank island with no apparent features aside from a red x in the center.
"And...Luffy jumps the gun.," Nami said with dull exasperation as Robin chuckled.
"Wow! This is easy! Who'd thought Lodestar would be this easy?," he shouted before he somehow faced through the island to the shock of the crew.
Jinbe quickly jumped in, swam, and got Luffy out.
"Damnit! The island was a fake! It tricked me!," shouted Luffy.
Yamato looked in confusion at the man who just a few days ago had defeated Kaido, her father and one of the former Emperors.
"Look ahead!," shouted Carrot as she pointed out the identical islands spanning across the horizon with audible roars in the distance. And near them were perpetually spinning whirlpools.
"I get it now...it's a trap-laden sea. No wonder why no one's been able to get past this.," Nami said.
"Well, we've encountered worse. It's just a game of finding the real one. It's gonna be a piece of cake-," Usopp said before suddenly a familiar laugh was heard.
"Zehahahahahahhaha!"
Usopp immediately had a bug-eyed, sucked-lipped expression.
Whhyyyyyyyy?, he thought.
Luffy immediately grimaced and his expression turned dark.
"Blackbeard.," he said.
"That man is at Lodestar? Then it's imperative that we get there before him. Or in the worst case scenario, fight him.," said Jinbe.
"What is he like? I only heard about him as a potential upstart rival.," asked Yamato.
"Well, I only got to see him as a weirdo who chased us but according to Jinbe...he's a nasty piece of work.," Nami remarked.
"That's...," Robin said as suddenly the islands froze individually- revealing some to spiked traps, others being creatures with toothed mouths, etc.
"Aokiji...no Kuzan's helping them out? He left the Marines to join Blackbeard's crew as an ally but I never thought it was to think this extent.," she noted.
"So the guy's sunken that low huh? Maybe he needs a good heat under his ass to get his priorities straight.," said Sanji.
"This makes things easier but I'm not getting the sensation of the dial spinning yet according to Inurashi. Once it does we'll know it's there.," said Nami.
"How'd he get there so fast?," asked Chopper.
"It must be through some application of his Devil Fruit...unless he's learned more advanced uses of Haki that I'm not aware of.," said Jinbe.
"I wonder how we measure up to them. I wanna see what they're hyped to be.," said Franky.
"They set up Ace's death. I won't forgive them.," said Yamato.
Carrot then tensed up.
"I can't believe it...a non-Zou Mink...she's giving off massive danger signs.," said the Mink.
"If you don't want to go, it's ok.," said Zoro.
Carrot shook her head.
"No, I won't leave my friends behind.," said the Mink.
Luffy then closed his eyes as he sensed the parties involved before opening them.
"It's Blackbeard alright. His crew, Ice-Guy, and...Moria! Who'd have thought he'd be here.," said the Straw Hat.
"Moria...I vaguely remember that name...," said Yamato.
"He must've been desperate for protection or forced into it. Either way, he's getting an ass-kicking regardless.," said Sanji.
"I can't believe we're getting right into another fight I hope I prepared enough.," said Brook.
Luffy then put on his Straw Hat and commanded-
"I'm not sure why he's here before us but we're kicking his ass!"
As they sailed into the now more stable sea, a pair of ships rose from beneath the waters once they were still visible but far enough to not retaliate.
"It was worth tailing them.," said the leader of the first ship.
"It's regrettable but we have to use it to find One Piece for our own reasons.," said the other.
The two then tailed the Straw Hats, stealthily following them.
Behind the three, was a vague humanoid of light that seemed intently focused on the Straw Hat ship before vanishing.
Next Chapter: Sun and Moon
Author Notes: This chapter was mainly to set up the conflict between the four parties while hinting at the new developments of some of the members. It's going to be both a fight and finding the real Lodestar as it's a race to find the real island.
On a side note, I'm kinda annoyed that neither Carrot nor Yamato joined the crew in the original story at the end of Wano- leaving the Straw Hats essentially with the same roster they had since Fishman Island even though Jimbei officially joins the group here. While Carrot is somewhat understandable- Yamato had hints of joining only for it to be a red herring. I really hope the potential new member is worth not having it be them otherwise I'd be mad. I felt like they added a unique presence to the crew.