LilBanini: Hey there Peoples!waves frantically so Someone out there told me that they didn't like the format of the paragraphs in which I was writing and said that they were a little confusing. I guess that they probably were but I'm the writter and I don't notice these things so you'll have to warn me. Umm what else what else... Oh ya I have made an almost complete recovery from my former injury you will have it explained in this chapter so yas. Also I would like you guys to know that this isn't the end of the story far from it... Its jsut the begining. muwhahahahaha ha ha ha. okay stopping now.
Person #2: Person #1 is sick so I will be filling in today.pin drops well anyway... I would like you to know that we still have not heard any news fromt he creators of Rurouni Kenshin, Fullmetal Alchemist, or One Piece about Stephanie's offer of a penny for all rights and everything for the manga's/t.v. shows/movies/money/fame/glory/fan mail... actually im seeing why they mioght not want to. So I'll talk to Stephanie about raising it to maybe a dime...no to expensive... a nickel yes she can afford that. yup yup yup. Well anyways until this transaction is complete we/she does not own anything 'cept her trusty penny... but it hates her.
Now on to the story
Living Conditions, Friends and Enemies
I walked along the sand with the sea breeze going through me hair. 'Oh if only I wasn't suppose to be mad at him. Then this would be so nice. Actually I doubt I can really be mad at him now. Not with the weather like this and his hair ruffling with the breeze like that and... Stop it now! I am mad I can't have feelings for him now. Besides no matter how much I like him I just met him. And he just met me without knowing me before so stop this!' I was beating myself up inside.
"Ashley. Ashley!"
"Hmm." I answered distantly, not even bothering to give Luffy a glance I was just lost in my own thoughts the ocean shore washing away all of my troubles.
"Is something wrong you seemed pretty angry before and now your just really distant."Luffy said a look of concern crossing his features.
From my point of view it looked pretty funny seeing this amazingly warm kind-hearted face have wrinkles of concern and worry spread across his face instead of the trademark smile accompanied by laughter.
"Its nothing. I'm really just not in the mood to get angry at anyone right now. I'm really amazed I got that far with Zoro and Sanji. You'd think that they would be able to fend off against lil ole me." I said bringing Luffy down with me as I sat on the beach next to the crashing waves.
It was already dark out and the stars were shining above us, like jewels sparkling in the rich blanket of night. I sat next to him in the sand just staring up at the stars.
"Beautiful" he said as he gazed out into his own world.
"Yeah, I know what you mean. The beauty just takes your breath away. That's why I always thought that vampires had it made 'cept for the whole.' I have to drink your blood' thing.( Gave off the full Dracula impression accent and all). They always get to be in the dark, powerful and mysterious, children of the night." I said more to myself than to anyone else. I don't know if Luffy was just as caught up in the moment as I was or if he was just being bluntly Luffy.
" Yeah, I guess the night is beautiful(ha ha thinkin of Bruce almighty 'B-E-A-Utiful the only way I remember how to spell it ha ha im a dork lol.) But what I was really thinking about was you." he said cupping my chin in his hands.
I looked over at him, the moon shining brightly over us making the depth of his eyes come out even more. I couldn't help but let a small smile cross my lips as we went in for the kiss. When out of the corner of my eye I saw the slightest movement. I had grown up with Stephanie and no matter how good at hiding she or any of my friends got I would always find them before they got something they could as blackmail. I realized that it was more than just Stephanie but I felt like I had to make a show so although Luffy had no idea what I was doing that didn't matter.
"O Luffy!"I said jumping into his arms." Of course I'll do that to you!" I started ripping off his shirt and saw that he was ripped underneath that tank top.
"Wow" was all I said before I had to continue or else Stephanie would know that this was fake. I started taking off my shirt slowly. I knew that I had until my belly button. Luffy's face was completely in shock. Right when my shirt reached the beginning of the scar on my stomach. Stephanie jumped out. Turns out I really wasn't going that slow I was going to take it off seriously because I had a black tank top underneath of me so no one would see anything anyway but She didn't know that.
"Stephanie! Don't do it! You just met him think of reasoning what would happen I doubt he even has protection." said Stephanie while she was wrestling with me.
I got up and dusted myself off. And finished taking off my red shirt, revealing my black tank top underneath. I smiles and winked.
"Jeez, you act as if I was going to get Luffy laid." I said sticking my tongue out and winking with my hand in a v shape.
The tank top came up to my belly button showing just a little bit of my stomach. It also showed the end of a scar I had.
"Ashley, how come you never answer to your name yet when Stephanie called out to you she called out her name." asked Zoro as his brain started to piece together the puzzle.
"Uh... well you see I have this um... name that was really weird and...I didn't like it so... I was uh.. Trying out new ones and Ashley was the latest one." I said worriedly.
I had left to many lapses in my sentences and I knew that I looked really nervous. I don't know why I was so nervous but I had a really bad feeling that they shouldn't know my name. I didn't know how right I was.
"Really, cause I think its cause you guys were in trouble from the law or something worse. What did you do that you don't want us to know your names? I don't think we can let you go anywhere until we know this. Also I don't remember introducing myself or Ussop or Nami. Yet you seem to know us all very well." said Zoro.
Before I could answer I was flipped over by Luffy. He looked ticked, but then again he had trusted me with him and his crew and I had lied to him. His eyes screamed to me asking and pleading me to tell him why. I looked away trying not to make eye contact I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes.
" First of all you do know our names. Stephanie and Stephanie. I was the only one that lied to you. Ya, ya, ya, we have the same name. WE KNOW! We do know a lot about you because we are not from around here. I mean look at my shoes, I have a car with a stereo, and my navigation system is probably going berserk right now." I said trying to get out from under Luffy's grasp. Nami and Luffy perked up when I said that I had a navigation system.
"You have a system that navigates for you? How's that work?" asked Nami who was very interested.
"I'll get to that later but it really not that hard to do. Anyway me and Stephanie-
"Stephanie and I." corrected Stephanie
"Stephanie and I have never been in trouble with the law. And we know you each very well because where were from you're a story. A cartoon if you will. We simply adore you all. But if you want to know my real name then fine. I know you people will never except me as I am completely again. Personally I can't blame you."I said finally getting out of Luffy's grasp.
I dusted myself off and placed my hand out in a friendly gesture towards Zoro.
"My name is Stephanie Ashleigh Garcia Joyce. I am 17 years old. I live in British Colombia, Canada. I am both an American and Canadian citizen. I have two younger brothers, a dog, a horse, a piglet, and a rabbit. I am a wealthy. No joke. And I know Tae Kwon Doe. I believe we have never met would you please Introduce yourself."
" Hi Stephanie, My name is Zoro Roronoa." said Zoro while shacking my hand.
I was in a lot better mood now that me and Zoro were in speaking terms or at least that he thought he could trust me just a sliver.
"Since you guys will get throughly confused at what I am about to do I am giving you peoples a warning. WARNING!" with that I started jumping around(for joy okay JOY!) and I tried to grab my calve when I did make contact everyone heard a sickening crack as I jammed my finger.
"HOLY FUCKING SHIT!" I screamed as I dislocated my left middle finger(A/N that shit hurts if ya don't know)
"Stephanie! Are you okay!" Stephanie cried as I just slumped over in pain. I just smirked at her reaction.
"Stephanie for our new friends and our readers benefits just call me Ash or Ashley. You know that I always liked that name anyway." I smiled through the pain that was throbbing inside my finger, which I was clutching onto for dear life.
I knew that all the people around us had been through way worse just to get where they were, I was not about to be pitied because I had never been in any physical pain before. I gritted my teeth and decided to go on like nothing had happened.
"Okay, Ash...that's going to be weird soon were not even going to be able to echo each other." said Stephanie as she tried to get used to my new name," Well how's your finger? You hit it pretty hard. Its gotta hurt a bunch." She looked at my swollen finger with concerned eyes. She knew that this was the worst pain that I had ever inflicted on myself.
"Here let me have a look I might not be a doctor but I do know something about taking care of people when they get these minor injuries." said Nami as she gently took my hand in hers,"Well I can't be sure if you broke it or not because of the swelling but you did jam it in real good. You definitely pinched a nerve." She never made eye contact with me during the whole examination of my finger.
"I think we better go back to the ship. It's really late and these two FINE young ladies have no where to stay so I suggest that they stay with us. Wadaya say Luffy?" asked Sanji as he looked over Stephanie.
"Ya, they have to stay on our ship. But you guys should be warned that were" Luffy was cut off by me and Stephanie.
"Pirates and You wanna be King" we said exasperated.
"Can we please go to your ship and tend to St- Ashley's wounds. I don't want her to get a cold she very venerable right now." Stephanie voicing her concerns.
A smile tugged at the edges of my mouth. Stephanie always seemed to understand how much I was going through even when I hadn't even said anything.
We walked behind the crew to the Going Merry because they didn't trust my car. And at that moment neither did I. We were showed the women's quarters. It was a nice quaint little place much smaller than what I was used to but for me it was like a permanent sleep over. I was giddy. Stephanie didn't have the same feelings towards our living conditions. Mostly because for at least the first night I had to stay in the infirmary away from her and right next to the mens quarters. I saw nothing at all wrong with this. I was exhausted after the day's events and I needed my sleep to heal my gimped finger. The minute that Nami showed me where I was to be sleeping I plopped my body onto the bed and instantly fell asleep. I was only asleep for what seemed to be minutes when I was being shaken awake by someone's strong arms around my small delicate frame.
"What do you yawnwant!" I asked groggily with my half opened eyes to the person infront of me.
"I wanted to see if you were alright. I saw you gritting your teeth around us and then cursing and looking wide eyed at your finger when you thought we weren't looking. Let me see your finger please" pleaded Luffy taking my small finger into his big hands.
He slowly probed around with his long fingers. It was really weird but when ever he touched he knew just how to miss where I was hurting. Like he knew where to push to make it not hurt. It felt like he was massaging my finger. I looked up into his coal eyes to find that they were filled with concern, which didn't fit his features at all.
"I'm fine Luffy really. You don't have to worry. I mean seriously its not like any of you guys haven't been through worse before." I said softly trying to brush off my comparably small injury.
"But you aren't Zoro or me or Sanji or Nami. Your you and you have never seen this much pain before. " he said sincerely concerned for my well being.
"That may be true but its okay, I'll just learn to deal. Now please let me get to sleep. And don't wake me up until much much much later." I said as I lay back down in the bed.
"Hee hee hee. Well then I guess that I'll see you later. Huh Ash?" asked Luffy as he scratched the back of his head. I never answered because I had already fallen asleep. Luffy went back to his cabin.
With Stephanie(not in her POV)
Slam."Uh that hurt" said someone outside of the room Stephanie was currently sleeping in.
She woke up and slowly tip-toed outside to see what was going on. When she opened the door she found Luffy sprawled out on the floor trying to get up. Stephanie decided that it was best to keep watch because she couldn't get to sleep anyway. She paced around the deck when she looked up and saw the crow's nest. She made the slow climb up the mast to get there. Once there she found that she wasn't the only one occupying the space. Zoro looked at her with drowsy eyes.
"Hey there Stephanie. What are you doing up at this hour its late and you should be asleep." He said with concern.
"Oh, well I didn't think that anyone would be up at this hour and I just wanted someplace to think." said Stephanie taken aback from Zoro concern.
"Well then there's no place better to think then looking up at the stars is there? Hey I got a question how come you and Ste-Ashley aren't always weird? I mean when I first met ..Ashley she was screaming and then afterwards she got really mad and then she was thoughtful. You just played along like it was the most natural thing in the world. Then when she got hurt you acted like it was something to be worried about. I guess what I'm trying to ask is why so many mood-swings?" asked Zoro in a completely un Zoroish way.
"Uh well you see I don't mind because Ashley is finally taking the wheel. She has always been the one not showing everything she is feeling. I mean she would but not a lot so I would kinda take over. Then she wouldn't know how to act infront of people that she didn't know. I mean its not hard for her to make friends or anything but the ones she makes I always thought weren't good enough for her. She's one of those people who has no idea what they want but when they figure it out they get it no matter what it takes. I mean we are like the ying to the others yang. She's the more childish one. She might not always act like it though. We both don't have really great thoughts about our own bodies but we shower each other with compliments about how the other looks. We take serious questions seriously and try to discuss them in depth, she taught me that. That life isn't all a game but some of it is." she said looking out towards the horizon with her face resting in her hands,"I guess what I'm trying to get at is that me and her have always been close and we understand each other sometimes more than is comfortable. We have become very open because of this.-she sighed- I'm just glad no one has ever really tried to hurt her because even the slightest insult can really take a toll on her. But I don't know why I'm boring you with all these stupid thoughts of mine. I'll just leave you to what you were doing." said Stephanie as she got up and climbed out of the crows nest leaving Zoro in his thoughts.
'Maybe Luffy was right. These girls are interesting. And they seem really sincere to everyone they meet. May be we have made some new friends but I have a feeling that they come along with some enemies as well.'
Original POV
I made a full recovery after a week. The crew was getting used to us and Stephanie and I were being taught how to fight. We refused to fight off of what we knew. Then one day in the afternoon Luffy asked what my name was again.
"Ashley why?" I said not even caring anymore. I had gotten used to my name, even though I still knew my original one and would still answer to it I just preferred Ash or Ashley.
"No, I mean your real one it sounded familiar?" asked Luffy who was completely confused. I couldn't help but laugh at his face..I mean it looked so cute like that.
"Oh well my name is Stephanie why?"
"What's your full name? I mean you know mine and all." said Luffy, he was talking a lot and he really wanted to know your name you could tell.
"Stephanie M. Joyce why?" I said getting a little annoyed at the fact that Luffy wanted to know my name just so bad that he had to tower over me while I was tanning next to Nami. It made me feel uncomfortable. Someone being able to see so much of me and studying me like that. I could feel the blood rushing to my face.
"You wouldn't by chance know anyone named Emmett Joyce would you?" asked Zoro cause now it seemed that everyone was putting together a puzzle that was just out of my reach.
"Of course I have. How could I not know who my grandfather was. It's kinda hard to forget someone like that." I said uneasily sitting up on the lounge chair that I had been tanning on only a little while ago. It took everyone a good while of thinking it over. Everyone except Luffy. I don't know what he was doing but he kept looking at me like I was something different and weird. Everyone had turned up on the deck now me and Stephanie were really confused because it seemed like this was something we should no about. Finally after chuckling to himself Zoro spoke to me.
" You never did tell us why you are here or how you know so much about us? But we know now. You're the famed General Joyce's granddaughter. You don't look a bit like him. But then I guess that's a good thing right?" said Zoro as he put his hand on his sheath. Everyone else backed up and Luffy just looked horror struck.
"Okay, what are you talking about? My grandfather wasn't a General and he never even saw any action in the war. He shot at ducks he got so bored. I think he was like a radio person who carried all the technologies on the ship er something like that. Your nuts to think that you know him anyway. He's been dead for the past 19 years." I said as I backed up to the railing of the ship scared half to death. I looked around for an escape but there was none insight...except.
" As much as I would love to stay here and chat over how you guys are jumping to conclusions I have got to go. So... I'm taking this as my queue to leave. Tootle-loo" I said with a wave as Stephanie and I ran over towards the plank.
" Time to see how good we are at diving eh Ash?"
" No, time to see how good you are at it! Now we gotta do a somersault right after the first jump kay?" I said as we were rushing up to said plank which for our purposes was going to be a diving board.
" No problem, I could do that in my sleep Ash." Stephanie said sarcastically.
" Well ladies as much as I hate to break up ya plan for yas get away I'm going to." said Sanji as he tried to block our path.
" Sanji I hate to say this to ya but we weren't going off of that in the first place. Or no we were but we can do it with anything. That was just preferable." I said not even breaking my pace when he appeared infront of me. I just simply swerved to the right.
"STEPHANIE! Run like the wind keep er goin no matter what kay!" Stephanie yelled into the wind that had suddenly picked up wiping our hair around our faces. I felt like everything was going right, that everything was going too right with this escape. Something was going to happen but I didn't know what... then the worst thing that could possibly happen happened... Stephanie tripped on her own feet. I didn't see it happen I just heard a loud thunk and I knew that she was down. It was really funny cause I could just picture how she fell. She would trip over her shoelace and her feet would tangle with each other and then she would fall trying to put her hands infront of her but then realizing that her wrists would probably break so she would take them back, so in the end she would fall flat on her face on the hard wooden deck. All the while saying nothing until the moment she hits when she whispers " oh shit". I just laughed yelling into the wind the railing right infront of me.
" We are the Class A losers/retards and THE BEST at falling!" I said as I pushed myself into a handstand on the railing balancing myself perfectly in the air, "I know that this makes me seem guilty but I am not I can assure you that much. Oh and Luffy, Steph, Don't worry bout me I'll se ya soon my pretties and I'll gt your little dog to." with those last words I launched myself into a perfect, elegant, and simple swan dive. I felt so alive to be in the air again, the rush and adrenalin, it felt so... good. I started to get into position for the quickly approaching water. When I heard and argument ensuing on the deck, so I listened.
" Zoro! Why did you scare her like that! Now we'll never get her back!" yelled an exasperated Nami.
"Gomu Gomu PISTOL!" screamed Luffy
' HO-LY SHIT!' I thought as I forgot completely about all the proper ways to go into water and just focused on getting there faster, making swimming motions in the air.
"LUFFY! DON"T ATTACK HER!" screamed the crew who amazingly were nice enough to try and save me from his hit.
"Why not?" asked Luffy completely oblivious to the damage his punch would do to my frail body.
SPLASH... and I was gone from their lives for a long time.
I floated along the current hoping that I hit land soon. I never did hit land instead a fisherman found me just floating in the ocean. He brought me to a village that was just outside the grand line. I was like F-yes!
His name was Carl, and he helped me find a job and since I had no experience what-so-ever he got me a job as a waitress at a popular bar among pirates. Again F-YES! Anyway, I got a place and I started training to get stronger since people obviously knew about my family and my grandad... somehow. I trained and furthered my skills in being a gymnast. I got pirates to tell me who is the best..they always said they were...I never believed them. I always kept an eye out for the Straw Hat pirates. People thought I was obsessed. I did this for two years. Finally one day he came in. It was a normal day people were chasing after me. I thought nothing of it and then Shanks crew entered the bar. Now Luffy was like the hottest guy ever to me in the hole One Piece thing but if there was a rival it was his mentor... Shanks. I couldn't help but gasp at him in all his presence. He noticed how I was admiringly sizing him up.(A/N I think the best part about him is the way he talks but I love the hair!)
"Hello there Miss, you seem to be new to this bar my name is Shanks what is yours?" he said giving a kind of bow. I could feel my face heat up and what I hated most is that when he saw it he grinned!
" My name is Ashley, nice to meet you Shanks I have heard much about you. Now what would you and your crew like to order?" I said acting casual.
" Well I think we would all like some rum if you don't mind. I hope you haven't heard anything bad about me because I swear to you I didn't do it." he said in jest, waving his hands palms out to show his innocence.(A/N okay I don't know Shanks real personality cause in the show he is barely shown so if he is out of character I am deeply sorry and would you please tell me how he acts? I appreciate any help or criticism.) His crew just chuckled about the spectacle.
" Right away sir, and I heard from a... very reliable source.. Ya lets call it that. A very reliably source told me that you were a great man who has or had very defined principles. Now I wouldn't say that they said it like that but its what they believe in their heart of hearts." I said as I walked over to the bar to get them their drinks.
" Really, I think I would like to meet this reliable source if they know so much about me? Do I know them?" he asked intrigues at what else I might possibly know.
" Well I think that Luffy would be appalled if you didn't remember him but then again I didn't really give you that many clues did I?" I replied raising an eyebrow.
" Luffy! You know him! How is he? Where is he? Is he a pirate yet?" asked Shanks suddenly very interested in everything I had to say. It seemed that Luffy meant as much to Shanks as Shanks did to Luffy.
'Aw how cute they both worried about each other' I thought smiling at Shanks questions.
" One at a time Captain. First yes, I think well, I don't know, don't know, and yes he is a pirate." I said answering all of his questions," Oh and he still carries your hat around and he is aiming to give it back to you. He has risked his life for it."
" Well, I'll be so he did become a pirate and if you know him so well how come your not on his crew? Or with him at the moment?" he asked. It was a logical question that I wasn't really prepared for.
" I uh well you see... They had heard something and started jumping to conclusions so I felt uncomfortable and I bolted into the sea. He tried to get me back with one of his attacks and almost got me but I was in the Ocean before he could reach me. That was two years ago. Now if you were to stay a few more days I might be able to meet up with them. But I'm not sure they are supposedly docking 2 maybe 4 days from now." I said as I got lost in thoughts of what used to be. It was the anniversary of our parting tomorrow and I was going to spend it like every other, crying and walking around with a single white rose.
"Well then I guess we could stick around to see Luffy, but more importantly I want to get to know you more." he said studying my body.
Quick Description
You/I have grown ½ an inch and are fully 5'6. With all the training that has been done our body is now lean with little if any fat on it.