A/N: Just wanted to preface this by saying this is a work of fiction, please do not comment about how things aren't likely to happen or whatever. This is just my funny little story about pirate men. It will quickly get demolished by whatever reveals happen in a couple of years. Also, apologies for if there are any OOC characters. And, if enough people are intrigued maybe I'll continue it. We'll have to see.
They entered the cavern alone. Zoro slowly approached his captain who was silently staring at the Poneglyph in front of him. Neither of them could read the language, yet Luffy's face showed a strange semblance of understanding. As his eyes moved lower and lower, his smile quickly dropped.
"Oi, Luffy." He snapped, trying to get his attention.
His captain didn't respond. Instead, his face went pale. Sweat began to bead on his forehead.
"..Luffy?" Zoro grabbed his shoulder.
"Get away from me." He said, in a cold voice Zoro only heard him use on rare occasions.
He did as he was told, letting go of Luffy's shoulder. "..What is wrong?" He pushed.
With a shaky hand, Luffy took his straw hat off and placed it on Zoro's head. "You're all leaving. Now."
Before Zoro could argue, Luffy added something else. "Captain's orders. My final order." He said this grave seriousness. His eyes were unfocused and glassy. Whatever he saw, whether it was the words on the Poneglyph or not.. it changed him.
With the force Luffy's words had, Zoro could only nod as dread filled his stomach.
He wished he did more.
...
The Strawhats stayed utterly silent as they sailed away from the destroyed island of Laughtale. Mostly destroyed, anyway. The buster call did a number on it, but it was not enough to destroy the place. But that was not why they were fleeing. No member of the Marines was focused on them now. Nor any pirate or bounty hunter foe. Rather, they were focused on their old captain that stayed behind on that island. He made them leave, but this did not ease any of their guilt about it. It all happened so fast. A dream finally being achieved, and then he was completely consumed by a strange madness that happened out of nowhere. No one could've expected an outcome like this. Besides Robin. She seemed calm, as always.
Usopp was the first to speak, stumbling over his words as he did.
"..S-so.. what now..?" He asked now, trying to hide his shaking as he asked the question.
"..I talked it over with the revolutionaries on the Den-Den Mushi. So we're going to Momoiro island. With.. this." She held up the vivre card that she had been watching very intently the entire, primarily silent trip.
"And what the hell will we do after that?" Sanji spat. He was the angriest about this outcome out of all of the Strawhats. Everyone else was silently accepting this, or silently hating it. But not him.
"We wait," Zoro said, firmly.
"Wait?" He let out a sad, regret-filled laugh. "Why wait? Why don't we rush those motherfuckers right now, huh? We're not even injured besides a couple of cuts!"
The crew fell silent for a while, expecting another argument to break out between the two. Instead, Zoro just sighed. He took the straw hat off of his head, which Luffy gave to him before… everything that ensued afterwards happened.
"There's no reason to, Sanji. We're done."
Sanji's eyes widened slightly before he stared down at the floor. Zoro used his name. The cook fell silent, taking a puff from his cigarette as he turned around to look at the open sea. He tapped the cigarette against the railing, watching the ash get consumed by the calm waves. It was unfair how beautiful of a day it was. "Fine. But I'm not happy with it, moss head."
"Does it look like any of us are?" Franky snorted. He was sitting on the deck, combing through the long mullet he 'grew'.
Robin looked up from her book. Chopper was tending to the wounds along her legs. She refused to talk about where she got them from. For.. some reason. "That... Poneglyph. I could only read the beginning before.." She trailed off.
The small doctor lifted his head, "What did it say?"
She fell silent for a while, closing her eyes. "Joyboy. It mentioned him and... Fate. I can't... Remember the exact words. Just the feeling I had. I apologize."
"It's okay!" Chopper squeaked out, quickly, "What- what was the feeling, then?"
"Dread. That entire room had a... Darkness in it."
Zoro nodded his head, "I felt that too.." And Luffy did as well. Maybe that's why he did the.. thing he did.
Sanji threw his cigarette into the ocean. "I'm making dinner. Don't bother me till we get to the stupid island." He shoved his hands into his pockets and walked into the kitchen, slamming the door behind him. Chopper's ears drooped down from the loud noise.
The rest of the trip was quiet, only filled with whispers to each other. They all hated it, but how could they be happy with their captain gone?
Nami spoke the loudest she did the whole trip as she spotted Momoiro Island in the distance. It had distinct, heart-shaped mountains and pink flora. It was hard to mistake it for anything but the home of the Kamabakka Kingdom.
"Prepare to dock soon!" She called out, putting the vivre card away as she shouted.
The Strawhats half-heartedly got into their positions, preparing to dock at this new island. The residents of the island most definitely recognized their ship as well, even without their iconic jolly roger flying proudly anymore. Instead, the Strawhat's flag was replaced with a plain, white one. Indicating peace. No one was happy with this either, but their previous flag was burned and despite Usopp's offers to make a new one... They all refused.
Once their ship was docked on the shores of the kingdom, two people were already there to meet them.
Sabo got onto the ship first, Koala following after him. "Is he here?" He asked, looking around for where his little brother could be. His heart was already falling, as he already knew the answer. Koala resisted the urge to give Robin a big hug once she set her eyes on her, knowing it wasn't the time.
"..No. He's not." Robin said, somehow remaining calm as she said that. "It is nice meeting you two again. Is Dragon here?"
"He's traveling over. He'll be here in.. about a day's time.." Sabo tried to hide the sadness from his face. Of course, most could see right through it. No one commented on it, though.
"That's great, then.. We have a lot to talk about, I think.." Robin tried to smile.
"..A lot more than you know, I think. Have you gotten the latest newspaper..? The.. World Economy News." He quickly specified.
Nami's ears perked up. She loved reading the news, even if it was a huge scam. There was no need for it to cost so much! "No, I canceled my subscription.. What does it say?"
"I think you all should sit down for this.." Sabo pulled the paper out of his pocket, not showing it yet.
"Sanji is preparing supper right now.. He is probably almost finished. We can all sit at the dinner table." Robin suggested. All of the crew members were spread around the ship anyways. It'd be best for them all to gather before hearing whatever this news will be.
Sabo nodded, "That's perfect. Uhm, would you have something to call them all with?"
Nami nodded, "Of course. Wait just a moment.." She took in a deep breath, "FOOD! COME GET IT!" She shouted. Quickly, everyone was leaving to gather in the dining hall.
"That isn't exactly what I meant but.." Sabo deadpanned, but quickly shook it off.
Robin smiled at the two revolutionaries. It was a more cold, distant one that she used a long time ago. She and Nami began to walk towards the dining hall, which Sabo and Koala quickly followed.
"So you're Luffy's other brother, huh?" Usopp blurted out.
"..Yeah, that's me," Sabo said, a little awkwardly. As he expected, this collection of individuals was.. Strange. Definitely people that only Luffy could bring together. The thought brought a small, sad pang in his chest. He sat down next to Koala and Robin at the dinner table. "I have a newspaper to show you all. It's… about Luffy. And Laughtale, actually.."
The crew fell silent, ready to listen. Even Sanji, who was working nearby in the kitchen paused in what he was doing to watch. Zoro narrowed his eyes.
Sabo laid the newspaper flat on the table. It showed a black and white picture of Luffy, being taken away from the Marines. Even through the image, a dark coldness was present in his eyes as he stared into the camera. It sent shivers down each of their spines. It wasn't an expression that belonged on their captain's normally sunny face.
The title was plastered with large, bold letters. 'PIRATE KING' STRAWHAT LUFFY: CAPTURED! INTERVIEW INSIDE!
Morgans was bold for calling him such a thing. Although, he did find the One Piece in the end.
Zoro scowled, "This isn't anything we didn't know before.." He grumbled.
"..But, what's inside I think is more... Concerning." He didn't like his wording. What could be more concerning than his little brother being captured? Just like Ace was? He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, just to push past the pain in his chest.
Koala sensed this and interjected. "The interview. It was one that Morgans managed to have with Luffy after the fact.." She opened the newspaper up, pointing to the specific article.
"How the hell did he manage to get something like that?" Sanji snorted, "It's obviously just some made-up bullshit."
"But it could be true! Even if it spins Luffy's words in a... Wrong-way, which I'm sure it did… all lies have some form of truth. It's important not just to disregard it." Koala urged.
Sanji looked back down at the tomatoes he was cutting up, not speaking more to that. Robin took the paper from Koala's hands. "May I read it?"
"Of course, you can.." Koala wasn't very good at reading allowed anyways.
…
Luffy looked up from his lap once he heard his name called, and the door to his cell opened. He was being kept in the underneath of a heavily-guarded Marine ship. Large, seastone chains were wrapped around his waist, along with seastone handcuffs that bound him to the wall. What an inconvenience.
"..Bird guy." He said, looking up at Morgans.
"Kuwahahahah! Strawhat Luffy!" Morgans said with some usual cheer. He had an assistant with him, already writing rapidly. "From the fifth Yonko." He took a dramatic pause, "King of the Pirates... How does it feel? You've only been a pirate for... Three years, yes? Your progression is rather rapid.."
Luffy stayed silent.
"How did you do it?" Morgana prodded further, "Your crew is rather small, so it couldn't be manpower. Was it your strategy that led you through? Perhaps your apparent connections to Red-Haired Shanks? Or maybe it was luck?"
"None of those. You're real strange, bird guy." Luffy said, bluntly. "I was never a fifth Yonko. And I will never be Pirate King either." His words almost came across as cold.
"How humble!" He chirped, "But you saw it, yes? The One Piece. Could you share what it is? What Whitebeard correct? Is it real..?"
"It's real. But, not anymore."
"..And what do you mean by that?" Morgans leaned in slightly.
"I destroyed it. It's gone now. Along with that island.." Luffy said this rather casually. Morgans will make sure to add some more dramatic words for the paper, of course!
"Why did you do that?"
Luffy looked over at the familiar person standing at the door of his cell. He smirked. "Your time is up.." He leaned against the wall.
Morgans looked vaguely annoyed until he looked at who it was. He let out a nervous squawk before picking up his assistant like a bag of potatoes and quickly making his way out of the room.
He stepped inside, slamming the door shut after the bird left.
…
"This interview was abruptly ended due to issues with the guards (I wonder what scoop they're hiding!) Make sure to pick up the next issue of the World Economy News Paper!" Robin finished off the article. Of course, it ended with some advertisements.
"..Nothing we didn't already know." Zoro stayed firm with what he said before. He leaned back. "He's changed, for some reason. The article probably isn't even accurate with how either.." He took a drink from a bottle of sake.
Nami hit him on the top of the head. "This is very useful, thank you." She managed a sweet smile. "But.. with this, how do we continue on..?"
"We save the bastard, obviously." Sanji finished dicing up all the vegetables and began to mix them into a salad.
Sabo nodded gravely. "As much as I want to do that.. I need to wait for Dragon before I make a move."
"And why the hell is that, huh?" Sanji set down the kitchen knife to look over at Sabo.
"I represent the Revolutionary army as Dragon's right-hand man. If I make a move it could be interpreted as an official declaration of war. I can't do that.. Even if it's my brother we're talking about.." He frowned deeply, "I doubt Dragon will let this go, though.."
"Doubt. You don't really know.." Franky said, his normal, friendly demeanor was mostly dropped.
"That is true, but really.. With a situation like this, we need to wait and see. I don't even know where they'd take him.." It was most likely to be Impel Down, but there was no definite answer. It hurt his soul that he couldn't set sail now to save Luffy, especially considering his… failure before. "I just ask for some patience. Working together.. I'm sure we can sort something out.." Sabo said, sheepishly.
Sanji looked like he was about to argue, but Zoro spoke first. "I agree. We need to wait." He said, flatly. Zoro put Luffy's old, worn-down straw hat onto the table. "I figured you'd want it." He said, sliding it over to Sabo.
The revolutionary picked it up, looking the old hat over. There were some newer the straw, which he remembered fixing up whenever Luffy got it damaged when they were children. He smiled fondly at the hat, closing his eyes for a moment before putting it back on the table. "He gave it to you. It's yours."
"..I'd feel wrong about taking something like it," Zoro said, looking at the hat with almost the same fondness. Of course, it didn't show on his face. Only if you paid close attention to his eyes.
"And I'd feel just as wrong.." Sabo nodded understandingly. "But, he wanted you to have it. And, well, I trust that you'd keep it safe for him. More than I trust myself." Koala look like she was about to say something, scolding Sabo for doubting his ability. Robin put a hand on her shoulder, a quiet warning for her to stay quiet. She quickly piped down.
"..You're.. Right. Maybe.." Zoro reluctantly took the hat and put it back on his head. It fit perfectly, somehow.
"It looks good on you." Sabo complimented, to which Zoro responded with a grunt.
The night continued on with some food and awkward conversation with each other. It wasn't quite the same without Luffy around, stealing off of plates.
Critique is welcome. Also, some of the formatting got fucked up and I don't know how to fix it. Yay..