A/N: Why didn't I update earlier? Many reasons actually ranging from school, to family, to just now realizing that wait a minute...I uploaded this didn't I? Oh wait no I didn't...I am such a jackass. Anyway, me being an idiot aside, I apologize for not uploading this sooner and hope you enjoy the uh...the set ups.
Loguetown (II)
The Upcoming Rookie Presence Is Known!
Luffy found himself standing face to face with Dragon, his biological father, in the middle of an Armament Haki infused vortex of howling winds. The wolfman had been expecting the leader of the revolutionaries to show his face and speak with him after striking Buggy's bomb with that lightning bolt. However, just because he was prepared for the coming meeting didn't mean he was looking forward to it. Luffy's crew, bar Nami, had been unsure about leaving him with a hooded figure at first but Nami's intervention had them going towards the Going Merry ahead of their Captain.
Luffy turned away from Dragon to take a glance at Smoker for a moment. The marine captain was glaring holes at both Luffy and Dragon but it was more vicious towards the latter. The reason likely not only stemming from the fact it looked like Dragon had come around looking for a fight with the up and coming rookie pirate but the damage he'd inflicted to Smoker when the Captain tried to enter the vortex as well. Smoker's arm was currently being tended to by a marine medic on the sidelines due to the amount of lacerations the winds had left on it.
"So what exactly is it you want to talk about, Dragon?" Turning back to his biological father, Luffy didn't feel even a twinge of guilt over the minute flinch the man did in response to his coldness. "While playing along with my theatrics was appreciated, it doesn't come close to weighing against the risk of exposing the relationship between us."
"..." Dragon didn't say anything. He wasn't actually sure what to say. Back when he cornered Nami, his resolve in keeping Luffy in the dark was ironclad but standing here, he began to doubt the decision he and his wife made a few days ago.
Dragon's silence was getting on Luffy's nerves. 'I swear if this ends up being one of the 'Monkey D. Garp's blood influences all' episodes I'm going to-'
"Some day…you will meet someone you can't beat. Not until you've awakened fully as well." Luffy wasn't sure what to make of that. Was that some roundabout way of telling him Kaidou was in town? Or maybe it was something related to that Blackbeard fatass? "Even then, I doubt you'll be able to bring yourself to actually harm them."
'What the hell are you on abo-'
"An acquaintance of mine awaits you in the Grand Line. She will prove invaluable as a member of your crew later on in your journey." Dragon quickly changed the topic as the familiar but unwelcome voices of his ex-coworkers entered his range of Observation Haki. "I believe you'll find her interesting personality amusing as well. Your marksman won't be enjoying her choice of humor though."
Dragon kept his eyes on Luffy for a few moments longer before forcing the vortex to thicken around them. "Get ready to run, Luffy. While I can guarantee the team leader's focus to be on me, his subordinates-"
"May now have an interest in me. I know." Luffy leveled a cold glare on Dragon that promised pain if the man didn't follow through with what had to say next. "Keep my brother safe, and stay away from my crew. I don't know what you cornered her for and frankly I don't care but from here on out, Nami doesn't have anything to do with our side of the family's shit, not until the final phases of your plan, got it?!"
Dragon blinked before bursting into laughter. Oh, history truly did enjoy repeating itself didn't it?
"She's a feisty one, my boy. Don't ever let her go."
"Wasn't planning on it, old man."
Tashigi knew she should've also kept her eyes on Monkey D. Luffy and Dragon. She knew it was her duty as a marine to keep them both at the forefront of her mind. Unfortunately, instead of giving so much as a smidgen of care for the two men who were likely the strongest combatants in the East Blue without question, Tashigi found herself thinking more about her parting words with one, Roronoa Zoro.
FLASHBACK
Tashigi grit her teeth in frustration as she found herself on the ground held at sword point and her own blade, Shigure, stuck into a building's wall. She may have hated his guts but she didn't have her head so far up her ass that she wasn't going to acknowledge Roronoa's skills as a swordsman. With a scathing glare Tashigi growled, "Well? What are you waiting for? Finish it, Roronoa!"
Zoro kept his gaze on her with an unreadable expression before pulling his blade away. "No. You've been disarmed, knocked off your feet, and been held at blade's edge." Sheathing his new blades as well as his most treasured one, Zoro turned away from Tashigi.
"Is it because I'm a woman?" Zoro froze mid step. Of all the things this Marine could have said, she chose one that dragged up even more memories of Kuina. "Is that it? You won't finish me off because I'm a woman?! You won't take me seriously because you're some macho man who can't be bothered to-"
"I didn't take you seriously because your swordsmanship is honestly laughable." Zoro's words came out in a calm tone however the Vice Captain of the Straw Hats was anything but calm. Turning back to his defeated opponent, Tashigi saw the barely repressed fury in his eyes and found herself wondering if she'd inadvertently stepped on a figurative landmine. "I didn't kill you because there would be no honor in ending someone who was as dangerous as his own child running around with a sharp cutter."
"You want my blade? My memento from Kuina?" Zoro unsheathed Wado Ichimonji and spun it around so the handle was within Tashigi's grasp. The marine looked at it for a few moments before moving to reach for it only for Zoro to take it away yet again. "Then get strong enough to actually have a chance to do it. You dream of liberating all Grade Swords? Then do more than just read about them! Train to be competent enough to actually make your dreams reality!"
"You want Kuina's blade? I'll be waiting, Tashigi." Zoro resheathed the Wado Ichimonji before walking away. This time, he didn't turn back…he did turn to the left and into an alley though.
'...' Tashigi was quiet for a few moments as she remained there, on the floor in contemplation for a little while longer. "Wrong way, Jackass. The town square is behind us."
FLASHBACK
Tashigi shook her head with a small smile. If the bastard was going to lecture her then try to leave like he was the star of a drama movie he should have at least just walked forward instead of showcasing his awful sense of direction. 'Though…hehe, he doesn't really look like someone who watches dramas.' The young woman smirked in amusement before steeling herself.
To gain something, you had to lose something. Zoro lost his time, his childhood and his life as a free man. What has Tashigi lost? …Nothing substantial in comparison really. Her training in the marines was thorough and the education she received under Captain Smoker's tutelage was incredible…but it still didn't hold a candle to the road Roronoa was taking.
"Compared to him, I've been living life with a silver spoon…That ends today."
The Chief Petty Officer turned back to the vortex just in time for the swirling winds to become denser and darker. A black cyclone in the middle of the street. "I suppose this means that Dragon has the Weather-Weather Fruit?"
"I wouldn't be so sure." Smoker exhaled a long stream of smoke as he stood up and glared at the spot where Monkey D. Luffy and Dragon once stood. The vortex had dissipated only to reveal that the two who had been conversing within it were gone with the wind. "Many Devil Fruits grant abilities similar to others. For all we know it could be Mythical Zoan."
"I suppose so. Though, don't Mythical Zoan Fruits require their user to make changes to their body in order to activate their abilities?" Tashigi had seen Fleet Admiral Sengoku in action before and every time he activated his abilities he had transformed in one way or another. From her understanding, Kaidou the Beast was no different.
"Depends on the ability, I guess. The Phoenix is able to call upon Flames of Healing while in his human form after all. Controlling the weather may just be one of Dragon's abilities that doesn't require transformations…" Smoker had really just been making small talk while the real thing that had been bothering him since seeing Luffy and Dragon so close to one another continued to fester in the back of his mind. "Tashigi…Would you say Dragon and Straw Hat look similar?"
"Sir?" Tashigi tilted her head in confusion at her Captain's not only abrupt but strange question. If the similarities Smoker was talking about was the cold look in their eyes and their wild black hair then she supposed they look similar but… "I'm inclined to say no, Captain Smoker. Aside from maybe their hair and their eyes, nothing about Dragon reminds me of Straw Hat."
"I see… Tashigi, see to our men as well as the prisoners. There's something I need to check on. Privately."
Marching into his office, Smoker locked the door behind him before approaching his desk. Pushing his chair away, the marine captain knelt down and removed a plank from the floor. The space underneath was filled with files given to Smoker and many other marines who had been under Garp's personal tutelage. Marines who believed there was more to criminals than meets the eye. Smoker was one of the more, 'punch first and ask later' marines that had come out of Garp's wing but he was still willing to hear out a criminal. Well, when they were in cuffs and behind bars anyway.
Rifling through the folders, Smoker pulled out the one he hoped would alleviate his growing unease. This particular folder contained information on ex-marines. Specifically, marines who no longer existed on record, not only as a member of society but as a person as a whole. Some of them became revolutionaries, others became high ranking figures in the underworld. 'God only knows how many have fallen under Joker's control.'
Dropping the folder onto the desk, Smoker began flipping through file after file. Men and women who were once marine officers of ranks as high or even higher than his own gone like the wind leaving no trace behind. No traces except for the files themselves. One thing Smoker learned while under Garp was that as aloof and generally chaotic as the legendary Vice Admiral was that he had instincts and gut feelings that did more than enough to make up for his outward stupidity. Smoker paused on a file that was likely the most detailed of them all.
A picture of a woman with long curly raven hair held up in a ponytail stared back at Smoker with eerily familiar golden amber eyes bursting with mischief. Her tanned sun kissed skin from hours of work and activity under the sun also…similar. Even without ever having met this young woman, Smoker could tell she was as much of a loose cannon as Garp. Reading through the information on her proved Smoker wrong about his comparison however his eyes widening as he read further and further. If anything this woman made Garp look like a model marine!
Smoker shook his head and forced himself to return to his original goal. While it was not just this woman who had multiple pictures in their files, there was one photo at a specific angle that Smoker needed to see right this moment. When the marine captain found the image he was looking for, the cigars he smoked religiously nearly dropped from his mouth. The woman was facing the camera, sporting a wide shit-eating grin as what looked like hell on Earth took place behind her. It wasn't the savagery of what was behind her that froze Smoker however, it wasn't even the fact that she was holding the spinal cord with her victim's head still attached. The victim being a pirate known for raping his way through any female…ANY female…Yeah Smoker may not have enjoyed her playing executioner but seeing as the world was rid of scum like that he could shrug it off. Off topic, anyway, it was the smile itself and the way her face just radiated insanity that froze him, the uncanny similarity between her smile…and a certain rookie's. Reaching for a piece of parchment on the far side of the table, Smoker forced his eyes away from the woman…and to the young man sporting the exact same smile, exuding the same manic energy, oblivious to the fact that he'd just had his photo taken for the creation of his first bounty. 'Fuck.'
Flicking his eyes back to the top of the file where the young woman's name was written, Smoker immediately pulled out a black transponder snail, one specifically made to patch him directly to Garp without ever giving himself away or risk having their call intercepted.
"What do you want, Barbeque boy?" The snail grinned cheekily at Smoker, the man on the other end of the line really hoping to get a rise out of his old student, but the marine captain couldn't care less at the moment.
"Masaham Sara." The cheekiness was gone like it was never in the snail's, and by thus Garp's, face to begin with. "What happened to your daughter, Garp? Why did she defect from the marines?"
"...Smoker, you know me to be a very faithful follower of the marines, of duty…but you also know just how much more family means to me." Smoker's glare cooled slightly as the snail began to shake as it copied the hero of the marine's expression. Pure, unchained fury. "What they did to my daughter…If not for Sengoku, I would have levelled all of Mariejois straight into the ground, and put all those celestial bastards' heads on a pike."
On a certain island in Paradise, an establishment known as "Shakky's Rip-Off Bar" currently hosted the most jovial and laid back of the Four Emperors of the Sea, Red-Hair Shanks. "Hahahaha! Keep em coming, Shakky! This party ain't over till Benn gets back! Isn't that right boys?!"
A chorus of "Aye-aye Captain!" left Shanks feeling better than ever. Shakky laughing along with her husband's former crew's cabin boy while walking to the store room in the back. The 12th crate of alcohol was coming up. Ever since Mihawk had come over and brought Luffy's first bounty to him on that tropical jungle island, every evening was spent drinking themselves unconscious. Benn was becoming a party pooper recently so Shanks sent him and Lucky Roo out to see if they could spot Rayleigh. 'Fat chance of that happening. Rayleigh's been evading the marines in plain sight for decades after all.'
"Say, Captain?" A spiky haired red-head with dark skin called out to Shanks. "If ya don't mind me asking, who exactly is this Straw Hat Luffy? We've been partying in his honor a lot and you make mentions of him like you knew him as a kid…is he-"
With a chuckle, Shanks cut off his latest crew member with a wave of his hand while turning to face him. "Luffy's not my son, Rockstar…Well not a biological one anyway."
"Oh, but he is your-" Rockstar found himself interrupted a second time but not by Shanks. Rockstar was interrupted by the sudden opening of the doors to Shakky's bar. "Back already, Vice…Captain…Benn?"
Rockstar's voice trailed off as he, and every other pirate present in the bar turned to face the newcomer with widening eyes. Even Shanks was caught off guard with just who or rather what had decided to walk in. 'God Almighty, was I that drunk?'
"Everything all right, Red-Hair? You look like you've seen a ghost." The newcomer, a woman with short scarlet red hair that framed her face hidden behind a faceless mask bearing intricate designs, fair skin like the purest snow and emerald green eyes that gleamed with a veritable treasure trove of power behind the mask. While the woman's physique was breathtaking enough to sway some of the Red-Hair pirates to more perverted thoughts, her curvaceous hourglass figure would have given even the Pirate Empress a run for her money, the clothes she wore bearing a very much despised mark brought them back to their senses. The mark of the one hailed as the one to crush even the strongest of pirate crews with the ease of peeling a fruit. From the physique and general lack of marks, wears, and tears on her skin however, Rockstar doubted she was the actual monster but one of the handmaidens who attended to it. "Dare I say, all of you look as if you've seen ghosts."
The Red-Hair Pirates weren't cowards, a fact that Rockstar stood up to prove as he clenched his fists and grounded his teeth. "What business do you have with us…Ma'am." Rockstar wasn't a coward but he wasn't foolish enough to not show some degree of respect. The high and mighty bastards this woman served were complete jokes, but the woman herself? Hardheaded as Rockstar was even he knew a ticking time bomb when he saw one.. "If you came here looking for toys, you've-"
As if Rockstar was not even there, the woman who served one who could claim to stand head to head against Edward Newgate himself, in his prime no less, commented on their surroundings, "I knew you had a reputation for being quite the drunkard but I must say I wasn't quite expecting it to be this extravagant." Bottles and bottles and even more bottles of alcohol littered the floor. There was probably enough to fill up a pool. "Not quite sure how I feel about you as a role-."
"Don't ignore me you stuck up, arrogant witch of a-ghk!" Rockstar's experience from getting wrecked on Whitebeard's ship clearly hadn't sucked in as he now found himself in another unfavorable position. The unfavorable position being that the woman who, by her appearance, had no business being anything but a frail pompous bitch abusing her mistress's power, was currently lifting him off the ground with an amused smirk as if he was a stress relief doll. Why a stress relief doll? Because she was squeezing the life out of him like a teenage girl venting their troubles through strangling Mr. Snuffles. "C-Captain! H-Help!"
Contrary to his crew, Shanks just sighed tiredly amidst the growing anxiety and anger spreading amongst his men. "You've made your point, Valkyrie. You mind dropping the latest member of my crew down?"
With a shrug, the masked woman let her grip on Rockstar's neck slack, allowing the man to fall to his knees as he greedily gulped on much needed oxygen. "If your love for alcohol wasn't doing you any favors, being not only rude but also quick-tempered certainly doesn't help my estimation of you as a role model."
"Why-cough-would we care about being role models you-ack, I mean, Ma'am?" The sweetly frightening glare was enough to set Rockstar straight this time. Shame, the masked woman would have enjoyed crushing him under her boot. Simpleton seemed to have finally figured out she wasn't the handmaiden, but the queen herself. It only took the man's captain saying her epithet out loud but better slow than eviscerated..
"I don't expect little fishes like yourself to care. Frankly I don't expect anyone here who wasn't there to care." Taking the seat next to Shanks, the masked woman came face to face with Shakky who to her credit, put on an award winning smile before asking,
"How may I serve you today Madame…?"
"Valkyrie will do. Drop the Madame and just stick to that, or Val if you like, also…" Reaching behind her, the masked woman pulled out a fat stack of Berries and slammed it on the table, "Payment for the drinks prior and the drinks to come. All on me."
Silence…and then the biggest backstab Rockstar ever felt in his life.
"Cheers! To Madame Val!"
"You're the best Ms. Valkyrie!"
"You can beat the crap out of Rockstar any day of the week, sis!"
That last one hit Rockstar the hardest…mainly because not only had it come from his captain and idol, Shanks, but the man had also tossed his arm around the redheaded woman's shoulder. Like they were the oldest of buddies! Shanks never did that with him! A cloud of depression rained down on the young pirate as the cruelty of the world was in full swing.
"But seriously…who are you and why are you here?" Shanks whispered his question and despite the smile planted on his face, it was clear the Emperor was ready for things to turn into a fight. His wariness was proven unnecessary however, the moment he saw the woman's face. The woman had been quiet for a few moments before taking off her mask and flashing the Captain a playful smile before putting it back on. "You know…I knew there would be many things in the world that just make no goddamn sense but do at the same time…but this is just too insane. Even for me."
The masked woman threw her head back with a laugh pleasantly reminiscent of a soft summer breeze. "You sailed with the Pirate King himself yet this takes the cake for being too insane?" The quick deadpan response of yes only caused the woman more amusement. Towards the end of the night she began to realize why Shanks was highly respected amongst his peers and idolized by many. The man was like the older brother you always looked up to no matter what insanity they found themselves. Holy Imu above, was there an abundance of insanity in the man's partying. Val didn't really have any right to comment or criticize on the admittedly childish captain's sense of humor. Her's was much worse after all. This was proven by the aftermath witnessed by a very twitchy eyed ex-vice captain who'd decided to pop in and check on his wife.
"..." Shanks was scratching the back of head sheepishly as his old Vice Captain's eye twitched in frustration seeing what had become of he and his wife's home. "Shanks…care to explain why there are sharks, live sharks, swimming around my bar? And exactly how you even managed to accomplish this?!"
Shanks opened his mouth to answer only to snap his mouth shut at the scathing glare sent his way. "You know what? I don't even care anymore. I'm going back to the brothel."
"Is that really something you should say in front of Shakky?" The former apprentice of the Roger Pirate's asked with a sweatdrop. The sweatdrop disappeared and instead the emperor's face became green when Shakky laughed and wrapped her arm around Rayleigh and gave him, Shanks, a come hither look. "I liked it better when you didn't pull this crap in front of me."
"Grow up, Anchor."
"Oi!"
"Huh? Wait, is that where you got Luffy's nickname?! It was yours?!" Lucky Roo was staring at his captain intensely as he chewed on his giant stick of meat…before turning away. "Yeah, I can see it."
"What's that supposed to mean?!"
"Oh nothing."
A woman renowned by all for her unquestionable beauty was…conflicted. With a wry smile set on the raven haired woman's face she held up the bounty of one, Straw Hat Monkey D. Luffy. The sadistic smile on the young man's face being one she had become very familiar with long ago. Memories of her raven haired ex-mistress's fury over her and her sister's…situation, the woman shuddered recalling the conditions they were in before the woman found them and took them away from those hideous pigs.
'The only respectable Celestial Dragon…well I suppose her father was also kind to us but it was clear who was calling the shots.' The woman mused as she scratched her pet snake's chin, the slithery reptilian hissing approvingly all the while. "Seeing as our savior's son has decided to take on a pirate's life…and we've been informed of the demands of his devil fruit, I trust you both have no objection to my proposition?"
In front of the woman who looked like she was the incarnation of perfection, two giant women kneeled…like actual Giants…or mini Giants. They were big by normal human standards but tiny by Giants standards. One had wavy green hair and gleaming green eyes while the other had orange wavy hair and cerulean blue eyes.
"Sister…would it not be better if one of us took your place instead?" The green haired mini giantess asked anxiously. "Even if this man is our lady's kin there is no guarantee that he will have her heart."
"I agree with Sandersonia, sister. Who's to say that this man is in any way at all not like all other scum?" The orange haired giantess added, also not keen on her eldest sister's proposal. "This may not even be what our Lady wants."
The woman leaned back into her throne thoughtfully, "You both have valid concerns, Marigold. But I must ask, if this is not what our lady seeks then why would she bother telling us about her son's…unique circumstances?"
Both Sandersonia and Marigold shifted anxiously at that as well, there really wasn't any other reason they could think of.
"And as for why I will be the one to go through with it and not either the two of you or anyone else in Amazon Lily…there isn't really anyone other than myself who's worthy of even being considered." The woman stated matter-of-factly yet without any hint of condescension. If anything, the most beautiful woman in the world was frustrated. Not only was Monkey D. Luffy the son of the woman who saved her and her sisters all those years ago, he was also going to be the spearhead that breaks the cycle of shit their world was currently running with. "This is the man who will be King. Offering anything less than myself would be an insult."
"...There is nothing we can say to dissuade you from this, is there, Sister?" Marigold sighed wearily already knowing the answer.
"No, there isn't, little sister. I, Boa Hancock, will offer myself to Monkey D. Luffy." The Pirate Empress declared this with a tone of finality as she turned her attention from her sisters back to the bounty of her future king. "May this be enough to ensure Amazon Lily's prosperity after the wheel has been broken."
On a massive galleon designed bearing great resemblance to that of the underside of a whale, the legend hailed the strongest man in the world, and drank the last of his fellow Emperor's hometown's sake.
"Pops, you know if Marco catches you right now you'll be put on bedrest again."
"Bah!" The old man waved off his son's warning about what his worrywart flaming pineapple of a son would do if he got caught. "Why do you think I sent him on an errand to Fishman Island? Gurarararara!"
The members of his crew, his sons, that were present either laughed or sweatdropped at their father's outright admittance to sending the first division commander off on a random errand just so he could indulge himself with a drink.
To hell with Marco's hissy fits about his drinking, death was around the corner anyway. Edward Newgate, more commonly known as Whitebeard, was well aware that his days were numbered. He didn't find himself regretful of much though, save for the more recent developments, he found his life to be quite fulfilled. He's had a grand adventure few could even argue to best, he has his family, his beloved sons and daughters, by his side and sailing the seas, he even found someone to take the reigns after he passed…assuming the bloody hothead matured after getting his ass handed to him.
Whitebeard sighed as his mind turned to Ace and Teach for what had to have been the millionth time this week. When news came of just what devil fruit Teach had consumed, Whitebeard was ready to go drag Ace back to the Moby Dick himself but unfortunately for the elderly Captain of the Whitebeard Pirates, his two former crewmates and current fellow emperors were not going to let his absence go unpunished. Linlin and Kaidou had been decent crewmates but as fellow emperors they were little more than the biggest contributing factor in his unfortunately very frequent migraines.
'I suppose it will be up to you, won't it?' Whitebeard mused to himself as he glanced down on the bounty in his right hand. 'Another D. Huh? Perhaps this one will end up being the one you sought after, old friend.'
Fleet Admiral Sengoku, a man known for being the brains behind Garp's brawn back in their youth and even to this day. Another living legend that stood as a role model for any new marines to look up to. A man whose only superiors were the Gorosei themselves…was currently rubbing his eyes in exasperation over the absolute shit storm he'd found himself having to tolerate in his office. The shit storm being the volatile and volcanic Admiral Akainu, an avid, cough cough fanatic cough cough, follower of Absolute Justice.
"Fleet Admiral, with all due respect sir…have you gone senile?" Contrary to what one would expect from one known as the Mad Dog of the Navy, Akainu was usually a calm, cold and calculating individual. Outwardly anyway. While capable of having a cool head, his actions are more often than not driven by his fanatics in his pursuit of 'Thorough Justice'. "An eighth Warlord? If seven of these bastards weren't enough you want to throw another one into the mix? A rookie no less?"
With a heavy sigh, Sengoku leveled a glare on Akainu who, while still set on stopping the addition of yet another warlord to the rooster, was willing to no longer pursue the latest thorn on his side himself. "A rookie, huh? A rookie who has been more of a vigilante hero than a pirate. A rookie who has done more for the people of every place he visited, except perhaps Loguetown, than any marine posted there. A pirate who's been more loose cannon marine than actual scum." Sengoku stood up from his chair and towered over Akainu with his frustration very much evident on his face. "I'm sorry that the concept of having an 8th Warlord is very…uncomfortable for you, but quite frankly, Monkey D. Luffy would prove more reliable as an asset rather than an enemy."
Akainu was ready to retort, his anger rising though more out of the fact that his pride had been wounded, which was actually the crux of his entire tirade. A young pirate boy who had just started flying his flag, had done more for the islands he'd visited than any of the marines posted there…except Loguetown. "A pirate is still a pirate, Fleet Admiral! Having him as a warlord only invites him to be a ravenous wolf amongst the sheep!"
"A dog is a domesticated wolf, Akainu. If it helps get you and your fellow marines of similar ideologies-" Sengoku shifted his eyes to behind Akainu for a moment to glare at the Vice Admirals who had accompanied the steaming piece of cow dung, "Out of my office, then Monkey D. Luffy will be the guard dog for our sheep as you refer to them."
Akainu opened his mouth to continue his quest of stopping the inclusion of an 8th Warlord with Sengoku but his fellow Absolute Justice Marine, Doberman, interrupted him. "The Fleet Admiral has spoken, Akainu. The order has been given. Let it go."
Akainu stared back at Doberman for a few seconds before turning to his other fellow Absolute Justice Marine, Onigumo. The long brown haired Vice Admiral with perpetually half-closed eyes, nodded in agreement with Doberman. "We won't be changing his mind. Might as well go and deal with things in our jurisdiction instead."
"An apt proposal. Monkey D. Luffy has yet to even enter the Grand Line so while he's hundreds and hundreds of miles away, why don't you actually do your job, Sakazuki ."
Akainu snapped back to his commanding officer with a momentary sneer, before schooling his features and accepting the order. "Understood, Fleet Admiral."
As the three Absolute Justice Marines left his office, Sengoku let out a tired sigh. In all honesty he himself wasn't particularly over the moon with having an 8th Warlord but between that and running the risk of Garp being torn apart by duty and family…Sengoku had already done many things in his life that he regretted. Tearing his best friend apart, no matter how infuriating the man may be at times, was not something he wanted to add on to the already long list. Speaking of the list…Sengoku glared down at the latest dismissal of human lives by the Gorosei. "Perhaps Monkey D. Luffy can deal with his future peers for us. Starting with you, you sick, scaly bastard." On the desk of the Fleet Admiral of the Marines was the picture of one Gekko Moriah…and the latest batch of victims he'd acquired from the Florian Triangle. "If there's a God in this world, I hope he lets Luffy rip you to shreds."
"Lieutenant Commander Isuka, can you clarify something for me?" A marine soldier with blonde hair in a buzz cut, blue hawk like eyes, and carefully blank expression asked the commanding officer of the unit he had been asked to check in on.
The Lieutenant Commander, Isuka, being a woman in her early 20's with short red hair that framed her fair sun kissed face, hard cocoa irises, and a slim physique, responded, "Of course, Special Agent Flint Barson. What may I clarify for you?"
Flint regarded Isuka with an unwavering stare a bit longer than the lieutenant commander found comfortable before shooting his question, "Are you in a relationship with the 2nd Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, Portgas D. Ace?"
Isuka's jaw dropped momentarily as her face flushed brighter than her hair, "M-Me and F-Firefist?! Of course not! Don't be absurd!"
A cheeky light lit up in Flint's eyes as he thanked his direct superior, one Monkey D. Garp, for granting him the mission of grilling the blushing woman before him. "No? Then how exactly have you not only encountered and 'cornered' Portgas on many occasions but come out unscathed? Even returning to your unit with, how did they put it, a lovestruck teenage girl's face after a delightful date with her boo?"
"Wha- Who said that?!" Isuka jumped up from her chair and slammed her hands onto her desk as she turned to the door behind Flint. "Stone, I will make your morning routine a living hell! I swear to God!"
The cackles that accompanied the unapologetic and dare he say smug response from Stone had Flint breaking his blank expression in favor of chuckling. "Worth every pushup ma'am! If it means you stop beating around the bush, we all would go through that hell!"
The chorus of additional support to Stone's claim broke any semblance of professionalism Flint had as he blatantly began laughing his ass off.
"I agree with Kite wholeheartedly ma'am! Your secret forbidden romance was adorable and saucy at first but at this point you two should just get hitched already!" Gravel, the unit's mechanic, supplemented with a cheeky smile so clearly on his face, neither Flint nor Isuka needed to see it to know it was there.
"I'm with Stone and Gravel as well!" Brace the marine chemist agreed. "You and Firefist shouldn't even bother dating anymore. Just get hitched already!"
"Kite, Sauce, Dunder! You are all dead! You hear me?!" Isuka roared with more than enough indignant fury to put the likes of Nami to shame.
"Geez guys lay off our Lieutenant would ya? She and Firefist ain't dating!" Isuka smiled hearing the one other female in her unit having her back.
"I knew you were my favorite for a reason, Shaniss!"
"Those two are well past that point if the inside out, crumpled clothes are indication. It's a wonder we don't have little freckled redheads running around!"
"Shaniss Dove, you backstabbing bitch!"
"Hahahahahahaha! My lungs! Oh my god, my lungs! Hahahahaha!" Flint was absolutely loving his latest assignment. One he was so glad was being recorded.
"While thou words are quite vulgar, I cannot deny Lady Shaniss's claims as false! It is only through divine intervention that thy commander has not brought life into the wor-"
"I will rip that stupidly long and silky smooth blonde hair you love so much if you don't shut the fuck up right now, you out-dated language loving, hammerphiliac wannabe viking!"
"Shutting up now." The North Blue Marine, Door Turkeyson, conceded with a whimper.
Flint was dying but at the moment he couldn't care less. If this was how he went out, he had no complaints. His life was fulfilled ten times over this day. Weeks later when the recorded 'interrogation' found itself in Garp's hand the marine vice admiral rumbled with so much laughter the residents of the island he'd found himself resting on thought an earthquake had begun.
Years later, Garp and Flint would laugh their asses off once again even as an enraged bride made good use of her husband's gift to chase after the two with the goal of slicing them apart like butter. The husband would be torn between chasing Garp and Flint or the two brothers who were blatantly laughing and pointing at him.
"The latest rookies entering Paradise are something, aren't they Captain?" A tall slender man of pale complexion expressed with a smile. Sporting an off-white collared long sleeve shirt patterned with yellow crossed and navy navy jumper pants, the man smiled down on his captain who had a collection of bounties spread out before him. "Very impressive indeed, especially that one from the East."
The pale man's captain was another large individual but unlike the subordinate, the captain was rotund, hairy, tanned and quite a bit more…humble looking in his open buttoned white shirt with rolled up sleeves, green trousers, a yellow sash around his waist and black swashbuckler boots. "Zehahahahaha! I'm not surprised considering who his older brother is." The captain responded with a toothy grin…give or take a few plaque riddled yellow teeth. "It may seem impressive now but the true bounty he should have, hmmm…"
"Nothing mind breaking, eh Captain?" Another unusually big, tall, broad and muscular individual with tanned skin…and proportionally thinner lower body. The man was a wrestler who spent way too much time on his upper body and skipped out on leg day for sure but the way he was built. "Even if he's related to some chump from old Whitebeard's crew he's still just a roo-"
"His brother is Portgas D. Ace, the 2nd division commander of Whitebeard's crew." The massive wrestler shut his mouth at his captain's rebuttal and amused smirk. "As for his bounty, his real bounty, I'd wager he's a big enough threat to be considered at least 350 Million Beris. 500 Million Beris at most for what he's done so far."
"Oh my. Is he really that impressive?" The posh pale man asked with intrigue while his companions, the wrestler as well as two other very tall individuals sported looks of unrepressed shock…perhaps there was a height requirement for the infamous pirate captain to even consider allowing anyone into his crew. "For someone to actually be dangerous enough to reach that level while still being a rookie…do tell what's earned him such a high assessment, Captain."
"Not been reading the news, Laffitte? I was sure you'd be one to always keep up to date with such matters." The captain took a jab at his most shall we say refined subordinate.
Laffitte scoffed and shot one of his companions, a man with light brown hair that hung down to his neck, dressed in a large black hat with an uncanny resemblance to an upturned boat's hull, a long black cape under which lay a button up pale lavender shirt, simple black pants, and black shoes. Wearing a monocle and polishing a rifle, the companion paused his maintenance of his beloved weapon to give Laffitte a blank look. "Perhaps I would be up to date if someone were not using the News Coo as target practice every time one came around."
"I have no idea what you're talking about." The tall man with a strange monocle stated before returning to maintaining his rather large sniper rifle. The captain sweatdropped as a tick mark appeared on Laffitte's temple and he found himself wondering if he should stop the two from fighting…or watching with glee while chowing down on cherry pies. "Anyway, Captain. If you'd please?"
"Hmm? Oh yes. The reason for such a high bounty would be the fact that Straw Hat Luffy has shown himself to be capable of fighting arguably the strongest Warlord of the seven. Dracule Mihawk himself." The captain spared his crew a glance as they all began sharing looks of understanding. "At the level that Mihawk and Shanks, the youngest emperor of the seas, clash on every other month." The return of jaws falling down in shock whilst the rotund captain laughed in his own unique way. "Zehahahahaha! I trust it goes without saying…" All traces of amusement left the captain's eyes as he leveled a cold glare on his subordinates. "That we are not to engage in combat of any kind with Monkey D. Luffy…and if we do?"
"Grab his crew and use them against him!" The massive wrestler smashed a fist into his hand with a gleeful smile filled with bloodthirsty hunger. This reaction was not responded to in the way the wrestler was expecting. His captain facepalmed with a tired groan as if this was not the first time he'd had this conversation. "What's wrong captain?"
"Nothing, Burgess…I'm just reminded of how much you rely on your brawn rather than your brain, much like my old division commander was." The captain returned to giving each and every one of his crew members a frigid glare that would have made even the admiral of ice Aokiji freeze. "You attack or harm his crew in any way then it will be curtains for us all. No, I want you to place yourselves in a position where both our crew and his walks away. Unharmed."
"C-Captain?!"
"Those are my orders, Burgess." A dark aura of pure evil, an ever consuming power drapped over the captain who glared at his subordinate from over his shoulder, Burgess and his companions all shuddering under their captain's insidious abilities. "Understood?"
"Yes Captain Blackbeard sir!" Burgess and his companions all said, shivering in their boots. They respected and were loyal to their captain…but that didn't change the fact that the man known as Blackbeard, Marshal D. Teach, was utterly frightening.
"Good." Turning back to watch all the bounties of the up and coming rookies making their way to paradise…three in particular had caught his eye. 'Surgeon of Death' Trafalgar D. Law, 'Straw Hat' Monkey D. Luffy and…'Captain' Eustass Kid…'Wait his epithet is Captain? I know the marines can drop the ball on epithets from time to time but I'm fairly certain that this just takes the cake. Agreed. No kidding.'
Having reached a consensus on the marine's inability to have made even an ounce of effort in what to grace the rookie, Eustass Kid, with, Teach began to ponder deeply as to how these new developments would result in modifications to his plan. The Kid pirates made a name for themselves for their ruthlessness and while they are rookies they weren't idiots so that dish was out of the menu. In the case of Trafalgar D. Law…His crew wasn't the worst but Teach had zero doubts that even he alone could trample over all of them. The problem with the Heart Pirates was the Captain himself. 'Certainly not the Gura Gura no Mi but still ridiculously dangerous in its own right.' Trafalgar D. Law would also not be served to the world government. Lastly Monkey D. Luffy.
Marshall D. Teach was a man many had a hard time figuring out. Some days he was as jolly as could be, munching on cherry pies like Charlotte Linlin feasted on sweets. Other days he was insanity incarnate, wreaking havoc on anything and everything he passed. Then there were days like today where the captain of the Blackbeard Pirates was quiet and contemplating, seemingly playing a long game of chess where he was always 10 steps ahead of his prey. With a complete mouthful of pearly whites, Blackbeard laughed realizing what would have to be done. It would be a gamble but if Ace's words were true? "Zehahahahahaha! I'm looking forward to claiming your devil fruit pops! Zehahahahahaha!"
Luffy and the rest of his crew had never felt more alive than they have at this very moment. Ironic considering they were all at Mother Nature's mercy at the moment and she did not seem at all happy. The storm raged on and true to her claims, Nami not only managed to keep them afloat, it wouldn't be far-fetched to say they were thriving because of her guidance. Where other ships would have failed and sunk below the depths despite their navigator's best efforts, Nami's commands and control over the wheel had them experiencing what anyone else in those conditions considered smooth sailing.
Zoro and Sanji found themselves doing the majority of the work…at least when it came to following Nami's orders on what to do on the ship to keep it on course and afloat. Luffy found himself on the Going Merry's figurehead, releasing pulses of Conqueror's Haki to keep the Sea Kings at bay. For whatever reason, the beasts had left their hunting and breeding grounds in the Calm Belt and come out to play. Luffy had been running around with Zoro and Sanji earlier on Nami's orders but after the first Sea King rose to the surface picking a fight? No arguments were made about Luffy's new job. Usopp was positioned at the crow's nest and kept an eye out for the landmark Nami said he couldn't miss even if he tried. She wasn't wrong.
"I see the lighthouse guys!" Usopp screamed in elation. His mood was infectious as the crew below grinned, delighted by their marksman's report. "Adjust course…30 degrees to the right, Nami!"
"Heard!" Nami did as told, making the change with practiced ease. Looking back up to the nest, Nami called out, "You can come on down now, Usopp! I have a feeling Luffy has something to say!"
"Same goes for the two of you! Lock in the mainsail then wait for the rest of us there on deck!"
"Aye-aye, Nami!"
"Of course, Nami-chan!"
Nami's eye twitched at Sanji's insistence on adding '-chan' to her name but compared to 'Nami-swan~'... she'll deal with it. Didn't mean there wasn't some justice in the world.
BONK!
"Damn ero-cook, quit calling her that." Zoro growled as Sanji turned to face him with a scowl, getting in the swordsman's face with a glare. "If you're so desperate for a beating just ask."
"You're the one cruisin for a beatin ', shitty marimo!" Sanji jabbed his finger at Zoro who reached for his swords with a malicious grin. One mirrored by the blonde swirly eyebrowed cook. "I haven't gotten to pay you back for what you did to the pretty marine back on Loguetown."
"That's it! You're minced meat, you blonde skirt chasing swirly eyed horndog!"
"We'll see about that you uncultured swine!"
Nami rolled her eyes as the sounds of steel tipped boots and razor sharp blades clashing filled the air, only slightly muffled by the howling winds. She'd complain but she couldn't argue with the results of the two of them constantly fighting against each other, both in it for the kill. Armament Haki was second nature to those two monsters now, Zoro's armament outshined Sanji's in pure force but in terms of skillful mastery, the cook of the Straw Hats had the upper hand. All in all the two ended up being balanced against the other while Nami and Usopp remained the weakest members of the crew, the number one weakest being up in the air as there was no clear distinction between them yet.
Nami had a better chance in close combat than Usopp, and once her Clima-Tact was finally completed her capabilities in ranged combat would skyrocket. The same could be said for Usopp however, as while the marksman himself had been to chicken to ask for it, Luffy had no issues bringing up an increased allowance for Usopp to not only purchase the materials he needed for Nami's Clima-Tact but the marksman's own projects as well. Nami sweatdropped just recalling the amount of thank yous and shed tears Usopp had as he hugged Luffy like there was no tomorrow. Sidetracked, the same could be said for Usopp as with the addition of the cross-gauntlet, a crossbow/slingshot attached to a gauntlet, and his machetes, Zoro approved, the Straw Hat's marksman also got a boon to his close quarters combat.
Nami locked in the wheel, making sure they'd remain on course for what she expected would be the amount of time Luffy needed to get whatever he wanted done, over with.
"We all set out to achieve different goals, but the road to completing each and every one of them coincides with the other!" Luffy slammed a barrel down in the center of the deck, right between Zoro and Sanji who had their blade's edge and steel-tipped boot respectively, millimeters away from their captain's head. "The road won't be easy, but nothing in life ever is. So long as you remain steadfast in achieving your dreams, I'll be damned if I let anything stand in your way to get to it. Be they Marines, Pirates, Celestial Dragons, or even God himself! I'll deal with anybody and everybody who stands in our way myself if I have to."
"I believe I speak for all of us when I say that the same goes for you Luffy." Zoro supplied a grin that was mirrored by the rest of the crew. "I set out to become the greatest swordsman and I'll be damned if I let anyone get in my captain's way to his own dreams!"
"We may not be much now, but in the short time you've been with us, our powers have gone through the roof." Sanji put his own two cents in with a solemn expression. A solemn expression that quickly morphed into a smirk. "It won't be today or tomorrow, but I'll go rot in Davy Jones's locker before I accept never once being able to stand by your side, Captain."
"I the Great…I wasn't anything but a liar when you took me in." Luffy and the others listened intently to Usopp the moment the marksman stopped himself on his own and openly admitted his terrible past. "I lied, told tall tales, made exaggerated adventures for the heck of it…but no more. I used to fight from a distance where my foes couldn't fight back, but none of that any further either. You showed me what it means to truly become a warrior, and I'll sail till the ends of the Earth with you and back, Captain!"
"You liberated me." Nami whispered, her eyes watering slightly but no tears fell. "You liberated me, my village, my family…and you became my world, my anchor in an ocean that wanted to wash me away, my beacon to show me the way home, you, Monkey D. Luffy, are my everything and nothing will stop me from making sure we all, Straw Hats of today and of the future, achieve our dreams by journey's end."
Zoro, Nami, Usopp and Sanji's words caused Luffy's heart to beat powerfully in his chest but it wasn't an unpleasant feeling, it was the opposite. With a wide, thousand watt smile, Luffy raised his foot and slammed it down onto the barrel. "To become the Pirate King!"
Zoro slammed his foot, "To become the World's Greatest Swordsman!"
Sanji slammed his foot, "To find the All Blue!"
Usopp slammed his foot, "To become a True Warrior of the Sea!"
Nami slammed her foot, "To make a Map of the Whole World!"
The barrel broke under the pressure as all the Straw Hats shouted to the heavens, "To the Grand Line and beyond!"
EAST BLUE SAGA
END