Here it is the next chapter as I said in August. The next chapter will probably be uploaded in the middle or end of September if nothing goes wrong. But it shouldn't as the next one still belongs to this one. But I didn't want to keep you waiting for any longer and I liked the point where I could end the chapter^^

So enjoy^^

~Chapter 14 – Welcome in the prehistoric time~

"So why can't we go straight for Alabasta? I want to fight this Croc-guy", Luffy complained and pouted.

"Because it isn't the best tactic to go straight. We don't know how long it would take us to reach Alabasta. It is quite possible that our supply won't last that long. So we are doing something of a mixed way by following the normal Logue Pose but also follow the Eternal Pose. That way it is also harder to track us down. Meaning we will have the element of surprise when we get there", Ain explained.

Luffy frowned. He didn't like that his journey was controlled because of that. He wasn't some kind of a man for a plan. He was a pirate who wanted to be free.

Also, he wanted to fight this Shichibukai because he couldn't fight the last one. It would have interesting probably. But Mihawk was now reserved for Zoro to fight.

"Think about it, Luffy. By using that tactic your grandpa also can't catch up with if he is coming after you", Ain said making him shiver.

He didn't want to meet his grandpa, yet. The man would probably try to fight his Nakama to see how good they were. Something he didn't want to happen, yet. He didn't want the others to get hurt because his grandpa was his typical self.

"See, it is much safer this way…" Ain started to say. But she got interrupted by Bepo's shout for a strange ship.

Luffy jumped out of his seat and ran to the railing to look. Chouchou close behind him.

The strange ship seemed more like a boat with one cabinet. It was decorated with some silk clothes. It had a strange, mystic aura around it. The same aura was also around the only person on the ship.

Luffy wasn't sure if the person was a woman or a man as most of it was covered by silk cloth except the eyes which were grey-green. He swallowed when he met these eyes. It felt like these eyes stared directly into his soul. Something he didn't feel very often and he didn't like it.

"Oi, stop staring that way!", Luffy shouted. But that made the person only chuckling. "I'm sorry, pirate-san."

It was a soft, smoky, female voice.

"Oi, don't be impolite to a lady", Sanji scolded him and pulled his cheeks. "Stop it, Sanji. Her staring was not nice", Luffy grumbled and started to pout. "Forget it, the idiot is already lost", Zoro said yawning as he walked closer. "What did you say, you stupid marimo?"

"Ne, pirate-san, shall I repay my rudeness by reading your future?", the woman interrupted. "Future? Why should I want to know that? It's boring when you know what to expect", Luffy said while poking his nose. "I don't give out details. But I give clues to the one you could call your soul mate."

"I want to hear it~ I want to hear about our beautiful future together", Sanji said and nearly jumped over the railing if Law hadn't hit him on the head. "Get yourself together or I'll castrate you if don't stop chasing after every female person", the surgeon threatened which made Luffy chuckling.

"Huh~ An interesting one. I can't see anything for your soulmate… but you should be careful around someone who likes to jump around", the woman said. "So I know life is dangerous with this idiot being around", Law grumbled and pointed towards Luffy who in return pouted.

But the woman only laughed. "You haven't met the one, yet. So remember my words if you meet someone like that. You there, Mister Cook. Don't see with your eye but with your heart to find the true one for you." The eyes of the woman shifted to Zoro. "You, Mister Swordsman, should keep your right eye open for someone who is from a land where you could learn a thing or two."

She really seemed to love to talk this way. Without really giving out any information. Her eyes were back on him.

Luffy still didn't like the look in her eyes. He was going to tell her off again. But this time she spoke before he opened his mouth.

"Pirate-san, you have a strange attraction to fire as it seems."

This words made him narrow his eyes. What was she talking about? She wasn't talking about the way he acted around big fires… or was she. Somewhere in the back of his mind, old memories raise up. Memories of the Grey Terminal covered in flames.

"Luffy-san?"

The soft voice of one of their female members on the ship interrupted his thoughts. He wasn't even sure if it was Conis or Vivie. Because Ain wouldn't call him Luffy-san.

He turned his head to see the light blue-haired princess who looked at him with some worry in her eyes.

"I'm fine", Luffy said with a grin. Even if it was possible written all over his face that he was lying. Well, it wasn't just possible. It was probably that way. After all, he was a very bad liar.

"Get everyone, a storm is coming", Ace suddenly shouted and got everyone's attention away from the strange woman.

Also, she wasn't there any longer when Luffy looked at the water as the storm started to pick up.

What a strange woman.

"So do we know the name of the island maybe?", Law asked as they were certainly on a river with their ship surrounded by some kind of a prehistorical island if the flora was anything to go by. "Well, it has to be an early island on the Grandline. So it is possible that it is Little Garden", Ain said next to him while reading the book 'Brag Men'.

It made Law cringe inside that their only source for most islands on the Grandline was this book of romantic fiction. It wasn't a safe source because everything which was written there could be a lie.

"Little Garden, huh? Wasn't that described as a Garden for giants with dinosaurs?" A nod was his only answer.

Well, better not tell Luffy about that.

"Dinosaurs? I want to see them."

Too late... their curious captain had heard the last part and was now standing next to them with stars in his eyes.

"Do they taste good?"

Law suppressed his urge to facepalm. It was so clear that the younger one was thinking with his stomach again. But it was good to see him like that again after the young captain had seemed kinda out of it after the short meeting with this strange fortune-teller.

"Don't know. Ask Sanji if he can cook dinosaur meat", Ain suggested which made Luffy pout. "Zoro and Sanji are arguing about who is stronger and who will catch the bigger animal or something."

Law felt a headache starting to grow again… why did they recruit these two bickering idiots again?

"Because they can swim, are good fighters with potential, have a dream and one of them is a cook", Ain concluded for him, making him realise he spoke out loud. A quirk he developed after spending too much time with Luffy who most of the time would just say whatever was on his mind.

Said cause of this quirk was laughing. "Zoro is fun to have around. He doesn't get stingy when I eat everything from the fridge as long as I leave the booze alone."

"You know Sanji feeds you nearly every time you whine as long as we still have enough in the storage", Law said carefully. "Yeah, but Sanji gets stingy when I want to have some dessert, too. But he only prepares it for Ain, Conis and Vivie."

"That are the flaws~ You have to get along with when picking up an alcohol- and nap-loving swordsman and a notorious flirty cook."

Ain sounded too amused when she said that. It even looked like she was enjoying herself. Something he had rarely seen when she was a marine recruit. The only time was when she got to babysit Luffy back then.

But he should get back to the bickering idiots. "Is someone going with Zoro? Otherwise, we won't find him again with that non-existing sense of direction of him." "He can't be that bad…" Law turned his head to look at Ain. Well... she couldn't really know about it so. "He got lost while crossing the street in Logue Town."

"Nii-chan and Barto went with them. To be the judge of their contest."

Well, that was calming. Now Luffy wanted to explore so maybe he should go with the younger one to make sure that he was going to be okay. Perhaps they also find some clues how long it would take for the Logue Pose to reset. This would decide about their course. After all, mixing the direction slightly seemed like a good plan to prevent someone from following them and also making their arrival in Alabasta more unpredictable.

"Lay down and get some rest, while only Bepo, Chouchou, Conis and Vivie are on board. We need our doctor in perfect shape when we reach Alabasta. After all, it's a desert country. Not everyone will be able to handle the heat." Law looked at Ain a little annoyed. He was well-rested. He had his two hours of sleep at night before something happens. It wasn't exactly healthy but it was enough for him.

"Why should Torao get some rest?", Luffy asked with a tilted head. "Because he only sleeps around two hours which isn't enough for a person. He may fall asleep randomly like Ace does but not because of an illness. But because he doesn't sleep enough."

Law glared at Ain. "I know what I am …" "Torao, you stay on board and rest. Captain's order." Seriously…

"Don't worry, I'll take care of him. It isn't like I babysit him for the first time", Ain said and left with Luffy. Leaving Law alone without a chance to protest.

The surgeon sighed. Well, he couldn't really go against 'Captain's order' despite Luffy not being a typical captain all the time. So in these rare times, he decided something even if it wasn't something serious, they should follow it.

But maybe it wasn't such a bad idea to relax for some time until the troublemakers are back. Law slowly went to the kitchen to make himself a cup of tea.

"They both have the same size. Also, the portion of the meat you could get seems also to be the same", Ace said as he studied the loot of Sanji's and Zoro's hunting competition.

"Are you blind? It's obvious that you could get more meat from this dinosaur as from the one who was dragged here by this stupid marimo", Sanji complained.

"Shut it, you asked us to be the judge. So don't complain", Ace said slightly annoyed. These two… as funny as it was to watch. It was annoying when it went on for too long.

"Oi, marimo, where are you going? Stupid idiot, we should get a lead for you", Sanji grumbled. "What did you say, you stupid cook? Do I look like a dog to you? I'll go an catch something even bigger to win, idiot", Zoro growled. "That is what I will do…"

"Both of you be quiet. This is enough to reach the next island. Law will be pissed if there is a chance that the food will go bad and you, Sanji, will be angry if we waste food. But we are on the Grandline. We can't make a mistake. The first half of the Grandline is called paradise from those travelling in the New World. If we can't survive in paradise, we don't even need to go to the New World… Something that Luffy doesn't need. Luffy is the one who will become the pirate king. You know, my little brother is a troublemaking idiot, so he needs us behind him without mistakes!", Ace shouted angry for the first time with them. He didn't even know why his temper got the best of him now. Maybe because normally Luffy and Law keep him a little calmer.

Suddenly a shadowed crept over the four men and the loot.

"Huh, now that's interesting to see." A new voice said from there above them.

Ace looked up and was shocked. A giant.

"Shishishi, that sounds like fun, Ossan", Luffy said happily sitting on the giant's shoulder. "Gegyagyagyag, now aren't you a lively brat."

"Is it really okay for Luffy to sit on your shoulder, Dorry-san?", Ain asked from the ground where she sat with Vivi and Carue.

The giant, who had introduced himself as Dorry the Blue Ogre after he had saved them from a giant dinosaur, just laughed. "It's fine. I barely notice his weight", he told.

"I don't understand why you two have to fight?", Vivi mumbled quietly. But even from Dorry's shoulder, Luffy could hear. "It's a tradition, young princess. I wouldn't be an honourable man if I didn't follow it. It's also a matter of pride. Something we, giants, value in high regards", the giant explained.

"I think it is cool to have someone to fight with in such an honourable match for such a long time despite being pirates", Luffy chirped with stars in his eyes.

The whole story about how the fight had started, hadn't been so interested for him. But it fascinated him how long these two kept it up. One-hundred years. That was such a longe time and still, they value the code of honour. It was incredible.

"You should visit Elbaf some time. There are still lots of members from Brogy's and my crew. Even as pirates honour is our most precious treasure", Dorry said and looked at Luffy. "Elbaf is in the New World, right? How did you cross the Red Line? I heard about some possibilities. At least from the paradise side. But from the side of the New World, I only knew about the ways the Government uses and they wouldn't allow pirates to use them", Ain asked.

"Gegyagyagyag, yeah, Elbaf is on the other side of the Red Line. Well, we crossed through the Calm Belt into the West Blue and then used the entrance of Reverse Mountain. The entrance's size is different. I heard it is the smallest when you come from the East Blue it is the smallest. Because not many pirates enter from there. The other ways got bigger because the people fought their way into it and on to the Grandline", Dorry explained with laughter. "But it could have changed since then. One-hundred years may be not a long time for a giant but for tiny humans like you, it sure is."

A Vulcan erupted with loud noises.

"That's the signal. I will talk to you after the fight. You have to get down from my shoulder now. Because there is no way, I'll fight that way", Dorry said and stood up. Luffy pouted. "Can I come and watch? I want to see it. I promise, I don't interfere and I'll stay out of your range", he asked with pleading eyes. Dorry seemed to be a little sceptical.

"It's fine, Dorry-san. Luffy is able to fly, so he could fly at some distance to watch the fight and Luffy isn't one to interfere with fights. Especially when they are about someone's honour and pride", Ain said with a sigh. She didn't really look like she was happy about his desire to watch the fight. But seemed to have accepted that he would probably do it anyway.

It made him grin.

"Let's go!", Luffy cheered loudly. But as soon as Dorry stood up, there was another loud noise. This time it wasn't an erupting Vulcan. It sounded like an explosion. An explosion from the other side of the island.

Smoke was rising in the air close to the other big sea king skeleton.

So first things first, I know Carue is officially romanized as Karoo. But Carue is stuck in my head and it is also still the official character on FF dot net when you want to choose a character. So for the story as long as he appears I will write it is as Carue. Because most likely when I go on writing I will probably have forgotten the official romanization. So yeah, if it bothers someone, sorry ^^
Second, the way how Dorry and Borgy got from the New World to Paradise isn't officially known. But I didn't want them to go through Fishman Island because it would be pretty standard. Also, sea kings are 'afraid' of giants as I found out. So it would be fitting for them to go through the Calm Belt and the enter via Reverse Mountain (Just imagine the entrance passage isn't as small as shown in anime, otherwise I don't think how some ships should have fitted through that if it was already dangerous with the Going Merry and to be true Krieg's ships looked bigger and he would have entered that way, too...) But enough about that.

Also, even if I am already slowly with the story and some characters haven't even gotten their official introduction, yet. I don't think I will go up with the pacing anytime soon, because I really like to try to develop the world and the characters more (even if some of them didn't get much love, yet). So I hope the pacing is fine at the moment. Just want to hear your opinion there or if I should speed it a little up, I'm just curious^^

Until next time