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"One Piece." – Speaking
'One Piece.' – Thinking
One Piece. – Flashbacks
One Piece. – Devil Fruits and Techniques
Deadly Drinking Pirate
Meet the Mermaid! Arrive at the Archipelago!
Previously on Deadly Drunken Pirate,
"Thank you all!" Lola addressed the Straw Hats and took out a piece of paper from her pocket. "Take this when you enter the New World, it might come in handy!" Luffy grinned a bit when Nami took the paper in hand; he knew what it was for and there was this nagging feeling it will be a big help in the future.
"It's no problem at all, Lola. I just hope you won't run into any more trouble on your way to Water Seven." Luffy said with a firm handshake. "In the meanwhile, we will continue on our way in the opposite direction. And I know that we are just one island left to visit in Paradise."
"Ah yes, the Sabaody Archipelago. You are in luck because that island is the closest one to the end of Paradise that meets the Red Line. Plenty of sailors go there to get ready for the New World. As it happens to have means to reach the dream of many sailors, Fishman Island." As soon as she spoke those words, a certain chief got fired up.
"Oh! Fishman Island, home to the fishman and more importantly the mermaids~!" Sanji started to dance and sing like an actual fool to which everyone twitched too. It was sad to see such a sight and especially in front of actual couples. Kaya and Carol just made sure their boyfriends don't get any ideas; Nami on the other hand knows for sure that her boyfriend won't bat an eye.
"Never mind our chef, he will break out of it soon. I still wish you and your gang the best of luck on your way to Water Seven." Luffy stated with a handshake with Lola. "We need to be getting ready to leave ourselves."
"No problem, Mugiwara. And thanks again!" Lola waved goodbye as she boarded Brook's old ship for Water Seven. What will happen next will be her own story to tell.
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Later,
"Oh my! What a lovely vessel you have~!" Brook, despite his age, acted like a kid in a new candy store as he literally spun around on the deck of the Grand King's Brew. "I am amazed how it appears to be a battleship and a galleon in one ship~! Omph-!" Brook's excited was grounded when someone shoved a barrel into his arms.
"Listen, Bones. We get that you are new on this ship but we are casting off now on Captain's orders. The tour will come later. So, get busy and follow the guys into the hold." Frank pointed out to where the guys were heading and Brook hurried to catch up. "Yeesh, to think it will be exciting to recruit new mates but we keep forgetting about this bit." No one remaining on deck wanted to respond to that, not that Frank cared.
"Are you sure that we ought to allow such a clown on our ship?" Nami knew by now to trust Luffy's judgement but as a young woman, she was not afraid to voice what she thought. Which is why she is being patient with not one more woman but two now competing with her to share time with the captain. Nami now treasures the times she has Luffy all to herself.
"We all are goofs when we feel like relaxing but I know that Brook will soon be part of the family we are growing. Besides, his sword style still interests me." Nami giggled to know that nothing is going to change his mind but it was somehow cute to see Luffy interested in something new; for a seemingly unstoppable pirate, there is a little kid in the captain. Is it any wonder how he can attract lovely ladies with a charm of a confident adult and an honest child?
Thankfully it didn't take long to finish and the Grand King's Brew left Thriller Bark behind and headed for Sabaody Archipelago, the final stop before Fishman Island and afterwards the New World. But with the growing turmoil in the center of the World Government, who knows what will happen next?
"Behold, everyone." Luffy spoke with Nami in his arm, as if a married couple, as the entire crew takes a good look at a red stone wall that seemed to go on forever. "That's the Red Line, the sign that we all had arrived at the end of Paradise."
"And half of us hail from the same ocean." Zoro spoke with a forlorn look. Luffy, Alvida, Nami, Usopp, Kaya, Kuro, Gin and Nojiko all nodded. "Still, plenty of us were born in the other oceans."
"Yeah, I am actually from the South Blue." Franky stated. "Along with Frank and Nero." Both of them nodded.
"My home island of Ohara was in the West. And I believe that Carol and Grace both were too." Both girls confirmed it.
"I am actually from the Grand Line, born on the snowy island that is now called Sakura Island." Chopper jumped in and dragged out Aisa to everyone's attention. "And she is from Sky Island!"
"They all know that Chopper and don't do that again!" Somehow, Aisa made a defiant kid with a pout still look cute. Then she realized something, "But what about you, Sanji-san and T-bone-san?"
Sanji looked a bit ashamed to see that Franky and Brook also want to know. "Sorry for not telling you like I told everyone present on Jaya, I am actually from the North Blue. I was only raised in the East Blue."
"I too am from the North Blue, from an island that hails generations of knights. However, I had a dream to join the Navy as well." T-bone spoke. "At first everyone was freaked out by my face and yet mocked me for 'playing knights', until they got a glimpse of how effective I was in combat and I was made Captain in no time. That was all before the events of Enies Lobby, of course." Everyone nodded at that statement, it was an ordeal that will never be forgotten for ages to come that a band of pirates stormed the Government's backyard and got away with it.
While everyone was taking all this in, Luffy felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise. It wasn't exactly like the 'intruder from Thriller Bark'. It was more like a warning that something is coming but it was both hostile and non-hostile at the same time. Thankfully, the captain knew exactly what this was. "Hey guys, to the starboard."
Eyes turned towards the starboard side of the ship just in time to see a Sea King appear with teeth shown with a hungry grin. Yet no one screamed, or even moved an eyebrow. Something told them that this giant thing was no threat nor anything important to note. "Sorry bud, but…" Luffy calmly spoke with his right arm already wringing inward for a mean punch. "Gum-Gum Shotto (Gum-Gum Springshot)!"
With the aim of a pro, Luffy hit the massive beast at the very spot along its neck that it was instantly beaten. But what got everyone's attention was when the Sea King coughed up something before it hit the water again. Something that flew and flew high into the sky until it started to fall, heading towards the deck! Only for it to land in Luffy's arms!
While everyone was getting a better look, Luffy chuckled. "Why did I think I will find you guys like this again?"
"LUFFY~!" Those figures in the captain's arms suddenly embraced him around the head, obviously knowing Luffy and showing gratitude from being saved. Once it was all over, they saw what could only be a…
"MERMAID!?" Luffy nodded,
"Her name is Camie, a Kissing Gourami mermaid. She is a friend of mine from Fishman Island." While still in his arms, she is shown with green hair and dark purple eyes. She wore a yellow and pink t-shirt that exposed her stomach. Camie has a pink tail with light fins, and her dorsal fin is white.
Everyone started to flock over to Camie, after she was placed on the deck gently. She had no idea why so many different people were trying to get a good look; no one could say exactly why because it was a bad memory and it will be plain rude. "Now you are done treating her like a zoo attraction, you need to meet this great guy." Luffy spoke up and it got the crew to see what could only be a starfish wearing a turban and standing like a proud man in the captain's hands. "This is Pappag, he is Camie's best friend and, pun intended, star fashion designer."
Before anyone could point out that it was a starfish, "Very true. And the craziest part was that for the longest time I thought I was human until I finally realize that I am a starfish. Only in the Grand Line I suppose." It couldn't be truer than the looks on everyone's faces and that they couldn't even peep in response. No, what broke the ice, was what Luffy said next; like the times before,
"They both are friends with Hatchan, the same one in Arlong's crew."
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Later,
The Grand King's Brew is sailing at a steady pace along the waters while the atmosphere was not as steady. "Remind me again why are we rescuing a fishman that helped Arlong invade the navigator's home island back in the East Blue." Kuro spoke with slight irritation; he knows that his new captain will never do anything without thinking but he just wants to walk through it one more time.
"Because, he is the single fishman that had next to no negative intent when we stormed Arlong Park months ago. And, like I said, he is friends with Camie and Pappug. Finally, he can give us good word to a certain bar we can crash in once we arrive in Sabaody." Luffy responded while still facing forward. "Now keep your eyes peeled because I am getting a ton of unfriendly signatures surrounding Hachi's straight ahead." He shouted for all to hear and while the crew got to work, Camie and Pappug leaned over the railing with concern as the ship was heading into some 'unfriendly' waters; they were also very worried for Hachi as they trusted that their friend knew where the octopus Fishman was.
Soon enough they came across what could be an encampment fort built above the water with several large beams. And right in the front center was a cage. A cage that had someone locked, bound and chained inside. "HACHI~!" Camie and Pappug sprinted forward to the forehead of the Grand King's Brew to see who the prisoner was; none of the crew members bothered to follow.
"Hello there, Hatchan! You are looking like you doused yourself in your own ink, that is the grossest thing I ever seen!" Luffy chimed in when the octopus fishman was in clear view. "We are here to get you out!" What made Luffy grin was that Hatchan still tried to hide how he was the same from the East Blue until, "By the way, what happened to Arlong!?"
"He and the others got captured but I managed to get away. I tried to return to Fishman Island but got caught here instead…" Still the lovably gullible and naïve octopus fishman, Hatchan realized too late that he let his 'disguise' up.
"Whatever, Hatchi. Now let's get those guys out of hiding and get you down…" As Luffy was speaking, several figures emerged from the water. It looked like bikers riding motorbike handles on oversized fish; that resembled the actual 'flying fish'. Camie and Pappug screamed at the top of their lungs while Hachi looked frighten himself, almost like he led his friends into a trap. Fortunately for him, the trap was never going to work. Not when Luffy was leading the charge.
The Straw Hats didn't fear the ambushers and didn't even bat an eye when the attackers suddenly fell back into the sea. "A lot has happened since the East Blue. Now we are getting you out right now so we can make good on getting to Sabaody. Now duck your head." Luffy spoke up again and took a swift swipe at the cage, cutting it where the bars were connected to the top. Hatchan expected to fall into the ocean to wash off the ink and hopefully getting the bounds off. Instead, he landed on a tarp on the ship's deck. "And that ink is going to be a huge pain to wash off so be careful, Hachi."
The octopus could only grin to see how much has changed since he last encountered the Straw Hats while Camie and Pappug worked to get the ropes and ink off. He could has sworn that the crew had doubled and maybe tripled in size and the same can be said for the ship. Hachi felt something of an old man right about now.
XXXXX
Later,
"I swear, you are too much for words, Mugiwara (Straw Hat)." Hatchan mused, clean of the ink, yet still in disbelief. And right now, he was hanging back on the deck. "Just how did you get those guys to follow you?" Its true, just like that, the Straw Hats gained a pack of followers right after they got Hatchan out.
"The Flying Fish Riders? All I did was 'talk it through' with their boss." Luffy responded on his beach chair, reading the newspaper. "Besides, you truly make the best octopus Takoyaki. Even my stomach, made of rubber too, loved them." That last statement filled the air with chuckles and a few giggles. It was still adorable to see the captain's childish side that comes out every now and then.
Then that innocent face grew grim, "On another and more serious note…" The tone was enough to grab everyone's attention. "We have had this peace because the Navy has no time to scour every square volume of the ocean. In other words, once we reach dry land, it will be time for Bounty Posters again. Something that was put on hold back in Alabastra, when I 'joined' the Shichibuki. But not anymore."
Then Luffy turned to Chopper and Aisa. "Don't think for a moment that they won't put bounties on kids. One of us had to live with it and that's one too many in my book." There was a pause with a hint of resentment in the air while Robin said nothing, the hands on her heart and look on her face said the whole thing; that her captain will never stop thinking about her concerns, no matter how cheesy that is.
"And you two…" Luffy continued, breaking the ice and pointing at T-bone and Nero, "You both once worked for the navy, the government and both. They won't be happy to see you part of pirates now. They may have something nasty in waiting, so keep your guard up." Then he returned to his paper yet, "Everyone else that wants a bounty, with a big number and a scary picture, the navy has eyes everywhere when a new poster in needed. Don't forget."
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Soon enough, they arrived at a site that looks like an entire forest held up by countless large roots. This was a mangrove, and not just a simple one, this is Sabaody. It was called an archipelago as it is not an island, but the world's largest collection of trees that form several island-sized areas steady for buildings and settlements to be made. "We are here, everyone. This is where we will rest, restock and prepare for the journey to Fishman Island!" Luffy shout out for all to hear and everyone cheered.
And the first thing they all noticed were the abundance of large bubbles! Apparently, this was another major feature about Sabaody, that the trees were special ones native to Paradise. While sounding weird, the trees 'breathe' in the air and create the bubbles with their special resin that is quite light and rather resistant. They are more than strong enough to lift a person or three before it gets crowded. The only catch is that once the bubbles raise too high, they burst.
After finding a suitable spot to set anchor, it was important to remember the number on the tree to know where to find the ship again; kind like finding your car in the world's biggest, most crowded parking lot. While a few will remain on the Grand King's Brew to maintain it, a couple of groups were made to run errands with a destination to meet up later.
Yet there was something very important, grimly important. It showed on both Hatchan's and Luffy's faces. "If you see someone assaulted or killed in cold blood by certain people wearing bubbles around their heads, do not try to confront them!"
End of Chapter 57.
*Hello Everyone. I hope you are having a good holiday! The truth is, I had an incident with my car three days ago and it is still too soon to even get it inspected. I hope to get it fixed at least before New Years!
Anyways, I plan to unveil the World Nobles and the Supernovas in the next chapter which may take until January next year. Of course, I still need to remember how to spell the name Sabaody in the future. See you then!*