This is the 36th chapter. I don't own the series of One Piece.
No flame reviews.
The Legend Begins! Head to the Grand Line!
Loguetown
After the miraculous escaped death by luck when Buggy was about to execute him, Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji head for the Going Merry while the Buggy Pirates were busy fighting against the Marines. However, it won't stop Smoker since the Lieutenant inform him that the Straw Hat pirates manage to escape from the skirmish which the Captain of the Marines is going to deal with him, personally.
When the storm continues to rain down fast while lightning strikes, a mysterious cloaked man is walk around Loguetown with a grin on his face.
He's a man with a long green cloak and a tattoo on the left side of his face which it's colored dark red.
'Destiny, fate, dreams, these unstoppable ideals are held deep in the heart of man. As long as there people who seek freedom in this life, these things shall not vanish from the earth.'
Those words of Gol D. Rogers have echoed on his mind as he then spoke.
"The Pirate king, fine by me." He said with a grin on his face as he continues to wander.
Meanwhile, Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji were rushing towards the Going Merry that was at the harbor since the storm is pouring down the rain real fast, making it harder for them to see.
"What the hell is up with this rain?" Zoro questions.
"Nami was right about this storm if we don't get back to the ship and set sail soon, we're going to be stuck here for good." Sanji points out seriously.
"Run! Just keep running!" Luffy shouts with his carefree smile.
Meanwhile at the Main Plaza, the Buggy pirates were fighting against the Marines as Cabaji leaps in mid-air with his sword raise.
"Carnival of Colors" Cabaji then swings his sword while shooting the wave of colors at the Marines.
Alvida swung her iron club at the Marines with ease while the Marines went goo-goo eyes on that woman and was sent flying. One of the Marines tried to grab her, but his hand was slipped as she knocked him out.
"You're wasting your time, silly little man." Alvida said with a smirk. "There isn't anybody alive who can lay a hand on this perfectly smooth skin."
Until, Buggy twitched his hand a little as he then raise up with a groan as he spoke.
"That was weird, I saw a field of flowers." Buggy grunts.
"Captain Buggy, you're fried to a crisp." Cabaji said with a smile.
"I don't die." Buggy points out.
"This isn't good Buggy, there sending Marines from Headquarters, they'll never stop." Alvida told him seriously while holding their attacks with her iron club.
"Heh, I don't care. They can stick their noses-Don't let me say noses!" Buggy shouts with a glare, knocked one his crew out by punching him in the face.
Alvida then dodge while knocking the Marine out with her iron club.
"What now?" Alvida asks, waiting for orders as he stood up.
"We go after that little rubber twerp, Mohji and Richie are burning the ship as we speak so he's got no place he can run to. So, all that's left for us to do is do what Buggy Pirates do best: Kick his ass!" Buggy told her with a smirk, leaving his crew cheered. "Motors!"
The Buggy Pirates then toss the set of wheels for their Captain as Buggy use his Devil Fruit power to reconfigure himself into a small car.
"Chop-Chop: Buggy" Buggy then begin to ignite the bomb motor, sent the Marines flying as he then makes a get away.
"Set the ramp! Now!" Alvida ordered them with a smirk as the Buggy Pirates readied the ramp. She then took off her sandals while leap in mid-air. "Smooth-Smooth: Tracks"
Alvida then slides down the ramp and slides the ground like a skier as she and Buggy goes after the Straw Hat pirates. The Marines were about to pursue them, Smoker turns his arms into a smoke as he ensnares them along with the Buggy Pirates.
"White Out" Smoker was able to snare the Buggy Pirates before the fight escalates even further.
"Smoker!" Buggy grunts.
"I can't waste my time with you little fools." Smoker said seriously.
The crowd were shocked when they saw the power of the Plume-Plume Fruit, but amazed that Smoker was able to capture them.
"Fire!" Smoker order the Marines as they fire the nets at Buggy and Alvida while gathered the pirates, use the rope to tie them up.
"Smoker! You bastard!?" Buggy growled.
"I can't break free of this horrible steel net! Where'd they get a gun like that?!" Alvida snarled with a question.
"It's a cage shot developed by the Marines to deal with Devil Fruit powers." Buggy explains. "Cowards!"
"I'll get the Straw Hat, bring my Billower Bike." Smoker ordered the Marine.
With that, the Marines then go and get the Billower Bike while most of the Marines remain here to guard the Buggy Pirates.
Meanwhile, Usopp is given Ventus a helping hand for pulling a cart full of food while rushing towards the harbor along with Nami and Anna.
"This load is heavily!" Usopp complains, panting while running.
"They're going after the Going Merry, the Marines might already be there! We gotta get back to the ship as soon as possible, Usopp!" Nami shouts.
"Nami! Can't we just drop those supplies!" Usopp whines with a question.
"If we drop them, I'm gonna kill you Usopp!?" Ventus warns with a growl.
"I knew you would say that!" Usopp exclaims as they continue to head towards the harbor.
While at the harbor, Mohji is having a bit of trouble trying to light the match which it won't lit because of the rain.
"Dammit! Crap, why did have to start storming now!? How am I suppose to burn down this ship when it's wet!?" Mohji cursed, but the match finally lit which the fire is gone in seconds. "Oh man Richie, we're gonna get in big trouble if we can't get the fire going in the rain!"
Mohji then tried to strike the match again when Richie is telling him that he's hungry and wants to eat some food.
"Relax Richie, I'll feed you in a minute." Mohji told him, leaving the lion disappointed.
"What are you doing!?" Usopp shouts, earned their attention when they saw the Straw Hat pirates.
"Hello, Mohji." Ventus said sarcastically. "Never thought I'd see you again and your precious kitten."
"You!" Mohji growled with anger. "Go, Richie!?"
With that, Richie then goes after the Straw Hat pirates when Anna stepped forward, readied her bow and arrow. Her bow then glowed with green aura as she load her arrow.
"Creature Bane" Anna then fires the arrow at Richie, causing the lion sent flying and knocked down to the ground with the arrow pierced its eye.
"RICHIE!?" Mohji screamed as he then look at the ranger. "How Dare You Hurt Richie!?"
"Windbite" Anna then use the wind magic to surround the arrow, fires the wind arrow at the beast tamer. Mohji was then sent flying and splash towards the ocean while the arrow is embedded in the shoulder. "Ventus, you have to carry the supplies to the ship, hurry!"
Ventus then give her a nod while partially transform into a dragon as he then carries the supplies toward the Going Merry.
"We have to hurry, the Marines will arrive at the harbor." Anna told them.
"Alright, let's go." Usopp nods as he, Anna, and Nami then rush towards the Going Merry.
Until, the gunfire graze the Going Merry as the Straw Hat pirates turned their attention to the Marines.
"Get ready to fire!"
The Marines then get into their positions, aiming at the Straw Hat Pirates. Until, Ventus then breathe fire towards the ground, forming a fire wall while Anna then readied her arrow.
"Flash Arrow" Anna the fires the arrow at the Marines, blinding them with the flash of light. "It won't hold for long, hurry!"
Ventus, Nami, Usopp, and Anna then head towards the Going Merry while the Marines were able to see and the fire have been extinguished due to the rain.
Meanwhile, Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji were rushing toward the harbor which the rain is making it harder for the three while the Marines are on hot pursuit of finding the Straw Hat pirates.
"Which way is the sea?" Zoro questions with a grunt.
"I don't know, the rain makes it hard to tell where we're going." Luffy told him with a grin.
"There they are!"
The Marines then let out a warcry when they're chasing after the Straw hat pirates.
"Damn! They're like roaches, you want to stomp and fight them?" Zoro rhetorically questions.
"There's no time for that!" Sanji told him, but saw Tashigi standing on the street as he went goo-goo eyes on her. "Oh wow~! Who is that?"
Apparently, Tashigi was really angry when her eyes are covered with bangs and Zoro noticed her as she spoke.
"I didn't know you were Zoro and a pirate as well." Tashigi growled, remembered when she first met Zoro at the weapon shop. "You lied! You're just another liar!"
"Oh, great! What the hell did you do to that girl!?" Sanji yelled at the swordsman with white eyes and shark-like teeth when they stopped.
"You never asked me what my name was, did you?" Zoro counters with a scowl when he walk towards her, passing Luffy. "So I never lie, did I?"
"You know there's no way I'm going to allow someone like you to leave town with such a legendary sword or have Ventus become a pirate." Tashigi yelled. "Give it to me! The Waho Ichimonji and hand over the kid, right now!?"
"And why would we hand Ventus to you? He's part of our crew?" Sanji questions. "Look, he's maybe young, but he can take care of himself. And, he choose his life to be a pirate out of his free will."
"Lies! Ventus would never become a pirate! I want him to have a life here! So, hand him over to me, I'll be taking care of him!" Tashigi shouts once more. "And give me that Wado Ichmonji to me, right now!?"
Zoro then readied his sword as he spoke.
"Come and get it." Zoro challenged her with a smirk on his face, leaving Tashigi growled with anger.
Tashigi then drew out her blade as she charges after Zoro, clashing blades against each other while trying to push each other, but they wouldn't budge an inch. The two swordsman push each other and clash again which the two were strong in their own way. They both have similar swordsman style, but very different.
'Okay.' Zoro thought with an impressed smirk while Tashigi grunts.
"What a jerk! You can't fight a girl!" Sanji yells, didn't approve of Zoro's action.
"I can handle myself!" Tashigi retorts, leaving Sanji confused. "This is the fight between the two of us! I don't need any help, so back off!"
"You heard her, get out of here." Zoro told them without looking at the two.
Sanji wanted to help, but Luffy told him that they need to leave as the rubber Captain ran while the cook was about to leave as he spoke.
"Hey Zoro, if you hurt her, I'm gonna kick you ass!" Sanji warned him as he then flees, leaving Zoro and Tashigi alone when the Marines stopped and saw the fight between the two swordsman.
That's where the Marines are wrong when Zoro drew out his second sword as he counters, leaving Tashigi dodge that attack. Zoro was now on the offense, giving her the flurry of slashes which Tashigi was able to block his attacks, but she was barely holding on while trying to hold her sword. Zoro then attacks, causing her to land against the wall as the swordsman then stab the wall right next to her. Tashigi has been defeated which left the Marines shock, they never seen the Sergeant Major of the Marines have lost the fight.
"I hate to disappoint, but you never get this sword from me." Zoro said with a victorious smirk as he then sheathe his swords. "Now, I think its time for me to go."
Zoro then walks away, leaving Tashigi growls with pure anger when he was about to catch up to the Straw Hat pirates.
"Why didn't you kill me!?" Tashigi yelled at him, earned his attention. "I know, it's cuz' I'm a girl! It's pathetic that you can't fight me because I'm a woman, it's embarrassing!? You maybe physically stronger, but you don't have the guts! This sword isn't just for decoration! I don't even think you know what it means to carry a sword!"
Zoro couldn't take anymore as he turned to her and spoke.
"Would you shut up for one second!?" Zoro shouts with annoyance. "Look, you got the same face as some girl I knew died a long time ago and before I know a thing about you, you're talking just like her! What I want you to do is stop acting like some dead person you don't even know and try to be yourself!?"
"Excuse the hell out of me!?" Tashigi retorts, approaches him. "It's not my fault I sound like your dead girlfriend! I had no idea it was so rude and thoughtless of me to be myself, you jerk! You ever think before you talk?!"
"What'd you say!?" Zoro exclaims with his mouth agape and his veins popped in his forehead.
Meanwhile, both Luffy and Sanji continues to rush towards the harbor which the Marines have pinned the four crew members.
"I see the ship, the harbor is up ahead." Luffy said with a big grin.
However, what they really saw was Smoker and his Billower Bike he used for pursuing Luffy which the Captain of the Marine is able to find him.
"Great, now what?!" Sanji exclaims with annoyance.
As they continue to run, Smoker spoke.
"'Straw Hat' Luffy. You're finally here." Smoker said, causing the two to stop. "I already told you that you couldn't make it to the Grand Line without meeting me first, didn't I?"
"Oh yeah, I forgot." Luffy shrugs with his big grin.
"You're really stupid." Smoker told him with annoyance.
"Let's go." Sanji told him quietly, wanted to leave in a hurry.
"Sanji, I'll be right there." Luffy told him without looking at the cook. "Go on."
"I don't know about that. This will be the end for you." Smoker stated with a growl.
Sanji is having some doubts about his Captain which of course, Luffy wants to fight Smoker. However last time he fought, it didn't go very well because Smoker is much more battle experienced than Luffy and the rubber Captain was at a serious disadvantage.
Meanwhile back at the harbor, the Marines kept firing at the Straw Hat pirates which Nami, Usopp, and Anna were able to get on the ship just in time. Ventus then lift the empty cart, threw at the Marines when they started to panic as they scattered, leaving the cart destroy in the ground.
"Cannons, Fire!"
The Marines then fire the cannonballs at the Going Merry, missed but it causes to shake the ship while the Straw Hat pirates have lost their balance as they keep firing the cannonballs at them. Usopp was sent flying next to the tangerine bush, Anna and Nami were about to be landed next to the mast, but Ventus was able to grab hold of them in time as he placed them on the deck.
"If we stay here even a minute longer, the Going Merry will be done for!?" Nami exclaims when the cannonballs were heading straight towards the Going Merry which it hits the sea instead. Anna then raise the anchor as Usopp rush towards the ranger.
"You can't set sail yet! Luffy and the others aren't back!" Usopp points out.
"We don't have other choice, Usopp. If we stay any longer, the Marines will destroy the Going Merry!" Anna told him. "Hurry and set the sail! Crank rudder full!"
With that, they sail the Going Merry while the Marines continue to fire.
"What about the rest of them?" Usopp questions.
"We'll pick them up later!" Nami told him seriously.
"Don't let them escape! After them!"
The Marines then goes after the Straw hat pirates until Sanji manage to catch up before the Going Merry leaves.
"Nami~! Anna~!" Sanji called her, earned their attention.
"Sanji!" Nami and Anna called in unison.
"Sanji!" Usopp added.
"Wait up! I'm back!" Sanji shouts, went goo-goo eyes.
"Where are Luffy and Zoro?!" Ventus asked with a shouts.
"Who cares? We'll just get them later." Sanji replied with a grunt.
The Marines are now on pursuit of going after the cook as Nami and Usopp then spoke.
"Behind you!"
"Look out!"
When Usopp and Nami warned him, seeing some of the Marines goes after him as Sanji then went to work by fighting them. One-by-one, the Marines were knocked out, but they just keep on coming.
"Dammit! This is endless!" Sanji cursed as the Marines surrounds him.
"Hold on Sanji, I'm coming!" Ventus shouts as he readied his lance while leap up to the sky. Sanji then look up at the sky, seeing the young Dragoon lunges down towards the ground.
"Crashing Dive" Ventus then slash against the Marines and stomps the ground, sent the Marines flying.
"Thanks Ventus, glad you're on our side and not the other way around." Sanji thanked him with a smile.
"We're not out yet." Ventus told him when the Marines were still going after them.
"Arrow of Sleep" Anna then fired her arrow at the Marines, but instead of them getting them knocked out, the Marines were now asleep while they suck on their thumbs like a baby. "Hurry up on the ship, the sleeping magic won't last for long."
With that, both Sanji and Ventus then head towards the Going Merry to join the others. However, the Marines are still going after them when Usopp jumped off the Going Merry and fires the iron pellets at the Marines to buy the two some time, but Sanji and Ventus were fighting against the Marines.
Meanwhile back in Loguetown, Luffy and Smoker were going to have a fight since the atmosphere is growing intense. Luffy then look at the Captain of the Marines with a smile on his face as he spoke.
"I am gonna enter the Grand Line." Luffy declared. "Then I'll become King of the Pirates."
"I'm bored. Enough talk." Smoker said in his bored tone as he use the Devil Fruit powers to turn his hands into smoke, use hid 'White Out' to ensnare Luffy.
Luffy is trying to get himself out of the smoke, but no avail as Smoker lifts him up.
"What's happening?!" Luffy questions with a shout.
"I ate the Plume-Plume Fruit, so my body can be smoke whenever I want." Smoker stated which Luffy is at a disadvantage as the Captain of the Marines slammed him to the ground while revert his arms and hands to normal. "What's wrong? Had enough already?"
Luffy is struggling to get up as he look at him while stood up.
"Gum-Gum: Gatling" Luffy then unleashed the rapid barrage of strong punches at Smoker, but it doesn't effect him which he was pushes as he use the Devil Fruit power when the rubber Captain's fist went through of the eye. "Aw crap, that's really gross!"
When Luffy stretch his arm back in its place, Smoker then spoke.
"My turn now! Smoke Screen" Smoker then shoots a cloud of dense smoke from his arms to blast Luffy, sent him flying next to the wall.
"Okay! Gum-Gum: Pistol" Luffy then stretch his arm to hit Smoker in the stomach, but he use the Devil Fruit to turn his body into a smoke, making Luffy missed his target.
"Don't you see? You've gotta get through me to get to the Grand Line." Smoker stated, grab hold of Luffy from behind. "I told you!"
Smoker then leaps up in the air, causing Luffy to scream. Smoker then placed his legs on Luffy's back, slamming him down to the ground.
"You're not worth 30 million berries." Smoker mocks, tightened his grip. "Your lucks run out."
When Smoker grabs hold of his jitte, the green-cloaked man stopped him by grabbing the jitte as he spoke.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that." The man told him.
"It's you." Smoker said when he looked at the green-cloaked man as lightning flashes, revealed his face that formed a smile.
"Hey, what's going on? Who's that?" Luffy grunts with a question.
"How nice, now the Government can have your head." Smoker stated seriously.
"The World is still waiting for our answer." He told him with a grin.
Suddenly, the sky have turned to green as the wind begin to blow with the strong gust of wind, blowing Luffy, Smoker, the Buggy Pirates, Zoro, Tashigi, and the Marines away. Nami and Anna were holding on the wooden rail for their dear life while the cannons were destroyed along with the buildings. When the gust of wind died down while continued to rain, Zoro grunts while stood up along with Sanji and Ventus. Luffy grunts as he spoke.
"Can someone tell me what happen?" Luffy asks with confusion, leaving Usopp grunts while landed on his right side.
"HELP!?" Nami yelled while calling the others. "Luffy!"
"Ventus!? Hurry!" Anna added with a yell.
"Nami!" Luffy shouts.
"Anna!" Ventus added with a shout.
"We gotta go! The ship will be gone soon!" Sanji stated as he and the others rush towards the Going Merry while Luffy head towards the opposite, causing them to stop.
"Okay! Now, Gum-Gum..."
Luffy rush towards the rail as he leap in mid-air, grab hold while stretch his arms. Ventus, Sanji, Zoro, and Usopp aren't going to like where this is going.
"What!?"
"Oh no!"
"No! He can't!"
"I'm not gonna like this!"
"Rocket" Luffy then launches himself while flying to his crew, causing the four to run for it, but it was too late. Luffy fired all four of them towards the Going Merry, causing them to scream for their lives as they landed on the sail and down to the ground, leaving them unconscious.
"You're here." Nami said with relief.
"You guys alright?" Anna questions with a sweat drop.
"I will be when I kill that rubber idiot!?" Ventus yelled with anger as he was about to beat Luffy, causing Anna, Zoro, and Sanji to restrain him. Of course, they don't blame him because of Luffy's stupidity.
When Ventus finally calms down after few minutes of sailing through the storm, they saw a lighthouse that shows the blue light.
"Hey look, a light." Nami told them, causing them to look at the lighthouse.
"Is that a lighthouse?" Usopp asks.
"Yes, it's one of the guiding post. The entrance to the Grand Line is somewhere ahead." Ventus explains.
"The Grand Line is somewhere just out ahead." Luffy said with a smile.
"What now, Captain?" Ventus asks. "Should we sail there in this storm?"
Zoro nodded while Sanji give them a thumb up with a chuckle. Luffy then chuckled a bit while Nami giggled a bit. Anna and Ventus look at each other with a smile.
"Okay then, I think we should say something to mark the occasion." Sanji suggests.
"Right." Usopp nods.
"Yeah." Luffy agrees.
"Let's do it." Nami agrees.
Sanji then bring the barrel to the center of the ship, placing the foot on the top of the barrel.
"I going to the Grand Line to find the All Blue."
"I'm gonna be the King of the Pirates."
"The World's Best Swordsman."
"I'm going so I can draw a map of the entire world."
"To bring justice for my parents."
"To end the conflict between Ishgard and Dravannia."
"I guess I'm going to be a brave warrior of the sea."
The Straw Hat pirates their goals and placed a foot on the top of the barrel as they did.
"And now, to the Grand Line!"
They all agreed on that as they raised their foot into the air. It won't be long until they reach the Grand Line. And it won't long until Ventus have brought his cruel uncles to justice.
That's it for the 36th chapter. Sorry about the delay.