Chapter 9
Straw Hat Pirates-part 1
Keeping a distance from Stockshop Island, Smoker continued to observe the ship belonging to the Straw Hats docked at the island. He was able to see a couple of people on board.
"You see anyone on board?" Tashigi asked him.
"Cyborg Franky and Soul King Brook are both on board, at least from what I can see," Smoker told her. "The others must've gone to the island."
"So what are your orders?" Tashigi asked him.
"Circle around to the other side of the island and dock there," said Smoker as he lowered the telescope. "Some of us will then search the island for the Straw Hats, and then the ship will return to the same location to get ready to take on them if they run back to their ship and try to escape."
Shigure overheard his plan and asked, "Wouldn't it just be easier to blow up their ship now to prevent them from leaving this island?"
"There's a law among Marines that you're not allowed to recklessly blow up ships, even if they belong to pirates, when they are docked at an island with civilization so as to not cause unnecessary panic and destruction. Also, Straw Hat Luffy is someone who does not take lightly to his crewmates being harmed, and he even considers his ship to be a comrade. If we destroy his ship, we're going to provoke him greatly, and trust me when I said that he's not someone you want to get on the bad side of if he is enraged. When dealing with the Straw Hats, we have to act smart."
"Is he really that strong?" asked Laffey.
"He's definitely a formidable opponent. I can guarantee that," Smoker assured her.
"Are there anything important we need to know about the Straw Hat Pirates before we face them?" Enterprise asked Smoker.
"For starters, there are only nine members in the crew," Smoker told her. "But don't underestimate them just because they have such a small number. They are all dangerous in their own ways, even if not all of them are the strongest fighters. Other than the captain himself, the other ones you have to watch out the most are Pirate Hunter Zoro, Black Leg Sanji, and former Shichibukai Jinbe."
"Former Shichibukai? You mean the powerful pirates who serve under the World Government?" asked Zuikaku.
Smoker nodded. "Yes, Jinbe used to be one of the Shichibukai, but he had a fallout with the government and quit, thus once again becoming a wanted person. He eventually went on to join the Straw Hat Pirates."
The ship girls were surprised to hear this. While they had yet to witness how powerful a member of the Shichibukai is, the fact that the Marines held their powers in high regards means that those people are definitely not the kind you want to get into fights with. If the Straw Hat Pirates, who are said to be incredibly powerful, have a former Shichibukai among them, then the upcoming battle was definitely not going to be easy.
"Also, I'm not the kind of person to suggest this strategy, but when up against one of the Straw Hats, there is a certain member you can have an advantage against," Smoker said to the ship girls.
"What do you mean?" asked Javelin.
"Black Sanji that I mentioned earlier is attracted to beautiful women, and it goes without saying that you are the kind of women that he is attracted to," said Smoker.
Most of the ship girls had somewhat weird out expressions on their faces when they heard this. "So… we're dealing with that kind of person, huh…?" said Zuikaku.
"If he won't do lewd stuff, then I think I can handle him," said Javelin.
Taihou giggled and said, "Then I'm sure I will be able to entertain him greatly! There's no way he can resist my charm, and when his guard is down…"
"Yeah, I think you have what it takes to get him…" Tashigi said to him.
"So you are suggesting that we… use sex appeal to bring down the one called Black Leg Sanji?" Enterprise asked Smoker.
"Like I said, it's not the kind of strategy I suggest doing, since it may sound disrespectful for you to use your feminine sides to bring down enemies," Smoker said to her.
"I think I can settle with this sort of strategy!" said Taihou with a rather lustful and enthusiastic look. "If it's feminine wiles that you need, then look no further than me!"
"Yeah, Taihou is totally the kind of person who would give it her all when it comes to this sort of strategy…" said Shigure.
"Well, if you think you can make things easier, then do what you can," Smoker said to her, and he was a bit weirded out by her behavior. Some of the Marines present were already lusting over her, complete with hearts for their eyes.
"I have wanted posters of every member in the crew," Smoker told the ship girls. "Look at them and memorize what they look like."
Later, the ship girls were inside the ship cabin, looking at the wanted posters of all nine members of the Straw Hat Pirates.
Looking at Luffy's wanted poster, Shigure said, "I still can't see how he's a dangerous person. He looks carefree and harmless enough… And what's with the last name Monkey anyway…? Is that supposed to mean something?"
Tashigi, who was in the room with them, told her, "Don't judge people by their looks. He's very powerful, but not necessarily dangerous. I mean, it's true that he's a pirate, but he isn't exactly known for attacking civilians. Still, he brought lots of headaches for the Marines and the World Government, which is why his bounty is so high."
Enterprise was looking at Zoro's wanted poster and noticed his epithet. "Why is he called Pirate Hunter if he's a pirate himself? Sounds ironic…"
Tashigi explained to her, "That was what he was called before he became a pirate. He was a bounty hunter, capturing pirates for a living, but for reasons unknown, he ended up becoming one himself by joining Straw Hat… Either way, he's one of the most powerful members on the crew, so you better be careful when dealing with him."
"Cat Burglar Nami… I guess she's got powers related to cats?" said Zuikaku while looking at Nami's wanted poster. "And she seems to be seductive type, judging from this picture."
"God Usopp… I smell god complex going on with this…" said Shigure while looking at Usopp's wanted poster with an unimpressed expression. "And why is he all messed up here? Not the kind of person of image you want if you call yourself a god... There's also the nose… Is that real?"
Taihou was looking at Sanji's wanted poster. "So this is the person who falls prey to women's charms, huh? I can already tell it from his eyes that it's going to be easy seducing him!"
"Yeah, he's definitely quite a womanizer… But still, he's a skilled fighter that you have to be careful around, but the last time I checked, he doesn't attack women, so I guess you should be fine dealing with him," Tashigi told her.
"Oh, you don't have to worry about me. Heehee!" said Taihou with confidence.
"Wow! He's so cute!" commented Javelin while looking at the poster of a small fluffy creature named Chopper, and then she noticed the price for its head. "100 Bellies? That's… very small, isn't it…?"
"Supposedly because nobody saw him engage in battle and think he's just a pet… Though from the little of what I saw, he can actually hold his own in combat," Tashigi told her. "I think he's their doctor as well."
"A doctor? You sure can't tell that by his looks. What is he anyway?" asked Javelin.
"Some kind of animal that ate a Zoan Devil Fruit that turned him human, I believe," replied Tashigi.
"Demon Child Robin… Sound scary…" commented Laffey while looking at Robin's poster.
"It has something to do with her childhood," Tashigi told her. "She was survivor of… a group of people that were supposed to have all been wiped out, hence the reason she is called Demon Child."
"Judging from that epithet, I take that she was part of some kind of evil cult?" asked Zuikaku.
"Well… I can't say I know the exact details, but the government deems her people dangerous and wiped them all out…" said Tashigi in a somewhat nervous-looking way.
Enterprise noticed this and thought to herself, "She sounds like she's trying to avoid answering directly… As if she's hiding something…"
Gasgcogne was looking at Franky's poster, and then Shigure scooted over to her to look at it as well. "Iron Man Franky… Is he a robot, or is that a mask?"
"Unable to analyze true nature from picture alone," said Gascogne.
"Well, yeah… I don't expect a piece of paper to provide that much information…" Shigure said to her.
"A skeleton… I think I'm drinking too much…" said Laffey while looking at the poster of a member called Soul King Brook.
"Actually, he really is a skeleton! I found it hard to believe at first too…" Tashigi told her.
"So this is the former Shichibukai that joined them?" said Zuikaku, looking at Jinbe's wanted poster. "His appearance does not look human…"
"Jinbe is a fishman," Tashigi told her. "Do you not have that species back in your world?"
"This is my first time hearing such a thing…" Zuikaku told her.
"Fishman: species of living creature that resembles a hybrid between a human and underwater life form," explained Gascogne. "They possess the ability to breath underwater and strength several times greater than humans, even more so when underwater. Fishmen have been subject to discrimination in the past, and while not as prevalent as back then, it still happens in the modern day."
"Where did you get that information?" Javelin asked her.
"I previously acquired my knowledge of this world from books and stored as many information possible into my database," Gascogne told her.
The Marine ship circled all the way to the other side of the island and docked at the port there, as Smoker didn't want the Straw Hat Pirates on the ship to spot them just yet.
After picking some Marines to step out onto dry ground, he gave them orders to scout the town for the Straw Hat Pirates and make contact with the others if any of them saw those pirates.
"The rest of you on that ship sail back to the other side of the island and keep such a distance so that those on the Straw Hat's ship won't see you," Smoker told the Marines left behind on the ship. "That way, when the pirates try to leave the island, you can interfere with them. Do you get all that?"
"Yes, Vice Admiral Smoker!" the Marines said to him.
He then turned to the ship girls, who were standing together with their riggings, and said to them, "Most of you will be doing scouting as well, and you actually have the advantage in that the Straw Hats do not know who you are, and your attires won't give away that you are part of us."
"'I'm not sure if our riggings will make us look suspicious…" said Javelin.
"Leaving them at the dock in their real forms is bad idea too," Laffey told her.
Smoker called out to Javelin, Laffey, and Zuikaku. "I want the three of you to stay close to the port where the Straw Hat's ship is. If you see them approaching, stop them."
"As you say, Vice Admiral," Zuikaku said to him.
He then turned to Enterprise, Gascogne, Taihou, and Shigure, "The four of you will scout the island for their presence. Report to me when you come across them and don't take action unless I say so or if you judge it necessary."
"At your command, Vice Admiral," Enterprise said to him, and the other three said the same thing in their own ways.
"All right, move," said Smoker. "We won't let the Straw Hats get away this time!"
Somewhere in town, Nami, Robin, Usopp, and Chopper were walking together, the latter three carrying shopping bags. Robin carried only two in both hands, while Usopp and Chopper carried a large amount on their backs. Chopper was in his full beast form, the one resembling a large, muscular human, when he carried these bags.
"You just had to go all-out buying things, didn't you…?" Usopp grumbled to Nami.
"Relax, we have lots of cash with us, and it's not like I bought useless stuff," Nami told him. "All these are necessary things for our voyage!"
"I have doubts…" said Usopp under his breath, as he remembered those two girls spending most of their time in boutiques and perfume stores.
"Anyway, I think it's time we leave this island now," suggested Nami. "Marines stop by this place quite often for supplies, so you'll never know if we run into one."
"I sure hope Luffy doesn't run into one and bring us trouble…" said Chopper.
"But knowing the captain, I wouldn't be surprised if he already stirred up problem by running into them," said Robin.
"That guy better not…" grumbled Nami, knowing well how Luffy constantly attracted attention wherever he went.
They continued walking down the road, going past Shigure, who was standing there casually and in no way suspicious-looking. After watching them go a bit farther, she took out a small Transponder Snail and spoke into it, "I spot the Straw Hats!"
Elsewhere in town, Sanji was by himself, shopping for food. "Starting to have problems carrying all these," he said while looking at the bags he had. "I should go back to the ship now. Some of these ingredients should be kept in refrigeration as soon as possible."
He then noticed quite a bit of people gathered around something as if looking at something special, so out of curiosity, he decided to go over to see what it was all about. After squeezing through the crowd, what he saw petrified him with love.
Taihou was seated on a bench with a sign next to her that told people to take pictures of her as they wish. All those gathered around her were men, and needless to say, they were lovestruck and aroused by her beautiful appearance and seduction actions.
When Taihou saw Sanji, who was the most excited to see her, she immediately recognized him. She stood up and slowly approached him, and then she asked him, "Are you by any chance… Black Leg Sanji?"
Sanji's appearance immediately became that of gentlemanly. "Why yes, milady! Black Sanji of the Straw Hat Pirates at your service!"
The others were surprised to hear this.
"He's part of the Straw Hat Pirates?!"
"What is he doing here?! Does that mean the rest of the crew is here as well?"
"Watch out! He's probably a dangerous person!"
"Why is this woman curious about him?"
Taihou clasped her hands together with a happy look on her face. "Black Leg Sanji! I've heard a lot about you! The tales about everything you did amazed me so much that I really want to meet you in person! I'm so glad to finally have met you!"
"Really? You are a fan of me?" Sanji asked her. Before he could do or say anything else, Taihou wrapped her arms around him and hugged him, which shocked him and everyone else.
"Please let me service you in whatever way you wish!" she happily said to him.
"THIS MUST BE HEAVEN!" Snaji happily said in his head while enjoying being hugged by such a beautiful woman.
Javelin, Laffey, and Zuikaku were at the dock, looking at the Thousand Sunny, the name of the Straw Hat's ship.
"What a cute ship!" Javelin commented, noting the smiling lion figurehead.
"I think it looks childish," said Laffey before taking a sip from a beer bottle.
"I have to admit that this ship has a strange choice of design…" commented Zuikaku. "Yet at the same time, I can tell that this is a strong ship that has been through several tough situations that make it here."
"Considering that we are ships, I guess it only makes sense for us to be able to tell a lot about other ships just by looking at them," said Javelin.
As the three continued to look at the ship, Brook appeared at side of the deck and noticed them. The three girls were surprised at his appearance. They were previously told that Soul King Brook is a literal skeleton, but they had a hard time believing it. Now they could see for themselves that he was indeed a skeleton, one too realistic-looking to be a costume.
"Hello there, ladies! Yohoho!" he cheerfully said to them. "Fancy meeting beautiful folks like you! I can't help but notice that you have been admiring our ship for a while now. How can we be of service?"
"Wow…! They really do have a skeleton on the crew!" said Javelin in disbelief.
"If you're seeing the same thing, then I guess I'm not drunk," said Laffey.
"We apologize if we disturbed you in any way," Zuikaku said to Brook in a polite manner. "We are simply curious about the design of the ship and that is all."
"Oh, someone likes the ship I built?" said a new voice. Franky then showed up next to Brook. "I heard ya! This beautiful ship caught your interest? Of course you are interested! This is made from the finest Adam wood and built using my awesome shipbuilding skills! Of course, I had help from others, but I was the one who designed it and therefore did the most work!"
"I can tell that you've put a lot of work in to this ship!" Javelin said to him. "It must be very relaxing to ride on it!"
"You bet! You can't find a more comfortable ship than this anywhere else in the world!" boasted Franky. "It's gonna be the ship to sail the entire world! You can bet that it's gonna happen before you can yell 'super!'"
"Super," said Laffey casually before taking another drink.
"I see," said Zuikaku with a nod. "I hope you fulfill this goal of yours! If you don't mind, we have something else to do, so we have to take our leave now."
"Feel free to come admire it!" Franky said to her. "If you run into my captain, you can even ask him for permission to come aboard!"
"I would love to!" said Javelin happily.
"Before you leave," Brook called out to them, "may I ask permission from the beauty in red?" When Zuikaku asked if he was referring to her, the skeleton nodded and then asked, "May I have the honor of seeing your panties?"
The three ship girls stood still in silence upon hearing this, as if they were shocked to move. Zuikaku's face turned red, while Laffey to a drink from her bottle before saying, "Is he a pervert?"
Meanwhile, Luffy and Jinbe were walking together through the town, the former having a relatively large belly. "Ah! What a great meal! The food here is great!" said Luffy happily while patting her belly.
"Now that you had you fill, it is high time that we return to the ship," suggested Jinbe. "I actually spotted a couple of Marines not too long ago, so we should leave as soon as possible."
"Really? Then we better get going," agreed Luffy as his body suddenly returned to normal in an instant due to the food he ate being digested in a way similar to magic. "This town and the people here are nice, so I wouldn't want to get into fights with the Marines and mess up this place. Let's hope the others got the message and come back soon. I'm most worried about Zoro getting lost…"
The two continued to walk for a while, and then Jinbe said, "I'm sure you should have noticed it by now. Someone is following us."
"Yeah, I know," said Luffy with a nod. "I can sense two presences intentionally following us."
"I suggest we act calm and feign ignorance for the time being," Jinbe told him. "We'll lure them to a less crowded place before dealing with them."
"Sounds good to me," agreed Luffy.
Enterprise and Gascogne had been secretly following those two from the top of buildings, unaware that those two pirates were already aware of their presences due to using observation haki.
Enterprise took out a miniature Transponder Snail and said to it, "I have eyes on Straw Hat Luffy and Jinbe. What are you orders?"
"Tail them and try not to get spotted," the snail replied in Smoker's voice and with facial appearance. "However, chances are likely that they are already aware of your presence because of their observation haki. Even so, keep on following them and see where they are going first before giving me your location. Don't attack until I arrive or unless necessary."
"Understood," said Enterprise before hanging up the call.
The two ship girls continued to follow the two pirates from atop the buildings. The pirates took paths that had lesser people, and Gascogne noticed this and said to Enterprise, "Observation: there is a chance that they have noticed our presence and are intentionally leading us into a trap."
"I thought the same as well," said Enterprise. "Be on your guard…"
Luffy and Jinbe snaked their way through empty alleyways, all the while with the ship girls trailing them from atop the buildings. Eventually, the two pirates arrived at an empty space in between multiple buildings. The ship girls stopped on a nearby building and crouched down.
"We know you're there already," Luffy called out without looking in their direction. "I don't know who you are, but can you please stop following us? I don't really want to cause trouble in this place."
The ship girls kept quiet, however. They weren't too surprised that the pirates were aware that they were being followed, but they continued to pretend to not be present.
All of a sudden, a hand grabbed onto the ledge of the roof, and before the ship girls knew it, Luffy pulled himself onto the top of the building. Enterprise and Gascogne hurriedly stood up and backed away from him, the former readying her bow.
"So… who are you girls?" Luffy asked them.
TO BE CONTINUED
Since Jinbe is officially confirmed to be part of the crew, even if recent, it only makes sense for him to be present here. Remember that I said I will not be taking canon continuity into account when making this story, so expect quite a few things that cannot fit into canon timeline.
As for the lack of Carrot, that's because she has yet to be confirmed to be part of the Straw Hat Pirates, so I'm leaving her out.
