Cześć. How is it? Not the best for sure but that's okay. Important question everyone...should I include the Skypeia Arc? Have fun.


Passage Nine: Kirsi of the Straw Hats

"This is...a bit awkward."

Kirsi was sitting on her knees, seiza style, in front of Usopp, Luffy and Chopper. Nami had left her alone while for a moment to clean the girl's room and possibly hide any treasure she left laying around. Sanji was with Robin in the kitchen making an afternoon meal and Zoro was who knows where. Usopp told her he had some important questions to ask her once Nami left. For some strange reason, she felt nervous.

"Name and occupation newbie," Usopp said in a low tone, trying to imitate a high ranking officer.

"Kirsi sir! Though I've done work as an apprentice blacksmith, my main skill is in ecology sir!" Kirsi replied with gusto.

"Eee-call-low-ji?" Luffy asked with the tilt of his head. "What's that? Can you eat it?"

Chopper answered him. "Simply put, it's the study of how things like plants and animals live together."

"I know it doesn't sound useful on a crew. It's more of a selfish occupation though. But with all the new islands you'll be going to, I'll be able to study how all the organisms on the islands live with one another."

"I don't get it, but it sounds cool!" Luffy exclaimed with a grin from ear to ear.

"This world is filled with wonderful fauna and flora!" Kirsi beamed with shimmering eyes. "I know I won't be able to study all of it in my time, yet just going to a new island and seeing a plant or animal I recognize thriving in a different environment is an amazing feeling."

"You seem really adamant about ecology," Usopp noted as he dropped his serious persona for a moment, but quickly picked it up again. "Uh...where you from newbie?!"

"Oh the North Blue."

"The North Blue?" the three parroted together.

Kirsi nodded. "I was really little when my mother brought me to the Grand Line so I don't remember anything of it. Just the stories she told me."

"Hey hey hey what's your dream?!"

The sudden and loud asking of that question made Kirsi go silent. She wasn't sure how to answer that because she doesn't have one. She looked down in her lap, clenching her fists on her thighs. Would it be weird to not have one?

"I don't...I don't really have a dream," she replied softly. "But maybe traveling around I will be able to find an ambition."

Luffy chuckled. "Sounds like an adventure!"

Kirsi felt relief. It's not weird then...

"Can you tell me more about your Devil Fruit?" Chopper asked.

"Devil Fruit?!" That got Usopp's and Luffy's attention.

Instead of directly telling them about it, Kirsi decided to show them. She shifted position to sitting on her butt as she untied her boots and pulled them off while the three boys looked at her with curiosity. With a fluid motion, she changed from human to a medium sized dog with thick silvery grey fur and a wagging curled tail. The hyperactive excitement from Luffy went through the roof when he saw her dog form. Chopper, being a prey animal, was initially scared and Usopp thought she was a wolf.

"Where did this dog come from?"

The four looked towards the door to the main storage room where Nami was standing with a confused expression. Luffy bounded over to her with a massive smile and glittering eyes. He couldn't stand still for a second.

"Flower Lady is a dog!"

"Flower lady? Wait you mean Kirsi?!"

"Yup I ate a Devil Fruit."

The attention went back to the dog form of Kirsi who was just sitting there. Robin showed up from the commotion, having a similar expression to Nami upon seeing the fluffy dog. Her's was more of a look of interest. It was a good thing she wasn't as a human. She was starting to feel quite embarrassed from all the attention she was receiving.

"What kind of Devil Fruit is that?" Nami managed to ask whilst the others stared at her.

"Mutt-Mutt Fruit. Model type: Elkhound."

That made the navigator even more confused. "A what?"

"It's an old breed of dog that is used for hunting and tracking," Robin answered before Kirsi could. She was leaning over the railing with eagle eyes locked on the Kirsi pooch. "They were also used as herding dogs and as protection from larger predators like wolves and bears. Isn't that right Ms. Blacksmith?"

The unsettling feeling Kirsi was getting from her tone made her fur rise. "That's right. How'd you know?"

"From books I read about the North Blue."

As Kirsi shifted back to human form, a thought crossed her mind. Does she...does she know? Robin didn't say anything else though. Luffy was bouncing around her, asking to see her dog form again until Nami calmed him down with a swift smack to the back of his head. She told the other two boys to start their chores or else they won't get any food. That made them scampered off quickly.

"You ready to see the girl's room?"

Kirsi nodded happily and gathered up her belongings then followed Nami through the storage room to a set of stairs hidden under a latched door. It was very clean, well kept and had a nice homely feel to it. She set her boots next to the stairs and her backpack on the bar while she looked around with bright eyes. It was much nicer than her old room. More feminine as well.

"There's a hidden hammock and plenty of extra blankets for sleeping since there's only one bed. I hope that's okay," Nami told her.

"No worries. I found it's rather comfortable sleeping as a dog."

"It's a bit small, but it's home. You have Usopp to thank for it."

"Usopp?"

"Mm-hmm. We got this ship from his hometown as thanks. The Merry has been thought a lot throughout our journey, but she's holding on. We'll need a shipwright as soon as possible though. You said that yourself too."

"I did. But she's pretty well built and a great ship," Kirsi said with a smile and added quietly, "a happy one too."

"A what?"

"Oh nothing. The Merry is also a beautiful ship too. Oh you mentioned chores earlier..."

"Right chores! I'll explain in a bit. There's something I want you to check for me first."

The two left back up to the main deck and towards the aft where Nami led her to a set of three mikan trees. They were vibrant in color and Kirsi could smell the faint citrus fragrance.

"You're good with plants right?"

The blonde nodded. She was too enthralled with the vibrancy of the trees to speak.

"I know it probably seems weird to have fruit trees growing on a ship in the middle of the ocean. But these are special trees. Trees from my hometown's orchard," Nami said. Kirsi noticed there was a hint a sadness in her tone. "Sanji helps from time to time to take care of them. Mainly to keep the others from stealing."

"They are very healthy and well taken care of. Just like this ship. Would it be alright if I have one."

"Of course!"

Kirsi was careful as she took one of the tangerines from the branch and peeled it. She could tell how sweet it was going to taste just by the scent. Nami joined her in eating one and looked very happy as she did so. Kirsi ate a piece, surprised at how juicy it was and the tangy sweetness that followed. Love can make even the most stubborn fruits grow into the sweetest treats. Nami motioned Kirsi to follow and the two sat on the steps eating the oranges.

"Now for chores. We cycle through who does what every day. From sweeping the decks to night watch to helping Sanji clean the dishes. Easy enough right?"

"Easy enough. And just help out when I can?"

"Yup and it's the same when we go ashore. Gather supplies first and keep an eye on the ship until the log sets. Don't be afraid to ask anyone for help."

"I will. And thank you Nami. For letting me join the crew."

The redhead gave her a friendly grin. "Thank Luffy. It really is nice to have another girl join. Makes it easier to talk about some things the blockheads wouldn't understand."

"How did you come to join the crew? If you don't mind me asking."

"I didn't want to at first, but Luffy can be very convincing sometimes." Nami went silent for a moment, staring up at the sky. "I was just a thief trying to gather enough money to buy my hometown from pirates. I use to hate pirates because of them. Luffy stuck his nose in my business, but I'm actually thankful he did. Arlong wasn't going to give up my home. Luffy put an end to that and everyone still treated me like a friend even though I stabbed them in the back." She met Kirsi's slightly teary gaze. "I'm happy now and I can finally live out my dream to map the world."

"Luffy is such an amazing person."

"He has his moments. We may be a bunch of mismatched pirates, but it's thanks to Luffy that we're here with high hopes of accomplishing our dreams."

Kirsi fell quiet. A dream. She felt a little bad for not having a grand ambition. But then she remembered what Zoro had said to her back in the pub. She didn't need a reason to do what she wants. Traveling around just to study the different live their doesn't sound like much of a goal; more of a hobby if anything. She's sure she'll discover something.

"Nami-swaaaan! Kirsi my deeeear!"

Sanji danced around the corner and swirled around before he bowed like a prince in front of the girls. Nami rolled her eyes with a sigh and Kirsi just giggled. She found it entertaining that he would go from a ladies man when talking to the girls then right to an angry and feisty cat when dealing with the boys.

"Lunch is ready, my beautiful doves!"

"Thanks Sanji. Better hurry before Luffy eats it all."

"No worries Nami-swan. I told him that if he touches any of the food before the two of you arrive, he won't eat for the next month. Oh allow me to take those peels away from you. I can dry them and save them for later. Now shall we?"

Nami stood first and handed the orange peels to him and Kirsi followed in suit and towards the lounge room. Kirsi was greeted by the scent of a deliciously cooked meal and when she stepped in, there was a surprise waiting for her.

"Welcome to the crew!"

Kirsi stood there, frozen in the doorway. The table was filled with plates and bowls of steaming food as the rest of the crew sat around it, looking jovial. Nami gave her a gentle pat on the back and steered her towards the table. She sat down between Robin and Chopper, her eyes never leaving the variety of food before her. It took a while before she found her voice.

"What is...what is all of this?"

"Just a little welcoming party," Nami replied when she sat on the end next to Usopp. "You're officially stuck as a member of this crew."

Tears were welling up in her eyes. "T-Thank you." Her voice was soft and low.

The warmth of happiness filled her chest. Laughter erupted from Luffy and joy wafted through the room as the crew gathered together to eat. Everyone hurried to get what food they could before the glutton of a captain wolfed it all down. Kirsi managed to snagged a huge chunk of roasted chicken and ripped into it. Perfectly cooked, juicy and full of flavor. Next was a simple bowl of warm soup that smelled like fresh herbs. It warmed her insides. There were baked vegetables covered in cheese. Bread slathered in garlic butter. Pan cooked fish with lemon pepper. For desserts there were apple and berry pies. Everything she ate made her want to cry from how good it was.

This was her new family. These were the people she was going to be traveling with for a long time and go on adventures with. She was happy she waited this long. She doesn't think she would have the same sense of comfort and joy if she had joined any other crew.

Kirsi wasn't just some apprentice blacksmith on an island in the Grand Line anymore. She was now Kirsi of the Straw Hat Pirates.


There you go. Sorry for missed mistakes. Some more tidbits about Kirsi. Look up the elkhound if you want more information about them. They be good smart doggos. Thank you for reading and let me know what you think. Have a weebtastic day you lovely snowflakes owo/