Hey guys! Thank you so much for sticking with me. Once again I lied. I said in chapter one this story was only going to be a few chapters but it looks like it's going to be a bit longer than five. Still not monster long as I only have one main plot point for this story. And then some cute fluff chapters. Any who I am really surprised so many people are interested in this story. So thank you! I will do my best to post more chapters before school starts again. And for all those whose school has already started good luck.
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As it turns out swimming with legs was much harder. It was no wonder the humans stayed out of water.
Ace kicked his legs following his brother to the surface world. He was glad the ship had stopped. If it had continued to move it would have been increasingly hard to follow like this. His movement were graceless and forced. For a good ten minutes after he had managed to change his tail he could do nothing but flail. But now that he got the hang of this he kicked his legs getting enough of a current to carry him up.
Every few minutes Sabo would pause and wait for him before the two continued to swim together. They could clearly see the bottom of the humongous ship and it only got bigger the nearer they got.
"How the hell are we going to find him in that?" Sabo asked daunted.
"It's like that one time when that giant whale swallowed him."
"Uhg don't remind me."
Thankfully enough the whale had been a friendly one and had spat him out when they explained what happened. Whales and dolphins were usually helpful like that. Sharks were another story. It was from old whales that the little Fry's learned about themselves and the outside world. They had been told of the paradise of Fisherman's island and the hardships they had to face because of humans. Dumb humans.
"First things first. How do we get up?"
"How good are you at climbing?" Ace asked.
"We're about to find out aren't we?"
Apparently the legs were good for something. They were much more efficient at climbing then a heavy tail would have been. Even if neither boy had complete control yet. Ace went first, having dubbed himself, without any evidence at all, the better climber. They used the thick chains of the anchor to heave themselves from the ocean and climb towards deck. They had waited until the cover of nightfall before they left but they still had to be careful not to be spotted by the night watchman and his infernal light that circled the dark ocean like a miniature lighthouse.
"Muscles I didn't know I had are sore." Ace complained as his thumb got jammed yet again in the link and he had to pull it free with a cuss.
"Hush," Sabo told him as they stilled, waiting for the light to pass over their heads.
"I am going to murder Luffy when we get him back." Ace whispered once the light had passed and they resumed climbing.
"Don't you think he's being punished enough?" After all he had ever been apart from them this long since he joined their makeshift pod.
"You always side with him!" Ace accused. "And he isn't the one scaling the side of a ship so no!"
"Yes he's just the one whose tail got impaled," Sabo hissed back not in the mood to play peace keeper between the two when Luffy wasn't even here. "But fine when we get him back you can punish him to your hearts content.
Silence fell between the two of them again as they both thought about getting the kid back. They were risking a lot venturing into the human territory like this. They couldn't hope to win a fight here on the human's turf. Not only were they hopelessly outnumbered but they were slow and out of place on land. Their best chance if they were discovered was jumping overboard before the humans could catch them. But that was best case scenario. They were risking a lot.
Ace paused near the top of the chain to give Sabo a serious look. This had been his plan. Sabo had thought it was too risky. Usually it was a good idea to listen to the blonde's warnings. Apparently he was the only one with half a brain, according to their whale friends that was.
"If we do get discovered…"
"You mean when."
"Shut up… IF we get caught promise me you will get out of there. Don't wait for me just go."
Sabo fixed his brother with a serious look. As if he knew exactly what Ace was thinking. Ace always hated that look.
"Right so while you do the whole I-don't-run-from-my-enemies thing I am supposed to just leave you?"
"Yes!" Ace insisted. "Like you said if we both get caught it's all over. At least one of us needs to get away."
Sabo fell silent once more as he thought what that would mean. He had never run while Ace stayed to fight before. If the hot head risked his life then he would be there to back him up. Even if it was a moronic to do so. But Ace was right. As long as one of them was free they still had a chance.
"Fine," he agreed after a moment. "But same for you got it!"
Ace scowled.
"Got it!"
"Fine!"
"Knew I could count on you." Sabo said poking his head over the railing.
Cautiously the two climbed onto the deck and into the human's territory.
XXX
Luffy had been sleeping was he heard the key slide into the lock. He sat up in his makeshift 'nest' eagerly as he dove down into the large pool below. He had quickly been trained that the click of the lock meant that he was going to be fed. He liked being fed. Never before had someone literally handed him food, a lot as well. It had really shaped his view of humans. And while he wasn't willing to forget the net incident so quickly, or separation from his brothers, nor isolation in a tiny tide pool like room or years of warnings he did like the human with poofy hair and the blonde pineapple one.
He heard the sound of heavy footsteps stop at the edge of the pool and he followed, surfacing near the wall.
But it was not Thatch, nor the blonde that greeted him.
"Aren't you cute!"
His excitement gone Luffy paused. Looking up at the strange man with trepidation. He was much larger than the other two and rather stocky.
Luffy shrunk back sinking into the water to his eyes.
"Where are you going little guy?" The man asked, his voice booming in the small room. "
You're a hungry little monster aren't you?"
Luffy's eyes flickered to the bag in his arms that smelt strongly of fish and blood. As much as his instincts were telling him to go his stomach wanted him to stay. It had been growling nonstop all night.
Encouraged by that the man continued. "Our friend Thatch gave me the key. Said to feed you these." He gestured to the bag.
"Want it?" He asked holding up one of the fish.
Luffy dipped his head slightly, his eyes never leaving the man's face. Much like Thatch had the first day the man threw the fish into the waters between them making Luffy swim closer to get it.
Luffy retrieved it but swam back to the middle of the pool to eat it. All the while watching the dark haired stranger like he was a shark.
Amused at the behavior the man laughed, an odd off putting sound.
"Zehaha. I thought the boys on deck were lying when they told me a mermaid got tangled up in the haul. But here you are. First time one of their wild rumors turned out to be true. I see Thatch come down here day in and day out and it made me curious." He let out another laugh. "No wonder. This is too good."
Luffy swallowed the rest of the fish watching the man. He didn't like the stranger one bit. He wished Thatch was here instead.
Apparently the dislike was mutual as the mans face twisted as he watched Luffy finish off the fish.
"Those are some mighty sharp teeth you got there little boy." He held up another fish offering it to Luffy.
Against his better judgment Luffy drifted closer waiting impatiently for him to drop the fish. When he did he dug in turning the surrounded water a dull red.
"You look human enough from here but I guess you're more sea creature then man huh? Can you even talk or did no one show you how."
Luffy was only partway listening to his ramble. He didn't understand everything the man said, not because he didn't get the words but the meaning went over his head. Plus he wasn't trying too hard. He was anxious to put the fish in his stomach and go back to bed, tucked away safe in the little pool.
"I've seen some mermaids before, mermen as well." The man continued to talk as Luffy waited with an impatient flick of his tail for the rest of the food. "Never seen one so small before. Most of those mermaid bitches are hot as hell. Stuck up like you wouldn't believe though. Think they're better than us or something."
Luffy didn't know about all of that. But his opinion of the human continued to fall. He wanted to leave but the smell of the bag stopped him.
"Eat up freak." He said offering him another.
When Luffy reached for it the man struck, like an angler fish to a minnow. He dropped the fish ad snatched the boys wrist with bone breaking force.
Luffy cried out in fear as he yanked backwards. But the water was too shallow to get enough force and the man pulled him from the pool like he was made of seaweed.
"So you can talk?" The man mused as he threw Luffy onto the rough ground.
Luffy tried to flip over onto his stomache so he could crawl away but the man brought a heavy boot down onto his tail pinning him in place.
Luffy screamed as he did so. Feeling tears prickle in his eyes at the pain of his fresh wound being stomped on.
"Stop!" He sniffed trying in vain to free himself.
"Quit squirming. I'm just taking a look. He ran a rough finger down Luffy's neck feeling the slimy surface of his gills before he turned his attention to the tail.
"That's a pretty tail you got there." The man said tugging on one of the scales experimentally. "Bet it would fetch a pretty price huh."
Luffy was forced to stop struggling when a meaty hand came up to squeeze his throat warningly.
"I told you kid shut up and sit still and I won't hurt you."
Luffy watched wide eyes as he pulled a knife from his pocket.
"Souvenir," he told him seeing the nervous eyes. He slid the knife under one of Luffy's tail scales and wrenched it out.
"ACE! SABOOOOOOOO, Help Me!" Luffy screamed before the man covered his mouth with a meaty hand.
"Shut up would you. Want every one of the goddamn boat to hear you? They're not your friends either you know. Don't fall for the whole…OWWWW!"
Luffy's razor teeth came down onto his fingers making the man loosen his grip in surprise. He was knocked back by the red tail and fell onto his butt. Not wasting a second Luffy turned onto his stomach as he dove back for the water. The man reached out a hand to stop him but it was too late and the little Merfry disappeared over the edge of the pool, leaving a small trail of blood after him.
XXX
"No wonder they wear clothes these things are hideous," Sabo said as he pulled himself over the railing.
Ace looked down at his legs and had to agree. "Should we put clothes on too?"
"Yea probably." Sabo agreed looking around. It was pretty late and few pirates were still out. For the most part the deck was deserted but they still had to be carefully.
"It might help us blend in," Sabo agreed. Regardless of how uncomfortable they were.
They ended up stealing some clothing that had been left to dry on the railing and subsequently forgotten after the sun set. Sabo wore a ragged shirt while Ace had to make do with a pair of oversized shorts.
"And these help do them what exactly?" He asked as he tied the waist into a knot on his hip so the infernal things would stay up.
"Not much," Sabo told him peaking over a barrel to make sure no one had come through the door. "It keeps them warm and it's rude not to wear them. They are all really weird about it." He remembered asking his father the same question as a kid. Only in that case the answer had been to 'shut up and go away.'
"What now? Where do we even start?"
"Should we split up."
Ace shook his head. If they were going to do this then he wanted to keep close to his brother at all time. "Besides it will take us forever even if we do split up."
"Together then."
Ace agreed as the two made their way over to the door that led below deck. They were armed only with makeshift knives they had whittled to a point. No doubt the humans had much sharper weapons. Ace didn't like the thought.
He shut the door behind them once they were inside the stairwell. Sabo put his head to the floor listening for footsteps of approaching crew, or possibly even Luffy's calls for them. But he couldn't hear much above the constant humming of the ship.
"Maybe we should check the kitchen." Ace muttered as they crept around the corner.
"For the last time they did Not! eat him."
"Says you." Ace says as they crept around another corner.
"Shit! Someone's coming." They could hear the thump of heavy footsteps echoing off the walls.
Sabo pulled his brother down the corridor as they tried all the doors. They threw themselves into the first unlocked one just in time before the crew member turned the corner. The room was filled with boxes and appeared to be a storage closet or something of that sort.
When the footsteps had passed the boys once again continued onwards. Despite the hour the ship was surprisingly active. As far as Ace could figure humans were a lot like the sea creatures. Some were nocturnal and some were crepuscular. How it was determined he did not know. Most of the humans Ace had experienced in his young life were drunken slobs who were just as likely to break into tears as they were into a fight. It surprised him to see they were indeed capable of organization and hard work.
The two boys continued on. Getting much better with hearing footsteps and knowing the difference between and approaching human rather than activity on other parts of the ship. As the hours dragged on there was less foot traffic and it became much easier to move about. Most of the rooms they checked looked the same and there was certainly no little mermaid inside. They couldn't risk calling him without attracting the crew either.
"I'm reaching the limit." Ace said with a sigh as he rubbed his sore calves. Walking was harder then he remembered it being. It had taken his this long to get the hang of it again. And he still fell down from time to time. Much to Sabo's delight.
"We still have no clue where Luffy is." Sabo said his voice tense. They had made little to no progress.
"Go back to the cave." Sabo told him. "I'm still good for a few hours. I will keep looking and meet you there when I'm done."
Ace shook his head with a scowl. "We stay together remember."
The blonde sighed. He knew he wasn't going to win with Ace on this one. "Fine what do you want to do then?"
Ace looked around at all the doors. "We find someplace to hide. Change back for a few hours and start again once we can change back. If we have to climb back up and down every few hours we are never going to find him."
"Fine," Sabo agreed. "But we stay close to the railing yea."
Ace agreed. "Whatever you say mom."
XXX
"Luffy?" Thatch called shutting the door behind him and Marco. "Come out buddy."
The two men waited a second expecting to see the little boy emerge wagging his tail like a puppy at the food.
"Come on Luffy! No scary Namur or doctor with us today. Just good old fish and apples. Your favorite."
When Luffy still did not appear Thatch put the basket down, venturing closer to the edge.
"Where are you at little guy?" He threw one of the fish into the pool expecting a hand to snatch it back down. When no hand appeared and the surface remained still he frowned looking at Marco.
"Where do you think he is?"
Marco knelt down inspecting the water thoughtfully. "Probably here, waiting for us to leave."
Thatch frowned, "Why? We were doing so well." He had grown to look forwards to seeing the little fry at meal times.
Marco only shrugged. "It's anyone's guess. Leave some of the food here and we will check back in the mourning.
Thatch nodded as he piled some apples and fish on the side as well as a pretty shell Haruta had given to him for Luffy. According to Namur he would like it. He had accepted the other offerings. Although to do what with nobody was fully sure.
"Goodnight Luffy," Thatch called to the still waters. "See you in the mourning.
At the sound of the click Luffy uncurled himself. His tail had been hurting him too much to make the jump back to his nest. When he tried he had crashed into the rocks scraping up his arm. Until he recovered he was stuck in the big pool. He hugged his tail to his chest laying with his back to the wall as far from the door as he could get. The spot of his tail where his baby scale had been ripped out was tender to the touch. Luffy sniffed in misery wishing for the hundredth time that his brothers were here with him. He didn't like the humans so much anymore.
XXX
Poor Luffy :.( I know what I say at the end of chapters is usually wrong so take this lightly but hopefully Luffy will reunite with at least one of his brothers next chapter. until then he is going to steer clear of the humans. I want to post this chapter before work so I don't have time for reviews today but I promise I read and appreciated each one and I will try to get to it next chapter. The same goes for spell checking, which I will do tonight. So good luck with the grammer and spelling as I do apologize. But being honest even if I did have time ti would still be pretty bad. Anywho tell me what you think!