Switching his mask back to the full one, exhausted pockets and pouches filled to the brim and eleven large sacks full of loot on or beside him he steps back on the deck, a silent chuckle on his lips as he lets loose another lead star shower at the men surrounding the overly fat it's a miracle he's not dead commander at exactly ten minutes on the dot.
"You! You dare to come on my ship and steal from me!? To destroy my super cannon!? Commodore Nelson Royal!?" ignoring the fat man he knocks the flailing men around him like flies as he waves over to Luffy on another ship earning a large grin.
Gripping the sacks tightly he is grabbed by Luffy and sent flying back to the Merry Go landing with a large crash.
*BANG*
"Baka! We don't have time for playing around now help me move the ship theirs only one chain left!"
Gripping his head in pain from Nami's hit he scowls but does as told surprised it took them this long to cut the chains… then again, he did tell Luffy to wait ten minutes but the okama guy should have attacked already! Or is this somehow the world's way of correcting a timeline thing or what's called devil's luck?
"BANG-BANG-BANG*
He will take that as a yes, running to the back of the ship with Nami he doesn't bother pausing and lets his slingshot fly.
"Gah! If you want to die so badly I won't hold back!" the okama guy shouts pissed, Usopp isn't fazed though and before he can use one of his attacks lets six White Smoke Stars fly protecting not just the ship, him and Nami but Ryu and Apis as well.
"Usopp! Sugoi!" Apis you flatter him so.
"I don't have time for games! Girl give up the millennial dragon!" yep defiantly a timeline thing.
"No! I'll never give you Grandpa Ryu!" neither will he and he is not up to listening to this so without further ado he lets loose a barrage of attacks happily and watches with apathy as the okama guy falls into the water, one of the marines hesitating before jumping in after him.
He always feels nothing but apathy when letting even a slither of the other out.
Still, he's stopped them from taking Ryu anywhere, so he wonders what will happen now since it has certainly deviated from the timeline with this. Even with okama guy now in the boat he is soaked in seawater which will make it harder for him to use his abilities… Luffy back in Arlong Park was just too determined and rubber is water resistant… depends on the rubber used but he is no rubber expert.
*BANG*
"KYAA!" Apis!
"I may not be able to use my devil fruit, but I can still take one of you down!" Okama guy… shot Apis!
Gritting his teeth, he jumps down to Apis and holds her, uncaring even as Ryu stands up and smacks not just okama guy but the men with him like flies back into the water. Only covering his and Apis's ears when Ryu let's loose an ear-splitting screech.
He may have stopped the Marines from shooting cannons at Apis and Ryu by preventing okama guy from taking Apis, but some things really do stay the same!
"I-it's okay! Grandpa Ryu! I'm okay! But you can move! Isn't that great!?" You are not okay Apis! Your shoulder is pierced through!
"Eh… what?" Oh, no… don't try and fly Ryu! "Really!?" No stop!
"Your flying! Your flying Grandpa Ryu!" shame he can't speak anymore since he would tell them to stop!
*BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG*
"Grandpa! Run! Run to where they can't find you, please! Now's your chance… RUN!" Apis… Ryu can't, it's just a good thing he took out all the cannons and destroyed any ammo or weapon he didn't steal already from fat commodores ship.
*KABOOOOOM*
Inwardly snickering at the now blown up ship when they attempted to bring down Ryu he holds Apis to him tightly despite her struggling and brings her back on board the Merry.
"Let go! Let go! Grandpa Ryu! Run please! NO! DON'T GO THAT WAY! GRANDPA RYU!" Apis screams as Ryu start's flying over to the fat commodores now sinking ship.
Thankfully the ship can't hurt Ryu now… but Ryu could somehow hurt himself!
*KRASH*
Ryu smashes headfirst into the fat Commodore and whacks him into the ocean! Well, at least he will go down with his ship, huffing in morbid amusement at his own thoughts he loosens his hold and Apis immediately runs to the front of the ship calling out Ryu's name as Ryu flies out of the wreckage and makes his way back to us… only to fall short and crash into the ocean where Luffy instantly heads over.
"GRANDPA RYUUUU!"
Inwardly sighing in defeat and knowing there is nothing he can do he makes his way back over to his loot and starts bringing it inside… and get's his camera ready to snap a lot of photos of the dragons incoming! He would be sad for how Ryu's old body dies but… apathy and all that 'lovely' nothingness.
Having everything inside he grabs Apis before she can jump overboard and ties her up tightly though without hurting her and signals Nami to start sailing away.
"Eh why?"
'Just do it unless you want Merry's flank to be damaged, an island is about to rise up from the ocean' Nami's eyes widen and she immediately starts preparing the ship with him helping her.
"Explain later, for now, get that rop-GAH! The sea is shaking!? The island! Usopp the ropes!" Nami screams and nodding he grabs the ropes, tying and untying, adjusting the sails and all the other easy hard stuff, only made hard by a squirming Apis and with how exhausted he feels.
"He's calling… he's telling millennial dragons all around the world that it's time" Yeah picture time! Squirreling his way up the main mast to the crow's nest he whips out his camera and impatiently waits.
*FLASH-FLASH-FLASH-FLASH*
Usopp is going to make so many copies of these! They're his best photos yet! "Their Grandpa Ryu's friends!" Nami exclaims with Apis happily chiming in "Yeah!"
It's a good thing the fat Commodore is most likely dead, and his ship is half-way sunk into the ocean, maybe this time Luffy won't fly into the sky and use his ax attack?
"GUM-GUM ROCKET… AND BATTLE-AXE!" or not, Luffy is one for dramatic exits and entrances after all.
*KRCKRAAAASH*
Idiots, what are those marines seriously doing? Not even undoing the chains first!? He doesn't want to be overly critical or mean but come on!
"NAMI-SWAN! IM BACK!" Sanji serenades out climbing the ladder with Zoro. "Just get on already! Good work on destroying the ship by the way Usopp" Nodding in acceptance of the praise even though inwardly he's sighing at it he ignores them and unties Apis, since he knows she won't run off now while he also continues to snap pictures left and right, of both the dragons, the idiotic marines, and his crewmates plus Apis.
"Where's Luffy?" Nami questions curiously just as Luffy lands on the deck "Yo!"
"Don't give us that! Can't you come back more quietly!? You're going to wreck the ship!" then he wouldn't be Luffy and that would suck since the world would fall into chaos though he does agree for Luffy not to hurt their inanimate nakama.
"Grandpa Ryu! I wasn't able to keep my promise to you! Grandpa Ryu…" Apis… you did and Luffy will tell you so while he continues to snap pictures of the moment!
"Grandpa Ryu's wish came true, can't you hear the dragons voices?" Luffy says while the world and sea continue to shake.
"So that's what it means! Usopp you were right! The island is rising out of the sea! The dragons nest is here!" Of course, he's right! He has foreknowledge on his side! "They're not called millennial dragons because of their life spans! It's because they come to this island only once every thousand years! They're migratory! It's no coincidence they've all flocked here now! It's no wonder they call it lost island because it only surfaces once every thousand years!" he could have told you that… he wouldn't have even if asked but still!
When the land stops shaking, and the island is once again stable he doesn't hesitate and shooting a rope to a nearby rock jumps and slides down to land in a crouch when he lets go.
"EH! Usopp wait!" No can do! He has a million and one pictures to take!
He only pauses in his photo taking when he spots Apis running to Grandpa Ryu's old body, moving closer his heart breaks at the sad sight but since his apathy is still going strong he snaps a few pictures of the sight anyway.
"Grandpa Ryu said coming here would make him better! It can't be a graveyard! It can't!" it's a place of renewal, not a graveyard… shame he can't say so.
"Grandpa Ryu was a lost Millennial Dragon, he was all alone for a thousand years but he made friends with you Apis! He said out of the thousand years he was alive this last year with you was the happiest" Usopp would cry if his emotions weren't on apathy and breaking heart exhaustion.
"You understand the dragon's language Luffy?" no he understands all animals! He just doesn't know it yet. "I just know somehow! But there's no doubt about it!"
"Liar… you're a liar! Grandpa Ryu! If this is the dragon's nest, then open your eyes!" Apis sobs out and sighing he grabs his whiteboard and walks over to her.
'Apis, this isn't a graveyard, it's a place of renewal, of rebirth, he did not lie! Just look' he informs her pointing to two dragons and an egg.
"Eh?... A…baby millennial dragon!?" grinning behind his mask he snaps a lot of pictures.
"Thank you, everyone… for bringing Grandpa Ryu back to the dragon's nest, I fully realize now what kind of place this is… and thank you Usopp for helping me make up my mind!" So… you staying or going?
"I know why Grandpa Ryu wanted so badly to come back here, it's an amazing place isn't it?" Yep! You still haven't answered but okay! On that subject though back to picture taking!
"Ah! Usopp stop running off! You're not well enough for this!" Zoro shouts running after him causing him to book it off faster to the others and Usopp's own amusement.
Two hours later finds Usopp alone on the dragon's nest, the others having taken the ship around closer to the village… though he says alone he is with a few dragons, adults and babies. One of the adult dragons had picked him up shocking about 80 years off his life out of him twenty or so minutes ago and dragged him to this cluttered nest full of adorable baby dragons. It's nice and all to get so many lovely pictures, even a few aerial ones from the dragon who picked him up being overly helpful for some reason and letting him ride on it's back but it's not exactly like he is comfortable around so many dragons that could potentially eat him! Just what on earth did he do to earn the…. affection of one of the dragons anyway!?
"Usopp! There you are! The others I and have been looking for you everywhere!" Apis! His savior/translator!
'Apis! This dragon here who I have named Draco, by the way, has kidnapped me and won't let me leave!'
"Eh? Really? Let me ask then! Excuse me, why won't you let my friend Usopp here leave?... huh?...NO WAY AWESOME!" What, what! What's awesome!?
"Usopp! You won't believe it but… this dragon says that it wants you to take a baby dragon!" What…. Seriously? What is this story cliché and how is this his lot in life? More importantly, how does he get out of it!?
"It says it wants you to take a baby dragon because you smell nice and something about an aura I don't really understand" Apis explains just as confused as him but seriously what is his life? Hanging his head in utter defeat and promising himself along… very long bath later since hell if he wants to know what a dragon smells on him to be considered nice, he just looks at the three baby dragons around him and sighs before looking at Apis for help.
'Apis mind helping me pick since obviously Draco here won't let me go otherwise' Apis grins at that but shakes her head "Sorry Usopp, Draco said you must pick" of bloody course, considering what his life is right now it more than deserves the swear.
"Rawr!" an overly small dragon that he had dubbed Tiny when he was brought here roars cutely and puts its head against his lap and shrugging he picks Tiny up and holds it to Draco earning a rumbling purr and a happy baby dragon huff of laughter.
'Apis ask if this little one has a name otherwise I'm calling it Tiny' he asks putting Tiny in his lap and petting gently. "Does this little guy have a name? .. Okay thanks! Draco said Dragons choose their names, but you can give him one for now" nodding at that he wonders if he can leave now… though he should probably ask Apis to question the dragons on how to take care of the little one and how fast they grow.
'Apis can you please ask them how I should take care of Tiny and their rate of growth?' "Sure!"
Ten minutes and a notebook full of notes later on dragon care and health he waves goodbye to Draco and the others and walks off with Apis back to town, Tiny in tow held securely within Apis's arms.
"Hey Usopp, I haven't asked the others yet, but I've decided to come with you" faltering slightly in his steps at that he looks at Apis shocked earning a large grin
"I have thought of everything you said and Grandpa Ryu told me to follow my heart and while I know I can do a lot here like learning about my people's history from Grandpa Bokuden… I know that if I follow you than what I have to say, to teach will be cemented in history! It will be dangerous, and I know the villagers won't be happy… but I know in my heart it's the right thing to do! I may not have even considered leaving if not for your words and actions… but with the pictures you took and the scrolls and books you found on the other island I have made up my mind!" Apis say's in conviction, Usopp isn't sure whether to be happy or not since he feels a complicated mix of awful and happy and apathetic at the same time.
"Admittedly this little guy helped too but do you really think the others will let me come along?" she asks worriedly and smiling gently behind his mask he nods. "Thanks, Usopp… so what do you think the dragons meant by an aura? or what do you think they smelt on you?" He does not wish to talk or think or contemplate the possibilities about it! It's bad enough it's made him paranoid already! Like smell! What does he smell like to them!? He doesn't know he just hopes it's not delicious for he is not meant for edible consumption!
Though admittedly.… dragons…. Remind him of something he can't seem to grasp. Suddenly a wave of pure pain and feeling of utter nausea overcomes and fills him and he falls to his knees gasping.
"Rawr!" "Usopp! Usopp what's wrong!?"
+++++++++++++++++++++++++==Flash==+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Hey (….) where do you think (…...) is?"
"Doesn't matter we've got a job to do, so quit you're yapping and get a move on we don't have all night"
Their companion huff's annoyed but shut's their trap, moving alongside them quietly and just as swiftly as they near their destination. Normally an easy job such as this wouldn't require a partner and they'd prefer to go solo but bosses orders, though it grates that they of all people are required to watch over a practical hatchling to the dragon's nest that is the organization.
Especially one that they know is a backstabbing spy just awaiting their chance to strike like a snake in the grass.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++==Back==++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Gasping roughly and ears ringing the world spins and twists but eventually the world swims back into focus, enough so that he can feel the worried cries of Tiny and Apis.
"Usopp! Usopp! Are you okay!? Please answer us!" shakily holding up a hand he loses his breath as Apis knocks him over in her tight hug. "Don't scare us like that! I can't lose you too!" sighing painfully he strokes her and Tiny's heads gently.
Still… what was that… memory?
"Usopp! Where were you!? Don't tell me you took that baby dragon out of its nest! What were you thinking!?" Nami scowls annoyed spotting Apis and him walking towards Merry.
"Nami don't worry! A Dragon took Usopp and wouldn't let him leave until he took one so meet your newest crewmember Tiny!" Apis cries happily earning shocked looks from pirate and civilian alike.
"WOAH! NO WAY! YOU MEAN WE GET A DRAGON FOR A CREWMATE!? AWESOME!" Luffy cries happily stars in his eyes as he rushes forwards to check Tiny out who is in Usopp's arms now, having not wanting to leave his arms worried he would black out and fall again. It's sweet of Tiny but he shouldn't worry, it's his job to be looking after him after all not the other way around… at least not until he's older and bigger anyway.
"What did you do to impress a dragon so much they wouldn't let you go until you took a baby dragon?" Sanji and Zoro ask at the same time resulting in a fight.
"Don't copy me! No, you stop copying me! Stop saying what I say!" they shout at each other at the same time earning loud laughter from everyone.
"The dragon said something about his scent!" Apis explains looking away slightly because it's not the whole truth but he had asked her to keep the weird aura thing a secret and that's what she's doing thankfully, Bad enough he will be teased for the scent thing.
"Why do you smell that good?" Zoro questions with a raised brow and smirk leaning in real uncomfortably close causing him to break out in shivers. He does not like being too close to people choice or no choice like with Apis before on the ship!
He misses the pointed looks and grins between all the others, even the civilians and Apis who giggles, to busy trying to stop Zoro teasing him by taking overexaggerated sniffs of his person.
"Stop teasing Usopp Zoro and just get on board! Were setting sail soon!" Nami finally says getting their attention.
"Oh wait!" Apis cries looking determined.
"What is it Apis?" Luffy asks curiously.
"I… know this may be a lot to ask… and I know a lot of the people here won't like it but… can I become a pirate… with you!" Apis's words invoke loud exclamations of denial and upset in the villagers but his crewmates and Luffy just look surprised but accepting.
"Okay! If that's what you want!" So easily Luffy?, Oh well simple is best sometimes.
"Grandpa Bokuden I know this is unexpected but please understand!" Apis pleads to her grandpa earning a chuckle. "Apis, is this truly what you wish to do?" Apis nods determined and Bokuden just smiles gently at her "Then we shall await your return" Apis smiles widely and hugs him just as tightly. "Thank you Grandpa Bokuden!"
"CHIEF BOKUDEN!? YOU'RE SERIOUSLY LETTING APIS GO AND BE A PIRATE!?" the villages shout surprised and angered.
"Apis has proved that she can handle the seas and I have no doubt with these pirates as her friends and looking after her she will be as safe as she can possibly be, but you must protect her you here me!" Bokueden says before looking at Luffy in the eye seriously.
"Of course!"
"Then Apis go and collect a few of your things for the journey and sail fourth happily knowing we stand behind you!"
"YEAH!"
"Looks like I finally won't be the only girl anymore!" Nami says happily.
"Another mademoiselle to protect! To see Nami-swan and Apis-chan acting like sisters! What bliss!" Sanji seriously?
"Heh, looks like I won't just be training you anymore Usopp" shivering in fear at that tone and sadistic look on his face he steps away to the side with Tiny.
Still… he's glad he's got a Beast Tamer now in the crew! Perhaps some of his plans will work out after all! Though he will have to find a good weapon for her, since she has good aim but can't shoot perhaps a whip? Beast Tamers use whips but maybe a few close quarter weapons as well… Nami could teach her to use a staff and a few things and he could do the rest…. Like, teach her about traps and first aid.
As the ideas keep flowing Apis comes back with a medium sized sack filled with stuff and most likely clothes and jumps onto the ship.
"ALRIGHT! LET'S SET SAIL FOR THE GRAND LINE!"
"Yeah! Bye everyone! I'll miss you!" Apis calls out happily with a few tears earning many exclamations of worry and well wishes.
Shaking his head happily he takes Tiny and makes sure they dropped off the right sacks to the villagers, he will not be pleased if his treasure was left behind!
"So, like this?" Apis questions before bringing down the makeshift whip again at the empty barrel he had set up.
*KRACK*
"Not bad! You're pretty good with that whip despite no practice or having handled one before!" Zoro comments impressed at the slightly damaged barrel, Usopp just nods happily, he knew she was a Beast Tamer in the making!
"But I didn't break it!"
'Apis strength comes later, for now just be pleased you can hit the target and damage it a little, whips aren't usually made for breaking wood apart in the first place! The fact you damaged it this much proves how talented you will become with it one day' Usopp explains earning wide eyes.
"Really! You really think so?"
"Usopp's right Apis, whips are meant for slashes and capturing and that's on the skin, only the truly strong and talented ones can break apart trees or boulders" Zoro exactly where have you seen people using a whip breaking apart tree's and boulders?
"Then I'll practice super hard and become the best at using a whip!" Apis declares determined and happily. "What do you think Tiny? Think I can do it?" She questions Tiny who is basking in the sun on a pillow earning a cute little roar and instantly Usopp is gently hugging him in his arms, he's just so cute!
"Nami-swan! I see dark rain clouds ahead!" Sanji calls out.
"Then we must be near the Red Line, the entrance into the Grand Line!" Nami calls back.
"Usopp! Did you hear that! Were almost to the Grand Line!" Nodding in agreement with Apis he indicates for her to pick up the pillow and bring it inside, he doesn't want Tiny getting hurt or too cold in the storm their entering, he'll bring him back out when the enter the gate, so he can see the sights with his own adorable droopy eyes. That and so he can adjust the whip staff, so they don't almost crash into the gate!
While doing that and Apis playing with Tiny the others start to trickle in.
"Is something wrong with our course Usopp?" Nami questions, shaking his head he shoves the whiteboard he had written on previously for exactly this question.
'Were heading into the entrance of the Grand Line, since we will be traveling up a mountain it means the pressure and currents will be so intense it will be impossible to adjust our heading, meaning we must adjust our course now so the currents don't cause us to crash into the Red Line and die horrible deaths'
"Of course! So that's what it means! Where did you learn all this stuff Usopp? About the Log poses too" She questions eyes wide as she looks at the map again.
'Cosimo told me about the Red Line but I had heard abut log poses from a traveling merchant who came to my village once' he lies but he did talk about it a little when they were working.
"….Cosimo told you?" Nami whispers but is over taken by Luffy.
"SUGOI! SO, WHERE TRAVLING UP A MOUNTAIN IN A SHIP!?"
"Really!? Did you hear that Tiny!? Where climbing up a mountain in a ship!" Apis cries happily with Tiny's cute roar of agreement.
"You can't be serious? Sail UP a mountain? And since when are you friends with that fish bast-GHAK! What you do that for!?"
'Cosimo did wrong but he is now my friend so don't call him a fish bastard' he huff's and sits down next to him and Apis gently petting Tiny's head.
"It's hard to believe but the Red line has canals that lead into and up the mountain, thanks to Usopp and… Cosimo I have figured out why!"
"What are you talking about, Even if there is canals a ship can't sail up a mountain!" Yes, they can if the current's pressure and force is large and fast enough.
"Right Nami-swan is never wrong! And Usopp is usually right about these things when he bothers to speak up!" he resents that statement! Bothered to speak up indeed!
"Che! Well fine if Usopp say's so I suppose I have no choice but to trust it" Awe your faith in him is touching Zoro! He gives a few quick pats on the head to say well done like a dog earning snickers all around.
"Stop that!" Zoro waves his hands-off scowling.
"Look here, see these lines? Their the canals, if strong currents from all four oceans all flow into this mountain then they would all meet up at the top and flow back down into the Grand Line! Reverse Mountain is a winter island, so it makes sense that any currents that collide into the Red Line will plummet downwards back into the oceans depths, if we screw up at the entrance… we'll crash into the Red Line and drown! You understand?" all but Luffy do! Usopp is loving being able to think stuff without worrying about accidently speaking aloud!
"So, it's a mystery Mountain!"
"I've heard stuff like this before" Sanji speaks up.
"About the mystery mountain?" Luffy questions excitedly.
"No, about how people die before entering it" Don't scare Apis and Tiny! He ignores the fact his legs are shaking in terrified fright himself.
"This sounds like fun! Terrifying but fun!" No! Apis don't go to the dark side! He needs you!
"I know right!"
When it starts to rain they all head out to work except for Apis who is watching over Tiny as they rush around tying up the sails and everything, he's glad he doesn't need to water the plants today though!
"So, that's the Red Line huh?!" Luffy states excited.
"Looks like we won't crash into the Red Line! Good work Usopp!" Nami smiles his way that he nods at in acceptance.
"You know I had planned to do this when we left Loguetown but now's a good a time as any! APIS! COME OUT HERE WITH TINY!" Sanji states bring out the empty barrel Apis and him were using before and despite himself, Usopp feels excited! Such an iconic moment in Strawhat history!
"What is it? WOAH! AMAZING!" Apis comes out with a swaddled up Tiny in a waterproof blanket that he nods approvingly at.
"Join us! To find the all blue!" a foot on the barrel.
"To draw a map of the world!" a female foot on the barrel.
"To become the greatest swordsmen in the world!" another foot.
"To become the pirate king!" another foot.
"To… become a great Beast Tamer and protect the dragons!" awe a little foot joins in with the help of Zoro lifting her up! he'd make an adorable daddy or big brother!
"Rawr!" TO CUTE! TINY JOINED IN! He will have to ask Apis if he said anything later!
'To become a great warrior of the sea and to find the past to untold knowledge!' he writes happily with his own foot joining in.
"TO THE GRAND-LINE!"
*KRASH*
"Now get back to work! Sanji! Keep the rudder steady!" Nami calls out grinning. "Right away Nami-swan!" guess who.
'Apis hold on to me and give me Tiny, it's going to get a little rough' he commands. "Right!"
"Amazing! Who do you think built those entrance posts!?" Apis questions amazed. Usopp can't answer since he doesn't know for sure, but he believes it has something to do with the lost history. Either way, he is taking a lot of great pictures!
"Were moving off course! Move to the right! Right!" Luffy yells and inwardly Usopp curses, the boat is to small and light to not move slightly off course in these waters!
"Right! Zoro help me move it!" Sanji shouts and Zoro instantly rushes in. He would tell them not to bother but he can't, and he is securing Apis and Tiny to the mast, so they don't fly away.
Luckily the mast doesn't break, but that might be because he had installed metal sheeting to it when they left his village ages ago.
"GUM-GUM BALLOON!" and their up the canal! holding out his hand for Luffy to grab he grips tight and smashes into the deck with Luffy as Zoro catches his fly-away hat, he is going to hate fixing up the hole Luffy made! Still though…
"WE MADE IT! WHOOHOO!"
"Tiny! We made it we really made it!" Apis cries happily laughing, making his way over he unties the rope and hugs both to his chest tightly, guess because Apis is still a kid and helps look after Tiny a lot he considers her family that allows him to touch her so easily!
"Now it's just a straight shot to the summit!" Nami yells happily.
Usopp is to busy snapping pictures to notice though, well that… and he is keeping an eye on their stow-away. May as well get the others attention now anyway so clapping loudly he gets said attention and points at the okama guy sneaking out of the store-room.
"WHAT? SICKO-SICKO GUY!? What are you doing on my ship!"Luffy shouts out angrily while Zoro and he stand in front of Apis and Tiny.
"CURSE YOU ALL! CURSE THE WHOLE LOT OF YOU! I MAY HAVE FAILED TO GET THE DRAGONITE… BUT I CAN TAKE THAT BABY DRAGON OF YOURS AND THAT BRAT OF A GIRL WITH ME!" oh no he doesn't! No one touches Tiny or Apis! Especially Tiny!
"Your still alive? What tiny eyes!" Zoro grumbles amused and with a scowl at okama guys words. "SHUT UP!"
"And if I can't have that…. I'LL TAKE THE THIRTY MILLION BELLI BOUNTY ON YOUR HEAD! JUST SURRENDER TO YOUR FATES LIKE GOOD LITTLE BRATS" okama guy screams out demandingly like a toddler.
"LEAVE US ALONE! TAKE THIS!" Apis shouts out taking out her make shift whip and angrily striking it down heavily against okama guy, causing him to curse and fall overboard.
*SLASH*
'Well, he's gone! Good job Apis you protected us!' Usopp writes, refraining from telling her she essentially killed a man earning a happy grin. "Yeah thanks, Apis, you sure got rid of him! SHISHISHI!" Luffy crowns in agreement.
As they all laugh they reach the clouds and as soon as they exit them more photo's!
"LOOK! THE SUMMIT! IT'S THE SUMMIT!" Nami shouts.
"WHOHOO! Grand Line, here we come!" Apis crows excitedly with the rest pitching in their two cents, even Tiny joins in!
As they fly above the water and even as they start falling he can't stop himself from taking a million pictures even of the others hovering and falling above the ship with only Tiny safe in his arms tightly.
As they land back into the water he grins and passes Tiny back to an exhilarated Apis and rushes back into his workroom/gun-deck, puts in a special cannon ball he made and runs back on top. He doesn't want to risk hurting Merry Go after all since Laboon will be fine!
*WAOOOOOOOO*
"Eh… What was that sound?" Luffy wonders.
"Most likely it's the wind" Nami answers dismissively.
"No… it's crying, someone… is sobbing out in pain for their friends!" Apis cries worried.
"Really Apis!? What kind of animal could make that sound though?" Nami wonders surprised.
"Is that a mountain?" Luffy questions.
"A mountain? It can't be it's supposed to be open waters!" Nami informs rushing to the front.
'It's an island whale from the west blue!' he informs them happily even though he's shaking in his knees.
"A WHALE!? What kind of whale grows that big!?" they all scream at him except his darling little Tiny who is snuggling against Apis's chest cutely.
'An island whale!' he teases
"YOU'RE NOT HELPING!" Nami screams at him shark teeth and all much to his amusement.
"I'VE GOT AN IDEA!" Luffy yells running below deck and that's his que! Aiming his slingshot, he fire's seven White Smoke Stars and they activate a second before Luffy fires the cannon with the biggest White Smoke Star ever slowing them down and safely letting the ship come to a stop with only minimal damage.
"He's so sad…. He keeps calling out for his friends" Apis informs sadly looking at Laboon sorrowfully.
"Well, we can't do anything for him! lets just move past him so he doesn't notice and eat us!" Zoro mutters causing him to huff, they can so help him!
"Gum-Gum… pistol!"
"…YOU MORON!" STUPID TIME LINE BULLSHIT! Luffy why did you have to attack Laboon anyway!? Still, this is what he wanted? Kind of? Well, he wants the treasure at the bottom of the acid lake in Laboons stomach anyway!
"KYAAAA! We're being swallowed whole!"
"Luffy!"
"I'M NOT DYING HERE!"
The world goes black as Laboon's mouth closes, stiffening at feeling hands on and around him in a tight hug, he scowls and shudders since he can tell it's not Apis, it's either Sanji or Zoro and it's to dark to see anything. Sometimes they are understanding of his fear of touch but other times, like now they purposely do this to annoy him! He also knows Sanji and Zoro aren't afraid of the dark like he is so obviously this is just to annoy him! Soon as they get out of this tunnel he's going to give them a piece of his mind!
Unfortunately for him though as soon as they enter Laboons stomach the hands holding him let go and move away before he can see who it was between the two morons and nothing gives away who it could have been when he looks at them in the light. Huffing in annoyance he pouts behind his mask but moves on below deck uncaring for the comedic skit and conversations between the flower doctor and the monster duo… at least not when riches is to be had!
Moving about in his workroom/storage area he rummages around in a box to the side and brings out 3 large sized metallic nets he had made ages ago back in Syrup Village but didn't have a chance to test. Each net is completely made of metal and interwoven with small to large bulbs of different green and blue coloured shades and filled with special metallic sand and liquids of different kinds that hopefully when hit with a very small dose of electricity will react with the components in the sea water lifting the gold, silver and any other kind of alloy from the sea bed or in this case laboons stomach.
Well, Usopp sure hopes it works since some of his plans especially regarding Nami's and perhaps even Chopper's weapon's count's on it! He has the perfect blueprints sketched out that took months of work to get right and he would utterly hate to have to re-adjust them all or use other materials that wouldn't do nearly as good a job as he wants them to with the weapons he has in mind for the both of them.
Walking back onto deck and to the sides attaching the net's head filled to the brim with thoughts of the weapons built for chaos and destruction he tunes half an ear in to the conversation going on around him when the boat shakes roughly from the giant squid popping out of the acidic water before being killed by Flower guy that admittedly made him hug the main mast as if he wished to become one with the ship it shocked him so much! Can't believe he forgot something so scary!
"It looks like somebody lives here" Zoro states nervously and if Usopp wasn't still attempting to become one with Merry he would give him a captain obvious award.
"Let's hope their human….A FLOWER!?...no wait, human" Sanji exclaims before sighing just as nervous as Zoro. Usopp wants to state that is slightly racist and the most idiotic thing he has heard him say to date and he will never let him live it down.
Usopp somehow detaches himself from Merry's mast during the weird but amusing stare-off of doom between Sanji and Crocus but ignores it for the most part as he goes about tying up the nets to the ship and throwing them overboard.
"What are you doing Usopp?" Apis asks curiously as she makes her way over with Tiny in tow.
'Treasure hunting with these magnetic nets I built that if it works will collect gold and silver up from the sea floor' Usopp explains quickly while getting a small black stick from one of his many pockets and switching it on getting a small charge and spark of electricity going.
"Treasure hunting! Sugoi! Can I help!?" Apis exclaims excitedly before he, Apis and tiny all jump in shock as a red-haired witch suddenly appears ominously between them.
"Did you say treasure?" she coo's sickeningly sweetly and Usopp doesn't think he has ever been as terrified as he is in that moment.
"Nami! Guess what Usopp built these cool nets that bring treasure up from the seafloor! How cool is that!?" Apis informs Nami happily and Usopp can literally see Nami's eyes turn into giant Belli signs.
"Usopp my best friend in the whole wide world do these net's of your's really work?" Nami coons sidling up to him causing him to shudder in terrified disgust at her ass-kissing that he dearly hopes she never does again… at least not to him anyway! He has enough nightmares already when he does manage to sleep thank you very much!
'…These are just prototypes so they may not work but I figure that since the whale ate us it must have eaten other ships that didn't manage to get out so the whales stomach must be filled with treasure so…maybe?' Usopp hesitantly informs her making Nami literally shine.
"Well, what are we waiting for then! Get to collecting mine- ah I mean our treasure!" Nami says expectantly as if she didn't purposely mess up her words, still, Usopp shakes his head, sighs but complies, he'll give her a couple of million belli that he got in LogueTown and she should let him have all the gold and silver if it's not to ruined from Laboons stomach acid.
Tapping the electric stick to the nets causes them to jump a little but it's not long before a small rumble and then big violent shaking starts to rock the boat and make waves in the water.
"USOPP YOU MORON WHAT DID YOU DO!?" Nami shouts shark teeth and all as she clings to dear life to the railing as he himself does while also holding Apis and Tiny close to his chest wondering the exact same thing.
"It's not you're friends fault, it's Laboon's! he's ramming his head against the red line!" Crocus shouts that Usopp guiltily sighs relieved at. He would have hated to be the cause of any of Laboon's pain not to mention terrified of whatever horrific torture Nami cooked up for him in that wicked mind of hers!
"I see so the whale is suffering! He's most likely trying to kill the whale from the inside! What a nasty thing to do" Nami mutter's and Usopp wants to from and say it's not true but Apis's does it for him.
"That's not it! The whale is crying for his friends! I can hear it clearly now! He want's to rejoin his friends back in the west blue!" Apis cries out tears in her eyes holding Tiny close in a comforting hug and Usopp's heart goes out to Apis and Laboon, he wishes he could tell Laboon about Brook but he can't…. literally since he can't speak but even if he could he doubts he would…. Usopp couldn't bare the thought of giving Laboon false hope if something goes wrong in their journey like it did to his first friends… especially because things are changing to what he originally knew of in his knowledge.
"I don't want to bring up the whaling debate but I feel no obligation to save this whale either way! Lets just get out of here before our ship dissolves" Revenge will be painful Sanji, slow and painful and Usopp will not be merciful for there is always a reason to help an animal in trouble especially Laboon!
"Woah the old man jumped in! he'll be dissolved!" Zoro yell's shocked before shaking his head roughly "Nevermind, let's just get out of here before we dissolve ourselves! We'll have to row!" Usopp is not leaving without his treasure! Especially not when Usopp can literally see the treasure…. And unfortunately, skeleton's that was caught on the treasure and junk lifting to the surface slowly but steadily.
KA-BOOOM!
"L-Luffy!?" Zoro exclaims shocked.
"Your okay! Now save me!" Luffy don't ask the people you're trying to save to save you when you finally show up it is not how this works Usopp inwardly snarks wondering if he will just continue to grow more sarcastic and rude even if it is inside his own head since it seems to be a trend lately.
"Moron!" Zoro shouts before jumping into the acidic water towards luffy, the lovely Vivi and… whatever that other cannon fodder guys name is…. Yeah, it's a trend but Usopp fully blames his friends they are bad influences to his fragile mind.
He dosent know how long it takes but when Laboon calms down Zoro, Luffy and out two uninvited guest's are already on bored and the surface of the ocean around Merry Go is filled with old swords and other weapons, (Shudder) skeletons, wooden debri's and most importantly of all…. GOLD! LOTS AND LOTS OF GOLD!
Usopp and Nami are literally jumping in excitement and in pulling the nets up as the others interrogate miss Vivi and…. Cannon fodder guy since Usopp for the life of him can't even remember his code-name… sad but true.
"Well? Who are you guys" Luffy questions while poking a skeleton that accidently fell on board the ship in Nami's and his over eagerness making him shudder and frown. He'll be sure to tell Luffy later on the importance of respecting the dead but for now…. Treasure is much more important and boy is their a ton of it.
"FOR AS LONG AS I LIVE I WILL NEVER LET YOU HARM LABOON!" Crocus shouts when he comes back and not wanting the old man to get hurt he whips out his slingshot and takes aim with some normal pachinko balls. No need to waste special bullets on cannon fodder or risk causing real harm to Vivi and he thinks to himself guiltily but justly more importantly harming Merry in a significant way.
Usopp knows that Merry will have to end her journey with them at Water 7 but it does not mean it has to be her last days of sailing the ocean waters and if there is only one thing he can truly change he hopes it's that… if not then a devil fruit is another last ditch option since he refuses to let Merry die like she did in original Usopps voyage.
"He's back" Zoro states somewhat surprised while Luffy questions "Who's the old man?" which is dutifully ignored for now since all that matter's is Crocus and Laboon not getting hurt.
"Heh, heh, heh! Oh yeah? But where already in his stomach! There's nothing to stop us from blasting a whole right through his gullet! You simply can't stop us from whaling!" Just as cannon fodder guy and Vivi go to shoot Usopp fires his pachinko into the hand cannon's muzzle and watch's pleased as it blows up in their faces, luckily not damaging Merry besides a few scorch marks which is easily repaired with some wood oil, sand paper and a special super secret wood varnish his sensei taught him how to make.
Crocus still falls into the water amusingly when he jumped to protect Laboon but at least he's not hurt.
WHAM! WHAM! BANG!
"They had it coming!" Luffy huffs and chuckling (giggling) silently Apis and him applaud him especially Apis who seems the most livid at the mysterious duo with Tiny even giving a cute little growl. Usopp snaps a picture of the adorable sight… along with the amusing expressions of the others and even of himself since… well, he is apart of this crew too and doesn't want to be left out even if he is the one taking the photos to begin with.
Moments go by as Crocus moves back onto his island ship while thanking him and Usopp just nods timidly very thankful for his mask once again because he can feel the blush burning brightly at the gratitude, Usopp may be wary of accepting thanks and compliments from his crew knowing it's just normal behaviour and nothing special on his part but this is Crocus! Ship doctor to Gold D. Rodger! If being actually thanked by such a man isn't praise or blush, worthy Usopp doesn't know what is! Shaking his head he stumbles inside to sort the treasure from the junk as the others follow Crocus lead.
Usopp is very pleased, more then pleased actually! While most of the swords and other weapons are unsalvageable there is a few that surprisingly hasn't seen an ounce of wreckage despite sitting in acidic water's for who knows how long. More importantly silver, jewels, diamonds, pearls and most important of all gold, so much gold that it is surprising how much gold was actually down their just wasting away. A good wash and polish and the silver and gold will be more then ready to use for his plans as soon as he gains access to a blacksmith's in whisky peak or Ace's fire in Alabasta but he doesn't wish to wait that long to make Nami's weapon when she needs it, so Whisky peak it is!
Nami and the other's are on Crocus's little island ship getting Laboons story so Usopp has had more then enough time to hide said silver and gold plus the few intact weapons in his workroom leaving the rest and a million belli's in her room already as a good repayment. He would have given another million or two but he's stingy and will need it more later on for other projects, besides he gave her the jewels, diamonds and pearls so it's more then enough.
Stumbling slightly when the ship moves Usopp guesses that their moving out with Nami's okay since Usopp knows Nami would not leave without her treasure… nor would he for that matter but it's nice to know Nami trusts him to handle it without cheating her of her share, it's very… heart-warming and comforting to know that despite being with these people little more than a month he is trusted this much.
Usopp doesn't think he deserves it, in fact, he knows he doesn't… not really but maybe…. Maybe he can learn to… to feel as if he has earned that right… just a little if he continues on the path he's on and can gain the courage to change something for the better.
If he doesn't somehow make it worse first with the changing tides that he knows are already starting to move.
Coming out on deck Usopp smiles amused at Tiny and Apis playing together as the others convers with Crocus and snaps another picture or two of everyone (including himself selfie-style).
"I may not look it but I'm a physician, I ran a clinic on the caps years ago before spending a few years as a ships doctor when given an offer I couldn't refuse" Crocus explains a wistful look in his eyes and curious Usopp wonders if that was before or after Laboon came along? If it was after Usopp's respect for the man dims a little since it was quite cruel and mean of him to leave Laboon alone for so long since Gold D. Rodger only died around 20 years ago while Laboon has been here for 50 give or take a few months.
"A ships doctor!? Really then be our ships doctor! We could really use one especially with Usopps throat the way it is!" Luffy exclaims excited surprising him a little at the added dialogue Luffy put on by mentioning himself and his injured throat. It's… strange to be worried about but it's… nice, too he supposes.
"Ridiculous! I'm much too old to be looking after a bunch of young fool's! I guess I could look at your friends throat though after his help with the two morons over there" Crocus says and while amused at Vivi's and Cannon fodder guy's expressions he still jolts surprised and rapidly shakes his head no.
It's much to embarrassing to be looked over by such a great man! Unfortunately, no one is looking in his direction besides Zoro who just hit's he's rapidly shaking head with a smirk causing him to pout from his spot in the corner growing mushrooms on a log he set up for that exact purpose.
"So you're a doctor living inside this whale to help treat him?" Apis questions curiously.
"That's right, when they get this big it's impossible to treat them from the outside, now careful I'm opening the doors" Crocus warns as he opens the gate he somehow installed in Laboon's side. Cause really how much money and man power did it take to build all this inside a whale without seriously hurting or damaging him!? Even with the knowledge, he holds nothing like this could have been possible! let alone successfully done to a living animal!
"WOAH! Where outside! A real sky! Awesome!" Luffy exclaims from Merry's head excited shaking him from his thoughts of the sheer amount of science behind such a marvel.
"What do we do with these two?" Zoro asks lifting the two guests up like misbehaving cats.
"Throw them overboard" Crocus callously says flippantly.
"Fine with me" Zoro states shrugging before throwing them over without so much as a glance causing him to shiver in fright at the callousness at it all… at least it's not the pirate cliché of walking the plank? That's something right?
"Who are you guy's anyway?"
"NONE OF YOUR BUISNESS YOU HILLBILLY PIRATES! JUST YOU WAIT! AND CROCUS ONE DAY WE'LL GET THAT WHALE" Vivi and Cannon fodder guy's shout as they swim away.
"Ahh, Ms. Wednesday a woman of mystery! What a woman!" Sanji control your libido you may be a prince and Vivi a princess but Vivi is already spoken for… Even if she doesn't yet realise she is.
"What's this?" Luffy questions holding the loguepost, which Usopp gently yanks out of his hands while removing, his current gloves compass for the new one.
"Hey, I was holding that!" Luffy pouts reaching for his new compass but Usopp just passes him his old one while Luffy gets distracted by the rapidly spinning pointer. It's a good thing Luffy has ADHD because things would be a lot more difficult if he wasn't.
It's not something he knows of in his knowledge or something properly diagnosed but if Luffy doesn't have ADHD then Usopp isn't a sniper and is actually a gorilla.
"So Laboon's been waiting 50 year's huh? Those pirates have sure kept him waiting a long time!" Luffy says from his spot on a rock still fiddling with his old compass about ten minutes later when they all come onto land to rest, well they do Usopp is currently checking out the bottom of Merry to check for any potential damage caused by the gastric stomach acid of Laboon's stomach.
"This is the grand line, they said only a couple of year's it's been 50 so there's your answer, their dead" Sanji states and while sad it's true, even brook is dead! Well, half dead? Okay, that's giving him a headache and scaring him so no more thinking about that subject!
"I'm afraid reality is even crueller then that, those pirates fled the grand line, I have it from a reliable source" Not true! I mean half of them did but only to get help! They never gave up on Laboon right up until the end! Usopp wishes he could say something but he can't! He just…. Can't and it hurts that he can't do anything for Crocus or Laboon.
"I can't believe it! So they just abandoned the poor whale!? But to leave they'd have to cross the Calm Belt!" Nami exclaims shocked at the thought but Usopp can't listen anymore, call it cowardly but or whatever but Usopp is a coward and he can't bear to hear another word of things he already knows…. Besides he has to stop Luffy from damaging poor Merry!
Going inside and grapping a thick and heavy log he sharpened to a point he goes back on deck and waits only 30 second's before Luffy runs past and shoving the make shift spear into his hands before he dares even THINK of touching Merry's mast.
"Oh! Thanks, Usopp! AGHHHHH!" Luffy grins before running up Laboons side spear in hand.
"What's that idiot doing? You take you're eyes off him for one second…" Zoro sighs aggrieved while Usopp just smirks behind his mask, sometimes though not often it's good to have future knowledge.
"Maybe he just like's mountain climbing?" Sanji that is the second dumbest thing he has heard you say, is this going to be a trend?
"GUM-GUM… BOUQUET!" Usopp…. Honestly didn't know Luffy knew what a bouquet was, he knows he's smarter then he lets on so he shouldn't be all that surprised but he is. Maybe he has been hanging around Zoro and Sanji too often? He's heard idiocy is contagious after all.
*Plop*
"…."
*BHWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!*
"WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING MORON!?"
The fight goes pretty much as it did in the anime and manga except for the notable exception of not having to repair Merry's mast, which Usopp is mighty pleased about. The less damage done to Merry the better and when he has time he should follow Crocus's lead and add metal plating to Merry's flank, the worst damage that led to Merry's death to his knowledge was the main support of the ship so the less damage done their should significantly reduce the risk of Merry's sailing days ending permanently when they reach Water 7.
He feel's extremely guilty that if he can only change one thing for the better it would be Merry's life over Ace's death especially when it comes to the knowledge that it destroyed Luffy… but he can't help it! He's only human and he's been working on Merry for years! Some of his best memories are on this ship and to lose Merry would destroy him in a way nothing else ever has! Not his mother's death, not Yasopp basically abandoning him to a life of loneliness when he knew his mother was dying and not even everything that happened after! At least not fully anyway and, and!
A calming wind and gentle humming along with a slight warmth engulfing him as if in a hug stops him from devolving into a full blown panic attack and he gives a silent humourless chuckle before counting down from twenty, breathing deeply while patting the side of Merry's mast in thanks.
Yes… to lose Merry would break him but so would allowing Ace to die when it would hurt one of his best friends, he's only human though but he'll try, he has too and if his best doesn't work…. Well, the other was always more skilled then him so he'll do what needs must no matter the consequences.
No matter how utterly petrifying the mere idea of letting the other anywhere near his friends let alone out makes him.
Usopp is a horrible coward though and madness is not a game he'll ever be a willing participant to play in… so hopefully he'll have the courage to do what needs to be done if it comes down to it.
(Usopp is an even more horrible liar.)
Word Count: 9640
I am so very sorry for the long delay! I have legit excuses but I won't put them down since I know I probably could have worked around them so thanks for being so patient!
Now not exactly happy with the chapter and it took like a million tries to try and get it to a point I was content with but I'm still not happy with it! Hopefully, the next chapter will be better! Whenever I manage to get it out.
Don't know when Aki Heartfillia will be updated since I have kind of lost interest in it but if I do update it I most likely will be cutting off the dragon wars and whatever and putting in a new plot for it to make it more of an AU then it already is since I have not watched that part and don't want to either. I swear that show while good had no bloody though put into it! Which the author even admitted too but meh
OnepieceZoroOc thanks you all again! Tell me what you think of the chapter since it's been a while and I may have put in a different feel for it by accident.
P.S for those wondering about the romance... yeah it's not actually going to be present besides for a bit of innocent flirting and teasing and not just between Zoro and Usopp so you can take it as just friendship since the words I Love You will never leave anyone's mouth.
Honestly my username is OnepieceZoroOc if I didn't make a sort of pairing with Zoro when writing a story set in one piece I would be utterly remiss! It would be practically blasphemy as far as I'm concerned!
Barely edited! I will go down in flames with my ship!