The Final Part: Endings
"Wake up, Luffy."
Luffy blinked awake, startled as he sat up in his jump seat. He wiped the drool from his face, clearing his eyes of the hard sleep formed in his lashes. He smacked his mouth and rubbed his belly before speaking, "How long was I asleep?"
"23 hours," Ace replied with a smile. "You needed the sleep, buddy."
Luffy was wide awake now. He looked at Ace in surprise before looking around the rest of the cabin. Zoro was beside him, awake but silent. Usopp was nudging Nami awake. Franky was reading to Chopper, no idea where'd they'd found the book. Robin was watching with a smile. Brook was talking excitedly about something with Marco. And Law was standing, his hand hooked through the mesh above his head. He looked like he was ignoring everyone, but Luffy knew him better than that, he was listening, enjoying the surrounding conversations.
"Are we there yet?" Luffy asked, licking his lips.
"We're 4 minutes from the drop," Ace said simply, pulling on Luffy's gear pointedly.
Luffy didn't even recall getting in the plane. He shook his head, "Who all's going?"
"All of us," Zoro answered.
"Is that a good idea?" Luffy wondered aloud. "It's so dangerous and-"
"We voted on it while you were sleeping," Zoro interrupted. "We stay together."
Luffy nodded and smiled, "Okay."
"Any idea what we're up against here?" Luffy questioned, adjusting his heavy clothes with a frown. "I'm guessing I slept through a lot."
"You wouldn't have listened anyway," Ace teased.
"They're coming back for us, right?" Luffy pressed, locking eyes with Ace.
"They did you one better," Ace said, pulling something from his pack. "They gave us the detonator." He extended his hand, offering it to Luffy.
"I would never use it," Luffy refused, his hands in his lap.
"That's why I'm handing it to you."
"I'll probably lose it," Luffy argued.
"Even better."
Zoro reached out and took the detonator, "Cool."
"Does everyone have their weapon?" Ace questioned, walking down the center of the plane, pacing. "Does everyone have their chute? Their pack?"
"You're not coming with us?" Luffy wondered.
Ace paused, "No. My work isn't finished yet."
Luffy nodded, his legs tingling slightly, "Why?"
"There are 24 missing Ds," Ace replied. "I'm gonna find them."
Chopper looked up in surprise, "You mean the people like me?"
Ace smiled and nodded, "You were from Deadhouse too." Ace knocked his fist against his chest in gesture, "We're brothers."
"And they're out there, all alone," Marco added. "Scared and hunted."
"You won't be able to find them," Robin spoke up, "Not the heathy, smart ones. They'll blend in seamlessly, they'll disappear."
"We're hoping those will find us," Ace admitted. "Every D has a connection. We feel it in our bones."
"Be careful," Luffy said simply.
"Always," Ace replied with a smirk.
"Cornered animals are dangerous," Robin added. "Proceed with caution."
"Okay," the pilot called back, "Ready?"
"Ready."
"Good luck, little brother," Ace murmured, bumping against Luffy as he stood.
"You too," Luffy sighed.
"It was a pleasure to meet you all," Ace announced. "Please remember to pull your parachute cord."
"Oh, I can't do this," Usopp began to panic.
Nami made a face, "I know you've done this before."
"Yeah, and it was awful and I could've died… and I… I have to use the bathroom… Sir, can we fly back 'round, I really need to…"
Ace laughed boisterously as he pushed Usopp into place, "Not a chance in Hell, soldier."
"Alright," Marco barked, walking up and down the row, "You're all equipped with AADs."
"What are AADs?" Luffy asked, looking around.
"Automatic Activation Devices," Marco explained quickly. "It's calibrated to the ground so you don't end up a pancake." Marco nodded and Luffy nodded back. Marco continued, "Goggles down, shoes tied?"
"Remember arms out, legs straight, knees slightly bent," Marco instructed. "Good luck."
"Ever been skydiving before?" Luffy asked, looking at Zoro.
Zoro made a face, "How hard can it be?"
"We could die," Robin reasoned.
"I'd feel so much more comfortable if you'd let me take a real quick bathroom break…" Usopp pleaded.
"Eh, just piss your pants," Franky groaned. "I kinda feel like I might too."
"Don't be such fuddy duds," Nami squealed, bouncing up and down on her heels. "This is gonna be a life changing experience."
"You first, Ginger," Ace decided, rearranging her in line. "Show 'em how it's done."
"Sure thing, Freckles," Nami retorted.
"And clear to drop," the pilot yelled.
"Go," Ace barked, twisting the lock. He took a step back and kicked the door open the rest of the way. The cabin flushed with cold, frenzied air. "One!"
Nami jumped.
"Two!"
Usopp jumped.
"Three, four."
Franky and Chopper tandem jumped.
"Five."
Robin jumped.
"Six."
Brook jumped, squealing on his way out the door.
"Seven."
Zoro jumped.
"Eight…."
Law and Luffy stared hard at one another.
"Come on…" Ace shouted, "We're moving fast, if you wanna-"
Luffy took a running leap, shoving Law out the door and into the open air. They both tumbled wildly before righting themselves. Luffy's mouth fluttered, full of air. He looked at Law, Law was screaming but the sound was carried away completely. Luffy slapped Law on the arm, hardly able to move his own body. He made a thumbs up gesture and tried to smile, though he couldn't. Law lifted a single, middle, finger, silently yelling as they continued their descent.
When the parachute deployed it was intense; the way it tugged him upward he thought his arms might be ripped from the rest of him. The freefalling last less than a minute, but floating down seemed to take forever. Finally he landed, skidding across a forest floor, his parachute tangling him up.
He lay on the ground for a few more minutes until he was cut free from the twisted mess. He smiled up at Law, "That was fun. I wanna do it again!"
"Y-you…" Law stammered angrily. "I should gut you."
"You didn't have fun?" Luffy asked, scrambling to his feet.
Law cast him a long, dark glance, "Don't ever push me out of a plane again."
"You had a parachute," Luffy muttered under his breath, playing with the straps on his pack. "It's not like you woulda died or nothin'."
"Luffy! Law!" Nami called through the trees.
"Over here!" Luffy shouted back, waving his arms.
"So much for the element of surprise," Law groaned, shaking his head.
"Wasn't a surprise anyway," Luffy replied, his large eyes meeting Law's. "I'm surprised you didn't notice them yet."
"Notice who?" Law asked, but the moment he'd spoken he had his answer. They were being watched. There were eyes in the forest, their breathing hitched with fear, their hearts pounding wildly. "Oh, who do we have here? D Foundation? Germa Six Six?"
"Nah," Luffy shook his head, removing his pack and then his bullet-proof vest.
"Wow, brother," Franky called out, entering the clearing. "I'd leave that on."
"Don't need it," Luffy replied, removing the heavy black pants he wore.
"Oh, you need pants," Law argued.
Luffy laughed. Chopper sniffed the air, "Hey, guys, there's…"
"We know," Luffy replied. "It's okay."
"Man," Usopp panted, jogging into view. "Ya'll landed a far ways away…"
"Where's Nami?" Luffy asked, stripping even more of his uniform off.
"Right here," Nami called, climbing over a tangle of underbrush.
"We're waiting on Zoro, Robin, and Brook?" Luffy questioned, counting on his fingers.
"Brook's stuck in a tree," Usopp explained, "Zoro's cutting him down."
"So Robin?" Luffy looked up, meeting Franky's eye.
"Uh, Robbie?!" Franky yelled, cupping his hand over his mouth. "Robin!"
"Robin!" Chopper called out too, hopping from foot to foot.
"Law?" Luffy turned, searching Law with pleading eyes.
Law groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose, "I'll go get her."
"Do you know where she is?" Franky demanded, scrambling over roots after Law.
"Where are we?" Nami wondered, inspecting a beautiful, wild hibiscus flower.
"Somewhere in the Pacific they said…" Usopp replied. "I'm expecting King Kong to show up any minute. I won't even be surprised. Nope. This is 100% how I'm gonna die. King Kong, Godzilla, some random Kaiju… just splat…"
"Uh, Luffy," Nami interjected in concern, "Why are you naked?"
Everyone turned instantly to look at Luffy. He stood barefoot and nude. He was crouched down, cutting the pants into shorts before pulling them back on. He smiled and shrugged, "I'm not wearing D Foundation shit."
"Fair enough," Nami replied, nudging Usopp's shoulder. They whispered noticeably, gesturing with their hands.
"Hey," Zoro called out, walking up with Brook in tow. "I found the facility."
"Oh, great…" Usopp sighed. "Might as well get it over with."
"I also found some fresh water," Zoro said. "It's good and cold."
"We've been here fifteen minutes and you're already drinking local water?" Usopp panicked. "You're gonna die! Don't do that!"
"You do realize that the water back home was full of arsenic and lead and shit, right?" Zoro pointed out, "And it's running water. It's fine." Zoro glanced at Luffy and then snapped back, shocked to see him so underdressed. "Where'd your clothes go?"
"This is more comfortable," Luffy insisted, tugging on the waistband of his newly cut shorts.
"Okay, go for it," Zoro sighed, waving his hand dismissively. "Who am I to judge? You do realize we're being watched, right?"
"Yeah," Chopper answered. "We know."
"Cool," Zoro said. "Where're the others?"
"Went to find Robin," Luffy replied, rubbing a peculiar new scar that had formed on his hand. He wondered why that spot, of all his injuries, had decided to remain.
"How far's the facility?" Usopp asked, inspecting his rifle.
"Hmm," Zoro paused, deep in thought, "I don't know. It's on the top of the next hill. A jungle between here and there."
"That's where King Kong lives," Usopp sighed, nodding his head as if already accepting his fate. "I'm sorry, Nami. You're the white girl sacrifice."
"I should just…" Nami growled, tensing up as if she might strangle him.
"Hey!" Luffy shouted, turning toward the thick line of trees. "What's the fastest way to that big building on the hill?"
"Who are you talking to?" Usopp whispered worriedly.
Luffy waited only a moment before adding, "We're not with them. We're not here to hurt you."
A man stepped forward. He was shirtless, a wreath of fresh flowers around his neck, and skirt-like cloth that reached his ankles. His skin was dark and wrinkled, and his lidless eyes were deep-set and dark. He looked at Luffy with his gentle eyes and then he spoke in accented English, "Why do you want to go there?"
"They have a friend of mine," Luffy answered.
The man nodded and another man joined him at his side, and then another, and then a woman, also topless, and a child. They made a semi-circle around Luffy and the others. Usopp dropped his rifle low, barrel to the ground. They murmured to one another in their native tongue before the elder man spoke again, "They have taken our people too."
Luffy clicked his tongue, "I'm sorry. They're bad people."
"You won't be enough," the woman warned.
"How long have they been here?" Zoro asked, ignoring the native child that now circled him exclusively.
"Four years," the man answered. The child reached out quickly and touched Zoro, as if it were a game of speed and daring. Zoro made a face but said nothing. "They came in numbers and stole land. They forced our people to work. They took so many of our village. They've never come back."
"Four years ago?" Zoro wondered aloud, "Wonder what they built it for? Deadhouse was still functional."
"They came for our Same Akuma," the woman answered, pulling her child back into her arms.
"'Same Akuma'?" Luffy repeated unsurely.
"Oh, my God. Oh sweet Lord. What's that? What's a Sa-may-Ack-oo-mah?" Usopp panicked.
"Shhhh…" Nami hissed, slapping Usopp on the arm. "Be respectful."
"Hey, do ya'll speak Japanese?" Zoro wondered, the words feeling somewhat familiar.
The elder man laughed, he brought a fan out of his shirt and fanned himself, "Hai."
"Where the hell are we?!" Zoro marveled. "This isn't Japan. I mean, Japan isn't tropical and…" Zoro hesitated. He'd never been to Japan. His parents had never been to Japan. But this didn't feel like Japan.
"We speak English and Spanish too," the woman said with a smile.
"Welcome to the Carolines."
"This is a helluva different Carolines than we're used to," Usopp muttered and Nami nodded.
Luffy extended his hand to the elder man and smiled, "Thank you. My name's Luffy and we're here to take care of your problem."
The man didn't laugh, like many would have. He simply looked at Luffy, his muscled arms and defined abdomen, his strong legs and shoulders. He nodded and shook Luffy's hand, "But first you must eat."
Luffy smiled, "That would be great, old man."
"Luffy!" Nami groaned. "You can't say that out loud."
"We're just waiting on the rest of our group," Luffy explained, pointing toward the direction Law and Franky had disappeared.
"Ah, yes," the elder man nodded. "She is waiting for you in our village."
"Robin?" Luffy asked.
The man smiled, lifting his hand in gesture, "No reason to panic. She's fine. She's safe."
They followed the small group of islanders down a worn path, leading straight to the village. The village was small and tidy, with thatched roof buildings littering the white sand of the shore. It was a beautiful paradise, a mixture of modern day and ancient culture.
"Why the hell was I born in Texas?" Nami sighed.
"Because you're a colonizer," Zoro teased.
"Uh, you do realize the Japanese colonized these islands, right? Like you're literally the oppressing party here, dumbass!" Nami retorted.
Zoro shrugged glumly, "Well now that you pointed it out…"
"Hey," Robin called out, waving from her seat beneath an umbrella.
"Hey!" Nami called cheerfully, already imagining how she'd soak up the sun.
Franky and Law walked through the sand, meeting them halfway. Franky rubbed the back of his neck, popping it loudly, "So, uh, I see you've also met the locals."
"They're nice," Luffy replied. "Any problems?"
"Nope," Law answered. "They're already trying to get us on the next ship out of here though."
"When's that?" Brook asked.
"Why's that?" Luffy questioned.
"The next boat is in…" Franky paused for dramatic effect. "Three months."
"Three months?!" Usopp gasped.
"Yeah," Franky nodded his head. "Yep."
"And they want us gone because these other people on the island are dangerous."
"People live here," Chopper murmured. "And they were gonna bomb it."
"The bombs are already in place," Zoro pointed out. "All we have to do is press a button."
"We're not pressing any button," Luffy assured them.
"How much can we trust these people?" Usopp worried. "I mean isn't cannibalism a thing? Like isn't it really common out here in the ocean…?"
"I've eaten more people than are living on this little island nation, Usopp," Law admitted. "I'm the most dangerous person you could ever be around. Don't sweat the small things."
"Ask them about King Kong," Usopp requested, glaring at Law in response. "Ask if they know 'im."
"I'm not… I'm not asking that…" Franky refused.
"We can't just stand around here talking amongst ourselves, it's rude," Brook realized, shooing Chopper toward Robin.
"They're having us for dinner, Usopp," Law teased. "Should we worry about the wording or anything? They asked about dark meat… not sure why…"
"Come on," Nami laughed, pulling Usopp along after her across the beach.
Dinner was simple but beautiful and fresh; fish caught from the reef, taro and yams, bananas and wild pig. The islanders were polite and welcoming and honored the group with their traditional dance. Even Law enjoyed himself, inspecting the islanders' impressive tattoo work and letting them see his.
The children kept yelling at Zoro, pointing and taunting him in their native tongue. He frowned, crossing his arms over his chest, "What the hell do they want?!"
"Ah, it's nothing," the elder replied, smiling kindly.
"They think you're the Lizard-man," a younger man answered with a shrug of his strong shoulders.
"Lizard-man?!" Zoro repeated.
The man tousled his own long, black hair, "They're asking if you can climb down a tree head-first like in the legends."
Zoro made a face, his skin reddening, "I'm not a Lizard-man."
"Awwwww," the kids whined, their spirits dropping.
Franky snickered, nudging Usopp as he chuckled. Zoro kicked at them as imperceptibly as possible before turning to listen in on Robin's conversation with some of the women.
"Thanks for the food," Luffy murmured. "I was starving." Luffy stuffed another handful of salted pork into his mouth, "We need to go soon. What's the best way?"
"You shouldn't go," an elder woman barked. She began to speak quickly and heatedly in her native tongue to the others, waving her arms around as she spoke. The noise grew louder and louder until even the children were watching the adults in silence.
"I'm sorry, but why doesn't she want us to go?" Nami asked.
"You'll die," another woman answered. "They will kill you."
"Maybe ya'll should stay," Franky considered, "And we'll go."
The villagers shook their heads unanimously, "You for certain should not go."
"Huh? Why?" Franky rumbled, offended. "I've done my fair share of things for this group and-"
"Francis," Robin murmured, placing her hand on his knee. "They'll explain if you wait."
And the villagers did explain, "The first people they came for were our injured and sick. They said they would treat them. We let them go. But then they came for more of us. And no one has ever come back."
"We don't need anyone else to come with us," Law pointed out, "Luffy and I can handle it."
"I'm going," Zoro replied instantly, folding his arms over his chest.
"I'm going too," Chopper added, standing up.
"I'll stay and watch the beach," Usopp decided, "Keep an eye on things." Usopp scratched the goatee growing in on his chin, "Make sure Nami doesn't burn… important things."
"I thought we were sticking together," Nami said.
"It's an island," Zoro retorted. "We won't get too far off."
"These are children," the elder woman groaned. "We cannot encourage this…"
"Hey, old lady," Luffy called out, looking her up and down. "The other naked lady with the old guy told me they took something from you. If it's there, I'll get it back for you. You just need to tell me how I get there. I can walk through the jungle all day and night or you can help me."
"The Same Akuma…" there was a murmur amongst the villagers.
"Yeah, if they have it, I will find it for you."
"Hey, is the 'sah-may-ah-koo-muh' dangerous?" Usopp asked the nearest villager.
"Is it priceless?" Nami questioned, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "Very valuable or…?"
"Is it heavy?" Franky wondered. "Team lift?"
"The fastest way is by boat," the elder woman finally revealed, watching Luffy with heavy, thoughtful eyes.
"So who's goin'?" Franky questioned, looking from face to face.
"And who's stayin'?" Usopp added, a little too hopefully.
"I won't ask anyone to come," Luffy said, leaning back as he spoke. "Either way, we all meet up back here, in this village." Luffy's hand rested against his lower belly, his fingers scratching absently, "Teach is my problem. And I'm the one who promised to look for the 'Same thing'."
"It feels strange," Robin murmured, "For us to split up now…"
"Some of us are mortal," Franky pointed out, squeezing her hand.
"Yeah, I remember," Luffy said. "I won't forget. Never ever."
"So we should go together," Usopp declared, cracking his knuckles. "We go in as a team, we come out as a team."
"Ten seconds ago you were on life guard duty," Zoro snapped.
"Well, I don't wanna go!" Usopp exclaimed. "Hell nah. I wanna stay here. And enjoy this island with beautiful women and be safe… But I can't. I can't just let you guys go alone. Ya'll need me." Usopp smiled confidently, "I'm your sniper."
"I don't actually care who comes," Law admitted, "But I sure as shit ain't rowing."