Wishfull-star: Thanks!

IIRoxaII: Lol Luffy lost a lot of innocence in Water 7... hehe.

sulongmirko: Thank you!

Franky landed on his face, his junk out for everyone to see. People at the stairs were shouting at him to put pants on when Luffy called his name, holding the pants up. Nami thought the whole thing was disgusting. "Thank you so much for the ship! We'll take good care of it!"

The man said, "Yeah, you're welcome. I wish you all a safe journey." Still, he was pantless. And it didn't bother him at all. Nami was looking away while Robin didn't seem to care at all, and was just lightly entertained by it all.

Luffy held the pants up and said, "If you want these back, then be our nakama!" The townspeople were yelling at him to get dressed, go away and that he destroyed the island again. Franky told him to give his pants back firmly, but there was a waiver to his voice. Iceberg was right, he wanted to come but didn't want to at the same time. "Then be our nakama."

"Don't be silly and think you can force me to come with you by taking my pants!" Luffy shot an arm down and took his sunglasses.

"Be our nakama!" Luffy insisted. "And I'll give these both back."

"That won't bother me!" and he struck a pose, completely naked in front of the onlookers. Luffy was impressed with how resolute and chill he was about this. Not embarrassed at all. Robin pleasantly asked if she could be a bit rough and help move things along. Luffy nodded, wondering what she'd do.

She smiled and crossed her arms using her devil fruit to form two arms on either of Franky's thighs before she yanked his privates, making everyone gasp and wince at the same time. Franky screamed at the pain. Zoro and Sanji were back, and Luffy said, "Cyborgs have a sword, t-" Zoro covered his mouth.

"You will never again refer to a dick as a sword. Understand?" he asked darkly. Luffy nodded. Everyone was gasping and screaming about how tight Robin was holding his junk. Painfully. Even the women were bothered and thought it would look painful the way Robin was squeezing, indeed being "rough".

She pleasantly said, "If you ask a group of pirates to back off in front of treasure, then you'd better have some good explanation. Otherwise there's no way they'll back off." It was true, and the other Straw Hats nodded in agreement to her words. Franky was now on his stomach, showing everyone on the island his hairy ass.

"I - I said I want to stay on this island!" Luffy didn't say he could tell he was lying. Even without his super hearing, it was clear. Or maybe it was just him in pain. "I- I'm really thankful to you guys! More than you can ever imagine! I want to go with you, but I have stuff here I need to take care of! That's why I gave you guys the ship!" he said, still wincing a bit but mostly looking irritated.

Then he continued. "First of all, I quit being a shipwright! So that ship would be the last I ever make! It was my wish, that is my dream ship!" Iceberg was listening the whole time, watching and unbothered. Luffy wondered what their relationship was.

"Wait, Franky. That ship has not become your dream ship, yet." Franky defiantly said he changed his mind on what he wanted to do, clearly referencing something only the two of them knew. "What you want to do?! No, that's not right. What you're doing on this island is atonement! You are still regretting and blaming yourself for Tom-san being taken away that day… but Tom-san already forgave you on that day, and directed you to the new road!"

He said Franky united those in the backstreets that had no home, called himself a bounty hunter in order to protect the island from real criminals and pirates. He did that to protect the Water 7 this Tom-san cared about. Though Iceberg was sure nobody saw those things as helping the island and not just himself.

The cyborg denied it all. Luffy could tell it was a lie. But Iceberg continued to pick him apart in front of everybody, a huge audience of the entire island. "You quit shipbuilding, and subdued your will to live. Is that what you're gonna do forever?" the mayor demanded.

"Though, even if I forgive you, and Tom-san forgives you, probably nothing will change, huh?" He then scowled. "Why won't you forgive yourself, Franky?! You can live your own dream, right?" Iceberg said, and Franky was lightly crying, clearly trying to hold it in. Maybe it hurt, Robin was still grabbing his nuts.

Then he started to openly cry in pain. And then he was interrupted when a bunch of heavy bags were tossed next to him. The Franky Family had gathered, some injured from the chase just now, but most crying. They apologized for causing Franky problems, but wanted him to be happy. And safe from the government. They were useless but loved him. Franky cried more, claiming it was because he was in pain.

"Robin, adjust your pain level, please! He'll become a woman!" Luffy begged, Chopper agreeing. Sanji and Zoro were just wincing and staying a bit away from Robin, who was smiling in amusement, maybe? But she stopped her hand pose and turned away. Franky continued to cry, cursing her. "Hmm? You aren't doing anything?"

"Haha, it was only in the beginning. He's sneaky, blaming the pain for the tears." Luffy giggled. "Neh, you know, they don't look like swords, but bananas with-"

"SHUT! UP! ABOUT! GENITALIA! ARE YOU A CHILD?!" Sanji shouted. Luffy laughed and ran inside to get some blood from Chopper's new infirmary before coming back out.

The Franky Family assured him they would do their best to take care of one another. "Don't worry about us on your adventure, big bro! Even if you're going far away, we'll always be your men!"

Once Franky stopped crying, Luffy tossed him his speedos. "Now get aboard my ship, Franky!" Franky wiped his tears and laughed. Nami was giving Robin hand sanitizer even though she assured her it wasn't her actual hands that did the grabbing.

"You should give the hand sanitizer to those who grabbed his speedos," Robin suggested, Luffy taking some and Chopper realizing he put them in his mouth in disgust. Luffy had the blood bag in his hand. Franky stocked a lot of blood bags all in a refrigerator that Chopper said was at the perfect temperature to have them last at least a month each.

Luffy heard some echoes of his name from the other side of the island easily. It interrupted his thoughts and what he was going to say. "Luffy! Sorry, my report was denied! I'm coming to arrest you!" It was Garp. He told his nakama they had to get going, the marines were back.

"You're lucky I'm coming. A ship like this couldn't be taken care of by some inexperienced fools. It would be a shame for this to be in the hands of anyone other than a real shipwright!" Franky got on and Luffy grabbed his heavy luggage and brought it onto their grassy deck. Luffy couldn't wait to have picnics on that deck. "I, Franky, will become the shipwright for your ship!" he declared.

The crew cheered. Luffy felt a tightening in his chest. Well, this was it. With the marines coming, they had to leave the island now. With no sign of Usopp coming. Maybe he decided to not come back after all. He meant everything he said or was too scared to apologize. He could see them both being the reasons, but they had to leave.

They unfurled the sail, and the ship started to lurch to sea. "Luffy? Are you sure?"

"I don't hear him coming. He coulda' come this whole time, but he hasn't. Maybe he did choose to stay. Maybe he meant every word he said."

"But-!"

"I'll continue to listen, okay? But we have to leave now, Garp is coming. Stupid," Luffy added. His letter was weighing heavy in his pocket. He should have thrown it away. But he hadn't. It was in his pocket, forgotten until it wasn't. Chopper and Nami were bothered. Franky as well. Luffy felt a tightening in his chest again, stronger this time.

It seemed they were losing one nakama and gaining another. Luffy drummed his fingers on his knee as he sat against the mast, biting his lip but keeping a smile plastered on his face. "Grandpa is coming, we gotta go. It's too late, I think…" he said sadly, realizing he did want to forgive Usopp and move on. It might take a bit to get to where it had been before, but he wanted to have another go.

But the vice admiral was getting closer, and Luffy could hear him telling his people to get out the cannon balls. Then the first one hit, without a noisy word from Garp, he threw one at their ship and just barely missed. "We can't let the new ship get damaged!" Nami said. She sadly said they had no choice but to go now.

Nobody was happy, even though they had a new ship and new nakama. Finally somebody who could repair and keep proper maintenance of a ship. And even though they had someone to fix it now, they couldn't let the ship get hit by any cannon balls. His crew were shocked at Garp throwing them at them. Luffy saw his face from there. It was set in an angry expression, face tight. Luffy could tell he wasn't angry at him. He didn't want to do this. Maybe Luffy's painful outburst actually touched his heart. He didn't know and didn't want to find out. At least not now and not in person.

Then Luffy could hear Usopp's voice. He jerked around, and Chopper heard it too. "Luffy, Usopp's come!"

"I can't hear it," Luffy lied. "We have to go, now! Franky, how do we get out of this mess?" Luffy asked. He could hear Usopp just fine, even if he didn't like what he was hearing. He was demanding to know why they were leaving without him. They fought together, didn't they? Luffy wanted to hear an apology. He deserved and required that for Usopp to rejoin them.

Zoro cut cannon balls, Franky shot them, Sanji deflected them with his leg and Luffy bounced them back off his body. Come on, apologize! Hurry up!

They all heard Usopp's words now, Luffy couldn't lie and say he didn't. But Usopp was not apologizing. He was doing the same old inflated talking, bragging about his greatness. It left a bitter taste in the captain's mouth. Even now, he couldn't apologize, seeing them leave? He still clung to the belief that he was in the right during that argument?

That picking Luffy apart out of anger was just fine? It made Luffy upset and irritated, and he began to block Usopp's voice out of his head by purposely hearing everything but him. The birds, the marines breathing heavily as they hauled more cannons out. Garp's muttered apology that actually sounded sincere. He knew Luffy could hear him.

"No… wait!" he heard Usopp's voice call. There was a pause before a loud, "I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY I SAID THOSE THINGS! I DIDN'T MEAN THEM! I WAS SELFISH AND CRUEL AND I'M SORRY!" Luffy looked up, eyes wide at the place the voice was coming from.

The honest words were full of the thick noises of crying and gasping. "I know it's shameful! To beg to come back after everything I did and said! Ca-can I take back what I said?! Can I, please?! Please let me come back with you! Let me be nakama again! One more chance, I won't waste it!"

Luffy stretched a hand out, shooting it from the back of the ship to where Usopp was. Luffy didn't say a word, but Usopp grabbed on and Luffy snapped his hand back, pulling Usopp along with it. The other teen was sobbing, but Luffy just had slow tears on. Of relief and hurt. He would do everything he could to move on from the incident.

He didn't want lingering dislike or distrust on the crew. Especially not from the captain himself. "Finally, everyone's together! Let's get outta here!" But Franky told them they couldn't go yet as they heard the citizens shout for them to hurry away. They furled the sails to Franky's order. Luffy trusted his words, he would never let his ship get damaged on purpose.

He said they couldn't set sail without naming the ship. Luffy wasn't sure if this was the best time for that. But he had all sorts of great names! Lion was too predictable, so he chose all other animals. Usopp kept shooting them down, and it bothered Luffy. It really would take a bit to get used to having him back. Well, it was to be expected.

Luffy always thought he was a forgiving person, but he proved he wasn't both with Garp and now Usopp, though he'd try much harder with the latter one.

"I have a suggestion of my own. The 'Thousand Sunny'. The ship that will sail a thousand seas."

"Wow, that sounds so cool! Way better than my names!" Zoro said it was better than his name, "lionel the boss". "Haha, that's a weird name!"

"You're the one that was going to name the lion ship 'dumpling gorilla lion'," Zoro replied lightly. Robin's suggestion would have been "The Darkness", and Sanji's "monster sunflower". Luffy giggled happily.

Franky didn't approve of any of these names, and they could all agree the Thousand Sunny sounded perfect. But they were surprised when he didn't choose that name, Iceberg did! Though they decided on that idea. It was better than Franky's "Lion Gang Champion".

"Let's go with Iceberg's name!" They all agreed. Now that they had a name, it was time to go, right?

"Hey, Franky, let's go! What's this secret weapon? We named the ship already!" Sanji shouted, deflecting more cannonballs. Why was the vice admiral missing each throw? Was it on purpose? Luffy couldn't see that being the truth, though. Maybe it was just a mistake, or he wasn't focused properly. Or maybe his arm was tired.

Franky grinned. "Take a look at this Water 7 while you can! It'll be gone in the blink of an eye!" Luffy beamed, trusting his words, and turned to the enemy ship with his grandfather attacking them from.

"Oi! Coby! It was good seeing you again!" Luffy said, not including Garp or that other guy. "We'll be running away for good this time! Until we meet again!"

Garp said, "Read my letter," quietly, though he knew Luffy could hear. Luffy gave him a simple nod. Luffy turned and thanked everyone on Water 7 for what they'd done for them while they were there. They waved and cheered them goodbye despite the marine ship right there in front of them.

Coby shouted at them to run, and they did. As Garp's final attack came close, a huge cannon ball that Luffy had no idea where it came from was about to crush their ship before the Sunny blasted off with a shout of "coup de burst!" from Franky, indeed leaving Water 7 in a blink of the eye.

Luffy was nearly thrown off the ship, having been standing at the back, and grabbed onto the railing as they flew, cheering at how fast and how far they'd gone just already! The whole crew were amazed and holding on. Luffy got back on the ship and hurried to the others, in awe of their new ship.

Franky told them they could go a whole kilometer in one blast, powered by cola! How?! Amazing! "This ship can do anything!" Chopper said happily, jumping up and down while Luffy looked over the side at the ship's reflection in the ocean, speeding along the waves without touching them.

"Whatever your Going Merry could do, this ship can as well! This ship surpasses her in every prospect. The Thousand Sunny will inherit that ship's brave spirit!" Luffy liked hearing the Merry praised. He did hope the Merry was inherited by the Sunny. Or that she was in the sea, going on adventures of her own. "And if it breaks, I'll fix it without flaw! Count on me for your ship and weapons!"

And he said he didn't want to come!

They had a party that night on the Thousand Sunny's grassy deck. It was so nice and cozy. The grass felt good beneath them. He already felt at home, and could tell the others did as well. Luffy felt kind of awkward with Usopp, though. He tried his best to fall back into step, but found himself feeling self-conscious.

He went to take a bath with Zoro the next day, neither embarrassed about being nude in front of one another, and planning on having some fun in the tub, when Luffy heard Usopp ask Nami if Luffy was still mad at him. He was back on the crew, right?

Sanji was the one to reply. It was after dinner. "You said some pretty hurtful things. I think he's uncomfortable to show any side of his other self in front of you for now." Franky had been filled in on Luffy's special information, and seemed both chill and amazed at it.

"Oh… I feel bad about it. I didn't want to bring it up because I feel ashamed about it. I was trying to hurt him… I was so angry and upset when I shouldn't have been. I was so mean, and I didn't mean anything I said. Of course I don't want him to go without the blood…" Usopp said in shame.

Zoro asked if he was okay, as he was straddling his lap and with his mouth pressed to Zoro's neck. Luffy nodded. Zoro ran his hands across Luffy's soft skin, and Luffy bit down. Zoro didn't try to conceal the pleasure. Luffy found it was easy to please him in other ways while drinking. It was a fun discovery. Neither were in any way shy about using that. Just not in front of anyone else.

When Franky showed them the shark submerge, Usopp was in the docking system as well. Luffy wanted to go in immediately, and Franky didn't protest. It was while Usopp, Chopper and Luffy were inside with Franky that Usopp formally apologized to Luffy about what he said. The captain didn't mention he'd heard it all before. He nodded, but said he might be a bit stand-offish for a bit. "I'll do my best to move on, though," Luffy said with a genuine smile. Then he looked down. "I always thought I was a forgiving person. But there was Garp and now you."

Chopper asked if he read the letter. "Not yet. But I will some time," he said honestly. Franky told them to not talk about sad shit anymore, and the three nodded. Luffy was in the passengers side as they explored. Chopper saw something first, and they followed the white thing. They went along the bottom of the ocean when they saw a swarm of black and white fish and dolphins. There was a huge shark there, too, but none of them were attacking the other.

"No way!" Usopp and Chopper said at the same time. "It's that!" the reindeer shouted in shock. In front of them was a chunk of blood stone. Identical to the one they found on Sky Island, that Luffy got punctured by with no real consequences.

But these creatures were licking the stone like the animals on Sky Island had! "Hey, it makes sense! The whale you and Zoro and Sanji saw before Jaya," Usopp said. Back when they saw the first creature that wasn't Luffy with those markings. "It can't be a coincidence."

Franky asked what the hell they were talking about, so Chopper explained about the blood stone. "If there are some in the ocean, then what if there are some on land?! That could mean more people were like you!"

"We haven't met any in the first half, what if the New World has some," Luffy said with a bright grin. "Neehee, the mystery continues!" he said happily. "It's too bad we can't get a piece off." There were no extendable arms on the shark submerge. A submarine in the shape of a shark. It was so cool! Franky hadn't shown them the other cool things yet.

Franky was grinning in interest, too. "I didn't think you had some mystery journey along with the one to become the Pirate King. This thing sure will be interesting. I'm sure Nico Robin will be interested." The other three knew that was true. They left eventually and went back to the Sunny. When they got there, the four were buzzing, especially the three youngest.

They ran into the galley where Robin and Nami were having tea. "Robin, Robin! We found a blood stone in the ocean!" She looked shocked, as did Nami and Sanji in the kitchen. "There were creatures licking it, like on Sky Island!" he gushed. Robin smiled in true awe. Too bad they couldn't get a sample.

Franky asked to see the one they got from the island in the sky. Chopper got out to go to the infirmary, where it was kept in a case. He brought the case back and took out the tube with the stone. He handed it to Franky, who looked at it in interest. Zoro came in, yawning and wanting some alcohol.

"What's going on here?" he asked.

"We found a blood stone on the ocean floor!" Zoro's jaw dropped. "There were other sea creatures that were at it, too. Sharks and dolphins weren't bothered by each other." Zoro was in awe, and smiled for Luffy. Everyone was interested in it. With them all excited with new information about the huge mystery, Luffy felt happy they were all interested in that part of their journey.

To discover what Luffy was, and how he came to be. As they traveled along the Grand Line, further, they learned more and more but also were thrown into more and more confusion. Sky Island was a blessing to go to. Amazing! How lucky were they?!

The mood was high that day, everyone speculating about it. They had theories about it, but of course no way to prove them yet. All of them were betting that the New World was holding more answers and than questions. Well, hopefully. Luffy was buzzing in excitement about going to Fishman Island. Though he hoped he didn't scare them all off. That would suck.

Zoro and Luffy could comfortably fit in one of the bunks, which had real mattresses in them. Franky built them very large for future crew members and himself. Obviously. So Luffy and Zoro could spoon now instead of being so cramped on the couch. It was awesome and both of them enjoyed the extra space.

-x-

"Ooh, I got one!" Luffy cheered as he tossed a shark into their fish preserve and aquarium. "Let's go see!" Luffy cheered. Usopp's apology made him feel good. It sounded truly sincere. He felt happy with it, satisfied with the apology and the sincerity behind it. They both ran to the aquarium room and were angry to find that the shark ate the other fish. "That jerk!" Luffy raged, going to the glass to yell at it. "We're gonna eat you, so it's good you're all nice and fat!" he said.

Sanji asked how he was surprised. Luffy stuck his tongue out at him. "Grill that bastard!"

Robin told him he shouldn't get mad. It was only natural that the shark would eat the other fish. "It was your fault, first," Sanji said, and then refused to grill, but made a tastier dish, only making Luffy hungrier.

He left the room, and went to the boys room and to his bunk. He just suddenly had the urge. There was no trigger for it, but he pulled the letter from his grandfather out of the stash he had under the mattress of his and Zoro's bunk. He looked at it, seeing it had the marine stamp on it, no doubt because it was all they had.

He sighed and then opened it surprisingly neatly. He pulled out the folded piece of paper. There were photos in it, too, but he went to the letter first.

Luffy, I wanted to tell you in a letter, as I know you were very upset to see me, which I understand now. I made mistakes as a grandfather. I don't have a good excuse for how I handled it. I always wanted your safety first. The marines and government will be interested now. Knowing more about you, though I won't give more information to them.

I never meant to make you feel unloved or undesired. You mean a lot to me, and I'm sorry for how I handled our relationship and your childhood. I care about you just as much as Ace, though I expressed it differently. I should have not said some things, and done more for others.

I did it all for your safety, forgetting to consider your happiness. I want you to be happy, even if it means we are enemies. The photos I added are not meant to be a bribe. I just want you to see that I do treasure you, even if it never felt like I did.

-Grandpa/Garp

Luffy's lips were trembling, his eyes burning, but he didn't cry. He looked at the photos, and saw they were taken of a photo book. It was one of those aging books. Where you start as a baby and then go up. It ended at ten years old. He saw photos of himself as a baby. He saw a photo of him drinking from a blood juice box as he colored at a table in a coloring book.

Finally the tears came out of his eyes and down his cheeks. He felt bad for hating him, maybe he should have read the letter first, before they left. He wiped his eyes and leaned forward. His grandpa did care about him, even if he hadn't shown it in 17 years. He was stupid, like Luffy was.

He sniffled, and saw Zoro come in and see him crying. He hurried over and asked what was wrong. Luffy handed him the letter, and Zoro read it with a straight face, and then sat next to Luffy and kissed his cheek. Luffy showed him the pictures, and Zoro smiled, saying he was really cute as a little kid.

"The letter seems very sincere," Zoro said. Luffy nodded in agreement. "It's too bad he never showed these before." The captain nodded again, and then smiled a watery smile. "Love you." Luffy returned the sentiment, in a great mood. He was so happy.

Luffy watched his very strong boyfriend lift weights silently, sitting on the bench in the crowsnest as Zoro sweat, shirt off, lifting his massive weights, no problem showing off to his attentive partner. Luffy had his cheek in his hand, bent over and enjoying the view. When Zoro looked over and saw Luffy lick his lips, he grinned and turned so Luffy could see his strong back at work.

There was a banging on the hatch before Nami came in and saw Zoro weight lifting his ridiculous weights, and Luffy looking sort of dreaming. She giggled at the cuteness and informed them they found something in the water, a floating barrel. They both got down, Luffy throwing his sweaty boyfriend the towel and climbing down while he put his shirt back on.

They came out to see there was a barrel floating in the sea, with a torn up flag on it. It was dedicated to a sea god, but had the words "treasure" on it. So they pulled it onto the ship, even if it was more likely to have alcohol in it. Zoro would be happy with that.

Nami explained that it was an offering to a god, a prayer for a safe journey. Chopper asked if it was okay for them to open it, then. Plus, if there was nothing of use in there, why bring it aboard. They asked when Luffy smelled from it. It smelled like the sea. It had been floating a long time, so the wood had those barnacle things on it.

Usopp didn't want to open it. What if it was cursed? "Well, if we pray to it, then it will be fine?" he added to himself. Zoro said he wouldn't pray to some imaginary god. Luffy smelled it deeply, and touched the rim, only to smell it didn't really have the scent of alcohol. "It doesn't smell like alcohol.

"Kind of like gunpowder!" They hurriedly tried to return it to the water, get it off the ship as soon as possible, but it was broken and fragile, so moving it too quickly caused it to fall apart, and let out a flare. It was loud and bright. It lit up the entire ship in a red glow until it dissipated as quick as it had come out.

"Heh, it's the curse of a sea god," Zoro joked.

Robin casually said, "Well, it would be nice if it was a prank, but it could also have been a signal, and now the ship is being targeted. Nami said it was really old, so maybe whoever made it wasn't working anymore." Her voice was full of hope and worry.

Then Nami sensed and saw a storm coming, and said they were fleeing south-south-east. They got to their posts and turned the ship to try and avoid the storm that Nami said was coming in five minutes. None of them could see it, but they trusted Nami's instincts. Luffy couldn't hear or smell when a storm was about the form, and even if he could, Nami would sense it, too. So Luffy knowing it was there was nothing very special.

The storm came too fast for them to get away, the wind not on their side. They couldn't get away, and it surrounded them, rain and lightning pouring down, the sky a dark gray. They were trapped there, the storm already encompassing the area. But Franky was confident, and told them to raise the sails as he pressed a button on the wheel and paddles came out.

Not having to use oars themselves was nice as the Sunny had automatic paddles. They escaped the storm easily, but when they came out, it was still dark out. And chilly, with a haze all around them. Luffy smelled a strange, faint smell in the air all around them. "What's this weather? It's not supposed to be night yet…" Zoro said, sounding confused but not too much. Luffy took a deep whiff, and Sanji asked if he smelled anything. He nodded, but said it was unfamiliar and faint. Almost like a sort of after taste.

"It's a thick fog, but does fog usually have that scent?" Zoro asked, getting a shake of the head in response.

"Maybe we're already nearing Fishman Island? The mermaid utopia? My heart isn't ready!" Sanji gushed. Luffy said sea monsters were there. "How do you know?"

"I just do. Shishishi," Luffy replied. Robin giggled. Franky was smiling, and said it should be obvious where they were. The "Florian Triangle". The strange sea where it's a mystery why some many things never appear on the other side. "What if it's an adventure?!" Luffy grinned. Usopp smacked his head. It wasn't an adventure!

Robin said, "Well, maybe the fog will hide us from whatever made that flare. Or not," she added. Chopper, Nami and Usopp didn't want to be there, while the rest were mildly interested. Luffy was sniffing, but couldn't smell anything near. "Can you smell anything, any way out?" The captain shook his head. All he smelled was the fog. "What about sound?"

"I can hear stuff, yeah. There's a creaking of wood from somewhere. Like there are ships around us."

Usopp asked, "Are there any monsters?!" Luffy shrugged. If there were, they'd be underwater. He couldn't hear well below the surface. "Eek!"

Luffy grinned, saying Kokoro said there were talking skeletons. He was excited for this adventure, whatever it was. They all enjoyed teasing Usopp. Maybe not all, Chopper was scared as well. "Listen Usopp, every year in this ocean, 100 ships mysteriously disappear, what's more, ghost ships carrying talking corpses in these waters, or so they say."

"Say stuff like that beforehand!" Usopp screeched. Sanji asked what he would have done if he had. After all, there was no other way to the Red Line than passing through the florian triangle. It was inevitable. "I'd prepare myself with anti ghost and spirit gear! Luffy, stay with me, you'll scare them off!" Usopp said, latching onto Luffy's arm. Luffy laughed before pausing. "What?! What is it?!"

Luffy said he could hear faint singing coming towards them from behind and the sound of creaking wood.