I'm redoing this story slightly, something I've always wanted to make more progress on. I was never happy with the first few chapters, so I'm going to do it a bit differently now. We'll be going right into things now.
Two years.
It has been two long years since the Battle of Marineford. A battle that changed the very foundation of the world.
Now, it's time to go face that world.
Resting off to the side of the island called Amazon Lily, a young man lay against the rocks, enjoying the ocean breeze.
He had chin length black hair, a white shirt, with a long black trench coat laid to the side, and black pants and boots. Beside him along with the coat was a sash with pockets lined into it, carrying many small vials in it.
The young man relaxed for the first time in these two years. He had finally finished all the training he set out to do, training with the Kuja of the island. The only reason they let him stay and even train with them was to fulfill a promise. Hopefully he was ready to uphold it.
"Alain!" A female voice called out to him.
He opened his eyes and sat up to look and see a young woman with unruly blond hair. She had on barely anything, just a bikini top and miniskirt made out of animal skin, and a white cape. With a snake whom is black and green striped wrapped around her waist.
"What is it Marguerite?" He said in response.
"We're leaving soon. Don't want to keep the Empress waiting. She might get really mad." She stated with a smile.
Alain sighed. "No, I guess not." He stood up and grabbed his sash and coat. Putting the coat on first and the sash over it across his chest. "Let's go then."
With that, Marguerite led the way back to the docks.
Eventually arriving at the docks, the Kuja Pirates gathered around their ship. giant red ship, resembling a Junk. The front have two Yuda, large ferocious and poisonous sea serpents, harnessed to the ship, allowing them to move through the Calm Belt with ease. In the center stood a very tall woman with long black hair wearing a blue dress, a lot like the one that she wore when he first came to the island, though that one was red, along with a white cape. She had her back facing her, tapping her foot impatiently.
"I wasn't gone that long." Alain said to her.
The woman turned around, an annoyed look upon her. It of course was none other then the Pirate Empress Boa Hancock, one of the Warlords of the Sea.
"It has been too long. Today's the day, the day I get to see my beloved again, and your taking your time." She said in an irritable tone.
"Look, I'm here now. Let's just go." He said back, deciding not to waste any more time.
She gave a huff and walked to her ship, Alain following behind.
Hancock would never admit it, but she had a little respect for him. Lasting through two years of training with the Kuja is no small feat, and Alain did it in well.
The giant serpents that help draw the ship lowered their heads to let them up. In no time, the ship set sail.
As they moved, Alain stood to the side, looking out into the ocean. Marguerite, along with her two friends, Aphelandra and Sweet Pea, approached him.
Aphelandra was an extremely tall woman with brown hair. She wore a blue corset bordered with yellow and studded with buttons, a similar blue bikini bottom, a white cape, and a plumed helmet with cheek guards and the Kuja emblem on the front. Sweet Pea was very large woman Kuja warrior with a masculine-like build. She wore a similar outfit to Marguerite and also carried a snake weapon with her. She wore a coat around her shoulders and had her hair in pigtails.
"Enjoying the view?" Marguerite asked curiously.
"It's relaxing." Alain put simply.
"Are you excited to see him again?" Aphelandra asked, unintentionally talking down to him due to her height.
"I guess so. I'm more interested to get to Sabaody Archipelago." Alain answered, turning around to look at them.
"I'm kind of sad to see you leave. You've lived on Amazon Lily for so long now, it will be a bit weird." Sweet Pea stated.
"I'm sure it will be no different. Besides, no men are allowed to be on the island. I think I've outstayed my welcome." Alain explained. "Besides…...I'm a bit tired of all the woman trying to see if my skin will stretch like Luffy's."
Sweet Pea looked down a bit sad at what he said.
"Don't worry, you're welcome any time to Amazon Lily." Marguerite chimed in.
Alain smiled a bit. "Thanks I guess."
One of the other Kuja, Ran, an average sized lady who had jet black hair parted on one side, walked up.
"Come now, no more slacking. We need to stay busy for our Empress." She called out.
"Yes Ma'am!" All three perked up and went to do something else.
Ran looked at Alain and gave a smile, then walked off. Alain smiled back, and went back to looking out into the ocean.
Alain couldn't believe the journey he had gotten himself wrapped up in. Two years ago he was just a kid who fled from home, then he thought he saw something fly by in the sky, going faster than a speeding bullet. He followed it, and ended up on Amazon Lily, where he met a certain straw hat pirate. Then, well, Alain went with him to assist on his rescue mission. Sadly, everyone knew how that ended.
After it was over, Alain stayed on Amazon Lily to train his at the time unknown Haki abilities, and Luffy went to Rusukaina, an island not far from where they are now.
Nothing like training with the Kuja Pirates and the infamous Gorgon Sisters to prepare you for anything.
Eventually, in the distance appeared the Rusukaina, The trip not taking long at all. Due to the extreme weather conditions that the island was known for, it currently was in a winter season, snow covering the whole island. In no time, they anchored near land, and Alain jumped off. Following behind him were Hancock, Marguerite, Elder Nyon, the former empress who accompanied them on the voyage, and Hancock's two sisters, Boa Sandersonia and Boa Marigold.
Alain remembered the last place he saw Luffy, the large white tree that Rayleigh said was the only safe place on the island.
After walking some distance, Alain sees it in his sight. Standing in front of it was a young man wearing an open, long-sleeved red cardigan with four buttons, light blue shorts, and a yellow sash tied around his waist.
He picked up a straw hat that lay on a rock in front of the tree, and looked at it.
"It's been two years already, huh?" He asked, somehow knowing Alain was standing behind him.
"Yeah, it has. Now it's time to go." Alain said in response.
Alain followed him as he lead the way to a makeshift camp. Near it were four large beasts eating. A smaller red tiger just a bit bigger than them. But the other three were enormous. A blue hair gorilla struggled for food with a green skinned crocodile. Looking at the Kuja fiercely was the last one, a giant lion.
"The ship is ready to set sail! We can leave whenever you like!" Marguerite called out to him.
"All right! Thanks!" Luffy said back.
The lion roared at them all, But Luffy gave it a stern look. "Hey!" This caused the lion to seem afraid of Luffy. "Look harder. These are my friends."
Marguerite gave a sigh of relief.
Hancock laughed a bit. "Well isn't that something."
"Looks like you're the undisputed boss of this island." Sandersonia added.
Alain looked all of them over, surprised that such large and dangerous beasts were docile before Luffy. "You really beat every single beast here? Rayleigh said there was almost five hundred of them on the island." He asked with curiosity and slight shock.
"Yeah, but since I've gone and made friends with these guys, I haven't been able to eat any of them. Kinda sucks. They look pretty tasty, too" Luffy explained.
"Always thinking of food huh…" Alain thought.
Hancock once again became lovestruck, seeing Luffy for the first time in years. "Worry not, Luffy. I have made sure that the ship is stocked with all of your favorite foods! It is qualities such as this that prove I will surely make a wonderful wife."
"I'm not marrying you! Thanks for the food!" Luffy said casually.
She held her head back with a hand over it. "Aahhh! So cruel, yet so divine!"
Alain and Elder Nyon just stared at her, not believing that Hancock still acted like this. Alain was also a little surprised that Luffy responded with not marrying her. He actually figured it out.
"Since Rayleigh left half a year ago now, I'm sure he's at Sabaody already, waiting for you impatiently!" Sandersonia stated.
"I picked up all the basics in just a year and a half, after all. Well, I guess this is goodbye to you guys and this place." Luffy said to the beasts, them actually seeming sad that he was leaving.
Luffy held his hat up high, looking at it. With his time over, and his resolve full, he placed it on his head, finally taking up his title of Straw Hat Pirate, Monkey D. Luffy, once again.
"Right! Let's get going!" Luffy announced.
With that said, all headed back to the ship, ready to set sail.
It didn't take long for them all to be back at sea. The Kuja worked as normal, and for once, Luffy was actually having a calm moment for once. He stood by Alain as they looked out to sea. Hancock was busy having fantasies of being with Luffy, looking over at him occasionally.
"Rayleigh came to help me train with Haki. The different teacher was interesting. It wasn't long after you had finished training with him." Alain stated.
"I had no idea what I was getting into. But I'm ready for anything." Luffy boasted a bit.
"We can only hope." Alain added.
"How was Hancock as a teacher?" Luffy asked.
"She...definitely shows no mercy." Alain answered. "Her and her sisters."
"We just exited the Calm Belt!" A Kuja Pirate announced to everyone.
Alain could see the ocean current was moving a lot more now, and they could feel the wind.
"Almost there." Alain told Luffy.
"Are you excited to meet my crew?" Luffy asked, very curious.
"From what I've heard of them, a little bit." Alain said, not giving a full answer.
Alain had heard plenty of stories about them all. The Swordsman Zoro, The Navigator and at times thief Nami, the cowardly but at times reliable Usopp, the chef and master kicking fighter Sanji, the reindeer/human doctor Chopper, A woman with a dark past Robin, the cyborg Franky, and the skeleton musician Brook.
Some of them sounded odd, Alain never really having the time for antics. But if they were the crew Luffy trusted, he was gonna do what he could to assist. Even if some sounded better then others.
Alain had a promise to keep, and no matter what, he intended to keep it, for his sake and Luffy's.