Chapter 3: The Betrayed Samurai! Arrival in the West Blue!

A few days ago, we had just left Martial Island in pieces and a plethora of dead bodies behind us as we fled from the Marines wanting revenge for my blowing up the Marine Captain Vergo that they adored. I, meanwhile, was currently unconscious due to the beating that I took at the hands of said Marine Captain, and was lying in my bed, covered in bandages and my clothes in tatters, slowly waking up early due to the shaking of our stolen ship….

'Crrreaaakkk…'

CRASH!

"Aah! Ouch!" I shriek out as the entire ship seems to jump, which sends me flying off of the bed and landing on the floor with a thump.

Glaring at the walls around me, I painfully get up and stumble out the door and onto the wet, rainy deck of the ship as Wendy flies around keeping the wind behind the sails and making sure none of us would fall into the ocean while Gareth guides the ship from the help. Stumbling over to the stairs, I grip the railing as I climb up to the helm deck, before yelling over the roar of the storm winds, "WHAT IS GOING ON?!"

Gareth jumps a foot in the air before responding, "Those marines you pissed off haven't stopped chasing us, Captain! Gah!" he shouts as a cannonball blows away part of the railing and clips the mast.

Rapidly thinking through my options, I quickly realize a plan that would get us safely away and guarantee that as long as we survive the trip, we wouldn't have to worry about the marines catching up until we were long gone.

"Gareth! Take us into the Red Line and head for the West Blue!" I shout to our helmsman, who shouts to me, "What about the marine ships?!" "Do it, Gareth! I'll handle the Marines!" Gareth nods slowly before turning the ship out towards the massive wall, heading towards the opening that would take us into the West Blue while I turned around and gripped the railing with one hand, before holding my hand out and flexing my destruction powers, spontaneously causing explosions that blew up the entire marine ships, explosions blasting apart hulls or ripping apart masts with ease. Soon all the marine ships are sinking or too damaged to follow us.

-A few tense minutes later-

Suddenly we are sailing in just a storm, as the Marine ships have all been blown apart. Using her wind powers, Wendy easily guides the ship through the opening as we suddenly start sailing up the mountain, although soon the canal branches off and we start sailing sideways across the Red Line, before the canal angles downward. Wendy flies up and fills the sails with wind, while Gareth mans the helm, moving our ship along as we sail down towards the West Blue.

-A few weeks of travel later-

After informing Wendy and Gareth of the fact that a new world grade pirate was after her, Wendy was very grateful that we had saved her, since if a new world pirate truly was after her, then nobody but me and my impressive powers could keep her safe. Also, after the realization that there existed techniques that could bypass devil fruit defenses, I decided that we were going to spend far longer than we needed to train and prepare for the Grand Line…by traveling and gathering a full crew from all 4 of the Blues.

After informing Gareth and Wendy, they surprisingly agreed with me, since they had seen my strength and the fact that I had received such a beating didn't sit well with them. After we made it down the Red Line, we decided to train while we made it to the next island.

Now that we have made it, I spot an island off the port bow and call out, "Gareth, Wendy, turn us twenty degrees to port, there's an island we can restock at." Hearing them call out affirmatives, I grin as I turn around and return to my quarters, putting away my almost finished new outfit choice as we pull up and dock.

Walking out of the captain's quarters, I navigate the halls and walk off the lowered gangplank and onto the dock, followed by Gareth, with Wendy flying next to my head.

As I walk down the pier, a group of civilians step forward, all smiles, all wearing cowboy style outfits, "Welcome to Nothing Island!" they all cheer out, causing me to abruptly stop, Gareth almost walking into me as I stare incredulously, "You call this place Nothing Island?!" I gape as I can practically hear Gareth's jaw hit the ground as the spokesman in the front, a grey haired, lean old man wearing a Hawaiian colored cowboy jacket and brown cowboy pants, with twin pistols on his hips replies rather cheerfully, "Yup! This here island is Nothing island, because there's nothing special about it! In fact, you fellers are the first people to come here all year. At least them Mafia families don't bother with this here island either." At his words the other citizens let out a raucous cheer, shooting their pistols into the air in celebration and starting to dance around cheerfully.

I blink before facepalming at the utter ridiculousness unfolding in front of me, "Nothing makes sense anymore…." I groan as headache manifests, while Wendy is just giggling at mine and Gareth's expressions, before I shake my head and turn to Gareth, "At least we'll be able to relax here and gain information." I point out before turning to the old man, "We're just landing here to resupply and we'll be leaving once that's done."

The old man nods, "You can stay at my inn until you're ready to leave, by the way, my name is Calvin." With a quick nod, I state, "I'm Ashley, and this is Gareth and Wendy." We start heading towards the inn when suddenly a loud male voice shouts, "Begone, Ninja!" I quickly look up and leap backwards, Wendy letting out a scream as a golden-white sword sparkling with volts of electricity slices through her, the assailant sending a huge cloud of sand up with his landing. Lucking Wendy's Logia powers ensured she wasn't harmed by the sword although her hair was a different story. Wendy's beautiful azure hair was rendered puffy and spiky from the electricity passing through the air that was covering the sword zapping her hair comically, but I wasn't concentrated on her ruined hairdo.

"Wendy!" I shout, enraged as I grab onto her and pull her into my arms, my glare promising death as I glance over Wendy's assailant now that the sand cloud had dispersed. He was a shorter male, rather stocky and built, wearing strange red and white armor. He had a dark red and gold armored headpiece with no faceplate or top, and long dark brown spiky hair that extended from the top and went down his back, along with red armor and golden designs, along with white and gold cloth covering his legs and back, enabling quick movement, with a resplendent white two handed katana with a light blue tinted edge, that even now sparkled with electric sparks.

Before I could raise my hand and blow the assailant away, the old man snaps, "Ranzo! What are you doing!" he bellows at the swordsman, who scowls back at him, "Attacking a little girl? The shame!" With a grunt, the swordsman sheaths his blade into a sheath just as colorful as the blade itself, before he turns away and walks towards the beach. Blinking in surprise at the turn of events, I turn towards the mayor, who sighs and gestures to the inn, "Come in and I'll explain." He says as he turns around to shuffle into the inn. I glance over to Gareth, who shrugs in indifference, and look down at Wendy who was pulling on my long hair, "I-I think we should listen to Calvin-san…" Smiling down at her, I reach over and pat her head, "Of course we will. Besides…I think we need more information on this sea." With that, I walk over and head down into the inn, followed by my two crewmembers.

As we head in, my gaze moves across the small yet cozy inn. It's rather small, with plenty of alcoves in the walls, round wooden tables dotted around the room, with a large bar attached to one wall in the back, and a set of stairs in the corner, leading to rooms upstairs. Following the old man, I walk across the empty inn and sit at the bar, Gareth following me while Wendy floats around above us, playing with the ceiling fan.

Calvin follows us over to sit behind the bar as his granddaughter, Sharlene, pours a glass of rum for the old man, who drains it in one sip while Gareth drinks from a huge tankard of beer and I sip some wine from a glass cup before turning a raised eyebrow onto Calvin, who sighs at my expectant look. "Fine…I guess you deserve an explanation…"

"That would probably be best. Otherwise I'd have to kill him for trying to hurt Wendy." I state offhandedly as Calvin and Sharlene stiffen at how brazenly I said that, before the old man decides to ignore what I said.

"That young man's name is Ranzo. He hasn't told any of us his surname or anything about his family name ever since he washed up on our shores six years ago, but he did tell us enough to piece it together. Apparently, he's from some island deep in the Grand Line. His own twin brother joined a pirate crew out there, and allowed the entire crew access to the island, where the captain performed a coup and took over the island. Ranzo escaped and drifted from island to island until he wound up here."

Blinking, I nod as I rapidly think to myself before speaking, "Interesting…"

Before Calvin could speak, the door bursts open and the young swordsman we were talking about bursts through the door, "What have you done, old man! What did you tell these…pirates…?!" he snarls at the old man, hand on the hilt of his sword, but I decide to interrupt.

"Do you want revenge?"

The quarreling men immediately silence, as they both turn to me as I twist around in the chair to gaze at the swordsman, who sneers, "Of course I do, but weaklings like you won't be able to do anything to them…why do you think I'm still here?"

My eyes narrow at him as the small grin on my lips abruptly disappears, "you think us weak…then let me make a proposal."

My grin widens as I gaze towards Ranzo, "Why don't you and Gareth fight? Let us prove our strength to you, and know that we will become the strongest in the world."

Ranzo straightens as he turns to look me straight in the eyes, dark brown eyes glaring into my own golden amber eyes as I return his glare, before he nods, "Very well. If your crew mate wins, I will join your crew. However, if I win, you will leave here immediately and never come back!" I nod, "Agreed." With that, we all make our way outside, but before I follow Ranzo out, Gareth stops and looks at me, "Captain…why do you want me to fight?" I turn around to him with a smile, "Because I trust you can win. I won't be fighting every battle after all." I state, causing my first mate to grin widely before nodding, "I won't let you down, Captain." He walks out towards the center of the clearing in the village center, as I state quietly, "I know you won't."

With that said and done, I follow the others out and stand next to Calvin with Wendy floating next behind me, who is standing on a wooden porch overlooking a circular clearing, with Gareth standing with his arms crossed at one end of the clearing and Ranzo on the other end, his sword in his sheath and both hands on the hilt. Calvin raises his aged hands up and shouts, "We have an honor duel on our hands! Instead of the traditional gun style bout, we have a good ol' beat down style! On one side, we have our own undefeated champion, our samurai swordsman, Ranzo the Lightning Swordsman!" The crowd around us lets out a cheer as the swordsman ignores the cheers to focus on his opponent, receiving an approving nod from me as Calvin continues to ramp up the crowd, "And on the other side, we have the challenger, Gareth of the Black Ash Pirates!" I blink at the new epithet for our crew, turning accusing eyes on the old man, who shrugs, "Ya've got black hair and ash on your clothes." I mull over the words as Calvin turns back to shout more to the crowd, "The Black Ash Pirates, huh…I like it, though not for the reason he gave…." Finally, Calvin turns back to the fighters, pulling out a ceremonial pistol and pointing it towards the sky, "Are you both ready?! Then may the fight…BEGIN!" As he fires the pistol into the sky on the last word with a loud bang!

Upon the firing of the pistol, Ranzo immediately unsheathes his blade, lightning arching down and around the blade as he lunges quickly, his blade just a blur arching out over his right shoulder, intending to cut down Gareth with a slash across his chest. Gareth however, just stands there as the blade lands on his shoulder…and bounces right off without doing any damage. Gareth smirks as Ranzo stumbles back from the completely unexpected outcome. Shaking his head, Ranzo immediately lunges again, bringing his blade around and down, landing multiple strikes to Gareth's body within a few seconds, his speed incredible for an East Blue swordsman, even possibly quicker than most Paradise swordsmen, but for all his speed, his strikes fail to get past the mythical defenses of the Nemean Lion. I smirk as I watch Gareth just stand there, watching the swordsman tire himself out fruitlessly, as Calvin and the other civilians stare open mouthed at the complete reversal of the situation. Apparently they were used to Ranzo being the one sided winner finishing the fights with his speed before any shots could be fired, and this fight was such a complete turnaround that they were all astounded.

The fight goes on like this for the next ten minutes before Ranzo finally stops, panting heavily for breath, "Im…possible…. How…?" I grin widely as I step up next to Calvin, "Gareth ate the Cat-Cat Fruit, Model: Nemean Lion. The nemean lion is a mythical creature, its magical defenses are famous for being unable to be pierced or harmed by any type of weapon. Everyone here could attack Gareth at the same time and keep going all day and none of you would get past his defenses." Ranzo stares wide eyed at Gareth, as he grins a wide grin and proceeds to enter his half man, half animal zoan form, going from his normal size to his 12 foot tall size, his blonde hair getting wilder and some red streaks in it, his hands turning into lion paws, complete with claws and his chest getting larger and more muscled, towering over the exhausted swordsman. Before either of the two combatants could make a move…

BOOM!

A huge cannon blast rings out from the ocean, and a series of houses blow up, a blast also striking our ship, sending the people into a panic as a young boy shouts, PIRATES!"

Calvin immediately calls an end to the match and starts shouting orders to the other islanders, as Ranzo struggles to his feet, preparing to join the defense. I ignore the commotion as I slowly walk to the shore, where I could see the pirate ship sailing in towards us. It's a rather rickety and small sloop, smaller than our stolen battleship, sailing a tattered black flag with a skull covered with a black crack down the middle of the skull, and a long ugly red tongue sticking out of the skull.

The same young boy, about seven or eight years old, with brown hair and brown eyes, wearing a drab blue shirt and tattered old cowboy jacket with patched up pants, and strangely, a pot on his head like a hat, grabs my arm, "Lady, you gotta gets away before's they gets ere!"

I shrug the boy off and simply hold out my hand towards the ship, and twirl my wrist so that my hand is facing palm up, then I flick my index and middle finger pointing up, and my thumb outwards as my destruction power causes an explosion in the center of the ship's deck, blowing the entire ship up in a huge explosion.

DO-DOOOOOM!

The entire island seems to freeze solid, as the cowboys and Ranzo stare, uncomprehendingly at the space where a ship had been, which nothing is left but black ashes falling from the sky, as I turn to Calvin with a grin, "The Black Ash Pirates is…quite an apt name." I state as though I'm stating the weather, causing Gareth and Wendy to collapse in laughter. I smirk at their laughter, before sobering as I glance over to a still shell-shocked Calvin, "Well, since those pirates damaged our ship, we're gonna need to repair it before we head back to sea." I call out as I turn and start walking towards the bar, "Besides, I'd like some more information about how this sea works…I heard you mentioned Mafia?" I state, turning to Calvin, who pales before nodding as we head to the lone bar. "Gareth! Wendy!" I call out, causing the two, still laughing on the ground, to stop laughing and look up at me, "Load up the supplies and assist the villagers with repairing our ship. Once the ship is repaired, we're leaving."

Gareth stands to his feet with a nod, and heads towards the ship, Wendy floating up to land on his shoulder. As I head towards the bar,

"Wait!" a voice shouts at me.

Stopping, I turn around to look at a panting Ranzo, who drops to his knees in exhaustion at my feet. I simply look down at him, my long black hair blowing in the wind as he looks up at me, "Take me with you…"

Raising my eyebrow, I glance down at him, "Oh? I thought you believed us as weak? Besides, the duel never had a victor." With that, I turn around and start walking to the ship, a smirk crossing my lips as the samurai shouts out, "I've seen a lot in my travels, but I've never seen such power!" "Oh? And tell me, why do you want my strength?" I ask, as Ranzo gets to his feet, lifting his head and throwing a glare full of rage and pain, "I want revenge! On my honor as a samurai, I will kill my brother with this sword!" My grin spreads wide as I simply give a nod, and start back towards the bar, "Then come help fill me in on the information I need."

-Timeskip-

After talking with both Calvin and Ranzo, who identified the technique from Vergo as Haki, a new world technique, that he himself hadn't yet figured out how to do, as well as learning about the West Blue as a whole. Apparently there were the 5 families of the West, who were the aforementioned mafia families that rule the West Blue. Narrowing my eyes, a grin splits my face, "Mafia, hmm…interesting…"

Now that our ship is finished, we decided to continue sailing with our new swordsman, deeper into the West Blue. As we start to sail away I decide to make a declaration.

"We're going on a recruiting trip…through all the blue seas!"

End of Chapter 3