Just My Luck

Chapter One

A.N. Short chapters for now. They'll get longer the further in we get. For now: our first look at the Strawhats!

Strawhats' point of view

The small band of pirates had left Syrup Island no more than forty minutes ago. After getting all of Usopp's things settled in place – and by that I mean his gigantic knapsack shoved into the men's room to be dealt with later – the troop of vagabonds had settled into their usual routine. Zoro was training, Nami was drawing her maps while occasionally making sure the ship was on course, Usopp was tinkering with something near the mast, and Luffy had decided on the figure head of the ship as his new favorite spot. Suddenly, Luffy cocked his head. He heard something. Some sort of screaming. Ooh! Maybe it was a bird! Meat!

"Usopp!" Luffy yelled out suddenly. "I think there's a bird! Let's catch it for breakfast!"

Usopp sighed. "We just ate breakfast, Luffy," he stated, resigned. He already had an idea of the kind of appetite his new follower hid under that scrawny exterior. He even caught a snort from Zoro. Though maybe that was just a grunt of exertion. Those weights were huge! Never the less, he set down the prop hammer he had been working on and maneuvered over to where Luffy sat, scanning the skies. He didn't think there would be anything flying this far out to sea, but hey, what did he know. He'd never been out of sight of his home island before today. As he half-heartedly swept his gaze across the sea of clouds, Usopp noticed a dark spot high in the sky slightly to Luffy's right. "I see it!" Usopp exclaimed, pointing. "But it looks like it's diving into the sea."

Luffy, having found the falling figure, pouted. "But I can't get it in the water! Zoro!" Luffy shouted towards his first mate, "Fetch!" Zoro glanced over, irritated. Usopp gulped.

"I'm not a damn dog, Luffy," He grunted. "Get it yourself. Or make long-nose do it."

Luffy pouted more. "But Zoro~…" Then Luffy frowned. "Wait… That doesn't sound like a bird. That's sounds like Dadaan when she stubbed her toe. What's Dadaan doing in the sky? And what'd she hit her toe on way up there?"

Once Luffy had stopped spouting nonsense, the three teens listened closer. Usopp whistled lowly. "Whoever that is, they sure know some inventive curses." Apparently, the creative curses got the swordsman's attention, because he lowered his weights one last time and crossed the deck to join the other two boys in staring at the swiftly descending potty-mouth. "How do you think they got up there?"

Luffy shrugged. "The last time I fell from the sky it was cause I fell off a cliff. The time before that a giant bird carried me away. Jerk. I just wanted to eat it. Do you think she fell off a cliff?"

"Yes, Luffy," Zoro deadpanned as he rolled his eyes, "They fell off a cliff in the middle of the ocean."

"Oh! Shishishi," Luffy chuckled, "You're so smart, Zoro!" The mentioned first mate shot a look at Usopp that clearly conveyed 'You see what I have to deal with?' Then, he huffed and started to remove his shoes and shirt, swords already safely stored by the wall near where he'd been exercising.

At Usopp's questioning gaze, Zoro explained. "Guess if it's a person we should probably try to save them." The figure was nearing the water, and at this distance was distinctly human.

Luffy cheered. Then frowned. "Aw! This means no meat!"