BROTHER ON BOARD
yuzukikuran476 - If they died here I wouldn't have much of a story.
x-EliteAssassin-x - Then be sure to vote. As of now Dandy Man is tied for second place.
411Purp0s3G4m3r - I think 'Riflegeist' is cool too. But it applies more to Bonnie than Sabo. Plus it's Nami's version of 'marimo' for Bonnie.
Lunapok - There will be more of Dragon and Koala in this chapter. But then we won't see them for a long time.
Gih-chii - I added them to the list. Looks like Mad Hatter got a couple votes despite Alice Through the Looking Glass bombing this past weekend.
Mikila94 - I kind of tried to write him somewhere similar to Garp. Garp is supposed to be a legendary Marine Hero but he got bested by Morgan because he fell asleep after gorging himself on too many doughnuts. But he's also super determined to get his way as seen with him insisting on Luffy becoming a Marine.
lostdog200 - And now the negative aspects of not having a username come into play. I'll always respond to your reviews just like you're a signed in user. But without a username you're not going to be able to vote. I know you previously mentioned something about the site not allowing you to create one. So unless you can get a friend to let you vote on their account... I'm afraid you're not going to be able to weigh in. And yes, Sabo is Bonnie's.
Guest - Thanks! Try to find a way to log in to an account and vote on the poll. Even if you don't sign in for reviews... this is the time to make your opinion known.
BedofRoses1989 - Yeah. I've got some really cool suggestions on there. Too bad I can only vote once. This story is mainly a comedy so I went with a humorous take on Dragon. Even if he does appear to be a 'serious character' I'm positive that he has a funny quirk in there somewhere. We just have to wait until we see it.
rasEnshur1EKen - Yes, Sabo could fire Bonnie and take out everyone on top of the scaffold. That's exactly why I'm having Sabo get mugged in a separate area of Loguetown so he can't interfere. He won't be showing up until its over.
Hiezen - Interesting. I'll try and take a look while I'm on my break. (Official announcement is at the end of the chapter)
AnyMoreBrightIdeasGenius - Thanks!
The Patient One - I am convinced that there will be some moment at some point in the series where Luffy and Dragon are finally together and everyone is like 'Yeah, they're definitely father and son'. My money's on when they're eating together and having a full conversation with their mouths full. So that's why I included the chicken bit. Luffy and Garp have both been known to have their serious and goofy moments. I'd like to think that Dragon has his One Piece quirk in there somewhere we haven't seen it yet because of our limited exposure to him. For now, I went with the standard D. determination by having him hound Sabo into joining his army. I don't mind the review style. But I'm going to keep responding in one blurb so I can keep my responses more organized.
Bluejay Blaze - Yup. I thought giving him Luffy 'persistent' recruiting style would be funny.
Shizuka Taiyou - I did add Dandy Man to the list of options on the poll. It currently ties for second place with four votes. I'm not sure what the process is exactly. I'm going with liquefying the fruit and pouring it on/in the weapon so it can be absorbed.
The Inkasters - WOW! Thanks for taking all that time to leave such a long and detailed review. I'm glad you like the story so far and I'm really hoping to improve my writing as it progresses. And the good news is, I don't plan on having Luffy turn dark. I don't plan on having him eat a second Devil Fruit, and I don't plan on having Luffy sleep with all the girls and pass them off to Sabo. Luffy is only just coming to grips with his hormones and Sabo is in a very devoted relationship with his rifle that briefly included Nojiko for a reason that will be explored later.
mundanebeast - I'm going to keep the poll open a while longer so I'll add your suggestion to the list.
Twilight DUsk - Ooo! Those are some really cool suggestions! I liked how you included Artful to play homage to the Artful Dodger. Adding them all to the list!
Smoker-
"CAPTAIN SMOKER!" the square-faced Marine Petty Officer Masshikaku shouted as he ran into a hazy smoke-filled office in the Loguetown Marine Base. "IT'S AN EMERGENCY! THERE'S A SITUATION!"
Krata-krack!
Smoker stared in disappointment as his rock stack crashed down on his desk. "Your shouting made it crumble in defeat…" Smoker stood up and opened the window behind his desk. The smoke drifted out the window and the hazy smokescreen that had filled the ground faded and left the office clear.
The Petty Officer stood nervously as he now realized that he was the focus of a hard stare from Marine Captain Smoker the infamous 'White Hunter'.
"Well… spit it out," Smoker growled around the lit cigars in his mouth.
"There are pirates in the town square!" Masshikaku exclaimed. "There aren't many of them but they're all big name fugitives. It's like all the worst pirates in the East Blue decided to join together! There's Buggy 'the Clown', Kuro 'of a Thousand Plans', 'One Two' Jango and 'Saw Tooth' Arlong! The only big names that are missing are 'Iron Mace' Alvida and 'Pirate Admiral' Don Krieg. They've all got 'Straw Hat' Luffy cornered on the execution scaffold!"
"Who?" Smoker asked.
"'Straw Hat' Luffy... he was in the news yesterday," Masshikaku explained.
"You know I don't read the World Government's propaganda rag," Smoker reminded him.
"Well… it said that Straw Hat worked with the Marines to arrest all of those pirates!"
"If they were all arrested… what're they doing in the square?" Smoker inquired.
"I… I don't know," Masshikaku admitted.
"That's why you can't believe everything that you read in the newspaper," Smoker pointed out as he stood up and put on his signature white coat which had a large assortment of cigars strapped to the arms and stuffed in the pockets.
"What're we gonna do?" Masshikaku questioned.
"Send Unit One to the square and Unit Two to the harbor," Smoker ordered. "Have everyone else take up positions nearby so they're within shooting range. But don't do anything until I get there and give the order."
"But what about Straw Hat?" Mashikaku asked, "They're going to publicly execute him on the scaffold."
"If they're focused on that Straw Hat that means they're not attacking civilians," Smoker pointed out. "Anyone making sudden moves could spook them and then we'd be dealing with casualties and a hostage situation."
Masshikaku's square face went pale at the implication of civilian casualties and hostages.
"I haven't let a single pirate escape this town in all the time that I've been stationed here," Smoker said. "I gained that perfect record by working at my own pace. I don't rush into anything unless I know the full extent of the situation. It may be a who's-who of East Blue criminals out there… but I won't let any of them escape my town."
Captain Smoker headed out the door and made his way towards the square while Masshikaku rushed off to convey the Captain's orders to the marines that were already stationed there.
"With three swords I feel whole again," Zoro thought to himself as he aimlessly wandered through Loguetown with Wado Ichimonji and his two new katana sheathed at his side. The whole shopping ordeal had been an interesting experience and it had all been because of her.
Zoro was searching for a store to by swords when he'd heard a commotion. He'd arrived in time to see a swordswoman skillfully dispatch two hulking brutish pirates and then trip over her own feet. Zoro had gone to help the woman get up when he discovered that she looked just like his dead childhood friend Kuina. The fact that she was a swordswoman made the similarities even clearer. Zoro had been so shocked that he'd accidentally crushed the girl's glasses.
Fortunately, Zoro had managed to temper her ire by paying off the damaged glasses with half the money that Nami had given him. The girl had been annoyed but had accepted the money and even gave Zoro directions to a sword shop.
When Zoro got the store the shifty salesman had attempted to buy his sword Wado Ichimonji from him. But that was Kuina's katana and it held his promise to become the World's Greatest Swordsman. He wouldn't sell it for anything. Even for ten million berries that the Kuina clone claimed it was worth when she arrived.
The Kuina clone had helped Zoro find a quality katana but they soon discovered that it was cursed. The shifty salesman was forced to admit that the infamous Kitetsu III and its two predecessors had led their wielders to an early demise. But Zoro tested his luck against the blade's curse and came out with his arm unscathed. He decided to buy it. The shifty shop keeper had been so impressed that he not only gave Zoro the cursed blade for free but he'd also given Zoro his shop's best sword Yubashiri as a gift.
"Oh look, there's Zoro."
Zoro was drawn out of his memory when he saw that by some random coincidence he'd met Nami, Usopp and Sanji at the same cross street. The others had apparently been together. Usopp and Sanji were carrying Sanji's Blue-Finned Elephant Tuna between them while Nami had a bag stuffed full of clothes.
"Oh, so there you guys are," Zoro noted. "But where are the other two?"
"AAAAHH!"
Just then a terrified crowd of civilians came running passed the Straw Hats from the square.
"PIRATES! PIRATES ARE ATTACKING THE SQUARE! SOMEONE CALL CAPTAIN SMOKER!"
"Pirates…" Sanji repeated.
As one, the four Straw Hats turned and stared down Main Street towards the execution scaffold. They spotted the familiar figure stuck in a chopping block on top of the scaffold.
"IT'S HIM!" they exclaimed.
"Buggy!" Zoro growled as he recognized the blue haired clown.
"Arlong…" Nami gasped and went pale.
"Kuro and Jango are there too!" Usopp added.
"I've gotta admit, I have no idea who most of those guys are," Sanji confessed. "But it sounds like most of your enemies teamed up to get revenge against Luffy. Good thing Krieg's not there."
"We've gotta help him," Zoro resolved as he took off running.
"I… uh… I just remembered that I left something on the ship!" Usopp announced.
"Come on long nose!" Sanji called out as he ran after Zoro. Usopp was left staggering under the entire Blue Finned Elephant Tuna. "Against all those guys we'll need all the help we can get!"
"Damn it!" Usopp cursed as he followed after the other two while lugging the huge fish along with him. "What am I supposed to do with this fish?"
"GUYS! WAIT!" Nami yelled as she chased after them. "I DIDN'T GET TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE STORM!"
"What now?" Zoro growled.
"I felt a massive drop in air pressure coming in!" Nami hastily explained. "We're gonna be in the middle of a massive storm in a couple of minutes. You can already see the dark clouds at the edge of town!"
"Just what we needed," Sanji grumbled.
"Hey guys," Usopp said, "Has anyone seen Sabro?"
"Urk… urk…" Sabo grunted. His face was bright red as he dangled ten feet off the ground and struggled with the whip around his neck. Not to remove it but to keep it from hanging him like a noose.
Mohji sneered down at him as he held the whip's handle up on a third floor balcony.
"You see, Sabo?" Alvida asked as she stood below him with her foot pressed down on Bonnie Anne. "Your rifle's bullets are all useless against me. She can't save you. Only I can."
"Hey… about that…" Sabo wheezed, "Random question… but if your shiny new Devil Fruit Powers… urk… make everything slide off of you… unghh… how are your clothes still on?"
Alvida raised an eyebrow, "Naughty boy. For your information, when I'm wearing something it's immune to my powers. Buut… if you choose me over the rifle… I could always slip out of my clothes anyway. I've got a body now that your little toy could never hope to have."
"She might not even have a body …" Sabo admitted, "Ugghh… but at least she's got some dignity and self-respect."
Alvida's eyes narrowed and she glared up at Sabo. "So you pick the rifle…"
"Her name is Bonnie Anne, damn it!" Sabo insisted, "And I'll always ughhn… always pick her."
"Even though I'm about to smash her into tiny pieces?" Alvida challenged him.
Sabo glared down at Alvida. "Ever since we… uurk… started dating Bonnie's been nothing but loyal and… uugghh… supportive. I'm not going to throw that back in her face by… uunnaahh… breaking her heart just because you've got me… nngggh… in a bad situation. This whole plan of yours… urk… was doomed from the start. Ugh… Bonnie would never try to kill me to get her way…"
Alvida's pretty face took on an ugly sneer. "You know what? I changed my mind. I'm not gonna smash your rifle." She tossed her mace aside. "I'm not even going to kill you." Alvida reached down and picked up Bonnie Anne… then aimed the rifle at Sabo. "Your precious Bonnie is going to be the one to break your heart by putting a bullet through it! Then she'll just have to live with that fact that she murdered the only person crazy enough to give a damn about her."
"Captain Smoker!" The Marine Captain turned to see Zoro's 'Kuina clone' Master Chief Petty Officer Tashigi come running towards him. "I heard there was a—"
THUNK!
The over-eager officer tripped over a loose stone in the street and fell on her hands and knees.
Smoker shook his head, "Tashigi, where have you been?"
"Sorry, I'm late, sir," Tashigi replied as she stood back up and dusted herself off. "I was picking up my sword Shigure from the shop and lost track of time."
"Of course," Smoker sighed with a roll of his eyes.
"I heard there was a situation in the square and came straight here," Tashigi said. "What's going on?"
"Apparently some infamous pirates teamed up and are planning executing someone called 'Straw Hat' on the scaffold," Smoker explained as they continued towards the square.
"Straw Hat?" Tashigi repeated. "I read about him in yesterday's paper. That crew took down the worst villains in the East Blue and left them for the Marines to apprehend. They beat 'Saw Tooth' Arlong, 'Pirate Admiral' Don Krieg, Kuro 'of a Thousand Plans' and Buggy 'the Clown'."
"Well most of those names you mentioned are out in the square holding the execution," Smoker said as he led the way up a set of stairs to a balcony that overlooking the square. A unit of snipers were already stationed there awaiting orders.
"Wait… all of them are—" Tashigi lost her footing on the top step and nearly fell on her face.
THUNK!
"I'm okay!" Tashigi announced as she scrambled back up, "That's my bad, sir."
"I can't help but notice that you're a bit clumsier than normal," Smoker noted.
"I'm wearing my spare glasses, sir," Tashigi told him. "Some lunkhead swordsman crushed my good pair. He gave me money to pay for a new set but it'll still take some time to get them. I'll be fine, sir."
"Just as long as you're not tripping over yourself when the fighting starts," Smoker replied.
"What's the plan?" Tashigi asked. "Are we going to help Straw Hat?"
"You know my policy on pirates," Smoker reminded her. "They can't be trusted. The newspaper may depict him as our ally. But I know better. The World Government wants their share of the credit but they're purposely ignoring the fact that these pirates could potentially become even worse than all the pirates they've beaten."
"So… we're just going to wait?" Tashigi asked as she looked off the balcony at the scaffold.
"Once Straw Hat's head rolls… then we'll arrest the others," Smoker resolved. Tashigi didn't look thrilled with the plan but nodded and didn't object to the Commanding Officer's orders.
Buggy, Cabaji, Kuro, Jango, Morgan and Arlong were all standing around the chopping block on top of the scaffold.
Kuro casually glanced up at the balconies surrounding the square and saw the marine snipers.
"They're here," Kuro informed the others, "You're up Jango."
The hypnotist struggled but managed to climb up so he was standing on top of Luffy's chopping block where everyone's attention was focused and starting to swing his ring.
"When I say 'One Two Jango' you will all freeze in place unable to move!" Jango called out.
"Eyes down!" Kuro advised. He, Morgan, Cabaji and Arlong all looked down at their feet to avoid being hypnotized.
"ONE… TWO… JAAANGOOOOO!"
All at once, the lingering civilians, the observing marines, Luffy, Buggy and Jango himself were all froze in place from Jango's hypnotism.
Cabaji smacked the frozen Buggy on the back of the head, "Snap out of it Captain!"
"Hh… what happened?" Buggy grunted. Then he spotted the frozen crowd. "OH! I LOVE A CAPTIVE AUDIENCE! LET'S GET ON WITH THE SHOW!" Buggy yanked the frozen Jango down off of the scaffold and took his place. "STRAW HAT LUFFY YOU ARE…" Buggy trailed off when he looked down and realized that Luffy had been frozen by Jango's hypnotism. "HEY! WAKE UP, YOU IDIOT! THIS IS MY FLASHY PLAN FOR REVENGE AND IT'S YOUR EXECUTION! YOU CAN'T SLEEP THROUGH IT!"
Buggy stomped on the top of Luffy's head to snap him out of his trance.
TONK!
"Huh? Oh… right… the execution," Luffy said, "I'm not gonna die here… I'M GONNA BE KING OF THE PIRATES!"
"NOT LIKELY!" Buggy yelled at him. "YOU'RE GONNA DIE RIGHT HERE JUST LIKE HE DID! STRAW HAT LUFFY: YOU'VE BEEN CHARGED WITH FOILING OUR PLANS, DESTROYING OUR CREWS, BEING A DISGUSTINGLY NOBLE DO-GOODER AND PISSING ME OFF! FOR THESE CRIMES, I, AND A JURY OF YOUR PIRATE PEERS, SENTENCE YOU TO DEATH!"
"STOP THE EXECUTION!"
The evil alliance stared across the square and saw Zoro and Sanji running towards the scaffold.
"IT'S THE PIRATE HUNTER AND… and…" Buggy trailed off. "That's not Top Hat… Who's the blonde?"
"I've never seen him," Kuro admitted.
"And I don't care," Arlong added, "All you humans mostly look the same to me."
"I'll take care of this," Kuro resolved. He drew two the two swords he'd taken to carrying around to replace his broken claws and leapt off the scaffold.
SKIIISSSSHH…
Kuro dragged his swords down the metal scaffold to slow his descent and landed in front of it then rushed at Zoro and Sanji.
"You're too late to save your friend, Pirate Hunter," the former butler called out, "But you're just in time to see him killed." Kuro lunged at the two Straw Hats and lashed out his swords.
KLANG!
SKISH!
Zoro blocked both blades with his two new swords while Sanji jumped clear over Kuro.
"Thanks for giving me an opportunity to test out my new swords," Zoro said as he and Kuro started to trade lightning fast sword strikes.
"I'M COMING LUFFY!" Sanji called out as he dashed the scaffold and started to jump up it.
FWIP!
"HEY, NOT SO FAST!" Buggy called out as he pointed his sword at Sanji when he flipped up onto the top of the scaffold.
Sanji dropped onto his hands and kicked Buggy's sword away with one foot then kept spinning and kicked the clown in the face with his other foot.
THWAK-WHAK!
"WAAAAH!" Buggy screamed as he was sent flying off the scaffold.
"YAY SANJI!" Luffy cheered.
"Alright, who's next?" Sanji asked the four enemies that remained.
"DAMN HUMAN PEST!" Arlong growled as he surged forward.
Sanji swung his leg at Arlong for a kick, "COLLIER SHOOT!"
WHAK!
Arlong blocked Sanji's high kick with his forearm then lashed out and kicked him in the stomach.
THWHAM!
The cook went flying off the scaffold after Buggy.
Arlong turned to Luffy, "Since the clown and the schemer are gone… I guess it falls on me to continue your execution, rubber brat."
"Oh, Arlong!" Luffy greeted him. "Did you actually make some human friends? Good for you."
"THESE HUMANS ARE NOT MY FRIENDS!" Arlong roared.
SPECIAL ATTACK… EXPLODING STAR!"
Three projectiles flew across the square and stuck Arlong's back.
KA-BOOOM-BOOOM-BOOOM!
Arlong was caught off guard as the ammo exploded and blasted him over the chopping block.
"IT'S LONG NOSE!" Jango exclaimed when he spotted Usopp and Nami at the far edge of the square. "HE'S THE ONE THAT RUINED MY LIFE! I CAN'T DANCE NOW BECAUSE OF HIM!"
"Good grief…" Morgan muttered.
Cabaji stepped forward and picked up the sword Buggy had dropped. "Then I'll cut off his nose and bring it back for you."
SKISH!
The acrobat launched himself off the scaffold with an impressive series of four flips then charged across the square.
Captain Smoker and his marines had all been caught off guard by Jango's hypnotism and were all frozen.
Master Chief Petty Officer Tashigi's eyes widened behind her glasses when she saw the familiar green haired swordsman charge into the square and start facing off with the infamous Captain Kuro.
"IT'S HIM!" Tashigi exclaimed. "HE'S THE PIRATE HUNTER AND HE'S ONE OF STRAW HAT'S CREW! Captain Smoker, that's the man…" Tashigi trailed off. "Oh, you're still frozen." It took a second but then she realized something much more important. "WAIT! I'M NOT FROZEN!"
Tashigi drew her sword, "Sorry Captain, I know you said not to do anything. But I think the situation has changed now that everyone's frozen. Arlong and the other are all infamous killers… The Straw Hats beat them before… so I'm going to lend them a hand. I'm sorry but that's the best plan I can come up with."
Tashigi drew her sword and ran off to join the battle.
"WHO WOULD DARE TO ATTACK ME FROM BEHIND?" Arlong snarled as he pushed himself back up. He whirled around and glared across the square. "LONG NOSE…" The fishman's eyes widened when he spotted the familiar girl next to him. "And Nami…" Arlong glanced back at Morgan. "Forget this alliance. One of you buffoons should be able to finish off Straw Hat. I've got an empire to rebuild."
SKISH!
Arlong didn't even bother with a fancy flip. He jumped off the scaffold and landed in a crouch.
TMP!
The infamous saw shark fishman shot off across the square towards his prey.
KLANG! KLANG!
Zoro blocked strike after strike from Kuro's speedy dual sword offense.
"Oh crap!" Zoro cursed when he saw Cabaji raced passed him.
SWISH!
Kuro vanished but Zoro spun around in time to block the dual strike to the back.
KLANG!
But then he saw Arlong charge by him. "OH SHIT!" He called out to Usopp and Nami. "HEADS UP!"
"I don't even care who you are!" Buggy sneered at Sanji as he drew eight knives and held them between his fingers. "You made a big mistake attacking me! Now I'm gonna skewer you!"
"I'm Sanji and I'm the Ship's Cook," Sanji introduced himself. "For your information, I'm the last guy that's gonna be scared of a bunch of knives."
"YOU SHOULD BE!" Buggy called out, "CHOP… CHOP… CANNON!"
"WAAH!" Sanji yelped in surprise as Buggy's hand came off and shot towards him.
SWISH!
But the cook managed to spin passed the knives to avoid the attack then swung his leg around and kicked Buggy's hand away from him.
THWAK!
"So you've got Devil Fruit Powers," Sanji realized, "Big deal. I'm gonna kick that big red nose right off your face."
"WHAT ABOUT MY NOSE!?" Buggy roared.
"The storm's here…" Nami observed as she looked up at the dark, nearly black, clouds overhead.
"AND SO IS A CRAZY SWORDSMAN!" Usopp exclaimed. "BACK OFF! I'VE GOT A FISH!"
"A fish?" Cabaji repeated as he glared at Usopp. "And what are you going to do with that exactly?"
SWACK!
Cabaji staggered back and stared incredulously at Usopp. "DID YOU JUST SLAP ME WITH A FISH!?"
"Ummm... no?" Usopp lied in a desperate attempt to deny the obvious.
"That's it!" Cabaji growled, "You're dead! I'll cut you into so many pieces... you'll give Captain Buggy a run for his money!"
"HEADS UP!"
Nami and Usopp jolted in surprise as a dark blue-haired marine swordswoman dashed between them.
KLANG!
Tashigi parried Cabaji's sword then with one graceful movement that completely contradicted her clumsy nature, she lunged forward and slashed the acrobat across the chest.
SLASH!
Cabaji went down and Tashigi turned to face Nami and Usopp, "Are you two members of the Straw Hat Pirates? What's going—"
WHAK!
Tashigi was cut off when she was struck on the side by a big blue fist.
"Well if it isn't Nami," Arlong sneered. "I didn't think I'd ever see you again."
Nami paled at the sight of her long-time tormentor not only freed but standing right in front of her. Fight or flight instincts took over. She knew that she and Usopp couldn't beat him… so she dropped her bag of clothes, turned tail and ran for her life.
"I TOLD YOU THAT I'D NEVER LET YOU ESCAPE, GIRL!" Arlong shouted as he steamrolled Usopp and chased Nami out of the square.
"HEY!" Tashigi called out as she got back up in time to see the most wanted criminal in the East Blue chase a seemingly normal girl off through the streets of Loguetown that were no doubt packed with civilians. She joined the chase and raced after Arlong. "GET BACK HERE! YOU'RE UNDER ARREST!"
Back on top of the scaffold, Morgan watched the battles below him dispassionately as he made his way over to Luffy. "Typical pirates… impulsive bastards just run off to do whatever they want. Now it's up to me to carry out justice." Morgan pointed his ax-arm at Luffy. "Do you even remember me, Straw Hat?"
"Yeah," Luffy answered. "You're that lousy Marine Captain with the bastard son that almost made my friend Coby give up on his dream of becoming a marine!"
"It's because of you that I'm not longer a marine!" Morgan growled at him. "I lost my rank, I lost my reputation and I lost all the respect that I once had! The Marines tossed me in the brig with a bunch of cut-throat pirates like I was a common criminal. They completely forgot about my many years of service to the World Government because of you."
"Hey! I didn't make you a jerk!" Luffy retorted. "You did that yourself!"
"Well… as a former Marine Captain…" Morgan resolved, "I now sentence you to death!" Morgan was oblivious to the black storm clouds over his head as he raised his ax up above Luffy. "Any last words?"
"LUFFY!" Zoro growled as he held Kuro's two swords a bay.
"HOLD ON!" Sanji called out as he spun around Buggy's other hand.
"Did I just get hit by another boat?" Usopp wondered as he sat up. "YIPE!"
SWISH!
Usopp rolled to the side just in time to avoid a spinning chakram thrown by Jango who had climbed down from the scaffold. "I can get revenge myself…"
"SABO! ZORO! SANJI! USOPP! NAMI!" Luffy called out the names of his crew with a smile on his face. "LOOKS LIKE I'M DEAD!"
"HE SMILED!" Captain Smoker gasped in utter shock. "Only one man's ever smiled in the face of death before… and he was executed on that same platform twenty-two years ago."
KA-THOOOOM!
Lightning, drawn my Morgan raised axe, suddenly shot down out of the sky and struck the platform.
The entire scaffold was engulfed in blue flames as he it crumbled to the ground.
KRASH!
Everyone in the square stopped and stared in shock as the rain from the storm started to fall.
Morgan laid charred and burned in the wreckage of the destroyed scaffold. But Luffy smiled widely as he reached down and picked up his hat. His rubber body had made him immune to the lightning.
"Looks like I survived!" Luffy exclaimed. "That was lucky!"
The dark clouds in the sky opened up and rain began to shower the town. The storm had begun.
"Any last words, darling?" Rain fell as Alvida called up to Sabo as rain started falling on them.
Sabo nodded. His face set in a determined grin. "I love you, Bonnie."
"Bastard!" Alvida spat before she pulled Bonnie's trigger.
KER-CHOW!
Alvida was thrown off balance from Bonnie Anne's recoil but was able to steady herself enough to see Bonnie's round strike the left side of Sabo's chest.
BOING!
Alvida's eyes went wide as the orange round bounced off of Sabo's chest instead of puncturing it then flew back the way it came and hit Alvida's white cowgirl hat dead center.
THUNK!
Already off balance, the high-speed bullet to the head was the necessary push needed to knock Alvida off her feet.
THUD!
Alvida hit the ground and Bonnie's handle jammed on the ground next to her which caused the rifle to fire again.
KER-CHOW!
"GAAAH!" Mohji cried out as Bonnie's bullet tore through his side. His legs buckled and he barely managed to keep a hold on his whip. But that ended up being a bad idea because Sabo suddenly yanked down on the whip around his neck.
WHING!
"WAAAH!" Mohji screamed as he was pulled over the balcony and started to plummet three stories.
Tmp!
Sabo landed then spun to the side and used his hold on the whip to swing Mohji across the alley and smashed him into the stone wall on the other side.
WHAM!
The Beast Tamer went limp and was unconscious before he hit the ground.
"RAAAAAWWWHH!"
Sabo spun around and saw Richie the lion charging at him. The Straw Hat Quartermaster casually picked up Alvida mace and used his considerable strength to toss it up overhead.
Richie reached him and Sabo shot his foot up and punted the lion in the jaw.
THWAK!
Richie's head was snapped upward with such force that the lion was practically standing on his hind legs.
"YOU BASTARD!" Alvida screamed as she stood back up.
Sabo launched himself legs-first towards her. In one motion he managed to scoop Bonnie Anne up off of the ground and clip Alvida's legs with a kick to the boot as he slid passed.
THWAK!
THUD!
Alvida was knocked off balanced and fell on her face. She started to push herself back up when her iron mace plummeted from overhead and crashed down on Richie's head.
WHOMP!
The huge lion was knocked out cold and fell forward… right on top of Alvida.
WHAM!
Sabo finally pulled the whip off of his neck leaving behind a red ring then stood up with Bonnie tucked against his side and surveyed the fallen forms of Alvida, Mohji and Richie.
"I guess we can chalk this up as another win for Team SaBonnie," Sabo mused. He turned his head and kissed his girlfriend's nozzle. "Don't worry Bonnie. I'm yours. I always will be."
KER-CHOW!
Sanji looked across the square at Zoro. "Do you believe in God?"
"Quit talking nonsense," Zoro replied as he drew his third katana and put the handle in his mouth. "Let's finish this."
"Good idea," Kuro said then he vanished.
KLANG!
Zoro spun around and blocked the attack. "I've been meaning to tell you… you're a lot slower than you were last time."
Kuro glared at him, "That's because YOU STABBED ME IN THE FOOT!"
"Oh, so you're still sore about that, huh?" Zoro asked. "Then you're gonna hate this… TATSU MAKI!" Zoro spun around and slashed all three of his swords.
SWISH-SWISH!
Kuro was sent flying up into the air by the high speed tornado but then he started to drop.
Zoro launched himself at Kuro and lashed out with his three swords, "TORA GARI"
SLIKA-SLICE!
When Kuro finally hit the ground… he was unconscious.
"By the way," Zoro added, "Without those claws of yours… you're a lousy swordsman."
"I guess its up to me to salvage my flashy plan," Buggy resolved. He stomped his feet which caused a knife to come out from the toe of his clown shoes.
"Just how many knives do you have?" Sanji wondered.
"MORE THAN ENOUGH TO KILL YOU!" Buggy yelled. "CHOP… CHOP… RICECRACKER!" Buggy's legs separated from Buggy's torso and spun sideways towards Sanji's like a big buzzsaw.
Sanji charged at Buggy's legs completely unafraid of the spinning knives. He jumped up and planted his foot on the middle of Buggy's buzzsaw and used it as a springboard to launch himself up into the air.
SKISH!
"Whubba?" Buggy gaped in surprise then looked up.
Sanji did a series of flips as he came flying down and drove the heel of his shoe into Buggy's face. "CONCASSÉ!"
THWHAM!
Buggy's top half was driven hard into the ground and the clown's other floating pieces dropped as he lost consciousness.
"Well that was... something..." Sanji remarked as he stared at Buggy's pieces. "I guess I should've expected Luffy to have a crazy assortment of villains to go with his crew of crazy people."
"YOU TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME!" Jango yelled at Usopp. "BECAUSE OF YOU I'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO DANCE AGAIN!"
"Well… I'm sorry about your dancing," Usopp called back to him. "But I'm definitely not gonna apologize for what I did. You were threatening to kill everyone that I care about. You had it coming."
"And you've got this coming!" Jango insisted. "I'll cut you in half! But first… my advantage." Jango held his hypno-ring up in front of himself. "When I say 'One Two Jango'… I will become impervious to pain. I will feel nothing. I will be unstoppable."
"Wait… he's hypnotizing himself?" Usopp realized. He pulled a special projectile out and aimed his slingshot waiting to fire at just the right moment.
"ONE… TWO… JAAAAA—UUURRK!" Jango suddenly gagged when Usopp's round flew into his opened mouth. "Uuuggh… uuugghh…" Jango's face turned bright red. "What… what did you… oooh nooo… SPIIIIICCCYYYYYY! TOOOO HOOOOOOT! WAAAAAAHHH!"
FWOOSH!
Flames shot up out of Jango's mouth and he streamed out in pain.
Usopp loaded another batch of rounds into his slingshot and fired. "SPECIAL ATTACK… LEAD STAR!"
Jango was in no position to decent himself. The three pachinko balls struck him right in the chest.
THUNK-THUNK-THUNK!
Jango fell on his back unconscious.
"Hahaha! My new Hot Salsa Star worked like a charm!" Usopp boasted. "Thanks for testing it out for me!"
"WOW! Nice job guys!" Luffy exclaimed. He glanced around him and saw the fallen assortment of their unconscious enemies. Morgan, Cabaji, Kuro, Buggy and Jango were all out cold. "Hey… what happened to Arlong?"
Nami ran like the devil was after her. She made a sharp turn down an alley. She knocked over crates and barrels. She did everything she could to slow down the monster chasing her. She'd finally gotten free from his grasp and she wasn't going back!
"HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!" Tashigi was suddenly standing at the other end of the alley.
"How did you?" Nami wondered as she stared at the marine in surprise.
"I took a shortcut," Tashigi answered. "I know this town like the back of my hand. Now get out of here." Nami nodded and darted passed Tashigi out of the alley.
Arlong stopped when he saw the blue-haired woman barring his path. "And who are you supposed to be."
"'Saw Tooth' Arlong… I'm Master Chief Petty Officer Tashigi of the Loguetown Marines," Tashigi stated. "You're under arrest."
WHAP!
Arlong grabbed Tashigi's sword with his webbed hand and used his hold on it to swing the marine over his shoulder as he turned around and slammed her to the ground.
WHAM!
"Uuugghh…" Tashigi groaned as she was nearly embedded in the ground.
Tnk! THWAK!
Arlong stepped on the blade of Tashigi's katana with one foot and punted her in the side with the other effectively separating the swordswoman from her sword.
Nami stopped in her tracks and turned to look behind her. The sight of the young marine woman disarmed and lying on the ground at Arlong's feet brought up all too familiar unpleasant memories.
Back then she had been helpless to do anything to keep Arlong from murdering her mother.
"Uugghhh…" Tashigi groaned as she rolled onto her stomach and attempted to crawl away from Arlong.
TOMP!
Arlong drove his foot down into the woman's back to pin her in place. "You know… back when I had my empire I had a pretty standard policy for dealing with the Marines. I'd offer the new faces money to turn around and leave. If they refused… I killed them. Unfortunately for you, I don't have any money to try and bribe you with... so I'm just going to have to kill you."
"GET THE HELL OFF OF HER!"
WHACK!
Arlong was struck across the back by a bow-staff. He lurched forward slightly from the blow that had contained all of Nami's hatred and anger. But then he straightened up and shook off the attack like it hadn't even happened.
"That was foolish Nami," Arlong remarked. "You really should know better than that."
"BITE ME, BASTARD!" Nami spat. Probably a poor choice of words since Arlong was a shark fishman. But Nami didn't stay to deliberate. She turned and ran off again.
"Grrr…" Arlong snarled and barreled after her.
Nami grinned faintly. Bellemere hadn't known what atrocities Arlong was capable of committing. Tashigi didn't either. But Nami did. She'd seen that monster's power during her eight years of servitude. She also knew that Arlong wanted her alive to keep drawing maps. So if anyone could handle Arlong… it was her.
Nami made another sharp turn and bolted down another alley.
"ENOUGH OF THIS! SHARK ON DARTS!"
SHOOOM!
Nami held like she'd been hit by a cannonball as Arlong slammed into her and knocked her to the ground. He casually grabbed her by the throat then lifted her up into the air and slammed her back against the alley wall.
"Did you really think you could get away, Nami?" Arlong taunted. "Straw Hat may have beaten me… but he's dead now. It was a setback. We're going to have to start again. For now its just you and me, kid. We're gonna start from scratch and recreate the Arlong Empire."
"Excuse me… do you need help?"
Arlong and Nami turned to see a big eyed woman with light brown hair standing at the other end of the alley. Nami shook her head and tried to warn the other woman away. But the big eyed girl either didn't see her or didn't care as she came closer.
"Oh my gosh! Arlong? Is that you?"
Arlong blinked in surprise. "Do I know you?"
"It's me, Koala," the young revolutionary reminded him. "I know it's been a long time and I look a lot different now… but years ago I was on your ship with the original Sun Pirates. I was there with you and Jinbe and Tiger."
"You…" Arlong gasped. But then his eyes narrowed. "YOOUUU…" He dropped Nami and she slid down the wall to the ground. Arlong turned and advanced on Koala. "YOU KILLED MY BROTHER, YOU LITTLE HUMAN BITCH!"
Koala's face took on a sad frown. "So you do remember me..."
"I'LL KILL YOU!" Arlong roared as he charged the young woman.
Koala waved her hands in front of her like they were webbed then she clenched them into fists. She did a quick spin and swung her fist up into the charging Arlong's jaw.
POW!
Arlong's head snapped upward and he staggered backwards. But he regained his balance and glared at Koala. "That was the Undersea Uppercut… YOU DARE USE FISHMAN KARATE AGAINST A FISHMAN!?"
Arlong swung at Koala with a closed fist but Koala lashed out and deflected it.
WHAK!
Koala spun around and delivered a back elbow to Arlong's exposed stomach.
WHAM!
Arlong doubled over and Koala followed up with another uppercut.
POW!
Arlong snapped back up straight. Nami could only sit and watch in astonishment as her longtime tormentor was outright dismantled by a girl half his size.
Once again Koala swung her hands in front of her like they were webbed before she formed a fist and delivered a powerful punch. "TWO THOUSAND TILE TRUE PUNCH!"
KA-POW!
Arlong went flying all the way out of the alley and landed on his back in the middle of the street. He was out cold.
Koala turned to Nami, "Sorry about that… the two of us have some history. But he was always rather cruel to me. Looks like that hasn't changed. UGHN!"
Koala was startled when Nami threw herself at her and hugged the older girl for all she was worth.
"THANK YOU SO MUCH!"
Koala smiled and patted Nami on the back. "No problem."
FLOOOOM!
Smoke suddenly filled the square and obscured everything from view.
"HEY? WHAT HAPPENED?"
"I happened."
The smoke cleared to reveal Captain Smoker sitting on Luffy's back with the handle of his jitte pressed into the back of his neck.
"The name's Smoker," Smoker stated. "I'm the Captain of the Marines here."
"Oh so now you show up," Zoro growled, "As usual the Marines don't arrive until the fight's over."
"I was waiting to see who won that fight of yours," Smoker said. He decided not to mention that he'd been hypnotized. "My plan from the beginning was to wait it out and capture whoever survived."
"Wait… you're arresting us?" Sanji asked. "We did your job for you."
"But from where I'm sitting you're still pirates," Smoker pointed out.
"Hold on!" Usopp exclaimed. "Before we go anywhere, I wanna speak to my lawyer!"
"Your what?" Smoker questioned.
"My… OUR QUARTERMASTER!" Usopp clarified. "Sabo'll sort this out."
"Luffy, you okay down there?" Zoro asked.
"I don't… feel so good…" Luffy admitted.
"That's because I'm touching you with the handle of my jitte," Smoker explained. "It's Sea Prism Stone. It mimics the effect of the sea on Devil Fruit Users and renders them helpless. I saw you survive getting struck by that lightning… so I figured you had some kind of power. You're not going anywhere. And I saw the rest of you all risk your lives trying to save your Captain here… so that means none of you are going anywhere either. But I'm willing to wait until this Quartermaster of yours arrives to try and talk me out of arresting you. At the very least, I'll be able to throw him in prison along with the rest of you."
"That was a close one."
Sabo turned around and saw Dragon behind him. "What're you doing here?"
"I was watching everything from the roof," Dragon answered.
"WAIT!" Sabo exclaimed. "You were there this whole time… AND YOU DIDN'T DO ANYTHING? I could've been killed! I thought you wanted me to join your army?"
"If you died in minor situation like that then I don't want you on my army," Dragon replied. "But since you survived… I still do. That's a great gun you've got there."
"Don't I know it," Sabo said as he tucked Bonnie Anne into his coat to protect her from the rain. "Actually… I need to grab something…"
Dragon watched as Sabo knocked on the speakeasy door to the storehouse. Bullet-head opened the door and Sabo slipped in passed him.
He came out a moment later with ten boxes of rubber bullets. "I'm definitely stocking up on these." Sabo stuffed his extra ammo in his crate.
"By the way… that brother of yours found his way to the scaffold," Dragon informed him. "But he was nearly executed while he was there."
"WHAT?" Sabo exclaimed. "WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY SOMETHING SOONER?" With Bonnie still pinned to his side inside his coat, Sabo picked up his ammo crate and ran off.
Dragon smirked and followed him.
"I can't believe you beat up Arlong," Nami confessed as she and Koala stood over the fallen fishman. "I've always dreamed of doing that. Did you really beat him with Fishman Karate?"
"Yup, I was trained by a level one hundred black belt," Koala informed her. "I graduated training and now I'm actually going to be his assistant instructor."
Nami glanced curiously at Koala, "Did you... actually kill his brother?"
Koala's smile shifted into a frown. "Not directly. But I was the cause of his death. I still feel bad about it sometimes." Nami looked Koala up and down. "Can I help you with something?"
"Sorry, I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that Arlong just gotten knocked out cold by a girl half his size," Nami explains. "Actually... you're outfit reminds me of a friend of mine. He wears old styles clothing like yours."
Koala's smile returned, "Does this friend of yours wear a blue coat and a top hat and carry around a rifle?"
"Yup, that's him," Nami confirmed. "You met him?"
"Briefly," Koala admitted, "Some creepy hotel guy thought we were a couple and tried to send us to a Love Hotel. I didn't even know they had those here."
"Heehee…" Nami giggled faintly, "I bet his girlfriend didn't like that. Anyway… I'm no fashion expert but your outfit seems to be missing something. I'd suggest accessorizing by adding a hat to complete your outfit. Something colorful. Oh, and put some goggles around like Sabo's."
"I'll keep that in mind," Koala agreed.
"Oi, Nami!"
Nami and Koala turned to see Sabo and the cloaked Dragon.
"Sabo!"
"Boss! Dandy Man!"
Nami smirked as she looked over at Koala. "Dandy Man?"
"Oh great…" Sabo grumbled as he came closer, "Now she knows that nickname…" Sabo stopped and looked down at Arlong. "Nami, did you beat up Arlong?"
"Nope, that was my new best friend here," Nami answered as she threw her arm over Koala's shoulders.
"I was trained by a level one hundred black belt in Fishman Karate," Koala informed him.
"You could receive similar training if you joined my army," Dragon prodded Sabo.
"I've already got my own style that I'm perfectly happy with, thank you," Sabo replied in a clipped tone.
"Hey, are you okay?"
They all turned to see Tashigi staggering towards them.
Dragon turned and hurried off. Koala went pale. "I was never here. If you think you owe me anything then you can repay it by telling her that he…" Koala pointed at Sabo, "…beat Arlong when she asks." Koala turned and hurried off after her boss.
"Who was that guy?" Nami asked.
"Koala's boss?" Sabo suggested. Nami folded her arms across her chest. "Look, they're trying to be incognito. I shouldn't spoil it. Let's just say he's an adult Luffy."
Nami raised an eyebrow, "Are you saying that's what Luffy could look like in another twenty years? 'Cause he was pretty hot."
"GAAH! Why would you say that!?" Sabo exclaimed.
"Because not being told things annoys me and I knew saying it would annoy you," Nami answered smugly just as Tashigi reached them.
"Okay… who was that and what happened?" Tashigi demanded.
"He beat Arlong," Nami dutifully lied.
"Wait… I've seen your picture," Tashigi realized. She raised her glasses off her eyes and leaned in to stare at Sabo. "Oh, that's right. You're Quartermaster Sabo from the Straw Hat Pirates."
"That's me," Sabo confirmed. "What's this I hear about Luffy being in trouble?"
"A bunch of our enemies teamed up and jumped Luffy at the scaffold," Nami explained. "Buggy was there, Kuro and Jango were there, Arlong, and even Marine Captain Morgan."
"That explains why I got jumped by Alvida," Sabo reasoned. "I'd better head back to the square to make sure. Um…" Sabo glanced at his crate then down at Arlong. "I don't suppose you two could…"
"Fine, grab a leg," Nami instructed Tashigi. "I've always wanted to turn him in to the Marines."
"Right," Tashigi agreed as she and Nami each grabbed one of Arlong's legs and started to drag him back to the square. "And um… thanks for knocking him off of me before."
"No problem," Nami assured her, "I didn't want to see this bastard kill another good marine."
"You know him?" Tashigi inquired. "Well... of course you do... he chased you halfway across Loguetown..."
"He murdered my mother in front of me when I was ten," Nami interrupted the Marine's babbling. "She was a former marine. Then he branded me like a slave and forced me to serve on his crew for eight years. He held my village and every other village on my island hostage so I couldn't run away. He paid off the Marines and they ignored everything. It wasn't until I met Luffy and Sabo that he was finally defeated and sent to prison. But three days later… here he is again."
"I… I'm sorry," Tashigi apologized.
"It's behind me now," Nami told her. "I'll be happy if I never have to see him again."
"I see," Tashigi said as they continued onward.
The rain was still falling in the square. Buggy, Cabaji, Kuro, Jango and Morgan had all been carted off to the Loguetown Prison.
"Captain Smoker! We've got Arlong!"
Everyone looked up to see Sabo, Nami and Tashigi arrive with the unconscious Arlong in tow.
"You…" Zoro grunted as he eyed the swordswoman.
"What's going on?" Sabo asked as he eyed the Marine Captain sitting on his brother.
"You and your crew are under arrest for being pirates," Smoker stated. "I've never let a single pirate leave this town in the time I've been stationed here."
"Meanwhile… you ignored… everything else…" Luffy mumbled.
"From the looks of things we saved your town," Sabo pointed out.
"Those pirates wouldn't have been here if they hadn't come to get revenge against you," Smoker said. "You protected yourselves. Not the people here."
"Okay, then how 'bout the people we protected the first time we beat them?" Sabo asked.
"Buggy was blowing up houses in Orange Town when we got there," Zoro stated.
"Kuro was going to have his crew attack my neighbors and murder my friend so he could inherit her estate," Usopp added.
"He's not here now but Don Krieg attacked my restaurant," Sanji stated. "Do you know what 'Foul Play' Krieg would have done with the Baratie as his ship?"
"Arlong enslaved my entire island so he could create his empire," Nami said.
"Tashigi… you were involved in the situation," Smoker commented, "What are your thoughts?"
Tashigi stared at Nami for a moment then looked over at Sabo and then Zoro and finally Luffy. "I think we should let them go. I didn't beat Arlong. I didn't do anything. Arlong's a monster. They brought him down. They did what we were supposed to when they beat him for the second time in three days while we did nothing! If anything these pirates should be rewarded for their services."
"You could always treat us like bounty hunters," Sabo suggested.
"The only problem with that is your Captain loudly shouted that he wants to be King of the Pirates while he was on the scaffold," Smoker stated. "Do you have any idea what it implies for someone to get away with doing that in this town and on that scaffold of all places? My job is to arrest dangerous criminals."
"And you think Luffy is dangerous?" Sabo inquired.
"He's the most dangerous criminal in the East Blue," Smoker insisted. "On the execution scaffold… he did something that scared the hell outta me. He smiled in the face of death. I was there twenty-two years ago when the Pirate King Gold Roger did the same thing on that same platform. I can't in good conscience let a pirate like him reach the Grand Line."
"Like him? What's that supposed to mean?" Sabo challenged him. "You'd rather arrest a pirate with morals similar to yours that believes in his dream instead of the vicious thieves and murderers that we beat here today? I can assure you, once we get to the Grand Line we'll keep doing the same thing. We'll take down the crooked criminals, help the people that need it and follow our moral compass."
"I think we can trust them, Captain," Tashigi spoke up. "But… just to be sure… I have an idea. I'll be right back…" Tashigi darted off and had a quick conversation with some marines that were loitering nearby waiting for Smoker's orders. The marines came over and took Arlong away while Tashigi held up the Transponder Snail that she'd gotten from them. "Take this."
Tashigi handed the Transponder Snail over to Nami.
"With this we'll be able to keep in touch," Tashigi explained. "We can use it to check in on you and you can use it if you're ever in a situation where you need marine backup."
"You're not... telling us… what to do…" Luffy insisted.
"Really? You're going to fight the nice lady that's going to let us go?" Usopp growled at him.
"We're free pirates… they don't… decide our course…"
"Luffy… they have no way of telling us where to go," Sabo informed him. "With this snail… we can be friends with them."
Luffy's eyes widened and he nodded, "That's okay then. They're good people."
"You're actually saying that even though I've been sitting on you talking about arresting you this whole time?" Smoker questioned.
"You're trying to protect people based on your morals and beliefs… that's what I do."
Smoker finally stood up. "Fine. The World Government actually printed that article so that tells me they're giving you a chance. I'll do the same thing. But don't make me regret it. You kids screw up in the Grand Line and there will be Marines coming after you."
"And on that note, let's get outta here!" Sabo called out. The Straw Hats turned to leave.
SHINK!
Tashigi drew Shigure and blocked Zoro's path. She gave the swordsman a meaningful look. "I'm going to take a chance and trust you with Wado Ichimonji, Kitetsu III and Yubashiri. Don't betray that. Fight for peace like Wado Ichimonji's name implies."
"I'll follow my Captain's lead and use this sword to achieve my dream like you and I… uh… the other you… she and I promised."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Tashigi demanded. "Other me? I've only ever been myself!"
Sabo popped up between the two with a shit-eating grin. "And what have we here? Zoro, you've found a nice girl that took the time to learn the names of all three of your swords… and you're insulting her?"
"I'm not insulting… she's…" Zoro stammered. "She picked them out."
"So this nice girl helped you pick out your new swords and was the one that told you their names… and you're insulting her…" Sabo clarified. "Now I understand why you spend so much time criticizing my relationship. It's to cover up the fact that you can't talk to women."
"I CAN TALK TO WOMAN!" Zoro barked. "ITS HER AND HER FACE THAT WEIRDS ME OUT!"
"MY FACE?" Tashigi shrieked. "ARE YOU SAYING MY FACE IS WEIRD!"
At this point Zoro didn't see how he could salvage the conversation that was rapidly spiraling out of his control. He blamed Sabo. And Kuina clone. And Sanji who was standing there silently for good measure. "You know what? Yes. Yes. I am." Tashigi shrieked in indignation as Zoro stomped passed.
"What're you still doing here?" Smoker asked. "This storm is only going to get worse and it looks like it'll last a while. My unit in the harbor's been called back in. They won't give you trouble. If you to have any chance of getting to the Grand Line… you'd better leave now. "
"THANKS FOR THE TIP!" Sabo called out as he picked up his crate and ran off.
"BYE SMOKEY!" Luffy shouted.
"Luffy, Sabro, Zoro, wait up!" Usopp cried as he ran after them carrying Sanji's fish. "This fish is heavy!"
Nami surprised Tashigi with a sudden hug. "I always liked strong marine women. Thanks." She ran off after the others but stopped briefly to pick up the sack of clothes that she'd dropped.
"I think your face I beautiful," Sanji assured Tashigi as he took her hand and planted a quick kiss on the back of it. "Farewell."
"Goodbye Straw Hats…" Smoker said as he watched them run off.
"Well done, Smoker."
Smoker spun around to see Dragon standing behind him. "YOU! The world is after your head. What're you doing here? Are you helping them?"
"I only came to observe," Dragon replied. "That man's destiny lies in the Grand Line. Who are we to stand in the way of it?"
"ALRIGHT! LET'S GO TO THE GRAND LINE!" Luffy cheered.
The Going Merry cast off and despite the heavy storm the tiny carvel managed to leave the Polestar Islands with its course set for Reverse Mountain and the Grand Line beyond it. The Legend of Straw Hat Luffy was only just beginning.
And that's the end of the East Blue Saga. They'll make it to the Grand Line in the next chapter.
I'm going to be taking a break so I can hammer out a few details for the next part of the story mainly concerning what I'm doing with Bonnie and what I'll use for Sabo's Devil Fruit. I've decided what I want to use but I just want to make sure it works down the line with the rest of the story. I also want to have a few chapters done in advance so I can have a more relaxed writing schedule and won't have to pull all nighters to get chapters finished.
In the meantime, I'm going to keep the epithet poll opened so that everyone that wants to can have time to vote on it. I've added a couple late comers and we're up to 20 choices now so be sure to take a look at them.
Silver Signing off…
Edited 6/13/16