Story so far: Ann has left Dawn Island and Luffy behind, following Ace to the Grand Line. After a pit stop on the island Hiougi, where she tested her thieving skills on a Noble in order to finance her trip, Ann continues on her journey determined to make it to the Grand Line.

Chapter 5 Entering the Grand Line

Loguetown

Ann sashayed through the cobbled streets nearly bursting from excitement; there was just something about Loguetown. Maybe it was the fact that it was the birthplace of Roger himself, or that not only had he lived here, he had died here. Still it could have been from the knowledge that this was the last island that stood between her and reverse mountain, the entrance to the Grand Line. Either way, there were so many new things to see, she was having a hard time focusing on any one thing.

Caught up in the moment Ann failed to notice when the crowd started to thin as the people changed course so they walked closer to the side of the road. Her attention was soon brought to a focus when she collided with something very solid. Ann winced, not because it hurt, though landing ungracefully on your butt on cobblestone wasn't the most pleasant feeling in the world, she wasn't pleased with the fact that running into things seemed to be becoming a habit. While it was okay to purposely run into people or things when planned in advanced, it was not so much fun to randomly run into things and not be adequately compensated for it.

Cautiously Ann tilted her head up slightly allowing her to peak up at the 'thing' from the safety of her bangs.

"Oi, you should watch where your going kid." The gravelly drawl rumbled out of said 'thing' from around the two cigars clenched between its teeth. He was a tall man and obviously very fit, the view made possible by his unzipped white jacket that had green fur lining the neck, hem and wrists. So while he didn't wear the regular uniform of a marine Ann could very well guess that the word 'Justice' was on the back of that open jacket, if the small army of marines that were glaring at her from behind him were any indication.

"Gomen," Ann said quietly casting her eyes down. She could feel her body shaking right along with her voice, aching palms digging more painfully into the pavement. The man grunted and she heard the rustle of clothing as the party moved on. The tension gradually faded and her breathing slowly became normal as the crowd went on about their business ignoring the young girl still sitting in the streets. Why, Ann wondered, why did this have to happen? She had been doing so well too, hadn't she? She interacted with the maid on Hiougi just fine, better than fine, she had been able to act the part of bubbly Ann right? Sure she was normally a happy person, but bubbly she was not. Ann shuddered at the word.

But that was beside the point, for some reason she just couldn't talk to people. When it had to do with a hit, she was fine, was that because she wasn't acting entirely like herself? Or maybe it was because it had only been one person she was interacting with at a time? She sighed tiredly, maybe Ace had been right after all and she should have stayed back on Dawn Island. She was just to shy to be out in a place like the Grand Line, she couldn't even make it down the streets of a medium sized town without freezing up.

No, she couldn't give up yet. She had to do this. This was her chance to change; she couldn't continue to live like she had been, depending on Ace or Dandan all the time. This was something she had to do on her own. Ann had promised herself that she would fulfill her dream and to do that she had to come out of her shell. She stood up slowly, dusting off her pants content with her resolve. Ace wouldn't like it but in the end, he would understand.

XXX

Reverse Mountain

It was breathtaking; the shear size of it so intimidating it caused those who dared to try to pass through to forget for a moment the rough sea that they currently sailed. As she stared in awe Ann could hardly believe that she was there. She barely felt the spray from the high waves rain down on her, plastering her hair and clothes to her body.

She had gathered all the necessities from Loguetown as quickly as possible. So she didn't hang around trying to chat people up, after that little scare with Smoker, she had learned was his name, she was leery of making conversation. Baby steps, she kept telling herself, it wouldn't happen over night. Though she had managed to pick up some valuable information. It was one trait she had picked up thanks to her shyness that she liked. She had this innate ability to disappear in a crowd, not disappear as in go invisible, but to just fade into the background so that no one realized you were there. This enabled her to listen to others conversations without being noticed. A good trick to have when one was a thief.

She just hoped that when time came for Luffy to sail that that man was reassigned. Not that she didn't have any faith in Luffy, she did. If he said he was going to do something then he would. Ann just hoped that he would make it to the Grand Line without too much trouble. Luffy the crybaby and Ann the shy, they made quite the pair, she already missed him.

Ann gritted her teeth as she focused on the task at hand, fighting the current. She had managed to get a better quaintly sailboat at Loguetown, so she felt a little safer than she had with her previous one. But the waters here were fierce, they tossed the boat from side to side while at the same time yanking it to the jagged cliffs. Steering was near impossible by this point and she worried her course wouldn't put her in the passage. The cliffs loomed above her and all Ann could do is hope fate was on her side. Whatever fate deemed she would meet it head on.

Clutching the mast with all her strength Ann gasped in delight as she rocketed under the red pillars marking the entrance to Reverse Mountain. The ride up was thrilling, better than any rollercoaster; it seemed to go on and on, when finally there was nothing before her and the boat made a sudden drop back onto the ocean road. Ann laughed joyfully as the boat increased its speed on the decent. She would have thrown her hands into the air if she weren't so anxious about being flung off.

All too soon the ocean came into view, she had done, she had made it to the Grand Line!

XXX

Taking a deep breath of the fresh sea air and stretched out her sore limbs. Today was the first day in weeks that the sky had been clear and the waters calm. Ever since the day she left reverse mountain behind it had been total chaos. One minute it was snowing, the next she was in the middle of a warm tropical storm. Crocus had warned her of the perils of sailing on this sea, especially a lone woman in a sailboat. Just the thought had her gritting her teeth, what was the deal with men? Thinking they were the only ones capable of sailing the Grand Line, well she'd show them.

Though she should have taken his words of caution a little more seriously, but how could anyone take someone who had a flower growing out of their head like hair seriously? He already had a strike against him with the whale incident, game her ass. True he had made up for it with a Log Pose; it was amazing how hard it was to come by things from the Grand Line in the Blues. She found all kinds of things from the other Blues in Loguetown but nothing from the Grand Line. Maybe she just hadn't gone to the right place, she pretty much went to the places that looked like they would have the supplies she needed and didn't look any further than that after she had amassed everything she thought she needed. Ann had heard rumors about the Grand Line but nothing concrete it seemed that people just didn't talk about it, many probably didn't know anything about it, but you would think there would be more rumors floating around…

Translations:

Gomen: sorry

Hiougi: folding fan/blackberry lily

A/N: Not much action happened in this chapter. Wanted to go a little more into Ann's character. Which brings up the question what do you think of her personality? Does it fit? I wanted her to be a bit different, she's got some contrasting traits but I hope that it's not too inconsistent.

Shiary: Ouch, that put me in my place (sheepish giggle). I'll try to remember that.

lexzly: Thank you so much. I hope I can keep it interesting for you.