"There is only one thing worse than fighting with allies, and that is fighting without them."
― Winston S. Churchill

Chapter 6: Allies

One important result of the brush with the marines at the lagoon was that it made the pirates their friends. Luffy had saved Boa Hancock from a dreadful fate, and now there was nothing she and her pirates would not do for him. All night they sat below, keeping watch over the treehouse and awaiting the big attack by the marines which obviously could not be delayed much longer.

Luffy would say to them in a very uninterested manner, "I'm glad to see the Kuja warriors protecting my home from the marines."

"I'm Boa Hancock," that lovely creature would reply. "Monkey D. Luffy saved me, we shall marry and one day he will be the Pirate King. I'll not let the marines hurt him.

Luffy cringed at her declaration, but deemed it not worth his time to argue, "The future holds no guarantees, Hancock. We shall see in due time." She would preen over his usage of her first name and spend hours muttering to herself and blushing.

It was now the evening that was to be known among them as the Night of Nights, because of the adventures that occurred the following day. The day, as if quietly gathering its forces, had been almost uneventful, and now the pirates in their blankets were at their posts below, while, above, the children were having their evening meal; all except Luffy, who had gone out to get the time. The way you got the time on the island was to find the sea king, and then stay near him till the clock struck.

The meal happened to be a typical Neverland feast brought about by the magic that seemed to follow Luffy. Empty bowls were suddenly full of brightly colored foods as delicious smells permeated the air. Though Sanji was their official chef, he generally made the group snacks and interesting drinks found on the island or prepared a sea king if Luffy happened to come across one during his time out and about. The group sat, devouring in their greed; the noise, what with their chatter and recriminations was positively deafening. There was a fixed rule that they must never hit back at meals, but should refer the matter of dispute to Robin by raising their right arm politely and saying, "I complain of so-and-so;" but what usually happened was that they forgot to do this or did it too much.


"Silence," cried Robin when for the twentieth time she had told them that they were not all to speak at once. "Is your mug empty, Brook?"

"Not quite empty," Brook said, after looking into his mug.

"He hasn't even begun to drink his milk," Sanji interposed.

This was telling, and Brook seized his chance.

"I complain of Sanji," he cried promptly.

Zoro, however, had held up his hand first.

"Well, Zoro?"

"Do we have any booze, instead of milk?"

This was grumbling. "I complain of Zoro," cried Franky.

Chopper said, "Do you think I could be a swordsman?"

"No," replied Zoro; "it's awfully difficult to be a swordsman."

The hateful telling broke out again.

"Brook is coughing on the table."

"Sanji began with cheese-cakes."

"Usopp is taking both butter and honey."

"Zoro is speaking with his mouth full."

"I complain of Franky."

"I complain of Usopp."

"I complain of Sanji."

There was a step above, and Robin, you may be sure, was the first to recognize it.

"Boys, I hear Luffy's return."

He had brought sweets swiped from the marines camp for the boys as well as the correct time for Robin.

"Luffy, you just spoil them, you know," Robin giggled.

They sang and danced in their night-clothes as they celebrated his return. Such a deliciously creepy song it was, in which they pretended to be frightened at their own shadows. So uproariously fun was the dance, and how they buffeted each other on the bed and out of it! It was a pillow fight rather than a dance, and when it was finished, the pillows insisted on one bout more, like partners who know that they may never meet again. The stories they told, even Chopper tried to tell a story that night, but the beginning was so fearfully dull that it appalled not only the others but himself, and he said happily:

"Yes, it is a dull beginning. I say, let us pretend that it is the end."


The evening moved swiftly along from that point. Luffy, Usopp and Chopper sat down for a game of cards by candlelight. Soon it developed into a game of tag, when Usopp accused Luffy of cheating and knowing he was guilty, refused to let the others see his cards.

Sanji and Zoro were off in a corner arguing as they tended to do. Luffy had told Robin early on that they were so alike and that is what caused them to clash so much. Of course the two of them continued to vehemently deny such a thing was possible, which only made Luffy laugh.

Brook sang a soothing song to help everyone relax and get ready for bed while Franky fixed the bed that had seen better days before their destructive pillow fight.

Nami sat tucked away in her little fairy house that Luffy had helped build for her during their early days together...before the boys came along.

Robin sat in the large rocking chair next to the window, looking outside to the stars that shown down upon Neverland. She had spent many nights pointing out constellations with her mother in Ohara...but the star patterns here were nothing that she had ever seen. Luffy had explained that time ran differently in Neverland and the stars above their heads were centuries older than the ones Robin was used to seeing.

Soon they were all gathered at the large window, pointing out clusters of stars and giving them ridiculous names...each a reflection of who they were and what time they came from. There were samurai swords, all types of food, musical instruments, books, sea kings, the fairy queen, mechanical creations that only Franky understood, fierce battles with marines and finally their treehouse home.


ORIGINAL POSTING DATE: August 3, 2016

WORDS: 1,025