Welcome to Chapter 8 where we finally enter the Grand Line! Woooooo! Just like eight more chapters before one of my favorite ones! Anywho in this chapter we'll cover Reverse Mountain. It's a rather short encounter because I didn't feel like doing Crocus' running gag. So when Luffy runs into Crocus, assume the running gag was already done with everyone else. Decisions Over Tea is on its third chapter right now, almost done with that. Two more and I'll be up to posting it on Ao3 and fanfic. I'll have to pick a day but it'll more than likely, if I can get to five by Friday, will join To Save A Brother's Life on Friday. Which then will make it henceforth known as ASL Friday. Donquxiote Prince only has three more chapters ready but that's because of DOT. But the sixth is on its works. But since I update weekly I have three more weeks roughly before I have to panic. Even then I'd end up dedicating an entire week to writing chapters for it. This one itself hasn't gained any new ones past its twenty total chapters. But that's because I'm giving myself some time before I update since I have roughly three months' worth of chapters. No suggestions were thrown into here because I didn't see any that pertained to Reverse Mountain. Anyways onwards we go.
Disclaimer: Don't own One Piece but I do own the new 2nd Anniversary Thousand Sunny for OPTC. It's soooo cooool it boosts your specials to max on the first turn.
Death's Gift to His Master
The crew knew that it'd take about two weeks to get to Reverse Mountain so they went about their daily tasks. It was with this that Luffy was in the cargo hold with Usopp surrounded by piles of random bits and pieces of technology and a large blueprint on the floor. Usopp was currently fiddling with something in his hand, turning it around occasionally and adding something new.
"So, if you know what this looks like then why can't you just conjure it like you do with other stuff." Usopp said.
"Well, for one, this is a piece of technology that normally runs on battery power and magic and electronics don't work well together. And secondly, to conjure something complicated like this you have to understand exactly how it's made and how it works down to the last screw." Luffy said.
"Ah, and something simple like a ladder or a glass is easy?" Usopp asked.
"Yeah, since those items don't really have tiny pieces to them they're easy to conjure. In fact, there are spells designed to transform an animal into any kind of glass." Luffy said.
"That... sounds really useful." Usopp said.
"Yeah, it can save you a lot of time if you need water but have nothing to hold it in." Luffy said.
It was silent for a bit besides the sounds of Usopp tinkering with the item. Usopp soon however spoke up.
"I have a question." Usopp said.
"Hm?" Luffy hummed.
"Why is it that only you can use magic?" Usopp asked, as that had been bugging him for a while.
"Well, part of it, like I told you guys when each of you joined, is because of that second devil fruit I ate. There's more of a reason for that but that will have to wait till I explain everything later in the Grand Line." Luffy said.
"Can you at least give us a reason why we have to wait?" Usopp asked.
"I guess I can give you guys the simplest answer, it's because you're not strong enough. If I were to tell you guys, then the entirety of the World Government will be after you." Luffy said, shocking Usopp.
"What?! How could it be something that dangerous?" Usopp asked.
"Well, let's just say from what I read, they executed an entire town just because a few people knew a tiny bit of what I'd tell you." Luffy said.
"Why would they even do that! I mean, I know the World Government is bad but…" Usopp trailed off.
"Well, if this information were to get out, then it'd throw even more flames on the rebellion and it'd be chaos." Luffy said.
"Then why would you even think about explaining it to us?" Usopp asked.
Luffy stood up and faced the wall before sighing.
"You know I lied a bit to Nami about Arithmancy." Luffy said.
"What does that have to do with this?" Usopp asked, confused.
"Arithmancy does have the ability to divine large events. But not to the degree that you know what exactly will happen." Luffy said.
"So?" Usopp asked, not getting the point.
Luffy then gave Usopp a grim look.
"At one point, after we fought Arlong I used Arithmancy to see how our adventure go, ya know. So, I can be forewarned if something bad would happen. However, the results said that an astronomical disaster will occur in a few months." Luffy said with a sigh.
"Why are you telling me this? Isn't it the future, so you can't do anything about it?" Usopp asked.
"Hah, not exactly, Arithmancy shows a possible path but it's been decided that the event will have an impact on the world at large. Not necessarily that something bad is going to happen but something huge. I'm telling you because you generally know how to strategize on the spot." Luffy said, sitting back down, causing Usopp to smile.
Usopp wasn't used to being relied on but Luffy doing this made him happy.
"You know I'm touched that you trust me with this and in my skills. Nobody's ever believed in me that much. So, what you're saying is that we'll need to plan?" Usopp asked.
"Yeah, we'll need to plan big time. When the event comes, we have to be ready, I know that much." Luffy said.
"Alright then, well first of all you'll have to up the training of all the crew members. While they're not bad fighters if what you said is going to happen they'll need to be stronger." Usopp started.
"That's what I was thinking. I was actually thinking about changing the Observation Haki lessons I've been teaching the Commanders to ship-wide." Luffy said.
He hadn't done it at first because teaching it in general was rather difficult but since they were getting more and more Commanders it'd be easier.
"That'd be a good idea, hey is there anyway you could get information on how to learn Armament Haki?" Usopp asked.
"Hmmm, I could ask two sources but I'd be more comfortable with one of them over the other." Luffy said.
"Why's that?" Usopp asked.
"Well, Shanks is less likely to lose and forget the message than my brother Ace. In fact, knowing Ace he might accidentally burn it." Luffy said.
Ace was a nice and reliable brother but… he was rather forgetful and lost things easily. Sure, you could trust him to remember things about you and important things but… When you give him something on the spot, unless you are there to stress the importance, he'll forget it.
"Mhm, that would work, though it may take a while to get a message to him." Usopp said.
"Not really, I can send a near instantaneous message to tell him to contact us via Den Den Mushi, giving him the frequency number, and have him relay the information to me that way." Luffy said.
"Sometimes your responses don't even shock me anymore." Usopp said shaking his head before picking up another tiny piece.
"What else do you think we need to do?" Luffy asked.
"Ah, I'd say recruit more people but at the moment we don't have enough ships for that. Although we do have more room for more Commanders." Usopp said.
"Well, we still have a while to plan." Luffy said.
Suddenly though Usopp cheered and danced in spot.
"It's done!" Usopp said, presenting Luffy with the finished item.
There it was as Luffy remembered it from his memories as Harry. In all its glory was a flat looking item with a glass screen that had a button at the bottom of the screen, one button on the right, and two buttons on the left. On the back of the item was a square looking thing that had a camera lens on it. Sure, it wasn't as high tech as the ones from back then but that's cause they lacked the internet. Luffy was pretty sure that his ritual had destroyed the satellites that allowed the internet to work.
"Though, if I may ask, why did you only want me to make one?" Usopp asked.
"Because, despite me being unable to conjure one I can still do this." Luffy said before tapping the item with his wand and saying "Gemino Perfectum".
Instantly there were two exact copies of the item. Luffy continued doing this until there were twenty in total.
"I thought electronics and magic didn't mix?" Usopp asked.
"They don't, but what Gemino does, is briefly scan the item, short enough that it won't explode, and then duplicates it. Also, it helps that they're not running on electricity at the moment." Luffy said.
"So, what now?" He asked.
Luffy hummed and thought for a second before answering.
"Now I find somewhere to sit with these and a slightly thick needle and begin my part of the work." Luffy said.
"Well, Nami finished watering the crops earlier this morning so it should be nice and sunny outside." Usopp said.
"That'd be perfect." Luffy said, getting up.
Luffy and Usopp made their way up to the lawn where Nami and Carmen were laying.
"Ah, big brother!" Carmen said, being the first to notice him.
"Oh, hey there Luffy, hey Usopp." Nami said, looking up from her book.
"Hey, Usopp suggested we come up here to finish the project me and him were working on." Luffy said.
"And I see it was a wonderful idea, as always. Nami you're a godsend with your weather abilities." Usopp said, sighing as he laid on the nice warm grass, enjoying the breeze.
Luffy however sat down and set the items on the ground and conjured a needle that was thicker than normal. He then got to work, carving the runes needed onto the back of the items. From the Norse runes for "Receive", "Send", "Touch" and "Sound" to the Celtic Runes for "Receive", "Send", "Touch, "Words", "Letters", "Pictures" to even the Japanese Kanji Runes for "Take", "Touch", and "Pictures" and finally the Greek Runes for "Time", "Date", and "Location". Linking all these runes together was rather difficult but in his life as Harry Potter his best friend Hermione Granger had drilled all this into his head. The last piece of the puzzle was a rune that he and Hermione had made together, it looked like a giant D but what it stood for was Magic. He tied all the runes together to this rune. When he finished two of them he pushed magic into them. Suddenly they flickered on and showed a time, and date, as well as the fact that the two phones were in the East Blue. Usopp saw this and cheered at it, catching Nami and Carmen's attention.
"What is it?" Nami asked, curious.
"Luffy just finished the project. Can we test it please! Please!" Usopp begged.
"Shishishi, of course. Nami gather everyone onto the deck." Luffy said, handing one of the items to Usopp.
Luffy quickly explained how to work the item. That when the item began to make noise he would have to take his finger and swipe the green icon that appeared to the right. He then said he'd explain the rest later. With that he had Usopp head to the lowest level of the ship and wait there. Soon though everyone was on the top floor, looking to Luffy.
"Well, after about four days me and Usopp finished our project and we're here to test it. Right now I'm going to call Usopp using this item and we'll be able to talk with him in live time and see his face and the stuff around him." Luffy said, causing the crew to ooh and aah.
Soon enough though Luffy pressed the icon on the screen that said 'Video Call'. There was a dial tone before the screen went blank and then revealed Usopp's face, sitting in the cargo hold.
"Wow this actually works! I can see everyone. Hey guys!" Usopp said, waving.
Everyone on deck was cheering at the success of the item.
"So.. uh can I come up now? It's rather cramped down here." Usopp asked.
"Shishishi. Sure Usopp." Luffy said, laughing, ending the call.
"So, Cap'n what do you call that thing?" Alvida asked.
"It's called a phone Alvida. Short for telephone which basically is a word for talking long distances. Although I think I'll name these the D-Phones." Luffy said with a laugh, as if he was the only one knowing the joke.
It was about three days later that Luffy decided to contact Shanks, feeling that it would be best for them to get access to Armament Haki as soon as possible, with them entering the Grand Line in about two to three days. So he made his way on deck early in the morning with the Commanders and Vice-Commanders.
"What I'm about to do is a way you can get a message from me even if the phone isn't working. This spell's results are unique to each person and only changes when a person has gone through a life changing event." Luffy said before pulling out the wand.
"Expecto Patonum." Luffy intoned, swishing the wand.
Everyone watched as a etheral majestic tiger, the size of a small house came out of the wand and prowled around before nuzzling Luffy's hand.
"Go to Shanks and tell him this; Yo, Shanks! This is Luffy, as you probably can tell by the giant mother freaking tiger. Anyways I need you to contact me via Den Den Mushi as soon as possible via frequency 707.1. It's rather important." Luffy said, the tiger running into the distance after he finished.
Luffy quickly grabbed the Den Den Mushi they had on board and sat down to wait for Shanks' call.
"So, Luffy, if each is unique then how is it decided? I bet mine would be Nami-swan!" Sanji swooned, getting smacked by Alvida.
"It probably wouldn't actually. The Patronus Charm is casted by thinking of the happiest memory in your life, the happier the stronger the charm is. This results in creating an animal based on that memory." Luffy hummed.
"So, what's your happiest memory?" Nami asked.
Luffy smiled at the memory that popped up before speaking.
"Shishishi! Nami! Most people wouldn't ask what happy memory they use as it's generally very personal to the person. However, I don't mind. The memory I chose is of when me, Ace, and Sabo became brothers by sharing a cup of sake. It was the first time that I felt like I truly belonged somewhere." Luffy said wistfully.
"Aww that's so sweet! So where are your brothers right now?" Carmen asked.
"Ah, well Ace is currently the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates…. Sabo well, I don't know. Me and Ace have a bet though, whoever finds Sabo first the other has to join their crew." Luffy said with a smile.
"Why would you have to find him?" Sanji asked.
"Well, when we were younger Sabo wanted to start his pirate journey early so he used the visit of a Celestial Dragon to escape. However, the Celestial Dragon saw him and blew up his ship." Luffy said.
"Then how do you know he's still alive?" Carmen asked.
"Through one of my abilities I'm able to for a lack of better terms, call forth a person's spirit, but only if they're dead. Sabo's spirit I could never summon." Luffy said.
Suddenly though the Den Den Mushi began to ring so Luffy quickly picked it up. Luffy told everyone he needed to take this privately so he made his way to his room. When he put the receiver to his ear he was met with a shout.
"What the hell was that for brat?! Were you trying to give me a heart attack!" Shanks yelled.
"Shishishi! Not at all, it was the fastest way I knew of contacting you." Luffy said.
Before Shanks continued they could hear him shout to the background for his crew to shut up.
"Ugh, well try not to do that early in the morning, you had half my crew panicking over a 'giant ghost tiger' coming to attack the ship. What did you need?" Shanks asked.
"Well, you know how I can divine a bit of the future right?" Luffy asked.
"Yeah that Arithmancy stuff I never understood." Shanks said
"Mhm, well… I divined something pretty big that could be really bad too. There's going to be a world changing event in a few months." Luffy said.
There was a pause on the other end before Shanks spoke up.
"Do you know what the event is?" Shanks asked.
"No, all I really know, and I haven't even told the one person I told what I just said to about this, is that it seems to be taking place at Marineford." Luffy said.
"I can understand why you wouldn't want to tell him. Marineford's part of the Marine Main Base and is their execution site. That would mean that part of the event involves the entirety of the Marines." Shanks said with a sigh.
"Yeah, Usopp already has enough on his mind with what little I told him." Luffy said.
Shanks' voice seemed to perk up when Usopp was mentioned.
"Usopp? You picked up Yasopp's boy?" Shanks asked, intrigued.
"Yeah, he's a great sniper and strategist, despite his weird habit of telling exaggerated stories." Luffy said with a smile.
Well, the exaggerated stories were decreasing day by day thanks to Kaya but they still were there. Kaya actually encouraged him to tell the stories as actual fictional stories because it seemed to make everyone happy.
"Yasopp will be proud…. So what do you need?" Shanks asked.
"Well, first and foremost I need to get an item to you." Luffy said.
"Hmm, we have a bird that can transport anything really fast. Where are you guys right now?" Shanks asked.
"We're just about to enter the Grand Line in two days." Luffy said.
"So, the bird should arrive in about a day and return in two days." Shanks mused
"Good, the second and last thing we need for now are instructions on how to use Armament Haki." Luffy said.
"Oh? That shouldn't be too hard to do…. But learning it is a bit more difficult. It may take you guys a month or so to see any combat use." Shanks said.
"It's fine, we need to learn it before the upcoming event or we may end up losing a lot." Luffy said.
"Alright then I'll start explaining, got a paper and pen?" Shanks asked.
The next hour or so was spent with Shanks explaining the process of learning how to use Armament Haki. By the time Shanks was done explaining Luffy had like five pages full of information. Luffy then bid farewell to Shanks and hung up. The next day the bird that Shanks had sent had arrived with a pouch attached to its neck. Luffy put a note that explained how to use the D-Phone and the D-Phone itself in the pouch before sending off the note.
It was the day that they were to ride up Reverse Mountain that the day got a little weird. The day started out normal with the lookout letting them know that it was in sight and they'd be arriving in a few minutes. Nami was on the Going Merry, running navigation drills with her subordinates while Sanji was tending to the crops on Kerberos with the reluctant help of Zoro. Everyone else however was on the Goddess Styx, starting Armament training with Luffy instructing and learning alongside them. It was interesting to say the least, especially since the lesson was on the deck.
"So, uh, Shanks said that the first step of learning Armament Haki was meditation, in order to feel your 'will'." Luffy said, looking at the notepad.
With that everyone got into a meditation position and began focusing. With Luffy it felt a bit weird. Now, in order to start learning wandless magic one had to meditate in order to be able to sense their magic core, so to speak. So Luffy, who had never really had to do that this time around, was surprised to find a glowing ball of fire right next to his magical core. Curious, he tugged out it and seconds later he was shaken out of his meditation by his Commanders who seemed to be trying hard to stay awake. Around him on the deck though seemed to be his crew members, passed out. Luffy instantly realized what this was.
"Oops. I think I accidentally used Conqueror's Haki." Luffy said.
"That's Conqueror's Haki?!" Usopp asked in disbelief.
"Yeah.. it seems I wasn't supposed to pull on that flame I saw." Luffy muttered.
"Flame?" Alvida asked, curious.
"Ah, well I've done this before to be able to use magic without a wand. But I never noticed this ball of flame there. I guess that's the 'will' that Shanks was talking about." Luffy said.
Kaya, always the logical one, spoke up.
"Maybe you're not supposed to pull on it like you're pulling it out of your body. Maybe you're supposed to I don't know, thread it through your body?" She guessed.
"That could always work… but Reverse Mountain's right in front of us now. Can you guys help me wake everyone up?" Luffy said, starting to wake the individual members up.
By the time that they woke everyone up they were starting their way up the mountain. The process was really fast, which made sense since according to Nami, Reverse Mountain was the result of four currents merging into each other. Soon enough they were at the top and heading down. However, Luffy saw a problem. At the bottom of the stream was a giant… whale? It seemed to open its mouth to yawn and Luffy saw that it'd be too late for the Goddess Styx but he could prevent the others from ending up in the Whale. So Luffy launched himself off the ship and onto the back of the whale, all the while using Wingardium Leviosa to levitate the Going Merry and the Kerberos over the whale. After that was done he was getting a three-way conference call from Nami and Zoro which he promptly answered.
"What the hell just happened?!" Nami yelled in panic.
"Sheesh, calm down Nami, but yeah what happened captain?" Zoro asked.
"Uh, apparently a whale swallowed the ship. But.. wait what the hell is this?" Luffy stated before he noticed something resembling a hatch.
"Okay, so there's a hatch on the whale. I'm going to see what's happening, stay here and Nami prevent Zoro and Sanji from fighting." Luffy said before hanging up and heading into the whale.
Luffy ended up landing on a fleshy walkway that had a water path in the middle big enough for a ship. As he was wandering around he heard two people down a passage talking about killing the whale for its meat. Luffy quickly attacked the people, a man wearing a crown and a girl with blue hair wearing a blue tank top and green jacket, and threw them in the water, which he was pretty sure was stomach acid. But… they'd be alright? They were wearing clothing and as far as he knew stomach acid took a while to digest stuff.
"Straw Hat Armada says no to the killing of innocent animals." Luffy said before walking off, whistling.
Soon though he reunited with his crew who seemed to be talking to a bald man who was wearing petals on his head. Kaya waved Luffy over to introduce the man to him.
"Big brother, this is Crocus-san he takes care of Laboon here. He told us a story about how Laboon has been waiting fifty years for his friends to return." Kaya said.
"But like I said, they're probably dead. They had promised to come back but never returned. Ever since then Laboon's been ramming the mountain, trying to get back over to find his friends. He can't take much more damage, even with all the help I've been giving him." Crocus said with a sigh.
"Hmm, I mean anything's possible, one of them could still be alive, just in a position unable to visit." Luffy said.
"It could be that.. but I worry for Laboon. Anyhow let me show you the way out, no use staying in here when I'm sure Laboon's about to start ramming the mountain again." Crocus said.
Crocus led the ship through some passageways before they were at the mouth. He then opened up a path out of the mouth where he followed out using a path that led up. Luffy saw the two people he ran into earlier floating around in the water but he ignored them for now. He turned to Laboon and began to speak. He wanted to prevent the whale from ramming the wall.
"Laboon, I'll find your nakama for you. If I can't find them though we'll visit you every year." Luffy said, causing Laboon to look at him and let out a sound of happiness.
Luffy then had Usopp paint their flag symbol on Laboon's scar, since Usopp was the better artist of the whole crew.
"Now, that's part of our promise. If you ram into the mountain, it'll wash off so don't okay?" Luffy said.
Laboon made some more sounds of happiness before he swam to the side of the stream. Crocus then gave Kaya a few medical books, saying that she'll need them later, and then waved them off as they started their way forward. However, as they started to leave the two people from earlier climbed onto their ship and assumed a begging position.
"Please take us back to our home town! We were supposed to get meat and the whale would of lasted us a long time." They begged.
"Ah… first of all who are you two, and where is your hometown?" Luffy asked.
"I'm Mr. 9!" The man with the crown said.
"And I'm Miss Wednesday! Our hometown's called Whiskey Peak. It should be the island that your Log Pose is pointing to." The blue haired girl said.
Giving his Commanders a look he sighed before speaking up.
"Fine, but don't do anything funny. If you do we're throwing you overboard and you can swim." Luffy said with a stern look.
"We promise we won't do anything!" The crowned man said.
"Yeah we promise!" Miss Wednesday replied.
Luffy definitely was going to keep an eye on the two. Especially the Miss Wednesday woman because Luffy could definitely swear that he had seen her before. Somewhere in a newspaper or something along those lines. Anyways Luffy dragged each one of his Commanders and Vice Commanders to the back of the ship with a large crate.
"Eh? What are we here for Cap'n?" Alvida asked.
Luffy chuckled at that before answering.
"We've entered the Grand Line, after all. It's a good time for us to reaffirm our ideals!" Luffy said cheerfully.
Everyone nodded at that, in fact Sanji decided to go first and put his left heel on the crate.
"To find the All Blue!" Sanji shouted.
Carmen smirked and placed her heel next.
"To become the best chef in the world!" She shouted.
Following her was Alvida who put her hands on her hips as she placed her heel.
"To be known as the most beautiful and dangerous woman in the world!" Alvida yelled.
Next was Kaya who giggled and place her heel.
"To become the best Doctor in the world!" Kaya shouted with a laugh.
Usopp followed her and placed his heel.
"To become the best Sharpshooter in the world!" Usopp said with a smirk.
Nami rolled her eyes but did it as well.
"To map the Grand Line!" She said.
Zoro was next to put his heel on the crate.
"To become the World's Greatest Swordsman!" He shouted.
Next was Gin who gave a bark of laughter before placing his heel on the crate.
"To make it through the Grand Line!" He yelled.
Last and most important of all was Luffy.
"To become Pirate King and take down the World Government!" Luffy said.
Normally that would shock the Commanders but Luffy had already told him that part of his dream. They all just smiled and cheered, their ships on the way to Whiskey Peak.
Thanks for reading! Aahahah as you can see I did not forget about the barrel thing. Except it's a crate thing because there's more people with them. As you're probably realizing some of the Commanders are slowly becoming background characters. This is because it is a very difficult thing to write a lot of people into a conversation with actions and everything. If you guys read the To Save A Brother's Life you'll realize this too because I only focus on certain WB Commanders. People that'll end up becoming background characters is currently only at one, and that's Gin. Kaya's a meh because I can throw her in random description paragraphs saying she's with Usopp or something. But Gin… his personality is eh and very hard to put together. Now you guys may be like but then why did you recruit him. Well. I wasn't fond of the fact that Gin more than likely died by his old captain's hands. So uh yeah. ANYWHO Suggestions would be lovely because I can always change a few paragraphs before I post. Trust me I did it for this chapter because there was a lot of consecutive Dialogue. (Granted I didn't change a lot because it's hard to think of text to go after dialogue.)
