Devilnison they shout out "EEEHHH!" Ariel shuffles uncomfortably in her seat this is always the initial reaction and she can never get used to it.
"you're the one who made the devil fruit I ate? and Robins? Choppers too? and..." Luffy begins to light up.
"wait. Not exactly... I personally didn't make them but the devil part of my family has done it for millions of years, does and continues too, we are a very ancient race, we live deep below the sea, even deeper than fish man island." She looks down at Chopper who's now sitting next to her with his head lowered.
"I hope I haven't frightened you...I'm not scary, am I?"
Chopper pops his head up and his eyes shine with admiration, suddenly she's surrounded by Luffy, Usopp, Chopper, Sanji, and Brook all with a sparkle in their eye. Ariel is astonished by their reaction.
"Ariel that's totally cool! It's thanks to this devil fruit that I get to help people and be with my friends and you're telling me that you make them! that's amazing!" Chopper says with sparks in his eyes.
"I'm glad you're not afraid... but like I said before I didn't…"
"it's definitely amazing! do you think you could make me one that allows me to swim while also having all the power huh? huh? I could become a super sea warrior hehehe" Usopp asks pressing closer and closer.
"like I was saying it doesn't depend…"
"wooow! could you make one with the power to make meat pop up anywhere huh?" Luffy asks all hyped up with a drooling mouth.
"that seems impossible even if I did know how to make one but I..."
"ahhhh! my dear Ariel-chuuawwn, you're the most beautiful creature I've ever seen, and you're the most beautiful devil I have ever set eyes on you're not scary at all" Sanji says while swooning around her with a sweet smile on his face.
"I happy you're not afraid and thank you but..." She blushes at his attention.
"no lady should be considered scary even if you're a devil, Ariel-san you are very beautiful" Brook states in a gentleman-like tone.
"thank you but that's not the whole story...".
She takes a break it seems the StrawHats have begun to discuss the possibilities of devil fruits while she's left looking at them. She sighs knowing that they will turn to her when they want answers. "they are a strange bunch but in a good way, I'm so glad that they didn't get scared of me after I told them what I am. I hope they never see me like...that, not them."
Her gaze wonders around the room looking at them discuss and laugh at the possibilities when her eyes lock with Zoro's, he's staring at her trying to read something in her, then he blushes and so does she, they unlock their gazes and try to focus on something else.
"will you... numbskulls shut up! let Ariel-chan finish her story" Nami yells giving the boys discussing lumps on the head apart from Chopper.
"please Ariel-chan continue" says Robin still very curious.
"hehehe right… well like I said I can't create them I'm only half a devil, only a full devil can create a devil fruit and they don't do it so that humans can gain powers, they have a specific purpose"
"being what exactly? and why do they give you these powers anyway?" Asked Franky puzzled.
"well since my people are an ancient race they have certain powers where these powers come from I don't really know. The things I do know are the things my mother told me when I was younger."
All the StrawHats are attentive and listening closely to the secret information that not even the government knows about.
"devil fruits are created by my people to keep the balance of the earth's surface, for example they are placed in specific regions of the sea floor where the earth's crust is weak and to keep earthquakes or tectonic plates from colliding and forming volcanoes and destroying whole islands, each devil must pass some of their power or energy called QI, to the royal family who create the fruits and place them in these specific areas around the world, the QI that's inside the fruits reinforces the crust and therefor no earthquakes occur... once the energy has been almost consumed the fruits float to the surface that's how humans find them, after discovering that they grant you power if you eat them humans started to think that the power you gain was yours but technically you're stealing it from the devils"
The StrawHats listen carefully without moving drinking in every word Ariel lets out her mouth.
"not that I blame or hate people with devil fruits, I don't mind if humans eat them and gain power but I just don't like certain humans that hurt their own kind to gain this power or miss use it for horrible deeds…"
She lowers her head and tightens her fist, both Zoro and Luffy notice her anger.
"ah sorry I got all serious there hehehe. That's mostly what I know about them then there's the fun facts that I'm sure you know when you eat them." The mood lightens mostly so they don't make Ariel uncomfortable.
"you can't eat two fruits otherwise you explode is that true?" Robin says smiling and giggling as if the question was nothing important.
"ooii Robin why do you have to always ask the gruesome questions?" Franky replied weary of what Robin just said.
"hehehe it's true because human bodies can't handle all the power that devils have so only about 1/4th of the power is left in the fruit when it floats to the surface and that's not even the full QI that devils have"
"ohh so, Ariel you're pretty strong if you're half devil, right?" Chopper asked.
"I don't really know for sure, but there is one thing I'm sure of. It's that there's stronger people than me and it doesn't always have to do with power" she smiles at him as if she's known him for forever.
"so what powers do devils have, can they make meat pop up huh? which reminds me I'm still hungry" Luffy began to whine again.
"you just ate a few hours ago, its 5:30 in the afternoon and it's not nearly dinner time you're an animal always eating." Sanji began to get irritated again.
"hehehe but Sanji I can't help it make me some more food" Sanji grabs and pulls his stretchy cheek and begins to get even more upset.
"it has gotten late, if you will excuse me I need to go and find something in the library" Robin gets up and leaves the kitchen and heads for the library. Nami gets up as well and extends a hand to Ariel.
"it has gotten late, Ariel-chan wanna go take a bath? I bet you're exhausted, you must feel cold after your fall today, we can talk more to get to know each other better"
"a bath… together…? I've never done that before is it ok?"
"of course! Chopper can join us too, right Chopper?"
"yeah I wanna come too" he said happily.
By this time Sanji was frozen to the spot still holding Luffy; who was struggling to free himself, by the cheek with blood running down his nose, Brook too was leaning in, both waiting with giant ears to hear her answer.
"alright I don't mind" she slowly gets up and they walk out of the kitchen.
Sanji and Brook are unmoving, Luffy finally manages to pull free gets up and pulls Usopp outside to try a new game, Franky gets up and heads back to his little project outside, and as Zoro begins to rise, both Sanji and Brook lose it.
"Nami-chuwan and Ariel-chuwan, ttta... akking a bath too... ge… ther ahh I've got to peek at this paradise, hoohhoo a once in a life time opportunity!"
"two goddesses bathing together! nothing but skin! Chopper-san you don't know how lucky you are" Brook says imaging the scene.
They look at each other with sly expressions tiptoeing quickly toward the door to head out to the bath house. Zoro follows them out stopping right outside the door, he stares at the two heading up the stairs. "those idiots… why do I care that their going up there? … they always do it… and get shocked by Nami…so why do I care? ..." he scratches his head frustrated, and follows them.
Meanwhile Nami, Chopper and Ariel have already entered the bath house, Ariel looks around the great room, at one end she notices that there's a strange single cloud floating, opposite it was a vast bath tub with a marvelous enormous window behind it with the view of the slowing evening sky, she made her way towards it searching the sky for something only to find that just a small amount of stars had decorated it, it wasn't late enough for all of them to come out of hiding. Nami sneaky as always grabs Ariel by the shoulders startling her, and sent her spinning into the changing room.
"come on Ariel we have to get undressed if we want to take a bath, right? Chopper you get undressed over on the boy's side alright"
"alright Nami" he salutes and goes to the other side of the room to the boys changing room, while Ariel started blushing as Nami did quick work of removing her simple white shirt, and is soon naked trying to cover as much as possible with her little tail. Nami notices that she's nervous and tries to encourage her as she leads her out again. "she's really never done something like this before, so cute and innocent hehehe"
"Ariel-chan your tail is so cute! Now come this way I'll show you what I'm capable of with my weather tempo, and I wanna brush your pretty red hair too! hehehe"
"ahh! Nami-san, do you mean that you're the one that made that cloud? How?" Ariel asked looking surprised with her little devil tail now wagging.
"hehehe from some weather research I did these past two years that's just a normal cloud but if you add some hot air to it..."
She grabs her trusty weather baton, and begins to twirls it, red bubbles come out of each end and enter the small cloud, it suddenly starts turning a light shade of grey as if it's about to rain.
"and you get a nice warm shower" and like on cue beneath the little cloud it began to rain.
"wooow Nami-san that's amazing!" Ariel extends her hand under it to feel the warm water sooth her skin, when Nami grabs her from behind again and they both end up under the down pour of the cloud shower, they find themselves laughing and enjoying themselves, it's been awhile since Ariel enjoyed herself, suddenly Chopper appears from the changing room to witness the spectacle.
"hey I wanna join in too"
Both Ariel and Nami turn to look at him, in unison they regain laughing, as Chopper joins them under the shower. The room began to fill with soft steam, while on the outside Sanji and Brook are busy enjoying themselves listening to the wonderful sounds emanating from the bath house, and trying their luck to sneak a peek at the girls through the port hole on the door, unfortunately the small glass is covered with steam, they can't exactly make out the details but are able to see the basic body structure of the people inside, they can't contain themselves and add to the steam covering the glass with their own hot breath.
"ahh I can't see too well, ohh but the wonderful sounds that escape this door are so tempting I want to know what's going on inside, Chopper you are one lucky bastard" Sanji said while clenching his fists and trying to peek into the room.
"Sanji-san please move a little, I cannot see my share of the window, I too wish to view the beautiful creatures behind this door yohoho" Brook started to push in as well.
"yeah yeah whatever we can't really see anything with the steam, I'm going to try rub some off let's see if we can catch a glimpse."
Sanji begins to lightly rub his hand over the glass, it seems to improve the view of the room inside but not completely, when suddenly he spots some long red hair move into view, they both lean in closer, noses at the ready to explode, Ariel is about to turn around in full view.
In unison they begin to impatiently stutter " Ar...ar...riel-chan..."
When from behind they receive fast blows to the bottom of their neck by the hilt of a sword, they collapse onto the door setting off a loud thump, which startles Ariel inside, meanwhile Nami seems angered and wrathfully heads for the door, her baton in hand at full length with little electric sparks filling the air around it. She threw the door open furiously, steam pouring out into the cool night air; she knows exactly who was trying to peek. "those damn perverts can't they ever take a damn… break…huh?" only to find no one outside, she looks both ways but there's no one in sight. "that's strange? they never run away…" she decides that maybe she misheard and heads back inside closing the door behind her. Behind the left side corner Zoro is backed against the wall holding unconscious Sanji and Brook in each arm, he takes a breath of relief "that was close if I would have been seen by Nami she would definitely, misunderstand and… electrocute me" he swallows the thought, he carries the guys down the stairs quietly and places them at the base of the stairs. Zoro scratches his head looking at his two companions "ahh... the ero cook is going to bug me about this later..." turning quickly he decides to walk back up the stairs and quietly position himself outside the door, sits and listens to what's going on inside without even daring to look, just the thought made him blush momentarily. "I'm only sitting here in case those idiots wake up and go at it again... that's all" he told himself.
"Nami-san who was it?" Ariel asks holding little Chopper against her chest, both dripping wet after the shower, Nami shrugged as she walked back.
"I thought it might have been Sanji-kun or Brook, those perverts never miss a chance but there was no one there…it was very strange"
Ariel looks toward the door, focusing on it she sees an immense light blue outline glowing on the other side of the door, she blushes, she's the only one who can see him, Nami turns to follow her gaze.
"do you see someone outside the door Ariel-chan?"
Both Ariel and Zoro tense at the question, "damn can she really see me? why do I feel like she can?" Ariel reacted immediately.
"no Nami-san I just thought something pasted but I can't sense anyone outside you don't have to worry."
"ah alright… then let's get into the bath before we get cold hehehe"
"right let's go Chopper" Ariel says happily looking down at him in her arms.
"hahaha yeah"
"she can really sense me! how? when I have trouble sensing her, and why didn't she say anything?" Zoro calmed his racing heart as he pondered this.
"*sigh* that was close, but why did I say I didn't sense anyone when he's clearly there?" Ariel slowly joins Nami and Chopper in the bath.
"so Ariel what kind of power do you have, you are half devil, right? So,what kind of powers are they? are they like mine?" At Choppers question Ariel snapped back into reality.
"ahh my powers well, I can use conquers Haki for starters" looking embarrassed and sinking half her head in the water.
"eh really?" Nami exclaimed "so you can use the same power Luffy has?" Asked Chopper.
"eh Luffy-kun can use conquers Haki already? amazing"
"yeah he's been training these past few years, we all have" nodded Nami with an air of pride, Ariel was even more amazed at the faith Luffy's friends had in him.
"oh is that why they say that you all disappeared for two years? you were training together" Nami shakes her head.
"not together we were separated before the war, I found myself on the weather island Weatharia and trained there by myself with the wizards of weather." Nami explained
"weather wizards? that sounds so cool! where were you Chopper" she turns to hear his story.
"ah well I was on an island with big birds and humans that looked like cavemen, they had so many medicine books and medicinal plants that I had to stay to become a better doctor and fighter too" he said full of joy.
"waa! that's amazing Chopper, it must have been so interesting reading all those books I bet" she says smiling at him with eyes full of admiration. Chopper blushes.
"ahh don't think you're making me happy with that compliment, idiot hehehe" all three laugh at his behavior.
"then what about your devil powers? what else can you do Ariel-chan" Nami asked even more curious.
"well devils can sense a person's soul, and we can use it to see a person's life, their past too... technically, because the soul is the proof of someone's existence, technically that is..."
Nami and Chopper look at her amazed, it seemed to them a wonderful power, but Ariel knew better but gave them a weak, sort of forced smile and continued explaining. Zoro outside suddenly straightens up to listen, very interested.
"I'm good at ninja skills and close hand to hand combat as well as with various weapons although that's not a very devil-like power..." the platinum bracelets on her wrists morphed into different weapons as they did earlier today, short swords, knives, a whip, ect… Nami and Chopper were generally astounded by the variety.
"Although, a devil power of mine is that I can morph my metal bracelets"
"ahhh! sooo cool!" Exclaimed Chopper with stars in his eyes.
"that's a lot of weapons and you can use them all Ariel-chan?" Nami said astonished.
"yes my master taught me to master them all" she says proudly, Nami looked at her lovingly "she must be really fond of her master..." Ariel continues.
"as I said before devils can sense a person's soul, we can also read them in a sense"
"eh really?" Nami sounded amazed
"what do you mean by 'reading souls'" Chopper asked intrigued.
"well exactly what it sounds like. The soul is the proof of one's existence and contains all their past, I can read their history. Every living thing has a soul all though there are differences, such as the size of a soul, color sometimes differs from person to person, ohh and I can also see their heart where all your feelings and personalities are stored" Nami and Chopper look back and forth from each other to her stunned, this was always the reaction to this power but Ariel knew better than to just look at it as a benefit, she smiled weakly at them trying to hide her discomfort and went on.
"and lastly I can control objects with my QI, I think all devils do that"
Nami and Chopper gave confused looks that Ariel found very normal and calmed them down with a giggle placing one hand behind her head and the other just above to surface of the water.
"hehehe it's a bit confusing but I'll explain while demonstrating alright?" they both nod reassuringly.
Ariel smiles and focuses on her hand close to the water, she can only see her shimmering reflection, when suddenly and slowly she begins to lift her hand from the surface when the water follows, Nami and Chopper gasp at what Ariel can do, she begins to play with the floating water, then she throws it into Choppers face with a laugh, the two quickly join in.
"wow Ariel-chan that's amazing and you can control anything... fire too?" Nami asked bewildered.
"well not everything...apart from my bracelets I can't mold other metals like this, but it's not really as great a power as you might think" she tilts her head to the side and smiles weakly, Nami and Chopper looks turn to worry.
"how comes Ariel? you can control anything, why is it bad?" Ariel crosses her arms over her chest as if she gotten a blow of cold wind.
"it drains a lot of my energy if I do it on a large scale, which in turn makes me sleep for a longer time, about a week every month"
"that's not so bad… you can get more beauty sleep…" Nami says jokingly.
"NO!" Ariel raises her voice which startles them both and Zoro outside.
"Ariel-chan...?" Nami reaches out and touches her shoulder which startles Ariel a bit.
"I'm sorry, you don't know, I shouldn't have raised my voice at you" she lowered her head to them.
"I'm sorry I shouldn't have asked such a question there must be a reason why you don't like it" Chopper lowers his head, Ariel looks at them both, their faces full of worry, for her. She takes a deep breath and places a hand on Choppers head, startling him when he looks up she's wearing her dazzling smile. Taking both by surprise.
"no, I'm sorry you're my new friends I should tell you, there are many reasons why it's terrible when I sleep, I get these terrible nightmares about my past and I can't wake up from them until the week has past so, it like always relieving my worst memories." Both Nami and Chopper start to get scared.
"Ariel you don't…" Chopper tries to stop her.
"then I miss a whole week of life and it seems that every time I fall asleep I miss the most important moments, the moments I'm needed most, like when a Nakama was killed, and Ace got captured…"
"Ariel-chan it's alright we don't…" Nami tires as well but it doesn't work Ariel continues to explain.
"the worst of it is if I ever wake up when I'm not supposed too…I…I become a... monster, just like in the war and I don't ever, ever! want it to happen again, I don't like sleeping because I'm afraid of hurting the ones I care about, I'm afraid of…myself" silence surrounds them all, Nami and Chopper wide eyed, staring at Ariel who's holding herself and not looking at them.
"I'll understand if you want me to leave, so I'll just get…" suddenly she's engulfed in a bear hug both Nami and Chopper hold on to her tight all full of tears, she's taken back by their reaction.
"waaaaa! Ariel –chan I'm so sorry that's a very sad story" Nami tearing up had her arms around Ariel's neck.
"Ariel…*sniff* please don't go, I want you to stay here with us" Chopper said while holding her arm tightly.
"you…you guys" she smiles and hugs them back "thank you".
She turns to the window and looks to the sky outside and says to herself "they're such nice people, Ace... Luffy is going to be just fine but somehow I get the feeling it wasn't him who you were worried about were you?"
Outside Zoro smiles to himself and slowly gets up and leaves "what an interesting woman"
"so Ariel you don't sleep?" Chopper asked worried.
"well no, every living thing needs rest, I've gotten better at it during these past two years with someone's help, oh and a special sleeping pill from a friend of mine" she smiles sweetly remembering her dear friend.
"eh what pill and who? What about the nightmares?" He says and Ariel shudders.
"unfortunately I still get those, but this time I can wake up from them and instead of sleeping a whole week I sleep everyday like a normal human thanks to the pill and training I got from Shanks-san"
Nami freezes at the name.
"ehh! You mean red haired Shanks? one of the 4 emperors you trained with him!"
"ehh! One of the 4 emperors!" Chopper yelled in shock.
"hahaha yes Shanks-sans the one who helped me after the war, he's been like another Father for me when Shirohige and Ace pasted away" she smiles.
Nami instead is sweating nervously. "Shanks!…what is this girl?…wait red haired Shanks? …red hair? ….no way!" she rises immediately from the water startling both Chopper and Ariel.
"Nami-san is everything ok? you've gone pale?" Ariel asks worried.
"no everything's fine! just got a little dizzy from the hot water, I'll be going first, stay as much as you like Chopper will show you to my room later when you're done ok? there's something I have to do, ok later!"
She gets out of the bath and grabs a towel hanging on a hook, raps it around herself and leaves the bath. Ariel and Chopper are left alone, shocked but a little sad Ariel looks at Chopper for answers.
"you don't think she's scared of me, do you?"
"of course not, its Nami! if she has something to do then it's important, it has nothing to do with you. Can we play more with the floating water?" he says with a grin on his face.
Ariel looks at the door one more time and chooses to trust what Chopper has said and have faith in Nami, she begins to pull the water into the air again to form spheres and plays with Chopper at throwing them like snow balls laughing away. Nami rushed into her study, hurriedly pulling out a draw from her desk to reveal a pile of wanted posters. "please let me be wrong…where is it…ah there" she stops her eyes glued to the single wanted poster, on it is the picture of Shanks, she cups her hand over her mouth not to let out a gasp. "oh no…"