TRUTH
Next day- NORTH BLUE
A sudden explosion rocked the two ships and one submarine, making several people on said vessels swear audibly. Law wanted nothing more than to make the bastards explode back, but unfortunately they were having a hard time only maintaining their speed.
A look behind them told him the Marine ships were gaining on them and it made the pirate even more irritated. After the blasted trap they had been caught in on Spider Miles, the group managed to make it back safely to their ships, only to find themselves face to face with Kyro's 'a few ships'- which were in actuality more than fucking ten.
How the fuck.
Smoker's help had been no more useful than if they would've tried negotiating themselves with the soldiers, so they arrived at the conclusion that these isolated Marines did not have any clue who they were dealing with.
Seeing this window of opportunity arise, the white haired soldier had quickly forsaken his uniform for a pirate disguise, transforming years of irritation on his employers into powerful attacks that decimated at least half of their forces in less than an hour. The pirates had been impressed, grudgingly.
"We are almost done with establishing the connection!" Rebecca shouted over her ship's railing.
Sai made a growl of approval, launching another counter attack along with Baby 5. Law looked at her, then at the black haired man and his fighting crew and then at his own fighting crew and he sighed. He hoped they'd make it in less than five days to the Calm Belt with this speed.
"Done!" The rose haired girl shouted, her eyes looking at Law in silent question.
The man used his Devil Fruit ability to teleport himself on Dressrosa's ship, dark eyes locking with the innocent snail.
"Rayleigh we found it." His words were shadowed by another explosion.
"Alright, we'll be waiting for you to come back." Was the only reply before the snail went back to sleep.
Rebecca opened her mouth to speak, but another cannonball fell in the water near the vessel, rocking them violently.
Law rolled his eyes, ready to leave their 'hosts' behind. The last thing he heard before his Room activated was Crocodile's manic laughter and Smoker's colorful words shouted at his own kin. The doctor was surprised by the white haired man's actions and almost asked him why he wasn't a pirate.
He refrained in fear of his own ship sinking in the next few minutes.
Coby tapped his fingers on the table in front of him, impatiently waiting for Koala to finish with the Den Den Mushi. Even in its overworked state, his mind was continuously searching for different kind of possibilities and scenarios that might be able to help in their quest of regaining his friend's memories. He knew that as of now, there were pretty much none, but he was sure there had to be something, anything.
"Okay, it's ready." Koala announced, cracking her knuckles. "Do you want to add anything else besides what we've already written?"
The pink haired soldier shook his head. Helmeppo wasn't even looking at them. His covered eyes were watching another set of screens, though Coby was sure his mind was not on them.
Returning to his own thoughts, he continued brooding until the blonde man's voice echoed in the dimly lit room.
"I think you should tell them to stay put."
His companions turned to him with various degrees of confusion.
Helmeppo was forced to explain further. "You saw how he reacted to seeing us and hearing our names. When I asked him if he visited Sabaody, he went ballistic! Imagine if he sees all of them at the same time. His head would explode."
The literally part was not added, as it would add to the grimness of the situation, but it was understood anyway.
Koala sighed. "You make a good point, but we already detailed what happened and how he behaved."
"We also underlined the fact that he 'went ballistic'." Coby made air commas as he spoke. "So I don't see the need. Rayleigh-san will know what to do. As much as we've been told by Koala, he's a pretty level headed guy."
"Not to mention the Dark King and former First Mate of the Pirate King." Helmeppo crossed his arms, frowning accusingly. "With what kind of people are we stuck Coby?" He asked rhetorically.
His friend rolled his eyes, though he could not help but agree with Helmeppo in his mind.
Koala sighed. "Well I'm sorry some of us are that kind of people." She made a face. "Face it, you guys wouldn't even have managed to do half the things we've done during our alliance."
"You mean breaking most of the basic Marine rules, not to mention espionage and traffic of information and trespassing." The two marines felt compelled to remind her.
"See? You wouldn't have even dreamed of those." The revolutionary flashed a cheeky grin. "We've had this thing done in half the time too."
Coby shook his head, not wishing to further argue with her. These past few weeks have taught him to stop trying. She'd win anyway.
The snail made a short sound, signaling the message was sent. Now they could only wait for these people to start causing havoc.
The sound of typing made Coby do a double take. Helmeppo was on her before the other could open his mouth.
"The hell do you think you're doing woman?!" The blonde watched the Koala's fingers type furiously, not even stopping to acknowledge him.
"Koala-san..."
"I'm trying to find a way to help our little victim." The officer explained. "This guys need to have at least a list of whatever these are. I heard they are quite common antidotes for people that are brought here."
A few rounds of silence passed before she stopped, eyes scanning the screen with super speed.
"What is it?" Coby did not like the silence.
"Apparently, there are also people named Commons."
A pink eyebrow shot up in surprise. "Huh?"
"They are brought here because of whatever reasons, but they are kept like trophies by the Celestial Dragons." Koala spoke, resuming the text on the screen. "And to make sure they keep their personality but not their knowledge, as they might pose a threat, their memories are somehow blocked away and they cannot access them."
"Wait, so they are not fully mind wiped?"
Helmeppo shook his head, reading from the screen too. "No, they are only blocked. And they undergo special therapy that makes them become one of the nobles, technically."
"But in reality, the people there are extracting the information from their brains without their knowledge." Koala finished.
"But how can they do that without the user noticing it?" Coby was on his feet, intent on seeing for himself.
"There can be slips of memories, but since the serum is administrated at least three times a week, they would think about it as just another dream." Helmeppo was starting to question the Government even more now. What the hell did those guys think they were doing? This whole situation felt like his father's reign all over again.
Coby stopped in his tracks, eyes growing wide. "Serum!?"
"After they finish with them, the subject either dies or lives but with severe mental problems. This serum has such power of blockage that the brain sometimes cannot take it." Mouth pressed in a tight line, Koala made to click to read further, but a hand on the keyboard stopped her.
Coby gazed at the screen for a minute, before his eyes settled on hers. "If this thing exists, then I'm pretty sure a cure for unblocking it is real too." He leaned over the desk, typing furiously on the poor computer keys.
"How do you know that?" The blonde haired woman asked, trying to keep up with the marine soldier.
"Because the Celestial Dragons are too predictable." Coby explained. "They like their toys to be able to think and suffer. Also, they'd have no one to show off with, if those people become vegetables."
Helmeppo made a sound of agreement and Koala nodded, hand on her chin. She was focused on his hacking.
Coby would have never thought he would use this particular skill to break into the Marines' system. But then again, nothing went as planned in his life, so he should have kind of expected it.
After a few minutes of continually pressing the keys, the computer displayed the results of his work.
Three pairs of eyes lit up.
"Bingo."
"They did it." Rayleigh's eyes were filled with mirth and delight.
Those kids are really something else.
"What happened, Rayleigh-san?" Nami asked, leaning over his shoulder to get a better look. Behind her, Usopp and Brook also looked on in curiosity.
The older man chuckled. "We have just received a message from Law and the others."
"Really?!" Vivi was on them in an instant. She looked at the brown Den Den Mushi placed on her desk with such intensity, it made the creature crawl back in its shell. "Did they get it?"
"Yes." Rayleigh nodded, shifting through the papers in his hands. "Koala and her Marine friends also sent us a message. I think you should get everyone here for this."
His expression took on a darker edge and Nami instantly knew it must be about their captain. The orange haired woman looked to her sniper friend. "Usopp, please fire the signal. Robin, Sanji-kun and Zoro can't be out too far in the forest."
Usopp nodded, his steps fading on the wooden deck as he searched for a higher position to launch their smoke signal.
"Why are they in the forest?" One eyebrow raised, the princess looked to be contemplating their reasons, but her friend shook her head in amusement.
"Robin was really mad at Zoro for taking it so far. So she took him saying 'I'm going to take this dog to cool his head off'," the navigator recited, "She took Sanji-kun to make sure our swordsman doesn't try to escape."
Vivi blinked, but an amused smile tugged at her lips. "I think her reason might be more to give him a distraction." She grinned teasingly and Nami mirrored her expression, light brown eyes twinkling.
"We may never know."
"So what happened, Rayleigh-san?" Robin crossed her arms, a polite smile on her face.
Next to her, Sabo was almost jumping around in anxiousness. His surprise at Koala's actions had long since waned away, leaving him nervous about her well being. What had been in Dragon's mind when he let her enter Mariejois alone?! He'd better have a talk with his superior when he got back.
The former pirate looked at the people gathered around, his gaze lingering on Shanks and Buggy's glaring forms before shifting to Zoro's own glower and he sighed.
Somehow, Buggy had managed to get the Yonko all riled up and, having so many years of experience when it came to babysitting them behind him, Rayleigh was partly surprised. He'd learned the red head had mellowed a little when it came to fights of this kind. He was a man that could not be easily ticked off, but it seems his childhood friend did not lose his talent of doing just that. The grey haired man shook his head in exasperation. Now he'd have to deal with their twelve years old selves again.
In the middle of planning to invade the World Government's Capital, too.
Ignoring the green haired swordsman, Rayleigh unfolded the paper and recited the message written.
His words had the immediate effect of making mostly everyone gasp. Some of them cursed, like Buggy and Zoro, some were happy to hear that he was alright, namely Sabo. Shanks' smile was unintelligible, a mix between a grimace and a happy upturn of the lips at hearing about the young man's whereabouts.
The rest of the Strawhats were silent, not knowing how to react to such grim news. Luffy was alive and alright, but at the cost of his memories and forgetting everything he'd ever stood up for. Now he looked like he was only a doll in the Celestial Dragon's hands. This thought only served to undermine their spirits, but Rayleigh was not going to let this happen.
"I think it's about time we've taken action."
His words snapped everyone out of their stupor. Many pairs of eyes settled on him in question.
"I am going to start making up the teams for the door search. From what Doflamingo told us, it's somewhere hidden. Everything will be explained to you better when you get to Sabaody. You'll meet the captains of your respective search teams there. They've been at it for the past few weeks."
"Who are they?" Sabo asked, placing his hat on his head.
The older man smiled, clearly enjoying his tangled and two faced plans. One should not underestimate one of the most powerful pirates in the world.
"I'll let you be surprised. Prepare to set sail!"
MARIEJOIS
"The Grand Line is just going to keep going on...surpassing your wildest imaginations! And the enemies will be strong. Can you really conquer this ultimate ocean?"
Lucy stepped outside his room carefully, eyes going in all directions just to be sure. After the incident yesterday, he surely did not want any repeat or another surprise. Besides, the destination he had set out for was not quite approved of either.
Trying to be as silent as he could, the young man descended to the front entrance and was just about to sigh in relief and pat himself on the back for a throughout ninja performance when the cold voice that made him shiver spoke up from the shadow of a pillar.
"Lucy-kun, it's good to see you again."
Muscles tense, the raven head turned around slowly, fully facing Ivy's father. He's never understood how such a stuck up guy could be her father. Ivy was totally different from him.
"Ye-ah, ah, yes, me too." Berating himself for messing up, Lucy clamped his mouth shut.
The black haired man did not look like he minded the partially impolite answer.
"I've heard you haven't been to the training again. Any reason for the sudden refusal?"
Lucy tried to think back hard about why he did, indeed stop, because he knew that lying was out of the discussion. He couldn't lie to save his life.
"Ah, I forgot about it. I've been hanging around with Ivy and Kiiro." Partial truth, but it was better than nothing.
In reality, he had consciously chosen to forget about it, dragging his friends around when the time came for whatever reason. Ivy did not seem to mind it much and she even encouraged his absence, so his conscience was clear.
The black haired man studied him with a look Lucy knew was used only on the most retarded people, the look the guy seemed to prefer using when talking to him. Jaw tight and fists clenched, he tried hard not to punch him. How dare he-
"So you haven't been there since you came back, am I right?"
Cocking his head to the side, black eyes took on a confused light. "No. Why?"
"Nothing." The older man brushed him off, hand raised to wave him away. He turned around, heading back into the room he came from.
Lucy gritted his teeth, but continued on his way outside. No use starting a conflict with such a bastard. He'd find a way to win whatever Lucy did to him.
"He looked sincere." One of the Gorosei said, shifting his sword, glasses glinting in the chandelier's light. He looked at his colleagues, watching them each offer a nod of agreement.
"Indeed. It seems like you daughter did quite a number on your poor scientists, though, Kizoku." The tall, thin bearded man commented, scrutinizing the noble.
The man in question did not look perturbed by his accusation in the least. Offering a rueful smile, he stepped closer to the center of the room where the five nobles were seated.
"Indeed. But we've obtained what we were searching for from Strawhat Luffy."
"And?" The blonde haired Gorosei asked impatiently.
"No clue about the location of his father. But we have more intel on what happens in the pirate world. Unfortunately, we could not find out any more information about the Yonko's moves. For a pirate of his status, he is quite scatterbrained. Not to mention uninformed." Kizoku explained, his eyes betraying a hint of irritation. "He does not even read the newspaper."
The Noble with the birthmark spots on his forehead nodded. "That's why he has become such a threat. Doing what he wants without yielding to the way the world works is a dangerous talent. Gol D. Roger was as irritating as him."
"Gentlemen," The man with the scar on the left side of his face and grey dreadlocks spoke, attracting their attention, "I suggest we stop losing our time with him. You know what to do Kizoku."
The black haired man nodded gravely. "Everything will go according to your wishes, Gorosei-sama." Another malicious upturn of the lips appeared.
"It's high time we dispose of the trash that has accumulated inside the Holy Capital."
At the same time
Black eyes took in the outside of the small dojo with a detached air. Exhaling in preparation, he slid the doors open, eyes settling on the older man sitting on the tatami mats.
Kinjo looked up, his expression as calm as ever. Somehow, it made Lucy even more angry than he was when he left the mansion.
"What have you come here for again, boy?"
Fist clenched, the raven head stepped inside, closing the door behind him. He let his hair shadow his eyes, closing them and trying to calm himself down.
"My name is Coby. These are Helmeppo and Koala. We were looking for you."
"Luffy-san-"
"I've heard you haven't been to the training again. Any reason for the sudden refusal?"
"This is the burden of a captain, you can't doubt yourself. In times like these if you lose your confidence, then who can we have faith in?"
All these fucking voices inside my head... GET OUT.
With a loud battle cry, Lucy launched himself at the martial artist, hand stretched back. Kinjo met his hand with a powerful block, throwing him backwards.
His eyes watched the young man get up again and start attacking blindly, not even stopping to consider his unsuccessful attacks.
This kid... what happened to him?
After a while, it became irritating and Lucy did not look like he would stop soon, so the older man decided to do that for him. Just as he got in a stance made to render him immobile, the raven head shouted again, clearly meaning to attack but his feet did not move from the spot he was in.
Dark brown eyes widened when the other's arm stretched at an impossible speed over the distance, going straight for him. Well honed reflexes kicked in, making Kinjo parry the blow automatically. The hand that stretched seemed to drag the boy's body after it and Lucy was at his side in an instant, but the older man was faster. Taking advantage of the opportunity the boy let slip, Kinjo rendered him immobile.
His scrutinizing eyes watched Lucy try to catch his breath, silently asking himself how was the last shot possible.
"How did you do that?"
His words seemed to snap the teen out of his angry haze. He blinked up at the professional fighter, like he was asking himself how they got in that position.
"Do what?"
Kinjo grit his teeth. Clearly the boy had no clue what he was talking about. Deciding to let the supernatural feat slip, he disentangled himself from the boy's limbs and stood up.
"Get out."
Lucy's mouth pressed in a tight line. "No."
"I don't have anything to discuss with reckless fools." The older man's words made him flinch.
"When did I-I just came here to have a spar with you!"
"Where is Ivy?"
The change in subject surprised Lucy. Now that he thought about it... he didn't have any clue.
"She killed the scientists."
His head snapped up to look at him so fast, joints cracked.
"What?!"
Kinjo crossed his arms. "If you can't even take care of your friends, then how do you expect to survive alone like this?"
"Being alone hurts worse than pain."
"Where is she?" Lucy demanded, taking a threatening step towards Kinjo.
The man did not look perturbed in the least.
"Get out of my Dojo." He didn't answer him.
"What! Old man answer me-"
"Get out of here pirate!"
Lucy's mouth clamped shut, his eyes wide.
"Remember, you are a Celestial Dragon master Lucy."
"I'll become the King of Pirates!"
A trembling hand went to his head, trying in vain to ignore the building pain. Before the young man could say anything else, Kinjo turned his back to him, clearly a sign of dismissal.
"This is not the place where you belong, Strawhat Luffy."
Again that damned name.
Kinjo watched the young man run away back into the city and sighed. His eyes closed involuntarily, long lost memories assaulting him.
"You are a strange one kid. Even if involuntarily, you make all kinds of people look out for you."
Dark eyes opened to gaze at the empty street.
"That's what makes you so dangerous, Strawhat Luffy."
At the same time
White eyes widened as the words traveled through the wall. Muffled as they were, Ivy could very much guess the subject of the discussion and their replies.
And she did not like it.
Not to mention that it had been confirmed to her that her father was well informed of the fact that she had killed his underlings. That man was updated in real time, however strange and fucked up that could seem.
The red head thanked all gods that they did not manage to get much out of Lucy. Somehow, in some strange, twisted sort of way, her plan had actually worked.
Now the only thing left to do is get our asses out of here.
She was just about to step away when another, louder statement was spoken.
"Gentlemen, I suggest we stop losing our time with him. You know what to do Kizoku."
Ivy's insides turned to ice at that moment. She had hoped they would stop to investigate more, but the Five Stars looked ready to take action and dispose of them quickly. No use striking up an uproar.
"Everything will go according to your wishes, Gorosei-sama. It's high time we dispose of the trash that has accumulated in the Holy Capital."
Her father's words were the last drop. Lifting herself up from her hiding spot, she exited through the window she came from. Before she was completely out of earshot, her father spoke again, this time much closer.
"You should stop running Ivy. It's no use in the end."
His cold words made Ivy's steps double and her breath hitch in her throat.
Not if I have a word in it.
She had to find Lucy. Now.
Lucy huffed, trying his best to not stumble. He had quickly come to the conclusion that running did not help the pain in his head at all. Rather, it made it worse. Now the voices were starting to speak one over the other, making all the gibberish harder to understand and control.
Black eyes widened in relief when the large mansion appeared from behind the corner. Just a little more and he'd get the chance to talk to Ivy. Something told him that she was probably in her room, but the raven head berated himself for forgetting- how the hell can you forget about your friend?!- to look for the red head. He remembered Kiiro telling him that she went to sleep early, but that's when his recollection of his friend's whereabouts ended.
"She killed the scientists."
Like hell I'm gonna believe that.
"Not until she tells me face to face." The raven head mumbled, huffing slightly as he passed the threshold. His eyes were fixed on his target- the stairs. But the massive person in his way did not grant him passage.
Lucy found himself face to face with an old man that was wearing a formal black suit and a black hat over graying dreadlocks. The scar on his left temple made Lucy take a step back.
All at once, he felt surrounded by another four men, all old, except the blonde one. He looked way younger than the other mummies.
He opened his mouth to greet them and be on his way, but the guy with the sword spoke.
"I didn't think you'd be so reckless. It seems your strange way of doing things will truly be your downfall this time, Mugiwara Luffy."
Lucy brushed the name away, trying hard not to think why the hell did all these people call him by that name today of all times! He felt like it was a chain reaction that started with that pink haired guy.
"Oh my," Ivy's dad exclaimed, looking pretty disappointed. "I thought catching you would be much more interesting."
A black eyebrow rose in surprise, but Lucy did not have any more time to think about it. An iron grip caged both his arms, forcing them on his back. Lucy struggled, but it was impossible to move. Whoever was holding him was doing a good job.
"Where is Ivy?!" His growl was met with silence. Ivy's dad smirked, making the raven head sweat. He couldn't have-
"Don't worry, she'll be joining you soon."
With those words, his world turned black.
Coby watched the man in front of him squirm, his eyes looking anywhere but at them. The uncomfortable atmosphere in the room made the pink haired man shift uncomfortably in return. His eyes looked to the blonde haired woman that was scattering papers, tubes and small, funny colored bottles around the room.
"The hell is taking you so long?" Helmeppo's head popped from behind the cracked door, his face contorted in a scowl. His friend had lost in their rock-paper-scissors game and now was stuck with watching the door and making sure no one dared enter and disturb their... thieving. Because Coby could not think about the current situation any other way.
"Shut up, I'm working on it!" Koala whispered back furiously, tossing a pink bottle with yellow stripes towards him. It barely missed, shattering on the door and leaving an orange stain that gradually got green spots. Whatever it was in there, the Captain did not want to know.
Ignoring the curse words directed at her, Koala resumed her search. "It would be ten times faster if the guy would tell us where the hell it is!"
She glared at the man, almost making him faint.
"Then make him speak! What the hell are you in there for Coby?!" Helmeppo whisper-shouted from the door again.
Coby grimaced. "I am watching the prisoner...?" He offered.
"Like hell you do coward. Just make him talk already!"
Seeing both his friends glare at him, the pink haired marine supposed he did not have any choice. Taking a few steps closer to the trembling man, he offered his best polite smile and spoke.
"We would be forever grateful if you could tell us where the antidote is."
"Pft. Forever grateful my ass." Helmeppo huffed, walking faster towards the exit.
His comment was lost to the other two behind him, covered by the angry sounds of alarms and orders shouted over the Den Den Mushi.
"Are you sure the distraction worked, Koala-san?" Coby asked, almost running, but not quite.
The revolutionary shrugged. "Let's hope so. If not, these guys are after us, so we should hurry the hell up!"
"What's the plan Coby?" The Captain-Lieutenant asked, decreasing his speed so they could catch up to him.
The pink haired man thought hard before he answered.
"We go out there and search for Luffy-san. Then we make sure we get him out of there."
Bulletproof plan.
"If this is the 'bulletproof' plan you were talking about, know it's shit."
His friend's blunt words only served to undermine his spirits.
"But we have no other choice nor plan." Helmeppo finished.
"Let's hope those people managed to find the damn door." Koala whispered mostly to herself, but her two companions overheard and could not help but hope the same.
They had to get out of there fast. Time was running out.
ABOVE FISHMAN ISLAND
Zoro watched Fishman Island shrink under them as their ship gradually ascended towards the surface.
They have left Sunny on the island and boarded a no name vessel meant to take them to Mariejois fast. Jinbei and some pirates from his crew had been there waiting for them, their mission being to bring them to the capital as fast as humanly- and fishmanly?- possible.
"As far as Rayleigh has informed me, you are in top condition, so we can launch this operation fully."
The people on deck blinked.
"What does this have to do with searching for a door?" Brook scratched his afro. Buggy nodded from near the railing.
The clown was still in the denial stage, having been again forced on the ship and in taking part. He will forever curse the Shanks-Rayleigh duo.
When I become the Pirate King, I'm going to kill them!
"This is not the only purpose of the teams." The Fishman explained. "Actually, we have found the door. More than one."
"Huh?!" Franky and Sanji exclaimed.
"So that means we'll be raiding it from all sides." Mr. 3 concluded, having made the connections faster than his comrades.
Jinbei smiled and nodded, arms crossed.
"I will now start calling the teams. When we arrive, the team captains will be waiting for you and we'll split up immediately. No use in causing a commotion. Until Law gets here, all of you will be getting to know the outside districts of the World's capital."
The blue skinned man studied the various expressions around him as he took out a folded paper.
Most people gulped, clearly not happy with the idea of random teams, but Rayleigh was behind them, so they concluded that there had to be some twisted sort of reasoning there... somewhere.
"Usopp, can you place this in your bag?" Chopper tugged at the sniper's sleeve. Usopp looked down at the worn straw hat with a red ribbon and something hurt in his chest. But then a wave of determination washed over him and he nodded, hand reaching out to take it from his friend.
A skeletal hand stopped them mid-change. Brook's absent eyes gazed at them both before he smiled.
"I will make sure to keep it safe. You'll need easier reach to your ammunition."
Usopp considered the truth in his words and nodded. Brook placed the hat on his afro under his Soul King hat. It will be safe there, the other two were sure of that.
Zoro watched the exchange with furrowed brows, but decided not to say anything.
Jinbei cleared his throat, attracting their attention.
"The teams will be made out of five people. In my team will be Zoro-san, Buggy, Law-kun and Smoker."
An awkward silence passed over the group, especially over the only two present. Zoro looked at Buggy, the clown looked at him with a mixture of exasperation and horror, before both their gazes settled on the fishman. Jinbei was confused why they suddenly started glaring at him, but they were almost on the surface so he didn't have time to dwell on it.
"Why am I-"
"That impossible bastard, how dare he-"
"On Ivankov's team," the fishman continued, drowning their protests, "are Robin-san, Mr. 3, Sabo-kun and Bartolomeo."
"Yes, I am in a team with Robin-senpai!" The green haired man whooped, doing his own little happy dance.
Sabo shook his head and offered the black haired woman a smile. "Feels like we are back on Baltigo."
Robin gave a short laugh, completely agreeing with him.
Mr. 3 adjusted his glasses. At least he had some level headed people in his team.
"The people going with Hancock-san will be Nami-san, Ideo, Sai and Franky-san."
Nami sighed in relief. At least she won't be completely alone with strangers. Though the orange haired woman had an idea who the other two were, she was curious all the same what they were like. She grinned at the shipwright who grinned right back.
"Heracles is already with Perona-san, so the other three are Rebecca, Chopper-san and Brook-san. The people not here are either with Law or already there."
"Hm, I've never met any of them." Chopper mumbled, increasingly anxious. His skeleton friend placed a reassuring, bony hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry Chopper, I'm sure they are nice people."
The small reindeer nodded enthusiastically.
"I'm still confused how that woman got tangled in all this." Zoro shook his head, clearly not about to bother thinking about it anymore.
"Usopp-san, Sanji-san, Vivi and Crocodile will be with Cavendish and Leo."
"What! Why does Crocodile have to be in our team!?" The sniper exclaimed, obviously not happy with the addition of the sandman. He looked behind him just in case.
"Who the hell are those?" The cook asked, referring to the last two names as he exhaled smoke from his cigarette, eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"That blonde head with the fancy hat and the little guy." Usopp offered the easiest description possible. Sanji's face dropped, but then he forgot about it and focused on the most important thing.
"Vivi-swan~ I cannot wait to be working together again with you!"
Eyes heart shaped and body already dancing like a noodle, the blonde was sold.
Usopp cried, Vivi smiled at their antics and Crocodile might have sneezed on the other part of the world, watching Smoker and Law have a heated argument over how to get through the Calm Belt faster.
But we may never know.
"Alright, Okama team! Let's go!" Ivankov struck a dramatic pose, his larger than normal head looking mildly amusing and wrong in comparison to the rest of his body.
At least to Mr. 3. The other two did not look concerned at all, almost as if they were already used to it and Bartolomeo... he was too busy fangirling- or fanboying?
"You should keep the cloak on too, Ivankov-san." Robin suggested, tugging her own black cloak over her head more securely. She did not want any slip up.
The purple haired okama snapped out of it and did the same.
Sabo was already looking around the bustling plaza.
"Where are we headed to?" His voice broke through the chatter of the crowds.
Too many people, in Mr. 3's humble opinion.
"Follow me. I will show you our hideout, too."
Bartolomeo cheered.
Hancock scrunched her nose up in disgust and made a mental note to give Rayleigh a good piece of her mind when this was all over.
About to take part in the most important mission of her life, saving her precious Luffy, and she ended up with an irritating orange head and three gorillas. At least one of them was coming later. But still, what is wrong with this world?
Nami's eyebrows were raised as she watched the older woman have an internal debate. And from the looks of it, it wasn't too pretty. Next to her, Franky opened his mouth to speak, but the motion snapped the Empress out of it and she cut him off.
"I'm not here to babysit so you better be capable of taking care of your own butts. Are we clear?"
Ideo's face was clearly doubtful, but he nodded along with Nami and Franky. No use in making war with the Shichibukai.
Crossing her arms, Hancock started towards the place they were supposed to be going, opting for the quieter side streets.
Nami shook Ideo's hand in greeting, smiling at the black haired man. Besides his strange shoulders, he was a pretty nice guy. Maybe this whole team thing won't be so bad after all.
"So this is the door?" Usopp scratched his head, looking at the golden, well, door.
It was pretty big, with a large keyhole that allowed view on the other side, where a less bustling city was. The sniper was half tempted to try and fit Chopper through, or even better, Leo, but he abstained in the end. If they didn't think of that earlier, then there might be a trap or a security system.
"Yes Uso-land." The dwarf answered, his whole persona pulsing in anticipation of the mission.
Cavendish snorted, back turned towards them. He was studying the crowds with a critical eye, the stalls and shops all full of activity.
"Did something happen, Cavendish-san?" Vivi's concerned face entered his field of vision.
"Kind of." The pirate answered. "I mean, people clad in black walking through the city and no one stops to question it?"
His question was rhetoric, but the blue haired princess answered anyway.
"Maybe something is happening in there that keeps them occupied?" She offered, hands clasping at her back. She moved to stand next to the blond haired man.
Cavendish seemed to consider this, but before he could say anything else, Sanji's shout was heard.
"Vivi-swan~" The blonde cook twirled until he was in front of her.
"Did you find anything Sanji?" Usopp and Leo stepped closer to the group.
Sanji's face was immediately serious and he spoke as he lighted himself a cigarette.
"Coast is clear as far as the guards are concerned. I saw some military clad people going through the big, fancy golden gate."
"Ah." Leo nodded, smiling. "Seems like we are in luck then, right Cabbage-land?"
The blonde's eye twitched as Vivi and Sanji laughed.
"Right."
Perona watched her two charges and could not help the excited squeal that burst from her when she saw the cute, small animal. With little adjustments here and there, the reindeer would become totally cute.
"Ah~ it's nice to see you again, Perona-san." Brook made a little bow, taking his hat off his head.
The pink haired girl huffed at him, before going back to the soft bundle in her arms. Chopper squirmed, trying to make the phantom girl release him but he didn't have much success, so he conformed himself to wait.
"Everything is clear, Perona'un." A man with a beetle costume entered the small warehouse they were currently in. "Who're you'un?"
Brook made another small bow and smiled, as much as one could without a face.
"I am Brook. My friend there is Chopper. Nice to meet you, yohoho!"
Perona winced at the sheer volume. Chopper lifted a hoof up in greeting.
"Nice to meet you!"
"I am Heracles'un."
"Aright enough dilly dallying. We have a job to do." Perona eyed her team with a critical eye, hand on her hip, the other still holding onto an exasperated reindeer.
Jinbei watched Zoro and Buggy glare at each other with an amazing amount of hatred. And those two were only two of four people. The fishman was starting to regret the team arrangements. Well, he wasn't sure what had been in Rayleigh's mind at the time, but he could only hope the man's instincts and cunning tendencies had not waned away in time.
Deciding to point the two's attention somewhere else, least he risked something destroyed and their cover blown, Jinbei pointed to the large door behind him.
"This is what we are here for, remember?"
"Yes, I'm not blind. I can see the damn door." Buggy crossed his arms, sighing irritably.
What do you know, it worked.
"So what's the plan?" Zoro asked, hands on the hilt of his katana. "You sure you don't want me to cut the door open and be on our way?"
"Yes and put all the marines on the island on our backs." The clown scowled at the swordsman. "Only an idiot would suggest such a thing!"
Zoro glared back ferociously. "Well what do you suggest, o'mighty idiot?"
"Our plan," Jinbei interrupted, "is to wait for Law to come. After that, the key will be copied by Mr. 3's wax power and all of us will enter."
"I doubt it'll be a key that can be copied." The blue haired pirate commented. He might have been a Shichibukai for a short time, but he had learned enough about the Holy City.
Jinbei shrugged. "Then we'll be resorting to passing it around. Now stop trying to murder each other and prepare."
3 Days later
Law stood on the deck of his submarine and watched as Crocodile sunk another Marine ship. From Dressrosa's vessel, Smoker cursed loudly enough to be heard even in Fishman Island.
They had just passed the Calm Belt- after a particularly odd reunion with the G-5 Marine force. They've been going at full speed and didn't even stop to acknowledge them, only continuing to go forward with their white haired Captain shouting at his stupefied subordinates to move it or remain there.
The poor marines did not have any time for questions as they hurriedly directed their vessel on a new course after them. Their surprise- and Tashigi's flabbergasted expression- only increased when five Marine ships from North Blue came after them, shouting at the G-5 to stop them.
Smoker had immediately forgone his pirate attire, much to his dismay surprisingly, and told the militaries from North Blue that he'd take care of them, since that was his territory. But unfortunately for them, those people were either too stupid to realize that they'd be entering the most dangerous ocean, or they simply wanted an exotic vacation and didn't know how to go on about it, so they decided to continue hunting the poor pirates.
Smoker and G-5 had fired some lame shots to not seem like they were taking the pirates' side while subtly making way for Dressrosa's forces and Crocodile to infiltrate the marine vessels and kick their asses. Needless to say, those poor soldiers became a feast for the Sea Kings.
"I can see Den-san!" Rebecca shouted, bending over the railing to get a better look.
Law squinted his eyes and saw that the rose haired woman was speaking the truth. A small, lonely boat was floating on the sea. This was the signal that the shipwright was waiting for them.
The doctor allowed himself a small smirk. Just in time, since Crocodile had just finished blowing the last Marine vessel to bits. Law shouted to his crew to slow down their speed, and the other three ships proceeded in doing the same.
Soon enough, they were floating along with the piece of wood. Den's head sprung from under the water.
"We were waiting for you." He waved his hand and in the next moment, they were surrounded by an army of fishmen.
"Let's get these people to Mariejois boys."
MARIEJOIS
"One day, I will find myself a crew that is as strong as yours! And then I will find the world's biggest treasure! AND BECOME THE KING OF PIRATES!"
"This hat is my gift to you."
"When you become a great pirate in the future you'll return that hat to me."
The flashing images went by in fast forward in Lucy's mind and the raven head allowed himself to groan as consciousness dragged him back to reality. He rolled on his side, asking himself when his bed got so hard.
Another flash of fresher memories assaulted his overworked mind and the young man's eyes flew immediately open as he tried to stand up, but partially failed. His whole body was trembling and now it ached along with his head.
Just what he needed right now.
Lucy allowed himself to study his cell, taking in the bare, concrete floor, walls, ceiling and the iron, thick bars that finished the uninteresting decor of his cage. The prisoner sighed tiredly, not feeling even half in the right mind to deal with this shit right now. It did not help that the voices were louder than ever.
Rubbing his head and praying it'd do any good, Lucy shifted in a better position in one corner of the cubicle and forced himself to think and sort out his jumbling thoughts- that by now he concluded must be memories from his past life.
Which brought him to his current problem: Who was he in this past life?
Whatever Ivy had told him must have been complete bullshit, judging by the strange images that colored his retinas every now and then. Those were happy and sad memories, colorful places and people, not the monochrome Mariejois and its equally monochrome inhabitants. Not to mention that anything closely related to one of the white clad Nobles was a particularly violent and strong fist he had indented in one's face. Surprisingly, he didn't regret that image, even if he wasn't sure of the more sketchier details of the whole thing.
"Remember, you are a Celestial Dragon master Lucy."
Hell naw man, he was surely not.
Though that felt bad thinking too.
What the hell is wrong with me?!
Lucy's jaw clenched. He didn't like to think. He wanted to get out of there, run and see the blue sea. Yeah, that'd make his day one hundred percent better for sure.
Jet black eyes glared at the metal bars of his cage and the teen almost growled. Those things did not look friendly enough to let him pass.
Damn he wanted to be free.
"The weak don't get to choose how they die."
He sure as hell won't be going down without a fight.
The beautiful Holy Capital soaked in the warm rays of the shining sun, its golden tinted roofs glittering like jewels.
On such glittering street, though with noticeably less inhabitants than usual- since most of the citizens chose to keep to the safety of their houses after the alarm at the security center- sprouted suddenly, from behind a red brick wall an equally, if not redder head. Silver tinted eyes went next, glaring around the corner for good measure. Ivy tried to steel herself for another run from one alley to the other as she continued her search for the prison.
The noble had a passing idea where and how to enter it, since she did her homework on something like that a long time ago, though her biggest problem was that she couldn't access the place by walking inside from the front entrance. There had to be another way. The place was under the Marine security group's jurisdiction, so she only had two choices: bring an army or become a real fucking ninja. Though she was inclined to pick the latter, the red head had no idea where to break in from.
"Ivy-chan, are you sure this is the right way?"
Right.
This was actually her biggest problem right now. The blonde haired kid that was standing behind her, his sky blue eyes darting between the deserted street and her white clad form.
"Can you even run in that robe?"
"Ugh, could you shut up!" Her words had the effect intended. But not for long.
"Are you sure Lucy was even brought there?"
Ivy turned on her heel abruptly, facing Kiiro with a livid expression. "Yes and now shut the hell up! We need to get there fast and you are holding me back!"
The blonde looked even more offended, something that served to downgrade her mood further.
"I'm just trying to be realistic here! Shouldn't we be kidnapping someone and making them a hostage or something? And then we trade them for Lucy."
The noble blinked at the stupid plan that the kid spouted. In what kind of reality would that work wasn't even on her list of brooding subjects right now. Heaving a long suffering sigh, she gripped his hand suddenly and forcefully dragged him from their hideout and out in the open.
Kiiro opened his mouth to protest, but Ivy beat him to it. "Look, you begged to come with me in the first place. At least try to not be a deadweight, you go-"
The feeling of colliding with someone cut her off and threw her off balance, but she managed to save herself from falling in time. Looking up, her white gaze locked on apologizing black ones. A flash of pink made her take a step back.
Ivy eyed their uniforms warily and her hand tightened around Kiiro's.
Coby watched her with a light of recognition, but it was Koala who broke the silence.
"Not here. Let's speak somewhere where the whole town can't see us." She made to turn around and run for the alleys when she saw the distrust in Ivy's eyes.
"You want to save Luffy too, right?"
The tense muscles that were ready for a run or die situation relaxed slightly and the red head exhaled in relief.
"Yeah."
The trio in marine uniforms nodded and hurried to the shadows, Ivy and a dragged Kiiro on their heels.
"Wait, who's Luffy?"
"What! Are you serious?!" The blonde haired boy exclaimed, his hands in his hair. "Why didn't you tell me, or better, him!"
Ivy sighed when she saw the three marines shoot her the same look. A grimace slowly made her way on her face.
"Though I don't owe you any explanation, know that I only did that for a good reason."
"That being...?" The guy that introduced himself as Helmeppo asked, a dubious expression passing over his face.
"What were the chances of even meeting these two?" Coby muttered to himself, throwing Koala a questioning look.
The blonde woman shrugged, helpless on this one.
"Must be that impossible streak of luck that's been following us since we received the mission." The pink haired soldier mumbled again, his hand stroking his chin in deep thought.
"There's no time to consider the Fates!" Ivy exclaimed, her mind reeling with everything that might have been done to Lucy in the three days she's lost running around town. "We have to go there and save him. Who knows what they might've done to him by now!"
Helmeppo groaned and Koala threw her a sour smile. Her hand went in her jacket and Ivy's insides turned to ice when she took out a newspaper. It had a date from three days ago.
STRAWHAT LUFFY'S EXECUTION TO COMMENCE IN FOUR DAYS
Kiiro looked at the faces of the adults around him and almost laughed. He understood the gravity of the situation very well, but he could not help the childish side of him that wanted to point and make fun of them.
"Is this the part where you say fuck?"
"So this is the prison huh." Kiiro's innocent gaze looked at the glum building, wondering how was inside.
"From what we've hacked from the servers, the most dangerous prisoners are kept at minus six."
"Underground." Helmeppo growled, clearly not happy with this. "And under the wall too."
Ivy nodded, her thoughts on the same route. She took in the towering wall that held the Marine security base and its small building that she knew was only a makeshift for the real deal under the ground.
The prison was located in the north-west part of the city, at half the distance between two emergency exits. The structure was placed in a partially uninhabited neighborhood, obviously meant to increase and provide better security, but it also meant that there were a lot of hiding places. Like the one they were currently in, on a deserted rooftop.
"So what's the plan, Cap'?" The blonde haired man asked casually.
Coby cringed. He knew it was coming. The marine had been thinking about that since they left the Security Quarters, leaving uproar in their wake.
"There's no plan. We need to find a side entrance." Ivy interrupted, her eyes wide and wild. She had to find it.
"Are you crazy? It's obvious there's no entrance."
The red head shot Helmeppo a dirty look. The bastard was not helping.
As if to prove his point, the Captain-Lieutenant pointed to the building, making his comrades scold him for trying to break their cover.
"There's no freaking entrance in that cave!" The blonde man's shout was muffled by Koala and Coby's 'friendly' treatment.
"Then how do you propose we get in there?!" Ivy screeched, though a small hand slapped over her mouth deflected most of the sound.
"That's what I was trying to tell you." Coby rasped, still trying to stop his friend from exploding. "Just hear me out..."
Turned out that Ivy did manage to get an army.
An army of clueless onlookers, that's what.
As she watched the commotion slowly unfolding in front of her, the red head had to hand it to that Coby guy. He had made one hell of a plan.
After first hearing it, they've deemed it too risky, but it seemed Koala knew how to gather a crowd. And along with Coby's charm, the two managed to convince the fifty or so people that had been snatched out from the street, or their homes, that it was an emergency exercise they were holding. All they had to do was invade the small, grey building and keep the guards occupied.
The pink haired marine explained that it was a training of some kind for the militaries that worked there and Koala had added the cherry on top- so that they'd be protected better, the guards had to learn how to operate in such situations and deal with crowds.
Of course, mostly no one in that crowd understood even half of what they had said, but the words protection, emergency and citizens had been enough.
It all started with Kiiro, acting like a little lost kid and crying his lungs out at the door of the building. As expected, two guards came outside to see what the problem was and as soon as the doors were open, the horde of people barged in without a moment's notice.
Using some clothes they've snatched from a couple of poor, but only theoretically, Nobles, the quartet went after Kiiro inside, slipping past- hopefully- unnoticed by the guards. The path to minus six only lasted about ten minutes, since they took the lift.
On said level, they encountered a couple more guards that were disabled by each of the people in the group. The three marines looked at Ivy in surprise and Ivy looked right back at them with the same expression.
"Guys, I think I found him!" Kiiro's happy shout made them all snap out of it.
"How did you slip by?" Koala asked the boy when they were close enough to see him through the darkness.
The blonde kid dangled the keys to the cells playfully in front of his face as he laughed. "You're not the only ones that can use tricks."
The revolutionary looked impressed.
"Where is he?" Coby asked, trepidation running through him.
Kiiro's gave them a lopsided grin. "Follow me."
"People's dreams never end!"
Lucy's head snapped up when his ears distinguished the sound of footsteps breaking the stillness that had been slowly suffocating him.
His hope doubled when he heard a childish giggle and his eyes widened when he saw Kiiro. He shouldn't have been there, that blasted prison was not a place for a kid.
Jet black eyes watched the marine trio step closer to his cage, their faces blank, except the pink head and his warm smile. Ivy was the last to step out of the darkness and Lucy was on her almost immediately.
"Ivy are you alright? Your dad said you were hunted too. How did you get in here?"
The red head pursed her lips, hands going to her hips. "You ask all that and yet you're the guy on death row."
Her comment was intended to be sarcastic, but to Lucy it sounded like a death penalty, pun intended. He had been half expecting it, to be honest.
"When's the execution then?" He couldn't help but ask.
The pink dude, Coby probably, chocked. The blonde woman next to him shook her head and reached inside her jacket.
"There's no execution idiot. We're getting you out of here." The other blonde soldier commented dryly.
Ivy crouched down to his eye level. "Listen to me Luffy."
"Ah, so my name's Luffy after all."
White eyes blinked and she cursed inwardly at the slip up.
Lucy didn't look too concerned. "I've been thinking it might be, since they called me that." His eyes pointed to the marines behind them. He did not mention that the voices inside his head sometimes did, too. He was sure that wasn't healthy.
The red head rid herself of that information and pushed on forward. "Listen." She repeated, making sure his attention was concentrated on her. "I have to tell you why you are here."
"Here in prison or-"
A hand went between the bars and hit him on the head. It did not hurt as much as it used to.
"Whatever you idiot! Listen," Ivy glared at him and sighed. "The Gorosei had decided six months ago that you and your pirate crew are to be disposed of at once. They've been preparing an army and all that stuff for a while, when I accidentally stumbled upon their plans, almost four months ago. Usually, I wouldn't have cared but..." silver tinted eyes locked with black and she said in all seriousness, "I've been reading all kinds of things about the Strawhat Pirates and about you... I wanted to know."
"What?" Lucy's voice was laced with curiosity.
Ivy's lips tightened. "I wanted you to teach me about freedom. Plus, it was the only way to get you out of the Gorosei's grasp even for a little while." She added hurriedly.
"And you had to send the other Strawhats to Impel Down?" Coby's eyebrows were near his hairline and his face incredulous. On his sides, Koala and Helmeppo displayed various degrees of the same expression.
Ivy turned her head a little in their direction. "Have they been executed, or even put on death row until now? Impel Down was the best place to keep them in relative safety. Even the Gorosei couldn't touch them there."
This took Coby by complete surprise. He did not think about that. However twisted, the red head's motives were sound.
"Of course, they did not let your memory stay because of obvious reasons." Ivy continued. "They've been extorting information out of you, but thankfully you are more clueless than the newspapers make you out to be. So I created that whole story with the fiancé and... some other things," white eyes slid away from his confused gaze to the wall behind him, "because I had hoped to be able to keep you here a little longer and search for a safer plan of breaking out of the city, since the Five Stars don't just throw their plans out of the window. But it didn't work."
The young woman finished, eyes downcast.
Lucy smiled and grabbed her hand. He almost laughed at her shocked face.
"Did you find out what you wanted?" He couldn't help but grin. Her words didn't make much sense to him, what with all the plans and old men there, but he knew for a fact that she was telling the truth. And he'd trust his friend, whatever reasons she would have told him.
Ivy's eyes shined with relief. "Almost." She mirrored his grin. "I am coming with you to the world outside."
Suddenly Kiiro's head was in between them. "Yeah, me too Lucy!"
The raven head opened his mouth to argue, but the blonde kid beat him to it.
"I wanna see this freedom too! I've been kept in here for as long as I can remember." His lower lip stuck out in a cute manner and Lucy couldn't find it in him to say no.
Koala stepped forward, a syringe with a green phosphorescent liquid in her hand. "It's time to stop forgetting Luffy-kun."
Lucy grinned up at her. "Forgetting is like a wound, right?"
The last thing he saw was Koala's wide smile.
"This is our cue. Let's get out of here." Coby nodded to the patiently awaiting elevator.
Ivy's heart almost stopped.
"What are you talking about?! We have to save him!" Her shout echoed on the damp walls.
The pink haired soldier stopped and turned to her.
"We will, tomorrow."
The red head was almost hysteric. "But tomorrow's the execution, what are you-"
"Yeah, and tomorrow's the last day of the time limit Dark King Rayleigh gave us." Helmeppo crossed his arms, not missing the sudden jolt of the younger woman.
Dark King Rayleigh?!
"They will be breaking in tomorrow. We will save him when they get him out of here for the execution." Coby explained patiently, not minding the shouts of the approaching guards.
"Besides, that serum's action is pretty strong. He will be out for some time and it'd be no use in dragging him around. We have no exit right now. We'll have to wait."
Ivy willed herself to calm down enough to consider his words and at last, she nodded hesitantly. Throwing a last look at the unmoving form of the pirate, she followed the marines out, Kiiro grasped firmly in her right hand.
The next day
Zoro glared at the sun rising, his mind anywhere but on the beautiful picture.
He hadn't slept again. Not since four months ago. The swordsman had abandoned all hope since that fateful day. He had been sure he did not imagine AkaInu killing Luffy.
So how?
Even with all of Robin's simple explanations, Nami's beating of his person and the bastard cook's degrading words at his address, Zoro still couldn't wrap his head around it. He just hoped that when he'll see Luffy, everything would be solved, at least inside his mind.
"If you are watching out for Torao and the others, you are in the wrong spot."
Zoro almost growled at the voice, but he settled for a scowl and furrowed eyebrows.
"What are you doing here." His statement made the dark haired woman behind him laugh.
"It was either me, Chopper or Sanji-kun. I doubt you'd like our chef to inspire you so early in the morning." Robin explained, her mouth still upturned in a smile.
Zoro held back a grimace. "I would have preferred Chopper."
"I am hurt." Despite her words, the tone was still teasing and it irritated him.
"What are you even doing here?" The swordsman nodded at the small hill that oversaw the ocean. It was on the north-west part of the city, one of the few places for docking ships and where the vast waters of the New World could be seen.
Zoro paused as a conversation from last night came back to him. He had been totally confused when Jinbei clarified that what they were seeing was the New World's ocean.
"Then why the hell isn't Torao coming from this side?!"
"Because it would be too risky. The only place to dock here is swarming with Marines ready to eliminate all threats. That's why they took the safest route from south-west."
"This is too time consuming." The swordsman spoke again. He absently realized that Robin didn't answer him.
"I understand how you feel." Her words were whispered, but he still heard them. She was looking at the fiery orange sunrise attentively, though her eyes strayed to his form after a couple of minutes.
"I am here to take the copy of the key. But I came too early, it seems."
"We're gonna rescue him." The words felt a little incredible even to him.
"Yes, we will." Robin's smile did ease him a little bit.
"Zoro, Robin, they are here!" Chopper's joyous voice made the two look in his direction and saw the reindeer running along with Mr.3 and Franky to the cliffs a couple of meters away from their spot.
The reindeer immediately grabbed her hand and proceeded in dragging her away, Zoro following them a little hesitantly. The group stopped, after fifteen minutes of walking through the early morning city, on another hill overlooking the Grand Line's waters.
Squinting her eyes, Robin discerned two large ships approaching. She was sure Torao's submarine was somewhere between them. Or probably in front of them.
They did not have to wait long. As the sun was just above the line of the horizon, the three vessels closed in on the shore, their decks swarming with activity in preparing to dock.
Law used his Room to teleport himself on solid ground. Crocodile and Smoker followed along using their Devil Fruit powers.
The doctor did not even place a whole foot on the ground before the Strawhats were on him.
"Where's the key?" The small reindeer jumped up and down, obviously at the limit of his anxiousness. Franky and Robin looked on silently, but just as nervous.
"You better have it, Torao." Contrary to his crewmates, Roronoa Zoro was at the limit of his patience. His growl was enough to piss off Law.
"Yeah." The older pirate searched for the bespectacled man that was supposed to replicate the damn object and found him in less than ten seconds.
Closing the distance between them in two large steps, Law thrust the golden key in Mr. 3's hands.
"Good luck."
The man looked at the key and then back at him with something akin to fear and a silent plead of help almost erupted from him, but he was alone on this one, Law concluded.
Turning on his heels, he looked at the green haired swordsman that the doctor had always considered- until two months ago- the most level headed one in all the crew. It seemed that Strawhat-ya's absence unbalanced all of his friends. The most obvious was Zoro. Law could only hope he'd return to normal after today.
"Which team am I on?"
A/N: Dun dun dun
Hi there! :D
I'm bringing you the next chapter from deep between the mountains o3o
... while stealing wi-fi from my cousin (I told you I'm not joking)
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! ^^
From my amazing (notice the sarcasm) calculations, the next chapter might be on Christmas day or earlier (depends when I have time) ... Christmas chappie! OwO
Reviews and Feedback are appreciated! :D