Thanks to everyone who reviewed the first chapter but I wasn't able to contact directly! It means a lot!
The Strawhats were anchored at a nice, normal island somewhere in the New World. It was home to a small but lively town that served as a port for ships sailing further on, because of this it felt larger than it actually was. There was even a small marine base and even though the Strawhat crew was well known, especially after their latest feat, the soldiers mostly just kept an eye on them but left them to their business. That is, until the evening of the second day.
The first day they had arrived, Nami had immediately gone to inform herself on the duration until the log would set. She had returned whey-faced to tell them it would be over a month. Since then she had everyone searching the town for an eternal pose that could take them to the next island, but no luck so far. Luffy had thrown a fit when he heard her solution.
"We need to continue this route!"
"We can't stay here that long! The marines could be calling reinforcements for all we know!" she screeched back. "We used an eternal pose to get to Alabasta, didn't we?!" Tension ran high with her; she had only found one small clothing shop, barely occupying 20 minutes of her time. She was appalled.
"That's true, the marines are keeping a close eye on us. They don't seem hostile yet, but that could just be because they know they're no match for us." Zoro commented. He also believed they were unsure of the crew's actual threat level given that they had just put an Emperor out of commission. Word sure spread fast.
Nami glared at him briefly, uneasy that he was taking her side for once, and returned to the argument.
Overall, the day was spent trying to distract their captain or appease their navigator. Thus, the evening of the second day found them at an all-you-can-eat establishment, cheering up both individuals for completely different reasons. It would close down the next day from bankruptcy.
The staff were on their first re-supply run when the doors opened to a dozen or so marine soldiers, led by a captain.
None of the crew was surprised since Zoro and Sanji had already alerted everyone. Luffy just kept inhaling the food from their, and other's, table. In fact, when the soldiers walked up to their table, he was still stuffing his face, only allowing his eyes to follow them.
The men were clearly unnerved and the captain cleared his throat awkwardly, obviously uncomfortable with the whole situation.
"You might as well say what you're here to say, he's not going to stop until there's no more food." Usopp offered generously, he had been so nervous after Zoro and Sanji's warning that he stopped eating and now his plate was empty, compliments of his captain.
The marine glanced at him briefly, did a double take and stared in confusion, trying to figure out if he recognized him from wanted poster. He shook himself and returned to Luffy. "I am Captain Arrow, Monkey D. Luffy. As I'm sure you're aware, I've kept you and your crew under surveillance these last few days and as long as you remain a benign force I'll turn a blind eye and let you remain, if you choose to, for the remain of your stay. As I'm sure you're already discovered, it will take approximately one month for your log pose to reset-"
"So it's true!" Nami couldn't help but exclaim, then rounded angrily onto Luffy, temper renewed. "You see?!" She hissed. "We're out of here as soon as we get an eternal pose!"
Which made Luffy's eyes bulge and he started spraying food all over in an incomprehensible angry rant. Anyone without a few extra set of hands to shield themselves were quickly doused.
"You're looking for an eternal pose?" The captain asked in interest, but he only received a heated glare in response. "I see…" But that comment was lost in the chaos that ensued, as Sanji lectured Luffy, painfully, on table manners. The marine captain observed this display for a few seconds before pointedly clearing his throat. When no one (noticeably) reacted to it he took a few steps closer to the pirate captain. The accompanying marine soldiers, who had formed a loose circle around the table, now tightened ranks subtly. Zoro turned slightly in his seat by his captain's side and frowned at the man in warning. Captain Arrow lifted one hand upwards in a sign of peace, then used the other to extend towards Luffy. "Stay out of trouble, then." He stared down impassively at the youth, keeping his hand extended as Luffy observed the gesture.
Quickly swallowing his mouthful, Luffy grinned wide and roughly took the offered hand in a firm, friendly grip. The captain flinched on impact and his eyes widened in surprise. "Aha, you bet, Arrow-ossan! We'll do our best! Wanna join us, since you're here?" The offer was completely sincere, and it seriously confused the captain and soldiers. Clearly, Monkey D. Luffy was as insane as all the newspapers indicated.
"…No, thank you. I don't think that would be wise."
Luffy pouted at the refusal. "Why not? Aren't you hungry?"
Robin intervened in a low tone, over the rim of her cup. "It wouldn't do, for the Marine's reputation, to be seen pleasantly dining with pirates in such a public place."
Luffy still seemed somewhat confused. "Really? Grandpa does it."
Arrow twitched-
"Luffy, your grandfather is crazy." Nami pointed out, obviously recalling a certain single-handed bombardment and loose lip-ness.
"Oh, yeah." And their captain returned to his food.
"Well, that is all." And, with a cursory hat-tip to the ladies, he and his soldiers filed out of the establishment.
"My, my, how mysterious." Brook muttered loud enough for their table to hear, causing several members to look up at him curiously.
"Huh? What is?" Chopper got out over his excessive mouthful of pasta. He was also wrestling Luffy for the last of his meat.
"I believe he's referring to the note our guest just handed off." Robin smiled and took a bite from her kisch as Sanji used a fork to stab the rubbery hand that approached her plate.
"Really, he did?!" Usopp exclaimed in surprise.
Nami was nodding. "Quite masterfully, even I almost missed it."
"Nami-swan and Robin-chan are so observant!" Sanji gushed, received warning glances from several members, and turned to his captain. "So what does the shit-marine want?"
Luffy was still blowing on his slightly punctured hand and glaring at Sanji in annoyance, but he reached into his pocket to retrieve a small, folded piece of paper. He barely glanced at it before tossing it over to Nami.
She gave a startled squeak before lunging to grab the light paper, then she hit Luffy over the head and grumbled as she unfolded it. "We should probably be a little more discreet about this…" She blinked at the scrawled words.
"What is it?" Usopp leaned over to get a look with Chopper hanging over his neck for a glimpse, too. Everyone else was a little more dignified in their curiosity.
2300 your ship.
"'2,300'? What's that mean?" Chopper inquired as Nami put the note away in a pocket. She had a frown on her face.
"It's the time. Seems like he wants to talk some more." She glanced at her captain, but he seemed unconcerned as he continued his meal, and she sighed.
"What, on our sh-!" Franky started to exclaim.
"Not here. We'll discuss it when we're alone." Zoro cut him off and glared at a few nearby tables who had started to give them curious looks. They quickly ceased under his attention.
Franky acknowledged the sense in it, but continued to grumble. Damn marines, making appointments on other people's ships like they own them.
One hour later.
"Sanji, I'm hungry!"
Said cook didn't even deign to answer, just gritted his cigarette and continued the conversation. "We'll just keep on guard, I doubt they'll attack outright."
"He seems to want to talk about something in private. I wonder what it could be about?" Robin questioned, in this instance she completely drew a blank.
"It seemed like he specifically wanted to speak with Luffy." Zoro stated.
"Yes, but that also could have been a distraction in case someone was listening in." Brook put in.
"Hmm, I doubt it. It wouldn't have been such a stretch for him to talk to Luffy as captain." Nami replied. "Anyway, there's no use speculating now, we'll just have to wait and see." She glanced at the clock that read 10:49.
"It won't be long now." Chopper stated nervously.
"Don't worry, he's not looking for a fight." Luffy reassured their youngest member.
"Really?"
"Really."
"Well, then, what is he here for?" Usopp asked eagerly, encouraged by his captain's confident tone.
He gave his sharpshooter a surprised look. "How am I supposed to know?"
The rest of the crew chuckled as Usopp scolded him for leading them on, even Zoro cracked a smile.
"Calm down, Usopp. Nami-swan's right, as usual, we just have to wait."
"Fine! But at least I'm going to prepare!" And with that, he bolted towards his workshop to gather ammunition, Chopper close on his heels with a 'wait for me!' Sanji just rolled his eyes and asked Robin and Nami if they wanted tea or coffee, since it seemed like it would be a long night, they accepted and he got busy preparing the drinks and snacks, as he finally gave in to Luffy's obnoxious whining.
So it was that Usopp and Chopper were out on deck to witness a dark, cloaked, figure seem to rise directly out of the grass on deck. Needless to say, any semblance of calm they had acquired from their weapons was forgotten immediately and replaced with twin screams.
Several members in the galley jumped at the sound and spilled their drinks; the monster trio was out the door before most even really registered the sound. They didn't even bother with the stairs, merely jumping the railing to land right in front of the terrified pair.
"Well, you're punctual, at least." Zoro noted with an intimidating smirk.
"Do you have somewhere more private?" A familiar voice asked from the cloaked person.
Luffy seemed to relax when he confirmed Usopp and Chopper's safety, so he grinned and led the man up to the galley. The others had come out onto the landing but filed back in as he approached. Zoro, Sanji, Usopp, and Chopper followed soon after, the terrified doctor still clinging to Usopp with a death-grip. Everyone took seats and Sanji went to fill a new cup as they waited for their guest to explain themselves.
True to their expectations, the figure removed their hood to reveal the captain they had spoken with earlier.
"So, what did you want to talk about, Arrow-ossan?"
The captain grimaced at the familiarity (some on the crew thought he should be thankful Luffy actually remembered his name, but they didn't say anything) and carefully brought out a wooden box from under his cloak. "It wasn't me that wanted to talk to you. I'm just returning a favor." He unlatched the bolts and removed the cover to show them an unusual Den Den Mushi. Its shell was a bit larger, for one, but it also had two radio dishes hooked up to its apex. Currently the snail was asleep.
Robin leaned towards it in interest. "Oh, my. That is a long-distance Den Den Mushi."
Franky lifted his glasses to get a better look. "Yeah, Bakaburg used to have one in his office."
"Aren't they pretty rare, though?" Nami asked as she slapped Luffy's prodding hand away from the snail.
"Not exactly, it requires a snail with a higher frequency rate, but it will eventually have to be enhanced with dishes like these, so they're becoming more common as technology advances. Still, both ends of the transmission need to have the right snails in order for the connection to work."
"Oh…" Several crewmembers let out disappointed sighs as they realized they wouldn't be able to contact home, then.
"Long-range calls are easier to tap, though." Robin continued, raising an eyebrow at the Marine.
"The communication is coming from a Marine snail, to a Marine snail, so there is small chance of wire-tapping. My colleague will be discreet, nevertheless, so I suggest you do the same. But you're free to refuse the call, I've already done my part." He truly did not seem to care, one way or the other.
Suddenly, the snail snapped awake and intoned in monotone 'buruburuburuburu' making a few people jump.
The Marine got to his feet. "I'll leave this with you. Be warned, once you leave this island I will be reporting it's serial number as missing." He let the warning hang, his footsteps and exit drowned by the Den Den Mushi's chatter. Robin supervised him with her powers as he left their ship.
"Well, that didn't tell us much." Nami huffed in frustration. She turned to the snail with trepidation. "So what are we-"
Luffy picked up the receiver. "Hello?! This is Monkey D. Luffy. I'm gonna be Pirate King!" He stated.
No one even had time to react, they just sat there staring in shock.
Zoro, once the surprise wore off, threw back his head and let out a bark of laughter. A few others followed him.
However, nothing could match the thunderous laughter that came from the snail, whose face had contorted into tearful mirth, which drowned out all the noise in the room. It silenced them in renewed surprise and caution. Who was this?
"GURAHAHAHAHA! Is that the way you answer calls, idiot grandson?!"
So, things are starting to pick up.
I should amend my previous statement and say that there will be some Shanks appearances, just not directly or prolonged.
I wrote a lot this weekend, so I should have the next chapter up sometime this next weekend.
By the way, did you all watch the 15th anniversary special this weekend? It was sooo cooool! Kyah! I love interactions between Luffy and Hancock, so I was super excited. I was surprised they subtitled it so quickly, not that I'm complaining! And I was anticipating some great reveal at the end of the credits by what I had read online but, if you're caught up with the manga, it's not really a spoiler. Still cool to see, though.