I hope you all enjoyed the last chapter!
Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece.
~Escape from the Auction House~
Sabo ran along the edges of Grove 1, hidden by the large roots. His eyes were planted firmly on the battle happening in the grove, not sure what to think of the fight. It was completely one-sided, that was sure, and he could finally see just how strong Luffy had gotten since they departed.
Sabo smirked, a proud look in his eyes as watched Luffy's arm grow to the size of a giants and attack the marines. His eyes also glanced at the other two captains, noting their dangerous abilities. Trafalgar's devil fruit was dangerous in its own right: it gave him a lot of control on the battlefield. Eustass' was just scary, nothing made out of metal would work on him, so it would have to be pure skill, without weapons.
Sabo finally came along the back lines of the three captain and began fighting marines that were trying to sneak up on the pirates. As he knocked them out he kept an eye on the entrance to the auction house, watching as the crews slowly began to file out. Sabo glanced once more at Luffy and nearly lost it when he didn't see the normal seventeen year old but what looked like a seven year old.
"Lu," he whispered, eyes widening as not to long after the boy returned to normal.
Though his relief that Luffy was fine nearly turned to horror as he heard Luffy's well-known catchphrase. Oh yeah, Ann was going to kill Sabo, there was no debate on it. As he continued fighting the marines, knocking them out with simple punches, he kept an eye trained on the captains. Watching as the marines tried sneak attacks on Eustass and were stopped by his crewmate, Killer.
Sabo watched as Kidd's crew began cutting a path forward to make his escape, Law and his crew began rounding about and pushing forward to keep themselves from being open. Sabo nearly yelled out to Luffy when several marines tried to team up on him, but before he could a blonde man kicked the opponents down in seconds.
The man pointed in Sabo's direction and Sabo just then realized someone was shouting from behind him. Turning he saw some really weird looking guys and realized they must be his brother's allies. Turning back to his fight he saw the straw-hats beginning to make their way through the marines. He could see Ann sticking close to an old man with a fish-man on his back. Sabo's eyes nearly bugged out as he realized who the man was. What was Roger's first-mate doing there?
"Are you an ally of the straw-hats?" a marine shouted before he met Sabo's fist.
Sabo smirked. "You could say that."
Ann finally spotted him and broke away a bit from Luffy's crew, running towards her captain. Sabo smiled as he saw her pull out a gun from her bag and she open fired on the marines, making sure not to land any fatal shots. Sabo continued using his fists to attack, not at all worried about going all out on the grunts.
"Sabo," Ann called as she finally reached her captain.
Sabo smiled, tipping his hat to her. "Glad to see you're okay."
"No thanks to you," she commented with a glare.
Sabo noted the Straw-hats continuing to make a path. "Let's not fall behind shall we?"
Ann only nodded in response before they were following after the other crew, Sabo was almost glad for the marines. He could see how his brother's crew handled battle, and he had to say he was impressed. He noticed one member, a girl looking almost like Ann, raising her staff in the air. Looking back he noted the clouds that had formed above them.
Sabo quickly grabbed Ann by the waist as he noted they were behind Luffy and his crew. He didn't want to know what the girls plan was. Sabo leapt forward carrying Ann as he jumped out of the way of the lightning that began raining down not a second later. He turned to the girl as they reached their friends on the cliff, Luffy still not realizing they had a few tag-alongs.
"A little warning would have been nice," he shouted at the orange haired girl.
The girl frowned at him. "The marines don't need a bulletin when we do something! Who are you anyways?"
Sabo was about to speak when Luffy finally turned his attention to them, smiling as he saw his older brother. "Sabo!"
Sabo turned to his little brother in time to catch him in a hug. "Hey Lu. Did you miss me?"
He felt Luffy nod as he hugged the blonde even harder. Sabo chuckled, pushing the raven's straw-hat down so he could ruffle the black locks underneath. He could feel everyone staring at them, but ignored it as Ann glared in his direction. He kind of didn't want to be left alone with the girl now, she might actually kill him.
"As great as this is, Hachi is hurt so we need to get him medical attention," Rayleigh spoke up.
Luffy jumped out of Sabo's embrace with a determined look. "Right!"
The group began following Rayleigh, Sabo wanting to get to a place where they could quietly sneak away to or hide at least. He blinked as they were led to a bar. The woman behind the counter seemed almost familiar. He was sure she had been a famous pirate before now, but who she was exactly escaped him.
She went about readying the bed and medical supplies for the fish-man, and as she finished she noticed Sabo and Ann at the door behind the group. She smiled at the two of them, completely ignoring the straw-hats, so he figured she knew most of them at least.
"Looks like you picked up extras," she said to Rayleigh as he sat at the bar.
Rayleigh looked back at the two. "The girl was at the auction house and the boy is her captain I'm guessing."
"Yes Sir. I'm Sabo, captain of the Seraphim Pirates."
Luffy's swordsman looked up at the crew name. "Seraphim pirates?"
Before Sabo could reply Rayleigh spoke up again. "And a unit for the Revolutionary Army if I'm not mistaken?"
The straw-hats quieted as they looked at Sabo, Luffy being the only one to ignore the conversation still stuffing his face. Sabo watched the man carefully, he knew he could trust Rayleigh, he had been here before to get their ships coated by the man. This was his first time actually speaking with the man though.
Sabo never took his gaze off the man. "Yes I am. I'm impressed you know of us Dark King Silvers Rayleigh, First-mate to the Pirate King."
"First mate!" The straw-hats, Luffy included, began freaking out, surprising Sabo.
Sabo turned to look at Luffy, who looked quite surprised. "You didn't know?"
"How was I supposed to know?" he said excitedly as he stared at Rayleigh.
"Wait how are you alive? Wasn't everyone of the crew captured along with Roger?" The blonde man from earlier asked.
"Captured?" Rayleigh laughed. "Roger turned himself in."
Sabo watched Rayleigh carefully. "Why would he do that?"
"He saw the end of our journey. Roger was a dying man, he was terminally ill."
Sabo kept his face passive as he heard that his mind racing with the information. Did Ace know about this? Their older brother deserved to know about his father's final moments. Sabo glanced at Luffy, whose face didn't give away anything either if he even registered what Rayleigh said.
"Shanks was one such man," Rayleigh stated, drawing Sabo back into the conversation, the man was looking at Luffy.
Luffy with his mouth still full looked at the old man. "You know Shanks?"
"You guys are from the East Blue correct? Then you must know Buggy as well," Rayleigh continued.
"Buggy." Sabo heard the orange haired girl and swordsman mutter with a grimace.
"They were both apprentices on our ship," Rayleigh continued.
Luffy spit out all his food. "Shanks was on the Pirate King's ship?!"
Sabo felt like hitting the boy as he watched Luffy re-stuff the food into his mouth before it fell on the ground. The blonde moved closer to the bar, so that he could listen to the conversation better. Ann had already taken a seat near the door, happy to rest for the small break they had.
"I saw Shanks about ten years ago, his trademark straw hat and an arm missing. When I asked, he started talking about you," Rayleigh continued, "Now I won't say anymore. Whatever Shanks hasn't told you, he'll tell you when you meet in the New World."
Sabo went back to Ann as the pirates returned to their conversation of the ship's coating. Ann glanced at him as he sat next to her, resting as well. It had been too quiet in the area for him, and he wasn't sure what to think. Sabo closed his eyes as he listened to the conversations around him, before Robin spoke up.
"What is the Will of D.?" he heard her ask the first-mate.
Rayleigh glanced at her as she continued. "Is it possible you know what happened during the blank century nine-hundred years ago?"
Sabo snapped his eyes open to watch the exchange, Ann had moved next to him and pulled out a pad and pencil. Whatever was revealed would be important information for Dragon, he needed to know. Plus, if he finally got to figure out what was with the D. in his family's names he'd be happy.
"We did find out the entire history, but don't be too hasty. We and the Oharans were too hasty. Just take your time on your ship and learn for yourself," Rayleigh advised the woman. "If you still want to know, I can tell you."
Robin stood there for a moment, shocked before she smiled. "No. I will find out on my own."
"Now, don't assume Roger could decipher the characters-he couldn't. He did, however, have the power to hear the voice of 'all things'," Rayleigh commented.
The long nosed guy spoke up as Rayleigh finished. "Wait, you're letting this chance get away Robin! I have a question then old man! The treasure known as 'One Piece', is it really on the final isla-"
Luffy interrupted the other boy. "Usopp! We are not asking him where the treasure is! We won't even ask if there really is a treasure. If you ask him anything here and now, then I'll quit being a pirate." Sabo's eyes widened as he watched Luffy. "I don't want to go on a boring adventure like that."
Sabo watched his little brother as the long-nosed kid backpedaled quickly. Luffy had grown so much, and Sabo felt bad that he hadn't been there to see it.
"Surpassing your wildest imaginations. And the enemies will be strong. Do you think you can conquer this ultimate ocean?" Rayleigh questioned.
"I don't want to conquer anything I just think the person with the most freedom in the world is the Pirate King," Luffy answered simply, and Sabo smiled.
Sabo stood as they discussed plans once again for the coating of the ship. Ann followed after him as he stood and waited at the door. Sabo moved to Luffy, a small smile on his face.
"Hey, we got to make our getaway now if you guys are going to cause trouble," Sabo spoke to his little brother.
Luffy blinked. "Already?"
Sabo nodded. "Yeah, my crew already left Sabaody to escape."
"Then how do you plan to leave?" the woman behind the bar asked.
"I had them leave a small boat, and besides that, Ann and I have a way to escape if that doesn't work out," Sabo explained.
"Alright," Luffy commented, not worried about the blonde at all.
"Lu we'll meet again soon," Sabo promised.
Luffy nodded. "Of course!"
Sabo glanced back at the straw-hats. "You have a good crew. Has Ace met them yet?"
Luffy nodded. "Yeah. He approves."
"I approve as well then." Sabo smirked as he turned to the straw-hats. "Well, take care of my little brother guys. He can be a handful, so good luck."
Sabo didn't wait for the cries of surprised before he and Ann left the bar. He could hear the shouts from outside the bar. He and Ann began making their way back to where the ship had been left, ready to fight if needed.
"You're okay with leaving it like that?" Ann asked as they walked away.
"Yeah."
"Wouldn't it be better to stay with him?"
Sabo shook his head. "He's got his own crew now, he doesn't need me watching over him. Besides we have to go find our crew."
"Right," Ann commented as she stared ahead before she jolted as if remembering something.
"What's up?" Sabo asked, a bit confused.
"I forgot something," She simply stated.
"What did you forget?" Sabo asked, though he immediately regretted it.
"This!" The girl whacked him upside the head the moment he stopped talking.
Sabo chuckled weakly. "I deserved that."
"You bet you did."
The two walked in silence, Sabo trying to apologize to the girl who continued to tell the blonde off. They had a lot of ground to cover between the bar and the grove their boat should be at. A lot of ground and a lot of marines.
~End ch. 5~
I originally wasn't going to have Sabo and Ann go with the straw-hats to the bar, but it worked out just as fun. Sabo at the end cracked me up, and Ann is becoming easier to write for too.
Again thanks to my best beta-reader, okay my only beta-reader but still, Lady Spritzy, for putting up with me and my stories when she is very busy herself. She also deals with me on a weekly basis outside of writing, so she must have the patience or the attitude of a saint. I thank her also for being the reason I'm into One Piece in the first place, it's all her fault!
Reviewer's corner:
TheCaptainOfShips: No, if it makes you feel better I wanted to cry the whole time.
Miranda: Well Marineford will be coming up soon, all the fun of writing that. I'm glad it's being original, with this kind of story it was a big worry. Once Marineford is done then I can really get around to new things for the story.
Well till next time!