Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece or Fairy Tail.
The third chapter of the bulk submission.
When Lucy regained consciousness, being the last to do so, she noticed Zoro's absence and immediately went looking for him. She found him, standing in a circle of his own blood, somehow, miraculously, still alive. She immediately got him back to the others to be patched up by Chopper. There were no words to express how relieved she was to hear he would be okay once he got some proper rest. In the meantime, Lucy watched over him.
Once he woke up, everyone was feasting and celebrating. Brook joined their crew, adding his thirty three million beli to their overall crew bounty, as well as finally giving their crew a musician. As a celebration, Brook began playing a piano that the other crew found, playing a popular pirate song called, "Bink's Sake" to which everyone began singing along, except for Lucy who didn't know the song. There were other things on her mind anyway.
Things had been so hectic that Lucy and Zoro hadn't really had a chance to speak in private since the swordsman woke up, not that either of them were particularly ready for what this would entail. They both remembered the kiss they had shared. Every time Lucy thought about it she felt really happy and it made her heart flutter. Zoro, on the other hand, wasn't sure what to do. He had never been in a romantic relationship, or ever really thought about having one either, his primary and essentially only goal in life was to become the strongest swordsman in the world, but ever since Lucy had entered his life, everything had been . . . less certain for him.
Nevertheless, they still needed to find where they stood. Finally, they were able to get away from the others to chat. Lucy and Zoro stood in front of each other in awkward silence for several moments, neither of them saying anything. Lucy felt so nervous and Zoro felt so unsure.
Finally, it was Lucy who decided to break the silence. "Um . . . Zoro . . . why . . . did you kiss me?"
" . . . Isn't it obvious?" Zoro asked.
"Perhaps . . . but I want to hear you say it." said Lucy. "And be honest . . . no leaving things out."
Zoro sighed through his nose. He really wasn't good at "talking", being a man of action. Regardless, he decided to give it a shot. "I kissed you because . . . you were going take Luffy's pain in my place, it made me realize . . . how important you are to me . . . even then I only kissed you because I thought it would be the last I would see you."
Lucy blushed. She really had been going to do that, she'd been so worried Zoro was going to die. "Does that mean . . . you like me then?"
He frowned. "I wouldn't have kissed you if I didn't. I don't know if you feel the same or not, but I don't want anything to change between us, regardless of your feelings towards me. I have a dream I need to accomplish, and I plan to do so. Romance . . . will only be a distraction. Besides . . . in seven years . . . you'll return home won't you?"
Lucy visibly flinched at that. "I . . . I don't know . . . But I do know that . . . I really like you, a lot. I can't just go back to pretending that nothing happened between us. I don't see romance as a distraction, because where I'm from , love always makes a person stronger, it gives them a reason to fight and survive. I'm not saying we should . . . be a lovey dovey couple . . . and I don't want things to change between us either, I loved the friendship we had and I don't want that to change, but that doesn't mean we can't be together."
Zoro crossed his arms as he thought about what she said. So she wasn't expecting the stereotypical lovey dovey relationship from him, and she did want to keep their friendship intact, which was the same thing he wanted. However, neither of them would be able to deny their feelings and he knew she was right about love making a person stronger, the only reason why he hadn't died from taking Luffy's pain was because he had been thinking about Lucy, and how much it would hurt her if he died and how much he wanted to see her again. He noticed Lucy's nervous expression as she waited for his response.
" . . . How about we just see where things go?" Lucy suggested. "We don't have to start dating right away or anything, just . . . try things out and see how they work out?"
" . . . So we'd be friends . . . who are kind of dating?" asked Zoro.
"I guess?" said Lucy.
Zoro mentally shrugged. He supposed he could give it a shot, as long as it didn't distract him too much from defeating Mihawk. He stepped closer to Lucy, who was waiting for his response to her suggestion. Always a man of action more than words, he leaned forward and captured her lips a second time, catching her by surprise judging by the small "eep" noise she made against his lips. He pulled away and smirked at the blush on her cheeks.
"To seal the deal." he said before walking away to return back to the others.
"I-! You-! Uhg!" Lucy shouted in frustration.
And just like that, all the tensions between them were diffused. Neither of them had any plans to announce this next step in their relationship to the crew, not yet anyway. In the next couple of days, as the crews prepared for the Straw Hats' departure, nothing had really changed much between Zoro and Lucy apart from a few stolen kisses here and there when no one was watching, and Zoro starting fights with Sanji every time he tried to flirt with Lucy.
Finally it came time for them to leave. Lola gave Lucy half a piece of paper called a Vivre Card that belonged to her mother, a paper that would always lead in the direction of its owner. She told them they should look for her mother if they ever got into trouble in the New World. Remembering the piece of paper that Ace had given him back at Alabasta, Luffy takes it out where everyone notices the piece of paper slowly burning. Instinctively, Lucy knew this wasn't good and she was proven right when Lola explained that this meant that Ace's life was in danger. Though momentarily concerned, Luffy puts the paper back in the ribbon of his hat, stating his brother will be fine and can handle himself. Having everything they needed, the Straw Hats said farewell to Lola and her crew and set sail, leaving Thriller Bark and the Florian Triangle behind in favor of following the Log Pose towards Fishman island while the Rolling Pirates set sail as well, using Brook's old ship.
• • •
A few days later they arrived at the spot directly above Fishman Island. However they encountered an obstacle, the Red Line, which Lucy knew by now was the continuous strip of land encircling the prime meridian of this world. It was blocking them from entering, therefore halting their progression, and as it was impassable it left them stranded near several World Government landmarks , like the Marine Headquarters and the holy land of Mariejois inhabited by the World Nobles.
With really no other options, Luffy, Robin, and Brook take the Thousand Sunny's miniature submarine, Shark Submerge, below to search for Fishman Island. They find nothing but a very angry rabbit Sea King that chases them to the surface where Luffy was able to easily beat it with one of his rubber punches, causing it to spit out a mermaid and a starfish. Thanking the pirates for saving them, the mermaid introduces herself as Keimi, and her talking starfish as Pappug before trying to sell them some takoyaki.
Taking a Den Den Mushi out of her satchel, she proceeds to call her boss, the owner of a takoyaki stand by the name of Hatchan. She's shocked when someone else answers, claiming to have captured Hatchan and are planning to sell him as a slave. Keimi begs the Straw Hats to help her save him. After consulting with Nami, Luffy agrees. Using her ability to speak with the fish around them she helps them navigate towards Grove 44 of the Sabaody Archipelago, the base of the Flying Fish Riders, the people that had captured the octopus fishman, was on this route.
As they neared the base they were attacked by some of the Flying Fish Riders, who returned to their base after a brief battle, having been ordered to retreat by their leader Duval. When they enter the base, they find it oddly quiet and figure out that it is not an island, but a village built on the sea. They knew it was a trap, but they had promised to help. However, the Pappug and Keimi did not seem to realize this. Hatchan, who was tied up in a cage, tried to warn them about the trap. It is then that finally recognize the octopus fishman.
Lucy saw that the crew was starting to reconsider helping Hatchan and sensed the tension between them. Angry at them for thinking of going back on their promise to help, Pappug and Keimi jump into the sea, where they are nearly instantly captured by the Flying Fish Riders. Lucy looked at Hatchan before speaking up.
"I don't know what past you have with Hatchan, but whatever he did, he's changed, and we should help them anyway, because we said we would, and Keimi and Pappug are our friends." said Lucy.
"Would forgive someone who wronged you?" asked Nami.
"I would and I have." said Lucy.
That seemed to convince the others to help as well. With that, Luffy rescues Keimi and Pappug using his rubber ability, and Zoro freed Hatchan while the rest of the crew fought the Flying Fish Riders and the Marcro Pirates that were working with them. They continued to battle them until Luffy crashes a giant flying fish into Duval's room, having been trying to ride it. The leader soon chases Luffy out of the room, riding on his bull. It is then that he proclaims that Sanji destroyed his life, and when Sanji states that he doesn't remember him. Luffy tells the crew that they all know his face, and that's when Luffy violently removes his mask.
Everyone gasped. Duval's face was an exact replica of Sanji's horribly drawn wanted poster picture. Duval begins to shout how Sanji ruined his life, and was promptly kicked in the face by Sanji, who shouted he didn't care. They then proceeded to argue until Sanji rearrange Duval's face, making him much more handsome to be honest. Getting Hatchan, Keimi, Pappug, and the other crew members back on the ship, they begin sailing away, leaving the Macro Pirates and the Flying Fish Riders defeated.
Later they celebrate together by eating some of Hatchan's takoyaki. After Usopp, Luffy, and Chopper eat till they couldn't eat anymore, and Hatchan collapsed from the effort of keeping up with them, Duval finds them and expresses his gratitude for his new, handsome face. He offers the Straw Hats his Den Den Mushi number, telling them to call him if they ever needed help. With that, Duval and his Riders rode off.
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