Author's Note - Attempted to give some interpersonal perspective to the crew.
Disclaimer : I do not own One Piece or any of the other fandoms from which names, places, abilities, or references are taken! Imaginary points to anyone who catches said references throughout the story and PM's them to me. Dunno if you'll get anything real, but i give sneak peaks and deleted scenes to my repeated reviewers, so it isn't unthinkable.
Chapter 06 - Shake the World
"Oh! Roger, let's check out that one!" Olivia pulled on the man's arm, nearly dragging him to the small book store she had just caught sight of. He smiled and followed, managing not to trip as she pulled him quickly across the street and through the door.
It was a slightly cramped, but bright and comfortable shop, with a table, a few chairs, and a counter in the front, and books lining every other wall. In the back, they could see two more rooms of books. The owner sat behind the counter, reading an old book. He looked up and greeted them kindly when they entered. He was far younger that Roger had expected. Olivia wasn't surprised though. She wouldn't mind owning a book store.
Roger followed behind, watching the captivated girl browse through the books, shelf after shelf. She was in heaven. She moved through the shop, glancing carefully over each book, sometimes taking one down for closer inspection before either replacing it, or dropping it into her bag. Roger found a book of ghost stories collected from all across East Blue. After paying for it, he took a seat in the front to wait.
Olivia had not been in a book store this big before. It felt the same as her home, with the books sitting on every shelf, and a few tables. She knew she wouldn't be able to look through them all or be able to get all the ones she wanted before they would have to leave, but she could at least get a good start and drag Kuina back here later.
She moved from aisle to aisle, marveling at the wide array of books this shop had to offer. Nearly all of them were used, but as far as she was concerned, that just meant someone else had thought them worth reading. She plucked one from a shelf that had been worn to the point she could not read the cover. She flipped to a random point inside and read a few lines. She blushed and replaced it, moving out of the romance section as quickly as she had entered it.
In a pile of books that were still in a box, waiting to be sorted and shelved, she found a book with a soft leather cover. Inside, there were a hundred pages of intricate designs and blueprints, and just as many unused pages. She grinned and dropped it into her bag. Soul would love it.
The young inventor and shipwright was a mystery to her. She knew so little about him, and she was deeply curious. She was curious about nearly everything, so it was nothing new to her, but it bothered her that he could give her the answers she wanted, but chose not to. It also made her a little sad that he still wouldn't tell any of them about his past in any detail. Not even the captain.
She could sort of understand though. It was clear he had gone through hell. She knew, both from overhearing partial conversations between him and Ace, as well as asking him directly, that he had lost his parents to some creature, then set out at the age of ten looking for revenge. He had gained a bounty and a reputation as a demon. She knew they had all heard some monstrous accusations about him, and he had never denied them.
But Ace didn't seem to care. As far as the captain was concerned, the past was the past, and he trusted Soul, so that was good enough for her. Roger hadn't taken much convincing either. Kuina, on the other hand, seemed determined to keep him, if not at arms length, then at least slightly farther away than Roger.
It almost made her laugh, how similar the two were sometimes. Both were incredibly stubborn. Quick to make decisions, and slow to amend them, even if it is clear they are mistaken. Both are slow to give their trust, and both have a respect for Ace that goes beyond obedience. They are both loyal to a fault, and confident in their individual skills. They both have a large amount of respect for each other as well, even if they hate to admit it.
All in all, the Reaper could have been Kuina's best friend under better circumstances. It was a shame that he would not open up to them. Olivia felt sure that if he would just tell them his story, Kuina would embrace him completely, and there would be a lot fewer arguments on the ship. There was little she could do about it though. It was Soul's choice, and she would never push him to make it before he was ready.
She shook her head and turned her attention to another book. A cook book, compiled from around the world. She flipped it open and could barely believe her eyes. It was written by Sanji. He must have had it published as soon as he opened his restaurant. She knew who would appreciate that one!
The cook... Roger was an interesting person as well. Not quite the walking mystery that Soul was, but still not an open book. She knew he was extremely reliable and respectful, likely from the years he spent working odd jobs around his town. He was honest, and was usually the first to look for a compromise, or admit he was wrong. He helps her keep the peace between her sister and Soul.
The real mystery with Roger is his father. She had her suspicions, but she didn't want to voice them and cause him trouble. She would wait, and watch, and eventually the truth would come out. Until then, she could enjoy his company. He loved adventure, and was always as excited as Ace to reach the next destination and see what would be awaiting them.
She had offered to let him borrow any book he wanted, but he told her that he preferred to listen to her tell him about the books she had read instead. So now she spent the time before every meal in the kitchen with him, talking about what she had read most recently. Sometimes she would get him to tell her a story he had heard from the older residents of his village, or ask her questions about something he didn't understand, but usually he just listened.
She had to admit, it was nice having someone who loved the same stories as her that was willing to sit and listen to her talk for as long as she wanted. Her sister had always put up with her, but then again Kuina would have put up with anything from her, so it barely counted. Roger listened to her eagerly, and genuinely wanted to hear her talk about these stories.
She was beginning to understand what it was her sister felt for the captain. Ace was a good looking man, with his thin, muscular frame, and unruly black hair partially covering his dark, stormy eyes, but she thought Roger was far more handsome. His sheet of uneven red hair, and his relaxed personality always made her watch him more than the rest.
There would be time for exploring her feelings for the man later. Right now, she needed to look through the last of these books before their time was up! She pulled a large, ancient book from a high shelf. It had fallen over, and had a layer of dust over it. She cleaned it off and flipped through it. It had pictures of islands and towns. She knew they didn't have this one in their collection. Kuina would love it.
Her sister was her dearest friend. She knew that not all sisters got along as well as they did, and occasionally wondered if it was just because they were twins or if there was some deeper reason that they had always found themselves inseparable. They had different interests, and different tastes in certain things, like Kuina's crush on Ace and whatever it was she had for Roger, but they had rarely had any real arguments.
They spent almost all of their time together from birth, only recently spending time apart for their individual training in different fields. Most people thought that as the "good girl", Olivia blindly followed her sister. They were wrong. There were just as many times when her sister followed her, and many times they had decided together not to do something one of them was against. It was just that they rarely needed to speak to communicate, and Kuina was always the one to walk in first, being the more social of the sisters.
Olivia reached the end of the last shelf on the last aisle and sighed. She hadn't found anything for the captain. She knew he wouldn't hold it against her, but she still wanted to bring back something for everyone. Ace was always a surprise. She had known him nearly as long as she had known her sister, and he still managed to surprise her.
At first she had only followed him because of her sister, but as time went on, she began to feel the same respect and loyalty that Kuina did. She began following him because he was an honest, inspiring, and cleaver leader. Now, if her sister stopped following him, she wasn't sure what she would do. It would be a hard choice she hoped she would never have to make.
Whatever lessons Dragon had been teaching the man, he had become an excellent captain. There were still times when he would throw his level head out the window and act on instinct, but it always seemed to work out in his favor when he did. He knew when to listen to training, and when to listen to his heart. It was hard not to admire him.
She had heard stories about his father all her life, from her mother, Nami, and Dragon, and knew that Ace idolized him. The young captain wanted to live up to the Pirate King, and he was well on his way. She knew his dream stretched farther than simply becoming the Pirate King though. He wanted to understand their world. It was definitely a dream she would gladly give her life to follow as well.
Her own dreams... Well, what she really dreamed of was experiencing just a little of the world her mother had seen. The friendship and adventure that the woman had treasured for many years. She wanted to have some part of that. To live free, see the world, and see your nakama fulfill their dreams was the best life she could imagine.
She glimpsed a thin book she had passed over on her first pass and grabbed it. The Pirate King's Crew. She laughed and flipped through it. It had been intended as a picture book for children, but she knew that didn't matter. Ace would love it. It talked about the crew of the first Pirate King. Gold Roger. She put it in her bag, and soon she and Roger were leaving the small shop and heading back toward the ship.
It was amazing how immersed the young doctor could become in books. Roger had enjoyed watching the emotions flash across her face as she had searched the store from wall to wall. Well, he enjoyed watching her do about anything. She was beautiful, and the kindest person he had ever met. He was glad he had joined the crew, if only for the time he got to spend in her company. All of these pirates... He couldn't imagine not knowing them now. They were a part of his life that he considered indispensable.
Olivia always brightened his day. She would join him in the kitchen whenever he went to prepare a meal, and tell him about the things she had read. He looked forward to those hours with great anticipation, always wondering what stories she would have the next time. She was generally very quiet, and he loved getting to hear her talk.
Her sister was something else entirely. He felt sure that, unless they were trying to fool him, he would never be able to mistake them for each other. They were as different as night and day in many ways. Kuina was much more vocal, never holding back what she thought. This often caused conflict between her and Soul, but he knew it was just the way she was.
He spent a lot of time in Kuina's company. Both of them spent most of their time with either Ace or Olivia, so it was unavoidable, not that he wanted to avoid her. She was fun to talk with, and shared his excitement to reach new places, even if it was for different reasons. She was also usually willing to let him defuse the arguments she had with Soul. She trusted him to act as an impartial mediator, and he did his best to do just that.
He had been uneasy about Soul at first, but after the incident which had led to his new position among the crew, he trusted the man as much as Ace and Olivia did. He had offered his life in place of theirs when he could have easily let the doctor die and escaped. That was enough for him, and he suspected it was enough for the navigator too, but she was too stubborn to admit it yet. It would just take time.
Soul didn't seem to mind. He was used to being mistrusted, and never took the trust the others placed in him for granted. Roger figured he would die before he would betray Ace. He and Olivia followed the captain with loyalty and respect, but Kuina and Soul went far beyond that. Kuina would be hard pressed to deny she held a deep attraction for the man. Soul saw him as the son of the man who had spared his father, and as the man who gave him a dream and nakama. Roger could understand their devotion.
The captain was a truly incredible man. It was becoming apparent that he was far more thoughtful and calculating than his father had been, at least according to the stories Roger had heard. Ace put a great deal of thought into his words and actions, and Roger could tell the difference it made. He had managed to change Soul completely.
Roger looked up to see the ship just ahead. He smiled. It had been an enjoyable and relaxing first day in the town, and now that they were fully stocked, they didn't need to worry so much. Now, he had the ship to himself for the next two hours.
How had her day turned into this? She had been looking forward to spending hours walking through the famous streets, arm in arm with Ace. Now? Now she was stuck with Soul. She would give anything to put him in a box and inspect him to his namesake and determine, once and for all, what kind of man he was. If he was simply a demon, it would be easy to hate him. If the things she knew about him were misunderstood, or lies, or justifiable, she could easily fall for him as hard as she had for Ace.
But as it stood, all he made her feel was confused, and that made her irritable. Why did he have to be such a contradiction? A demon and an angel. She didn't like uncertainty. She knew the others trusted him. Honestly, if they were in a pinch, she knew she would trust him too, but she just couldn't accept that until she could understand him.
Kuina sighed in frustration. At least their little bonding experience was nearly over. She'd be able to vent to her sister soon, then she would feel better. Maybe her twin would have insight that would help her. Few knew that Olivia was one of the most observant people they would ever meet. The young doctor took in details automatically, that would take her great effort to seek out.
She probably already knew that her sister was feeling conflicted about the shipwright and was just waiting for her to bring it up herself. Kuina smiled slightly. She had revealed her crush on Ace a few years ago, expecting to surprise her sister, but instead received a raised eyebrow and a look that clearly said, "I thought you had already told me? Oops." She loved her sister to death, but it was a bit frustrating when the girl seemed to be able to read her mind.
It wasn't a one way street though. She could read her sister like a book, and knew that she had taken a liking to the cook since the day they had met. She also knew that Olivia also held some conflict of feelings regarding Soul, only she didn't have the same reservations as her twin.
The navigator thought for a moment about the cook and her sister. Would she be okay with that? Roger was a respectable man, and as far as she could tell, he was exactly what he seemed. He had grown up in a peaceful town. He never had to deal with the glances of people wondering if he would become a demon.
He never had any reason to hide who he was. Still, would he be good enough for her sister? That remained to be seen. Soul on the other hand... He was brilliant, no denying that. And he was strong enough to protect her. He had proven he was loyal to the point of offering his life for hers. Regardless of her personal feelings for the man, whatever they were, she couldn't deny he would make an acceptable partner for Olivia.
But she could also see him being a good partner for herself, if they could only stop arguing for ten minutes. She glanced sideways at him. He was gorgeous, in his own way. The same height as Ace, lean, but with slightly more muscle in his limbs. His hands... They were captivating. He was a craftsman of immense skill, as she had already seen. His fingers were long and elegant, strong and flexible. His hair was the same black as Ace's, and were it not for his intense green eyes, he could easily pass for the captain's brother.
His eyes were always moving, taking in things she considered irrelevant. He reminded her of her sister in that way. But she knew his mind was working on different lines. Where Olivia would be piecing together the clues her eyes were feeding her to determine unseen details about a person, Soul was analyzing how to disassemble something, or how best to counter an attack in any given position.
She felt a sudden burst of annoyance. He had not spoken hardly a word to her during their entire trip. Of course, if he had, it would have rapidly deteriorated into an argument, but he could have tried. She looked away when he turned a questioning look upon her. She soothed herself by thinking about the next two hours she would be spending with Ace, and the following two with her sister.
Her day wasn't a complete loss yet.
He could almost hear her glaring at him. He had to look back at her to be sure he wasn't just being paranoid. Nope. She was definitely boring holes into him with her eyes. She looked away with a growl when he caught her. He had really tried not to say anything that could lead to an argument while they were under orders to stay together. It was only for two hours, but it felt much longer with the endless uncomfortable silence between them.
He glanced at the line of buildings to their left, across the street. They would be the quickest cover, but the easiest place to attack from. If a group of pirates or marines wanted to bring them down, this street was perfect for an ambush. There was little he could do about it though. Kuina had chosen the direction, and she was the navigator.
His thoughts roamed to a fountain at the end of the street. It had various bladed wheels obstructing it's flow, and from each of them, two lights dangled, powered by the turn of the water wheels. He could do so much better with his new Transmission Dials. He smiled at his hidden cargo. At least he had been able to find a few of the Den Den Mushi he needed.
There were many things aboard the ship he could power with a perpetual flow system. They were small, but with time, or proper placement, he could make the most of them. Kuina had, grudgingly, helped him in his search. She had agreed to watch the others to see if the water came out of any of them. They found two linked pairs, and he got two others for experimentation.
If he could link more than two, there was no limit to what he could do. That was assuming he could turn these Den Den Mushi into Dials. They were a distant relative, but they did share many similarities, so it was worth a try.
The real question was what to try first? He had already made their navigator a table to get them anywhere in the world. He had thrown together a collapsible and adjustable book stand for Olivia. It would allow her to read in her deck chair without holding the book with her arms in the air. She had appreciated it. He had improved the water delivery and disposal system in the kitchen for Roger. That only left the captain.
They were all his crew, so in a way, anything that helped them, helped him. However, Soul was determined to create something of particular use to his captain. It would take some time to think of something the captain could use though. Now, he needed to focus on not setting off the volatile navigator beside him.
The next two hours would be a welcome break.
Ace sat on the figurehead of the ship, leaning comfortably against one of the spikes. He was enjoying the strong breeze and the warmth of the afternoon sun. He had a long evening ahead of him. Two hours with Kuina would be an enjoyable break from being the captain. It would be nice to just be himself for a while. Then he would be with Soul until dinner.
He still wondered what it was he felt tugging at him when he met the man, and again when he appointed him as his first mate. It went against logic. Kuina and Olivia had proven themselves beyond question to him. Roger was level headed and always tried to find peaceful compromises among the crew. Any of them would have been smarter choices than the wanted murderer they had just met.
But he just knew that Soul was the right one. That was who his father would have chosen. In a way, his father had chosen him when he spared Soul's father on Raftel. Ace knew the story was true. He had heard his mother tell his grandfather about the marine that his father had refused to kill in the attack. She never knew why, but Ace had a feeling that he had felt the same pull that he felt with Soul. There was something in his future that Ace had to allow.
It would be interesting to see what destiny the man carried. He wondered what would become of their crew after they reached Raftel. The last two Pirate Kings had disbanded their crews and given themselves over for execution. His grandfather was no longer leading the revolution, at least not actively. The government was recovering from the Great Age of Pirates. But it had also let its guard down.
Ace's father had shaken the world. He had shown what it took to become the Pirate King, and most of the other great pirates had either allied with him and retired with him, or had stood in his way and been destroyed. As far as the government was concerned, there were no more serious threats beyond the Emperors, and none of them were making any grabs for the lofty title.
The young captain smiled to himself. They were about to receive a rude awakening. He knew he had to go about it carefully, or he would be the sole focus of their entire forces, and he wasn't ready for that yet. He needed to relight the fire in people's hearts. Ace knew that Roger had sent the world into a frenzy, daring them all to try and match him. It had taken a quarter of a century, but one crew finally did. But with his death, their was no rush of passion as their had been before.
Ace was grateful. If there had been, his life would have been a crime. He wouldn't have been able to grow strong under his grandfather's training. Now he was ready, though. He needed to shake the world. The question was how. How could he, with a crew of only five, and only the notoriety of his name, going to accomplish what only the first Pirate King had managed? He had to figure that out soon.
He could almost hear his grandfather guiding him between blows. You need to identify your goal, and then work towards it, step by step. Work back to where you are now in your head, then you'll see the path to victory. Keep your head on straight, and know when to act on instinct, and when to act with care. He did his best to keep to those words, but he was struggling to find a path between here and there now.
There was also the question of what he would do to achieve his dream. He had limits, unlike many pirates his father had defeated. He would not slaughter innocent people to gain fame. He would find his own way. His name would only take him so far. He had to prove to the world that he would live up to that name.
He needed a decisive victory against an unbeatable enemy. The twins had improved their skills with their ability immensely, and Roger was becoming more dangerous with a sword by the day. Soul was already renowned, and would likely have a staggering bounty if more people survived to spread rumors and reports of his danger. And he liked to think he was growing stronger and more experienced as well. If the Buggy pirates challenged his crew now, he wouldn't count them out now.
Ace sighed and looked up at the sky. There was only so much he could do. He could only hope now that the Will of his father would bring him luck. It wasn't much to go on, but many said his father walked through life as though the very forces of nature fought for him. They said the same about Gold Roger. None quite so much as Dragon though.
His grandfather, the Revolutionary Dragon, was more than lucky. The weather didn't simply fight on his side, it was at his service, at least until he retired. Many thought he had a Devil's Fruit ability of immense power, but they were wrong. His power was from the sea. He had inherited his power from a wise man that led the revolution while it was still working in complete secrecy.
The power, combined with the Will of D and haki made the government more than nervous. He was a danger to the world in a very real way if he had chosen a path of destruction. Fortunately, no one ever knew the full extent of his power. He truly was a dragon that could have torn the world to ash and rubble. Now, he had passed on that power to his successor.
The world didn't know there was still a revolutionary army. It had gone underground again, waiting. It had leaked the information that Dragon had retired, and with the execution of the Pirate King, the government believed it was in the clear. Roger had been right. The storm wasn't over, it was waiting. It would just take a signal. Some disturbance to bring it back, full force.
All it would take was one little push and the world would be shaken again. It was an incredible feeling, really. Knowing how charged the world really was. Even his crew was unaware of the anticipation he could almost feel in the air. Life went on for the pirates and marine. The civilians and the government. But it could change in a heartbeat with the right provocation. But how do I provoke it? Ace wondered again.
The revolutionary army. The pirate Emperors. The mysterious monster that had killed Soul's parents. His own crew, flying a flag that was know in every corner of the world, resting at the back of the minds of the people, out of use. Seventeen years of quiet peace. Seventeen years of the government tightening its grip on the world.
Ace grinned. He knew what he needed to do. He felt that tug in his heart. His father's Will still lived in him. That drive to do the impossible. No one could start the storm without dying in the process, but he would do it. He was going to fulfill Roger's dream today. He was going to bring hope to the world that it wasn't all over yet. This evening, he was going to relight the fire. He was going to shake the world.
"Roger this is amazing!" Kuina waved a piece of fish on the end of her fork before biting it eagerly.
"Thank your sister, she bought me the cook book with the recipe." Roger grinned. He had enjoyed going through the book during his shift and marking everything he had the supplies for. His nakama would be eating like kings for the next few weeks.
"Liv, buy him books more often!" Soul was happily eating the fish as well, his apple still untouched by his plate. Ace nodded his agreement.
"Did you guys get everything we'll need for our trip into the Grand Line?" Ace looked around his crew.
"Yeah. We may have to fish some to keep fresh meat, but I have plenty of everything preservable for about two months, in case we don't get the opportunity to buy anything for a while." Roger nodded.
"I restocked the workshop, and made sure we have everything I'll need to keep the ship in good working order." Soul looked up from his food.
"I have all the equipment I'll need to maintain out logs and maps." Kuina snatched an uneaten bite from her sister's plate. Olivia glared at her hand, then snatched a piece from Roger. Roger just laughed.
"I was able to get some extra medical supplies. As long as none of you need major surgery, I can keep you in one piece." Olivia smiled.
"Excellent! Tomorrow, we're going to the execution platform to see where Gold Roger and my father died. Soul, I have a special project for you to work on, if you're up for it." Ace turned a mischievous grin to his first mate. Kuina and Olivia sat up and gave him their full attention. It had been a while since they had gotten into some trouble.
"You name it, Captain." Soul looked at the three old friends, wondering what was coming.
"I need something, to use Buggy's word, flashy. Something that no one in the city will be able to ignore, and something that will take them a long time to deactivate. I'm not too concerned with exactly what it is, as long as it creates enough sound to draw everyone's attention to it." Ace told the inventor his specification. Soul nodded.
"I can do that. How long does it need to last?" Soul pulled the new book Olivia had given him from the air and began scribbling in it.
"About fifteen minutes. Long enough for a good size crowd to gather. Nothing dangerous though. We don't want to hurt anyone, or scare too many off." Ace looked at the page where a design was taking shape.
"I understand. I'll check out what we might have with the instruments in the performance room. I think their may be some recordings that I can amplify." Soul received a nod from Ace and went to work on his new project.
"Roger, tonight we're going to practice sword to sword. I don't want to throw you into battle with the marines without ever having fought against a real blade before." Ace smiled at the nervous look on the cook's face. "Don't worry. You'll be fine. You've become an excellent swordsman, but the surprise of the change could cost you."
"What are you up to, Ace?" Kuina grinned at him.
"Something big. You'll see tomorrow. Until then, I need you and Olivia to practice with your ability. I know you have gotten better and can move a passenger without the side effects now, but one of you will need to take two passengers, and you'll need to make a lot of fast jumps. Do you think you're up for it?" Ace looked at the twins. They stood up and nodded happily. Olivia held out her hand to her sister and the captain. As soon as both touched her, she took off, jumping around the ship with her two companions, barely landing before flashing away.
After a few minutes, she stopped, panting slightly but smiling proudly. Kuina and Ace laughed. They weren't nauseous at all.
With the crew working on their individual preparations, Ace and Roger took swords to the deck and faced off. Roger found his captain to be even more skillful with a sword than he was with his hands. Or maybe it was just the change, as Ace had suggested. Whatever the case, it took the red haired cook several close calls before he began to transition to the new way of fighting.
"Hey Captain! I've got it ready!" Soul called to him from the stair way, holding a strange box under his arm. Ace walked over, handing Roger his sword. Soul set the box down and flipped it open, revealing an intricate system of dials. "This thing will be sure to get a lot of attention. It will start with an amplified drum beat that increases complexity and speed for about five minutes, then it doubles and layers it before repeating. It will do this three times, running at the highest possible volume with the beat superimposed on itself four times before it will let out blast of sound that will reach every shore and every basement."
"This is perfect, Soul. Good work! How did you get it done so fast?" Ace looked at the man.
"I had already been thinking about a communication system for the ship. This is just a heavily modified version. And this box is only filled with replaceable parts. The source will be here on the ship, and it should be undetectable unless you're standing on board. All the noise will be coming from wherever you put this box." Soul patted the box.
"That is great! Put it somewhere safe until morning. Also, can you use some spare wood to make a pole a few feet longer than your scythe? Light enough to carry, but pretty sturdy." Ace received another nod from the inventor.
"Sure, no problem. What's it for?" Soul asked.
"You'll have to wait until tomorrow." Ace laughed.
The sun was at the horizon. Roger had already finished his training for the evening and was relaxing in the crow's nest with Olivia. Kuina had managed to jump all four of her crew mates with her five times in a row before she was to worn out to make another jump. She was sitting with Ace between the spikes of the figurehead, watching the sunset. Soul had crafted a pole for Ace withing minutes, and was now resting on the deck, reading through the book Olivia had given him.
Kuina noticed something wrong first. The wind picked up, and a few drops of rain splattered on the deck. The navigator frowned at the sky.
"It wasn't supposed to rain today... There were no signs of it." As she watched, the scattered drops began to increase in size and frequency until it became clear that the clear night she had predicted was not going to happen.
"Let's get inside. No reason to stay out here and get soaked." Roger climbed down from the crow's nest as Olivia jumped to the deck. She began walking toward the doors to the cabins when she caught sight of something.
"Hey! Ace, there's a ship heading this way!" The doctor called out. Ace turned and watched the ship draw closer. It was flying a pirate flag.
"Everyone, on deck. Roger, get your sword." Ace leaped gracefully from the top of the dragon's head and stood near the railing, facing the approaching ship. The flag had the skull of a snake, fangs bared in a hiss, with swords crossed behind. The young captain raised one hand to hold his hat in place as the wind continued to increase in intensity.
Roger returned from his cabin with the black and orange sword hilt in view at his hip. The rain was coming down in sheets now, making it difficult to make out details on the other ship. A flash of lightning illuminated the scene for a moment, burning the image of the opposing crew standing on their deck, weapons in hand.
Soul pulled his scythe from the air and held it across his shoulders, looking to his captain for orders. Ace picked up the sword he had been using with Roger and spun in experimentally, then turned to his crew.
"Kuina, Olivia, Roger, Soul. Are you ready for this?" Ace looked from one to another, receiving nervous nods from all but Soul. The man with the scythe smiled confidently. It would not be his first battle. He had risked his life many times. "You are strong! Every one of you! We will not fall here! We have not achieved our dreams yet, and they will not stop us! Don't let your guard down. Watch the backs of your nakama. Show these men that we are strong!" Ace turned back to meet the enemy as the first dozen pirates jumped to their deck.
"Five of them? This is a joke! Kill them all! Flint Pirates, teach them what happens to fools who draw weapons against one of the Shichibukai!" The shout echoed through the rain. The sun was fully set, barely a glow peaking through beneath the clouds at the horizon. The scattered flashes of lightning and the lanterns on each ship were the only sources of light.
Ace launched into the first line of the attack force, knocking aside their extended blades with his own, before throwing the cumbersome weapon through the chest of a man who was about to fire a shot at Kuina's back. He caught the next blade directed for him, and shocked it's holder when he snapped it with his bare hand before jamming the shattered blade fragments into his throat. He ran among the enemy crew targeting the ones wielding pistols.
The rain was too thick for any of them to aim properly, but he didn't want one of them to get lucky. Three men fired when he was reaching for them. They backed away in horror as he stumbled back only for an instant, then charged forward angrily, the bullets falling from his unharmed chest.
Soul was a spinning pit of death. No one ventured within his reach and walked away in one piece. His scythe moved like it had a mind of its own, seeming to leap from his hand to cleave a man in two before settling back into his grip. He never stopped his movement, like a dance, he was always fluid, lashing out with hand or foot, blade or pole.
Roger was thankful for the last training session. Had he not had it, the change to sword on sword combat could have easily been the end of him. As it stood, he was holding his own, keeping his back to the mast, he was holding off three men confidently. One dropped as Kuina jumped behind him, racking a knife across his legs, then vanished to safety. With only two men, he went on the offensive, and soon drove them to the railing, kicking them over.
The twins were chaos, jumping to the vantage point of the upper deck to choose a target, then striking as fast as the occasional lightning. No one knew where they would hit next. Three men had already been killed by their crew mates as they attempted to cut the vanishing girls. They knew Ace could sense their movements, and Roger was staying put, fighting from a single position to protect his back. Soul was the only one they had to be careful of. They stayed well out of his range, which the enemies noticed. Unfortunately, moving closer to him was not the best escape route.
"Retreat! Get back to the ship!" The calls of a panicked voice rang out among the fighting pirates, but few obeyed. They could not falter for an instant or a flashing blade would strike them down. Many rushed the spinning Reaper, but no one could touch him. His scythe seemed omnipresent, striking where he would not have known to strike. The red haired man fighting like a demon himself, taking on two or three men at a time. The two girls, flashing about, inflicting crippling wounds, which immediately became fatal as they stumbled within range of one of the others.
Then there was Ace. The few who saw him shivered in fear. He stood their among them, his messy black hair hiding his eyes, and that hat on his head. The hat they recognized now. The hat that everyone in the world had seen in wanted posters for nearly three years not so long ago. A bolt of lightning would show him walking toward them, one hand on his head, then he would launch at them, blows like cannon fire landing on their bodies, breaking bones. His fists felt like steel, and no one could lay a hand on him.
He never missed, and he always knew which way to turn, meeting their swords with bare hands that seemed invulnerable to their attacks. The retreat call went unheeded as the last man fell beneath the Reaper's scythe. The five blood soaked pirates stood panting as they turned their gaze on the speechless man standing on the opposing ship. The man who had ordered the attack, but not fought with his men.
He turned to run, but Kuina and Olivia were holding him by his arms in a heartbeat. They dragged him back to the center of his own deck and Ace, Soul, and Roger climbed aboard. Ace stood in front of him, his dark eyes reflecting the glow of a bolt of lightning. He raised his head, pushing his hat back.
"You coward. You let your men die, but didn't stand among them? You don't deserve to call yourself a pirate! Who are you?" Ace glared at the man as he shook in fear. The water dripping from his face could have come from the pounding rain, or his own tears of terror.
"C-Captain Flint... I am one of the Shichibukai! The World Government won't allow you to get away with this!" The man tried to sound confident. Ace grinned then. Not his father's carefree smile. The half-mad grin that had terrified anyone who came to stand against the Revolutionary Dragon. The man's false confidence broke in an instant.
"The World Government is not going to save you! Now, why did you attack us?" Ace demanded.
"We needed navigational equipment... We only had an Eternal Pose to Loguetown... Your ship looked expensive enough to have good equipment..." Flint shrank before the young pirate captain, flinching every time a bright flash illuminated him fully. His eyes flickered over the rest of the crew. Two identical women, standing back to back, nearly hidden in the shadows, eye trained on him. Waiting to take him down in a flash if he moved. One man with red hair like the legendary emperor, and swordsmanship to match. But that was impossible. Then, at the captains shoulder, like the angel of death himself, stood the man with the scythe.
"You chose to attack us to steal our equipment rather than simply buy your own in this town? You are in the service of the government. Surely you can afford a Log Pose?" Ace didn't look away from the man.
"We are supposed to kill other pirates! It is part of our agreement with the government! As long as we kill other pirates, don't seek One Piece, and don't attack the marines, we are left free to do as we please!" Flint was pleading for mercy now, sinking to his knees.
"Kuina! Tie him up and then secure him on our deck. Roger, Olivia, search this ship. Anything we can use, take. If you find anyone else, capture them alive if possible, but protect yourselves first. And take their flag! Soul, when they are done, burn the ship and set it out on the water." Ace issued his orders. The crew nodded and went to do as he commanded. Ace lifted his hat back onto his head.
"No! Please! The government will lock us in Impel Down if we lose the ship and gold!" Flint cried out as Kuina bound his hands and feet. She jumped him to their deck and tied him tightly to the railing. When she was satisfied that he couldn't move, she went back to her captain's side.
"This has been a night full of surprises. First the rain, then a victory against a Shichibukai? I am guessing he fit into whatever you have planned for tomorrow pretty well, huh?" She looked up at her friend and saw his excited grin peaking out from beneath his hat.
"Tomorrow, everything changes. Are you ready?" He tilted his head to her, waiting for her answer.
"As long as I'm by your side, I'm ready for anything." She grinned. Then she shivered with delight when he leaned in and pressed his lips briefly against hers in the torrential downpour. He was gone far to quickly for her liking, but she still felt his warmth several minutes later when her twin tugged her arm and told her Soul was ready to light the ship.
She jumped to The Legacy Storm with her sister and watched as the enemy ship burst into roaring flames as it drifted away from them.
Roger ran his fingers through his hair, dragging the crimson locks out of his eyes and watching the flickering fire light through the rain. Olivia came to stand beside him, followed by Kuina, who looked dazed, but happy. Soul wandered over, his scythe long since pushed out of sight. Ace came to stand before them, the fire at his back. He raised hie head and grinned at them.
"Plans just changed! Soul, get your box ready and a second pole. Olivia, bring down our flag and tie it to one, then attach Flint's to the other. Kuina, take Soul's box to the execution platform and set it at the top. Roger, bring Flint, but keep his hands bound." Ace looked at the shore where an enormous crowd was gathered, watching the burning ship.
Kuina did as commanded, and soon they could hear the sound of drums echoing through the town, vibrating in their chests. Ace handed the pole with Flint's flag to Roger, along with a Flame Dial. He asked Soul to pull out his scythe. Kuina and Olivia stood among their crew, holding the prisoner, and after several minutes of increasing tempo and volume, their was a sound like a thousand cannons firing at once. The group jumped under the twins' power and stood on the execution platform, looking down at a crowd of many hundreds.
The wind spiked again, causing both flags to wave clearly in the lights of the square. As the captured Shichibukai knelt before the five pirates, Roger set his flag on fire, holding it high for the crowd to see. There were a dozen marines staring up at them in awe, not even moving to attack them yet. It had been too long since they had dealt with real pirates.
They were quite the intimidating apparition. The rampaging storm had reached its peak, with lightning and thunder tearing open the sky every few seconds. There, atop the infamous execution platform, they watched a man with a Straw Hat stand with pride and confidence between his nakama. On the ends, a man with the red hair of a Yonko, and a girl half hidden in shadow. At her side was an identical shadow, and in the final place was a man with an enormous scythe. The man in the center held a flag over his head.
Not a single man, woman, or child had to wonder what the flag meant. It was clear as day. The Straw Hat Pirates were back. They had toppled one of the Seven Warlords with only five people. Ace shouted to the crowd, barely containing his urge to laugh with triumph.
"The Great Age of Pirates is back, and the World Government should listen well! I am Monkey D. Ace, son of Straw Hat Luffy, the Pirate King! Be prepared! The revolution has been waiting, but they will wait no more! The time is here! The cowards and dogs of the government who dare call themselves pirates will see what true pirates look like! Are you ready? The world is going to be overturned again! I'm going to shake it to its roots!" Ace threw back his head and laughed as the crowd below whispered, some in fear, some in excitement, some in disbelief.
The marines were gathering their senses and preparing to attack the platform, but in an instant the pirates were gone, leaving nothing but a bound man and a burnt flag.
Standing atop the tallest building on the square, a man grinned with pride at the display. So that was Dragon's grandson. This must have been the signal he was supposed to be waiting for. If their had ever been a signal that said "let the storm begin again", this was it. He picked up his steel staff, tipping back his top hat to get a better view of the confusion on the street below, revealing a strange tattoo over his left eye. He shook his blonde head and turned away from the scene. The revolution had been waiting.
Now Sabo had the privilege of telling them they need not wait any longer. It was time to help Ace shake the world. He had been waiting for this day for seventeen years.
I am still nailing down who all seven warlords, all four emperors, all three admirals, and other such important individuals will be, but i am pretty well sure of the revolutionaries!
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