Author's Note: I couldn't sleep, so I decided to post the next chapter.
Disclaimer: Eichiiro Oda owns One Piece. Also, don't waste sleep by posting fanfics at one in the morning. I only did this because I couldn't sleep.
Ch. 7: "On the Origins of Autonomy."
The gang entered an underground, dimly-lit pub-type secret room. All of Tequila Wolf's adult population was in the room, and they were either drinking or talking amongst themselves.
"The day has come, Yuki-Rin. It is the day where East Blue residents shall be liberated," Aria said to Yuki-Rin.
"Let's do this," Yuki-Rin said as she nodded her head. Aria made her way to a makeshift stage, where she got the attention of the crowd.
"Attention, residents of Tequila Wolf!" Aria yelled loud enough that all attention turned to her.
"For decades upon decades, many pirates who have come to Tequila Wolf for money have been turned into an inexhaustible resource by the World Nobles. For too long, they have been used as pawns for the Tenryuubito so they could be another step in planning their next move to rid the world of pirates. First, it was the bridge, and, now, we're pledging unwavering, shameless, and absolute fake loyalty to the Tenryuubito. This has gone on for far too long, and it shall end tonight! By the time the sun rises tomorrow, Tequila Wolf will be reborn as a self-governing island!" Aria explained which made everybody cheer.
"But, how are we going to achieve it when we're facing the Tenryuubito?" A man in the crowd asked Aria.
"I am going to try and use non-violence and diplomacy to achieve our goal. We have a few operatives with us tonight, so we should have some backup if we need it," Aria explained. However, her words didn't reach Yuki-Rin, who was desperately trying to find Molly, who appeared to wander away.
"Molly, where are you? I can't let mom find us. If she does, I don't know what will happen to us," Yuki-Rin thought to herself as she scanned the crowd, worried that Molly went missing. Her face turned from worried to relieved as she saw Molly sitting alone. "Molly, when we go out and help Aria, we must stick together. Remember, our mother co-governs this island."
"The bloody woman can't do this! She's bloody enslaving this island for nothing!" Molly yelled. All eyes turned the black-haired girl who had the Irish accent.
"I agree with you! We need to kick this woman off this island!" Kazuma yelled back.
"For once, you say something intelligent, Kazuma," Hatori said to himself.
"The both of you have brought up very strong points. The residents of Tequila Wolf have been enslaved for nothing for too long, and we're going to get our freedom even if it means we have to resort to violence!" Aria explained to the crowd. Molly got out her sword.
"Let's go out there for our freedom, and raise what's left of this island's flag!" Molly yelled, causing everyone to cheer.
As everyone left the building they were in, the tension was high and feelings of nationalism were even higher.
"Hey, Yuki-Rin, where are Hatori, Matsu, Drusilla, and Z.G.?" Heathcliffe asked Yuki-Rin.
"They volunteered to stay behind to watch the children," Yuki-Rin explained.
"Have you told your sister about this yet?" Hana asked, referring to the fact that Saint Ayame – Yuki-Rin and Molly's mother – is running the island with Heathcliffe's father, Saint Sarutobi.
"She knows. We're sticking together so we don't get hurt," Yuki-Rin answered.
"Yuki-Rin, what if I get separated from you?" Molly asked her sister out of worry.
"If we get separated from each other, you will go find Kartik and I will go find Kazuma. We will stick with Kartik and/or Kazuma until we find each other. We can't pay the price of any of us getting injured, enslaved, or worse, killed by the Tenryuubito," Yuki-Rin explained as the crowd went further and further out of the town. On the horizon, about three Tenryuubito ships were sailing toward the island. Upon seeing the ships, Yuki-Rin gulped.
"Having second thoughts, Yuki-Rin?" Kazuma asked.
"I'm just scared. Scared for the residents of Tequila Wolf, scared for Aria, scared for the crew, and, most of all, scared for myself and Molly," Yuki-Rin said as her hand instinctively went to the handle of her katana.
"Don't worry, I'm here, Hana's here, Kartik's here, and, most of all, Aria's here," Kazuma encouraged Yuki-Rin as he massaged her shoulders.
"Why did I decide to help? I should've stayed behind and protected the children," Yuki-Rin thought to herself as she felt Molly and Kazuma grab her hands.
"We've got your back, so, don't worry," Kazuma reminded Yuki-Rin.
"I don't want ya to get hurt. I'll protect ya," Molly told her sister.
"Thanks, guys, I think I would go into a nervous breakdown if I was alone," Yuki-Rin told her sister and her swordsman.
Some time later, the mob arrived at the bridge, where they stood and waited.
"Well, this is it," Aria said.
"I can't believe it. We're finally going to govern our own home," The bartender said.
"For once, my kids can play and run in the streets without me fearing for them," A mother said.
"The first thing I'm going to do when the Tenryuubito bastards get the hell out of here is buy a taco!" A random guy said. But, it wasn't long before the back of his head was prodded by a shotgun.
"I take it that you don't like us," A tall, regal noble by the name of Saint Sarutobi told the guy who wanted a taco. Heathcliffe gasped.
"N-N-No, sir! I just don't like how you're running this island!" The guy who wanted a taco said. Then, Saint Sarutobi shot him in the shoulder right in front of the shocked crowd. He then pointed his gun to the poor guy.
"Bow to me," Saint Sarutobi demanded.
"Why should I bow to you when I bow to my mayor?" The guy asked Saint Sarutobi, who pointed his gun at the head of the poor man.
"Because I demand that you bow to me, or else I will shoot you right here and now!" Saint Sarutobi yelled. Immediately, the man started bowing to him.
"Sir, I beg of you to stop! This is very inhumane! You're just torturing poor, innocent people who did nothing!" A farmer yelled. Saint Sarutobi snapped his fingers, and a similar regally-looking person – Saint Worthington – came up to him.
"Take the farmer to the ship. You can decide on what to do with him," Saint Sarutobi ordered. Without a word, Saint Worthington took the poor, screaming farmer away.
"Fight for my freedom!" The farmer yelled as he was carried away.
"Does anybody else want to fight?" Saint Sarutobi asked everyone. The crowd grew silent.
"Well? Any takers?" Saint Sarutobi asked everybody. Heathcliffe gulped. If he volunteered, it would put his life on the line. Thankfully, Aria stepped up to Saint Sarutobi, with her gun in her hand.
"Stop this unlawfulness this instant," Aria ordered. Saint Sarutobi laughed.
"And WHY should I listen to YOU? You're just a girl looking for death!" Saint Sarutobi asked Aria. Heathcliffe gasped as he held on to his scythe tighter.
"Heathcliffe, stop with the death grip. I can't breathe," Isabella said from inside the scythe. Heathcliffe relaxed his grip on the scythe.
"Sorry about that. I'm just fearing for my own life," Heathcliffe whispered into his scythe.
"I'm not looking for death. Instead, I am looking for a way to give the residents of Tequila Wolf autonomy," Aria stated.
"Why would the residents of this crapshack want to self-govern themselves?" Saint Sarutobi asked Aria.
"It is something they've wanted, it is something they've wished for, and it is something that they will get, even if it means they have to die in the process," Aria explained in a serious tone of voice.
"And what if they don't get their precious freedom? What will you do?" Saint Sarutobi taunted Aria.
"Saint Sarutobi, I believe that's enough!"
A third Noble joined them, but this time, the Noble was female. She had long, wavy, blonde hair, black eyes, and red lips. Under the fur coat that she wore, the Noble wore a long, white dress that dragged in the snow when she walked. On top of her head was a Russian-styled ushanka hat.
"Saint Ayame, I didn't see your ship!" Saint Sarutobi told the woman, who was Saint Ayame – the mother of Yuki-Rin and Molly.
"I was busy selling off slaves. With the money I made from it, I bought myself a hat. Do you like it?" Saint Ayame asked Saint Sarutobi as she pointed to the hat on her head. Yuki-Rin gulped as she held tighter to Molly.
"Remember, if mommy dearest comes over here, pretend that I am a farmer and you are my young, sickly sister," Yuki-Rin whispered to Molly.
"A'ight, then," Molly said before she went into a fake coughing fit.
"Now, about this autonomy business… Why do you even need it?" Saint Ayame asked the crowd.
"We would like to have our own freedom. For way too long, we have been used and abused by the Tenryuubito, and I think it's time we the citizens of Tequila Wolf find our own government," Yuki-Rin – now with a male's voice – explained. Saint Ayame walked up to her, and Molly went into another fake coughing fit.
"Sir, what does autonomy mean to you?" Saint Ayame asked Yuki-Rin, oblivious to the fact that mother was speaking to her daughter.
"It means that… It means that… It means that I can sell the produce, animals, and dairy products I produce at my farm. My poor, poor sister is very sick, and she needs to have a major operation. If I can't afford the operation, she will die and the family farm will be in ruins," Yuki-Rin – still disguising her voice as a male's – lied. To prove her point, Molly pretended to faint.
"Your sister has fainted. Shall I go get some help?" Saint Ayame offered. By "offered", it actually meant, "enslave her".
"No, thank you. My sister's fainting spells happen often, so it's normal," Yuki-Rin – still in character – lied. With a sniff, Saint Ayame turned back to Saint Sarutobi.
"What should we do? We're against the entire population of a town here. We can't afford to lose," Saint Ayame told Saint Sarutobi.
"Give us bread! We're starving!" Kazuma yelled to add to the pity factor.
"I need to go and find work to support my large and broke family!" Isabella yelled, dubbing over Heathcliffe's lip movements to make it sound like he was a female.
"We can't just give in to them! But, then again, we can't enslave a whole town," Saint Sarutobi argued.
"It may seem like it's for the greater good, but –" Saint Ayame explained before the wind started to pick up.
"Is there a storm coming in?" Hana wondered out loud.
"No! A storm can't come in! We need to leave this island at dawn, no matter what the deal is!" Saint Sarutobi cried. Then, the crowd of Tequila Wolf residents parted, revealing a man wearing a cloak.
"No way… It's him!" Kazuma said. Aria smiled.
"Welcome home, Dragon," Aria said to the man in the cloak, extending her hand out to him.
"You're doing an excellent job, Aria. I think it's time," Dragon told Aria, who nodded.
"Right," Aria told Dragon. Without another word, Aria, Dragon, and the Two Nobles walked away from the crowd. The crowd grew silent.
"Did they… Just walk out on us?" Kazuma asked everyone.
"I doubt it. They're probably discussing the situation at hand," Yuki-Rin suggested.
"I'm going out there! There's no way Aria would –" Another farmer said before Yuki-Rin cut him off.
"I don't think we should. If we do, we could be sold into slavery. Let's stay here for now," Yuki-Rin ordered.
Some time later, Yuki-Rin dozed off after getting tired of waiting for Aria and/or Dragon. When she awoke, the residents of Tequila Wolf were talking, drinking, playing cards, and even singing. Judging by the amount of moonlight that was shining on them, it was around one or two in the morning.
"Molly, has anything happened?" Yuki-Rin groggily asked her sister.
"Nothin' yet. Aria and Dragon haven't come back," Molly told Yuki-Rin before she went back to sleep. Yuki-Rin woke up again a few hours later, at sunrise.
"Is Aria back yet?" Yuki-Rin asked Hana.
"Not yet. Who know negotiations on an island's autonomy could take this long," Hana commented.
"Who knew?" Yuki-Rin agreed. Just then, Aria arrived, and everyone ran up to her.
"We won," Aria simply told them. After a small moment of silence, everyone cheered.
"Hell yeah, we're free!" The town bartender yelled.
"We have a future!" A shopkeeper yelled.
"Look at the water, hurry!" Hana yelled as she pointed to the water. Out on the water, the ships of Saints Worthington, Sarutobi, and Ayame were sailing away from the island.
"It's a miracle. It's like they've left us for good, figuratively and literally," Aria commented.
When the mob got to the center of town, Hatori ,Matsu, Z.G., and Drusilla stood there with all of the towns' children.
"So, how did it go?" Hatori asked everybody.
"We did it! We got this island autonomy!" Yuki-Rin answered joyfully. Even if the kids didn't know what was going on, they cheered.
"Now Molly can get that operation! She's going to live!" Kazuma cried joyfully.
"Uhh… Kazuma, that was just a lie so we wouldn't get caught by my mother," Yuki-Rin explained.
"I understand," Kazuma said as Yuki-Rin gave a sad glance to two twins.
"Where's our daddy?" The brother asked Yuki-Rin.
"Yeah! Daddy has to come home and play with us!" The sister agreed.
"What happened?" Hatori asked Yuki-Rin.
"Basically, in exchange for this island's autonomy, Aria had to give up one of the townspeople to the Tenryuubito. The father of these two kids volunteered to do it for his hometown," Yuki-Rin said in a low voice so the kids wouldn't hear.
"Where's our daddy?" The kids asked Yuki-Rin.
"Your father found a new job. He had to leave the island for his work," Yuki-Rin told the kids.
"Will daddy see us soon?" The brother asked Yuki-Rin, who smiled.
"He will," Yuki-Rin told the kids.
A few hours later, the Capricorn Pirates were preparing to leave, but Yuki-Rin was busy talking to Dragon, Hana, and Aria on the docks.
"Are you sure Aria wants to do this?" Yuki-Rin asked Dragon.
"I feel that Aria is ready to take her operations into the Grand Line. It may be a far cry from the Grand Line, but us Revolutionaries have tons of business out there," Dragon explained as he nudged Aria – who was holding a couple of bags containing her possessions – toward Yuki-Rin. "Take good care of Aria and Hana, Yuki-Rin. Aria, take good care of all of the pirates out on the Grand Line."
"Will do!" Aria and Yuki-Rin said with a salute to Dragon before they boarded the ship.
"I'll see you in the Grand Line, Dragon!" Aria yelled to Dragon. And, with a gust of wind, Dragon was gone.
"Honor to have you aboard guys. But, what about those guys?" Yuki-Rin asked Hana and Aria as she pointed to Yulia and Daisuke.
"Uhhh… I think only one of us can go," Daisuke said. Yulia slapped him.
"Idiot. We made a vow to stick together!" Yulia yelled.
"I don't remember that," Daisuke said, which caused Yulia to hit him again.
"Uhh… Fine! The both of us will go!" Daisuke said.
"Alright then, welcome aboard," Yuki-Rin said to the four new members of her crew as they boarded the ship.
A couple hundred miles away or so, things weren't as cheery.
"Mother, please don't die! I love you! How am I going to survive with that monster as a supposed father?" A beautiful, black haired girl wearing a white dress sobbed as she watched her mother – who looked similar to her – die in front of her eyes due to illness.
"Sooner or later, you're going to have to leave home to evade him. Your beauty and his wealth have made a dangerous combination that will not end well," The girl's mother explained.
"Mother, I don't want to leave home! If I do, that means I have to become a pirate!" The girl sobbed, letting her tears fall as her mother took in her beautiful daughter's features one last time.
"Silky, black hair… Blue eyes… A pretty face… Beautiful cheongsams made from fine silk… Have I mentioned that you look beautiful?" The girl's mother asked her.
"Yes, mother, always," The girl said with a nod.
"Stay beautiful for me…" The girl's mother said before she passed away. The girl screamed.
"I want my mommy!" The girl screamed before she broke down sobbing, again. Nobody knew that this was going to be the start of this poor girl's troubles.
Ending Note: Yep, that girl at the end is going to be in a future arc. But, not the next arc, since the next arc takes place at the restaurant where the Capricorn Pirates get the crew's chef. She'll show up in about two to three arcs.
Current crew standings!
Captain - Yuki-Rin
First Mate - Molly O'Flannigan
Musician - Heathcliffe Sarutobi
Fisherman - Hatori Chidori
Swordsman - Kazuma Miyafuji
"Resident Ghost" - Isabella Sarutobi
Shipwright - Kartik Abingdon
Snipers - Karin Kotetsu, "Blind" Drusilla, Z.G., and Aria Yakushi
Singer - Maki-chan
Tailor - Matsu Takeshima
Navigator - Hana Yakushi
Thieves - Daisuke Saburo and Yulia Tadase
Review, as always, because I love reviews! But, no flames. All flames will be used to bring Ace back from the dead.