"WHERE THE HELL AM I?!"
The sudden noise woke Usopp up, who had been sitting in the crows. The sharpshooter and professional liar of the Strawhat Pirates, accidentally hit the back of his head against the pole behind.
"Owwwwwww, ow, ow, ow, ow…"
Oh man. Did I fall asleep again on watch duty?! Ugh, I hope the others didn't notice- wait! What was that sound?
Shivering, the bravest man in the world, looked down from the crow's nest. What he saw almost made him wet his pants. On deck was a shadowy figure walking up and down mumbling to itself. He couldn't see it completely, but he knew by now the general shapes of his crewmembers. This person was definitely none of them. As soon as he realized this, he hid behind the tiny wall again.
Oh no! I fell asleep and now our ship got infiltrated! Who is this?! The marines? Other pirates?! Ah, who cares! I need to wake up the others, without this guy noticing me! It's time to use Captain Usopp's incredible, secret, stealth technique!
Usopp looked down again, finding the figure mumbling to itself again. He didn't question this motion. At least it meant, the guy hadn't secretly stabbed one of the other crewmembers. As silently as he could, the sharpshooter climbed onto the robe. He took his first few steps, but stopped. For his taste, the infiltrator was much too close to his destination. After intervening his arms with the ropes, he pulled out his slingshot and a little bullet. He quickly took aim and shot into a far off corner of the Going Merry.
"Huh?" Usopp definitely made out a female voice. The woman appeared to be slightly startled by the sudden noise near the barrels. Much too slowly, in the sharpshooter's opinion, moved the woman to the barrels. Slingshot still in hand, Usopp continued his descent onto deck. He watched as the figure as silently as possible inspected the barrels. It seemed like she found nothing off and was about to turn around again. Thinking quickly, Usopp shot another time, into a different corner.
"What the-?!" the woman put her hand over her mouth. The sharpshooter had to smirk.
He increased his pace, because he knew the woman wouldn't waste much time on looking at the other corner. Walking on his toes, Usopp opened the door to the cabins. Sadly he had yet to oil the creaking door.
"Hey!" he heard the woman shout. Not even looking behind, the man ran inside and quickly barricaded the door with a chair. Two seconds later the doorknob was moving, but was blocked by the chair. Smirking once again, the brave warrior of the sea ran like a chicken to wake up his crewmates.
X-X-X_X-X-X
"Crap, now what?" Sarah asked herself. First she got a letter from her dead mother with some kind of family treasure, then the stupid stone got somehow inside of her chest, next thing she knew, she was on a ship, an old model judging from the lack of a motor and finally one of the crewmembers had seen her and no doubt was about to call the rest. As freaked out as she was over everything, she needed to focus on the problem at hand. Namely what kind of excuse she would tell the crew as to why she was on their ship. She was about to pace around again, when she heard a sudden scream coming out of the inside of the ship.
"I'm gonna kick your ass!"
"Uh, what?"
Out of nowhere the door exploded, splinters flying everywhere on the ship.
"THE HELL!?" Sarah fell back on her butt, instinctively raising her arms to protect her face. Shakingly she lowered the arms and opened her eyes again. What she saw literally made her jaw drop. For the first time she experienced what one would call total awe and shock. Right in front of her stood, not animated and definitely not a bad cosplay, Monkey D. Luffy, from the anime One Piece, surrounded by the splinters of the door he just kicked (or punched? She didn't see) open. And he looked pissed.
Am I still dreaming?
"Gummo-Gummo-No…"
Is his arm stretching back?! Dream or no dream, I definitely DON'T want to get punched by that!
Glad that she had taken self defense classes, not to mention the training her father insisted on putting her through. That she was generally in good shape was another point for her. Only the face that her hair was still loose was to her disadvantage. When she rolled sideways, in order to escape the incoming fist, her hair got in her face.
"PISTOL!"
*CRACK*
Oh my motherfucking godshit! He punched right through the wood! That's not just some thin plate there!
Sarah stared in shock. If she would be watching this from a TV screen, she would probably laugh at how Luffy's arm was stuck in the ground of the ship. But definitely not, when she had been the target just a couple of seconds ago.
Sarah was thrown out of her state of shock, when the Straw Hat managed to pull out his fist and accidentally managed to hit himself.
"Ow." the boy whined, before returning his attention to the unknown girl.
"Uh...hi?" Real smooth.
"Take this!" Instead of using one of his signature moves, Luffy simple shot his fist towards the girl. Yelping in surprise, Sarah raised her arms and managed to block the attack.
Damn! This guy is strong!
"My turn!" Sarah exclaimed and quickly gave Luffy a quick one-two combination straight on the face. However, she forgot that Luffy had eaten a devil fruit, which turned his body into rubber. It should have come to no surprise that all the attack did was to push the head back a little, before it came back into position.
"What the fucking hell? Urgh." Sarah facepalmed. "Devil fruit. AHH!" Luffy apparently used the moment to kick her chest, which sent her flying a few feet, before she landed hardly on the ground.
"Oww...urgh...wait. I'm...alright?" she wondered aloud, getting up.
"Gummo-Gummo-No-RIFLE!"
"Fuck!" Sarah ducked during the announcement of the attack. Luckily her opponent actually proceeded with the attack, after he finished his announcement, meaning the arm stretch over the girl, before it came back to the captain. Not even fazed by this, Luffy ran towards his opponent and proceeded with regular punches. This was something Sarah could deal with. The boy's attacks were predictable at best, so she managed to block off most attacks and the few that went through she managed to endure. Of course she tried to hit back, not because she planned on injuring the captain, but to get some breathing room, so she could think of how to solve this situation. However, Luffy blocked around half of her counterattacks and the other half simply didn't do anything. His body just absorbed the full force of her blows and sometimes even kicks.
After one especially powerful blow to her face, Sarah was sent flying once again and again landed on her butt, hard.
"Fuck! That hurts!" she exclaimed. But that's it! It hurts yes, my face stings, but...it's not like in the anime. I'm not K.O. or something.
"Gumo-Gumo-Gumo-No…"
Right, think later, fight- OH SHIT, NOT THAT ATTACK!
"GATLING!"
Luffy send out seemingly hundreds of punches in quick session, hitting everything in front of him. Which was basically nothing. Sarah was pretty sure she sweatdropped right at this moment. Because she was still lying on the ground, none of the attacks actually hit her. Even Luffy, after five whole minutes, noticed the lack of impact. Looking up, he saw what was going on and stopped his assault, which finally allowed Sarah to get up.
"I swear…" she muttered. "I need something sharp, else I won't be able to do anything."
"Shishishi, you're smart." Luffy grinned.
"Thanks...I guess. Uh, do you mind if we stop fighting for a moment and you let me explain what is going on."
"NEVER! I WON'T LET YOU STEAL MY MEAT!"
"Steal your meat?!" Sarah echoed.
"Aha! You confessed!" he pointed dramatically at her.
"I DID NO SUCH THING!" the girl shouted back with razor teeth.
Something sharp, something sharp, something…
"I'm gonna kick your ass!" Luffy exclaimed once again, running to his opponent with a raised fist.
"Damn it!" Sarah ducked from the attack and pushed the Straw Hat back with both hands. At least that still worked like it should, even if Luffy only stumbled back a few steps.
"My hands are sweating." the girl complained, taking off her gloves and then finally taking an actual fighting stands, whipping her feet back and forth.
She just decided to try and throw the rubber dude overboard, when suddenly something happened. In a matter of seconds black scales were growing all over her body. Her fingernails extended to claws and her overall skin felt different.
"Cool!" Literal stars could be seen in Luffy's face, as the transformation progressed and finished around Sarah's faced. The girl almost groaned, as she felt her teeth extending and sharpening.
"What the hell is going on now?!" the girl shouted.
"Your eyes look so cool!"
"My eyes?! You know, what?" the lizard-like girl let out a deep sigh. "I don't give a fuck anymore." she said resigned. "Let's just get this over with." And hope this is all just a drug induced dream.
Taking the advantage this time, Sarah ran towards Luffy and took aim with her fist. Shortly before she came into range, she opened her hand, took swing and slashed down. Luffy, who was expecting a punch, widened his eyes in shock, when the newly developed claws of the "meat thief" cut through his skin.
"Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, that hurts!" the boy exclaimed, taking a few steps back.
Sarah normally would have let out a deadpan comment, if it wouldn't have been for her surprise, as to how easily she just cut with her claws through bare skin.
She was put out of her stupor, when Luffy stretched both of his arms back.
"Gomu-Gomu-No…"
Oh shit, not the Bazooka!
"BA-"
"LUFFY!" A male voice shouted, right when a dark figure gave the captain a good kick in the stomach, sending the boy flying upwards.
"HOW DARE YOU HIT A WOMAN YOU LITTLE PUNK?!" Sanji exclaimed, his eyes literally, LITERALLY, burning with passion. The fire turned immediately off and was replaced by hearts, when Sanji turned towards the newcomer.
"Excuse me, my lady. I am afraid my captain does not know how to treat a lady such as yourself."
In the background, Luffy slammed face first on deck.
"Uh..."
By now, Sarah was at a complete loss for words. She just didn't know what she was supposed to say. This entire day just had been so full of surprises, she just wanted to go back to sleep and hope this was all just one heck of a weird dream. Her wish was partially granted, by Zoro slamming the handle of his sword against the back of her head. He hit a particular weak spot, which caused the unwilling intruder to drop unconscious to the ground.
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING, MOSS HEAD?!"
"What does it look like, ero cook?"
"YOU JUST HIT A LADY!"
"I knocked out an intruder." Zoro stated as matter of fact. "For all we know, she might be a bounty hunter."
"THAT DOESN'T EXCUSE THAT YOU HIT A LADY!" Sanji shouted frustrated.
"Sanji, be quiet." came the voice of Nami, who was standing at the door towards her personal cabin. She had thrown a bathrobe over her usual nightgown, coming to look what the noise was all about, only to find her idiot captain, fighting this girl right there. Luffy just managed to get his head out of the ground.
"Oi, Sanji, Zoro. Have you seen the meat thief?" Luffy asked, looking around.
"She's not a meat thief." Zoro facepalmed. "Usopp just told you that, so you would actually wake up and fight her." the swordsman explained, throwing the girl over his shoulder.
"Oi, oi! Be careful with her, moss head." Sanji complained, which Zoro decided to ignore this once.
"Anyway." Nami walked to the boys. "I looked around, there is no boat attached to the Going Merry. She must have snuck on board, when we were docked on Warship Island." she speculated.
"So what now? Do we go back and leave her there?" Sanji asked, lightening up a cigarette, in order to calm fully down.
"I'd say we question her first and then we decide what we do with her." Nami explained. "One of you guys needs to watch over her for the night. Preferably not Usopp."
"Oi Nami, I already told you! She was just there! I didn't hear a door opening or anything, until she was on deck!" the sharpshooter shouted towards them, currently busy replacing the planks Luffy had damaged with his first attack.
"Yeah, right." Nami deadpanned.
"I'll watch her." Sanji volunteered. "I need to prepare breakfast anyway in an hour."
"As long as you don't let her trick you, curly brow."
"What was that, you shitty swordsman?"
X-X-X_X-X-X
A few hours later, the Straw Hat Pirates were all gathered at the breakfast table with their "guest" sleeping in a corner, bound by some spare rope. It didn't escape the pirates that only a few days ago they found themselves in a similar situation with Apis. The only difference was that the little girl had been more or less a guest, whereas the newcomer had somehow snuck on board and avoided the crew so far.
"Who do you think she is?" Usopp pointed at the girl in black. She still had contained her scaly appearance. "Is she a marine?"
"I don't think so." Nami replied. "She didn't have a Den Den Mushi with her. I think a marine agent would at least carry a small one with her."
"She's probably a bounty hunter." Zoro chimed in between bites. "Probably thought she could make some quick cash with Luffy's bounty."
"I can understand that reasoning." Nami nodded.
"But how did she manage to get on board?" asked Sanji. "We have been stuck here with no wind for two days. I checked our supplies and there was nothing missing."
"Maybe she's a mermaid."
"Does she look like a mermaid to you?!" Usopp exclaimed.
"She's got scales!" Luffy declared proudly, almost causing the others to fall of their chairs.
"Luffy, she probably just ate a devil fruit." Sanji explained.
"Oh, well that's cool too! She looks like a lizard or a dragon!"
To that the others had to agree. Almost everyone witnessed the shape of the girl's face changing into something more lizard like. A dragon may be a bit of a stretch, but it certainly would explain the sharp teeth, since normally lizards had none of those.
"Mmmph."
"Oi, oi. She's waking up." Usopp pointed at Sarah, who was slowly beginning to move as much as the binds allowed it. The other Straw Hats watched her curiously, Luffy quickly snatching food from Usopp's plate and munching on it.
Sarah for her part let out a heartily yawn, revealing her sharp, white, shimmering teeth. "Damn, that was one heck of a fucked up dream." she said, trying to stretch herself, only to be stopped by the ropes.
Confused the lizard lady looked down onto herself. "The heck?!" she exclaimed, as she saw the ropes around her body. She immediately looked up and saw the faces of the five Straw Hats looking right back at her.
"Oh. That wasn't a dream yesterday, was it?"
"Nope." Luffy answered with his mouth full.
Groaning, Sarah slammed the back of her head against the wall behind her. "Great. Just fucking great."
"So, who are you?" Luffy asked, before swallowing.
"Serada." Sarah answered almost immediately. Wait, what? Why did I give them that name? Fuck it, girl! If I take that back now, they'll get even more suspicious!
"But most people call me Sarah, because it's easier to say."
"I see." Nami stood up from the table and approached Sarah. "And what are you doing on our ship?"
Of course, she just had to ask that immediately. What do I say? What do I say? How does it work in fanfictions? Fuck! I never read one that started with the person suddenly appearing on the ship!
"I have no fucking idea how I got here." Sarah went with the honest answer. "I wasn't even close to the cost up until yesterday. I just woke up here and panicked a little. And then your captain decided to beat me up. By the way, who knocked me out?"
"Interesting." Nami ignored the question. "And how do you know he is our captain?"
"Uh, because of his bounty? Obviously?"
Please let him have his bounty already, please let him have his bounty already!
"At least that makes sense." Usopp said. "But come on! What kind of lie is that? 'I just woke up on this ship and have no idea how I got here.' Likely story." the sharpshooter shook his head.
"Hey, whether you believe me or not is not my problem. I stick to the story."
"Yeah?" Zoro stood up and drew one of his swords. "And what if we decide we're not satisfied and decide to cut your throat?"
Nami wisely held Sanji back, giving him a glare that said: "Let him do his stuff."
Alright. Think, think, think. Think faster brain! What could possibly convince them to not throw me overboard and let me stay with them:
I know where a lot of treasure is! Nope, this lie can be way too easily exposed.
Ace is gonna die! ...Let's keep it as a last resort.
I know about Haki! Yeah, but I can't use it.
General knowledge of the Grand Line? No, Luffy's not a fan of spoilers.
Threaten to tell everyone about Luffy's grandpa? I don't think that's gonna work.
"I am waiting." Zoro said in a low sing-song voice.
Sarah sighed. "I don't have anything. I stick to my story. I was at home, went to sleep and then woke up on deck last night. What do you think I am? A marine?"
"Maybe?" Zoro shrugged. "But you might as well be a bounty hunter."
"I say we let her go with us."
Everyone hit the ground after Luffy's declaration.
"Okay, I'm gonna point out the obvious." Sarah said, trying to pull herself back up. "I am a complete stranger. I just told you a very unlikely story. So why the hell do you want me to come with you?!"
"See Luffy?! Even the enemy thinks you're being stupid!" Usopp shouted with razor teeth. "Why do you want her to come with us?!"
"So we can get her home." Luffy replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, causing Usopp to drop again.
"Urrgh. I don't know whether to laugh or to hit my head against the wall." Sarah muttered. "There are three problems with that logic. One, how can you trust me? You're practically giving me an invitation to hand you over to the marines. Two, I'm pretty sure you'll have a hard time finding my home. Three, I never sailed even once in my life. Just tell me. How do you plan to solve this? If you can do it, I'll go with you wherever you go, no questions asked."
Luffy stuffed another plate of food into himself, using his rubber body to swallow it all.
"Am I the only one who thinks his throat stretching is creepy?"
"You'll get used to it." Usopp answered.
"I promise you we will find your home, no matter where it is. I don't know how to sail either. And you look really cool."
Sarah hit her head again. Hard. Experiencing Luffy's stupidity was something completely different from watching it on TV.
"I look cool...huh." Sarah had a hard time keeping her balance. She wasn't sure how long she would be able to contain her laughter. She knew she should have suspecting something stupid to come out of Luffy of all people.
"Wait, WHAT?!" Everyone else exclaimed.
"Luffy! Those have to be the most ridiculous reasons I have EVER HEARD!" Nami shouted, hitting her captain on his head, who only let out his signature grin.
"WHY SHOULD WE BRING HER HOME ANYWAYS?! WE DON'T EVEN KNOW IF SHE'S TELLING THE TRUTH!" Nami continued with her rant, causing the rest to cringe at the volume of her voice.
"If she doesn't, I can beat her up." shrugged the captain, causing the cook to kick him into the wall.
"No one here will hit a lady on my watch!" the cook proclaimed with a raised fist.
Sarah couldn't help, but chuckle at how the Strawhats interacted with each other. "Uh... if you don't mind answering a simple question: Why do you want to bring me home in the first place? You don't even know where I live and honestly? I have no idea how to get there."
Luffy shook himself like a dog, recovering from the little flight he had just taken. "Eh, you didn't try to kill me."
"Eh, what?"
Luffy grinned. "Yeah, it was kinda obvious. Besides, turns out you're not a meat thief!"
The girl in binds slowly turned towards the swordsman, whose right eye was twitching just a little bit.
"Is he that dumb or is he secretly an evil genius, planning a world changing evil plot?"