AN : Yo, I am so gonna post this. If you review, I'll be more motivated. That's until I get a job at least! And I apologize about the OC, and the such. You can use it if you so want to...
Disclaimer : I don't own a job much less One Piece.. Come to think about it... Hmmm!
Assembling what's scattered
Conomi Island
If Luffy had to imagine a tropical paradise, it would be like this : Palm trees around the entire island, and with a lot of thriving fish markets, good sea-side town, and probably a lot of fruit farms. However, the island was almost alien to him... As when they landed, they saw the Marines in the entire island. As soon as they spotted Jinbe, they immediately did the dumbest thing possible, even dumber than trying to arrest or intimidate him...
They tried to make a deal with him! But that's a story for later. The crew walked for a bit and Luffy noticed an Orangette he did miss a lot arrive to the coast alongside a Bluenette. Yes, the first woman's hair color was orange, and the later was blue, like blue-purplish in color. Luffy and the other three time travellers decided to just go then and introduce themselves for the Captain and his First Mate, and the two other swordsmen, or greet them for Yamato and Jinbe. Of course Luffy had to restrain himself as Zoro gave Nami a nostalgic look, which he passed on her and her sister reminding him of his old friend.
"Oh really? How did you guess we're sisters?" Nojiko asked Zoro who was about to expose himself as Luffy, ironically, saved him.
"The resemblance?" He asked and Zoro nodded. While the swordsman was hardly able to be caught off guard, unless of course he did stray, like always, he decided to be very, very, very careful. Moments like this can happen it seems.
"We're sisters, sure. But in everything, and I mean everything but blood!" Nami replied as Luffy shrugged.
"Well, so me and my two brothers.. But there's also the bad blood, no?" Luffy asked and Yamato flinched, as she had NEVER forgiven her father, to this very day, but now at least..
"You have two brothers?" Yusaku and Johnny asked Luffy in amazement.
"Yeah, well.. I decided against since Sabo was lost ever since I was seven, and Ace left almost three years ago.." Luffy replied and Nojiko raised an eyebrow. Nami sighed as she saw a mice looking Marine arrive. Zoro tried his best not to cut the idiotic moron, lest he blew their cover.. Oh he would find a way to... Then the ex-Shichibukai asked Nami one small favor.
"I think that maybe we should go somewhere else? I mean, I think that people are still afraid of me, not that I can blame them..." Jinbe told Nami as he added mentally, 'After all, this is my fault.' And Yamato sighed.
"Well, I guess that the sight of a woman that's over two meters and a half is not common here, is it?" She asked a bit jovially, if only to alleviate the tension. Which kinda worked as the crew nodded and Nami and Nojiko, who decided to postpone any talk to later, guided them to their house on the outskirts.
As they walked, Luffy saw Genzo, the father figure to Nami and Nojiko. The rubber guy decided to just greet him and continue on his path, even if he decided that having a pinwheel on his hat is a cool idea, he was against telling that to anyone.. Nor about the bronze statue he always wanted to have. For now, he made quick glances and saw how the villagers are looking at Jinbe with grattitude, especially the chief he had just greeted. As they went to the home of the two young women, Luffy's mind was racing at a hundred miles per second. Who to recruit into his crew, and what role does they fit? That was something he took very, very, very seriously as captain. They needed a stronger, bigger, and much better crew. The desastrous trial of last time was something he'd rather take to his grave. Come to think about it.. Maybe they weren't the only ones who travelled through time, are they?
And as soon as they reached the Mikan farm, Luffy was astounished. For one he didn't reach this place last time, only Nami and Ussop did. Now he, Zoro, Yamato and Jinbe had the chance to reach it, it was an entirely different matter. So he did the only thing he knew...
"Nami, Nojiko, you have an amazing place!" Luffy said as his eyes shone like a twin of stars, literally. The three time travellers, especially Zoro, didn't bat an eye for this. The other four however.. They thought that Luffy was an absolute and utter idiot. While he was ignorant, and almost illiterate, he wasn't really an idiot.
Okay, he's an idiot sometimes. But these were rare occasions, as he did need anything and everything to distract him from looking into the past-future that took almost everything from him. Shanks, his crew, his allies... Law, Bonney, Kidd... Ace, Sabo.. Garp and even Dragon. Could he forgive himself? Not really.. The very last person he saw die in front of his eyes was Rayleigh, just as Zoro arrived carrying Mihawk's and Perona's limp bodies... He fought against the Marines, he fought against the world litteraly, and he reached his final goal after winning against the Yonkos, but he still remembered how Shanks had to sacrifice himself, how his potential Crew mate was killed, and the assassin died protecting them first, urging them to continue no matter what...
"Nami I... I'm Monkey D. Luffy, and Jinbe's captain." Luffy introduced himself properly this time. "So, since he came until now, did anyone bother you?" The orange haired navigator gave him a questioning look before she shook her head.
"Well, come to think about it, I was robbed blind by Marine Captain Nezumi. Ironic how a pirate saved us, then the marines came to just reap the reward and extort us.." Nami said in a deceitfully calm tone.
"Payback time then!" Yamato said as her eyes narrowed dangerously while she gripped her Kanabo tightly.
"I should have stayed..." Jinbe said curtly and Zoro put a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"What's done is gone." Zoro said as he gripped his Wado tightly, "I think that it is our turn to rob them blind, and throw them into the sea in their birthday suits, or call a certain old goat to take care of them!"
"I highly doubt that there's any marine who would sink that low, would it?" Nojiko asked and surprisingly, Johnny chuckled darkly.
"The lower the rank, the worse they are.." Johnny replied.
"Yeah well, I don't know, but we once delivered a bounty to a captain, and he was very generous.." Yusaku added as Luffy sighed.
"The highest ones? Not all of them are bad. I know a Vice Admiral who refused to get promoted, and an Admiral who resigned out of principal. The higher up, corrupt and misguided as they are, they absolutely refuse to mimic pirates at all. Believe me, I know one so corrupt, he kills his men if they do as much as flee... But he would definitely throw them at the lowest level of hell, erasing their names forever." Zoro, surprisingly let some of his deep knowledge of the old lifetime slip through his mask of beign a meathead.
"Yeah well, even they would find them despicable! Even the Devil have his own principals. If they would distinguish the true pirates who protect islands with nothing to gain but the respect and grattitude of the innocent, or just going on an advanture, and the fake ones who do all these atrocities." Luffy replied and Nami laughed to the point where she held her stomach while Nojiko had tears in her eyes.
"Good pirates and bad pirates? That was hilarious!" Nami replied as Luffy snorted.
"Yeah, what's next? Marines more corrupt than these?" Nojiko asked and Jinbe sighed.
"I have the displeasure to know both!" Jinbe replied, "Also, Whitebeard and Shanks are examples of good pirates, even if their kind is very rare..."
That did make both Nojiko and Nami stop laughing and looked at Jinbe in a dead serious glance. He nodded sadly at them. The two women winced as the whale shark fishman elaborated.
"Whitebeard would NEVER steal from anyone who's kind to people, and he actually never asks anything in return for protecting the islands, and so does Shanks." At this they gave his an incredulous look.
"Say Jinbe, why did you quit being a Shichibukai?" Nami asked the blue fishman who grinned at her.
"Because I'd rather be the crewmate of the pirate king than anyone else's!" At this, something made them realize that there's much more to Luffy than meets the eyes.
"What?" Luffy asked the two women and two men who would definitely join him.
"You're.. The pirate king?" They asked him and Luffy sighed.
"I don't think that I am now.." He replied honestly and Nami's mind was stuck on "now"...
"So when will you be the pirate king then?" Nojiko asked the almost seventeen years old who shrugged.
"Once I assemble what was scattered?" He offered as a reply and Zoro laughed his ass off. He didn't forget Shabaoday it seems...
"Well, we do know where they are. It's a matter of when?" The green haired man asked the teen who shrugged.
"Well then, what are we waiting for? Let's go give them some hell! I heard that Vice Admiral Garp would be here soon, no?" Luffy asked and Nami's eyes bulged out.
"Garp? As in THE Garp? The Marine's hero?" Nami asked Luffy who shrugged.
"Yeah, that old man.." And Zoro chuckled. He met Garp a few times, and Luffy told him two weeks ago to go to Conomi islands, one day, which means... Anytime. "So, let's go already. Besides, maybe we can get enough money to.. Well, I do need money to buy a good sword or two."
"I can lend you money at three hundred percent interest." Nami told Zoro whose eyes widened.
"Oh hell no! Don't tell me that even if I do return the money the debt would still stand?" Zoro hissed at Nami with shark-like teeth in his mouth.
"And I thought you're a meathead.." Nami whispered and Luffy snorted. Zoro was indeed a meathead, but following twice for the same trick? No one is that dumb.. Oh no! He was that dumb!
"Nami, how do someone become smarter?" Luffy asked Nami who gave him an owlish look and blinked twice before she sighed.
"Is this a prank?" Nami's question made Jinbe, Zoro and Yamato sigh at this, with Nojiko, Johnny and Yusaku shaking their heads at this.
"He is not joking at all!" Zoro replied and after Nami looked how serious the other two's expressions were, she sighed as she palmed her forehead.
"I've been trying to remember anything more ridiculous, Anything I red or heard or seen, and nothing comes to my mind so far!" Nami replied seriously before she sighed, "Well, I don't know? Maybe read something or try to focus more?" Luffy smiled at her gratefully, "Anyways, let's go get some bad corrupt idiots!"
"I'm on it!" Luffy grinned in a very bloodthirsty manner, to the point where Nami, Nojiko, Johnny and Yusaku thought they've seen the presence of a very wild beast, while Zoro, Yamato and Jinbe smiled in nostalgia. It didn't take Luffy much of time to figure out where the Marines are posted, and he focused on them only before.. A burst of Haki focused at each and every one of them knocked them out cold, and the island's residents were wondering how would such a coincidence happen at the same time.
"Jinbe, you're on it. This is your best way to declare that you cut all ties!" Luffy announced to his friend who grinned at him. He missed these good old days.
"Worry not Captain. Let's go then!" Jinbe said enthusiastically as Yamato and Zoro were a bit deflated that they won't practice this time. Oh well, at least Jinbe is officially with them, and that's all that matters, no?
And so they walked, or rather, strolled all the was to the sixteenth branch HQ of Marines, which, was.. Well, very distinctive in design. It looked like the head of a mouse of all things, just plain and simple.
"Figured that a rat would have a mouse hole, but he does have a rat's den after all..." Zoro commented with half lidded eyes. He never thought he'd see something like that.
"I take it back, this is more ridiculous than what you asked for, Luffy." Nami added.
"Alright, please allow me..." Jinbe said only for Yamato to knock on the door with her Kanabo.
"If you please now!" Yamato told Jinbe who got inside as if it was his own house.. Or rather, the Thousand Sunny.
"Hello gentleMarines, I came for a very friendly chat." Jinbe said as he got inside and Nezumi paled at the sight of the ex-warlord who obviously came for a very good reason, and from the look at him, he doesn't look that friendly at all.
"Jinbe-san, can we please make a deal?" Nezumi asked as he saw all of his subbordinates knocked out cold within a single blink. That was freaky as none of them were spared. Earlier, they were all out cold, and now, when they barely regained consciousness, they were knocked out once again. That was too much coincidance..
"Let me think? No!" Jinbe replied, "It came to my ears that you stole something from a friend of mine, would you mind telling me where it is?" He asked as Nami and Nojiko both got inside.
"No need to hide or lie. We can do this the easy way..." Nami started with a totally sweet smile.
"...Or the extremely hard way. So spit it out, we're hearing you. Don't let us ask you twice!" Nojiko said in an almost singing voice...
And soon enough, Luffy and Zoro peeked their heads inside to see.. Nezumi in his underwears and bleeding, bruising and his head filled with geese eggs. Well, that was quick...
"Okay, now what?" Yamato asked her captain who shrugged.
"I don't know? Whatever you would usually do?" Luffy answered honestly. The oni princess eyes lit up with a new fire. She was waiting for this to train again. Oh they needed every second to train on these days..
"Training!" Yamato exclaimed at the top of her lungs. To Nami's horror, Zoro and Jinbe grinned as did Luffy. Nojiko blinked as Johnny and Yusaku were looking at them dumbfounded.
"Hate to break this out to you, but aren't you strong enough already?" Johnny asked Luffy who shrugged.
"We're never strong enough!" Luffy explained. "I mean her father can kill us all on a whim if he does want to.." He said as he pointed to Yamato. Everyone else eyes widened, well, everyone that wasn't a time traveller that's it.
"Okay, Zoro, what we'll do about your swords?" Luffy asked his first mate who shrugged as he decided to borrow any sword from the Marine base. They said they'd rob it blind, didn't they? Might as well find something useful.
"Okay, scavange whatever you need from this base. They ain't going to need them anyways." Zoro said as Luffy tried to think about something before he grinned.
"Nami, Nojiko, why don't you join our crew? I mean, you two are pretty awesome, so.." Luffy said as Nojiko gave him an incredulous look, "Don't you two have a dream or something?"
"Yes, well, mine was to draw a map of the entire world.." Nami said in a sad tone, as she remembered how her dream was almost shattered.
"What are you waiting for then? Come on! I mean we'll probably end up travelling all over the world once we finish our journey.. Mine was to become the pirate king!" Luffy said as Yamato smiled in nostalgia.
"Mine is to see the entire world with my own eyes." Yamato added as Nami gave them a surprised look.
"I would always want to be the world's strongest swordsman." Zoro said and this was surprising to anyone but Johnny and Yusaku, and the other three...
"Mine is to end all racism, and make sure that the world doesn't go back to tje darker times..." Jinbe said and now, Nojiko, Johnny and Yusaku felt something swell up in them. A strong drive to just sail around the world...
"I think that I need to set sails." Nojiko said as Johnny and Yusaku smiled both.
"Never thought anyone would snatch our words from our mouths!" The two bounty hunters said in unison, making Zoro chuckle at them.
"About time you two grow a spine. Come on! Move your asses, we have to rummage through. Nojiko, don't you need something? Like a weapon or something?" Zoro's question made Nami's older sister realise something..
"Oh I do need that! Well, Jinbe-Oyabun, what do you think would suit me?" Nojiko asked the martial artist who smiled warmly.
"I don't know? I mean everyone have their own style. Nami is good with a staff I'd say? And you're.. Probably a good shot?" Jinbe offered and the blue haired woman smiled at this.
"Yes I am a pretty good shot, but I don't know which weapon to use?" Nojiko asked and Luffy smirked at this.
"How about you try all types?" He offered and the rest of his crew, past and present, gave him a surprised look, "What?"
"You said something intelligent!" Yamato was the one to reply and everyone nodded at her words in agreement.
"I am not that dumb, am I?" He asked and they sighed in unison...
"I'll be damned Nojiko!" Nami said in astonishment. Her sister was a very good shot. Matter of fact, she was able to shoot each and every target with all kind of weapons. From rifles, to muskets, to shotguns, to flintlocks, to even revolvers.. Had they got a gatling, she would have nailed each and every bullet. "When did you become this good of a shot?"
"Well, I have not the slightest idea? I mean, there's some people who are just that good?" Nojiko replied and Luffy's eyes widened. Nami said that they were sisters in all but blood, which means that Nojiko's parents must be... Well, either like Ussop's father or something? Yassop was an amazing shot, like he would easily shoot the wings off a fly in the horizon, and Ussop was almost that good when he concentrated on his target..
"Small world, small wonder.." Luffy added his two cents, "One of Shank's crewmates, Yassop, was that good. His son, Ussop, whome he told me a lot about, could probably be that good, maybe?" Nojiko gave him a surprised look, "Sometimes the children do resemble their parents.."
"Since when are you this wise, Luffy?" Zoro asked his captain who shrugged.
"Since you became a meathead or a mute?" Luffy replied.
"I am neither!" Zoro replied and Luffy slapped his own mouth, "Heh, guess that you never seen that coming, did you?"
"What? I do have a good observation skills, no?" Luffy replied as Jinbe and Yamato looked at each other before they sighed.
"You got lost many times, but at least you are aware of it!" Jinbe told Zoro.
"And you never think things through unless very rarely!" Yamato replied, "But when you do, well.. You do an amazing job to always pick the right choice."
"..." Luffy decided to say nothing at all.
"And you two? One is obssessed, and the other, responsible as he is, does not share many things.." Zoro grumbled as Jinbe sighed. "Then again, food sharing and Luffy is a very bad idea!"
"Anyways, now what?" Yamato asked as they needed...
"We need a bigger ship!" Luffy said seriously as they looked on the bay of the marine base, "I think that maybe we need something that would last us for a while?"
"Okay, I don't know about the color blue though? I mean we're pirates, not marines!" Luffy added and Yamato, Jinbe and even Zoro palmed their faces.
"A temporary ship!" Nami sighed as she explained. "Well, with my ninety million Berry back, I think that maybe we should be doing well for a while, no?" Nami asked Luffy who palmed his head.
"I should have tried to earn something, but nooo.. Why did I think that it would be a good idea to start my journey with nothing but linnen on my pockets?" And the look of his crewmates faces was priceless to say the least. Their eyes bulged out of their sockets, and their jaws slacked too much!
"You idiot! Who else would do something like that?" Zoro yelled at Luffy who his palm with his the outside edge of his now clenched fist.
"Ace did the same!" That made Jinbe and Yamato laugh their asses out. Nojiko gave them a curious look and they explained that they knew both Ace and Luffy.
"Well, that explains it!" Yusaku commented on the situation.
"Okay, now then, Nami, Nojiko, join my crew!" Luffy asked the two sisters to join this time. Nojiko gave him a surprised look as he added, "Well, how about we have a drink or something?"
"I don't know about that.." Nami told him as Zoro chuckled. Nami and not drinking? Yeah right. Well, might as well try to ask her how she became such a good drinker, "Nojiko can't hold her alcohol as much as I do.." Jinbe snorted at this while Yamato shrugged. She rarely drank so maybe it was normal?
"Okay, what are we waiting for? Let's scram before the marines..." Johnny said only for a blur to try and hit Luffy on his head. Keyword : Try. Luffy dodged his attacker's fist perfectly as he smirked at this.
"Yo, long time no see, Grandpa!" Luffy said and Jinbe prepared himself by taking a stance, Zoro grabbed his Wado, Yamato gripped her Kanabo, Nojiko her shotgun, Johnny and Yusaku each unsheathed their swords, and Nami gripped her Bo Staff.
"Hold it! He's not here to arrest us, is he?" Luffy asked Garp who laughed his ass out.
"Nah. I mean, you're my grandson so I am not capturing you. I just heard about a rumour that Jinbe here joined a pirate crew. Which one did he choose?" Garp asked Jinbe who snorted.
"Why it's your very grandson's." He replied calmly and Garp's eyes widened before he stroke his goatee as if an old sage before he grinned.
"I guess that Luffy being a pirate is much better than a marine, as Ace putted it? He would eat the entire food stock in less than a day.. Bwahahahahaha!" Garp then gave them a narrow eyed glance, "No matter what, I know that none of you is even close to be called an evil pirate. Just, don't you dare stray from the right path or I'll beat each and every one of you! Is that clear?"
"Why are you still a Vice Admiral?" Nami asked Garp in curiosity.
"Are you two Bellemere's daughters?" Garp tried to change the subject and Nojiko nodded, "Is she...?"
"Yeah, for ten years now.." Nojiko replied sadly and Garp lowered his head in shame.
"First Bellemere and then Sabo.. What being a Marine is all about? That's what I always wondered.. Why no one ever told me or my coleagues is beyond me.." Garp said sadly as Jinbe sighed.
"As soon as I heard about it, I came here.." Jinbe said, "Oh, and sorry about the knocked out marines, we had to get our friend's money back!" Garp was so livid, his veins popped.
"I see. Take care Luffy, and please, try to not give the Marine too much of a beating? Not all of them are bad men.. Smoker, Momonga, Tsuru, Sengoku, Aokiji, to name a few, are a pretty decent bunch who just try their best to protect the people, but one can't be all over the sea, can they?" Garp told Luffy who sighed.
"Smoker could have gone on a patrol and defused this entire situation, but he opted to sit his ass on Loguetown.. If I ever meet him.." Luffy said in a very dark tone as Yamato put her hand on his shoulder.
"I asked him the same question, and he became literally blue. Anyways, I do have a job to do here, and you have an adventure to start. I don't see any Pirate's ship, so.. You're just a bunch of friends going on a cruise if you ask me!" Garp said and Luffy shook his Grandpa's hand. "Go, and reach the top."
"Take care Grandpa. See you in a few months in the Grand Line I hope." Luffy said as the others joined the young pirate as they went through the streets, Nami then revealed that she had changed her tattoo to the one with a pinwheel and Mikan, making Luffy smile in nostalgia.
"Nice tattoo. Should I get one?" Luffy asked Zoro who snorted.
"Nah!" The swordsman replied. Luffy just shrugged as they walked away, probably to get a drink or set sails.. Whichever they wanted. And come to think about it, maybe talking with the islanders?
At the end, they chose to drink near Belle-mere's grave, with Jinbe apologizing profousely, Luffy vowing to protect Nami and Nojiko, and Yamato thinking somberly about her own father, and how her last parent was this cruel to her.. Zoro decided to just drink while pouring another bottle to her grave.
"Well, you're the bravest person I ever heard about. Fighting for those you love, even at your own life's risk, you are a true mother..." Zoro whispered as he chugged his own sake bottle in one go, deciding not to think a lot about his late friend Kuina...
"So you're the captain who decided to take my two daughter figures in? Well, I guess that you're one brave man for doing so.." Genzo told Luffy who shrugged, "Look, you better make sure that their smile never leave them, are we clear?" Luffy nodded at him with a nostalgic smile, "Anyways, Nami, Nojiko, what are you waiting for? Get going already! The marines had just left!"
"Well, thank you Genzo-san..." Nami said in a very uncharacteristic tone.
"Please take care?" Nojiko added as Jinbe, Yamato, Zoro and even Luffy dissapeared. But the other two girls could guess where they went at least...
Nami decided NOT to take more than ten millions, after all, it was to save her village, and she also decided to re-visit her hometown before both she and Nojiko would leave for good this time... Yusaku and Johnny were still doubting if they would join or not, which Luffy thought that it is entirely up to them. He does invite people, but joining, well.. It is up to them.
"Zoro, why did you set off this time?" Luffy asked his friend who sighed in nostalgia.
"Well, I couldn't have let you die on your own. Might as well jump into the pit with you, captain!" Zoro said and Luffy sighed sadly...
"You.. Don't need to be this loyal. I... I'm not even worth it yet." Luffy replied as Zoro raised an eyebrow before he understood what he meant.
"Heh, you get dumber with age? Why am I NOT surprised?" At those words, Jinbe and Yamato laughed their asses off, but these laughter were hollow, dark, humorousless, and sad.. Incredibly sad.
"Aniki, you knew the captain since when?" Johnny asked as Yusaku was taking care of fishing currently...
"Since a few years before we met. Luffy is my second friend.. Or third?" Zoro replied and they all gave him a shocked look, "Look, I used to have a friend which is a swordswoman, but she died..." Zoro then decided to leave his past to himself. No need to dig at the graves... "What it does matter is that.. One day I'll have to fight a certain man. I might die, but I accepted that..."
"No you won't! That fight with your sensei should be a spar, a very friendly spar between two great swordsmen, not a deathbattle between two first class fighters!" Luffy did all but barked at him. Zoro sighed angrily.
"And how do I convince him?" Zoro's question made Luffy chuckle.
"Show him how close you are to Shanks, and he would definitely enjoy himself enough to give you time and maybe even invest and bet on you!" Jinbe replied as Yamato shrugged. Well, that made sense.
"So, now where should we go?" Nami asked Luffy who grinned.
"Orange town... Oh and I think that you should train! We won't have much time to save them!" Luffy told Nami as Jinbe went to the helm of their temporary ship.
"Well, I'll be steering the ship, Captain! Nami, as the navigator, I expect you to help me steer it through the water, it'll be very critical if we're getting into the Grand Line!" Jinbe said as Nami smiled at him warmly. "There's so many things I should warn you about by the way, Nojiko! I need you here as the Vice-Navigator!"
Yamato sweatdropped at the exchange. Then she asked Zoro and Luffy if there's such a position, which both shrugged and asked her one last question...
"Since when we were a conventional pirate crew?" Zoro's question made much more sense than it should. They never stole, they make parties, they save those in need, they liberate countries.. They bring joy instead of doom...
Little guarden
A creature sneezed as it was hunting a T-Rex. The Giant carnivore caught wind of it and it did the most rational thing. It fled the monster who was there for a few months. The Apex predator cursed its luck as it decided to go and hunt for something much less troublesome : A brachiosaur that now thrived in his presence... And the two giants that live there decided that Sea King meat is much better than hunting dinosaurs. The farmer of dinosaur looked proudly at his pet Tiger and the few chicks he helped sustain and protect for months... "Joy Boy, don't be late this time! I came here for you!" The creature said in a tongue that was long gone, older than the century it dissapeared into it...
Back on the ship
Okay, the journey was not a good thing, as Luffy's appetite almost killed them, if not for Jinbe and Yamato finding a school of migrating, giant salmons, and caught some of it. While Nami and Nojiko enjoyed cooking their fish, Luffy , Zoro, Johnny Yusaku, Jinbe and Yamato had to eat their food raw, and fortunately for Jinbe, he was able to spare some fruits from the pantry.
They absolutely needed a Chef, and fast. As much as Luffy wanted to go to the baratie, and recruit Sanji, he knew that going to Orange town then Syrup village are much more important. The first would definitely be the reason why Buggy would regain his spirit, and the second is to save Ussop. He just hoped that they would make it in time... Or...
"When can we go get Sanji?" Luffy asked Zoro who sighed and shook his head. This was the thousandth time he was asked that question.
"After we get Ussop! And we need to train! Like absolutely need to get stronger. I don't want to dissapoint Mihawk-sensei!" Zoro said as he clutched Wado in nostalgia and sorrow, "I don't believe I'm saying this, but we set off too early!"
"Yeah well, that and we had to. Nami needed us." Luffy replied as Zoro nodded sagely. At least they did save the day this time? No need to think about it. "How did you became immune to alcohol?"
"How did you?" Zoro replied and Luffy gave him a pout and a blank stare.
"I asked first!" Luffy replied and Zoro sighed.
"When Kuina died, I drank a lot more than I should. There! Your turn?" Zoro asked his captain who sighed.
"Well, after I.. Arrived here, I drank a lot to forget the nightmare. By the time you came, I can drink a keg or two and be fine." Luffy replied and Zoro sighed dejectedly. They must NOT fail this time, no matter what! Speaking of failure..
"What will we do about one blue haired princess?" Zoro asked Luffy who sighed. They should find a way to..
"I think that I have a plan!" They heard a feminine voice say and they both turned only to see Yamato grinning at them, "Well, last time I talked about her, well, before the entire thing, remember when we went into that island and I had to spend time with Nami? She told me about the billion Berry debt and the such, and then... She said that she wished that she did insist on it, or Vivi coming with us..."
"Yamato, you're the best! From planning our course, to recruiting one of our friends, what will you do next?" Luffy told the Oni as he hugged her. She mussed his hair. Zoro snorted at the sight. How many women did develop a crush on his captain was beyond him...
"There Captain. Until we do recruit Robin? Someone have to think.." Yamato replied as Zoro gave her a warning look, "I know, but worry not! She's an amazing secret keeper. She told me that at Thriller Bark, she was convinced that you're the best first mate. Care to explain?" Zoro blanched at this. Anything but THAT secret.
"I just did what needed to be done! Nothing happened! Understood?" Zoro told Yamato as somehow, his own Haoushoko no Haki activated unvolentarily. Luffy whistled before he grinned.
"I knew, since day one, if not zero, that you are the very best first mate, Zoro... But this? Yamato have a good head start as the strategist of the ship!" Luffy teased his best friend who snorted.
"My role is to make sure that the ship sails all the way through and that the crew sticks together! We are NOT some kids playing pirates!" Zoro answered as Yamato and Luffy made some silly faces at him, making him chuckle a bit. Okay, right now, they can relax, as the fifth of May is still to come.. But now? Now they needed to set things in motion. How they have no idea... Oh right! That island! But they shouldn't eat any animal, should they?
"About Buggy now..." Luffy started and Zoro snorted.
"Just go there, kick his butt, re-lit his fire, and that's it! What else do you need to do?" Zoro asked Luffy who snickered.
"Oh that and we need Bart to get inspired. Maybe he'll take Johnny and Yusaku? If they don't mind?" Luffy said and Zoro sighed. As much as he liked having them, he knew that they were probably not cut from the same material. Nojiko's dream was the same as Yamato, which is something big...
"How about we do recruit Bartolomeo this time? He's a pretty decent dude, and he does believe in you, no?" Zoro asked Luffy who smirked.
"Yeah well, I guess that Arabasta would be the busiest island this time. Gin, Bart, and Ace? Who knows? Maybe Hack, Koala and even Sabo would be there?" Luffy replied and Zoro snorted.
"Let's hope not, it would be a very busy place, and if your old Grandpa would be there? Well, he would definitely make sure that you and Vivi get married or something!" Zoro replied as Luffy snorted at the thought. Sure, Vivi is one of his closest friends, and her death on the news paper almost made him snap, and add that guy who was the very last of his specie, who sacrificed himself to kill Blackbeard...
Flashback no Mi
"Why don't you die!" Blackbeard screamed as a beast, feathered snapped his mighty jaw on him.
"I am dead! But I will take your ass with me on a ride all the way to hell! This is how I repay my debt!" The featehered being said as he plunged his claws many times on the Yonko, piercing his lungs, arteries, hearts, and taking him out. As soon as the Straw Hats arrived, the monsterous guy was already dead, but clutching Blackbeard's body in a death hug, his jaws clumped on his thick neck, his claws on the head of the pirate, it was a gruesome, yet satisfyingly bitter-sweet end for the being that wished to join his family for Kami knew how long...
Present day
The crew spent a few days to reach Orange Town, and Luffy noticed how fast his new ship was. While it was a very old, damaged, and almost destroyed old marine ship, it would do for now.. As Orange Town, Syrup town and before that the island where they met Gaimon? They wouldn't need more. Speaking of Orange town, it was on the horizon currently.
"Orange Town everyone!" Luffy yelled as he smiled in nostalgia. He can't wait to meet that old man and that dog.. Well, that and Nami is with them this time, "Nami, can you and Nojiko loot Buggy?" Luffy asked the two woman who blinked at him.
"Fine Captain!" Nami said as her eyes turned into Berry shape, making the four original crewmates think that she did not change one bit.
"Then I'll watch your back, Nami." Nojiko said as she grabbed a shotgun, holstered a revolver, and a rifle just in case.
"Captain, can we help in any shape?" Yusaku asked and Luffy scratched his chin.
"I don't know?" Luffy offered as Zoro sighed.
"You two need to be stronger. This would help you. You two will take down everyone that's not a threat, and the rest are for us!" Zoro said as Jinbe and Yamato smiled. "I'm taking the first mate. Luffy, you should NOT show your Haki nor your Devil Fruit ability! Jinbe and Yamato? You two need to make sure that Buggy gets his spirit back!"
"That's... Not a bad thing!" Luffy replied as the rest nodded in agreement. Seems like Zoro is not that brutish after all. He's pretty good... Not really in anything but this? This is his domain!
"I'll be damned! Even you became smarter!" Yamato told Zoro who smirked. Of course, losing almost everything would do that and more.
"Heh, we all did change!" Jinbe said wisely, making Nami giving him a questioning look, "It's complicated. Let's just say that we knew each other for a while, and we all did change in some way..."
"Well, tell me your friends I'll tell you who you are." Johnny said, "One day, we'll be much better than this. Today though, let's just hope we don't lose!"
"You won't! Just a hungry lion, a weakling, and the rest are just mooks, low level mooks!" Luffy replied and they gave him a shocked look, "I know Buggy from his friend's teles."
"Okay!" The four newest members nodded in agreement. Although, Zoro's glare and Jinbe's look made Luffy realize something : He needed to explain what Haki is.
"After this, i'll tell you all about something we all do possess called Haki!" Luffy announced, "We have to be stronger. Paradise isn't easy!"
"Paradise?" Nami asked Luffy who grinned at her.
"As dangerous as the Grand Line is, the first half is called Paradise for a reason. The second half is so pilirious that the first chaotic part is a paradise in comparaison..." Zoro snorted as the straw hatted teen added, "My friend used to tell me so anyways."
"Who is he?" Nojiko asked as Luffy grinned at her.
"Shanks!" And that made Nami and Nojiko's brains stop for a few moments...
"Had seen? It was so easy!" Luffy said as he bashed Buggy's head into the cobblestone, making some cracked web. Zoro's fight against Cabajie was a very fast one, Johnny and Yusaku managed to beat down pretty much all of the mooks, and they were okay for the most part. Whoever were too strong for them, Yamato and Jinbe took care of them. The entire fight, Luffy had berated Buggy for his cowardice and his foolish decision to stay a bottom feeder while he could have been so much more. Luffy decided that there's nothing else to stay for in this island, and after he met with Nami and Nojiko, and (very hardly) convinced them to leave a portion of the treasure for the town to rebuild itself, and Jinbe teasing him about being a hero, and getting a thankful from Poodle, the mayor, and talking a bit with Chuc Chu the dog, the Straw Hats set sail to meet Gaimon once again... This time with a bigger crew.
Syrup Village
"Say, how about we talk about your father, Yassop?" Luffy asked Ussop as he was able to catch him off guard. Meeting Gaimon, making Nami realize that Luffy is really a very nice person, as he refused to give the chests back to the man stuck in the chest, and making him realize that they were empty all along, and then meeting with someone he would befriend, and hope to avoid his sorrow at the inevitable, and after all, their ship had barely managed to reach the village as Luffy realized how ironic it was that its keel was broken in half...
"You knew my father?" Ussop asked Luffy who grinned at him.
"Knew him? No sir, I was his friend, and his Captain's, and the entire crew. All the time he always talked about you, and how he regretted not taking you and your mother with him..." Luffy said and saw Ussop's face darkening. "I'm sorry if I talked about a bad subject."
"It's okay. I miss her a lot, but that's life.. Humans always die, and by all causes.." Ussop said in a depressed tone which made Luffy sigh dejectedly. He never seen Ussop this low since... Well, he will do something about it! No discussion.
"Ussop!Luffy! I neeed you two to get here and take a good look!" Zoro yelled as the two teens gave him a surprised look before they shrugged. No harm in meeting inside the ship.
As they descended into the lowest part, Ussop was shocked at the sight. The ship should have sunk days ago. Its keel was broken in half, and there were water inside of its bowels. Luffy looked grimly at the sight before Jinbe joined them and gave Luffy a very grim look.
"This ship is done!" Jinbe said bluntly. "Either we get a new ship, or we sink not even a knot outside of the beach!" Ussop blanched at this while Luffy gave him a sad look.
"I agree. Say, how are we supposed to get a ship?" Luffy asked Jinbe who sighed.
"I have no idea, whatsoever. Either we get the Marines involved, either we find a carpenter, either... A shipwreight!" Jinbe answered. "We don't even have fifteen millions! No ship is that cheap but in the very same condition."
"Yeah well, i do agree. Good thing we didn't get into the Grand Line with this junk!" Luffy replied as Jinbe sighed. Yamato snorted as she joined the conversation.
"Believe me, only the hardest, toughest wood would be able to sail at the end of the New World. And in that sea? Well, even the weakest ship is made of stainless steel!" Yamato added. "The best ships would be made from Adam's treasure wood, but it's rare... Like incredibly rare!"
"I heard about it, but it exists only in black market, and one should be very careful when it comes up to that!" Jinbe replied as Zoro palmed his face, "The original island where it exists is almost unknown, and it required an eternal pose, which no one, and I mean not even Oyaji-san does have!"
"Not even Shirohige-Ossan does have it?" Luffy asked in shock. That meant... Oh NO!
"How do you get it then?" Zoro asked with shark-like teeth in his mouth.
"Black Market! It's so expensive, that rare those who does even buy it!" Jinbe added and Ussop felt that he was left out of the subject, completely ignored by them.
"Ahem! Luffy, can't you tell me about my dad?" Ussop asked his new friend who smiled warmly at him.
"He's an amazing sharpshooter. Like he would easily shoot things beyond the horizon. And he once shot a fly's leg, and another's wing!" Luffy said as he then started to tell countless tales to Ussop. Said long nosed teen was speechless.
"You mean that my Father is one of Shanks, The Shanks, crewmates?" Ussop asked Luffy who grinned at him.
"Not a crewmate, more. He's like one of the highest ranking ones, on a Yonko's crew, right behind Ben and Lucky!" Luffy said and Ussop, Nami, Nojiko, Johnny and Yusaku were utterly speechless. "So yeah, anyone talks badly about your father, tell them that he's the third mate of Yonko Shanks, and I'll back you up!"
"My father's third mate of Yonko Shanks... Not bad at all!" Ussop muttered as then, he remmebered something very important. "Please excuse me, I have to go for something.. Personal." Ussop said as Luffy nodded, while Jinbe and Yamato were confused, Zoro didn't bat an eyelash.
"Well, take care.. And tell your girlfriend that your new best friend says, 'Hi, you two are tailor made for each other!', Ussop!" Luffy replied and everyone gave him a shocked look, "What? It was a gut feeling guys!"
"Er, well, sure..." Ussop said as Luffy smiled at him.
"What you're waiting for? A man should NEVER feel ashamed for falling in love! Take care my friend." Luffy said, and as soon as Ussop bolted, Jinbe gave him an incredulous look.
"Well, he needed to confidence boost!" Zoro replied for his captain, "And Luffy? Try not to get hypnotized, please?"
"Anyways, Ladies andGents, let's get to our training!" Yamato said too enthusiastically. Nami, Nojiko, Johnny and Yusaku grumbled as Zoro sighed. That's not what he expected.
"Luffy, restrain yourself this time!" Zoro warned as Jinbe and Yamato gave him an inquisitive look, "Last time he almost destroyed an entire cliff!" Oh, that...
"It was an incident Zoro!" Luffy replied as his first mate snorted.
"Yeah and I'm named Beelzebub!" Zoro snarked.
"Oh yeah, and I'm not a lost soul!" Luffy replied and Jinbe snorted in laughter. The two glared at each other before they broke down in laughter. Yamato and Jinbe blinked at them. What's wrong with these two?
"You two have issues!" Jinbe commented as Luffy snorted.
"Coming from you and your perpetual sense of guilt? Even though everyone in Conomi had forgiven you?" Yamato scolded as Luffy snorted.
"You went berserk! Like, you almost killed them! I warned you that they were fragile!" Luffy told Yamato as Zoro snorted.
"You sent Buggy through the air, and he's an Anchor!" Zoro said as Luffy snorted.
"And you almost killed his first mate!" Luffy replied only to remember, "Hey! I didn't send him flying!"
"Oh.. That!" Zoro rolled his eyes at his captain's forgetfullness.
"Okay, let's go and train!" Yamato finally defused the situation. Zoro and Luffy smiled how seriously she was about the entire situation.
"Say Nami, if a princess would ask you to escort her to her country and fight her war for her, how much would you ask as a fee?" Luffy asked Nami who tapped her chin.
"A billion Berry!" Nami replied as Luffy and Zoro chuckled. "What's so funny?"
"Only the bounty of a Yonko commander? At most? I am dissapointed! What did you do with Nami?" Zoro asked the orange haired woman who glared at him.
"Hey! I am humane at times!" Nami replied as Luffy chuckled darkly.
"Less than Ten times what you asked would be a waste!" Luffy replied calmly and Nami was about to protest only to shut up and nod dumbly.
"Oh and if she wouldn't pay? We'll kidnap her!" Yamato added as Nojiko and Nami gave her a shocked look. "What?" She asked in annoyance.
"We never thought you'd be so callous!" Nojiko replied as Zoro chuckled. That was hilarious. Yamato and callous are not in the same book usually.. As it was her empathy that led her to suffer under Kaido's.. Better forget that!
A few months later
May tenth
At dawn, Luffy waited with Ussop, Nami, Nojiko, Zoro, Johnny, Yusaku, Jinbe and Yamato. It was up to them to stop the black cat pirates, since they spent almost two months in hard training, or torture according to Nami, Nojiko, Yusaku and Johnny. Despite that, it was all for this very moment.
And pay off it would!
As soon as the battle started, Luffy watched with impressed eyes how Johnny and Yusaku showed that they became very reliable, by slashing the pirates of a traicherous buttler, that Nami had pointed out, that he's not a buttler, since no buttler would ever rise his voice at his master, or in that case, mistress. Luffy gave her a proud look upon hearing that. Zoro grinned as he saw how Yamato was twitching, while both Luffy and Jinbe were holding her off, while Ussop and Nojiko were raining bullets and projectiles at the pirates who were distant enough from the other three. Three as in Nami assembling an iron pipe and use it as a Bo Staff with great efficiency to dispatch the Black Cats. The battle was a no holds barred beatdown between the weakest five of the Straw hats and the rest. As soon as Luffy saw trouble, he and Jinbe unleashed Yamato, who used her Raimei Hakke against Jungo, Sham and Buchi, to knock them out in the blink of an eye.
"That was dissapointing..." Jinbe said as the weak quartret went to loot the Black Cat pirates.
"That shows how important training is.." Luffy commented as Zoro nodded in total agreement. That was more of a massacre than a battle. Then Kuro arrived and saw that all of his crewmates, or pawns in his twisted mind, knocked out cold.
"Well well, I thought I had a few reliable men, not some weaklings who can't even take down a few brats." Kuro said sarcastically.
"Because you are a horrible leader! The weakest five of my crew managed to take all of your crew down and without a scratch, dumbass!" Luffy taunted as he grinned. Kuro's forehead's veins popped at this.
"Oh you again?" Kuro said nonchalantly but Luffy grinned.
"Ussop himself managed to take down more than tenth of your crew, and he's the one who's probably the weakest of the bunch for now!" Luffy taunted, "So, how bad is your crew?" He asked as Zoro's eyes had a mischivious glint.
"Let's see, divide the five, carry the seven, substract the two... " Zoro said as he had a pen and a notebook in his hand, "You're less than negative trillion as a captain, while they're negative billion as a crew." Kuro was now ready to attack only for Luffy to give him a savage grin.
"You're not even worth me knocking you out! Matter of fact? Ussop have a trillion more guts than you'll ever do!" Luffy smirked. Kuro finally snapped as he yelled, at the top of his lung..
"PROVE IT!" And that was all Luffy needed as he unleashed a burst of Haoshoko no Haki, that managed to knock out the fake buttler. As for the rest of the crew? Well, Nami and Nojiko fared the best, with only a sever cold on the base of their spines, Ussop falling, and trembling, while Johnny and Yusaku were sweating cold sweat, profousely.
"What the hell Luffy?" Nami yelled at the top of her lungs, "Didn't we agree to NEVER do that again?"
"Shishishi, sorry! I forgot, but I had to prove a point!" Luffy replied as Nojiko gave him a dissapointed look.
"Why next time, please be kind enough to WARN us in ADVANCE!" Nojiko yelled the key word at the top of her lungs, and her facial expression screamed indignation.
"Who's the dumb one now?" Zoro asked Luffy teasingly.
"The one who forgot to warn, or the one who lost his swords?" Luffy asked Zoro who sighed.
"Never mention that again or you're dead!" Zoro warned Luffy, "That's a problem! I can never apologize to the maker as he died..."
"My condolences? And I'm sorry for mocking you..." Luffy replied smartly as Zoro shrugged.
"Well, I guess that we'll have now to go meet a certain Ero-cook!" Zoro said jeeringly.
The next day
After Luffy convinced Ussop to take Kaya's Den Den Mushi's number just in case, he decided to just chill out a bit this day. Any training would be compremised now. No need to cry over spilt milk, but then again, it wouldn't do them any good if they decided to stay depressed and sad over their lack of progress (To them!) As he still hadn't awaken his Devil Fruit fully, and Zoro didn't have the right gear! They both envied how carefree Jinbe and Yamato were, as they just.. Well, they knew that the both of them have a huge disadvantage. Yamato needed to awaken her powers, and Jinbe needed to perfect his Haki, which is close for the second, and was done by the first.
For now, they thanked Kaya and Merry profousely, and secretly vowing to take care of Going Merry much better than last time, for both Zoro and Luffy. Jinbe and Yamato wished that Brook and Carrot had been as lucky as them, then they decided that fate is above it... There's somethings that no one can control.
Then, Ussop came downhill, rolling like a giant snowball, with a gargantuan backpack serving as the ball. Luffy sighed as he grabbed Ussop before he would smash the Merry. "Thanks Luffy!" Ussop managed to say at his now captain who shrugged. "Erm, Kaya, do you mind giving me your Den Den Mushi number?" Ussop asked shyly as the Straw hats shrugged. It was his life, his very personal intimate life. The blonde girl smiled at her friend and nodded before giving him her number. In a blink and you'll miss moment, Luffy grinned mischiviously, with Zoro remaining a stone faced swordsman and thinking that it was about time that the sniper grew a backbone. That and it would be entertaining.
"Kaya, Marry-san, I guess that this is it for me. Guys, do you mind giving me a hitch?" Ussop asked Luffy who sighed.
"Yes we would! What are you talking about? You're always free to come!" Luffy said as he added mentally, 'You never left since Water seven!' And then Ussopgrinned, from ear to ear as he jumped and yelled.
"I'll be the captain, right?" He asked, mostly jokingly only for Luffy to glare at him.
"Do NOT joke about this or try! The ship have but ONE Captain, and it's ME!" Luffy said in a very dark and terrifying tone that made Ussop and the four new comers tremble at the sight. "That's the One and ONLY rule in any ship I own! Apart from that, do whatever you wanna do, play whatever you wanna play, train however you want, but I am the captain, and Zoro is the Vice Captain!"
"Okay, point taken! So, who would steer the ship?" Ussop asked as Luffy pointed at Jinbe.
"He's our Helmsman! Nami's our Navigator, and Nojiko is our assistant Navigator!" Luffy replied calmly, "Ussop, how about some imitation?" And Zoro facepalmed. Leave it to Ussop to be a bad influence. However, he saw Luffy wink and he smirked.
'Worry not, Ittoryu, I got it! We'll train much harder, and at every occasion we do have. For now, all we have is some peace of mind and some good tranquility!' Luffy told Zoro in thoughts. Zoro smirked at him before he replied.
'I am not Chopper, but I think that you do make sense, Anchor!' And Zoro snickered at Luffy's hilarious mental rant as he turned his Haki off, leaving his captain with his angrish look and he guessed that everyone would talk an illigeable gibberish whenever they would get mad enough. 'Ero-cook, you better get ready! I will train you harder than your sorry ass can take!' Zoro thought seriously. Sanji almost dying... Almost dying? Which meant, that there must be someone who would get with them, hopefully!
Baratie (It reads Barati!)
Dissapointement. Not from the stupid Marine, not from the lack of training, but from Sanji not recognizing them. Luffy and Zoro shared one glance and they both sighed dejectedly. That was not a good sight. Luffy practically felt crying, as now, Sanji of their timeline was definitely dead!
Well, which means that they will make this Sanji into a badass, whether he likes it or not! He will get stronger, or die trying!
AN : And that's a wrap! Next time, the last three arcs. A quick visit to train, a spar, and a meetin. Hope you'll like that? It's not in that particular order. Anyways, please review, and see you next time!