AN : Now that all the pieces are in place? I think that I should start writing once again, and hopefully, this new game plus style would be.. Something else.
I don't own jack!
How to train your crew?
The high sea
Luffy was whistling as he saw that Sanji was able to break thirty four baseball bats. Zoro smiled approvingly, and Yamato nodded at Jinbe, who was looking at Nami's first attempt to use the basics of the Fishman Karate's Seiken, and so far? She was pretty natural at this. Luffy glanced at Gin who was spinning a training weight at a breakneck speed, something he approved of, Johnny was running around, Yusaku was lifting massive weights, and Nojiko was sparring with Vivi, as the Princess was evading her onslaught of punches, and Ussop was doing push ups just to pass time.
"And Nami said that they were not blood related?" Luffy whispered to Yamato who snickered. Of course they must be related, seeing how vicious Nojiko's punches seems, like Nami. Different or not, it seems that there was something about them... "I think that these two mooks are alright, for Bart that's it!" Yamato now chuckled, "And I think that they're ready for that!" Now it was the Oni's turn to laugh. Of course... Well, it was their pain at the least.
"Sanji, come over here, I have an interesting idea to tell you.. Alone!" Luffy told the Chef who gave him a raised eyebrow, "Look, seriously, I really need you to listen to this only on your own!"
"Fine fine, alright Luffy, what's this about?" Sanji's question was answered by a very broad grin. Zoro nodded and shrugged. He ain't going to read their minds.
"Johnny, Yusaku, Gin!" Zoro told the three weapons users who nodded and followed him to the other side, leaving Yamato and Jinbe with the three girls and Ussop.
As soon as Sanji and Luffy got into the kitchen, the blonde chef sighed before he started.
"What did you really needed to tell me in secret?" Sanji's question was answered by a grin.
"I see how fast you kick the ground, and how strong your kicks have became, but it will Not be enough for the latter half!" Luffy warned Sanji who was utterly shocked before he sighed dejectedly.
"I know! This is as far as I can go!" Sanji replied as he lit a cigarette and took a sip of the black tea that he just blanded.
"I think that your eyebrows are.. Inspiring!" Luffy replied and Sanji glared at him, "Look, they spin! You can spin and fast, believe me, if you try spinning on one leg, the other on the ground, then what would happen?"
Sanji's eyes widened. That was interesting.. No, too smart to come from the mouth of his dumb captain.
"Another thing, ever tried to jump and kick the air as strong and as fast as you can?" Luffy's question made Sanji's eye shine with intrigue, "Or kicked the ground more than a dozen time in less than the blink of an eye before you run as fast as you can in a burst of speed? Or even kick upward as fast as you can? Your kick can generate enough wind from the sheer speed and strength of your kick. If you can achieve this, I'll tell you more!" Luffy lectured Sanji, which was hilarious. Sanji being the experienced fighter he is, understood exactly what Luffy was refereing to...
"Okay, this is a lot to take on.." Sanji replied as Luffy smirked and, a second later, had some roasted chicken breast as a snack. "Oi, when did you?"
"They're just... Perfect! Spicy, and more of that? They do taste amazing!" Luffy reviewed, "Worry not, this is just a... Payment?"
"Get off my kitchen!" Sanji growled and Luffy mock saluted him before he went outside, leaving Sanji with his own thoughts... Then he decided that it wasn't thinking time with the dinner on the stove.. Yet. The more Sanji thought, the more Luffy's words made sense.
Luffy meanwhile blinked as he saw Yamato's competition with the other three girls, as the Oni was making a perfect split, and only Vivi was comfortable enough, as for Nami and Nojiko, well, they both have some minor troubles so far.
"Did I interrupt something?" Luffy asked Yamato who snorted, making him crack grin. Before she answered, she jumped upward, made a few rolls as she tucked her body into a ball before she landed gracefully on the deck, which made Vivi whistle at the display.
"No. So, now what?" Yamato asked Luffy who shrugged.
"Well, your students to torture, why should I interrupt you?" He replied before he went, hiding his grin as he saw the look of despair on the other three girls. That's supposed to be a good thing for them. The more they suffer now, the less they suffer later. Hence, he went to the other side where he found Jinbe and Zoro instructing (read : Jinbe instructing Ussop while Zoro torturing the other three) on how to properly fight for Ussop, and how to handle weapons, where Gin was spinning a huge amount of weight, and the other two were lifting a barbell with one side which had a lot of weight. Zoro grumbled about how bad he've seen them, where he managed to outdo each and every one of them, and Ussop's, Johnny's and Yusaku's jaws hit the floors as their eyes were now larger than any dinner sauccer (Literally!) as Luffy laughed his ass out.
"Luffy, don't you have anyone to train?" Zoro asked his captain who shrugged.
"Sanji's a natural, but he's currently busy with.. Oh? He'll be here soon." Luffy replied as he saw the chef arrive with a lot of drinks.
"Okay ladies and gentleschmucks, a five minutes break!" Sanji barked as Luffy shrugged. He went to drink his own refreshment in one go, with Sanji nodding and jumping before he started to kick the air.. Only to barely make a progress while Zoro of all people whistled at the show.
"Two centimeters on your very first try? Not bad at all!" Zoro commented and Sanji frowned.
"I wanted twenty!" Sanji replied and Luffy smirked at him before he jumped and started to kick the air faster than most of their eyes can see. Even Zoro was shocked by this.
"Dammit Luffy! When do you train?" Zoro barked as he did the same, only barely keeping up.
"Whenever I got time!" Luffy replied as Sanji was slowly but steadily incresing his air jumps power and distance and frequency, "Nice work Sanji!"
"It took me a month!" Zoro replied as he gave the chef a thumbs up, "And you learned how to cook for human beings! I'm impressed brother!"
"Oh shut it you! I can cook for anyone and everyone!" Sanji replied, "And your shitty compliments won't make me budge!"
"Nah, you do like hearing compliments on your food!" Luffy replied as he was now.. Punching the air? Could that be called air punching or air hand walking?
"Stop showing off!" Yamato barked as she was doing a vertical split before she jumped to the other leg.
"Nah ah ah! You didn't say the magic words!" Luffy replied before he was... Running on air?
Sanji and Zoro at that moment decided to land on the Merry. That show was... Well, very bad for their self-esteem. Luffy however was there before they even landed, effectively making the both of them jump a good meter upward.
"Now then, Sanji, I want you to try and kick upward as fast as you can.. Wait! Not here, jump there first!" Luffy said as he pointed to the highest point on the ship, on the rear roof of the Merry where nothing was obstructing his way of fire... And as Sanji did exactly what his captain said, lo and behold, a compressed air blade ran away from his kick.
"Shitty... What the hell happened?" Gin asked Zoro who just grinned at the show.
"Nice one Sanji-kun!" Nami encouraged her friend (read : servant) who grinned as Luffy was whistling.
"Well, that's a start!" Yamato commented.
"A start? A start of what?" Johnny asked as Yusaku's eyes were wider than sauccers.
"A start of him.. Getting where he should be!" Zoro explained as he unsheathed Wado and sent a Huge air blade that would cut a cliff cleanly in two halves, much to the astonishment of everyone but the other three who knew of his powers, and the smirk of one Joy Boy...
"You didn't use Haki again?" Luffy teased Zoro who snorted.
"Ask and you shall receive, Captain!" And the next wave was a lot more impressive, as it did cut the ocean in two, "Happy now?"
"Zoro, how strong are you?" Nojiko asked in utter astonishment.
"Well, I'm barely reaching where I need to!" The first mate replied angrily. Luffy sighed upon hearing this.
"Me neither. I couldn't awaken my full powers yet!" This.. Wasn't good!
"Can I know again if you two have regular Devil fruits?" Gin asked Luffy who shrugged.
"No, I don't think that Luffy's is a Paramecia, and mine's a Mythical Zoan, once again, it's an entirely another world of your run of the mill powers." Yamato explained as Jinbe nodded.
"Here's the classes of the Devil Fruits : Paramecia, Zoan, Logia and finally Mythical Zoan." Jinbe started his lecture, "And of course, all depands entirely on the user. There can be a very creative user, or a very dumb one. Like they say, a beginner with a sword can still lose to a master with a stick."
"Couldn't say it any better." Gin smirked at this. How many Marine swordsmen did fell to his Tonfas? He couldn't count.
"So, what about this Haki thing you talked about?" Surprisingly, Nami asked Luffy who shrugged.
"Well, it does have many levels if you're interested to know.." Luffy started to explain everything about Haki, well, as he does remember, which wasn't much aside from the feeling, and the training methods.
"You're not serious about this, are you?" Nojiko asked as Yamato chuckled.
"Oh he's dead serious!" Yamato replied as Vivi gulped audiably. "Worry not, the last one is.. You have it, or you don't. Luffy, Me, and Zoro do have it, in the order of potency. I did awaken it years ago, when I was about eight."
"Okay!" Vivi replied as Yamato had a savage grin on her face.
"Oh worry not, Vivi-chan, I will bring it out of you!" Yamato said as Luffy chuckled only for Zoro to slap the back of his head.
"You do have some explaining, and training to do!" Zoro said in a dead serious tone. "Once you do awaken your powers once again, you can eat an entire Sea King all for yourself, and I'll catch it!" Sanji chuckled at this, "And Sanji will be nice enough to cook it!"
"Said what? Are you kidding me?" Sanji asked Zoro who snorted.
"I am dead serious, Cook!" Zoro said with a vicious smile.
"What a meathead! Can't tell the difference between a cook and a chef!" Sanji said as he lit another cigarette.
"Who else would Luffy entirely trust when it comes up to Food? You schmuck!" Zoro replied angrily only for Sanji to give him a thumbs up. "Man I missed this!"
"Missed what?" The rest of the crew asked as Zoro snorted.
"Well, being like this, acting like the bunch of misfits we are!" Zoro told Luffy who was pensive before he paled.
"Luffy?" Yamato asked the captain who gave her a serious look.
"Crocodile is.. Will probably be our most dangerous foe for a long time!" Luffy replied as Yamato snorted.
"If he harms you... I will grind him to dust!" Jinbe smirked at this.
"I think he did awaken his powers. Awakened Logias are the worst to deal with." Jinbe replied as Luffy nodded.
"And he probably do have Haki, being a New World veteran and all..." This was unexpected.
Later
To say that their training was hard or brutal, would be a severe understatement. As far as the non-timetravellers were concerned, their captain, vice captain, helmsman and log keeper were utterly psychotically insane. The more they thought about it, it made sense. While it was true that Luffy was Nami's best friend, it was also known to her that either he's the dumbest person she knew, or the most shrewed of masterminds. Gin started to thaw out the more he hanged out with the crew. Nojiko meanwhile was the best Navigator when her sister wasn't around. Then, it became a marksmanship match between her and Ussop. Luffy bet on Ussop, as he knew how good of a shot his friend was, and surprisingly? He did win, by a very hard to determine margin, but once they did reach the rocks, Ussop's lead star did his the mark one inch closer than Nojiko did.
"Better luck next time?" The winner offered as the vice navigator sighed dejectedly.
"I want to know.. Why don't you use a gun?" She asked as Ussop chuckled nervously, "Come on! I deserve an answer."
"Well, I can't aim with a gun nor a riffle as good as a slingshot." Ussop replied honestly, which made Zoro spit his drink over Johnny who insulted his friend. Said friend replied by offering him to pay for his shirt.
"Ussop is being honest?" Zoro asked Luffy who paled.
"What's next? Nami offering her trea... Of damn!" Luffy asked as he realized that yes, she would.. Eventually.
"I wouldn't offer a single belly, would I?" Nami asked as Luffy sighed. "Oh shit! We need a lot more than this.."
"Well, I happen to know about the sky island that contains the city of gold..." Zoro offered as Luffy snickered. "What?"
"Someone have to kill a God, no?" Luffy's sentance made the entire crew shiver with fear. Well, only Zoro and Jinbe didn't even flinch. But even Yamato was terrified of the entire prospect.
"A God? Luffy, you killed a God before?" Yamato asked her captain who shrugged.
"Nah, just kicked his ass." Luffy replied as he was cracking his fingers. "Now then, back to training after a lunch break, especially you, Sanji."
"Why me? Why is it me who have to bust his ass the most you shitty coach of a captain?" Sanji asked as Luffy gave him a serious stare that made him a bit afraid.
"Because Sanji, among the crew, you are the fifth strongest, and will be even stronger if you do keep your training. For now... I want you all to meditate!" Luffy said as Yamato and Jinbe snickered. "That goes for everyone, and this is your Captain's order! The path ahead will be very difficult if we do not prepare!"
'Aokiji!' Zoro thought.
'And Grandpa, and the others, and who knows who else!' Luffy replied as he tried to focus his mind. Surprisingly, Nami of all people felt something odd.
"Wait Luffy, what about the cyclone that will happen in half an hour if we keep our course?" Nami asked and Luffy blinked twice.
"Huh, you can see That far into the future?" Luffy's face was so hilarious, with his eyes literally bulging out, his mouth open like the door of a large oven, and his tongue out like a rope.
"No? I just felt it while focusing... Don't tell me this is the Haki thing?" Nami asked as Luffy smiled at this.
"That explains a lot..." Luffy's answer was curt, and then, Nojiko surprised him.
"Captain, I can see our next chart. It's going to be in an island that have two giants over there, right?" That was very surprising.
"Thank Kami my two students are learning and fast." Yamato said smuggly.
"The business at hand, we avoid the cyclone. But no more slacking unless we have no choice." Zoro offered as Jinbe gave him a look of approval.
"You're not as dumb as you look." Sanji complimented as Zoro... Laughed.
"And you're not as idiotic as your antics with women. Try for once, and I mean Once, to control your urges." Zoro replied. "I mean, women doesn't want a doormat, they want a man. A man means someone who would protect them. A man means someone responsible and can say the word no to their absurd requests, lest you become their friend, and that's it."
"Never ever had I thought that Zoro would be the voice of wisdom." Jinbe told Nami who nodded.
"Zoro, you should not have said this in front of everyone." Luffy commented as his best friend snorted.
"Well, I for once agree with the meathead." Nami replied. "Sanji-kun, one day you will find the right woman, and you better be a good husband."
"Well, she's currently fourteen, but I will make sure they are dating at the least, by the time she's one year older. Trust me, she and Sanji does deserve each other, if he knows how to heal her broken soul." Luffy replied as they all have him a curious look, "I will not tell you, but we all are going to get her and Sanji together, consequences be damned!"
"This is exactly why I joined you. A captain who protects his crew, who would do anything for their well being..." Gin said grimly. Zoro nodded in approval. "Sometimes, the first mate is the one thing that can show how the crew are... And most of the times, it doesn't. I mean, I was the one who was holding the Krieg Pirates together.. And yet, our captain had seen us only as pawns to sacrifice whenever shit does hit the fan. Here however, I feel at home, surprisingly and unexpectedly as it is..."
"It's alright brother. I never thought of myself nor Yusaku as pirates, and here we are, sailing under Luffy's flag, and hopefully, we will pull our weight.." He was interrupted by Luffy's angry stare.
"Just to clear this fucker up.." A shocked gasp was heard from everyone, Luffy however continued unaffected, even if they were terrified how he was able to swear, "I don't care if you pull your weight or not, all I care about is that you do have a dream, and you want to realize said dream. Mine's and the grumpy's are neigh-impossible, and yet here we are. Finding the All Blue, make people realize how idiotic they were for discriminating others with the very same blood.. Hell, it can be a ridiculously easy dream, as protecting a sibling, or making sure you become strong enough to make a friend proud, or save your own kingdom... I do not care. It can be personal, it can be selfish, it can be a global one, but you sailed with me on your own path of realizing your own dreams... I'll be happy if you did, or didn't. At least? You tried, and when they will talk about us, they're going to speak our names with wonder how we did the impossible, which is possible all along, if they had believe in themselves..." Luffy then sighed. "Ussop, being brave doesn't mean not being afraid, it's called recklessness. Being afraid is the ability to shove away your fears when it does matter."
"Luffy-san, are you reckless or brave?" Vivi asked her captain who snorted.
"I will Not reply until you do drop the honorific. I'm a damned pirate. Why should I care if my friends and crew mates do call me with something other than my name or captain?" Luffy answered as Zoro nodded at him in approval, "Well, the first most of the time... I'm only brave when it comes up to... Risking your lives."
"Why do you even risk our lives, Luffy-sa.. Luffy?" Vivi asked as Karoo quacked indignantly, as said boy prepared for a cyclone by whistling to Laboon, and even telling the whale to dive deeper than ever, and to meet them about twenty knots away from the direction of the next island.
"To my shame? I can't do everything alone, or I would have Never risked their lives..." Luffy said as his eyes were... Hollow, lifeless, shinny, and deeply deathly. "That's a mistake... I will do Anything to protect them. My death is just a small price. If you meet someone stronger than you, unless his name is Mihawk, Zoro, you flee, or you do not Hold back. Are we clear?" Surprisingly, the first three crew mates, Zoro, Jinbe and Yamato nodded, "Good. And try not to kill as much as you can, unless you're put into a corner and it's the only way out. We're pirates, not murderers!"
"Well break my oven and call me a Four. A pirate who have a moral code at last." Sanji complimented his now blushing captain. "Don't push it pal. Anyways, might as well be a good person to follow, rather than a low scum of the sea."
"Sheh! At least you know a lot more than we all did assume." Ussop said as Luffy nodded.
"Well, I guess that everyone, including a rubber-brained moron would learn his lesson and well.." Zoro commented as Luffy glared at him. "Fine, Nami! What should we do?"
"Just fold the sails, and steer it to starboard!" Nami said only for Jinbe to immediately rush to the steering rod. "Well, I do forget that you're our helmsman. It's good to know that our ship is in the best hands."
"I knew it. You can roam all the Blues and Paradise as well as the New World, and you will Not find a better helmsman than our Jinbe!" Luffy said as he was laughing.
"Well, as long as you do not commit any serious mistake? We're going to end up in the summit." Jinbe said as Yamato smirked at this. Luffy however looked grim. A huge difference between his past funny self and his serious current self.
"I would not.." Luffy replied seldomnly. That was not a good sign according to Zoro.
"Seriously Luffy, why you stopped being your fun self?" Zoro's question struck a nerve in the young captain.
"Last time? I had too much fun..." He replied sadly. "Maybe after this storm does pass off..." He replied as they were ready to ride the current away from the now brewing cyclone.
The ship rocked in the water, like a paper boat carried away by a strong flowing river to the sea, as the wind were blowing harder than any scale imaginable. The cyclone however was just beginning, and had they knew, they'd say that it was one of the mildest storms in the Grand Line, especially in the New World. However, seeing as most of them were used to the climate of the East Blue, the storm and Cyclone were apocalyptic in proportions. However, surprisingly, Luffy, Zoro and Yamato were acting like it was a totally normal storm. Johnny, Yusaku, Ussop and Nojiko meanwhile were panicking beyond any description, Gin and Sanji barely held their cool nerves. Vivi and Karoo meanwhile were rushing to help by any means.
"Thank Kami it was brief. I had never witnessed such a storm." Vivi panted as Luffy and Zoro looked at Yamato who shrugged.
"It's a very cute baby storm compared to the New World... The reason why this half is called Paradise is because this is nothing compared to the next part." Yamato said calmly as the others almost fainted.
"Oh worry not, we won't tackle it this year..." Luffy told the rest of the crew, who gave him a surprised look. "Until each and every Devil Fruit awakens their powers, and you all can use Haki to the second degree? We will continue to sail here..."
"Luffy, isn't it your dream to become the Pirate King?" Nami asked curiously as Luffy shrugged.
"Well, it is Not worth your lives. And the ship will be very crowded pretty soon. But we have a war to prevent, and a kingdom to save, right after we save someone who will need us..." Luffy replied as they all gave him different looks.
"Did you read the manga?" Sanji asked Luffy and Zoro who shrugged.
"What's a manga?" Zoro asked as Luffy sighed.
"Oh, nevermind. I swear, I feel like the author isn't giving us our limelight.." Sanji replied as Zoro was sighing.
"I swear, the next time you say something This ridiculous again, I will call you Naruto for the remainder of our sailing in Paradise." Zoro's remark made Luffy explode in a fit of laughter. "Thank Kami or God for this grim looking guy laughing his ass off for once. I forgot you can be a fun loving silly idiot sometimes."
"And thank God you finally can walk straight without getting lost. I almost thought you got a sense of direction, but that's a start." Luffy replied as Yamato blinked.
"Zoro gets lost often?" That was asked by a very curious Nami.
"You have No idea... I remember the time he needed his two friends to get him to my island..." Luffy started as Nami narrowed her eyes.
"Wait, so the reason you two didn't get off your islands was because you would get lost in the sea?" That was answered by a nervous nod from Luffy, "Luffy, we will have a long talk about the entire subject..., Especially about your navigational skills, and sense of direction."
"Well, all I know is that.. These two Log Poses? Are the One thing you can rely upon.. Unless you can feel people's voices across islands.., and I can easily feel a very faint voice away from the next island." Luffy replied and Zoro, Yamato and Jinbe gave him a very shocked look. "What? I improved my Haki as much as I can."
"That much? I know the next one have only Two voices, but the fact you felt something like that.." Zoro started only for Jinbe to add.
"Not even Oyaji-san have such an ability. Your range is terrifying." Jinbe added as Luffy looked sheepish.
"Because that Aura was Ace's." That explained Everything. "Oh, and there's a third Aura, although, it is Not of a human.. Whatever it is, Laboon needs to stay as far away from the next island as much as possible."
"What did you feel, Cap?" Gin asked in worry.
"Something old... Like, believe it or not, a sentient dinosaur, and it lusts for blood. A human eater it is not. And it is a smart one, almost as smart as our Laboon." Luffy replied as they all gave him a wondering look.
"Any plans?" Luffy smirked at Yamato who had for once an amazing foresight.
"Teams. Nami, you stay here alongside the others, keep watch. Zoro will hunt some pests. Sanji, you will explore until you do find an odd house and do some.. Sabotage for the other side. Vivi, you will come with me. Yamato and Jinbe, your duty is to protect the crew. And if you meet a giant, be friendly with him. As for the rest of the day, we will train. Oh, and Sanji, make sure to pick up the hourglass looking pose, it will lead us to Alabasta. I can't wait to meet her again, and especially.. Our kid brother... Future kid Brother." Luffy smiled at the end in sorrow and nostalgia.
"I have no idea if the Captain had lost his brain, or is smarter than us." Johnny commented only for Nojiko to slap his head, on the back.
"Stop doubting Luffy. I can easily gamble all of our lives on him, and win." Nojiko surprised the crew as Luffy blinked. "You change into something else when it does matter the most." The purple haired woman smiled at him.
"Er, thanks? Please stop praising me?" Luffy added as Zoro snorted.
"Still that anti-hero complex?" That was weird.
"Say, Zoro-sensei.." Yusaku started only for Zoro to give him a warning look, "Oops, my bad? I was wondering.. How come you sometimes use your swords to smack someone, with the sharp edge, and yet, you don't cut them?" Luffy and Jinbe smiled as Yamato whistled. The entire others were looking at Zoro with amazement, even Sanji was looking at him with a newfound respect, if as a fighter.
"You cought me at the end?" Zoro commented while grumbling before he sighed and cleared his throat, "The first time I had such an ability, I almost died, and that's when I begun cutting steel and anything I want, and Not cutting unless I want to. Anyways, the point is, any good swordsman, worth his weight and more, should only cut what he wants to cut." Zoro finished, "What do you know about Haki?" That question made them all blink. "Jinbe, can you please explain in very fine details?"
"Okay, what Zoro did was using an advanced version of the Busoshoku, which is like a second level. Nami's ability, Luffy's ability are something rare, but there are people who have an affinity for Haki..." Jinbe started a lecture while Luffy smiled at the entire exchange. Jinbe was indeed the father of the crew, and Robin, who's definitely the mother, is still... No matter, sooner or later, she will join them, and this time, Aokiji better get ready for the asskicking he deserves, if he even thinks for one second about harming his crew.
AN : I was originally going to add more, but I decided that this would suffice. For now at least! Sorry for the long wait, as unfortunately, a lot of bad things affected my brain.