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One Piece - Freedom
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East Blue Arc
Chapter 14 : Reunion! A Harrowing Departure, Make For The Grand Line!
0o0o0 Loguetown - Port 0o0o0
"Come on, the port is just up ahead!" Nami called behind her as she continued running toward the port, looking back at Ussop and Nojiko who were both carrying Sanji's bluefin elephant tuna that he'd won. "We need to get the Merry out of port as quickly as possible!"
"Easy for you to say!" Ussop yelled as he huffed, carrying the majority of the fish's weight.
"Just shut up and keep moving. The faster we get there, the sooner we can set this thing down!" Nojiko huffed, readjusting the fish's tail into a better position on her shoulder.
"It's just around the corner!" Nami pointed, the three pirates rounding the corner just in time to see a marine get thrown off the Going Merry.
"We told you bastards we aren't abandoning our ship!" they heard Johnny yell from up on deck.
"Tch, it's just two kids, arrest them already!" A sergeant ordered, yelling at the detachment sent to secure the docks. "The Vice-Admiral wants all available units to head to the square and we can't do that until the docks are secured. Shoot them if you must, but we are rejoining the Vice-Admiral in five minutes whether those boys are alive or not!"
"Bastards! Shoot all you want, we're defending this ship until our friends return! And I'll be damned if I let a few weak marines take this ship!" Yosaku yelled, both he and Johnny standing side by side, their swords drawn with cuts and bruises littering their bodies.
"So come at us marines! We'll cut you all down!" Johnny boasted, hyping himself up.
Letting out a sigh, the Sergeant shook his head. "If that's what you want. Men, take aim!"
The marines surrounding the two former bounty hunters all unslung their rifles from their shoulders and aimed at the two.
"Fir-! Gah!" The sergeant was knocked off his feet as a wooden pole was slammed into his face.
"Get the hell off our ship!" Nami yelled as Nojiko and Ussop shot at the other marines who were taking aim at Johnny and Yosaku.
"Nami-sis!" the two cried together.
"Stop blubbering and help us out!" Nojiko yelled as she fired off another round, hitting a marine in the leg making him fall over in agony.
"Tabasco Star!" Ussop fired a pellet made up of tabasco and hot pepper seeds, nailing a marine right in the eyes.
The man screamed in agony as the burning capsaicin seared and blurred his sight to near blindness, forcing him to his knees in pain.
"R-right!" Both Johnny and Yosaku regained their composure and jumped into the fray to regain control of their ship.
0o0o0 Somewhere in Loguetown 0o0o0
"Damn that moss head," Sanji grumbled as he sprinted through the empty streets, dark clouds looming overhead. "The island isn't even that big, so how the hell does he manage to get lost-" The cook cut off his mumbling as he caught a flash of green rounding the corner ahead of him. "Oi, wait up you shitty swordsman!" he yelled, putting on a burst of speed to catch up.
"What do you want?" Zoro bit out, an annoyed look on his face. "The marines are looking for Luffy, so I don't have time for your usual comedy."
"Coincidentally, I was looking for both him and you. Nami-swan said there's a massive storm incoming, and we need to book it before it hits." The blond pointed up at the heavy cloud cover as confirmation. "Wait, what do you mean the marines are looking for Luffy?" Sanji did a double take.
"Yeah, I overheard a couple of them talking about Luffy being here and to gather up." Zoro scowled as he looked around at their surroundings. "I even ran into another marine just a bit ago, and he said they were gathering at the execution stand square, but I can't find it."
Sanji calmly lit a cigarette and took a drag before slapping the swordsman in the back of the head. "You're going the wrong way, dammit! The square is back that way!"
"You don't have to hit me, you damn love addled cook!" Zoro snapped back, before taking off, thankfully in the right direction this time. "We need to hurry up, I've got a bad feeling about this."
Nodding in agreement, the cook followed along. "For once, we agree, moss head."
After crossing through several more streets, the two turned another corner and almost ran smack dab into the backs of several marines, just in time to hear their captain announce himself to the world, punctuated by a lightning strike.
"I'm Monkey D. Luffy! And I'm the man that's going to become King of the Pirates!"
Silence reigned over the plaza.
Until it didn't.
"Like hell you are, you damn brat! You're going to become a marine and like it!" The thunderous yet muffled yell caused Luffy to spin around, just in time to watch Monkey D. Garp smash through the building behind him and leap off the balcony at him, his fist raised high.
"Oh shit…"
"Fist of Love!"
Luffy's entire left cheek went numb as he felt an overwhelming force send him spiraling backwards off the platform and cratering into the cobbled stone below.
"What-" Sanji started as he stared at the massive hole that now covered the center of the square.
"-In-" Zoro never thought he'd witness his captain get so completely caught off guard like that.
"-The-" Tashigi's eyes were exasperated as she watched the Vice-Admiral barrel out of the courthouse and punch the pirate off the execution platform.
"-Actual-" Smoker snarled at the notion that this whole operation was to recruit Strawhat into the Navy rather than capture him and lock him up for good.
"-Fuck!?" The marines all yelled at the absurdity of such a powerful punch that a crater was formed.
"That's what you get for running from your dear old grandpa the last month and a half! Did you really think I'd let you sneak back into the Grand Line quietly, you idiot grandson!?" Garp yelled from atop the platform down into the crater he'd just made.
Lightning shot out of the crater and came crashing down in front of it as Luffy took shape, holding a hand up to his bleeding temple. "That hurt you old geezer! And how the hell did you find me!? I gave you the slip three weeks ago when I let that bird pick me and my first mate up in the middle of the ocean!"
"What do you mean you let that damn bird take us!?" Zoro raged as he drew his swords wholeheartedly meaning to cut Luffy down, only to be held back by Sanji.
"Easy mosshead!" Sanji gruffed out, annoyed he was only barely able to hold onto the swordsman.
"I'll give you that one brat! I honestly had no idea where you'd gone since we found your boat abandoned, but I knew you'd be coming here eventually. You're too predictable! You should honestly stop telling every person you meet that you want to be King of the Pirates. Of course you'd come here." Garp grinned at how easy it was to figure out where Luffy would eventually go no matter where he disappeared to in the East Blue.
"But then they wouldn't know I'm going to be the next King! I can't just let anyone else believe they can be King of the Pirates, gramps!" Luffy yelled as he glared at the old man.
"You're going to be a marine, and you're going to like it!" Garp snapped back.
"King of the Pirates!"
"A Vice-Admiral!"
"King!"
"Fleet Admiral!"
"KING!"
As the two continued to argue, everyone just stared at the two with blank expressions.
"Will you two stop yelling at each other, family shouldn't be fighting like this! Or wasting Navy resources to force a criminal to make a career change!" Tashigi finally screamed into the bullhorn den-den mushi, bringing the family spat to an end.
"You don't have to yell…" Both Garp and Luffy muttered as they looked off to the side in irritation.
"WHAT WAS THAT!?"
"Nothing!" The two straightened up, both taking a step back.
"Ahem," Garp coughed into his fist as he regained his composure. "Listen up, Strawhat Luffy! This is the last time I'm going to ask you to surrender to me. All of your previous crimes will be wiped from the record and re-labeled as coercion by the pirate known as Red-Hair Shanks! Those that you have gathered to form the Strawhat pirate gang will also be let go, as well as given the chance to join you in the Navy Academy if they so wish. And you better take me up on my offer Luffy! Because you really don't want me to force the issue."
Luffy stared up at his grandfather and didn't waiver for a moment as he said, "Then I'm forcing the issue. This is my life and I'll live it as I choose! And I choose to be a pirate!"
"Damn it, just accept my offer!"
"Enough of this! He's made his decision, I'm taking him down!" A giant plume of smoke rocketed next to Luffy as the upper half of Smoker formed, swinging his elongated jitte at Luffy's head.
"No wait!" Garp yelled, but it was too late.
"Hmm? What the hell is up with your stick Smokey? Is that… Is that seastone in the tip? That's pretty dangerous to be swinging around you know?" Luffy looked at the tip of the weapon he'd caught, sensing the draining pull of the sea emanating from it as Smoker continued to try to follow through with his swing.
"What the hell? How is he this strong? Is this the power of someone who works for an Emperor?" Smoker grimaced as he watched the teen hold back the weapon with one hand so casually, sparks of electricity arcing out of his arm. "Is he using electricity to amplify his strength!? Grrr! This shit doesn't matter, I'm bringing him down!" Smoker let go of his jitte with one hand as he reeled it back. "White Blow!"
Luffy let go of the weapon as he flashed out of existence, reappearing a distance away as the smoke-propelled fist went careening into a building, smashing the wall apart. "Oh! So you are a logia! I haven't had the opportunity to fight against someone like me before!" Luffy grinned as his arms began to glow.
"Luffy!" Sanji and Zoro ran up next to their captain, standing next to him as they took up fighting stances, Zoro with two of his swords drawn and Sanji prepared to start kicking any fool marine that came at them.
"Ah, Zoro, Sanji, what are you guys doing here?" Luffy tilted his head at them, more in surprise than anything.
"We're here to get you!" Zoro and Sanji yelled in unison before they both pointed at Garp. "Also explain!"
"Oh, that's my gramps! I highly suggest not fighting him, he's pretty strong," Luffy responded nonchalantly.
"No shit! Do you have any idea how much of a big shot that guy is!?" Sanji grabbed Luffy by the lapels and started shaking him.
Breaking out of his grasp, Luffy stared at him confusedly. "Of course I do, that's why I told you not to fight him."
"Also what's this about that fucking bird that nabbed us, huh Luffy?" Zoro glared as he leveled one of his swords at Luffy.
"What? Gramps had been chasing after me ever since I entered Paradise. I figured if even I didn't know where I was going, neither would he when I saw the bird diving at us." Luffy shrugged.
"You're lucky you're made out of lightning," Zoro grumbled, lowering his weapon, still contemplating stabbing the grinning lightning man.
"Shishishi, I know." Luffy calmly took a step back as a plume of smoke sailed past him.
"This isn't a school yard for kids' recess!" Smoker came flying in, jitte swinging. "All units, attack! Capture the pirates!"
As the surrounding marines collapsed upon the trio, Garp couldn't help smiling softly. "You've made some good friends, brat."
Blocking 3 blades at once, Zoro deftly maneuvered around a fourth blade before taking out the attackers with a twisting slash. "So, do we have a plan to get out of here, captain?"
"What, are you afraid you'll get caught by the marines, mosshead?" Sanji taunted, his feet flicking out in multiple kicks, sending his opponents flying.
"Shut it, you damn love cook!" the green haired swordsman snarled, his swords hacking down and cutting a net thrown at them to pieces, the force behind his attack also launching a nearby marine off his feet.
Luffy kept dodging the plumes of smoke interspersed with jitte swings, occasionally throwing punches that flew through Smoker without doing any damage. "Man, is this what it's like to fight me? This is super annoying, not being able to hit you."
"Are you mocking me?" Smoker growled out, a vein pulsing rapidly in his forehead. "White Cage!" Both of the marine captain's hands faded out to white, before enlarging and flying forward, trying to surround the grinning pirate.
"Woah, almost got me there Smokey!" Luffy laughed as he seemed to phase out of existence for a second, before reappearing outside of the smoke cage. Turning to Zoro and Sanji, Strawhat issued an order for his crewmates. "When I give the signal, start running for the ship." As soon as he finished speaking, small arcs of electricity began to radiate from his body.
Garp, sensing the change in atmosphere, quickly grabbed the nearest thing to him, which happened to be the execution stand. With a heave, he uprooted the whole structure, before tossing it into the sky and shouting, "Get down!"
At that exact moment, a massive lightning bolt fell from the roiling clouds above, striking the platform halfway through its descent, resulting in a massive explosion that temporarily blinded and deafened everyone in the plaza.
As the ringing slowly faded and his sight blurred back into focus, Smoker finished rubbing his eyes, and immediately began seeking out Strawhat. "Where is he!? Did anyone see where Strawhat went!?"
"Sir! I saw two of the pirates run toward the port!" a marine shouted, pointing at the road leading back to the port and likely where Strawhat's ship was.
"Captain Smoker, let me deal with them! I saw the Vice-Admiral run off in that direction, I think he went after Strawhat!" Tashigi ran up, her Shigure tightly in her grasp.
"Take the men with you, don't let them leave this island alive! Our pride as marines depends on it!" Smoker made a running start before turning his lower half into smoke and flying off in the direction that Tashigi had pointed.
The plaza quickly emptied as the marines gave chase to the pirates, until only one remained.
"He's much more resourceful than you give him credit for Vice-Admiral, don't take too long with goodbyes." Bogard tilted his fedora as rain began to pour down around him, as he slowly began to make his way back to their ship.
0o0o0 Streets of Loguetown 0o0o0
"Damn it those guys are persistent!" Sanji tsked as he and Zoro continued to run to the port, a number of marines hot on their trail.
"We'll have to stop and fight them or we'll lead them right to the Merry." Zoro grabbed the hilt of Wado Ichimonji, ready to draw it.
"We don't have time for that! Nami-swan said this storm is going to be bad! We need to get out of here now-! Oh!? Who's that lovely lady!?" Sanji's eye suddenly turned into a heart as he spotted a woman standing before them.
Tashigi gripped Shigure tightly as she took in the form of Zoro running at her. "Strawhat Luffy called you Zoro… you're Roronoa Zoro aren't you! Not only that but you're also a pirate as well. You… You lied to me!"
Sanji skidded to a halt as he turned on Zoro. "What!? What'd you do to her mosshead!? I'll kick your ass from here to the New World and back!"
Zoro ignored the blond stepping forward. "You never asked me my name. That's it. Can't really lie about something when I was never asked."
"Rogues like you can't be allowed to own a renowned sword!" Tashigi pressed on, knowing that the pirate had a point. She hadn't asked for his name, despite the fact he never offered it either. "I vowed to ensure that evil men like you will never be able to abuse legendary swords and that I would safeguard them to my dying breath!" She drew Shigure, tossing away its scabbard. "En guarde!"
"Evil, huh?" Zoro couldn't help but smirk as he shifted Wado Ichimonji against his waist to draw her attention to it. "Come take it then."
"Hey! Hold on here! I'm not going to let you hurt a Lady you backhill moss infection!" Sanji stepped between them.
"Please do not interfere! This is between me and him, step aside!" Tashigi scowled as the blond had stepped in just as she was about to make the first move.
"Wha- But I can't in good conscious let a Lady such as-"
"You heard her Love Cook! Besides, you can deal with them while I settle things here." Zoro cut Sanji off, nodding his head behind him at the battalion of marines arriving.
"Sergeant Major!" The marines called out as they formed up behind the two pirates.
"Tch, fine. Just know that if you harm a hair on her head, I'll starve you until you beg for forgiveness." Sanji turned to face down the marines and stepped out of the way of the two swordsmen.
"Do not interfere in my fight with Roronoa! Arrest the blond one," Tashigi ordered as she charged.
"Yes sir!" The marines drew swords and charged at Sanji.
As the blond took on the marine reinforcements, Zoro drew Wado and parried Tashigi's attack. Undeterred, the swordswoman kept throwing attack after attack at the pirate, but he deftly blocked or parried each one using a single blade.
As they clashed once again, Tashigi suddenly got in Zoro's face. "Are you looking down on me?" she bit out, their blades screeching in the bind. "Pirate Hunter Zoro is known for using 3 blades. Am I not good enough an opponent for you?" She jumped back, glaring at the green haired swordsman. "Or are you looking down on me because I'm a woman?!" she frustratedly yelled, pointing her sword at him.
"You're so lucky to be a boy, Zoro…"
The memory of his dead friend making a similar complaint floated to the forefront of Zoro's mind. His eyes were shadowed as he lowered his head, a minute frown on his face, his grip tightening around Wado Ichimonji. "...Shut up…"
"Don't you dare go easy on me! This is a serious duel. I didn't pick up the sword for fun, and I won't allow anyone to look down on me just because I wasn't born a boy!" Tashigi readjusted her grip, before charging back in with even more force, the blade raised high for an overhead slash.
"I said… SHUT UP!"
As Zoro shouted, Wado flashed out like a bolt of lightning, the attack knocking the swordswoman's blade from her hands, the cry of a sword echoing amongst the rain, attracting the attention of Sanji and the few remaining conscious marines.
"I don't give a damn about your gender, your whole existence bothers me!" Zoro snapped. "You look just like my dead friend, and now you go on spouting the same things she did. Stop copying her, you rip-off!"
"Wha-?" Tashigi recoiled in shock, before she flushed in anger and embarrassment. "That's the most childish thing I've ever heard! I've always been me! I've never even met this friend of yours!" She quickly bent over and collected her blade, before charging in again. "If anything, your friend was copying me!"
"Hah? What was that?" A vein throbbed in Zoro's forehead as he clashed blades with the marine again, not noticing as Wado Ichimonji vibrated ever so softly in between clashes, as if laughing.
"Damn you moss head! Flirting with the pretty marine lady," Sanji grumbled out, as he proceeded to knock out the last of the marines that had been chasing after them. "Oi, if you two lovebirds are done, we do need to get going."
"What?!/Huh?!" The two quickly split up, glaring at the cook.
"I would never date him!" Tashigi yelled out, face blushing heavily.
"Are you out of your mind? Don't joke with me!" Zoro shouted at the same time.
"Then let's get moving. Captain's orders, remember?" Sanji wiped his wet bangs from his eyes, eyeing his now damp cigarette before spitting it out.
"Fine," Zoro agreed, sheathing Wado and taking off, only for Sanji to grab him by the shoulder and pull him in the other direction.
Tashigi stood frozen for several seconds, before her mind rebooted. "Hey- Wait a minute! You're under arrest!"
Turning his head, Zoro called out as they turned the corner ahead. "I'll accept your challenge anytime! And maybe next time, you can make me use more than one sword!"
"Get back here!"
0o0o0 Somewhere in Loguetown 0o0o0
"You know, I could've sworn it was my gramps that was right behind me and not you…" Luffy sweatdropped as he dodged another White Blow from the incensed marine captain.
"Stay still damn you!" Smoker roared as he failed to capture the grinning pirate once again.
"You know this is pointless right? I'm a logia, you're a logia. We can't do anything to each other. So just buzz off already before gramps catches up!" Luffy ducked under a sweeping blow from the seastone tipped jitte. "You're also way too slow to hit me with that thing!"
"I don't care if it's pointless, I will capture you Strawhat. I won't be the one held responsible for your escape. I haven't let a single pirate get away from my justice, I'm not starting today!" Smoker clenched his jaw as both of his arms transformed into smoke. "White Blow Rush!"
Smoker's arms zoomed forward, his arm holding his jitte leading the way in the hopes of landing a strike.
Luffy just sighed as he leapt to the side, a series of smoke strikes trailing after him smashing into the homes and businesses of Loguetown. "You could at least be more original!" Luffy taunted once the barrage of smoke attacks let up.
"Damn you." Smoker glared at the teen pirate. "Why aren't you fighting back!?"
"Why should I? Besides that stick thing you've got, you're not a threat to me. And you're not fast enough to keep up with me. Honestly, I was excited to fight you Smokey, but I'm not quite ready to take on a logia that I can't affect with my devil fruit. Shame too, I bet you'd make a great sparring partner! Shishishishi!" Luffy grinned as he chuckled as he phased out of existence as another White Blow was thrown his way.
"What the hell is wrong with you!? No, what the hell is wrong with your family? How does the grandson of the Hero of the Marines become a lackey of some two-bit pirate? It doesn't-'' Smoker's vision suddenly went white, and he barely comprehended something phasing through him, dispersing his body into a cloud of smoke. Half a second later an explosion rocked the street he and Strawhat were fighting on.
"Raiken!" Luffy's face was dark as he watched the smoke marine reform back into a human being. "Don't you dare insult Shanks again, or I will find a way to burn you out Smokey."
"Seems I found a sore spot. Careful Strawhat, that can be one hell of a weakness," Smoker mocked as his body finished reforming.
"Like I care. Shanks saved my life more times than I can count. I won't let anyone bad mouth him in front of me. And the situation between me and gramps is none of your business. I'm a pirate and he's a marine. That's all there is to it."
"Your 'gramps' made it my business when he showed up and galvanized my men to capture you so he could make you a marine!" Smoker charged forward, his jitte in hand, and brought it down on Strawhat.
"That's your problem, not mine!" Luffy reached up and caught the jitte before wrenching it out of Smoker's grasp and shoving the tip into the Captain's abdomen, slamming him into the ground. "Looks like I found a way to burn you out." Electricity started arcing out of Luffy, arcing up towards the sky as thunder rumbled overhead. "Lightning R-"
"That's enough brat." Luffy felt a heavy handed grip on his left shoulder, making the lightning pirate look up over his shoulder into the grimacing face of his grandfather, his other fist raised high and ready to strike. "Let the Captain go."
"He insulted Shanks." Luffy ground out petulantly, the electricity arcing out of him jumping wildly still seeking out the opposite charge of the raining clouds above.
"And now he knows not to do that. Let him go Luffy or I really will have to take you down." Garp's tone was heavy as his grip on Luffy's shoulder tightened.
"You have to take me down anyway," Luffy pointed out, ignoring the bruise that was being imprinted into his shoulder.
Garp's grip wavered for a split second as the reality of the situation settled in. Why couldn't his idiot grandsons listen to him? Why couldn't they have at least followed Dadan's footsteps and become mountain bandits. At least then he could ignore them and they would be safe on some lonely mountain no one ever went to because of mountain bandits. Instead he was out in the rain having to save one of his subordinates from his super powered grandson all because he wanted to be like that red-haired brat from Roger's crew. "…"
"I don't think there's any other kind of reunion our family is capable of." A new voice cut in as a massive gust stormed through, smacking into the two marines and pirate, breaking up their stalemate as all three were separated.
"...You're-!" Smoker was the first to recover as he stared at the cloaked figure with wide eyes.
"What are you doing here!? This is none of your business! It hasn't been for seventeen years!" Garp stood up, an unusually angry glare on his face.
"Who the heck are you?" Luffy popped a brow at the tattooed man, not a clue to who he was.
The cloaked man ignored the two marines, his sights set directly on the red-vested pirate with a strawhat on his head. He couldn't help but grin. "The world is waiting for our answer! If this is your decision… then go! There's no one here left to stop you!"
"...What?" Luffy tilted his head not understanding what the man was trying to say.
"Dragon! You have no right-!"
"And neither do you! What reason do we have to interfere with a man's departure beyond giving a helping hand!" As the man, Dragon, finished speaking all went quiet as the rain suddenly disappeared and a violent gale swept throughout all of Loguetown, sweeping away the Vice-Admiral, Marine Captain, the future King of the Pirates, and any other poor unfortunate soul caught outside.
0o0o0 Outskirts of Loguetown 0o0o0
"...aaaaAAAAAAA-!" Luffy's screams ended as he was tossed into a stone wall, collapsing it upon himself. A few seconds later, the whole pile shifted, before a muffled detonation occurred, launching debris in all directions to reveal the slightly battered, but basically unharmed lightning pirate.
"Whew, that was some crazy wind." Patting off his hat, Luffy looked around, not immediately seeing anyone nearby. "I wonder who that guy was? Oh well, I guess I need to thank him next time I see him."
"Oiiiiiii, Luffy!" A faint voice could barely be heard over the pouring rain.
Turning his head in that direction, Strawhat could just barely make out the form of the Merry amidst the surging waves. "Guys, I'll be right over!" he shouted back, though it was unknown if they heard him. Taking aim, Luffy lightly jumped up and down a few times, before his lower half glowed and shifted into pure energy, and he shot off in a zigzag through the storm.
In the blink of an eye, he reached the Merry, and landed on the deck with a dull thud. Sweeping his gaze across the deck, he laughed as he saw the drenched forms of his crewmates. "Shishishi, we all made it out."
After a few seconds, his laughter turned into sobs as he collapsed to the deck, hugging onto the Merry's mast. "That was so scaaaaaary! Gramps was really mad!"
Zoro and Sanji looked at each other, before breaking down in laughter themselves, leaving the rest of the crew looking on in confusion.
0o0o0 Loguetown - Port 0o0o0
"Just… what exactly happened here today?" Smoker questioned as he watched the small ship that Strawhat had run to, sail away toward the Red Line, toward Reverse Mountain. "Like lightning he appeared and disappeared on the exact day Gold Roger was executed 22 years ago…" Smoker's brows rose suddenly as the Strawhat's voice shouted throughout his mind.
"I'm Monkey D. Luffy! And I'm the man that's going to become King of the Pirates!"
"That damn brat got away from me again… Hahahahaha!" Garp started laughing, crossing his arms, as he watched his grandson sail off, making a mad dash for the safety of the Grand Line. To the safety of the Log Pose.
"I'll go after him. I'll set sail and hunt him down in the Grand Line," Smoker resolutely said. "I owe you after all. But don't expect him to be taken alive."
"Oh? And who's giving you permission to abandon your post here Captain? Who do you expect to protect this town if its protector leaves to chase after a small band of pirates?" Garp questioned with a critical eye. A feeling akin to nostalgia washing over him as looked over at the captain.
"No one. But that Strawhat…" Smoker glared out toward the sea as the rain continued to pour down. "If I don't go after him, I have this feeling that no one will be able to bring him in."
"Is that so…" Garp then smirked. "Then from today you're my man, you work for me. Sengoku isn't going to be pleased that he got away from me again and will likely drag me back to Headquarters, meaning I have to accept my grandson's ambition for now. I'll have you transferred to my division and you won't have to deal with any red tape from the higher ups. You'll go after Strawhat under my orders. Is that understood?"
"Yes sir," Smoker agreed, Strawhat's ship just about at the horizon line.
"Take me with you, Smoker-san!" Tashigi walked up next to the two, a firm glare on her face as she watched the ship carrying Roronoa sail away. "I won't forgive him."
"Hahahahahaha! What lively marines this town has!" Garp laughed as he listened to the tenacity in the young woman's voice. "Take her with you, you'll need as many men like that as you can find if you plan on chasing my grandson. I did raise him to be tough after all, hahahahaha!" Garp turned and walked away, giving a brief glance up to the roof of a nearby building.
Standing solitarily above the marines stood the cloaked man, a smirk visible on his face as he watched the small band of pirates sail away.
"I look forward to the outcome of your decision."
0o0o0 The Going Merry 0o0o0
"It's almost like the ship is going to tip over! Shishishi!" Luffy laughed as the Merry rocked back and forth violently on the stormy waves.
"Don't say that!" Ussop screamed, imagining the Going Merry rolling over and dragging the entire crew into the ocean.
Suddenly a flash of light rolled over the entire ship.
"What the hell is that!?" Yosaku yelled as the light rolled over them again a few moments later.
Nami ran up to the bow, an excited smile on her face. "That would be the Loguetown lighthouse! It's a 'guiding light.' The entrance to the Grand Line is just beyond it!"
That drew the rest of the crew to the bow as they took in the spinning light.
Nami looked to Luffy as he walked up next to her, the rest of the crew surrounding them. "What do you want to do… Captain?"
Luffy smirked as he watched the light flash once more. "Just you watch Shanks… it's finally my turn to turn the world upside down." Luffy said quietly to himself despite Nami hearing him. "Set course for Reverse Mountain and the Grand Line!"
Zoro simply nodded his approval, ready to move beyond the East Blue and head for the monsters of the Grand Line.
"A 'guiding light' huh?" Nojiko said, a sense of wonder filling her as the crew finally took its first step on its journey to the Grand Line.
"I-is it really a good idea to go in this weather though?" Ussop asked, holding onto the railing above the rest of the deck.
"We're good to go if you all are!" Johnny nodded at Yosaku, who nodded back.
"Right! Then shall we have a launching ceremony then?" Sanji asked as he dragged a barrel to the middle of the bow before lifting a leg and setting his foot on top of it. "To find the All Blue!"
"To become a brave warrior of the sea!" Ussop quickly ran over and mirrored Sanji.
"To see everything this world has to offer." Nojiko joined in next.
"To become the world's greatest bounty hunters!" Johnny and Yosaku declared, earning sweatdrops from the others at the contradictory dream.
"To become the world's greatest swordsman." Zoro said next.
"To draw a map of the world!" Nami joined in next to Nojiko, leaving space for one more between her and Zoro.
Luffy took in the crew he'd gathered, the crew that would help him on his journey to become…
"King of the Pirates!"
0o0o0 To Be Continued 0o0o0
Inherited will…
The tide of the times…
People's dreams…
As long as people seek the answer of freedom, these things will never cease to be.
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End of East Blue Arc
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WE DID IT! We finished East Blue guys! Took a little longer than I planned but we got there. A massive thank you to everyone that has read this far and continue to support us, we greatly appreciate you. You really have no idea what it means to us.
For those of you that need more or want to remain up to date, chapter 15 is live now on p-a-t-r-e-o-n, link in my profile.
Now unfortunately, I have some good news but it's also bad news. The good news Arc 2 is under way and the second chapter is being worked on as of this post. The bad news is posting here on FF is going to be put on… hiatus. That didn't feel good to write, the icky H word. But much like we did back around chapter 6 we want to build a backlog so that we can post consecutively for you guys and make any interruptions in posts as minimal as possible. If you want to remain up to date, as writing ain't stopping, I do urge you to head on over to the p-a-t-r-e-o-n and consider becoming a patron. Posting on the p-a-t-r-e-o-n is not going to be halted with new updates being posted as soon as they're ready and like I said earlier chapter 1 of Arc 2, chapter 15, is live there now. Once we feel Arc 2 has sufficient enough chapters, posting here on FF will resume and it'll be business like usual.
With that out of the way, Gear 5 is nearly upon us. It is going to be glorious. I'm so excited. The hype is real. If you don't know what Gear 5 is… go get caught up on the anime what are you doing!? Go get out of here, you have a lot of One Piece to read/watch.
I want to thank you all again, because it seriously means a lot to me that you've chosen to take time out of your day and read this story. It's been a journey just getting this far and has given me so much appreciation for Oda-sensei and his incredible story that has inspired and influenced all of us. I really can't wait to bring all of you even more to read as we haven't even made it a tenth of the way through yet in this grand tale. Even more twists and turns await us all.