This is the 1st chapter and the 3rd volume of 'Straw Hats Dragoon'. Alright everyone, this story will be in Skypeia Arc.
I don't own the series of One Piece.
The world.
What a glorious place.
Seek freedom, and it will lies stretched out before your eyes.
If the endless dreams guides your restless spirit, cease it!
Raise your flag and stand tall!
Untold Story of the Rumble Ball!
Somewhere at sea
Few days have passed since Vivi remained in Alabasta, the Straw Hats getting away from the Marines because of Bon Clay buying them time, and Robin became a new member of the Straw Hat pirates. Though, Luffy, Chopper, and Usopp were too childish because of her using the Devil fruit powers to keep them entertaining, Nami was too busy on looking at the treasure that Robin had stashed, and Sanji was too much of a lovesick idiot when he looks at her. Both Zoro and Ventus were the only ones who don't completely trust her.
Ventus has something going up on his mind, wondering why she had a bounty that high as a child in the first place. He's also wonder why Luffy would agree in having her on his crew. Ventus may not be the type who holds a grudge, but he still didn't forget what she tried to do a while back, as well as what she did back in Alabasta. Though, Luffy's the Captain of the Straw Hats, and it's his orders, but that doesn't mean that he completely accepts her.
Now, Ventus is doing his usual morning training in between the aerial combat, lance, and magic early in the morning. Nami is currently on watch in case if she saw an island, but she's sleeping because Robin is inside of the room, sleeping. The rest of the Straw Hats were sleeping on the lower deck, mostly snoring.
Ventus lands on the ship, finished his morning when he notices Nami is sleeping against the rails. He quietly approaches her without waking her up.
"Hey, hey, wake up." Ventus said, gently shakes her.
Nami groans as she yawned, turns to the young Dragoon.
"Morning, Ventus." Nami greets him.
"Morning." Ventus greets back, but turns while using his Dragon Sight, noticed an island. "I see an island, straight ahead."
Nami then turns, noticed an island dead ahead which it got her eyes widen. She then turns to Ventus, wondering how often did he uses the 'Dragon Sight' of his.
"Hey, Ventus, why don't you go and get cleaned up since you're done with your training." Nami suggested, earned his attention. "I'll go wake them up."
Ventus nods, heading down the deck as he's about to head to the room.
"Hey Ventus, I know you don't trust Robin after what she did back in Alabasta. Just give her a chance." Nami said.
"Just because your crew accepted her, doesn't mean that I can." Ventus told her with a glare. "I still haven't forgiven her for what she's done."
Ventus then went inside of the room to get himself cleaned up. Nami can tell that the young Dragoon still don't trust Robin, which it's gonna be a lot harder than she thought, but she doesn't blame him, either.
At the lower deck, the rest of the Straw Hats are still sleeping.
"Can't...breathe...Eyelash...stop..." Usopp said uncomfortably, sleep talking about the camel which it was Luffy who's on top of him.
Chopper was sleeping on the top of his medical book. Both Sanji and Zoro were sleeping next to each other, but the swordsman was sleeping in the opposite side.
"Come on, you guys! Wake up! Wake up!" Nami shouts to her crew when Sanji opened his eyes with a goofy grin.
"Nami~! Morning~." Sanji said as he puckered his lips. "How about a passionate good morning kiss~!"
Just as Zoro opened, it got his grunt with his eyes widen when Sanji was slowly getting close to him. And as Sanji opened his eyes, both he and Zoro stared at each other with a scowl.
"YOU BASTARD! YOUR DISGUSTING FACE NEARLY SCARED ME HALF TO DEATH!?" Sanji growled as he sat himself up, earned a tick mark from Zoro as he quickly gets up.
"I SCARED YOU?! THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE...!?"
And with that, both Sanji and Zoro started fighting.
"There's an island up ahead!" Nami informed them, but no respond. "Guys, did you hear me?!"
"Island?!" Luffy said, woke up as he accidentally shoves Usopp off of the hammock, causing his nose to bent and crashing down to the floor.
Luffy then rush past Sanji and Zoro, climbing up to the deck while holding the main mast.
"An island?! Where?" Luffy asks.
"Over there." Nami answered, points the island nearby.
Luffy widen his eyes, looking at the island with excitement.
Unknown Island
An hour later, the Straw Hat pirates docked the ship on the beach. Most of them got off of the ship to get a much better observation of the island.
"This island looks like it should be full of big, strong crazy monsters!" Luffy said excited, looking for a monster left and right.
"OW! My nose still isn't working right!" Usopp whines, trying to fix his nose. "Look what you did! It can be permanently broken!"
"No monsters around here, Luffy." Ventus told the Captain, sniffing the air. "All I'm smelling is nothing but fruit around on this island. And monkeys."
"Monkeys!?" Luffy exclaims excitedly. "Where?! Where?! I wanna see 'em!"
"You can't find them around here, you moron! Those monkeys can be anywhere on the island!" Ventus shouts with white eyes and shark-like teeth.
"Nothing here feels out of the ordinary." Nami states, placing her hands next to her hips. "It appears to be a small island."
"Look, Nami~!" Sanji called her, showing a fruit. "Fruits like this are perfect for replenishing our food supply. And judging from this crop, there's no shortage of goodies."
Sanji then tosses the fruit to Nami, causing her to catch.
"Wow, we should find as many as we can and load them on a ship." Nami suggested, looking at the fruit while Sanji slides down to the ground.
"I bet there are plenty of plants and vegetables we can use for food, too." Sanji states as he jumps, landed on the ground with a smile on his face. "With all it has to offer, this little island seems like a cooks paradise."
"We should since this island has plenty of fruit we can use." Ventus agrees.
"Okay then, it'll be your job to look for anything we use as a source of food." Nami said, then turns to them while holding five sticks. "As for the rest of you, here."
It got their attention when they saw five sticks Nami was holding.
"Huh?" Luffy said in confusion.
"What's that?" Chopper asks curiously.
"Draw Knots?" Usopp guessed.
"What do you have in mind with those?" Ventus inquires.
"It's simple, the three who draw the shortest lots will spend all day, collecting this fruit and whoever draws the two longest slot will have the duty of staying here and protect the ship." Nami explains.
"Hmm, sounds simple enough." Ventus said with a ponder.
"And just who made you Captain?!" Zoro asked in irritation while the veins popped out of his head. "And why do you get to follow the orders?!"
"Back off. I may not be the Captain, but who else is gonna do it?" Nami remarked in annoyance.
"Look! All of them are kind of short!" Luffy said when he somehow took three short sticks on his hand.
"Why'd you draw three?!" Usopp demanded, turns to Luffy with budging eyes and shark-like teeth when he noticed him took three short sticks. "You're only supposed to take one!?"
"I thought the person who grabs the most is the winner." Luffy states, earned a tick mark from both Nami and Ventus when they growled in irritation.
"I don't think further explanation on this subject is necessary, do you?!" Ventus asked in annoyance.
"Not at all." Zoro, Chopper, and Usopp quickly replied, seeing the point.
"I know! Am I great or what?" Luffy asks with a laugh.
"YOU IDIOT!?" Nami, Zoro, Usopp, and Ventus shouts as they hit Luffy, sent him flying.
Zoro and Usopp took two of the short sticks while Chopper and Ventus draws out two of the longest sticks.
"Ventus and I drew the long ones." Chopper said. "So, we stay on the ship?"
"That's right! Just make sure to keep her in one piece, okay?" Nami confirmed when Luffy somehow quickly recovered, but the print of the foot was on his face along with a bump on his head.
"Hurry up! Hurry up! Let's go! There's a lots of fruit to be picked!" Luffy said with excitement while carrying a basket around his back.
"What will you be doing, Nami?" Ventus inquires.
"While you guys are gathering supplies, I'm gonna spend the day, measuring the island. So, I'll be able to add it to our sea charts." Nami explains. "Now, let's get to work."
A few minutes later, Ventus and Chopper were on the ship while Nami and the rest of the crew were preparing to do their task around the island. Luffy, Zoro, and Usopp had their baskets to gather some fruit, and Nami have gathered a paper and a sextet to make a sea chart.
"Be careful! See you guys later!" Chopper said, waving at them. "Have a good one!"
"You too! Look after the ship!" Nami replied, waved back at the reindeer.
"The one who collects the most fruit is the winner!" Luffy shouts as he ran ahead of them, leaving Zoro and Usopp groaned.
"Can't wait." Usopp said.
"Gonna be a long day." Zoro adds in annoyance as he and Usopp went into the forest.
"Alright, it's time!" Nami cheered excitedly as she walk towards the forest. "Measuring~! Measuring~!"
"Oh~! How lively Nami is when she's taking measurements~!" Sanji said, gone goo-goo eyes as he follows her. "The tools on her back glistening in the sunlight~! Nami~!"
"Stop acting stupid and catch up already!" Zoro shouts in annoyance.
Soon as they're out of sight while Sanji does the lovesick noodle dance, Chopper got off the railing and giggled.
"So, it's just us today." Chopper said.
"Seems like it." Ventus replied. "So nice to have some peace and quiet for once, and to get away from all of this."
"The ship looks really big, especially when no ones around." Chopper told him, looking around the ship.
"Sure does." Ventus responded as the silence formed between the two since it's been too long since they hang out, only because they're pirates. "Well, I'll be doing some more training. The Marines are getting even more desperate by the minute, and there will be stronger enemies we have to face during our time at sea. Can't be slacking off right now. What will you be doing, Chopper?"
"Hmm...I don't know, but I'll find something to do." Chopper told him with a ponder.
"Alright." Ventus said. "If you need me, give me a shout."
Chopper nods as Ventus jumped off of the ship, walking away while try to find a spot to start his training.
While Ventus was far away from the ship, he was able to find a good spot to start practicing his training. He first started practicing his lance form, combo, and acrobats. Ventus learned how to use the lance during his childhood in Burmecia with Fratley and Freya. However, his mind flashes when he remembered about Anna, causing him to stop practicing. He then remembered about the information about the Garlean Empire back in Alabasta. Whenever he tries to practice in order to get stronger, he couldn't concentrate and his mind is mostly on his homeland and the Garlean Empire planning for the invasion.
Ventus then shook his head, tried to get it out of his mind while practice his lance.
Until, he heard a shout that was coming from the Going Merry as he sprouts his wings, flying towards the ship.
As soon as the young Dragoon made it back at the ship, Ventus slammed the door open.
"CHOPPER!" Ventus screamed, but saw something that he didn't expect to see as well as one he quickly forgets.
"Ah, so you also stayed behind?" Robin questions, observed with a smirk.
"Gee, what gave it away?" Ventus asked sarcastically, watching her using the Devil Fruit powers to tickle Chopper. 'How did I mistake a laugh for a scream?'
"Isn't he just a cutest furball? I do like him." Robin states, calling off her arms.
"...C-Cutest?" Chopper repeats with a blush, causing him to go in denial. "Ha! Give me a break! I'm not falling for your flattery! Think by making me happy, it'll throw me off guard or something? C'mon, do I look happy to you?! Can't fool me I got..."
"Well, since this isn't a problem here, I should head back." Ventus suggested with a sweat drop as he turned around, walked back to the forest.
Then, the young Dragoon felt something grabs hold of his leg and made him trip. Of course, Ventus knew who tripped him which was Robin, who uses her Devil Fruit powers.
"What do you want, Nico Robin?!" Ventus questions with a growl, trying to hold back the urge to kill her.
"If I recall, you're the First Mate of the Straw Hats, right?" Robin asks.
'Damn that Luffy! When I get my hands on him, I'm gonna kill him and feed him to the Sea Kings!?' Ventus mentally growled with a threat, already knew who told him. "So what if I am?"
"Let's go get some water." Robin suggested when the barrel was thrown and hit him in the head, but he's out of patience.
"WHO THE HELL MADE YOU THE CAPTAIN?!" Ventus yelled with a tick mark, white eyes, and shark-like teeth as he quickly stood up.
"No one. I'm only saying that since you're the First Mate of the Straw Hats, you should do something responsible for your crew and your ship." Robin points out. "And, since it was Chopper who broke the barrel filled with water, it should be your responsibility to get more, shouldn't it?"
It got Ventus so angry, but he knows that Robin was right about since he mostly kept Luffy in line while helping both Sanji and Nami keeping him out of the fridge. In most of his free time, the young Dragoon usually trains in between his lance, magic, and aerial combat, and educating himself by reading books.
"...You are so lucky I didn't kill you on the spot." Ventus growled. "...If you ever make one wrong move, it'll be your last. Got it?"
"Crystal." Robin simply replied with a smile. "Besides, I'd like to drink a cup of coffee on deck while reading."
Ventus then grabs an empty barrel, muttering on how he'll surely wipe that smug off of her face. Even though, Nico Robin can be cruel, mysterious, but cruel.
"Ventus! I'll help!" Chopper offered.
Ventus can only respond silent while walking out of the ship, causing Chopper to follow both him and Robin.
While at the forest, Luffy was climbing up at the tree to get some fruit, but Usopp however, was only lying on the ground.
"Geez, how could I even contemplate working on such a beautiful day like this?" Usopp whines, lazily yawns.
Luffy continued to climb up when he noticed the monkeys were at the tree, noticed them.
"Whoa, lots of monkeys." Luffy states when the leader of the monkey revealed itself.
The monkey leader makes a hoot noise, Luffy does the same while stretching his mouth and mocks it by stretching his mouth down. It got the monkey leader angry by hooting and screaming, showing its teeth while Luffy show his teeth, hooting and screaming. Then, Luffy starts laughing when he lost his balance as he fell off from the tree and crashed down into the ground with a loud thud, causing Usopp to quickly sat up, but grunts.
"He got me!" Usopp grunts with a fake pain, lying back down to the ground. "My life flash before my eyes. I thought that was it...the end of Captain Usopp! No more adventures! I didn't get a good look at what attacked me, but it must've been a huge condor! Why me?! Because I've had to fight for my life, I couldn't gather a single piece of fruit! Oh well, that's okay, no need for anyone to worry about me...I'm dead..."
While at the other side of the forest, Zoro was aimlessly wandering around, searching for the fruit.
"I wish somebody would give me a good explanation why I have to take overs from that woman. Seriously, she's going to drive me insane." Zoro muttered in annoyance, found the trees with fruit as he placed the basket next to him and pulls out his three swords. "Santoryu: Dragon Twister"
Zoro then spins his swords to create a tornado, then places then back on the sheathes. The fruits then fell off the tree when Zoro manages to have many of them in the basket, but he gone a bit overboard when the fruit buried him alive.
While at the cliff, Nami was measuring the island by going through the sextet while drawing a sea chart. Sanji was next to her.
"Where's the contour line? That's it!" Nami said, drawing a sea chart while looking through the sextet. "The right ridge line is right around 42 degrees."
"What a coincidence~! If you measured my love for you, it will be exactly 42 degrees Celsius~!" Sanji said with a goofy grin and a blush.
"Move it, moron!" Nami shouts in annoyance, knocking Sanji out with a punch in the jaw while continued working on the sea chart.
While back at the forest, Robin is leading both Ventus and Chopper somewhere so they can get a new water to fill the barrel. Ventus' the only one who's carrying a barrel around his back while Robin, for some reason, joined them which of course, the young Dragoon didn't like it at all.
"Hey, Ventus, why is she tagging along?" Chopper questions with a whisper.
"I don't know, but to be frank, I don't really care." Ventus told him. "Then again, we didn't say anything about her not coming with us."
"What a nice day~." Robin comments with a calm tone.
It got Chopper panicked to the point where he jumped up and grabbed hold of the young Dragoon's face, making him having trouble breathing and lost his balance as he rolled down a few feet.
"AHHHHH! Ventus! Are you okay?!" Chopper asked, letting go of him.
"Peachy." Ventus replied, getting back on his feet while Chopper turns to her.
"You scared me to death!? What's wrong?!" Chopper shouts with a shark-like teeth.
"Nothing, just commenting on a beautiful day." Robin answered. "I've been longing to take a walk like this. I haven't felt such peace for quite some time."
Both Ventus and Chopper couldn't help but groan as they continued to walk towards the forest. Though, it got the young Dragoon wondering what does she mean by that, but it didn't take long for him to figure out the reason, which it probably got something to do with her past life.
"In the past, it seems like I've always wound too tight for repressing my emotions. I never got the chance to smile." Robin told them.
It got Chopper confused while Ventus knew what it's like to repress the emotions, mostly because of the loss of his parents and being loathed by his people 11 years ago. Robin ran a few steps ahead and then noticed a lake up ahead and a flower field next to it while both Chopper and Ventus were able to catch up to her.
"Freshwater!" Chopper exclaims in relief.
"Well, we better get to it." Ventus suggested as he and Chopper are heading towards the lake.
While both Ventus and Chopper were gathering some water, Chopper took a glance at Robin, who's relaxing at the flower fields.
"So, um, if I remember this story correctly, didn't you say you've been alone since you were 8 or so?" Chopper inquires curiously.
"Chopper! You shouldn't be asking that!" Ventus scolds the reindeer.
"It's alright." Robin assures the young Dragoon. "I spend most of my youth, following pirates and I barely survived."
After a few seconds of silence, both Ventus and Chopper continued to fill up with barrel with water.
"It's your turn." Robin said, turns to Chopper. "Tell me about this Doctrine person."
It got Chopper's attention when he turned to her.
"You were talking about her earlier." Robin points out. "She's a doctor, right? She's a teacher, a mentor, perhaps?"
"Uh...Yeah, kind of." Chopper answered. "Doctrine is someone I owed a great debt too. Most people would refer to her as Dr. Kureha."
"Dr. Kureha, what does she like?" Robin asks with interest.
"She really loves alcohol, but the best way to describe her as a woman who's a pirate, who's also a doctor." Chopper told her. "Did I mention she really loves alcohol?"
'You pretty much did, actually.' Ventus mentally thought with a deadpan look on his face, but not saying it out loud.
Chopper then remembered during his previous island back at the Winter Island where Dr. Kureha took him and teach him.
Flashback
It was 6 years ago after the death of Dr. Hiriluk, where Dr. Kureha took Chopper in and teach him about the medicine and medical science.
'I studied under Doctrine for about 6 years, I wanted to be a doctor myself, you know? That was my passion.'
During his time in Dr. Kureha's home, Chopper was doing some experiments with the medicine, mixing the different medicine with his mortar and pestle in the middle of the night. He was also following the instructions of making it by reading thoroughly with the medical book.
"After mixing these three types of herbs together in a large bowl, grind them well." Chopper said, pouring the medicine a little, placing it back on the table, and mixing it when he heard a door knocking.
"Chopper! Chopper!" Dr. Kureha called him, causing him to panic with fright which he knows how scary she can be as he quickly got off of the stool while she opened the door. "Are you finished reading? I expect all of 500 pages memorized."
Unfortunately, Chopper didn't do as Dr. Kureha instructed him to since he's spending his time experimenting with the medicine, starting to run around.
"Ha! You were playing around with my medicines again." Dr. Kureha said with a smirk, drinking her wine.
"No! I was experimenting!" Chopper protested.
"That's the same as playing." Dr. Kureha told him.
"But I..."
"No excuses." Dr. Kureha interrupted.
"But...I've been studying for 3 years now, Dr. Kureha!" Chopper said, slowly walking sideways. "I've read over 200 medical books and journals! Please, let me help prepare a medicine!"
"You're about 100 years from that." Dr. Kureha said, pulls out the scalpels from her jacket as she throws at him, causing Chopper to quickly jump over the couch with a scream while the scalpels hit the wall.
Chopper then revealed him with fright.
"I've memorized every single word that I've ever read, it's true! I swear it!" Chopper protested. "I even managed to memorize a 7th Principle by Dr. Alexander from cover to cover! That's the one you said that's the most difficult thing I've ever read! The 'tobble topple bacteria' start dividing on the 7th day of culture in after showing signs of overreaction, mentioning on page 1,254 Chapter 7, Section 2!"
However, Dr. Kureha is impressed of his memory, but she's still wasn't convinced.
"Hmph, so, what does..."
Before Dr. Kureha finished her sentence, she drops the wine to the ground which it got Chopper's attention while watching her stumble back against the bookshelf and collapsed, causing the books to tumble down.
"Doctrine!?" Chopper exclaims with panic as he rushes to her. "You okay?"
"It seems I've been infected with the febrile disease from the patient I saw the other day." Dr. Kureha groans, but hissed in pain.
"You're burning up!" Chopper said, checking her temperature.
"Chopper, anyone can memorize words, but now you must put what you've learned to the test." Dr. Kureha told him. "I guess this will make me your very first patient."
Chopper is starting to realize what Dr. Kureha is telling him, which it'll be on him to save her.
"I won't give you a single word of advice, you're on your own." Dr. Kureha continued. "If you fail, I'll die. No pressure."
That got Chopper panicked and knows that she's right.
"Learn the ultimate lesson. Once you decide to practice medicine, you take the responsibility of your patients lives in your hooves." Dr. Kureha said. "Can a blue-nosed reindeer master such a burden?"
Soon as Chopper placed Dr. Kureha on the bed while placing a wet rag on her forehead, he then starts to put his lessons and skills to the test by making a medicine, researching the febrile disease, and going through her blood with a microscope.
"There's no mistake, this the pathogen of the mandolin virus! What would work best to counteract it?" Chopper questions himself, going through the medical book from page to page, looking for answers and managed to find it. "Found it!"
And with that, he starts making the medicine with the mortar and pestle, picking the right medicine for mandolin virus.
"Doctrine! Don't die!" Chopper pleads, while working on the medicine. "Please..."
After a few minutes later, Chopper was able to make the medicine as he slowly walking next to Dr. Kureha and extends it to her.
"Let's see." Dr. Kureha muttered, grabs the medicine.
"Dr. Kureha, aren't you gonna ask what sort of ingredients I've combined?" Chopper questions.
"Most patience will have a little knowledge of medicine or what is used to compound it." Dr. Kureha points out. "They simply trust their doctor's judgment and abide by whatever prescription he gives them."
Dr. Kureha then swallows up the medicine.
"Alright, do you feel a little better?" Chopper inquires.
"Dummy! No medicine works instantaneously." Dr. Kureha lectured him. "Go, I need to sleep for a while."
And with that, Dr. Kureha then went to sleep while letting the medicine work while Chopper leaves the tree with the bowl of water and a rag on his hooves since she needs a few days rest. Soon as Chopper shut off the lights while quietly closes the door, Dr. Kureha spoke.
"Chopper." Dr. Kureha called him, earned his attention. "Not a bad job, considering your lack of experience."
Chopper then smiled as he left the tree and letting Dr. Kureha rest.
Flashback Ends
"That was the first time that Doctrine truly praised my aptitude in medicine and it was the only time throughout the 6 years I've worked under her." Chopper finished his story. "Instead of given me a verbal acknowledgement, she proved her faith in me by placing her life in my hands. That's Doctrine for you, she believes in actions, not words. And I agree with her. Someday, I'll become a great doctor, one that'll surprise even her!"
Ventus couldn't help but smile at his story and his goal, but thinking that he never heard a single praise coming out of Dr. Kureha's mouth.
"And what about you?" Robin asks, turns directly to the young Dragoon.
"What about me?" Ventus inquires when his expression turns into a glare.
"You never said a word about yourself, care to share it?" Robin offers when Ventus stood up and turns to her with anger.
"I'd rather not talk about it, and what you to need know it's none of your damn business!" Ventus growled at her with his dragonic tone as he then grabs the barrel filled with water and heading back to the Going Merry, leaving both Chopper and Robin alone.
"Did I say something wrong?" Robin asks.
"It's more like he doesn't like talking about himself. He can only talk to someone he trusts." Chopper told her, watching him leave. "And it seems that he still doesn't trust you."
'Well, I don't blame him after what I did. But still, this is going to be harder than I thought.' Robin mentally thought seriously. "The sun will be setting soon, we should head back."
Robin then stood up, about to walk back to the ship when she turns to the reindeer.
"I wish I had someone in my life who I have a strong connection with, just like you do." Robin said, leaving Chopper shocked as they heading back to the Going Merry.
Later that night, the Straw Hats, except Ventus, were all by a campfire eating some fruit that Zoro was the only one brought back along with the meat. Luffy and Usopp however didn't need any of the fruit back, mostly because they were goofing around instead of following Nami's orders. Ventus wasn't at the campfire since he needed to be alone and away from his crew.
"Go on! Explain to me why you weren't able to gather much as a single piece of fruit?!" Nami suggested, irritated that both Luffy and Usopp returned empty-handed.
"That's a good question, what's your answer?" Luffy replied which it's pretty obvious that he's mostly fooling around.
"Look, I thought I was being attacked, by a huge condor who's trying to claw my pants-"
"It's more likely you two morons were goofing around instead of following orders!" The voice of Ventus shouts, revealed himself with a baskets of fruit along with the pieces of meat. He then tosses them and beat Usopp and Luffy to a pulp, leaving them a few bumps and bruises. "Can't you at least just this once in a lifetime take this seriously and listen!?"
Ventus then walked away, heading to the ship which it got their attention. Robin and Chopper knew why he's mad.
"Geez, what's got into him?" Sanji asks. "Never seen him acting mad."
"I don't know, but he did manage to gather more supplies which it'll hold until we get to the next island." Nami told him.
"It probably have something to do with me." Robin said, earned their attention when she walks to them. "When I asked about himself, he just snapped and left."
"WHAT?!" Sanji exclaims, turns to Ventus. "That bastard! I'm gonna..."
"Calm down, Sanji, I think I have a good idea why." Nami cuts in, then turns to Robin. "But still, Robin, he doesn't trust you that easily. Like he said, you're gonna have to earn it if you want to trust him."
"I'm afraid it's gonna be hard after what I did." Robin points out.
"Of course it would be." Zoro said with a sigh. "He doesn't like to talk about himself."
"But what I don't understand is why he was acting like that or why did he trust only you guys and not me?" Robin inquires.
"Well, it's complicated..." Usopp said sheepishly.
Robin listened carefully as the others told her about Ventus' dark past back in Ishgard, she kept a calm demeanor throughout the entire explanation. When the Straw Hats are done, she had a very serious look on her face.
"I see, that would explain everything." Robin said, sickened by Ventus' two uncles actions.
"And now, the Garlean Empire is gathering an army to invade Ishgard." Nami said. "We still don't have enough information about them, and we don't know how to get there since heading towards the Calm Belt to get to Ishgard won't work."
"And there's no doubt that the kid has been through a lot and he's still got something on his mind." Zoro adds seriously. "But if we're able to get to Ishgard without any problems, we'll ready for them."
"And we need to find that Garlean Empire and put an end to their world conquest." Sanji adds.
Robin can tell that the Straw Hats are going to help Ventus defend his homeland and find the Garlean Empire which they need to find out more about it if they want to beat them. Robin then turns to the young Dragoon, felt like they have something in common, and it's someone to whom they've lost during their childhood.
That's it for the 1st chapter of the 3rd volume of 'Straw Hats Dragoon'.