Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece; that belongs to Eiichiro Oda. I did not make Pokémon, that was done by Game Freak.

A/N: Last chapter of only 1st Person. Next chapter, while again mostly 1st Person, ends in 3rd Person and will remain so. Enjoy it while it lasts I guess.

Titling this chapter was horrible. I don't like the name it has nor do I like any I came up with. Feel free to give suggestions! (Please do)

There are no warnings for this chapter.

Montages and Bribes

Nami Lv 14

At Level 10, Niran has Poison Jab, Ember, Quick Attack and Tail Whip. However, Nami isn't expecting a battle. So, while she may be at a higher level and Niran has already lost a fraction of his health, we have an opportunity.

'When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Or in our case, while in a world of Pirates, forget fair play as they would. Niran, Tail Whip!'

Tail Whip (29/30). Smiling at Nami and wags his tail adorably and lowered her defences. Some anger faded from her form. She hasn't yet realised they're in a battle. The unexpected Poison Jab (19/20) rams into an unexpecting Navigator dealing a huge amount of damage. Maybe a quarter? She isn't weak to it, but lowered defences and a power 80 move? She's lucky the poison side effect didn't take. Although it is a 30% chance only. Which is rather high thinking back on it. Lucky there.

"What the hell was that for?!" Nami raged with shark teeth. Hitting us again. Barely any damage.

'Did she use Rage? We should avoid a direct attack next, Niran.' I reason. Niran perks up, excitement burning through his veins.

Ah, aren't we supposed to be friendly? I mean, we wouldn't want to piss them off, right? Terra worries.

'Right, so we don't want to poison them. Maybe not burn her either.' I accept. The excitement Niran has fades at the condition.

"Aww, but I want to burn her." He pouts, then glares at Nami. "Also, you attacked first. You started this fight so don't act all innocent."

Bewildered, Nami takes a second to draw the information in before lashing out again. This time with her staff. It pounds into the deck where we stood. Now behind her and with an attack already committed, Rage's side effect is eliminated. Yay for intensive Move research.

Quick Attack(29/30) usually moves first due to priority, but it seems here that it really is just a move that can be accomplished quicker.

'With sufficient speed, would it be possible to use multiple moves per turn?' I ponder as Niran dances, laughing from Nami's next hit. 'It seems evasiveness is at least affected by speed.'

Not necessarily.Gira interjects.While being quick may seem like it may help, it is reaction time that affects evasiveness. Every Pokémon has the same reaction times, hence why there is typically one move per turn and moves hit more often than not. A turn traditionally lasts about six seconds, hence why I adjusted our moves to cease their worldly effects after that amount of time.

'Thanks for the lesson.' I reply. Then I focus on the fight. While the Quick Attack didn't deal a lot of damage, around a twelfth I would generously say, Nami's attacks don't deal much damage either. Rage has a power base of 20 while Pound and Quick Attack have 40.

"Some cultural differences here. Are you going to fight against everyone who attacks you?" Usopp asks from the sidelines.

Niran nods, dealing another Quick Attack (28/30) and taking a glancing blow that still dealt the full damage. We're still green. "Of course. First, Pokémon can only get stronger by winning. Second, instinct. If you don't fight back against your attacker or manage to run away properly, then you are dead meat. I mean, I'm already cooked! I'd be a quick meal." I laugh at the puns, they're a guilty pleasure. Someone snorts. They agree!

"Come on! The only way to get it into the thick heads of this crew is to smack them on the head." Nami shouts, lashing out another hit we take full-on. Okay, now we're around half of our total health. "How am I supposed to get it into your thick heads if I can't do it to you?"

Niran and I stop moving and shrug in unison. "You could just use words? You shouldn't assume, it just makes an ass out of you and me." Niran uses another Quick Attack (27/30). "I asked for a fight, you displayed aggression. What was I supposed to think? Actions speak louder than words, ya know."

The redhead looks bewildered. "If I beat you, will you listen in the future?"

Niran just raises an unimpressed eyebrow. "If you only said no, I would have listened earlier. Heck, we'd probably attack on your orders too as long as you take care of Aliahra. We're only good for fighting, we can't take care of her in any other way." He steadies his stance, preparing. "So personally, I don't care about your fighting ability like Darcy. I mean, you clearly suck. I'm not even using my full strength! That first attack I hit you with? That's Poison Jab. It has a thirty percent chance of poisoning you. Hence why I'm not using it… again. My next most powerful move? Ten percent chance of burning you. Which would only decrease your pitiful physical attack further.

"So, I would listen to you. No coercion is necessary. A 'take care of mine and I'll take of yours' kind of deal. If you don't? I'll burn you. Literally." An evil grin breaks across his face and he flares. "And I'll do so right now to prove it. EMBER!" (24/25). A bunch of small fires separates from his mane and tail and streak across the battlefield. They collide with the future mistress of the weather. Tearing through her health. Before, with one quarter and three-twelfths gone, she was around a half.

Now? The Ember, bolstered as a STAB but reduced in power due to Niran's low Special Attack, hits and a quarter of her health remains. Have issues with my constant use of maths? Find me a more enraging but rewarding subject.

Nami unleashes a screech, sharply reducing Niran's defences. I tense up myself, I guess I just know better. I don't really get it myself.

Either way, it doesn't matter. We chance another Ember, it knocks her out before it can burn her.

Nami of the Straw Hat Pirates lost. You get 3,200 Beri for your victory.

Niran just barely doesn't get another level. However, that isn't what concerns me. What concerns me is where does the money come from and where can I access it? If it's being stolen from Nami…

Somewhere. Gira states, merely providing a replacement for an actual answer. It does not console me.

I'm back as a human, awkwardly standing over Luffy's navigator's unconscious body. I pivot on the ball of my foot and double point at Luffy.

"It goes against my culture to not take up any challenge or to run from fights with people." I point wildly over at Nami. "You can't blame me for this." Then I tilt my head considering. "Well, you could, but please don't. I can at least avoid starting fights if you want."

To be fair, in the Pokémon games. You're rarely the one instigating fights. Unless you walk up to trainers voluntarily, but who'd spend the effort if as soon as they see you they'd fight you anyways. Although I guess the Gym Leaders, Elite Four and Champion are all people you seek out to find. Eh, my point still stands.

Sanji's too busy checking over Nami who's just starting to wake up to answer. Zoro's shrugging and it looks like he's settling back into the nap my arrival disrupted. Usopp and Luffy remain to talk to. Good, even though I have six Pokémon with me, I was feeling outnumbered.

I very carefully don't think about Double battles, Triple Battles, and Horde Battles. This means I panic over them for a second before stuffing the feeling down because I have more pressing stuff to deal with.

Luffy bounces in place. "So, if I beat Darcy, will you all stay?"

I stop Darcy from replacing me. "Not right now. I don't exactly have the free health care of my homeland. While you guys seem to revive soon after being knocked unconscious, it's not the same for my Pokémon ."

Luffy sags then straightens, considering something. "What about meat? Eating meat helps my injuries." He brightens up like a firework. "Oh, if I can eat while unconscious I can heal so much faster and not miss any meals."

I merely shrugged with a grin, mentally apologising to Sanji for the task ahead of him. Luffy would have found a way to eat and sleep at the same time regardless, but now it's happening much earlier. If Luffy's got an idea in his head, he's going to achieve it. Even if it's incredibly stupid or liable to break some laws.

"You do you, I'm going to go heal Zhaleh though. I know how to do that at least." I turn, run and jump off the Going Merry. Zhaleh replaces me before I land in the water. I really hope it looked as awesome as it felt.

Luffy and Usopp look over the side of the ship and look around at the water's surface. Zhaleh sticks his head out of the water and Usopp jumps back, a terrified expression on his face and a scream from his throat. It must look quite strange to see only a head coming out of the water.

"The fish thing can turn invisible! That's so cool!" Luffy cheers, looking like he's about to tip over the railing and fall into the ocean with me.

"I'M NOT A FISH THING! If you must call me something, then use my name! It's Zhaleh. And I can only turn invisible in water." Zhaleh shouts up at Luffy. He seems really angry at them for repeatedly calling him that. "If any of you call me a Fish thing again, I will mutiny before I even join your crew. Now let me swim so I can heal."

We duck under the waves without even waiting for an answer but Luffy nods in affirmation, still staring at where he thinks we are.

It's peaceful underwater. Pretty too, Zhaleh dives down to where we can still see the ship above us, but we can also see some of the Seafloor. Some creatures scuttle or drift across the sand and others peek in and out of some rocky outcroppings.

There's a trench off in the distance, but we avoid it. There is possible treasure there yes, but that would mean losing sight of Merry. Honestly, the Straw Hats are my best bet for staying safe in this world. They hold onto their Nakama with some of the fiercest protectiveness I've ever seen. Even when said Nakama are being idiots and try to leave when they truly want to stay.

I try to relax as we swim with safety above us. Once they gain Chopper as their doctor, we could even do some intense grinding. But still, healing my Pokémon before then is going to be a trial in and of itself.

I just tried my first challenge run, I do not need to be throwing right into a "no items, no healing, five Pokémon only" challenge run. Thank goodness it's not a Nuzlocke though. Dear Arceus, I wouldn't survive that stress and heartbreak.

"I have got to ask, but do you have any idea on how to heal the others?" Zhaleh brings up a good point. But now that I think about it there are some others I know to heal, but then that brings up another problem.

The ones I know a way to heal are only Darcy and Terra. They have draining moves so they can heal that way until those are all gone but the rest? No. This means I'll also have to consider how to restore PP. I have no idea how to heal my Pokémon unless I had items like Potions and Ethers. 'Oh, why couldn't I have been given any of my supplies from any of my games?' I mentally complain.

How would that have been useful? Gira asked.

'Well, I tend to go bulk and have at least 50 Revives and Full Restores on me at all times.' I confess. 'Also, in Black 2, I have over 200 lemonades from that movie fan I have. Not to mention but none of you has your held items and they would make things easier in the long run.'

"Wait, what do you mean by Movie Fan? Don't laugh at me Aliahra!" I continue laughing at Zhaleh.

Thankfully, I didn't have to answer as Gira spoke for me. I will explain it to you later Zhaleh, and to everyone else. Now, is Lemonade something that can be found in this world?

'It would surprise me if it couldn't be. The problem is that I doubt it uses the same materials.' I had already dismissed all the healing items I knew about.

It could be a simple matter to do as Luffy suggested and allow food to heal us. Gira says. Of course, it would have to be of sufficient quality, as well as related to the healing items that could already heal us. Excuse me, I need to compile a list of all the items I need to alter.

"Well, if there's anything you need Gira, just ask. Oh, shiny things! Look at those sparkles!"

Suddenly we dive, which is surprising since Zhaleh doesn't know that move but I ignore that fact and try to see what Zhaleh had seen.

We reached the ocean floor and Zhaleh directed us to where the shiny thing was. When it came into sight my eyes widened at the sight of a string of pearls just sitting on the ocean floor. That's 15,000 in Pokédollars. Considering the amount of money that I've been getting from battles; I think the currencies must be pretty similar in value. However, we've got a Nami. I'm sure she can sell it for more than it's worth. The forming plan is interrupted.

Look out! Terra yells at us. Suddenly, my body is Terra's and in our face is some sea creature glaring at us angrily. Hostile intent has never before been so obvious to me.

Minor Sea King Lv 15

Everything was a higher level than us, wasn't it? The Sea King tried to slam into us, but Terra dodged and instantly used Absorb! (24/25) Super Effective! taking a third of the creature's health. It didn't restore Terra's health only because he was completely healthy. Ethers and elixirs were never able to be commonly bought, and Leppa berries definitely don't exist in this world.

'Terra, use Razor Leaf instead. We need to save those absorbs.' I tell him.

The beast lashed out again with its tail and we easily dodge the telegraphed attack, it seems that its moves don't have high accuracy. Razor Leaf! (24/25) Super Effective! Leaves grow and fly in a frenzy towards the Minor Sea King. It isn't a critical hit, but it knocks the Sea King out anyway. Terra's Experience bar fills out to three quarters.

Not taking a chance to be snuck up on again, I switch back to Zhaleh, and we swam to the Pearl Sting, picking them up in our tiny front paws, thankfully Zhaleh can see himself even if I can't. Although, I wonder if the Sea King had actually seen us, or had we just panicked?

It's actually a lot harder to move quickly underwater. Terra tells us. Niran, I don't think you should fight underwater… ever.

That's fine with me. Water sucks anyway. Who'd want to be in it anyway? Aside from the obvious ones of course. Niran tacks on sheepishly. Hey hey, why don't we take the Sea King to the crew? Their expressions will be so funny! Niran has already started laughing halfway through, no doubt already imagining the scene.

Honestly, the mental image I got from the prompt was funny enough for me to tell Zhaleh to do it. Not that I needed to, Zhaleh has already grabbed one of the Sea King's fins with his mouth, and we rise, towing it to the surface, carefully avoiding the hooks and bait dangling in the sea. Usopp goes tipping backward on the deck while Luffy almost tips forward in awe.

Zhaleh releases the Sea King, and it just floats on the surface with us. Seeing that we don't have to keep it afloat, we leap onto the deck, and I turn back into a human again. I tug Luffy away from the edge. We could dive in after him and keep him afloat, but I can't see how we'd drag him back on deck.

Placing the pearls in my pocket, I turn to Luffy and point at the Sea King. Throwing on an attempt at a cocky smirk. "Do you have any need for it, or should I return it to the seafloor?"

Suddenly I am wrapped up in rubbery arms as Luffy sparkles at me saying things too fast for even Niran to understand. But since it counts as a hug, I enjoy it and don't complain. Honestly, every time I try to hug any of my brothers, they tickled me. I never get long hugs anymore!

Speaking of, the longer this goes the more suspicious I find myself feeling. Stupid brothers, how dare they ruin hugs for me! I persist in holding on to the hug regardless.

"So did the fish- I mean, Zhaleh catch this Aliahra?" It is from Sanji who is looking at the Sea King like he wants to cook it. Probably does. I wonder if he can make seafood tasty enough for me to stomach it.

I shake my head, "No, it was Terra. The Sea King was so inaccurate that it didn't even hurt him. It is admittedly only a minor Sea King. Perhaps it had hustle as its ability." There is confusion from that last statement.

"Every Pokémon has an ability. They can do a variety of things like power-up attacks, make them immune to something they wouldn't normally be, or affect the battlefield in some way." I tell them. "Hustle boosts attack while sacrificing accuracy."

He nods. "Wait, how did you breathe underwater then? Isn't Terra a land animal?" He turns to face me, but when he sees and actually processes Luffy's presence he leaps to kick him off and starts shouting at him. Luffy detaches and runs. I pout over the interrupted hug, ignore Nami's strange expression and goes to look at the Sea King. The beast is about as long as the Going Merry, small for a Sea King, but a lot bigger than most Pokémon. Laboon is certainly going to be a shock to see, although I can't remember how big Wailords are.

This Laboon you are thinking about is actually bigger than any Wailord. He is certainly bigger than I am which I do not appreciate. Giratina grumbles.

Even at six feet tall, and the current tallest on this ship, I'm going to be facing a lot of taller opponents. "I'm going to be relying on Pokémon physics letting us fight bigger opponents, aren't I?"

Indeed. Now, when Sanji stops chasing Luffy, I have a list of meals and drinks that I would like to see if he can make. Also, see if you can find a way to get into Nami's good graces so that we can test if her fruits operate like any of the berries back home. Gira says, leaving me with a normally impossible task.

Good thing I have something she'd like, and Nico Robin has shown me the true way to her heart.

When did I ever show you the way to her heart? Nico Robin asks me. I freeze at the revelation.

"I'm referring to your namesake, not you Nico." I shake my head.

Ah, I see. That may be confusing in the future. She tells me.

"Well, I didn't expect her to suddenly become relevant. I'm still calling you Nico though. I'm not changing your name." I reassure her and turn to face the deck, opening my closed eyes as I did so. It makes me feel a little less crazy by closing my eyes when talking to my Pokémon. I focus on Nami, who is, in fact, staring at me like I am a crazy person.

"If I really do stick around, you're gonna have to get used to me doing that a lot." I smile at her.

Nami seemingly shrugs the comment I used as an ice breaker off.

"I saw you put something shiny in your pocket. What is it?" There's a strange light in her eyes that I cannot identify, and it scares me.

I pull the string of pearls out of my pocket and show them to Nami. Her eyes light up, I could almost see the Beri signs wanting to emerge. Quickly returning the pearls out of sight, I make my offer.

"I'm no good at bartering, and I don't know how to sell things like this out in the Blues. We have different currencies, I know this. So, tell me how much it is worth out here and I'll tell you it's worth back home." I smile cheerfully. "Don't even think of lying. My Pokémon are capable of telling me if you are."

She pauses and gestures. I show her the pearls again. Three very large pearls strung up on a string. She mutters under her breath as she evaluates them, mentioning the size, colouration and even the fact that they look to be cultured instead of wild. There's a pause before she looks at me and says they'd probably be at around six thousand beris.

Which, seeing as I got six thousand four hundred from fighting her and two-thirds of the monster trio, really doesn't seem like much. I toss it over to her, she catches it easily. The focus is almost intimidating really.

"That's worth fifteen thousand of my own currency." Money related calculations run through Nami's head faster than my own. But I'm not really invested in whatever the answer would be anyway. "Two things. One, I want the baseline worth of it back after you sell it. You can keep whatever you drive it up to be. Two, as long as I travel with you, I'll let you sell every treasure I find."

I don't even get the chance to make it an offer before I'm being lifted into the air by a money eyed Nami. My feet are returned to the deck after I'm twirled several times. I blink the spots out of my eyes and try to focus on something still. Like the mast, cause the horizon is moving slightly and I don't trust it to not make me sick.

Hey, Aliahra… how about we do some training against any other Sea Kings nearby? Terra asks me.

I shall keep an eye out for anything the Navigator may desire while under the sea. Nico offers without asking.

"That sounds nice." I nod. Over my shoulder I shout, "I'm going to go training and treasure hunting on the seafloor, I'll be up before sundown or when my Pokémon are either too hurt or tired to continue, whichever comes first."

Just before I can turn into Zhaleh and jump over the side, however, Zoro stops me. "Out of your partners, which one would be the most challenging for me to fight?"

And that is a decent question, Zoro as a swordsman seems to be classified as part Steel-type, so, therefore, Niran and Darcy would be the best fits. However, I can also assume that Zoro has a really high defence stat so Niran would be able to deal more damage with Ember.

I've always listened to you and I'm faster, that should mean something! Niran is practically jumping with how eager he sounds.

Oh please, ya don't have much of a Special Attack stat anymore, it's practically worthless. Darcy said. More importantly, Ah haven't had my fight yet! Ya've already had that Navigator.

On your first point: You have no Special Attack Moves and no Special Attack stat anymore either, or have you forgotten? Niran asks incredulously. Regarding your second: You saw how easy she is! Also, I can't fight Sea Kings with the rest of you. You can get Luffy later anyway.

"Okay boys, stop fighting," I tell them then I focus on Zoro and answer truthfully. "Niran has better stats now but when Darcy's 'older' he'll be the more challenging opponent." I tilt my head curiously, why would he be asking? "Do you want to battle either of them though? They're both eager for a fight."

Zoro just grunts and draws out his white sword, getting into a fighting stance. Uncaring of his opponent but looking for another battle anyway.

"Darcy first then." The Riolu cheers. "If you're up for it after I've done my team training, Niran'll be fresh for you. He can't exactly participate in it." I switch into Darcy and we ready ourselves. Niran is complaining in the back of our shared mind about having to wait.

Roronoa Zoro Lv 17 appears in the corner of my vision and I'm surprised to notice that his health is only half full. Then again, he had been in a fight against Zhaleh earlier and he hasn't received any medical attention since.

Darcy's only got two attacking moves, Drain Punch which is super effective, and Quick Attack which isn't. Foresight has no use right now, but there is something I want to test it on later, and Detect, while useful, can only delay the inevitable in a singles battle without a burn or poisoning to continually cut his health. Its use in double battles is also useless since I can't send out the others, namely Zhaleh right now, to attack the whole field as it's a body switch scenario.

Of all teams I could have gotten, it had to be the one that specialised in Doubles, didn't it?

Zoro strikes first, blitz fast. He sees us as a powerful opponent and isn't holding back. And Zhaleh is powerful, but Darcy… well.

Darcy is only a fighting type right now, which means the hit deals a neutral amount of damage instead of a reduced amount he'd get from being part Steel as a Lucario. Fire resists steel though, and I faintly regret my choice of Pokémon. I don't want to lose.

"Ah can do it, Aliahra." Darcy whispers. Even as half his health is taken out in one, unsheathed sword stroke.

'Drain Punch. If we deal enough damage, then a Quick Attack may work…" I tell him. It's not that I don't trust him, it's just that this is an even battlefield. I can't resort to flying out of reach or diving into the ocean to deal with stronger enemies. I've also seen some of Zoro's workout routine. He's definitely EV trained, unlike all the Pokémon we encountered on our journey to defeat Team Galactic and get the eight badges.

Darcy strikes back as I told him to. The super-effective Drain Punch (9/10) deals a lot of damage, and it has more Power Points than I remember it having in Gen four. But deals only a bit less than half of Zoro's remaining health. The health drain restores Darcy out of danger of being knocked unconscious by anything other than a critical strike. Another Drain Punch won't take us out of the damage range of a third strike. We need two more moves. I can only hope Quick Attack can deal enough damage.

At least with Darcy's Inner focus, we don't have to worry about flinching. So even as Zoro attacks again, too fast to dodge and too unfamiliar for me to predict Darcy still gets to attack with another Drain Punch (8/10).

Quick Attack (29/30) doesn't knock Zoro out. The blades stop just before they hit Darcy.

It's still a loss. Zoro may be sparing us, but Darcy and I lost against the Swordsman.

"Why d'ya stop?" Darcy sounds bewildered. In Pokémon, you don't get to stop until your opponent is unconscious. While I can understand what Zoro is doing, Darcy and my other Pokémon cannot.

"It's not a very fulfilling fight. You're powerful, and I don't know how you can heal with each strike, but that last attack, while fast, was weak. Get stronger Darcy, then we can fight again." He then sheaths his swords and walks away, going to rest on the deck area near the prow.

Darcy's Experience Bar fills up, and we get a message saying that Zoro surrendered and therefore we won. That's different. It's supposed to be if an opponent runs then you don't get experience. The money we gain is less than half of what we got for facing him and Sanj earlier. But Darcy isn't satisfied. I force us to turn back to me before he can punch any part of Merry in his rage.

How dare he! What da fu- I interrupt Darcy.

"It probably isn't an insult to do what he did here, Darcy." I try to calm him. "Maybe it's because we're a prospective crew member and that's not allowed. He still offered you advice, and he wants to fight you again. He's a much level higher than yours, we knew he's powerful heading into the fight."

Yeah! Now you can get him next time. If all he does is sleep around like a Snorlax, then you can get stronger than him in no time! Niran states.

We should consider that Zoro was weakened from previous fights. Nico says as the devil's advocate. However, I think everyone has forgotten something very important.

Huh? Watcha mean Nico? Darcy asks.

"I think it's the fact you're my Pokémon Team, not just my Pokémon." I laugh at them walking over to the edge of the ship. There isn't anyone watching so there isn't a reason to make a spectacle of it.

Darcy is suspiciously quiet, while Nico starts laughing.

"Still, we can't just hope to beat a recovered Zoro at our strength level." I jump off the ship.

"So, let's get this training montage sorted!" Zhaleh cheers with a distinctly bloodthirsty tone as he lands in the ocean.

Training with the knowledge that we don't have anything to revive my fallen Pokémon with afterwards introduces its own type of challenge. Honestly, it kind of feels like what I imagine a Nuzlocke is supposed to feel like.

Terra almost gets knocked out before being able to proceed to Lv 13 but I manage to send out Darcy to finish the battle, which levels him up to Lv 12. With Terra out of the mix, Darcy and Nico end up tag-teaming a few of the underwater threats.

As the training continues, I start to notice a few of the effects this sort of battlefield has. Most obviously, everyone's bar Zhaleh's speed is quartered. With Terra as slow as he is, I didn't think much of being the last attacker in the 'turns'. With our opponents ranging between level 9 and 15 themselves, Nico and Darcy should have been able to outspeed some of the attackers without using their priority moves.

They're both to level 13 and Nico ends up switching Growl for Double Team. For her, evasion will be more useful than reduced physical damage. Darcy did get the chance to learn Counter, but we passed on it. We don't really know what classifies as a Physical or Special attack in this world. Not to mention, we'd have to correctly predict that they're attacking and let them hit us to deal damage back. Not too fond of that.

The other main issue with battling underwater, however, is the fact that Physical Moves deal less damage. The pressure and resistance of the water reduce the velocity of the attack and therefore reduce the force of the impacts. It's when it's Zhaleh's turn to train and we start staying closer to the surface for an easy escape that I can see a few more strange effects.

First off, Water-types no longer resist Water attacks. Second, Water attacks deal more damage. Speaking of Water attacks, Surf still creates a wave, it's just more of a current looking thing. Third, while Zhaleh does gradually heal, coming in bursts at the end of each six-second turn, he isn't invisible to the inhabitants of the water.

Blood from wounds attract sharks, not all Sea Kings have eyes, and quite honestly? I don't think they're all as reliant on sight as humans are anyway. It doesn't help that sound travels better underwater and Zhaleh likes to talk with us.

Honestly, I'm surprised we didn't get so many encounters on the three-hour trip between the sand bar and the Going Merry. Must be the full health and lack of speech.

Well, I'm thankful none showed. Everyone's pretty beat, and since being underwater activated Zhaleh's ability, I don't want to see what it does with mine. Niran whinnies. Being underwater and forbidden to fight has left him restless. Although, the rising anxiety about his one-on-one match with Zoro after this hasn't made him ask us to leave the water yet.

Yeah, I think time's up. Maybe just taking a bath can heal me, this ocean is a death trap. Zhaleh winces, rising as another unconscious body sinks. The waiting sharks go into a frenzy around the Minor Sea King's body. Blood spilling out into the ocean, no doubt attracting more.

You do that. But I want to try something on that crowd first. Terra says, resolute.

We're a land turtle in the ocean, looking down on a feeding frenzy of sharks. Razor Leaf, while weakened by being a physical move, hits all of them since it affects all opponents on the field. As a move with a high crit role, one in eight instead of one in sixteen, while also being super effective it takes down a lot of them.

Zhaleh swims us back up to the surface and Nico carries us up to the Crow's Nest. Some of the surviving sharks try jumping out of the ocean to get at us. But we're out of the ocean now, and Razor Leaf is a non-contact move. It has range, meaning Terra can attack from the deck, and we don't get hurt from a shark's Rough Skin.

They all fall, sinking into the depths to be eaten by any sea predator that avoided coming to the surface. Needless to say, he's at Level 13 now and so very close to 14.

Terra leaves me up in the Crow's Nest and I'm too strung out to bother climbing down. So, I was just going to stay up there but Niran doesn't care for that and jumps down to the deck. Landing next to Zoro.

"Alright. I'm ready!" Niran cheers, bouncing in place. Zoro looks down and over at us, away from the frothing carnage going on just underneath the slightly red waves.

"Oh no, you're not!" Nami says, pulling up to us and grabbing Niran by the muzzle. I switch in before the fiery demonic aura gives Niran any ideas. I end up flopping painfully on the deck, muscles too weak to bother trying to help me up. Honestly, I hadn't even been doing any physical exercise. I've participated in week-long sports tournaments, but they have never made me feel like this.

I groan into the deck. "Life sucks, everything hurts, and I didn't even do anything."

Well, it seems that these transformations, holding them and doing them, leaves an impact. Gira muses. Your matter is being deconstructed and reconstructed to be replaced with a Pokémon. Give me some time, I need to find a safe alternative.

In other words, Niran you're not getting your fight with Zoro. Terra states with finality.

Okay, no problem. You go rest Aliahra! Niran shrugs off, strangely unbothered. He must have been more nervous at facing Zoro than I realised.

I whine and open my eyes; the deck was a very uncomfortable place to rest in a heap. Good thing the people of One Piece are very strong. An annoyed Nami grabs my shoulder and pulls me up, shouting that I'm awake and that she's locking me in our room so I won't try to train again.

"This is our room and that is my side. Now, please explain to me why you went looking for fights against opponents stronger than you?" She looks so confused by this. "There were a lot of sharks and Sea Kings in that swarm."

And so I tell her that by battling and winning, my Pokémon get stronger and that there really is no other way to do that. After my Pokémon reach a certain level of strength and gain enough experience, they undergo an evolution. "Well, it's more of a metamorphosis. We just call it Evolution. Zhaleh's already fully evolved, but with winning battles comes experience that can make him stronger."

"So, by fighting, you get stronger? I don't see how that's different from other people." Nami's raised eyebrow conveys her disappointment in me, or at least my mental capabilities to which I take some offence.

I shake my head and repeat what I said. Emphasising that it is when my Pokémon win the fight that they get stronger and that it is only those that participated that get any experience. I then add in the fact that if we lose or if one faints and remains unconscious at the end of the fight then we don't get stronger.

She's currently despairing over da fact dat she's got another battle-hungry idiot in da crew. Darcy tells me, tiredly laughing.

"I'm not a battle-hungry idiot. I go looking for battles sure, but I'm not battle-hungry." I tell them both, trying to convey that with only one eye closed. "I left the ocean after I got my fill of battles. I know when to stop."

Nami just looks even more unbelieving. Every attempt to convey that I'm not battle-hungry is met with rising levels of disbelief.

She physically starts waving me off and pushes me to lie in my new hammock. "I hoped that when we got another girl on the crew, she would be reasonable. Why do you have to be just as crazy as the boys."

"I live with four boys in my head? I also had three older brothers growing up." I remind and admit, getting comfortable in the hammock. Resistance is futile and while weird, the hammock is kind of nice.

Nami considers me. A question burning on the edge of her tongue. I tilt my head in my own question. "How… old are your people when they become trainers? How is it a profession?"

"My rival and I got our first Pokémon at eleven then went on a journey across our home region, fighting other trainers and befriending wild Pokémon," I tell her, though technically, my character was eleven. "We were taking on the Gym Challenge, which normally takes people years but we're prodigies so…" I shrug, I'm not a speedrunner but I have completed a game in less than 24 hours before. That was playing normally. Kalos was ridiculously easy. "We fought and defeated the eight gyms strewn across the region. But before we could challenge the Elite Four and the Champion, the strongest trainers in the region, Giratina was summoned."

Actually, you had not yet faced the eighth gym. Giratina reminds me.

'Oh, right. Too late to take it back though.' I think back.

I start letting down my hair, sleeping with a giant fist-sized knot on the back of your head is impossible. The yawns start coming from my mouth, it's been a pretty long day. "Barry and I managed to get through the Gyms pretty fast. He just ran everywhere as fast as possible and while I was slower, I just never lost any battles. So," A yawn interrupts me. I pull the hair bands I got from my hair over my wrist and snuggle into the hammock. Its sides kind of wrap around me like an extra blanket.

"Arceus, the capital G God, was not happy their banished child escaped from the Distortion World. I'd already befriended and convinced Gira not to rip reality apart by the time they finally descended to fix the issue, but do I get any thanks, nope. Chucked out into the outside world, left to die with no way back home. I'm lucky Gira decided they didn't want to let go of me and managed to keep me and the rest of my Pokémon team together." I laugh. "Though, admittedly in a pretty weird way. I'mma go sleep now. Nigh-nigh, Nami."

Nami nods, distracted by the false story full of openings I told her. She waves and is about to return to the deck, but I remember something. I should honestly stop assuming when we are, even if I'm sure it's after Arlong but before Logue town. Are the fillers real? I've watched some once because I wanted more One Piece content, but that was a while ago.

I look up at Nami. "I meant to ask earlier but where are we going?"

Nami suddenly freezes and looks down at me. It seems she just realised that I haven't been told I agreed to join a Pirate Crew or that we would be going to the Grand Line. Honestly, Luffy hasn't announced his dream to become the Pirate King in my presence yet. Really weird actually. But I'm just guessing based on how she suddenly seemed nervous.

"Logue Town, we should arrive midmorning tomorrow." I see her eyes search for a distraction. She doesn't have to as I slip off to sleep.

When I wake up in time for a Sea King steak and Shark stew dinner, I'm still on the Going Merry, in the world of One Piece. Any hope that it was all a dream and I'd be waking up at home in bed, has been dashed.

This is my reality now. On the bright side, Sanji is a magician and the seafood doesn't taste disgusting. Oh, and we finally handle the introductions. Although Nami muffles Luffy before he can announce his dream. Darcy's theory is that she doesn't want us running when we find out they are pirates before we reach any sight of land.

Although honestly, I know what Jolly Roger is. Even if I didn't already know them, their sigil is pretty obvious.

It's right there!

Coming up Next: The Town of the End and the Beginning

I can't wait for the next chapter! People who read the original may have an idea of what's going to happen but it's slightly different. (There's a reason why the story had to be taken down and replaced.) Wanna guess? I can tell you how hot or cold you guess is if you want.