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: I have been so excited to show you this chapter. This is where the third person comes in.

On an aside note, I knew that some Berries were pretty similar to real-world fruits. I didn't know every single one was based on fruit (or berry). So yeah, that is also going to be factored in but that's going to become relevant in what I think will be chapter 14 (maybe 15 or 13). I will only say that afterwards, Sanji's going to be buying every fruit/berry he can get his hands on.

The minimum size of a chapter for this story is 5000 words. This chapter is nearly 8000.

Chapter 4: The Town of the End and the Beginning

I have mixed feelings about waking up in a hammock to the sound of two voices arguing in my head.

On one hand, it means I really have joined the Straw Hat Pirates (well, Darcy hasn't come around to the idea yet but he will) and I really can turn into six specific Pokémon (well, actually five for the moment since Gira's overpowered). On the other, it means I am the host of six fictional Pokémon in the fictional world of One Piece. One of them being the Pokémon equivalent of the Devil.

Also, I'm lying half my ass off because I'm already seen as insane enough. The fact that my Pokémon don't mind the fact they were fictional to me until recently is a godsend. Without the trust and the accepted Nakamaship of the Straw Hats, I don't see them just setting me down in Logue town and going off on their journey.

In this world, they're the only familiar thing I have. I very much doubt I can survive without them. Especially since the money that I'm supposed to be getting from battles is being lost in transit. My world sheltered me too much. Never thought I would have ever complained about that. Still, long term problems aside, I have one I can solve right now.

Namely, Darcy and Zhaleh trying to fight in my head and causing a headache. Although they stop once Darcy senses my general resentment at being woken up like that.

'You're both grounded. I don't know how, but you are.' I tell them, resisting the urge to rub my temples. I slip out of my hammock and notice the fact that Nami is still asleep. Shrugging, I head out onto the deck. The faint light on the horizon tells me I woke up early but I did fall asleep earlier than usual so I am not too surprised.

Sitting with my legs over the side, I rest my head on the railings. I'm still tired, maybe I could go back to sleep? My limbs felt sluggish enough to know they haven't recovered from the training session I did yesterday.

You okay now, Aliahra? Terra asks.

"I will be. Don't worry about it, Terra." I comfort him, removing my head from the railing. I breathe in the ocean air, it smells the same as it did back home. "How are you guys? Does sleeping or did eating heal you any amount?"

Everyone seems to have recovered half of their total health and half of each moves' power points. Gira answers me. Also, I think I have a solution that may solve some of the backlash the transformation causes.

Already? Dat's fast. Darcy notes.

Of course, there is a lot at stake here. Gira admits. It will take a while to implement it safely, however. To put it as simply as I can, although slightly inaccurate, I will be opening a gateway to the Distortion World. Whoever is not remaining as our anchor in the world of pirates and marines, while be staying there.

So, Aliahra could be considered a gateway to the Distortion World? Terra asks, confused.

There's a pause then a sigh from Giratina. That is… inaccurate, but that will be what it will appear to be from the outside.

Okay! Oh, cool. Aliahra, Aliahra! You're gonna be a gateway to hell! Niran sounds way too excited about that. And for the general hour of the day.

The Distortion World is not hell, Niran. Honestly. Nico sighs, tired. It's not enough that you insist on waking everyone up with the morning sun, isn't it?

'Niran, you're grounded too.' I tell him, flopping back onto the deck, staring up at the fading stars. There's no Southern Cross or Orion's belt, the only constellations I know how to recognise. They're all different. Homesickness wells up within me so I just close my eyes.

We're all tired, so I stand up and head back to bed. Sleep is a better alternative than having to deal with everyone at so early an hour. When I wake up again it's midmorning and everyone but Sanji and Nami are on deck. Although she joins them after she drags me into the kitchen and informs Sanji that we need food, he gives her a delicious looking snack to take out.

"So my lady, any allergies I should be aware of? What are your favourite foods?" He asks, puffing lightly on a cigarette, starting some preparations in his kitchen.

"I can't have anything hard like nuts, got a metal rod on the back of my front teeth that I can't exactly get fixed anymore if it breaks," I answer, barely resisting the urge to try and show him. "I don't have any allergies, or if I do, I don't know them. I do have a mental block when it comes to eating onions. If I know it's in a meal, I just…" I pause and wince, this is gonna sound bad to him. "I start gagging if I bite it with my teeth, I think it's a texture thing or maybe it's just how it sounds in my mouth. Similar thing with tomatoes and pineapple, but I like tomato sauce and pineapple juice just fine."

I stretch, feeling and hearing all my joints click and snap. This is probably a bad thing to do, but damn does the stretch feel good. Because I can, I touch the ceiling without jumping. I grin at it, it's a little shorter than ceilings normally are but the average height is a little shorter here. At least in the East Blue where the Going Merry was made.

"As for favourite foods, chocolate. Favourite drink, chocolate milk." I continue to grin. "I like sweet and savoury. Oh, I use to not like seafood either, but your dinner was so good I wouldn't mind having it again. So, ya know. Just make whatever, I doubt I'll be picky with whatever you make."

The reaction Sanji has isn't exactly as I expected it. There're no hearts or hurricanes of love or declarations he usually makes. He's still obviously pleased, complimenting me and telling me to tell him how much I like what he makes so he can make it better in the future.

"What about your Pokémon? Do they have any dietary requirements?" He asks as he starts on my meal.

Water mostly, and sugar. Terra says and I repeat, then it gets stranger. Compost is nice too, but otherwise, I'm a vegetarian really. I really like dried fruits, but tree leaves and grass are also okay too. They're better for me fresh but I like them dried too.

I just eat normal human food. Don't care for any of the five flavours really. Darcy says without adding anything strange.

Hmm, well, seeds, berries, insects, fish and other small birds are alright with me. If he can make it sour, that would be nice. Nico muses. Oh, and cheese. Cheese is nice.

Is that last thing even good for you? No specific flavours for me, like Darcy. Niran offers freely. I'm a vegetarian like Terra though. Grass and hay and fruit and- well, basically normal horse foods. But I burn through a lot of calories.

I could almost feel the cheesy grin with the pun. There's muffled laughter from someone else but no one can pinpoint who it is.

Fish, seaweed, seagrass as well as fruits and vegetables. Is Zhaleh's diet. Of course, as most of us agree, sour is the best flavour.

I do not eat. Gira informs me. However, everyone else can eat a human dish called curry. I will observe the Galar region so you can tell Sanji any differences it has with normal curry.

'It's too bad the games never went in-depth with cooking, huh?' The games had stuff like Poffins and Curries you could make, as well as in-game food items that could heal. But the point of the games was never cooking, so it's impossible to know the specifics.

Unless there's something in the anime, but I stopped watching that after I realised it made me a terrible trainer in my first playthrough. Whirlpool is not as cool in the game as it is in the anime. Thanks, Dawn and her Piplup, my first ever pokemon suffered because of you.

Luckily, Sanji doesn't react badly to any of the diets my Pokémon have. Even though he does blink at Terra's remark about compost. Can't blame him for that. It makes a strange amount of sense considering Terra's physiology is half plant-based but cooking compost is still a strange thing to be asked to do. It's stranger for most of us, bar Terra and Gira, that he actually does start planning on how to cook it. Great man, truly a chef that'll go far.

I'm famished, eating more than I usually do and faster than usual as it all tastes great. I finish before he even finishes making everyone else's meals. They practically inhale their food when it comes to their turn to eat.

The mikan used in everyone's meals doesn't seem to have any effect individually, but altogether it does restore a small piece of health just like the item Leftovers would do. With everyone eating one after the other, we are unable to help with the cleanup.

'Niran, you're ungrounded if you can make sure I wake early enough to help next time.' I tell him because honestly, I don't want to be a freeloader nor do I really know how to actually 'ground' my Pokémon. Aside from something idiotic like not using them in battle.

Wait, that's all I've gotta do? Niran asks. Sure! I mean, I was gonna do that anyway! And did, you just went back to sleep.

I walk out on the deck and sit with my legs over the side, some sea spray would hit my legs but it's otherwise dry and shady at the moment. I don't know why but I really like this spot on the Going Merry. I sat there, absently listening in to the conversations of my Pokémon and talking to Giratina most of all. Honestly, it surprises me that they're the one that is talking with me the most.

Probably because they like you the most. Nico pipes up.

I open my eyes just to blink at that. 'Huh? What do you mean Nico?'

They were banished to the Distortion World for their violence remember? When they first joined the party, no one but you, Terra and Zhaleh actually… wanted… to battle alongside them. We were terrified of them, to be honest. We only fought with them because you're our trainer and we trusted you. She sounds really regretful. We trust and want to fight alongside them now, so don't worry. Though I wish we were sensible enough to do that from the start.

'I… didn't know you guys were terrified of them.' I confess. 'Although I can guess why you were. But why weren't Terra and Zhaleh?'

Terra knew you longer than the rest of us, he trusted Giratina because you trusted them. She says. Zhaleh was the one you mainly used when you caught him; Zhaleh knew he could beat Giratina easily. Especially since Gira didn't know Thunderbolt back then although I'm certain Zhaleh could tank a hit from one anyway. Stupid high HP and Special Defence and all that. There's a bit of amusement in her voice as she quotes Giratina's own words. They all really bonded over the double battles you had them participate in later too.

While absorbing the information, I'm unprepared for a hand on my shoulder to shake me out of my stupor. I look up to see Usopp and even though I have no idea what he wants, I follow after him and we start creating some hot chilli pepper pellets.

"You know, we should probably be wearing goggles and gloves," I remark, all of the lab safety rules coming back to me. I'm glad I've already tied my hair back into a bun. "This is gonna hurt if it gets in our eyes."

"Ah, there's no need to worry about that," Usopp says, going on to boast. "I've made millions of these in my life and created much more dangerous weapons with no accidents. The great Captain Usopp is an expert."

"Captain eh?" I grin. He stiffens looking at something over my shoulder. I point up at the Jolly Roger. "I thought that Luffy's the Captain. Your jolly roger has his hat on it after all."

I spin to look up at the skull and crossbones properly for the first time. It is exactly as it is drawn by Goda-sensei. I playfully glare at Usopp. "Also, how dare you make perfect circles. That's supposed to be impossible."

Before he can either boast or make any other remark, Luffy rushes by and knocks some of the chilli pepper into Usopp's eyes. Flames erupt from his eyes and he screams. Niran laughs maniacally. I let Zhaleh out to carefully wash the spices out of the sniper's eyes. They're still inflamed and red but I can't really do anything to fix that.

Sanji jump kicks right past us into Luffy, shouting at him before turning to Zhaleh and asking if I got hit by the chilli peppers too.

"Nah, she's good. Do you have any lemon juice though? Drinking water doesn't really do much for me and I'm thirsty." Zhaleh asks, all of us internally laughing when Usopp complains about how he gets no concern.

Sanji rushes off to do just that. Hydration is a part of being fed properly and Sanji takes his job seriously enough to not be too bothered serving males. Although my Pokémon seem to be getting some of a pass, either for not being humanoid or because they share a body with me. I'm always watching.

… That feels a little more sinister than I intended it to be but I'm not taking it back.

Nico suddenly takes over and picks up Luffy by the back of his shirt. He was trying to take advantage of Sanji's distraction to try and steal some of Nami's tangerines. He pouts up at us. His arms are still free enough that he can stretch and grab one but he doesn't.

"Aww, Nico can't I have one? Just one?" He whines.

"No." Nico drops him out into the water and Zhaleh dives in afterwards, pulling him out. When they're both on deck, Zhaleh repeats Nico's statement. I just start laughing in our head. It's so nice seeing them get along, especially when I don't have to put in the effort. So I can just watch and enjoy.

Luffy splutters a bit before grabbing Zhaleh, pulling us to his chest. "Why is Nico being mean to me Zhaleh? I just wanted one!" Although what Luffy said might suggest he's angry, that large D grin on his face shows his true intentions. Although he does seem to be sagging slightly, must be from getting soaked.

I am curious as to what the move Soak would have done to a Devil Fruit User. Unfortunately, none of my Pokemon can learn that move so it'll remain a mystery forevermore.

"Believe it or not, Nico is the 'Mother Hen' of the group and a big one on that. She's trying to teach you a lesson." Zhaleh tells Luffy, squirming a bit in Luffy's hold to get a bit more comfortable.

Nami hums. "You know, I can see that." A grin split her face. "Thanks for protecting my tangerines, Nico. Do you want one?"

Tell her yes, though could I have it later? Being held like this is nice. Is Nico's quick reply, seems they can feel things through Zhaleh's nervous system too.

"Uh, she says yes, but later, please. Also, quick question, what is a Hen? I know it's a type of bird but Nico's a Starly, not a Hen." I'll admit, I am very glad I'm not the only one laughing after Zhaleh asks that. Everyone but Zoro and the rest of my Pokemon is, although he is smiling in his not-sleep, which means he is laughing. Zhaleh blushes a darker blue. "Shut up! Where I come from we don't have animals like you!"

That makes Luffy and Sanji pull up short, although Luffy asks the question Zoro, Usopp and Nami didn't really think of. "Where do you get your meat then?" The somewhat panicked tone let me know that this isn't a joking matter in Luffy's mind.

Zhaleh doesn't get the seriousness of the situation. He shrugs and snuggles closer to Luffy. "Some Pokémon are herbivores, like Terra and Niran, and others don't need to eat like Gira but there are some who do eat meat. Big flyers prey on smaller ones, some eat small water types, and almost all flyers eat bug types. Some Water-types eat other water types, I like the pure water dwellers myself. You'd call them fish like you'd call Nico a bird.

"Aliahra said most Pokémon seem to have an animal equivalent here. Like how Nico's is a starling, Terra's a tortoise, Niran is a horse, Darcy is a combination of dogs and humans, and mine I think is supposed to be cat-dog mermaids, that or it's just a fish."

Usopp and Nami look a little freaked out now, while Zoro's just his usual unfazed self, his shrug letting me know he acknowledges it and doesn't care. He knows about dog-eat-dog world practices already. Luffy tightens his grip around Zhaleh and easily carries him up to the masthead with him.

"Why is this a problem?" Zhaleh asks as he stretches out, none of his joints clicks as he does so but it still feels good. "To be fair, most Pokémon don't have human levels of intelligence. We are monsters, animals. Gira is the only reason any of us bar Darcy can even understand you."

Luffy seems to kind of understand but it still doesn't look okay with him. He doesn't say anything. At all. It terrifies me. When Luffy sits down and pets him, Zhaleh repositions himself to look around and behind Luffy and at the rest of the crew.

Zoro is either continuing to fake his nap or taking a real one, Sanji finishes delivering Zhaleh's lemon juice and goes back to tending to Nami's grove for her, although he looks a bit miffed whenever he glances our way. I have no idea to know what he's thinking, and I can't exactly read his mind.

While surveying the wide expanse of his future kingdom, Luffy keeps absently patting Zhaleh's side. It feels really nice. Although Giratina says it feels really weird. Though not bad.

'When we can touch Gira, we're giving them a group hug. No exceptions.' Everyone unanimously agrees, leaving Gira flabbergasted.

The sound of paper makes me ask Zhaleh to open his eyes. Thankfully, it doesn't disturb Luffy's scritches near his ears. Nami's reading the newspaper. A slip of loose paper, a bounty for sure, blows out to hit Usopp in the face. Pulling the page from his skin, Usopp promptly drops it a second later, jumping back and staring at where it landed face down on the ground. Nami looks over and goes to pick it up. She has a similar reaction, catching everyone's attention with her scream.

Neither I nor Zhaleh can read it from the angle we are at, but it's pretty obviously Luffy's first bounty. Luffy, putting us down and dancing while cheering about it is a pretty big clue. Although Zhaleh ends up sulking. Apparently, the metre tall water dog likes his cuddles and pats.

Can't blame him honestly.

Zhaleh petulantly pushes me to the front and we are finally able to read it. Thankfully it's in English which everyone has thankfully been speaking. Or at the very least, I understand everything they're saying as if it were English. "It seems your worth 30 million cap'n, that would make you the most wanted man in the East Blue." I turn to face Usopp and Luffy. "I have to ask, what did you do to get that? You don't strike me as the common ruthless pirate."

Nami whimpers off to the side, "Can't you read it yourself in the text below the number?" Before stiffening and looking at me horrified, Darcy says her body language makes her look like she's approaching an injured Mareep. She does open her mouth but she never gets the chance to speak.

I look at the writing and squint as I glare at the tiny writing. I curse my inability to read any small writing that's not my brothers' without my tinted glasses. Stop blurring into each other already letters!

"You can't read it?" Usopp asks, staring at me incredulously.

I glare at him, "I've got Dyslexia, it's making the tiny words blur into each other." I glance again at the writing, picking up a few words: 'Clown', 'Krieg', 'Marine', and 'Arlong'. "What did you guys do with a clown, a marine, Krieg and Arlong?" I look back at them.

Luffy grins. "Oh, we beat them up. A marine had Zoro sentenced to death for a stupid reason, Big Nose blew up an old man's treasure, Krieg was going to destroy the Baratie where Sanji worked, and Arlong hurt Nami so we had to beat him up." There's a dark undertone when Arlong's and Krieg's battles are mentioned. I already knew why so I decide to draw no attention to it.

I nod and hand the bounty to Usopp, tapping the bottom left corner. I walk away to my spot and sat on the railing instead of the deck for once, awaiting the response. "Look! I'm known all over the world!" Usopp grins, pointing out the back of his head.

Sanji pouts over the bounty before celebrating with Usopp as Luffy announced how the next stop is the Grand Line, Nami states how bad having a bounty is while looking over at me, askance, and Zoro says something nearly unrelated.

"Hey, there's an island!" And indeed there is, no doubt Logue Town. As Nami says stuff about how it's the last stop before the Grand Line and would be the last chance to get off, I was distracted by a Minor Sea King leaping out towards us. Apparently, wild encounters can still happen when on the ship. At least it seems to be rarer.

As Nami and Usopp scream in shock while Sanji, Zoro and Luffy prepare to strike back. But Niran is already in motion with a Poison Jab (19/20). Of course, Sanji, Zoro and Luffy all struck at the same time a moment later and they knocked it out.

The experience gained is less than usual, no doubt split between the four of us. It is still appreciated, along with the knowledge that Niran is the fastest among us right now. Nico switches with Niran before he lands in the water and she returns us to the ship.

Well, Niran and I do have the same base stat for speed. Even though I am faster due to being at a higher level. Gira says. Actually, Zhaleh should be faster than Nico and Darcy for the time being. Which does not make sense considering Nico's fight against Sanji... Ah, I see. At least some of everyone's Effort Values have still carried over. Although, they are quite a mess. I will reset them all tonight.

But my Speed! Nico yelps.

It will be for the best. Giratina states unapologetically.

Usopp's knees are shaking loud enough for me to hear it without looking directly at him as we switch back to Niran. He really wants to do a victory dance, it's very… weird. Horses are not made for dancing, he looks awkward and jittery. "W-what the-? How'd we just encounter a SEA KING in the EAST BLUE!?" As if they hadn't just eaten one for dinner last night. "AGAIN!" Nevermind.

Niran freezes. I can't believe he tries to do that innocent whistle while slowly walking away. It's so obviously guilty. Of course, this behaviour draws attention and everyone's demanding answers. Some for different reasons as two-thirds of the Monster Trio seemed to be enthusiastic about it in their own ways (Luffy and Zoro) while the other was cool but cautious (Sanji). The remaining two Straw Hats are near hysterical. Niran tries to switch out, but I refused to allow him to escape a situation made by his own poor acting. He dug this hole with his guilty face, he can get us out.

"It's a Pokémon thing. We naturally seem to aggravate any other monsters nearby that can fight. Random encounters happen a lot around us in many areas: tall grass, the surface of the water, below the water, in caves and where ever we could catch the eye of anyone or thing looking for a fight." Niran pauses, looking up at everyone and before returning to look at his hooves while continuing. "We can't really cover each other's backs like we used to. It'll be nice to have someone watch our backs again when we get outnumbered. I think five to one was the worst."

Giratina must have told them about some of the different regions. It's only in the Kalos Region you can find yourself facing five at a time. Horde battles usually have you face off against enemies that are lower level than you would confront in the normal wild, single battle, encounters.

Sanji declares he'll always look after our backs, even the males (the somewhat put off tone made it a little more believable). Zoro bravely pats Niran's flaming mane without getting burned, which Niran immediately nuzzles into. I think they're all touch starved honestly. Luffy gets a serious face for a second before just laughing. Usopp has some face I have no idea what it means while Nami also has a look on her face which I again can't really identify the meaning behind.

Determining their expressions would be easier if Niran isn't trying to get all the pats he can from Zoro. Yeah no, they're all definitely touch starved.

'Gira, remind me when everyone needs some friendly contact. You can keep a better eye on them than I can.' I ask, offering no help as Niran tips Zoro backwards and sits on him. 'Zhaleh, when we can look after Gira like that too, you're going to make sure we give them enough attention too.'

They both splutter when I suggest they need a 'hugging hour' but determinedly agree to look after the others.

I'll also keep an eye on everyone, Aliahra. Terra volunteers. I already know the value of affectionate touches in regard to mental health. So you don't have to worry about me either.

I don't get much time to thank him for this as Nami announces we need to pull into port and Niran takes advantage of my distraction to push me to the front.

I'm thankful for the distraction and instantly attach myself to the older girl, asking what I can do to help. This, of course, leads them to learn I have no experience with ships, but thankfully Zhaleh and Nico are easy to gesture to as an honest explanation. I never needed to before. Although, this gets some confused and concerned expressions from crew members which I decide to not think about. It's not exactly the time to think about what they think of me.

My anxiety would probably try to mentally deafen me if I spend too much time thinking about it anyway. It may try to suffocate me or give me a non-lethal heart attack. Yeah, best not to think about it too much.

We soon pull into port and Nami starts Zoro's debt. This is when I realise just how poor I am. I have less than six thousand beris, and even after selling the string of pearls and the other small pearl I found, I only have about thirteen thousand beris because of the deal we have. And that's rounding up!

This is also assuming if I actually have the cash from battling. It hasn't exactly appeared out of nowhere yet. Bummer.

We get to observe some expert-level bargaining at least. We're all impressed and terrified by how Nami doubled the worth of the small pearl and tripled the beris for the string of pearls.

I feel more broke than Zoro, and he's going to be in debt to Nami for the rest of his life.

'Gira, there's a lot of gold in Jaya. Make sure I don't forget it.' Since I can't refer to the source material of this world anymore, I'm at least going to tell Gira pretty much everything I'll need to remember. My memory is terrible enough that I will forget pretty much everything but the islands and the objectives of each one in a few months. I'll remember nothing about the New World by the time that the time skip ends.

'I used to like being able to reread One Piece often, feeling like it was half new. Now it kind of sucks.' I complain as Nami decides she needs to update her wardrobe for the Grand Line and get me one in the first place. I hate shopping for clothes, standing around with aching feet and constantly changing clothes every five minutes sucks. 'Well, it can be nice sometimes. But I doubt this is going to be fun.'

Well, if we're pirates. Maybe try doing something illegal? It might be entertaining. Nico muses.

I shake my head at her suggestion. 'Yeah no, I'll suck so bad. Nami will never let me live it down.'

But didn't we do a lot of trespassing and theft back in Sinnoh? Or am I just not understanding humans again. My starter inquires.

'He's not wrong…' Is all I can think in response. Pokémon Heroes all seem to have kleptomania, always taking anything potentially useful that isn't nailed down. Also, grand theft Spearow. You get it if you get it. Not that I ever did it, I never played through Johto. Looks like I'll never get the chance to now.

Shopping doesn't turn out so bad. Nami doesn't push me to try on a hundred outfits as she does herself, and there's a place to sit which I gleefully take advantage of. The store person actually impresses me. How he doesn't use the same word twice I'll never know. I forgot almost all of the words he used as we finally left the shop.

Without buying anything, geez. Letting Nico out to steal a random piece of jewellery was the only thing we got from the shop. Or maybe Nami did steal a few things and none of us noticed. Wouldn't surprise me.

We pass by a hat shop at one point. If I actually had enough money to buy any of them, I might have tried. All the Pokémon protagonists have hats after all. It seems as though I'll be going without.

Nami does get some Navigation supplies and I buy a book and pen at the same time. Might as well write out everything about Pokémon that I know about. While Gira will remember, I feel like I shouldn't forget anything about this topic. At least there won't be anything suspicious about writing about that fictional universe.

Or multiverse if ORAS is to be believed with Megas in one universe and Gens 1 to 5 being in another. Mainly this is obvious between the Hoenn games and their remakes.

Back to shopping, I don't spend much of what I actually have on writing implements. But it reminded Nami I am wearing the same clothes as yesterday and I need new clothes too.

Weirdly enough, I don't have to pay for my own clothes and she explicitly says I'm not in debt, though this charity won't continue. 'Who is this and what have they done with Nami? And why is it that I'm not allowed to ask her this myself? Oh right, I'm not meant to know how money-obsessed she is yet.'

My Pokémon all have no answer for me. At least Gira seems to be thinking about it, no one else seems to be trying.

"Do any of your Pokémon wear clothes?" She asks. Probably calculating if it needs to be an expense or not.

"Oh no. They're technically animals, after all, human intelligence due to a deal with the Devil or not." I manage to get out before Zhaleh begs us to leave. I let him forward and before we even take a step to head out of the shop we are being chased out of the store with a broom.

If only we could have actually fought back, but Nami is giving us a very strong stink eye so we make an effort. A level one civilian wouldn't be worth anything but potentially non-existent money and satisfaction anyway.

I don't appreciate the stares Zhaleh gets as we sit semi-hidden at the entrance of the shop Nami is still getting clothes from. Like honestly, he can't be the strangest thing you've ever seen. But then again, this is the East Blue. Maybe he is.

Zhaleh's fins start to vibrate a bit without any active command. I almost freak out before the Vaporeon calms me down saying it is completely natural. Gira reminds me of the fact in the Pokédex which says that a Vaporeon's fins will start to vibrate when there would be rain soon. Although it'll usually happen hours before it actually does. In this world when the weather can change at the drop of a dime, it may actually be warning us that it's going to rain in a few minutes.

I don't expect the weather to be too wild in the East Blue though. The Grand Line is gonna be hellish though.

"I guess I have to be paying attention when it's my turn for, urgh, cuddle time." Zhaleh winces. "Why did you have to call it that?"

'Because it hurts you and it's honest. Deal with it, I didn't say you ever had to say it.' I reply. 'Also, you should also be keeping an eye on the currents. They can turn a ship around without anyone ever noticing.'

A bag of clothes is dropped in front of us. "Zhaleh, why are you shaking your fins like that?" Nami asks, staring over a pile of clothes for herself.

"It's going to rain soon." He replies honestly.

And then I am suddenly me again, Zhaleh offering no explanation. I'm blaming Gira, who just huffs proudly at that. Nami checks some of her equipment, concurring with Zhaleh's assessment and goes back into the shop to get a plastic sheet.

"Alright, Aliahra." Nami starts, her voice the most serious I've ever heard it. Perhaps if I weren't a manga reader, I'd have other times to compare it to, but I am and therefore don't.

"Hmm? What is it?" I ask as I got off the ground. My legs are still sore from shopping though it's made worse from the strain of my transformations. I lean against the building to shake them out.

"As you know," she begins, I snort unintentionally. "What?!"

"Sorry, it's just, "As you know" is used as a sign of bad writing back home. Especially for exposition." I elaborate, she huffs, rolling her eyes at me.

"Right, well, as you know," that is definitely emphasised to get back at me. But her voice remains low, so no one can overhear us. "Luffy has a bounty now, and as you pointed out, even Usopp's on it. 30 million Beri's is a lot. Luffy has the highest bounty in the East Blue now."

She falls silent at this, looking at me in search of a reaction.

"And?"

She huffs, growling as she continues. "And that means he's a criminal. People will be coming to attack him for money. The world will be against him, especially since he wants to become the Pirate King."

I shrug, fully aware that it's just going to piss her off a bit more. "Nami, back in the Pokemon Regions, everyone attacks each other for money all the time. As soon as you meet another's eyes, a battle is impossible to avoid." I look down at her - down only because of her shorter height - trying to get her to see how much I really didn't care. "As I told you last night, I never lost. As I also mentioned last night, I was a prodigy. And part of that success came from battling a villain organisation known as Team Plasma whose directive was to summon, entrap, and use the gods of Space and Time to remake the world in their leader's vision."

I sigh and breathe, giving Nami a moment to process this information. "It didn't matter to Arceus that I saved the world – twice I might add, by disrupting Team Plasma and then calming Giratina – before I was thrown out, never to see another Pokemon or any sign of home ever again. I am fine with Luffy's bounty. I know him, my Pokemon like him, and the only reason Darcy doesn't like him is that Darcy has trust issues."

Trust issues that I technically caused by trading him from one game of mine to another. But he has always been mine and I love him even when he's difficult and stubborn. Quite frankly, after being moved from one world to another against my will, I have some trust issues myself, but at least I know some people and their character.

"If it doesn't bother you, I'd like to stay with you all. I feel much safer with you than trying to go at it alone in a world I barely understand." I smile at Nami, fully aware that everything I have said has been pretty heavy stuff.

I'm kind of glad I'm so surprisingly good at suppression. Nothing too dark has crossed my mind yet. My throat clenches as one thought does try to, but denial and suppression continue to work well for me and I shut it down. I know if it gets a single foothold in my head, it'll never leave me.

I can't let the dark thoughts in.

"We should head back to the Going Merry unless there might be a store that could have something to heal your Pokémon?" Nami asks, her voice subdued as she processes everything I said.

I shake my head and we head towards where we have to meet up with everyone in silence. However, when we arrive, Luffy's missing. "Where there's a D, there's danger and drama," I mutter under my breath, holding Zhaleh back from devouring the elephant fish Sanji and Usopp are carrying. "He mentioned going to see the place where people die, right?"

Buggy's announcement backs up my claim. Nami grabs my clothes and writing stuff before rushing off with Usopp. Leaving with the passing comment of "you still don't know how to handle a ship" which is a very valid reason. That leaves me free to follow Zoro and Sanji into the square filled with a bunch of hostile pirates, civilians and future fanboys. Or, well, fanboy. Although some of his gang and fellow future fans could be there too.

The crowd forms a veritable wall that only Zhaleh may be able to fully remove. However, I don't exactly want to let the nearby marines know of him just yet.

He, and maybe Darcy with Foresight, are the only ones who could probably fight off Captain Smoker and his Logia Devil Fruit.

Eh, either way, I can get there faster. Niran suggests. Haven't you read my Pokedex entry? I can jump the height of Uluru! Or was that as a Rapidash? Let's find out anyway!

'Luffy will be fine, he's not meant to die today.' But then a shout rings out after my transformation into Niran.

"I AM GOING TO BE KING OF THE PIRATES!"

The seven of us can't speak or move. Somehow, we are all frozen just by that sentence, even Giratina, our legendary. How are we supposed to react when it feels like Arceus xyrself had just descended from where ever it is xe dwells to inform us of this certainty?

I never thought that a human could remind me of my parent like that. He truly does possess it. Giratina admits when they unfroze for a split second. It's another scream that freezes us again, leaving me no time to wonder what exactly that 'it' is.

"SANJI! ZORO! NIRAN! HELP!" Luffy screams with what can be mistaken as a grin on his face. But honestly, I'm pretty sure he actually is grinning.

The Buggy and Alvida Pirates challenge your crew.

Minor Pirate Lv 8 Minor Pirate Lv 7

'Well, they're dead.' I grin. 'But let's farm some exp anyway.'

Ya say dat like dey evar 'ad a chance in da first place! Darcy laughs.

Himmimimim, she was being generous. Nico muses primly. After all, it would be rude to make fun of doomed men such as these.

'When did my Pokémon become such sadists?' I couldn't help but ask them, but the mental grin already growing on my own face let me know who was responsible. I take some pride in it though I can't take full credit. After all…

For some of us, it was a long time ago, Aliahra. The Pokémon that was banished for their violence says. Oh, how I wish I could terrorise everyone here.

I'll scare some for you, Gira. Zhaleh consoles Gira. Assuming I don't get held in reserve for Smoker of course.

The battle that began is awesome! At least to experience.

Niran smashes through the first two crooks with a love for Embers (26/30) and Poison Jabs (18/20). The next pair of pirates are shredded twice by Terra's Razor Leaves (23/25) getting him to Level 14. Nico Wing Attacks (28/35) the next two, and Darcy gleefully KO's these either Normal- or Dark-type crooks with a Drain Punch (8/10) each.

The rain starts and as much as I wish I could let Zhaleh out to take advantage of it, I leave it to Terra to take on the next three. They face us three on one, two Lv 9 and one Lv 10. But we are several levels higher now, and while they're stronger than the horde of a five-verses-one, there's less. They fall easily, making way for more sacks of experience points.

"Sorry. I'm a goner. Shishishi." As soon as we hear Luffy say that, Niran who was poisoning some unfortunates turns towards the execution scaffold. Buggy stands there, above Luffy, our future King, our captain, holding a sword that swings down to chop his head off.

I forget that Luffy's meant to survive. We forget I mentioned that Luffy wouldn't die today.

I can't read the sky to know if a lightning bolt is coming to save him. All I know is that he's in danger. And we're the only ones who can reach him in time.

We leap out of the middle of the crowd, changing our target and launching a Quick Attack (27/30) right into Buggy's gut, sending him flying off the platform. Buggy's gone. Luffy's safe. I turn back so I can try and free Luffy. He's looking at me, grinning. We've saved him. I grin back.

But there's a flash of light, shortly followed by a crash from the air getting torn asunder.

It hits me, the tallest thing on the platform. And I can't survive a lightning bolt.

A green turtle with a shell made of hard-packed dirt and a twig growing out of its head has sparks fly off it. A sign of paralysis in Pokémon. It's surrounded by burnt rubble that was formally an execution platform. A straw hat floats down to land in front of it. Strangely unsinged.

Looking out at the rubble is a collection of humans: civilians, pirates, and marines. They watch as a figure stands, untouched by the lighting, brushing off the ash and collecting his hat.

Luffy picks up the twitching Turtwig, he whimpers in his arms.

"You okay, Terra?" He asks. Tension underlining his shoulders.

"I-I-I d-don't-t kn-know." Terra jitters, tears in his eyes. "Al-li-li…" His mouth locks up as the sparks flare across his entire body.

The straw hat shadows Luffy's eyes from everyone. In the silent crowd, Zoro and Sanji suck in a breath. Their captain raises his head and walks towards them, determination burning like fire in his eyes. Every enemy pirate and civilian hurries to get out of his way without complaint or noise.

"We need to get back to the ship. Nami says the storm should cover our escape." Sanji says, giving them an achievable objective.

Luffy nods and the three run. With Zoro and Sanji in front, beating down everyone who tries to get in their way, and the Straw Hat captain carrying their injured crewmate that continues to jolt and give off sparks in his arms, stifling whimpers.

The Turtwig proves not to be defenceless or out of the fight just yet. Occasionally, when he doesn't have a full-body freeze because of paralysis, razor-sharp leaves grow and fly out, shredding all opponents in their path.

They make good time but there are forces between them and escape that won't back down so easily.

Coming up Next: Flight and Fight

:D