Eae, aqui estou de novo. This chapter came quickly compared to the others huh? hope you guys like.
DISCLAIMER: I don't know if I should do this or not but whatever, I don't own anything here apart from my OC's.
May have grammar errors
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Garp's Residence, Marineford
After leaving Tashigi on the female dorms Lucas directly walked back to his grandpa's home, something that wouldn't take long.
But along the way many passing by marines would throw strange looks at him, some would look at Lucas in wonder, some in confusion and some in curiosity.'
This feels slightly strange…' even though Lucas didn't get too bothered by the looks they threw at him it was still awkward to be looked with such eyes.
At some point during his day Lucas had discovered from some of his fellow marines that his family ties had started to spread across the headquarters. Because he had spent basically his entire day inside D-14 he hadn't felt anything different until a couple of minutes ago when he walked Tashigi back to her dorm, only then he started to notice the different looks.
'As the grandson of someone so famous I guess this is something I will need to get used to. But I do wonder how they will react when the information about my zoan started to spread' chuckling at his thought Lucas started to speed up his steps.
To the amazement of the marines looking Lucas suddenly increased his speed, and in a matter of seconds he vanished from their view.
A few moments later Lucas arrived back at his new house.
Letting out a sigh in the entrance he calmly walked across the front garden of the residence, the glow of the sunset would fall in the sakura trees creating a mix of orange and pink that was mesmerizing to see. This coupled with the calm silence of this part of the island created an almost mystical aura around the place.
'Someone that doesn't know better would assume that the owner of this place Is someone calm and serene' Lucas chuckled at his thoughts before entering the house.
"I'm home" said him from the door.
"Welcome back" shouted his grandpa from the living room.
Walking there Lucas encountered his grandpa sitting on the couch, relaxing with a bag of chocolate cookies on his hand while watching something on TV (yes, apparently they do exist in OP). Khan his friend tiger was in the other side of the room, laying in the warm sunlight that came from a window above him while taking a nap.
The room was mostly like what you would expect from a living room on the house of the marine hero, the place is big with a majestic decoration, the furniture made from exotic materials from around the Grand Line.
The room was beautiful, but from what he saw on the rest of the house Lucas was already expecting some along these lines, what he wasn't expecting was the presence of a big TV in the living room.
This piece of technology used a type of visual den den mushi to receive and project images on the screen, they had been originally used as surveillance mechanisms in many facilities of the marine and others organizations, but later adapted to serve as a type of entertainment to nobles and other influential members of society.
Although today these 'TV's' had started to become more widespread, they are still not much achievable to the normal folk, hence the reason the newspaper WENP is still the major font of news around the world.
The shows on the TV are mostly transmitted from the den of nobles in Mary Geoise (since it's technically built for them), and although they are still not on par with the ones from Earth, they are still quite good.
"So, how it had been your first day?"
"Good" walking to the seat beside his grandpa Lucas dropped at the couch "I worked in D-14 all day. Loaded a galleon and a few small ships with some cannons, nothing much"
"BWAHA what had you expected?" Garp ate a cookie "It's just your first day, obviously that would be a 'nothing much' type of day"
"I know" Lucas took his shoes off and then got himself comfortable in the couch "But a part of me still wished that something different had happened" he sighed in the end.
"Well, I can understand your point. You are like me and your father, after all that training being sent to do logistical work can upset people like us" Garp offered Lucas some cookies which he accepted "But again, had nothing worth mentioning happened today?"
"Well… "He smiled when he thought about his encounter with Tashigi "During my time in D-14 nothing really happened, but before I arrived there something very interesting actually did"
"Oh?" Garp threw a curious look at Lucas "What happened?"
"Before receiving my assignment I stumbled across a very interesting person. Well actually, the person that had stumbled on me" Lucas chuckled "It was a fellow seaman apprentice, Aki Tashigi, a meito enthusiastic young woman around my age. She was someone quite pleasant to talk to"
"A young woman very pleasant to talk to you said…"A shit-eating grin started to form on Garp's face "It seems like you had spent quite a long time with her today huh?"
Lucas that was looking at the TV didn't notice the grin on his grandpa's face.
"Yeah I did. We have been sent together to D-14, we spent the day there. We talked when we could and when we got dismissed I walked her back to the female dormsss…" Turning his face away from the TV he finally saw the grin and amusement on Garp's face, it only took a second to guess what was on his mind at that moment "Don't give me that look grandpa, you know is not that"
"That what?"
"What you are thinking, I had just met her and was being polite"
"I haven't said anything, you are the one presuming thinks"
"Don't dodge it, this shit-eating grin of yours doesn't fool me!"
"Again, I said nothing. Can't a man smile at his grandson that, on his first day out, had already walked a girl around his age back to her dorm?"
"That's what I said that happened, but your grin suggest you are thinking something more"
"Well, I just find really beautiful the image of you walking this Tashigi girl back to her dorm during the sunset. Did you hold her hand during the process?"
"Grandpa you know is not like that, I had just met her!"
"Yeah, but the way you smile when you talk about her suggest something more"
"You know this just the way I'm. Even if I wanted something more, how could I do it in so little time?"
"You don't know the half of it, wait just a year more so I could teach you a few tricks I thought your father and uncle. BWAHAHA With the handsome look you earned from your mother they will be even more effective!"
"Grandpa I-"
"Don't brush my suggestion yet, you are actually going to like them. You know that my lessons are affective right?"
"They indeed are, but-"
"See? I knew you would see the truth. Besides you are my only hope for some great-grandchildren's or do you expect me to count on Luffy for this? Also, since we are on this subject I want to know your thouthoughts about having multiple woman"
"…"
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An hour later an exhausted Lucas returned to his room.
"I didn't know it you had this type of side on you grandpa…"
Murmuring to himself he walked to his desk, sitting on his comfy chair he took his trusted journal from his pocket (he always carry his journal), then beginning to writing down his day Lucas started to think about his first day as a seaman apprentice.
Being able to walk around Marineford was a different type of feeling for him, not only this was the first big island he had gone on his life, but also a very important location in this world.
Walking around he got to see parts of the marine organization that had never been shown back on Earth, he had met many marines that are completely different from the zealous villains in the canon.
What he did saw was many man and women that really love their jobs and that have a genuine desire to help people, from the sweet Malum to the focused Ensign Jean, all of them radiated this type of feeling.
"It's really amazing how getting to know something more personally can change your view of it. The marines in this world are not exactly bad, there are just misguided" He gave a smirk filled with draconic confidence "Even more reason to put my name on that Fleet-Admiral seat"
Also, his grandpa Garp may have exaggerated but he had indeed felt happy when talking with Tashigi today, she is one of the characters from one of his favorite series, meeting her in person was a really unusual feeling for him.
He knew her from the manga/anime, he knew she is a meito enthusiastic blunette, but was only after talking with her that he had come to know the real her.
What he knew about her was not wrong, her desire to help others was still very genuine, but there was still so much more to know.
'Aki Tashigi, a very interest person indeed, way more than what I had imagined she would be…' flashes of her smiling face appeared on his mind 'And… she is quite cute too' his cheeks become tainted with some red before he shook his head.
Ending his entry on the journal Lucas picked a piece of paper where he wrote a letter for his mother on Dragon Island, he could call her on a den den mushi but there's something about writing a letter that makes it so more compelling than the latter option.
Finishing that he looked at the hour and decided he had still time for some exercises before dinner. Dashing out to the garden with some spark coiling around him he called his training partner "Hey Khan wake up!"
"Growl!"
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Two days later – Dock Fourteen, Marineford
On D-14 was break time for the marines on duty there, some of them had gone to the mess room while others had just walked to a corner to rest and chat a bit, Lucas and Tashigi are among the second group.
After more than two days there they had already created a sort of bond with the other marines there, not to say they had become friends with everyone, but they are at least on good terms with them.
Torlo was the marine that both Lucas and Tashigi had the most friendlier relationship there, their close age was a fact that helped the three grown a bond in a short period of time. Torlo is on overall a very friendly and open person, he brought the two apprentices to a place with some crates at the corner of the dock, the place was on a good spot where the warm sunlight would fall over them.
"It still surprises me when I think you are the grandson of Vice-Admiral Garp" said Torlo sitting atop a crate.
"As I said, you should not fret so much about this" said Lucas with a sigh while leaning against a big crate.
Tashigi that was sitting atop the crate Lucas was leaning on looked down at him "Yeah, but you do know that your grandpa has a very special status, is really difficult for people not go over this many times"
"That's right"
Torlo nodded repeatedly while also gesturing with his hand "Also, Vice-Admiral Garp is likely the strongest marine alive, just look at your strength, I bet he did some sort of training with you" A look of longing was on his eyes "Training with the Marine Hero, just think about that"
Lucas chuckled when he saw his fellow marine look "He indeed did. About a year ago he picked me up on my home island, took me on his ship close to a desert island and them dropped, or more accurately, threw me alone on that island, only returning after a few weeks"
At that answer, Torlo's expression became funny "Are you kidding?"
"No"
"No way!"
Tashigi that already knew about Lucas special training giggled at her fatty friend reaction. She had a similar reaction when Lucas told her about some of the quirks of the famous Vice-Admiral 'He appears to be a very interesting grandpa to have, hopes that I can meet him soon'
"Seeing how strong you are, Lucas, I would say that your grandpa's training is quite effective"
Lucas smiled and said in a humorous tone "Very effective indeed"
Torlo recovered from his stunned expression "That reminds me, hey Tashigi, where did you learn so much about swordsmanship and meitos. I doubt someone as good as you in these subjects had learned all of this in the recruit camp"
"Well, when I was a kid I had found an old book about swordsmanship on a small bookstore on my home island, I took a liking to the art of swords on that day. The owner of the bookstore, which was also the person who wrote that book, had found me reading it. I told her about my fascination with the art and after that she decided to become my master" she grasped Shigure with a smile "She was also the person who had given Shigure to me as a gift"
"As I thought, the talent disciple finds himself a hidden master" Torlo crossed his arms and strongly nodded "As expected from Tashigi"
"It's not like that…." She retorted while adjusting her glasses.
Lucas only chuckled a little before looking at Torlo with a smile "What about you Torlo? Had our petty officer done some special training before?"
"Yes, I'm also curious about that" added a smiling Tashigi.
Torlo looked at the two a little sheepishly while scratching the back of his head "I haven't done anything big. My uncle is a retired marine, used to deal a lot with firearms and the like. He taught me a part of what he knew before helping me enter the marine"
"Oh?" Lucas looked at him with some interest "So you are a fire weapons guy?"
He looked at them with a serious expression "No"
""No?""
"I'm not a fire weapons guy" he then put both his hand on his belly and smirked "I'm a heavy weapons guy"
"Pfft"
"Hahaha"
Tashigi looked at Torlo with a barely concealed laugh while Lucas didn't attempt to hide his, and laughed openly at his friend's declaration.
"Huehuehue"
Torlo also joined the two in their laugh, clearly looking pleased with their reaction.
They greatly enjoyed that break time.
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"Had you called sir?"
A few minutes later before the end of the break time, the three young marines had been called by their superior Ensign Jean, the man was sitting behind the desk on his office on the platform.
"Good, you three are here" he looked at them with his usual light smile "I have a new assignment for you three"
The three exchanged a few glances, then Torlo who had the highest ranking among them, took a step forward "Sir, what will be this new assignment?"
"A few ships of ours are going to be sent to the South Blue, they will take equipment and personnel to some of our bases there" picking a clipboard he re-read some of its content "I received a note from the high-ups to put forward a few names to go there. I have chosen you three"
This sudden revelation took both blunette and blond by surprise.
"Are you sure about that sir?" asked Tashigi "Torlo had already been here for a while, but I and Lucas have just arrived here"
Jean didn't answer immediately, he only slightly shifted his gaze to the calm white haired young man, who different from his two colleagues didn't look as surprised with their sudden assignment. If anything you would actually see a look of excitement on his eyes
'Just like he told me' he thought with some amusement
"Both you and Lucas are not exactly fit to be here with the skill range you two had, and Torlo had been trapped here already too much. Do not look down on the four blues because you are born In the Grand Line, they are big places good for young marines to explore and have a little taste of the outside" he smirked "Furthermore, depending on how good you are there a position on the Grand Line can be easily achieved"
"Really?!"
"Amazing!"
Torlo and Tashigi both looked pyped with what Jean told them.
Lucas finally let some of his own excitement show when he smirked, his eyes also glowed a little "When we depart?"
"Tshehe I like you guys reaction" he leaned more on his armchair "It will be a five-ship convey that will depart in two hours at 15:00, the five ships will follow together to the South-Blue, there they will divide and go in separate ways. You three are boarding the ship under Commander Triscratches, he will drop you three on Mel Island" he looked at them with a smirk "What are you three waiting? Go get ready!"
"""Yes Sir"""
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Two Hours later – Dock Seven, Marine Headquarters
After receiving their orders from Ensign Jean the three young marines had gone to get ready for their departure to the South Blue.
The time of two hours given to them quickly passed, going to the appointed place they had been put in an orderly formation beside a standard marine ship. The marines in line around them are of the most diverse types, but one thing they all had in common was their strait backs as they stood on formation, displaying their discipline.
The three stood there in proper formation alongside the others, exactly a minute later their commander arrived before them.
The commander is a slightly plump middle-aged man, he was almost bald and had a very lush green beard, which has three sword marks, his dark brown eyes had a strong look to them. His clothes are similar to the normal marine uniform, the difference that it was almost all blue with only some details on white, and on his shoulder was the coat with justice used by all officers.
"I'm here, let's depart" said the commander before boarding the ship.
"Yes"
Replaying in unison the marines started to board the ship, moments later the ship was already entering on formation alongside the other four in the convoy.
The young marines are in the deck looking at the image of Marineford slowly vanishing from their view, Lucas the tallest of them looked at his fellow D-14 marines from behind and smiled.
Lucas gently put his hand on Tashigi shoulder and gave a reassuring squeeze, she looked at him in slight surprise before returning the smile.
Torlo turned and saw the two, noticing this Lucas raised his other hand at him, catching the meaning Torlo smirked, both of them then clapped their hands on a handshake followed by a fist bump.
"Let's go to the South Blue kick some pirates" said Torlo still with his smirk.
Lucas chuckled "Can't wait for that" with a spark flying from him without anyone noticing Lucas turned his eyes to the horizon 'South Blue… '
A minute later they returned to their posts.
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Eight Hours later - Somewhere on South Blue
The skies are dark and the ocean was calm on this part of the sea, the cold light of the moon shined over a lone ship floating atop the dark waters.
It's body was black with some parts accentuated with a dark gold color, its figurehead resembled something similar to a ravenous black dog with red eyes, and on the very topmast was a jolly roger with what appears to be a skull silhouette of some type of canine creature.
This was the pirate ship owned by a crew of pirates known as Ravenous Wolves.
"Yeah, we are in position…"
Inside the captain's cabin was dark, with only the moonlight coming from a few windows as illumination.
In the room behind a dark wood desk was the figure of a tall, fair-skinned muscled man. He had black spiked hair, his dagger-sharp eyes are of a light red, he wore a very well made black leather armor with some parts dark gold in color, the armor only covered to his shoulder, leaving his muscles out to being seen, and over his shoulders he had a dark purple cape going down his back.
The man was sitting on an armchair with his feet atop the desk, and on the desk was a dark golden den den mushi with a dark shell. Only inaudible murmurs could be heard from the den den mushi, but going by its expression the person on the other side was clearly impatient with the man.
"Have I knew you would be nagging me so much I wouldn't have accepted the job" The man said in a deep annoyed voice.
"..."
"You know my skills, just a lone ship going to Mel Island is no problem for me" his voice thick with disdain
"…"
"Yeah you don't need to worry about nothing"
gacha
before the person on the other side could reply the man ended the call.
"As if the Ravenous Wolves would lose to a small marine ship, I have done this many times already" he gave an annoyed sighed "Tsk The problems of dealing with coward people"
He opened a drawer and took a bottle of scotch and a cup, pouring himself a drink he continued to murmur annoyed….
Little does he knew about the literal dragon hidden aboard the small ship he talked about with so much disdain earlier.
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Minutes later - Convoy from Marineford
Back on the marine ship Lucas was already sleeping on his bed when he suddenly opened his eyes. They are no longer of a piercing blue, but grey with a draconic visage.
'Something… something is going to happen on this trip'
He shifted his eyes to the side to look at his friend Torlo sleeping on a bed on the other side of the cabin before returning them to the celling.
'I don't know what is… but this dragon will be prepared'
A few minutes later he fell asleep again.
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This is chapter is mostly a setup for what is to come.
The South Blue is a blue sea that, like the others apart from the East Blue, is not very developed.
We know that some interesting characters hail from there but, but that is about it, so I decided to pick the place as a starting point for our dragon development, and before anyone wonders, remember marines can pass the Calm Bet to go to the four seas, they usually just don't bother that much with the four seas and mostly focus on the Grand Line.
This chapter also showed some funny interaction between grandpa and grandson, most men can attest is mostly like that when bringing girls with their grandpa, along with a little more bonding between Lucas and his fellow marines. The little Tashigi backstory is not actually canon, but something I came with as like said in the note of the last chapter, her past is not really developed.