(A/N: This here is the last chapter of the Loguetown arc! Enjoy!)

Chapter 9: A New Member Joins! Head For The Grand Line

"I'm the man who'll be King of the Pirates!"

"I think you should join his crew."

"A storm is coming. An unimaginably big storm is...!"

"I'm... dead."

"Y-you want me to go with them?"

"I think it would be good for you."

"I... I'll do it."

"I'm still alive after all. I got lucky."

"Are these all coincidences? It's as if heaven is trying to let that man live."

"Well... th-this is it."

"We'd better hurry, or we'll be in trouble!"

"We're gonna make it to the Grand Line like this!"

"I'm outta here, suckers!"

"Gotta get there before it's too late! Gotta hurry!"

The cloaked figure walked slowly through the rain. 'Inherited will... the tide of times... people's dreams... these things cannot be stopped. As long as people seek the answer of freedom, these things will never cease to be!' "A pirate, huh? Fine by me."

"What's with this storm?!" Zoro exclaimed.

"If we don't leave soon, we'll be stuck here," Sani fussed, "Nami-san was right when she said we should hurry back to the ship!"

"Run! Run! Run!" Luffy beamed.

"This is heavy!" Usopp griped, till lugging the tuna.

"The Going Merry is in danger!" Nami urged. "The Marines might be already heading toward it! We have to get out as soon as possible!"

"Nami! Nami! Can't I just ditch this thing?"

"No, you can't! Run faster!"

"I knew you'd say that." To his confusion, the load suddenly became lighter. "Hey, what's..." He turned around, and his eyes lit up with a gasp. "Venus!"

"Need a hand, crewmate?" She grinned, now holding the tail up above her head.

Nami looked over, and perked up. "Oh, hey! You're joining us after all?"

"Yep! Mr. Rauru said I won't get anywhere with my witchcraft if I stay here; and it'd be better for me to be surrounded by nice people."

"Well, always room for one more!" Usopp beamed. "Welcome to the crew!"

Just then, Nami noticed the pet carrier dangling from one of her arms. "Oh, you've got a pet?"

"Yeah, Burton! Say hi!"

"Ooh, is it a kitty?" Eyes sparkling, Nami slowed her pace for a closer look, expecting an adorable kitten; but her excitement turned into terror when a black tarantula leaped to the door of the carrier with a loud hiss. "AAAAAH!" She screamed, and ran ahead of Usopp. "AH AH AAAH! NOT A KITTY!"

He turned to look with curiosity, and the now calm arachnid stared back at him silently. "You have a tarantula?"

"Yeah, he's my best friend. You're not scared of him?"

"Nope," He shrugged, "I'm good with spiders."

Venus looked at him with genuine surprise when he turned back forward, as they ran together. "Interesting..."

At the docks, Mohji was trying to light a match, but the rain made his efforts futile. "Dammit! What's with this sudden downpour, when we have to burn down this ship?!" He complained. Another attempt was successful... but only for two seconds, before it fizzled out. "Dammit! This is bad, Richie! We can't get a fire going like this!" He had damp, pitiful matches scattered at his feet. "One more time!" He sensed the lion thinking only about food. "Be patient, Richie! I'll feed you later."

Richie pouted in disappointment. "What're you doing?!" Usopp exclaimed, and Richie growled. Usopp, Nami, and Venus made it back to the ship, only to find Mohji and Richie sitting by it with matches.

"Mohji!" Nami exclaimed.

"You!" Venus glared.

"Oh, it's you, sneak thief woman." He stood up, acknowledging the redhead, and then noticed the short Goth. "And you; you'll pay for blasting me, little witch." He pointed to the trio. "Go, Richie!"

A scared Usopp took an egg out of his bag, and pulled it back in his slingshot. "Special Attack: Fresh Egg Star!"

He let go, and the egg went flying... two feet. "Oh," Venus grimaced.

"You..." Nami grumbled.

"Damn! The rain made my hand slip!"

Richie charged for them, only to stop and happily lap up the egg. "Richie! You're such a...!"

Usopp hauled the fish up on his shoulder. "Now! Let's get on the ship!"

"Yeah!"

"Hold it!" Mohji glided in front of them. "You have to get past me! I'm Mohji, Vice-Captain of the Buggy the Clown Pirates!" He made ridiculous poses. "I won't let you take one step on this..." He was interrupted by a bullet right by his head.

As everyone froze, Marines came running in with guns ready. "Prepare to fire!"

"The Marines!" Nami tensed.

"This is bad!" Usopp fussed.

"Aim! Fire!" Mohij dodged the bullets shot at him left and right. "Contact the cannon unit! We'll capture the pirate ship!"

"Yes, sir!"

"N-N-Nami!"

"Yeah!"

"Uh oh," Venus eye widened when someone rode on a motorcycle into the town... powered by smoke billowing from the rider. "Smoker."

"Which direction is the sea?" Zoro asked.

"I can't tell where we're going, because of this heavy rain!" Luffy said.

"There they are!" A group of Marines began pursuing them.

"What persistent bastards!" Zoro griped. "Should we stop and fight?"

"We don't have time for that," Sanji answered, before spotting a woman standing in their path, and going gaga, "Oh? Who's that lady?!"

Tashigi. "I didn't realize you were Roronoa Zoro, and a pirate to boot. You... you lied to me!"

"What?!" Sanji made them stop, glaring daggers at Zoro with a fist. He was oblivious to what had gone on with them just earlier that day: Zoro broke her misplaced glasses by accident when he realized she looked exactly like his deceased childhood friend Kuina, he cleaned the Marines base to pay for them, then picked out new swords with her help. All throughout those times, she was oblivious to his true identity. "What'd you do to her?!"

"You didn't ask my name," Zoro calmly pointed out, ignoring the cook, and stepped up, "That's all. It's not that I lied to you."

"A rogue like you can't be allowed to own a renowned sword! I'll collect your sword, the legendary Wado Ichimonji!"

Zoro gripped the handle with a smirk. "Try it." She drew her own sword, and the fight began, with them trying to dominate one another. "I see..."

"You jerk!" Sanji shouted. "How dare you attack a lady!"

"Please don't interfere!" Tashigi ordered.

"What?" Sanji and Luffy watched with awe.

"This is the fight between Roronoa and me! There's no need to step in!"

"You heard her. Go on ahead," Zoro urged.

Sanji grimaced, but Luffy grinned. "Let's go."

He continued the sprint, while Sanji hopped sideways on one leg. "Hey, Zoro! If you hurt the lady, I won't forgive you!"

"I see the exit!" Luffy pointed out. "The harbor is up there!"

But up ahead, someone else was blocking their path. "Hey, who is it this time?"

Smoker. "You're finally here... Straw Hat Luffy." He and Sanji stopped in their tracks. "Didn't I tell you that you can't enter the Grand Line unless you beat me first?"

"Oh yeah," Luffy grinned, "I forgot about it."

"You're such an airhead..."

"Hey Luffy..."

"Sanji, go on ahead. I'll be right there."

"Well, I don't know about that," Smoker stepped up, "This is the end for you."

Everyone was silent, as thunder rumbled. "Go!"

Meanwhile Usopp, Nami, and Venus ran for the ship while trying to evade the Marines. "Fire!" They dodged oncoming bullets, and two of the three successfully leaped up on the ship. Venus briefly stayed behind, flinging the fish up, then turned to the Marines with determination. "Witchy-Witchy Ball!" She unleashed a large ball near them so strong, it knocked them back, their guns flying away. "Yeah!" She then joined Usopp and Nami on the ship.

"Fire the cannons!"

Cannonballs were shot in the ocean; they were close to enough to make the ship rock violently, knocking the trio off their feet. Usopp flew into the tangerine trees, while Nami and Venus were flung down to the deck, the latter keeping a protective hold on the pet carrier. "If we stay here any longer, the Going Merry will be sunk!" Nami began reeling in the anchor.

Usopp ran over when he heard the crank. "A-are you going to set sail? Luffy and the others're not here yet!"

"We don't have any other choice! It's better than getting sunk here!" The sail bearing the Jolly Roger was rolled down. "Right rudder full!"

"So what're we going to do about Luffy and the others?" Usopp asked.

"We'll pick them up somehow."

"Don't let them get away!" The Marines commanded. "Follow them!"

"Nami-san!"

She heard a familiar voice; it was Sanij! "Sanji-kun!" She lit up.

"Sanji!" Usopp called.

"Nami-san, I'm back!" He ran alongside the shore, hands up in the air. He then gasped at the newcomer between them, and waved his arms maniacally with excitement. "Venus-chan! It's me! It's me, Sanji!"

"Yes, I remember you," She deadpanned with the tiniest smirk.

"Where's Luffy and Zoro?" Nami asked.

Sanji immediately became serious again. "Can we collect those damn idiots?"

Marines were pursuing him with guns and daggers. "Sanji-kun!"

"Behind you!" Usopp warned.

Sanji took them out with some powerful kicks, but more came soon after. "Dammit! This is endless!"

"I'll cover his back!" Usopp told the girls. "Get closer!"

"No!" Nami protested. "We can't head back to land because of the strong current."

"Ahhh, dammit!" Usopp leaped overboard into the ocean.

"Usopp!"

"Usopp-kun!" Venus screamed out.

"Bastards!" Braving the waves, Usopp shot at the Marines, taking them out together with Sanji.

Even more came running in. "Usopp! Sanji-kun!" Nami exclaimed.

Venus prepared another attack, now glaring. "Witchy-Witchy Ball!" She blew the Marines back, buying the guys more time, as Nami watched in awe.

From out of nowhere, an incredibly strong gust of wind blew throughout all of Loguetown. It sent everyone flying, bringing the guys together and created quite a mess of the town, while Nami and Venus gripped the ship railing. It then disappeared as soon as it came, and was followed by more rain. Zoro moved a piece of debris off of himself, and stood up, as did Sanji. "Th-this is..."

Luffy sat up, as Usopp laid nearly upside down beside him. "Wh-what just happened?" Usopp stumbled down on his side.

"Luffy!" Nami shouted from the ship.

"Luffy!" Venus shouted with her.

"Nami!" Luffy answered the call, then beamed at the other voice. "Venus!" She joined after all!

"We'd better hurry up, or the ship will be swept away!" Sanji urged.

"Okay!" Luffy agreed, but ran the opposite way from the rest. He had a plan. "Gum-Gum..." He grabbed a nearby staircase railing, and stretched back.

"Wha-?!" Usopp exclaimed.

"W-wait!" Sanij stuttered.

"I have a bad feeling..." Zoro remarked.

"... Rocket!" Luffy launched himself right at them, and they ran in terror.

"Ahhh, I knew it," Zoro sighed, just before Luffy collided into them. They were all sent flying above the ocean, and crashed into the flag; they landed on the deck, now delirious.

"Everyone..." Nami smiled with relief.

"Nice entrance," Venus smirked.

On the island, Smoker watched the ship sail away. "That man... what was that sudden gust?" He recalled the strange, cloaked man that came and went with the wind. "He appeared and disappeared like lightning on the same day that Gold Roger was executed 22 years ago. What on Earth..." "I'm the man who'll be King of the Pirates!" Luffy's words ran through his mind.

The said figure watched the ship go as well, but from a higher point, and with pride. "If that's your decision, then go!"

"Why? Why did you help that man... Dragon?!" A Marine interrogated from the ground.

The figure stared on, as lightning flashed. "What reason would there be to interfere with a man's departure?"

Smoker watched the sky for a moment, then gave a command. "Set sail! We'll go after Straw Hat!"

"What?"

"We'll enter the Grand Line."

"B-but Captain! This island is in your jurisdiction. I don't know what the higher ups would say..."

"Tell them I said "Don't give me orders"."

Tashigi held up her sword. "I'll come with you!"

"Sergeant Major Tashigi!"

"I won't forgive Roronoa. I'll capture him without fail!"

Elsewhere, the Buggy Pirates had made it to their own ship, courtesy of the weather. "Gee, that flashy gust was lucky for us," Buggy remarked, "We were able to escape like this because I always behave well."

"Where're we going now?" Alvida asked.

"The Grand Line," Buggy announced.

"The Grand Line?"

"Yeah. This is a good opportunity. I have to settle with that damn rubber man. Let's head straight into the nostalgic Grand Line."

"Ugh! It's almost like the ship's gonna tip over!" Luffy cried.

Nami noticed a blinking light coming from far in the distance. "Look at that light!"

"Is that a lighthouse of the island?" Usopp asked, gripping the mast for dear life.

"It's a guiding light," She explained, "The entrance to the Grand Line lies ahead of that light."

"The Grand Line is ahead of that light..." Luffy stared in awe.

"What do you wanna do?" Nami turned to him.

"B-but there's no reason to enter during a storm like this," Usopp pointed out.

Zoro, Sanji, Luffy, and Nami all shared a glance, the same idea coming to them. "Okay then!" Sanji announced. "Shall we hold a launching ceremony for setting sail on the great ocean?"

"Hey!" Usopp exclaimed in fear.

"Sure!" Luffy agreed enthusiastically.

"Let's do it!" Nami added.

Venus watched silently.

To start, Sanji laid his left heel on a barrel. "In order to find the All Blue!" He shared his dream.

Luffy followed his lead. "In order to be King of the Pirates!"

Zoro joined in next, as Usopp stared. "In order to become a master swordsman!"

Nami then stepped up. "In order to draw a world map!"

Usopp reluctantly participated. "I-in order... to become a brave warrior of the sea!"

But one member was missing from the circle. Everyone looked over to Venus; she reluctantly stood on the sidelines, her gaze on her sneakers under her hood, and shyly holding her elbow, as her cape and pigtails blew in the wind. She wanted to be a part of it, but didn't feel obligated. After all, she had joined just an hour or two ago at most; she didn't feel like an official member. "Venus! Come on!" Luffy's voice made her look up in surprise.

"Come join us!" Usopp encouraged.

"You're one of us, Venus-chan!" Sanji added. "You're a Straw Hat now!"

"Yeah, what's your dream?" Nami chimed in.

Tears welled up and fell from her eye, blending in with the raindrops, as she took in their kind words. She wiped her cheek with a smile, and ran over between Usopp and Zoro. "Come on, short stack." Zoro turned to Usopp, and they put her arms on their shoulders. "One-two-three!" They hoisted the petite girl up off the ground, making her laugh, as her hood flew off her head.

She glanced around at everyone, keeping her gaze on Usopp the longest, then looked down to the barrel, and set her foot on the top. More tears came, as Rauru's words came back to her. "Go on, and become the greatest witch you can be." She sighed deeply, and blinked them away. "In order... to become the greatest witch I can be!"

They all eyed the top of the barrel in a moment of silence. "We're going... to the Grand Line!" Luffy shouted excitedly, and they all lifted their legs.

"Yeah!" Everyone cheered.

It was just the beginning of their long, incredible journey together.

(A/N: And that concludes the Loguetown arc! Coming up next: Warship Island! That's right, I'm including filler. You know the disclaimer. Thanks to all who have favorited/followed this fic!)