This has been wracking in my head for months! I needed to get this out. I couldn't focus on any other writing until this was done and out of me. I may or may not continue writing this, depends on my fickle muse, but for now enjoy! My next update is Fate/Shield! Almost through most of it but this story kept blocking my muse.
WARNING: This story has not been beta'd or proof read. We die like Ace. Played around with a new point of view, heavier topics, and other future endeavours. let me know how successful it is (or how shitty).
Key points! If you don't like, the fic might not be for you. If you want no spoilers skip ahead down below.
OC is included. Is not a self-insert. No gamer powers, no prior knowledge. The poor bastard doesn't even know what anime is.
Has devil fruit powers. IS NOT THE MAIN CHARACTER. Allow me to repeat this. The OC is an important character, yes. Most of the perspective may come from him, only because he is the catalyst of change regarding plot. He follows Luffy and the crew, invoking changes and perspectives for all around.
No monster 3. Everyone on the crew is a monster. Perhaps not a monster in direct combat like Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji, but monsters all the same. Everyone will be learning and growing in strength. However, that also counts for future enemies as well, both familiar and new!
Additions to the crew will be few and far between. The exact number is small but expect less than four. So anywhere between 1-3 new crew members. None of these crew members will be OC's though.
Finally, relationships are not determined at this time. I admit, I ship Luffy and Nami. But with the differences that are coming I can't really garuntee any relationships. I will say that romance will be a genre included in my story so expect emotional highs and lows for all the crew members.
Also Luffy will be taught common sense. My god…what monster have I unleashed? ENJOY!
Also as is customary. FUCK CANON.
The Legend of the Straw Hat Pirates
Chapter One: When Life kicks you in the Nuts…
The echo of revelry brought a smile to my face. My usual stool, my usual drink, and my usual company. The bar may have been old, but this place held nothing but memories and good times. At least, when my Da wasn't trying to end things early.
"Come on lad, you're telling me that you have nothing better to do than drink with your old man?"
I chuckled as I turned to my father. His hair had greyed with age but his eyes, blue like my own, still shone with the ardour of youth. His beard was thick and flowed down his chest, a testament to the time and patience needed to grow it. He was thinner than he was a year ago, his body beginning to lose some of its heft. But the old man was still going strong.
"You act as if spending time with my father is something to avoid" I muttered.
"He's just busting your balls brother, let the old man gripe. Not like Ma will let him do much else!"
My brother's laughter rang louder than the din of the room. He was clean-shaven, unlike my father and I. His hair was the same blonde as my own, bright and lustrous as the sun. But while his eyes were dark and honeyed, mine was bright as the azure sky. A searing blue as I've been told, like ice.
"No respect for your elders now boys? What would your Ma say?"
"To keep going" I chuckled "so long as it's you anyways."
"BAH!".
"Next time Da, don't drink so damn late. Ma will have your head and ass every time".
"Axton" grumbled my father "I was out drinking with you two! I don't see your Ma sending you to the couch."
"She ain't my wife," said my brother Axton "and we moved out long ago old man. I and John are in my thirties!? What is Ma going to do? Come inside and make us sleep on our couches? Besides, Ma only gets so much time out of the year with us. You wasting it on drinking with us isn't exactly sending the best message."
My father and I stared at Axton, the two of us both knowing that wasn't the reason for Father's banishment to the couch. There was also the added benefit of the absolute ridiculousness of his statement. As usual, Axton did not think his points through.
"Ah…right" grumbled the old man "about that…"
We turned to our father. The very reason for our meeting up tonight. Who would ride our father's fishing boat? Who would be the captain?
"I've decided that John should be the captain," said my father, looking at me.
Axton and I stared at each other. Axton's grin began to expand, his chuckling echoing even against the music.
"Sucker."
"At least I can handle the responsibility brother."
Axton gave a mock salute, the middle finger and all.
"Aye aye, Captain!"
"Take care of the ship lads" muttered our Far "Abersoch may have become a tourist destination but that doesn't mean we can relax. Our family has been fishing on these lands since the day these lands were cultivated. I'd like to keep the tradition going...even if we do give tourist boating trips."
I took a sip of my whiskey, the burn accompanying my sense of excitement. After all these years…I'll become the captain of our ship. At the forefront of our little armada was my father's ship, a Sloop-of-war that went by the name of Gungnir, after Odin's spear. While the name was a little grandiose for me, it told the role of the ship quite well. There was also the freedom to crew it with as little or as many as I saw fit. While the cargo space was limited, especially for fishing, modern advances have made it wherso thatcould get a decent haul now and again. But in truth, the ship was more for leading and checking in on the other larger haul ships. The tip of the spear as it were.
"I won't let you-"
CRACK! CRUNCH!
Pain. The pain was everywhere. My vision was blurry, and my head throbbed in pain. It felt like my entire body had just run a marathon through a forest fire. My skin was red or something, my blurry vision only told me my skin was burnt red.
"I was…I was in the bar" I thought "Is that…Is that grass!? What's happening!? WHERE AM I!?"
My thoughts ran wild as I struggled to navigate the odd forest I had found myself in. My last memory was the sip of whiskey…my father's face.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
I jumped, my back hitting a tree. Pain exploded along my spine, tingling across my face. My vision cleared somewhat, and I noticed the trees. They looked normal but the fruits…my god the fruits were….they were insane. They are in shapes and sizes that I've never seen before, all the colours of the rainbow. The one that caught my eye the most was the fruit that seemed like a crystal.
EAT A FRUIT! EAT A FRUIT! EAT A FRUIT! FREE THE DEVIL! EAT A FRUIT! FREE THE DEVIL'S FRUIT!
"I'm going insane" I wheezed, my throat aching at the sensation of speech, and my chest felt like it was cracking apart with each syllable. Every breath seemed to tickle the inside of my lungs, making the inside of my chest feel like a razor.
EAT A FRUIT!
I closed my eyes.
FREE THE DEVIL!
The voice echoed into my chest, every syllable aching its way through my body.
FREE THE DEVIL'S FRUIT!
I stumbled my way across the forest. The words kept chanting over and over again, the ache in my body increasing with every moment. I should have collapsed long ago but survival instincts mixed with adrenaline kept me moving forward… even so, my strength waned.
"I must be having a fever dream," I thought.
Even my thoughts seemed delirious. Eventually the words, the noise, the pain! It all became too much. I squeezed my eyes shut and took the fruit that caught my eye. It felt cold in my eyes, the sound of a drum echoed in my ears, the beat increasing in intensity as I stared at the fruit. I took a deep breath, pain and all, biting into the fruit. It tasted awful. It was like somebody made a mint-flavoured sprite and mixed it with bitter spirits. A funky aftertaste of raw bitter vanilla spread through my throat. I gagged but instead of the fruit spitting out of my mouth, it instead wormed its way down my throat, like it was alive. I felt my entire body begin to cool as if a film of ice wrapped itself around me. In all honesty ,it felt like a balm to my aching skin.
TSK. LUCKY.
"What part of this is lucky…asshole."
My legs gave out along with the earth beneath my feet. I couldn't breathe, the wind tearing my breath from my lungs. I could barely focus but even as I spun out in the open sky, I saw the sea beneath me. I held my hand out towards the ocean, a pitiful attempt to stop my fall and knew no more.
-An undisclosed time later-
Makino hummed a tune as she wiped another glass in preparation for the evening rush. Outside her window was a perfect view of the ocean, a reminder of times past. A flash of red hair made Makino smile and blush. She was a young woman, with emerald green hair and a homely beauty that would soothe the heart of any man. She wore her standard attire for working her bar. For what seemed like the fourth time that day she blinked the sun out of her eyes and…
"Wait" muttered Makino. There shouldn't have been any sun in her eyes, considering the location of her bar. She didn't think anything of it but as the glare bobbed out of her face, she decided to check it out. Moving to the large window on the south side of her bar, Makino looked out to see the port and sea beyond.
She almost dropped a glass. Drifting towards Fuusha village harbor was a massive block of ice, steam coming off it as a mist. Makino rushed out of the bar, seeing that other villagers were watching the slow-moving ice burg.
"What the hell?" muttered one.
"Was someone transporting ice or something?"
"Why transport it we literally can just freeze our water dumbass."
"Hey, I'm not a dumbass, dumbass!"
Makino rolled her eyes at the antics of the mushroom brothers. So-called as such for their obsession with using shrooms. How the two haven't died yet Makino didn't know. She braved forward as the ice hit the banks and narrowed her eyes at the shadowy figure inside the ice.
"Mayor Wood Slap, it might be dangerous!"
Makino turned and blinked at the small wiry old man in a bucket hat, his cane resting at his sides. He was nearing the block of ice. Makino rushed to get him stable as he seemed to almost drip on the rocky surface of the bay.
"What in blazes is going on here? We already said goodbye to that good-for-nothing Ace, and now this?! What the hell do you think you're doing Makino?"
Makino calmed herself down from Mayor Wood Slap's comment and gestured towards the ice.
"It just started drifting here. I only noticed it a few moments ago. It's been drifting to us for a while according to the others. It looks like there could be something inside."
Wood Slap rubbed his chin and gave the ice a tap with his cane. He jumped back with Makino as everyone watched the ice break apart into tiny little pieces. Hitting the water with a loud slap was a young man, barely 17 years of age. His clothes looked like they were burned away, leaving him only in a small pair of burnt shorts. His skin was pale Caucasian. His hair was a bright blonde, a rare colour in these oceans.
Makino ignored the sound of Mayor Wood Slap losing his collective gourd…again. Instead, she focused on the young man that was trapped inside the ice.
"Can someone help me move him?" asked Makino.
One of the larger men of the village volunteered, hefting the boy over his shoulder. While Makino would have preferred the young man was moved more delicately, she didn't have the strength to move the large youth. He was tall, easily towering over Makino herself. His body also seemed to be heavy if the oof from Balgreave the fisherman, was any way to tell.
"Thank you Balgreave".
The stout, gruff man merely grunted. His face and arms have little scars from his life on the seas. His back and arms were massive, dwarfing Makino easily. Still, as gruff as the man may seem, he was easily the most acaccommodatingan in the village. After a few moments Makino found ,herself making some hot soup while the young man was put in one of her more comfortable chairs. It had a small table in front of it, where Belgrave rested the youth's head. It was situated in the corner of the tavern, designed for more solitary customers.
"Is a hospital not a better place for the boy?" asked one of the other women, worry tinging her tone. She brushed a lock of blonde hair out of the youth's face, checking for any signs of possible fever or damage. She had come along, having some experience as a nurse. Sadly, there was nothing wrong with the boy at first glance.
"You mean that crackpot's place?" muttered Balgreave "rather not send a kid with no money to that nut job. Lunatic tried to charge me 10,000 berries for suturing my arm. Let's see what happens before we bring this boy to a doctor."
"I'm shocked he's alive. I mean he was in a block of-"
GASP.
Everyone jumped as the young man's eyes snapped wide open. He bolted upright, sitting in the chair with manic alertness. Makino blinked, nearly enraptured by the sight of his ice-blue eyes. They seemed to shine with panicked light, his head darting around even after he had inspected the tavern two times over. The boy was terrified, the sight of which mamadeakino's heart swell with pity.
"Where am I?" he demanded.
He seemed to hesitate with each breath as if he was afraid to breathe. He looked around, his eyes manic. Makino smiled softly as she turned to the boy.
"It's ok young man, You're safe. Now do you-"
"Young man" scoffed the boy.
He stilled, reaching for his throat. Shaky hands touched his face, his eyes widening.
"A…a mirror…do you have a mirror."
His voice shook as he said this, his voice losing strength. His chest began to heave with every breath. Belgrave came back with the bathroom mirror that Makino hung in her bathrooms and the young man went still. The boy couldn't have been older than sixteen, possibly even seventeen in age.
"Young man are you all right…".
Makino could have sworn she saw white begin to spread from his face, his fingertips turning into, unmistakably, ice.
"What, what's happening to me!?"
The ice began to spread, making even Makino stand back.
"He's like Luffy!" bellowed Belgrave.
The young man's eyes rolled into the back of his head as he hit the table below him, his now ice-covered skull cracking the wood beneath him. Spikes of ice ruptured from his back as his body morphed and twisted in place. It looked incredibly painful to Makino. Of course, it was at this time that Mayor Wood Slap decided it was time to make himself known.
"All right folks, I…oh for the love of GODA NOT ANOTHER ONE! OUT WITH THAT FREAK! OUR VILLAGE CANNOT SUFFER ANOTHER ON-".
The mayor was driven to silence at the death glares aimed at him from his citizens. He cleared his throat, ignoring the pointed looks as he grumbled away.
"…honestly why is he in charge again?" muttered Belgrave.
"Unfortunately, he's good at his job" whispered the woman.
"…too true Connie. Though if I hear one more word about Ace, I'm chucking him through a window."
Connie, the nurse, giggled. She slapped Belgrave on his right shoulder and turned to Makino, her face etched in worry. They watched as the ice would retreat into the youth, only to painfully erupt in spikes from his skin.
"Will he be, ok?"
"Better question, what on earth is he? I know Luffy ate a devil fruit but this doesn't seem anything like our rubber boy."
Makino studied the young man for a while.
"Shanks told me about the different kinds of fruits that were out there. He told me something about a Logia fruit. If you eat one you can become a force of nature."
Belgrave blinked.
"You're kidding."
Makino shook her head, a small smile forming.
"Shanks swore he wasn't making things up for me. He said he knew of one person who became a living sandstorm, another who can bend lava, and he even fought a man who could become water."
Belgrave looked at the kid, the ice seeming to calm down.
"I can take a stab at what this kid ate."
Makino nodded.
"I'm afraid to move him" admitted Connie "he might hurt himself or one of us if we try. Please, let us know when he wakes up, I have some extra clothes that might fit him."
Makino's eyes widened.
"Oh Connie no, you don't have to."
Connie smiled, her eyes watering a bit.
"It's about time his clothes got some use, rather than sitting in our…my bedroom."
Makino closed her mouth and smiled.
"Thank you."
Belgrave grumbled and rolled his shoulders.
"I'll let the others know about our new resident."
Considering how he arrived, Makino doubted this kid had anything to return to.
"I'll get some food ready," said Makino.
Now, what to make? Something hearty obviously.
"He might like something warm" muttered Makino, gathering ingredients. It was a quick recipe, especially with Belgrave offering his silent support. The meat, vegetables, and spices were easy enough to prepare along with the broth. Soon the room became filled with the scent of Makino's stew. As she stirred the stew Makino began to hear a familiar sound, the loud thumping of feet rushing to her door. Belgrave merely smiled at the sound.
BANG!
"MAKINO I'M HUNGRY!"
Makino turned to the door and smiled at her new arrival. His straw hat and demeanour always brought a smile to her face.
"Luffy! I'm sorry hun but you'll have to wait a bit for food. I'm making stew and I can't have you eating it all as usual. I promise I'll make you some food after."
Luffy blinked.
"Oh. All right! What's the stew for though? You don't open for a while?"
Luffy turned his head and noticed the iceberg that was sprouting spikes periodically.
He blinked.
"What's with the iceberg?"
Belgrave's sweat dropped as he stared at Luffy while Connie excused herself.
"That iceberg is someone we rescued out of the ocean…well more found than rescued but you get the point."
Luffy grinned at Belgrave.
"Hey, old man how's the fishing!"
Belgrave smiled and shrugged.
"Same old. That darn king of the sea isn't helping matters that's for sure. I'm heading out Makino, save me a pint later tonight will you?"
Makino smiled as she moved to the kitchen.
"Can't promise you anything".
Belgrave sighed as he left "I don't know how you remain so busy" he admitted.
Luffy turned to the young man, blinking as he stared at him.
"So…that's a person."
"Yes," said Makino, "he's like you."
Luffy blinked pointing at himself.
"He ate the Gum Gum fruit?"
Makino stopped her stirring and stared at Luffy blankly.
"I know you have others fooled with your attitude Luffy but don't think it works on me."
Luffy blinked and tilted his head. Makino smiled and turned her head.
"He ate a Logia fruit. I'm assuming he's an ice man, just as you are a rubber man."
Luffy blinked. Then his eyes bugged out of his skull and his mouth dropped a meter.
"WHAAAAAT!"
Makino jumped at the sound and turned to Luffy.
"Luffy!" she gasped.
"That's awesome!" screamed Luffy. He turned to the ice and began poking at it relentlessly.
"Come ice dude wake up! WAKE UP!"
"Luffy!" growled Makino "that young man has gone through a lot, let him rest."
A groan echoed from the ice. It began to splinter and crunch into harmless snow, melting into nothingness before hitting the ground. Slowly the ice bulged and the man rose, to Luffy's growing excitement.
-P.O.V Change: John-
My vision echoed. There was no other word to describe it. I had hoped beyond hope that I was having a dream. That perhaps I had simply gotten so drunk that I had an out-of-body experience. As my vision cleared, I was hit with the reality that this was no dream.
I was young.
POKE.
I was chucking ice out of my body.
POKE.
I was in the middle of God damn nowhere.
POKE.
Not to mention the woman who helped me had green hair. Not coloured, but legitimately GREEN GOD DAMN HAIR!?
WHERE THE FUCK AM I!?
POKE.
I took a deep breath, calming my inner turmoil as I turned to a grinning kid, who continued to poke me relentlessly.
"Is there a reason you're poking me lad?"
Luffy blinked and tilted his head.
"Never heard someone talk like you before."
I blinked.
"…pardon?"
"What Luffy means to say is that you talk…oddly."
"Do ya mean my accent lass?"
Makino turned away from her stove and nodded.
"You seem better" she smiled "good. I was a little worried when you fell unconscious again."
Better. BAH! As if I could be better. The only reason I wasn't losing my mind was because of their distraction. I could still feel my heart hammer in my chest as the anxiety of my situation kept creeping its way to the forefront of my thoughts. The smell of food though broke me from my thoughts. It smelled sweet but…meaty. As if someone had made sweet ribs in soup form.
"God that smells good" I muttered "what is that?"
Makino smiled as she poured me a steaming bowl.
"It's made from the tiger meat Luffy brings in along with Gorda fruit and Burk seasoning."
I stared blankly at her. I turned to the kid, who I assumed was named…Luffy of all things. I turned to the woman and stared at the bowl. I decided to take the bowl as she made her way to me, spoon an all. I almost dropped the damn thing when an elongated arm tried to take the bowl.
"LUFFY!" bellowed Makino.
"JESUS FUCKING CHRIST!" I yelled "What the hell is up with you!?"
Luffy blinked and pointed at himself, grinning all the same.
"I'm a rubber man!"
I blinked.
"I've gone insane" I muttered "No…I've died and this is the devil's joke or something. Any moment now and I'll wake up…yea."
The warmth of the bowl seeping into my hands brought me out of my funk. I took a breath and went to eat, only noticing Luffy trying again. I slapped his hand, my own becoming covered in ice as I did so. Luffy yelped and I jumped out of my seat, scooting away as ice crept up his arm. I almost screamed as my own body twisted and morphed it place, dozens of ice shards interlocking together on my left forearm and chest. The hot soup fell on me, but I paid it no mind. The heat…I could feel it but it felt…muted to me. It didn't burn, if that made sense.
I took deep breaths focusing everything that I had, everything that I was into the ice retreating into my body. I sighed in relief and turned to Makino, who seemed a little shell shocked. I swallowed my anxiety as best I could and stood. I felt my legs shake, me entire body feeling more sensitive and weaker than I've ever felt in my life. This wasn't me.
THIS WASN'T ME.
"I'm"
I cleared the stutter from my voice and tried again.
"I'm sorry" I said "please, forgive me. I didn't mean to waste your food lass. May I have another bowl?"
Makino placed her hand on her chest and nodded.
"Of course, but please, don't use such language in front of me."
I nodded, an easy request. Then Makino's brow furrowed as she stared at Luffy, the boy shaking the frost off his hand.
"Serves your right Luffy! I've told you a hundred times to stop stealing other people's food! I'll pour you both a bowl."
Luffy jumped to his feet no worse for wear. I felt incredibly guilty though. I had frozen the boy's hand without a second thought, another reminder that I had become something different. It was funny. When I was a kid all I wanted was super powers. To be like those American superheroes and other such childish nonsense. Now though? God, I felt as if my own skin wasn't even mine. I wanted everything to go back to how it should have been. It was almost too much.
"I'm sorry lad, I didn't mean to do that I…I don't even know what's happening."
Luffy just chuckled, his laugh so unique that it threw me off.
"Shishishishi" chuckled Luffy "No sweat ice guy!"
My body chilled at the name "Ice Guy" I wasn't an ice guy I was a guy! A normal guy! Yet, the frost that crept up my hand said otherwise. I swallowed.
"My name is John, John McCallum".
Luffy grinned even wider, holding his hand out.
"The name's Monkey D. Luffy, nice to meet you McCallum."
I squinted my eyes and than I realized what he was talking about. The naming structure, it was like the Japanese. They put their last names first.
"My name" I asserted "Is John, my last name is McCallum. So, I take it yours is Luffy."
Luffy nodded.
"So cool!" he chuckled "I've never met an ice guy before! What else can you do?"
I could have sworn I felt something inside me crack. Ice guy, another reminder that I wasn't normal…yet…this kid wasn't normal either. Not by a long shot. Makino came to the table, the crack on its surface obviously from me. I grimaced even as she out the bowl and utensils in front of me.
"I'm sorry for all the damage. Just tell me how much it is and I'll swear I'll pay you back. What currency do you take?"
Makino looked at me and my dread went deeper.
"Please" I thought.
Makino's mouth began to open, confusion clearly written in her expression. I prepared myself for an answer I realized the moment Luffy stretched and I became a walking freezer.
"What's a currency?" muttered Makino "the only money we take is berries."
"…please tell me your money is not fruit?"
Makino began to pale and placed her hand on my head. I stilled, terrified that this woman just lost a hand to my condition. Thankfully nothing happened even if she did place her hand underneath her armpit for warmth after.
"I think you might have hit your head harder than I thought" muttered Makino.
"Man, you're hilarious John!"
The boy slapped my back, HARD.
"Even I know that berries are made of paper!"
Luffy kept laughing but for me, it just cemented everything. This was not a dream. The details, both visually and intellectually were just far too much. I mean what kind of fever dream would let me live this kind of vision for this long? Had I gone insane? Not likely. Even if I was delusional enough to fake all of reality, the details would still be iffy. I was sharp…because if I was delusional, I highly doubt I would be losing my collective shit. This did not feel normal to me. This was not a reality that I wanted…and yet here I was.
I was in another world.
….Jesus fucking Christ….I was in another world. It kept repeating itself over and over again. My thoughts only broken by the impossibly delicious food that Makino made for me. The flavours were near bursting into my mouth, so strong and potent that it made anything I ate in my old-world pale in comparison. If nothing else…at least the food was great. I can see why Luffy kept trying to take it from me.
"I don't believe I got your name lass?"
Makino turned to me and smiled.
"My name is Makino."
"A Japanese name" I thought "and yet the woman looks like she could have lived in Brazil. Her skin may not be as dark but her facial features seem Brazilian to me…just like Luffy's."
"Well Makino, do you have…do you have any idea what's happened to me."
Makino turned to me and smiled.
"You must have eaten one without realizing what it was. You poor thing."
Eaten? The memory of that god awful island with the chanting voice replayed itself in my head. Was this because of a stupid fruit that I ate? What kind of world gives super powers from fruits!?
"You mean that…weird fruit?"
Makino nodded and joined me and Luffy at the table, finally giving Luffy his own, cartoonishly huge, bowl of the soup.
"What you ate" stated Makino "is called a devil fruit. They can come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, each of them carrying a type. Luffy ate a Paramecia fruit, it turned his body into rubber."
I blinked. I don't even want to know how the kid that was made of rubber was able to stay alive when our bodies conducted electricity to fucking live. But hey, apparently the world I'm living in now gave biology the middle finger. I was a prime example.
"And me?" I whispered.
"You probably ate a Logia fruit."
I stared at her. Makino smiled.
"Ok, so there are three major groupings of fruits. The first and most common type is called Paramecia. They can grant unique powers or…properties to someone. Luffy became rubber. The next is a Zoan fruit. These fruits can make someone into an animal hybrid."
I stared at her hard.
"Seriously" I whispered.
She nodded.
"A friend of mine by the name of Shanks described all the people that he's met on his journey across the sea. Some could turn into birds and others into something as simple as a cat."
I stared at my hands.
"And I ate a Logia."
Makino nodded, ignoring the absolute travesty that was Luffy's table manners.
"Yes. The logia is the rarest of the devil fruits, allowing whoever eats them to become an element of nature. From what Shanks has told me Logia users are immune to conventional forms of damage. They can still be hurt but I think it was specific to the elements and something that Shanks referred to as Haki."
Me and Luffy both perked up, although for different reasons.
"The hell is Haki."
Makino shrugged.
"I never asked Shanks to go into detail."
I stared at my hands. Frost began to pool from them as I grimaced.
"I need to get this under control. I-"
The door opened and I noticed a small blonde woman come in with clothes.
"Oh good" she smiled "he's awake. I have some clothes for your young man."
I stared at my bare chest, my noodle physique bothering me more than I would have liked. I was not a vain man, but the strong body I had developed from working on the boats with my family was something that I had worked long and hard for. The fact that it was basically erased was not sitting well with me.
"Thank you" I muttered "my name is John."
The woman smiled at me as I put on the buttoned shirt.
"The name is Connie. A pleasure."
She held her hand out and on instinct I went to shake it. I stopped myself before I did though, retracting my hand. Connie thankfully understood.
"You seemed a bit unnerved earlier. Don't worry, you're not the first devil fruit user we've seen in these parts. In fact, you're not even the third."
I blinked.
"What?"
Connie smiled.
"A few of Shanks crew members that came with him were devil fruit users. Now they're not a part of his main crew but they ride with him every now and again. What was that girl's name again Makino? The one with the feathers?"
"You mean Saria?"
"Yes! That's the girl. She ate the peacock fruit. Such a beautiful set of wings she had."
I blinked. I had said it before but I'll say it again. This world was cracked. Insanity set aflame on a pail of cocaine. Yet, here I was stuck with no way out and no idea how I had even ended up here. It was bullshit. Bullshit of the highest degree…I wanted my family back. I wanted my LIFE back. As my mood began to fall again for what seemed like the umpteenth time, I was reminded of something my brother had told me once.
When life kicks you in the nuts, you just get right back up. It wasn't the most poetic saying but I had always appreciated his crass honesty. Life sucked, it got hard, but even so we move forward even with the burdens we carry. I would do that here. As crazy and depressing as things were right now I owed it to my family, to myself, to keep moving forward.
"So easy just to say that" I thought "but can I really do it?"
It was a thought that haunted me as I moved to Makino's bathroom, to change into the underwear and pants that Connie brought for me. This life? Was it even one I wanted to live?
-Three months later-
I sat at the end of the pier, a frosty rope hanging from my hands as I stared into the ocean in front of me. It had been three months since I had found myself in this new world. A length of time that had cemented, as ludicrous as it was, the reality that I had found myself within. In the beginning I had hoped to think of and find a way home. Even after all the evidence a part of my still held hope that this was…explainable in some way. Eventually I had accepted the fact that something had happened to me. Something I couldn't remember. At first, I was happy. Afterall, If I had gotten here, surely there was a way back. But my hopes were quick to sputter and die out. That island, those voices, it all spelled foul play to me.
I casted my ice rope into the sea, the ice firmly under my control as I used it for fishing.
"Still not biting" I muttered, looking to the pile of frozen fish to my left.
For all the things that happened on that island I knew of one thing for certain. I wasn't supposed to have survived. I could remember the last words that voice had. It was saying that I was lucky. Considering how the island disappeared, making me plummet to the ocean, it made me think that I wasn't supposed to survive in any capacity. That I was supposed to drown at sea. Makino, the sweet lass, had been more than helpful. She had explained that when I die, my devil fruit would possess another fruit somewhere in the world. She had also explained that as a devil fruit user, that I could no longer swim within the sea. At first, I had laughed at her, believing it to be a superstition or something. Then I fell into the ocean. It sucked. The sap of energy was quite honestly the worst feeling I had ever felt before…and I had been shot by actual pirates in my old life. Speaking of pirates.
"HEY ICE GUY!"
"It's John Luffy. Its considered rude to refer to someone by a nickname they don't consent to" I sighed.
Luffy merely chuckled, plopping himself right beside me.
"Yea Yea. I had another question."
"Shoot" I muttered.
"How come the sky is blue."
"The sky is blue due to Raleigh scattering."
"What's that?"
"Basically, light from the sun dispersing in our atmosphere turns the white light blue, making our sky blue in color."
Luffy blinked and smiled.
"Thanks John! I asked Alberto and he just went into this boring lecture for an hour! He wouldn't let me leave, the jerk!"
I smiled. Luffy's rambunctious nature was annoying at first, I would admit. However, his vibrant and youthful energy has kept my spirits up these last few months. If I'm being honest, Luffy came off as kind of…retarded. The kid could barely answer some basic questions without referring to someone else. I had answered one question he had about how trees have fruits and ever since the guy kept coming at me with this random assortment of questions. It was than that I realized that Luffy was never dumb, just simple. If it didn't interest Luffy, Luffy didn't bother. If Luffy didn't need it, then Luffy didn't care. Luffy's entire life could be simply put as "He does what he wants". This resulted in our current situation.
"What about the wind? Where does wind come from? I mean it just blows around?"
"It's basically just air pressure" I explained "wind is made up of many air molecules hitting off each other and other objects. Air pressure is how much energy these molecules exert on a given area. Wind rushes from areas of high pressure to low pressure. The greater the difference the more force the wind blows with.
"..wow" muttered Luffy, watching as I wrenched a fish out of the water with my rope "you know a lot!"
I shrugged. What was basic education to me must have been scholarly to these people. As Makino had described, the world I had found myself in was littered with Islands. Some islands were huge and others were small. Each island had their own culture, their own people. Some were simple gatherers where was other islands apparently had massive technological advancements. The world was a cesspool of conflicting time periods and cultures…something that interested me quite a bit actually.
"There's so much I want to see" smiled Luffy beside me "so much I want to discover as I become the Pirate King!"
Ah, that. When Luffy first told me he wanted to be the Pirate King I had outright laughed. Who would want to be a cut throat pirate? Then Luffy had gone into more detail regarding his dream and I couldn't help but laugh even more.
It was never about the thievery but the freedom. The adventure and exploration that piracy offered. I had tried to veer Luffy to something like treasure hunting as a term…but Makino had set me straight about that a month ago. The boy was relentless and his dream was his…one that no one would take away.
"Oh OH!" smiled Luffy "I got a question! It's a big one! Anyone I ask just sends me to someone else. So maybe you know!"
I turned to Luffy, dispersing my rope. All of his questions so far had been pretty benign.
"Sure lad, fire away."
Luffy grinned.
"Where do babies come from?"
I stared at the boy, shadows covering my eyes.
"You sure that people sent you away?"
Luffy nodded.
"Even your guardian?"
Luffy tilted his head.
"I mean Dan Dan."
Luffy grinned and nodded again. Jesus christ, were all these people children? Who avoids giving a young man like Luffy the talk. I would have preferred that his parents tell him but as I had learned on this Island, Luffy had none. Not to mention that the boy was raised by bandits of all things. But seriously, what the hell.
I sighed.
"You sure you wanna here this from me lad?"
Luffy nodded.
"Oh, you poor soul" I muttered.
I thought I'd only have this conversation with my own son or daughter and not with some kid I met. But considering the absolute insanity that this world was infected with I honestly wasn't surprised that some common sense was missing from the lad. Well, apparently the kid wasn't planning on leaving the island until he was seventeen, so if I could instill some common sense in the boy than I will. I owe Luffy and this whole island for being a rock in the shaky sea that was my life. It was the least I could do.
"Well" I muttered "you'll notice as a guy that you're different from women."
Who was I kidding? Someone fucking kill me please?
-Two Weeks later-
I regretted everything. Explaining where babies come from had created a deluge of awkward and quite frankly annoying questions. I was trying to practice with my logia when the kid came rushing out of the forest.
"JOHN! JOHN!"
"I'm right here Luffy."
"Let's fight!"
I sighed and shook my head. This had to be the fifteenth time the kid asked me to fight him. I had started a week ago when I was explaining the logistical issues Luffy might face at sea, to help prepare the boy. I had travelled the oceans in my world quite often so I was confident that I could help prepare Luffy. He apparently took that as a challenge of his capability as a pirate and issued a challenge to me. Ever since it's been like this everytime we met. I didn't want to fight the rubber boy. The kid was a god damn monster. I watched him suplex a fucking tiger and sucker punch a bear! Both of which were bigger than any tiger or bear I ever saw!? I ain't fighting a kid that can knock out a 600 pound animal. Yet, here I was.
"Luffy, I'm not fighting you."
"You said I couldn't become a pirate!"
I sighed and rubbed my eyes.
"I said you have to be ready to become a pirate. If you're captain of your ship than logistical issues are your concern. How much supplies you have, where you're going, and other things are your priority lad. You're not leaving for another three years, you have time. Develop the skill-set."
"EXACTLY!" grinned Luffy "you think I can't cut it out there. Well fight me and I'll show you!"
I stared at the boy, this headstrong and courageous boy. He was a fool, yes. But he was a fool that thrived to live life to its greatest capacity. I didn't want to hurt the kid with my abilities. I had figured out how to make a rope dart for fishing and how to freeze on contact, but outside of that? Injury was a real possibility if we fought.
Most likely me, if I'm being honest.
"Luffy" I sighed "you can't solve everything with a fight. Sometimes diplomacy can be just as effective as violence."
Luffy grinned.
"That's why you're with me!"
I smiled and shook my head.
"I admit the thought of sailing with you is interesting, but the sea doesn't call out to me just yet."
Luffy grinned and literally lifted his fists in a fighting stance. The boy wouldn't let this go. Currently, even with my reduced age, I towered over Luffy's 5'5 frame with my 6'3 height. There was no doubt in my mind who would win this fight. Beyond all shadow of a doubt it would be Luffy. The kid fought bears and the worst I've ever done was wrestle my brother. Granted it actually got quite heated but still.
Yet, there was a chance.
"Alright Luffy" I sighed "I give. We can fight but I want something in return."
Luffy's eyes flashed with a seriousness I've rarely seen in the boy. It was moments like this that reminded me just how ruthless and cunning this kid could be. He may have been a fool but he was no one's fool but his own. Had to give him credit where credit was due.
"A bet" I clarified. "If I win, you don't run around demanding I fight you anymore. AND!" I said, lifting my hands, "you have to listen to me for what you'll need off island."
The boy wasn't an idiot. I was confident he could survive out there on his own. The issue was his own disregard for his safety. Luffy grinned.
"Fine!" he smiled "but if I win you're coming with me!"
I blinked.
"….you want me to go with you?"
Luffy nodded.
"….Lad we've only known each other for a few months?"
Luffy's smile brightened as a ferocious grin expanded on his rubber face.
"SO! I can tell" stated Luffy "the sea calls for you! Who better to sail with than the Pirate King!"
I stared at the boy blankly as he laughed. He was up to something. But either way I relented.
"Fine. Perhaps this might be a lesson for you in humility."
"I somehow doubt that" I thought "more likely the lad charges me in an instant and decks my soul out of my body."
It was a slight chance that this could work…but even so I had to take the risk. I would not survive the month if I had to keep fighting this monster. Perhaps it was a bit cowardly of me, but I wasn't exactly in the mood to exchange fisticuffs with a boy who murdered animals for fun.
"Humility? What's that?" asked Luffy.
"A modest view of oneself" I supplied "basically means that you're humble and not arrogant."
"I'm not arrogant" grumbled Luffy crossing his arms.
I smiled. The boy was indeed as sweet as they come. A paragon even, compared to others that I knew. But…
"You rush in" I stated "knowing that you can't be hurt. But like Makino said there are things out there that can hurt us. I'd rather you not get into the habit thinking your rubber body will prevent damage."
Luffy blinked. Perhaps I was being overly judgemental. Who knows what went on in the kid's head. He was certainly a far more seasoned fighter than I was, so who was I to give advice.
"Well dug my own grave with this" I thought "might as well see it through."
For the longest time I had felt like I was…containing something. That my body was just a shell. As Luffy yelled out is agreement and the promise that I was going to lose, I began to slowly let myself relax. For months I've struggled with the idea that I wasn't human anymore. That I was…something that didn't belong…that shouldn't exist. But Luffy had shown me that even if I was basically a freak, that it didn't matter. The memory of my family still haunts me…but if I want any chance of living in this new world I needed to get this…ice problem under control. Fighting Luffy was a chance to try my abilities out on someone that likely wouldn't get hurt…I hope.
"Luffy" I muttered "you sure about this?"
Luffy nodded.
"You can't get better with your ice if you don't use it! So come on Ice man, hit me with everything you got!"
Luffy knew how much I didn't like the name "ice man". It was a childish provocation but the lad had a point. If I didn't use it I would never get better. I had somehow managed to make a rope dart for fishing, like my father used, out of ice. It didn't make any sense to me how I did it, but I did. I had to keep pushing, if I wanted to learn true control.
"Alright Luffy. I'll count down."
Luffy grinned, bending his legs.
"1."
I could feel the ice within me surge forward, me entire body cracking from the pressure. A part of me still didn't want this. Didn't want to express itself.
"2" I grunted.
Still…one cannot live standing still. I must…move forward.
"3."
Everything around me turned to white. Luffy was frozen, the trees were frozen, absolutely everything was covered in a thick chill of ice. I almost freaked out, worried I had killed my friend. Thankfully the ice already began to crack and Luffy broke free, shivering and shaking.
"N-n-n-n-n-no far" he grunted "that's cheating."
I stared at my hand. It felt like something had clicked if barely. I stared at the ice around me and I snapped my fingers. The sound echoed and the ice splintered and broke away all around me. The trees were no worse for wear…but something told me that as I grew stronger that wouldn't remain the case.
"How was it Luffy?"
"FREEZING" he grunted, warmth rapidly returning to the rubber-man.
"But otherwise you were fine?"
Luffy tilted his head.
"It felt like the cold was crawling in…but it was slow?"
I appreciated the insight.
"So…you won" muttered Luffy.
I sighed and shook my head.
"I won simply because you weren't prepared Luffy. You're stronger than me, by a lot" I admitted "but being stronger than someone doesn't always mean you'll win the fight. Tactics, environment, and other factors can lead you to victory."
Everything I said may have been true but it came from experience I saw on T.V, rather than real experience. Hopefully it was enough for Luffy to realize that life wasn't a fantasy…although to be fair the fact he was made of rubber wasn't helping my point.
I sat down in front of Luffy, the boy peering at me with interest.
"You are strong Luffy but it doesn't hurt to know a few more things right? For instance, you know all about ships right?"
Luffy nodded.
"How about sea currents? Maybe ask Belgrave how to read the oceans waves, know the difference between a calm wind and the stirrup of a storm wind? As devil fruit users all it would take is a single dip in the ocean and we're done."
Luffy blinked and rubbed his chin.
"But that's so boring!" grumbled Luffy.
"It is boring" I admitted "but not everything that can be of use to us is interesting."
Nutrition, proper exercise, and various other topics that might have been helpful to Luffy's journey were the focus of our discussions for that day. Yet, I couldn't help but feel that if Luffy wasn't bound to his word, that his fist would have met my jaw the following day. Still though, the boy had a point. Practicing with my ice was a good idea, even if I likely wasn't going to use it much on Dawn Island.
-Three Years Later-
I was heavy sleeper. So heavy a sleeper was I that my own father told me that I could be mistaken for a corpse if it wasn't for the snoring. Such a heavy sleeper was I that I never notice when Luffy comes into the little hut the village built for me to steal my god damn food. So heavy a sleeper was I that I never really noticed when Makino and the others would come wake me up for one village tradition or another. So heavy a sleeper was I, that I never noticed that LUFFY KIDNAPPED ME!?
"GAH!"
"SHISHISHI!" laughed Luffy, joy written all over his face "Wake up John! We're sailing out!"
I stare at Luffy.
"Luffy? WHERE AM I!" I growled.
Luffy smiled.
"Remember when you said you'd come with me!"
"I remember saying that sailing with you would be interesting years ago" I growled.
"Yea that!" smiled Luffy.
We were currently sailing in open waters on what had to be the small row boat. Please tell me that the boy didn't start his journey on this rickety tub? Wait no, that wasn't the point!
"I consent to this Luffy!"
"Ah, you'll love it out here!"
"DAMNIT LUFFY WHERE'S FOOD, SUPPLIES, A DAMN MAP!?"
Luffy shrugged.
"We'll be fine!" chuckled Luffy.
"We will not be fine you absolute lunatic" I moaned "we're going to die of starvation out here if we're not careful!"
"We can fish" said Luffy "and you can make that sashimi stuff!"
"Just because its raw fish doesn't mean I can make it on a boat with no tools!"
I looked around, hoping to freeze the water beneath me and book it back to Fuusha village…but of course my horrible luck reared its head again. There wasn't anything for miles on end, nothing at all. Nothing but the open waters.
"Hey!" smiled Luffy "it only gets better from here. We're going to find our crew and sail the Grand Line. The one piece will be ours!"
I stared at Luffy as our boat began to tip. I stared at a swirling mass of water as we slowly began to edge toward it. I stared back at Luffy who merely smiled.
"THAT IS A WHIRLPOOL!" I yelled "IS THAT YOUR GRAND LINE!?"
The two of us began to scream as we got sucked in. The only thought in my head was wondering what kind of insanity that Luffy had dragged me into. Yet, as much as I complained I had to admit…the thrill of adventure was slowly sinking its teeth into my heart. Just couldn't let Luffy figure that out.
END.