Legend of the Strawhats

by The White Wulf

John was an everyday sailor who had just inherited his father's ship. What should have been a happy occasion with his loving family turned into a day of devastating loss. In a world utterly alien to him, John finds himself associated with a boy made of rubber, one who wants to be King of the Pirates! To make things worse, Luffy decided that John was to become a member of his crew.

3. Chapter 3

Legend of the Strawhats

Chapter 3: Retribution

John's P.O.V

Travelling with the cruise company was probably the best decision I've made in quite a while. The food was aplenty and Luffy had his entertainment. It also gave me time to meet and befriend Zoro. Zoro was…a quiet individual. I learned that his dream was to become the greatest swordsman in the world. A lofty dream to be sure. He was a good guy who loved a good drink as much as me. It was interesting to see that sake in this world had incredible variety in terms of flavour and strength. Still, though, I preferred my whiskey in all honesty.

Zoro was quickly becoming a good drinking buddy. Nami remained distant. She seemed to truly connect with Luffy and while I was happy for him I couldn't help but find it odd. She tensed whenever I came into the room and while she wasn't as open with Zoro, she at least drank him under the table. You'd think the monster known as Luffy would scare her more than me. His personality and the seemingly innocent nature of his devil fruit seemed to make her relax with him. Me? Can't say I blamed the lass entirely. I was effectively a living iceberg; no normal person would be cool with me from the beginning. I'm pretty sure Zoro didn't care or that he even knew about my devil fruit in the first place.

"So, this orange town," I asked "What do you know about it?"

Zoro shrugged as he accepted the cards I dealt to him. We were playing Texas hold-em in one of the common's rooms.

"Not much, just that it's a popular island for ships to restock."

Nami rolled her eyes. I swear the woman must have thought we were idiots. I admit, my knowledge was lacking in comparison but I found it ridiculous that she thought we should know all the islands in our sea. Even in my old world, I didn't know every harbour, only the ones I frequented or researched.

"It's a tourist location. They have a lot of unique ales and uncommon fruit."

Ales? Oh, I hope that means what I think it means.

"Say. You don't think they'd have some whiskey, do you?"

Nami's face scrunched in.

"Who would drink that" muttered Nami "it just burns and tastes so bland!"

Ah, the weak taste buds of a beginner…or at least that's what I would normally say. After watching Nami drink everyone under the table, she was far from a beginner.

"That would be me," I said grinning.

Nami went white for a moment. Zoro just snickered. I sighed.

"I'm not going to attack you lass. Come on, lay 'em down."

We all played our cards. Damnit another royal flush. I couldn't exactly fault the girl for cheating, I was the one dealing after all. I and Zoro glared a the table but whatever tense atmosphere could have been was destroyed by the sound of Luffy's snoring. Luffy was busy sleeping away his last eating binge. The rubber human was inflated with food, snoring the world away on one of the large couches. I shuffled the cards again, grumbling about our losing streak. Every card I chucked at Nami made the girl flinch.

"Seriously," I asked "what's up? Did I do something to offend you?"

Nami sputtered a bit and turned red as the last of the hand was dealt to her.

"No! It's just…you're weird!"

I blinked. Zoro just started laughing. I stared into space, my vacant expression making Zoro laugh all the harder.

"SHUT UP!" yelled Nami "you have to admit he's weird! I mean the way you talk! The way you treat the other female crew members!"

I blinked. Even Zoro seemed to raise an eyebrow. Members? There was only one woman on this ship I interacted with besides Nami.

"Ah, you mean Serena"

Nami's head suddenly bulged with a vein.

"I caught you making out with her in the hallway! HAVE SOME DIGNITY!"

I blinked. This was it? Did they all have some prude culture I was unaware of? Considering the similarities with Japanese culture overall, it was possible. It was my limited understanding that the Japanese were more stringent on what was considered proper in public spaces. Then again making out in public isn't good form.

But come now, we were in the hallway away from prying eyes and in front of Serena's cabin, there was no way the lass just stumbled on us. This world was weird. Still though, as much as I wished to be respectful and adhere to the cultural norms of a given place, there was one thing I refused to budge on.

"Serena and I are well aware of the temporary nature of our relationship" I stated "She's an adult and wanted to enjoy some company that night. She's a starling singer, soothed me to sleep quite well with that lullaby of hers."

That was no joke. I usually had night terrors now and again. It made sleeping…difficult. Rare, but difficult. But that girl…the voice of an angel that one. Shame neither of us was in the mood for a genuine relationship, could have been fun.

"I hope she's able to get that singer contract she was telling me about. Said something about Uta's producer…whoever that is."

Nami stared at me.

"What?" I asked.

"….this is what I'm talking about! A normal pirate would just…just…"

"Bang and go?" I supplied.

"Cum away" snorted Zoro.

"Copulate and evacuate".

"Do her and leave her."

"All right enough!" growled Nami.

"So…you're upset that I treat her with respect?"

Nami blushed horribly.

"NO! I mean…that's not how pirates act!"

"You want me to act more like a true pirate" I grunted, "why not ask that of Luffy or Zoro?"

It was weird that she had this focus on me and quite honestly it was beginning to irritate me. Normally I'd ignore it. There's only so much about a person you could learn in a single day. When one sailed the seas the first thing one learned was tolerance. After all, you could be stuck with someone for weeks on end in an enclosed space. Still…it was odd her fixation on me. I knew for a fact that she wasn't jealous…this wasn't what a jealous woman acted like.

"You're more put together than those two combined" grumbled Nami.

"Hey?"

"Shut it sword brain! You were ready to hop into that rowboat with Luffy no questions asked! You two didn't even know where you were going!"

Is she?

"Besides at least Luffy's honest!"

Oh, dear lord. The kid was a God, there was no explanation for it. How the hell did he get Nami to be protective of him so quickly?

"I see" I smirked, "you're worried about Luffy."

Nami stared at me, her face losing its red colour as she grew more serious. She gripped her arm and turned away.

"Shut up," she said weakly.

I looked at these two kids. Raring and ready to go for Luffy, a guy they met days ago. Now that I thought about it…how much of myself have I let be known? I wasn't purposely rejecting their company but looking back I realized I wasn't exactly seeking it out either.

"When I met Luffy, I was at my lowest. It's no exaggeration to say that Luffy saved my life…even if the moron doesn't realize it. You don't have to worry about me lass, I would be the last to betray Luffy…"

I made sure to lock eyes with Nami and drill it into her that I was on to her. She seemed to grow more guilty, if only slightly. She nodded.

"Ok. Good."

I stared at her and looked at Luffy. He was of course still sleeping soundly. Zoro must have picked up on something because he became more focused on my conversation.

"Nami."

The girl moved to stand. Quite frankly, I've had enough.

"Sit."

She froze at my tone. She slowly sits back down and looked at me. As much as I'd like to believe this was because of Luffy…I knew there was more to this.

"What's wrong."

She stilled.

"Luffy's too much of a softy to ask you this directly. I'm a different sort."

Naomi had always been a source of calm for the most part. I wasn't sure what part of her emotions was an act or was true. This though? The discomfort was genuine.

"What's. Wrong."

Nami's eyes closed as she gripped her arm even tighter.

"I."

"She doesn't have to tell us, John."

I turned to see Luffy standing, his smile as bright as usual even with his eyes covered by his hat. Zoro smirked seeing Luffy. Nami seemed more relieved than ever.

"Luffy" I started.

The boy jumped up and gripped my shoulder. It wasn't tight but I could feel his seriousness in it.

"I didn't ask what was bothering you all these years right?"

I sighed, knowing the kid won this fight.

"True" I muttered.

Luffy turned to Nami.

"Whatever's bothering you…you don't have to tell us. But when you're a part of my crew then it's not just your problem… it's mine too."

Luffy smiled softly at Nami and then stretched his arms, smashing the three of us together.

"Can you forgive John, Name? He was just looking out for me like you were. I want my crew to be like a family!"

Luffy turned his head to me.

"So, stop assuming the worst with Nami!"

Then he turned to Nami.

"And you! Stop looking at John like he's a monster! Just because he's an ice human doesn't mean he's gonna betray us!"

Luffy turned to me.

"Are you going to betray us?"

I blinked.

"No."

"See!"

The boy's grin was so wide and proud I almost laughed. I could just imagine Luffy pulling this with a stranger.

…..

I jinxed myself, didn't I?

Thankfully Nami seemed to relax. I decided to extend an olive branch and besides, who was I to judge?

"I was worried for Luffy's sake just as you were lass. I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable."

Nami sighed.

"It's not your fault. I just…you guys aren't normal."

Zoro smirked. Luffy just grinned as I shrugged helplessly.

"Normal is for suckers" snickered Luffy.

"True that, what's the point of living in the norms of this society" I muttered, "better to blaze our path in pursuit of what we dream about."

Zoro grinned and raised what had to be his fifth glass.

"Hear hear!"

Nami stared at me and narrowed her eyes.

"Are you a noble?"

I blinked.

"What makes you ask that? Is that what's got, you all twisted lass?"

A quick nod from Nami asserted the accusation. Jesus…how bad were the nobility of this world?

"Just a feeling. The way you talk, and everything…I heard those celestial dragons talk differently than the rest of us, kind of like you do."

….Is that why people kept staring at me? They thought I was some noble rough necking it? Wait.

"The actual fuck is a celestial dragon?" I asked.

Luffy laughed as Nami and Zoro stared at me.

"They're the most powerful people in the world" muttered Nami "they run almost everything and rarely leave the Grand Line. The nobles above royalty."

How the actual fuck does that work? Wouldn't royalty be higher than nobility? This world is cracked.

"Heard they wear bubble helmets to make sure they don't breathe our air or something" muttered Nami.

"That is retarded. The name and the helmet. Please tell me you're joking."

Nami shrugged.

"I don't know. I've only heard about them from others. What I do know is that they're bad news and most towns try to avoid them the best they can."

The hell? I knew the world was zany but that just upped it another level. At least now I knew what got people staring at me so oddly.

"How long till Orange town!"

Nami turned to Luffy and gave a small smile.

"Should be there in an hour."

Nami stilled.

"What's wrong?"

"The boat stopped moving forward."

I stared at my feet and then back at Nami. The stupefied expression must have made her feel smug and honestly…I didn't blame her. It was like this girl was blessed by the sea. Sure enough not a few moments later the captain of the ship came in, his face grave.

"I'm afraid we have a problem."

I thought perhaps it was a sea king. Maybe another pirate ship or something. Instead, in the distance through a spyglass, the image of a cannon was visible. We watched it slowly rise in the distance and aim in our general direction.

"That thing is huge" I muttered.

"My men have estimated that we won't be able to get further in without getting shot. Whatever it fires is large and heavy. Deadly, but only when we get too close."

"And you're right at the edge of their range."

"That's what we're assuming."

The captain turned the boat, pushing us further from the cannon as best he could. Sure enough, it disappeared in whatever cover it had. Luffy was quick with a solution though.

"…So, we go by boat" smirked Luffy.

The boy seemed to think of something. He smiled as he stretched his arms. They kept going and going until his hand was only a few meters away from the land.

"Reel it back Luffy, you won't make that distance," I said, peering through the spyglass.

Luffy grunted, his face exerting itself as he reached the limit of his rubbery body. It was absurd how far he could stretch when that was all he focused on. Sure enough, the tips of Luffy's fingers touched the sandy end of a beach along the shore of Orange Island.

"HA!" grinned Luffy "knew I'd make it!"

Said fingers then slipped into the sea. I groaned.

"I warned you."

I spent the next fifty minutes reeling Luffy's rubber arms with Zoro. Luffy groaned the whole while, stating ridiculous things like he had "made it" and that he had won…seriously I couldn't help but wonder if the kid was on drugs sometimes. Then I remembered that drugs wouldn't even do a thing to me or Luffy, our constitutions were too different. Thankfully alcohol still gave me a buzz…if barely.

After reprimanding Luffy for the fifth time, I had the captain give us a rowboat.

"Are you sure about this? I don't want to deprive you of one outright, so I will pay."

The captain smiled.

"We always have a surplus of rowboats in case of emergencies."

Ah, made sense. This was effectively a cruise ship. The rowboats must have been their version of a lifeboat. The four of us were quick to load up as they used their pully to drop us down. I waved goodbye, especially to the raven-haired Serena. She smiled as I waved and gave me a wink. I chuckled, remembering our time together fondly. She was a bit inexperienced but that made the night all the more fun in its way. And her song…I hadn't slept that well in three years. This would be a night to remember.

Luffy looked between us and finally seemed to get it.

"OH! You had sex!"

I stared at Luffy.

"Luffy!"

He blinked.

"What?"

"You don't just blurt that out. Keep it to yourself."

"Oh. Ok! Anyways, I was just wondering. I mean how does the whole thing work with you being an ice-man?"

Zoro leaned in, his own eyes narrowing.

"Iceman? This is the second time I've heard that. You like Luffy?"

"Yes."

"Cool."

And this was why Zoro was quickly becoming a friend. The man didn't give a shit.

"But seriously how does that work?" muttered Luffy "isn't your wang cold or something?"

I stared at Luffy. I was completely dumbfounded… who the hell taught the boy to ask these types of questions? Oh, wait, me. The dumbass who kept answering said questions no matter how ridiculous. Luffy tilted his head, looking at Zoro and Nami giving the two of us odd looks. Zoro was quick to start laughing. Nami was more disturbed.

"Do you freeze them from the inside out?"

"DOES SERENA LOOK FROZEN TO YOU!?"
I finally snapped, unwilling to let this conversation flow anymore. Nami began to chuckle.

"You look like you're blushing, but your cheeks don't turn red!" she laughed.

"Come on tell me!" groaned Luffy "I'm really curious now!"

"I AIN'T TELLING YOU SQUAT BOY!"

Zoro laughed. He went to get the paddles but I was already growing an ice staff from my shoulder. He stared at me as I began to ride our boat like it was a gondola. My strength was enough to send us flying through the calm seas. It was faster than it would be with a sail in this breeze. Zoro and Nami turned their heads over the beat and watched the trail of blocks floating in the sea.

"Not your first time doing this, huh?"

"Our resident dumbass decided to drag me on the rowboat we left on" I admitted "this was how we travelled for a few short leagues. I think I got the hang of it for the most part."

The boat wasn't shifting as much but I think that was due to the weight of two extra people, rather than my newfound skill. After twenty minutes of more inane conversation and Luffy asking about how I don't freeze my partners to death (dick), Luffy had me stop the boat.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

Luffy said nothing and instead stretched his arms out again. This time we were closer and Luffy was able to grab a tree he saw in the distance. How the hell he did do that without the spyglass I didn't know. That gave me an idea for my ice. Could I make my own spyglass?

"John, can you freeze my feet?"

I decided to follow without question and soon Luffy's two feet were iced in. My control must have improved because the frigid cold of the ice wasn't affecting Luffy as badly now. I smiled, watching Luffy use his brain to accelerate us to the island even faster. He was using his own body like some kind of pully, dragging the boat and the four of us with it. The land was ours in a matter of half an hour, rather than two.

"So, this is Orange island?"

The beach gave way to the town quickly. An eerily quiet town.

"Where is everybody?" asked Luffy.

"Probably running from whoever put that cannon up".

I agreed with Zoro. That cannon wasn't something a town or even the Navy would install. It was too damn big. Overcompensation at its maximum. What was the point of one massive cannon when you can have several smaller but equally deadly cannons around the perimeter of your island? Didn't matter if you hid it inside a building. Than again I wasn't too sure if the cannon was even inside a building. These damn spyglasses were blurry.

Another example of the technological disparity in this cracked world. Sometimes they were leagues above my own world and others were…garbage. Either way, it didn't matter. My focus was on the town.

"Hopefully it's not…ah no"

It was horrible. A sputtering of flames converged on this single building, bits of blood, and a few smoking debris crumbled away from the heap. The flames did nothing to me, my own body was highly resilient even to open fire.

I admit the strength and coldness of my ice made no logical sense. Than again, what sort of sense existed in this world to begin with. The majority of the buildings that I could see were undamaged but this one. It must have been used to set an example. Recently too by the still burning flames.

"It's a pirate attack" whispered Nami.

A bit presumptuous but likely.

"Damn" I muttered.

Luffy's face was stone. Hard and unyielding as he looked around. Zoro's thumbed pushed the hilt of his blade, ready to draw the white sword at moments notice. I looked around. Without fear I stepped into the flames. I didn't like the flames, but I wasn't hurt. I found a few burnt toys and…

"John?"

The others were out of the building, so they didn't see what I saw. The hanging burnt hand of a child…now a corpse. I left the flames, my thoughts feeling oddly sharp. Whoever did this?

They had to die.

A part of me was stone cold…and yet another was equally disgusted.

"JOHN!"

I jumped, staring at Luffy's concerned face. I cleared my throat and gestured down the road. No need to hassle the kid with my issues.

"We got a few ways to do this" I muttered "so what's the plan Luffy."

The lad seemed like he was going to push…but he thought better of it.

"Look around first."

"Why?" asked Zoro.

"We don't know where they are or what they look like. I don't wanna be smacking around a bunch of normal people!"

I nodded, a fair point.

I looked around as we travelled the town. Further in we could see people. I was thankful to see that the townspeople were still around but it was obvious they were scared. They avoided our eyes, shut their windows, and even slammed their doors. Eventually, we came across a single destroyed building with a…was that a dog?

"Ooh! A dog!" smiled Luffy.

The dog was pissed, standing as a stalwart guard in front of the wreckage behind it. I gripped Luffy's shoulder and prevented him from trying to pet the animal. It's eyes were fierce and its posture was ready to bite anything around it.

"Leave it be Luffy."

"Who are you people!"

I turned to the side and watched Luffy engage the older man. He was rabid, demanding that we leave the premise and…well quite honestly, he wanted us to fuck off. There was really no other way to put it.

"Nami."

"What?"

"What exactly are we looking for? What sort of map is worth all this?"

The image of that child still burned in my mind, my anger increasing the more I thought about them. Nami seemed to struggle with giving me any information. But she finally relented.

"It's a map of the Grand Line."

"Really?" muttered Zoro.

I could see why Nami was hesitant. A map of the Grand Line, even an incomplete one would be an immense boon for any sailor…namely us.

"I see. You plan to sell it?"

Nami nodded and I smiled. The amount of money she could sell the thing for would be astronomical. That is…if she found a buyer that would actually give her the money. Yet, she seemed confident she could sell it. A question for later. Zoro seemed to pick up on the energy and shrugged helplessly.

"Would have been nice to have," admitted Zoro.

Nami seemed confused as I smiled.

"We're not taking your map lass; you don't have to worry about that. Knowing Luffy he'd considered that map cheating or something idiotic like that. He's a man of his word, same as me."

Nami finally gave me an honest smile.
"You guys really are. That's stupid you know."

"We know," said Zoro and myself.

But what was a man but his word? If his word was meaningless then the man was meaningless. Never say a thing you don't mean and don't promise anything you don't plan to keep. Our conversation over; I turned my attention to Luffy. The man Luffy was talking to described a sad tale, that of the dog's owner being dead and it refusing to leave the pet store he'd left behind. The house was a wreck, but still standing. The dog defended it from anyone, even those that tried to repair it. A loud thumping occurred and the four of us turned to see a giant lion-like creature with…

"What is that thing" I muttered.

"I think that's a person" muttered Zoro.

"Bullshit."

Alvida was one thing, but this…thing was another level. Pure genuine 100% fucked up. The man, if it even was one, looked like a full-grown adult had tried to stuff themselves into a child's koala onesie and was permanently fused to the parts that ripped off from being too big. It was disgusting and just flat out weird. Not to mention the man was rail thin and looked anemic. I knew the quality of food in this world, just one apple was enough to sate me for a few hours. What kind of screwed up diet was this man on? The man smiled, full of yellow and cracked teeth. I watched, listening as this man began to monologue to Luffy and the dog. My face slowly becoming more and more distraught and disappointed by the asinine reasoning of this idiot. I honestly couldn't even remember his name. It must have shown because the man with the cub ears finally snapped in the middle of his speech.

"YOU!"

I pointed to myself.

"Yes you! How dare you look at me like that! I am the great beast master!"

"I don't even know your name" I muttered.

"I JUST INTRODUCED MYSELF YOU RUDE BASTARD!"

I blinked and turned to Luffy. The boy was smiling away, laughing at this clown.

"Luffy."

"Uh huh?"

"Why haven't you beaten this idiot yet?"

"Because he's funny!"

I sighed. Again, with the childish glee. Then again, I wasn't much better. After all, I haven't done anything yet either. Sadly, the jovial nature of this encounter was quick to die off. The man, pissed at my attitude and his inability to tame the dog, ordered the massive lion to smash the house. The dog was distraught…and Luffy was furious. I had to admit, it was nice to watch Luffy's fist obliterate the entire jaw of this so-called beast master. The poor lion looked so confused. Yet, it made the mistake of attacking Luffy all the same. As per usual, the rubber man had no mercy. Yet, as expected Luffy befriended the ferocious guard dog. The boy even found a package of dog food, one last reminder of his owner. The man must have been one hell of a friend to this little dog, to warrant such a response. Ignoring the hallmark bonding moment, I turned to the elder.

"Say, elder?"

The old man turned to me, his eyes narrowed.

"What?"

"What happened to that house, the one burning in the distance."

The man sighed.

"A tragedy that one…one that's unnerving to say the least."

"How so?"

"That house has been burning for the last seven days."

I blinked.

"Seven days?"

A nod.

"We don't know what causes it. We've doused it with water only for the flames to sputter back to life. The poor family that lives there must be ashes at this point but we can't tell because the flames won't go out. We have no idea if the flames would spread so I've moved the surrounding people…than those damn pirates attacked us and here we are. To be honest I almost completely forgot about it."

I could see why. As unnatural as a perpetual fire is, being attacked by pirates takes priority. Still, I knew of only one thing that was unnatural like that. My own ice. It didn't matter how long it was out in the sun my ice would not melt unless I let it or move far away. There's a limit to the connection, of course. I can only manipulate the ice I eject for a few moments before it solidifies and remains as is. It was a problem I knew could be overcome but I couldn't figure it out just yet.

This burning house…this was done by a devil fruit.

A dangerous one.

"Luffy."

"I know."

"Know what?" asked Nami.

"There's another devil fruit user on this island."

"That's preposterous" stated the old man "I know every person on this island and not a single one of them is a devil fruit user!"

"A vanguard" I muttered.

The others looked at me.

"The hells a vanguard?"

It made sense for Zoro and the others to not know the word. It was usually used in the military or the novels I read to describe a person or unit that was the foremost part of a leading army. It was also used to describe someone going beyond enemy lines in combat. Honestly I was impressed with their current level of knowledge, considering the lack of schools and education systems.

"Think of a vanguard like the tip of a spear for a naval force. It's entirely possible that this buggy character sent a few of his pirates ahead of himself to scope the island and your defences. How high would you say the house's fire burned?"

The man blinked. His face began to pale as a realization struck him.

"It was like a flaming pillar of ash and smoke. It felt like it reached the sky. At the time I thought they were storing fireworks for the festivals later in the year."

I sighed. A signal flare…one that killed a family. The others began to realize the truth as they turned white. Luffy's anger soared even further.

"This ends today."

I stroked my beard. Was a pirate crew manned with that beast master idiot capable of such cruelty? Maybe. But there were obvious missing pieces. Why pick Orange Island as a base of operations? Wouldn't people eventually figure out that a pirate had taken over and sent the Navy? Their own super cannon was a massive indicator of pirates or some variant of occupation. Granted it disappeared wherever they hid it but still.

I was beginning to become suspicious of the Marines lack of skill…or was this a consequence of a world lacking radio and instant information?

To be honest…I felt those thoughts melt after a time. The more I thought about it the angrier I became. That hanging limp hand…a child's life snuffed out…it thrummed in my chest. My anger was tangible. Hell, a bit of steam escaped my mouth as I followed Luffy, the thrum of heat in my chest billowing out.

I was ready, alert, and prepared for anything as we marched to Buggy's camp. Luffy seemed willing to trust that old man but me. I found it suspicious that he knew the way to Buggy's encampment. The way to the Buggy pirates was littered with lots of underlings, each dressed like a pirate clown. They goaded us into combat but the four of us were more than enough. In my old world, fighting multiple people was effectively a death sentence. Only the most highly skilled could accomplish it in a real fight as far as I was aware and even then, it was a severe disadvantage if done in the open.

Yet here? My senses were greater than before, I could hear, and even feel when someone was attacking me. It felt like an echo of something more, a burst of notice. I still got hit obviously, but the fight was so lacklustre that it wasn't even worth mentioning nor the damage doing anything to me. I didn't even crack.

Zoro though was a sight. It was weird how his three-sword style worked but it worked well. Nami was the one lagging. She had a staff but…she seemed stiff. Perhaps Luffy was on to something about training together…don't know why he wanted me to lead it though. Most I knew was some basic bodybuilding practices for building strength and stamina. Who knows what sort of effect that kind of training would have?

Even as men fell before me in combat, I felt…unsettled. This wasn't me. Was it? A part of me was enjoying the fight…and it scared me. I knocked a man away and stared at my hand. What was I becoming?

"JOHN MOVE!" yelled Zoro.

My moment of distraction was enough time for a man to launch himself at me, cackling as he stabbed me in the chest. Nami screamed and for the first time in a while my control faltered. I stared at the sword sticking out of my chest. I felt my heart beating around it. There wasn't any pain, but I freaked out for a second at the sight.

A second was all that was needed.

"HAHAHAHAHA! THAT'S WHAT YOU GET FOR ATTACKING TH-"

I don't know who this swordsman was, but I knew he was dead. Ice erupted from my back, stabbing and encasing the man behind me. Zoro and Nami's eyes went wide staring at the statue of ice. The man's sword broke and his body fell to the ground, splintering into tiny crystals. I stared at the ground, a pit in my stomach. The man on the ship was different…I never knew if he really died. But this…I didn't feel sick. I felt bad, yes but I felt even worse over the fact that I wasn't freaking out. I just killed a man and yet all I felt was some sadness and a little guilt.

Was I turning into a monster? What kind of person thought of things like this?

"You're, ok?" whispered Nami.

I smiled softly.

"I am an ice man."

Sure, enough the hole in my chest and clothes was already gone. How the hell that worked I never figured out. But I planned to order many copies of my clothes in the future just in case.

"You ok" muttered Luffy.

"I'll be fine."

I had to be. This was no time to wallow. I refused to be a monster…but that part of me was still wondering if that was what I was now?

-P.O.V: Narrators-

John moved to the front as per Luffy's request. Zoro and Luffy trailed behind him with Nami. Luffy clenched his fist at Zoro's next statement.

"He hesitates a lot. Too much."

Luffy stared at his first mate. Zoro was unrepentant.

"What kind of warrior is afraid to hurt his enemy? If we're going on the Grand Line there's no room for weakness or hesitation."

"What about Nami?" asked Luffy.

"She's a witch. I don't expect a witch to behave as a warrior."

Nami pouted but Zoro had a point. If she didn't know him better, she'd think it was some sort of misogyny thing.

"John's not afraid" stated Luffy "at least not for combat."

Luffy grinned, as he watched John's back.

"He's strong. Stronger than he thinks. He's just afraid of becoming someone he doesn't want to be."

Zoro rolled his eyes. But Luffy kept going. Zoro shifted, feeling the annoyance Luffy began to exude.

"My grandpa told me there was a difference between a warrior and a killer. A warrior fights because he must. To kill is merely a means to an end, a necessity. A killer kills because he enjoys it. John doesn't know that he's a warrior…he's afraid of being a killer."

Luffy stared at Zoro.

"He's afraid of being a monster."

Luffy looked at his hands. He had adapted to his newfound body with gusto. For Luffy, he had no problem being a rubber man. Yet, the boy was no fool. He has known John for over three years. He knew the way the man felt about himself…the way he saw himself. It hurt Luffy's heart to see his friend like that but there was nothing that he could do except support him. Besides, Luffy knew he wasn't the best when it came to all that talking. He was more a man of action. If John needed help, he was there.

"I asked John to give you and Nami a chance. I ask that you do the same. Not everybody I recruit will fit your standards."

Luffy drilled his eyes into Zoro.

"They'll fit my standards."

Zoro grinned.

"That's how a captain should be. So, you ever fought him?"

"Yup!"

"How did that go?"

"Beat me in a second!"

Zoro blinked. He could tell that John was strong but…he couldn't see it, the instinct needed to fight someone like Luffy. You could throw the mother of all punches but if your instincts for battle were shit…you'd never survive in genuine combat.

"John had a point before you know," said Luffy "everyone needs to be able to fight. I see where you're coming from Zoro but John will pull his weight. I promise."

Zoro scoffed.

"He's already pulled his weight more than you captain. I didn't see you grabbing a cruise ship for our travels. Besides I'm more worried about his safety. I'm not in the mood of losing crewmates."

Luffy's face turned sour, and Zoro snickered.

"You guys can be mean. JOHN! WAIT FOR ME!"

Luffy bounded down, catching up with his friend.

"This will definitely be interesting" grinned Zoro "glad I joined this crew."

Nami smiled but said nothing. She was more anxious to get the map than she thought…that must have been the reason.

-John's P.O.V-

I had assumed that finding the base of the Buggy pirates might have been a task. After all, I wouldn't leave my base of operations in the open. I should have known better. Truly, I should have. The four of us stared blankly at the circus themes tents and buildings in front of us. I rubbed the bridge of my nose to ease my coming headache. I was wrong about that old man it would seem.

"This…this isn't real is it" I muttered.

Zoro sighed and drew his blades.

"No point in sticking around. I'm going ahead!"

"Have fun Zoro!"

How the man talked with a sword in his mouth I'll never understand. I decided to stick close to Luffy. Mostly for my own safety but also to look around unimpeded. The ridiculous tents, the dress code, and the overtly huge cannon that was nowhere to be seen. I had assumed it was a building they hid it in, but none of them seemed large enough for it. All of these don't match up with the ruthlessness to burn a house and family with it. If it was a weapon they used there would be more damage. Yet, only single home and family were destroyed. Something was up.

I knelt beside a tent and fingered some of the dust off its corner.

"They've been here a while."

They'd have to be with a cannon that huge…I stared at the boat, noticing that it seemed larger than it needed to be…an open mouth from the weird clown strapped on the kneeling of the ship. Did they fire it from their ship? But why thought!? What kind of mad weight distribution were they using for that?

"That's right!"

I turned to the right and noticed a bouncing clown, their face painted white and their hair a weird green colour.

"I am the bouncing-URK!"

Luffy's fist met his head and he kept moving forward. Nami was gone, her thieving skills on full display here.

"What's the plan," I asked.

"Attack."

...alrighty than.

A few people shuffled around the area, pirates that were not up for fighting I assumed. Our path into the large building was mostly unimpeded. Luffy grunted as he dealt with some of the pirates. I was a bit disappointed though. A part of me wanted to nab their ship, and use it as our own. Unfortunately, the ship was too large and ugly to be of any use. A few more hallways and turns and we reached an inner sanctum. Why would I think we reached it you ask?

Because in front of us was a door with a laughing pirate face on it.

Honestly, were they all retarded? Any concern for a trap was of no consequence for me, not if the pirates all acted like this.

"You ready?"

I nodded. One of the few weaknesses of Luffy was that he needed a wind up for some of his attacks. He could punch through most things, but shoulder checking a door would always be slightly more difficult for him without a running start. After all, his body was rubber and thus pliable. It lacked the hardness that a normal human body had. Yet, over the years I could have sworn that Luffy's body became more and more rigid. Like the difference between putty rubber and tire rubber. One was pliable and weak, the other tough and strong. Still though, we had a routine. I turned to full ice, my body growing slightly and I charged. My entire form busted through the door easily, my ice form misting away immediately.

"BOSS WE'RE UNDER ATTACK!"

My instincts screamed. There was no thought as I just reacted to the people striking me. Three men were launched off me as Luffy came in from behind. He clapped my back with a large smile.

"Knew you had it in you!"

I looked at the bodies and was pleasantly surprised. They were groaning and obviously alive.

"…I keep forgetting," I thought "this world...its rules…humans can become more resilient, stronger, faster, hell even smarter. This is a world of superpowers and superhumans…"

"FOCUS!"

I was distracted earlier. I wouldn't make that mistake again. Suddenly the two of us were surrounded by pirates, a strange man leering down at us from above. I quickly shifted my eyes, trying to find the odd one out. I had a theory.

"Luffy, mind giving me a minute."

His nod was all I needed.

I ignored everything else and kept looking. After a minute I found them. Her eyes smouldered and glowed with a golden hue, much like my own blue eyes. As we locked eyes she smirked, moving towards the railing.

"You," I growled.

"I'LL CUT THAT HAT UP GOO….What are you doing Carmen."

Both I and this Carmen turned to what I assumed was Buggy, the captain. The sultry smile she gave made her crewmates swoon, but Buggy remained undeterred if clearly uncomfortable.

"What's the wrong Captain? Jealous? He is prettier than you."

"Again with the pretty" I muttered.

She turned to my voice, her eyes alight with glee.

"Oh my…a celestial dragon, here of all places."

"Ah, no lass. I'm afraid I'm not with those idiots."

Luffy started laughing but Carmen seemed even more interested.

"Calling a celestial dragon an idiot is punishable by death you know?"

I shrugged. Honestly, the way the laws worked in this world I wouldn't be surprised if a fart in the wrong direction was a punishable offence.

"But honestly… colour me intrigued."

She gracefully fell to the bottom floor, landing with nary a sound. I was entranced. Golden eyes, vibrant cherry hair, and a voluptuous form that matched Nami's. I was beginning to become concerned. Were all women supposed to be this attractive? Still though…she was different from Nami in one aspect.

She was built. Her form may have been lithe but I could see the muscles on her legs and the detail of her arms. She may have been skinny, but she wasn't weak. In this world…she could very likely be stronger than me, a man twice her size. Mass mattered in a contest of strength. My 6'3 height and 240 pounds of muscle gave me an advantage of strength over those smaller than me. Here, that advantage was probably non-existent.

"Buggy was nice…but you…you two seem fun. What do you say….captain?"

"No."

I would never ally myself with someone like this. Luffy seemed to agree with me, as he directed a stone cold look at Carmen. She pouted…but her eyes terrified me. They were possessive of a rage I didn't even know was possible. She dug her fingers into my chest. I blinked, wondering when the hell she got so close. Even Luffy was somewhat surprised.

"That's too bad…I hate being told no!"

Steam erupted from her hands but I barely felt it. She seemed to concentrate, the heat growing more and more, but I remained firm. Her hands cracked open, steam and ash splintering through red lines on her body. My eyes glowed and steam escaped my mouth as I concentrated on being colder. She yelped, holding her frosted fingers to her chest.

"Did…what are you!?"

"It was you, wasn't it? The one that burned that family to death."

She stopped and smirked. Bits of embers cloaked in ash futter from her mouth and smile. That sense of pride…it made me angry. Frost crept up my neck as I felt my body become more rigid.

Buggy looked between us, angered at being ignored but also confused as to what was happening…at least he was. Then Luffy started attacking him again. I smiled, thankful for the assist. Carmen struck me again, her arms black with red lines that now billowed flames. The heat she emitted was impressive…but my ice was colder. There was a time when I considered myself a gentleman. That striking a woman was the lowest a man could go aside from rape and murder.

Now? I'm not getting killed by whatever this Carmen was simply because they were a woman. Zoro was right, this was a world where hesitation leads to death…not that the poor swordsman was aware I overheard his conversation with Luffy. Next time you want a private conversation, don't mention the person just a distance in front of you?

Come on.

CRUNCH!
I gritted my teeth in pain for the first time, my arm cracking under a blow I didn't notice. The pain was small but noticeable, like stepping on a Lego.

"And there's your arm," said Carmen, her leg relaxing. I could feel my arm reset, but Carmen didn't know. I let my arm fall limply and let my eyes glow.

"You killed a family for a fucking beacon" I muttered "was it worth it?"

Carmen blinked.

"So?"

I was angrier than I would normally be. I don't know what it was about but something about those flames pissed me off…no, they enraged me. I gritted my teeth and prepared to attack, but this Carmen was quicker.

Carmen blinked and disappeared through a mirage. I blinked, wondering how she had done that. By the time I finally found her, her eyes glowed and her mouth opened.

"GRAND DELUGE!"

What the fuck? Did she just name her att-OH SHIT! A torrent of hot ash lined with flames blew its way at me. The heat was different this time. It burned all around me.

BURN.

The heat ate away at my skin, showing pure untouched ice.

FIRE.

Voices played in my brain and I felt like throwing up. Yet, it was over faster than it started. The heat left me and I noticed that I was in a crater. I pulled myself out and came face to face with a gaping hole and a trench of burning ash. I had been launched a few dozen meters away from the fight. Carmen looked at me with shock, her eyes wide.

"How are you still standing!" she shrieked.

Her entire body morphed into a black substance with cracked lines of fire, one that I assumed was somehow a lump of burning ash. She rocketed towards me, intent on spearing me through. For the first time, I called on my ice. My form shifted, becoming more streamlined and less bulky. I grabbed at the smoke, feeling what felt like a throat before I launched it into a building. It splattered against the stone and lit itself on fire.

"She's like living thermite" I muttered.

It was the closest I comparison I could tell. The thing was burning on even stone…but didn't little to melt it. It seemed like the ash was flammable and easily ignitable. The swarm of ash twisted into Carmen again, her face narrowed in annoyance.

"Another Logia..."

She stared at my ice-clad form and began to sweat.

"You're not snow? That's…that's not possible!?"

She backed away, her face pale.

"Aokoji is still alive! How are you an Ice Logia!?"

I stomped forward. Against all the science I knew, I was somehow heavier in this ice form but still able to move at the pace and speed I normally could. That and the thumping made me feel a tad more intimidating as well.

Carmen was no coward though. Whatever made her freeze up before vanished, her eyes becoming glazed with heated fury.

"You know what! I don't care! You're a perfect steppingstone!"

She lashed out with her leg, the attack elongating into a fire whip of ash. Mercy was for the weak and I froze the leg on impact. To my surprise Carmen smirked, her leg reforming perfectly fine as she cut it off.

"You don't have whatever stupid power Aokoji has! You can't stop me!"

She launched forward, her hand stabbing into my chest. She had named the attack something, but I couldn't quite catch it along the sound of her HAND PEIRCING MY LUNG! I was quick to reform, the pain non-existent. Before she could retreat a spear of ice formed from my chest and pierced her through the collar bone. She hollered in pain, kicking me away with an explosive attack. She held her slow healing wound as I dug myself out of the hole she put me in.

She raised her hands, a spear of swirling ash forming. I decided to retaliate with a spear of my own. Mine formed quicker. I took the extra second or two to try something new. I filled my ice with even greater strength, transferring what I felt was my energy into it. As per usual, the shape stopped listening to my commands and became rigid and unmalleable. She hurled her spear with great skill.

Me? I chucked it for all it was worth. I wasn't accurate, hell I wasn't even close. But my strength must have surpassed her own because my ice spear collided with her own and pulverized it. I blinked in astonishment as the spear flew further and struck the wall a meter away from Carmen. I could feel my connection to it, that my will was still attached…yet the attack didn't do as I wanted. My eyes glowed brighter even as Carmen laughed at my rather shitty accuracy. She was right after all. But I could feel it. My dream attack, the one that I was thinking of…it just needed a trigger.

….Oh for the love of! I swear I will kill myself if this doesn't work.
"Gungnir!" I yelled.

I could feel it, that snap within me as my spear exploded in a shower of ice, trapping Carmen from the neck below within it. She tried to escape as ash, but if I was to hazard, she was far too cold to ignite properly. She glared at me balefully, her sneer twisting her beautiful face into something awful.

"YOU FUCKER! DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM!? I WON'T LET THIS SLIDE YOU HEAR ME! BUGGY! WHERE'S BUGGY!"

I investigated the hole and saw Luffy grinning away. He had a sack over his shoulder, one that was struggling immensely. I smiled at the skull of Buggy in his hands.

"…."

My eyes expanded until they near popped out of my skull as I screamed at Luffy.

"Calm down!" chuckled Luffy "he's fine."

"HOW THE HELL IS HE FINE!"

"LET ME GO YOU STRAW HAT!"

I stared at the talking head, feeling the last few bits of my sanity begin to crumble. How the hell was a beheaded skull talking? How was he not bleeding? I felt my brain turn off a the sight of the outright impossible. I must have been out a while because Nami was snapping her fingers in front of my face. Her grin was wide and I could swear she had money signs in her eyes. I shook my head, ignoring the laughable slip from reality.

"Nicely done John!"

I blinked.

Nami gestured to the woman still trapped in my eyes, her eyes raving mad.

"That's Burning Carmen!"

Horrible name.

"Her bounty is worth 5 million Berries!"

I stalled.

"Five million" I muttered.

That was like fifty grand or something!? Nami seemed to like the grin on my face and for the first time seemed to relax. Carmen getting justice and me getting fifty grand? I call that a great day.

"Yes! Five million!"

"How the hell are we going to cash it though?" I muttered.

Nami grinned.

"Have no fear of that, for a fee we can trade in her bounty with the Renaissance group."

I blinked.

"The what group?"

Another blink.

"….do you seriously not know?"

"Just assume I know nothing."

Nami sighed, seemingly disappointed with my apparent stupidity.

"They're an underground merchant guild. They sell everything for anyone and have a lot of services. One of which is turning in bounties for pirates, for a fee of course."

"That fee is?"

"….thirty percent" grumbled Nami.

I wasn't a fan of the price gouge either but to be fair I wasn't against it either.

"We still have to transport her though."

Nami grinned.

"Maybe, but it will be a lot easier to do than you think. Just have her feet in a bucket of seawater and she's powerless."

I turned to Carmen and gave a sharp grin of my own. Having her suffer by plunging her into seawater sounded pleasant to me. It was the least she could suffer for the family and others she's killed.

"I'm surprised you beat her" muttered Nami "I heard she was once an ex-marine."

"Don't know about that. Besides, I think we were just a horrible match-up."

From what I could tell, the heat she generated wasn't even close to harming me. Hell, her fists and legs did more damage to me than her Devil Fruit.

A breath of frost escaped me. I jumped a bit as Nami quickly poked me. She grinned as she poked me again.

"I thought you'd be freezing. You feel warm."

….wait…

"Did you think I'd freeze by accident" I chuckled.

Nami blushed.

"Luffy's like rubber all the time! I wasn't sure if I'd accidentally get frozen being too close to you all right!"

I laughed harder than I should have. It was a relief to realize that's all it was for the most part.

"My ice doesn't work that way" I smiled "I admit I can accidentally freeze someone but that's only when I'm struck. I've gotten better over the years since I've had this power."

It took quite a bit for me to lose control over my ice. To be honest there wasn't much to control until I consciously tried to use it. Nami took my words at their value and began to grin. She stared at Buggy's ship longingly.

"Oh, I would have loved to use the ship to carry all their gold!"

I smirked but frowned at the same time. There was a lot we don't know.

"We might have to abandon Carmen" I muttered.

I didn't want to, but the truth was I didn't want to…wait…

I stared at the Marine ship in the distance. It was bullshit. Total, 100% bullshit. There was no one that could be that lucky…and yet….the fuck? No this was too much.

"Who's there!" I demanded.

Nami looked at me like I was confused while Zoro simply stared at me. Luffy was looking around fruitlessly. I couldn't sense shit, I didn't see shit, but God damn if I couldn't smell it. The smell of convenient bullshit. A Marine ship appearing out of nowhere so soon after our fight to take Carmen off our hands?

"I don't know who you are, but you over played".

For a moment…I thought I finally snapped. Perhaps it was just a coincidence. Then a slow clapping occurred. From the shadows came a woman dressed in a smart black suit, her face covered by an owl mask.

"Well well, color me impressed. That's some instinct you got."

Instincts my ass. More like luck and a low tolerance for bullshit. The woman bowed.

"My name is Tsuki, a pleasure. I represent the interests of the Renaissance group."

Nami stilled but her eyes shone with unmatched greed. She gripped my sleeve and gave me an impossibly bright smile.

"Talk to her, talk to her!"

I stared at Nami like she was insane, but I gave in. Luffy was staring off into space, completely uncaring of the conversation. Buggy looked as if he shit himself, staring at this Tsuki woman.

"What do you want?" I finally asked.

"I was merely assisting as an added benefit."

The woman withdrew a contract from her breast pocket, showing Carmen's face.

"A contract was out for this woman's head. She had killed a young woman by the name of Marissa, a child of a local merchant with connections to us. If you would please allow me to collect her, that would be grand."

I stared in the distance and noticed that the Marine ship was gone.

"Illusions" I muttered, "you were going to pretend to be Marines, so we'd leave her here with you."

It was smart. The owl woman tilted her head. She reached into her pocket and took out a card. It was pure black with blue writing. It had her group's name and a…number sequence on the back. If anything, it felt like a membership card.

"Whether by luck or by instinct it doesn't matter. Here, a card for our services."

"What services."

Nami grinned, eyeing the card like it was gold.

"They got a ton of services for people with a black card! OOOOH."

I decided to ignore Nami from this point on…she looked like she was about to explode from her joyful greediness. The owl woman simply made light appear, showing a Celtic Knot. I blinked at the familiar symbol.

"So long as this symbol is on the building, you can peruse our services freely. I promise you, it is worth the secrecy."

Do you hear that? The ringing? Because I called it. I friggen called it! I knew there was a black market somewhere. I just wasn't expecting this spycraft stuff.
"You can take Carmen, I don't need her bounty."

The quicker we got away from someone like this the better. I won that fight against Carmen easily but that didn't mean I was going to fight everyone! My instincts were spot on, for the woman's whole genial appearance suddenly become oppressive and dark.

"Fantastic" she stated.

She appeared beside Carmen and drilled her hand into her chest, straight through my ice. It was as if she pushed her hand through butter. Carmen's face twitched and strange black lines etched across her cheeks. Slowly my ice and Carmen swirled into space until there was nothing but a perfectly sphere on the ground. The owl lady hummed a jaunty tune, placing the sphere in the space behind her

"My apologies. Trapping people is never pleasant."

I stared at her. Luffy's face was like stone as the woman locked eyes/mask with him.

"Your father says hello, little dragon."

Luffy blinked. I meanwhile rubbed my eyes from the oncoming headache that I was about to recieve. Of course, Luffy's non-existent father makes his appearance now.

"I swear to god if this is a Darth Vader situation, I'll just kill myself now."

I twiddled with the card and stared at the owl lady.

"Why bother revealing yourself?"

The woman stilled. For the first time, I saw her eyes through the mask and they were mirthful. A searing red that took my breath away.
"Do you want the truth?"

I nodded.

"It's because you're pretty."

I was starting to develop a complex about this. I didn't think I looked that different than others, did I? I jolted as the owl Lady was now a mere few centimetres from me.

"You intrigue me. Not many survive their trip here."

She leaned in close and whispered in my ear.

"Otherworlder."

I stilled. I watched the mirthful woman tilt back from me and I saw her disappear piece by piece.

"We are everywhere my dear. Just find the symbol on any merchant building and you'll know to shop there."

I swallowed. Considering the simplicity of the symbol, there was a reason it wasn't abused. It was best I kept my mouth shut and that I was careful when using this card.

"I like that in a man. One that catches on quick."

Her laughter echoed through the street, leaving me and the others alone in the street. She was of course gone.

"You freaks! You're bringing all sorts of nastiness! LEAVE THE BUGGY PIRATES BE! I WANT NONE OF YOUR AB—GURK!"

Luffy's hand closed around Buggy's mouth and he stared at him.

"You know who that Lady was?"

Buggy began screaming but Luffy's grip just got tighter.

"Tell us, everything".

Buggy's eyes began to water as me and the others loomed over him. I sat down, wondering what the hell just happened…and just how much danger we might be in. There was only one word to describe our situation.

"Shit" I muttered.

They better have good deals or I would riot.

END.

Next chapter update is Arcane Craftsman. I've decided to go a slightly different direction and added a new (I think) devil fruit. As you can see it wasn't very powerful in Carmen's hands, but in another's? Who knows. Expect new enemies and small subplots like this to occur throughout the story to keep it fresh. Also, how's the idea of the Renaissance group? I found it odd that there was no Black Market in One Piece, so behold! What stories await them you'll have to see.