"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!?"

After that reaction, two things happened.

One, Foxy fainted in shock.

"AH! Oh no, Captain!" Porche exclaimed in panic.

"Pupu!" Hamburg also exclaimed in alarm.

Second, Luffy sprinted over to Aang, startling the bald airbender.

"YOU MET GOL D. ROGER!?" Luffy exclaimed in excitement.

"Ack! U-Uh, w-well, I...I met his spirit?" Aang said, a little unsure if he should've said what he said.

"His spirit?" Usopp said, rushing up to Aang also. "You mean, you met his...his soul!?"

"Wow!" Chopper also rushed over to Aang, wonder in his eyes. "You can talk to people in the afterlife!?"

"Uh...I, well, I-I can talk to spirits either in the living or the spirit world," Aang explained.

"WHOA! You can talk to dead guys!? Like Brook!?" Luffy exclaimed with a grin.

"Luffy, Brook is already living...in a way," Usopp said with a drawl.

"Oh yeah..." Luffy muttered.

"Guys!" Nami came up to the three and Aang, "While that is a shock, I think we should probably listen to what Aang and his friends have to say!"

"Wait! Actually, I want to ask Aang something!" Luffy said to Nami. He turned to Aang, "Hey, Aang, along with Roger, did you happen to meet...a guy named Ace?"

Nami, Usopp, Chopper, and the rest of the Straw Hats froze, however, the former two felt sympathy for their captain.

Aw, man...poor Luffy. I wonder what Aang is gonna say? Usopp thought.

Luffy… Nami thought.

Aang blinked, "Ace? Um...I think I heard his name from Roger when he was talking to me. He said he was riding on his ship with him and his wife."

Luffy stood there...and slowly gave out a smile, a warm smile that radiated relief and happiness. His eyes started to get watery and his smile was getting shaky.

"Th-...That's great!" Luffy sniffled, the smile still on his face, small tears coming down his face.

Aang, a little confused and concerned, asked Luffy, "Do you...knew Ace?"

Luffy sniffled again and nodded, wiping the tears from his eyes with his arm. "Yeah...h-he's m-m-my...he's my big brother!"

Aang, Toph, and the whole Gaang looked at Luffy in surprise.

"Wait, your brother?" Aang asked in shock, "You're...related to him? A-And are you related to Rog-"

"No, no," Nami jumped in to speak for the emotional Luffy. "They're brothers in...well, they're not really related, but...they're brothers by bond, you know?"

"...Oh," Aang blinked, but he understood.

Yeah...I-I get that. It's kind of like with my airbending...friends…back then...

Seeing Luffy get all emotional over this Ace, Aang couldn't help but feel sympathetic for the captain.

...I may not know what happened to this Ace, but he seems to be important to Luffy...

Aang smiled at Luffy, who was still sniffling and crying a bit, and told him, "Hey...don't worry, Luffy. He's in a better place."

Luffy nodded again, the tears still going down his face, with his shaky smile still on his face and still sniffling. "Th-Th-Thank you!"

Nami, Usopp, Chopper, and the rest of the Straw Hats felt relieved at seeing their captain be at ease and peace, letting out a silent breath of relief.

"Yoho! My, that's really heartwarming!" Brook said, sounding like he was going to cry as well, "I wish I could shed tears, but I'm just absolute dead and bones! That's not a skull joke, by the way!"

"Um...if you don't mind me asking, but how are you still alive?" Sokka asked Brook.

"Oh! Yoho! Well, I ate the Revive-Revive Fruit!" Brook answered. "A Devil Fruit that made me have a second life!"

"...Revive-Revive Fruit? A Devil Fruit?" Sokka blinked. But then, upon hearing Brook's explanation on the fruit, he said, "Wait a minute, are you saying that you...died one time?"

"Yoho...yes," Brook looked solemn for a second, "It was...a hard time for me in my first life...it was a time of loss and regrets...but I still lived on, having a new purpose with the Straw Hats. And I will live it fully and fulfill my promise to a special someone to see them again once I traverse around the world here!"

Sokka, and even Suki who was beside him, both blinked. They glanced at each other, with Suki directing her attention to Brook, saying, "Oh, well...um, we're really sorry you had to go through that, uh...first time...dying, Brook."

"Um, yeah, and you're definitely a true warrior to keep going when times were...well, when times were tough for you," Sokka complimented.

Brook nodded. "Thank you. I really appreciate both of your considerations."

Zuko, upon hearing Brook, Sokka, and Suki's conversation on bits of Brook's story and Devil Fruits, asked Brook, "Um, excuse me, Brook? Actually, what is a Devil Fruit?"

"Oh!" Like a light switch, Brook was back to normal, "Well, lad, you see, Devil Fruits can grant individuals unique powers just by eating it! However, you don't have to eat the whole fruit to obtain the power, which is good, cause they taste horrible! Yoho!"

Katara, who was next to Zuko, heard Brook's explanation and asked in confusion, "Wait, there are fruits that can grant people powers?"

"Obtaining a power by...eating it..." Zuko lowered his head in thought...until he raised his head with wide eyes of realization, "My father! He said something like that! I-I think he must've eaten some kind of Devil Fruit!"

"Wait a second," Franky spoke out, "You said your Dad is Ozai, right? And he and all of you are from a different world, right? So...how did he enter our world and gain a Devil Fruit power?"

"Well...that's kind of a longer story," Zuko told them uneasily.

"How about I explain this part?" Katara told Zuko, placing a hand on his shoulder to reassure him.

"Oh, uh...are you sure?" Zuko asked her.

"Of course! I am the ambassador of the Southern Water Tribe after all," Katara said with a wry smile.

"Oh, uh...okay..." Zuko said awkwardly.

Patting his shoulder, Katara turned to the remaining Straw Hats. However, upon seeing the knocked-out Foxy, she blinked and asked, "Um, should we wait for him to get up?"

The Straw Hats looked at Foxy's unconscious form, which Porche and Hamburg were trying to revive...

"...Nah. He's fine," they said.


Fifteen Minutes Later


Katara, with some help from Zuko and Aang, who filled in some spaces, was now finishing up the whole situation they were in.

"-and since Ozai and his crew are wreaking havoc now on our world, we were told to go to the portal that the Avatars opened for us, and we went inside, landing on an island not far from here! We used the boat that Ozai's cronies used and Aang I waterbended our way over here! Thus, we were looking for someone in a Straw Hat, and we see Luffy has a Straw Hat, and...well, there you go." Katara shrugged.

The Straw Hats listened in, Sanji, Zoro, Robin, and Nami being silent as they let Katara talk, while Franky, Brook, Chopper, Usopp, and Luffy all heard her out, nodding at her explanation.

"Huh..." Nami hummed, "So this Ozai is like...an evil king that was dethroned by you guys and the Avatar?"

"And Ozai lost his bending because of Aang?" Robin spoke up.

"And Zuko is the new Fire Lord King guy?" Franky asked out.

"And Ozai, who ate some kind of Devil Fruit, turned him into a Dragon and got his bending back because of it?" Usopp also asked.

"And you guys got beaten really bad by that Ozai guy and his crew? Oh, and you said you also need help with...uh, Nai-men Chi?" Luffy asked last, saying that last word slowly to say it accurately.

...The Gaang just glanced at each other (well, except for Toph), and looked back at them, nodding.

"Uh, yes on all that," Katara said.

"Wow...that's really something!" Chopper said, enamored by the story.

"Um...yeah," Toph said, "So, like, we all need your help on how to get stronger here...do you all know what Naimen Chi is by any chance?"

The Straw Hats all glanced at each other and looked back at Team Avatar.

"Nope. Never heard of it," they all said.

...Wow, all at the same time. Okay cool... Toph frowned at this news though, as well as the others of Team Avatar. Momo was still on Toph's shoulder.

"But," Robin spoke out, which made the Gaang look at her, "if it's like Haki, then maybe Naimen Chi is a little similar to it."

"Haki?" Aang wondered.

Robin nodded with a smile. "Haki is a secret spiritual power that is dormant in every living being here in our world. It can easily predict people's attacks, intentions, and even emotions, while there are other types, like coating your body and weapons with spiritual energy to make your attacks stronger."

"Really?" Aang blinked, "Wait...that...kind of sounds like Naimen Chi."

"Wait, so Haki and Naimen Chi are the same thing?" Toph asked.

"Well, if that's the case, then we really need to learn it from you guys!" Sokka said to them.

"Yeah, and we have to get back to our world before Ozai rules over it!" Suki also told them.

Zoro then spoke up, "Question, how do you tend to get back to your world?"

...That part made the Gaang quiet...

"...We...uh..." Zuko began to say, but paused...and turned to Aang, "Aang, we can go back to the island and like...go back to our world, right?"

"...I mean...oh! Wait, uh-ahem!" Aang then asked them a question, "W-When is this world's Summer Solstice here?"

"Eh?" Sanji raised his brow, "Um...I think it's today, right?" he looked at either one of the Straw Hats.

"Yes, I think it is," Robin nodded.

"Yep, the calendar says so back on the Sunny," Nami confirmed.

"Yeah," Franky turned to Aang, "Were you thinking that the Summer Solstice here would open that portal thing? Like how the portal on your world sent Ozai here?"

"...Oh..." Aang looked deflated, "Um...yeah...that was...the reason why I asked."

The rest of the Gaang looked and felt a little discouraged about their circumstances...

...But that's until Franky said, "Well, hey! No need to frown, kiddos! I think I know one guy who can help out with your situation!"

Team Avatar looked up at Franky puzzled, yet hopeful.

"Really? Who?" Katara asked him.

"I've been on an island that houses the smartest guy in the whole world here! His name is Dr. Vegapunk, and he's basically a genius scientist who makes a lot of advanced inventions. He can probably help you guys out... I mean, just don't say we're pirates or anything like that." Franky advised them.

"Wait, really?" Sokka asked in interest.

"Oh yeah!" Franky nodded with a grin, "You wouldn't believe all the stuff he makes! He might even have a portal machine for you guys to help you all get back over to your world!"

"Wow..." Zuko blinked, "I mean...I guess we'll take that, right?"

"I mean, yeah, I guess..." Suki says.

"It leaves us some hope, for sure," Katara says.

"A portal machine?" Sokka wondered, "Wow...that's...really groundbreakingly innovative if that's the case."

"Well, hey, that's great!" Aang declared with a grin, "Then, we should probably get going!"

Luffy also grinned, "Alright! We got more fighters in our crew! Shishishi!"

Nami's eyes widened as she remembered something. "Oh wait! We do need to get going! If this Komei guy and his Marine crew are here, then more Marines will be present around here!"

"Oh man! That's right!" Usopp exclaimed. He turned to the Gaang, "Look, if you guys want to come with us, now would be a great time! The Marines are part of the World Government here and they monitor the seas for any pirates that cause trouble! They're going to be our enemies from hereon in, and while we're pirates, the Marines can be sometimes very corrupt and seedy, so they're not as good as some people like to think. If you're serious about trying to get stronger and wanting to go back to your world, then I think now is the time to come on aboard!"

Hearing this info dump, Team Avatar looked at each other warily.

"Um...hold on just a minute," Aang said to the Straw Hats with a nervous smile. He turned to the rest of his friends, whom they all huddled together, and he said quietly, "Okay, just to make sure, we're going to go with these guys, right?"

"I mean, what else do we have to lose?" Zuko said with a shrug, "They seem like nice people so far."

"I can concur with that. Their tones sound like they're honest...if not a little eccentric," Toph advised.

"We were also told to be with them to get stronger," Katara mentioned.

"Yeah, and if what that Franky guy said was true about this Dr. Vegapunk, which sounds like a weird name, but I'm rolling with it, could make a portal machine that goes to our world, then maybe we should go with them, as well as try to get stronger." Sokka nodded to that.

"Still, what will become of our world if we stay here too long?" Suki asked anyone.

They went silent for a moment on that...

"...I think we need to take this leap of faith here," Aang said to his friends seriously.

"Yeah..." Katara nodded, "I mean, we would be foolish not to go with them now, right?"

"I agree," Zuko nodded as well. "Then it's decided?"

"I'm in," said Toph. Momo chattered in agreement on Toph's shoulder.

"Well...we came this far, and we need to get strong, so...I'm all in," Suki nodded.

"Alright then! We're going on another adventure in a new world, with new people who have crazy powers, and try to unlock our Naimen Chi while we're at it! I'm all good at everything on that!" Sokka confirmed with a shrug.

Aang nodded with a confident smile. "Alright. Then it's settled."

They disbanded their huddle and Aang told the Straw Hats, "Okay. We're all in."

Luffy grinned and cheered, "WOOHOOOO! Yeah! We got new temporary crew members!"

"Well alright then!" Usopp smiled, "Welcome to the Straw Hat Crew, guys!"

Nami sighed, but she had a smile on her face, "We're gonna be helping some people from another world to get stronger and try to send them back to their world...yep, just another day for a Straw Hat."

Robin smiled, "This will be really interesting."

Chopper also cheered, "Yaaay! We're getting more friends!"

"Super!" Franky said with a grin and a thumbs up.

"Hm. Okay then," Zoro just nodded.

"Well, I guess I'll be cooking for more people then," Sanji said with a smirk, "Welcome aboard."

"Yoho! This cause for a celebration! How about a nice song!" Brook pulled out a violin and began to play a tune.

But Nami interrupted him, "No, Brook, not now! We got to go!"

"Awww..." Brook hunched over in disappointment.

"Wait!" Katara said out loud to them, "Um, what about Komei and everyone else who worked for him?"

"Yeah, and what about that guy?" Sokka said as he pointed at a slowly recovering Foxy while Porche and Hamburg were lifting him up on his feet.

The Straw Hats and the Gaang looked over at shamed Komei and Dojaku, who were tied up together, while Kansho and other Marines were tied up as well, making it a group of tied-up Marines being at the mercy of the pirates.

Nami shrugged, "Eh. Foxy and his crew can leave them here."

"As for the Foxy Pirates, no worries," Robin said, "Although, I think now would be a good time to say goodbye to them."

"Oh, really?" Luffy asked, "Okay then," he nodded and turned to the Foxy and his pirates, "Hey Foxy! We got to go! Sorry we can't catch up or whatever! We got to help out our new friends!"

Porche and Hamburg looked at Luffy in surprise.

"Wait, what!?" Porche exclaimed in shock.

"Pupu!?" Hamburg also exclaimed in shock.

"Ooooiii..." Foxy moaned.

The two pirates, Porche and Hamburg, got their captain up as Foxy regained his footing.

"Ugh...wh-what happened?" Foxy drowsily asked.

"Hey, Foxy!" Luffy waved at him, "We got to go now. We'll catch up later, okay?"

"Huh? ...Wh-What!?" Foxy's eyes widened and his mouth dropped. "Wait a minute! I lured you and your crew for a reason! I want another Davy Back Fight with you!"

"Hm? A Davy Back Fight? Well..." Luffy thought about it for a moment.

"No, Luffy!" Nami told him, "Remember? Marines? New friends? You don't want to lose your new friends to a Davy Back Fight, do you? We seriously don't have time for this!" she put her hands in a prayer-begging gesture to plead with him.

"Hmm..." Luffy turned his head at a pleading Nami and the rest of the Straw Hats as well as the Gaang. "..." Luffy turned to Foxy and said, "Yeah, sorry, I don't think we got any time to do another one of those Davy Back Fights, as fun as they are."

...Nami...was actually surprised.

...Whoa, hold up. Did he just...LISTENED to me? Nami thought in shock. ...Maybe he has matured a little bit while we were away for two years...huh...

Foxy, however, just froze, stunned that all the hard work they've done to bring the Straw Hats here was all for naught.

"B-But...I-I really wanted a rematch..." Foxy whimpered.

Luffy frowned. "Sorry, Foxy. Nami said so, so we got to leave. Maybe another time when I'm King of the Pirates, okay?"

"..." Nami blinked as she looked at her captain, "...Wow, Luffy, I am seriously impressed with you right now."

"Hey, if we gotta go, we gotta go," Luffy said simply with a shrug.

"Um...right!" Nami nodded and turned her attention to Foxy. "Sorry, Foxy, maybe another time like Luffy said!"

Foxy whimpered as tears came pooling out of his eyes, looking quite sad. "B-But I got everything set up! The games, the location, th-the eating contest-"

"Eating contest!?" Luffy perked up, "Weeeell, maybe we could-"

"OH NO YOU DON'T!" Nami exclaimed as she grabbed his ear and forcefully yanked him away from Foxy.

"ACK! OW! NAMI!" Luffy shouted as he was dragged by his navigator.

"You heard what I said! We're going!" Nami told Luffy as she continued to drag him back to their crew.

The Gaang blinked at the scene playing out.

"...Someone remind me not to get on her bad side," Sokka told anyone.

"Don't worry," Usopp came up to them, "Nami usually steers our Captain to where we need to go at times."

"At times?" Katara asked him.

"...Yeeeah, sometimes he goes with his gut without question. Sure, it got us out on a lot of jams, but they're usually reckless," Usopp said with a sweatdrop as he scratched the side of his head. "But thankfully Nami is taking the initiative here and getting him back on track."

...The Gaang kind of felt...not at ease over that...

"...Well, I ain't gonna back out now." Toph said, "I'm ready to get even stronger, so if any bad guys come at us, then I'm busting some skulls!"

"Well then, we're doing this," Zuko said, a little uneasy.

"I'm sure it won't be all that bad," Katara reassured Zuko and everyone else.

"Hey, we come this far," Sokka shrugged. "Might as well go along with the ride."

"It will be really interesting, though, exploring a new world," Suki said.

"...Well...I guess we're all ready to go," Aang said to Usopp.

Usopp grinned, "Well okay then! Follow me to the Thousand Sunny, our ship!"


- Once Everyone is On the Thousand Sunny -


"Welcome aboard the Thousand Sunny!" Franky said to the Gaang. The Straw Hats were all on it as well, getting ready for their departure.

"Whoa..." Aang blinked as he looked around the ship, Momo now on his shoulder. He and the rest of the Gaang were standing on the lawn deck, taking in their surroundings.

Toph wiggled her toes on the grass on the ship. "...We're...on a ship, right?"

"Yes...yes we are," Sokka said in awe as he looked around the vessel.

"This is...amazing," said a stunned Zuko as he looked at all of his surroundings.

"...You know...I can get used to this," Katara said with a smile.

"Totally," Suki agreed with a smile as well.

"Yep. She's a beaut, ain't she?" Franky said as he grinned, rubbing his nose with his thumb. "Designed and built this ship myself! Well, with a little help, of course."

"Wow...you did an absolutely amazing job here, Franky," Zuko complimented.

"I'll say," Sokka nodded, "Man, can we borrow you for our shipwright?"

Franky laughed, "Aww, shucks!"

Sanji came up to Katara, Toph, and Suki, asking them, "Excuse me ladies, but do you all happen to be famished right now? I can get either one of you something to eat."

The three girls blinked at Sanji, Katara and Suki glancing at each other and Toph, who just stood there dumbfounded.

"I mean...I am getting kind of hungry," Katara said with a smile.

"Do you have anything that's light?" Suki asked Sanji with a sheepish smile.

"You know what? Yeah. I'm kind of starving," Toph shrugged.

"Excellent! What would you all like for me to prepare? I can cook anything you all have a craving for. You said you want something light, Suki?" Sanji politely asked.

"Well, just something with vegetables, is all I'm asking," Suki explained further. "I mean, well, you could probably add something like...maybe bird meat in the vegetables?"

"Um, actually, do you have anything that's...uh, lean in meat?" Katara asked Sanji.

"Yeah, same thing for me on the meat, except I want a little fat on my cut," Toph asked also.

Sanji smiled, "Absolutely. I'm pretty certain we got the right ingredients for all three of you ladies."

Meanwhile, Luffy, Nami, Usopp, Robin, Zoro, Brook, and Chopper were waving out to the Foxy Pirates.

"See ya Foxy! Don't worry, we'll play that Davy Back Fight again someday!" Luffy exclaimed at Foxy.

"Uh, yeah!" Nami called out, her smile looking forced...she then mumbled to Usopp while keeping the forced smile, "I certainly hope not."

Usopp was waving and also forcefully smiling, also mumbling, "Well, we're a lot stronger than them now, so we would've beaten them easily even if we had except their challenge."

Robin chuckled, "Yes, and we don't want to damage their pride even further now, do we?"

"I could care less about their pride. But yeah, that would've been a waste of time if Luffy accepted another Davy Whatever." Zoro mumbled.

"Yoho! I forgot to ask for that Porche woman to show me her panties!" Brook said.

"...Was that necessary, Brook?" Usopp looked at the skeleton with a narrowed-eyed unimpressed look.

"I'm just glad I'm not traded and treated like a stuffed animal anymore by that woman!" Chopper said sigh of relief.

Foxy, though, was crying on Porche's shoulder, while Hamburg patted Foxy's back to comfort him.

"Aww, there there, Captain! I'm certain they'll return!" Porche reassured him.

"Pupu!" Hamburg said.

"Yeah! In fact, we should thank the Straw Hats and those otherworldly people for exposing Komei and his crew! We would have been captured by the Marines! We owe them that much!" Porche told Foxy.

Foxy got his head away from Porche's shoulder and sniffled, "Y-You're right! I-I should thank them at least! In fact...I WILL!"

He rushed over to the seashore and shouted out.

"THANK YOU LUFFY! AND THANK YOU ALIENS FOR SAVING OUR SHIP AND OUR CREW! WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOU ALL! AND DON'T YOU WORRY! WE WILL MAKE SURE THESE MARINES WILL GET SENT BACK PACKING OVER TO THEIR BASE!"

Luffy laughed and shouted out, "SURE THING, FOXY! AND IT WAS NO PROBLEM!"

Aang (with Momo off of his shoulder and now onto Zuko's) went over next to Luffy when he heard Foxy shouting, making him shout out to him, "YEAH! IT WAS NO PROBLEM! IT WAS NICE MEETING YOU GUYS!"

"YES! IT WAS NICE MEETING YOU ALL AS WELL! GOODBYE STRAW HATS! GOODBYE ALIENS! GOODBYYYYE!" Foxy yelled out one final goodbye with a smile on his face, tears full of happiness streaming down his face.

"...Aliens?" Aang blinked.

"Shishishi! Yeah! Who would've thought after Fishman Island, we meet up with that Foxy guy and meet up with real aliens!?" Luffy said with a big smile.

"...Um...what's an alien?"

"Ah, don't worry about it, kid," Nami said with a wave of her hand, "Until then, welcome aboard the Straw Hats, Mr. Avatar!"

Aang blinked once more, but couldn't help but smile as he chuckled and said, "Thank you! We owe you a debt."

"Uh-oh, don't say that to Nami," Usopp joked, "She usually charges a big amount whenever people-OW!"

"Shaddup!" Nami bonked Usopp on the head. "I have standards, ya know!?"

"Shishishi! Hey Franky!" Luffy called out to the cyborg. "Think you can fire another 'coop de burst' so we can get back to where we were in the New World?"

"New World?" Sokka asked out loud to anyone.

"That's the area in the sea where we are right now!" Franky answered Sokka. "And sure thing, Captain! But all of you new people have to hold onto to something, cause this boost of speed is SUPER powerful!"

"Coop de burst?" Zuko wondered.

"Coup de Burst," Robin corrected, "It's a mechanism that shoots the ship forward really fast. Also, Franky is right. You all might need to sit and grab onto something when that happens."

"Uh...okay..." Zuko blinked.

"Hey, where are you girls going?" Sokka asked the three girls of Team Avatar, who were following Sanji to the kitchen.

"Oh, we were just getting something to eat! Sanji is going to cook for us!" Katara told her brother.

"Eat? Cook?" Sokka looked at Sanji with a suspicious look, and Sanji just looked at him blank-faced. He rushed over to the cook and asked him something. "What kind of stuff can you cook?"

Sanji raised an eyebrow. "Just about anything. If you ask me what kind, I can surely make it."

"...Alright then...can you cook a mean slab of meat?"

"I mean, I got a lot of meat in the fridge. Probably two tons of it. If you want me to cook up a steak, I can do it. How do you like it cooked?"

...Sokka blinked, looking dumbfounded, "W-Wait a minute...really? You got two tons of meat here on this ship? And...you can cook it up?"

"Well, yeah. I am a chef, after all."

"...How many degrees on a fire?"

...Sanji blinked. "Uh...look, I'll make this easy: Do you want it rare or well done? The meat?"

"Huh? Uh...well, I just want it perfectly crisp, but still have that warm and good juicy red center with a little marmalade...so...somewhere in the middle?"

"Hm...okay, I'll try medium then." Sanji nodded. Before he could go, Sokka stopped one more time.

"Wait!"

Sanji sighed, "Yes?"

"...If you make this steak the most delicious thing I've ever eaten...then I will forgive you for hitting on my girlfriend." Sokka said seriously.

Suki blushed, while Toph snickered, and Katara rolled her eyes.

"...Okay then." Sanji shrugged and then nodded, not once flinching.

"Hey Sanji! I'm hungry! Can you make us lunch?" Luffy said as he, Aang, Zuko, and the rest of the Straw Hats came up to the group.

"Yeah, sure. I know what you guys, Nami and Robin want, but what would the other two newcomers want?"

Aang and Zuko looked at each other, the former looking back at Sanji and asking, "Uh, can you cook something vegetarian?"

"And, uh, could you cook something...spicy for me?" Zuko awkwardly asked.

Momo also chattered on Zuko's shoulder, as if he wanted to say something.

"Oh, um, do you also have like nuts or something for Momo?" Aang said as he pointed at the lemur-bat.

Sanji smirked, "Yeah, I think I can scrounge up something like that. Everyone follow me."

"You guys go on ahead!" Franky told them. "I'll load up the barrels early for the Coup de Burst, but I won't let it blast us away just yet! Just make me a good ol' burger for me while I'm gone, Sanji!"

Everyone, minus Franky, went to the kitchen to eat, and for the Gaang, to try out Sanji's cuisine.


- After the Meals Are Prepared -


"Woohoo! Time to eat!" Luffy then ate his slab of meat on a bone like a savage.

Usopp was eating his fish and chips, while Nami was eating her roasted duck with mikan sauce, Chopper's eating cotton candy, Zoro was eating white rice with sake, Robin was eating a sandwich, Brook was eating curry, and Franky was back ready to eat that burger.

With the Gaang, Sanji cooked up something good. Aang's meal was a veggie delight, which had steamed broccoli, steamed carrots, and steamed brussel sprouts. Toph had a small cut of prime rib, Zuko had a spicy flounder, Katara had a lean filet mignon, Sokka had a ribeye steak, and Suki had a medley of roasted chicken with steamed string beans, steamed broccoli, and steamed carrots. Momo was sitting at the end of the table, eating his nuts.

Sanji made his dish, some spicy seafood pasta, and sat down in between Aang and Nami.

"Well, bon appetite," Sanji said with a smile at the Gaang.

Team Avatar looked (well, except Toph) at their food and smelled the aroma of their meals.

Toph smelled her food and said one thing.

"Damn. That smells good," she said impressed.

"Yeah..." Aang turned to Sanji, "Thank you so much, Sanji!"

"Eh, no problem. I always feed a person who's hungry," Sanji said as he curled his fork in his pasta.

Sokka looked down at his meat...stunned...

"This...looks and smells wonderful...but...how do we eat this? By hand?"

"Eh? You don't know how to use a fork and knife?" Sanji asked him in disbelief.

"Wait, seriously?" Usopp asked as he overheard.

"Really? You don't have eating utensils where you're from?" Nami asked them.

"Eating utensils?" Katara questioned, "Um...we eat with chopsticks..."

"Yeah, uh, kind of like what...Zoro, is it?" Zuko asked Zoro.

Zoro paused his sake drinking as he wiped his mouth with his sleeve, "Yeah. That's me."

"Uh, yeah, kind of like what Zoro is using to eat his rice," Zuko finished.

"Really? Interesting," Robin blinked, "That sounds something like the people of Wano would use."

"Wano?" Suki wondered.

"It's a land in the New World," Brook explained, "It's an isolated nation where there are strong warriors called samurai that guard the border to keep outsiders out."

"Oh..." Aang looked down at the eating utensils, which were a fork and a knife. "...Uh, how do you use these, actually?"

Luffy swallowed his piece of meat and said, "You don't know how to use a fork and knife? Shishishi! Come on, it's not that hard!" he then grabbed a fork and a knife and proceeded to cut a piece of meat with the knife as he held the meat with the fork. Once cutting it, he inserted the fork of food in his mouth and ate it. "See?"

"Yeah! Kind of like that!" Usopp said, "...Now if only Luffy would eat just how he did it." he muttered.

"Oh..." Katara looked down at her filet mignon. Looking at her fork and knife, she picked them up and did exactly like Luffy had done it. Cutting a piece of meat from her steak and bringing it up to her mouth...

...First and foremost, she jolted at the wonderful taste she witnessed.

"Katara?" Zuko asked, a little worried.

"..." Katara swallowed her meat, "...That was the best bite of meat I've ever eaten."

Sokka looked at Katara, "For real?"

"Sokka, if it's the same as mine, try it. Now," Katara told him.

Sokka blinked and looked down at his eating utensils. Picking up the fork and the knife, he began to cut the meat, which was so tender, it cut like butter, and picked it up with his fork and put it up to his mouth, but first smelled it...and then put it in his mouth and chewed it.

...He froze...

...He swallowed the piece of meat...

...He got up and went to Sanji, who was confused at this point.

And then...Sokka gave him a hug.

...Everyone just looked at this oddly. To the Straw Hats, to Sokka's friends, to his sister, and to his girlfriend.

Zoro, however, was snickering.

Sanji, though, was struck dumb.

"...Um...can I help you?" Sanji asked him, feeling a little weirded out by this type of intimacy.

"...No...you helped me far enough. Thank you...thank you for this wonderful meaty meal," Sokka said, almost like he was about to cry. "I now forgive you..."

"...Uuuh...okay...great...that's...yeah, that-...o-okay, please stop hugging me, this is very uncomfortable and awkward," Sanji told him.

"Hold on, just one last hug here," Sokka squeezed him into a hug and patted him on the back. He let go, with his hands on Sanji's shoulders, and said, "You're doing High Spirit's work, sir."

"...Um...High Spirit?" Sanji was now confused.

Zuko blinked and turned to Katara, "Wow. I'm gonna go on a limb and say your brother has a new best friend."

Katara snorted, "Uh, yeah. He's really serious about his meat."

"Oh gosh, Sokka," Suki put a hand on her face as she shook her head.

As Sokka went back to his seat, now content with eating his meal, Aang blinked at all of this, but then saw that Toph hadn't used her eating utensils as she just...sat there...

"...Uh, Toph?"

Toph turned her head to 'look' at Aang.

"...Do you, uh...want me to help you cut your..." Aang asked, looking down at the piece of...meat...he felt a little uneasy when he now thought about it, as he realized that he would be...cutting a dead animal. "...Uh, would you want me to cut your...food?"

Then, Sanji, who noticed this also, remembered that Toph couldn't see. "Oh cra-cr-crud! My apologies! I should've cut those pieces for you! Excuse my careless mistake, it won't happen again, little lady!" He then got Aang's fork and knife and went in between Aang and Toph and cut her piece of prime rib.

"Wha-hey!" Aang said, surprised.

"Huh? Wha-whoa, hey, it's okay, I-" Toph managed to say.

"No, it's unacceptable for a cook of my stature to not acknowledge that a lady such as yourself can't see your food! I sincerely apologize!" Sanji said as he cut up pieces of the meat. "Oh what am I doing!? Hold on, let me just get this back in the kitchen and I'll cut it into bite sizes! I am SO sorry!" And with that, Sanji got her plate and went back over to the kitchen.

...Everyone just sat there in silence for a moment while Sanji was cutting the meat in the kitchen...

...But as soon as Luffy took another bite of his meat, and Sokka took another bite of his meat, they all just went back to eating...

...Except for Aang, Toph, Zuko, Katara, Suki, Nami, Robin, and Usopp.

"...Well, uh...that happened," Aang said.

Nami giggled, "Yeah, Sanji is like that when it comes to women. It makes ordering him around easier."

"Well...he certainly made some good food here," Katara said as she looked down at her food with a smile. She cut through another slice of meat and ate it, humming in delight.

Zuko, curious how his food might taste, got his fork and knife and cut through the flounder. Putting it in his mouth, he chewed it and let the flavors explode on his tongue...

...He swallowed and said in a soft amazed tone. "This is the best fish I've ever eaten."

Suki, who tried her meal, hummed in delight as well. "Yeah, mine is delicious! This is the best meal I ever had!"

Robin chuckled, "Well, do tell Sanji. He's very good with his craft."

"I'll tell ya one thing, I think Sokka and Luffy would get along really well with their love of meat!" Usopp joked.

Sokka looked up at Luffy, which Luffy looked at Sokka.

They both looked at each other...

"...Are you gonna eat that?" Luffy said to Sokka.

"Huh!? What!? Of course I am!" Sokka shielded his food away from Luffy.

"...Or not," Usopp sweatdropped.

Then, Sanji came back and set the dish in front of Toph. "Here you go, young lady."

"Uh...um, thanks..." Toph 'looked' at the cut pieces of prime rib and picked up a piece with just her fingers. She popped it in her mouth...and her sightless eyes widened. "...Oh...this is good."

"Wonderful! I'm glad I aim to please!" Sanji said with a smile.

"Uh, yeah, um...thanks, Sanji," Aang said, a little dumbfounded.

"No prob," Sanji said as he sat down in his seat to eat his meal. "Don't let your food get cold, though."

"...Right..." Aang looked at Toph and saw that she was picking up her food with her fingers and popping the pieces in her mouth. "...I-I was gonna out help ya know."

Toph swallowed her piece. "Oh, uh, hey, no problem. Sanji did a good job with this."

"You're quite welcome, little lady!" Sanji said with a goofy smile.

Zoro snorted. "Sheesh, you are a weirdo."

"WHAT WAS THAT, MARIMO HEAD!?"

"You heard me."

"WANT TO FIGHT HERE AND NOW!?"

"Yeah, sure, why not!? I'm about ready to kick your ass after your shitty meal!"

"THEN LET'S GO-!"

BWAM! BWAM!

...Nami bonked on the heads of Sanji and Zoro.

"Not at the dinner table!" Nami told them.

...While the rest of the Straw Hats were eating, and while Zoro and Sanji were knocked out for a little bit, the Gaang looked on at all the spectacle that is mealtime at the Sunny.

Momo just looked at what happened...and kept on eating.

"..." Toph blinked, while Katara and Suki looked at Toph a little curiously.

Sokka was still eating his steak, while Zuko was dumbstruck at how insane this whole thing was.

Aang cleared his throat and began to eat his food.

Each of them had their thoughts.

...I think Toph has a boyfriend~! Suki thought with a smirk. Or maybe...two boyfriends? I see what Aang was doing.

...Did Aang just offer to cut Toph's meal up for her? That's...nice...but why would he say that? I mean, of course he's next to her, and it was the friendly thing to do, but...hmmm… Katara thought in curiosity.

Wow...here I am in another world with a weird set of people eating their admittedly delicious food...but I at least still have my friends... Zuko glanced at Katara, who was in thought. ...Yeah...at least I'm with...people I care about... He smiled a little bit.

Man, this steak is phenomenal! I got to ask Sanji how he made this! I need the recipe or something! ...That Luffy is really eyeing my steak pretty intently... Sokka thought as he was on full alert.

...Wow. That was nice of Sanji...granted, I could've done it myself. I mean, I don't need anyone to help me out too much or see me as some blind girl...but when he did it, it felt...nice...even though Twinkles was asking first...huh...why did Twinkletoes ask if he could cut my meal? Toph sat there in thought. ...Well, either way, that was nice of...Aang...

...she just picked up another piece of meat and popped it in her mouth.

Aang, though, was also thinking...

That Sanji guy didn't have to do that. I was doing that...I-I mean, as a friend! Y-Yeah, as a friend...my good, good, good friend...who's a girl...a very...attractive girl...

...

...Spirits, just eat your food.

And thus they ate in musical harmony...


- After the Meal -


The Straw Hats, minus Franky, Usopp, Zoro, and Sanji, and the Gaang were all in the Aquarium Bar, which amazed Team Avatar to no end. The Gaang were also wearing more casual clothes, as the Straw Hats let them wear some of them for a change.

"Wow! Look, Sokka!" Suki said as she pointed at strange-looking fishes that were swimming around.

"Whoa! Man, you guys got everything!" Sokka said as he looked at the aquarium in awe.

Katara, with Momo on her shoulder, looked at the aquarium with wonder. Zuko was also next to her as he looked at the fish as well.

"Wow...I think I can get used to this," Zuko told her.

"Yeah...tell me about it," Katara said as she glanced at Zuko with a smile.

Zuko smiled back at her.

Meanwhile, Brook was playing the violin and singing.

"Oooooh, mi oh so de quantooo~!"

Luffy was making certain impressions of the Straw Hats and letting Aang and Toph guess them.

"Oh, oh! Try to guess this one!" Luffy closed his left eye and had a scowl on his face and a low voice. "Eh? Where am I?"

Aang blinked and Toph crossed her arms under her chest to think about it.

"Uh, the only-" Aang began to say, but was interrupted by Toph.

"Shh! I want to figure this out without any details." Toph shushed Aang.

"Uh...but you haven't seen them, Toph." Aang told her.

"I know what I said."

But then, a hoove poked her on the side.

"Hm?" Toph 'looked' at the person next to her, which was Chopper.

Chopper pulled her arm gently down and put a hood next to his mouth and quietly said next to Toph's ear.

"Who sounds more gruff?" Chopper whispered the hint.

"Hmm...oh!" Toph stood back up and said, "Zoro?"

Luffy went back to himself. "Aww, come on, Chopper! You're making it too easy for them!" he pouted.

"I'm just giving them hints!" Chopper told him.

"Hey, I could've given out hints," Aang said to Toph with a frown.

"Okay then, I'll let you try next time, Twinkletoes," Toph shrugged.

"Twinkletoes!?" Luffy and Chopper exclaimed in surprise. Then they all bust out laughing.

"Hahaha! That's a funny name! Twinkletoes! Hahaha!" Chopper laughed.

"Yeah! Shishishi!" Luffy also laughed.

Feeling a little embarrassed, Aang pouted and crossed his arms indignantly.

Toph just chuckled and said, "Yeah, I got a million of them. I can even give you guys some nicknames if you want me to."

"Oh! Oh! Me, me!" Chopper jumped up and down.

"Okay! How about...Squeaky?"

"Squeaky? Hmm...I guess that's okay!" Chopper nodded.

"Oh, what about me!?" Luffy asked her.

"Hmm...how about Cap? Short for Captain?"

"Cap, huh? Nice! I like it! Shishishi!" Luffy smiled.

Nami giggled, "You know, Robin used to give us names too when she first joined."

"Oh yes," Robin nodded with a smile, "But now that I'm more acquainted with the crew, I call them by their names now."

"Oh, oh, oh! What would you call Nami and Robin, Toph!?" Luffy asked her.

Toph turned to Nami and Robin, "Hmm...well, for one, I guess I would call Robin 'Smooth Talker', cause she talks in a very calm manner."

Robin chuckled. "Oh my. That's an interesting nickname."

"And as for Nami..." Toph thought hard on that one, "Hmm...I would maybe call her 'Boss Lady'."

Nami blinked. "...Wow. Damn," she smirked, "I think we're gonna get along just fine, Toph."

"Hey, you got a lot of spunk, Boss," Toph put her fist out to Nami, and Nami gladly fist bumped Toph's fist.

"So is Aang 'Twinkletoes' cause he has tiny toes?" Luffy asked Toph.

"Wha-no! It's just that, w-well, I-"

"He's light on his feet," Toph finished for Aang, "The first thing I noticed about him when we first met. He's basically my first-ever friend."

"...Yeah..." Aang smiled at Toph, even though she couldn't see it.

But Toph felt the smile and smiled back.

"Alright! Coup de Burst is ready to go!" Franky yelled out at the speaker on the mast. "Get ready to hold onto something!"

Once the announcement was made, the Gaang, Luffy, Nami, Robin, Chopper, and Brook all sat in their seats.

"Three...two...one!"

BWOOOOOOSH!

Everyone yelled out in shock, excitement, and a little bit of fear as they soared over the sea and back to their destination...

And this...was the start of Team Avatar's new journey...with the Straw Hat Pirates!


Yeah! Alright! Just in time for Christmas! XD Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Hope everyone has a great holiday with loved ones and family! :D

Now, don't worry, the next chapter WILL be the start of the Punk Hazard arc! Believe me, things will get different here, so be prepared! ;D But do tell me if the interactions with the Straw Hats and the Gaang are any good? :) Please do give me a review! Oh! And give me a fave and a follow when you can! :D

Thank you all for reading and keep on rocking everybody! :)

(Also, LOVED THE LIVE-ACTION OF ONE PIECE! 8D )

-TSP