The world around Luffy faded away after he took his seat on top of the Merry's head. He sat there looking out at sea, his mind playing back moments from his own timeline. His hat was shadowing his eyes as he remembered both the good and bad times. All the adventures he and his friends and crew had. All the laughs, the tears, the fun, the sorrow, and all that they did to make theirs and each other's dreams come true. His eyes hardened as he thought of those who fought against him and his crew. All those years in Impel Down were spent in sorrow for his crew and friends, each of them who were killed by Akainu and the World Government. But it was also because of those years hating Akainu, and the only news from the outside he heard was of someone he cared for being killed, that all thoughts of Blackbeard had been pushed so far back into his mind that he practically forgot about him. He was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he didn't hear the footsteps approaching.
"Luffy?" Nami called to him. She and everyone else, minus Usopp who was in the crow's nest, were out on deck behind him with concern in their eyes. "Luffy? Please answer me."
"Hmm?" Luffy said as he turned his head slightly to see them. "Oh. Hi guys. Something wrong?"
"That's our line." Alvida said. "You've been sitting there for hours."
"Are you sick Luffy?" Chopper asked. "Is that why you're not hungry?"
"No. Just...thinking is all." Luffy said. "Anyway, what's up?"
"We're close to Jaya." Nami said. "The winds have stabilized."
"Oh." Luffy said as he looked ahead. "Jaya." he muttered as Blackbeard came to his mind and his hands clenched into fists.
"Something wrong with Jaya Luffy?" Nojiko asked.
"Yeah." Luffy said before three seagulls hit the deck, with one of them twitching in pain.
"AHHH!" Chopper shouted as he examined them. "They've been shot!"
"Shot? From where? I didn't hear any gunshots." Gin said.
"This is a bullet!" Chopper said as he pulled a bullet out of one of the seagulls. "See? And from the trajectory, they came from the direction we're heading!"
"Can't be." Usopp said. "They'd have to have really good aim, a really good gun, and be an expert marksman."
"Usopp." Luffy said. Usopp turned to him as he said, "Shots like that are possible. I've seen it." Usopp blinked in awe at his words, knowing Luffy couldn't be lying, even if his tone wasn't serious.
"They whoever it was that shot those birds is gonna be on Jaya?" Valerie asked.
"Yeah." Luffy said before Usopp spotted something with his telescope.
"I see an island!" he shouted. Everyone then dispersed, with Nami giving him one more glance before telling the others what to do. They slowly sailed towards the island before a few of them began admiring how it looked.
"Looks like a resort!" Usopp said from the rail after climbing down the mast.
"Really? I've been wanting to find a place to relax for a while." Nami said.
"I don't think we'll have that chance." Alvida said as she looked at the other boats in the harbor.
"Those are all pirate ships." Valerie said as she looked at the various Jolly Rogers on said boats.
"Can't be." Nami said with a forced laugh. "You guys are just imagining-"
"HELP ME! I DON'T WANNA DIE!" someone from inside the town screamed.
"What's wrong with this town?!" Chopper, Nami, and Usopp cried while Carue quacked in fear.
"Guess we better hope to find Masira, and fast." Nojiko said as everyone began to decide where they would go. Robin went to find information on her own. The ones who would stay with the ship were Sanji, Usopp, Chopper, Grace, Carue, Alvida, and Nojiko. The ones who went into Mock Town were Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Valerie, Vivi, Johnny, Yosaku, and Gin.
"So, where to first?" Zoro asked as Vivi wore hardened candy mask that covered all by her eyes with the help of her powers. Luffy's attire was his usual red vest, blue shorts, and sandals. Zoro's remained the same as usual as well. Valerie left her yellow cap on the ship and wore a bright yellow crop top with a lemon design on it that exposed much of her breasts and belly, her white heels and earrings, her umbrella, and low riding white shorts that hugged her ass and exposed much of her legs. Vivi's was much simpler with her blue tank top, white shoes, and blue jean pants. Gin's outfit was the same except his shirt, which was now a maroon color. Johnny and Yosaku's outfits were the same as always, and Nami was a white top with thin blue stripes and orange skirt with rings on her hips with her gladiator sandals. "And what's with the mask Vivi?"
"After that incident in Ruluka, Vivi can't risk leaving the ship without a disguise." Nami said before glaring at the boys. "You boys have to promise that you won't fight at all while we're here."
"Why? Everyone else is." Gin said as he moved his head to avoid a flying bottle.
"Because if we get kicked out, then we'll never find Masira." Nami said. "Although, it would be much easier if Luffy here told us where to go."
"Why?" Luffy asked. "If I give away all the answers, then it'll be a boring adventure."
"He's got you there Nami." Zoro said before she gave the both of them big lumps on the head.
"Promise you won't fight!" she yelled.
"We promise we won't fight." the men all groaned.
"While we're here, let's see if we can get some provisions and such." Valerie suggested.
"It'll give us an excuse to spend some of that money we've got." Gin said.
"And give us back the Men's bedroom." Yosaku complained.
"I don't know how you can sleep on all that Big Sis Nami." Johnny said.
"Fine." Nami sighed. "But at least spend it on something we'll need."
"WIIIHAHAHA!" Luffy stopped in his tracks at that laugh, making the others bump into him.
"Something wrong Luffy?" Vivi asked as Luffy eyed the laughing muscle man standing on a roof, nothing but hatred in his eyes. The others followed his vision and saw him as well.
"Who's that guy?" a random passerby asked.
"Dunno, but he keeps calling himself a Wrestling Champion." the other said.
"Champion?" Zoro said as he and the others glared at the man.
"Don't even think about fighting him!" Nami yelled before she dragged them all away. They kept on walking before sick man with a pale purpleish complexion fell in front of them.
"Who's this guy?" Gin asked.
"Sorry.*Hic* I fell off my horse." the man slurred.
"We'll help you up." Johnny said as he and Yosaku hoisted him onto his horse.
"Thanks for your help." he said. "Let's go, Stronger." Sadly, the horse fell over as well.
"The horse too?" asked the men as they slapped the air.
"What's wrong with this guy?" Valerie asked as the man held up a basket full of apples.
"For helping me out. Help*Hic* yourselves." he said.
"You think that we're dumb or something? Who accepts apples from some random stranger?" Surprisingly, Gin's stomach growled as he looked at the apples. "Are you serious?"
"Can't help being hungry." Gin said as he reached for one before a nearby explosion got their attention. They listened to the people shouting about some people eating apples from some strange guy before they exploded. "Then again, it could just be gas."
"Shame. Fate may have favored you." said the man before he and his horse moved.
"That guy was a weirdo." Yosaku said.
"Be careful." Luffy warned. "He and that Champion guy are crewmates, and they're both dangerous."
"Let me guess. We met them in your timeline?" Valerie asked.
"Yeah." Luffy said. "And up until I heard the name Jaya, I completely forgot about them and their captain. Blackbeard."
"Blackbeard?" Nami said. "Wasn't that the guy that ransacked Chopper's home?"
"The same guy that your brother Ace is looking for?" Vivi asked.
"Yes. And he's very dangerous." Luffy said. "We can't fight him until we get stronger, so don't cross him."
"Geez. If Brother Luffy says we can't win, they gotta be pretty tough." Johnny said.
"What's the guy look like?" Yosaku asked.
"A fat, hairy ape with missing teeth." Luffy said as they walked on.
-Back at the ship-
Alvida was sitting in a lawnchair relaxing, Sanji was wondering what to make for lunch, Usopp and Chopper made minor repairs wherever they were needed on the Merry, Grace was finishing a painting of the Rainbow Mist that they had left behind the other day, Nojiko was tending to the tangerine trees, and Carue was looking at the town with a sad face.
"Quack!" Carue quacked.
"What he say?" Usopp asked.
"He says 'I hope Vivi's okay in town'." Chopper translated.
"Don't worry." Alvida said as she looked at Carue. "She'll be alright. Luffy's with her, remember?"
"And Nami'll keep the boys in line." Nojiko added.
"I'd have made it much more romantic if I was with her. "Sanji sighed before the faint sound of cymbols were clanging in the distance, with the word 'Salvage' being sung.
"Is that?!" Usopp and Chopper said in unison.
-With Luffy's group-
Luffy and his friends walked into a more quiet and luxurious part of Mock Town, soaking in the view and better looking buildings around them.
"Nice place!" Johnny said as they walked around.
"Maybe we can stay here for the night, then hit Sky Island tomorrow!" Yosaku suggested.
"A little too quiet for my taste." Gin said.
"You okay Luffy?" Valerie asked. "You've been either quiet or angry."
"Excuse me!" came a panicked voice. Everyone turned to see a little man with wide eyes and a tiny black moustache approach them while rubbing his hands together and swaying side to side while sweating.
"Is something wrong, sir?" Vivi asked.
"I do apologize, but I'm afraid that the entire Tropical Hotel has been rented out to the Bellamy Party!" said the man as he swayed. "Because of this, I'm afraid that we cannot accept any other patrons, so I must ask to all to leave immediately!"
"So, this is a hotel?" Zoro asked.
"Who's Bellamy?" Valerie asked.
"Please sirs! I'm begging of you-"
"What's going on here?!" yelled a voice, terrifying the owner as two figures walked in. All but Luffy looked to see a man with blue hair and a purple vizor over his eyes walk in alongside a curvy blonde with a red bandana and sunglasses.
"Mr. Sarquiss!" yelled the panicked owner. "W-Welcome back!"
"Who let these losers in?" complained the woman. "We paid good money to rent this place, so throw them out!"
"What's with the mask?" Sarquiss laughed as he looked Vivi. "Oh, I get it. Embarrassed to be seen with your current company?"
"This guy's getting on my nerves." Gin said as he reached for his tonfa.
"FORGET IT!" Nami yelled.
"What? You think you can take me little man?" Sarquiss laughed before reaching into his pocket and pulling out whatever little pocket money he had and threw it at their feet. "Take this and get some new clothes."
"Come on Sarquiss." Lily laughed while all but Luffy glared at the two of them. "You don't need to waste money on these poor fools!"
"You're right!" Sarquiss laughed. "I can find plenty of better uses for it! Like in a ditch!"
"Keep you're dirty money." Valerie said as she and the others walked away. Sarquiss and Lily only grinned as they joined their crewmates in the hotel.
"Careful around that guy with the Straw Hat, Sarquiss." said one of his crew as he handed him Luffy's wanted poster. "His bounty's higher than yours."
"48,000,000? For that little runt?" Sarquiss asked. "Bellamy needs to see this."