A/N: Please enjoy this chapter, I have a few prewritten that I'm going to be releasing throughout this month as I write both the next few and my Master's thesis. I'm almost done my second draft, and fingers crossed that my supervisor likes it enough that I can move on to revisions.
Luffy was a pretty good secret keeper normally, especially if the secret was something that could get someone killed. Like Ebony being an Outlier, or Ace's bio dad being who he was. But this wasn't exactly a secret he wanted to keep; both he and Ace knew that his grandfather had mourned their brother just as much as they had. And if Luffy was able to surprise him, then even better. It was good news, after all.
The look on his grandfather's face was almost comical, but he could see tears gathering at the corners of his eyes.
Garp knew that Luffy didn't like lying, and he certainly wouldn't lie about something like this.
The fact that his brother was still alive.
And besides, it's not like Sabo would tell Gramps that he hadn't been the one to tell him and that Ebony had been, but he certainly Sabo wasn't going to say that in front of his gramps though, despite how much he loved the man, he was still a Marine Vice-Admiral.
"Sabo's alive?"
Garp was incredibly quiet, almost whispering, but Luffy turned a megawatt and completely understanding smile, knowing the emotional rollercoaster that his grandfather was currently going through.
"Yeah! Dad saved him, but he forgot everything. But he found us again, apparently rescued Ace from drowning."
His gramps laughed at that, "I suppose he's the only one of you lot that can now jump into the ocean to save the others after Ace ate that stupid fruit."
Usopp, experiencing a moment of bravery interjected.
"Sorry to ask, but who exactly is your dad?"
His grandfather answered before he was able to, "Monkey D. Dragon!"
Shock entered the room, as well as the outside marines, whom all faulted. (Bogard was as usual the exception, Luffy didn't think he had ever seen that man with anything other than a scowl or smirk on his face, and he was very rarely not at his grandfathers side. He'd been babysat a few times by the man when he was a child, and had generally decent feelings about him.)
"I wasn't supposed to say that! Forget that!"
The order went down as well as expected, as everyone except Luffy, Ebony, Garp and Bogard fell down in shock. Ebony was covering her face, as though trying not to laugh. He could see redness creeping up his grandfathers neck, and knew that he genuinely hadn't meant to say that.
It was at times like these that Luffy was reminded of how similar he and his grandfather could be. He also noticed that they had strayed away from Sabo, which could only mean that gramps was planning to hunt him down and lovingly interrogate him about his life up until that point.
The rest of the time that the crew spent with his grandfather, and his particular group of marines was less tense, but considering that his gramps had said that he wasn't going to arrest them all there wasn't a worry of getting captured.
His grandfather was good like that, even if Luffy knew for sure that they would be running for their lives as soon as they got a ship again.
It was day five of waiting for their ship to be built, and we could all tell that Luffy was getting a little impatient. He didn't do the waiting around thing very well, but considering the circumstances he was doing exceedingly well.
Rebuilding the Going Merry when she was practically falling apart, and had holes in her was going to be difficult, every single one of us knew that, but from Merry's own instructions that if they just built a new ship in the same manner, but with Treasure Adams Wood and put her figure head on it as a transport vessel or second ship. According to the workers of Galley-La and the Franky Family, work on both the Thousand Sunny and the Going Merry II was going exceedingly well and happening very fast.
It honestly freaked me out a little bit, purely because ships or anything really would never, ever be built that quickly without corners being cut or safety measures being completely and utterly obliterated.
I had just come back from picking up the brand new trench knives that I had commissioned, made from a new metal that was apparently on the market, and seastone. I'd also managed to scrounge up enough money to buy a set of seastone bullets for Bailey since she had at one point been interested in using pistols as a means of self defence, and the tip of a spear head for Saalem. I wasn't entirely sure as to what traditional Vulcan weaponry was, but I hoped that it would be useful nonetheless for him, even if to melt down and to commission something useful for himself. I knew Ulpia had hear own weapons on her, but I hoped that she would at least appreciate the dagger that I'd bought her.
Alongside my own gifts, there was also Luffy and Usopp's to send off. Melkor was going to be busy with delivering letters, so I was going to have to ship them off with a courier from Water 7. There was a post office nearby the weapons store, so I had ducked in there before going back to the hotel.
Kokoro was talking to Nami about the next island, which happened to be Fishman Island, making her turn to me directly whilst Sanji fantasised in the background. I threw a shoe at him; if I could stop him, even a little bit from going complete lovesick pervert, then I would. He wouldn't be Sanji if he wasn't lovesick. He pouted as he turned to me, but seeing as how I wasn't going to do anything more, he went back to what he was doing, though had toned it down a fraction.
Maybe it would work yet.
"I thought you said something about the Florian Triangle?"
Nami had turned around to me, waving a map in the air, slightly frazzled.
Kokoro laughed, "You're well informed Ebony!"
Wasn't so much well informed, I just knew that's where Brook was.
"Every year ships go missing in there, right? And when ships come back out, their crews are completely gone?"
"That's it! There are stories, legends really of ghosts and skeletons upon ghost ships. It's about the time of year that all happens, so be careful when passing through."
"Why is it always ghosts?" Usopp and Chopper were hanging onto each other for what seemed to be dear life, trying very hard to comfort each other from their own fears.
It didn't take long after that for Kiwi and Mozu of the Franky Family to show up, saying that the ships had been completed, or more specifically that Franky's ship of dreams had been completed and that the Going Merry II wasn't far off.
As we were leaving, we ran into some members of the Franky Family who were now begging us to take Franky with us now that he had a bounty, meaning it would be difficult for him to stay in Water 7, with some even tearfully commenting that he would be able to fulfil his dream now that he would be no longer tied down to Water 7. Apparently either our updated bounties hadn't come out, or the Franky Family didn't have access to them just yet, as they weren't thrown at our feet like in the canon timeline.
Luffy looked at me, a question in his eyes, and a not so subtle amount of fear and apprehension. "Will we have to do this Robins way or Merry's?"
"If she's awake, I'm voting Merry. If she's still asleep, then we'll have to do it Robin's way."
The men of the crew shuddered, and not so subtly covered their nether regions.
It didn't take us long to make it to where they had been building the Thousand Sunny, and the Going Merry II to the exact specifications that the original Merry had built her to.
The Going Merry's little klabautermann sitting on the railing of her newly rebuilt ship, swinging her legs. She was holding a small bundle in her arms, looking down at it with a joy and wonder that could only really see on new parents.
The Going Merry II was sitting in an alcove beneath the hull of a much larger ship that was covered with an incredibly large sheet that had barely managed to cover the ship beneath it from view.
"Hello everyone! Ready to set sail?"
Luffy laughed his usual laugh, "Almost ready! Sanji and Zoro are bringing with them the rest of our stuff!"
He looked around, not seeing the one potential crew member that he was looking for. "Where's Franky?"
"Flunky's already on board, just finishing off some tinkering."
I hadn't noticed the lounging Iceburg, who was looking healthier than he had been previously.
The crew members that were there all looked towards Merry, who was grinning slightly evilly.
"What did you do?"
She cackled, a mixture of Luffy's shishishi and a laugh that I didn't recognise, more than likely the original Merry who had built her.
"I convinced him!"
Iceburg shuddered, as if remembering exactly how Merry had convinced his brother to board the ship that they'd built together in parts.
"How?"
"You don't want to know." "Secret!"
Iceburg and Merry looked at each other, as though vowing to never speak of this again.
I knew that Merry was going to enjoy keeping secrets from me, even when I wasn't able to keep a single secret from her.
Turning to Iceburg, I couldn't help but comment.
"Glad to see you're doing well."
He nodded in thanks, "It's all good. It was half way decent to be working with my brother again at least."
A voice could be heard shouting in the distance, "LUFFY! WE'VE GOT TO GET GOING! YOUR CRAZY GRANDFATHER IS GEARING UP TO ATTACK US!"
After we had boarded the ship and got it out onto open water, running from Monkey D. Garp and managing the Thousand Sunny's first Coup de Burst, we had a moment to take a deep breath and actually breath.
So much had happened in the last few days, not even really giving us time to properly sit and read a newspaper.
Considering we had only really a short amount of time to properly explore the ship, the majority of the crew were exploring, though I had joined Sanji in his new kitchen space, needing to have a look over the newly released bounty posters and to see if there was anything remotely useful within the newspaper.
"What are you doing Ebony?"
Luffy, clearly following both his nose and stomach, had wandered into the kitchen with a large grin on his face, obviously happy with how everything was going.
"Just going through the latest bounty posters, particularly for future reference. We may have to form an alliance with one or two of them in the future, even if it's just temporarily."
I said that just as I lifted up the bounty poster of Trafalgar Law. He was just as formidable looking as I had remembered, all though there was a deadness to his eyes that gave me chills. It seemed as though whatever plans he had for killing Doflamingo were going badly at this point in time. Hopefully I could get my captain to think about an alliance in the future, before Punk-Hazard.
"He looks strong!"
By this point Luffy had come down and sat next to me and was rummaging through the posters I had set aside already. He was, however pointing at the bounty I had in my hand.
"He does, doesn't he?" I chuckled, knowing how true this statement was. "Did you need something, captain?"
He shook his head, "Nah, just wanted to see what you were up to. And whatever Sanji is cooking smells great, as always!"
"I know it does. Is that pizza, Sanji?"
The chef turned to the pair of us with a grin that would light up a room, "It is! I'm making one for each of us."
Luffy pouted, "That's only a snack, Sanji!"
Sanji sighed, "For you, but for most people its a whole damn meal."
The seventeen year old wouldn't stop pouting at his chef, who shook his head and pointed at one of the ovens that was clearly turned on and had something inside.
"There's a Water-Water Meat BBQ in there for you, and the others if they want it."
Luffy lit up, mouth open and drooling. To be fair to him, it was one of the tastiest things that I had eaten in a while and I couldn't wait to see what Sanji's take on it was.
"Just save some for me, yeah?"
Turning back to me, Luffy nodded. "Just a small bit!"
I laughed, "I know, I know."
"Oi! Shitty rubber, if Ebony wants more than a little bit, she can have more than a little bit."
"Sanji, you know damn well we can't get between Luffy and anything made of meat."
The other blond sighed, "Your right. If you like it though, I'll be making more of it sometime during the week whilst we still have some of the meat available."
"Fair enough."
After that, Luffy and Sanji were chatting (also known as Luffy annoying Sanji by constantly asking when lunch would be ready, and Sanji trying to fend off the meat fiend from sticking his rubbery hands into the oven before things were actually ready to be eaten). During all of this, I was sorting through the almost excessive pile of bounties and news articles before I ran across the set that I was actually looking for. The Straw Hats updated bounties, as well as any and all new ones.
I was going to wait until lunch was ready, and we were all sitting at the table before showing them off. At least we knew one of them, Franky's own, which was a respectable first bounty. Although, it surprised me in that moment that Spandam hadn't managed to get Franky a bounty before that.
I found a new bounty for Eustass 'Captain' Kidd and 'Massacre Soldier' Killer, and knew that this was the release of the Supernova's bounties before they all somehow made it to Sabaody all at one time.
"Those are certainly some names," Zoro had come into the kitchen, looking for a bottle of sake before getting knocked back by Sanji, who muttered something about him needing to at least wait for lunch. "Wonder how they got them."
He picked up Killer's, examining the list of crimes. "Sure I could take him."
I laughed, "You probably could, but it would be a pretty close fight."
He turned to me, grinning the devils grin. "That's what would make it fun, though."
"Just as long as you don't lose."
Zoro laughed, "I wouldn't. I promised my Captain."
Luffy, hearing his title turned around. "What are we talking about?"
"Just Kidd and Killer."
He tilted his head, "You mentioned Kidd at one point, didn't you? Something about him not being important?"
If Kidd ever knew that he wasn't important, I was probably going to end up dead. He certainly wasn't shy about murder.
"Yeah, he's become important now, at least to the World Government. A bit of a menace to society, though probably not as much as us. He's going to be relevant in the near future, and it's always a good idea to know our peers in piracy so to speak."
"Shishishi! Bet they haven't declared war on the World Government, though."
"Not yet." I couldn't help but mutter, though I had no idea if they ever would. Law was probably the closest one to doing so. Though it wouldn't surprise me if the rest of the Worst Generation did so, even Blackbeard. Bonney maybe? She had something going on, but whatever it was I'd come into this world before I learnt of it. It definitely had something to do with Kuma though, considering she was playing at being a widow? A bereaved parent? I couldn't quite remember what it was, though why else would she sneak into the land of moronic wannabe gods, and slavers without a single ounce of backup?
As the others made their way into the kitchen, and Sanji put the food out onto the table, I stood up, causing the others to look in my direction with curiosity in their eyes.
"I figured I'd put on a show with this, so new bounties."
Luffy cheered, as Robin politely clapped. Nami was looking terrified, as was Chopper with Usopp looking both nervous and excited at the same time. Sanji and Zoro were in agreement, and made a rare show of camaraderie by fist bumping each other before pretending to the others that it had never happened.
"Newest member of the crew, all the way to the Captain is how I'll do it."
Pulling out Franky's, "Introducing the shipwright of the Straw Hat Pirates, with a bounty of 45,000,000 beri, 'Cyborg' Franky!"
I think, at least from memory but I was going to have to check my memory journal, that it had gone up by a million. I had a feeling that the cheering after each announcement was going to be a commonality, but I endured it until it died down before going to introduce the next bounty.
"Fortunately, or not, depending on your point of view, Melkor there's no bounty for you."
The crow let out a cackle, "I'll still be able to do my job then! Good!"
"Introducing the archaeologist of the Straw Hat Pirates, with a bounty of 90,000,000 beri, 'Devil Child' Nico Robin!"
Robin looked surprised, "That's gone up by eleven million."
"I'm surprised it hadn't gone up sooner, to be honest."
She nodded, "Too true, I've been evading them for long enough."
"Next one! Next one!"
"Introducing the doctor of the Straw Hat Pirates," Here I took a deep breath and gave Chopper an apologetic glance, "with a bounty of 50 beri, 'Cotton Candy Lover' Tony Tony Chopper!"
Chopper looked both horrified and excited. "Why is it that low?"
"The World Government thinks you're a pet."
"My monster form?"
"They probably didn't think that was you causing chaos."
He drooped at Nami's observation, "Really?"
I nodded at him, as Melkor tried to comfort Chopper by playing with his fur.
It was my bounty next, and I was trying not to be shocked at the amount, not fully taking it in before Usopp had snatched it out of my hand, beginning his own dramatic introduction.
"Introducing the archivist of the Straw Hat Pirates, with a bounty of 110,000,000 beri, 'Crown Queen' Black Ebony!"
Well that puts me in with the Supernova's.
"What the actual fuck? Why is it that damn high?"
Robin patted me on the arm as the others cheered, "Probably because you took out their personally trained Outlier, and haven't actually said anything about her. The World Government not following their own laws? That would be something to be bragging about, and they're probably concerned that you haven't let that information out."
"Oh yeah, knowledge is dangerous and all that bullshit. Still, I feel like it shouldn't be higher than yours though."
She shrugged, "Maybe they think your knowledge is more immediately pertinent than mine."
That was probably it, but it was still a really weird feeling though, to be on their level of the super rookies that all entered through Sabaody at the same time. Weird to have a higher bounty than Nico Robin, who definitely deserved to have a bigger bounty considering all that she had been through and done.
"Next up! Introducing the chef of the Straw Hat Pirates, with a bounty of 95,000,000 beri, 'Black-Leg' Sanji!"
The sketch of Sanji was incredibly unflattering, but the bounty itself was not and that was what Sanji was celebrating, even if Zoro was making fun of him and was unable to contain his jeering laughter.
"What happened to my picture?"
Sanji was almost wailing, having gently snatched the post out of my hand to inspect the picture.
"They left the lens cap on."
The cheering and jeering stopped, as the crew looked at me incredulously.
"Are you serious?"
I nodded, "I think there's another reason, but.."
Sanji, completely seriously interrupted as gently as he could even with a voice filled with anger, "That bastard?"
"Unfortunately."
He let out a scream of frustration, as Luffy turned to me.
"Future problem?"
"The bastard? Yes. The sketch? That's going to come up sooner rather than later."
Zoro, who had turned serious really quickly put a hand near his waist, obviously looking for swords that weren't there, as they were resting beneath the table. "Why? Surely someone couldn't have that exact face."
"You'd be surprised."
"Sanji, just think of it this way. You match Zeff."
The smile that lit up his face didn't want to leave his face after that.
There was silence for a moment, before Merry joined us, still holding the little bundle that she had been since she'd re-emerged.
"Me next!"
Franky laughed, "Never heard of a ship getting a bounty! This crew is incredible!"
"Introducing the first ship of the Straw Hat Pirates, with a bounty of 15,000,000 beri the 'Going Merry'!"
Chopper glanced at Merry, "How did you get a bigger bounty than me?"
Merry would have looked guilty if she was't so gleeful, "I may have attacked some marine vessels here and there, particularly when I was getting to the Gates of Justice. I think I sunk four of their smaller ships?"
Momentary silence before I almost went deaf.
"Those ships were bigger than you were!"
"Go Merry!"
"Introducing the sniper of the Straw Hat Pirates, with a bounty of 30,000,000 beri, 'Sogeking' Usopp!"
The half mask in his picture was still the Sogeking that I knew, but the adjustments that he'd made to showcase his own identity were also wonderful to see. He was becoming slightly braver slightly quicker than in the canon timeline.
"Introducing the thief of the Straw Hat Pirates, with a bounty of 20,000,000 beri, 'Cat Burglar' Nami!"
Nami flushed as the crew cheered, taking in the picture that she'd been tricked into posing for.
"That's so embarrassing! Why is that my bounty poster?"
Robin patted her on the arm like she had done for me earlier, "It's a wonderful photo, though."
"I got tricked!"
I couldn't help but add to her embarrassment, "Genzo's going to be ringing up complaining about the photo to the marines, something about it being a magnet for people asking for your hand in marriage? He's definitely overprotective."
"AH! He's so embarrassing! This whole thing is embarrassing! Why have I got a bounty?"
"Shishishi! Be proud, Nami!"
She had put her head in her hands, still wallowing at the fact that she was now wanted in the eyes of the Government. Something that she hadn't even achieved as an East Blue renowned thief. "I guess so. Wonder if I could get a copy of that photo roll?"
"We'll see, you probably could."
Moving onto the second last bounty poster, it didn't surprise me that this one had also gone up from what it had been.
"Introducing the first mate and swordsman of the Straw Hat Pirates, with a bounty of 140,000,000 beri, 'Pirate Hunter' Roronoa Zoro!"
Ignoring Sanji's very fake cries, the rest of us cheered. Though I did catch Sanji slapping Zoro on the shoulder in congratulations before I went on to announce Luffy's updated bounty. (One day the crew would get those two to actually publicly show affection to each other, or at least to have a public civil conversation that wasn't just them arguing. Small steps. Itty, bitty steps.)
"And lastly, but certainly the most important poster in this pile. Introducing the Captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, with a bounty of 310,000,000 beri, 'Straw Hat' Monkey D. Luffy!"
The celebration went on, with Sanji bringing out the fancy drinks, alcohol for those who wanted it, and sparkly juices for those who didn't.
It wouldn't be long until tea time, but none of us were really wanting to leave the little party that we were having amongst ourselves.
It had been brought up vaguely if we wanted to plan out our next adventure, but Luffy put his foot down and used his Captain's rights to say 'no' to officially planned out plans because the last one didn't go too well, and if an adventure was to happen it was going to happen irregardless of timeline.
So no exclusively detailed, and descriptive plans for us for the foreseeable future.
(It hadn't worked at all with Law, why did I even think it would work amongst the crew?)
"My connection here is a little shaky considering there isn't just me anymore, but I think that's definitely an incoming call for Ebony. Maybe Luffy."
Merry had taken to carrying around a bundle that was about half the size of her that was growing daily, and none of us could quite work out what exactly it was or what was in it. Each and every time we asked, she would shoo us off, before looking away mischievously and mumbling something about it being a surprise. I had a feeling as to what the surprise was, but wouldn't say anything, as each and every time I tried Merry would put a finger to my lips with a cheeky grin.
I couldn't help but feel embarrassed, especially if it happened to be exactly what I thought it was.
Sure enough, moments later the transponder snail went off, the noise a comfort still after so long.
"Crow here, how can I help?"
A voice that both Luffy and I recognised, even if one of us hadn't heard it since they were a child.
"Ebony, right? Buggy said that you wanted to talk?"
A/N: SURPRISE!
A wild Shanks appears! And what is the mysterious bundle that Merry's carrying around? (I haven't been subtle, you can probably guess.)
I really hope that you're all doing well. I'm in rather a lot of pain. I fell up the stairs at work and now everything hurts, but I'm doing what I can.
To all of you, stay safe and hydrate!