Disclaimer: I don't own any of the series involved. All ownership of the original source material belongs to their respective owners.
Nagisa finished tying up the sails and gave a satisfied sigh. He looked over at Izuku, who was laying down on a bench with his arms on his stomach and his eyes closed. But the focused look on his face told Nagisa that the young hero was not simply sleeping.
And this was true. Deep within his mind, Izuku opened eyes in a room where he was in front of the previous 8 wielders of One for All. One of them was the ghost of a scrawny skeletal man, but the others were all fully developed. But Izuku wasn't focused on them. His eyes were wide in shock and dismay.
When Izuku last faced the Vestiges face to face, it was a small room with thrones for the Users to sit on, or it was an empty void. But now, it looks like a nightmare. Cracks glowing with energy were all over the area, making it look as though the area was collapsing. It was like an earthquake had hit.
The room trembled, the walls quivering under the weight of the cracks that snaked through them like veins pulsating with raw energy. Izuku's heartbeat quickened as he took in the surreal sight before him. The Vestiges, usually calm and composed, now wore expressions of concern and distress. The young hero's mind raced, trying to make sense of the chaos unfolding within his own consciousness.
"Wh-what's going on?!" he cried out. Yoichi and Nana exchanged glances before looking at Izuku.
"We were going to tell you this soon enough, but you needed to recover. The thing is, during your fight against Kaido-"
"Define fight," Daigoro grumbled, receiving a swat from En.
"-you pushed One for All to its limit, and went far beyond thanks to your desperation. Quirks are like a muscle, even One for All. Force a muscle too much, and it will tear itself apart. Force a Quirk too much, and it will become, well, broken, in a sense," Yoichi explained.
"So-! I'm destroying One for All?!"
"No, no, not like that!" Nana assured him. "One for All is a pool of energy that you can pull out. You can't destroy it. You didn't exactly break it by the usual definition, but One for All is damaged."
"If your body is a vessel, and One for All is water, then this is a damaged pipe. You can't channel One for All as well, if at all. It's been pushed too far, and it needs to recover," Yoichi said.
"Yeah, unfortunately, One for All isn't gonna be that good for you to use for a while," Hikage said. "We're not even sure if it's safe. Either it won't be as strong, or the power will go wild. So we restricted your access to the Quirk."
"You can still use our Quirks, but One for All won't be boosting them," the Third User finally spoke. "But, I would suggest not using Fa Jin or Gear Shift. Those two Quirks are also worn out. Not to the same degree, but they do need to recover."
"Is that why Black Whip was so weak?" Izuku asked.
"Weak-er!" Daigoro said angrily. "Not weak!"
"Sorry, sorry, weaker!"
"You probably shouldn't use One for All anyways, considering your arm," Nana said.
"Basically, yeah. Sorry, Ninth. But, do your best," Yoichi said.
"Oh man..." Izuku looked down, scratching the back of his head. "I'm going to have to readjust my entire fighting-style."
"You have a fighting-style?" the Third deadpanned.
"Uh... Shoot-style?" Izuku said awkwardly.
"You call that a fighting-style?" the Third deadpanned.
"You can do it, Deku. Remember your origins," Nana said as she turned Izuku away from the Third. She gave him a look, and he rolled his eyes.
"Right. My Deku means 'You can do it.' This, this is just a small set-back. When my arm heals, and One for All heals too, I'll be back in top shape. Hopefully in time to fight All for One," Izuku said, nodding.
"That's the way, little man!" Daigoro said as he slapped Izuku on his back. "Now, go out there and show the world what Eighth always says!"
"I am here!" Izuku said loudly. He paused, staring at Nagisa, who was staring at him. The two sat in silence for a bit.
"Yes, you are," Nagisa said. Izuku's face burned with embarrassment as the teacher chuckled at his reaction before turning back to his compass. The two of them sat in silence for a moment, the gentle rocking of the boat and the rhythmic sound of the waves against the hull serving as a soothing backdrop to their thoughts. Eventually, Nagisa broke the silence.
"How are you feeling? Did you have a good nap?"
"Uh, yes."
"Good, good," Nagisa said, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. "A good nap can do wonders for the body and mind. It's like a refreshing plunge into cool waters after a long, tiresome journey through a mountain hike. A moment of reprieve amidst the chaos that surrounds us."
Izuku didn't know how to respond to Nagisa's sudden poetry, but nodded.
"Now, that we're done with that, we're coming up on a pretty rare occurrence, at least in today's time," Nagisa said as he pointed ahead. Izuku looked further to see a small ship simply floating. It was much larger than their fishing boat.
"What is that?"
"A floating tavern," Nagisa said as he steered the ship closer. "Apparently in the East Blue there's a restaurant called the Baratie. It's a floating restaurant, providing fresh food and water to sailors and pirates alike. It's a good thing these exist. Food and drinking water is extremely rare and valuable in the sea. And we don't have too much food ourselves."
"Yeah, I remember hearing stories about scurvy. It's, uh, because of a lack of vitamin C, right?"
"Which is why we'll be purchasing some fruits if we can," Nagisa said. He tied the boat to the ship's post and helped Izuku walk on. A bell rang as Nagisa opened the door, revealing a homey tavern lit by warm candlelight.
As Izuku and Nagisa stepped through the doorway of the tavern, the bustling atmosphere enveloped them like a warm embrace. The wooden beams overhead creaked softly, whispering stories of countless voyages. The air was thick with the scent of salt and seaweed, a reminder of the vast ocean that stretched out before them.
The Boat Tavern was a lively, bustling place filled with rowdy sailors and hearty laughter. The wooden beams creaked with stories of countless voyages, while the smell of salt and seaweed hung in the air, tickling the nostrils with its briny tang. The dimly lit lanterns cast an amber glow, illuminating a large bar adorned with nautical trinkets and maps of uncharted waters.
Izuku sat down at a booth while Nagisa walked over to the bar. The green teen looked at him with a slightly wary look as he came back with plates of food at hand and a brown bottle under his arm.
"Fried rice, stir-fried vegetables, some meat, soup, and some nice fruit for dessert," Nagisa said as he placed the plates down.
"Is it okay to drink and sail?" Izuku asked.
"No." Nana said in his head.
"As long as you don't get drunk. You need your wits, and nature will take care of the rest," Nagisa said.
"No drinking."
Nagisa naturally ignored Nana as he couldn't hear her, and poured himself a mug of the alcohol. He mixed some fruit juice in and took a sip. He sighed and began digging in. Izuku still struggled with his one arm, and cursed himself for choosing to punch with his right arm.
"Remember not to waste a bite of food. On the seas, you don't know when's the last time you're gonna eat," Nagisa warned. Izuku nodded.
"So, uh, Shiota-sensei?"
"Yes?"
"Are you sure you haven't found a clue to get back to Japan?" Nearby, a hazel-brown head popped up.
"Yes, unfortunately. I did some research in the East Blue and the South Blue before some circumstances led to me having to come here to the West Blue," Nagisa said. "Ten years, and I still haven't found my way home yet."
"Augh, that's not good..." Izuku groaned as he grabbed his head. "I have to get home as soon as possible, I have someone I have to defeat!"
"Can you defeat them with a ruined arm?"
"Uh..."
"When you try to run a marathon, you take your time. You don't sprint off the gate. If you do, you'll be fast at first, but you'll burn out fast, and you'll collapse. You might not even be able to finish," Nagisa advised.
"I can't afford to take it slow!"
"When you try to find a needle in a haystack, rushing will only make you miss it. If you find it, it's because it stabs your finger. Look carefully, and efficiently. You'll find it easier, and with less risk."
Izuku furrowed his brow, his eyes clouded with determination. "I understand what you're saying, Shiota-sensei. But I can't afford to take it slow. I have to find a way back home, defeat All for One, and protect everyone I care about. Time is of the essence."
"And frustration is the best way to lose time," Nagisa countered.
"He's right, Izuku. You're not ready to fight All for One anymore," Nana said. "I hate to admit it, but you need to recover. Both you and One for All."
Izuku stared at Nagisa, his eyes burning with determination and a hint of frustration. The weight of his mission hung heavily on his shoulders, threatening to crush his spirit. The dim candlelight cast intricate shadows on his face, accentuating the lines of worry etched into his features.
Nagisa, on the other hand, remained calm and composed, his gaze steady and unwavering. He rested his chin on his hand, his fingers tracing the delicate patterns etched onto the wooden table.
"Izuku, I understand your urgency, your need to protect and defeat." Nagisa's voice was calm and measured as he spoke, each word carrying a weight of experience. "But rushing headlong into battle without proper preparation will only lead to disaster. You must learn to navigate these treacherous waters with caution and precision."
Izuku's eyes flickered with a mixture of frustration and determination, his hands clenched into tight fists.
"You feel like you should be able to do something. People are hurt, and you can't do anything but watch," someone said. The two blinked and looked over to the side. A hazel-haired man dressed in an unzipped sleeveless hoodie was standing near them. "It's a pretty bad feeling, isn't it? It can hook on to you, and drag you down. But when you're sinking, panicking, while natural, is a bad decision to make. You have to calm down, like this guy says."
"Y-yeah..." Izuku said. The stranger blinked.
"S-sorry! I was coming over here cause I heard you talking about finding a way to Japan? I didn't mean to bring depression over with me."
The stranger flashed a sheepish smile and extended his hand towards Izuku. "I'm Makoto Naegi, former Ultimate Lucky Student. I couldn't help but overhear your conversation about finding a way back to Japan. I actually share the same sentiment. Mind if I join you?"
Izuku glanced at Nagisa, who gave him a reassuring nod. With a small smile, Izuku shook Makoto's hand. "Izuku Midoriya. This is Nagisa Shiota."
Makoto Naegi, the hazel-haired stranger, settled into the booth. His eyes darted around the lively tavern, taking in the rowdy sailors and their boisterous laughter, the clink of glasses and plates, and the heavy aroma of hearty meals being devoured greedily.
"This world is great and all, but there's no place like home, huh?" he said.
"Yeah, I guess. So, you're looking for a way home too, right?" Izuku said.
"Yep. Though, I haven't had a lot of luck either. I don't have much luck to begin with admittedly," Makoto said.
"Relatable," Izuku and Nagisa said in unison. Nagisa slid over a mug that he filled with some of his sake. Makoto took and the two clinked their cups before drinking. Makoto coughed violently but managed to keep it down.
"Not used to drinking?"
"It's a work in progress," Makoto coughed. He cleared his throat. "So, are you guys like a mini-crew?"
"Uh-"
"Remember, pirates aren't the only ones with crews."
"I guess. At least for now."
"Izuku has a pretty messed up arm, and he's new to this world. I'm helping him out, at least until he's ready to travel on his own."
"Cool. But you know what they say. You travel alone to go fast. You travel together to go far," Makoto said.
"Heh. That's true," Nagisa said, his mind flashing back to a classroom filled with junior high students, all shooting at a yellow octopus. Izuku thought back to his friends in Class 1-A.
'I have to save them. But... I guess I should slow down,' he said in his mind.
"Don't want them to have to chase you down again, eh?"
"Do you guys have a navigator?"
"Nope. I'm serving as a pseudo-navigator, but it's not my specialty, and I have several other duties as the one teaching Izuku how to sail," Nagisa said.
"Well, I'm a navigator. I can navigate for you guys," Makoto offered. Izuku's eyes lit up slightly. The prospect of having a navigator on their tiny crew, someone who could guide them through the treacherous seas, meant that the journey he would have to go on could be a lot easier. He was ready to accept Makoto's offer without a second thought.
"And how long have you been navigating for?" Nagisa cut Izuku off before he could even start.
"Uh, for about two years."
"And how long have you been in this world?"
"... Three years."
"How many crews did you serve on?"
"Uh... Thirteen."
"Over the course of only three years?"
"Yeah... I get kicked off a lot."
It turned out that while Makoto did study some navigation, he couldn't find any teachers to help him, and not a lot of books where he was transported to, so he was still rather new to navigation. As such, he was often kicked off of crews, sometimes quite literally, and thus didn't have a chance to teach himself with experience.
"Uh..." Izuku said awkwardly. He was excited to have a navigator to help, but Makoto didn't seem like he'd be much help. Izuku glanced at Nagisa, uncertainty flickering in his eyes. He mulled over Makoto's offer, weighing the potential benefits of having a navigator against the risks and complications that might arise from his inexperience. Nagisa observed Makoto for a moment, his piercing blue eyes narrowing as he processed the offer.
Suddenly, to the other two's surprise, Nagisa smiled.
"Sounds good. You're on," he said.
"What?" Izuku said dumbly.
"What?" Makoto said dumbly. "Duh, I mean, awesome!"
With a smile, Nagisa extended his hand towards Makoto, sealing the deal. The hazel-haired navigator let out a sigh, relief evident in the way his shoulders relaxed and his eyes softened.
"Thanks, Shiota. I promise I won't let you down," Makoto said.
"You sure, Shiota-sensei? I won't argue, but he said he's not the best."
"Always focus solely on the best, and you won't know what's enough."
"You... are really prepared with quotes, huh?"
"I'm a teacher, kid."
"Most teachers-"
"Good teachers do."
"Ah-"
"And besides, while I will admit that a master navigator is the best option, a beginner navigator is someone who not only develops their skills at navigation, but develops it revolving around the crew itself. It's definitely not ideal, but it can be worked with. And if he does his job right, he'll learn how the crew works," Nagisa said. "But, you are going to have to work hard to account for this."
"Eh, I'm used to life putting me at the bottom of the hill."
"I hear that," Nagisa chuckled.
"Amen," Izuku sighed.
"Shall we develop a payment plan?"
"I'm honestly good if we can just find a way home."
"You have a lot to do, hm?"
"Yep. A lot of cleaning up to do after the Tragedy," Makoto sighed.
"The Tragedy?"
"Yeah? The, biggest, most awful, most tragic event in human history? You know, where everyone around the world was in chaos?"
"The world?!"
"Yeah. As the Ultimate Hope, it's my job to restore the world to how it was before the Despair."
Izuku paused. Makoto's words didn't make much sense.
"Wait, I know that it was happening in Japan, but, the world? I didn't hear anything about that. Unless you're from the world after I left, butthatdoesn'tmakesensewhenyouwerehereyearsbeforeIwasaretheportalstimeportalssopeoplearebeingtransportedrandomlythroughtime-"
"Izuku," Nagisa said, stopping his mumble session. He mumbled out an apology and the three sat in silence.
"So you're from when the Tragedy was just beginning?" Makoto said.
"Did he understand that too?"
"What is happening?"
"It's not because of time portals," Nagisa interjected.
"How are you sure?"
"Makoto, what is your Quirk?" Nagisa asked.
"My quirk? Um, I wouldn't say I have one. I guess I'm overly optimistic? Though, it's, kinda hard to stay, optimistic, recently."
"So, like a mental Quirk?" Izuku said.
"I mean, aren't all quirks?"
"Wha-?"
"Izuku, catch with Black Whip," Nagisa said suddenly as he tossed his mug up. Izuku started and shot a black tendril into the air, catching it easily. Makoto yelped and fell out of his seat. Sailors all around looked over curiously. Makoto scrambled back to his feet and waved awkwardly at them.
"Sorry, sorry! Uh, lost my balance. Too much sake. But hey, that's the life of a sailor, eh? Booze and adventure!" Makoto said as he grabbed and raised his mug. Sailors all cheered back and went back to their food. Makoto went back to his seat.
"You have a Devil Fruit?" Makoto hissed quietly.
"No, if we drop Izuku in the water, the only bad thing that would happen is that his cast would get wet," Nagisa said.
"Then... Quirk. That's what you meant when you said Quirk! You didn't mean a behavioral habit, you meant a power?"
"Yes! 80% of the world has a Quirk!"
"Not the Japan I know. We don't have Quirks, we have Talents, and those aren't that common. I barely have a Talent."
"Well, I'm sure you're talented at something," Izuku said nicely.
"No, I think that the Talent he's referring to is a lot more than just something you're naturally gifted at."
"Talents, are like a specialty. A lot of people are talented, but a couple of guys, called Ultimates, have Talents. They're superhuman in their respective areas. Me, I'm just, well, a lucky guy. Or, unlucky."
"But... different worlds. We're from different worlds, why wouldn't we be, we already know that multiple worlds exist, we're in another world!" Izuku realized. He turned to Nagisa. "Did you know?"
"I had my suspicions. Ever since you first showed off Black Whip," Nagisa shrugged with a twinkle in his eye.
Makoto stared at Nagisa and Izuku, his eyes widening in disbelief. The realization of their differing worlds seemed to shake him to the core. He had already been grappling with the fact that he was stranded in an unfamiliar place, but the idea that there were parallel dimensions, each with its own set of rules and abilities, was almost too much for him to comprehend. His mind buzzed with a mixture of confusion and wonder, his thoughts tumbling in a whirlpool of chaos.
"Oh man... If there's a lot of parallel worlds, then what's the guarantee that we'll be able to get home?"
"We just need to have some Hope," Nagisa said.
"... Yeah. We, should have hope," Izuku nodded. Makoto propped his chin on a hand and sighed as he swirled around his drink. Nagisa finished his before stacking up the dishes and putting the empty bottle down.
"Whelp. Let's go. Patience doesn't equal doing nothing after all," Nagisa said. "Let's purchase our necessary supplies, and get to work."
"Right, right."
Buying their supplies was a simple endeavor. Nagisa and Makoto, having both been sailing for at least a few years, knew what to grab. Fruits, meat, vegetables, clean clothes, and some extras, like bottles of alcohol.
"It would be better if we had official medical alcohol, but these should serve in an emergency," Nagisa explained. "Though I certainly won't say no to a couple drinks."
Makoto had grabbed a few metal pots and glass jars, and a few glass tubes.
"These are used for desalination, or distillation. It'll give us some emergency drinking water," he said as he placed the materials in the boat. "We can even get some leftover salt, which we can use to preserve our meat."
"I feel out of my element," Izuku said as he watched the two men load the boat. Makoto immediately took his spot near the rudder and the sail as Nagisa placed a hand on Izuku's shoulder.
"That's why I'm sticking around, kid. Now come on," he said as he got on the boat. Izuku pushed the boat away from the tavern before jumping in.
"Hey, Midoriya?"
"Yeah?"
"Is that, like, a super suit? You're, like, a superhero?"
"Well, just hero, not quite super. Yet at least."
"Awesome."
"Alright, Makoto," Nagisa said as he pulled up the sail, letting it poof up with the wind. "Let's see what you can do. Let's get to the next island."
"Alright! Turn five degrees to port!"
What seemed to be only five minutes later, the three were sitting on the sandy beach. Their boat, and all of their supplies, were wrecked.
"... Well, that storm literally came out of nowhere," Nagisa said. Makoto screamed in frustration as he tried to rip his hair out.
"It's a good thing that Izuku could fly."
"Yeah..." Izuku said awkwardly.
"Is this why you'd often get kicked off? You said you're Talent was Luck, right?"
"Yeah... Just Luck though. Not good luck, not bad luck, just Luck," Makoto sighed. "Though it seems a lot more like it's just bad luck."
Makoto's frustration was palpable, his body tense with the weight of his perceived misfortune. He ran his fingers through his disheveled hair, tugging at the strands as if trying to unravel the tangled web of his own thoughts. His face was contorted with a mixture of disappointment and exasperation.
"What's the point of being called Lucky if I have no good luck?" he growled quietly. Nagisa observed this.
"Naegi? You good?"
"Huh?" Makoto started. He smiled at Nagisa. "Yeah, I'm good. It, just gets frustrating. I've been dealing with this luck my entire life, but it's really gotten bad in recent years." Makoto let out a heavy sigh, his frustration dissipating into the salty sea breeze. Nagisa hummed.
"I can certainly see why you'd be frustrated over that."
"Yep. But!" Makoto got to his feet. "I learned a long time ago that sometimes, you just have to roll with the punches." Makoto's eyes flickered back and forth, searching for something, anything, that could salvage their situation.
"Let's take a look around the entire island. At worst, we've ended up on a completely uncivilized island, and at best, we've ended up on an island with some civilization," Nagisa said as he helped Izuku up.
"Sounds like a plan," Izuku agreed, his voice filled with determination as he brushed off the sand from his clothes.
The trio immediately got to work to gather up the supplies that were shipwrecked with them. Fortunately, they did manage to save their main equipment. They made a makeshift sled out of the remains that Izuku was able to pull behind him with a rope. He may be the youngest of the three, but he was easily the strongest. The trio walked along the shores as the sound of waves filled the silence.
"Maybe we should go deeper into the island?" Makoto suggested.
"This entire world is based around sea-travel. We're more likely to see the docks. The jungle is filled with unknown variables." Nagisa said. He paused. "But then again, this world is also based around adventure."
"Eh... Now that I think about it though, I'm not entirely comfortable with the idea of going into the unknown," Makoto laughed sheepishly.
"What do you think, kid?" Nagisa asked Izuku. Izuku pondered for a moment, his emerald eyes scanning the dense jungle that lay ahead. The towering trees reached towards the heavens, their branches intertwining like a labyrinth of secrets. The air was heavy with humidity, the scent of rich vegetation mingling with the salty breeze. The sounds of chirping insects and the distant call of exotic birds filled the air.
"I think... I think we should venture into the jungle," Izuku finally spoke, his voice filled with a hint of trepidation. "Civilization is more likely to be closer to the middle. I think."
"Alright, I guess I'm outvoted," Makoto said. "Or, I win, because I suggested it first?"
"Don't focus on that," Nagisa advised with a hand on Makoto's shoulder before leading the way into the jungle.
Nagisa took out one of his sabers and slashed the branches and vines out of the way to clear the way. Makoto took out his own sword and helped out, though he needed more than one swing.
"Say, Naegi, how much fighting experience do you have?"
"I'd say, negative four."
"Nega- How?!"
"I mean, I lose. Like, all the time," Makoto said as he lifted up his shirt.
"Ooh," Nagisa and Izuku winced slightly as they saw that Makoto had several pale scars on his torso.
"Yeah. Lucky for me, and unluckily for my ego, they never thought I was a big enough threat to kill me," Makoto laughed sheepishly.
"Well, they say that scars have a lesson behind them. If you can manage to learn something from your scars, that's what makes them worth it. I have a few scars myself from helping a friend in the government every now and then," Nagisa said. "Though, considering my specialty, I guess you can't really say that I'm the kind of guy who would get scars to be proud of."
"I mean, most of my scars come from sheer recklessness," Izuku said as he rubbed his cast.
"I saw those. You've been through a lot, huh?"
"Not much more than what would be expected from my job," Izuku said.
"I beg to differ!"
"Hey, I think I heard something!" Makoto said suddenly.
"Really?" Izuku and Nagisa listened carefully. Sure enough, they could hear a very faint sound that sounded like people.
"Wow Naegi, you got good ears," Nagisa said.
"Eh, I've had, practice," Makoto shrugged. He had flashbacks to several memories of people arguing with him having to pick up on specific details. He immediately stamped down the memories that came with those flashbacks.
The trio cautiously followed the faint sound, their footsteps muffled by the thick carpet of leaves that blanketed the jungle floor. The distant sound of crashing waves faded into the background, replaced by the rhythmic creaking of wooden planks and boisterous laughter.
"That sounds good," Izuku said. The trio came out, and stopped. A horde of people turned to stare back at them. On a makeshift shelter, there was a jolly roger with whips sticking out of the eye sockets and wrapped around the skull.
"Okay, never mind!" Izuku said. One pirate immediately pulled out a shoulder-mounted bazooka and fired it at the trio. Izuku immediately summoned a black tendril and slashed it in half, but it exploded and blasted the three with a red mist. Nagisa immediately covered his face as Makoto inhaled by accident. Izuku coughed.
"Gas...! Man... Aizawa-sensei would kill me for letting this happen..." Izuku groaned as he collapsed on his face. Nagisa and Makoto collapsed behind him. The pirates sneered and laughed as they approached the collapsed sailors.
Izuku groaned as he woke up. He shook his head and slowly got up. He looked down and groaned when he saw that his hero uniform was missing, and that he was left in the shirt Nagisa lent him and his underwear. On top of that, he was put in a barrel of water. Seawater, based on the smell.
"Where am I?" he said as he got out.
'And now my cast is wet.'
"Oh, you're awake, kid?" Nagisa called. Izuku blinked, trying to clear the fog from his mind as he looked around the dimly lit hold of the ship. The air was thick with the scent of salt mixed with a subtle hint of decay, the stench hanging heavily in the confined space. The sound of creaking timbers filled Izuku's ears, blending with the distant crashing of waves against the hull. He could feel the gentle sway of the ship beneath his feet.
The trio had been put in cages separate from each other. Makoto's was hanging off of the ground for some reason, and Makoto was not appreciating the extra swaying of the cage. Izuku looked around and slammed his shoulder against the bars.
"Ugh... This is just great."
'Of course I got put in a cage when I don't have access to One for All.'
"Of course I can't get lucky," Makoto grumbled.
"Oh, you two are such pessimists," Nagisa said as he patted himself down. He wasn't as dressed down as Izuku, likely due to the fact that he was wearing regular clothes.
"What should we do?" Makoto asked. Izuku looked around as he wrung some water from his shirt.
"First, we have to find a way out. Then we see if we can get you two some weapons. I have my Quirk, but you two don't have one. And we might need to fight if we want to get off this ship. We're obviously on the water, so we can't just jump off and run."
'I could try to use Float, but without One for All, I can't go anywhere fast, and I won't be able to rise as quickly to escape the storm.'
"Is this a bad time to remind you guys that I don't know how to fight?" Makoto said. "I mean, I tried to learn a few times, but I never found a teacher, so I'm self-taught, and I'm not a very good teacher."
"Well, no time like the present to do some extra learning," Nagisa said as he continued to pat himself down. Apparently not finding what he wanted, he reached into his hair. From under his blue locks, he pulled out a pin.
"You have a lock pick?"
"I have a hair pin, which, considering the age that this world is compared to our own, is enough. I don't need them, I never really used them for my hair, even when it was long, but..." Nagisa began working on the lock. "It comes in handy at times."
"What we also need is an opportunity. We might be ready for that gas now, but it'd be better if we can avoid it. We just need to wait," Izuku said. Nagisa finished with his lock and got out to quickly work on Izuku's.
"Well, we might not need to wait long," Makoto said.
"What makes you say that?"
"Well, we're on a ship, with me on it."
As if on cue, the other two heard a rumble in the air. Nagisa looked up at the ceiling before looking back at Izuku.
"You might want to brace yourself," Nana suggested.
Outside the ship, pirates cursed and yelled at each other as the boat was being flung around by a sudden storm. Rain fell, wind roared, and thunder crashed. The pirates tried desperately to adjust to the sudden change in weather. One pirate, a man at the wheel, was cursing the most.
"Blistering barnacles! It's as if we're at the Grand Line!" he groaned.
Down below, Nagisa was hanging onto the cage like a monkey as Izuku hung from the top with Black Whip, the barrel of seawater having long since been knocked over. Makoto was being tossed around in his with grunts every time he hit the sides.
"Hang on, Naegi! I'll be done here soon!" Nagisa said as he continued working on the lock. It clicked and opened, releasing Izuku as he swung himself out.
"Alright, now for-!"
"Woah!" Makoto's cage suddenly fell as the chain snapped out of place, landing on the floor. The impact caused the cage's lock to break, and for the door to open. Makoto crawled out and brushed himself off.
"... Lucky Student, huh?" Nagisa chuckled. Makoto laughed with him before the trio made their way through the ship. Nagisa opened a door to a room of pirates struggling with some supplies. The pirates immediately got up, only for Black Whip to lash out and knock them all over.
"Ouch," Makoto said as he made his way inside. The trio repeated this process until they came across a room with their gear inside, complete with make-shift sled, and additional weapons. Izuku immediately threw on his costume, sighing in relief. Nagisa grabbed a pair of large hunting knives as opposed to the sabers he originally had.
"Sabers have their advantages over knives. The advantage a knife has is that I'm better with these," Nagisa said.
"Well..." Makoto grabbed a saber. "I'll try to keep a range."
"Uh, before we try anything..." Izuku said. "Can we try to avoid, you know, killing? I doubt you'd guys try, but, those are real weapons."
"Buddy, I doubt I can kill," Makoto deadpanned.
"Don't worry. We'll only do what's necessary."
"Okay. Then let's go!" The trio made their way to a ladder, and Izuku grabbed the first rung.
"When I get up there, Shiota-sensei, you and Naegi-san go opposite to the ladder. I'll go past it," Izuku said. "Uh, if that's fine with you, two."
"Sounds good to me," Nagisa said.
"Yeah, it's definitely better for me to be with someone else," Makoto sweatdropped.
"Alright, let's do this!" Izuku quickly climbed the ladder and flung the trapdoor open. He hurled himself out, catching the attention of several pirates.
"Hey! The Devil Fruit user has escaped-!" one yelled.
'Smokescreen!' A purple smoke exploded off of Izuku, covering the boat. Izuku immediately went towards the nearest stunned pirate and landed a powerful uppercut. Even without One for All, Izuku still had a surprising amount of strength behind his fist, and it knocked the pirate clean off his feet. Another pirate, having heard the punch, came in to swing his sword. The Hero dodged around the swing and parried the next one before bringing his fist back to punch the pirate down before kicking him in the side, sending him sprawling.
"Black Whip! Iowa Smash!" Izuku said as he jumped and swung Black Whip around like an extended limb to send another pirate flying into another one.
"Gas him!" the leader yelled. Another pirate picked up a bazooka and fired it at Izuku. The gas bomb exploded mid-flight, sending a wave of gas towards him.
"Smoke Veil!" Izuku yelled as he thrusted a palm forward. Smokescreen erupted from it and collided with the gas, dispersing it and sending it back to sender
Meanwhile, Nagisa and Makoto came out of the trapdoor as the smoke cleared. Nagisa pulled Makoto after him, away from the ladder like Izuku said. Nagisa immediately parried an attempted slash and pulled the pirate down before slamming the hilt of his knife in-between the pirate's eyes. The pirate flinched before Nagisa went low to throw the pirate over his back. Several more pirates came to try to attack, but Nagisa was fast to spin around, parrying swords and leaving them open to slashes of his own. He suddenly dropped with his knives extended.
"Snake Nest!" he said as he did a rising spin slash. Rain was displaced as the pirates collapsed with slashes on their legs, arms, and chest. Nagisa landed on his feet, stopping with a last spin before taking a stance with his knives again. Several pirates charged up to him and continued fighting the short teacher. Makoto watched both of these with a dumbfounded look.
"They even got super moves? What the heck?" he said. A couple pirates ran towards him with raised swords, causing Makoto to yelp and run away. He jumped onto the side of the ship and began climbing up the shroud. Pirates grabbed the ropes and began climbing up after him. Makoto managed to make it up to the top and quickly turned to cut the ropes. The pirates paused as the ropes snapped, and screamed in surprise as they fell down to the ship, landing harshly.
"Huh. That worked," Makoto said. Gunfire sounded off, making him yelp and duck. A bullet whizzed over his head, courtesy of a pirate in the crow's nest. He ducked behind the mast as another shot embedded itself against the mast's wood. Makoto grimaced and looked down. Nagisa was being swarmed by pirates below, though he was somehow managing to hold them all back.
'Not killing them makes things more difficult. I'm not strong enough to avoid doing that,' Nagisa thought as he parried another blade.
"Aaaaaaaah!" Makoto yelled as he swung towards the group. Nagisa blinked in surprise before ducking. Makoto's flailing legs managed to kick some pirates, though he continued swinging, his scared yell of 'courage' turning into a panicked cry. He began swinging back to the now angry pirates, but Black Whip suddenly caught him mid-swing.
"You okay, Naegi-san?"
"Yeah, just, not good at this!" Makoto said.
"You little brat!" A pirate ran up to Deku and punched his cheek. Izuku grunted before headbutting them hard enough to break his nose. Nagisa dashed up to the greenhead and performed a spin kick that knocked the pirate away before bouncing up to land a knee strike on another pirate. Izuku put Makoto down near him, and the trio stood back to back as more pirates surrounded them. Lightning flashed, illuminating the ship and revealing the swarm of pirates.
"Sheesh, it's like there's an army of them!" Makoto said.
"Hey, Midoriya-kun, I don't suppose you have any new tricks up your sleeve?" Nagisa asked.
"I wish. I mean, I can get us directly upwards, but that's it," Izuku said.
"Wait, you can fly?" Makoto said.
"I can float, but I can't fly," Izuku corrected.
"You bastards are dead!" the leader said angrily.
"Uh, that might be enough," Makoto said as he pointed to the side. The other two looked and blinked. Black Whip immediately wrapped around Nagisa and Makoto's chests before Izuku shot another tendril from his mouth to grab the top of the central mast.
"Hm," Nagisa said.
"Oh boy," Makoto groaned before the two were suddenly yanked up. Izuku pulled the trio high above the ship even as the pirates fired up at them, trying to shoot them down. They ended up at a height almost twice as high as the ship.
"What are they doing?" the leader said.
"Uh, sir?!" one pirate yelped. The leader looked to the side, and his jaw dropped. A massive wave was rising up to swallow the entire ship.
"Oh, f-!"
"Woah!" Makoto said as the wave crashed over the ship, causing the entire thing to topple over. The wave was big enough to graze Nagisa and Makoto's feet before Izuku pulled them higher. The ship sank under the water, before slowly rising upside down afterwards, water cascading off of it like a waterfall.
"Wow. That was close," Makoto said.
"We have to save them," Izuku said.
"The pirates?"
"They'll drown in the storm."
"Right… Good point. Uh, how do we…?
"The ship seems to still be floating, at least for a bit. It's likely that there are some boats they can use to survive."
The trio dropped down to the boat. Nagisa and Makoto landed on the wooden keel of the ship, but Izuku suddenly went into the sky. Makoto stared after him as Nagisa went over to the side of the ship.
"Uh, where is he going?"
"I'm sure he has an idea," Nagisa said. He dove into the water without another word. Makoto blinked before shrugging and running after him.
"Cannonball I guess," he said as he splashed into the water.
Fortunately, due to the immense size of the ship, there was an impressive amount of air trapped underneath. The pirates were either too weak, or unconscious, and it was easy to pull them along. Boats were recovered and raised to the surface, where the pirates were put to recover from near drowning. Nagisa and Makoto had to resurface plenty of times, but they eventually got the job done, especially when Izuku eventually returned and used Black Whip to pluck pirates out of the water after the ship finally sank into the depths.
"Sorry I couldn't help sooner," Izuku apologized as the trio drifted about in their own lifeboat.
"Hey, you made the job like, ten times easier with this," Makoto said as he pointed upwards. Turns out, Izuku had gone up and used a combination of Smokescreen and Black Whip to disperse portions of the storm. It took a few hours, and it didn't clear the storm like how Izuku would've been able to do with One for All, but it was enough to calm enough of it so that the waves weren't battering them and making things harder. Light rain still fell, but it was much more manageable.
"We're not going to thank yous," the leader of the pirates grumbled.
"That's fair. For all intents and purposes, we're still enemies," Nagisa said. He gave a crooked grin. "But you are smart enough to realize that you all don't have weapons, and are only in lifeboats, while Izuku here can fly."
"Aye… And, we do owe you a debt for saving us."
"Considering that, I don't suppose you can tell us where we were going before our little scuffle?" Nagisa asked.
"To Captain Ridley Eastoff," the pirate said. "He would be interested in meeting a Devil Fruit user to recruit."
"Ridley Eastoff?" Nagisa hummed.
"You know him, Shiota-sensei?"
"Maybe. That name is familiar at least."
"Do you think he's dangerous?"
"Hm… Who knows? If it's who I think it is, it's been a long time."
"I heard of him too. Captain Ridley Eastoff, captain of the Unic Pirates. Last I heard, he took over a town called, uh, Rasier Island," Makoto said.
"That's the one."
"Why is Eastoff trying to get Devil Fruit users?"
"Well… you need manpower to get through the Grand Line."
"The Grand Line?" Izuku frowned. His mind flashed to a certain behemoth of a man. He looked down at the pirate.
"Is he trying to get the One Piece?"
"That old myth?" the leader scoffed. "He doesn't give a sh*t about that! I dunno why he wants to go to the Grand Line, and I don't ask. All I know is that he wants strong crewmates, and that we managed to snag a map there."
"Fair enough," Nagisa said. He thought for a bit.
"Is something wrong, Shiota?"
"I want to go meet with Ridley. I want to see if he really is who I think he is."
"You sure?" Makoto scratched his head. "Last I heard, Eastoff is a pretty dangerous pirate with a bounty of at least 10 million beris."
"If he took over a town, then I think we need to," Izuku said determinedly. Makoto looked between them before sighing and shaking his head.
"Alright, I'm just the navigator. Let's do it. But, uh, not sure if this row boat can survive my Luck," Makoto said as he tapped the ship. Nagisa hummed in thought before turning to Izuku.
"Hey kid, do you think you'll be able to carry this?"
"I, guess? It's probably not too heavy for me."
"Why?" Makoto asked cautiously.
"OKAY WE'RE FLYING!" Makoto shouted as he clung to the sides of the boat. Izuku grunted as he pulled it steady with Black Whip. Meanwhile, Nagisa grinned as he tightly gripped the rope holding up their makeshift sail. The boat caught the wind high above the ocean, and pulled them along.
The pirates of the Unic Pirates watched them fly off with dumbfounded looks.
"Uh, what do we do now?" one of them asked. The other pirates looked at each other, mumbling and shrugging. The leader sighed.
"Goda-dammit."
Makoto Naegi has joined the crew! The fights I feel have been pretty lackluster, but aside from Kaido they've been against multiple people. And I'm not the best at writing one on many fights. But hopefully the longer chapter makes up for it, and the story should start picking up eventually. But for now, that's the chapter. As per the usual, leave a review! Azure out!