Thank you everyone for your patience. As a reward we have new chapter and I´m going to reupload previous chapters now re edited by a bot, because I don´t have a beta tester and I had to find a AI that could do it. So, like I said in My Aura Hero, now all the mistakes belong to me and a robot.
For now until further notice I will be uploading chapters one at a time in a simple sequence: First My Aura Hero, then The Pirate Trainer and Finally Malia Kukui and the Wizarding School.
By the way, I´m trying and spectaculary failing at uploading a picture for my profile and then for the stories. Does anybody know a program that won´t superenlarge the image? Because that´s what happens when I try to use Paint. I can´t even see the image, just two giant letters. Not even the main letters.
8
"I'm so boooooreeeeeeed." Luffy whined. The rookie captain was lying on the ship's rowhead, his head and limbs dangling in the air.
"Then do something productive," Nami told him from her position next to the wheel. She was keeping an eye on Ashley, who had asked her to teach her how to steer the ship.
The Pokemon trainer had experience reading maps from her many journeys; once she even traveled through the sea for almost a year.
However, she had no experience steering a ship. The boats and ships she used had been driven by others, and during her adventures on the Orange Islands, she had used a Pokemon named Lapras to travel between the islands.
There was a sad tone in her voice when she mentioned the Pokemon.
Ashley told her that Lapras had been young when she found him—a baby, almost. She found him marooned on a beach, alone, and separated from his pod.
She captured him and took him to a Pokemon Center—some type of hospital for Pokemon. After he was healed, Ashley and her friends found out that his pod had a migration route that they followed each year and traced a plan to find them.
Ashley promised Lapras that she would help him find his family. And she did it. By the end of her journey in the Orange Islands, after winning the Orange Cup, she and her friends had found Lapras pod.
And she let him go.
Nami heard the sorrow in her voice when she told her the story. She didn´t understand why Ashley hadn't made Lapras stay with him.
Ashley had recoiled violently at the question. A look of disgust came to her face.
Ashley was offended at the simple thought of forcing her Pokemon to do something they didn't want to. Of forcing them to remain on her team just because she wanted to, no matter their wishes.
She wasn't that type of person. She wasn't that type of trainer.
Nami looked around.
Usopp was in the crow's nest, keeping an eye out for Talonflame´s signal. The bird Pokemon was flying ahead of them, looking for anything that could be dangerous or strange. If he found something, then he would send a signal of fire. According to the patterns, it would mean danger or safety.
Two short bursts of fire mean danger. Three means safe.
More complex signals will be developed later. Especially one for marines and for enemy pirates.
Ashley made sure to emphasize to all her Pokemon to not attack at first glance. The least they needed was to start a fight by mistake with someone stronger.
Pikachu's knowing glance at his trainer when she said that made it clear that Ashley had started more than one fight by acting without thinking.
The sound of steel clashing made her look to her right, where Zoro was fighting against Johnny and Yosaku at the same time.
Since the bounty hunter told him about the "man with yellow eyes," Zoro started to practice his sword skills with fervor. And Johnny had been his preferred punching bag.
Usopp fought with his tricks and slingshot, Nami used her bo staff, and Ashley and Luffy were brawlers. Only Johnny and Yosaku used swords, and Yosaku still needed to recover from his brush with death. So Johnny took the brunt of Zoro's training. Not that he minded much. He claimed that it was an honor to help Zoro-aniki get stronger for his upcoming fight.
Yosaku had only joined that day after finally recovering from his illness. Both bounty hunters were good swordsmen, and their teamwork was amazing. However, they were leagues behind Zoro's skills. If he wanted to improve, he would have to face equal or stronger opponents.
Hawlucha, Noivern, and Pikachu weren't idle all this time. Nami was amazed by how Ashley was able to figure out a way to have them train despite the place. Pikachu released different "range" attacks at a flying Noivern and Hawlucha, who had to either block them or evade them.
Neither Hawlucha nor Noivern could attack Pikachu, mostly because if they missed, they would damage Merry. If her Pokemon started to seriously train on the ship, then Merry would definitely not last long.
Seeing her Pokemon train was incredible; none of them could tear their eyes away from the spectacle. If they were on the ground or if their caravel was sturdier, Nami was sure that it could be even better.
"Guys! Over there!" Usopp was waving his arms from his position. The sniper was pointing at starboard. Nami grabbed a pair of binoculars and swore.
"Shit, marine ship incoming!" she warned her companions. Luffy leaped down from his post with a grin. He went straight for starboard, trying to find the ship with his sight.
Zoro, Johnny, and Yosaku joined the rubber captain. The bounty hunters were glancing nervously, while the greenete just stared seriously. His three swords were sheathed, but his right hand was gripping one of the pommels, ready to draw it.
Ashley recalled Hawlucha and Noivern in their pokeballs quickly. She left the wheel and went to the prow. Pikachu jumped on the banister, little sparks jumping from his cheeks.
"Talonflame! What did you find?!" She asked her firebird.
Talonflame motioned to the prow and to starboard.
"Two ships?" Talonflame nodded. "Both are from the marine?" He shook his head.
"Guys! The Baratie is just in front!" Usopp yelled from the crow's nest.
Ashley frowned. They were so damn close!
"Johnny, Yosaku!" Both men turned toward her. "What are the chances that the ship will attack us just for flaring a pirate flag?"
"I guess it would depend on the guy in charge." Johnny shrugged. At their confused looks, his partner elaborated. "Some marines are just glory whores; they only go for pirate crews with big rewards; they don´t waste time going after small rookies. Others are completely obsessed with arresting and killing any pirate in their sight. A few are corrupt bastards that would look the other way if you pay them. And the rest are a mix of following orders from their superiors and actually caring about the civilians."
"So we could either deal with a guy that we can bribe or a douchebag that will sink us the moment he sees us?" "Yes Aniki."
Zoro gripped his sword tighter. He knew firsthand that there were marines that were complete pieces of trash that made some pirates look like innocent flowers. Hell, it was because of one of those bastards that he met Luffy and chose to join his crew.
"Damnit." Nami muttered.
After a few minutes, the marine ship joined the Going Merry. Once both ships were side by side, the group saw the man in charge.
"Hmm? A pirate flag?" A pink-haired man mumbled, confused. The man had a scar on his right eye and steel bands with bolts wrapped above his knuckles. The man stared at the Mugiwaras in boredom.
"I am Marine lieutenant commander Ironfist Fullbody. Which one of you scums is the captain of this ship?"
"I am!" Luffy answered proudly.
"A kid? What are you guys? Some green rookies that just got a ship?"
"Nop, we got Merry a few days ago and painted our flag a day later."
Luffy's crew sweatdropped at his honesty.
Fullbody´s eyes twitched at the complete lack of respect and fear in the rookie´s voice. Besides the strawhat captain, there was a brown-skinned boy with a large nose, a greenete swordsman who had three swords (why did that tickle his brain?), a black-haired girl with some kind of yellow mouse and a red falcon, an orange-haired girl, and...
"You two," Fullbody pointed at Johnny and Yosaku, "you´re bounty hunters, aren't you? I remember seeing you two before claiming some bounties for some low-tier shit of a pirate. Hah, you two got hunted by these kids? Losers."
"Losers? I think this dickhead wants to test our strength, Yosaku." "I think so too, Johnny. Even if it means getting in trouble with the local marines, like hell, we should allow this bastard to badmouth our names!"
"Let's go, partner!" "Let's go!" Both bounty hunters went for the railing, intent on teaching Fullbody a lesson, when Nami chose to give them a lesson.
"DON´T YOU DARE FUCKING IDIOTS!" Nami beat them up with her bo staff. She was incredulous at how stupid those two could be. They were the ones to warn them about how dangerous the marines could be. And they were about to give one of them a good reason to sink their ship!
When she finished beating the two morons, she gave a hard look at her crew-temporal companions.
The four pirates and two Pokemon flinched at her glare and straightened out. Even Fullbody, in the safety of his ship, felt threatened by the teenager.
"Hunny, are you done playing with the pirates? I'm hungry." A woman whined.
"Don´t worry, babe; I'm almost done. Be grateful, pirates! If I wasn't on my vacation, I would have already arrested every single one of you." The lieutenant turned toward one of his men and put his thumb down.
Usopp´s eyes widened when he realized that they were lighting a cannon right at them.
"Guys! That bastard is aiming at us!"
"I will take care of it!" Luffy jumped right in front of the cannon´s path. Ashley realized what he was planning and quickly grabbed Hawlucha´s pokeball.
"Luffy, send it up as much as you can!" "Ok!"
The cannon fired right at Luffy. The rubber captain sucked as much air as possible, getting ready to rebound the projectile like his second mate asked him.
"Gomu gomu no Fusen!" His body stretched like a giant balloon. When the cannonball impacted, it got sucked, incapable of rupturing his rubbery body. Luffy leaned backwards, trying to aim the cannonball up instead of forward. When he was confident that it was at the right angle, he let go of the tension.
"Hawlucha, Brick Break!" Hawlucha flew towards the cannonball with a serious look on his face. Once he was below it, he increased his speed and destroyed it with a fighting-type move.
When Luffy inflated his body, everybody blanched in surprise. When Ashley released Hawlucha and he destroyed the cannonball, they just stared in shock.
"What. The. Hell?" Fullbody couldn't comprehend what just happened. He had heard of Devil Fruit users, but two of them on the same crew? On the East Blue?
"Hunny! Come on!" The woman complained again.
Fullbody frowned. He had an important decision to make. Take down this group of pirates like a good marine should, or continue with his date just to have a chance to do it with a hot woman.
He smirked. Easy choice.
Inside the Baratie, the customers stared in awe at the sight in front of them.
"That´s Fullbody, right?" "Yeah, he is the Marine Headquarters lieutenant." "No way. What's a guy like him doing here?"
Fullbody smirked at the whispers. Leaving those rookies and going to the Baratie had been the best decision he had made.
"You´re really popular, aren't you, Fullbody?" his date flirted.
Definitely the best decision.
"They just noticed us because of your beauty." He flirted back smoothly. "Mhh, this wine is delicious. This fragrance must be from the north of Micqueot. With this mild acidity and dry flavor cut… It must be Itelzburger Stein wine! Right, waiter?"
"Incorrect sir. Also, I´m not a waiter, I'm the sous chef. The waiters are not here today." The blond man with curly eyebrows answered. Around them hushed laughter ran.
The sous chef placed the plates of soup in front of the couple and left to attend another table.
"Pfff, what a dick." Nami smirked at the marine´s humiliation. Luffy was stuffing his mouth with food, his hands wandering for food on the other plates. Well, except for hers and Ashley´s. Both girls made sure to stab him with their forks when he first tried to steal their meals.
After Luffy and Ashley took care of the cannonball, Nami was sure that there would be a fight. Fortunately, Fullbody had been more concerned with taking his girlfriend to the restaurant than doing his actual job.
Thank god for idiotic, lustful men.
After seeing the marine ship just docking on the Baratie, the crew just shrugged and docked too. But on the opposite side of the Baratie. And Ashley left Hawlucha and Noivern with instructions to beat up any fool who tried to steal or wreck the Merry.
She already made sure to secure a bag of food for them and Talonflame for their work.
"Ahhh, great food, great spectacle, and great service." Nami glanced at the blond sous chef who was acting as a waiter.
When the group entered the restaurant and waved him down to take their orders, the blonde, Sanji, praised Nami and Ashley for their beauty and charm.
Nami ate it all, flirting back and acting coy. Ashley just blinked, confused, and pointed at herself, disbelieving. It had been the first time in her life that a guy flirted with her. Usually they flirted with her more girly friends, like May, Dawn, and Serena. Even Misty.
Between her short hair, lack of feminine clothes, and complete lack of interest in things like fashion and cosmetics, many mistook her for a boy when she was a child. Even Erika thought she was a boy when they first met.
Even when she began to grow her hair more and wore clothes that showed her figure, it was weird for boys or girls to flirt with her.
That, and either her team or one of her friends would act like an overprotective sibling. Brock certainly enjoyed playing the protective brother figure while they traveled together. And Iris did hiss at some dudes.
She missed her friends so much. They were weird, but they were great.
"Mmmhhh! This food tastes great! I want more!" Luffy was brimming in happiness, waving his arms in the air to catch the attention of Sanji.
"It really is tasty." "Pika!" "Speaking of it, how are we supposed to recruit a cook?"
"What do you mean?" "Like, do we just go to the kitchen and ask if any of them want to become part of our crew?"
"Yeah, let's do it!" "Sit down, idiot. We can't just ask that." Zoro sighed, exasperated. Nami nodded in agreement, glad that the swordmaster was using his head. "We have to wait for that Fullory guy to leave, and then ask them to join us." Nami´s head fell. Luffy nodded in agreement alongside the others.
"Oy, waiter!" Fullbody yelled from his table. Everybody looked at him again.
"I repeat, sir, I´m not a waiter. Maybe you should see a doctor to check your hearing." Sanji answered calmly. The lieutenant just clenched his teeth. He will show that brat respect.
"What is this supposed to be?" He pointed at the fly in his soup.
"Mmh, I'm not sure. I'm a cook, not an entomologist." More laughter ran at Sanji´s joke.
"It's a fly! A fly on my meal! What kind of third-rate restaurant is this dump if they let insects in their customers' food?!"
Sanji sighed. He grabbed a spoon and took the fly out of the soup.
"There. Now there is no fly." He presented the dish, free of insects, with a cheery smile on his face.
CRASH!
Fullbody smashed his fist on the table, destroying it completely. The jovial mood of the Baratie dissipated in an instant. The customers and cooks looked at the scene anxiously.
"Who do you think I am, boy?! I´m the General Headquarters Lieutenant! I paid for stellar service and good food! All I got was a smartass waiter and trash to eat!"
"So, you think that your rank and money can feed your stomach?" Sanji asked, angry.
The other cooks were the first to react. They recognized the mood of the sous chef. If that idiot marine kept baiting him, then it would turn into a massacre!
"Sanji stop!" "Get the boss quickly!"
"AHHHHHHH!" Fullbody rushed at Sanji, his fist aimed right for the cook's face. Sanji just lifted a leg and kicked him in the nose. The impact sent him crashing to the floor, blood pouring from his nose. Fullbody was trying to get up when another kick impacted against his forehead.
The marine was on the verge of collapsing when he saw Sanji's hands approaching him. He was so sure that the cook would start punching him that he let out a whine of relief when instead he just lifted him by gripping his chin.
"Don't forget this. Fighting a maritime cook is dancing with death." There was no trace of the easy-going, kind cook who served as a waiter. Only cold disgust was visible in his eyes.
"Don´t you dare ever waste food again for the rest of your miserable life."
"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING, SANJI!?" A man yelled in complete rage. He was muscular, with two heart tattoos on his upper left arm, a goatee, and short hair. And he was staring in a mix of shock and rage at Sanji.
"Patty! Stop him!" The other cooks were relieved that Patty showed up. Maybe the marine would survive after all.
"That´s a client, fucking punk! Clients are gold! And he is a fucking lieutenant shitty shit!"
"Shut up, shitty cook. This bastard was badmouthing the Baratie and wasting food. I´m just teaching him a lesson."
"Shut it! Clients are the reason restaurants exist! You can't just punch a client because they didn't want to eat your shitty food!"
"My hands are for cooking, not to teach lessons. I use my legs for that. And whose food do you call shitty?! Your food is shitty!"
While both cooks discussed and exchanged insults against each other, Fullbody trembled in fear and disbelief. What kind of freaks were employed in this restaurant?
"The hell is wrong with this place? No restaurant treats its customers this way! I will shut it down! Yes! You will rue the day you laid your hands on me!"
"Ohh, then I guess I will have to kill you." "Uh?"
If before he had been afraid, now he is completely terrified and about to shit his pants. He could do nothing except see Sanji being held by his coworkers, all the while screaming that he would kill him.
"What the hell is all this racket about?!" A third, pissed off man yelled.
The man was old, wearing a chef's uniform, including an incredibly tall hat. He was blonde, his mustache was tied in two braids, and he had a wooden leg.
The man facepalmed at the scene.
"Sanji, Patty, what the hell are you two arguing about this time?"
"Boss, this brat was hitting a client again!" "He was insulting the food and our cooks!"
The head chef grunted and kicked Sanji in the face with his wooden peg.
"Are you trying to ruin my business, stupid brat!?"
Next, he turned to Fullbody.
"And you leave this place, fucking bastard!" He kicked him too, right in the ribs.
Fullbody stared in shock at what was happening. The head chef was just as mad as his workers!
There were mixed reactions to the scene that was happening on the Baratie. For the workers and the regular customers, this was nothing new. Although usually the infighting between workers happens in the kitchen or on the deck. The first timers just stared in awed shock.
The Mugiwaras and their two new friends weren't immune to it.
Zoro gave a glance at his table. Usopp was staring in awe and fear. Not surprising, the sniper was the real rookie between all of them. Nami tried to play it cool, but she was analyzing anything, her tonfas held in a death grip. Yosaku and Johnny had grim looks, much like him. The three of them could recognize a true, strong fighter at first glance, and that old man was one.
Ashley was scratching Pikachu between his ears, but both were ready to step in. Pikachu's ears twitched, and he could feel static around the mouse. Ashley´s left hand was on her belt, fidgeting around her remaining pokeball.
Luffy's face made him want to groan. He recognized that look. He had been the recipient of that look. When he followed his gaze, he wanted to bash his head on the table.
Seems their captain has already chosen their new crewmember.
Poor bastard.
The main door opening called everyone's attention. A marine was panting exhausted on the doorstep. Fear was clear on his face.
"Sir! He escaped! The pirate that we captured, he managed to escape!" He shouted.
"Whaat?! How could that happen!? When we found that bastard, he was starving, and we haven't given him anything to eat since then!"
"Sir-" BAANG
The marine fell forward, blood pouring from his chest.
A man entered the restaurant. He was covered in sweat and looked sick. A pistol in his hand. The man sat at an empty table and spoke.
"Bring me food. I don't care what it is. Just food."
"Welcome, disgusting bastard. Do you have money to pay?" Patty asked the pirate in a sweet tone.
Incredulity filled the Baratie. Only the workers didn't seem bothered. They were used to their pastry specialist behavior.
"Give me food right now, or I will kill you." The pirate said it seriously.
"So, you don't have money?" The pistol was pointed at Patty´s forehead.
"Either I eat food or you eat lead. Clear?" "Completely!"
With that said, Patty smashed his fist on top of the pirate´s head. The force of his punch broke the chair and sent the pirate rolling to the floor.
"Those who have no money are no clients!" Patty proclaimed.
The pirate tried to get up, his form shaking in exhaustion. His stomach let out a grumble of hunger. He couldn't help clutching it in pain.
Patty was going to keep hitting the bastard that tried to eat free when he looked up. The look on Zeff´s face made him stop.
His boss never cared when he and the rest of the boys came to blows with each other. He only chastised them when it was something serious. Sanji beating up a client for insulting the food or Patty refusing to serve someone who had no money wasn't new.
But now, Zeff's look was on the verge of disapproval. If he kept on punching the pirate, Zeff wouldn't like it.
"Those who don't have money to pay aren't clients. And if you´re not a client, then get out!" With one final yell, he grabbed the pirate and threw him outside.
Cheers rang around the clients, all congratulating Patty on getting rid of the trash. Even his coworkers patted him on the back about it. Except for two of them.
"Sheesh, this place is really violent." Nami muttered to her group.
"Yeah, we did say that aneue." Johnny reminded her.
"Guess we will have to look for a maritime chef somewhere else." Usopp said.
"There is no need." "Eh?" "Luffy already made his choice," Zoro explained.
"Ah? What are you talking about? Oy, Luffy! Wha-?" Luffy wasn't in his chair. Usopp whipped his head around the room. Luffy wasn´t inside.
"Where is he? Wait, where is Ashley? And Pikachu?" Neither trainer nor Pokemon were on the table.
While the group wondered where the three went, a starved pirate was suffering on the deck. All he could feel was his stomach grumbling in pain for food. For days, he had been starved, beaten, and humiliated. He had only escaped because he heard that the ship had docked at a maritime restaurant.
The thought of simply eating a piece of bread, a rotten fruit, or a miserable soup was what gave him the strength to break out.
All for nothing. He was going to die.
A plate was placed in front of him. The most delicious scent emanated from it.
The pirate lifted his head from the floor. In front of him, a smiling Sanji was placing a cup of water next to the dish and sitting on the deck.
"Eat it slowly. If you go fast, you will just vomit it back."
The man wanted to just shovel it and hew the delicious looking rice in front of him. The moment he started to eat, tears fell from his eyes.
"Delicious. Delicious! I´m not worthy of it! Thank you! Thank you! I was sure I was going to die!" In between spoonfuls of food, he thanked Sanji. The blonde just grinned, satisfied that the stranger was enjoying it.
A click made them look to the side.
Fullbody was standing there, still covered in his own blood, with a gun in his trembling hand.
Sanji grumbled, annoyed. He was about to beat the crap out of the annoying marine, consequences be damned, when someone else intervened.
"Mahhh! That food was amazing, right, Pikachu?" "Pika!" Ashley was walking towards them, Pikachu on her left shoulder, her right hand grasping a takeout bag.
"I can´t wait to share this with the rest. Shame that they couldn't come to the restaurant. It's like in the old days. You, me, our friends, and Pokemon eating together. One great adventure ahead of us." She went to the railing and leaned on her forearms, a happy smile on her face.
"But there is one thing missing, you know, buddy." Pikachu nodded.
"Yeah, I miss how we made Team Rocket fly in a big explosion after defeating them. I wonder if we could find a substitute." At that point, both turned towards Fullbody and gave him a cheeky smile.
The marine paled at the sight of the Pokemon Trainer. Even if he had no idea who she was or what exactly her animals were, he knew one thing. She was dangerous.
The man made what was probably the smartest decision of his life.
He ran straight to his ship and ordered to sail back to headquarters immediately.
Ashley grinned. She enjoyed playing pranks on stuck-up assholes.
Sanji and the pirate just stared dumbfoundedly at her. She waved and continued to the Merry. Hawlucha, Noivern, and Talonflame had to taste this food. It was amazing.
"Shishishishi" laughter from the upper floor made them look up. Luffy was leaning on the railing, a wide grin on his face.
"Hey cook, do you want to join my crew?! You are a cool guy!"
"What?"
"I'm a pirate! And I want you on my crew!" "No" "Eh? Why not?" "I can't join you; I have to stay in this restaurant." "Why?" "Reasons" "Which ones?" "Not your business." "They are my business if I want you to join me!"
Sanji wasn't sure if he should be annoyed or confused at Luffy.
"You're a pirate?" the third man said. Both boys turned towards him.
"Yes! I´m the captain." Luffy stated proudly.
"I see. My name is Gin. I'm a member of the Krieg Pirates. If you are the captain, then what is your goal?" Gin asked seriously.
"The One Piece. I will go to the Grand Line and become the next Pirate King."
"How many crewmembers do you have?" "With him, six, no wait, seven. Pikachu is more of a crew member since he never leaves Ashley´s side. She said that she would be rotating her Pokemon except for Pikachu, so to not count them."
Gin´s visage darkened at Luffy´s word.
"I see. You don't seem like a bad guy, and your friend made that marine asshole leave me alone, so I will give you a piece of advice. Don´t go to the Grand Line. Give up that dream. If what you want is fame and fortune, you can earn it easily on any of the four seas. There is no reason for you to die there."
"You know the Grand Line?"
"No, I don't. That's why we shipwrecked. We thought that we could conquer it like the East Blue, but we were wrong."
"I thought that Krieg was the strongest in the East Blue." Sanji said.
"Heh. The only ones that could survive the Grand Line are monsters. Not normal humans like us."
After that, the three stood in silence for a while. Finally, Gin said that he had to leave. Sanji led him to a boat.
"Thank you, Sanji; I don´t know how I will ever repay you."
"Don't sweat it. Just make sure to have money next time so that Patty can´t beat you up."
"But I'm a pirate." "So? All the cooks here are ex-pirates, even the old man; that's why they are so hardass. Also, why the waiters keep quitting. Many pirates come here to fight these idiots. Patty is only rude to those who can´t pay; he is a stubborn mule about that."
Gin snorted. A place that didn´t shun pirates. Nice.
"Kid, don´t forget what I told you." "I don´t care; I will go to the Grand Line. That's my dream." "Suit yourself."
He was about to leave when a voice made him stop.
"Sanji! What are you doing?!" Zeff was on the top floor, staring at the three. The old man saw the empty plate and frowned.
Gin grimaced. He had given his savior more trouble.
"Sanji-" "Don´t worry." Sanji grabbed the plate and cup and threw them into the ocean.
"If there are no dishes, then there is no free food."
Gin smiled. One day, he would repay Sanji for his kindness.
One day.