GOODBYE PARTY, HELLO OCEAN
East Blue Saga - Arlong Park & Loguetown Arc - Episodes 45 - 47
Dakota's POV:
Everyone is cheering around us as we stand in the crowded streets of the village, I stay by Luffy as I'm avoiding seeing to my injuries, and at the moment, Luffy is stuffing his face full of food as a villager stands on top of one of the buildings shouting down to the growing crowd. "Everyone! We're gonna dance and celebrate! Arlong Park has fallen! We've been living for this day for eight years! We've been living to rejoice upon this day! We've been living to rejoice upon this day!" The crowd all cheer in agreement; it's nice to see all these people so happy as they dance, sing, eat and party around us. "Tomorrow and the next, let's part until we drop!" The crowd cheers again, and Luffy continues to stuff his face, picks up a plate with meat on, and shoves the whole thing in his rubber mouth, but it gets stuck halfway down his throat. Luffy begins to turn green, and I smack him on the head; he swallows hard, allowing the plate and meat to move down into his rubber stomach; he looks around the table with a giddy grin.
"Meat! Meat? Isn't there anymore?" Luffy exclaims, and I sigh, looking around, "What's wrong? Are you still in pain?" He asks me, and I look at him; I can still feel the pain from when that Fishman stabbed me, but the scar is gone; it must have hit something vital inside.
"It'll heal in a few days," I tell him, looking over as Sanji sits over ways smoking.
"Sis, you need to get checked out," Luffy tells me, getting serious, and I nod, not happy about a stranger rummaging around inside my stomach.
"Fine, I'll get it sorted I promise, but I'm not happy about this," I lie to him, pointing my finger at him; he shrinks back, knowing he's pushing me. "I'll be back later, try not to eat everything." He nods, but I know it's empty, and I walk away towards Sanji and hear Zoro shouting in pain, and I open the door.
ONE PIECE - ARLONG PARK ARC
I walk inside the Doctor's office to see Zoro lying on the bed with the Doctor over him, stitching him up, with the Bounty dummies snoozing in the beds next to him. "Fool! You tried to handle an injury this serious by yourself?" The Doctor scolds Zoro as he grunts in pain, and I walk around the bed to see the Doctor stitching him up.
"It hurts!" Zoro cries out, and I take his hand in mine; he seems to notice as he looks at me and focuses only on me, he grunts every once in a while, but the pain seems to lessen.
"Are you guys really pirates? Don't you have a Doctor on your ship?" He asks us, and I have to agree with him.
"A Doctor? Not a bad idea." Luffy says as he stands at the open window with more food in his hand.
"Luffy…" Zoro mumbles, looking overhead at our Captain.
"But we need a musician first, right Zoro?" Luffy asks his First Mate, and I shake my head at my baby Brother's small-mindedness.
"Because pirates love to sing. Don't you know?" Luffy just says, and I look at Zoro, who is in pain and sigh, squeezing his hand.
"So, why is that more important?" Zoro demands, but Luffy ignores him and turns to look at the stunned Doctor; I crouch down level with Zoro and smile.
"Hey, Doctor, where's Nami? I don't see her anywhere." Luffy asks him, pointing the meat at him.
"Nami, huh? Well, if she's not here, then she must be there." The Doctor comments, and I look back at Zoro as he stitches him back up.
"Don't forget to sort out Sis," Luffy tells them; I snap my head up to look at him.
"Luffy!" I hiss at him; he looks at me with the same lost look he always does, sneaky git.
"That guy stabbed you in the stomach; you said it hurt." Luffy retorts, and I shake my head in defeat.
"So, it's happened before, he must have got something inside, it'll take a few days to heal," I tell him, and I feel both the Doctor's and Zoro's stares.
"You promised." Luffy replies, and I glare at him, knowing he's right.
"Fine, do you mind, Doctor?" I ask him as he finishes up on Zoro.
"Go sit down on that bed over there, and I'll get to you in a second." He tells me, and I nod, stepping away to the empty bed behind me and sitting down in just a bikini top.
I grunt in pain as the Doctor stitches up my liver; it got sliced when I was stabbed. I look over at Zoro, who holds my hand as I did for him; I look him in the eye as I feel the Doctor stitch my skin, though, in an hour, it'll heal over wholly thanks to my Devil Fruit. "No drinking for a few days; your liver won't be able to take it." The Doctor informs me, and I have to say, I'm still drinking, but I nod my head in fake agreement.
"No drinking got it." I lie and get up from the bed, "I need some change of clothes." I mutter under my breath as Zoro helps me to my feet.
ONE PIECE - ARLONG PARK ARC
The party has been going on for the last three days, and Zoro and Luffy have so far stopped me from drinking, but now I can, and I must say, I am tipsy; my alcohol tolerance has gone way down. I stagger around, trying to find somewhere to sit, when I spot Zoro sitting in one of the alleyways with his eyes closed, seeming relaxed; I swing around and sit next to him. Zoro pops an eye open as I lean against his shoulder, looking up at him with a smile, then look away as I feel my cheeks heat up, my hair covers part of my face hiding my blush. "Zoro, are you feeling any better?" I ask him, brushing my hair from my face behind my ear.
"Could be better." He replies, and I smile at him, knowing how he's feeling and move closer to him; my cardigan pops open, showing my black lace jumpsuit top and my chest, I feel his gaze on me, and I smile; I hear Usopp singing in the background one of his songs.
"Wanna dance?" I ask him, grabbing his hand, he looks at me, and I feel the rejection coming.
"Why not." He agrees, and I can't help the grin that spreads across my face as I pull him out onto the street with the other dancing couples. I place my arms around his neck as we swing to our own beat and look into his eyes.
ONE PIECE - ARLONG PARK ARC
Zoro's POV:
I can't take my eyes off Dakota as she swings her hips. I feel her arms around my neck, I place my arms around her waist as we sway to our own beat, and I smile up at her as she's slightly taller than me, but I can't help this turning feeling inside my stomach as I look into her purple eyes, and see the blush on her cheeks from her drinking. I just look at her as she swings from side to side and looks into my eyes, and it feels like it's just us. "I've never noticed you have brown eyes," Dakota comments and looks into my eyes, and I smirk.
"We haven't known each other that long," I remark, and she nods.
"True, but I feel like I've known you longer than anyone else besides Luffy on our crew." She says, and I can't help but agree.
"I feel the same," I tell her, and she hides her face in my neck.
"For a swordsman, you have some rhythm." She teases me, and I let out a hearty laugh, and we continue dancing.
ONE PIECE - ARLONG PARK ARC
3rd POV:
All across Cocoyashi village in the streets, people sleep along the path, Usopp still atop the tower of tables, unconscious, spewing nonsense as everyone sleeps. Sanji sleeps with several women leaning against him near a house, the Bounty Hunter duo curling around each other with bottles of booze between them on the ground, and finally, Usopp drops to the surface sleeping. Dakota and Zoro sleep in one of the alleyways snuggling into each other as they sleep, a blanket around them as Zoro snores loudly, not bothering the sleeping woman beside him.
ONE PIECE - ARLONG PARK ARC
Dakota's POV:
I yawn, thinking about the last three days of partying as I stand in my denim dungarees and black and white striped top and Converse hugging my precious weapons with Sanji and Luffy finally aboard the Going Merry as Zoro climbs up the ladder with the last crate of supplies and passes it to Usopp. "This is the last one, right?" Usopp asks as he hauls the container over the side.
"Yup!" Zoro says as he hops over the side onto the deck.
"Everything's onboard?" Luffy asks Usopp as he packs the last crate away.
"Yeah!" Usopp answers as he places the crate down with the rest.
"Alright, then. They've stocked us with food. Looks like we're ready." Sanji comments as he takes a drag from his cigarette.
"We've only been here a few days, but I feel like we've made so many memories on this island, y' know?" Usopp says, and I can't help but agree as I look over at Zoro.
"Yeah!" Luffy giggles, and I laugh, cuddling my weapons to my chest.
"Big Bros, Big Sis, thanks. We owe you all so much. We're goin' back to our normal jobs as Bounty Hunters." Yasaku announces. I walk over to the side to look down to see them posing.
"We'll bid our farewells for now, but hopefully we'll meet again one day," Johnny says, and they almost look like they're trying to stop themselves from crying.
"Take care, a'right?" Zoro calls down to them.
"You too, Big Bro!" The boys shout up.
"Alright, let's get going too!" Usopp yells, turning around with his thumb up.
"H-Hey! Wait a minute! What about Nami-san?" Sanji questions looking around, startled.
"I thought she wasn't coming," Zoro comments looking over his shoulder.
"WHY NOT?!" Sanji demands, stomping over. "Bastard! You said something rude to her again, didn't you?"
"Why would I do that?" Zoro asks as Sanji gets in his face.
"Why else?!" Sanji counters with jealousy.
"I see, that's true, he's got a point." Usopp comments.
"You're trying to get in the way of me and Nami-san's true love!" Sanji blabbers on; I'm good if he doesn't say my name.
"She doesn't have a reason to be a pirate anymore," I add, putting my weapons down by my bags.
"She'll be happier if she stayed here." Usopp agrees.
"Are you stupid or something?" Zoro asks Sanji, looking away in annoyance.
"What'd you say?!" Sanji demands, getting in his face angrily. "WHAT ABOUT MY HAPPINESS?! IF NAMI-SAN DOESN'T GET ONBOARD, I LOSE 49.36% OF MY REASON TO BE HERE!" Sanji rages, and I can guess what the rest is.
"Hey! Y'know I never found that Namu-Hamu-Melon!" Luffy points his finger at Sanji as if that has anything to do with what Sanji is upset about.
"What did you say?!" This catches our attention as I look over the side to see Nojiko, the Doctor and Genzo talking when Sanji bumps into me as he rushes over next to me, screaming in joy; I follow his gaze to see Nami standing at the edge.
"Nami-san!" Sanji screams, in my ear, along with others.
"START THE SHIP OUT!" Nami shouts over the cries of the villagers, and she starts making a break for it.
"Huh? What's up with her? She started running?" Usopp questions as all look over as she runs.
"She said to set sail," Luffy announces, and we look at him in shock.
"B-but!" Usopp tries to say.
"Wait, does she plan on leaving without hearing our thanks and appreciation?" Genzo exclaims in shock, setting off the rest of the villagers.
"Lower the sail!" Luffy orders us, Usopp and I, to loosen the ropes and let the sail roll down as Zoro lifts the anchor, and we begin to float away from the dock startling the others below.
"Hey, you sure you wanna let her leave this way?" Sanji asks Luffy, having calmed down.
"It's alright. It's her decision." Luffy replies as we watch Nami reach the crowd, and she zigzags through them, not letting them stop her. She gets to the end of the dock quickly, running right past Nojiko and the Doctor as they call her name, and jumps off the edge towards the end of the ship. She makes the landing and jumps again onto the dock with the rest of us. For a second, she stands there, then lifts her top, and dozens of wallets and purses fall out; I shake my head at her behaviour with a grin as she kisses a note.
"Take care, everyone!" She shouts, looking behind her now a safe distance from the angry villagers.
"YOU LITTLE BRAT!" The villagers shout their goodbye, and I giggle behind my hand at their antics as I walk down the stairs.
"Oi, she hasn't changed a bit." Usopp comments.
"Who knows when she'll turn on us again," Zoro mutters as they both glare at her, and I look down the stairs at Sanji and Luffy.
"Nami-san, GOOD!" Sanji exclaims, and Luffy lets out a joyous laugh.
"You li'l thieving cat!" "Come back here with my wallet! You bad girl!" "Come back anytime!" "Take care!" "Thank you so much!" The villagers all shout out to us as we sail away.
"BOY!" Genzo shouts out to Luffy. "Don't you dare forget our promise!" I look at Luffy in wonder and shake my head as he gives him a thumbs up.
"Goodbye. Everyone! I'm off!" Nami shouts her goodbye waving her arms around.
"Come on, Navigator, we need a heading," I comment from the main deck as I lift my weapons and bags into my arms and walk into the room Nami and I share.
ONE PIECE - LOGUETOWN ARC
It's been a few days since we left Cocoyashi village, and nothing exciting has happened; we're having a lazy day; Nami is sitting in a deck chair by the rear with Usopp sorting his arsenal out while Zoro naps by the stairs and Sanji and Luffy are in the ship orchard Nami brought with her. I sit in my black crop top and short dungarees and pumps, sitting by Zoro, playing with my deck of cards, when the newspaper bird swoops and hands Nami hers. "They raised the price again?" She demands, looking at the bird who has no answer. "Don't you think that's a little too high? Why you…" Nami grumbles, but she still pays the fee, a greedy kid. "Next time the price is raised, I won't buy it, hear?" She warns the bird, and it flies away.
"Geez, it's just a newspaper!" Usopp complains as he fixes some of his pellets.
"But if you get it all the time, it adds up!" Nami complains back, raising her hands in the air.
"Well, you don't have to save up to buy your village from Arlong anymore… so why keep worrying about money?" Usopp asks her and turns his head, and she turns to face him.
"Dummy! That's exactly why!" She snaps at him, "I don't have that obligation anymore, so from now on, it's all for myself!" She cheers with a big grin on her face. "I can't go around being some kind of cheapskate pirate, can I?"
"Hey, keep it down!" Usopp snaps at her, stopping with his- whatever he's doing. "I'm in the middle of formulating my 'Tabasco Star!' here!'" He carefully moves the bottom closer. "With this, if I shoot it into the enemy's eyes..." Suddenly Luffy is knocked back into Usopp; he blinks for a second when he screams in pain from his eyes as the Tabasco sauce goes in.
"What? Come on, just one?" Luffy asks Sanji, sticking his tongue out.
"Never! This is Nami-san's tangerine grove. I won't allow you to lay a finger on it! NAMI-SAN! THE SECURITY GUARD OF LOVE IS ON DUTY!" Sanji exclaims, and I shake my head at their antics.
"Thank you, Sanji-Kun," Nami replies, not even looking at him.
"She uses him like a fool, that dork Sanji." Zoro snides as he awakes from his little nap from Usopp's screams of pain.
"Leave the little Love Cook." I joke and look up at him with a smirk; he looks at me with a smile.
"What the hell? It's just one little tangerine! Stingy Sanji." Luffy grumbles and sticks his tongue out at our cook as he sits on the bench with Usopp on the floor, covering his eyes with a wet cloth.
"I SAID NO!" Sanji snaps at Luffy, and I walk up the steps to see Nami reading the newspaper.
"Oh well, whatever. I'm in a good mood." Luffy laughs it off with a big grin.
"The world's in such chaos right now. There was another coup-d'etat in Villa." Nami mutters as she reads the paper flipping through the pages when two pieces slip between the sheets and float in front of Luffy's face.
"Hm? A flyer?" He questions as they float about; I walk over as it settles on the floor; I cover my grin as I see what the two pieces of paper are. Bounty Posters new ones, while the others let out screams of excitement and fear.
ONE PIECE - LOGUETOWN ARC
3rd POV:
In the quiet Syrup Village, at the large mansion at the top, Meri breaks the silence by running through the parlour to the main staircase. "Mistress! Mistress Kaya! Mistress!" Merry calls out as he runs up the stairs to her study, opening the door to find her writing at her desk; she looks up at Meri's arrival.
"What's the matter, Merry?" She asks him, and he holds the two Bounty Posters with Luffy and Dakota's faces.
"Please, look!" Merry cries, and she gets up from her seat, taking off her glasses, looking over the posters, and her eyes light up.
"Usopp!" She cries out, causing Merry to be confused as he turns the posters to face him and spots the back of Usopp's head in Luffy's photo. "That back profile is definitely Usopp!"
"It does seem to be, yes…" He agrees, looking at Luffy's poster closer as Kaya turns around towards the window and opens it, imagining Usopp sitting there waiting for her, but she's not totally disappointed.
"Usopp is pursuing his dream… I'm studying to become a Doctor so that I can help people. My dream and Usopp's dream… the day, when they'll meet again and become one, will arrive someday. I'm sure of it." Kaya dreams aloud.
ONE PIECE - LOGUETOWN ARC
In Shells Town, inside one of the hallways at the Marine Base, Koby stands at the Bounty board in front of Luffy's with Dakota's next. "At last… at last… at last! Luffy is moving on with his dream!" Koby exclaims as he holds onto his mop handle, remembering the fight against the former Captain Morgan. "But… the next time we meet, we may be enemies!"
ONE PIECE - LOGUETOWN ARC
Down in the cells below the Marine Base, where the former Captain sits in his cell, one of the marines walks down the stairs towards the prison and holds up the rolled-up Bounty; he unrolls it to show it's Luffy's Bounty Poster. Morgan's eyes widen at the sight of the boy who sent him to this prison as the Marine snickers at his reaction.
ONE PIECE - LOGUETOWN ARC
Out in the ocean, the Black Cat Pirates sail, and the newspaper arrives; one of the crews opens the paper and pulls out two Bounty Posters. "CAPTAIN!" He shouts as he runs off to show Kuro.
ONE PIECE - LOGUETOWN ARC
Further out to see the floating sea restaurant, the Baratie, inside the place is packed with happy customers and on the stair column wall is Luffy and Dakota's Bounty Posters hanging there side by side. Inside the kitchen, all the cooks scatter around cooking their own meals; Zeff finishes his plate and walks out.
Zeff walks outside to look over the ocean thinking back on his goodbye with Sanji.
ONE PIECE - LOGUETOWN ARC
Dakota's POV:
Luffy picks up the posters from the floor, he lets out a glorious laugh, and I shake my head as the others look at the bounties he holds up. "Check it out; we're WANTED!" Luffy laughs, and I take mine from him and see they changed the photo to one of a few weeks ago; I recognise the jacket.
"Wanted… Dead or Alive… 30,000,000?" Usopp reads the poster.
"30,000,000 YEAH!" Luffy laughs again, and I chuckle as I look over.
"Check it out! Even my back is famous now! Damn, I've got it goin', on…" Usopp grins from ear to ear.
"What?" Sanji exclaims and runs in front of the paper, looking for the long nose. "They don't have my picture, yet they have Long noses? Oi- where, where? I don't see you." Usopp points over into the bottom right corner.
"Seee?" Usopp points out his head.
"It's just the back of your head. It doesn't count." Sanji sulks as he sits on the floor.
"Hey now don't be jealous! Someday you could get one too, and be famous like me, even if you aren't the Captain." Usopp tells him, and he lights up.
"Really?" He asks, his hopes lifted.
"Well, if you work hard…" I tell him and turn my poster to face the others; they all look at my Bounty in shock.
"35,000,000 how!" Nami exclaims though I'm sure I had already told them my Bounty poster is on the high end.
"Someday you could get one too, and be famous like me." Usopp boasts, trying to play cool.
"Even if you aren't the Captain," I add, and Sanji brightens up.
"Really?" He asks and gets up and does the jig with Usopp as Luffy continues to laugh.
"Well, if you work hard," I reply as they cheer.
"All right crew! We're goin', to the GRAND LINE!" Luffy cheers, turning to face the boys with his arms out, and they cheer back.
"You guys… once again, you really don't understand the seriousness of this situation! Don't you see this means they're coming for our heads? After this, I don't think we'll be able to lounge about in East Blue anymore." Nami scolds the boys, but they aren't listening to a word she's saying as they cheer.
"They're not listening to you Nami," I tell her, and she looks at me with a glare.
"I can't believe both you and Luffy now have bounties on your heads." Nami snaps, and I smirk at her.
"Well, I've had a bounty on my head since I was eleven," I tell her, and her face softens, but I just shrug it off.
"Let's Go! Let's Go! To The Grand Line! Let's Go! Go! Go! Go! To The Grand Line!" The boys chant as they dance around the deck.
ONE PIECE - LOGUETOWN ARC
We sail on towards the next island, and I walk out of mine and Nami's room from my nap, and everyone is already out lazing around; I see a wreck sail past us, and I see a familiar face, but I can't place it and shrug it off as I walk up the steps. I pass Luffy and Usopp as they watch the shipwreck sail past us, and I look up at the sails to see that it's a Marine ship; it glides right past us but suddenly turns around to sail right next to us. "Are those pirates?" Luffy asks, and I shake my head as I pass to the back of the ship to the others. "Using a scrapped military boat?"
"How wasteful, the Marines are," Usopp comments shaking his head. "Just throwing them away as scrap."
"WE ARE NOT SCRAP!" The pinkette shouts as he slams his foot on the side of his broken-down ship. "Are you idiot's blind? How could you forget Fullbody the 'Iron Fist'?"
"Ah! It's that old man Marine! Are you in trouble? Do you need us to save you?" Luffy asks him in his usual cheerful tone that seems to anger the Marine even more.
"Stop kidding around! Destiny has placed you into my hands. MONKEY D. LUFFY AND DAKOTA LE ROUX! You both are under arrest!" Fullbody shouts as he shows our Wanted Posters in one hand and points at us with the other.
"Cool! My picture looks good!" Luffy exclaims, beaming with pride.
"And the back of my head looks good, too!" Usopp adds in with even more pride; I shake my head at them.
"DEAD OR ALIVE. Dead or Alive. LOAD CANNON!" Fullbody shouts to his men by the rusty old cannon aiming it at us.
"What're they doing? Attacking us?" Luffy questions.
"They're aiming right at us… this is not good~!" Usopp shrieks as his face turns green, and he backs away from the side.
"Alright! Lemme at 'em, I'll bounce it right back!" Luffy states, but Zoro walks over, raising his sword.
"Luffy, I'll handle it." He tells our Captain with confidence.
"Right, right. You stand back." Usopp shouts, taking Luffy away.
"W-w-why? Why?" Luffy protests as he shoves him to the side.
"Don't get involved. Hey, this way, this way." Usopp quietens him as he moves him away, trying not to get us even more trouble.
"Sink them." Fullbody orders his men, and they fire the cannon towards us, but mainly Zoro; he raises his sword in the air before slicing the cannonball in half; the cannonball splits down the middle, veering off the sides.
"Woooo, awesome!" Luffy exclaims, watching the parts of the cannonball splash into the ocean.
"No way, that's crazy!" Fullbody grits his teeth also in amazement along with his men.
"You shouldn't bug people trying to take a nap." Zoro scolds them as he places his sword away.
"How many shots can you stand!? Fire!" Fullbody shouts angrily at his men.
"Er… not good," Luffy comments as the cannon readies for another strike.
"Not good?" Usopp asks Luffy, and the cannon fires, but it blows on itself from the cracks in the barrel.
"See? The cannon had a crack in it." Luffy remarks as if he knows everything.
"Yeah, that definitely not good." Usopp agrees, and the ship knocks into ours.
"Listen, you brats! Do not look down on an Ex-Lieutenant of the Marines! We'll defeat you in close combat." Fullbody screams as he jumps onto our ship, standing before Luffy and the cowering Usopp. "Let's go, men! I'll have your head!" He swings at Luffy, punching him in the face, but it doesn't do much as Luffy's neck stretches out onto the other side of the ship.
"GUM GUM... BELL!" Luffy shouts as his neck retracts, hitting Fullbody in the face, knocking him back into the railing; his men fly back from the kicks Sanji sends; Fullbody looks over and screams in fright.
"How dare you interrupt a cook in the middle of his work. You frickin' jerk. We're not serving soup today. You wanna lick the deck?" Sanji intimidates the Marine, who lets out screams, backing away from their ship and into the water.
"Huh? It's over already?" Luffy wonders as he dusts himself off.
"Hmph. He's all talk." Usopp comments bravely.
"That guy's still a jackass," Sanji grumbles.
"You guys are so noisy! Can't I get some peace and quiet to read?" Nami complains, bringing her newspaper down.
"NAMI-SAAN! DAKOTA MY LOVE! THE FOOD IS READY!" Sanji shouts, and I walk over to the kitchen.
"Really? I'm starved! Food! Food! Foo-food! Food!" Luffy cheers as he runs into the kitchen, knocking me back, and I look at him shaking my head.
ONE PIECE - LOGUETOWN ARC
3rd POV:
On an island within the Grand Line, two pirates sit on the cliffs looking out by telescope, and he spots something approaching the island. "Huh? What the hell's that?" The man wonders as he tries to get a better look.
"Huh? Lemme see." The man orders, leaning against the tree; he stands up, takes the scope from the other man, and focuses on the approaching figure to see Hawk-eyes sailing towards them. He lets out a yelp of fright and drops the telescope to the ground, and runs down to meet the dreaded War Lord.
ONE PIECE - LOGUETOWN ARC
Hawk-eyes brings his boat ashore and steps off, walking through the group of pirates as they part in fright at the sight of him and grip their weapons tightly. "Hawk-eyes! What are you doing here?" The man who spotted him demands.
"Shut up. I have no business with you. Where are your superiors?" He demands, and one of the pirates breaks off, running into the jungle towards the main camp. "Camping on an island such as this… he's much too casual."
ONE PIECE - LOGUETOWN ARC
The pirate runs through the jungle towards the main camp with some lazing around in the sun. The others are under a red and white striped umbrella; the man runs towards them. "Boss~!" The man cries out and drops to his knees; a mug settles down in front of him; he snatches it up, thirsty as he tries to catch his breath and drinks it down as the others watch behind him. "Hawk-eyes!" He shouts, pointing behind him, unaware of who stands behind him, and soon feels his presence; he turns around with a shriek, backing away.
"Yo, Hawk-eyes. Long-time no see." Shanks greets him, not even looking up. "I'm not feeling too good right now. You come for a match?"
"I have no interest in challenging… a one-armed man like yourself. However, I came across some interesting pirates. And it reminded me of something you told me a long time ago. A story about a small village and an amusing little kid…" Hawk-eyes says and walks towards the group before unrolling the Wanted Poster to reveal Luffy, Shanks' eyes widen, and the rest of the group seem stunned.
"No way." Lucky Roo gasps, still stuffing his face.
"So you've come, Luffy!" Shanks grins as the sun shines down on them. "Well then, Hawk-eyes. I can't let you go just like that." Hawk-eyes sits down next to Shanks and gets offered a mug. "So, Hawk-eyes! C'mon, drink up! Drink, drink!" Shanks encourages him, still feeling the effects of the night before. "We're gonna party today!"
"You seem to have already done so," Hawk-eyes comments looking Shanks over.
"Don't mind me. This is a time to celebrate! C'mon, c' mon, c' mon! CHUG! CHUG! CHUG! I like it! PARTY! PARTY!" Shanks cheers and lets out a bellowing laugh.
"But, Boss! You just said you had a hangover from drinkin' too much!" Roo complains, and Shanks brushes him off.
"Dumbass! Don't ruin this good pleasure!" Shanks snaps at him.
"Don't you think it is rather early?" Hawk-eyes asks him, looking down at his drink in hand.
"Don't worry about it! Let's get WASTED!" Shanks cheers, and Hawk-eyes rummages around his coat's inner pocket, pulls out another Wanted Poster, and unrolls it, showing Dakota's photo; Shanks spits out his drink, looking at the image of his grown-up daughter.
"She was with him," Hawk-eyes informs him, and Shanks takes her poster in his hands. "She's grown up rather strong. She wanted me to tell you some things. She has cut her precious hair." He says, and Shanks' eyes darken, but Hawk-eyes continues. "And she's gotten married." Shanks looks at him, and he seems lost; the others all look the same in fear of Dakota having grown up so much in their absence. "I hate to lie to you, but she told me that it was only a joke to see how upset you all would get." They all shake their heads in relief and happiness and cheer.
"We don't want our princess marrying some fool." Yasopp comments, and the others cheer.
"She said to tell you she loves you all even more than her Father," Hawk-eyes says, and the others all laugh, but Shanks sulks, not feeling in the mood to celebrate. "She has her Mother's spirit; she is with the boy." Shanks looks up at his friend and nods.
"Let's celebrate my darling daughter, our little devil!" Shanks exclaims, and the crew all cheer happily.
ONE PIECE - LOGUETOWN ARC
Dakota's POV:
We sit around Nami as she places the map she took from Buggy back before I joined them. "We're getting very close to the Grand Line. The only way to get there is to go through 'Reverse Mountain'," Nami informs us and points on the map to the unique mountain.
"That's a pain in the ass. Can't we just go straight there, from the sea?" Zoro asks from his place.
"Nope. according to the old man's stories, it's the only way to get into the Grand Line." Sanji announces, and I look at him as do the others.
"Why's that?" Usopp asks.
"It's extremely dangerous," I state, as I have taken it many times with my Father and alone.
"That's why I asked! Why?" Usopp presses further.
"I don't know any more than that!" Sanji snaps.
"The reason is-" Nami and I start, but Luffy cuts us off.
"Okay! I got it. Let's go head-on through the front!" Luffy exclaims in glee.
"Are you even listening to me!?" Nami snaps at our Captain.
"Because won't it be more interesting? It'll definitely be more exciting that way!" Luffy beams.
"Argh… trying to explain things to you is driving me insane!" Nami groans in frustration.
"But what's most important is, we should stop at an island and buy some meat. Meat, meat!" Luffy yells, and Nami points to our next island.
"On this island, there is a famous city. Loguetown." Nami says, and Luffy looks at her in confusion.
"Loguetown? Are they famous for their meat?" Luffy asks, and I shake my head at his idiocy.
"It's also called, 'The Town of the Beginning and the End.' or so I've heard," Zoro interjects, and I nod my head.
"It's the place where the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, was born. And also the place where he was executed." I add in and look at Luffy to see the determination burning in his eyes.
"The city where the Pirate King died…" Luffy mumbles with a longing look in his eyes.
"Wanna go?" Nami asks him.
"Yeah. I want to see it. The man who owned One Piece. The man who had everything in the world. The place where he was born and died." Luffy announces, and I nod with a grin.
ONE PIECE - LOGUETOWN ARC
The sun isn't even up, and I am already with the rest of the crew; I push with Luffy to bring the anchor up. "RAISE ANCHOR! FULL SAIL!" Luffy shouts in my ear as we bring the anchor up for Zoro to bring up. "We're good to sail! Full speed ahead to the Grand Line! Sanji! FOOD! Food!" Luffy continues to shout as we walk out, and everyone finishes their duties.
"Alright, alright. Wait until I make it already!" Sanji calls out, and I walk back into our room, but I feel my stomach rumble as changing clothes can wait; I walk in my lavender and grey pyjamas back out to see Luffy bugging Zoro in the corner.
"Aw, c' mon Zoro, let's play tag," Luffy complains.
"Whaat!?" Zoro questions looking over his shoulder.
"What? What? I wanna play! Let's do it! Let's do it!" Usopp encourages them as he runs over to them.
"Are you retarded? How old are you two? I'm gonna take my pre-breakfast nap." Zoro shrugs them off and walks off with a yawn.
"He's afraid he's gonna lose." Usopp goads him, and he stops.
"What'd you say, bastard? That is not why!" Zoro snaps back.
"Ha! Look how mad he's getting!" Usopp continues to provoke him.
"Whaat!? Come back here, you son of a-," Zoro growls as the two run off, and he gives chase.
"Oh, and name-calling now too, eh? Whoo! Naana!" Usopp taunts the swordsman as they run away.
"YOU!" Zoro growls as he chases after the sniper.
"Zoro, over here!" Usopp continues to taunt him as Zoro chases after him.
"Zoro! No fair, you have to play with me too!" Luffy complains as Usopp is getting all the swordsman's attention.
"I AM NOT PLAYING!" Zoro roars as he tries to catch them, and Sanji walks out of the kitchen.
"Nami-san, Dakota-chan, breakfast is served. Hey, you losers! Time for grub!" Sanji calls out, and I walk up the stairs towards the kitchen, still in my pyjamas.
"Aye!" Luffy and Usopp yell back and run towards the kitchen, leaving a disgruntled swordsman.
"Get your ass back here! I'm not finished with you!" Zoro yells after them.
"He said that to me, even back then," Nami mumbles to herself.
"What is it, Nami-san?" Sanji asks her.
"Oh, nothing. Ah! I'm so hungry!" Nami beams as she walks past, and I walk in behind her unnoticed.
"Food! Food-food!" Luffy cheers as he walks into the kitchen.
ONE PIECE - LOGUETOWN ARC
Luffy sits down at the table with Nami as I wash my hands next to Sanji and use my assassin skills to stay undetected; I really want to spook them. "Looks so tasty!" Luffy cheers as he digs into the food.
"By the way, what do you suppose happened to Buggy?" Nami randomly asks.
"Buggy? Oh! That Buggy! Who knows, maybe he's off in the ocean somewhere." Luffy replies with his mouth full.
"It's hard to say," Zoro comments as he walks in with his hand around Usopp's nose, pulling him inside. "When it comes to pirates, they're all different."
"Is that so? Bastard, what's your problem? You started it!" Usopp complains as he holds his nose in pain.
"I was a pirate hunter for a long time. I know a lot about them." Zoro remarks as Luffy steals his food.
"Are you just going to stand there, Usopp? Your food is disappearing. Nami-san, here's a special yoghurt treat just for you and Dakota-chan." Sanji says and places them down at our seats.
"Luffy! You ate all of my food again!" Usopp exclaims.
"Thank you, Sanji-Kun!" Nami says.
"GIVE IT BACK, JERK!" Usopp shouts at Luffy, and he tries to go for my food, and I smash my fork into his hand; he wails in pain as he retracts his hand, and everyone gasps at my sudden appearance.
"DAKOTA!" They all shout, and I smile.
"Morning, everyone." I greet everyone, and Sanji suddenly faints on the spot with a stream of blood comes from his nose; I look around the table with Nami smirking and shaking her head, Luffy just continues to eat his food, and Usopp looks down as he eats, not even looking at me. Zoro is looking away with a blush on his cheeks. I smirk and look down to see I'm still in my PJs.
"Woops. I guess I forgot to change." I tease, looking at the boys.
ONE PIECE - LOGUETOWN ARC
I walk out of mine, and Nami's room, now changed into something a little less concealing, dark grey joggers, a light grey top and a dull grey cardigan as I walk up the stairs to the rear when a scream from above comes and goes; I look up but don't see anything and shrug it off. "Hey, did you just say something?" Luffy asks, looking at us.
"Me? Nothing." Nami answers, and he looks to Usopp, who shakes his head. Then I shrug my shoulders in reply.
"Weird, maybe it was my imagination." Luffy shrugs it off, scratching at his head.
"Hey, Luffy! Quit slackin' off!" Sanji scolds him, and I pick up a cloth and bucket to do the windows.
"Oh! Sorry, sorry." Luffy apologises, and returns to weeping on the floor, and the rest of us keep the ship in top shape.
ONE PIECE - LOGUETOWN ARC
Finally, the cleaning is done, and we're closer to Loguetown; I sit up in the crows' nest on the watch for the night as I sleep in later than the others, and Nami needs some time to sort out her maps in our room. I snuggle into the blanket as I listen to everyone aboard. "Sanji… gimme food…" Luffy mumbles, still asleep.
"You just ate... have some... self-control," Sanji replies in his sleep.
"You guys shut the hell up. How am I supposed to get any rest?" Zoro snaps at them.
"You freakin' sleep all the time. Help out a little, will ya?" Usopp complains, and I shake my head at their antics.
"Arguing with each other in their sleep… they're such weird guys," Nami complains, and I have to agree but can't help smiling as I watch the calm ocean around us. "Well, I guess I should go to sleep too. Goodnight. Goodnight, Dakota." Nami calls out, and I watch over my friends until morning sunrises.
ONE PIECE - LOGUETOWN ARC
I walk out of the room in a fresh new change of clothes, a bright pink top and black short dungarees and black sandals and walk up to the head of the ship where Zoro is taking a nap and Luffy waiting, looking out at the grove; seagulls fly overhead, waking Zoro from his little nap. "Hey, I can kinda make out an island," Zoro calls out, and Luffy stretches his arms out to hold onto the railing bringing him to sit looking out as we approach the island.
"Eh? Really? What island is that?" Luffy asks as we all gather around.
"Didn't we go over that already?" Nami asks as we stand behind them.
"Ah?" He asks, turning to face us.
"So that's the island where Loguetown is." Usopp questions and looks in amazement at the sight of the town.
"It's a pretty big city." Sanji comments.
"Yes, it is, much bigger than it looks from here," I tell them, and they look at me for a second, and I shrug them off.
"They should have lots of good places to get fresh food," Sanji comments lighting his cigarette.
"I need to go to a weapon store. Three-sword style with only one sword just won't work." Zoro adds in.
"Yeah, I wanna check it out, too." Usopp agrees.
"On that island, Gold Roger was born and also executed," Luffy mumbles under his breath; I move over with Nami leaning next to Zoro as she does next to Luffy.
"Oh? So you do remember." Nami comments, looking up at our Captain.
"The city where the pirate King died. A place called 'The Town of the Beginning and the End'." Luffy says, and I smirk as we are almost there, and something in the wind is changing for the better.