LOGUETOWN CAUSING TROUBLE - PART 2

East Blue Saga - Loguetown Arc - Episode 50 - 53

DAKOTA'S POV:

Zoro and I sit down on some stairs near Main Street as he examines his new katanas, and I pull a book from my bag. "Cursed blade, eh? Interesting." He mutters to himself, and he stares at the blade when suddenly Luffy pops up, startling us.

"Hey, that's a cool looking katana!" Luffy exclaims, looking at the sword.

"What the hell, don't startle me like that!" Zoro snaps at him, and I put my book away.

"What're you doing here, Zoro, Dakota?" Luffy asks us.

"Same goes for you," I ask him as Zoro removes his sword.

"Me? Well, I'm lost." Luffy states, seeming almost proud of himself.

"Why are you proud about that?" Zoro asks him in shock at our Captain's response.

"Hey, do you know where the gallows are?" Luffy asks, but before I can answer, shouts from behind him gain our attention, we look over to see a group of men surrounding Daddy Masterson. "What's this?" Luffy asks us, but we watch as the men shout at the bounty hunter before shots sound out, and four of the men fall onto the ground leaving one standing behind him. The lone one standing stumbles back onto his ass as Daddy walks towards him and pulls out a cigarette from the kid's inner jacket pocket. As the kid shakes in fear as Daddy crushes his cigarette.

"Go home and ask your Mama to bake you some cake, boy." Daddy taunts him and throws the crushed cigarette on him, and the kid runs off screaming in fear; I smirk; he hasn't changed.

"WOW! COOL! That old man!" Luffy exclaims too loudly.

"That man's probably…" Zoro says.

"That's right, Daddy the Father." I finish as we watch him walk away.

"I'm hungry!" Luffy complains and clutches at his stomach.

"Come on; I'll take you to a good restaurant near here," I tell him and stand with the boys following; we walk off towards one of the restaurants.

ONE PIECE - LOGUETOWN ARC

I sit at one of the tables in the middle of the restaurant, it is an excellent place, and I pick up the menu, but I know what Luffy will want; the waiter walks over to our table, seeming happy. "Can I get you any drinks?" He asks, and I put the menu down.

"We'll get a jug of water, a bottle of wine and a bottle of rum," I tell him; he writes it down on his notepad. "Also, we'll have two of everything on the menu, please," I tell him. He looks up from the pad with shock. "They're hungry," I remark, and he nods before walking away.

The food soon arrives, filling the table with our drinks; I take the rum from them while Luffy has water and Zoro has the wine; I dig into the food, scrapping some onto a plate in front of me while Luffy stuffs everything into his mouth.

Soon enough, he leans back in his chair, having all finished our food, his stomach three, maybe four times as big with a look of satisfaction. "Man, I'm stuffed. I haven't had anything since I got into Loguetown. I was getting pretty hungry." Luffy states, and I shake my head as I drink my rum.

"Actually, same here. I was starving, but I didn't have any money left on me. Good thing I bumped into you two." Zoro comments, filling his glass with more wine.

"If you mean for money, I don't have any," Luffy announces as Zoro gulps down his drink and slams his glass on the table angrily.

"What?!" He snaps at our Captain.

"Don't you have any?" Luffy asks him.

"Why the hell would I have any?" He asks him, and I know he left the money behind for the two katanas, and Luffy lets out a joyous laugh slamming his hand on the table.

"You have a point!" Luffy laughs.

"So, how are we gonna pay for this?" Zoro asks as if I'm invisible or assuming I have no money, as I stay quiet.

"Maybe they'll let us off." Luffy reasons when a sack of coins drops onto the rim of his hat; he looks up, and a gold coin drops out; he catches it in his hands, looking at the money with glee. "Woohoo! Lucky!" He exclaims and grabs the sack of coins before turning to the people behind him. "What, you're treating us?" He asks them. "How nice of you." We get up from our seats, and I leave a few bills under my glass as Luffy walks over to the person in a cloak and returns the sack of coins. "Thank you!" He flips the cash in the air before catching it and walking back over, placing the coin on the table, and Zoro walks over to the figure.

"Thanks for the food." Zoro thanks him and walks off, and we leave the restaurant.

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We walk off around the corner, and I hear shouting but shrug it off; as we walk around when a gust of wind pulls Luffy's hat from his head; he clutches onto the top of his head as he watches the strawhat float away. "Hat!" Luffy cries out as he runs after, and Zoro walks beside me as we walk behind. "Ah! Wait! Wait, hat!" He shouts as he runs after turning the corner. Zoro and I turn the same corner but lose sight of him, and we continue down the street, and I look to my side with a sigh; Zoro has somehow gotten lost again. I look around me as people become startled and frightened, and then I hear them murmuring among themselves; I strain my hearing when someone shouts.

"Straw Hat Luffy's to be executed by Buggy, the Clown!" I look around with wide eyes before closing them to calm myself down.

"Demonic Shift!" I whisper and disappear from the street in a glimmering blue light.

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3rd POV:

At the Marine Base, Captain Smoker walks towards some stairs and takes a few steps before stopping and looking over his shoulder. "What? You mean…" he asks.

"C-Correct." the soldier answers. "In addition to Straw Hat Luffy and Red Devil Dakota, Buggy the Clown and Iron Club Alvida are also here. They are East Blue pirate Captains with Devil's Fruit powers."

"Right here under my nose…" Smoker growls, "Brazen fools."

"What are your orders, Captain Smoker?" The soldier asks him.

"Order the first unit down to the harbour. Have the second unit surround the plaza from the streets. Have the rests standby at a distance from the plaza. That's all." Smoker orders, and the soldier stands to attention.

"Yes, sir!" He replies.

"Give an order to the first unit. Find and destroy the pirates' ships! Don't let even one of those animals off this island. Especially Dakota Le Roux." Smoker growls as storm clouds roll over the city.

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Dakota's POV:

I make it to the central plaza where the execution platform stands; I look over to see Luffy at the top in the stocks, with Buggy looming over him and his men and some woman below. I sigh in frustration and hear footsteps coming towards the plaza. Marines. I shift again to the top of the building, away from sight. I listen to the Marines' plan and watch Luffy and Buggy on the platform. "Captain Smoker, please come look at this. Something strange is happening." A soldier announces, and I stiffen in place and jump away, not wanting to be too close anymore and get a better look at my baby Brother and Buggy.

I move over to the next building, still out of sight and closer to the platform, and can hear Buggy laughing his usual laugh. "Pirate, Monkey D. Luffy, I sentence you… for the crime of laughing at my misfortune and pissing me off… TO A FLASHY DEATH!" Buggy shouts with a laugh, and his men cheer. "Flash it up, men!" His men obey and start shooting their guns, cheering and dancing around.

"Ah. This is the first time I've ever seen an execution!" Luffy states with a grin, and I shake my head at his naivety.

"It's your execution." Buggy tells him and Luffy for a second point to himself.

"WHA-?! YOU'RE JOKING!" Luffy screams at Buggy with wide eyes.

"YOU'RE THE ONE WHO'S JOKING! AND NOW…" Buggy shouts back.

"Lemme go! Lemme out! Someone help! Help me~!" Luffy shouts out to the crowd; I almost go for him but stop myself short as Buggy shouts.

"OUR MAIN EVENT!" He shouts. "THE FLASHY EXECUTION… SHALL COMMENCE!"

"NO~!" Luffy screams in panic but stops when Buggy puts his foot on his head. "I'm sorry," Luffy says with no emotion. "I won't do it again. Please spare me."

"I'M NOT SAVING YOU, YOU NINNY!" Buggy shouts at him. "Any last words then? We've got quite a crowd here. Well, well, looks like you're speechless. You are about to die, after all!" Buggy taunts him, and the wind picks up slightly as I feel it flow through my hair.

"I AM THE MAN WHO WILL BECOME THE PIRATE KING!" Luffy screams, and I smile as his words echo around the plaza, and everyone stands there in dead silence as they all stare at him and his declaration. For a long moment, everyone remains quiet when people seem to process what he's said.

"T-The Pirate King, he said? In this town of all places… what a bold statement." The citizens murmur among themselves in the crowd.

"It's about time to end this, don't you think? Shitty rubber-kid!" Buggy says ever so calmly, even for him, as Luffy struggles to free himself.

"THIS EXECUTION...IS CANCELLED!" Zoro and Sanji shout together; I look at them standing at the plaza entrance.

"Zoro! Sanji!" Luffy exclaims in glee, and I let out a sigh of relief.

"You really know how to make a ruckus. Aren't you taking this joke a bit far, Luffy?" Zoro asks him as the boys get ready for a fight.

"If it's time for the sideshow, I guess I'll debut as well. It looks like we just have to get past these shitty pirates." Sanji comments, and I move slowly across the top of the roof.

"P-Pirate Hunter… Z-Zoro!" Someone in the crowd shouts, and they part ways, shrieking in terror, and I smirk, thinking how they'll react when I come into play.

"SANJI! ZORO!" Luffy shouts over to them.

"Here at last Zoro! Pity you're a tad too late!" Buggy yells and raises his cutlass in the air.

"The execution platform!" Zoro yells as the boys break out into a run straight ahead.

"Destroy it!" Sanji yells back as they run through the crowd heading for the platform.

"If you would so please, my dears!" The woman calls out, and more pirates head for the boys.

"And so we shall!" They shout back, "Lady Alvida!" They run straight for the boys, and Zoro cuts them down, along with Sanji kicking them aside.

"Outta the way!" Zoro growls and I see one of the pirates going for him, and I shift off of the roof down into the plaza; before I touch down, I get out my green and black blade knife from its thigh holster before skidding on my knees towards the back of the pirate. I slice across the back of his knee; he buckles under the pain as I get to my feet slightly crouching down and take his foot further away from me in my hand. I pull his foot towards me, and he loses balance and falls on his back in a cry of pain; I stand up, fully aware of all the stares.

"DAKOTA!" Luffy shouts, and I look up, staring at him, then shift my eyes up at Buggy, who quivers at the hardened glare I get from my Dad.

"LE ROUX!" Buggy screams in fright, but before I can shift as the brave minion swings again at me, I bend back out of the way, landing on my shoulders and hands; I push myself back up onto my feet; I stand still as more pirates surround me, I flip my knife and arch my back around cutting deep into pirates, they all cry out in pain as they fall to the ground and Buggy lets out a laugh. "Try all you want; you can't stop me now! This is the end of your Captain!"

"You god damn bastard!" Sanji growls as we fight our way through the pirates towards the platform, and Buggy lets out a laugh.

"ZORO!" Luffy shouts and says swordsman stops. "SANJI! DAKOTA! USOPP! NAMI!" He calls out our names, and we stop looking up as Buggy brings down his cutlass, and Luffy looks up with a big ass grin. "Sorry. I'm… DEAD."

"N-!" Zoro begins to shout.

"Don't say that, bastard!" Sanji shouts, and I feel an electrical current strike through the air before a bolt of lightning strikes down the execution platform, shocking everyone as the light blinds everyone and the platform cracks under the current. Buggy is engulfed in blue fire while a piece of the platform's metal structure falls to the ground, and the rest of the rig catches fire. Droplets of rainfall from the sky before it becomes a torrential downpour, and the platform, still on fire, falls on its side, and I look up at the sky in shock when I see Luffy's hat floating down. I stand in my spot as everyone else is still in shock and look down as the hat settles on the ground; Luffy picks his hat up and puts it back on; I sigh of relief to see him safe.

"Hey, I'm alive! I'm okay!" Luffy states with a cheery tone as everyone around him, including myself, stares in shock.

"Hey, you believe in God?" Sanji asks, and Luffy walks over to us.

"Phew, what a relief… I thought I was a goner there." Luffy comments, and I run toward him, wrapping my arms around him, and he accepts the hug.

"This isn't the time to ask about that. We're blowing this town. Looks like the danger's not over yet." Zoro states, and I nod in agreement knowing the Marines will soon move in on us; as I think this, I hear a shout before Marines rush in from every exit encircling us.

"Why them?" Sanji huffs as the Marines begin fighting with the other pirates, pirates come towards Luffy, and he jumps out of the way as the Marines knock them away.

"Awesome! What a huge fight! Cool! Super cool!" Luffy cheers as he jumps out of the way of another falling pirate, and Zoro grabs the back of his shirt, startling him.

"Luffy!" He snaps, and Luffy looks behind him, hearing his voice.

"O-Oh, Zoro!" He gulps.

"Quit standing there watching! We're leaving." Zoro snaps.

"If we don't get back to the ship in time, we won't be able to leave the island! Then we can't get to the Grand Line!" Sanji points out.

"What? We better go then!" Luffy agrees, and we break off into a run.

"The Straw Hat Crew is retreating!" a Marine soldier shouts to the others as we run away. "Stop them! After them!" As they scream, a group of them run towards us, the boys knock them out of the way, and I punch them out of my way along with them.

ONE PIECE - LOGUETOWN ARC

3rd POV:

At the Marine hideout in one of the buildings facing into the plaza with Marines and Pirates fighting, Captain Smoker stands, staring into space when one of his men speaks. "Captain. About capturing those pirates…"

"Hey, you. You ever seen a pirate that smiles at the execution platform?" Smoker asks him.

"N-Never. Even the greatest of bluffers… turned pale with fear just before they died." He replies.

"He was smiling. That man with the Straw hat. 22 years ago… at his own execution, the Pirate King Gold Roger, smiled the very same way." Smoker comments, thinking back to then.

"Captain…" He mutters under his breath.

"Where's Straw Hat and Red Devil?" Smoker inquires roughly, looking over his shoulder.

"They're currently retreating towards the harbour." He reports.

"What of the first unit? They should've destroyed the ships by now." Smoker asks as he walks past him.

"They reported that… due to the sudden rain… their gunpowder was ruined. They're returning now for a fresh supply." He informs him looking down at the floor in fear.

"They're what?" Smoker growls, stopping mid-step.

"As backup, we have the shoreline guard ready at your disposal." He assures him, turning around.

"Captain Smoker, if they pull out to sea. They'll be able to reach the Grand Line!" The swordswoman remarks, turning around also.

"The wind's blowing west. They've got a perfect tailwind… can all this be coincidence? It's like Heaven itself is keeping that man alive…" Smoker grumbles to himself, looking up at the sky. "Or is it the devil?" He wonders as he thinks of Dakota and her reappearance back into his life after a year. "I, Smoker the White Hunter… swear now as a Captain of the Marine Headquarters. That man and woman shall not leave this island!"

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Dakota's POV:

We run down the street heading for the harbour where the Going Merry sails, hopefully with Nami and Usopp onboard. "We have to get out of here now!" I yell at the boys.

"Let's get to the Grand Line." Luffy cheers as we run full speed towards the harbour.

"What kinda storm is this?" Zoro questions.

"If we don't hurry, we won't be able to get off this island. Nami-san wasn't kidding when she said to get back to the ship as soon as possible!" Sanji comments.

"Run! Run! Run!" Luffy cheers as he runs in front of us.

"Which way is the damn harbour!?" Zoro snaps.

"It's raining so hard; I can't tell which direction!" Luffy replies.

"There they are!" Marine soldiers shout from behind us.

"Damn, they're persistent!" I snap, looking behind my shoulder at them. "Wanna stop and fight 'em?"

"No, there's no time…" Sanji replies and looks ahead. "WHO IS THAT LADY?" He gushes, and I look to see the woman from the weapons store standing in front of us, blocking our path.

"So you're Roronoa Zoro, a pirate. I… you lied to me!" She yells, and Sanji stops his chivalry from getting the better of him.

"WHAT?! WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO HER!?" Sanji demands, and we come to a stop in front of her.

"You never asked my name, that's all. I never lied to you." Zoro tells her as he walks a little towards her before stopping.

"A scoundrel like you wielding such a magnificent katana… unforgivable! Your katana, the Wado Ichimonji… shall be confiscated!" She shouts, and I shake my head in disbelief.

"Just try it." Zoro replies, and she lets out a battle cry going to strike, but he blocks it with his Ichimonji, and they stare at each other for a moment before Zoro pulls back, and they strike at each other again but block.

"You bastard! How dare you attack a woman!" Sanji scolds Zoro.

"Stay out of this, please!" She shouts at him. "This is a match between Roronoa and myself. Leave us alone!"

"You heard her," Zoro adds. "Go on ahead." He tells us, not facing away, letting his guard down.

"Let's go." Luffy agrees and runs past the two swordsmen, and I join him, dragging Sanji behind.

"Zoro! If you hurt her, you're a dead man!" Sanji warns him as I drag him away.

"Sergeant Major Tashigi!" A Marine soldier shouts at the woman, and I hear more strikes between the blades and another.

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I keep dragging Sanji behind me so he won't run back to stop Zoro from fighting with the Marine woman. "There's the end of the street! The harbours just over there!" Luffy shouts over the heavy downpour, and I look through to see someone in front of us.

"Hey, who's that up ahead?" Sanji asks, and I get a better look to see Smoker standing with his bike blocking our exit.

"Here at last? Straw Hat Luffy. Red Devil Dakota." Smoker says, and we stop in our tracks. "I told you if you can't beat me… you will never get to the Grand Line."

"Oh yea, I forgot about that!" Luffy comments with a grin, but I move my hand into my back pockets to get my knuckle dusters.

"You enjoy playing dumb." Smoker growls.

"Hey, Luffy," Sanji mutters to him.

"Sanji, Dakota. Go on ahead." Luffy orders us, but I know Smoker won't let me pass. "I'll be right there."

"I wouldn't bet on that. This is the end for you." Smoker growls as he steps forward.

"Go!" Luffy shouts, and Sanji runs, but I stay where I am. "Dakota! Go!" He calls, but I shake my head.

"No way, you won't beat him, Luf," I tell him, and he looks at me with such determination, and I nod in agreement before breaking out in a run, Smoker darts to the side about to hit me when I use Armament Haki around my hands and knuckle dusters hitting him away from me. I run away, leaving my Baby Brother behind, and I feel the guilt hit me more as I can feel their stare both on my retreating form.

ONE PIECE - LOGUETOWN ARC

I catch up with Sanji as we reach the harbour with Marines firing at the Going Merry, sailing out. "NAMI-SAN!" Sanji calls out to her as we run towards the ship.

"Dakota! Sanji-Kun!" She calls back as we run across the coast.

"Dakota! Sanji!" Usopp calls out.

"Nami-san, I'm back~!" Sanji shouts over to her.

"What about Luffy and Zoro?" She asks us.

"Those two louts can take care of themselves!" Sanji replies as the Marine soldiers run after us.

"Dakota! Sanji-kun!" Nami shouts a warning.

"Behind you!" Usopp warns us, and I turn around, knocking them away along with Sanji, but more are coming for us.

"Shit! They just keep coming!" Sanji curses as he looks around us, I hear a splash from behind us, and some of the Marines go down; I look over to see Usopp in the water using his slingshot. Sanji and I on the land kick and punch more Marines out of our way, with more coming our way.

"Usopp! Dakota! Sanji-kun!" Nami calls out with worry as more Marines run towards us when suddenly a strong wind current pushes us off the ground, sending us away along with everything else.

ONE PIECE - LOGUETOWN ARC

I end up with the boys still close to the harbour under some rubble from the strong winds that have stopped; I shake off the debris feeling the bruises forming along my arms and stomach. I get up with the boys and look around, wondering what kind of wind that could have been, when I hear Nami shout out to us. "LUFFY!" I look along with the others to see that the Going Merry is sailing away with Nami still onboard. "LUFFY!"

"Nami!" Luffy calls back.

"We have to do something fast, or she'll drift out too far," Sanji warns him and runs off.

"I got it…!" Luffy shouts and runs in the other direction; we watch him run. "Gum-Gum…" Luffy runs past some stairs, catches his hands on them, and pulls himself back using his momentum.

"Oh, no." Usopp cries out, and I look with wide eyes.

"He wouldn't…" Sanji cries out alongside.

"Aw, shit." Zoro curses as Luffy begins to push forward.

"Rocket!" Luffy shouts as he comes sailing towards us, we try to outrun him but can't as he knocks into us, and we go flying.

ONE PIECE - LOGUETOWN ARC

We fly towards the ship's sails in a bundle of body parts, falling onto the deck groaning in pain from Luffy's daft idea. "Guys!" Nami beams at the sight of us; we get up, untangling ourselves from one another and looking out to the choppy sea around us.

"It feels like the ship's gonna turn over!" Luffy yells as we look, and I notice a light.

"Look at that light!" Nami yells over the raging storm.

"The island's lighthouse!" Usopp questions as he hugs the mast.

"That's our 'guiding light'. The light that points to the entrance of the Grand Line." I explain feeling nostalgia for seeing it again.

"The Grand Line is over there?" Luffy says in awe as he looks at the lighthouse.

"What now?" Nami asks our Captain.

"But are you really gonna go in a storm like this?" Usopp asks us, and we all look back at him in agreement.

"Alright! Let's have a little launching ceremony to mark the importance of our voyage!" Sanji suggests.

"Yeah, great!" Luffy agrees.

"Let's do it!" Nami agrees, also.

"To find All Blue!" Sanji declares and puts his foot atop the barrel with the rest of us surrounding it.

"To become the Pirate King!" Luffy declares the obvious as he, too, puts his foot on top of the barrel with a big grin.

"To be the greatest swordsman!" Zoro declares his with a smirk and puts his foot on the barrel.

"To draw a map of the world!" Nami declares, putting her foot on the barrel.

"I-I'm… to become a brave warrior of the sea!" Usopp shouts his declaration and places his foot on the barrel; the others all look at me.

"To avenge my Mother's death!" I declare and place my foot between Zoro and Usopp's feet.

"LET'S GOT TO THE GRAND LINE!" Luffy shouts, and we raise all our legs into the air.

"AYE!" We all shout in agreement and smash our feet on the top of the barrel, smashing it to pieces from the force.

Thank you for all your votes, and see ya soon! DEADGIRLETERNAL OUT!