A/N: A special thanks to everyone interested in this story! I have been a fan of One Piece for many years and the live-action series inspired me to write my own tale. There will be canon characters appearing and while I already have some OCs, I would love to incorporate more! Feel free to DM me for a form and I'll let you know what I need. I will also give credit to OCs as they are introduced to their respected owners.

Chapter 1

In the waters of the West Blue lies an island that is home to a beautiful town called Port Calico. It is a coastal place known for its handmade fabrics, exotic fruits, and sunny weather. And it is here where the journey of a lifetime is about to begin.

A smile formed on a young woman's lips as she cleaned off a mug inside a busy tavern. She was of average height with fair skin, turquoise eyes, and long hair which was an eccentric shade of lime green. Her outfit was simple, consisting only of a short-sleeved shirt that matched her hair and denim shorts. Perhaps the most unique aspect of her appearance, however, was that she wore no shoes.

Although she had never planned on being a busser, it was easy work and the patrons were often generous when tipping her. As she placed the cleaned mug on the shelf, her mind wandered to her dreams for the future. She had always been fascinated with the sea and wanted to travel the world so that she could meet new people. One day she planned to make her dream into a reality, but for now, she would just have to settle for living vicariously through the people who frequented the tavern. If she was lucky enough a sailor would wander in and share details of their adventures only sparking her curiosity further about the world. Snapping out of her thoughts, she began her rounds, noticing a man sitting alone in one of the back corners.

His face was obscured from her view due to the map he was holding and she wondered if he was new to the area. She couldn't explain why but she sensed something mysterious about him despite having no previous interactions.

"Will you be needing anything?" She asked in a hospitable tone as she approached him.

"No," came his gruff reply.

"Are you sure?"

He sighed and slightly lowered his map revealing his golden eyes, chinstrap beard, and scruffy, eggplant-colored hair. She noticed he had a pair of dangling, brass earrings as well as a beaded necklace of the same material. His skin was a few shades darker than hers and he seemed older if not by more than two or three years. He analyzed her for a few seconds before finally responding in a low tone, "If I change my mind, I'll ask."

"Of course, my name is Laura, by the way."

The man raised the map back up blocking her from his sight.

As she returned to her duties, Laura abruptly bumped into a burly man who was getting up from a nearby table. When they made eye contact, he gave her a creepy grin that sent a shiver down her spine. There was nothing more discomforting in her opinion than being ogled.

"Laura..." He repeated in a purr, his gaze roving over her body. "Such a pretty name for a vixen like yourself. Why don't we go somewhere when you're off and get to know each other, yeah?"

Laura wrinkled her nose as the scent from his breath reached it. The man was obviously intoxicated and she had no desire to go anywhere with him.

"Hm, no, thanks."

The man's expression became one of disbelief as he reached out and grabbed ahold of her, "You don't know what you're missing."

She resisted which only resulted in his grip tightening on her arm. Unsurprisingly, the man's behavior had started to draw everyone's attention though they remained calm. Laura glanced around, her eyes locking on the purple-haired man from earlier. He was watching the situation unfold, but made no move to intervene, nor did anyone else.

"Let go of me," Laura warned gently, her voice still cool and collected.

"Don't be like that, sweetheart-"

Her patience was waning, "LET GO!"

Before the man could react, Laura stomped her right foot into the stone flooring causing it to split open.

"Rock Cannon!"

Her command summoned a pillar of rock that shot up and slammed into her aggressor's stomach. The attack forced him to shriek as he was launched into the air and through the establishment's roof. Laura's heart was still racing from the encounter, but she felt embarrassed for causing a scene. Once the dust had settled, she smiled sheepishly at the other customers, "I'm sorry if I startled any of you."

The regulars cheered and turned back to their drinks and games of cards, unfazed by the destruction. Laura's focus went back to where the purple-haired man had been sitting and she frowned when she saw that he was no longer there. Unbeknownst to her the man in question had used the commotion as an opportunity to quietly slip away.

It was evening when Laura was leaving her shift and she decided to head into town for some groceries. As she drew nearer to the market she stopped at a stall where newspapers were being sold. The old woman behind the counter greeted her and Laura smiled, knowing her well.

"What's going on today, Odessa?"

"The usual, but would you look at this!" She grabbed a piece of paper and handed it to Laura, "A wanted poster just arrived."

"Really?"

Laura examined the parchment and immediately gasped once she saw the photo. To her surprise, it was the purple-haired man she had spoken with earlier. The old woman watched as Laura's expression quickly shifted from one of shock to excitement.

"Do you know him?" Odessa inquired, raising a brow.

"No, but I met him earlier," Laura replied, her eyes still glued to the poster.

"Oh? Well, he's a handsome fella, isn't he?"

Laura said nothing, her thoughts too absorbed with the information. It was obvious now why he had quickly left the tavern. He had been trying to keep a low profile.

"His bounty is listed as 5,000,000 berries. That's quite a lot for someone in this part of the West Blue," Odessa mentioned, bringing Laura back to the conversation.

"I wonder what he did to get a bounty..."

The old woman gave a shrug, "I haven't got a clue, dear, but if he's here on the island, you should be careful."

Laura nodded slowly unsure of how to feel. "What's the price for this?"

"It's on the house."

Laura thanked Odessa and proceeded further into the marketplace, but she was too distracted to concentrate. She ended up forgetting the items she needed and chose to search for the man on the poster instead. Laura figured he would probably be departing soon and she didn't want to miss the chance to see him again.

The sun was setting over the harbor of Port Calico as the man who had intrigued Laura in the tavern made his way toward the docks. He wore a dark trench coat over a barely visible tank top, leather boots, and black pants. His eyes were on full alert and using his tall height as an advantage, he scanned the crowds of locals for signs of danger. He was a criminal and because of this, he knew that he needed to be cautious. Yet he couldn't help but feel a thrilling rush at the thought of escaping his pursuers and starting a new life on the open sea.

As he drew closer to his ship, he paused and listened, hearing nothing except for the gentle crashing of waves against the shore. His ship was a small one made of wood with two levels and a single sail. In the center of the vessel was an extended mast which provided support for the sail and a set of stairs led to the upper level where the helm was located. He was pleased with himself for being able to procure such a vessel, but he still felt uneasy. It wasn't uncommon for bounty hunters to hide in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity to strike.

"Wait! Don't leave!"

The man stiffened when he heard the sudden voice of a woman. He spun around and narrowed his eyes, recognizing that she was the girl from the tavern. She was out of breath from running, her cheeks flushed as she struggled to catch her breath.

"Did you follow me?" He demanded, his voice laced with anger.

His question surprised her. Did he think that she was a threat?

"No, but I know that you're a wanted man," Laura admitted continuing to close the distance between them.

"You've come to turn me in then?" His guard was completely up now and his tone was accusing.

"No, I want you to take me with you."

He blinked, taken aback by her statement. It was the last thing he had expected to hear. "Take you with me? You can't be serious."

Without warning, Laura lunged forward and snatched the rolled-up map he had placed in one of his coat's pockets.

"Hey! What are you-?"

"That map you were studying earlier." She said in awe while straightening it out and reading the charts he had drawn, "You're a navigator? Ooh, this is great! Just think of all the places we could go!"

He reached for the map, but Laura was fast enough to move it out of the way.

"Stop fooling around! Give that back!" He ordered angrily.

Laura shook her head in refusal, her eyes never leaving his map. Whoever this guy was, he had detailed a route that would take him straight to the Grand Line. "Take me with you and I will."

He clenched his right hand into a fist, a look of annoyance crossing his features. "Are you really going to hold my map hostage unless I agree?"

"Yes, so what do you say? Do we have a deal?"

He stared down at her for what felt like forever before finally giving in. The abilities she had displayed earlier were enough to make him concede to her request. He hadn't been prepared to travel with anyone else, but he couldn't afford the risk of her getting him captured.

"Fine."

His response caused Laura to squeal and jump with joy. He couldn't help but notice how much her behavior was like a child. He was far more used to dealing with people who were hostile, but her cheerful and outgoing demeanor made him uncomfortable.

"There are a few things I'll need to go grab first," Laura suddenly said, pausing mid-celebration. "I'll hold on to your map until I return."

He gritted his teeth, "If you're trying to trick me-"

"Relax, I promise I'll be back."

She grinned at him before darting off, the map still firmly held in her hands. He watched her disappear into the crowds, hoping that she would eventually have a change of heart and cease the desire to travel with him. His wishful thoughts were short-lived, however, when he spotted her again a short time later. He sighed to himself as he accepted that he would be taking a passenger after all.

A/N: I really hope you all enjoyed your read and please leave a review if you don't mind.

*I own Laura and the mysterious purple-haired man*