Why are you coming with me again?"

"Because I need to get some weapons. I'm a pirate now, I can't just farm on the ship Roronoa."

Zoro and Nojiko were walking down the street looking for a weapons shop. Zoro had a large sack on his shoulder full of money from Luffy. Nami of course had given her sister money free of charge. As they were walking they heard a commotion and as they parted the crowd they were able to see two pirates ganging up on a girl. Zoro put his hand on his sword ready to step in but it seemed he didn't need to.

The girl easily dispatched her attackers with a sword but as good as she was in battle she seemed to be a clutz out of it. She tripped and fell in front of Zoro and the glasses she was wearing fell from her face. Zoro bent down and picked them up. "Here." She took them with a smile but when Zoro saw her face he froze. "Kui-." But his words died on his tongue. This wasn't her, they just looked eerily similar. "Thank you." The girl said as she bowed and walked away.

As Zoro and Nojiko were walking away Nojiko felt the need to ask him about what just happened. "What was that just now Roronoa?" She said in her normally teasing tone. "You looked flustered, don't tell me you have a crush on her." Zoro kissed his teeth at her teasing, though he still couldn't shake that girl's face from his mind. "No way she just… she just looked like someone I know." Nojiko decided not to ask anymore about it, she could see she touched a nerve and it's not like she cared that much anyway.

It didn't take them long to find the arms shop in town and boy was it a weapons shop. It reeked of gunpowder and steel. Zoro walked straight to the shop owner who was smiling at him with an obviously fake smile. "Welcome sir. Ma'am. Feel free to look around as much as you like." Zoro didn't look around. "I've got a million Beli, sell me two swords." He said rudely. The shop owner pulled a face, not at his tone but his money. "The swords worth 50,000 and 100,000 are over there." The shop owner said rudely. As Nojiko came up to him his demeanor changed quickly.

"Do you have any knives in stock?" She asked sweetly and Zoro shook his head at her as he walked over to the swords. "Why yes of course over there." He directed kindly and Nojiko happily skipped over. As Zoro was looking for swords he heard the shop door open, he didn't turn to see who it was but they seemed to take interest in him or more specifically his sword. "Wow I've never seen this sword before, what is it?" Zoro turned to see the girl he met earlier today, eyeing his sword with wonder in her eyes. She kept looking between his sword and a book.

"Oh didn't we meet today?" She said, recognizing him. "Yeah it seems so." Zoro said as he put a sword on his waist and looked for another. "Does this sword have a name?" The girl asked and Zoro paused for a moment to realize, no it didn't. "No not yet. But it's something very important to me. Nameless or not." Zoro said. The girl eyes him picking out another sword curiously. "If you don't mind me saying your three swords remind me of a certain bounty hunter. Roronoa Zoro, do you know him?" She said.

"Yeah I've heard his name quite a bit." As Nojiko listened from across the room she couldn't help but suppress a chuckle at the girl's cluelessness. "He's quite famous in the east blue or should I say infamous." She said with a humorless chuckle. "Treating his swords as just a means of making money is unforgivable. Why is it that today evil is so strong, all the famous swordsmen are either pirates or bounty hunters. And they possess the world's most masterwork blades." She said solemnly.

"I don't know, I think that's kind of a short sighted way to look at things. Everyone's got their own circumstances. Occupations reflect the needs of the time and all." Zoro said and the girl seemed to mull his words around in her head. Abruptly a sword was tossed at the girl and she nearly fell catching it. "Take Shigure and go Tashigi, I happily welcome criminals and you working for that monster scares them off." The girl named Tashigi seems to straighten her back at the man's words.

"Smoker is no monster. In any case, being a swordsman myself I vow to train harder with Shigure so that I can retake all the master work blades from the hands of criminals!"

Nojiko and Zoro shook their heads. Little did she know one such criminal was standing right next to her. As Zoro was about to pick up another sword he felt something, his hand moved on it's on and he grabbed a different one. As he held it up Tashigi recognized it. "Ah, that sword is Sandai Kitetsu. You should definitely get this sword. Why are you selling this for 50,000? This is at least worth a million."

"Because its-" the owner was cut off by Zoro. "It's cursed right." Zoro said. "You knew… I changed my mind. I'm not selling that sword. It is true it's a great sword, but Many famous swordsmen of the past suffered tragic deaths thanks to that." Zoro smiled at his explanation and unsheathed the balde. "I like it so much I'll take it." He said with a big grin on his face.

"Didn't you here what I said. You'll die horribly." Ippon Matsu said in a stupor. "Then how about we test it. This curse… or my luck." Zoro didn't wait for anyone's reaction and tossed the sword in the air and stuck his arm out. "If I lose that just means I was a man who was never meant to amount to anything special." Everyone watched with Bated breaths as the sword came down. The sword twirled around Zoro's arms and sank into the floor by the hilt. "I'll take it." Zoro said and Tashigi and Ippon Matsu fell over while Nojiko sighed in relief. "Wait right here." The owner said as he scurried off to the back. When he returned he had a black long sword in his hands. "This is Yubashiri, one of the 50 skillful-Grade swords. My shop may not be much but this is the best sword I have."

"I can't afford this." Zoro said. "I know I'm giving it to you free of charge. And Sandai Kitetsu of course. It's been a long while since I've seen a swordsman of your caliber." Zoro happily took the two swords and walked off. "Nojiko hurry up." He said as he waited by the door.

"I'd like to buy these." She said placing two knives in front of the shop owner. The two were fairly long both being at least a foot long if not longer. The first knife was a dark silver color with a black handle. Black tape a adorned the handle with red accents. Three jewels on the handle completed it. The other knife was a little longer than it's counter part. It's color was also a little darker, it's handle was brown and it had a ring on the end where the sheath hung loosely.

In no time at all Zoro and Nojiko were back on the street. Zoro with three swords on his waist and Nojiko with two knives on the small of her back. Abruptly Nojiko hit Zoro over the head. "You idiot, how was I gonna explain to Luffy how you lost an arm." Nojiko said. "Be quiet woman, it all worked out in the end." Zoro said with a carefree smile on his face. He was clearly happy to have three swords again.

"Nami was right, you are an idiot."

Gin was walking through town in a new set of clothes. A black jacket with red lines on the sleeves similar to his cropped one. He wore dark blue pants to match. His headband was swapped for a pure black one and his shirt was a simple dark blue. His tonfa peeked out from his back where he had them stored.

As he walked through the town with a few supplies on his shoulder he thought about his new life. His new crew. The people on his crew were strange, and he didn't mean that they were weird. No he's met a lot of weird people, Pearl being one of them. He meant their morals. Specifically for a pirate crew. Zoro was the most honorable person he had ever met, the reverse of what his reputation painted him as. Though he certainly was blood thirsty in a battle. Usopp was maybe the most outwardly coward he had come across. But he was also the most brave, and that was evident in their battle with the fishman pirates. People like Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, and even Gin himself for the most part didn't know fear in battle.

Risking their lives was almost second nature at this point. But Usopp tastes fear every time he comes across an enemy and yet he fights. Gin respected that. Nami at first glance was a cold hearted trickster who only cared about money. Very pirate-like. But that wasn't true, she was kind. So kind that she would put herself through hell for her village. He hasn't gotten a read on Nojiko yet, but he could say she was a very fearless person. She was carefree and mature. He hasn't seen her in a battle yet though. Shiro was also a strange lion. The beast didn't just attack his enemies indiscriminately. He takes the ones that get too close to Luffy or has their eye on him. He wondered what Luffy had done to get that kind of loyalty from a wild animal.

And then there was Luffy himself. Gin didn't think he could accurately describe the kind of man his captain was. He was unconventional in almost every aspect. He was a man of action and said little of why he did certain things. He seemed naive at first glance, someone who only saw the light the world had to offer, but he was able to understand Gin and even Nami without hearing their stories. He wanted to ask Luffy what kind of life he lived before he became a pirate but he said the past didn't matter to him. So he thought better of it. He would learn eventually. Maybe?

"Well if it isn't the Man-Demon. And here we thought you would never be seen again after running from the Grand Line." Gin was stopped by a group of 10 people. All of them were armed. He tried to walk past them but he was stopped. "Your Captain was defeated and you joined another crew. I'm surprised anyone would take you."

"What do you want?" Gin asked annoyed. The group chuckled as they surrounded him. "Your bounty is still impressive so we would like to take it off your hands for you. Besides, your crew probably isn't gonna last long on the Grand line anyway. Just like your old one."

Gin snapped when he said that. "You're right, my old crew didn't last long on the Grand Line, but things are different now." Everything happened in a few seconds. Gin had one tonfa in his hand and the group was in the air bloody. The leader was falling fast and Gin readied another attack.

"N-no no- please I'm sorry!" The man pleaded but it didn't deter Gin as he slammed his weapon into the man's chest and sent him flying down the street. As Gin walked away he had a smile on his face. "Everything's different now."

It didn't take Luffy long to find the execution platform and he was staring at it in wonder. "So this is where the pirate king died huh?" Many people didn't recognize him but the ones who did immediately went and told nearby marines.

Luffy didn't waste time and clicked to the top of the execution platform, he stared at the view in amazement. "So this is what the pirate king saw before he died!" He said with a huge smile on his face. It didn't take long before someone spotted him. "Hey get down from there!" They yelled into a megaphone.

Luffy looked at them confused. "Why?" The man was never able to get his next words out. He was smashed over the head by a mace. "Don't be so upright man." The mystery attacker said with a feminine voice. She pulled her cloak off to reveal a very curvy and beautiful woman. She had silky long black hair and cherry red lips. Luffy thought this person was familiar but it couldn't be who he thought it was.

"I've been looking for you for a long time, Luffy. Did you forget my face?" She asked with smile on her beautiful face. "Alvida." Luffy said, confused. The woman's smile grew bigger. "Yes I knew you'd recognize me. I certainly haven't forgotten about you and the way you handle me so roughly." She said with a blushing face. "Yeah but you seem less… ugly." Luffy said but he wasn't referring to just her looks.

"Why yes Luffy my devil fruit did get rid of my freckles. They didn't work for me." She said in delusion. "That wasn't what I was talking about, but ok. What do you want?" Luffy said, but before could say anything a bomb went off and a sharp piece of a fountain was sent hurling at her. Everyone was worried but she didn't move.

SLIP!

The rubble slipped off her and hit a building in the distance. Luffy looked pretty amazed. "That was kinda cool." He said, trying not to show an enemy his awe. "Anyway Luffy I love strong men and I have fallen for you. So that means you won't lose to this man I've teamed up with to find you." Alvida said and a group of men walked up behind her and pulled out cloaks. Luffy was intrigued until he saw their faces. "Oh it's just buggy."

"You rubber bastard, this is the end for you!" Buggy screamed.

Just as he said this Cabaji appeared behind him with a spiked pillory and tried to trap him but in a few seconds Cabaji was shackled to the execution stand and Luffy was sitting on his binds. He picked his nose as he looked at the shocked buggy pirates and the blushing Alvida. "So what do you want Alvida?" He asked. "I want to sail with you Luffy. Let me join your crew." She said almost in a plea. Luffy looked at her with an emotionless gaze. Luffy could tell she had changed for some reason, he didn't know if her devil fruit did it or what. But more than her change he thought her power was kinda cool and Luffy liked cool things. "Ok sure." The woman resisted the urge to celebrate.

"Get him!" Buggy screamed and his entire crew rushed to the execution stand. Of course Alvida wouldn't let them get past her so easily. "Oh no you don't." She hit an entire group of them with her mace sending them flying. Another pirate attacked her but it just slipped off and Alvida wasted no time in crushing his skull.

As Alvida was holding off the buggy pirates Luffy's crew had just shown up at the plaza to see him on the execution stand surrounded by a group of pirates. "What's going on here?" Zoro asked. "And who's that beautiful lady fighting?" Sanji said with hearts in his eyes. "Look, it's Captain." Gin said pointing at Luffy in the execution stand. "How did that idiot get himself into trouble? We don't have time for this." Nami said, shaking her head. Nojiko laughed good naturedly as she watched Luffy knock pirates off the stand who tried to attack him.

"Zoro, Sanji, Gin. Make sure that idiot gets back to the ship. A storm is coming and we don't need to be here when it hits. Usopp and Nojiko come with me. We have to make sure the Merry is alright." They all nodded at Nami's orders and Sanji handed his haul to Usopp as did Gin. "How about we make a bet?" Gin said with his usual wolfish grin. Zoro tied his bandana on his head and looked at him curiously. "What kind of bet?"

"Whoever takes out the least has to give their breakfast to the Captain for a week." He said. Sanji didn't wait for them and ran into the fray. "You're on."

"Bastard!"

As they fought their way through the hordes of buggy pirates they kept count all the way until they got to the stand. Rain started to come down hard on them. It was complete chaos in the courtyard, pirates fighting pirates and the police trying to stop them. Someone saw this as a perfect opportunity to attack. "Ok time to do this. Get the pirates Straw Hat is mine." A tall muscled man said. He was engulfed in a cloud of smoke and you could barely make out the symbol of justice on his back.

Sanji was the first to notice the men in white run into the plaza. "Hey shit heads we gotta go, the marines are coming." Sanji said as he kicked another two pirates. "Luffy we gotta go!" Zoro yelled at him. Luffy looked at them with a smile, before he took a deep breath. "I'M THE MAN WHO'S GONNA BE KING OF THE PIRATES!" His words put a pause to the chaos of only for a few seconds. Many couldn't believe someone would say that on the stand where Gold Roger died.

Just as Luffy yelled this buggy appeared behind him with a sword in hand and had it raised to kill him. "Not on my watch!" Just as he began to swing a spark appeared on the blade.

CRACK!

A lightning bolt fell from the sky and completely destroyed the stand and fried Buggy and Cabaji. Luffy appeared from the smoke with a big smile on his face and started to run towards the ship. "Let's go guys." The 4 followed. "20!" Zoro, Sanji, and Gin yelled. They glared at each other before their attention was taken by the woman literally sliding down the street next to them. "Who are you?" Gin asked with a dangerous tone. "I'm your new crew member." Alvida replied and Sanji nearly fell over. "You're the best captain ever, Luffy!" He yelled.

"Shishishi."

As they got further down the street however, someone stood in their way. "Roronoa Zoro! I won't forgive you!" The female said. It was Tashigi. "What did you do to that lady?" Zoro ignored Sanji though as he clashed swords with Tashigi. "Go on ahead." As the others went ahead Zoro battled with Tashigi. "To think you were Zoro and a pirate. You lied to me." She accused him.

"No I didn't, you were just clueless."

The fight didn't last long at all and Zoro had her pinned to the wall. "Well see ya." He said as he walked away from her. "Why… Why didn't you cut me down!? Is it because I'm a woman?" She yelled at his back outraged. Zoro stopped and looked at her.

"I don't care about your gender. The reason shouldn't matter, you lost and I let you live. Be thankful you have a second chance to take my head and my swords." Zoro said as he walked away Tashigi was left there trembling with rage.

Further ahead the others were stopped again only this time it was a male. He had 4 cigars in his mouth and a marine coat on him. "It's the White Hunt Smoker." Gin said, recognizing him."You won't be going to the Grand Line Straw Hat." Smoker said as he attacked Luffy with a long stick. "You guys go ahead!" Luffy ordered as he dodged the attack. The others hesitated but kept going.

"Was that wise?" Smoker asked. Luffy smiled. "I'm gonna find out." He said as he ran at Smoker and tried to hit him. The Marine dodged by turning his lower half into smoke and flying away. Luffy looked amazed but Smoker quickly returned to the ground with his stick out like a spear. Luffy jumped out of the way and the pole weapon easily pierced the ground. Luffy went back on the offensive with an even faster attack. He disappeared and reappeared in front of Smoker with his arm stretched back. The white hunt didn't have time to dodge and Luffy had him.

"GUM GUM:BULLET!"

Luffy's arm quickly snapped back and he decked Smoker in the face. But his arm went right through him. Luffy's victory's smile faded into shock. Smoker reformed himself and slammed Luffy's head into the ground. "Are you really worth 60 million?" Smoke asked unimpressed.

"Seems like this is the end." Smoker said as he prepared to stab Luffy with his weapon. But he was stopped, and a man grabbed his weapon mid-motion. "You're…" Smoker said, recognizing him. The man didn't say anything and a big gust of wind came and blew Luffy free of smokers grasp.

He didn't stop however and he kept going down the street. He turned to look to see who saved him but he barely made out the smiling face of a tall man. Luffy kept rolling until he was at the docks where his crew was waiting for him. "Hurry up Luffy, this rope won't hold for long!" Usopp shouted. Luffy hurriedly got into the ship and breathed a sigh of relief as they sailed away. Alvida scooped him into her arms and rubbed his face against her breast. "I knew you would've been beaten by that guy Luffy." She said and Luffy waved his arms around trying to breathe.

The others had various reactions to this scene. Zoro and Gin had none. Usopp thought it was a little strange. Shiro didn't care. Sanji looked like he was about to die. Nami's eyebrow was twitching ever so slightly though she couldn't hide it from Nojiko. "Is my sister jealous?" Nojiko teased and Nami kissed her teeth. "Of course not, Luffy just keeps adding weirdos." She said looking at Nojiko up and down."You don't have to hide your feelings from me Nami… After all, I'm a little jealous myself." Nojiko admitted and Nami looked at her with widened eyes, before she shook herself together.

"Ok guys we caught the wind that means we're gonna be coming up on the reverse mountain pretty soon!" Nami said to them. Everyone turned to her with confused looks. Well everyone besides Gin. "Reverse what?"

"The entrance to the Grand Line is a mountain." Nami said and everyone's eyes widened in shock. "But how is that possible!?" Usopp yelled in fear. "What she says is true." Everyone turned to Gin who was shaking more and more as they got closer to the mountain. "The entrance is a waterway that flows upward, it takes your ship from one of the four blues and lands it in the Grand Line." He explained. "That is so cool!" Luffy said, still in Alvida's arms. Usopp was shaking visibly. "Are we sure it's a good idea to do something like that in this storm?" Usopp said.

"Why can't we just go south and enter through there?" Zoro asked. "Because that's the calm belt. It has no winds and worst of all it's a den for very large sea kings so we won't be able to escape them." Nami explained. "The mountain it is!" Usopp said immediately. Luffy slipped out of Alvida's grasp and hopped on his Captain's seat. "Hey guys I see it!" Everyone ran to him with a curious look on their faces and saw a large red mountain only visible in this storm by a lighthouse.

"Welp, I think this is cause for a celebration. For finally making it to the Grand Line and for our beautiful new crew mate." Sanji said as he placed his foot on a barrel.

"To find the All Blue!"

"To be the World's Greatest Swordsman!"

"To draw a map of the world!"

"To live my life with no regrets!"

"To become the world's most beautiful woman!"

"To become a brave warrior of the sea!"

"To conquer the Grand Line and all its mysteries!"

"RWAR!"

"TO BE KING IF THE PIRATES!"

"TO THE GRAND LINE!"

They all smashed their heels down on the barrel and destroyed it just as they got in front of the reverse mountain.

"Amazing, the water really is going up the mountain." Nmai said with childish wonder in her voice. "GET A GOOD HOLD OF THE RUDDER SO WE DON'T GET DRAGGED DOWN!" Luffy yelled. "Leave it to us!" Sanji and Usopp yelled. As they started to climb the mountain Luffy saw they were going off course.

"Turn a little to the right!" He yelled, Sanji and Usopp tried to turn but the waves were too strong. They pushed until…

BRAKE!

Everyone looked on with shocked faces as the rudder broke. "We're gonna crash!" Nami screamed. Luffy jumped off the ship as they were about to slam into the wall.

"GUM GUM: BALLON!"

He yelled and his body inflated and he pushed the Merry back on course with his huge stomach. "Luffy grab my hand!" Zoro yelled and Luffy stretched his arm out and was pulled back on the ship. As they made it to the top of the Grand Line everyone celebrated and as they rested at the top everyone paused to admire the view.

"I can see the Grand Line up ahead!" Luffy said. Everyone was speechless. They felt on top of the world. Nami and Nojiko never thought they would get to see anything like this. Gin even though he had already taken this ride it somehow looked more beautiful than before. That was a testament of the people he was with. True comrades. Friends.

As they were descending they all heard a strange noise. "BUOOOO!" Luffy immediately grew nervous. "Slow down guys slow down!" He yelled at them and everyone looked at him confused until they saw what he did. "What is that!?" Sanji yelled. "It's a whale!" Usopp screamed. "Slow down!" Luffy yelled again.

"We can't captain the rudders broken!" Gin yelled, almost having a panic attack. Nami and Alvida were running around like headless chickens while Nojiko seemed to accept her fate. She walked over to Luffy who seemed to be thinking and grabbed his face and kissed him. Everyone paused and stared with ludicrous expressions. Luffy returned the kiss although confused. Once it was over Nojiko smiled at him. "Thanks Luffy." She said with a wink. Luffy continued to look confused before a light bulb seemed to go off in his head. "I've got an idea." He said and ran below deck leaving his crew to freak out again. Just as they were about to hit the whale the front cannon fired. The force was enough to stop them on a dime and save them from death. Luffy breathed a sigh of relief as he stepped on the deck only to see his Captain's seat broken.

"My seat!" He yelled in shock and before she could do anything else the whale opened its mouth. "It's sucking us in!" Nami screamed as the boat was being dragged into the whale's mouth. "Everybody grab onto something!" Luffy screamed as he held his hat in place at the front of the ship. As the Merry went on a joy ride everyone held on to her tightly. Except for Alvida, she held onto Luffy's waist.

"We're gonna die!" Usopp screamed with tears in his eyes. Nami was much the same and she was holding onto Nojiko in hysterics. The older girl held her although she seemed scared too. The one in the worst shape was Gin, he was in a corner holding his head and whispering to himself. It wasn't long before they got to the end of the long ride and the fear from what happened was replaced by shock.

"What the hell is this!" Usopp screamed. Everyone was frozen in place as they were looking up at a sky with clouds and birds. "Weren't we just eaten?" Nami said, getting up from a pool of her own tears. Nojiko took off the jacket she was wearing that was now drenched in Nami's tears, she was left in a black tank top. "Seemed that way."

"Wow this is amazing!" Luffy said and he looked around. "What about this is amazing!? We were just eaten and transported into a new place!" Usopp screamed. Luffy ignored him however and continued to rock the boat with his antics. "C-ca- Captain I think we should be trying to figure out where we are." Gin stuttered out. Luffy paused. "Yeah I guess you're right we did just to get to the Grand line." Luffy said and then he yelled out. "Hey old guy, where are we!?" Everyone turned to where he was looking and saw an old man reading a newspaper on an island.

The old man didn't speak, instead he glared at them with an icy look that made usopp and Nami shiver. "Isn't it customary to introduce yourself before asking questions?" Luffy raised a confused eyebrow. "Oh my name's Lu-"

"My name is Crocus, the lighthouse keeper of the twin capes. I'm 71 years old and I'm a Gemini." Everyone looked at the old man like he was crazy but Luffy just kept going with his own introduction.

"My name is Monkey D. Luffy, a pirate. I'm 17 years old and I don't know my sign or blood type." He said seriously and everyone looked at him like he was crazy. Crocus looked at him with inquisition. "You're in my private resort." Crocus said as he continued to read the newspaper. "But we were swallowed by that huge whale." Nojiko said. "Yes well that huge whale is a repeat patient of mine figured it would be easier to work on him from the inside." Everyone looked around and found he was telling the truth. "Look, the sun is just lights and those birds are panting on." Nami pointed out.

"But how does a whale that big keep getting hurt? The cannon Luffy fired at it didn't do anything." Alvida said holding Luffy once more. While the rubber man didn't mind his navigator was starting to get real annoyed with her new crew mate. "He's doing it to himself." As if in cue the space shook and the stomach acid of the whale rocked their boat.

"What's happening!?"

"He's ramming his head against the red line." Crocus jumped into the bowl own stomach acid and swam to a large metal door. "An exit!" Nami yelled. "Let's get out of here quick before the ship melts!" Alvida yelled. The males started to row as fast as they could but as they were doing it two people fell from the painted sky. "Aaaaaaaaaaaa!" They screamed as they fell into the stomach acid. The strawhats side eyed them as they fell but didn't slow down. "Wonder who they were." Usopp said. "Who cares they're dead now." Zoro said as they continued to row. As the ship came to a stop by the door everyone heard two people land on the ship.

They turned to see the two who fell in the acid. One was a pretty woman with blue hair and the other was a man with orange hair and a crown on his head. "Now's our chance mister 9!" The woman sang in a high voice. "You're right, miss Wednesday!" The man sang back as they aimed their rockets at the whales insides. "Bye bye baby!"

Before they could fire and doom them to sink however Luffy appeared behind them instantly and knocked both of them out. "That was close." He said.

The strawhats made it out of the whale and they learned the story of why the whale, Laboon, was Ramming his head against the red line. "So his friends left him here and were too cowardly to keep their promise." Sanji said as he took a drag of his cigarette. "That's just too cruel." Usopp said with clenched fists.

Everyone seemed to have the same reaction to the situation, even Alvida had a bit of pity on her eyes for the large creature. The only one who didn't have a reaction was Luffy. He sat there with his arms behind his head and stared at the animal before he got up. He ran up the whale's body and attacked an open wound.

"Gum Gum: Ax!"

His leg slammed down on the open wound and blood shot from it. The whale screamed in pain and threw Luffy into the red line. "Luffy, what are you doing!?" Nami screamed at him. Luffy ignored her however and ran from the rubble and attacked Laboon again, this time landing a punch in the whales eye. The whale rammed it's giant head against Luffy and the captain flew into the Mountain once more. Laboon was ready to attack again but he was stopped by Luffy's voice.

"ITS A DRAW!" Laboon and everyone looked confused. "I'm pretty strong huh. Your old friends might be Gone but I'm your rival now. And I promise once my crew sails Around the grand line we'll duke it out again and settle this!" The whale seemed to understand Luffy's words and he bellowed in happiness. While his crew looked at him with a smile Alvida looked at him strangely. Or strange wasn't the word, it was recognition. She was seeing Luffy for the first time. Recognizing that he wasn't just a simple strong man that beat her.

Luffy drew a large and crude version of his symbol on Laboon's head. "This is a symbol of our promise, so don't bang your head against the mountain and make it disappear ok!?" The whale bellowed in understanding. "Ok it's time to get out of here." Luffy said. "Wait Luffy, I have to chart our course." Nami said as she pulled out her compass. "Young Lady that won't work." Crocus said and as he said her compass was moving erratically.

"What's happening to my compass!?" She screamed in fear. "It's the Grand line, this sea doesn't have room for common sense like a compass. You'll need a log pose to navigate these waters." Crocus said. "A log pose?" Nami questioned. The old man tossed her an object. A wooden bracelet with a glass ball with a needle inside it. Crocus explained to her how because of all the mineral rich islands in the Grand line they would have to record the magnetic fields of each to sail.

"And the winds and waters are unpredictable. Even the seasons can change in an instant." Crocus explained much to everyone's shock. "Shishishi, that sounds so awesome." Luffy said with a smile. "Let's hurry and get out of here." He said as he jumped in the ship. His crew shook their heads at him as they followed him back to the vessel.

"Wait!" They heard two voices scream. The two weird people from before jumped on their boat and bowed to them. "Please can you take us home." They said. "We seem to have lost our log pose. Whiskey Peak isn't but a few days from here. Please." The woman begged. "Ok sure." Luffy said. "Are you sure about that boy? Once your course is set you can't change it." Crocus said. Luffy smiled, not seeming to have a care. "It's fine if I don't like it I can just sail around and start over again." He answered.

As the crew sails away the two guests were whispering to each other. "Are you sure about this Mr. 9. We have the log pose right here." Miss Wednesday said. The man smiled with mischief. "Trust me I'm positive these are the Straw Hat hat Pirates. And their captain is Straw Hat Luffy, aka the worst man in front the east, aka a bounty of 60,000,000 Beli. If we turn him in plus the Man-Demon we can make up for our failure." The man explained. The woman looked at Luffy who was again caught in Alvida's hold and squinted her eyes at him trying to see past his boyish charm. She couldn't see it. He didn't seem like someone deserving to be called the worst man from the East let alone have such a high bounty. 'There must be a mistake.' She thought.

Later that night as Alvida was settling into the women's quarters Nami was looking between her and her sister. Her eyes held a slight fire behind them. Though she knew what kind of feeling she was having she couldn't understand why. "What's up with you two?" She asked. The two looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "What are you talking about Nami?" Nojiko asked.

Nami shifted uncomfortably in her place, she realized she's never had talks like this before. It was a happy thing to realize, though it made her anxious. "I mean with Luffy. What's up with all the hugs and that kiss." She asked in an accusation. Alvida and Nojiko didn't even look at each other as they answered. "I like him." Nami looked like she almost passed out when the sound reached her ears. "You like him?" She asked seemingly unable to understand.

"Yes." They said in sync once more. Nami looked like she was afraid of the words they were speaking. "Why?" Nojiko shrugged while Alvida seemed to be able to answer. "I thought It was because he was strong but being on his crew for a day seemed to shift my view. Luffy is the most interesting man I've ever met. And Everytime he looks at me I feel laid bare. " She explained. Nami looked at Nojiko for an answer. "He's Luffy." Her sister said and Nami slapped her forehead. "You're just as stupid as the guys." Nami said.

"Ohh speaking of which I have to go speak to the Captain. Alone." Nojiko said in a sing-song voice and shook her hips in a seductive manner. Nami blushed at her implications and Alvida seemed angry.

Nojiko skipped her way to Luffy's quarters and knocked on his door. Luffy answered with no shirt and food in his mouth. "Hey Nojiko what's up." Nojiko drank in his form, not that Luffy noticed. "Can I come in?" Luffy stepped aside and Nojiko walked into his room for the first time. She closed the door as she allowed herself to familiarize herself with the space. She saw Shiro sleeping soundly on the floor to the right, on the wall was a metal pipe Nojiko had never seen before. She saw the half open mini fridge next to his bed. A dresser overflowing with clothes Nami bought him. His hat neatly on a table next to his bed in the middle of the room. Simple. Just what she'd expect from him.

"What's up Nojiko?" Luffy asked her. "I wanted to ask if you could train me?" Luffy tilted his head. "You always move really fast in an instant. I watched you do it a few times and I kinda saw how you did it. I wanna learn the move." She explained further. "Why?" Luffy asked, tilting his head confused.

"To get stronger." She said with determination in her voice. "Ok well it's something my grandpa taught me. But before I teach you how to do it, you have to make your legs strong enough for it. I remember Grandpa saying something about people breaking them because they were too weak." Luffy said as he looked back on the memory. Nojiko was fearless though and didn't bat an eye at the thought of her legs breaking.

"Ok can we start now?"

Luffy started Nojiko with multiple leg exercises, guiding her like his grandfather did for him except without all the hitting. He placed his hands on her waist and adjusted the form of her squat. Something she never had to worry about the form of before. She blushed at how close his body was to hers, she was getting hot from the exercise and the way Luffy's hands molded to her waist wasn't helping her cool off. "Wow Nojiko, I didn't know you were so strong." Luffy said, impressed at her endurance and core strength.

"I grew up on a farm, I did a lot of natural exercises growing up." Nojiko had indeed indirectly trained herself in a lot of ways, but Luffy didn't think that was the only thing. Nojiko was just naturally tough it seemed. They spent a few hours doing several leg exercises, Luffy helping her with her form with everyone. Nojiko both appreciated and hated his hands-on approach.

As Nojiko went back to the women's quarters her legs were shaking and she was sweating heavily. When she opened the door she saw Nami and Alvida waiting anxiously. She smirked deviously as an idea came to mind.

"Man, that was a workout. Luffy sur

e knows how to work a girl." She said with a teasing smile. Nami and Alvida looked at her with widened eyes.

"You bitch!"