Another second week, another chapter! This was was kind of difficult. I knew where I wanted to take it, but the words just would not flow. It doesn't help that I'm not getting any feedback on these newest chapters, but the reviews on FanFiction where they are 10 chapters behind are pretty funny. I especially enjoyed their responses to Jinbei's disappearance. Anyway, I don't want to take up too much space, so here's to you all: Alex P, Andrew Bohl, Animephilosopher1, Ankhseram123, Anna Khuu, Ant Franklin, Badmr7, Cam Bliss, Christopher Mitchell, Clark Kent, Claude Walker, Cordell Sanders, Cory Johnston, Darko129, Dave Gh, David, David Bowling, David Reynolds, Emi Stafford, Eric Bandel, Eugene Malone Jr., EvilJelly, Fenrir ragnarok, Garvin Lee Nelson-Mathlin, GLADIUS315, GODA98, Illiasse Naji, Inucbus, Jacob McCarthy, JEP1010, Jkat, John Mekjian, Jonathan Moh, Jordanitos, Joseph Baty, Joseph Morrison, Joseph Vargas, Joshua Groves, Kcx1, Kevin Calderon, Korakas, Kyo Anamoto, Lamont Hale, Marielle Orff, Markoos, Matthew Burley, maxime mazingue, McBanjo, Mcgin28, Milagros Peres Davila, Milla, Neridian, Rafael Cardenas, Ranger Ellis, Richard Barkley, Riley Bolerjack, Ryuu, Sasha, TheWolfThatExist, Thomas Sanders, Tom Peissig, Ty Chaos, and ViewtifulSoul!

Now, on to the chapter!

Chapter 38:

Stop, Swap, and Roll

"So, Smoker," Nami began. "Since we're allies" —she stressed the word in such a way as to send a shiver down the backs of the Commodore and his underling Captain— "what can you tell us about this Wano place?"

"Is there a particular reason you wish to know?" the marine questioned. He crossed his arms, eyes narrowing at the female pirate. "I hope you don't deign to think your small crew has the capability of invading the closed-off nation."

"Well, no," she agreed. "And we certainly don't plan on invading anywhere unless they come after us first. But, I suppose it's harmless and not really a secret, so I'll tell you our reasons. My Dream, the reason I first joined Luffy and the crew to head into the Grand Line, is to draw a map of the whole world."

"The whole world?" Tashigi parroted, one eyebrow quirking. "But we have world maps already."

"Correction, you have world maps," the navigator said. "And I've seen them. Their accuracy is questionable and their production value is crap. Your so-called world maps are just a whole bunch of different maps slapped together in the hopes that they fit. I am going to make one full, comprehensive map."

"You became a pirate for the sake of cartography?" Smoker grunted. "Really?"

"Well, yes and no," Nami answered, one hand coming up to hold her tattoo. "See, I've always loved making maps even when I was little. My mother, not my actual mother but the woman that took me and my sister in, was killed by Arlong when his band of merry morons attacked and practically forced me into working for them. While out at sea, I ran into Luffy—bright-eyed and hopeful and with big dreams and nothing to hold him back. I tried to double-cross the crew, but he came to my village and kicked Arlong out. He never gave up on me even when I wanted him to. That's why I joined him and became a pirate, but only because he was. If he'd been a marine, I would have joined the Marines." Nami shrugged.

"While we're trading information," Tashigi put in, "if I may ask, your son…?"

"Ace? What about him?"

"Is he really Straw Hat's?"

"I don't like your insinuation," Nami said. Her eyes drifted over the snow to where Ace was building snowmen with the other children. Mocha, the giant girl with black hair, was holding Ace up so he could stand on her hands, the boy drawing a face onto a snowman the same size as the girl. His eyes were squinted, his tongue poking out, as he kept glancing back to study her face. Nami smiled. "But yes, Ace is Luffy's biological son. Would it make any difference if the answer was no?"

"Possibly," Smoker replied, stone-faced. "Did he not possess the same genetics as Straw Hat or Dragon, it's possible his bounty could be lessened, putting him in less danger."

"Smoker, our lives are nothing but danger," Nami chuckled. "And Luffy wouldn't have it any other way. He and his brothers' childhoods were nothing but making mischief, like hunting crocodiles for food and wrestling tigers. Ace is just making mischief on multiple islands."

"That's what you all are doing," Tashigi pointed out. "Wait, brothers? As in plural?"

"And?" Nami grinned, ignoring the last question. "Usually, the mischief finds us and we have to respond. Speaking of possible mischief, you didn't answer my question. What do you know about the country of Wano?"

"I don't know anything," the Commodore grunted.

"I don't believe that for a moment, Smoker. Sunny heard you mention it, so you know something."

"Only speculation, I'm afraid." He let out a hard breath, smoke from his cigars getting lost in the falling snow. "Wano has been closed off for as long as the Government has known about it. Any attempt to enter and open the country has been repelled by the country's powerful samurai." The man's eyes drifted to the legless human that claimed to be one of these legendary warriors. "So far, I can't say I'm impressed, but 25 years ago, the Emperor 'Beast King' Kaido moved in and took over the country. We haven't been able to touch him since."

"Kaido‽" The question caused Nami and both of the marines to jump, the samurai having silently approached them by walking on his hands in lieu of not having legs. His eyes were quirked at different levels, a scowl on his face. "What do you know of that despicable interloper?"

"You're from the place. You should have more information than me. Who even are you?"

"Ah, I suppose I failed to introduce myself." He offered a bow. "I am Kin'emon, a loyal retainer of the true Shogun of Wano."

"Marine Commodore Smoker," the other man responded, nodding his head to remain cordial. "This is my second, Captain Tashigi."

"A pleasure," Tashigi said with her own bow.

"So, you are not pirates?"

"We are not," Smoker confirmed. "In fact, we work for an organization that captures dangerous pirates."

"And anyone they deem a criminal just for existing or disagreeing with them," Nami muttered. Smoker's jaw tightened.

"I will have you know, Cat Burglar, that your crew's lives are in my hands. Should I give a single call, a full-scale assault could be brought down on this island simply to capture your band of misfits."

"They've already tried that once," Nami reminded him with a smirk and a dismissive wave. "It didn't go too well for you all before. Have they rebuilt that place yet?"

"Do not be so flippant about it!" Tashigi hissed, a hand on her blade. "People died because of your actions there!"

"And you can blame your little hit squad for that," Nami shot back. "Or do I need to bring up what happened at Ohara?"

"Ohara disappeared as a result of their own experiments. They were trying to turn themselves into demons to overthrow the World Government."

"There is a government that spans the world?" Kin'emon blinked as Nami let out a harsh, dry laugh.

"Is that what they told you?" Nami questioned with a thinly-veiled sneer. "I guess that would work on a stupid government dog like you."

"What did you just call me?"

"Yeah, no." Nami continued, ignoring the woman's tightened jaw. "Truth is, your beloved Fleet Admiral razed it to the ground with a Buster Call because they were studying the Poneglyphs and the Void Century."

"That's not true!" Tashigi insisted, pulling Shigure from its sheath. Nami's eyes drooped, the woman leaning back on one leg as the Sunny behind her raised ropes and shifted cannons. The pirates aboard her shifted, showing their own readiness should conflict break out.

"Tashigi, stand down," Smoker ordered. "If this truce between us breaks, I refuse to let it be us that attacks first."

"A female swordsman?" Kin'emon blinked. "I did not think such a thing was possible. The female body is too frail for such a thing."

"What?" said swordswoman hissed, turning on the samurai. "What sort of backwater country is Wano?"

"We are not backwater!" Kin'emon yelled. "We are a proud country with traditions that date back centuries!"

"I'm with the marine on this one," Nami commented. "Thinking like that is incredibly outdated. Besides, Zoro would have your head for that insinuation."

"He would?" Tashigi questioned.

"I do not know this Zoro of whom you speak, but if he is of the same level as a female swordsman, I cannot say he is very strong."

"Everyone, we have a problem," Sunny announced, getting the attentions of those in the area before the brewing argument could escalate. She materialized on the railing, giving the pirates and marines a figure to focus on. "I felt Captain Luffy and most of his group in the base, but they just blinked out. I'm worried something happened to them."

"Can you define 'something'?" Amy asked.

"Yeah, I can. Some kind of thing, probably of the bad sort."

"Real helpful."

"Ask stupid questions to the fairy that's part you, get your own sass in response," Sunny replied. "What do we do now?"

"Don Luffy ain't here an' Zoro's first mate," Gin put in. "Down th' chain, I think that brings us t' th' Donna."

"That sounds like an impressive title," Kin'emon commented. "Similar to a Daimyo. Whom among your warriors bears such an honor?"

"That would be me, wise guy," Nami announced, Kin'emon's mouth dropping. She turned, cocking her hip to the side. "Sunny, where in the compound did you sense them?"

"Somewhere on the third level," the Klabautermann answered. "They aren't dead —I can sense that much— and we know the enemy has access to a powerful knock-out gas. It's possible they fell into a trap."

"Not that surprising," Sanji commented, his casual attitude raising the eyebrows of the marines. "What? It was a group led by Luffy and the mosshead. They were bound to get loss and do something stupid, even with Robin-chwan there."

"Unfortunately, I'm inclined to agree," Nami sighed. "We didn't want to call before for fear it would give them away. Now we can't call because the enemy has a hold of our snails and possibly theirs now. Any word on Grace?"

"None," Sunny said with a shake of her spectral head. "That worries me, too."

"Perfect," Nami sighed. "Alright, looks like some of us are going back in to save the morons. Who wants in?"

The freezing snow and biting wind lashed against their exposed skin, even with their thick coats doing their best to keep the pirates warm. Whatever tracks Zoro had made as he carried Grace and Billy along were quickly lost in the snowstorm, leaving them unable to retrace their steps even visually, much less do so physically, and Billy had no illusions that Zoro was walking in a straight line considering the change in the wind's direction and his own track record. The trio's two-and-a-half sets of eyes only saw only an endless expanse of white.

"Zoro," Grace groaned over his shoulder, having awoken with a pounding headache several minutes ago. Her powers were already working to relieve it. "I have a bad feeling about this."

"Chill."

"I'm doing nothing but chilling," she shot back. "That's sort of the problem."

"I know where we're going," the swordsman insisted, though his words did nothing to ease the Devil Fruit user's worries. "Look, worst comes to worst, we'll find a cave, cut the duck open, and use his warmth as our own."

"WAH!" Billy protested, struggling. "Wah wah wahwah! Wah WAH!"

"I'm joking," Zoro waved off. "…Mostly."

"WAH!"

"The Hell is with you and Sanji calling our animals food and supply," Grace groaned. "First Sanji with Chopper being the Emergency Food Supply and now you threatening to cut Billy open. Nami would have your head for that, you know."

"That sea witch can groan all she wants," the swordsman verbally waved off. "Speaking of sea witches, how are you holding up, anyway?"

"You just don't like redheads, do you?"

"That's not what I said."

"Well, I'm not a hundred percent if that's what you're asking," the girl responded with a grunt. "I think I've cracked a rib or two and my ankle hurts, but the settling hypothermia is doing wonders as a painkiller. I can barely feel anything."

"From what Billy said, it's your own fault."

"I didn't think I made that much explosive," she huffed. "It's not my fault that corridor was smaller than I thought it was."

"Wah," Billy muttered with a roll of his eyes.

"Oh, not you, too. I get it wasn't my finest moment, Billy, but we all have those."

"Well, I guess this means we have a bit of a problem," Zoro commented. "When the others got lost, they were on their way to talk to the boss of this island's monster-people."

"You're the one who got lost, dumbass!"

"I did not. The world just moved around me. I can't be blamed for that."

"You can and you will be. Now tell us what you know about these monster-people."

"We ran into centaurs," Zoro said, both Grace and Billy jerking at the response.

"Like the mythological people with horse bodies below the waist?"

"Not just horses. We fought a guy with the body of a giraffe and Luffy befriended this former pirate with the legs of a crocodile."

"A former pirate?" Grace blinked. "I thought you said they were locals."

"I don't know their backstory or history. I was barely listening when Coby said this was the island where two Admirals fought. I just want to fight the samurai."

"Think for once in your life! If this is the island where Aokiji and Akainu fought, then there shouldn't be any local population. If that's the case, then—"

"Then you're too close to figuring it out." Zoro spun toward the voice, nearly dropping Billy before stopping his instinctive reach for his swords. Snow crunched as a figure in black stepped out of the storm, a sword as long as he was tall hanging behind his back. The man had a short, dark goatee and a white hat with black spots that shaded his eyes. His mouth was set in an ambivalent frown. "You all should have stayed away."

"If you all hadn't sent out a distress signal, we would have," Zoro replied. "Who the Hell are you?"

"Currently, that is none of your concern."

"I disagree," Grace commented. There was a moment of pause. "…Uh, Zoro? Could you turn so I can actually see him? I don't think I can actually get answers out of him if he can only see my butt over your shoulder."

"Not like there's much to look at anyway," the verdet snarked.

"Do not compare me to Robin, you closeted perv!"

"Don't call me that, Shrimpette!"

"I'm not a shrimp, you overgrown hedge! Just because I'm not as tall as some of the others does not make me short! And just because I'm not as developed as some of the others does not make me flat!"

"Wah!"

"See? Billy agrees with me."

"Excuse me, can you have this argument later?" the figure questioned.

"I didn't say any of that and neither of us speaks bird! For all we know, he's agreeing with me!"

"You just suggested cutting him open and using his warmth! Billy's obviously on my side!"

"Wah!"

The figure blinked slowly, his frown deepening.

"This is ridiculous," he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose with the hand that was not holding his sword. A pocket within his coat vibrated, the man pulling a Transponder Snail from inside. "Yes?"

"I'm glad Coby didn't learn manners from you!" Grace growled.

"Of course not!" Zoro shot back. "I taught him something that's actually important! Manners won't save you in a fight!"

"No, but they might help you avoid one entirely!"

"I understand," the figure said to the snail. "The yetis and I will get right on that." He let the snail go back to sleep, sliding it back into his pocket. None of the arguing pirates seemed to notice as he raised his hand up until it was level with his chest. Silently, an aura of blue surrounded them. The duck of the trio stiffened.

"WAH! Wah wah!"

"I swear I will drop you in the snow and let you crawl back to the Sunny on your twisted ankle! I don't care what Coby has to say about it!" Zoro warned. Billy struggled in his grip but could not escape the green-haired man's tight hold.

"Do it!" Grace replied. "I'll still beat you there! You'll find yourself on the other side of the Red Line before you get back to the Sunny on your own!"

"If they will not take me seriously, then I will do them the same lack of courtesy," the figure said.

"WAH!" Billy tried once more to no avail.

"Shambles."

And things moved.

"Alright everyone," Nami announced. "We've just been issued a rescue mission!"

"Th' Don and th' others're in trouble," Gin nodded. "We can't just leave 'em t' their fates."

"If they lay a hand on even a hair of Robin-chwan or Merry's heads, I'll filet them for the Sea Kings," Sanji muttered.

"Horn and Merry are the only real friends I've got," Kaku admitted. "If I can do something for the both of them, of course I will."

"Mommy!" Ace called, running over to grab the hem of Nami's coat. "Mommy, I wanna help save Daddy!"

"Oh, Ace," the navigator sighed, getting to her knees. She reached forward, setting one, gloved hand on Ace's head. "The bad people inside the building will be really dangerous. I can't have you rushing in even to save your father. Leave this to the grown-ups, ok?"

"But I wanna help Daddy!" the boy whined.

"I understand that, Ace, but it's too dangerous for you."

"Choppy got to go into the dangerous place!"

"Chopper was taken along with the rest of us," Nami countered, trying to keep her annoyance out of her voice. Even so, there was a tightness in her jaw. "And he's plenty older than you are and has fought through more adventures with us."

"But you won't let me fight!" Ace fell backward, rolling in the snow as he waved his fists and feet. "Mommy's not being fair! I wanna help save Daddy! Meany! Meany!"

Nami sighed, letting her face fall into one hand as she let her son throw his little tantrum.

"Perhaps not arresting them is the greater punishment," Tashigi muttered as she observed the scene. "I certainly don't envy the Cat Burglar right now."

"This is why I hate working with brats," Smoker agreed. "And to think that child already has a bounty. It makes one question the priorities of the World Government."

"And for a decent amount of money, too," Tashigi recalled. "They must be worried he'll grow up to be a major danger. With role models like the Straw Hat Pirates, I can see why."

"But is that a good enough reason?" the Commodore questioned, causing his second to turn from the screaming child to him. "Is it right of the Government to attempt to dispense justice to a child whose only crime is existing? For being born to pirate parents?"

"Well…" Tashigi trailed off, a sidelong glance at the criminal mother and son giving her no answers. "Did Firefist not prove such a point? And he himself did not have the guidance of his father."

"Yet the Government would have hunted him down had they learned of his heritage, even if he never made a name for himself, pirate or not. And you would have been on the raid if ordered to. Am I wrong, Tashigi?"

"I…" She deflated a little. "No, sir. I suppose I probably would have."

"Ace, I said no," Nami insisted, lifting the boy from the snow-covered ground. "You will stay here with Sunny and the other children while I lead the group to rescue your father."

"But—"

"No buts, young man."

"Fine," Ace pouted, frowning as he turned his face away. Anyone looking could see he was not the least bit happy with the decision. Nami let out another sigh, bundling the still-unhappy child against her chest as she turned to her crewmates.

"I'll take Sanji, Gin, and Kaku with me," she decided. "Franky and Brook, can you two man the Sunny while we're gone? Keep the kids happy and the marines in check?"

"Hey!" several of the marines called.

"She's not wrong," Tashigi frowned. "Leading this group is already like running a never-ending daycare."

"Captain, that hurts!"

"Chopper, keep looking over the kids to make sure they're healthy," Nami continued as she walked up the gangplank. Their weapons —those who didn't have replacements on the ship anyway— were still inside. The only replacement, however, was Nami's old Clima-Tact. She set her son down on the bench. "And Amy, I trust you want to stay here to wait for Grace to come back?"

"Perfect measurement," the blonde nodded with a snap of her fingers. "Besides, we don't know what else is out there. It's best to have one powerhouse here in case something comes around."

"Is that likely?" Chopper asked with a waver in his voice.

"Chances're 50-50, I'd say," Gin shrugged.

"Get ready," Nami said. "I'll grab my spare Clima-Tact and then we can take off."

"I hope she doesn't think you all can leave without us," Smoker grunted from the island. "Tashigi and I will be going as well to make sure you pirates don't double-cross us."

"It almost sounds like you don't trust us," Sanji commented, tapping his steel-toed shoe against the deck.

"We don't," Tashigi told him. "Our men will watch yours and you can watch ours. That will keep everyone… in line." Her nose crinkled at the end, as if the idea of pirates keeping her regiment of marines any sort of "in line" left a sour taste in her mouth, no matter how true it was.

"I s'pose that's fair," Gin muttered, his cigarette going out with a hiss as he pushed its lit end into the snow sitting on the railing. He flicked it over the edge, earning a glare from the female marine. "What?"

"I think she's glaring at you because of the littering," Sanji chuckled. "Weren't you just chastising me about that?"

"You were right, though," Gin shrugged. "No one's 'round here t' care." Something tugged at the hem of his coat, the monk turning his eyes downward. "Hmm?"

"I'm sorry," the voice of Grace said, Zoro's body shifting to gesture toward where the man in black had faded back into the snowy background. "Who the Hell was that?"

"He looked familiar," a very squeaky voice responded, Grace's body shifting. It froze, one hand coming up to her lips. "Wait a second. My beak's missing. And I can hear my words in your language."

"Wah," Billy grunted, his voice far deeper than normal.

"What do you mean your…" "Zoro" stiffened, gently kneeling to set the girl and duck down. One hand came up, pointing at the girl. "Who are you?"

"Uh, I'm Billy?" her body said, head tilting. "You sound strange Angry-Moss-Cuts-Things."

"That's because I'm Grace!" Zoro-Grace told him. "But… If you're Billy and I'm Grace, that means…" Both pirates turned to the last of their trio, the duck staring at them with clear discontent. "Zoro?"

"Wah!" the bird growled, flapping his wings. "Wahwah WAH wah wah!"

"You be careful with my wings!" Grace-Billy yelled. "I won't heal right if you're waving it around like that!"

"Wah wah." Billy-Zoro rolled his eyes.

"I am not a pansy for feeling pain, Angry-Moss!"

"That guy switched our bodies," Zoro-Grace pointed out. "Can we stop fighting for a second to figure this out?"

"Angry-Moss and Girl-Makes-Colors' arguing is what got us here in the first place!" Grace-Billy commented with a wheeze, pointing at the two of them. The duck-turned-human seemed to falter, brows furrowing as one hand shifted so one pointed at themselves. Grace-Billy shook their head. "Whatever. I tried to tell you that guy was doing something, but you had to keep arguing!"

"Wah, wah." Billy-Zoro said.

"No, it was a stupid argument."

"Like it or not, it happened," Zoro-Grace interjected. "Considering factors, this must be the result of a Devil Fruit, so the only way we're going to reverse this is to make that guy do it." They shifted, tugging at their pants. "Dammit, Zoro. How do you guys live like this? It's so uncomfortable."

"Wahwah wah."

"I can't explain it," Grace-Billy shrugged. "I don't wear pants."

"And for both our sakes, you better keep mine on if you know what's good for you, Billy. Now can we go somewhere? It's cold out here in just a jacket."

"Wah."

"You shut up, Zoro. I don't care if you're in Billy's body, I will send you through an emotional gauntlet."

"Can you, Girl-Makes-Colors?" Grace-Billy questioned.

"I… Well… Aw, crap." Zoro-Grace hung her head in a show of emotion never-before-seen on the body's face. "My Devil Fruit powers are probably in my body, which means I can't use them right now."

Grace-Billy raised their hands, eyes narrowing as they tried to focus. A beat passed.

"Wah?"

"Shhh," the animal soul in a young woman's body insisted, going back to focusing. "I'm trying to concentrate."

…

. . .

"You have no idea what you're doing, do you?" Zoro-Grace questioned.

"No…" Grace-Billy sighed. "Chemicals are way different from my electricity."

"Well, that's just perfect. You can't use my powers, Zoro's got no thumbs, and I'm sitting here with three swords I don't know how to use."

"Wah wah waWAH!"

"Not helping, Zoro! Can we just get moving already?"

"I'd like to move if I didn't have this twisted ankle," Grace-Billy pointed out. "You did not say how painful that is and the cold really isn't helping. You're a liar, Girl-Makes-Colors."

"So, our pain-tolerance isn't connected to our bodies," Zoro-Grace muttered with a roll of their eyes. "Fine, alright. I'll carry you… me… whatever. Goda, I hate body-swapping. It makes everything so confusing."

"Wah wah."

"Whine all you want, Zoro. I can't understand you."

"But I can and it's not helping," Grace-Billy said. "You're a bird for now. Get over it."

"Wah!"

"I'll carry you both," Zoro-Grace offered, reaching down to lift both of her companions.

"Wah!" Billy-Zoro protested.

"We don't need you getting lost with my body," Grace-Billy commented, sitting on Zoro-Grace's shoulder.

"Honestly, I'm afraid of getting painfully lost, being stuck in Zoro's body and all," Zoro-Grace admitted. "Billy, can you be my sense of direction?"

"On it!" Grace-Billy saluted.

"Wah…" the swordsman-turned-bird grumbled.

"Once more, unto the breach," Kaku commented as the rescue group stepped through the door into the compound. To his left were Nami, Sanji, and Gin from the Straw Hats, and to his right were the marines Smoker and Tashigi as well as the samurai Kin'emon, the legless man striding along by walking on his hands. If the cold floor bothered him, he didn't show it.

"Alright, we're looking for a staircase," Nami said. "Sunny said Luffy and the others were on the third floor when she sensed them, so I doubt whoever's in charge is gonna move them too far."

"Makes sense to me," Sanji nodded. "Navigating this place is gonna be a pain in the ass, though. Everything looks the same."

"I agree," Kin'emon nodded. "I do not understand this world of metal buildings you have. It is very perplexing, but I must find my son in this maze of steel and danger!"

"You're looking for your son?" Tashigi questioned. "Why didn't you mention that before?"

"My apologies, but I was quite wrapped up in the emotions of having found my arms again. There are epiphanies to be had after the inescapable powerlessness that comes with the loss of your body."

"I hear that's what it's like for Devil Fruit users when they fall in water," Nami commented. "I mean, Luffy couldn't explain it in so many words, but when he describes it as 'the opposite of freedom,' that's a pretty big deal."

"So, freedom is a major concern for Straw Hat?" Smoker enquired. Speaking to the man himself was one thing but speaking to his closest companions was the best way to divine his truest beliefs. "How does he define that?"

"Freedom is everything to Luffy," Nami replied. "It's why he set out as a pirate in the first place despite his grandfather's wishes. He and his brothers just wanted to be free to do whatever they wanted, and that's why Luffy and his brother Ace set out at different times. Luffy said they didn't want to be stuck on the same adventure; then they wouldn't have anything to talk about when they met on the ocean."

"But what is freedom to Straw Hat?" Smoker pressed as the group rounded a corner. "Is it a lack of rules? A lack of morals?"

"Luffy's not the kind of person to put his ideas into words," Nami replied. She cast her mind back to the one time Luffy did voice his thoughts on the subject, he, she, Usopp, Merry, and Chopper having just watched the death of Doctor Hogback from around a corner. "To Luffy, freedom is not having anyone tell him what to do and damn the consequences to come because of that. That's why he's aiming for the title of Pirate King; because no one in the world can tell the Pirate King what to do." A Cheshire grin spread over her lips. "Well, except for me, of course."

"So did he lie to me when he spoke of raiding Mariejois in the future?"

"Maybe he did, maybe he didn't," Nami shrugged. "We probably will if given half-a-chance."

"Luffy kind of does whatever he wants on a whim," Sanji put in. "If you piss him off, he'll punch you or kick your ass and that's that. Coby wants to abolish the Sabaody slave trade, though. And as Luffy's Nakama, our dreams our his."

"That lines up with what Straw Hat told me two years ago," Smoker sighed. "I hate to admit it, but you lot might be better than most pirates out there."

"We aren't just better," Nami chuckled. "We're the best."

"Yeah!"

The group slowed to a stop, each and every one turning their eyes on the silent monk among them. Gin swallowed, his lips pursed together as he tried to remain calm.

"Gin?" Nami asked. "Is there something you want to tell me?"

"Uh…" the lightning-man gulped, his hands fidgeting while hidden in the sleeves. The rustling of the cloth gave such away "I-I'm sure I don' know what you're talkin' about, Donna."

"Gin, you didn't," Sanji sighed, a hand running through his hair. "I told you to tell him no."

"I did," the monk insisted. "Well, I tried, but…" Gin sighed, slowly opening his coat to reveal Ace clinging to his robes within. The boy at least had the decency to look sheepish.

"H-Hi, Mommy," he stuttered, climbing down. He hid behind Gin's legs, clearly preparing for his mother's wrath.

"Gin!" Nami yelled. "I explicitly told Ace he could not come! What were you thinking‽"

"I…" Gin frowned, slumping a little. "I just couldn't say no t' th' Young Master. He said he'd hate me iffin I did."

"Little kids always say that," Nami growled, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Gosh darn it, Gin; you're such a puppy. It's too late to turn back now and anyone would get lost in these halls."

"Sunny knew, too!" Ace said. "She could've stopped us, but I pro-missed her a story!"

"Of course you did."

"So I can come, too?" Ace tried.

"For now," his mother agreed, "but we are going to have a long talk about this later. You too, Gin."

"Yay!" the toddler cheered, unconcerned for the trouble he got his uncle in. "Adventure!"

The trio appeared out of nowhere, the group by the Sunny needing several seconds to register their presences before they could properly react. The man at the head of the trio stepped forward, his black coat a stark contrast to the snow.

"Who are you?" one of the marines demanded, pulling his sword from its sheath. The man did not respond, only giving the marine a side glance for his question. Two mounds rose on either side of him, becoming white-fur-covered giants that stopped the marine in his tracks. The man studied the area, taking note of the group of children, the marines, the pirates, and the two ships docked by the shoreline.

"I'm here for the Heir of Chaos," he announced. "Give me the child and no one will get hurt."

"First question, who the Hell do you think you are?" Amy demanded from the rigging of the Sunny. "Second question, what the Hell makes you think you can walk up and demand our captain's son?"

"This will be easier for all of us if you just comply," the man said, raising his hand as a ring formed above his palm. "I'd rather not traumatize the kids with a fight."

"Oh shit, that's Trafalgar Law," one of the marines hissed. "What's a Warlord doing here?"

"Oh, you're one of the new Warlords," Amy grinned. She stepped away from the rigging, her mass slowly increasing to bring her to the earth gently. It was gentle, until the end where she fell, cratering where she landed. Her hands rose, the blonde cracking her knuckles. "I've heard you're pretty strong. Care for a match?"

"I would rather not." Law vanished, Amy's fist blasting snow from where he'd been standing. The giants on either side pulled guns from their sides but didn't seem sure what to do. Amy stood, the burn scars running up her arms turning black as she covered them with Armament Haki.

"What's wrong, Warlord?" Amy asked. "Scared to fight a girl?"

Law sighed, drawing his sword. "What a pain. Yeti Cool Brothers, attack."

End of Chapter 38

And so the crew splits again! What troubles will the rescue group run into? Does Amy have enough power to go toe-to-toe with a Warlord of the Sea? What will Zoro, Grace, and Billy do now that they've swapped bodies? I need to hear what you all think, so:

Read and Review!

-SwordOfTheGods