~Queen Of The Sea~
6
The Temporary Crew Mate
"I'll be King of the Pirates! You'll see! And You Will be Queen Of The Sea! We'll both kick your dumb dad's butt~ Together! Ha Ha Ha~"
Big Bro…
Luffy…
Xxx
"Hmmmm…."
Zoro hung over the girl's weakened and sun burned body…
Dripping wet in Ocean water from diving in for a makeshift rescue mission.
He managed to get to her of course–
But he accidentally boarded her little boat a bit too roughly…and it fell apart beneath his feet.
It was an accident of course–
The good news was that he managed to keep a good hold on her–
Though she was out cold through it all.
"She still seems to be out cold, Captain…" said Zoro, "I tried to save some of her supplies, so at least we should have some food now…what little there is of it." he stated, "Seems like a fair payment for a rescue mission…but uh…sorry about her boat."
"But…she's okay though…right?" Luffy asked nervously with a hint of concern in his voice. He didn't even seem concerned with the food supply…
Which was surprising enough considering the size of both of their appetites.
"Huh?" Zoro sighed and hummed, "Well yeah…she seems fine…more or less." said Zoro, "Little sunburned maybe…possibly a bit dehydrated…so we should give her some water." He said, "Otherwise however, she's still breathing, at least."
"...Thank goodness…" Luffy sighed softly.
"We should try to get her out of the direct sunlight for a bit though." said Zoro, "God knows how long she's been floating around on a broken boat…"
"Yeah…good idea." said Luffy.
She had been sleeping for…
How long now?
She lost track…
She was just…
So hot…
And….
Having strange dreams…
That was…
Such a long time ago…
She thought to herself.
Why am I thinking about that time now…?
Big Bro…
Luffy…
"Rheddii…"
Wait…
"Rheddii…?"
What…?
"Rheddii…!"
…Luffy…?
"Become strong…Rheddii…and become healthy…and then…come out to sea…and find me."
…Daddy…
Rheddi's eyes slowly opened and the silhouette of a man hung over her…
Her eyes went wide…
For it was a familiar shape…
A loose shirt…
Shaggy hair…
And her dad's old straw hat…
Dad…?
Was the first thought that came to mind…
Until her senses reset and she remembered that he left her behind a long time ago…
No…
The man over her now wasn't her father–
But none other than–
"...Luffy?" She blinked a few times curiously.
"Rheddii!" he sighed in relief, "You finally woke up…I'm glad.
"Hey– She's awake–" Zoro grinned.
"What?"
She blinked a few more times and groans as she tried to sit herself up–
But Zoro's presence startled her–
And she shuffled back quickly holding up her knives in defense–
"Y-You're that Pirate Hunter! Roronoa–"
"Hey now– that's some way to pay back someone who just saved your skin…" Zoro grumped as he held up his hands in defense.
"Hey– Easy there Rheddii, chill." said Luffy, "He's my friend, and he's part of my crew!"
He pouts, "So don't go beating him up!"
"Oh please… as if she could put a scratch on me…" Zoro muttered, "Such a tiny little thing."
"Heeeyyy!" Luffy grumbled, "Only I get to call my little sister a pipsqueak–"
"I didn't even call her a pipsqueak!" Zoro huffed, "Though…now that you mentioned it–"
"NO!" Luffy huffed back.
"I keep telling you I'm OLDER THAN YOU ARE LUFFY!" Rheddi stated back in her argument.
"Yeah, well I'm bigger than you so–"
"THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING!" she huffed and heaved a heavy sigh, "Huh…? Wait a minute…" she pondered curiously, "Did you just say The Pirate Hunter was your friend?" she asked, "And part of your crew?"
"Yep~ That's right!" Luffy beamed giggling, "Though that's not really important right now…"
"Oh Jee that's real nice…" Zoro sighed.
"Rheddii…what were you doing sailing out into the ocean with a broken boat?" asked Luffy.
"What? A broken boat…?" Rheddii blinked a few times as she tried to figure out what he was talking about…
And then she remembered…
The Pillaging she had accidentally found herself in the middle of…
A Scrimmage…
Caused by none other than HIM…
And then–
She got annoyed all over again.
"AURGH!" she huffed, "It WASN'T a broken boat originally you know!" she stated, "I had a perfectly fine working vessel until I wound up in one of YOUR messes!"
"Huh? My messes? What are ya talkin'about?" Luffy asked with a pinky twisting in his nose…
She could tell he wasn't taking any bit of this conversation seriously at all…
Which only made her more annoyed.
"The name Alvida mean anything to you…?" she asked.
"Huh? Alvida?" Luffy pondered as he flicked away the booger he pulled free, "Hey yeah…I remember…she was that crazy nasty old hag whose ass I kicked~" he laughed, "I met Coby'cause of her– but uh…How'd you know about that?"
She heaved a heavy sigh.
"...Because I was there while all that was going on." she said to her.
"What?" he stared at her a while before bursting into giggling fit, "No Waaaaaaaaaaaayyyyy~ ha ha ha ha! Why didn't you say anything then!?"
"I did actually!" she said to him, "But it seems you didn't hear me at all."
"Wait…really?" He asked her and laughed softly, "Ha Ha Ha~ Nah– I don't remember at all!"
"Figured as much…" she sighed.
"You know…" said Zoro, as he glanced at Luffy, "Considering what happened at that Marine base…I find all this…really believable actually." he stated, "Sounds about right from what I witnessed first hand…makes sense."
"I even tried following you, you know?" said Rheddii.
"You did?" Luffy questioned.
"Yeah…" she sighed, "But my boat took some damage during that mishap thanks to a stroke of bad luck that only got worse when you left me behind…" she pouted, "I even lost a lot of my supplies…"
"Oh…sorry about that." Luffy said softly, "Whatever the case…I'm glad you're here now." he grinned, "'Cause now you can join MY crew!"
"No Thank you." Rheddii stated rather firmly.
"Awww…why not?" Luffy pouts.
"Come to think of it…Luffy talked a bit about you." said Zoro.
"...He did?" she asked him, curiously.
"Yeah, he did." said Zoro, "He said you loved the sea…and had your own dream that was gonna bring out here, eventually." he stated, "If you're his sister and all…and you were going to be heading off to sea anyway– why didn't you just leave with him?"
"Yeah, for real!" huffed Luffy with a pout, "You know I invited you along right? We were supposed to leave together!"
Rheddii was silent for a while…
She took in a slow, deep breath…and exhaled it even slower…
Taking the moment to clear her mind as she tried to think of how to answer.
"Let's just say…I have my own reasons." she said softly.
"Your own reasons huh?" Zoro scoffed, "What could those be? Aren;t your goals pretty much the same?"
"Not exactly." she stated, "It's true…My brother and I both have a dream that brings us out to sea…but we didn't set out for the same reasons." she stated, "Luffy wants to be KIng Of The Pirates…and obtain the greatest treasure the world has ever known…The One Piece" she explains, "Me however? I don't care about treasure." she chuckled.
"Huh?" Zoro blinked curiously, "...Don't care about treasure? So…what exactly does being Queen Of The Seas mean to you then? If you're not looking for treasure?"
"Adventure~" She grinned, "My Dream Of Being Queen Of The Seas…isn't about finding any sort of treasure…but finding value in the journey." she explains, "I want to conquer the oceans…and travel to every island they have to offer– and leave my mark~"
"Yeah, and?" Luffy huffs and puffs out his cheeks. "My things got adventure too~!"
"I know that~" she laughed softly, "But your have a solid goal set in mind and a destination, headed…" she stated, "I don't have that– My destination is multiple destinations across all of the sea~" she hums, "My journey is taking the long way around…through the grand line and beyond…I feel like…it would only slow Luffy Down." she chuckled softly standing up, "Thank you guys…for helping me out" she said to them, "But really the only actual reason I wanted to see my brother again when I found him…was to give him a proper farewell…and wish him genuine luck on his journey." she grinned, "I'm glad he's got a crew mate and not sailing out on his own anymore." she chuckled, "...You know he set off on a rinky dink fishing sail boat, right?" she laughed.
"HEY!" Luffy huffed, "It's a better than a broken boat!"
"I told you…my boat WASN'T broken until YOU BROKE IT!" huffed Rheddii in return.
"You gonna be all right though?" asked Zoro, "Setting off by yourself without a crew of your own I mean?"
"Oh yeah…I'll be fine…" she said softly dusting herself off, "I was born on a Pirate Ship." she stated, "I have a knack for sailing…Id my boat can just make it to the nearest island…I can re-supply and get repairs and–"
"Yeeeah…about that–" Zoro chimed in interrupting her mid-sentence, "Your boat…kind of fell apart…" he stated, "Hence why we pulled you into ours in the first place."
"...What?"
"Ha Ha Ha Ha~ Sorry Rheddii~" Luffy giggled, "But it looks like you're stuck with us after all~ You may as well join my crew now!" he hummed.
She was silenced.
She didn't want to believe it was true…
Without a word she made her way to the side of their little boat and looked over…
Only to find truth in Zoro's words.
All that remained of her vessel was shambles.
And Luffy laughed harder.
Apologizing of course for the situation…
But still not finding it any less funny.
"He's got a point you know." said Zoro, folding his arms, "You won't be sailing anywhere on your own for awhile without a boat." he states, "So you may as well stick it out with us for the time being.
"Welcome to the crew~ Rheddii!" Luffy laughed while Rheddii groaned to her knees.
I can't believe it…
He didn't just damage my boat…
He totally wrecked it to pieces!
She whined.
"Fine then…" she whimpered softly, "I suppose there's no other choice…" she sighed, "I'll have to stay with you for a while…But I'm still joining your crew!" she corrects and Luffy gave a pout.
"But while I'm here…I'll still help you." she said, "I'll stick around for now… at least until you pay me back for every berry my boat was worth!"
"Whaaaaaaat~!?"
Zoro however couldn't help but laugh.
"You know something? Considering what happened– I think that's pretty fair~!"
"Say what!? She's the one who broke her stupid boat– it's not fair at all!" said Luffy, "You're supposed to be on your Captain's side– ZORO~!"
With that…the Swordsman only laughed harder.
And just like that…
Rheddii joined Luffy's crew….?
At least for now–
…Until her boat is replaced!
To Be Continued