Chapter 6
It’s about three days after they started sailing away from Conomi Islands, and they had about two days left of sailing until they reached Loguetown.
Usopp and Luffy were lounging on their stomachs on the upper deck of the going merry, flipping through some magazine they had gotten from the daily mail from the news-coo. Zoro was lounging on the upper deck with them, A few feet away, taking a nap as Monroe laid beside him, coloring on a piece of paper.
Luffy pointed at a certain model, and Usopp’s cheeks flushed. “Look at him, he’s totally cute.” Luffy said, giggling.
“I-it’s not like I care about that sort of thing!” Usopp protested, flipping the page quickly, her cheeks flushing crimson.
Luffy chuckled, flipping the page. “Come on, you have to have a type, tell me, what’s your type?” She asked, her eyes never leaving the pages of the magazine as she leaned closer at Usopp, bumping shoulders.
Usopp rolled her eyes, but the hint of a smile tugged at her lips. “Someone strong, brave, and handsome, I guess,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Well, if that’s all then I know two hotties that you would definitely be into, and they would definitely be into you.” Luffy winked mischievously, nudging Usopp.
“Oh yeah?” Usopp raised an eyebrow, trying to keep her cool. “Who?”
“Some guys I’ve known since I was a kid.” Luffy flipped the page of the magazine she was looking at, eyeing the models on the page. “Their names are Penguin and Shachi, they’re a couple. But they’re the type of couple who doesn’t care if their partner flirts with someone, especially if they’re both trying to get the same person. And you’re totally very tight, cute, petite, pretty, sweet, and everything in between. They would melt in your hands like butter on a hot skillet!”
Usopp blushed under the attention, trying to hide her face behind her own magazine. “You think so?”
“Oh, I know so! I’ve known those guys long enough to know them like the backs of my hands.” Luffy chuckled, tossing the magazine aside. She leaned over to whisper to Usopp, “They’re totally into you, trust me! And trust me, they’re totally smoking hot! And hey, maybe I can introduce you to them one day, huh?”
Usopp’s face flushed cherry red, and she smacked her hands over her cheeks, making an embarrassed noise.
Zoro let out a loud exasperated sigh, not bothering to open his eyes or move from his lounging spot. “Do you two have anything better to do, I’m trying to nap here. Not listen to the two of you talking about boys.”
Luffy turned her attention to the swordsman, a smug smile playing on her lips. “Awww, Zoro, are you jealous?” she teased.
“Shut up, Luffy!” Zoro snapped, his cheeks flushing slightly.
Luffy rolled her eyes, Rolling over and pushing herself to sit up. “Oh, whatever. Don’t get your panties into a twist. But tell me, how are you feeling?” She asked, pushing herself to her knees and hands, crawling the few feet in between her, Usopp, and Zoro and Monroe. “The stitches still itching you?”
Zoro opened one eye to look at her, his expression unreadable. “It’s fine. I can deal with a little discomfort for now. Besides, I’ve had worse. Much worse.”
Luffy rolled her eyes, leaning over him. “That’s not what I asked.” She said, and with zero hesitation, zero shame, and zero preamble snatched to the hymn of Zoro’s shirt, lifting it up to expose the bandages covering the giant, stitched up slash that goes all the way from Zoro’s left shoulder all the way down to his right hip, causing the swordsmans eyes to snap open, his cheeks flushing. “I’m asking you if you feel okay, I'm not asking about discomfort, I'm asking you if something feels wrong.”
“Luffy!” Zoro squealed, slapping her hand away and tugging his shirt back down. “What the fuck is wrong with you?!”
“Oh, be quiet.” Luffy scolded, “You walk around the going Merry, and the crew shirtless all the time, this is no different.”
Usopp sat up, along with Monroe, her eyes widening in shock as she took in the sight of Zoro’s scar. “Holy shit, Zoro! That’s not a little cut, that’s a fucking canyon!”
Zoro glared at her, his cheeks still red from embarrassment. “Thanks for pointing out the obvious, Usopp.”
Monroe chuckled, “Well, it’s not every day you see a scar that big and still fresh. It’s like he fought a dragon or something!”
Luffy grinned at the thought, letting go of Zoro’s shirt, covering his chest and torso again. “I’m just trying to make sure your okay, Zoro. We don’t have a doctor on the crew yet so I’m the best you got until we get to Loguetown and an actual doctor.”
Zoro sighed, his cheeks still flushed. “Thanks, Luffy. But maybe next time, a little warning?” He looked away, trying to regain his composure.
Luffy rolled her eyes, a smirk playing on her lips. “Yeah, okay, I totally will.”
—————————
The voyage to Loguetown was surprisingly quick, no cloud insight. But Luffy could feel an unnatural static and electricity that felled the air only when her father was around. “Sabo, Ace, you feel that?” She asked, leaning back on her palms from her perch on the Going Merry’s figure head, tilting her head back to look at her crew. “It seems a certain Dragon is nearby.”
Ace, lounging on the deck, propped himself up on one arm, squinting into the horizon. “Yeah, I feel it too. Must be his doing. Maybe he’s stirring up some trouble again?” His voice had a hint of excitement, his wavy black hair fluttering in the breeze.
“Hold up, hold on. What the hell are the three of you talking about? A dragon?” Nami’s voice cut through the air, her eyes narrowing as she approached them, arms folded over her chest.
Sabo waves a hand nonchalantly in the air as if to wave away Nami's question, his curly blonde hair bouncing with the gesture. "It's nothing to worry about.” His dark brown eyes glinted with mischief, as if he was hiding a secret.
“Yeah, don’t worry about it, I'm sure you’ll figure it out sooner or later.” Luffy said, stretching out on the figurehead of the going merry as they near the dacks of Loguetown. “The guy’s like a trouble magnet. He’ll make his presence known… in somewhere.”
Nami pursed her lips, eyes squinting as she studied the horizon, her fingers playing with the frayed edges of her shorts. "Well, whoever you’re talking about, I hope he doesn’t get us into trouble.” She says, turning on her heels and walking away from the group.
Luffy chuckled, and Luffy as she stretched out her entire body as she layed on the figurehead of the going merry. She scratched her head before sitting up, and pushing herself to her feet as her ship pulled into the harbor of Loguetown. “I’m sure, everything will be fine.” She said, turning on her heels and hopping onto the deck of the Going Merry. “But enough about that, what’s everyones to-do list for this Island before we hit the grand line! We need to make sure everyone’s on the same page before we go and runoff and do our own thing on the Island.”
Sabo looked at Luffy with a raised eyebrow. “Well, I guess I need to grab some supplies for the ship, and maybe a new pair of boots, these ones are falling apart. What about you, Ace?”
Ace, his wavy black hair fluttering in the salty breeze, grinned underneath his orange cowboy hat. “I’m going to see if I can find a decent gunsmith. I’ve had my eye on some new firearms, and you know how picky I am with these things.”
Nami rolled her eyes, “me and Luffy just stole an entire armory from Arlong before we left Conomi Islands, and you’re gonna go off and buy more guns?” She said, a hint of exasperation in her voice.
Ace chuckled, “Hey, you can never have too many toys. Besides, I like to keep my options open.” He jumped off the ship, his boots thudding against the dock as he disappeared into the bustling town.
Luffy chuckled, “okay, okay, okay. But what about everyone else? What’s everyone else going to go do?” She asked, walking over to the gangplank and dropping it onto the dock of the town. “And if Ace is going to go buy some firearms someone over 18 has to actually go with him so they’ll sell him the firearms.”
Johnny spoke up, “I’ll go with Ace, I need to get some new fishing gear anyway. And maybe I can find some good booze while we’re out, I’ve heard that this place has some top-shelf stuff!” He winked at Luffy before walking down the gangplank, following Ace into the town.
Luffy waved them off, before turning to the rest of her crew. “Okay, so Sabo’s going to get a new pair of boots and ship supplies, Ace and Johnny are gonna go look at firearms, what about you Nami?”
Nami tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Well, I’m going to go see if this place has a good tattoo shop to get a cover-up tattoo, and maybe some clothes shopping.” She said with a mischievous smile, her eyes lighting up at the thought of a new outfit. “I’m coming with Nami!” Sabo said, settling up beside Nami.
“Okay, tattoo cover-up and clothing!” Luffy clapped her hands together, turning her attention to Sanij as Nami and Sabo walked down the Gangplank of the ship and into the town.
“I’m going to go grocery shopping.” Sanji said, pulling a pack of cigarettes from his breast pocket of his suit, pulling out a cigarette and sticking it in between his lips, lighting the cigarette with the cigarette lighter that was also in the pack of cigarettes. “And try to find a good shop that sells a decent pack of smokes.”
“I’ll come with you, Sanji!” Monroe called out, his claws making it easy to help him, surprisingly fastly, climb up the side of Sanji’s body to perch himself on Sanji’s shoulder.
Sanji rolled his eyes but couldn’t help the smirk that tugged at his lips. “Alright, you little stowaway.” He said, patting the small Mink-human’s head gently.
The two of them set off into the bustling streets of Loguetown, the aroma of various foods wafting through the air.
Luffy watched them go for a Second longer before snapping her attention towards Gin, Who was sitting on the stairs of the Going Merry that lead up to the upper deck. She walked over to her, taking a seat beside her. “Well, Gin, what’s going on with you? Are you going to stick around with us and join the crew, or is this where we part our ways?”
Gin looked at her with a smirk, her hand playing with her hair. “You know, Luffy, I’ve been thinking about that. And I think I’d like to stay with you. If you’ll have me, of course.”
Luffy’s eyes lit up with excitement, a wide grin spreading across her face. “Seriously? That’s amazing! You’ll fit right in with our crazy bunch, Gin!”
Gin chuckled, her smoky eyes gleaming with amusement. “I wouldn’t be so sure about that, but I’ll do my best to keep up with you all.”
Luffy chuckled, remaining around in her satchel, pulling out a dark box with patterns, designs, and images that were clearly hand-drawn into it. “Well, then, if you're officially a strawhat pirate, I bestow upon you…” she began dramatically, flipping the golden lap of the box and flipping the lid open, revealing the strawhat pirates iconic hanafuda earrings. Luffy plucked a pair out of the box and handed them to Gin. “A pair of these.”
Gin took the earrings with a look of awe on her face. They were so detailed and intricate, the gold shone under the light and the gems sparkled like stars. “Thank you, Luffy.” She put them on and they felt like they belonged there, like she’d been wearing them her whole life.
Luffy patted her on the back, and stood up. “You don’t have to think of me, Gin.” She latched the box back close, and put it back in her satchel. “But if you’re going out to the town, make Yosaku go with you so everyone will at least have a pair. Nami and Sabo went off together, Ace and Johnny went to go look at firearms, Sanji and Monroe went off grocery shopping, and I’m about to make Zoro go get checked out by a doctor.”
Gin nodded, her eyes shining with excitement. “I’ll be careful, Luffy. I promise not to cause trouble without backup!” She saluted with a smirk, then stood up from the stairs, walking down them to find Yosaku.
Luffy stretches her arms over her head, and pops her neck before heading towards the mens room. Where she found Zoro sitting on one of the couches in the room. His face was slightly flush, and he was sniffling slightly, and well… well he looked like he didn’t feel all too well.
Luffy raises an eyebrow, cocking her hip to the side and crossing her arms over her chest. “You know, I told you to tell me if you started feeling bad.”
Zoro coughed, avoiding eye contact. “It’s nothing, Luffy. Just a scratch.”
Luffy sighed, rolling her eyes and walking towards him. “Okay, up up up, get up and come on. Let’s go get you some antibiotics.” She said, ushering him to stand up.
Zoro groaned but complied, stumbling a bit as he tried to stand up. He looked over at Luffy, a hint of irritation in his eyes. “I can handle myself, Luffy. I’ve fought through worse before.” He said, his voice gruff but the pain was evident.
Luffy ignores him, pushing him towards the ladder that leads to the deck of the Going Merry. “And I don’t care, you need antibiotics, we don’t have any antibiotics on the ship, so let’s go get some antibiotics.”
As they walk through the crowded streets of Loguetown, the smell of fresh fish and the sound of merchants hawking their goods fill the air.
Luffy pulls Zoro into the first walk-in clinic she sees, and the woman working at the check-in desk looks up and nearly screams when she sees the New Notorious pirate, and pirate Hunter.
“Shh! Shh! Shh! Shh! Shh!” Luffy hushes her, walking up to the desk. “We just need a doctor to look at him and give us some antibiotics, we’re not here to cause any trouble.”
The clerk swallows hard, looking between Luffy and Zoro. She nods quickly, her eyes wide with fear. “Ah, yes, right away!” She calls for the doctor, who appears almost immediately, looking surprised to see the two pirates in his office.
The doctor is a short, bespectacled man with a gentle demeanor. “Wh-what’s the problem here?” He stammers, eyeing the two pirates with a mix of fear and curiosity.
Luffy glances at Zoro, and they lock eyes. Before Zoro could even react Luffy, with zero hesitation, zero shame, and zero preamble snatched to the hymn of Zoro’s shirt, lifting it up to expose the bandages covering the giant, stitched up slash that goes all the way from Zoro’s left shoulder all the way down to his right hip.
The doctor's eyes widened at the sight, his face paled and his hand shot to his mouth to stifle a gasp. “Oh my goodness, how did this happen?” He asked, his voice trembling slightly.
Zoro grumbled, trying to pull down his shirt, but Luffy smacked his hands away as if he was a pesky fly. "Don’t worry about it, Doc. He just had a swordsmen duel gone a little bit south.” Luffy winked at the doctor, who was still visibly shaking. “I’ve done my best to make sure he’s been keeping it clean and all that jazz since he got it a little over a week ago, but as you can tell… apparently it wasn't enough and it got a little infected.”
The doctor nodded, swallowing hard. "I see. Well, let’s get him cleaned up and checked out." He beckoned for them to follow him into the back room of the clinic. It was small, cramped, and smelled faintly of antiseptic, but it was the best they could get in this part of town.
Zoro continues to grumble under his breath as he sits on the examination table, wincing as the doctor begins to remove the bandages. His expression is a mix of pain and embarrassment.
The doctor carefully unwraps the bandages, revealing the deep, red-rimmed wound that has indeed become infected. “Well, it does seem to have been taken care of, but it indeed has gotten a little bit infected.” He glanced up at Zoro's face, noticing how he’s sniffling and his face is red. The Doctor swallows hard before bringing the back of his wrist up to Zoro’s forehead, feeling the heat radiating off of him from a fever. “The infection is what’s causing the fever.” He says calmly. “I can’t give you some antibiotics for the infection, and some pain relief, but that’s all I can do without risking the marines coming after me for treating a pirate.”
Luffy waved her hand nonchalantly in the air. “Yeah, that’s fine. We can handle the rest.”
The doctor, still visibly nervous, handed over the antibiotics and painkillers. “Make sure to keep it clean and dry, and change the bandages regularly. If the fever doesn’t break in a couple of days, you should seek more advanced medical care. Infection can spread fast at sea, especially in your line of work,” he advised, trying to keep his voice steady despite the fear of what might happen if the marines found out he was treating a pirate.
Luffy nodded, stuffing the medication in her satchel as she rummaged around in it, pulling out a fat wad of cash and slapping it into the Doctor's hands. “Keep this little interaction in between us and your little receptionist out there, yeah?” She winked, flashing a charming smile that could melt even the sternest of hearts. The doctor nodded, swiping the cash and pocketing it, “You got it, Miss Monkey D., I’ll make sure no one knows you’ve been here. Good luck on your journey, hope to never see you again under these circumstances.”
Luffy tipped her hat, and turned on her heels, walking out of the. “Come on, Zoro, let’s go get you that sword. I saw a shop called Ipponmatsu's Arms Shop, which had a whole bunch of swords in its front window.”
The doctor watched them leave, his heart pounding in his chest. He had just treated the most dangerous pirates in the East blue right hand man and she had just paid him with the kindness of a saint. He had expected to be robbed, or maybe even killed, but she had been so... nice. It was unnerving.
Luffy hummed a tune to herself as she and Zoro walked out of the walk-in clinic, and down the bustling streets of Loguetown towards Ipponmatsu's Arms Shop. Luffy’s eyes wandered around the street as they got closer and closer to Ipponmatsu's Arms Shop until her eyes landed on a jewelers called "The Golden Hoard".
“Zoro, you go get your sword.” Luffy says, stopping in her tracks and starts rummaging around in her satchel, pulling some Cash and shoving it into Zoro's hand. “I’m gonna go over there to that jewelers, I’ll come and get you when I’m done in there, or If you pick your sword out and I’m still not over there with you come to me.”
Zoro nods and heads to Ipponmatsu's Arms Shop while Luffy struts towards "The Golden Hoard." The jingle of the bell echoed in the store as Luffy pushed open the door. The walls of the shop were lined with gleaming gold and jewels. It was like a pirate’s dream. There was a young woman, no older than 20-years-old, working the counter, looking like she’d rather be anywhere else but here as she leaned against the counter, popping the gum she was chewing.
Her hair was a fiery red and pulled back in a high ponytail with bangs framing her heart shaped face. She had a nose ring and dark black eyeliner, making her emerald green eyes pop. Her name tag read 'Ruby'.
The girl, Ruby, looked up and sighed, pushing herself off of the counter. “How may I help you today?” She asked with a bored tone, not expecting much excitement from this customer.
Luffy walked up to the counter, her eyes skimming over all the jewelry displayed underneath the glass before her eyes landed on a sign thay read. “We make Nameplate necklaces!” She grinned mischievously, an idea forming in her mind.
“I want two of those Nameplate necklaces, both with the name Luffy, but I wanted them to say Luffy’s instead of just Luffy.” Luffy said, pointing at the sign with excitement in her eyes.
The clerk, Ruby, raised an eyebrow. She had seen a lot of strange requests in her time at the jewelry store, but this was a new one. She nodded and went to grab the supplies she would need to make the necklaces. As she worked, she couldn’t help but ask, “Why the extra s at the end?”
Luffy’s smile turned into a smirk, she eyed the clerk for a few seconds before answering. “So people knew who my boys belong to.” She winked at the clerk, leaning on the counter.
Ruby looked more confused than before as she continued making the necklaces, until like a flip was switched him her mind and her eyes widened, and her cheeks flushed a dark crimson. "Oh, I see," she murmured, trying not to let her imagination run wild with the implications of Luffy's words. She cleared her throat before continuing. “So… uhmm… what—what material would you like them to be made out of, and in what style, and would you like the name to be studied with diamonds or any types of jewels?”
Luffy pondered for a moment before responding with a confident grin. "Make both of them out of gold, and I want the chain to be made out of that one.” She pointed at a roll of a thick golden chain, before her finger moved to point at a smaller golden chain that was studied with diamonds. “And I want both of the necklaces to be stacked with that one, and I want the letters to be in orderly cursive. I want both of them to look like that.”
Ruby nodded, her hands moving swiftly as she selected the requested chains and materials.
"Got it," she said with a smile, clearly intrigued by Luffy's unique style. "Two gold nameplate necklaces with 'Luffy's' in orderly cursive, both of them made out of a plain gold chain with another smaller chain studded with diamonds stacked on top of ot.”
"Perfect!" Luffy exclaimed, watching Ruby get to work. The clerk's hands danced deftly as she measured the chains, carefully aligning the plates to ensure the necklaces would hang perfectly. The air was filled with the soft clinking of gold and the occasional sparkle of diamonds catching the light.
Once Ruby was done, she gently placed the two gleaming necklaces on the counter. Luffy picked one up. She inspected it closely, her eyes sparkling with satisfaction at the elegant script that spelled out "Luffy's."
“Perfect, now how much do I owe you?” Luffy asked, her excitement not wavering.
Ruby's gaze lingered on the necklaces before she replied, "For the gold and the diamond-studded chain, it'll be 2,000,000 berries."
Luffy nodded, and without hesitation reached into her satchel, pulling out her wallet that was practically bursting out of the seams with cash. She sat down the necklace she was holding and popped open her wallet, counting out 2,000,000 berries like it was pocket change as she handed it to Roby.
Ruby's eyes widened at the sight of so much money, but she took it with trembling hands, placing it in the cash register. "Th-thank you," she stuttered, her voice barely above a whisper. Luffy waved it off with a casual grin as she picked up both necklaces, sliding them into one of the inner pocket of her satchel as she walked out of the jewelers.
Instantly she was hit with a wave of static, and it made her shiver slight. “What the hell's got him upset?” Luffy whispered to herself. It wasn’t natural static from a storm or something. It was an unnatural static of a storm made by a devil fruit, to be more exact it’s the static that her father makes when he’s either irritated or upset.
Luffy rolls her eyes, ignoring the static that made her hair on her arms and legs stand on end as she walked over to Ipponmatsu's Arms Shop. She opens the door and pokes her head in, her eyes scanning the shop before they land on Zoro, Who is having a conversation with a girl with a bob haircut and red glasses, and the shop owner. “Hey, Zoro, I'm gonna go to the square and check out the execution platform.” She called.
Zoro granted, waving his hand in her directions, not bothering to turn away from his discussion about the perfect blade. The girl, whose name was revealed to be Tashigi, eyed Luffy curiously. Luffy smirked, her eyes sparkling with mischief, and dashed off.
Luffy scampered down the streets, heading towards the square where the execution platform loomed. She felt the static from Dragon's power dissipate as she left the shopping stalls, her mind racing with questions about his mood and whether it signaled trouble ahead.
The square was bustling with townsfolk and marines alike, all murmuring about the execution that was set to take place. She cut into an alleyway to use as a shortcut, and she nearly ran into a familiar face.
It was a shirtless muscular young man. His torso and chest was bare, except for the smudges of white face paint that trailed down his collarbones, shoulders and chest. The white handprints and finger smudges that adorned his body looked like they were reaching for his heart, and gave him a wild untamed look. His face was completely covered in white face paint with intricate purple swirls. He’s wearing a pair of baggy, low rise, Sky blue pants with White clouds on them that were slung dangerously low, and heeled platform boots. He had dark tan skin, vibrant red hair, and equally as vibrant blue eyes. On his right shoulder and back a swirling bright blue tattoo lay, a stark contrast to the dark tan of his skin.
It was Dagger.
“Dagger!” Luffy exclaimed, a wide smile spreading across her face as she recognized the red-haired boy.
Dagger looked up, the white handprints on his chest seemingly coming to life with his sudden movement. His eyes widened in surprise before a smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth. “Well, if it isn’t the future Pirate Queen herself,” he drawled. “I wasn’t expecting to run into you so soon after Orangetown.”
“You Know, I was just thinking about you.” Luffy said as she stepped into the alleyway, steping closer to Dagger, her eyes gleaming with amusement. Her hand came up, her pointer and middle finger walking up his chest. “I even got you a little present and everything as I was thinking about you.”
Dagger chuckled, his eyes dropping to follow the path of Luffy’s fingers. “Oh, really?” He raised an eyebrow. “What’s the occasion?”
“Oh, I don’t know. I was bored and I thought it was hot when I saw it, so I bought it.” Luffy leaned closer to Dagger, her breath warm and tickling on his skin.
Dagger smirked, his gaze flicking up to meet hers. “Hot, huh?” He took a step closer, the smell of the ocean and adventure wafting from his clothes. “Well, if it’s for me, it better be good. I have high standards, you know?”
Luffy chuckled and rolled her eyes, her hand slipping into her satchel, and into the inner pocket of her satchel, grabbing one of the necklaces she had just bought. She pulled it out and dangled it in front of Dagger’s face. She grinned, watching the light from the setting sun catch the diamonds and make them twinkle like stars, the ‘Luffy’s’ on the necklace gently swaying.
“Here,” she said, holding out the necklace to him.
Dagger took it with a smirk, his eyes lighting up with a mischievous sparkle. He read the nameplate out loud, the word 'Luffy's' shimmering in the light, and chuckled. "So, I'm one of your possessions now?"
“Well, that’s what you like to be called in bed, so, I thought I’d make it a little bit more official.” Luffy lanes closer, her voice barely above a whisper. “A little bit more official where everyone can see it, everyone can know it.”
Dagger’s smirk grew wider as he took the necklace, the cool metal feeling like a brand-new treasure in his palm. He slipped it around his neck and fastened it, the nameplate resting perfectly at his collarbone. He looked down at it, admiring the way it shone in the fading sunlight. “Thank you, Luffy. I’ll wear it proudly, like the trophy I am to you.”
“Trophy, huh?” Luffy smirked, standing on her tiptoes and leaning even closer to him, her lips brushing against his as she talked. “Well, if you’re my trophy then I guess that makes you mine, doesn’t it? My pretty little trophy, huh?” She whispered, one of her hands sliding up his arm, shoulder, and neck into his hair, tugging at the strands.
Dagger’s eyes darkened with desire, a smoldering ember in the vibrant blue pools. “And what will you do with your trophy, Luffy?” His voice was a low, seductive whisper, the kind that sent shivers down spines.
Luffy’s grip on his hair tightened, and she tugged a little harder, Dagger’s head tilting to the side slightly with the tug. She tapped her chin with her free hand, tilting her head to the side as if she was in thought. “Oh, I don’t know…” Luffy mused aloud, “My pretty little trophy has told me multiple times he doesn’t what to join my crew, so I’m not sure what I would do to my trophy?” Luffy says, no actual heat behind her words, just amusement and flirtatiousness.
Dagger’s smirk grew wider as he leaned into her touch, his hand coming up to cover hers, keeping it tangled in his hair. “Well, if I’m your trophy, you can’t exactly let me go anywhere, can you?” He leaned down, his breath hot against her neck. “You’d have to keep me close, make sure I don’t get snatched away by someone else, wouldn’t you?” His voice was a soft, teasing purr that sent a shiver down her spine.
“Are you saying what I think you’re saying, Dagger?” Luffy’s smile grew mischievous as pressed her body against his. “Are you going to come with me finally?”
Dagger chuckled, the sound vibrating against her skin. “You know I can’t resist you, Luffy. But, I have my own path to follow, remember?”
Luffy’s smile never filtered as she rolled her eyes, chuckling. “Yeah, I know, I know, I’m just messing with you.” She murmured, leaning closer to kiss him.
Dagger’s grin met hers, his eyes closing as he leaned into the kiss. When they pulled away, he whispered, “You’re going to get us in trouble, woman.”
“How am I gonna get us in trouble?” Luffy asked, her eyes sparkling with innocence despite her teasing tone. She let go of his hair, her hand sliding down his neck to play with the necklace she had just given him and he had put on, before her hand dropped to her side.
“Flirting with me in the open like this, especially when your little brothers are around?” Dagger said, his voice low and amused. He took a step back, his eyes darting towards the end of the alley. “They’re not exactly keen on their big sister having an intimate relationship with anyone.”
Luffy chuckled, her smile growing wider. “Sabo, and Ace will be fine.” She stepped away from Dagger, placing a hand on her hip. “But would you like to accompany me to the square? I’m gonna go check out the execution platform where ‘Roger died’.” She said putting air quotes around the words ‘Roger died’.
Dagger nodded, turning on his heels and wrapping your arm around Luffy’s shoulders, leaning down to whisper in her ear. “You Know, I still have no fucking idea of how the world government doesn’t know the old man is still alive. The last time I saw him he was plastered, and gambling shirtless at Rain Dinners. The guy isn’t exactly hiding.” He chuckled, shaking his head.
Luffy rolled her eyes, the corner of her mouth twitching upwards. “Yeah, well, that’s just Roger for you. He’s got his reasons for everything he does. Plus, it’s not like we go around announcing it to the world.” She shrugged as they walked out of the alleyway. “And honestly, I don’t know either, he gambles with marines on like a weekly basis, either the Marines are getting stupid or they’re just too scared to do anything about it because they know who he is and who he’s connected to.”
The square was bustling with people, all minding their own business and doing their own things. The execution platform was right smack dab middle in the square, tall, and grand. Luffy’s eyes gleamed with curiosity as she took in the sight. “This is where it all started, huh?”
Dagger nodded, his voice filled with a strange mix of awe and amusement. “Yep, the place where the legend was supposed to die.”
Luffy snorted, walking up to the platform. “Come on, let’s climb up and see what Roger saw before he ‘died’.” She grinned mischievously at Dagger, who rolled his eyes but couldn’t help but follow her lead. The two of them scaled the platform with the ease of cats. Once at the top, Luffy took a deep breath, feeling the cool breeze play with her hair as she stared out over the crowd below.
And well, the two teenagers on the execution platform did not go unnoticed. “Wow, look, there’s some teenagers on the execution platform.” A man said, pointing up at them, and the crowd grew curious. “Who the heck are those two?” Another man whispered to his friend.
“So this is supposedly where it all happened, huh? 22-years-ago this is where Roger died.” Luffy mused aloud, bringing her hand up to shade her eyes from the blinding sun.
Dagger squatted down in a seat, his arms resting on his knees as he peered down the execution platform. “Supposedly.” He murmured, his smirk never leaving his face.
“Hey! You two kids!” Suddenly a very very loud voice rang out through the square. Both Luffy and Dagger looked over to the source of the noise to see a marine with a megaphone in hand. “Get down from there immediately! You are standing on top of an execution platform that belongs to the world government! Now get down from there right now!” The marine was visibly agitated, his face red as a tomato.
Dagger waved at him, grinning like a Cheshire cat. “Oh, we will come down. Just say the magic words, ‘pretty please’, and will be all your mr. Marine.” He rolled his eyes dramatically, and Luffy couldn’t help but snicker. She had always loved poking fun at marines, especially the ones who took their jobs too seriously.
The marine’s face grew even redder, and he squawked into the megaphone, “That’s an order from the World Government! You will not disrespect me—!” The marine was cut off by getting a spiked mace to the side of the head, courtesy of Luffy. The marine crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
“Ooooooooh!” Luffy hissed, grimacing. Her eyes flicked over to the person who had just clobbered a marine in broad daylight.
“Now is not the time for such trifles.” A woman’s voice drawled, the voice slow and low, “Dagger, darling, you should’ve told me you know Luffy.” The woman cocked her hip to the side, one hand on her hip, the other holding her mace. “Long time no see Luffy, I’ve been looking for you.”
“Huh?” Luffy blinked, peering down at the woman.
“Now that’s just rude. Do you mean to tell me you of all people have forgotten my face?” The woman smirked up at Luffy, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “I’ll never forget you, though. You were the first person to ever truly strike me. When you struck me with your passionate fist…” she drawled, rubbing her stomach before her hand slid up her body to cradle the side of her face. “Oh, it felt good.”
Luffy looked utterly confused, and a little uncomfortable, as the woman below her continued to speak. “Listen up boys and gals!” She threw her hand out, gesturing to the crowd who seemed to be ruptured with her. “What would you say is the most beautiful sight in the whole East blue?” She paused dramatically as the crowd answered unanimously. “That would be you!” The crowd of people cheered.
“That’s correct.” The Woman’s smile grew wider, showing off perfectly white teeth that gleamed in the sunlight. “I am quite breathtaking, aren’t I? There isn’t a man nor a woman alive who wouldn’t crumble at my feet before my beauty.” She sighed, her hand coming back to cradle the side of her face as she looked at Luffy. “But I prefer them strong, like you, I'm gonna make you all mine, Luffy, just wait.”
Luffy’s confusion only grew as the woman continued to speak, her eyes flickered to Dagger, whose eye was twitching. “Alvida! Leave her alone!” He shouted, his voice cracking with frustration.
Luffy spluttered and stuttered, pointing at a woman. “That’s Alvida!? What? There is no way in Sam’s hell that’s Alvida!” She squinted, trying to make out the figure below her. The crowd grew louder as Alvida winked back at her.
“Indeed, it is I!” Alvida shouted with glee. “After eating the Sube Sube no Mi, I’ve become the belle of the ball! And now, I’ve come to take what’s rightfully mine!”
“What the actual fuck is going on?” Luffy thought aloud as the police force of Loguetown ran into the square, their guns poised and at the ready, pointed at Alvida. “This is the police, put your weapon down and come quietly!” One of the police officers shouted, “I’m placing you under arrest for assaulting a marine captain!” The officer points his police baton at Alvida, before pointing it at Luffy and Dagger. “As for you two, get down from there. Up there is no place for two teenagers to be gallivanting around!”
“ Hold on, who did you say you were arrest?” Alvida spoke up, looking towards the officers.
“We’r—we’re arresting you!” The officer with the baton stuttered, visibly nervous as Alvida’s piercing gaze locked onto him.
“Are you really going to arrest me~?” Alvida asked, a playful lilt in her voice.
The officers visibly swallow, some of them sweat, while some of them are blushing. “We’ve got a big problem here, sir, she’s too beautiful.” An officer with brown hair, and an arched nose says, his eyes practically hearts as he ogles Alvida.
“I don’t give a damn! Arrest her!” The officer with the baton snapped, his voice cutting through the ogling whispers of his colleagues. “Do we have to? can we just stand here and look at her—” one of the other officers started to ask, but was cut off by a loud kid shrinking that had all the officers jumping, and one of them accidentally fired their gun, the gunshot booming through the square.
The bullet arced through the air and collided with Luffy’s face, sending her falling backwards, landing hard on the floor of the execution platform.
The square went absolutely silent, the sound of the gunshot echoing through the air like a grim bell toll. The policemen stared in shock at their unintended target, while the crowd gasped in horror. Luffy laid still for a moment, the wind knocked out of her, before she blinked her dark brown eyes open and sat up, her body completely unscathed. The bullet bounced off her forehead? as if it had hit a rubber ball. “What the actual fuck! Dude, If I was any other person you would’ve just killed a kid!”
The policeman who fired the shot went white as a ghost, his knees knocking together like he was about to collapse. The others stared at her, their eyes wide with a mix of fear and confusion. “What kind of devil fruit power is that?” another one murmured, taking a step back.
Before Luffy could answer it seemed be pure hatred and animosity from a category five storm seem to hit loguetown like a meteor as a very pissed beast of a man practically appeared out of thin air behind Luffy and Dagger, wind, thunder, lightning, rain, snow, hail, and sleet all swirled around him like a tornado that had just hit a weather factory, and it all seemed to be coming from the man’s very being. The man was wearing three piece soup, covered by a green cloak, the cloak pulled up over his head only letting his piercing eyes shine through the darkness of the cloak. “You.” The man practically growled, his voice as deep and rumbling as a pissed off Dragons. “You dare shoot my daughter.”
The world seemed to stop as everyone stared in shock. The man’s very presence was so terrifying and powerful that it could make a grown man piss themselves. Even the Marines and Police officers who were supposed to be the strongest force in the world took a step back, their knees knocking together like they were about to kneel to a god. The only people who weren’t scared were the two individuals on the execution platform. Luffy, and Dagger.
“Shit, Dragon! You're trying to drown us in this ho!” Dagger splattered out, wiping the various types of storm substances from his face, his makeup and face paint smearing as he looked over his shoulder at the newcomer. His tone was light, almost teasing despite the palpable rage radiating from the man.
The name Dragon sent a shockwave of whispers through the crowd. The policeman who had accidentally fired the shot at Luffy trembled, his gun slipping from his grasp and clattering to the ground. The intensity in the air grew as the figures cloak billowing around him like a cape. The stormy weather grew wilder, seemingly in sync with the man's fury.
Dragon’s chest heaved as he kneel down beside Luffy, the hood of his cloak flying off his head to reveal his face, and to say the least, the man was pretty. Dragon was tall, like really fucking, towering above most people by a few feet. He has long, majestic and Jesus fucking Christ that’s a lot of fucking hair, hair then almost fell down to his knee. He has a bit of stubble on his chin, and all four of Dragon’s canine teeth that are sharp and pointed, all four canine teeth being Golden capped, The gold lining as he talked. He has piercing dark brown eyes that were framed by a smattering of freckles across his face, making him look both dangerous and approachable at the same time. But the tattoo on his face made all the approachability practically vanish. It was a dark red diamond crisscross tattoo, with diamonds in the cross sections
Dragon gently stroked Luffy’s forehead with his thumb where the bullet had connected with her forehead. His hand was shaking like a leaf on a tree during a tornado. “Are you okay, Luffy?” He whispered, his voice so soft and caring it was almost a stark contrast to the thunderous roar that had come from him seconds ago.
“I’m okay, Daddy, it was just a little bullet.” Luffy smiles at him, seemingly not having a care in the world that a man with a 20 billion berries bounty was cradling her head in his massive, as big as her entire head, hand. “They don’t hurt me, remember, nothing can hurt me unless it’s sharp! Everything else just bounces off without even leaving a mark!”
Dragon chuckles, the sound rumbling in his chest like thunder. “Yeah, I know. You got that from your mother’s side of the family.” He says, a hint of warmth in his voice. “But still, I don’t like seeing you get hurt, even if it’s just for a second.” He stands up, towering over the crowd, his presence demanding attention, his dark brown eyes scanning the area, his expression instantly slipping back into that rage filled animosity stare, staring daggers at the police officer who had accidentally shot Luffy.
The policeman, a young, lanky man with a face full of sweat and fear, drops his gun like it had just turned into a live snake. He knew that he had just made the biggest mistake of his life. He had just accidentally shot the most wanted man ever to exists daughter in the head. He was shaking so much that he looked like he was having a seizure. “I-I-I’m sorry, Mr. Dragon! I didn’t mean to!” He stammers out, falling to his knees.
Luffy chuckled as she watched the interaction, standing up with a bounce, Dagger following her. “Well, Daddy, I guess we should Head out before they send the admiral our way to try and fail to Capture you!” Luffy exclaimed, a wide grin spreading across her face. Dragon raised an nonexistent eyebrow at the casual way she talked about the situation, but he couldn’t help but smirk. He knew his daughter’s fearlessness all too well, having seen it since she was a child.
He leaned down and kissed her forehead, before waving her off, wind and rain seeming to swirl around him before he disappeared into thin air. Luffy didn’t waste any time jumping off of the towering execution and landing on the ground with a foot, Dagger taking the safer way down by climbing down the side of it.
Luffy waved at Dagger, and saluted him in the same motion. “I guess this is where we part ways again, Dagger, but I have a feeling we’ll see each other again soon! Tell your mama, I said hi, okay!” She yelled, leaning in to kiss him on the lips one last time, it wasn’t just a little peck either. It was a deep, steamy, hungry kiss. Luffy broke the kiss with a smirk, hopping back as she ran backwards away from him.
Dagger watched her go, the smile never leaving his face. “Alright, Luffy, take care of yourself out there!” He called after her, his voice carrying over the sound of the storm.
Alvida, who was still stunned and shocked into silence, eyes slowly cut over to look at Dagger as he watched Luffy with that smile, "You know her?" she asked, her voice laced with confusion and a hint of jealousy.
Dagger smirked, running his tongue over his teeth and hooking his thumb underneath his necklace that Luffy had given him earlier that, holding it out slightly for Alvida to see, the golden diamonds glinting as a strike of thunder cracked through the air. The nameplate necklace world “Luffy’s” glinting in the flash of lightning. The necklace was practically a caller, telling everyone who saw it who Dagger belonged to, and Dagger was wearing it very proudly. "Yeah, I know her.”
Alvida's gaze narrowed at the necklace, the name 'Luffy's' bent and curved into the gold glinting under the tumultuous skies. The intensity of her feelings for Luffy was something she had never quite understood, but the sight of Luffy kissing Dagger stirred a new emotion within her: a fiery jealousy that burned in her chest. "Is she... is she your girlfriend?" Alvida asked, unable to keep the edge out of her voice.
Dagger shrugged, looking past Alvida to see more Marines running into the square. He shrugged and turned on his heels, walking down to the Northern harbor where his mother‘s ship, Big Top, was. He let go of the neck, and laced his fingers behind his head as he walked, Alvida begrudgingly following him. “Yeah, something like that.” Dagger said, not looking back at Alvida.
Alvida’s cheeks grew hot and red, and she felt like throwing her iron mace at the back of Dagger’s skull. But instead she asked, “how long have the two of you known each other?” She tried to keep her voice even, but it came out a bit too high, betraying her agitation.
Dagger barely looked over his shoulder to Alvida, the face paint and makeup he had been wearing practically completely washed away from the storm that was happening around them, smearing down his body. “Huh?… oh, me and Luffy have known each other since we were infants.”
Alvida felt her heart sink as she followed Dagger, trying to process this newfound information. The rain drenched the streets of Loguetown, but she barely noticed, her thoughts racing faster than the drops that stung her skin.
—————————
Meanwhile Luffy was running in the opposite direction from Dagger and Alvida towards the southern harbor, and currently, she was getting chased by a marine captain named Smoker.
Luffy had heard of Smoker before. He was infamous among pirates for his smoke devil fruit powers and his unshakable sense of justice. He was like a living cigarette, with his two cigars always hanging out of his mouth and a cloud of smoke perpetually surrounding him. The marine captain's tall frame was unmistakable as he pursued her, his jitte glinting in the wet light of the stormy day.
“Hey, mr. handsome! I would totally love to stay and play, but I’ve gotta go, so I would totally love it if you would stop chasing me!” Luffy called over her shoulder as she sprinted away, her heart pounding with excitement. She could feel the ground tremble as Smoker’s heavy boots hit the cobblestone behind her. “It wasn’t my fault one of the police officers shot me in the face and my dad got upset! You got a problem with the storm, go pick a bone with Monkey D. Dragon!”
Smoker's expression remained stoic, his eyes narrowed as he pursued her with a steadfast gait. "I've got no issue with the storm, Strawhat," he growled, his voice gruff and commanding. "But you're a pirate with a price on your head, and it's my duty to bring you in."
“Well, I'm totally, totally, totally sorry but that’s not happening!” Luffy exclaimed with a wide grin, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she leaped over a barrel, using her Gum-Gum powers to propel herself even further away from her pursuer.
“Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit!” Zoro’s voice echoed through the streets as he slid out of an alleyway, his eyes instantly walking on Luffy. “Luffy, what the actual fuck is going on?! Why is every goddamn storm that can’t happen happening right now!” He yelled, and surprisingly keeping up Luffy’s long stride. But he wasn’t alone, soon after he slid out of the alleyway, another marine, a young woman with glasses, came running out of that same alley, looking furious.
The young marine woman had her sword drawn and her glasses fogged over with rain. She looked like she was about to spit fire. “Roronoa Zoro!” The Woman, Luffy now recognizes Tashigi, who was also the woman who was in Ipponmatsu's Arms Shop with Zoro helping him find a new sword to buy.
“Jesus fucking christ! Leave me the fuck alone already! I already told you I was not giving you Wado Ichimonji, Woman!” Zoro shouted back, his eyes never leaving the path ahead as he sprinted alongside Luffy.
“I’ll beat it out of you if I have to, Roronoa Zolo! That blade is not for the likes of you!” Tashigi yelled, her eyes narrowed with determination as she gave chase.
Zoro ignored her, turning his attention to Luffy. “What the actual fuck is going on? Why is every goddamn storm that can’t happen happening right now!” He asked again, sweat beading on his forehead.
“I got shot in the face!” Luffy says nonchalantly and cheerfully.
Zoro nearly tripped over his own feet in shock. "What the hell, Luffy?!" He yelled, forgetting the chase momentarily as they continued to run. "You got shot in the face?!"
“Yeah, I got shot right in the forehead by some police officer! And well, you know, the dragon me, Ace, and Saba we’re talking about earlier?” Luffy replied, her smile growing wider as she glanced over her shoulder to see if Tashigi and Smoker were still following them. “Well, we weren’t talking about an actual dragon, we were talking about the revolutionary army leader. Mine and Sabo’s Daddy, and he’s a bit pissed off right now because he saw me get shot in the face. You see this!” She waved her hand around dramatically to the storm, or really technically storms. “This is all, this is his devil fruit abilities, Ryu Ryu no Mi, Model: The weather God Shenlong!”
Zoro looked up at the sky with a look of awe, then back at Luffy with a look of pure shock. “That’s...”
“Mine and Sabo’s daddy is the weather God Shenlong!” Luffy exclaimed proudly, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she watched the lightning flash in the sky as they continued to run. “But I guess everyone really knows him as the revolutionary army leader Monkey D. Dragon. And he’s not too pleased that I got hurt, so he’s throwing a bit of a tantrum!”
Smoker narrowed his eyes as he and Tashigi continued to follow Luffy and Zoro, the storm above them grew more intense. Smoker’s was no stranger to the might of Devil Fruit users, having faced countless pirates over the years. But this... this was something else entirely. The very air around them seemed charged with power, a testament to Dragon's formidable abilities. Tashigi, on the other hand, was visibly shaking, her grip tightening on her sword as she stared up at the angry heavens.
"That... that's the power of a Devil Fruit?" Tashigi whispered, her voice barely audible over the howling wind.
Luffy chuckled, spinning around and running backwards, as if she was playing a game. She held up her hand counting on her fingers. “The world government says there’s only three types of devil fruits, Logia, Zoan, and Paramecia.” She began, putting down three fingers. “But there’s a fourth one, the fourth one bears the power of a god or goddess! One of those God fruits is what my Daddy’s fruit is. He can control the weather, the wind, the rain, the storms, and even the lightning! He can create tsunamis, tornadoes, hurricanes, thunderstorms, tropical cyclones, snowstorms, hail storms, and everything in between!” She said excitedly, putting down her fourth finger.
Tashigi's eyes widened. She had heard of the legendary fourth type of devil fruit, but had never seen one in action. "A-A god fruit?!" She stuttered out, unable to believe her ears.
Smoker watched the exchange with a cocked eyebrow, his cigar bobbing with every step he took. "A God fruit, huh? That's quite the claim for a young pirate to be making." He took a puff of his cigar, the smoke swirling around his face. "But seeing as how we're in the middle of a storm that is the most unnatural thing I’ve ever seen, I'm inclined to believe you."
Luffy winked at him, still running backwards as she threw her arms out. “What do you not believe? Because I can give you some proof, how about this? I’ll turn back around and continue running and if my father is listening to this conversation, which I’m 100% sure he is, a cage of Thunder Will surround us!” She didn’t give Smoker nor Tashigi any time to process what she said before she was spinning on her heel, continuing to run as she threw her arms down. And like she said, at least 70 thunderbolts struck the ground around them, creating a cage of thunderbolts around them for a few seconds. The ground vibrated, and cracked, buildings shook, the very fabric of the air vibrated, and the sky was alight with lightning bolts that danced around the four of them, causing their hair to stand on and static to come off of their clothing.
The lightning show stopped abruptly, leaving only the sound of the rain pattering down around them. “See?” Luffy said, snatching these shocked and stun Zoro by the arm, never stopping her pace as she ran, now pulling Zoro along with her as she looked over her shoulder to Smoker and Tashigi. “My dad is the literal storm bringer, he is Monkey D. Dragon the god Shenlong. And that’s just a little party trick he can do. If he wanted to, he could turn this whole Island into Ash.”
Smoker stared at the retreating forms of Luffy and Zoro, his cigar drooping from his mouth in astonishment. Tashigi, on the other hand, had fallen to her knees, her eyes wide behind her glasses. “That’s not possible. The Marines would know if such a power existed!” she exclaimed, her voice shaking with disbelief.
Smoker’s mind raced as he took in the evidence before him. The sheer power of the Thunderbolt cage, the way it had formed around them without warning – it was clear that this wasn’t some trick or illusion. He felt his heart racing, not many things got his heart racing, not even death itself. But this was different, this was something new. “Tashigi, get a grip on yourself! We can’t let them get away!” he barked, snapping her out of her daze. She nodded, gripping the hilt of her sword tightly.
As they gave chase, the cobblestone streets of Loguetown blurred beneath their feet. Luffy and Zoro, however, were nowhere to be seen. They had vanished as if swallowed by the very storm that had just been conjured. “They must be hiding somewhere!” Smoker muttered, his eyes scanning the rooftops and alleyways with the precision of a hawk.
———————
Luffy and Zoro were in fact, not hiding. But they had ran into Ace, Sabo, Monroe, Sanji, and Johnny as they all ran towards the Going Merry, the ship that was currently docked at the pier. “What the hell is going on!?” Sanji yelled over the thunderous noise of the storm. “One second it was sunny and me and Monroe were grocery shopping, and then out of nowhere a storm hits— is this even a fucking storm? What the hell is going on?!”
“I got shot in the face by a police officer!” Luffy says simply as if that explains everything. “But I’m okay, bounce right off of me.”
Sanji's eyes widened in shock. “What?!” He exclaims, looking her over for injuries. Ace and Sabo, however, took the information in stride, sharing a knowing look that spoke volumes about their sister’s unique Devil fruit powers.
“I was checking out the execution platform in the Square and a police officer accidentally shot me in the face!” Luffy said, as if it was the most mundane thing that could happen to her. “My dad saw, and he wasn’t happy, this…” she trailed off for a second just for a second, gesturing around the unnatural storm around them. “Is the power of mine and Sabo’s daddy’s Devil fruit.”
Johnny's gaze shifted from the chaotic storm to Luffy, then back to the sky, his mind racing with the implications of what he just heard. "So, your dad's the one stirring up this mess?" he said, trying to keep his voice steady despite the fear creeping in.
“Yeah.” Luffy answered simply, not bothering to elaborate on the gravity of the situation. “But it’s okay. He’s just showing off. We gotta get on the ship and outta here before he decides to throw a real tantrum and sinks the whole island!”
The group exchanged nervous glances, but they knew better than to argue with Luffy when she talked about her family. They sprinted towards the Going Merry, the wind and rain beating against their backs like a million tiny whips. The ship looked as if it was about to take off on its own, the sails fluttering wildly in the tempestuous sky.
Usopp, Yosaku, Nami, and Gin were already aboard the Going Merry, trying to keep the ship steady amidst the chaos. They watched as the storm raged around them, the skies lighting up with flashes of lightning that danced like a symphony of fury. The rain lashed at their faces as they climbed aboard the Going Merry, Luffy Yosaku, and Sabo un-anchoring the anchor and casting off the mooring lines.
“Let’s get out of this shit show! We are so close to the grand line I can taste it! I’m ready to be back home, I'm ready to be in the grand line in the New World!” Luffy shouted over the roar of the wind, her eyes gleaming with excitement and determination. Her brothers nodded, sharing her enthusiasm despite the nerve-wracking situation they had just survived as they sailed away from Loguetown.
“Okay then, if we’re going to the grand line right now, I think we should say something to mark the occasion.” Sanji spoke up, as he clapped his hands together. He grabbed one of the barrels that were after the side, pushing it to sit in the middle of the Going Merry’s deck, planting his foot on top of the barrel. “I’m going to the grand line to find the all blue!” He declared proudly, the wind whipping his hair around his face like a wild beast’s mane.
Luffy laughed, the sound like the warmth of 1000 sons and filled with pure joy as she followed Sanji’s actions, standing beside him and planting her foot on top of the barrel with his. “I’m going to the grand line to become the Queen of the Pirates!” She shouted to the sky, her voice echoing over the tumultuous waves that crashed against the shore of Loguetown. The wind whipped her curly hair into a fiery dance around her face, and her dark eyes sparkled.
Zoro rolled his eyes but couldn't help but smile at their enthusiasm. "I'm going to the Grand Line to become the greatest swordsman the world has ever seen!" He proclaimed, propping his foot up on the barrel next to Luffy’s. His three swords gleaming in the moonlight, a silent declaration of his unyielding determination.
“I’m going so I can draw a map of the entire world!” Nami chipped in with a confident smirk, her eyes gleaming with the promise of adventure and wealth. Her arms folded across her chest as she stood tall beside Sanji.
Usopp splattered for a second, before she too placed her foot on the barrel with surprising grace for someone who had been so panicked moments before. "I'm going to the Grand Line to become a brave warrior of the sea!” She exclaimed, punching the air with a dramatic flourish, her cheeks flushed with excitement. Her declaration brought a chuckle from the group.
Ace rolled his eyes, propping his foot up on the barrel with a smart. “To become a World famous pirate! To surpass my father‘s legacy!”
Sabo clapped Ace on the shoulder, standing beside him, propping his foot up beside Ace’s. “To see the entire world and write a book about my travels, a book that the world government can’t sensor, Control, have!”
Johnny and Yosaku shared a look before following suit, their expressions a mix of excitement and apprehension. "We're going to find the ultimate treasure," Johnny said, trying to match their enthusiasm despite his nerves. "And live a life of adventure like we never imagined!" Yosaku added with a grin.
Monroe climbed up the barrel, flopping himself down right in the middle of it. His fur sticking up in every angle and some of it sticking to his body from the rain. “I’m going to the Grand Line to become the best pirate the world has ever seen!” He yepped with excitement. His tail wagged so fast it was slinging water.
Gin looked at them, her eyes lingering on their expectant expressions before she too stepped onto the barrel. "I'm going to the Grand Line to be free, to live my life the way I want to!”
“Grand line here we come!” Luffy exclaimed with a grin, her dark brown eyes sparkling with excitement.
—————————
Meanwhile, in the realm where humans cannot reach, the underworld, Enma was minding his own business, just looking over the moral realm and watching the funny little pirates and Marines. It was quite entertaining, like watching a bunch of ants fight over a piece of candy that had fallen from a child's pocket.
His thoughts were interrupted by a voice that was sugary-sweet and sticky like honey. “ENMA!”
He looked up from the realm below, his three pairs of eyes focusing on the source of the interruption. It was Nika, her aura of the sun so bright it could almost pierce through the shadowy veil of the underworld. Her eyes, a fiery pink with crimson pupils, bore into his soul.
“Nika.” Enma’s deep, rumbling voice filled the cavernous space, the echoes bouncing off the ancient stone walls. Despite the terrifying form he had taken, his tone was one of affectionate exasperation.
Nika just giggled, sprinting right up to him and throwing herself at his back. Clinging to him and hugging him tightly, her arms wrapping around his neck in the middle of his three, and burying her face in his back.
"Oh, Enma, are you watching our hosts again?” Nika asked, her voice was as pure as sunshine, a stark contrast to the grim surroundings of the underworld.
Enma hummed in confirmation, looking back towards the portal he was using to look over the moral realm. “Yes, I’ve been keeping an eye on them. And I’ve learned that my little Zoro is a lot more stubborn than I originally thought,” he chuckled, a deep rumble that seemed to shake the very fabric of the underworld.
Nika hummed, shifting slightly to where she was standing on her knees, but not letting him go. She studied him for a second before chuckling, and leaning closer to press a kiss to his cheek. “Tell me, how much longer do you believe it will take until Zoro finds your sword and has complete control over the power from your soul?”
Enma's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze sharper than the blade he had once wielded in his human life. “Hard to say. Zoro’s got the spirit, but he’s still learning the discipline. And as for you, Luffy’s doing well, isn’t she?” He smirked, his gaze lingering on the portal before his eyes flick over to Nika’s.
Nika’s smile turns a bit mischievous as she leans in, placing a kiss on Enma’s lips. “I’ve been watching them too.” She admits, her voice dropping to a whisper. “I’ve been watching and waiting for Luffy and Zoro to fall in love with each other. Or well, Zoro has already fallen in love, I’m just waiting for Luffy to catch up.”
Enma rolled his eyes but the corner of his mouth quirks upwards in a smirk, his love for his consort unwavering. “Nika, they are so stubborn. I don’t know how they’ll ever realize their feelings. Besides, they have so much growing to do, so much to experience. They are still children in our eyes.”
Niak chuckled, leaning over Enma slightly to peer down at the portal giving them a view to the mortal realm. “Speaking of children, have you talked to Onibi lately? He’s saying he can feel that his Devil fruit has resurfaced and that some was going to find it soon.”
Enma’s smirk grew, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Ah, yes. The little troublemaker. He’s been eager to see who his new host will be, hasn’t he?”
Nika nodded, her hair and fiery aura fluttering with the motion. “Indeed. It’s been a long time since Onibi’s had a host. I wonder who’ll be the lucky soul to inherit his fiery spirit next. It’ll surely add some spice to our story down there!”