Coby gazed at the stars with a small smile. It had been a few hours since they had left Orange Town. He thought back to himself, a week ago dreaming about becoming a marine. He was sure that his past self would be shocked that he became a pirate willingly. A small chuckle escaped his lips, before looking at the boat travelling beside theirs.
They had decided to sail by joining their ships together, since they were too small to hold four people. We also need to get a larger ship. At this rate, we won't even reach the Grand Line. But, we also don't have money to buy one. We can hijack another pirate ship too... I don't think Luffy-sencho will do that, Coby thought to himself before frowning. The tattoo that Nami-san has on her shoulder. I have seen it somewhere, but I am not able to put a finger on it. I know somehow that tattoo is going to cause trouble.
Well, we can think about this tomorrow. I will bring the ship problem up with Zoro-san and Luffy-sencho tomorrow, Coby thought shaking his head slightly. He had already exchanged a shift with Zoro for the lookout. Getting a final look at his sleeping Captain in the cabin, Coby shifted his position on the small deck to get more comfortable and closed his eyes.
"NOO! TOU-CHAN!"
Coby jerked awake, immediately falling into a defensive position and looking out for any signs of danger. Zoro too was beside him the next instant, his hand on Wado Ichimonji and ready to draw at a moment's notice. Nami too looked over from her ship, having heard the scream. They turned their attention to the heavy breathing coming from the cabin the Strawhat's boat.
The duo peeked inside in worry, spotting their Captain curled into a ball, and looking at the pair with wide eyes. Coby nervously stepped forward to check on Luffy, but froze mid-step when Luffy's hand fell on Amayori's handle. Seeing the action, Zoro clutched his own tighter, ready to defend the pink-haired boy, somehow knowing that his Captain wasn't in the right mind.
"Luffy-sencho, it's me, Coby", Coby said in a soft voice taking a step back for his own safety. "You're on a boat with me and Zoro-san", Coby added holding up his hands in surrender. He gulped seeing no visible action from their Captain for a few moments. He watched as his Captain rose his another hand above his head, slightly tugging the strawhat, before gently gripping his nio-dasuki belt.
Zoro and Coby visibly relaxed when Luffy managed to give them a weak smile. "I am fine, guys. 'm sorry if I woke you up", the black-haired teen murmured quietly.
"Are you sure, Luffy? That... wasn't normal", Zoro muttered his eyes glancing to Amayori which was now back at its place in Luffy's belt. Luffy stiffened at the words and where Zoro's eyes had travelled.
Had his threatened his own crewmates?! His nakama?!
"I am fine, now. Just a... nightmare", Luffy managed a small smile. "Why don't you take some sleep Zoro. I bet you must be tired! I will take over the watch".
"I just relieved Coby from his watch duty", Zoro said pointing to the teen beside.
"I don't want you to feel tired when we start training tomorrow. Now, both of you go to sleep", Luffy pestered as he walked out of the cabin, pushing the other two in. Zoro exchanged a glance with Coby, the pink-haired teen shrugging in response.
"Fine. But, if something happens, wake me up", Zoro responded before sitting down and closing his eyes.
Nami shrugged going back to her own sleep. I don't care what they do unless they are meddling with my goal, she thought entering the cabin on her boat, and going back to sleep. Luffy just glanced at Nami as she went back inside, before turning to look up at the sky and the stars.
"Luffy, you know it is said that when someone dies, they become stars in the night sky", Makino said with a smile. A four-year old Luffy watched in wonder at the countless stars and the beauty of the night sky.
"You mean grandma is up there?"
"Yes. And they are always looking over us. So, never think you are alone, Luffy"
I hope you're looking over me, Tou-chan. I miss you, Luffy thought as a tear rolled down his left cheek. Shaking his head with a smile, he sat down cross-legged at the helm of the small boat. His left hand fell on the handle of Amayori, gentling gripping it. Ne, Amayori, do you think I can make Tou-chan's dream come true?
I am just a sword, why does my opinion matter to you, Luffy giggled quietly as he heard the words in his head.
"You're an idiot" Luffy said quietly.
Morning came by soon for Luffy, having invested all his time in meditating to increase his skills with Observation Haki. Luffy cracked open an eye, glancing at their temporary companion's boat as he felt the girl waking up. Luffy had felt an urge to protect the girl after he sensed a few feelings he had been very familiar with. He knew that despair, stubbornness, pain, longing and hurt very well.
He had felt despair more times than he could count.
He was stubborn not to that despair to the sadistic bastards who wanted to see it.
He was in pain the whole time, physically and mentally.
He longed to see Ace, Sabo, Garp, Makino, Shanks and Dadan.
He was hurt by everything and everybody there until he came.
Well, she can tell us if she wants. I know that stubbornness, Luffy thought checking on his other two nakama if they were awake. He glanced at the Sun's position in the sky, before standing up. It seven in the morning if I were to guess. And... about time that we get started with our training. Luffy smiled devilishly as he got a wicked prank idea.
Silently he made his way over to Nami's boat and knocked on her cabin door. After shuffling of footsteps, the door opened and Luffy was greeting by a scowling Nami. "What do-", Nami was about to berate the boy when Luffy suddenly put a hand over a mouth causing Nami to freeze.
"Shut you damn mouth, brat! Quit with that crying!", the towering figure sneered clamping a hand over her mouth.
"Shh!", Luffy shushed the girl with a smile on his face. "Don't shout, you will wake them up before I get to prank them!", Luffy said with a large grin pointing to their boat.
Nami let her nerves came down. Its fine, Nami. Its fine. I am not on Conomi Islands. Arlong's not here. I am not on Conomi Islands, Nami repeated to assure herself. Nami nodded slightly towards Luffy, partially interested what this teen was going to cook up.
"Do you have any paints?", Luffy asked with a hopeful smile.
"I am have, but I need to check", Nami responded. "What are planning anyway?"
Luffy giggled quietly imagining the chaos that would follow it. "Shishishi! Trust me, you're going to love it!"
Nami looked at the teen for a few moments before shrugging and going inside to bring Luffy the paints he needed. She watched as Luffy jumped back to their boat, a mischievous smile on his face.
On the other hand, Luffy tip-toed into the cabin, before silently opening the bottles of paint and making art-pieces on Coby's and Zoro's faces. He had suppress his laugh quiet a few times unless he wanted the two to wake up and catch him red-handed. Giving Coby a mustache and squiggly lines on his cheeks, Luffy moved on to Zoro, giving the green-haired swordsman an eye-piece and making the man's brow funny.
The teen gave a proud smile as he stepped back, and silently made his way back to Nami's boat. The orange-haired teen looked at the shit-eating grin on the black-haired boy's face. "What did you do?", she asked simply as the teen handed back her paints.
Luffy smirked. "Just wait and see", she heard Luffy mutter. "Coby! Zoro! It's time to train!", Luffy called out barely stopping out his sniggers. The pair watched as the duo emerged from the cabin, still rubbing their eyes to get rid of the sleep.
Nami's eyes popped out seeing the art work on their faces. She burst out laughing unable to control her laughter, gently grabbing Luffy's shoulder for support. Hearing Nami laugh, Luffy too couldn't hold in his laughter any more and joined in. Their laughter increased as the duo looked at them questioning themselves if they lost their sanity. The pair laughter increased again as Coby and Zoro looked at each other for a moment, before they burst out laughing seeing each other's faces.
It took a moment for Coby to realize that even his face had some art work drawn on it. "Zoro-san, even you have something drawn on your face", Coby answered flatly causing the swordsman to stop laughing and process his words. The next moment, he snapped his head towards the pair who were still laughing. A glance at their face was the only thing Zoro had needed to deduce the culprit.
He only glared at his Captain, who innocently turned his head away, which incited the orange-haired girl to laugh even more. He wouldn't shout at his Captain, knowing that it was a good joke executed very efficiently. "Luffy, I will get my revenge. You better not forget it", Zoro grunted causing the straw-hat teen to turn to him with a carefree smile.
"Shishishi! I will be waiting for it, Zoro!", Luffy accepted the proposed challenge. Zoro gave a single smirked nod, before turning around and washing his face with the sea water, Coby doing the same. After a few minutes, and a quick breakfast prepared by Coby, they began their training for Haki.
Nami looked at the trio in interest, wondering what they were going to train in the middle of an ocean in a small boat. Luffy sat across an interested Coby and an over-smirking Zoro. Luffy clapped and rubbed his hands with a grin on his face.
"All right! Welcome to the first session of Haki training with your Captain Monkey D. Luffy!", Luffy announced dramatically, causing Zoro's eye to twitch, and Coby's and Nami's lips to twitch upwards. "Well, there are three types of Haki. First is the Observation Haki, with which you can sense anything in a specific radius. It can help you to dodge attacks. Second is the Armament Haki, with which you can increase your attack powers and even damage Logia Devil Fruit users", Luffy explained causing the other three to nod in understanding.
"Wait a minute! Devil Fruits are real?! I thought they were just a myth?!", Nami asked in shock, railing over from her boat to the Straw Hats'. Luffy nodded with a smile.
"Yep. They are the real deal. I ate the Gomu Gomu no Mi and became a rubber man!", Luffy said as he stretched his cheek to an inhuman level. Nami gaped while Coby and Zoro solemnly nodded.
"Well that explains why you weren't hurt by the bullets in Shells Town and you stretching your arms yesterday", Coby muttered out aloud. "And what do you mean by a Logia Devil Fruit?"
"Well, there are three types of Devil Fruits. Zoan-type fruits bring in body transformation into an animal like panther, giraffe, dinosaurs and anything you can name. Logia type fruits can turn their user's body into the element of the fruit at their own will. And finally come Paramecia, which give their users an ability which can't be explained by normal means. Gomu-Gomu no Mi is a Paramecia type", Luffy explained, the other three soaking in the knowledge, never having seen a Devil fruit user before. "Even Buggy had one, I am not sure which one though".
Zoro nodded remembering how Buggy had split his body in many parts. "So can Haki hurt you too?"
Luffy nodded. "Armament Haki and anything made out of Sea Stone. Sea Stone makes a Devil Fruit User weak no matter what type of fruit he has eaten", Luffy answered, a hand subconsciously finding way to his right shoulder. "And also no Devil Fruit user can swim in the ocean. They get weakened by sea water and sink".
"It's almost as if Devil Fruit eaters are hated by the sea itself", Coby said quietly.
We are getting off topic! You were gonna train us in Haki!", Zoro said in annoyance causing Luffy to chuckle embarrassedly.
"Shishishi! Sorry Zoro. And the third is the Haoshoku Haki. I don't get how that exactly works, because tou-chan never explained it. So, from what Tou-chan had told me, the first mate of the ship he was on, taught Observation Haki by blindfolding the one who wanted to learn. Then he would swing a club from behind while the blindfolded person had to dodge", Luffy said with a grin. Zoro rose a brow while Coby looked horrified at the method.
"Was your father a pirate?", Nami asked as something passed in her eyes which Luffy couldn't face.
"Yes. He was on the Oro Jackson!", Luffy answered with a thousand-watt grin.
Coby and Nami nodded at the words before they finally clicked. "YOUR FATHER WAS ON THE PIRATE KING'S SHIP?!", they duo questioned in a loud voice. Luffy nodded with the same thousand watt grin. Zoro smirked feeling the excitement in his veins. So his father was on Roger's ship? Guess I chose the right Captain!
"Back to topic", Zoro grunted as the other two calmed down, still looking baffled at the information. Luffy nodded as he produced two blindfolds from his pocket and handed it over to Zoro and Coby. Zoro accepted it without saying a word and tied it around his head to block his sight. Coby hesitated a bit before doing the same as his first mate and gulped not knowing what was about to come.
"All right, dodge it!"
Coby whimpered as he was hit once more, adding another bump on the tower which had already grown on his head. Beside him, Zoro sported a similar tower of bumps on his head as well on his shoulders.
"Boys, if you want to step out a bit, there's an island coming up in less than ten minutes!", Nami called out from her boat, having lost all interest in training as Coby and Zoro neither could dodge a single blow from the sheath of Luffy's sword.
Luffy swung again, this time at Zoro, having kept his swings random between the two. This time, however, Zoro managed to his head out of the way. Only his head, and was impacted on the shoulder, adding another bump to the tower on his shoulder. Luffy smirked at the scene. It was first time that Zoro had managed to get out of the way, even if it was only his head.
"Zoro! Coby! It's enough Observation Haki training for today!", Luffy remarked placing Ayamori back in his belt. The duo took off their blindfolds, both of them silently crying in pain.
"You're very cruel, Luffy-sencho! That hurt a lot!", Coby cried pointing an accusing finger at the teen. "You could have at least helped us learn the way you did!"
Luffy froze at the words, unwanted, dark and painful memories coming roaring into his brain. He brought his left hand to the left side of his neck, lightly resting it on the bandana which covered his neck. "You wouldn't want to learn it the way I did Coby", Luffy said in a dead voice, the pained look in his eyes enough for Coby to drop the subject.
"Well, at least increases my endurance!", Zoro remarked puffing his chest out causing a sweatdrop to form on Coby.
'I really decided to become a pirate on this moronic crew, didn't I?', Coby thought shaking his head.
"Luffy once we make landfall there, I want to you to show me Armament Haki!", Zoro said as he put his own three swords in his green waist belt. Luffy nodded at the request.
"We need to be on the cliffside then. That would cause less... mishaps", Luffy responded after a few moments.
'Mishap in Luffy's dictionary means disaster! I am sure of it!', Coby thought as the two boats touch land for the first time in an entire day. He meekly followed his Captain and First mate, wondering how strong was Luffy's Armament Haki. Nami had followed the trio after she felt someone watching her from the forest. The lanky Captain was crazy strong, and his first mate was the Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro!
She walked beside Coby who was shifting uneasily. "Why are you so nervous?", she whispered to the boy beside him.
Coby nodded meekly. "I have seen Luffy-sencho cut up Alvida's ship when he rescued me. I am just wondering how crazy strong would be Captain's Armament Haki then. I actually pity who pisses the Captain off enough for him to use Armament Haki with Amayori", Coby whispered back.
Nami looked at the pink-haired boy in shock. Was the lanky teen this strong?! Of course, she had seen him beat Buggy with some kind of weird Fish-man Karate attack which caused shockwaves. And did he say the sword Amayori?! The Supreme Grade Blade which had supposedly taken the life of a Navy Vice-Admiral. "Amayori as in the Supreme Grade Blade Amayori?!", she asked in shock as Coby nodded. 'If its really Amayori, I can buy back the entire island back from Arlong! Its really possible!'.
Reaching a cliff on the isolated island, the trio watched as Luffy removed his straw hat and placed it on Zoro's head, before walking a few steps forward stopping before a tree. Nami gasped in awe taking in the beauty of the white blade as Luffy drew it and held it both of his hands. If she would to estimate, the blade would be sold at a black market auction easily for 600 million berries!
Zoro watched in interest as his Captain's arm's turned black, by what he assumed was Armament Haki, and quickly covered the entire blade in the black Armament Haki. Zoro watched in shock as a white draconic aura formed around his Captain, the blade now sporting a red dragon along the length of the blade. He noticed that even the normal hilt now sport a small black dragon. 'So this was the Supreme Grade Blade Ayamori when unleashed with Armament Haki', Zoro mused.
The beautiful weapon had turned into something which looked like a weapon of death, the three noted mentally.
Coby watched in anticipation, pitying the tree which Luffy had chosen to be his target, awed at the swift downward diagonal swing. No hesitation. No flaws.
The three gaped a moment later when they saw the slash materialize before going on to cut through the entire cliff, making it fall into the ocean. Coby was glad that he hadn't joined the Marines now. He didn't want to be in face of such destructive power. Yeah, his Captain was monstrously strong. 'This is how strong Luffy-sencho is. He has enough strength that he would be one the most feared pirates once he enters the Grand Line. Where am I then?', Coby thought clenching his fist.
Nami took a step back in fear, not expecting the entire cliff to be cut. It was impossible. (It was deadly). She had expected the tree to be swiftly and cleanly cut, not this. Was she really thinking of robbing this teen? Had she really thought to steal the blade when the teen dropped his guard and give it Arlong? (She knew enough about pirates to know who had their guard up). She had definitely thought that before. Now, not by a long shot. She didn't want to face such terrifying power.
Zoro was shocked at the strength. Was this the real strength of his Captain when he was serious? At such a strength, he could have conquered the entire Grand Line alone. He didn't need a crew to bolster his strength. Why had the teen then asked him and Coby to join his crew? That question would bug him till it was answered by Luffy.
Zoro and Coby darted forward when Luffy swayed on his feet after dispelling the Armament Haki, returning Amayori to it previous form. Zoro quickly caught the falling Luffy while Coby grabbed the sword nervously at its hilt. He frowned after hearing Luffy's heavy breathing. 'Does this sword actually take that much Haki? It a wonder that Luffy-sencho is able to even use it!', Coby thought with a frown.
"Oi! Luffy! Are you alright?!", Zoro asked in slight panic and full of worry. Luffy eyes drooped a bit as he nodded a little.
"'eah. Just tired. Lots of Haki needed. Won't hurt you without Haki Coby", Luffy whispered before passing out. Zoro gave a sigh of relief, while Coby looked nervously at the blade.
"Damn! I knew a few swords have some cranky needs, but enough Haki to knock Captain out? Damn!", Zoro muttered to himself. Coby nodded absentmindedly as he inspected the blade closely, easing a bit after seeing that he wasn't feeling as tired as Luffy was.
"By the way, who had taken the first watch yesterday?", Nami asked curious as she looked at the unconscious form of Luffy.
"I had taken the first watch, Nami-san", Coby answered as he quietly put Amayori back in its sheath on Luffy's belt. Nami furrowed her brow at the words.
"So that mean your Captain was awake the entire night?"
Zoro and Coby exchanged a glance, before nodding with wide eyes. "Yes", Zoro answered in shock. "He was already tired from being awake the entire night, and yet...", Zoro trailed off turning to face the area where a cliff previously existed.
A few minutes later, Luffy was positioned beside a tree, he head resting on Zoro's shoulder. The said green-haired man had closed his eyes, and was trying to get the feeling he had got during the last swing of their training. He had somehow known that the Luffy was going to swing the sheathed blade towards him. How had he known, he was still confused. It was fleeting feeling, a small fraction where he could image the sheathed Amayori a second before it struck. Was this the Observation Haki his Captain was talking about?
He opened his eyes to see Coby across the clearing doing the same thing as him. A smirk grew on his lips. He wasn't going to get outdone by the pink-haired teen. All he had to do was be able to sense incoming attacks. It would be easy as a pie for a former bounty hunter like him. He moved his eyes to the temporary navigator, who had fidgeting continuously since they had sat in the forest.
What's got you so restless?", Zoro asked with a raised brow.
Nami literally jumped in fear when she was suddenly addressed, before composing herself and looking at the swordsman. "Don't you feel like someone's watching us?!"
Zoro furrowed his brows, raising a brow in question to Coby. The pink-haired frowned but nodded. "Even I have been getting that feeling", the teen confirmed making Zoro frown.
"Well, our Captain's resting and we can't let anyone disturb his rest. We don't know if these guys are hostile or not", Zoro responded.
"Why can't we just get off this island?! There's no need to fight if we can avoid one!", Nami exclaimed in exasperation. Coby nodded meekly.
"I agree with Nami-san here. It's best not to do things which can disturb Captain's rest. And if they were really hostile, Luffy-sencho would have sensed them the moment we set foot on this island", Coby added looking at his surroundings. Zoro frowned at his crewmate's words, but nodded with the explanation. If anything Zoro had known about the pink-haired boy was that he was smarter than him and his Captain. Not that he would admit it aloud.
"Fine. We get off the island. Where are we going then?", Zoro asked he gently stood up, trying not to move Luffy too much, and exercised his shoulders to release the ache from the swings he had taken that morning. It seemed that Coby was feeling the same pain as he copied his actions.
"There's this Syrup Island which has village where we can restock. Its about two days form here", Nami answered the green-haired man's question. "We didn't much goods from Orange Island since Buggy had finished all of its resources".
Coby nodded at the logic, an eye giving reassurance to the swordsman. It was something which the pair had wordlessly come to agree on. The orange-haired girl was dubious at best. She was hiding something big, and was trying to deceive the Captain, it seemed. Zoro nodded with a grunt. "Shrimp, take Luffy on your back!", Zoro ordered making Coby frown. "We still don't know about our hosts. If they attack us, I want to be mobile enough to use my swords".
Coby nodded in defeat seeing that Zoro had a point. He watched as the navigator slowly walked out of the clearing back towards their ship. Coby kneeled down so that Zoro could place Luffy on his back.
Zoro was quietly placed Luffy on Coby's back, when his hand slipped from over his Captain's shirt, exposing the lower part of his back. He narrowed his eyes at an old burn with a shape and scars which resembled untended wounds from bullets and swords. He didn't know what the shape meant, but Luffy had said only Sea Stone bullets could hurt him other than Haki.
Zoro shook his head as he straightened Luffy's shirt, and coiled him like a baby around Coby. He patted Coby to signal that he had placed Luffy and he could stand up. As they started walking forward, Zoro narrowed his eyes at thin air.
Whoever had dared to harm his Captain was going to pay with his life.
Somewhere in the Sabaody Archipelago...
Two people walked through the alleys, covering their faces with hoods. They didn't want to risk to be spotted here. Chaos with Marines would ensue if they got reports that the First and Second Division Commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates, Marco the Phoenix and 'Fire Fist' Ace were on Sabaody Islands. That would cause unwanted trouble for their already ill father. And they had bounties enough big and were considered enough notorious that the Marines would execute them, if they caught the pair.
Enough to make Whitebeard, Edward Newgate, a yonko of the New World to go ballistic on the Marines and the World Government.
They were in Sabaody, when Ace had realized that one of his subordinates in the Second Division, had been acting suspiciously. Rather very shady, which had got Ace to seek help from one of his brothers and first-mate of the Whitebeard Pirates, Marco.
"Ace, we have been searching for almost an entire day! There's a chance that you have been mistaken-yoi!", Marco hissed ducking his head to avoid being recognized by another Marine patrol.
"Marco, even I want to believe that Teach isn't a bloody traitor! But, I know what I heard! He said something about getting the Yami Yami no Mi, killing Thatch, Sabaody and joining the Shichibukai! I couldn't hear what he was saying, but don't tell me you haven't noticed Teach shadowing Thatch ever since we got that Yami Yami no Mi onboard", Ace replied.
Marco said nothing as they looked around for either of Thatch or Teach. "Of all the things, how did you know Thatch would be here?", Marco asked causing Ace to smirk.
"Oh~! So you don't know after all! Our dear brother Thatch has a girlfriend here in Sabaody. And if any indications of his excitement a few days ago, we should expect a nephew in a few months", Ace replied with a shit-eating smirk. Marco nearly lost his footing hearing the words.
Yeah, Whitebeard hadn't put on any restrictions on having a family, but the Commanders mostly avoided it because they knew that an innocent woman and maybe an innocent child would suffer because they were related. Deep inside, Marco was a bit hurt that Thatch hadn't said anything about this to him and wondered how Ace came to know about it.
"How do you know about this-yoi?", Marco asked making Ace chuckle a little.
"My dear Marco, haven't you ever seen the goo goo eyes Thatch makes to the merchant's daughter when we are here for the bimonthly restocks? All of the Commanders and even Pops knows about it!", Ace answered, taking in the shocked and horrified expression on Marco's face.
"I hadn't known!", Marco whispered in shock. Ace silently cackled as Marco went into a trance.
"Pops was right! You need a woman in your life!", Ace remarked causing Marco to turn away embarrassedly. Ace stopped his smirking after a few moments, when it finally hit him. "MAR-!", Ace was stopped when Marco hand slapped on his mouth.
"Yes!", Marco hissed before looking at the street connected to the alley, where everybody had suddenly bowed down to someone up the road. Ace was still looking at Marco with wide eyes. "Do as I say now. Keep your head down, mouth shut and let the Celestial Dragon pass-yoi", Marco whispered as he bowed down on his knees. Ace did as Marco said and looked out of the corner of his eye at the supposed descenders of creators of the world.
Ace's eyes widened in horror seeing a man on his four limbs, exhausted to death, carrying a Celestial Dragon on his back. He spotted shackles in the man's arms and around his neck as well as the other slaves who walked behind the Celestial Dragon escort. A wave of anger rose inside Ace, who barely managed to keep a lid on it, when the Celestial Dragon kicked in the man's back, and told him to walk faster. Everybody turned away their heads, unable to face such brutality with a straight face and do nothing about it. He unclenched his fist only when the Celestial Dragon has passed, not before kicking the man a few more times.
A thing Ace had belatedly noted that all the slaves had a burn mark on them which was very familiar to Ace. And he didn't like the implications.
Ace was about to voice his worry, when Marco dragged Ace in the direction from the Celestial Dragon had come from. "I think I caught Thatch and Teach with my Observation Haki! They are this way!", Marco announced running as fast as he could. Thatch and Teach were very close, and every second counted of Ace's fear were true. He finally sensed a small presence and even smaller presence behind Thatch, who seemed to be standing between Teach and the person behind him.
Ace and Marco discarded their hoods midway, causing waves of panic to go off when the bystanders recognized them as Whitebeard's Commanders. The hoods had been hindering them a lot, and both had decided that this was no time to keep their identities secret. Marco quickly transformed into his phoenix form, and grabbed Ace in his talons, and flew at his top speed in the direction where he had sensed his fellow Commander.
As they neared the location, they heard Thatch's pleading shout. "You agreed to let them go! You asked the Yami Yami no Mi and I gave you, you filthy traitor! They have nothing to with this! You're a Vice-Admiral for Kami's sake! You should know why we need to keep are personal and work lives apart!", they heard their brother shout.
"Sadly, we cannot. They are your mistress and child. They are very dangerous to be left alive", they heard a stoic voice. The Vice-Admiral they assumed.
Ace readied his attack as they neared the location of the showdown. "Zehahaha! The mighty Fourth Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates is killed by the Marines! That would make an amazing headline! Pops would never know it was me who sold you out!", Teach laughed with glee as the Marines loaded their guns and aimed it at Thatch and the woman behind him.
"Thatch isn't the one who is going to die today-yoi!", Marco shouted as he announced himself, flinging Ace at the Marines while he turned towards Teach. "Ongle!", he called out turning himself midair and aiming a talon at Teach's torso. The said man was caught off-guard, as he felt being slashed by four sharp blades, before the kick's force sent him rocketing away into a nearby building. On the other hand, Ace descended on the Marines with the capped fury of the Celestial Dragon's actions.
"HIKEN!", Ace called out as a wave of fire exploded from his hand, sending all the Marines flying with various degree of burns. The Vice-Admiral hissed at the burns, coming to a skidding spot and glare at his attacker. He froze when he felt menacing gazes piercing his soul. Marco the Phoenix and 'Fire Fist' Ace looked like they were ready to kill him if he even thought about moving from his position.
"What do you think you're doing-yoi?", Macro asked in a cold voice.
"Forget about subtlety. We will kill you here if you even think of moving from your place", Ace promised sending out a small wave of Haoshoku Haki at the Vice-Admiral. The Vice-Admiral knew his limits and wasn't foolish. Going against three Commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates would only end in his own death.
Ace turned back to Thatch who was still gaping at the sudden appearance of his brothers. "Wha...? How...?", Thatch mumbled in shock.
"Ace had heard Teach's conversation, and knew about you and Cressida-yoi", Marco said pointing to the woman behind Thatch. Ace smirked beside him, ignoring the smart Vice-Admiral who had decided to stay put in presence of the trio.
"You know, I expected a banquet or something when the good news reached you, Thatch", Ace said with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"How do you know?!", Thatch asked in shock. Ace puffed out his chest in pride.
"When my dear Thatch was elated for a week straight, making dishes which are reserved for special days. And you need to be discreet making goo goo eyes at each other", Ace said the first part dramatic, while the other was in a flat tone. The couple blushed embarrassedly looking away from the two Commanders.
"We have already caused a lot of commotion-yoi! We need to get out of here", Marco remarked looking at the destruction in their proximity. Thatch turned to his girlfriend with sad eyes. "Don't start with the water works, Thatch! Cressida's coming with us. The Marines won't leave her alone now that they know who her boyfriend is-yoi".
Ace nodded at the words. "Or you could've kept it under a tight lid like Marco. By the way, should I be worried about running into a mini-Marco?", Ace asked nonchalantly making Thatch look at the first mate as if he had grown a second head, and the pineapple-haired man to give an indignant squawk.
"Ace! Nothing in front of the Marines!", Marco groaned eyeing the horrified Vice-Admiral behind him. "We need to seriously get out before the others come here wondering why their dear Vice-Admiral hasn't returned-yoi!"
Ace and Thatch shared a look before nodding. Teach wasn't their priority now. Pops would kill him if he ever showed up again at Moby Dick after this. Thatch took his girlfriend bridal style before speeding of with his brothers.
A few minutes later, the four found themselves on a small boat docked in one of the groves of Sabaody. An elderly man stopped drinking after spotting them. "I was wondering what took you so long", the man remarked with a small smile. "So you were the who got himself into trouble, Thatch?", he asked.
"I wasn't expecting any trouble Rayleigh", Thatch grunted as he set Cressida down. Rayleigh chuckled at the words.
"I am just the coating engineer, your friendly Ray-san!", Rayleigh responded. "Should I be expecting any guests?"
"No", Ace replied curtly. He knew that this man had been his biological father's first mate. Even after all this years, he didn't want to connect with anyone related to Roger.
Rayleigh sighed at the answer. "You should be going. I think you caused quiet some commotion", he remarked turning to the direction where they came from. "I have coated your boat. You can get to the New World but don't go too deep. The boat is small".
The three Commanders nodded as they sat in the small boat. Marco quickly coated the boat and submerged into sea, steering through the roots of the mangroves. Unable to keep his worries to himself, Ace turned to Thatch and Marco.
"Hey, Marco what were the symbols on the slaves the Celestial Dragons had? You know, the circle with three triangles above and one under?"
Thatch frowned at the question. "The Hoof of the Flying Dragon is the slave brand of the Celestial Dragons", Thatch answered in barely contained anger. Marco laid a hand on Thatch's shoulder. Ace's mind came to a screeching halt. No, that couldn't have been true.
"I know your anger, Thatch", Marco said quietly. Thatch grit his teeth.
"But I can't stay as calm as you, Marco! You know what they do to their slaves. Starving, beating, fighting their slaves amongst themselves, torturing them for pleasure..."
"...Please Ace don't send me back there!..."
"...They are so mentally broken, that if any of them manage to escape, they go crazy unable to handle their freedom. Many take their own lives..."
The scar on Luffy's neck.
"... Those World Nobles are insane! You know, I have seen that they are branded with hot iron, all while bastards take in the agony with a sadistic smile! Last time, I had seen one of them...", Thatch clenched his fist tightly, tears slowly flowing down. "... they were... he was just barely even fifteen, Marco! Fifteen! I could've done something to prevent that! That kid would've been alive today!"
Luffy flinching to every sudden touch.
Marco gripped Thatch's shoulder tightly. "Well then, we have to make ourselves enough notorious that the Marine decide to execute us rather than send us alive there", Marco joked to relieve the atmosphere. Beside him, Thatch cracked a little smile and shook his head.
"Trust me Ace, you wouldn't-ACE!", Thatch shouted in worry at his brother who had curled himself into a ball, pulling his hair tightly in agony while tears flowed down from his wide horrified eyes.
"Ace, what happened-yoi?", Marco asked as he knelt beside Ace in worry, quickly checking in on Ace's pulse.
"He was there for five goddamn years! He suffered through all this, while I was living happily on Dawn Island, Marco!", Ace whispered in a horrified voice. "I couldn't do anything! I am bad brother, ain't I? I am supposed to protect my brothers, and I couldn't do anything!", he whispered in a delirious tone. "I used to think I should've never been born. Maybe even Sabo and Luffy wished the same when I couldn't protect them! All those people were right. I don't deserve to-!", Ace lost consciousness when Marco hit him on a nerve in his neck.
"What was that?", Cressida asked horrified as Ace slumped in his seat. Macro and Thatch shared a look.
"I think someone very close to him was made a slave of the World Nobles, Cress", Thatch answered in a pained voice. Marco shook his head.
"Let's just hope he doesn't kill one of them to exact revenge. Dragon already caused a hell lot of commotion six years ago with that literal bloody stunt of his-yoi
Somewhere in the East Blue...
Luffy smiled at the full moon in the sky as they docked on the island. They had planned to rest there for two days, before restocking their ship and setting off in search of a cook. He had everyone in his crew he currently needed. A swordsman, a navigator and a potential heavy fighter. Hmmm. Maybe he should get a sniper too. They would get in trouble if it was a long range battle with the current crew.
He wandered around the beach, while Coby and Nami set up a camp. Zoro had been napping by a rock near the camp. The small island and forest reminded him of his memories with Sabo and Ace on Dawn Island. He smiled sadly in the direction of the sea. 'I have made it till here, Sabo. I'll make you and Tou-chan proud! Just wait and see!'
"Sencho! The camp is ready!", Coby called out to him. Luffy looked at the pink-haired boy and gave a nod. He quickly stood up, dusting off some sand before going to join his crew. He really wanted the orange-haired girl to join his crew. Her navigational skills were awesome! Yet, deep down he knew that she had been burdened with something. He had seen it over the past two days. The girl had tried to avoid them, not because they were pirates, but she was getting attached to them. Something which Luffy wanted and Nami didn't.
"Nami!", Luffy exclaimed as he sat beside Zoro. "Join our crew!"
Nami didn't know how to react. The past four days had been hard for her. She had laughed with the trio, annoyed each other, panicked together during mishaps. She hadd to always painfully remind herself that it was only temporary and that she had to leave when she got the Berries she needed. She had a village to liberate from Arlong's tyrannical rule. She had Bell-mère's legacy to carry on. She had a sister to save.
"I already told you, I can't!"
Luffy furrowed his brows, cocking his head sideways. "What do you mean? Don't or can't?"
Nami froze at the question. She painfully knew what the black-haired teen wanted to say. She had been caught. She knew she had tread carefully here, because she knew what the boy was capable of. If he ever learned that she had planned to rob him, she was sure that would be her last words.
"Don't. I want to make a map of the world. That's my dream. I-", Nami had no idea why she had said those words, but it seemed to ignite Luffy's fire even more.
"That's great! I plan to become the King of Pirates, so we need to go to many place! You can join us draw an entire map of the world!", Luffy remarked, causing Nami to look away.
"I will tell you if I change my mind", Nami responded.
"Okay", Luffy said in a subdued voice, the tone piercing through Nami's heart. She winced receiving a knowing glare from Coby, but the dinner remained a silent affair after that. Nami had somehow expected to be confronted by the pink-haired teen, but she didn't know what she could expect.
Nami gulped when Coby pulled her aside after Zoro and Luffy had fallen asleep. The glare Coby was mustering, still shocking Nami that the meek boy was capable of this. "I had been wondering about a mark I had seen recently, but I was able to place it today. I don't care if you are Arlong's subordinate, Nami-san. If you or Arlong think about laying a single hand on Luffy-sencho, I will kill both of you and the entire Arlong crew. Luffy is our Captain, and we know that he is ready to die for us, and we are ready to die for him. Luffy-sencho is the man who is going to become the King of Pirates someday. If you make a single misstep, neither you nor Arlong would live to see that day", Coby said in a low voice. Nami could nothing but nod. She knew that the pink-haired teen had been wanting to become a Marine and rise to the rank of an Admiral not even a week ago. Yet, after coming in contact with the rubber ball of sunshine, he had changed his views wanting to help people by becoming a pirate. An outlaw who wasn't bound by the rules of the Marines. A good human who helps people.
"Add me in that threat Coby", Zoro voiced out from where he was sleeping.
Okay, the crew was dangerous. It was probably the most dangerous crew she had ever seen. They were ready to lay bodies to protect each other. Was it really bad to be called their nakama rather than Arlong's subordinate? No, the former was better. A nakama to the black-haired teen.
Yeah, she could join them after she gave those 100 million Berries to Arlong.
Coby frowned when someone poked him in his sleep. He batted away the hand, wanting to get more sleep. He was shaken the next time. What this person want?!
"What do you want?! Let me sleep!", he stated annoyed.
"Hostiles incoming", his Captain's words and voice pierced through his sleep. Coby jolted awake, looking around for the enemies. Zoro had a hand on his blades, Nami had assembled her bo staff (Coby had seen that previously when she had asked Luffy for tips on using the staff), while Luffy narrowed his eyes at the sea.
"Who?", Coby asked as he took up a defensive form. 'I really need a weapon!'
"They are pirates, but I don't know that Jolly Roger", Zoro remarked from beside him. "What should we do, Captain?"
Luffy stayed silent for a while. "We don't know whether they are friend or foe. Keep your guard up. I don't want any needless bloodshed", the teen responded.
"Aye aye, Captain!", the two males affirmed, Coby relaxing a bit.
They patiently waited for the ship to reach the shoreline, but changed their focus when Coby felt a tingling sensation and Luffy snapped his head to the cliff near the beach.
"Who are you?", Luffy asked in a cold voice.
'Yep, Luffy-sencho can sense those pirates now and he isn't liking their intentions even a bit', Coby thought as he waited for the person to show himself. His eyes widened when a boy with a long nose popped his head up.
"Listen up, you pirates! I am the great Captain Usopp of the Usopp Pirates! Go away before I call my force of 40 million pirates!", the boy announced making Luffy snort.
"That was a great attempt and would have worked against someone who didn't know anything about pirate crews. The Whitebeard pirates are the strongest, yet they have only about 10,000 pirates counting in their allied pirates", Luffy responded as Usopp blanched. "Now, what do you really want here, Usopp?", Luffy asked narrowing his eyes.
Usopp squirmed under the gaze. "Ioverheardyesterdaythatmyfriend'sbutlerisactuallyapirateandwantstokillherandtakeallherwealthsoIthoughyouwerehiscrew", Usopp blurted out in fear. Luffy giggled at the rush of words.
"Shishishi! Usopp, I am not going to kill you for just threatening me! Its just I am on edge because of them", Luffy said pointing to the ship closing in.
Usopp visibly relaxed at the words. "I overheard yesterday that my friend's butler is actually a pirate and wants to kill her and take all her wealth so I though you were his crew", Usopp repeated, albeit this time slowly. "He also wanted to take over the village".
Luffy nodded with frown. "I see", he murmured to himself. "All right, crew! New orders from your Captain! We protect the village and stop these pirates here!"