"Human… A mere human… Do you realise just what you've done?" The hungry eyes of a predator were fixated on me. A rending bloodlust pervaded through the atmosphere, the words barely resembling the human language, more like hungry snarls than any decipherable utterance.
"Apologies, headquarters. The rest of the troop is dead, vessel destroyed with no hope for recovery. The images will come through soon enough. Battle is inevitable, as I fear is my departure. Ensure backup is sent at your earliest convenience." I didn't bother to hear any response from the operator, flinging the snail creature into the sea behind me alongside the camera. The waves should take it far from here, whether they managed to track it down or not didn't really matter. I'd buy enough time and in the event that the straw hat and his crew didn't measure up to my lofty expectations, someone else will come to clean up the mess.
The only consideration I needed now… was to avoid this killer shark that had found its way onto land. And the angry school of fish that follow him.
"Brother, allow me." A fishman wearing karate apparel said, his body slowly sinking into a quasi-familiar form. His voice was just barely repressing a bloodthirsty rage.
"No... I won't allow a single other person to lay a hand on him. Hachi. Call Momoo." Arlong said between gritted fangs. The teeth were visibly cracking from the strength with which he clenched his jaw.
"Ah- you got it, Arlong-san!" The octopus-like man used his snout like a brass instrument. A horn call that was used to signal something or someone. Whoever this Momoo was presumably?
As we awaited the elusive Momoo, he asked me; "What of the Banji brothers?"
To which I only had a single reply.
"…Banji brothers? Who's that?"
Whoever they were, they weren't worth remembering.
Crack!
Sharp fragments of tooth crumbled onto the floor, he opened his maw only to reveal they were growing back fairly quickly. Well, that wasn't at all natural… Most things weren't ever since I came here.
"…That's five. Then the one you injured yesterday… Who knows how many brothers I lost just now… I can promise you this, human. I am going to make you wish you were dead a thousand times over before I finally take your life." His eyes had sharpened into daggers staring at my heart. The gaze of not just a hungry predator but a lifelong enemy. If his life persists, that is.
"Are you frustrated? After all, a human should have no chance against fishmen on the open waters… Was that what you thought?"
"This scene will look like a party in comparison to what I'll do to you." Scary.
A shadow cast onto the water's surface, or rather something was raising from the watery depths behind me. Something large.
A strange mix between cow and whale of a creature emerged from beneath the water surface, sporting a bump on the head that was slowly losing the pronounced swelling. A body huge enough to drown out several small ships. If this were the old world, perhaps an entire fleet would be necessary to defeat this monstrosity along with sophisticated weaponry. Something that was similar to the monsters sailors of old would lose sleep over. Only, it existed in this reality. Right here.
"Momoo. Eat."
The alien creature looked into my eyes. It huffed a few heavy breaths, the golden bullring stuck between its nostrils swung to and fro with each rhythmic movement. Confidence and cocksureness slowly waned and gave way to anxiety. It became meeker by the moment.
How peculiar, does it understand the basic human tongue? Arlong didn't make requests or give orders in any other noticeable way…
I just observed the creature as it visibly struggled with the decision. It regarded the sword sheathed by my side and the flintlock pistol stuffed in my belt. I made no moves to unholster either items I had pilfered from the marine stores. The creature continued turning from Arlong to me and then back again.
Talk about a rock and a hard place.
All the while I just regarded it with a small measure of curiosity.
The creature wouldn't meet my gaze.
Nor would it meet the eyes of the owner.
"Your pet has become disobedient."
"Momoo." A noticeable shiver travelled down the large spine of the creature, fins shaking madly with excessive fear. Still, it did not move.
Was this disobedience? Or did it fear me as much as Arlong?
In all truth; I wasn't scared of this oversized creature. I had already witnessed firsthand how this universe differed from my own. Power that obstinately disobeyed the laws of physics was commonplace. I wanted to wrap my head around it but had failed in that endeavour.
I couldn't understand it.
But I could make use of it.
A human can break mountains in this world. With their bare hands.
I had never fought anything as large as this before, whether this world or the old one. But that didn't mean I would lose.
Worst comes to worst, I could always run. What is a fish bound to the water to do if I refuse to leave the land?
There were plenty of methods I could use to attain victory and plenty more ways to ensure my own survival. Which was always good, as these two were synonymous in my dictionary. There was no discernible difference to me.
Victory was subjective. I don't concern myself with the ideals of victory or the suppositions other might have. My victory is mine and mine alone. The meaning. The fruit it bears. Everything.
In this instance; the win conditions were more reliant on the presence of others…
I had already noticed the crew were on this island, or at least they should be by now. That captain really was too loud for his own good… The only question was how long I need to wait for their arrival.
I had already acted as the signpost for our meeting. The red sky, ground and sea were emblematic of that. Smoke plumed from the bait, soon enough the moths would be attracted to the flame. Then the test.
Are they worthy companions? My main concern must be addressed before I make any important decisions. They had somewhat piqued my interest, but depending on the result here, my choice would change drastically. I already had a backup plan off this island. I regarded the bundle of cloth on the ground over the stone wall, something the fishmen had yet to take notice of.
I really do wonder how long it will take them…
"ARLONG!"
A hungry mob stood at the east gate of Arlong Park, each with a different tool emblematic of their status. Pitchforks, flaming sticks, hoes and shovels in their weathered hands. Weary faces that were just barely eked out by anger. The same older man with a handlebar moustache and pinwheel hat stood at the head of the group, no weapon in hand. He had some grit.
Angered faces changed to worry and disbelief as they took in the sight before them. They ambled anxiously about the tools in their hands, a few dropping them altogether as the stench of iron and smoke filled their nostrils. Their hands bunching tattered rags to their nose, some using their own clothes, hands clawing at their faces to remove the scene from their vision.
Didn't you want this? There was no revolution without iron and blood. Overthrowing a despot required material and sacrifice. The marines paid for that themselves. If the fiery navigator had taken my offer this could have ended with a different tribute to that cause… Well, I suppose wondering over lost hypotheticals was just wasted time.
I wanted to see just how far holding onto those connections would take them.
Let's see.
Who will win; my ideals or Nami's?
Should I follow the mantra of true freedom; do as I please, make no connections, set no foundations and drift about as I please?
Or shall I attempt to make connection, to find people I hold dear and respect. To find a dream, an ambition amongst all this noise?
This would be the crucible for that choice. Even if I was intrigued, every hypothesis required a stress test. If the most optimistic idealists on these wide seas were incapable of it, then it was impossible from the start. This world would be stronger, darker and crueller than my own. When power could rise and fall as quickly as it did here, then that was the only logical conclusion.
I want to see it.
One of you. Shift my heart, even if it's the tiniest amount. Break my morals and prove your own abilities.
"Ayanokouji!" I heard the long nose before any of the others.
"TAKA! What're you doing? How did you even get up there, are there stairs?" What sort of question is that at this moment in time? "Ah man it stinks…" He covered his nose, waving in front of his face a few times, his eyes had yet to leave my own.
"Luffy." Entering carelessly into Arlong Park he peered straight at me with a smile on his face. Gradually he got closer to the destruction. He took a single step, a small splash accentuated his footstep, the brief sound forced him to look downwards at the scene he had been all too preoccupied to notice. The bottoms of his sandals were painted a blood red.
"What? Someone's left a lot of tomato out…"
The long nose briefly gagged and turned to vomit.
"Luf…fy that's not…" He wheezed and gagged. Through teary eyes he registered the smouldering ship, a trace of recognition and relief washed over his features. I found it interesting how people viewed their own priorities in these situations and just how they differed from perceived morals. Did long nose feel immense shame and guilt after that relief washed over him? Or did the prevailing thoughts win over the most negative aspects of this situation?
I was immersed with countless questions at the behest of each and every stimulatory experience in my immediate surroundings. Human life on a grand scale that I could witness, digest and reflect upon.
My eyes tracked another movement once again.
He shifted his foot slightly, prepared for another step… The captain's foot brushed past a severed and charred hand. Unmistakably human.
The boy stood stock-still as if he had been paralysed on the spot. His hands tenderly grabbing the limb, a shocked expression that couldn't be hid by the straw hat that once graced his head. Rage was all the more evident on his features.
"Who… who did this?"
How to… Should I bother?
"Shahaha! More to join? The more the merrier I say! Let's see… I'll kill ten of you humans for every one of my men that's died here. It's hardly a fair trade, human lives are worth so little after all! But I'm sure they'll forgive that in the next life." Arlong seemed to take amusement from captain straw hat's actions. Wonderful, a misunderstanding that worked in my benefit for once. How fortunate. It looked like the rage was slowly narrowing his view, about time. First the casualties, now his pet disobeying orders. No wonder he was angry.
"Gum Gum Rocket." The captain said with a sombre tone, his body a jet of red as he flurried past my vision, impacting directly into the sharkman.
Arlong's trusted subordinates didn't spare a glance. They had full trust in their captain's abilities. I suppose there would've been a mutiny if they ever doubted. Most of them were looking at me rather than the newcomers, I think they have the wrong idea.
You aren't my opponent. None of you are.
"You. Human. Don't think you're getting away. Those men you killed were my very own subordinates… I'll paint this water red with your entrails, as recompense." The Gi wearing fishman spat venom at me, his fist retracting and legs spread as he took on a formidable stance. Winding up to an explosive punch… Front stance. Eerily similar to Shotokan-ryu. An emphasis on hard techniques, specialised for brutally dismantling an enemy. Using the greatest advantages of the fishman race, that being their overbearing physical power.
"Zoro, Usopp. I guess you've joined them as well, chef. These are your enemies, I've already done my part, as you can see; I'm rather worn out. Don't let me hold you up." I pointed to the lightly singed and dirtied shirt I was wearing. To be honest most of the debris and damage was from the falling ash and swimming to shore. Not that they needed to know the truth.
"Lazy, arrogant bastard. What do you mean, you're done?" The blonde chef turned to me, tapping the cigarette butt in my direction ash crumbling to the floor to join that which fell from the sky.
"Let me put it another way; I have no reason to follow a crew that cannot overcome a challenge of this level. Prove yourselves, this is but a small obstacle on the path of becoming Pirate King. Are you really telling me you can't beat them?" I had no reason to hide it. They should realise it themselves, what they've signed up for.
"Oi, don't you see hi-?!"
"Knock it off. I'll make mincemeat out of them." The swordsman grunted through gritted teeth.
"…As if I'd let you take all the fun, Marimo." The chef looked at the swordsman warily. I couldn't help but notice the swordsman was less overbearing than usual… His movements were also less polished. Did he get beaten in the fight against the chef? Or maybe I missed a lot more since I followed Nami?
Either way, it doesn't matter. No matter the circumstances. The world didn't wait for you to be ready, neither would I. They needed to prove their own capabilities, in this moment, against the enemies staring them in the eye.
"Tch, I'll take Takoyaki over there, you can have shark fin soup."
"You sure you'll be able to beat him, he has more hands than you…"
"What the hell does that matter?"
"Obviously it means he can use more swords than you. You might both be overcompensating, but Octoman's doing it better."
"I'll seriously kill you after this…"
"Are you forgetting about me?" A fishman with a particularly strange maw, suddenly gulped a large amount of fresh seawater from the bay and a geyser of pressurised water erupted from his thin-slit-mouth one that bisected the stone wall a distance away.
"Ah, you mind shooting that water pistol at the idiot up there?" They said in unison from below. Wow, they really hate me already. My part in this is over, don't involve me on a whim. There's still a member that has yet to prove himself.
It was ideal, the numbers matched as well. As if God had written the convenient stage plots and had the characters arranged prior to this moment. A small feeling of foreboding towards the cosmos overcame me. The only enemy I had was this large cow-like creature behind me. It seemed content with watching, rather it was reticent to attack in any way. The bruise it sported must've been a subtle reprimand to remember its place.
"Usopp."
"Eh- Uh, no. Usopp isn't here…" He said in a falsetto tone, hiding behind the stone wall structure.
"If you run away here, then you might as well continue running for your entire life. There's nothing wrong with the coward's life. Run back to that girl… what was it, Kaya? Explain that you were out of your element and unable to bring your dreams of becoming a brave sailor to life. There's no shame in that."
"Wha- What do you think you're saying? D-Do you know who you're speaking to?! I am the- the great Captaaain Usoppp!" He had stood in a courageous pose atop the wall, a pose that would've been awe-inspiring if his legs hadn't been shaking like a baby deer taking their first steps.
The fishman ignored him spitting the water jet at both the cook and swordsman, but not at me. Amusing. Following the orders of his captain, or doesn't want to follow the directions of those two even on a whim?
"Prove it then, Captain Usopp. He's an ideal match up. You actually have a chance." This fishman in particular didn't strike me as the brightest, he was easy to anger. And if he were to stay here the long-range cover could make the other member's fights more difficult. I wanted to test one-on-one abilities first. Teamwork can come at a later date. They needed to pass this first.
Before another jet of water could spew from his mouth, rotten egg was flung from the slingshot, gracing the slightly open thin-slit mouth of the fishman.
"I- I'LL KILL YOU!"
"I-I'm sorrrryyyyyyy!" The long-nosed sniper had already begun his escape, the fishman hot on his trail as they ran towards the woods.
…
Should I check that?
Sigh… I really don't want to go to the effort.
If he dies, he dies. He wasn't cut out for this life and should've run whilst he had the chance. I couldn't get in the way of a brave warrior of the sea's maiden battle, now, could I?
I watched over the three duels in progress.
Show me what you can do.
[Piracy?]
I tapped along the oaken desk, my fingers playing a roughshod melody best described as an improvisation, if one were being generous.
So boring…
I assumed a modicum of guilt for feeling that way, but it was the truth.
We had problems to solve and solve them we did. The ones that we could anyway.
Corruption. Bribery. Strength. These were issues a small branch can't contend with. They were all out of my reach. A problem that was my own predecessor's and his before him. I had been in this position for four years now. In total I had devoted roughly ten years of my life to the sea and maintaining peace across the East Blue. My position, It was an important one, or so it should be. I was responsible for directing the very limited forces we had to different reaches of the East blue to prevent small misdemeanours and general chaos.
However, some of the greater problems… we just couldn't solve. The stronger, more experienced and better crops of the navy forces were all sent to the Grand Line and then the New World beyond it. Here in the four cardinal seas; we were a forgotten commodity. Even more so in this backwater.
As such; the big fish were left to swim. If they made big moves, then they'd get attention. But the ones that had made peace with setting up shop and causing minimal problems, they were forgotten just like the rest of us.
I looked from my window to the West. Just a day's travel to that small island and the archipelago off its shore. A single day of travel for a fleet. And yet…
In ten years of service…
Nothing has ever been done. What a laughingstock we are. Protectors of peace… as if. We were protectors of our own vested interests, passengers of bureaucracy.
"Captain, an unexpected vessel is making headway towards us." What now? Some other small-time pirate or another merchant ship… Whatever, don't bother me for something like this, can't you see I'm drowning in my woes?
"And? What is it? Can't imagine pirates are attacking us way out here. All the big players are settled in their own spots or making their way towards the Grand Line." That same big player was just a day's travel from here. I always promised myself, if the chance came along, I would do something to change that. What a load of crap, I haven't changed anything in all my time here… Nothing worthwhile, anyway.
"Well, about that sir… it's a navy galleon."
"That's it? Just establish a comms line and check with them… Wasting my time for this…"
"That's the problem, sir… We have, but well… there's a bit of an issue."
"Spit it out already." I was beginning to get tired of my subordinates' attitude. He was a common man, had a decent work ethic, but his lack of charge could be noted. I shouldn't have to push for a simple answer.
"They're assuming the identity of a Vice-Admiral." What? What crazy bastard would…? Is it Don Krieg? He made his fortune doing just that trick, or perhaps an impersonator… I could've sworn we had reports of the Don moving to the Grand Line. I suppose there's only so much I can gather from here…
"All the way out here… Has there been any information of notable officers in the area nearby?" I raised from the table taking the den-den-Mushi in hand as we walked. I was still awaiting a report from that Captain Nezumi. How many months had he handed the same exact report back to me? One of these days I'd have the rat bastard court marshalled… In an ideal world I'd have already reported him, but then we'd be forced to antagonise Arlong. Something we don't have the funds or manpower to do… What a joke of a situation, I was already slightly drained before even tackling this new issue.
"No, not particularly. But the person they're claiming as an identifier might make sense if that's the case." Oh God, what now?
"Huh, what do you mea-" I opened the door of the base to witness all of my subordinates; men of the sea that should be moving in unison with power, discipline and intention were scrambling like a bunch of headless chickens.
"HAHAHAHA! Open your port! If you don't, I'll break the gate myself!" A powerful but strained voice came from the ship a ways off… That's some impressive vocal power. Not the thing to be impressed by at the moment…
"What sort of madman?"
I grabbed the nearest soldier by his collar, hoping to instil some of the awe and fear that a commanding officer should use. But he looked unaffected, his eyes focused on the boat approaching, unflinching, afraid to even blink a second and remove the boat from his gaze.
"Hey! What do you all think you're doing, do you just open the gate for anyone that asks now? Seriously, makes me look bad as the supervisor of this place…"
"No? I'll make my own way in!" A gruff voice erupted from beyond the sea, one that took too much glee from the idea of destroying the port.
"What the hell?" Scanning the sea's surface for the ship and voice in question, only to notice a human figure with the anchor in his open hand. Gripping the sturdy structure, a stance as if he were to throw a javelin. Is this guy insane? "…O-OPEN THE GATE!" The ship was rushing towards us without losing any speed. What was once an ant on the horizon had now become a sea king on my doorstep.
"That's what we were trying to do, dumb captain! Are you trying to get us all killed?!"
"Shut up and obey your superior officer! H-Hurry, will you!" With some difficulty, mainly caused by the cowardice of the men tripping over one another, they finally managed to open the sluice gate allowing the galleon entry.
"Oh, they're opening… Damn it, I wanted to try this out." The same voice added, much lower this time… He sounded genuinely heart broken. Leaving the anchor where he stood, the aged marine vaulted off of the ship onto our island and stopped the rushing ship with his bare hands.
That was one way to do it… I guess.
"Sir, you can't just throw the anchor at anyone who gets in the way." A navy officer wearing a suit and the blazer of justice shouted down. He wore an old hat that masked his eyes, I half expected him to light a cigar and pull out a tommy gun as well.
"Quiet you. We need to restock supplies otherwise we won't be able to catch up. That little brat! Honestly, I leave him alone for a bit and he just decides to take off! He should make sure he's prepared for how much trouble he's in… When I get my hands on that little runt…"
"So it really was true…" My subordinate that provided the… it felt a little too generous to call it information… I guess report would be the way to describe it. Well, he had fainted on the spot. The reason being…
A giant of a man stood before us. It wasn't so much his stature that was so overwhelming about him, he just had this aura that he was not to be trifled with. Like a gun already cocked and begging to be set off.
I saluted and then took a knee along with the rest of the guard. I know he won't do anything, I'm assured of it… But I still feel uneasy even talking to this man.
"If I may me be so impudent as to ask… What is a man of your stature doing in this backwater?" The Vice-Admiral's men all descended from the ship.
Vice-Admiral Garp's personal vessel, no doubt some of the toughest marines were on board.
His right-hand man Bogard. He looked more like a gangster than a marine. I was told he was a stickler for the rules and only spoke when necessary. A serious disposition, one that almost certainly must've come into friction with Vice-Admiral Garp's attitude.
The hero of the navy. A figure that was said to be on equal standing with Whitebeard, a current emperor of the sea, and with the Pirate king of old himself. Gold Roger. However, his behaviour couldn't be any further from what the navy idolised. He was rambunctious, non-committal when it came to bureaucratic duty and usually enforced his own ideals regardless of the backlash or paperwork which might be involved. He was beloved by the public in exchange.
"GAHAHA! Man of my stature he says. You hear that, Bogard?" He guffawed as if I had said something amusing.
"You are the hero of the navy after all, sir."
"It's no fun when you go along with it."
"I was under the impression we were on the clock, sir."
"Boring… How do you manage to be more boring than an old man like me?" The Vice-Admiral yawned despite looking completely awake and aware mere moments ago.
"I think you'll struggle to find anyone that can keep up with your antics."
"Bogard, is that any way to speak to your commanding officer?"
"Should that commanding officer be offloading his own paperwork to his subordinates?"
"Bah. Always so pressed with bureaucracy and permissions. It's because of this that we get nothing done."
"…Only you could express such an opinion openly."
"Doesn't that mean you agree?"
"Please refrain from putting words in my mouth, sir. Unlike you, I'll be put on the chopping block for those ideas."
"You give yourself too little credit, Bogard. Ahh man, what a pain." The elderly marine began to stuff his mouth with large rice crackers.
"Again, sir? Keep eating like that and the hero of the navy will lose his figure."
"Gaha! You sound like a lass discussing their diet." He shovelled another into his mouth, crumbs spilling as he did.
"It's a serious issue. You act as an image for the public. You are the very face of the navy for many people, if you were to look like a destitute old man then we would lose faith from the people as an organisation which promotes security and peace."
"Bite me."
"Ano- Um…" They've fully forgotten me, haven't they?
"If the general public ever see you operate day-to-day, they'd be disillusioned. To think the 'hero of the navy' needs a babysitter…"
"The only one that needs a babysitter is that fool. Seriously, what are Makino and Dadan doing? I thought I said to watch the boy…"
"If he's anything like you, sir. Then he'll be impossible to watch over."
I couldn't get a word in edgewise.
"You trying to say I'm the same as that kid, Bogard?"
"…No further comment."
I was slowly beginning to lose my mind. Threaten to destroy my gate? Don't explain yourself, then just jump on my island and nearly let a galleon ram into the port?
"STOP IGNORING ME! What business do you have, Vice-Admiral Garp?"
"Hah? Isn't it obvious? I'm here to take that useless grandson of mine."
"W-WHAT!" Every one of the marines nearby reacted similarly. I've never heard of the great hero of the navy having a grandson. I didn't even know the guy was married or had a kid. Let alone grandkids. Higher-ups must have been keeping this under wraps. If a family member of the great hero was taken hostage or any other number of things, public discourse would be the least of their worries.
"Restock our food supplies, I intend to catch up immediately. He can undergo some training alongside you two. Soon as we have him, we'll be on our way to Marineford." The older man gestured towards two younger recruits. One a shabby little runt with pink hair and milk bottle glasses, the other a pompous rich boy with a terrible haircut. Whatever the vice-admiral had planned for them must be strenuous, if his own grandson was going to be partaking in the same training.
"U-Understood, sir. See to it that the Vice-Admiral's ship is fully stocked with rations."
"Give me the best rice crackers you've got as well."
"Eh, but they're…" My favourite snack…
"Hm?"
"N-No, never mind. Of course, Vice-admiral."
"GAHAHA! So you do get it? Good. Chop chop."
"Ggggzzzhhh…. Berebere. Gacha." The snail transponder in my hand began to ring. A calm yet haunting voice came through the transceiver. "Apologies, headquarters. The rest of the troop is dead, vessel destroyed with no hope for recovery. The images will come through soon enough. Battle is inevitable, as I fear is my departure. Ensure backup is sent at your earliest convenience." The device clicked a single time, and the eyes of the responder shut slowly, as if the life had faded from them.
"Oi… Report. Hello… Come in… Damn it! Go and get those images, Rupert… Ah, right. One of you men, go grab the images, will you?" I forgot he had fainted…
"What a calm lad. In what direction were those comms from?" The older marine seemed to be intrigued by the message. He had actually stopped stuffing his face with rice crackers for a moment.
Is this my chance? I never got to change anything, but if I use him…
…
I'll risk it.
"…If I could trouble you, Vice-Admiral. A vessel had approached an island by the name of Cocoyashi, there seems to be an outpost where some fishmen have gathered. That ship was last seen there."
"Gathered… How long have those fishmen been there?"
"We are unsure. Merely rumours and the like, from a distance the island seems to be relatively undisturbed. They could have been there for half a decade or longer now." In my heart I couldn't provide the exact number, it reminded me of my pitiful weakness.
"And you didn't think to check yourself?"
"…I apologise for my cowardice. We lack the firepower to remedy this situation, requests don't change that. If I had asked my men to deal with this, we would be completely unresponsive for other problems we could actually fix."
"You call yourself marines… Shame! If you're a man, then you put your all into service. That's the marine coat of arms you wear, sacrifice body and soul for the public. Does that mean nothing to you boy?"
"…"
"Vice-Admiral. In this instance, his cowardice is justified. Rather, it is simply objective realism." Garp's right hand man chimed in.
"…"
"If we lose more staff then even more outlaws will filter through the gaps. They seem to be causing minimal distress, even if those people were suffering. That doesn't mean they deserve all our resources, we still have the rest of the four oceans to cover. The navy is understaffed as it is."
"Tch! Seriously, this is why I hate the marines. Too much fencepost sitting and not enough correcting the world… I'll fix this problem, so fill the ship on the double."
"…Thank you. I apologise for my lack of strength."
"Just focus on stocking supplies. I'll also be taking all of those rice crackers. If I find even the faintest whiff of any that you're hiding… I'll use you as my new anchor. Understood?" He tapped twice on my chest with his forefinger. It felt like each knock might go right through my chest… Did that mean he was going to throw me, or give me concrete shoes? I don't think I want to know the answer either way…
"U-Understood." There goes my treat for the next while. Well, it's worth it, I guess. For the first time in a long while, I felt as if I had actually accomplished something at this post. Even if it wasn't due to my own abilities, even if mere circumstance dictated it.
"GAHAHA! Just you wait for me, Luffy! I'll make a proper marine out of you in no time!"
---
Word count: 5579
Bit of a removal from the canon events. Garp probably would be in the area since he meets both Koby and Helmeppo after escorting Axe-hand Morgan. I also believe that Garp wanted Luffy to enlist in the marines so he would probably come and take him from the island close to his 17th birthday, when he makes way to sea anyway. He's just a bit behind Luffy when he arrives.
Let's see how their meeting goes…
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