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In the enveloping shadows, a voice murmured, "Wake… wake up…" The urgency in its tone grew, "Wake up!"
"Five more minutes…" Aisa mumbled, unaware of the danger that the crew was in.
"Wake up! The crew needs our help…"
As if those words made some sense, Aisa barely was able to open her eyes. King Sanji did order her to protect the crew, though that was more out of fondness rather than duty.
Still, the little warrior of the Shandorian tribe took her duties seriously. With much resistance, Aisa was able to open her eyes… only to see nothing. Nothing but darkness…
"What… where?" A hazy question escaped Aisa's lips as she grappled with her unfamiliar surroundings, her mind felt uneasy, almost drowsy. Seeing the darkness she was jolted awake, "Where am I?" The air was oppressively thick, and every heartbeat felt like a desperate plea as she strained to understand her situation.
"Where am I? Whoa!" Her mounting fear made her move and struggled, making her stumble out of a confining closet, gasping in shock as she hit the ground. "Ow…" she hissed as she looked around.
She looked around feeling confused. It felt like just moments ago she had been playing tag with Groot aboard the Going Merry. Her present location confused her…
"You're still here…" whispered an ethereal presence.
Her eyes darted around frantically, but all she saw was the dark room. Was her mind playing tricks on her? Her heart raced in puzzlement, cold sweat already on her forehead.
The unseen voice seemed… warm? That felt strangely out of place. It was as if her instincts were telling her not to be afraid. Strange…
She looked around trying to guess her current location. Despite the engulfing darkness, faint moonlight filtering through the windows provided some clarity.
"Why am I in the navigation room?" she pondered aloud, confused, taking note of the meticulously arranged maps and books that surrounded her. Their organized display deepened the puzzlement of her sudden appearance there.
As she contemplated her next move, her stomach voiced its own urgent demand. "Aw… I'm hungry." she groaned. Not the best time to be hungry, but like Captain Luffy said. Food always came first.
She looked around. And, there before her lay a fruit with an enchanting design. Under her observation haki, or mantra, the fruit seemed to pulsate with an irresistible allure, beckoning her to eat it. Without much thought, she surrendered to her hunger, and bit it. She grimaced at its bitter flavor but forced it down out of habit.
The scarcity of food during Enel's reign in Skypiea had instilled in her a reluctance to waste. Yet, she couldn't shake off the peculiar taste. And at the same time, she felt an odd sense of power within her. "Why does this fruit taste so… strange?" she asked aloud.
"It's a devil fruit…" came the reply.
"Makes sense." the little girl shrugged, as she finished the last of the fruit. "King Sanji did mention their weird taste…" She then blinked, tilting her head, "Wait, does this mean I can't swim anymore? That's unfortunate…" Her train of thought was interrupted, only now realizing that someone had spoken to her. "Who said that?"
The voice now seemed crisper than before.
"It doesn't matter," it echoed, resonating from all around her, not anchored to any particular direction. "The crew is in danger…"
Distress surged within Aisa, "What have you done to them? Who are you?"
There was a somber pause before the voice revealed, "It's me, the Going Merry…"
.
Outside, the Straw Hat crew along with the Franky family lay dormant, still unconscious and fast asleep due to Kalifa's soporific abilities. But their slumber wouldn't last.
Bursting from the navigation room, Aisa vaulted to the ship's railing, her voice ringing out with startling clarity, "Everyone, wake up! Franky and Groot have been kidnapped!"
Her words resonated with such force that even the warehouse glasses quivered in response. The urgency in her voice jolted everyone into a state of chaotic alertness.
"The fuck?"
"Where's Big Bro Franky?"
"Where's Groot?!"
"Groot got what? I'm dead if Sanji finds out!"
All of them panicked before everyone looked at the little girl. There were signs of a fight here, along with the unusual drowsiness, everyone knew something was very wrong.
With a resigned sigh, Aisa braced herself for the inevitable wave of questions.
After all the pirates and bounty hunters stopped bombarding Aisa with questions, she told them what Merry told her. Things pretty down after that bombshell.
"Shit…" Usopp cursed, "We should reach out to Gin and Law… perhaps we will need their help for this."
Aisa hesitated before admitting, "There's something I forgot to mention…"
Usopp's expression hardened, "Please don't tell me he has been kidnapped as well. If that's the case, we'll need Luffy and the entire crew…"
The others in the crew looked at Aisa with a bit of concern. Gin was one of the stronger ones in the crew, if he was kidnapped, then things were pretty bad.
Rubbing the back of her neck sheepishly, Aisa shook her head, "No, but Gin's at sea. He tried to stop them but was overpowered. But…" she closed her eyes trying to locate Gin's aura, "he's alive… but weak."
The crewmembers sighed, while the Franky family looked confused.
"In the sea?" The square sister asked, a bit pale, "But he's a devil fruit user… how's he even alive."
Yosaku looked at them and shrugged, already taking off his shirt. He shrugged as he answered, "He's just built different."
With a focused gaze, Usopp tapped into his observation haki, "Found him," he said, pointing in a specific direction. It was evident that the Franky House had suffered some damage, indicating a recent skirmish. "He's alive, that son of a gun… he's holding his breath. Yosaku fish Gin out!"
"Already on it!" Without hesitation, Yosaku dived in.
As Yosaku worked to rescue Gin, Usopp honed in on his observation haki, intent on locating Groot. He was more attuned to Groot's aura than Franky's, but even after a minute of looking around there was no result.
His inability to locate them was perplexing. Either the worst had happened, or they weren't on the island. Water seven as an island was small, very small compared to Alabasta or Skypiea.
Heck, even the capital city of Alabasta might be bigger than the island. But it was kind of given. The island of water seven used to be large, but each year, it sank a few inches into the ocean. So now only a small part remains.
Usopp's gaze landed on Aisa. Kneeling beside her, he said, "Aisa, can your observation haki… I mean, mantra detect Groot's whereabouts?" Her skills in using Observation haki, mainly the range, are quite amazing.
Closing her eyes, Aisa tuned in to her mantra, reaching out for any hint of Groot. Several auras surged into her perception, but Groot remained unreachable. As despair threatened to take hold, she unwittingly amplified her powers, fleetingly connecting with Groot's aura before it vanished.
Wincing from the unexpected surge, she tried to comprehend the newfound power. For a moment it felt like she heard Groot's voice along with Franky. And they seemed far… pretty far away.
Gently placing a hand on her shoulder, Usopp consoled, "Don't overwork yourself. But, did you manage to locate Groot?"
Shaking her head, Aisa whispered, "I… my mantra isn't working properly like back in Skypiea. But I think he's likely not on the island…"
Just then, Yosaku arose with Gin, both of them gasping for air. While others were glad, Gin looked visibly restless.
"Any idea who's behind this?" Usopp asked, going right from the answers..
Gin's face darkened, "Them… It was those fucking…" he stopped himself and only growled when he realized Aisa was here.
Recognizing the implication, Usopp sighed in frustration, "Tch… Things can never be easy, can they?"
The Franky family's distress was almost tangible. "Who are they? Do you know who took Franky?"
Before Usopp could respond, another voice interjected.
"I might have an idea…" Usopp turned to see an unfamiliar, grievously wounded man, supported by someone else.
To his surprise, several Franky family members recognized him, "Iceburg? What happened to ya?"
Ignoring their questions, Iceburg looked at Usopp, making him out to be the leader. "They've taken Franky to Enies Lobby. Your crew member should be there too. Please save them!"
"What!" the Franky family questioned, aloud not even believing what they were hearing.
Usopp didn't waste a moment, and nodded with determination. "Nami, prep the ship! We have to get our crew back." He said with fire in his eyes, signaling at the storm that the world government had unknowingly unleashed.
——