Chapter 96: Alfway
Dialogue "sample"
Thoughts 'sample'
Author notes -sample-
Disclaimer: One piece and all of its characters belong to Eiichiro Oda.
Chapter 96: Halfway
"Eh?, Why are we on the ship?!" Shouted Luffy.
He spent three days sleeping after they left Thrilled Bark. After waking up, the crew was telling him what he missed.
"We had to leave in a hurry. Marines were coming to the island to assist Moria." Explained Nami.
"But…we left without a party?..." Luffy looked crestfallen.
"Cheer up, Captain. We can have a party tonight, right here on the ship. We even have a musician now!" Said Vivi while patting him on the back.
"That's right!." He quickly recovered and turned to look at Brook. "You joined the crew then?"
"The last time you made the offer I had to reject it because of my circumstances. So, allow me to request it this time. Would you let me join the crew?" Said Brook.
Luffy laughed. "Shishishi, of course! Then, tonight we celebrate and welcome our new crewmate!"
"I'll make sure to prepare a feast." Said Sanji.
"There is something else you need to know, Luffy!" Said Usoop.
"Yeah!, Sanji became a devil fruit user!" Finished Chopper.
"Yes, we found a fruit in Moria's mansion and in then decided that Sanji will be the one to take it." Vivi offered an explanation even though she knew that Luffy would not care where the fruit came from.
"What?" Luffy turned his head to look at Sanji. "That's awesome! What can you do?"
Sanji chuckled. "Prepare to be amazed!". He made a heroic pose and disappeared. Well, his body disappeared, but his clothes remained the same.
"Ah? that's it?" Luffy looked a bit disappointed.
"We can still see your clothes, you stupid cook." Said Zoro.
"Well…I'm still getting the hang of it, give me a few days and no one will be able to tell where I am!" Declared Sanji with enthusiasm.
"As long as you don't go to our bedrooms…" Said Nami.
"Captain." Called Vivi. "Can I see the paper that your brother gave you?"
"Why do you want to see that thing?" Asked Usopp.
"Sure, I don't mind." Luffy removed the paper from his hat and showed it to Vivi. It was completely intact.
Vivi sighed in relief. "Thanks. I just wanted to make sure that your brother was fine."
"Looking at the paper tells you that he is fine?" Asked Nami.
"Yes, that paper is called 'vivre card'. Not only tells you if the person is fine, but it can also tell you in which direction they are." Explained Vivi.
"You could have explained that before." Said Zoro.
Vivi shrugged. "Ace didn't explain it either, and you guys never asked."
"Why would you be worried about Ace?" Asked Luffy.
"Remember that man that Ace was chasing after? Blackbeard?" Asked Vivi.
Luffy nodded.
"I was recently told that He has just become a Schichibukai, taking over Crocodile's empty spot."
"Did that guy tell you? Was Kuma the one who told you that?" Asked Zoro.
Vivi nodded.
"I see…" Said Robin. "Since the man that Ace was intending to kill seemed to be completely fine, there were only two possibilities…Blackbeard never encountered Ace or…He did and Ace lost."
"Oh, I see…you were just worried about my brother. There is no need for that. Ace can take care of himself" Luffy smiled.
Vivi gave a weary smile.
'He is still too naive if he thinks like that…'
"Who is this Kuma guy anyways?" Asked their Captain.
"He is another Shichibukai we faced after your fight with Moria." Explained Usopp.
"What?!" Shouted Luffy.
There will be more explaining to do.
—---------------------------------------------------------------------
Several days later.
"We made it!" Shouted Luffy. "We finally made it this far!"
"It's been so long…is such a deep feeling," Said Nami.
"That day…it was raining fiercely" Remembered Sanji.
"We have grown a lot since then." Said Zoro.
"I…it took me fifty years, yohoho" Said Brook.
Vivi looked at it with mixed feelings. She had memories of seeing it before, but those were not hers, not really.
In front of them was the gigantic Red Line, the rock structure that separates the planet into two parts. It was so tall that it was impossible to see the top, as clouds would cover the view.
"We are halfway done. The Twin Capes, where we meet Laboon are on the other side of the sea, connected to this wall. I'm glad we made it this far without losing anyone." Said Luffy.
"I can't see the top! This thing is huge!." Chopper was looking at the Red Line in awe.
"I feel like crying. A lot has happened since then." Said Usopp while actually crying.
"I remember going through the reverse mountain from the South Blue. But that was thirty years ago." Commented Franky.
"Five years ago I came to this sea from West Blue." Said Robin.
"When I come to this place again after another turn around the world…I will be the Pirate King!" Luffy proclaimed.
"We have to be careful, this place is controlled by the World Government and Mariejoa is close by." Warned Vivi.
—-------------------------------------------------------------
"How is it? Robin, Brook, Luffy?" Asked Nami while using a den-den-mushi.
"No good" The voice of Robin came from the apparel. "Is too dark."
The three of them had entered a mini-submarine created by Franky and went to explore the deeps of the Red Line waters, trying to find a way to cross.
"Whaa!, is too dark! Wait, I think I saw something shine right now." The voice of Luffy was heard.
"Isn't that the eyeball of a monster? If I wasn't already dead, I would be worried, yohoho!. By the way, Nami, what panties are you wearing today?" Asked Brook.
"Take this seriously!" Shouted Nami.
"She is wearing the pink ones." Answered Vivi.
"Yohoho!, I see." Added Brook.
"Don't answer him!" Nami smacked Vivi on the head.
"Guys remember that the Shark Submarine has a deep limit of five thousand meters, be careful!" Advised Franky.
"That would explain why everything is cracking." Commented Robin.
"We are going to be crushed!" Shouted Brook.
"Guys is the sea monster from before, it came back!" Luffy said.
"Just get out of there already!" Shouted Vivi.
"That's a big mouth." Said Robin.
"Ah!, is trying to eat us!" Cried Luffy.