Journey to Alabasta

RELEASE SCHEDULE UPDATE: I will change the release schedule to every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday or every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday depending on where you are in the world. If you want to know the reason, read the first part of the Author's note. If not, sorry for not being able to upload as much and enjoy the chapter!

...

The Straw Hats were sailing towards their destination of 'Alabasta' to stop of war that involved a million people and a pirate employed by the government to help their friend.

After telling Dr. Kureha, who had watched the fight through a window, about their plans to leave, they had to escape from her rage. Chopper had tears in his eyes as he pulled the sled down the rope with his friends in the back and Nami glared up at the woman as the two believed that this was Dr. Kureha's way of saying she didn't approve of their choice.

Luffy, Law, and Bepo could sense she was just worried about them, so they just kept their gaze straight.

Nami and Chopper learned of Dr. Kureha's true feelings when they had just left the island with everyone else when they heard cannon fire and turned around to see the snow turn pink, making Chopper break down in tears as he could hear his father's last words in his head.

"Hey... When do you think a person dies? When a bullet from a pistol pierces his heart? No... When he's attacked by an incurable disease? No... When he eats a deadly poisonous mushroom soup? No! A man dies when he is forgotten."

'I will never forget you, Doctor!! Thank you for everything, Dr. Kureha!! I promise I'll make a cure for every disease in the world!!'' Chopper swore to himself as he watched his father's dream come true before his eyes.

Turning the snow bright pink like sakura petals to inspire hope in the citizens' hearts.

.

.

Dr. Kureha could be seen on the edge of 'Drum Rock' as she watched the Straw Hats sail away in the distance with a bottle of sake. She turned when she heard the lift move for the first time in forever.

A few minutes later, she saw the only one of Wapol's former soldiers she respected and the one she'd convinced to become the king so she didn't have to deal with that, Dalton.

When the large man got a couple meters away from her, shallowly bowed to her which made her snort before she looked back at the ship that was almost gone in the distance.

"What brings you here, Dalton?" She asked, knowing very well what brought him up here. The large man sat down next to her and looked out at the ship on the horizon.

"Your apprentices joined that Straw Hat kid." He said simply getting a laugh out of her.

"Heeheeheehee!! They sure did, and they're gonna turn the world upside down!!" She shouted out in joy before taking a long sip of her sake, making the man look at her confused.

"What are you talking about?" Dalton asked her when she stopped drinking making her glance at him before looking back at the horizon the ship had disappeared on.

"One ship has two bearers of the 'Will of D', I can't wait to see what happens!! But if they let Chopper get hurt, I'll kill them myself!!" Dr. Kureha shouted out, making Dalton believe it was just her drunk rambling. He shook his head before he reached into his coat and pulled out five pieces of paper.

"The main reason I came up here was to give you these and to deliver a message that was left for them." That made the old woman raise her eyebrow as she grabbed the papers that we handed to her. Dalton explained when he saw the look.

"It was the only day in my memory that it stopped snowing here. A man in a black coat and black hat came here saying 'If a pirate with a straw hat comes through here, tell him I'll be in 'Alabasta' for ten days.' and then left without even paying for his meal." Dalton explained getting a snort of laughter from Dr. Kureha as she looked through the papers until she got the the last one and broke out in a massive smile.

"'Straw Hat' Monkey D. Luffy. 80,000,000 Berry Bounty'. Heeheeheehee!! Not too bad, brat!! These other ones aren't too bad either for how early they are in their journey!! I'm glad, Chopper will not only be with those two, but the rest of his crew and his Captain is strong too." Dr. Kureha said to herself as she and Dalton looked out at the horizon.

'Stay safe, Chopper. Those two other brats too.'

.

.

They were throwing a banquet for their three new crew mates as Luffy and Usopp got Chopper to drink alcohol for the first time, much to Nami's anger. Bepo was already asleep from his tiny alcohol tolerance, leaving him a prime target for Luffy and Usopp to draw on his face with markers.

Nami was yelling at them to stop, Sanji was in the kitchen making more food, and Zoro was sleeping at the back of the ship, away from the noise where Law came to find him.

Zoro opened his right eye and saw Law leaning on the railing with a drink, looking out at the water. He raised an eyebrow at the sight.

"You're Law, right? Is there something you need?" Zoro asked him with a bit of a hard tone.

Zoro could tell that while Chopper and Bepo are quite innocent and maybe even naive, Law is anything from that. From what Zoro heard, if Luffy wasn't stronger than Law, they would all be sailing under his flag right now and that would be unacceptable in Zoro's mind.

There's only one person he will ever take orders from and it's the idiot face first in a plate of meat in the kitchen, not this guy. 

Law sighed when he heard the tone. He could also roughly sense what Zoro was thinking about him so he did what he thought was best for someone like his new Vice-Captain. 

Zoro sat up and opened his eyes as Law slowly unsheathed his 'Kikoku' and held his hand out with a small, light blue circle forming on it, making Zoro realize Chopper wasn't their only new devil fruit user. Law smirked at Zoro who was doing the same.

"How about it, Zoro-ya? You'll have a better idea about who I am if we fight, right? And you'll be able to know how strong I am and how much of a threat to the crew I could be." Law said making Zoro slowly stand up and put his hand on the hilt of 'Wado Ichimonji'.

"And what if you beat me?" Zoro said with a sarcastic smirk like it could never happen. Law scoffed at this before smirking right back.

"If I beat you, I become the new Vice-Captain," Law said making Zoro's eyes sharpen.

Zoro had no idea he held his title of 'Vice-Captain' so highly in his mind until someone besides Swirly-Brow genuinely challenged him for his position. He lightly tugged on the rope in his chest.

*ZIZZ*

Law's pupils dilated when he felt Zoro use his 'Conqueror's Haki' and instinctually applied 'Armament Haki' to his sword, which made Zoro smirk and do the same to his sheathed blade. 

'Not only Captain-ya, but Zoro-ya has 'Conqueror's Haki' too?! His 'Armament Haki' is stronger than mine by far as well, so I need to even it out.' Law thought to himself as he let the light blue sphere in his hand expand to surround the entire ship about 50 meters up into the sky.

"Room"

Law smirked back at Zoro before asking him a question.

"You can fight in the air, right?" Law asked, continuing when he got a scoff in response.

"Then, keep all attacks from going within twenty meters of the ship?" He asked getting an approving look and a nod in response. They both turned when they sensed Luffy running over to them. He smiled at them when he saw them with their swords unsheathed.

"You guys gonna fight? I saw Law's bubble pop up, you want us to find an abandoned island?" Luffy asked in excitement. A fight between these two would be so fun to watch!! The two swordsmen looked at their Captain in amusement before Zoro shook his head and answered while Law dispelled his 'Room'.

"We're just gonna fight up above the ship. We gotta keep going to 'Alabasta', remember?" Zoro said making Luffy nod sadly. Law was just frozen wondering how he was already getting caught up in their pace when he just joined.

"That's too bad, a full fight between you two would be really fun to watch!! Oh well, the sky will have to do!! I'll get Sanji and Bepo to deflect any attack that might hit the 'Going Merry', and I'll take care of anything they can't, so don't worry about that." Luffy said getting both swordsmen to smirk savagely. Luffy laughed at that before he ran back to the banquet.

"Shishishishi!! Wait for me to yell that we're ready before starting!!" Luffy said as he ran away, getting two scoffs in response. Zoro looked over at their crew's new doctor and asked him a question to kill time before they could start.

"Hey, we both know my 'Armament Haki' is better than yours by a lot, are you sure you wanna do this?" Zoro asked with a smirk making Law glare at him.

*Tsk*

"Don't worry about me. I've got something to even it out." Law said simply getting a snort in response. They both heard Luffy yell from the other side of the ship.

"We're ready!! Go ahead!!!" They both smirked at each other before they both jumped up and used 'Moon-Walk' to get about fifty meters above the 'Going Merry'. Zoro unsheathed his other two katanas and Law raised his hand with his palm facing down while resting his unsheathed blade on his shoulder.

"Room" 

A small light blue circle formed under Law's palm and spread out, covering everything in a three-hundred-meter radius, which included the seawater and the 'Going Merry'. Everyone who didn't know what was going on looked up at the two when the blue bubble engulfed them.

Zoro smirked at Law as he looked around at the blue bubble surrounding them. He raised an eyebrow when he saw Law take out some pebbles from his pocket before he went into a stance with his 'Kitetsu III' horizontally above the shoulder of his right arm while applying as much 'Armament Haki' into his blades as he could without using the advanced version.

"Three-Sword Style…"

Law sensed the massive amount of 'Armament Haki' on Zoro's blades and knew he couldn't match it1, so it did something to narrow the gap. He channeled the same electricity he uses in his 'Counter Shock' attack into his blade, covering it in purple lightning while also covering it in as much 'Armament Haki' as he could manage. Law pulled his sword back and swung.

"Radio Knife: Purple Wave!!!"

"1080 Pound Phoenix!!!"

Zoro did a circular swing that launched three compressed air slashes that merged into one large one spiraling toward Law's massive purple slash made of compressed air and electricity.

*BOOOOM!!!!* 

The two attacks collided, canceling each other out and sending a shockwave that created rough waves for the 'Going Merry' protected by Bepo deflecting the aftereffects of the collision away from the ship. 

Zoro smirked when he sensed Law flick the pebbles in his hand all around him. 

"Shambles"

As soon as he saw Law disappear, He turned to where he sensed him on his right.

"Three Sword Style..."

Zoro launched himself at Law, who had his sword that was still covered in purple electricity, and 'Armament Haki' aimed right at his neck, as he put his katanas over his blade in his mouth and swung them.

"Rengoku Oni Giri!!!"

"Shambles'

*Tsk*

Zoro clicked his tongue when he saw Law switch out of the way of his attack again. He used 'Moon-Walk' to get back up to his target and went above him.

"Three-Sword Style…"

Zoro puts his katanas in his hands over his mouth blade. The aura of a tiger covered his body for a split second. He swung his katanas downwards as he was about to hit his opponent, who had run his hand over his sword to condense more electricity into it.

"EXTREME TIGER HUNTING!!!"

*BOOOM*

Law struggled to block the attack as Zoro grinned manically at him while pushing him back in the air before Law smirked back at him, putting Zoro on guard. 

Zoro's pupils condensed when he saw Law's index finger, which was on the right hand still holding his sword, point upwards causing the condensed electricity on Law's sword to suddenly spread out all around Zoro, surrounding him in a ball-like shape before he could even blink.

"Radio Knife: Electric Takt!!!"

*ZIZIZIZIZI* *COUGH*

Zoro coughed out smoke as he was electrocuted from every angle before he glared at Law and immediately attacked, who was trying to take advantage of his momentary lapse.

"One-Sword Style: 360 Pound Phoenix!!!"

*Tsk*

"Shambles"

*BOOOOOM!!!*

Law switched with one of the pebbles he flicked earlier in annoyance that he couldn't capitalize to dodge the attack that carried down and hit the sea, causing a massive wave to kick up.

Zoro grinned savagely at Law before he applied what unstable 'Advanced Armament Haki' he could to his katanas, at least without using his 'Asura', making Law's pupils tighten.

'It's the same 'Haki' Captain-ya was using in our fight.' The doctor thought to himself as he got ready to do the strongest attack he could at the moment. 

Law flicked the two pebbles he still had in his hand at Zoro, who readied himself when he saw that. Law flicked his fingers and disappeared.

"Shambles"

Zoro swung his katanas at the blade that appeared a few inches from his neck and hit it so hard, that it went flying out of Law's grip.

*TING*

"Shambles" 

What Zoro wasn't exactly ready for was when Law appeared behind him holding a short blade made of green energy that sent his 'Observation Haki' into overdrive. Zoro spun around as fast as he could while swinging his blades to counter the attack. 

"Gamma Knife!!!"

"Bird Dance!!!"

*SHNK* *SHNK*

.

.

Everyone was on the deck with Zoro and Law sitting on the ground, getting patched up from the fight.

Zoro looked at Law, whose arm was getting bandaged up by Bepo, causing him to sit up and look at him with a raised eyebrow.

"What? Are you going to show off your win?" Law asked Zoro, who scoffed and shook his head at the question before asking Law a question while he tried to push Chopper, who was bandaging his shoulder, off of him. 

"That stuff you hit me with at the end..."

"My 'Gamma Knife'?" Law filled in for Zoro as he trailed off. He nodded when he heard him before continuing.

"Yeah, that. Have you ever tried putting that on your blade like you do with the purple electricity?" Zoro said making Law blink before he shook his head making the Vice-Captain scoff.

"Then do it. That shit hurt and it'll hurt more if it's on that sword instead of just the green shit." Zoro said as he winced when Chopped finished putting the bandages on him making Law snort in amusement.

"Now, you can't rip these off until I take them off." Chopper said to Zoro who scoffed but nodded. Chopper looked at Law, who was nodding at Bepo for wrapping him up, making him look over at him.

"Law, do you have the energy to heal yourself and Zoro back to full health?" Chopper asked making Law raise an eyebrow before he nodded and raised his hand.

"Room"

The blue bubble covered everyone out on the deck as Law put his left hand on his stomach and his right on Zoro's stomach.

"First Aid"

What wasn't fixed by Chopper and Bepo was immediately fixed by Law as both his hands glowed blue and the wounds closed, making Zoro nod at Law approvingly. The two turned when they heard Sanji scoff as he walked out of the kitchen.

"What were you two weaklings doing up there, dancing? It sure was cute." He said in a sarcastic tone, making both Zoro's and Law's eyebrows twitch.

"What was that?" "What was that?"

Sanji smirked over at the two as Chopper, Bepo, and Usopp slowly backed away feeling the temperature rising with every word. Luffy was laughing his head off.

"Shishishishi!! Give them food first so it's fair, Sanji!!"

.

.

In the women's bedroom, Vivi, who was reading a book in one of the chairs, looked up at Nami, who was drawing a map at her desk, when she couldn't handle the noise anymore. When she saw Nami stop for a moment, she spoke up.

"Nami..." She said smiling apologetically when she saw Nami jump in surprise and turn to her with a small glare that immediately let up. When Vivi saw that, she continued. 

"Is it always so noisy even on travel days like this?" She asked the Navigator, getting a raised eyebrow and incredulous look in response. 

"This is easily one of the quietest days I've had since I started sailing with Luffy," Nami responded before going back to her book, not seeing the pure shock on Vivi's face.

'This is quiet?!!'