"Geez, could you have been anymore reckless?!" Usopp complains, prodding an unconscious Luffy. "You had us all worried!" The Davy Back Fight is over, and it's a victory for the Straw Hats! Luffy had collapsed almost immediately after being crowned the victor, and so Run drug him back to shore and laid him down for Chopper to administer treatment.
"Stop poking him!" Chopper demands. "He's seriously injured!" Just as Chopper has finally gotten Usopp to stop poking him, their Captain twitches and then leans up suddenly. "Oh! He's awake!"
"The game! How'd the game end?!" Luffy demands, looking between all of their faces. "I thought I won...it wasn't just a dream, right?!"
"Oh, you won alright!" Run tells him with a huge grin. "You won it for us, Luffy!" Luffy grins and collapses backwards onto the ground laughing. Hearing someone approaching, all of them look over at Foxy who stops several feet away. "Aah, what do you want, Foxy? Luffy is resting right now."
"Have you forgotten the rules?" Foxy asks. "You won. So choose." Luffy sits up again, and turns to face him.
"Give us your roger," Luffy tells him simply.
"What?! You'd strip us of our pride just like that?!"
"Aah, you can keep your sail. I don't need it, and you've got places to go, after all." Seeing that their sail bares the symbol on their roger, Luffy simply paints a...well, a terrible picture of his own on there to make sure that they can keep their sails. After taking their roger, Luffy turns away from all of them are starts walking away from the shore while the Foxy Pirates sail off, shouting the whole way. The rest of the crew follows, walking all the way back to Tonjit who sits with Shelly.
"Oi, old guy, here," Luffy says, thrusting the flag out towards him. "I kicked their butts."
"Ohh, you're really hurt," Tonjit says.
"Aah, this is nothing new!" Run approaches Shelly, reaching out and gently stroking her head with a smile.
"Hey, Shelly," Run says. "Good to see you again, girl!" Robin steps up beside him, and reaches up to gently pat Shelly on her head.
"So this is why you accepted that challenge," Robin says, nearly taking a step back when Shelly shoves her head into her hands. "My, she's certainly friendly!"
"I doubt he would've turned it down anyway," Nami adds. Luffy explains to them that he originally accepted the challenge because Foxy actually shot Tonjit's horse Shelly. He also tells them that he's been separated from his people because he made some bamboo stilts...although, they're confused by that. "So, if you've been separated we can give you a lift to them."
"No, there's no reason to hurry," Tonjit tells them. "You already went through so much trouble for me. So, since you're all here how about I treat you to something?" The man goes running off towards the door of his house, and comes to a sudden stop when he runs into someone. "Huh?!" All of them go running around towards his door quickly, and find a man in a suit standing in front of it with an eye-mask covering his eyes. The man is so tall that even Run has to look up at him.
"Damn! It's just one big guy after another!" Run announces, craning his neck to look up at the man.
"What is that?!" Luffy demands.
"Has he been here the whole time?" Nami asks. The man, who appears to be sleeping standing up, twitches and then suddenly raises his eye mask. Hearing someone fall, Run looks back at Robin. She's sitting on the ground, staring at the man as if she's seen a ghost. Shivers rack her body, and she's broken out in a sweat.
"Robin?" Run questions her, kneeling down beside her. "Robin? Are you--" He reaches out, gently touching her shoulder and causing her to jump in response. "Whoa! Easy...it's alright, it's just me."
"You sure have grown into a fine young woman...Nico Robin," the man says, putting everyone on guard immediately. The red head turns slowly, firmly placing himself between the two and staring up at the man.
"Robin, do you know this man?"
"Yes. It's Navy Admiral Aokiji."
"Aah, boy."
"In the entire Navy, there are only three officers who hold the rank of Admiral. Akainu, Aokiji and Kizeru...there's only one above them, Fleet Admiral Sengoku. This man is one of three considered to be the World Governments ultimate power-houses."
"Why is someone like that here?!" Usopp demands. "Go somewhere else!" He suddenly turns his attention to Nami, and she shrinks slightly under his gaze.
"Oi, oi, it's another super sexy lady," Aokiji says. "Are you free tonight, miss?"
"What's the big idea you lanky freak!" Sanji shouts.
"Aah, jeez, just relax." Aokiji holds his hands up as if in surrender. "I'm just taking a walk. There's no need for such hostility. What I'm saying is that you guys are...aaah...uh...I forgot. Oh, well."
"What's with this guy! Are you sure you're not mistaking him for someone else?" Usopp questions Robin, pointing at the man. "There's no way someone like him is a Navy Admiral!"
"Now, now," Run begins, actually flashing him a grin. "Let's not judge someone based on their appearance, Usopp." The man suddenly groans, and then actually lies down on the ground in front of them, using the jacket of his suit as a pillow.
"Anyway, I don't intend to arrest or capture you guys," Aokiji says. "I just came to check the whereabouts of Nico Robin who disappeared. Just as I thought, she's been traveling with you guys. I have to report this to Headquarters so that they can recalculate the bounty for your crew. With the addition of Nico Robin it's two-hundred and seventy million plus seventy-nine million that equals...well, it's a lot."
"Gum-Gum--" Luffy is swarmed by Sanji and Usopp, who try to keep him from attacking the admiral.
"What the hell, Luffy?!"
"Don't go picking a fight with this guy!"
"Are you telling me to stand idly by and let him take Robin without a fight?!" Luffy screams. "I refuse!!"
"Oi, oi, I already told you," Aokiji mumbles, holding a palm out. "I'm not here to do anything."
"Aah, then, let's all relax, huh?" Run offers, offering the admiral a friendly grin. "Since you're not here for an arrest, there's no reason we can't part ways amiably. If there's no reason to fight then lets not bother with it."
"Well, now, aren't you a smooth talker." Aokiji slowly stands, picking his jacket up off the ground as he does. "But I heard something while I was napping. You." He points at Tonjit. "Pack your things and get ready to move." They attempt to explain to the lazy admiral that moving is going to be impossible because of Shelly's wounded leg. "Aah, it won't be a problem. Come on..."
- - -
"So, basically, when low tide comes around once a year, a road appears and you take it to the next island, right?" Aokiji says, approaching the edge of the water. It took them a while to pack everything up and load it up onto a sleigh for Tonjit before pulling it to the coast. But when they were done, the man had everything he owned loaded up, and could be moved at a moments notice. Years of living a nomadic life meant the man was an expert at traveling with just the necessities.
"A-Ah, that's right," Tonjit tells him.
"So, what are you going to do?" Luffy asks, watching him. "Are you gonna swim while pulling this stuff?"
"Now, that would be impossible," Aokiji says, dropping his jacket to the ground beside him. "Stand back a bit." He crouches at the waters edge and dips his hand into the water. He's barely been there more than a few seconds before a huge Sea King surfaces, maw opened and lunging for Aokiji. "Ice...Age!" In an instant, the surface of the sea and the Sea King are frozen solid.
"Aah, boy, it's just one Logia after another," Run says, scratching the stubble along his jaw.
"That's the power of an Admiral," Robin whispers. "The power of the Ice-Ice Fruit." He turns and walks back up the bank towards them.
"That should last at least a week," Aokiji tells Tonjit. "So you can take your time. Good luck finding your village." Tonjit thanks him, and all of the Straw Hat Crew before pulling the sleigh and Shelly off across the frozen sea towards the next island. Naturally, Luffy, Usopp and Chopper couldn't pass up the chance to have a little fun on the ice before heading back up onto shore. Aokiji sits several meters away from them, watching them intently. "Hmm. You know...how do I put it...you're a lot like your grandfather, Monkey D. Luffy."
"G...Gramps...?!"
"And you." He looks pointedly at the red head. "You're almost a dead ringer for your father, Shanks. Except for your eyes."
"Well, thank you very much," Run tells him with a smile. "Although, I've only ever been told that I look more like mom than I do dad."
"Well, it's not like it's hard to figure out. Anyone who's met the man could tell the two of you are related." Aokiji sighs softly. "I've been thinking...maybe you should all just die here. The government is still taking you guys lightly, but after analyzing the situation I can tell that you're a very determined group of individuals. Your group currently consists merely of a group of rouges but I've little doubt that as time passes, you'll grow to become a considerable threat. Between the issuing of your first bounties to present time, your growth has been nothing short of extraordinary. You're especially dangerous now that Nico Robin's presence aboard your ship has been confirmed."
"So you came all this way to take Robin after all!" Luffy accuses. "I'm gonna send you flying, you bastard!"
"The size of a bounty is not just an indication of your strength. It also reflects the amount of danger you pose to the World Government. That's why you had a seventy-nine million Beli bounty on your head at only eight years old, Nico Robin." His gaze lands on Robin, who shies away from him, actually moving closer to Run in her attempts. "The World Government wanted you bad...they were willing to do almost anything to exterminate you." His eyes suddenly turn to the red head. "But in spite of that the World Government never gave chase for fear of provoking 'Red Hair' and his crew. 'Red Hair' is dangerous to be sure but if left alone, he's not the type of guy to stir up trouble on his own."
"Dahahaha~! You sure got him pegged alright!" Run agrees, still smiling. "So long as you don't provoke the old man he can get along with just about anyone."
"But...now that I've confirmed you're no longer connected to them...not directly, at least; now there's no need to worry anymore. Honestly, you should be more worried about yourselves than this woman. In the not-so-distance future, you'll find yourselves regretting getting involved with her."
"Aah, is that why you came here? If that's it, then it's not too late for us to go our separate ways, Admiral."
"Really? You're not the least bit concerned about her past?"
"I know her past. I spent a large chunk of my own with it. Besides, we can't change what's done."
"If you're going to arrest me then just go ahead and do it!" Robin demands, crossing her arms. "Treinta Fleurs!" Arms suddenly sprout from the man's body, gripping him tightly.
"How disappointing. I thought you would be smarter than this."
"Clutch!" He's snapped back sharply, bending at an unnatural angle before suddenly shattering into ice, and falling in pieces to the ground. Loud crackling and popping fills the air, as the man suddenly reforms from the broken ice slowly.
"That was harsh." Aokiji reaches down, and pulls out a chunk of grass before tossing it into the air and blowing on it. From his frozen breath, and the trapped grass, a jagged blade is created. "Ice Saber." He grips it tightly as he stares down at her. "I wasn't planning to kill you but..." He raises the make-shift weapon, and then brings it down towards Robin and Run. The loud clashing of weapons sounds as blades meet and a spray of chipped ice and water peppers Zoro and Run.
"Whoa! Temper, temper, Aokiji," Run tells him.
"Don't even think of taking this guy all to yourself, Red," Zoro tells Run, grinning.
"Slice...Shoot!" Sanji exclaims, appearing above them and kicking the saber out of Aokiji's hand.
"And now you too, cook?".
"Gum-Gum...Pistol!" Luffy bellows, a fist sailing past them right into Aokiji's stomach. The Admiral narrows his eyes in response and suddenly kicks the red head in the stomach, tossing him straight back. The harsh sound of ice crackling followed by screaming sounds as Aokiji freezes parts of their bodies. Luffy and Zoro's arm and Sanji's leg are all suddenly, frozen completely solid with the trio falling to the ground in pain. Run rolls onto his stomach and quickly pushes himself up.
"Oh, no!" Chopper screams, panicking. "We have to treat them! We have to treat them right away! If we don't they could end up losing a limb!"
"You may have come across some good friends, but you're still you, Nico Robin!" Aokiji exclaims, lunging towards her.
"ROBIN!" Run screams, rushing towards the two. To his utter horror, he's too late to do anything other than watch Robin be frozen solid. "You DICK!""
"Don't yell, she'll live if you defrost her carefully." He turns to face the red head. "But her body is incredibly fragile right now. If it's broken, she'll die. For instance..." He raises his fist, and Run goes rushing forward immediately. "...if I punch her!" His fist meets nothing but air, and he slowly turns his gaze down, finding the red head holding the frozen Robin statue in a strange back-bend. Aokiji narrows his eyes in irritation and raises his foot straight up before bring it down towards the two.
"Yoink!" Usopp screams, running by and snatching Robin out of Run's hands. The foot comes down, and Run blocks it a forearm.
"Good job, Usopp!" Nami cheers.
"Chopper! Usopp! Nami!" Run screams, shoving Aokiji's foot off and rolling away quickly. "Get everyone back to the ship! Start treating them!"
"Run!" Luffy calls, clutching his frozen arm.
"Go, Luffy!" Run slowly stands, and faces off with Aokiji. "I'll take care of things here, and then I'll catch up." Usopp, Chopper and Nami gather everyone up and go running back to the ship, all while Aokiji watches. "Now, then. Let's you and I settle this, Aokiji. Man to man."
"Man to man, eh? Well, I was trying to avoid killing you," Aokiji says, scratching the back of his neck. "Because the World Government doesn't want to purposely provoke a Yonko...and neither do I, honestly. But I guess there isn't going to be any way around it. Just so you know...a fight with me is going to be a fight to the death."
"Aah, and here I was hoping ya would see reason." Run cracks his knuckles loudly. Rather than wait for Aokiji to make the first move, Run rushes the man. "Sea King's Bite!"
"Didn't you learn before? That's not gonna--" Seconds before he's struck, Aokiji watches his fist turn an inky black in color. The strike to his gut robs him of his breath and sends him sliding back across the grass. Aokiji presses a hand to his throbbing stomach with a grimace. "Busoshoku Haki, eh? I really should have expected as much from 'Red Hair's' son. I let my guard down. "But...you're mistaken if you think..." Both his arms are suddenly coated in the same Haki. "...that I'll only rely on my Devil Fruit."
"So it's a contest of will's then, eh?" Run rushes forward again, and both raise their fists. "Let's see who wants it more, then!" Their fists collide squarely, knuckles grinding against one another. The sound is like thunder, loud enough to cause both of their ears to ring...and both recoil sharply, forced to take a step back as the shock wave of two strong Haki meeting blasts a small hole in the ground between them.
"Well, I can see I've finally experienced it today." Aokiji raises his fist slowly shaking it as small drops of blood fly in all directions. "The difference between someone who has talent and some who is TALENTED."
"Yeah, the old man used to throw that phrase around all the time. Personally, I don't see the difference."
"Well, I'll say that your Haki is nothing to sneeze at, that's for sure. But..." Run winces slightly as pain radiates up his whole arm. His knuckles are split and bleeding, and his wrist is throbbing like it's broken. "...you haven't quite reached 'Red Hair's' level just yet. Which is all the more reason I should kill you now before--" Run rushes forward towards the admiral, leaping towards him quickly.
"Sea King's Rush!" Aokiji raises both hands, blocking his knee and then gripping his leg tightly. The harsh crackle and pop of ice proceeds a hellish pain as Run's leg is frozen solid in two places. "Sea King's Lash!" Run twists in air, swinging his foot at Aokiji's temple. The Admiral releases on hand and raises it, blocking the kick with his forearm. Run twists again while falling, aiming at Aokiji's chest. "Sea King's Fang!" While his elbow should have been driven into his chest, Aokiji instead releases the red head and lunges backwards. Run drops straight down, and rolls to unsteady feet. His whole leg feels like it's weighted down by lead.
"You're persistent...I might really have to start taking you seriously." The red head rushes forward once more. "Just blindly rushing me isn't going to work." It's a barrage of punches and kicks using his unfrozen leg that he aims at Aokiji. The Admiral either dodges or blocks each one of them with ease. It's dawning on the red head that there's a reason this man is considered to be a powerhouse by the World Government. An expert in Haki and having such a dangerous Devil Fruit as his disposal...and his physical strength isn't that bad either. He ate one of Run's Haki infused punches without any trouble. Something that would have thrown anyone else straight off their feet succeeded in moving him back a bit. An arcing kick causes the Admiral to step back sharply, and Run turns, pivoting on his ankle and stepping in.
"Sea King's Roar!" Shoulder, elbow and palm smash into Aokiji's chest and he steps back slightly. Both hands suddenly come up, gripping his shoulders and pulling him in.
"I'm gonna end this now. Ice Time." Ice slowly begins to encase the red head, who struggles for a moment before suddenly grinning at the Admiral. A powerful blow to the ribs catches the Admiral off guard, and he arches slightly on the opposite direction. Over the popping and crackling filling the air, Aokiji and Run hear another gentle 'crack!' accompany the blow.
"Dahahaha~! Got my shot in, Aokiji!" A satisfied smirk appears on Run's face seconds before he is finally frozen. Aokiji steps back, pressing a hand to his ribs.
"Hmm...talk about spiteful. Even a dying animal wouldn't lash out so fiercely." He drops down to sit cross legged and stare the the frozen red head. "Man to man...he actually tricked me. I guess I can't go attacking the rest of the crew now." After several moments Aokiji stands and sighs before wincing in pain, gently pressing a hand to his ribs. "You're not as far away from your father as you believe...and I should shatter you now before you manage to gather more strength." Again he sighs. "But...I guess I owe you and your Captain a favor. You helped in the fight against Crocodile, after all." Aokiji turns away from the frozen red head and walks off calmly. "Good bye, Run..."
- - -
He's called back to the world of the living by warmth and gentle rocking. A strange combination, really. Run's eyes snap open, and he sits up sharply. A cursory glance around the room confirms that he's no longer on that island, and instead he's back on the Merry. The door to the room opens and he looks quickly, finding himself staring at a briefly surprised and then smiling Nico Robin. She crosses the room almost quicker than he can react, her arms encircling his neck as she practically throws herself into his arms. She nearly tackles him back into the mattress before he can catch himself.
"Hey, hey," Run whispers, reaching up and gently rubbing her back. "It's ok. I'm fine."
"I was so worried," Robin tells him, her voice lacking the usual strength it possesses. "When I woke up and you were still--"
"Shh. Everything is fine now." She slowly pulls away now, sitting on the edge of the bed with her back to him.
"It's not, Run! I...because of me...you..."
"It's fine. So I turned into a popsicle. These things happen." Robin turns to face him now, tears gathered in his eyes.
"No! It's my fault! Because of me you could have--"
"What? Died?" She stares in silence at the red head who actually grins at her. "I could have died plenty of times already. Hell, I could die tomorrow. Maybe I slip and fall down the stairs. Maybe I hit my head falling off the Merry and drown. Maybe--"
"Stop! This is serious, Run!"
"I'm BEING serious, Robin! You don't get to choose when your number comes up. It could happen at any time."
"I know that! But I just..." Robin turns away from him again. "...I don't want it to be because of me." She feels the bed shift, and suddenly Run is beside her, an arm wrapped around her and pulling her close. Robin turns, her arms wrapping around him as she presses her head into his shoulder.
"Don't worry, Robin, I'm not going anywhere." The two sit in a comfortable silence for several minutes before a huge commotion outside draws their attention to the door. "Aah, I guess we should go see what everyone is up to, huh?"
"Mm...I suppose." The two stand, and walk towards the door. Outside, the whole crew falls silent when they spot them.
"Run!" Nami calls, staring at the two of them.
"Aaaah! Run, there you are!" Luffy cheers, waving at him and grinning from ear to ear. Chopper comes running over to the two, looking up at them from the lower deck.
"Run!" Chopper says quickly. "How are you feeling? Any chills?"
"Well, I'm feelin' like a million Beli, doc!" Run tells him. "Thanks for takin' care of me." Chopper does a little dance, happy at being praised by the red head.
"There's no need to rush, Run," Nami assures him. "You recover quick but you were still frozen solid."
"Oi, Run, are you hungry?" Luffy asks. "Sanji just finished making a really tasty lunch!"
"Aah, I haven't really got much of an appetite right now."
"Robin! I made an extra delicious meal for you!" Sanji gushes. "You need to eat if you're going to get your strength back!" Sanji goes rushing towards the kitchen while Robin follows after him at her own pace. Run watches her go, and heads to the bow of the Merry where Zoro is standing and eating something Sanji made for all of them.
"You alright?" Zoro asks in between bites.
"I'll bounce back," Run assures him. "Muscles are a little stiff but I was frozen solid, after all." Zoro pauses for a moment before stuffing the last bit of whatever it is he's eating into his mouth. "Hopefully we don't bump into that guy again until we've had a chance to strengthen ourselves further. I have a feeling he won't let us go so easily next time." The two stand in silence for several minutes, simply staring at the horizon before Run notices something. "Uhh...am I seeing things right now?"
"Huh? It looks like...a frog?!"
"Dahahahaha~! It's doing a front crawl!"
"Oi, Luffy!" Zoro turns and goes running to the railing and peers down to the lower deck. "There's a frog doing the front crawl! It's over on your side! Take a look! "
"What? Oh, come on," Usopp mutters. "There's no way a frog could-- What the?! It is! It's doing a front crawl!"
"Follow that frog!" Luffy demands, jumping up. They go scrambling across the deck, grabbing the oars, and furling the sails. They begin paddling rapidly, chasing after it. The change in course is so rapid and dramatic, that it doesn't take more than a few seconds before Nami throws the kitchen door open and storms out.
"Hey! What are you doing?!" Nami screams. "Who said you could change course without asking me?!"
"Nami, there's a huge frog with scars all over it's body! We're gonna catch it, roast it and eat it!" Sanji immediately tells them that the best way to eat frog is dredged in flour and deep fried but only after soaking in white wine to remove the sliminess. Nami peers through a pair of binoculars.
"There really is a frog...huh? There's a lighthouse ahead."
"Never mind that, which way did the frog go?"
"Toward the lighthouse," Robin tells them, stepping out of the kitchen.
"Robin!" Nami complains.
"If the Captain says he's going what choice do we have?" They continue rowing as quickly as possible but come to sudden stop when the Merry strikes something, sending them sprawling across the deck. Everyone quickly jumps to their feet looking around.
"What in the hell?" Run asks. "Did we run aground? Zoro, see anything?"
"Nothing," Zoro replies. "Nothing but sea." The loud clanging of a bell gives all of them pause, all heads looking around for the sound. An even louder whistle sounds twice, and everyone turns to look at something sailing towards them.
"Go back, go back!" Nami demands. "Turn one-hundred and eighty degrees!" The immediately grab the oars, and begin paddling, moving as quick as the can and the strange ship closes in on them. At the last possible second, they break free and avoid it by the skin of their teeth. "What was that thing?!"
"It was puffing out smoke!" Chopper notes, panting like he's run a marathon. "How could something like that travel on the water?"
"Oi, oi! Granny!" screams a voice from a strange station several meters from their ship. "Pirates! Pirates are here!" They turn to find a little blond girl screaming while standing in front of the building. A woman comes walking out of it...only to trip over her own two feet and fall down. Clutching a bottle in one hand, and having a flushed face, it's pretty obvious that she's drunk. In an effort to sober her up, and prevent her alerting any Marines in the vicinity, Sanji whips up some food for them.
"Ohh, Paille, huh?" the old woman grunts. "Tastes good with alcohol."
"So good! My name is Chimney, and this is our cat Gonbe, and Granny Kokoro."
"You guys aren't train robbers, are you?"
"No," Luffy tells her bluntly. "I'm Luffy, the man who'll be King of the Pirates!"
"Say, that thing that passed is a steam ship, right?" Nami asks, looking back in the direction it disappeared in. "How can it sail with a shape like that?" Chimney giggles in response, and tells her that it's something called a 'Sea-Train' and that it's the only one in the whole world. It's apparently called the 'Puffing Tom' and it uses a steam driven engine to turn paddles and rides on a track just below the surface of the water. She also lets them know that the frog that was struck by the train is called Yokozuna, and that he challenges the train every day in a contest of strength.
"Dahahaha~!" laughs Run. "What a funny frog!"
"Don't compliment him!" Chimney complains."We're having real problems! He's broken a few rail guards, and causes the passengers trouble!"
"Well, in that case, I'm not going to eat him then!" Luffy announces, grinning. "I'm not gonna eat a fighter!"
"You shouldn't think about eating a frog in the first place!" Nami retorts.
"If ya don't mind my askin', where are you all heading anyway?" Kokoro questions him. "From here you can reach the town of Spring Queen, St. Poplar...the gourmet town, Pucci...or the Carnival town, San Faldo. They're all fun places to visit. If you work for the government there's a separate, special train."
"The gourmet town!" Luffy bellows, drooling.
"No!" Nami screams. "Since we're on our own ship we won't take the train. We'll just follow the Log Pose. It's pointing East of here."
"Oh, I see," begins Kokoro, turning her bottle up and taking a long drink. "It must be Water Seven, then. The train that just passed was coming from there. It's called the 'City of Water', and it's a nice place. Above all, it's a place that's made a name for itself with it's shipyard. The ships they build are even the favorites among the World Government."
"So, then, there's got to be some pretty amazing shipwrights there!" Run assumes, a smile appearing on his face. "That's exactly what we're looking for!"
"Not just 'some' shipwrights. It's a hangout for the worlds best shipwright!"
"Alright, then!" Luffy yells. "I've decided that we're going to go there and find a shipwright to join our crew!"
"Oh, so you're going to go? Well, then, hold on a sec." Kokoro stands on unsteady legs and heads back into the station house before returning with a map and a letter. "Here. It's a simple map, and a letter of reference. Give that to a guy named Iceburg and ask him to fix your ship real good."
"Yahoo! Thanks, Granny! We really owe you one!" They all return to the Merry, raring to go to Water Seven.
"We're going to be heading back there after our shift is over. If I run into you guys, I'll treat you to a drink at my favorite bar!" Kokoro pauses to take another drink from her bottle. "It'll take about a week for your Log Pose to reset, so just take your time and relax."
"Alright! Thanks again, Granny! Let's go! Let's go find a shipwright...!"
- - -
"Just leave everything to me, Luffy," Sanji assures him. "I'll make sure to find an incredibly beautiful woman." The wind is in their favor and it seems they're going to make good time. So, Luffy, Sanji, Usopp, Zoro and Run have gathered around to discuss their search for a shipwright.
"It's a shipwright we're talking about, idiot," Luffy retorts. "It's gotta be a big guy! Like a mountain, and five meters tall!"
"Well, if he's that big then how can he live on the Merry?" Run counters. "Luffy, at the end of the day the only thing that matters is their skill."
"Awwww, but that's no fun!"
"Dahaha~! I know, I know! But a skilled shipwright is key to the survival of the ship, after all. So, whether it's a man or a woman, big or tall, it doesn't really matter. We just need to make sure that they can keep the Merry in fighting shape."
"Exactly," Zoro agrees. "What really matters is skill, and if they're crazy enough to sail with a pirate crew." While they continued to discuss what they were looking for in a shipwright, Nami called to them all and told them that she was going to give them some money to spend during the week they spend at Water Seven. Afterwards, they went about their business, milling around on deck while waiting. It was Zoro, who is standing at the bow, who spotted their destination. "Oi! That's it, isn't it?"
Everyone ran to the bow to have a look at the city. Just calling the place 'amazing' wouldn't really do it justice. The city is nothing short of magnificent. Outside of it are countless ships, and workshops all of which are no doubt filled with skilled shipwrights. It has giant walls, each one with a huge canal spewing clear water out of it. There are multiple levels, each one packed with houses, and all leading up to a gigantic fountain spouting water thousands of feet into the air.
"What a huge fountain!" Luffy gushes, laughing wildly.
"What an industrial city," Usopp adds. "No wonder it has a sea train!" They sail closer to the city, heading for a place called 'Blue Station' right in front. Fortunately for them, a man fishing from a small skiff tells them that it's dangerous for pirates to sail so openly, and directs them to take the back canals. The back canals treat them to a beautiful view of the city, and Run notes that a great number of houses appear to be submerged. Robin explains that it was built to appear that way, so the people could live on the water.
Unfortunately, they're told by a shop-keeper that they can't just moor their ship in the harbor, and he directs them to the cape far away from prying eyes. They follow his directions, eventually arriving and dropping anchor. Run slowly furls the sails, carefully winding the rope as he does.
Oi, are you going to take all day, Red?" Zoro questions him, watching.
"Abrasive," Run counters.
"Huh?"
"Aah, sorry, I've been looking for a word to describe you recently. I think I found it."
"Just tie off the damn rope, and hurry up."
"Dahahaha~! I hope you'll loosen up after I treat you to a round of drinks," Run tells him, giving a sharp tug on the rope. A loud 'crack!' sounds, and the mast suddenly snaps and falls in their direction. "Whoa! Heads up!" Run drops the rope and braces the mast, holding it up. "Seems the Merry has just about all she can stand these days! Those drinks may have to wait."
"I've been wondering...why aren't the people here scared of pirates?" Nami suddenly asks.
"Well, maybe pirates are an every day occurrence here in Water Seven? Pirates need shipwrights, too, after all. Odds are we're just another customer to them." Run looks at the mast and then forces it back into position carefully. "Man, either that thing is gettin' heavier or I'm gettin' weaker."
"Maybe they've got guards strong enough to deal with pirates who cause a ruckus?" Robin offers.
"They probably do, considering the size of the city," Sanji agrees.
"Really?! What are we gonna do?!" Usopp demands. "This is bad!"
"Why? We're customers here, remember?" Luffy and Usopp are off the ship seconds later, running towards the city when Nami yells for them to stop. They come sliding to a stop and look back as she jumps the railing of the Merry and approaches.
"You two are coming with me," Nami tells them simply. "And you, too, First Mate." Run arches a brow and then leaps the railing of the Merry, walking after her. "We're going to take this letter of recommendation to this Iceburg man. Then we're going to ask him to repair our ship. Finally, we're going to find somewhere to cash in the gold..."