"Hey Bonney! How did you change your and Luffy's age? Do you also have fruit powers?" Usopp questioned curiously with a hint of anxiety. He would have called the 'fruit' powers as 'devil fruit' if not for the fact that it upsets Luffy and that little guy right now was already pouting around in his chibi form as Bonney refused to revert him back to his original state.
"I ate the Toshi Toshi no mi fruit! It allows me to manipulate my age or anyone I target." Bonney answered, puffing her chest, show casing her pride in her ability. "But it's only temporary for now."
"How does it affect the victim's body?" Chopper asked as he eyed Luffy who was climbing up on a barrel of water with the strength in his little body. "And how long before he turns to normal?" Chopper asked, a bit worried for Luffy but he felt glad that Ace was keeping a close eye on Luffy.
"Eh? I don't know those complicated details yet." Bonney shrugged. She was working on her powers but she hasn't forced anyone to be in their chibi form till now, except for Luffy, who usually stays in that form for an hour or so. She wasn't sure about it.
"Can you change me into my older version? I mean, just for a bit, to see what it's like?" Usopp asked, gathering his courage. He really wanted to know what he would look like when he gets older. Would he be the brave warrior of sea already?
"I also want to see!" Chopper uttered looking at Bonney with an innocent expression. He also wanted to partake in this activity and feel stronger.
"That sounds interesting! Would you do it, Bonney?" Nami asked, her eyes lighting up at the thought of getting older. She bets she is still going to be gorgeous and youthful with tons of money.
SPLASH
Luffy, who was practically unattended, fell directly in the barrel of water which he was trying to open with his small little grabby hands, making the barrel dump on him and water to splash on the deck. At least that got the mud out of his skin and him clean, even though wet.
"Luffy!" Sanji groaned, coming out of his sulking zone. "That was precious drinking water, you idiot!" He rubbed his temples in exhaustion.
"I'm sorry, Sanji!" Luffy uttered, his voice resonating inside the barrel he was trying to get out of, but it was no use. Ace chuckled seeing his little brother squirm under the barrel before finally lifting the barrel away from him.
"You really are chaotic, huh, lil Luffy?" Ace smirked, seeing Luffy huff and pout at him. "Come, let's get you a change of clothes."
"I don't have this small cloth, Ace!" Luffy pouted, looking at Bonney asking silently to change him back to his original form.
"We are playing a game, Luffy-ni! Wanna join? Then I will change you back!" Bonney grinned widely, making Luffy nod instantly. He was all in it if at the end he gets to get to his original form.
Ace sighed, seeing Luffy won't be changing clothes anytime, so he just heated his little body with the help of his flame flame fruit, leading his clothes to get dry in an instant.
"You are such a menace, Luffy." Ace spoke fondly, as Luffy pulled him to the game. He even forced Zoro and Sanji to join in. He was about to call Vivi, Sabo and Kuma too but they were inside the kitchen discussing about the rebellion going on in Arabasta and the best course to take.
"So, who goes first?" Bonney asked, hoping out of Nami's lap, and grinned widely.
"Me! Me!" Usopp raised his hands excitedly.
"You are in, old man!" Bonney giggled evilly before transforming Usopp to his 40s.
{A/n: Hopefully, the images are visible. If not, I am sorry. If yes, please ignore the bad future and any scars on their body.}
"I-I feel... so powerful!" Usopp looked down at himself, amazed by his own muscular, tall body. There was also an insane level of confidence which he had never felt within himself... it made him giddy with joy, wanting to grow up older.
"You look amazing, Usopp!" Chopper uttered with sparkling eyes.
"I'll be the brave warrior of the seas by 40 for sure!" Usopp commented , standing tall, his aura not even excluding his false belief but only the truth. It felt so surreal to him.
"So muscular!!" Luffy squealed with sparkling stars in his eyes, as Usopp flexed his muscles happily.
"Heh, this game looks fun." Zoro smirked, wondering how muscular he would be when he hits his 40s.
"Want to go next then?" Bonney asked with a gleeful twinkle in her eyes, making Zoro nod with a ready smile.
(Ignore the scar in the left eye!)
"Zoro looks so awesome!!!!!" Luffy exclaimed with bright shinning eyes at Zoro's even more impressive muscular built.
"Those muscles are no joke!" Usopp spoke with wide eyes as he pressed on Zoro's biceps for it to not even move. Those were stiff with Zoro flexing them.
"The muscle head grows more muscle?" Sanji teasingly sighed with a dramatic expression. "What else could I even think?"
"It's better than you, love cook!" Zoro retorted to Sanji with a pissed off look.
"It looks as if Zoro could take down an entire army by himself!" Chopper spoke with awe evident in his eyes.
"I bet I am going to get muscles too!" Luffy grinned proudly, jumping up and down in excitement. "Bonney, make me older too! I wanna be big like Zoro and Usopp!" Luffy excitedly tugged on Bonney's peach colored Arabastian costume.
"Not yet, Luffy. You need to learn your lesson first. That's why you will be getting it at the end!" Ace picked Luffy up, not wanting him to slip on the water he spilled on the deck- which was being used as a mirror to see the Strawhats older forms. Moreover, Luffy was high like a kid on sugar, which made him note to not provide him the fishman island's famous candies which he had brought with him. He would probably pass it to the cook for the safekeep.
"Not fair!" Luffy pouted but stayed in Ace's arms.
"Can I go next then, Bonney-chan?" Nami asked politely, making Bonney nod her head excitedly and transform Nami to her 40s.
"
This is amazing! I feel so elegant!" Nami touched her cheeks, feeling it so soft and not founding any wrinkles. She twirled in her place, her hair long now, making her feel too giddy.
"YOU LOOK SOOOOO BEAUTIFUL!! MY HEART CAN'T TAKE THE CHARMING SHINE WHICH YOU ARE RADIATING, MY NAMI-SWAAANNNN!!" Sanji noddled, his nose dripping with blood as he saw Nami smile like a literal angel.
"Witches always stay young." Zoro grumbled, making Sanji instantly fight with him.
"I bet you are going to have lots of admirers." Usopp grinned at Nami, making her feel even more happy.
"Nami-ni's beautiful!" Even Bonney commented, making Usopp and Ace agree with her.
"Nami looks like Nami!" Luffy chirped, giving his own thoughts too.
"I wonder if my fur will be that shiny too." Chopper spoke seeing the gorgeous shine in her hair and skin.
"Want to see it for yourself?" Bonney asked happily, making Chopper shyly nod.
"Chopper looks like a reindeer!" Luffy squealed with happiness and excitement.
"I'm a reindeer, dammit!" Chopper uttered in embarrassment. His head felt heavy and one touch of it told him the cause. He has grown big antlers.
"Way to go, Chopper!" Usopp said with a big smile, seeing his grown up friend.
"Those antlers look cool!" Ace provided his own thoughts as he marveled at the grown reindeer before him.
"C-Cool?" Chopper repeated, feeling heat rush into his face. "Stop joking around!" He uttered as his face lit up with giddiness and he danced flailing his arms around. "You finding me cool doesn't make me the least bit happy, you jerk!" Despite his words, Chopper showed how much happy he truly was through his actions.
"Your crew sure is funny!" Ace laughed, ruffling Luffy's little head, who beamed up at the praise.
"Ace-ni! You wanna go next?" Bonney asked with a bright smile on her face.
"Why not!" Ace stood up from his crouching position, not afraid and not even thinking about his actions as he allowed Bonney to use her fruit on him. It would be the first time she would be doing it on him.
"Heh! What else can you expect from your big brother, huh Lu?" Ace smirked with a bright D grin on his face.
"Damn! That's really a hardcore transformation!" Usopp uttered, his jaws falling down at the sight of Ace. He had expected Zoro to be the muscle man amongst all of them but not about Ace. He wondered if Luffy would even turn muscular when he hits his 40s.
"I bet I can still kick your ass that time!" Luffy chimed in, making the Strawhats literally think about a pint sized Luffy going against his muscular big brother Ace.
"Luffy, you sure are brave." Nami chuckled, picking the five year old in her arms with a chuckle.
"Do you have any proof to back your words?" Sanji asked with a raised eyebrow at Luffy. Luffy is a monster, so his older brothers have to be more bigger monsters than him.
"Whose gonna kick whose ass, Lu?" Ace smirked, bringing his itching hands towards Luffy, who sweated nervously.
"I can totally-" Luffy got attacked by Ace's tickling, making him giggle and flail in Nami's arms. "SHISHISHISHI! STO- SHISHISHI!" Luffy laughed, crying tears of joy.
"Hey cook! You don't wanna try?" Bonney asked looking at Sanji, whose eyes instantly sparkled with tears.
"Would you allow me too?!" Sanji asked with wide glistening eyes.
"Yeah why not." Bonney shrugged, making Sanji wipe down his tears and her to transform the cook instantly in his 40s like the others.
"Sanji, you look so cool!!!" Chopper excitedly informed Sanji, seeing his gentlemanly appearance.
"Thank you, Chopper!" Sanji grinned, feeling his hair long and wavy at the end. It was really a new feeling as he looked at his reflection in the water spilled by Luffy on the deck. He really liked it!
"You face doesn't have a single wrinkle too." Nami praised Sanji, making him feel high in clouds.
"Not bad, cook!" Bonney herself agreed with Nami.
"Thank you, my lovely Nami-chwaaaaann!" Sanji noddled in excitement, which looked a bit odd in his matured face, and taller and broader body stature. "And thank you so much, Bonney-chan!" He calmed down and spoke to the pink haired girl.
"I'd have said you look better than right now but guess you are never gonna change." Zoro commented with a smirk on his face, deliberately teasing Sanji.
"Says the muscle head!" Sanji retorted back.
"Now my turn! My turn! My turn!" Luffy giggled happily as he saw all of his crew enjoying. "I bet I am gonna look cool!" Luffy boasted as he squirmed in Nami's grasps and was finally put down.
"Yeah, now it's your turn. Let's make you an old man, ni-chan!" Bonney giggled at the thought of making Luffy grow up.
"Yeah! A cool old man!" Luffy giggled, excitement evident in his doe eyes. Sanji and Zoro stopped fighting amongst each other while the others gave their full attention to Bonney and Luffy. They were eager to know how Luffy would look in his 40s when he looks so younger even when he is just 17.
"What are you guys doing?" Sabo came out of the kitchen finally after their long serious discussion on the matter.
"Bonney is going to make me a cool old man in 40s like Ace, Zoro, Sanji, Usopp, Nami and Chopper!" Luffy giggled, patiently waiting for his turn to come.
"Nami! You look so gorgeous even in your 40s!" Vivi came out of the kitchen too with a baffled smile seeing the older forms of the Strawhats. She was confused how they did it but seeing Luffy being turned to a kid by Bonney earlier was enough to give her answer. It was Bonney's doing.
"Vivi-ni! Do you want to try too?" Bonney asked happily, ignoring Luffy's gasps.
"Hey! Bonney told it's my turn!" Luffy frowned angrily, stomping his legs on the deck.
"You should let Luffy try first-" Vivi started, not unable to see the cute sad expression on Luffy's face. He looked so cute that she didn't even want to see what she would look like in her 40s, if it meant Luffy's happy.
"Let him throw the tantrum. It's his punishment to go last, isn't it Lu-chan?" Ace cooed at Luffy, making him huff with his tiny arms crossed over his chest.
"Meanie!" Luffy uttered, going towards Kuma who always has some candies with him. "Does Uncle Kuma has candies?" Luffy asked with his big puppy eyes, tugging at Kuma's jeans to gain attention.
"Don't!" Ace started but he knew it was an useless attempt when Kuma crouched down to Luffy's height.
"Here you go, Luffy." Kuma smiled softly as he magically brought forth Luffy's favorite candies in his big hand.
"Uncle Kuma's the best!" Luffy squealed happily, grabbing the candies with his little hands and poking his tongue to Ace.
"I feel sad to know that you guys have to handle a kid high on sugar." Sabo chuckled to the Strawhats and Ace's failed attempt.
"He is always like a little kid." Zoro provided with a shrug as he saw Luffy climb up on Kuma's shoulders and sit there while bouncing himself every second. At least there was a happy grin on his face as he enjoyed his treat.
"So you ready to see yourself?" Nami nudged Vivi, who nervously walked forward to Bonney. Vivi nodded in affirmative as Bonney gave her a smile.
"YOU LOOK SO ELEGANT AND BEAUTIFUL, VIVI-SWAAAANNNN!!" Sanji shouted the instant Vivi grew up to her 40s, still looking as charming as she was right now. Sanji's nose let out blood at the sight of her bouncy, curvy-
"Keep your eyes off, pervert!" Zoro bonked Sanji's head, making him fall face first on the deck, muttering about 'heaven'. Zoro sighed, knowing Sanji would never change.
"Your hair's so shiny, Vivi!" Chopper commented with his mouth open.
"Is it because you are the princess of Arabasta?" Nami thought out loud, studying Vivi closer, only for her to back away a bit nervously.
"I don't know, Nami." Vivi spoke, feeling authoritative for the first time, making her wonder what she would be doing at her 40s. Would she be already handling the kingdom? Or sailing the seas...? 'What am I thinking?'
"Me next! ME!" Luffy raised both of his arms atop Kuma's head.
"Sabo is left, Lu!" Ace chimed in with a teasing smirk, making Luffy pout once again.
"Yeah!" Bonney agreed with Ace as she hoped to Sabo and without asking used her powers on him.
"Woah! You look like a leader, Sabo!" Ace smirked seeing Sabo's posture grew commanding and more mature than it looked right now.
"I'll have more muscles than you both combined!" Luffy pouted puffing his cheeks, as he saw even Sabo gets a well defined muscular build with broad shoulders and expanded chest.
"Dream on, baby brother!" Ace teased Luffy further while Sabo just laughed lightly. "I'll always be more muscular than you."
"I bet you would already be the leader of the army by your 40s!" Bonney grinned wide, admiring Sabo's longer, shiny blonde hair which fell over his shoulder.
"By then hopefully, the world would be at peace." Sabo thought out loud with a light smile.
"By our 40s, we would have already fond our dreams." Zoro spoke with his eyes closed. It was nice to know that by the time they all grew old and weary they would have already experienced a lot and have lots of tales to reminisce.
"Yeah! By then I'll be the King of Pirates! Shishishishi!" Luffy shouted out with his childish glee but with large amount of conviction hidden behind it.
"You sure will."
None of the Strawhats or Luffy's family doubted about the words spoken by Luffy as he jumped off from Kuma's head and landed on the deck with his signature laughter. If there was anyone who deserved the title or can do, then it was Luffy for sure.
"You turn now." Bonney spoke, placing a hand on Luffy's small head and looking straight into the bright sparkling eyes, which stared back with excitement at her. She felt guilty for keeping him waiting but the wait was worth it. "You'll be the cool old man like you wanted, ni-chan."
Excitement was evident in the deck of the Going Merry as Bonney finally used her powers on Luffy to make him look that in his 40s.
Luffy started growing up from his 5 year old to back to his normal form. The baby fat in his cheeks began to vanish and a more pronounced jaw line showed up. Luffy's a bit big shirt finally looked as if it belong to him as he started growing up. Even his abs were getting more defined but then Luffy suddenly stopped aging. It was as if time itself intervened or stopped there just for him.
"Luffy will never change." Usopp was the first one to compliment with a sigh, seeing Luffy look so youthful and energetic even as a grown up man. Hell, the teen looked no older than 23 or 25 at most.
"I bet people will still be confused with your age when you are grown up." Zoro laughed with a smile on his already normal face. He wondered if Luffy looked in his 20s because he was a god.
Luffy cocked his head to a side at confusion as he heard the compliments and then saw his own reflection in the water splashed on the deck. He really looked younger than he ought to be but it didn't bother him at all after all he had prominent abs and more muscles than his lanky body did right now.
"I got muscles! Wohoo!!" Luffy cheered happily, hopping on the deck like an overgrown child in an adult body.
"Still not even comparable to Usopp!" Ace teased Luffy jokingly, making the said teen pout and retort at his oldest brother.
"Hey, Bonney?" Sabo whispered to Bonney, seeing her confused expression. He himself had a question for his little sister. "What age did you go for Lu?"
"He wanted to be an old man, that's why I targeted for 55." Bonney answered in a low voice, keeping her eyes trained on Luffy as she heard the other Strawhats compliment him for his youthfulness.
"Age him further, discreetly though." Sabo provided in a low voice. Sabo had his doubts since the beginning. He had chalked it to Luffy being a slow grower but seeing it been half proven now was something else for him.
Bonney tried to increase Luffy's age once again but nothing happened. Not a single age was added to his physique... he just looked young, as if he is struck in his 20s for forever. Bonney increased the digits continuously on Luffy, hoping that at some point something would happen... but it was of no use.
"It didn't work?" Sabo asked when Bonney looked at Luffy with wide confused eyes and then nodded to his question. It was all the confirmation he needed. Something was either wrong with Luffy or his powers were automatically declining Bonney's powers. With Luffy not aging a bit, it felt like time has no control on him. Sabo wondered if Luffy knew what was going on with him. He wanted to know because there was just a bad ominous feeling which he was feeling regarding Luffy. Something was going to be wrong sooner or later and Sabo hated to feel that way.
.
Smoker sat on a rock facing away from the port city of Nanohana to the ocean before him. He was angry that he wasn't able to capture Strawhat nor the big shots pirate captain and the revolutionary. He hated how in front of him that kid just vanished with the revolutionary tyrant and Fire Fist raised a wall of fire stopping him and his subordinates from going after them or seeing which direction they were going.
"Capt. Smoker! Forgive me for unable to do anything!" Tashigi looked down ashamed. She had chased after the Strawhat pirates only for her glasses to get knocked out in the commotion, rendering her slightly blind to the situation. When she got her specs, she tried to search for the crew of Strawhat, for the pirate hunter, only to come out empty handed.
Smoker tsked, not minding Tashigi for he himself had fallen unconscious when there was a serious conversation about to start. He couldn't forget the sudden shiver he felt in the bar before falling down. He can't even tell what had happened there anymore except that somehow Strawhat Luffy, Fire Fist Ace, Bartholomew Kuma and the other two individuals were related but that didn't stop Fire Fist and that girl to chase after Strawhat as if they were plotting his murder. Was it a sibling squabble? But that intense? What even happened when he fell unconscious and who did that?!
Not to mention, on top of all the commotion, Smoker saw the missing princess of Arabasta with the Strawhats.
On top of them, Smoker saw Princess Vivi. The snippets of the call which he had heard resonated in his mind, confusing him further of what was going on in the kingdom.
"... Mr. 0... Strawhats... Princess Vivi... 3C's... Deal..."
"Do you wanna know who I saw with them?" Smoker asked looking at the ocean with his normal stoic face. "Vivi and I'm certain that it was her too."
"Vivi? As in Princess Nefertari Vivi? What would she be doing with the Strawhat Pirates?" Tashigi questioned to Smoker, before getting an idea of what must be happening. "She must be their hostage. They probably abducted her in the hopes that her father would pay a hefty ransom."
"I don't think so. She didn't look like a kidnapped victim but more like a part of the crew." Smoker uttered, remembering the princess talk with the other crew members on her own, carrying supplies without anyone's commands. Moreover, the Strawhat crew even treated her like a friend. He doubted that the kid would kidnap anyone though but he didn't trust the other pirates who were with him.
"She was acting like a pirate?" Tashigi questioned in disbelief, making Smoker nod his head gruffly.
"Something very strange is happening here and I wish I knew what it was." Smoker gritted the butt of his cigars irritatedly. He hated to stay in dark.
"Captain Smoker!" One of Smoker's subordinates came running in. He took his position and saluted Smoker, who wasn't even looking at him. "We just got news that Mr. 11 was killed on the ship while we were busy searching for Strawhats."
Smoker tsked. Mr. 11 wasn't of any use to them, so he didn't mind the loss at all. He was probably some low ranking agent from that mysterious criminal organization and if he was thinking right then that agent was killed by his own co-workers, which means the secret organization had at least it's base or headquarters in Arabasta.
"Call off the search for Strawhat. I'm pretty sure where he is headed." Smoker got up from the rock, remembering the only answer which he got the kid to answer to him in the goose chase. "Strawhat is after Crocodile. I'm sure of it. Crocodile will lead us right to him. Strawhat will show up wherever he is and I am sure if we find out what's going on when we get there, there will be no escape for him. Not this time." He won't let go until all his answers are answered and he gets the kid to stop.
"Why Crocodile? He's one of the seven Warlords of the sea! A pirate even the government approval." Tashigi spoke not understanding why the kid would even dream about going after Crocodile.
"I find all the Seven Warlords despicable but I find Crocodile's the absolute worst!" Smoker uttered with disgust showing on his face.
"Politically speaking, isn't he the ally of the World Government and the marines?" Tashigi questioned, not getting her captain's disdain for the warlord.
"Crocodile might have the powers to operate on his own but the World Government is delusional to think that giving him a sanction will make him obey. He's a pirate." Smoker provided, giving his opinion on that man. "There's one thing you always need to remember, Tashigi, a pirate is a pirate, no matter where they go. They never change."
.
The hot weather of the sandy lands of Arabasta wasn't a bother to the merry band of pirates heading for their destination with the resolve of crushing the evils plans of one of the seven Warlords of the Seas, sanctioned by the World Government itself, Sir Crocodile. The joyous and giddy scene on the deck, filled with peals of laughter and silly songs would make one assume that there was no tension in anyone's mind and it was indeed true for a princess going to free her country and her father from the evil grasps of a sand man.
Vivi wasn't afraid anymore. She trusted Luffy and her friends and her resolve and belief only strengthened more and more with the presence of the Supernova Fire Fist Ace, one of the co-founders and chief of staff of revolutionary army, Kuma and Sabo. She is really grateful that even the revolutionary army is willing to help her stop the civil war.
Vivi stood near the railing as she observed the friendly banter going between Zoro and Sanji regarding clothes. She noted how Luffy came out from the men's cabin after changing his outfit to suit that of the temperature and climate of Arabasta. She heard the merry laughter of Nami and Bonney, who were making each other's hair. She smiled as Ace and Sabo arm wrestled and Chopper and Usopp cheered on them.
It all felt too surreal to her. She would have never thought that she would ever come this far... not alone. A smile made it's way to her face when she saw how Luffy jumped in the fight between his brother, wanting to get involved, only to get defeated and pout like a child. It was relaxing somehow to her palpitating heart which was constantly worrying about her kingdom's innocent people.
"Vivi! Come on! Join us!" Nami beckoned at her, making her nod. Everything was alright. They had their plans and soon everything will be back to normal in her country. No civil war. No misconception. No deaths.
They were even closer to their destination. The Green City, Emeralo.
Vivi couldn't help but remember the discussion she had with the revs in the kitchen. After she had told them the entire story of how everything started, she had thought that they wouldn't trust her and support the rebel army but fortunately they stayed steady by her side, listening to everything she had to tell. At first, she was unsure but her trust grew on them when they told they wanted to help.