It was a sweet new morning. The sun was brightly shining in the sky and the Straw Hat crew were perfectly enjoying the sunbath.
"Hey guys, I saw the shores up ahead," Usopp shouted from the top of the ship.
"So, we finally reached this place. Anyway, let's go there, get some food and water, then leave. Remember Luffy, don't make any scenes." Zack turned his head at Luffy and spoke.
Luffy nodded his head with a silly expression telling him that 'no matter what you say I am going to have my fun'.
And in Zack's eyes, this fun was even more destructive than anything else.
"So, what about you, Valentine? Do you want to continue with us till we reach Rainbase or do you want to get stay here?"
"Of course, I want to go with you guys. I have no reasons to stay here." Valentine rolled her eyes and walked toward the deck.
"Well, then all of us will enter Nanohana city." Zack nodded his head.
"Wait, is it really good for us to go like this?" Nami asked.
"Of course, we are pirates. If we get caught, we will fight back. Besides, this is not even Crocodile's base." Zack shrugged his shoulders and spoke.
Hearing his words, Zoro smirked. He also liked this idea.
"That being said, what should we do once we reach there? If we are just going to get the stocks, do we really need all of us to go there?" Sanji asked.
"Well, we have to stock food and some other things as well. Besides, it will be good to enjoy this island." Zack rubbed his head and said.
"Alright! Let's go!!!!" Luffy raised both of his hands and shouted loudly. He quickly used his Gomu-Gomu Rocket and flew to the shores.
"Restaurant!"
He put both his hands up and shouted. Without waiting for others, he ran toward Nanohana city.
"That idiot!" Nami slapped her forehead and sighed.
"Well, I am surprised he stuck for so long." Zack shook his head with a helpless expression and spoke.
"That's true." Zoro and Sanji said at the same time.
"Zack-san, I don't think I can go here. People would recognize me. Crocodile will find out our position soon" Vivi made a sad expression as she spoke.
Nami flicked her forehead and said "Why are you so worried? We never said we will sneak an attack on him. Besides, if you stay here, you would be even more danger."
"Hehe! You guys don't need to worry. I have a perfect plan for this." Usopp proudly lifted his nose and spoke.
Fifteen minutes later,
Everyone else came out of the clothes except for Usopp.
"All right everyone, you guys can come out." Usopp finally removed the cloth and spoke.
"We are alright out." Everyone powerlessly responded.
"Haha! With my flawless idea, nobody noticed us." Usopp once again proudly sticks out his nose toward the sky.
"It would be weird if they didn't." All of them replied at the same time.
"Anyway, Sanji and Chopper will go and stock our food supply. Nami, I, Vivi, Zoro, Valentine, and Usopp will go around the town." Zack spoke.
Everyone nodded their heads and finally, they left in two groups. Zack and his group walked around the town and didn't find anything until a strange person wearing only pants showed the bounty poster of Luffy and started questioning the shop owner.
"Who is that guy? Why is he talking about Luffy-san?" Vivi stared at the man and asked.
"Portgas D. Ace! He is the commander of the second fleet of Whitebeard Pirates. What is he doing here? And, why is he holding Luffy's bounty poster?" Although Zack knew about his relationship with Luffy, he didn't talk about it in front of the crew.
There were limits to the things he could know.
"You don't know their relation?" Nami looked at him suspiciously and asked.
"Of course, I don't know everything. What should we do?" Zack asked.
Nami stared at Ace for a moment until she shook her head and said.
"Let's find Luffy and leave as soon as we got enough supply."
Hearing her words, everyone nodded their heads including Zack.
Zoro turned his head at Zack and asked "How strong is he?"
"Unlike you have Armament Haki, you can't hit him. I heard he has the Flame Flame Logia Fruit. Since he can become the commander of the second fleet of Whitebeard Pirates, he must be really stronger." Zack answered.
His words shocked everyone. They didn't expect him to be so strong. Right now, they don't have much concept over the strength so for them, just being unable to hit the opponent was freaking them out.
"Anyway, Usopp and Zoro should go and find him. I, Valentine, Vivi, and Nami will stroll around. It looks like he is going to the restaurant so don't let him see Luffy." Zack turned around and left.
Nami, Vivi, and Valentine quickly followed him. Usopp stood there speechlessly while Zoro just walked away following Ace to the restaurant.
"So, what are we going to do now?" Nami asked as she walked beside him. Vivi and Valentine weren't super close to him, unlike Nami.
"Just stroll around, buy a few things, eat if we see something good, and return" Zack answered.
"Wait, so this is basically a date?" Nami suspiciously glanced at him.
"You could say that." Zack didn't back down from admitting it. After all, there was nothing wrong with a guy going on a date with three women, right?
"If you two are going on a date, I should leave." Valentine looked at Zack, showing no emotions on her face, and said.
"Wait, there is no need to leave. Besides if we are scattered into several groups, it would be harder to find others." Zack suddenly caught her hand before she could leave and spoke.
Hearing her words, all three of them looked at him suspiciously. At this moment, they noticed Zack was acting a bit strange.
Zack wanted to scream 'Come on, I just want to go on a date with three ladies without hiding from each other. Is it so wrong for me to do so?'
But, Zack immediately let go of her hand and cleared his throat.
"Ahem! We don't have to consider this a date. It's not that I don't want to spend alone time with Nami. I don't think a desert would be a good place for a date. Atleast not at the current moment."
Hearing his words, Vivi fumed with anger "What's wrong with having a date in a desert? Humph! I will show you."
She forcefully grabbed his hand and pulled him away.
"Wait, where are we going?" Zack asked with a nervous expression.
"In a date. I will show you how good the date in a desert can be." Vivi shouted as she dragged him away.
"Did she just steal my boyfriend?" Nami pointed her finger at Vivi and asked.
"It seems like she did." Valentine answered but she was feeling a bit embarrassed by Vivi's bold action.
"Damn it, Vivi!" Nami cursed but just when she was moving, Valentine held her hand.
Nami looked at her with confusion when she replied.
"Do you really want to have a date in a desert?"
Her words paused Nami's movement. Truth be told, she truly didn't want her first date to be in a desert. She wanted it to be in somewhere on a snow mountain.
Unfortunately, they left the Drum Kingdom too fast. And, Zack also became unable to move properly in the snow.
"But, it didn't mean she could just take my boyfriend on a date." Nami dropped Valentine's hand and crossed her arms in front of her chest and pouted.
"If Usopp hadn't helped you, then you would have lost to her a while ago." Valentine spoke.
At this moment, Nami's eyes shrunk as she suddenly remembered what Usopp told her about Vivi going to confess to Zack. She suddenly felt even more frightened.
"Don't worry! You have already sealed a deal. And besides, let her have this fun. She is the desert princess after all." Valentine spoke.
Nami sighed and nodded.
"Alright! I will let her have it this time. But, once we go to a winter island anytime soon, I will force him to take me on a date."
"Yeah! Yeah!"
Valentine shrugged her shoulder and they left. They strolled around the town until Sanji and Chopper returned the stocks. After a long time, Vivi and Zack also returned but there was no sign of Zoro, Usopp, and Luffy.
"Just how long are they going to take?" Nami frustratingly shouted. She was already frustrated that her boyfriend was on a date with another girl now three of them were testing her patience.
"You don't have to worry. They will….."
"You just shut your mouth." When Zack tried to speak, Nami gave him the death glare and shouted.
Zack almost put the tape over his lips. He knew Nami was already at the peak of her anger level.
She could explode at any moment. And, he didn't want her to explode at him.
"Luffy, is it really good to run toward them while marines are chasing us?" Zoro asked while running with Luffy and holding Usopp on his back. Usopp had a big bump on his chin.
A few minutes ago,
Inside the restaurant, Ace was eating his food while Zoro and Usopp were sticking close to him but not talking with each other. Zoro and Usopp pretended not to know anything about him while Ace didn't care.
But suddenly, a voice rang from behind.
"I guess you don't have a problem with eating in the public. So, why is Portgas D. Ace hanging out with the member of the Straw Hat Pirates?"
Hearing this voice, Ace turned to the side. Usopp had a frightened look on his face while Zoro had already touched the hilt of his swords.
"Wait, you two are Luffy's Nakama? Hahaha! I didn't expect to meet his Nakama so soon. Can you take me to him?" Ace instantly held their shoulders with excitement all over his face and asked.
"Take you? Portgas D. Ace, you are going down." Smoker released the smoke from his body as he gripped the stick in his hand.
Gomu-Gomu no- Compressed Rocket!
Bang!
Suddenly, a rubbery head struck Smoker on his back and sent him crashing to Ace who wasn't also prepared for that. When both of them crashed through the walls, Luffy raised both of his hands in excitement with his eyes closed.
"Restaurant!"
Bang!
His fist struck Usopp on his chin. Usopp fell to the ground unconscious. Luffy looked at his side and his eyes widened with surprise.
"Zoro, Usopp, how did you get here so fast?"
"We were waiting for you, you idiot." Zoro shouted at Luffy.
"Ohh…" Luffy slowly shifted his head to the restaurant owner and held a fork and spoon.
"Food! Food! Food!"
Zoro slapped his forehead but he didn't stop Luffy from eating. He had seen that strike. Even if it wasn't going to kill them, it should injure them. It wasn't normal Rocket after all.
The Compresed Rocket has much more power and Zoro knew this. But, he was still unsettled about the marine and Ace.
"Luffy, you need to eat fast. There are marines in this town. We need to escape as soon as possible." Zoro urged Luffy who was already gobbling everything he could.
"Straw Hat!"
Suddenly, a roar came from those broken walls. Smoker rushed in front of Luffy who was eating very fast.
Zoro instantly held the hilt of his sword. Luffy looked at him and recognized him. Suddenly, he spits out all of that food.
'Damn it! My attacks don't work on them until I learn Haki.'
Luffy stretched his arm and stopped Zoro from taking out his sword. He instantly put all of the food in his mouth and bowed in front of the restaurant owner.
"Thank you for the meal!"
The next moment, Zoro carried unconscious Usopp on his shoulder while Luffy carried a pile of food in his mouth and two pirates ran away without paying the bills.
"Don't you dare run, straw hat!" Smoker shouted and chased after Luffy and Zoro.
"Luffy, wait!" Another voice rang from the restaurant and Ace chased after them as well.
"Eat and run?" The restaurant owner stared at them leaving with his eyes wide open.
...
A few minutes later,
Luffy, Zoro, and Usopp were running away from the marines. Smoker was still behind thanks to Zoro leading the way.
"Luffy, is it really good to run toward them while marines are chasing us?"
"Of course, it is. We have Shenanigans and Sanji." Luffy smiled as he answered.
After a while, Zoro, Luffy, and Usopp appeared in front of smoker.
"How did you get in front of us so fast?" Zoro looked at smoker with shock and asked.
"Zoro, I am never going to ask you to lead." Even though Luffy was bad at the direction, he wasn't that bad when he knows the path. Even he felt disturbed by Zoro's ability to appear in front of Smoker while running away from him.
"You think this is my fault?" Zoro turned around and shouted.
"I am not going to let you escape anymore."
"White Chase"
Smoker instantly turned his hands into smoke and shot them toward Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji.
"Fire Fist!"
Boom!
"It seems you haven't changed, Luffy." Suddenly, Ace landed in front of smoker and spoke with a grin on his face.
"Is that you, Ace?" Luffy instantly recognized the voice as he asked with disbelief.
"Luffy, it's been a long time, hasn't it? Anyway, you guys should run. I will meet you later." Ace said as he kept a smile on his face. His body was releasing red flames.
"Wow! Did you eat devil fruit, Ace?" Luffy looked at those flames and asked.
"Yea, Flame Flame Fruit. Now, hurry up and leave!" Ace shouted.
"Ahh, yes!" Luffy nodded and turned around. Zoro quickly followed him. While running, he couldn't help but ask.
"Luffy, is he related to you?"
"Of course, that's my big brother, Ace." Luffy giggled when he replied.
"Your what?" Zoro showed a similar surprised expression when he heard that. But, he quickly calmed down and asked.
"It is not surprising that you have a brother but what is he doing here in the Grandline?"
"Ace is a pirate just like me. He is also trying to become the King of the Pirates." Luffy replied. He couldn't help but turn around as he said "I can't believe he would eat a devil fruit. I remember he used to make fun of me because I couldn't swim."
"Anyway Luffy, let's meet up with the group." Zoro said and led the way.
"Zoro wait! tell me where to go and I will lead." Luffy shouted from behind.
"Shut up and follow me." Poor Zoro couldn't help but blush upon hearing that.
Luffy had no choice but to wake up. After a moment, they eventually reached an empty place. They looked around and Luffy touched his head.
"I feel like we have been here before."
Suddenly, his eyes fell on the burned marks on the wall as he shouted.
"This is exactly the place where we met Smoker."
He instantly turned around and shouted, "Zoro, I am never going to let you lead again."
He rushed to him and picked up Usopp. He started swinging his body until Usopp finally woke up.
"L-Luffy…"
"It's me, Usopp. We need to get out of here. That smokey guy would find us soon. I don't know where others are and Zoro got us lost twice." Luffy continued to shake his body as he explained.
"L-L-l- Luffy stop it!" Usopp spoke in a miserable tone.
"Ahh, sorry!"
Thud!
When Luffy instantly let him go, Usopp's head struck the ground.
"Ow! Ow! Ow! That hurts. Can't you do anything without hurting others?" Usopp covered his head with a pitiful expression and shouted at Luffy.
"Sorry! Sorry!" Luffy let out of his usual apology tone but it wasn't helpful.
"Anyway Usopp, we need to leave. Marines would find us anytime soon. We need to find the group and leave this island immediately." Zoro spoke with a serious expression.
"Alright, follow me!" Usopp stood up and bravely ran away.
Zoro and Luffy quickly followed him.
"By the way, we met Luffy's brother while you were unconscious." Zoro decided to tell Usopp about Ace since Luffy didn't open this topic.
"What? Luffy, you have a brother?" Unlike Zoro, Usopp was so stunned that his jaw almost dropped.
"Yes! His name is Ace." Luffy giggled as he nodded his head.
"Wait, isn't that the same person who was looking for him?" Usopp turned his head at Zoro and asked.
Zoro nodded.
"Wow! I never expected your brother to be so powerful. Then again, you are also powerful so your brother should be even more powerful. That makes sense." Usopp muttered for a while as he finally came to a conclusion about Luffy's strength.
In his mind, he understood that it was genetics.
"By the way, I just remember something. Why did I get unconscious?" Usopp suddenly asked.
Hearing his words, Luffy and Zoro started sweating. It wasn't Zoro's fault but he didn't want to tell Usopp that it was Luffy. On the other hand, Luffy also didn't tell him because he struck very hard at that time.
"Umm… I think Ace or Smoker struck you when they fly away." Luffy cleared his throat and tried to lie in a very bland manner. His face was sweating which was enough to reveal his lie.
But, Usopp didn't find it at first. Suddenly, he remembered something. He instantly grabbed Luffy's collar and shouted.
"It's you, wasn't it? You were the one who struck Ace and Smoker from behind and then struck my chin when you raised your hand. Bastard, do you have any idea how painful was that?"
"Usopp, I apologize...." Luffy made a serious expression while apologizing which froze both of them for a moment. But he wasn't finished.
"For the next time."