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East Blue
Somewhere in the middle of the sea
It has been a week since they set sail from Gecko Island. Kaya joined the crew's training, learning Observation Haki and Soru, while also growing stronger physically. Zoro continued to make rapid progress in all of his skills, mastering Geppo. Chouchou kept perfecting his abilities, fully mastering basic Armament Haki and Geppo. With Luffy's help, he started training with a sea stone bracelet to build resistance against the weakness of his Devil Fruit and improve his physical strength.
Nami grew even stronger physically and refined all of her previous skills, mastering the basics of Geppo. With Usopp's help, she finished building her upgraded bo staff.
Usopp, too, improved quickly, growing stronger physically and refining his Observation Haki. He mastered Soru to the point where he could kick the ground fifteen times per step. He also learned the basics of Geppo and Armament Haki.
Everything progressed smoothly, with only a few obstacles along the way.
A few hours after leaving Gecko Island, Luffy gathered the crew on deck, raising a black flag. He showed them a drawing that was supposed to be a skull with a straw hat and crossed bones, but it looked more like a creature from a horror story due to how badly drawn it was.
"Is that supposed to be a Jolly Roger?", Usopp asked, eyeing the drawing strangely.
"I think it's modern art", Nami said, joining the joke.
"Well, it was supposed to be a Jolly Roger, so it's doing its job of scaring people, but in this case, it's because it's so ugly", Zoro said, mocking the drawing.
Next to them, Chouchou laughed, finding the drawing ugly.
"Come on, guys, stop being mean. It's not that bad. I think it's… umm… creative, Luffy", Kaya said, trying not to hurt Luffy's feelings, even though she thought it was the ugliest thing she'd ever seen.
"Aww, come on, guys, it's not that bad, right?", Luffy asked, thinking they were overreacting.
After getting no response, he asked, "Okay, does anyone here know how to draw?"
Usopp offered to draw the flag but got smacked on the head for changing the symbol, drawing something completely different from what Luffy wanted.
After another attempt, despite Usopp thinking his previous design was amazing, he presented the crew with the classic Straw Hat Jolly Roger.
"Now that looks like a pirate flag", Nami said, admiring the Jolly Roger Usopp had drawn.
"Now we just need to paint it on the sail, and Merry will be ready to turn the world upside down", Luffy said, jumping with joy.
"But first, we need to burn that monstrosity before it spreads", Zoro said, poking at Luffy's drawing. Everyone agreed, except for Luffy, of course.
"What? Why? We could keep it as a memento or something", Luffy tried to argue, and when that didn't work, he turned to Kaya, who had seemed to be on his side earlier. "Kaya, help me out, say something."
"Sorry, Luffy, but this is necessary", Kaya apologized.
"Noooooooooooooooooooo!", Luffy yelled to the heavens as his drawing was burned and discarded.
After all the drama, they replaced the flags on the two masts with their new pirate flag, then helped Usopp paint the Jolly Roger on the sail.
About halfway through the week, they were attacked by a Marine ship commanded by a captain wearing a crab-like armor with a technological exoskeleton, robotic arms on his back, and mechanical claws.
Luffy nicknamed him 'Doc Crab' because he reminded him of a Spider-Man villain with robotic arms on his back.
Naturally, he became training fodder for Kaya, who performed excellently in defeating him with ease.
After dealing with the Marines and stealing Doc Crab's tech exoskeleton, they returned to their normal routines.
Thus, the week passed uneventfully until today. Luffy approached Usopp, who was studying the Buggy bombs Luffy had given him, and asked, "Hey, Usopp, can you fire a cannon?"
Usopp stopped what he was doing and said, "Of course, the great and spectacular Captain Usopp knows how to fire a cannon", even though he had never fired one in his life.
"Well, there's a small island near the ship, and I thought it'd be fun if we had a target-shooting contest with it", Luffy said, knowing there was no one on the island since he had checked with his Observation Haki beforehand.
"Sure, let's do it. Maybe you'll learn a thing or two from me", Usopp said boastfully as he moved toward one of the ship's cannons.
Luffy fired first, but his shot didn't even come close to the island. "Damn, how am I so bad at using a cannon when I'm good at throwing things by hand?"
Luffy then looked at Usopp and, with his best puppy-dog eyes, asked, "Hey, Usopp, can I use my hands to throw?"
"No way, this is a cannon-shooting contest, so you have to use cannons", Usopp said firmly.
"Awww, come on, but my arms are natural cannons", Luffy said, flexing his muscles.
"Luffy, stop trying to cheat. He's not going to let you", Nami said, petting Luffy's head as she arrived to watch.
"Aww, fine, but I'm sad", Luffy muttered, pouting.
"Here", Nami said, handing him one of the strawberry milkshakes she had brought with her.
"Yay, I'm happy now", Luffy said, completely forgetting he was sad.
"My turn", Usopp said, loading the cannon and adjusting his aim.
"Fire!", he yelled, lighting the fuse.
The shot hit the small island dead on. Since Luffy was completely absorbed in his drink and lost interest in the competition, Usopp sort of won by default.
=Scene Break=
A few minutes after the shooting contest, the whole crew was relaxing in the kitchen when Luffy asked Nami, "Hey Tangerine, do you know where that floating restaurant 'Baratie' is?"
"Yeah, I do. Why?", Nami said, stopping her map drawing to pay attention to Luffy.
"Because that's our next destination", Luffy said, already imagining how delicious the food would be.
"Huh? What? Why didn't you tell me earlier that you wanted to go there?", Nami asked, indignant that he hadn't mentioned it sooner.
"Shishishi, I kinda forgot, sorry", Luffy said, scratching his head.
"You… you… ugh… sigh… from where we are, it'll take a few hours to get there", Nami said, giving up on arguing because she knew stupid things like this would keep happening whether she liked it or not.
At that moment, everyone heard someone shouting loudly from the deck, "Show yourselves, you bastards, I'm going to kill all of you!"
They rushed out of the kitchen to see a man wearing sunglasses, about to destroy part of the ship.
Acting quickly, Luffy stopped him, grabbing his arm just as he was about to strike a fence on Merry with his sword.
At that moment, Zoro stepped out of the kitchen and, seeing the man, asked, "Huh? Johnny? What are you doing here? And where's Yosaku?"
"Big bro Zoro? What are you doing here?", Johnny asked, not expecting to find Zoro in a place like this.
"I became a pirate. Where's Yosaku?"
=Scene Break=
"He... he's really sick. He was fine about three days ago, but suddenly he got worse. His teeth started falling out, and the wounds that were almost healed started bleeding and reopening. I have no idea what to do. A few minutes ago, we stopped at that island to rest when this ship started firing at the island", Johnny says after laying Yosaku on the deck.
""We're really sorry"", Luffy and Usopp apologize simultaneously.
"It's all good. You guys couldn't have known we were there. Honestly, I overreacted by attacking your ship", Johnny says, sitting beside Yosaku.
"Actually, I checked if there was anyone on the island, but you guys must have arrived after that. So, sorry anyway, I should've checked more carefully", Luffy says, feeling guilty because he hadn't expected to find Johnny and Yosaku on his journey this time. That's why he made sure there was no one on the island before firing, to avoid accidentally hurting them.
"I appreciate the apology, but it's really okay. I'm just desperate. I don't know if my friend is going to survive and get better", Johnny says, rubbing his forehead, clearly upset by the situation.
"You two are pretty dumb, huh?", Nami says, looking at Johnny and Yosaku.
"You think my friend being near death is stupidity?", Johnny asks, getting angry.
"Luffy, Usopp, there are lemons and pineapples in the kitchen. Make juice with them and bring it for him to drink", Nami orders Luffy and Usopp.
""Yes, ma'am!"" Luffy and Usopp say at the same time, saluting and then running into the ship to do as she asked.
"What's that for?", Zoro asks, confused.
"Your friend has scurvy. It's a common disease at sea, caused by a severe deficiency of vitamin C in the body. But it can easily be treated by eating foods rich in vitamin C, like lemons, pineapples, or strawberries. As long as he eats these foods regularly, he'll be fine", Kaya explains to Johnny and Zoro, clarifying Nami's intentions.
While Kaya explains, Luffy and Usopp make Yosaku gulp down a whole bucket of juice.
"If it's not too late, he should get better in two or three days", Nami says, petting Chouchou.
"Wow, you two are miracle doctors! I didn't know that besides being a navigator, you were also a doctor, Tangerine", Luffy says, impressed.
Nami just sighs and shakes her head after seeing Luffy impressed by something so basic.
"My dream is to become a doctor so I can help Usopp", Kaya says, whispering the last part and blushing.
"That's awesome! When we get to the Grand Line, we should stop by Drum Island. I've heard they have some of the best doctors in the Grand Line", Luffy says, patting Kaya on the shoulder.
At that moment, Yosaku jumps up as if he's completely fine, shouting, "I'm cured!"
"Hooray! My friend is going to be okay!", Johnny joins him, jumping and celebrating.
"That's not how it works, you idiots!", Nami yells at them, irritated.
=Scene Break=
"Uh... sorry, we haven't properly introduced ourselves yet. I'm Johnny."
"And I'm Yosaku. We're bounty hunters, just like big bro Zoro used to be. Nice to meet you", Yosaku says, introducing himself.
"""""Nice to meet you!""""", the whole crew, except for Zoro who already knew them, greets them back.
Just then, everyone hears a cannon fire, and its shot lands near the Merry in the water.
Running to the stern, they all see an imposing Marine ship with a figurehead of a dog holding a bone in its mouth.
At the ship's bow, Luffy sees a tall old man he recognizes as his Grandpa, and standing behind him are two young men he identifies as Coby and that guy with the butt chin from Shells Town.
Suddenly, Garp grabs a loudspeaker Den Den Mushi and says, "This nonsense ends now, Luffy. You and your friends are going to surrender and come home, and you, brat, are coming with me to enlist in the Marines."
"NEVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!", Luffy screams, stomping his foot.
Looking around for a solution to the situation, he notices a thick fog forming near the ship.
He then turns to Nami, who's standing beside him, worried, and says, "Tangerine, steer the ship into the fog. I'll delay Grandpa while you do it."
"Wait, Luffy, is your grandpa Garp the Fist?", Nami asks, shocked. She knew Luffy's grandpa was in the Marines, but she never imagined he'd be someone so important and famous.
Without answering Nami's question, Luffy shoots off toward the Marine ship, running through the air using Geppo.
Midway, the Marine ship fires another shot, this time aiming directly at the Merry as it sails into the fog.
Luffy changes direction to intercept the shot, grabbing the projectile and hurling it back at his grandpa's ship with all his strength. It tears through two of the ship's masts before hitting the sea behind it, destroying the masts and preventing any chance of pursuit.
Afterward, Garp also takes off toward his grandson, running through the air using Geppo.
The two meet halfway, colliding with force, their fists connecting and creating a deafening 'boom' that raises massive waves in the sea due to the air pressure from the collision.
As the Merry sailed away into the fog, the entire crew witnessed the clash, and it left a bitter taste in everyone's mouth. They felt weak knowing their Captain had to risk his life to save them. This weighed especially heavily on Zoro and Chouchou. That doesn't mean the others weren't affected, they all were, but Zoro and Chouchou felt it the most.
"Where did you learn these techniques, brat?", Garp asks, surprised that his grandson had gotten so strong without any guidance.
"I realized three years ago that if I wanted to achieve my dreams, I needed to work harder, or it wouldn't be enough. Besides, I got some help from Shanks", Luffy says, circling his grandpa while still in the air.
"You've been talking to that red-haired punk? Well, it doesn't matter. If that's all you've got, you're still weak", Garp says with a grin, feeling that his grandson was holding back in their brief clash.
"Well, my crew must be worried, so I'm going all out from now on, Grandpa. Let's see how far I am from the big leagues", Luffy says, starting to activate Gear Fourth.
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(AN: 2,245 Words)
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