Work Text:
Sanji feels disoriented when the world rights itself again, he had been in the ocean not too long ago. Trying to keep Robin from going under together with Koala. Having needed to jump into the water when the Sunny sank as Imu released the Mother Flame on them all.
Mosshead had been right at his side as well, but he couldn’t sense any of his Nakama near. Where were they, had they been swept away?
Shaking his head, he’s suddenly aware that he’s on a boat. The way it’s moving gives the indication that they’re in a storm and that can never be a good thing. Looking around, he’s forced to accept that everything is higher than it used to be. Had a ship from Elbaph come and picked them up? Seemed somewhat unlikely as he knew Loki and Hajrudin had each taken a ship to try and stop Imu. To make him pay for the false promises to their father and the way the '‘King of the world’ had been the reason Harald had been killed.
“What the fuck is going on,” He mutters, trying to make sense of it all.
Making his way to the door and opening it, only to see men running. Cooks from the look of it, and while they did look somewhat familiar he couldn’t quite place them.
One of them noticed him and took him by his shoulders. Making Sanji frown as they crouched down, “Kid, you got to hide, there is a Pirate Crew raiding the ship.”
Bristling at the way they call him a kid, Sanji notices the logo on the man’s shirt. The purple bottle and the beige text on it. Proclaiming it ‘the orbit’, making Sanji look down on himself to see the trainee uniform he had worn while there. He didn’t think he'd ever see that again, especially as he had been nine years old when he was on board The Orbit.
Blinking, he’s reminded that Luffy had gear 5 active in the water and a surge of power had surrounded them as both the Sea and his Shitty Captain had mentioned going back. Was this what they meant, had they travelled back in time?
Before he could freak out, the Cook holding him shrieked before letting him go, turning and hightailing it out of there. A heavy hand landed on his shoulder, making him look back in the eyes of the only man he would proudly call father. Redleg Zeff had been a terror and for a moment Sanji was scared that he’d have to bond with the man all over again.
Except he pulled into a firm embrace, Zeff’s arms shaking around him, “Eggplant, what the fuck happened?”
Tears run over his cheeks at the familiar endearment. He had called Zeff one more time, in the stretch of sea from Polestart Island to Laugh Tale. Mentioning that they were almost there but that he and the Baratie (as well as the rest of their family and friends) needed to watch out as they had no idea what would happen now. Imu had shown he had no fear in using the Mother Flame or an underhand tactic, to get what he wanted and they all called home to both say goodbye and to make sure their loved ones kept an eye out.
“Shitty Geezer, did you? Did they? Were you in the water, when everything seemed to just warp around you,” He eventually asked, which had Zeff nodding. Explaining that he had made the Baratie sail again as there was a lot of activity around them. Having gone from island to island to collect whoever else he could that had ties to the Strawhats or their Alliance. But in the end, the Marines had closed in on them and had opened fire.
Zeff shared that they had all jumped in the water in an effort to keep themselves alive. Even more so when the news came that the Strawhat Alliance had been taken out. “Yet… There was this power in the water and then indeed everything seemed to wrap and all of the sudden my first mate is next to me telling me there is a storm coming. I freaked out and came to look for you as you’d know what the fuck was going on.”
Nodding, Sanji lets the man pick him up and bring him to the Hell’s Kitchen, the ship Zeff had before this all happened the last time. This time around they knew what was going on and he had told his men to take what they wanted and get back onto the Kitchen before departing as soon as Zeff was there too.
It doesn’t take long for them to make it. Looking on as the Orbit also gathers themselves and sets sail to the nearest island. They don’t look back once for Sanji and a part of him can’t even begin to mind. Not when Zeff has a hold of him and he can finally start to realize that he’s safe and he’s with Family.
When he’s put on his feet, they’re in the mess hall of the Hell’s Kitchen, Zett pacing as he does so and seemingly muttering under his breath. Several of his crewmates look on in worry at their Captain before their eyes find Sanji and they look on in shock as if trying to match Sanji’s features to Zeff’s.
Huffing, he point blank tells them he doesn’t share blood with the old man. Although that would be preferable to his actual sperm donor. Turning to the geezer who is trying to make sense of what has been going on, grinning as he shared that Luffy was behind this.
Stopping his pacing, Zeff turns to him, “Chore Boy? Does that have anything to do with the way he looks on his new bounty posters?”
Sanji nods and explains that Luffy is the Hito Hito no Mi: Model Nika. One of the few mythical Zoans ties to a God, and in full control of it too. Adding that the World Government didn’t like that, so to stop them they had tried to kill them all. Except Luffy never was one to just take it laying down, he’d fight until there was nothing left to fight anymore and right now there was a whole lot that could happen.
“What do we need to do, where is he now,” Zeff asked and Sanji needed a moment to think before asking who the navigator was around here. Grinning brightly before telling the man, “We need to make our way to Dawn Island.”
—
Usopp had remembered Chopper clinging to his hat and curls so he wouldn’t be sinking where they were in the water. Looking on as Sunny sank and her Klabauterman pleaded with them to forgive her as she hadn’t been there to protect them in the end.
In a way it had been worse than losing the Merry. Because Merry had been hurt and had been an older ship when they came into possession of her. But Sunny, Franky had made Sunny with everything he had and the only reason she sank was because of that bastard Imu who when he realized he couldn’t take them on just planned on burning everyone and everything to ashes.
“Luffy,” He gasped, as he remembered the way his Captain’s haki had coursed in and around them all. The water lighting up before the world itself seemed to warp around them, leading to him standing in the middle of what had been his living room back in Syrup Village. Which had to be impossible, as he hadn’t been back there in years.
Swallowing thickly as the door to the bedrooms was pushed open and his mom came out of there. That same soft smile on her face, despite the fact that she had been ill for a while now. He hadn’t noticed it as a child, but now he could see the bags under her eyes, the way her hands shook even as she tried to hide it. Hurrying close, he helped her to sit down, taking the basket of laundry and folding it carefully.
Banchina giggled, “Why, since when does my Little Pirate help with folding laundry!”
Blinking once, before doing so a second time, Usopp’s lip starts to tremble at the way she addressed him. Bursting into tears not long after and hiding his face in her stomach as he cries for the grief he felt at losing her. Cried at the notion that they would have died, had Luffy not pulled another miracle out of thin air as he usually did. He’s sobbing heavily, before trying to breathe and slowly calming down. Starting to talk and tell her everything. Starting with the notion that he’s aware it’ll be hard to believe but that he needs her to listen to the very end.
Only stopping to drink and when he finally does finish his story, he waits for his mother to gather her wits. Running a hand through his hair and sighing, “I remember dying, Little Pirate, so it makes sense if your Captain is Nika, for he and the Sea had been able to do wonderful things if the Olde Texts are to be believed. You buried me at sea, did you not?”
Nodding, Usopp gasps as he realizes the implications. Giving people a sea burial means that they become a part of the sea, and with everything that happened the Sea had given them a boon they didn’t think they would get this time around.
Tears track down his cheeks, before he’s pulling back from his mom, “We need to make our way to Dawn Island. Luffy is there, someone has to be there that can help. We don’t have a real Doctor here and you need help, mom.”
Banchina looks lost, biting her lip and contemplating on what to do now. She’s not a sailor, that had been Yasopp and he’s currently in the New World.
She opens her mouth to mention them booking a slot for the ferry that passed the different larger island in the East Blue. There is one that should make for Goa, which is also on Dawn Island so that at least brings them closer. But as she explains, a knock on the door has both of them looking up.
Usopp goes to open the door, looking on in shock at seeing Kaya and her parents standing there.
“Kaya!” He explains, huffing as the blond haired girl barges into him to hug him tightly. Tears running over her cheeks as she shares that she’s been on the Baratie after Marines started hunting for those with ties to the Strawhats. She’d been in the water, after the restaurant had been shot at, to try and survive like that. Keeping close to a woman named Makino and her young daughter. Sharing that she had told her parents what had happened and they believed her which is why Merry was gathering a small crew and they were using the Going Merry to get to Dawn, and to Luffy.
Grinning widely, he thanks her and her parents. Looking back at his mom to see her gathering their essentials to get packing. Once they make it to Dawn answers will be given and he hopes someone there can help his mom with her illness.
—
Zoro knew being lost, he was well aware that his sense of direction sucked but ever since he had Nakama that didn’t matter because they were all more than willing to compensate for that. He could lean on them and they leaned on him in return.
Sometimes even literally as he had been making sure Brook didn’t sink once they were forced to abandon ship.
He hated that he couldn’t help Luffy, that his Captain was being held up by Benn Beckman of the Redhair Pirates as all of them were forced to look on as their ships sank. Listening to Klabauterman after Klabauterman asking for forgiveness for not protecting their crews.
Yet, nothing was making him feel more lost than being here in the dojo he grew up in, looking Kuina in the face and suddenly remembering that he had fulfilled the promise that they had made. He had been the World’s Greatest Swordsman, even if he didn’t kill Mihawk to get that title. Yet… He couldn’t help but feel unfulfilled as they were forced to fight for their lives then, without being able to bask in the feeling of their dreams being accomplished.
“Zoro, are you even listening to me!? Why the hell are you acting all strange all of a sudden,” Kuina shouted in his face. Following it up with, “You’d think you’d be used to me defeating you by now.”
Swallowing thickly, he didn’t know what to say. So he only did what he felt was right. Which was hugging her close and thanking her for the role she had in his life. Following it up with the notion that women could be great swordsmen as well. Remembering Tashigi, O-Kiku and Ain, as well as Charlotte Smoothie and Charlotte Amande. He couldn’t tell her that, but he did feel like making sure she knew that there were amazing female swordsmen out there.
Kuina stops and freezes as he does that. For a moment Zoro believed he overstepped, before the boken she had been using clatters to the ground and her arms hugged him close, “You think so?”
Nodding, he tells her he knows so. Before finding that Kuina pulled back and expected answers as Zoro was being very unlike himself. Then again, being around his Nakama, and extended Nakama, as well as several strong women as adversaries or even enemies. Being a woman wasn’t something that should limit you nor was it a deciding factor on where you’d end up in life.
Taking a moment, he settles down, looking at his small hands. Feeling the way his body is pre-puberty and how it would be a hell to get back his muscles and in general the strength he had gained while training. “You’re not going to believe me, but I promise on Wado Ichimoji that everything I tell you is the truth.”
He proceeds to tell her everything, starting at the moment of her death in a few weeks time. Sharing what it did to him and to her father, how the world seemed to shift. He shares what he did, and how he got stronger until he set out and became a Bounty Hunter, before turning Pirate and finding the best Nakama in the world. Making sure she knew of the strong women on his crew, as well as in the alliance and how he knew she would have liked each and every one of them.
Grinning as he shared the story of how Luffy got him to join and how, later on, it was the best thing that ever happened to him.
He told her about Sanji, and the relationship he had with the cook that came to a surprise to no one but the two of them. How much he missed him even now, when you had been at each other’s side for years not being there felt strange.
Mihawk and Perona get mentioned, as well as the almost familial bonds he has with the both of them despite not looking for that at the time. How even the Strongest Swordsman in the world is just a man, one that has his own bonds and dreams. Who was there when everything went to ship, keeping Buggy from sinking as several Redhair Pirates were keeping Crocodile afloat nearby. All three of the Cross Guild leaders had been right there at their side despite everything happening in their past and Zoro knew that now things would be different as they had these memories to go off on.
Ending his story, he deals with their history with Wano and how the Island had been closed off from the world for years now but that Luffy was going to set them free. How maybe, this time around, Kuina could join him and be as free as he knew she wanted to be.
Koushiro came to look for them at one point and seemed to pale when Zoro glared at him as he told Kuine whatever she wanted to know about Wano. It had been one thing Zoro knew now as he had called home as they were closing in on Laughtale. Wanting to warn their loved ones that this might be the end and to be on guard.
Kuina’s father joined them, whispering that the Marines had laid ruin to the dojo and their island. The arrival of the Baratie and the Sea Cooks being the only reason he was alive and more than one person on that ship had chewed him out for the way he had treated his daughter and made her feel like she was inferior because she had been born a girl.
“I am so sorry, Kuina, for not seeing that sooner and even after your death not knowing that this wasn’t the end. You deserved so much better, Zoro deserved so much better and I wasn’t there to give it to either of you,” He looks miserable.
Not that this will make Zoro forgive him, but he’s happy Koushiro has been forced to accept that. A part of him is very satisfied that Zeff kicked some sense into him, Might be for the best too, so he hopes that things will get easier around here. Especially as he has every intention of setting out.
Koushiro and Kuina enquire about that and he shares that he needs to get to Dawn and to his Captain. To make sure Monkey D. Luffy has all the protection he needs for what is to come. To his surprise both Koushiro and Kuine offer to help him with that.
Only to find out, about a week later, that he doesn’t need to when word travels that Dracule Mihawk has arrived on the island and is looking for his wayward apprentice. Zoro doesn’t even hesitate before using his haki to find the man and throw his arms around his waist. A hand pats his head, “Zoro, I was wondering you’d lost your way. Let’s go, I have it on good authority that someone is going to make sure Arlong doesn’t get to wreck havoc on Cocoyashi this time around.”
Mihawk talks to Koushiro too, seemingly up to date that the man also travelled back. Before Kuina is also joining them and they make their way to Hitsigibune which is a tight fit but they’ll make it work. The distance to Dawn isn’t that far, so they make their way there first before hopefully being able to hitch a ride on a larger ship.
—
Nami feels like she couldn’t breathe, like for once in her life she can’t find it in herself to map the direction she needs to go and it hurts. As a navigator and cartographer for most of her life, she had truly believed herself to find a way regardless of what happened.
Yet, the few moments she hadn’t been able to do that, her Nakama had been there to help her. They had made sure that they pulled her into the direction she needed to go, so as to be back at the start. To be back at the Orchard with Nojiko and Bell-Mére, she hadn’t quite known how to behave with all of that going on.
Nojiko had pulled her aside as soon as she realized Nami was close to having a panic attack, explaining that something happened that brought them back. That she had remembered being on the Baratie, before jumping into the ocean to get away from the Marines firing at them, before everything seemed to warp around them.
Remembering what had happened to them too, how Luffy had been able to defeat both Teach and Akainu only for Imu to play dirty and use the Mother Flame to get them defeated. Only that her Captain didn’t know when to give up and neither did the crews he surrounded himself with. She wouldn’t either, but to be here again, to know a life before Arlong arrived and fucked it up was scary.
“Nami, Nojiko, where are you,” Bell-Mére came to look for them with worry on her face. Gasping at the sight of Nami with tears running down her face before pulling both girls into her embrace which had them both crying once more.
Worried, she asked what had happened. If they were hurt or scared or if there was something else going on.
Sharing a look with her sister, they had Bell-Mére sitting down to tell her everything. It was clear she didn’t believe them at first but she indulged them. Sharing certain things they had no way of knowing, gasping at every part of the adventure Nami was in. Nojiko listened with rapt attention as she had followed her sister’s journey in the Newscoo and had been privy to stories on the rare occasion Nami did call home but had never been able to get the full story.
At the end of it, Nami smiles softly, “We were used to Luffy pulling miracles out of thin air, but ever since he awakened his devil fruit, it’s something special to behold and I know that even now at 7 years old he’ll make sure that everything will be just fine. His dad should be at Dawn and I know most of the others will make their way there before coming here.”
She’s smiling as she knows Arlong will arrive soon and no matter what, her crew isn’t going to let him take her freedom now or ever. Luffy least of all, as he lived and breathed freedom, even without knowing about Nika and what the God represented.
Looking at Bell-Mére, she tells her mother that she might have been a Marine but Nami had seen too many sides of the Marines to ever become one. Had heard from Dragon, Coby and Helmeppo what they were sometimes forced to do and how the world needed those going for their own brand of justice instead of whatever it was the World Government wanted. Freedom was Piracy, her Nakama and a chance to actually make a map of the whole world.
It’s abundantly clear Bell-Mére has her opinions about that, and is probably still processing what is going on. But allows them to talk about it, eventually mentioning that they can take that horde once it arrives. Asking more in depth questions about Arlong and everything that entailed, before switching to the notion that Nami spent a large portion of her life surrounded by men on a ship.
Laughing when she shared that they weren’t interested in her and never ever made her feel uncomfortable about it. Especially as they had been all aware that she had a long-distance relationship with Nefertari D. Vivi, the current Princess and future Queen of Alabasta.
There was a lot still to be talked about, especially as she had in a sense outed herself to her mother. Even if said mother didn’t seem to care that she was a lesbian. Instead they had dinner and slept, before going about the day like normal.
Until such a time that Arlong does appear, and he is stopped from getting to get from lighting frying him and a sword slicing his gun to ribbons. Men, the ones he had proclaimed to be stronger than, stopping him in his tracks before he even started. A den den mushi in someone’s hand sounding out Jinbei’s voice as he chews out his former crewmate.
Glancing up, Nami giggles at the sight of a young Monkey D. Luffy at the side of Portgas D. Ace and Sabo. Beaming brightly before looking past her at Usopp, Sanji and Zoro also approaching. A cheer leaving her before she’s running to their side and letting the boys hug her close. Never once doubting that they would come for her. They always did, and that wouldn’t change soon.