Content/guide:
"Luffy" - talking
'Luffy' - Thinking
Luffy - One or more people shouting/mad
Luffy - Roger's spirit
{Luffy} - Voice of all things/ the world
//Luffy// - ???? ??????
╱╲❀╱╲╱╲❀╱╲╱╲❀╱╲╱╲❀╱╲╱╲❀╱╲╱╲❀╱╲
"Hey. Don't you think you should give the kid a gift or something?"
"What a weird way to start a conversation."
"You may not show it, but we know he plans something. Something big."
"Hah! The kid is as good as he can be! Besides, I already gave him somethin'"
"True, it may not serve him any practical use."
"..."
"If it's too embarrassing, just say it's from everyone."
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"Would he even want it..?"
. . . . ╰──╮With Luffy╭──╯ . . . .
"Hey! Hey! Ussops mom!" I called for her, running up the hill. I saw her with Yassop talking in the sun. Their heads turned to me, casting a smile. "Yes, what would you like, Luffy? More snacks?"
Before she could reach a plate, I stretched my hand, grabbed the food, shoved it to my mouth with the other one, and launched myself at them. "Shishishishi! I'm going to take Ussop with me!"
I didn't need to use observation haki to predict what would happen next. "What do you mean, 'take Ussop with you?'" I momentarily ignored her shock and turned to Yassop. "You don't have a problem, do you? Shishishishi!"
Although her face didn't show it, I could feel her discomfort. "Excuse me while I go get more snacks." She left, most likely to think about what I just did. I pouted a bit. 'Too bad she isn't bringing meat, but the snacks are good! But not as good as Sanji's.'
"Bwahahahahaha! What are you planning this time, anchor?" I grinned. I'm going to take Ussop on adventures with me!" "If you want to take my son on adventures, you gotta get through me!" he said as his laughter faded, but not his smirk.
"Why should I ask someone who nearly(did) abandoned their family for a pirate life when his wife was sick and a son my age? I'd be more likely to ask Sword Fingers before going to you for approval. And I bet you never had Ussop's or Ussop's mother's direct approval, did you?"
(A/N: the 'Sword Fingers' is Kuro, Kuro of a Hundred Plans, or his alias Klahadore, the antagonist of Syrup Village in disguise as Kaya's butler, in case you may have forgotten)
One word. Danm! Yassop stared at me in a daze, spilling his drink. It was like he stared at Hancock's beauty for the first time(which may also be true). Luckily for him, Bachina could be heard coming, and he regained himself quickly.
"When did you learn that sharp tongue of yours?" he asked, and I just gave of a knowing smirk him. It didn't serve any purpose, even if he knew. No one would believe him shishishishi.
Bachina coughed to get our attention back on her and the matter at hand. "No! I can't have you young kids who are barely ten years old alone on the dangerous sea! And I'm not only saying this out of concern as Ussop's mother, but as a person who is concerned."
Her tone softened. She sighed, continuing.
"Shank's is the one who brought you here, yes? Well, he's about to embark on a dangerous journey far away from the East Blue once he gets you back home. If you plan on going with him and Ussop, I suggest you give up on that."
My face remained indifferent to her words. Even if she was being sensible and all...
'They annoy me!'
"You don't have to tell me. I already know those things, and yet I am still trying again! Ussops is a precious friend of mine! I'm no kid you need to worry about. I. won't. Let. anyone. harm. him."
I didn't give them time to respond as I launched myself away from them, from anyone. "I can protect Ussop, you know, " I stopped in my tracks, looking down, "but I can't promise he won't be hurt." I left before they could say anything.
I wonder what Vivi would have done if she had been here. Robin and Jimbei, too, they always were sensible...
Ussop was my friend. a special nakama who took up an important part of my life, I would never replace. (contrary to what we're going to do soon.) As the weakest of us he held more courage than anyone else. but I couldn't repay him in full...
But this time I swear I will!
Memories of the fight with him about the merry surfaced, ripping at my heart, but I pushed them down. Moving towards a tree, I climb it and lie down. No one will find me here for a while. . . I can close my eyes for a bit.
。°。°。°。°。°Back with Bachina and Yassop。°。°。°。°。°
. . . . ╰──╮normal Pov╭──╯ . . . .
Silence covered the two like a heavy blanket. Before Bachina could speak, Yassop cut her off: "I should go to the ship and talk with Shanks. If anyone knows Luffy, it's him."
He stood up and extended his hand, shooting her a smile. "Don't worry too much. Maybe the kid entered his rebellious phase early, or we influenced him too much." As much as Yassops's attempt to cheer his wife failed miserably, she couldn't help but smile.
She took his help and cleaned up the area, going inside, leaving only Yassop with his face now frowning. Luffy was keeping a secret. And he suddenly knew how to... It didn't take Yassop, a master at observation haki, to see that he was acting weird. Everyone knew but never spoke about it.
Ever since they returned and caught the mountain bandits, he has no longer been the Luffy they knew. The whole crew disregarded it. Logically, that would scare any child seeing somebody killed in front of them, even a confident, unknowing, unassuming Luffy.
But now, a year after that, he's acting differently, more maturely. He knows something we don't. He's fighting a battle we can't perceive.
'he even managed to get the captain to allow him on this trip, let alone bring me and my family back together.' The trip down the hill to the dock was as noisy as expected. But not from outside weather or animals, but from the cogs and wheels in his head.
But he wasn't the only one with a thought-filled head...
。°。°。°。°。°Meanwhile, with a sleeping Luffy。°。°。°。°。°
The scenery was now of a sky island instead of the patio in the green, flowery field last time. The Sky Island had a bonfire in the middle like the one made in Skypia, and the wolves(?) there. It's all similar to Skypia, but it didn't have the part of the island that flew(launched) up.
'Skypia must have looked like this before nuthead's family found Gold City.' In the past few days of trial and testing, the trio, plus Roger, learned new things.
1. They decided to name it Merry's World. In memory of the old merry who saved them from time to time and the one they'll see in a few years, they'll continue to have adventures with her no matter what. They also hoped that Merry's soul would come here, but it was far-fetched, even if things aren't making sense.
2. The place changes into anything they want, with the default state being the clear, vast, blue water plain. They also have closed doors around the area, but haven't cared to open them yet.
3. Any injury or anything you eat won't follow you to the real world, which is counter-effective for Luffy(Do I need to say why?). Also, they discovered they could change their body into any form or age they were -by accident-(Think we can guess who).
4. Besides changing this place, we can add stuff from the past here. Roger's pestering meant that the trio made a wall dedicated to their bounty evolution and a souvenir of each adventure on different islands. -Roger has the story from all three perspectives. Also, it was one of the things that didn't change with the world.
It wasn't too hard to find all this out, as any sparing session wouldn't drain them when they woke u,p and how Luffy complained he was hungry when he woke up the next time they met, and the scenery change was obvious from the get-go.
The random doors that stayed open or closed added a weird but comforting touch to the name. Each had its intricate design, but that's all they bothered to know. Roger volunteered to investigate it for them, with no leads yet.
Walking further into the island, Luffy spotted Roger by the wanted posters. "ROGER!!" Without warning, he launched himself at said person. Roger, by grace, had enough time to turn his back and brace for impact, unintentionally catching Luffy.
Seconds passed, and they both broke into their characteristic laugh, smiling brightly. They soon separated and got comfortable in each other's presence. They didn't need to say anything. Whatever they wanted to express just radiated out of them, and the other seemingly understood.
Like sun rays that peep through the smallest of holes. Not that they realize. Of course. Their crewmates knew about this, and it became normal not to say anything. In Luffy's case, his look could tell when to laugh or be serious. What to do and not do.
Sanji and Zoro see these silent conversations more than they would like, but feel calm? Relived? With Luffy's ideal, idol, and goal sitting next to him, and a D. no less, they are happy to know that someone understands him; even if it's not them, or the crew unfortunately.
They also realized they freakishly say the same words with the same expression and pose... yeah... They once had a conversation about it, only to give up.
Sanji: Must be the D. right?
Zoro: Beats me. No one knows what it means anyways.
Sanji and Zoro in contemplation silence.
Zoro: So where's my booze, curly brows?
Sanji: GO TO HELL MOSSHEAD!!
Anyway, that's how Luffy and Roger spend their time together in Merry's world.
"So, you'll see Shanks for the last day today?" Roger started a verbal conversation. "Mhmm! I have our straw hat, and he has his arm. I'd say it's time to continue with the original timeline."
"hahaha. You do have a point," Roger nodded, adding that this was all new terrain, so best stick to what happened before. Now engaged, Luffy finally asked all the questions he wanted, but was held back due to his wings.
"Can you swim?" "I don't know."
"Are you dirty forever?" "*Gasp* I wasn't even dirty to begin with!!!*
"Can you taste the flavor of food?" "Haha, of course I can!"
"Do you feel itchy or other stuff now?" "...skip..."
"Do you feel lighter as a ghost with no body?" "Ack! Brutal! ...yes"
"Can you poop?" "Haven't you already asked this?"
"Are you sick as a ghost? Can you get sick?" "Luffy... what part of no physical body do you not get?"
"If I push you will you feel it?" "It may go through me..."
"What about with Armament haki then?" "Let's try it!"
Luffy readies and swings his fist for a punch as Roger moves further. Applying the haki on his arm, he gets serious. "Gomu gomu no... Pistol!"
"So how did it feel?" Roger asked, going towards Luffy as his hand retracted.
Luffy stood stunned. His fist landed, sure, but not in an expected way. Coming in contact with Luffy's fist his a soft hard material that is rogers body. He only had one thought. "tofu...?"
Roger looked at the younger man in disbelief. not sure wether to be offended or take it genuinely. looking at Luffys face he could tell that even he was at a loss.
Maybe if one of his nakama were here, they could help him.
"It was soft but hard like tofu. It wasn't jiggly either!" Luffy explained more, and all Roger could do at that explanation was hum and chalk it up to the truth. Not like hell ever knows it's a lie or not. And fluffy was the worst liar he'd known!
More than buggy when he said he didn't lose treasure from the precious raid they did. (Everyone knew he did it, but couldn't help play along.) It was a large sum, but they didn't care. They were happy after all.
"... does that mean you can be eaten...?" Luffy said as if it were a revelation as large as the One Piece. Roger did not like that. "Luffy no." he floated back and few steps. "But-" "No buts! Luffy no is Luffy no!"
and like usual, no or the thoughts of others didn't stop him. alas , he shamelessly attempted to get a hold of the older man and eat him as the tofu he said he was. This went on for minutes.
"It's time for you to wake up." Those words snapped Luffy straight. You've spent an hour here. I'm pretty sure that enough time for everybody to be ready. You wanted to take Ussop with you, no?"
" Ah! You're right! Thanks, old man tofu-san. I have to go bring ussop with me." Roger was ticked. "Just get going already!" Having the last laugh, Luffy left to go back.
A/N:
I've decided not to underline Rogers' words when his in Merry's Worlds
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Also, I'm back 😼😼👋👋
Sorry for going silent🥲🥲🥲