CHAPTER 84 DEPARTURE

CHAPTER 84 DEPARTURE

“What’s the plan?” I asked as we got on the ship.

“We have literally done nothing but plan,” Nami said angrily.

“I know the general plan,” I said. “What’s our plan for the blockade of marine ships?” Pointing ahead was the ocean. Through the center of the Alabasta island was a river called Sandora. The Straw Hats had docked in the river close to where I found them by Yuba. Unfortunately the river didn’t go all the way through the island. Our ship was fine. But with 1 exit the line of marine ships on our way was quite the sight to see.

“Fuck,” Nami said as she stared out other the railing.

“My thoughts exactly,” I said. The other Straw Hats soon joined us at the aft of the ship by the orange trees. “Guess we have to fight our way out.” I couldn’t remember how they escaped before. But fighting sounded right.

“Robin!” I yelled. “Nico Robin! Come out!”

“Who are you yelling for?” Nami asked.

“All Sunday! Quit your hiding and come out!”

“I’m coming,” she said angrily as she walked up to the back deck.

“Isn’t that the Baroque Works lady?” Luffy asked.

“Yeah,” I said. “Everybody. I want you to meet Nico Robin. I was hoping she could join the crew She’s a good guy now. She helped Vivi and me out to save you guys from Crocodile’s cage. And she helped stop a bomb from going off. Very little of course, I did most of the work. But she told me where to look.” Robin glared at me. Her normally placid face showing her true feelings.

“Ohhh,” Luffy said. “Right. It’s cool with me.”

“Luffy,” Nami said. “We need a little more thought than that.”

“We can do that later,” I said. “I’m sure you’ll all come to join in on welcoming her to the party. Right now we need her help to get out of this marine blockade.”

“She can help?” Zoro asked skeptically.

“Oh yeah. Robin is super strong,” I said. “So another planning session. We need to get out of here. Then to the East side of the island to grab Vivi if she wants to join us.”

“To get there,” I said, turning back to the marines. “Looks like we need to knockout about 8 ships. I can handle 4. Nico can handle one. So Usopp you’ll have to man the cannon to take one down. Zoro and Sanji on one. Luffy on the other?”

“H-how am I supposed to take one down?” Usopp asked. “We have 1 cannon.”

“You’re an expert sniper. Figure it out,” I said.

“I don’t need this love struck idiots' help to take out a ship,” Zoro said.

“This moss head has a point. I’ll take 2 while he takes one,” Sanji said.

“No showboating. I’m jumping up there. If sails are up I’ll turn them around and break rudders. Destroy masts. Sails. Whatever. Nami’s driving. Chopper on standby for emergency medicine when Usopp shoots himself.”

“I-I’m not gonna shoot myself,” Usopp said. He didn’t sound too convinced about it.

“Let’s see. Whoever gets done with their ship first and gets back to the boat, picks dinner.”

“Yosh. Let’s do it,” Luffy said.

“What about cannon fire?” Nami asked, hiding her worry.

“I think they’ll be too worried about us,” I said. “If not, Luffy you’re on project cannonball bounceback.” We were soon happy with the plan and got to it. Running around the ship as we finished stowing supplies we were setting sail in the matter of minutes.

Robin stood with me at the front of the ship as I watched the marines grow closer. “How’d you know I’d be here?”

“I didn’t. I hoped,” I lied. “I’m glad you are. I need all the help I can get to keep these guys alive.”

“I see that,” she said. A small smile on her lips as we drew closer to the line of ships. They were nice enough to let us leave the river and get to the ocean before trying to hail us.

“Straw Hats! Give up now!” A voice said over a megaphone. I had expected Smoker. But I hadn’t seen him since Rainbase.

“How’d they know it was us?” I asked.

“No idea,” Luffy said. Behind him was our Jolly Roger sewed into our sail. A skull and crossbones with a straw hat on its head. . “One of the great mysteries.”

“Alright!” I yelled. “We want to give up!”

“Diamonds?” I asked. “Where did you get that?”

“Robin gave them to me,” Nami said. I held back a laugh. “She is a very generous person.”

“Are you sure she gave them to you?” I asked. “And didn’t ask you to hold them?”

“Hold, give, same thing,” Nami said. Then the money grubbing cat burglar began looking through the bag. Her eyes sparkling at the jewels inside. I chuckled and continued on my way around the island. Eventually I saw the dock on the East side of Alabasta and drew close. There was a blue haired figure at the end of the dock. Waving at us as we got closer.

“Man overboard!” I yelled. I drew eyes and pointed to the dock for the others. They were soon hanging off the edge of the port side of the ship. Waving madly as they yelled for Vivi. The girl held a megaphone in hand. Yelling at us as we got closer and closer.

“I can’t go with you all!” She yelled. “Thank you for what you have done for me and my home!” There were sad exclamations from the crew as we drew closer.

I could hear her voice crack as she continued a nice break up conversation. “Even though I still want to go with you, I love my country, so I can’t come along!” There was a long silence, and we were soon within yelling distance. This time she dropped the megaphone and yelled as loudly as she could manage. “But if there is one day where we meet once more, will you take me as a friend?!”

The main crew looked around to one another. As we past the dock we yelled as one, “Of course!” Vivi cried openly as we drifted past. Waving us forward, no more words necessary as we headed off to our next adventure. It was a sweet moment.

Robin walked over to me as I managed the helm. She grabbed it from me, turning it to help dodge a rock outcropping straight ahead.

“Thanks,” I said, rubbing the back of my head. “I suck at driving this thing.” She nodded, taking over the helm as I moved to my spot. The others in the group continued to yell and wave at Vivi.

“I’m glad you’re here,” I admitted.

“You said that,” Robin noted. A smile on her lips. I knew it was fake, but appreciated her gesture.

“I know. But I mean it,” I said. “Wouldn’t be the same without you.” We were quiet, watching the crew as they cried for Vivi. Mainly Luffy, Sanji, Nami, Chopper, and Usopp. Zoro had already fallen asleep on the fore. “Look at them. Isn’t it nice to be missed like that.” Robin pretended to not be listening. “How long have they known her? Less than 3 weeks?”

Robin stopped pretending not to listen. “Just think how they will rely on you in that time,” I said. “This crew accepts quickly and wholeheartedly. I want you to remember that. Whatever happens in the future, you are a part of the crew. I don’t care if it’s a day or a year. When you need us, we will be there.”

“What are you saying?” Robin asked.

“I’m saying...trust in them. I think they’ll surprise you,” I said. I got up from my spot. “Nami! Robin kicked me off the helm!”

She looked over then straight ahead. Studying our course with a simple glance. “She’s better at it than you are!”

“But it was my turn to drive!” I yelled back.

“You got a turn?” Luffy asked. “How come I don’t get a turn?”

“Yeah, me too,” Chopper said excitedly.

“You’re too short,” Usopp said.

“I am not,” Chopper whined.

“Oy shut up, I’m trying to sleep!” Zoro yelled.

“Don’t tell Nami to shut up!” Sanji yelled.

“I’m going to kick all of your asses if you don’t shut up!” Zoro said.

“Sanji! I’m hungry,” Luffy said.

“Can we go fishing?” Chopper asked.

“Will you all shut up!” Nami said. “I’m trying to figure out why the Log Pose is acting weird.”

“What’s wrong with it?” I asked as she walked up the steps.

“Look at it. It’s pointing up,” she said. She was right. The red needle on one side was pointing at about a 45 degree angle upward. “Everything should be at sea level. Why would it be pointing upward?”

“A sky island,” Robin and I said as one.

“A what?!” Luffy asked excitedly.

“An island in the sky,” I said.

“That-That’s not possible,” Nami said slowly.

“Oh, it very much is,” I said looking up to the clouds. Feeling the excitement of the next adventure.