Shuffle Piece! Part One, Chapter One. (An AB/DL One Piece Fan Fiction.)

[Kid Chimour]

So! This is iffy, as the first story in it's entirety consists of a prologue, five chapters, and an epilogue. Totaling one hundred and five pages. And I'm starting it at the end of the 'Baratie' arc.

My hyperlinks probably won't transfer over, and before you read any further, I must make clear that I spoil a lot of things if you haven't read the source material.

A lot of this will probably be Greek to you, but here we are! Here is the first chapter, of the first story!

SLICE & SHUFFLE! (CHAPTERS ONE THROUGH FIVE) (AB/DL)
An Alternate Universe Retelling Of Eiichiro Oda’s ‘One Piece’, By Chimour O. Nox.

“We haven’t seen action in months. No one ever attacks these waters,” A very bored sounding lookout murmured. Sighing as her white coat fluttered in the breeze. The kanji for ‘Justice’ emblazoned upon its back.


She was ecstatic to have finally made the rank of ‘Ensign’, but she had also been expecting her fair share of glory when she’d reached this point. She wore a shirt of forest green under her jacket. A spyglass held fast to one eye at all times.


“Our ensign looks like she’s talking to herself again,” She could hear one of her subordinates say. “Do you think she’s just bored, or do you think it’s that again? Because I’m not really up for-”


“You know it’s rude to talk about a woman behind her back, right!?” Carrot shouted, finally snapping as she turned around to give her men an earful. They immediately started apologizing, Carrot pouting at them like an oversized child the entire time.


“Seriously. It’s just a silly gimmick to boost morale around base. I dunno why everyone always has to pick on me over it,” She mumbled, her bunny ears folding as she subconsciously pulled her trousers back up. “I know most of you perverts like it, so I really don’t get the gossip.”


Thus Carrot continued looking around for some sign of the ‘black flag’. The sooner she could spot one, the sooner she could take out her frustrations.

~***~

CHAPTER ONE: A CARROT & SEVERAL STICKS OF TOBACCO.

In a restaurant not too far away, the would-be ‘Pirate King’ busied himself with cleaning the dishes. It took a month of intense study, but by this point he’d mastered the craft. He’d even learned how to clean everything else. And he knew how to cook now! Though, he still wasn’t too good at it.


“Still, I’m not giving up on my dream,” Luffy swore, sighing since it was his last day on the job. He was almost free. Zoro, Sanji, and Usopp having moved on to form the ‘Lucky Strike Pirates’.


However, it wasn’t long before Sanji had returned working at the Baratie. When asked why, he cited Zoro as his inspiration for leaving. The sous chef stating he would instead wait on Luffy to finish paying off his debt.


“I’m honestly surprised the boss doubled down on making you work off your debt. You really are one unlucky sonnuva bitch! You know that!?” Patty asked, laughing a little when he got a non-reaction out of Luffy.


“Yeah, fine! I get’cha! It’s not funny. But, hey? I have some information that you may be interested in if you’re still fool enough to aim for the very top!”


“Okay? Lay it on me,” Luffy mumbled, the young man’s personality having changed considerably after so much time in the kitchen. He was more subdued, so as not to disturb the fish his fellow cooks were busy catching.


“You know it’s only been like a month, yeah? Could’ve been here for years, but the old geezer decided to have mercy on you after Krieg,” Sanji said, lighting up a cigarette. “Wouldn’t be impossible to catch up to that green-haired bastard. In fact? I think they’re still waiting right where I’d left them.”


“A month is an entirety for a pirate, ya know? What are ya? Stupid?” Luffy asked, Sanji immediately kicking him in the mouth.


“Shut up! You don’t even know what you’re saying, you fucking dumb ass!” Sanji hollered, taking just a few deep, calming breaths. Coughing as the oxygen mixed with the cigarette smoke.


“Look, Captain? What I meant, is that they’ve not moved on yet! We can still catch up, so stop acting like you’re back to square one!”


“Tch! Are you sure this is the group you wanna play pirates with, Sanji? I’m cool with whatever, but their captain is kind of-”


“I know, Patty! Both the captain and first mate are idiots!” Sanji said, shaking his head. “But, they’re the right kind of idiots. They annoy the hell out of me, but I get the feeling they’re the only real shot I have at finding the ‘All Blue’.”


Patty began to very slowly rub his temples. “So! Do either of you stupid bastards wanna hear that rumor I was talking about earlier, or what? It’s a damn good one, you know? Very useful!”


“Right, right! Sorry, Patty. If you really want to tell us, then it’s gotta be huge,” Sanji said, grinning as he offered his fellow chef a cigarette. Which he refused. “Whatever. More for me.”


“Yes. More cancer for you,” Patty said, nodding his head in agreement. “Anyway, have you two fellas ever heard of a mink before? They’re pretty cool creatures, though you almost never see one in the East Blue. This is no longer the case, as one of our best customers just so happens to be a cute mink girl.”


“A what? A girl? A cute girl?” Sanji asked, visibly shaking as he put out his cigarette.


“Hey! Don’t get mad at me! Not my fault she started showing up as soon as you awayed with those pirates!” Patty said, already knowing what Sanji was thinking. “The point is, she’s got an adventurous soul. Though she’s a navy officer, so it’ll be hard getting to know her if you let it slip your pira-”


“Oh that? Yeah. I already told her. She decked me in the nose,” Luffy said, cringing at the memory. “I don’t know what she did, but it still hurts.”


“You’re lucky to have been working as a chore boy and chef. She would’ve hauled you in, otherwise,” Patty said, rolling his eyes. “Well, Sanji? That’s your cover. Consider it a parting gift from me, to you.”


Sanji was speechless, Patty radiating with a certain ‘masculine beauty’. He was no woman, but Sanji could see the face of God in his smirk. “I always did hate you Patty, but I will never forget the debt of gratitude I owe y-”


“You guys open today?” Came a very peppy, feminine voice.


“And that would be her. Careful again about the pirating thing. She won’t travel with ya, if you don’t keep yer mouths shut about that,” Patty said. “Also, be careful. She took out your captain, after all. She’s no joke. Don’t take her lightly.”

~***~

And so Sanji personally saw to Carrot. Bringing out her order before striking up a conversation with her. As he always did when serving the ladies.


“Ah! So, you’re the infamous schmoozer! I’ve heard quite a lot about you!” Carrot chuckled, sipping at her wine. “I can’t exactly tell what this is, but it tastes nice?” She offered, having always preferred her reds. Even if they stained her fur of snow more easily.


“Would you mind if I joined you, mademoiselle? I just got back from a fishing expedition. Unfortunately, we caught nothing,” Sanji said, taking a seat once Carrot motioned for him to do so.


“Guess that means you went fishing, just for the halibut?” She joked, proving to have a very punny sense of humour. Sanji found the joke somewhat cringey, but forced a convincing chuckle, regardless.


“Yes, but even though it didn’t go well? I’d still very much like to try again. Especially if I could do so, with you at my side,” Sanji said, Carrot seemingly giving the offer some thought before shaking her head.


“Apologies, but I found out most of the cooks here are former pirates. You make tasty food, but I’m not sure you can truly be redeemed. One of you even had the audacity to tell me you’d be ‘king of the pirates’! While I was in full uniform, no less!” Carrot snickered, finishing the rest of her drink.


“Oh, you mean the new kid? Yeah. Don’t listen to him. We’re slowly beating that rebellious streak out of him,” Sanji said, closing his eyes since he was growing tired of Luffy’s antics already. And they hadn’t even set sail, yet.


“Mmmm! I suppose you have a point. I heard that moron Fullbody started that fight in here, so it was all on him. And you guys did fight off the infamous ‘Don Krieg’,” Carrot said, starting on her food next. “It’s not fair, to suggest that you’ll never be any better than that. I am really sorry. I just have my biases.”


“Would you like to talk about that? It seems to me like you’re carrying a lot of weight on those shoulders,” Sanji started. Carrot frowning as she decided to oblige the sous chef and regale him with a very abridged version of what happened to her mentor ‘Pedro’, and his comrade ‘Zepo’.


“That was some time ago. I don’t remember exactly when, but my take away, was that playing pirate will only get you killed in the end,” Carrot said. “Twenty eight now, so I’ve had a lot of time to come to this conclusion.”


“Twenty eight? You don’t look a day over eighteen,” Sanji said, surprised that Carrot would just come out and tell him her age. “Actually, what rank are you? A captain, I bet.”


“You are such a flatterer! Thanks, but I’m an ensign,” Carrot said, grinning. “It’s not like I don’t have the power to be a captain. Smoker is one, after all. Still, ya know? I just don’t have enough actual experience. And nothing ever happens here, in the East Blue. Honestly? I’d much rather be stationed in ‘Paradise’.”


“Well, that’s convenient. I was thinking of heading in that general direction, myself. For my next fishing expedition, that is,” Sanji said. “Unfortunately, the fool from earlier is coming along.”


That’s when Luffy popped up again. Dutifully bringing Carrot her next plate. “What’s Paradise, and where is it? The ‘Grandline’, maybe?”


“The first half, yeah.” Carrot nodded. “Are we feeling a little less silly now?”


“Kinda, sorta. Just don’t hit me again, alright?” Luffy asked, glancing away from Carrot. You punch like my grandpa…


“I’ll see what I can manage,” She said, smiling over at Sanji as she turned her attention back to him. “You two are going to need a ride, so I will take you someplace nice if I get approved for a transfer.”


“Thanks, but do you think you can also help us get to a certain island? We need to check out a place called ‘Cocoyasi Village’. They’ve been having pirate problems, and the marines are nowhere to be seen,” Sanji said, deciding to just come out and say it. He was trying to avoid mentioning it around Luffy, but that was the actual reason why he’d decided to come back and pick him up.


“Pfft! Don’t be silly! That place is under Nezumi’s jurisdiction, and I haven’t heard of a single-” Carrot started, noticing the dead-serious glint in Sanji’s eyes.


“Please. In the name of ‘Justice’, I beg that you reconsider,” He pleaded, his voice shaking the mink to her foundation.


She could tell he wasn’t lying, but what did that say about Nezumi? Either way, it was made clear to her that she had to do something. So, she began formulating a plan to sneak a smaller ship out of her relatively tiny outpost.

~***~

Come nightfall, and Carrot met up with them back at the Baratie. “I hope you realize how illegal what I’m doing is,” She said, watching as Sanji and Luffy joined her. Luffy almost immediately fixating on the sword tied to her right hip.


“Oh, wow! Is that seriously a katana?” He asked, gushing for a bit as Carrot got going. “Are you a samurai, or something? A bounty hunter like Zoro, maybe? That’d be so cool!”


“‘Pirate Hunter’, huh? Wasn’t expecting to hear his name again,” Carrot said. “And it’s really a nodachi. The wazamono ‘Gekkō’. I was never good with swords, but upon joining up with the marines they sort of insisted. These days I’m not half bad, but I’m by no means an expert.”


“Sounds very restrictive. I don’t know how you put up with it,” Luffy said, frowning as he kept his eyes glued to the sword. “So, Sanji? What we fighting?”


“Fishmen. Don’t know what their deal is, but they force all the humans to pay monthly tribute. A tax on their lives,” Sanji said, presenting Carrot with a cigarette. She shook her head, and refused him, as well.


“I don’t know the whole story, but apparently Fishmen were treated like, well? Fish. I’d like to think we’re beyond that now, but I realize some people still think us minks eat humans. I don’t even know where they got that idea.”


“So, they’re racist, because humans were racist to them first? A vicious cycle,” Sanji mumbled, taking another puff. “Either way, we can’t let Arlong and his men upend their lives. I won’t stand for it!”


“Yeah! I’m going to kick his ass!” Luffy clamored, Carrot briefly turning her attention to him in complete disbelief.


“Luffy? No offense, but he’s got a twenty millionBeri bounty. You don’t stand a chance,” She said, raising an eyebrow as Sanji laughed in response.


“And just who do you think beat Don Krieg? Wasn’t me that got the finishing blow on him,” The cook said, gesturing towards his captain.


“He did what? What is he? Some sort of bounty hunter?” Carrot queried, clearly not buying Sanji’s story.


Luffy’s nostrils flared, the young man taking a stand as he started to announce his ambition. Thankfully, Sanji stopped him.


“He’s a ‘rubber man’, alright? And he’s strong. All you need to know,” He said, the mink growing just a little suspicious as they continued on their trip.


Fine. But if it turns out you’ve been hoodwinking me this entire time, I will make sure to turn you in for piracy.

~***~

Arriving on scene, Carrot was absolutely dumbstruck to see the trail of devastation left behind by the ‘ArlongPirates’. She simply couldn’t believe her eyes as she turned her attention to the nearest local she could find.


“Where, the fuck, is Nezumi? And why isn’t he doing his one job?” She asked, trying to not let her anger get the best of her. Easier said than done.


“How could you not know? You marines are all the same! You’re probably in cahoots with him, aren’t you? You heartless ice queen bi-” The villager began, cut short when Carrot very calmly placed a finger to his lips.


“Please! I know you’re upset. But please just answer the question. And do try to stay on topic,” Carrot begged, nodding as she eventually got the directions she’d wanted.


“Thank you for your compliance. Now, if you’ll excuse me? I have some tidying up to do,” She said, making a b-line straight for the rat bastard who had so perfectly besmirched the name of the marines and their organization.


“We’re going on ahead. That cool?” Sanji asked, his captain wasting no time in heading for ‘Arlong Park’.


“Y-yeah. I’d rather carry out this unhappy deed, myself,” Carrot said, solemnly making her way towards the main military base. “Give ‘em hell, boys. Apparently we marines are either too cowardly or corrupt to do it, ourselves.”


Meanwhile, Nezumi counted out his share of the profits made through his deception. The marine officer blissfully unaware of his impending demise, as the Straw Hats tore through Arlong’s forces.


And tear through them they did. Luffy stopping only to comfort the distraught Nami before leading the others off to war.


The pirates had over-run pretty much every town in an act of retribution for the failed assault. Slowing down the Straw Hats, though it wasn’t long before Luffy had decked Arlong.


Sending him careening into the wall behind him.


As this happened, ensign Carrot saw herself into captain Nezumi’s office. Her fur standing on edge as she glared daggers at him.


“Ah! Well, if it isn’t the up and coming mink I’d heard so much about! Please! Take a seat! I have some brandy here if you’d like a drink?” Nezumi offered, having yet to notice the electricity in the air.


“Captain Nezumi? You realize you have a pirate problem, right?” Carrot asked, already preparing to pull her blade from its scabbard.


“I do? Why that’s terrible! Did you deal with them already?” Nezumi asked, chuckling. He clearly wasn’t very bright.


“I may have brought some with me, actually. I’m not sure yet,” Carrot said. “But they’re not who I’m taking about. I’m talking about the ‘Arlong Pirates’,” She continued, Nezumi finally catching onto what she was saying as he slyly went for his flintlock.


“Why haven’t you radioed for any reinforcements to fight them off? They’ve ruined countless lives! Killed hundreds, and-”


“That’s enough out of you, Ensign. Need I remind you that I outrank you?” Nezumi asked, pointing the gun at her before cocking back the hammer. “You shouldn’t even be here! Why aren’t you back at base ‘entertaining’ your men?”


“Alright. There’s another one,” Carrot commented. “Failure to do your job, due to systemic corruption. Pointing a gun at a fellow officer with intent to kill. And now you’re calling me a whore. That about sum it all up?”


“Yeah? And what will you do about it? ‘Diaper Girl’?” Nezumi mockingly asked, laughing. That was until Carrot pulled the recorder from her clothes, smirking. “You bitch!” He screamed, promptly firing at her.


Only for Carrot to effortlessly dodge it by tilting her head out of the way. “You will admit to your crimes while alive, or I’ll have your ghost do it, for you. Pick your poison wisely ‘Captain’, as you only have ten short seconds. One.”


“Puh-please, Ensign! You don’t understand! I had no choice! Arlong would’ve killed me had I called for back-up!” Nezumi pleaded, having fired the only shot he had. Of course he had more bullets, but he wouldn’t be able to reload without her taking him out.


“Two,” Carrot carried on, slowly drawing Gekkō.


“Shoot her down!” Nezumi cried, his men turning to him in shock.


“But, Captain! She’s one of-”


“I said shoot her down! Now do it!” Nezumi shouted, his men reluctantly following their orders only for Carrot to cut every bullet in half. And then knock them out. One by one.


“This is just pathetic. Five, by the way,” Carrot continued, frowning since she didn’t want to soil her sword with such verminous, putrid blood.


“I’ll give you money! M-more than you could possibly imagine! How’s ten million sound!? N-no! Make that fifty!” Nezumi said, face paling as Carrot showed off the recorder again. “Stop fucking recording this conversation!”


“Apologies, but I can’t help it. I’ve just stumbled upon the biggest scandal in the entirety of the East Blue! And, nine,” Carrot said, continuing the count.


Nezumi couldn’t take it anymore. Cracking as he begged her to sheath her nodachi. Promising her that he’d own up to what he had done to the villagers of the island.

~***~

Luffy saw to Arlong’s defeat. Crushing his hopes and dreams as he sent him slamming through every floor of his tower.


Carrot looking on before briefly handing Nami the share of money Nezumi had made off of his arrangement with Arlong.


“This belongs to you, by the way. As for Nezumi? I’ve seen to it, that he will be tried by military tribunal. He will never serve as an officer again.”


Nami wiped the tears from her eyes, still emotional from Luffy’s victory. “Thank you, though Luffy will be none to happy about this,” She said, glancing over at her captain. “He would’ve wanted a bounty, after all of that.”


“He can still cash in on Arlong if he wants?” Carrot offered, Nami fondly shaking her head. “No. He’s a pirate, himself. He would’ve wanted a bounty on his head for taking down the largest fish in this small pond.”


Carrot rolled her eyes, Nami confirming her suspicions. “Alright. Once he’s ready, we’ll snap the photo. He’ll need some sleep after such a battle, though.”


“And what will you do then?” Nami asked. “You going to capture us pirates, or what?”


“Nah. I’m still a little miffed about being lied to, but you’re ultimately heroes in my eyes. I won’t chase after you this time,” Carrot murmured. “I think I’m just going to hang around. Maybe help myself to a few drinks at the bar. If you want to talk more, you’ll find me there.”


And, like that, she was gone. A frigid wind combing through Nami’s tangerine locks.

~***~

The following festival was truly a sight to behold. The streets of every town across the island filled with those partying like it was their last day on the planet. Carrot was having an absolute blast. Going so far as to even challenge Zoro when he’d recovered enough to drink.


She just found it peculiar that pirates of all people would make such a thing happen. Still, it warmed her heart. And the sake she was drinking was certainly helping her mood.


“Having difficulties not growing too attached to you guys,” She murmured, downing another cup before sighing contently. “We’ll be enemies again, the next time we meet on the seas. Hopefully, I will have gotten my transfer by then.”


Luffy, his mouth filled with giant pieces of meat, folded his arms in annoyance. “Bash schupid! Schwong my crew, ya dumbus!” He lisped, Carrot tittering and tilting her head. Because she didn’t understand a single word.


“That’s ‘glutton’ for ‘join my crew’,” Nami explained. “You know we’re not bad people, and you’ve seen for yourself how nasty the marines can really be.”


“Oh? This again?” Carrot asked, having someone refill her cup before tossing another back. “You did say you were raised by a marine, right? Mom was a marine? Well, I mean… she sounded like a really, really good person.”


“She’s not wrong, sis. You’re basically asking her to ‘throw the baby out with the bathwater’,” Nojiko said, Carrot giving her a thumbs up since she’d nailed exactly what she’d meant.


“That, and if all the good marines do leave out of protest, then where would that leave us? With a government run by Nezumis? No thank you. That sounds horrifying. Truly,” Carrot said, shuddering. “Though, you’re not alone. I kinda want to keep partying with you lot, too. I understand the sentiment.”


“Are you sure I can’t change your mind? I would love having you on board, and you know that I can cook,” Sanji said, the lech just wanting another pair of breasts on the crew.


“Boy, if I joined up with you, you’d wind up with a weird new fetish,” Carrot playfully replied. “It happens with everyone that crushes on me. Never fails.”


“Do I even want to know?” Nami asked, fixing herself a drink next. “In any event, you’re not wrong.”


“No? You probably don’t,” Carrot said, stretching where she sat. “Up next is ‘Logue Town’, right? If so, then I would caution you to avoid the ‘White Hunter’. You can’t hit what you can’t touch, and he can turn into smoke.”


“Smoke? What kind of devil fruit did he eat?” Zoro asked, the swordsman still wanting to try his luck at cutting him.


“He ate the ‘Moku Moku No Mi’,” Carrot said, yawning. “The ‘Smoke Smoke’ fruit. It’s sorta like my ‘Yuki Yuki No Mi’, only it’s not as chilly.”


“Hold on! You have a devil fruit? Why didn’t you use it!?” Luffy asked, Carrot making it gently snow on his head.


“Because there was no reason to. What would’ve been the point?” She asked, turning her power off when Luffy began to come down with cold-like symptoms. “It doesn’t matter if you know this. If you don’t know ‘haki’, then the result will always be the same. Defeat.”


“Wait? Haki? What’s that?” Zoro asked, pouring Carrot another drink of sake to tempt her into staying. And, luckily for him, it worked.


“Jeez, Zoro! I’m seriously gonna black-out here!” Carrot whined, drinking regardless. “And, keeping this brief? It’s the physical manifestation of your will power. The ability to create invisible armor, and to see mere moments ahead into the future. So that you know what your enemy will do next. Also, haki is the only natural weakness of logia devil fruit users, like myself,” She concluded, finally heading off to bed.


“Night!” She called back, cutting her partying short, so that she wouldn’t regret it, come the morning.

~***~

Things didn’t go exactly as Carrot planned, however. Sure. Nezumi had his day in court and was dishonorably discharged for aiding and abetting pirates. All his medals stripped from him, as he was ‘made an example of’.


However, the government’s propaganda machine being what it is, would not let this failure reflect poorly on them. Instead laying the blame entirely on Nezumi’s weakness as a commanding officer, and Arlong’s ferocity as a pirate.


Which while true enough, wasn’t the last of their narrative spin. The one they really wanted to be done with, was ensign Carrot. They never expected her to be this much of a public relations nightmare for them. The public wouldn’t blame them for one officer going rogue or being corrupted.


However, if the mink kept airing their dirty laundry? Eventually it would all become fodder for the revolutionary army, headed by Dragon. And they simply couldn’t risk that.


Come that following morning, and everyone was surprised to read up on how Carrot ‘defected from the Marines’ to ‘help the Straw Hat Pirates conquer the Conomi Islands’. Now, nobody on the island believed this horseshit. But it didn’t matter if they believed it.


In the end, they had a very small voice on the world stage. And so, unbeknownst to the mink, her reputation as an upstanding marine had effectively been destroyed overnight. Her honor now in tatters.


“Who’s going to break the news to her?” Nojiko asked, having a cigarette as she worried where the mink would go, now that she’d been smeared by the same organization she’d held in such high regard. It was sickening.


The silence was deafening. Nobody wanted to take on the unhappy task. Biting her lower lip, Nami slowly stood up. “I suppose I will. At least we have a place for her on the-”


And that was when the door to the bar slammed open. A disheveled Carrot sitting down before ordering up ‘something strong’. She spoke to no one else. Drinking her rum whenever she wasn’t wiping her eyes. She already knew.


After more glasses than she’d cared to count, she asked the bartender how much she owed him. Naturally, he told her they were ‘all on the house’, since he was trying to cheer her up.


Wobbling a bit, Carrot got off the stool and pointed to Nami. “Yer offer still good? Because I’m fucking done trying to help them! Ungrateful shitheads!” She roared, going from being a sad drunk, to a very angry drunk in a flash.


Cringing at the profanity used, Nami embraced Carrot and quickly lead her outside. Away from the ears of innocent children. “Yeah! It’s still good, but please calm down for me. Kay?” She asked, speaking in hushed tones.


Carrot hiccuped a bit, but nodded in agreement. “Yer rye. Schorries! Children. I forgottens schometimes,” She mumbled, snuggling a little more into Nami. “There ish one thingall make me feel buttah, but we probably need to try ‘Logue Town’ ferret.”


Nami sighed. She knew the former ensign needed a drink, but she probably should’ve stopped at her fourth. “Just tell me what it is, and I’ll see if we can’t get it. Kay?” She asked, slinging the mink over her shoulder. Luckily, Carrot was very lightweight, so this proved far easier than expected.


Carrot groaned, leaning into Nami. “Too mush work. Jush pat butt,” She said, Nami raising an eyebrow at the suggestion before doing thusly. Noticing the added fluff, she decided to get a better look.


“Huh! Well, I’ll see what I can do, okay?” Nami offered, helping to conceal Carrot’s padded posterior. Why are they so adorable? They’re like something an actual baby would wear…

~***~

“Surprisingly, they actually sell the damn things,” Nami said, wrapping her explanation up to everyone aboard the ‘Going Merry’. “Anyway, here you are Carrot,” She said, handing the large box off to the still tipsy mink.


“Wait! She’s a baby? I’m starting to have second thoughts-” Luffy began, Carrot giving zero fucks as she promptly made a snowman out of him.


“Just let me have this, alright? I don’t have much else,” Carrot murmured, entering the shared living quarters. “Not the best of sleeping arrangements, but they’ll have to do,” She said, setting the package aside.


“Hey! Where do you think you come off, insulting our ship like that!?” Usopp yelled, Carrot slowly turning to him.


“It’s not an insult. I’m just sad. Alright?” Carrot explained, speaking very slowly. “I may also feel a little bitchy at the moment. I just lost my job, so?”


“You two! Let off of her, okay!?” Nami shouted, taking Usopp by the ear and dragging him away before doing the same to Luffy. Freeing her captain from the snowman in the process. “She not only lost her reputation, but she also lost all of her marine friends! How would you feel, if you thought your good friends hated you over something you never actually did?”


“Fair. But I’m not babying her, and she needs to keep that kinda thing private,” Zoro said, glancing over at Carrot who simply gave him a thumbs up. “See? She’s not being unreasonable about it. She’s just miserable, is all.”


“We actually agree on something. Incredible,” Sanji remarked, shaking his head before joining Carrot in the room. “I’m sorry it’s not much to work with, but it’s the best we’ve got.”


“Oh, this? It’s perfectly manageable for a small crew,” Carrot said. “But, if we keep adding members? Well, it’s going to get kinda uncomfortable. No way around it. Either way, thanks for having my sorry ass.”


Sanji sighed, taking Carrot by the shoulders. “What would you like for dinner tonight? What can I do to pull you out of this depression?”


“I don’t know. But thank you for trying,” Carrot said, hugging the cook in a show of appreciation. “I’ll tell you if I come up with something, okay?” She offered, leaving Sanji a limp mess on the floor.


“Dumb ass! All she did was hug you,” Zoro mumbled, shaking his head. “Whatever. Oi! Carrot! Can I see that nodachi of yours?”


Carrot turned her attention to him, shrugged, and then made her way over to his side. If nothing else, they were all at least giving her something to do and talk about. “Certainly. It’s nothing super rare, but it is a meito,” She stated, drawing ‘Gekkō’ for Zoro as they began talking swords and technique.

~***~

And there we have the end of chapter one. I hope it doesn't look too bad. I decided to mess around with the font. Figured that may help it look less like a jumbled mess. Anyway, feel free to rate this, though it's not a full story.

And feel free to tell me if you'd like to see more. Manually spacing everything out is a pain, and the formatting issues are a thing. Still, I am doing my best.

I'll provide a link to the whole story (And various others) on Furaffinity if asked. I'm not doing it by default, since this is my story. Therefore, it would be a shameless plug.

---------- Post added at 04:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:15 AM ----------

I apologize. I did not realize there was a communal section in the fiction section. I will post the story in full, there.

---------- Post added at 04:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:43 PM ----------

Alright! So, it's going to take a long time for it to be approved. If this doesn't belong here, than I'm sorry for posting it in the wrong section.

Well, if nothing else, it'll give you an idea of what the story will be like once it's out.