Trees towered over her as she ran, the smell of salt water filling her nose with each deep breath. Each footfall made little to no noise, caught by the mossy land beneath her feet, grass pushing up between bare toes. She moved quickly, a bag clutched to her chest as she ducked beneath the overhanging branches and twisted carefully between the underbrush.

She finally stopped after she finally broke herself out of the forest, finding herself on a rocky cliff that meant certain death if any normal human fell from it. She carefully moved towards the edge, cautious as she peeked over. Wind whipped at her face, drawing a healthy flush into her cheeks and messing up her hair. Below her, the waves lapped against the shore, frothing and foaming. A small frown worked itself onto her face as she pushed her dark hair out of her face.

"Saul?" She called out, her voice sure and unhesitant. The wind seemed to drown out the name the moment it had left her lips, and she tried once again, louder.

There was the sound of rocks crumbling beneath her, and slowly, a figure rose from the ground. The eight year old stared at the giant as he brushed back his hair and turned to greet her with a large grin.

His laugh echoed, lifting her heart and spirit all at once. She found herself laughing alongside him, letting the bag in her arms drop down to her feet.

"Robin! You did decide to show up," he said in greeting as he stretched his humongous limbs. She nodded sharply in response and stepped towards the edge of the cliff with much less caution. "I stayed up most of the night. The raft is finished now."

"And you'll really take me to my mother?" She asked, despite having already been reassured of the answer multiple times. Even so, Saul gave her the affirmative and Robin's face lit up in an expression he had seen only once before. He found himself laughing again, as he raised his hand for her to climb onto. He still had no idea how she convinced him, but Saul knew that Robin would be in danger if she remained here. For once, it would be safer for her to be with her mother.

"Olvia and her crew were picked up by the revolutionaries a while ago... I'm sure she is still with them!" Saul gave Robin a once over as the small human clambered onto his hand, small bag of food and clothes in hand. "If the information is true, this island won't be safe for long."

Robin didn't pay mind to the giant's rambling except to nod along. Finally, after so long, she could be reunited with her mother... She clutched the bag to her chest once more as she settled onto the giants shoulder.

XoX

They sailed for many days before arriving at the revolutionary ship. Instantly, they were surrounded by officers. Robin clambered away as they swarmed around, finding familiarity and comfort in Saul as they were escorted to the ship. They climbed aboard, even Saul with his monstrous size, and were given orders not to move.

Saul chatted with the officers between reassurances to the small child he protected. Robin watched the interactions with interest as her fear slipped away from her. It was clear that Saul had been here before. Most of them were friendly enough, and one even brought them both some food. It wasn't until Robin's stomach growled that she realized how hungry she was and eagerly dug in.

Some time passed, and eventually Robin grew comfortable enough to wander slightly from Saul. She walked around the deck, listening to the conversations around her and watching the men and women work. She drew a very curious looks when she nearly fell from the upper deck and used her ability to catch herself, but no one said anything, and even a few people smiled. It was all very interesting, she thought, to be surrounded by people that didn't regard her as a demon or a waste of space.

Glancing back around, she found Saul fast asleep against the mast. Robin frowned slightly, before continuing on her travels around the ship. Somehow, she found her way inside and was soon lost inside the hallways and cabins. She turned around after finding nothing - not even a book - to sate her curiosity. Above that, was her mother not supposed to be on this ship?

"It was averted..." A man's voice drifted through the hall and Robin found herself frozen. She was quite sure she wasn't supposed to be down here... "... We buried one of Ohara's treasures... it won't easily be recovered..."

"Ohara is safe because they did not find it, Dragon." A woman's voice joined the conversation. Robin found herself lulled by the voice, as though it were a comforting blanket placed over her shoulders. "It has been studied before and will be studied again when the time comes."

"If you say so," the man, Dragon, replied. The footsteps were growing nearer and yet Robin was still frozen in place. "There are still marines lingering in the area - it's not safe for you to return yet."

There was a sadness in the woman's voice as she spoke once again, "I understand the danger and have no intention of returning for a while. Robin is much better without connections to a troublesome mother such as myself."

There was no answer as the pair continued to walk towards the frozen girl. Had she heard right? Was the woman speaking truly her mother... Emotions flooded through her at the thought, her heart thudding heavily in her chest as the footsteps grew closer... closer... She had never met her mother! How would she know if she was... but she had said her name... And so gently too, just as Robin had imagined it...

The two rounded the corner, only to come face to face with a watery eyed girl, no more than ten and remarkably similar to the older women. The revolutionary and woman froze, neither speaking as the girl stared at them with shock.

"A... are you my mother?"

XoX

Robin quickly grew accustomed to life aboard the revolutionary ship. The smell of 'home' could no longer be described as a giant tree and the smell of parchment and the chatter of the scholars. For three years, her home had been the giant ship, the smell of salt water filling her nose and the waves lulling her to sleep as she lay next to Olvia.

She thought often of the scholars, wrote to them once or twice. They had been - always would be - a sort of family to her. She hadn't received any responses, but she understood why. She didn't know why this life was so dangerous, so risky, but simply accepted it as it was. It was, after all, her life. And beside her mother? She couldn't ask for anything more.

Robin ran through the ship, dodging revolutionaries with ease as their greetings, warnings and laughter followed her. She had memorized each and every room, every hallway, every passage in the ship. Her favourite room was the library. As small as it was, it had books from all over the world - just like the Tree of Knowledge. Olvia and her had claimed it as almost a private place - very few people other than the two of them and Dragon tended to use it.

Today, however, the library was not her goal. Instead, she soon found herself standing outside of Dragon's private quarters. She leaned against the wall, sliding down slowly into a crouch and using her ability to strategically spy into the room.

"She stays on this ship!" Olvia all but shouted, stomping her foot as she glared evenly at Dragon, whose face remained blank and expressionless. "Do you really want her to end up like Robin? You can't even say it's safe because it's family! He was my brother, and look at what they did to her! Luffy is safer with you, Dragon. Let her stay with you, let her know her father."

"She's not your daughter," he finally said after many moments of silence. "And it is safer for her with Garp."

"Dragon-!"

"Do you have no idea who I am? It's just like Roger's son, Olvia! If anyone finds out she's my daughter... It doesn't matter if she's marine, pirate or revolutionary! She'll be hunted for the crime of carrying my blood." Robin heard fear in his voice. It was so something she never imagined the man capable of. It was hard to believe that a man so... Un afraid, could fear such a small thing as losing his daughter.

"And you're going to trust someone else to keep this secret? To protect her?" Her response was as sharp as a knife, carving away his argument into nothing. "She'll be found out and hunted no matter what. Let her at least know and love her father. You heard what Garp said about Roger's boy. Don't let her learn to hate her blood, her existence."

Robin had heard enough. She jumped to her feet and tore off down the hall, towards the infirmary. Using a few shortcuts, it only took her mere moments to burst through the doors. The nurse inside shot her a look, before her expression softened upon realizing who it was.

"Robin," the nurse said quietly. The woman shifted slightly, revealing the bundle of cloth she cradled in her arms. A bottle sat ready beside her, despite the the lack of movement from the bundle. Robin moved slowly, sitting down on the bed next to the woman and peering at the cloths.

Not over three weeks old, the baby's face had at least, in Robin's opinion, gotten slightly cuter. She had been born with a full head of hair, black strands peeking out from under the cloth even as they tried to tame them. The baby had been born with blue eyes, but now as Luffy opened her eyes, they had shifted to a chocolate brown.

"Winnie, I want to hold her," Robin said instantly, holding her hands out demandingly. The woman laughed good-naturedly. "She's like my sister right? I want to hold my sister."

Winnie quietly corrected Robin's posture, instructing her on how to properly support the head, and slowly lowered Luffy into the eleven year old's arms. Robin was not expecting her to be so heavy, but a third arm quickly appeared to help support the child.

Dark brown eyes peered up at her as Robin watched the child's face. Luffy didn't cry, didn't even made a sound, but continued to watch Robin. Robin decided she was still cute despite her funny face. One day, Luffy would be even cuter! But until that day... Robin winced as Luffy scrunched up her nose and suddenly began to wail.

"Hungry again..." Winnie said, reaching for the bottle before attempting to take Luffy from Robin.

"I want to feed her!" Robin quickly said defensively, a fourth arm sprouting from Robin's shoulder. The nurse simply laughed again, handing her the bottle and instructing her on how feed Luffy properly. Luffy fell silent the moment her lips were on the bottle, sucking it back eagerly. Robin laughed as she watched it and ignored the ache in her arm.

Her little sister... Robin quite liked the idea of being a big sister. She looked up at Winnie, a pensive look on her face. "I'm her big sister, right? So I can protect her forever!"

Winnie smiled and laughed, "Forever is a long time, but I'm sure you'll manage."

XoX

Robin sat in the library, her book propped open in her lap. It was a new one that she had not read yet. Ivankov had brought it back from the North Blue. It was a fairytale, not her usual point of interest when it came to books, but it was something new all the same.

Fifteen years old and she had already left behind childhood. That was, perhaps, a side effect of growing up on a ship that constantly went up against the world government. Still, she wouldn't trade her new life for anything. The danger was worth it be surrounded by people she could call friends, family even. Her mother, Dragon - who had become a father to her - and-

"Robin! Robin! Onee-chan!"

"Hello, Luffy." Robin looked up from her book, smiling when she saw the three year old running towards her through the library. Luffy had turned into an adorable child, with wide eyes and a headful of hair. Unfortunately, she also proved to be rather... adventurous, you could say. She rarely stayed in one place for long, and was always finding her way into trouble.

The girl reached the couch Robin sat on and heaved herself up onto it, instantly curling up close to her. Robin didn't doubt the girl was attempting to hide from the poor revolutionary officer or nurse that had "volunteered" to play babysitter for the day.

"Where Mamma?"

"She's in a meeting with Dad and Auntie," Robin reminded her gently. Luffy pouted a whole minute before she became distracted with the book in Robin's hands, most likely drawn to it by the brightly illustrated drawings.

"What you reading?" Luffy asked, peeking over her shoulder curiously.

"A fairytale. Auntie Iva brought it back from the North Blue." Luffy's eyes lit up at the very prospect. It was rare to catch Robin reading something that she would be interested in, and she knew it.

"Read it to me!" Luffy demanded, pointing to the book. Robin gave the girl a look, and she instantly ammended, "Please, onee-chan?"

Robin chuckled, a small smile slipping back onto her face as she flipped the pages back to the beginning.

"Over four hundred years ago, in a certain country in the northern seas..."

Robin read the story, her voice soft and careful. Perhaps it was not her literature of choice, but she enjoyed reading it with Luffy beside her. The girl would stop her to look at the pictures, or make her repeat certain pages. At one point, Luffy got personally offended and more than a little worked up when Noland was accused of lying. Robin had to calm her down before continuing, only to have to start all over again at Luffy's command.

Robin had what seemed like never ending patience for the child, and started over. This time, by the end of the story, Luffy had drifted off to sleep, snuggled close to her big sister. Robin smiled softly, setting the fairytale aside and reaching for another book. She was barely a few pages in when Winnie burst into the room.

The poor woman looked frayed, her usually pulled back blonde hair ruffled and she was covered in paint, for whatever reason. Probably had something to do with the sleeping child that was currently napping against Robin's arm. Her eyes seemed dull and tired when she spotted the two of them. She had large, Luffy-induced rings beneath her eyes, and she moved for the couch with sluggish movement.

"I... have no idea how you do it," the nurse said, rubbing her eyes and letting out a sigh. Robin shifted her arm, and Winnie leaned over to pick up the small child. The girl let out a whine of protest in her sleep, before making herself comfortable against Winnie's shoulder. "Not even for Olvia and Dragon..."

The teenager chuckled, flipping open her book once more and picking up where she left off. "I'm her sister, remember?"

XoX

"It will be a long process.. At the very least, you may be a part of the operation for two years... Are you sure, Robin?"

Robin glanced up at the speaker, her adoptive father and head of the revolutionary arm. Robin straightened slightly under the man's watch.

"But if I succeed, the knowledge of a poneglyth may be recovered?" she asked. She already knew the answer along with the dangerous the mission possessed. Danger was nothing new to her. Since she was sixteen, she had volunteered herself for countless missions that she was perfect for. Trained by those upon the ship and back at the headquarters, she had become one of the most well respected officers among the army.

"Yes. But Crocodile... we can't be a hundred percent sure of his motives," Dragon said after many moments. Robin had no doubt that this might just be the most dangerous situation she ever put herself in. Olvia, standing near Dragon, didn't look all too pleased with the idea, but also knew that this was Robin's choice to make.

"I understand the risks involved," Robin said, in such a way that confirmed that she would indeed be accepting the seemingly impossibly task. She had never spent so long away from her mother since they had been reunited, and but she did not hesitate. Being able to read whatever was on the poneglyth in Alabasta... it could only bring her closer to discovering the true history. Robin knew that this was the reason Dragon had come to her with this job. Olvia or any of her former crew, now revolutionaries, would be more than capable of taking it, after all.

Dragon gave her one of his rare smiles. "Perhaps you'll be seeing Luffy on the seas sometime during the mission. She plans on setting sail in the next year or two, I believe. Or so Sabo told us."

Robin smiled in return, her thoughts returning to the girl with a certain fondness. Robin had got caught up in the work involved with being a revolutionary after turning sixteen. Luffy had begun to spend summers with her Grandpa. As sad as it made her, Robin had been cut out of four year old Luffy's life as they took separate paths that never seemed to meet. She wondered if Luffy remembered her... Probably not.

"I look forward to seeing her again."

Robin awoke with a start, her heard thudding heavily. The memories of the dream flashed before her vision and blinking didn't seem to help. It was... odd.

Never before had she had such a vivid, solid dream. Dreams were tangible, blurred around the edges with no rhyme or reason but this... This was as though she were remembering something that happened long ago. It was impossible though. Nothing, no matter what world she had landed herself in, could have changed that much.

Robin was intelligent. From the moment she had woken up in this familiar but new world, it was obvious. This body did not belong to her. It was foreign, untouchable and something she could not understand. From the way her lips turned up as though she were used to smiling, the way scars no longer marred her body from her close encounters with death, to the way her body craved familiarity, friendship and the warmth of family, things she had never allowed herself to dream of in her body did not belong to her.

This body was not hers.

The dream haunted her as she prepared for the day, once again borrowing some of Nami's clothes before making her way on deck. The timeline may be different in this strange world, but there was no way...

Her mother and Saul being alive was nothing more than a fantasy, she knew. She didn't allow herself to entertain the thought. They had died on that cursed, wretched day. When fire rained from the sky, angrily devouring everything it came in contact with, destroying everything she knew, everything she loved.

She made her way to the galley slowly, running her fingers along the railings of the Merry as she thought. Not all of it was out of the question, however. If this world had indeed had different plans for her, she may have ended up with the revolutionary army. During her two years aboard the ship, she had no doubt in her that Dragon would not turn her away. After all, he had taken in a weak and badly injured Sabo. If nothing else, it would give reasoning to a different past...

But why would her mother appear in her dream? Her own selfish fantasies, perhaps?

She barely processed anything even as she entered the room and took a seat at the table. Beside her, Sabo and Nami hovered above a map, talking about navigation enthusiastically.

"And that's Ohara, where Robin and her mother are from," Sabo said, pointing to a small island.

"I've heard of it!" Nami said, sounding rather excited. "Robin! You were from such an amazing place and never said anything!"

Robin had frozen upon hearing the words from Sabo's mouth, and couldn't bring herself to answer Nami's statement.

Ohara got wiped from the map the next year.

It was impossible - there was no way! Ohara... wasn't destroyed in a buster call? The scholars lived on? But... how?

Sabo grinned when Robin didn't respond, and instead poured a cup of coffee and forced it into Robin's hand. She accepted it numbly, the smell of the expensive West Blue brew hitting her nose as she inhaled slowly. It was probably one of the only things she missed from her time with the revolutionaries, and was now almost comforting as she willed herself to calm down.

"Robin hasn't been back in ages. She and her mother joined up with the revolutionaries when Dad busted Olvia from a marine ship... guess she's chosen a new path now though... I can't believe she's sailing under her little sister!"

Nami laughed along with Sabo, the atmosphere becoming light as the two of them went back to their cheerful chatting. Taking her cup of coffee, Robin left the galley as quickly as she had come, fighting her racing heart and scattered thoughts.

Was it possible? Was what she had seen earlier... memories? She didn't want to allow herself to to believe such things. Dreaming and letting her hopes get to her... But Sabo had said... It made sense. If it was true, she owed everything and more to Dragon.

"SABO!?"

Robin was dragged from her thoughts at Luffy's shout. The girl seemed to have just woken up, and was currently looking around wildly for the brother that disappeared while she was sleeping. Robin found herself smiling as the girl began to pout when Sabo was not within immediate sight or reach.

"He's inside with Ace." The captain instantly brightened, making a run for the galley before suddenly coming to a screeching stop. She seemed to back up until she was just in front of Robin staring at her face with a look of concentration and a pout. "What's wrong, Luffy?"

"Are you okay?"

The question took her off guard. Luffy, despite caring dearly about each of her nakama, rarely dared to actually approach them. She usually waited for them to speak up about their problems if they had any, rather than try to draw answers out of them.

"I'm fine... just... confused," Robin admitted, after many moments of avoiding the question and Luffy's gaze. Luffy seemed to falter at that. She could cheer people up but... Robin was confused and she was the smart one. What could Luffy do to help her? "Do you... have her memories?"

Luffy looked confused. "Memories?" Luffy pondered for a moment before nodding. "Luffy is still in here - I hear her voice sometimes. When she wants me to see stuff, I get her memories but I don't really know why. My will power wasn't enough to snuff her out."

"I see..." Robin said, sounding slightly put out. Perhaps that was in... Her own will had erased the other Robin, leaving only traces of her memory within her subconscious mind. But if that were true... Then what she had seen earlier...

"I'm gonna go see Sabo and Ace!" She didn't really register Luffy taking off into the galley, too caught in her own thoughts.

She felt a lightness spread through her body at the very idea. Her mother was alive, at Dragon's side, living out her dream as she searched for the true history. Saul had not been affected by the buster call that had never happened... While she didn't know his fate, she knew that he was alive.

She felt a wetness at the edge of her eyes, before the floodgates seemed to open and she allowed the tears to pour down her face. The coffee fell through her fingers, the glass shattering against the deck. She paid it no heed, bringing her hand up to feel the tears that wet her face.

She was envious of herself in this world. What she would give to have the life that this Robin lived... All the same, she couldn't help but be happy. It seemed that at least in this world, she did not have to suffer the endless pain and cruelty of the world. And that... was enough for her.

"De... Derishishi... derishishi..." Robin laughed, the sound truly honest and sincere as she laughed and cried without any reserves. "Derishishi!"

"This is the house of the guy who is your key to getting to sky island?" Ace asked, looking just as doubtful as Sabo as they stared at the giant facade. Robin smiled, remembering with fondness the first time she was here.

"It has to be," Robin said, watching as Luffy eagerly flung herself over the railing. "He's the only one who lives out this way, after all."

Both brothers looked fairly doubtful, but they helped dock the Merry and soon joined their sister in her search for Montblanc Cricket. The group found their separate ways around, Luffy walking straight into the house with Ace behind her. Sabo stayed behind, distracted by the book sitting on a table outside.

He picked it up, turning it over in his hands before calling out to Robin, "Hey! Isn't this the book you used to read Luffy as a kid?"

Robin glanced up, the memory from earlier flickering through her mind. She smiled, moving closer and taking the book from Sabo and flipping through it. Nostalgia that wasn't completely her own, but perhaps a learned reaction, rushed over her.

"Liar Noland," she read aloud, drawing the attention of the other crew members. Sanji looked rather excited at seeing the picture book, revealing he was born in the North Blue and grew up with the story. Nami looked curious, taking the book and beginning to read it.

"A story over four hundred years ago..." Nami began, "In a certain country in the northern seas,
there was a man named Montblanc Noland. Noland the Explorer's stories were always grand adventures that sounded like lies. But the people of the village could never tell if they were true or not.

"One time, Noland went on an expedition, and came back to report to the king. 'I saw a mountain of gold on an island across the great seas.' To see for himself, the brave king took two thousand warriors and crossed the great seas in his ship.

"He fought powerful storms and huge sea monsters. Finally, the king, Noland, and one hundred soldiers landed on the island. But what they found there was nothing but was sentenced to death for his lies.

"These were his last words. 'That's it! The mountain of gold sank into the ocean!' The king and the others were shocked. Nobody believed Noland anymore, but he never stopped lying until he was dead."

Nami looked up after finishing the book, sadly at Usopp before adding, "And so he died... without ever becoming a brave warrior of the sea..."

"Oi! Why are you looking at me?" Usopp exclaimed, looking rather offended by Nami's addition to the story. "And why did you add an ending like that?"

Before she could answer, there was a loud splash from the water. There was a moment of panic as everyone realized what had happened, and instantly the first mate and revolutionary officer were at the coast. Both dived without any hesitation, paying no heed to the man that had suddenly climbed out of the water.

It didn't take Zoro long to locate his captain, even within the murky depths, and he was soon dragging the anchor to the surface. Sabo was already out of the water when he resurfaced, a limp Ace lying next to him on the coast.

"The chestnut ossan pulled me in so I grabbed Ace!" Luffy said, coughing up water as she frowned. "I didn't expect him to get pulled down with me!"

Ace didn't look all to impressed, but he took a deep breath and willed himself to not set his sister on fire. Sabo just rolled his eyes, leaning over the edge and hauling the captain out of the water.

"You're a moron, y'know," he muttered, knocking her teasingly in the head before extending a hand to help Zoro out of the water. Luffy laughed it off, before the four of them were quickly brought to the real world by the sound of bullets.

They were on their feet instantly, but it seemed they didn't have to worry. Whatever caused the man to fall down sick happened to strike at just the right time.

After helping the rather odd man out, his two 'sons' nearly attacking them but quickly befriending Luffy, and listening to the story about Cricket's history, the Straw Hats knew there was no way they could convince their captain not to head to Sky Island.

The thought of the process, however, was just as daunting and frightful. Usopp and Nami refused to be consoled by Robin and Luffy's reassurances. It was only when, surprisingly, Sabo stepped up and held out a piece of paper.

"I'm sure you guys have nothing to worry about. Gol D. Roger got to the island alright," Sabo said, ignoring the way Ace flinched behind him. He held out the paper to Nami, who took it with a frown. "Dad said the map might come in handy if you guys are around Jaya."

Nami unfolded the paper, staring blankly at it for a few moments before processing the Map. "This... This is sky island? Skypeia...?"

Luffy popped up behind her, peeking over her shoulder. "See, Nami! It's so cool! We have to go!"

Cricket watched the group with amusement as they bickered amongst themselves, arguing over the existence of the island and the danger the trip possessed.

The group was eventually moved inside as night fell, the entire room full with people, food, and excited chatter. With two days until the Knock Up Stream, they would begin repairing the ship the next morning.

Throughout the party, Robin remained off to the side, flipping idly through Noland's log book as she revelled in the nostalgia. These were the days... the days when they lived much more carefree, before the weights of their actions were put on their shoulders... She loved her crew, and she loved their adventures, the chaos of everyday life. At the same time, she missed this... this simplicity. So much had changed after two years apart, and she knew life would never be like this for the group again.

Her eyes found her captain, wondering what exactly the girl had planned. It was clear that no one else had been sent back like they had, and neither had any idea why exactly they had been pulled back in such a way. At least... Robin shook her head. Luffy was on her execution platform. There was nothing she could have done that would have ended them back up here, right?

"The gold... is in the eye of the skull!" She was drawn from her thoughts by the man's drunken words. Cricket crouched over her, looking at the Log book in her hand, which she had reached the final page of. "That was... the last thing he wrote on the tearstained page. He was executed that day."

Robin smiled at him, her own small reassurance that she believed him. But the truth was not to be revealed yet. Apparently, Luffy didn't agree.

"Eye of the skull?" Luffy said, scratching her nose as she looked at the man. She had even paused in her eating. Cricket nodded.

"Who knows what the fool was talking about. He-"

"You say that monstrous current is really strong right? What if it knocked the city of gold up into the sky instead of sinking it?"

Luffy's words caused everything to fall silent around her, and her crew gaped at her. What... was she even suggesting? Had those words really come out of her mouth?

Luffy paid no heed to the multitudes of eyes on her, and picked at her nose as she continued. "This Jaya place looks kinda like a skull's mouth, doesn't it? What if the rest of the skull got knocked up and that's why you haven't been able to find anything? Because it never sank, it just got knocked up onto that mystery cloud you mentioned!"

Nami was the first to recover, pulling out the map that Sabo had given her, along with a map of Jaya she had recovered. She quickly lined them up, looking even more puzzled when it worked. Luffy was right. The two together really did look like a skull, glaring at them from tattered paper.

Ace and Sabo were staring at their sister with confused looks on their face, and it was no wonder. She had never been the brains of any operation and this... It was impossible but yet...

Luffy grinned. "So I'll go up in the sky and ring the bell for you, okay? Then you don't have to fight with this Noland guy anymore!"

The next morning, while the three men got started on the ship, the crew got sent off to search for the odd looking creature known as the south bird. With no clue how to find it other than the knowledge of it's weird call, the eight pirates and one revolutionary set off to catch the bird that would ensure their trip to Skypeia.

With three nets to catch the birds, they quickly divided into groups and set off to find the creature. Nami, Sanji and Usopp took off first, Nami practically dragging the coward behind her. Robin offered to accompany Chopper, who willingly went off with her, although he dragged Zoro along. This left the three siblings to go off hunting alone, although it turned into more of a friendly walk.

Ace was watching his sister carefully as she bounced around, chattering excitedly about her adventures. She told them, as they listened patiently, about how she had bribed Zoro to join her crew, enlisted Nami as a navigator and later saved her from Arlong, defeated the Kuro pirate scum who had threatened Usopp, managed to catch herself the best cook ever, fought an awful king to help Chopper, and saved Robin's life after Crocodile's defeat. Sabo looked more than a little worried as she told him about Robin, but didn't say anything. She was, after all, just as much as sister to him as Luffy was, despite lacking a childhood of bonding time.

Thinking of brothers... Sabo turned and grinned at Ace, whose smile quickly slipped off of his face, looking at his brother with a worried expression.

"I haven't had the chance to ask. How's your boyfriend?" Sabo asked. "Last time I visited, Pineapple couldn't even kiss you without you going up in flames. Literally."

Ace's smirk faltered at the word, a heat spreading across his cheeks in a way Luffy had never seen before. "Ne? Ace... Your face is all red. Are you sick-"

"Shut up!" Ace snapped, and Luffy looked taken aback for a whole moment before recovering. She burst into laughter when she realized what exactly was happening to Ace.

"Ace is blushing!"

"I said, shut up!"

"You still haven't answered my question," Sabo teased, glancing back at Ace. "You know, you're lucky. He's just about the only person that might be able to put up with you. What, with setting everything aflame on the regular. Anyone who dates you needs some freakish healing ability."

Ace scowled, "I haven't spoken to him since I left. He said he won't talk to me until I come back."

"Oh, the drama!"

"At least I'm not too chicken to tell him how I feel. You can't even tell the girl you love her!"

Sabo fell silent almost instantly, his face turning more grim, more serious, then Luffy dared to recall. "You know it's not that easy, Ace."

"Because of her past, yadda yadda," Ace muttered, giving his brother a half glare. "Koala has more balls than most pirates on this sea. She can handle it." Ace rolled his eyes, before batting his eyelashes childishly. "Besides, she's totally into you."

"I hate you sometimes."

"As if I haven't heard that one before. But the point still stands. You're stuck dreaming 'bout a girl you'll never confess to, and I'm the one with Marco... who is really winning here?"

Sabo glared at his brother, giving him a hard push on the shoulder. "You know, your devil fruit suits you. Not only are you are hot headed bastard with a fiery temper, but you're also positively flaming."

"I'll have you know..." Ace let out a huff, crossing his arms and just about to continue his sentence when,

"Look! Ace! Sabo! It's a Miyama beetle!" Luffy bounded up to them, a collection of creepy crawlies trapped within her rubbery grasp. She held them up, beaming widely.

She hadn't even heard a word of their conversation. Go figure.

"You haven't changed a bit," they both muttered in a deadpan unison, watching as she released the bugs and the creatures quickly made their escape. The captain scowled and went off searching for some more, peeking beneath rocks and pulling up stumps. The two brothers followed, occasionally bickering as they made sure Luffy didn't get too lost within the forest.

"I found a Hercules beetle! Come check it out!"

The two brothers entertained her, letting her poke at it with a stick she had found. The beetle quickly grew agitated, crawling off before it faced further torment at the hands of the ability user and her weapon of choice. It reminded Ace of the swordsman, with his bad temper and how easily he got annoyed at Luffy's poking and prodding. The thought caused him to grin as they continued walking.

"Hey, remember when Luffy used to just adore anyone who'd give her food? Follow them around and practically crush on them?" Ace laughed as Sabo's expression darkened protectively. Well, they only had a day left with the Straw Hat crew. Might as well make it last. "She used to be so easily won over... I feel as though her taste has sharpened a bit."

The hint was small, and seemed to fly right over the revolutionary's head.

"I don't know... That cook seems like a pretty suspicious character," Sabo started, his thoughts of the flirtatious cook quite obvious in his expression. Ace had to stifle laughter as the man silently fumed, clenching his fists. Luffy wandered over, seemingly taking interest in their conversation for the first time. She was probably drawn in by the words 'cook' more than anything though.

"Huh... Luffy's more of a first come, first serve person, don't you think? Sanji was the fourth to join."

"First mates are important," Sabo said, missing yet another hint and changing the subject in one go. Luffy, realizing they were not talking about food, went back to hunting beetles. She seemed to have entirely forgotten the intention of their mission, or simply didn't care. "She chose one with a good, strong dream. Not sure how I feel about that Usopp kid though... You don't think she's... with Usopp... I mean?"

Ace had to laugh this time. It was just impossible not to. Usopp? With Luffy... "I feel like he's not her type. She's probably more into the hardheaded, sometimes violent kinda person."

Sabo frowned as he thought, but didn't seem to pull up any answers. After many moments of thoughtful silence, he turned to Ace. "Do you think she's into girls? I mean, you're right... Do she and Nami...?"

This time, Ace simply gave up with an irritated sigh. Clearly, nothing he could say would make it click in Sabo's head. Protective, he might be, but that didn't mean he wasn't slow on the general uptake of the subject.

"Jiyooooooo~!"

The ship was over half complete when the three groups found each other again and returned to the house. Robin, in a multitude of arms, held a wildly thrashing and angry bird that refused to calm down, whilst Luffy stood calmly with a south bird upon her shoulder.

"You're a show off, y'know that, right?" Usopp muttered, looking covered in hives, and maybe a few spider bites. Chopper quickly ran to patch him up, along with Nami and Sanji who didn't seem to have faired much better. Robin simply smiled, releasing the pissy bird. It quickly disappeared in the depths of the forest whilst Luffy's nuzzled her cheek.

Her two brothers, both having had wasp nests dropped only them while not paying attention, shot the unscathed girl a hard glare. She only smiled at them and pet the awkwardly seated bird, who made an unusual cooing noise.

After the majority of the crew were patched up, they quickly set to work on fixing up the ship. With twelve people working on it, it was quickly repaired enough to set sail for Skypeia the next day.

The crew was cheerful as they celebrated into the late night, eventually drifting off as they dreamed about what awaited them above the clouds. The three siblings stayed up, revelling in each other's presence. After all, the seas were dangerous and these moments... They wouldn't always be able to have them. Luffy knew this more than either of them, having lost Sabo, then Ace, and then losing Sabo again. She visibly shuddered when she remembered her execution, reminding herself that it was not just her nakama whose bodies littered the ground, but her friends and family as well.

"I'm gonna go get some fresh air," Luffy said as quickly as the thoughts rose in her mind, not wanting to draw her brother's attention too much. It seemed to work well enough, and Sabo watched her leave as Ace dropped off due to a narcoleptic fit. She stepped outside, breathing in the cool, salty air that caused her to relax almost immediately.

The south bird cawed at her as she wandered towards the shore, before landing softly on her shoulder. She smiled and laughed, stroking the bird's beak before climbing onto the Merry, now decorated as though it were a chicken.

Easily, she clambered onto the Merry and laid down, facing the starry sky. The south bird gave a squawk of protest before settling on one of the ears and watching the pirate captain.

"Merry..." Luffy spoke, her voice soft and unheard over the lapping waves. "I'm glad I got to see you again. It was... It was really hard to say goodbye..." Luffy took a deep breath, running small circles over the wood, remembering when Ace used to comfort her in the same way. "I tried to take care of you better this time. I didn't break off the mast to fight Laboon. And I won't jump on the octopus and deflate it. I know..." Luffy forced herself to breath again. She knew she wasn't just talking to Merry, but all of her nakama. She had failed them all the first time... Still, there were some things you can't change. "I know it hasn't helped that much... But, maybe... Maybe you can make it to Franky, and he can take care of you better. Give you a better goodbye. But you need to hold out until Water 7, okay?"

There was silence, where nothing could be heard except the calming waves and gentle breeze. After a few moments, the sounds of foot steps echoed across the deck of the Going Merry. The presence was familiar, but not one of her crew or her brothers. Luffy scowled.

"Go away Aiyume, I'm not in the mood," Luffy snapped. The footsteps came to a halt, but the presence didn't disappear. Luffy's scowl faded slightly as she hoisted herself up, but nothing could prepare her for what she saw.

She was nothing more than a child really, her entire as shimmery and yet solid as Aiyume was. But she wasn't Aiyume. No, this girl was dressed in a sailor suit with a hammer in hand. One look, and Luffy understood. This girl was no stranger, despite the fact she had never seen her before. Not in this form, at least.

"M-Merry?"

The girl gave her captain a shy smile as the pirate slipped from the figurehead to the deck, landing on her butt. The expression was beyond shocked, even disbelieving.

"Hello, Captain..."

The small girl stepped forward, dropping down in front of the downed Captain, smiling all the while. It was a sad smile, but one full of love. Luffy wasn't quite sure if she was really seeing this all, or if it was a bad dream.

Then Merry reached out and touched Luffy's face, and it came crashing down on the pirate that this was very, very real. Merry's hand, cold against her cheek, was surprisingly solid despite the ship's shimmery state of being.

"It's okay, you know. Robin told me about everything..." The spirit of their ship laughed. Robin might not be happy that she had exposed this secret, but she didn't pay it any heed. The woman who was usually so strong and silent, talking to a ship... but Merry had listened, loved hearing the adventures and tales, even about Sunny. "I'm glad that I could sail with you. You guys are my family, and I will make the voyage again and again, for all of you."

Without thinking, Luffy pulled the spirit into a tight embrace, letting the tears fall freely as she apologized, and then apologized again. The captain snotted and bawled, muttering apologies and thank you's between the sniffles. Through it, Merry simply held onto her captain like a lifeline, whispering small reassurances. Merry understood the captain was not crying about her, not completely. She was crying about everything she had been put through up until this point. The pain of losing everyone, of being given a new chance, and with it, the fear of failing. Her captain was scared. Scared of the future and what awaited her, of what would become of her crew after Aiyume claimed her... And Merry could do nothing but hold her and give her this small comfort.

There was the sound of cruel laughter, and Luffy found her arms empty without any warning. She stared at her lap, before wiping the wetness from her face. The laughter sounded again and she looked up, only to come face to face with none other than Bellamy.

"Not so big and powerful now, are you?" Bellamy taunted, and his crew echoed with laughter behind him. "It was destined to happen, that he'd just use you and leave you to fend for yourself. That's what they're all like. And now what are you going to do? Helpless and weak, filled with useless dreams and an impossible goal... And now you're alone... Left for dead."

Luffy's eyes narrowed on Bellamy, although she didn't understand half of what he was saying. No one had left her, after all... With his attitude, it was easy enough to remember that this was not the Bellamy she befriended in Dressrosa, but she was still taken off guard when he suddenly moved forward, grabbing the rubber pirate's hands.

"See, I came to take that old fool's gold, but you know... Why not two birds with one stone?" Bellamy asked, and Luffy scowled at the man. His grip on her was almost nothing, but she didn't want to start any fights. Not on Merry, where the ship could get damaged after finally getting fixed up. "I'll make you a deal. Since that idiot left you, and you clearly have no protection, I'll let you join me. We can protect you, unlike your useless crew. Might as well kill them. They won't be any use. You can take the ship and come with us."

Join his crew? He hadn't mentioned anything like that the first time? What had changed in this timeline so much? It really couldn't be because she was, well, a girl... Could it?

Wait... Kill her crew? She knew they couldn't possibly, but the thought sent anger coursing through her.

"Get the hell off of my ship," she spat, the words dripping with venom as she gave him a deadly glare. The pirate took a step back, and his crew didn't hesitate to scurry off of the small deck. Only Bellamy and Sarkies stayed. When they didn't move, she repeated herself, this time louder and angrier.

"Luffy? Is everything alright?"

She could swear she saw the entire crew, including the captain and first mate, go pale upon hearing the two men call out to their sister. The two blinked wearily as they adjusted to the darkness, before processing what was going on.

The two were at her side in an instant, but she gave them a steady glare.

"Stop it. I can take care of myself, you two," she told them, before pulling her hands out of Bellamy's grip with an easy tug. It was obvious how much it shocked him that she was able to do that. He wasn't the only one horrified either. She could feel their eyes on her as she stood slowly, her straw hat shading her eyes, and she took a deep breath. Her body shuddered once, still racking from the tears she had shed with Merry. When she finally looked up, even Ace and Sabo were taken aback by the glare, along with the power rolling off of her in waves. "I said, get off of my ship. If you want a fight, you can have one. Just not where my ship will be hurt."

Bellamy looked shocked for a moment, before straightening. He glanced at Ace and Sabo, who glared back. "When I beat you?"

Luffy followed his eyes and let out a huff. "They know how to stay out of someone else's fight. You threatened my nakama and it is my job to defend them."

"And the old man's treasure?"

Luffy scoffed. "He's my friend as well. I won't let you take his important treasure."

Bellamy hopped off of the ship, followed by Sarkies and her brothers. They, in any other situation, would have destroyed this punk already, but as it was... If what Luffy said was true, she was simply defending her nakama. They could not step into this fight.

Of course, they didn't have to either. As soon as they had stepped off the ship, and the threat of harming Merry was gone, Luffy had no hesitation. Bellamy had leapt forward, completely intent upon taking her out, only to be down and out with a single punch. While his crew urged him to stand, they eventually fell silent. Sarkies was the exception.

"Bellamy! Stand up! You can't be taken down like this! What happened to Bellamy the Hyena? The Big Time Rookie? You couldn't be taken down by... by someone's pet! That's all she is! Get up, Bellamy!"

Ace and Sabo had become disinterested, until they heard Sarkies' desperate words. Both of them turned at the same time, sending Sarkies a glare that would cause even a New World pirate to at least shit themselves. Sarkies paled beneath the look, while Luffy only looked confused.

"Ace? Sabo? What's he talking about?" She muttered, tilting her head. She got no reply. Instead, she turned back to the collapsed body of Bellamy, crouching down and poking at it hesitantly. His head was half lodged within the dirt, something she doubted would go unnoticed by her crew the next day. She hoped she didn't hit him too hard. After all, with Doffy out of the way, he really wasn't all that bad. Right now, he was still a mindless puppet. She reached out, grabbing his collar and hauling him out of the mini crater. "Oi, you," she snapped at Sarkies, who jumped at the directness. "Take him and fix him up. I don't think I hit him too hard..."

She threw the unconscious man at his first mate, watching as the man stumbled backwards beneath his sudden weight. Without her having to say another word, he was stumbling away, the loyal crew on his heels as they hastily returned to their ship.

"I'll never understand you," Sabo muttered, sighing before turning around. While he was well aware that Luffy could take care of herself - and she really could, she had handled the situation perfectly - he still worried. The scene he had walked into hadn't helped in the slightest. Luffy only grinned and laughed, following her brother's back into the small house. The three soon ended up passed out together, Luffy firmly grasping Ace and Sabo's hands within hers as she slept.

The next afternoon was a rush of preparing for the knock up stream. They had exhausted more of their supplies than they had originally planned when they had partied through the night, and needed to restock. It wasn't all that difficult, although Luffy constantly drifted away from her duties to rejoin her brothers. This was her last day with them, the day they parted ways. She wasn't ready for them to leave and begged more than once for them to tag along to Skypeia. She was rejected each and every time.

She still tried though, knowing well enough that this might be the last time she sees Ace before Impel Down. She knew she could save Ace this time, perhaps even avoid the war altogether, but that wouldn't stop her constant worrying. What if Blackbeard chose to kill him on the spot? There were too many possibilities, too many things that could go wrong. She didn't want to think about it.

When the time finally came to say goodbye to her brothers, she was more than tearful. She was openly bawling, clinging onto her brothers in a last minute, desperate attempt to get them to come along. They simply slapped her rubbery limbs away, and offered up two pieces of paper. One had a small 'A' on it, and the other a small 'S'. She silently pocketed them with a promise to meet again soon.

Then they were off in the dangerous waters, heading towards the whirlpool that could very well be their end or one of their biggest adventures. Ace and Sabo watched them go, watched the ship grow smaller and smaller. They didn't stick around long after the current took them into the sky, instead turning and walking along the shore towards the town where Sabo's ship was still docked.

Somewhere along the way, Ace revealed Luffy's relationship to Sabo, who, should he have the devil fruit Ace was cursed with, would have turned into a pillar of angry flames. As it was, all he could do was let out frustrated noises as he threw a mini hissy fit. Eventually, Ace calmed him down and they returned to their silence.

When Sabo spoke up once more, it was laced with concern. He knew, from the moment he had met up with Ace and Luffy, that something was off, but he also knew it was not something Ace would discuss in front of their sister. "What's wrong, Ace?"

Ace didn't answer for a long time, before looking up at the sky with an almost lost look in his eyes. "I told you I was chasing Blackbeard because he killed a crew mate."

"Thatch, right?" Sabo asked, looking a bit puzzled. Ace nodded.

"He's alive, or, I hope he still is. His condition was pretty bad last time I saw him. For some reason, Marco seemed to know it was going to happen... He was there when Teach attacked Thatch, he saved him, and he said... Marco said, 'I hoped this time would be different.'" Ace took a deep breath, shuddering slightly as he remembered it. "He's been having dreams, he claims. But his attitude... he's been more protective than usual."

"More?"

Ace let out a frustrated sigh. "Yes, more! Of both Pops and I. He managed to save Thatch and tried to keep me from going after Teach. Teach nearly killed him, Sabo. You can't kill a phoenix and yet..."

"Calm down," Sabo urged, not wanting his brother to get overly worked up. "What else?"

Ace glanced at Sabo. "I couldn't help but notice... The way he worries, his reaction to seeing me and pops, the way he acts and talks... It's exactly the same way Luffy has been these last few weeks."

Hope I kinda did it justice oops.

So if you read Of Straw and Steel, my other femLuffy story, you'll know that my iPad keyboard recently quit on me. So basically, as it is my only device, everything has been writting on either a cell phone or an on screen keyboard. I'll come through and possibly rewrite some of this when I get my new keyboard but for now, here is the promised update.

From now on, I'll be updating this story on the first of every month. If I get enough writter, I might start updating twice a month but that depends a bit on my schedule since I'm a full time worker. And I am always exhausted. Haha!

Also, during November, I'll be participating in Nanowrimo... I'm always looking for writing/nanowrimo buddies if anyone is interested!
This also means that any updates during Novemember will probably be this week, but they'll definitely happen. And since I update it on the first, this will definitely be updated again on the first.

Pinky Promise. I hope.

Anyway, I hoped you enjoyed this chapter!