Canon Fodder

CHAPTER 147 SABAODY ARCHIPELAGO

After the night I awakened chakra in the girls I felt a hell of a lot better. Mika had once said that I was stronger with sex, and I tended to agree. My limbs barely hurt me as badly anymore and I was able to focus on my Jitte. Calling out my Kame Mode. Something I had stupidly forgotten to do before taking Kuma’s challenge. 

My body slightly healed and my energy back. I was able to get out of bed. Seeing the rest of the crew for the first time in what felt like ages. I wasn’t fully healed, but I was surely better. 

“Weston! What are you doing out of bed?!” Chopper yelled as I stepped into the kitchen. 

“Saying hi,” I said. “I’m feeling better.” He grumbled but demanded he change my bandages again. Once everything passed his inspection he let me walk around the ship. 

“Weston! What the hell did you do to us?!” Zoro asked angrily as I walked to the main deck. Sanji was with him. “We were ready to take that guy on.”

“I know, but we didn’t have a chance,” I said. “I kind of trapped you in an illusion.” 

“Weston! Send me back,” Sanji said. “I want to experience it again.” 

I laughed loudly, causing myself pain. I had set him up with 100 women to feed and worship him. “Some other time, I promise. Too weak to do it now,” I lied. Sanji grumbled but they were soon back to what they were doing. Robin and Nami joined us on the deck eventually and Luffy started demanding to know when we would leave. He had experienced everything Thriller Bark had to offer, and was now bored. 

Nami yelled at him, but we were soon saying goodbye to the prisoner pirates the others had made friends with over the last few days. We had robbed Moira of all his treasures and our secret safe was now filled with goodies to have appraised and sold. 

We cast off and were on our way, following the Log Pose. Over the next few days I started feeling better and better. I walked Robin and Nami through how to circulate chakra. It would build up inside them as it acclimated to their body. Moreso if they continued to circulate it in their bodies. Once the chakra amount was larger I walked them through moving it to other parts of their bodies to empower it. I knew we would be separated for some time so it was a good trick for them to learn on their own. 

I was almost back to my old self when the red rocky plateau of the Red Line appeared before us. A great long line of it that became larger and larger the closer we got to it. Nothing on the horizon in either direction I wasn’t sure which way to go. I remembered that in canon they had run into a mermaid and starfish, then the octopus guy took them to the next stop. But they weren’t anywhere to be seen. 

We stayed there for a few hours. The guys fished, some swam, and eventually I gave up waiting. Told Nami to head North. That was my best guess for where the Archipelago was. As we traveled I let the others know what they needed to know. 

“We are at the Red Line,” I said pointing to the top of the mountainous range. “This is Marie Geoise. The Holy Land. That is where the World Government’s top brass resides. Luffy, pay attention!” I yelled as he started picking his nose. He jerked up, pretending to listen. 

“That is also where the Celestial Dragons reside,” I added. 

“Dragons?” Luffy asked, excitedly. 

“Yes…real dragons- wait no you’d probably want to catch one then,” I mumbled. “Not real dragons,” I corrected. He groaned. “The Celestial Dragons are the descendents of the people that formed the world government.” 

“Wait, for real?” Nami asked, wide eyed. 

“Yes, and they are treated like gods,” I said. “You can find them pretty easily. They wear space suits and fishbowls over their heads.” Luffy was listening again. “Just because they don’t want to breathe the same air as us.” 

“Sounds like they could use a beating,” Zoro said. 

“I agree, they could,” I admitted. “But I wouldn’t recommend it.” I eyed all of the crew, even Brook. “The Celestial Dragons will be where we are going next. It is the closest place to their home turf. They kill, rape, and enslave anyone they want. If you see them, I recommend turning around and going the other way.” 

“What! Why?” Luffy asked angrily. 

“Because of the Buster Call,” I said, eyeing Robin. She stiffened with the name. “We are next to the marine headquarters. If it gets out that a Celestial Dragon was hurt. They will send every available marine ship, and a Fleet Admiral to kill anyone that touched them.” 

“That’s still not alright!” Luffy said angrily. “No one should be able to do that stuff to anyone!” 

“I agree,” I said. “I’m not going to tell you not to attack them,” I said. “But if you do. Make sure it’s worth it. If possible, make sure to do it when I’m there. I can make them fall asleep with my ninja magic.” 

“Fine,” Luffy grumbled. “But if you’re not. I’m kicking some ass.” 

“I would expect nothing less, captain,” I said with a sad smile. Robin and Nami eyed me. As soon as the meeting ended they had me cornered. 

“He’s going to do something, isn’t he?” Nami hissed. 

“Probably,” I said. “Then we will all have to skedaddle out of there.” 

“What if we don’t go?” Robin asked. She still had a lot of fear when it came to a Buster Call. 

“Then our journey stops here. This is the only place our ship can get coated to go to Fishman Island.” They both appeared worried. “Don’t worry, I made a bet with Kuma. I told him if I survived that stupid pain thing he had to help us escape the next time he saw us. If things go right, he will be here.” 

“That bastard?!” Nami cursed. “How can you trust him!?”

“He is part of the revolutionary army,” I whispered. “He works with Dragon.” 

“Luffy’s dad? Then why did he-” 

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “But he doesn’t want us caught. I think at Thriller Bark he was testing us. I passed his fucked up test, and now he owes me. He will help us escape. So go with the flow. We need to find someone to coat our ship. And we need to find a safe place for the Sunny to sit for a while. If everything goes right, it will be a long time till we are back here.” 

“This is so weird,” Nami whined. “You’re teasing us with so little information.” 

“Sorry, you know what I know. Little tidbits, here and there. A sense of an idea. If Kuma doesn’t show up, we are screwed,” I admitted. “Run for your life if you don’t see him.” 

“Ugh,” Nami whined. Robin surprised me by moving in for a kiss. It was quick, but much appreciated. 

“For luck,” she said, then walked away. 

I watched her go and looked to Nami. “I could use more luck.” The red head rolled her eyes but kissed my other cheek. I tried to grab her but she was scampering away to the helm to make sure we were on course. 

After an hour the trees came into view. It wasn’t a very large island. Overtop had a canopy of treetops. The base was grass covered roots that covered the area. “Welcome to the Sabaody Archipelago,” I said. “The trees are the island itself. But unlike mangrove trees that sink with the tide, these always stay on top of the water.” I put on my best tour guide voice for the others to hear as we drew closer and closer. “Notice the bubbles rising from below. They are a gas released by the roots of the trees. Be careful you don’t go inside. You will float up and up until the treetop canopy, then the bubble will pop and you will fall.” 

“Do we need to worry about the Log Pose attuning to the island?” Nami asked. 

“No, because it is all trees, there are no metals we have to worry about changing the charge on the Log Pose. We can stay here as long as we want,” I said. She nodded, taking the Log Pose off and resting it on one of the spokes of the helm, accepting her fate of not coming back for a while.

“Where should we lay anchor?” Robin asked. 

“I don’t think it matters,” I said. “We just pick a tree. You see how they have numbers on them.” I pointed to the closest one. “That’s GR 41 for Grove 41. We have to remember which grove we parked at.”

“Sounds simple enough,” Zoro said. Drawing the eyes of everyone. 

“Zoro, which grove are we at?” I asked, tempting fate. 

“You just said it,” Zoro scoffed. “Grove 4-T-1.” 

“Did your brain just focus on each syllable separately?” I asked, getting angry. “4-D-1. 41. The numbers, right there.” 

Zoro looked up. His eyes widened. “I knew that,” he lied.

“God dang it, we are screwed,” I said. Unsure how he finds his way back in 2 years. “I hear there is an amusement park on the island.” 

“What?” “Me first.” “I want to go!” “I know what I want to check out!” Usopp, Chopper, Brooke, and Luffy yelled out excitedly. 

“What about you?” Robin asked. 

“I am going to go look for someone that can coat the ship,” I said. “We need someone reliable so we can go to Fishman Island.” 

“What about-” Nami tried to say but I cut her off. 

“What about nothing,” I interjected. “We go about our days. Normally you 2 would go shopping on a new island. I am doubling your normal allowances. 200,000 berries each,” I said. Handing the money to the boys as they excitedly took it without question. “Go have fun. You deserve it after Thriller Bark.” 

“Yosh,” Luffy said excitedly. We dropped anchor and soon had our gangplank out over the water letting everyone go to the new island. 

“Are you sure about this?” Nami asked, worriedly. 

“I’m sure. We need to let things happen naturally,” I said. “The island isn’t too big. Just stay out of the Celestial Dragons way, and you will be fine.” 

“What about those idiots?” Nami asked. 

“If you try to stop them from having fun, they’ll do the opposite of what you want,” I said. “Go on. I’ll find someone to coat the ship. We can meet up later.” 

Franky decided to hang around the ship so we all disembarked. I was mostly healed from the damage Kuma put me through. I was a little lost to be honest. The octopus from Arlong’s crew was supposed to be there, explaining where things were. I just couldn't remember how the crew found him. I knew there was a mermaid and starfish involved, but not how. 

Without the octopus I wasn’t sure where to start. I wandered around a little, racking my brain for the information I needed. 

“Excuse me, is there a bar around here with a lady running it?” I asked a random old guy. 

“Know anything else to narrow it down?” The old guy asked. 

“Uhh she’s got an old guy for a boyfriend. Gray hair. Scar over his eye. She had black hair. Tan skin. Named Shaggy?” 

“No idea, kid,” he said. And I moved to the next person. 

Eventually someone offered “Shakky?”

“Probably.”

“Yeah she works a few groves over,” the lady said and gave me directions. I had hoped that was the end of my search. Until I heard a gunshot and yelling anyway. Of course I had to walk into a shitstorm Zoro was in the middle of.