Ultimate Fruit

It took a while but after a series of life-threatening scenarios under the ocean, the crew managed to reach the surface safely.

The water exploded as the ship resurfaced and the coating around the ship also popped after completing its job.

The whole crew started to sigh in relief upon seeing the familiar blue skies once again.

Usopp clung to the railings with tears running down his eyes.

“Thank god Lucas is with us...if not for him, we’d be dead by now…”

Hearing him, Lucas smiled wryly.

Actually, even without him, they would still reach the surface somehow. Usopp is simply exaggerating…

Nami quickly recovered and looked at her log pose.

“This isn’t the time to relax! We’re now in the New World, who knows what sort of dangers are in this part of the ocean! Franky! Turn right!”

Nami wanted to take advantage of this moment and quickly divert their ship’s destination. However, she was still underestimating Luffy’s will to go to a dangerous island!

Luffy looked at her log pose as well and immediately dismissed her order.

“Franky! Straight forward! To adventure!”

“No! Didn’t you hear what they said!? The more unstable the needle, the more dangerous the island! I say go to the most stable island!”

“I second that vote!”

Nami and Usopp started to pinch Luffy’s cheeks hard but as he is made of rubber, he didn’t care about it and still pointed ahead.

“Forward!”

“...”

Lucas looked at everyone else but they all went on their own ways already.

Zoro started to head to the training room, Sanji to the kitchen, Kaya and Chopper to the clinic, and Brook was simply playing the violin without care.

Robin took Luna to the lounge and played with her.

Seeing Luffy being pinched, Hancock was angry and started to pinch Nami and Usopp as well.

As for Franky, he stood there holding the wheel and didn’t know what to do…

Lucas sighed and patted Nami who was about to start a catfight with Hancock.

“Just let him go to where he wants and have his fill of adventure. This is still just the starting point in the New World. Believe me...there are plenty more dangerous islands here.”

“...”

Nami was speechless and started to doubt whether it was the right choice to marry this bastard or not…

Eventually, Nami gave in and Usopp was dragged somewhere by Kaya. Franky sighed and held the wheel as the ship sailed forward.

Suddenly, a large shadow loomed over them. Everyone looked up to look and saw a huge floating island!

A slender figure slowly floated down and smiled.

“Everyone, you finally made it here. Welcome to the New World!”

Lucas saw her and smiled as well.

“Long time no see, Nojiko.”

“Lucas, thankfully, you're alive…”

Nojiko saw Lucas as well and smiled. She was with Nami when they heard of his supposed ‘death’ in the past. She was even prepared to convince Nami to stop being a pirate so she can raise her child safely.

That time, Nami even asked her if she also liked Lucas. Of course, Nojiko denied it at that time. But seeing Lucas now alive and well...there seem to be some inexplicable feelings that were brought up in her as well.

Nojiko shook that thought away when she saw a ring on Nami’s and Lucas’ finger.

“I heard you and Nami finally got married. Congratulations!”

Nami flinched when she heard that and felt that Nojiko seemed angry. After thinking about it, it’s probably because she went and got married without her sister there…

Thinking of this, Nami quickly hugged Nojiko’s arm and smiled cheekily.

“Hehe, sister. I’m sorry I didn’t get to invite you...it was a spontaneous decision and we didn’t know where you are…”

“Hmph! You still know to call me sister!?”

“Sister, how about we do another celebration on your island! I bet the view there is even better than in Fishman Island!”

Nojiko pouted for a bit but still smiled in the end and hugged Nami back.

“Alright, let’s head up first and talk later. We still need to tell you guys a few things about the New World before you start your adventure. Besides, I have a wonderful surprise for you, Nami!”

“Surprise? Ah!? It can’t be, did you also get pregnant!?”

Nojiko stumbled when she heard that and shouted back at Nami with her face red.

“W-what are you saying!? You're the only one who got pregnant here!”

Nojiko sighed and looked over at Lucas for a second before turning away.

“Anyway, let’s go. There are people waiting for us.”

This time, it was Luffy who started to pout.

“I don’t wanna! I want to go on an adventure now!”

Lucas patted his shoulder and spoke the magical words.

“There will be a party.”

“Party! Let’s go!”

“...”

Nami sighed after seeing how easy Luffy was able to be controlled while Hancock seemed to be taking some notes…

Nojiko just smiled and touched the ship. Afterward, the ship started to float and she was able to control it to land on the floating island. There, a familiar group of people approached them while being led by someone.

Lucas saw Kohza and laughed.

“Kohza! It’s been a while!”

“Lucas. It’s good that you are safe as well.”

Kohza smiled back and shook Lucas’ hand.

Lucas turned to the others and saw that everyone was still here.

The former CP9 group, the people from Barattie, Makino, Koushiro, even Doctor Kureha who he hasn’t met yet.

However, there are also some other new people.

Seeing a familiar woman in front of her, Nami’s eyes widened in surprise!

“Belle...mere…!?”

“Nami…”

Nami’s eyes started to form tears as she ran and hugged Bellemere. Soon, Bellemere also cried and Nojiko joined in on the hug as well.

Lucas smiled warmly at the three. It seems Shanks was able to save her as well. But if the timeline had changed, why does Nami not know she was alive till now?

Kohza walked over to Lucas and explained.

“A few days after Nami left Weatheria, a person arrived on our island along with Bellemere and another one.”

“Shanks?”

Kohza looked at Lucas in surprise.

“You knew?”

“Uhh, it’s a long story...anyway, what did he say?”

“Well...he said that a certain man had told him to look after a few individuals.”

“Let me explain.”

Suddenly, Bellemere spoke and removed herself from Nami and Nojiko.

She looked at Lucas from head to toe. It seems she already heard from Nojiko about this guy who made Nami pregnant…

Lucas felt a bit awkward about being stared at by his mother-in-law and kept quiet as he waited for her to speak.

After a while, she sighed and explained.

“Back then, when Arlong arrived with his goons, because we couldn’t pay the protection fees, he pointed a gun at my head.”

Lucas looked at her head and there, he saw a nasty scar on the right side of her forehead. It seems the bullet didn’t hit her brain dead center…

“As you can see, the bullet did go through by skull but I managed to dodge it by a bit...of course, this was still enough to cause my death. That time, when they discovered Nami was able to draw sea charts, they took her away…”

Nami bit her lip when she recalled those events. Nojiko continued to hug her as well.

“Gen-san was injured on the face and Nojiko also tried chasing after them...I was left alone with the doctor when someone arrived and said that he can cure me. Gen-san saw this as well and made a decision. Afterwards, he arranged an empty grave for me so Arlong would be fooled as well.”

“Bellemere...who’s that person who came?”

Nami asked.

“It was Shanks. He was still a kid that time. But since Gen-san was out of options, he’d chosen to believe in him instead of leaving me to die. Shanks took me in and sent me to a guy who had a flower on his head.”

“Flower? Ah! Is it the old man Crocus!?”

Luffy remembered the strange old guy they met in the twin capes back when they arrived in the Grand Line.

He could vaguely remember him saying he was once a doctor on a pirate ship before.

Lucas was the one who nodded at him and explained.

“That’s right, if it’s old Crocus, then he can indeed treat Bellemere in her condition. He once sailed on Roger’s ship after all.”

“What!?”

Bellemere ignored the shocked Luffy and continued.

“Actually, this is all something Shanks explained to me after I woke up. The truth is, I had lost my memories back then. I’ve been under his care for a while now. Only recently did I regain my memories. We went back to Cocoyashi village but neither Nami or Nojiko was there. Gen-san said that the two of them were now pirates...can you believe it? I, a former marine officer, have two pirate daughters…”

Hearing that, both Nami and Nojiko laughed wryly and didn’t know how to explain. Lucas also scratched his head in embarrassment. Nami was one thing, but he was actually the one at fault for making Nojiko a pirate as well…

Bellemere sighed.

“After that, I asked Shanks to help me find them. Eventually, we found Nojiko here in this floating island.”

“Oh yeah, did Shanks say anything when he saw this floating island?”

“...He cursed you a lot saying how convenient it is for you…”

“...”

“He also asked me to tell you to find him when you have the time.”

“Well...someday then.”

“...”

Bellemere glared at him and shook her head.

“Anyway, by the time I got here, Nojiko said that Nami had just left. Since you all will be arriving in the New World, we figured we’d just wait here for you. But…”

“But?”

Bellemere suddenly walked over to Lucas and grabbed his ear.

“...Damn brat, I heard you married my daughter in Fishman Island!? Did you even ask me whether I agree to it yet!?”

“Ah!?

Actually, it didn’t really hurt Lucas when she pulled his ear, but if he acted like that, he thinks Bellemere will only get even angrier at him...at times like this, you just have to pretend that it hurts to calm down the angry mother-in-law…

Nami also tried to pacify her.

“M-mother, stop it! At that time, we didn’t know you were still alive…”

“You might not, but this one definitely knows!”

“W-wait! I really didn’t know! That time, I only asked Shanks to keep an eye out for you. I didn’t know he was able to save you!”

Nami turned to look at Lucas in confusion.

“...Lucas? What did you mean…?”

“I...uhh, I told you where I was in the past 2 years, right? Before, I didn’t know when I would be able to return...so I asked Shanks to look after a few people. Otohime and your mother were an example…”

Bellemere had already removed her hand from his ear. Lucas sighed in relief and continued.

“I know...that you love your mother a lot...so I thought...maybe I-”

Before he could continue, Nami’s lips were already planted on his!

Bellemere glared at the two but sighed in the end as she knew she can’t really break the two apart while Nojiko looked at the two of them and bit her lip.

“Thank you...Lucas…”

“A-ahem. Well...it is what I should do…”

Suddenly, Lucas seemed to remember something as he asked Bellemere.

“Right! Olvia…Nico Olvia! Did Shanks also get to save her!?”

Robin heard the name of her mother and was also hopeful in her heart. She felt jealous seeing Nami reunite with her mother yet she…

However, when she heard her mother’s name from Lucas, she knew that he didn’t ignore her as well.

But...reality was cruel.

Bellemere shook her head at Lucas’ question.

“Sorry...I’ve been in Shanks crew for a while, but I didn’t know any going by that name in his crew.”

“...I see…”

Lucas turned to look at Robin to explain himself but Robin shook her head.

“...It’s fine, Lucas...you already showed me that video of her...I’m already satisfied with that.”

“Robin…”

“I’ll go get Luna.”

“...”

Lucas was about to go after her but Nami stopped him.

“Lucas, let her go for now...she probably wants to be alone for a moment.”

“Well...okay…”

The atmosphere turned gloomy all of a sudden and no one knew what to say. Suddenly, Luffy shouted.

“Hey, where’s the party!?”

“...”

Kohza smiled wryly and led the group inside their base.

“Alright. I’m sure you all have a lot of catching up to do. For now, let’s all go inside.”

“Then we party!”

“...Then we party.”

“Woo!”

Just as they were heading inside, a familiar figure approached them with a cheerful voice.

“Father! Is that idiot Zoro here yet!?”

“Geh-!? Why is a marine here!?”

Zoro saw this person and felt she looked exactly like Tashigi. However, he suddenly remembered what this woman just said.

Koushiro smiled warmly at the woman and laughed.

“Haha, this isn’t Captain Tashigi. Have you already forgotten her, Zoro?”

“...Don’t tell me…!?”

Instead of looking at his master Koushiro for confirmation, he turned to Lucas instead.

He had heard their discussion earlier regarding Nami’s supposedly dead mother. Does this mean…!?

Lucas nodded as well. He looked at Kuina who looked similar to Tashigi only, unlike Tashigi who had long hair after the 2 year timeskip, Kuina maintained her short hair which was cut at shoulder length. She also don’t have glasses like Tashigi.

“Well, I also asked Shanks to look after Kuina...it seems he was able to save her too.”

Koushiro nodded as well.

“Un. When Kuina fell on the stairs in the past, she was barely breathing. It was a good thing Shanks was passing by and his crew was visiting the dojo at that time so his ship’s doctor was able to administer first aid immediately. Afterwards, Shanks asked me if he could take her to the Grand Line for further treatment. I agreed. She just got back along with Bellemere.”

Hearing his explanation, Zoro was still confused.

“But but but...WHY DID YOU TELL ME SHE DIED!?”

“Ah. Haha, well, you were the one who arrived at that conclusion in the first place. I didn’t say that was the case. But seeing as it drove you further in the art of the sword, I never did correct you about it.”

“...”

Zoro started to question his life.

Lucas remembered something and asked.

“Hm? But what was that skeleton in the grave when I visited your island?”

“Oh, that was just a thief’s skeleton. That guy broke in our dojo. Kuina saw him and was about to chase when she fell down. So I hunted him and killed him.”

Koushiro explained with the same smile on his face.

“...”

What the hell!? There’s even that scenario!? Did that even happen in the original…!?

While Lucas was trying hard to recall it, Kuina grinned at Zoro and teased him.

“Hehe, I didn’t know you cared about me so much.”

“Sh-shut up! Who cares about you!? I was only irritated that I didn’t get to win against you before you disappeared!”

Zoro fell silent for a moment then removed a katana from his waist.

“Wado Ichimonji. Take it, it’s yours.”

Kuina looked at the katana for a moment before looking back up at Zoro.

“Keep it. You’re gonna need it in our fight.”

“Hah?”

Kuina turned around and looked at Zoro with a smile and slight blush.

“I didn’t just sit around all these years. Are you prepared to lose for the 2002nd time?”

“...Heh. What happened to you saying there is a limit to being a woman?”

Even though Zoro said it like that, he didn’t really mean to look down on her. Kuina also knows that Zoro is just messing with her.

“Are you going to use that excuse when you win? Ah, but you’ll lose anyway so don’t bother.”

“...Interesting.”

Zoro grinned and his eyes flashed. Kuina saw his look and blushed for a bit.

“Where do we fight?”

“...Follow me.”

As the two of them disappeared off to somewhere, everyone was silent.

Nami looked at their disappearing backs and spoke to Lucas.

“Hey, let’s make a bet.”

“Bet?”

“The winner gets to do something to the loser.”

Hearing this condition, Lucas grumbled.

“But I already get to do something for you all the time…”

“Ahem, I mean...when in bed.”

“What’s the bet about?”

Lucas took a complete turn and looked serious!

Bellemere looked at him with half-closed eyes and wondered if she should break his balls or not…

Nami smiled slyly.

“I bet Zoro’s gonna get laid tonight!”

“...”

Everyone was dumbfounded and recalled Kuina blushing earlier.

Koushiro’s hand suddenly touched his katana, still with the same smile, but he was already walking after Zoro and Kuina’s direction.

Seeing this, Lucas quickly reacted.

“I bet he won’t!”

“Ah! No fair! Uncle Koushiro! Don’t go there! Let’s have a party! Party!”

Nami’s face paled when she saw Koushiro headed over to where Zoro and Kuina were so she quickly pulled her away.

Lucas saw this and was speechless.