Chapter Text
Several Months Later
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The Straw Hat Pirates were sailing away from the Land of Wano, after having successfully overthrown its tyrannical shogun and defeated the Emperor of the Sea, foremaly known as Kaido. Now setting fourth for the next island on their journey, one thing has been a constant since their time on Metrivia.
“New cards!” Luffy shouted, as he saw a familiar bird carrying a small package held together by string in its beak. Since that day, Luffy, Usopp, Robin and a few other Straw Hats have been obsessed with the One Piece Card Game. Every few weeks, Carta would personally send out a delivery pigeon with two boxes of the latest set she'd created. How the pigeon found the Straw Hats was thanks to giving Carta part of Luffy's vivre card, as she promised to give them new boxes each set. Nevertheless, the more excitable members always cheered and clapped when seeing that pigeon.
It gracefully landed on the ship's guard rail before dropping its package into Luffy and Usopp’s hands, before they ran off towards the kitchen. Robin stayed back to pay, as the money came out of their combined savings. Jinbe saw the boys run past and approached Robin, “Are these those cards I keep seeing the four of you playing with?” he asked.
“Indeed they are. We’ll be opening them in the kitchen. We’d love for you to join us.” Jinbe didn’t object and walked with Robin to the kitchen
The boys bursted threw the kitchen door open. “New cards!” they both shouted.
“Woah, really? Let me get some drinks prepared.” Sanji said, who was already in the kitchen.
“Did I hear someone say new cards have arrived?” Brook said, poking his head in.
This time the set was called Awakening of a New Era, and promptly featured Luffy's new Fifth Gear form prominently on the box, once again showing Carta’s favouritism.
“That's what you looked like when beating Kaido,” Nami said, now sitting next to Luffy.
“I know right? Isn't it cool?” Luffy tore off the plastic and opened up the boxes. 48 booster packs lay before them, the whole crew now gathered.
The Straw Hats had different reasons to show interest in these pieces of cardboard. They all loved the artwork and how they looked in the cards. Franky had a passing interest in the game, interested when new sets came out but not anything deeper. However Robin, Luffy, Usopp and Chopper had a great love of the game and its mechanics.
Nami mainly cared about the value of cards, which is why she was allowing the boys and Robin to spend their allowance on it. Zoro couldn't care less, but still acknowledged Luffy whenever he came running with a new favourite card.
Sanji and Brook liked all the cards with pretty girls on them.
Luffy and Usopp distributed the packs among the crew. Even if some didn't care much about the game, there was something oddly addicting about opening the packs of cards.
“What're you hoping to find Robin?” Chopper asked as he tore open a pack.
Robin thought for a moment. “Possibly some more cards for my Rebecca deck. It could be quite strong with a bit more support.” Robin had collected a variety of decks and cards based on more complex strategies. The fact the Rebecca leader couldn't attack was quite appealing in its challenge.
“I wonder when I'll get a Leader card?” Chopper wondered aloud. He'd been hoping for a Leader of himself for a while.
“We'll see what the next ones are at the end. Maybe you'll get one next set” Robin assured. Chopper smiled back.
“What about you Usopp?”
“Hoping for new cards for that Dolfamingo Leader last set. It just needs a few more cards to be what I think it can be.” Usopp still liked playing Kid, but he'd recently learned about stall decks. His Green and Purple Doffy deck was building up to be his favourite.
All the Straw Hats agreed that even if some of the people on the cards were evil, it shouldn't deter them from wanting to have fun. Hence Usopp's favourite deck being a villain.
“And you Luffy?” Chopper asked.
“There's supposed to be a Sabo Leader in this set. I wanna make a deck for him, and then we can play next time we see each other!” Luffy exclaimed. Luffy loved to make decks and collect cards with his favourite people on them. When an Ace Leader came to the game, he immediately wanted to make a deck. Eventually, he did. It felt like using Ace’s fire the way he burned through cards using the Leader ability.
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“Let me know if you find any of the shiny ones, kay?” Nami said, with Beri symbols in her eyes.
“Will do,” Usopp said dismissively.
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Sanji and Brook were going wild over the cards they'd managed to find. They were, of course, all pretty women. Belo Betty, Koala, Vivi, Nami, Robin, Hina, Tashigi. All of the works of art were beautiful and they couldn't get enough of them.
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Jinbe was opening his last pack. He was new to the crew, and wasn’t there long enough to know the ins and outs of crew dynamics. However he had seen the three youngest boys and Robin playing with cards quite frequently. What was more bizarre was it had their faces on them. And not just theirs, but several well known pirates and Navy officials. It intrigued him, and he was going to ask more about it, but was interrupted by the sudden delivery. “I see the appeal in opening these.” he said to no one in particular.
“It’s strangely satisfying,” Robin responded
When he got to the final card. It was a Luffy card, but it was quite shiny and even felt textured. He tapped Robin on the shoulder. “I can't tell if this card is good or not. But given it's look and feel, and the numbers on it, I imagine it's quite unique.”
Robin thanked Jinbe and took the card to read it over. It was Luffy in his Fifth Gear form (OP05-123). A 10-Cost, 12000 Power Character, with the ability “[On Play][DON-10] Return all your Characters to the bottom of their owner’s deck in any order. After this turn, you gain an additional turn after this one.” It also had a secondary ability to rest a DON!! to get a DON!!, but the main On Play was quite interesting.
“It seems to be quite unique. This artwork certainly fits that form Luffy took.” Robin smiled.
Jinbe laughed. “That's certainly true!”
Robin wondered what deck could possibly run this. Returning all your DON!! is quite the cost. However, getting another turn was quite powerful.
Actually, maybe Luffy could use this.
She turned to hit, holding out the card to Luffy. “Luffy, this card could make that Leader you want to use, much better.”
Luffy took the card and studied it. He took a second to gush about the art, but then read the effect.
He needed to ask Robin for some help understanding.
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After all the packs were open and the cards sorted, Robin pulled out a large binder they'd brought in earlier and opened it. Inside contained the entire collection of cards they'd collected over the months. They had a variety of cards from Commons to Parallel Art Secret Rares. Carta provided it to them before they left the island.
Aside from the cards they needed for their decks, Robin spent her time sorting them out the cards by color and type.
Finally, there was one last treat that the Straw Hats were privileged to see. A list of the new Leaders planned for the next set.
There was quite a cool selection. Including, “Hey Chopper, Robin! You guys get a Leader next set!” Usopp exclaimed.
“Really?!” Chopper explained.
“Yeah! Course I still don't have one.” He said gloomily. He then looked over to his captain, “And Luffy has like 5 already. I knew Carta liked him, but man.”
Luffy just giggled.
“I'm sure you'll get one soon. Or possibly a Sniper King Leader.” Robin said.
“Oh yeah, Sniper King! That card we got a while ago was so cool!” Luffy shouted.
Usopp laughed nervously, “Yeah, that would be neat.” He stuttered. “They got some good looking eff-” Usopp cut himself off, then his face morphed into one of annoyance. “Really? She made this guy a Leader?” The tone of his voice solidified his disdain.
“Who?” Luffy grabbed the sheet. “...Who’s this guy?” he said, pointing to a purple Leader card.
“Lemme see!” Chopper took the sheet. Upon seeing who it was, he froze. “N-no” he stuttered. “Not him.” The paper fell out of Chopper’s hands, and Robin picked it up. She saw who the other three were talking about.
“An interesting choice.” she said, “and his ability does match quite well.”
“Well yeah,” Usopp said, “but there’s way better people to choose from. I would’ve taken another Navy admiral over that guy.”
“Why, who is it?” Nami asked. Robin turned the flyer towards the remaining crewmembers.
Looking at it, Sanji, Nami and Zoro’s faces warped into chagrin, while Franky, Brook and Jinbe had to idea who they were looking at.
“This some guy you faced before we met?” asked Franky.
“You could say that,” Sanji said, exhaling a puff of smoke from his cigarette.
The room got tense for a moment, before Luffy sprang from his seat. “Who cares about that now! We got new cards to play with!” and just like that, the tension was broken.
“You’re right! I’m going to grab my deck and start thinking up combos!” Usopp turned to Robin, “and don’t think you’re off the hook just yet! I’m still gonna beat you on of these days.”
She smiled sweetly, “I look forward to it.”
“I believe I too am interested in learning this game.” Jinbe said, “I may not fully understand it just yet, but it looks to be rather fun.”
“You mean it! That’d be awesome. Jinbe!” Luffy exclaimed.
Nami rolled her eyes, but smiled, “And they’ve got another one.”
Jinbe laughed out loud, as did the other members. A game like this could bring people from around the globe together, and maybe one day, it just might.
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Meanwhile, somewhere in the New World, a ship sailed near the outskirts of the Land of Wano.
Its figurehead resembled that of a dog, but with pointier ears.
Its jolly-rodger was unsightly.
Inside the captain’s quarters sat a man, a woman and a large ape-like man. Their figures caked in shadow, with only the window providing light. The man, with a very distinct haircut, held a flyer containing future Leader cards for the One Piece Card Game. “It seems our time has come to strike back against the Straw Hats,” he said in a sinister voice, as he saw what cards were being released.
“Of course! Now is the perfect time to take back what’s rightfully ours!” the woman said.
“They won't know what hit’em. Poh poh poh!” the large man laughed while covering his mouth.
The man stood up, his face now shown in the light. The man with a 24 million beri bounty, and notorious Davy Back Fight contestant, Silver Fox Foxy!
“I’m coming for you, rubber boy. Feh feh feh!”
TO BE CONTINUED?