We had been sailing for only a day as a crew of four on two small boats. When, as the sun rose that morning and we prepared to continue on, Nami announced that we would be reaching an island by lunchtime at the earliest, as long as conditions were good.
I yawned and stretched as we got into our positions to continue sailing. We were all excited to hear the news of making land-fall soon.
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It was a little past mid-day by the time we reached the next island. Hopping out of the boat, we padded up the shore. Nami look about the island, as Zoro stretched next me saying "Finally on dry land again..."
I walked up to Luffy, as he looked around with a smile, and looped my arm with his and smiled just as happily back at him. "After we get something to eat, I'm going to take some time to give Ma a call since we're on land."
"Okay!" Luffy agreed, "But after we eat!"
Nami noted that there was a village just up head, although it looked to be pretty small.
Luffy looked down the road Nami had refenced, mouth-watering. "Oh! Meat, Meat! Meat, Meat, Meat! Mila, I want Meat!"
I laughed at how animated Luffy got at the idea of food, and confirmed that we would see if we could find some for him.
There was a rustling of leaves, that got my attention away from Luffy, and while Zoro yawned again, he also noticed, while saying, "Huh?"
Not a second later Zoro was reaching for his sword, tell the other people in our party that something was up, and that he sensed people.
Luffy looked over at him, then at me, and around the area, asking "Where?! Where?!"
I was watching the tree-line, as I nodded my head in agreement with Zoro. Moving away from Luffy and more toward Zoro, when..
Zoro, suddenly turned shouting, "Look out!" as Luffy hopped in place as the hidden assailant attacked, just where Luffy stood.
Luffy yelped while hopping back and forth, and trying not to get hit, he looked at me like he was in this situation because I moved away from him. Nami screamed slightly as she moved out of the way by going to take cover at the one of the small boats.
Just then, pirate flags abruptly started popped out of the foliage, waving in the wind.
Luffy shouted, "So Cool!" as he looked around us smiling.
Nami, popped her head out from her hiding spot on the boat behind us, "Is this the time to be impressed?!" she questioned, looking mad.
A laugh soon echoed down to us, cut off all conversation between us as we looked up to find a man with a pirate flag, black hair, and a long nose. His arms were crossed as he announced, "I am Usopp, leader of the great pirates who reign over this village!" Then he went on to boast more about himself... Oh Usopp... I thought with a laugh and a shake of my head.
I tilted my head to the side and raised an eyebrow, as I listened to Usopp start talking about his army of 80 million super-mean pirate soldiers.
Luffy yelled "Awwwssoommmee!"
Nami, Zoro, and I all sighed. Then Nami, looked up and asked 'Captain' Usopp herself if he was expecting us to believe that.
To which Usopp immediately panics, and giving away that he really didn't. Then he began asking himself how he could so dumb in getting caught, making me laugh as I looked over at Nami.
Luffy, now upset said, "What?! He was lying?!"
To which, Usopp then admitted that 80 million was a bit much, but that he still had lots under his control.
To which I responded with saying "Yeah Luffy he was lying. Although, I bet we'll find his three little vegetable friends in the bushed as well." Then pointed in the spot the three were hiding., Nami nodded in agreement.
Just then, three little kid faces popped into view over the bushes, screaming "They know!" To which the kids ran away scared, leaving Usopp on his own, calling after them.
Nami, now less scared, investigated the sand, finding small metal balls used in a sling-shot. Then going on to say that now she had seen it all, as she showed us what she had found and blowing off the sand.
Luffy laughed heartily, while saying, "That's pretty cool!"
Only for Usopp's pride to get pricked, as he got anger and told Luffy to shut his mouth or he would shut it for him. Usopp then began riffing though his pack, before pulling out his sling-shot and ammo. Telling us that it was our last warning.
Luffy frowned, tilting his hat over his eyes said seriously "Now that you've drawn your pistol, are you willing to use it?"
Usopp gasped at Luffy, as Luffy continued with his serious voice, "Guns aren't for threats, they're for actions. Are you willing to risk your life?"
I nodded seriously, as I thought about the man who said that.
Zoro chuckled but also agreed as he unsheathed his sword slightly, then said "I can assure you were are real pirates. Consider your next move very carefully."
Usopp with his arm still back, shaking ever so slightly. As he contemplated whether he would go though with it or not...
There was a breath...
A pause...
A rustle of the wind...
Then Usopp sunk to the ground from where he was standing. Ammo fallen to the ground as he said, "Gah. Real pirates definitely have a lot more punch behind their words, 'cause they can actually back 'em up!" Then sniffled, saying how cool that was.
Luffy and Zoro both smiled at Usopp's response, then laughed.
"I stole that!" Luffy said with a smile.
"Huh?" Usopp questioned back.
"I stole those words from man named Red Haired Shanks, Mila's Da and a pirate I know." Luffy confined wrapping his arm around me and tugging me to him side, as I looked up and waved.
"You know Red Haired Shanks? And he's your dad? You really are real pirates!" Usopp said in surprise. "You gotta be lying, are you really?"
"Yup! We know your dad too." I said pointing at me and Luffy. "His name's Yasopp right?" I asked with a smile.
"Huh?" Usopp said, before he began laughing, only to lose his balance and stumble down the cliffside to land in a hemp at our feet. He looked up at us saying that I was right, and that his dad's name is Yasopp, then asking how we knew him.
I smiled and walked forward to help Usopp stand up, while saying, "How about I tell you all about it, over some food. How's that sound?"
"Food!" Luffy shouted in excitement at the idea.
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As we made it to one of the only restaurants in town and sat, Zoro and Nami on one side of the booth, Luffy and I on the other, with Usopp at the head/end of the table.
As everyone started shoveling food, like we hadn't even in days. I began telling Usopp how we had meet Yasopp when we were just little kids.
Usopp then interrupted asking if his da knew Shanks, as I was about to respond, Luffy said, "Know him? When we meet your dad he was a part of Shanks' crew already."
I nodded, in agreement to what Luffy had said, taking another bite of my food.
"I can't believe it!" Usopp said in wonder, as he continued with "Sailing the high seas with famous pirates."
"I talked to Ma and Da a few islands ago, so I know he's still with them." I said after swallowing.
"Really?" Usopp asked.
"He was a heck of a sharpshooter!" Luffy said as he looked at the apple in his hands. "I'd keep him on my crew!" He laughed then, as I said how much Yasopp talked about his son.
Only for Luffy to agree, "Yeah, enough to make my ears bleed! Man, he's a great pirate!"
"Yeah? Really?" Usopp questioned back happily, then said how proud he was of his da and how brave Yasopp thought he was for becoming a pirate on the endless sea, filled with a life of real adventure.
After Nami was finished eating, she directed a question to Usopp, asking if he knew someone who could provide us with a decent ship or any one who knew how to sail.
Usopp sighed, "Well, it is a pretty small village..." Usopp looked away and out the window, "Sorry, but I just don't think we'll be able to help you."
"what about that huge mansion?" Zoro asked swallowing another mouthful of alcohol, and surprising Usopp. "The one on top of that hill over there." Zoro gesture out the window
Usopp swallowing loudly, as Nami asked if Usopp knew them, and if they would help.
Only for Usopp to grind his teeth, and demand that we stay away from there, and surprising the others at the table with his tone. He then panicked and said that he forgot something he had to do. Telling us to eat whatever we want, as he made a quick exit.
We all watched as he sprinted out the door, Nami questioned "Why was he in such a hurry to get outta here?" as she watched the doors swing behind Usopp.
I shrugged, "he has lying to do..." Grabbing an apple from the basket and standing up as well. "I'm going down to the beach area to call Ma, I'll see you soon." I said taking a bite from my apple.
"Mila?" Luffy asked around his own bite of apple and looked up at me.
I smiled, and thought for a moment. "I'll see you... Mmm... at the cliffside with Usopp. Okay Luffy?"
Luffy smiled widely, "Okay!"
I looked to the others sitting at the table, pointing a finger first at Zoro. "Be nice to little vegetable children, Zoro. Also, butler with glasses is a pretty mean guy, so don't get into too much trouble." I said with a wink, before making my way out of the restaurant. From the corner of my eye, I saw the three vegetable children trying to build up the courage to confront our table. All I could do was smile, as I took another bite and headed for the cliff spot Usopp was prone to visiting.
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(Location: Usopp's favorite spot at the cliffside)
Once in a comfortable position, I pulled out my baby transponder snail, and gave Ma a ring.
It didn't take more then two rings before I heard Ma's voice on the other end. "Mi-Mi?" She asked slightly out of breath, and panting.
"Yeah, it's me. Did I interrupt something important Ma?" I asked. Hearing what sounded like a drinking competition in the background.
"No, No, No! I had left the snail in the other room, when I heard it go off. So I ran to get it, how is your adventure going? Are you on the next island? I was starting to get worried when you hadn't called in a few days."
"Yeah, Luffy carried away by a bird so..." I conceded, smiling at silly memory.
"Oh My! That sounds like it turned into quite the adventure!" Ma said with a giggle.
"Yeah..." I agreed as I told her all about my adventures since last we spoke. We talked about Zoro and Nami, the newest members of our crew. Then about how we had just meet someone named Usopp.
This had Yasopp on the snail next to Ma in a heartbeat when he heard us talking.
By the end of the call, I had agreed to not only tell Usopp when I called next so that father/son could talk, but also to tell the new crew-members and Luffy "hello and be safe" from Ma.
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("The Weirdest Guy Ever! Jango the Hypnotist!")
I sat and waited for the arrival of Usopp, the sea was so peaceful. As I looked out at the waves crashing below, I started to sing. Positioned on a branch in the tree on the cliff, swaying my legs back and forth as the words from another world's memories and music filled my head.
There was ruffling from the bushes behind me, as Usopp's head finally popped out. "Oh! Was that you singing?" He stumbled forward and looked up into the tree, surprised. "How did you even get here? Why are you guys everywhere I go?" Usopp then started firing off questions as he can out of his daze, and into a defense.
I raised my hands up in innocent, a sly grin on my face, said "No need to be panic. Luffy and I agreed to meet up here," I said waving a hand around the area, "this is your favorite spot right?" I asked as I hopped down off the tree, and patted his shoulder. "And Usopp, don't listen to what cat-pirate butler guy said. He has no conviction or ability to keep his word. He just took how he feels about himself out on you."
"W-What?! C-Cat-P-Pirate?! How did you even know-" Usopp started firing question after question at me, only for him to be interrupted as a yelled "MILA!" came from out of the bushes, I moved my body slightly and watched as Luffy hurtled though them, jumping and wrapping his stretchy arms around me and bringing me toward him, and away from the cliff-edge next to Usopp.
"Luffy!" I said with a smile as I looked down to see Luffy's face buried in my chest and hugging me tightly. I placed a kiss on the top of his head as he whined about how long I was gone. Completely ignoring anyone around us. "I told I would be here." I said quietly as I patted his hair.
Usopp grumbled slightly, interrupting our moment to ask if we were done yet, I sighed and looked over at Usopp, then back at Luffy. "I'll tell you all about my conversation with Ma when we leave. But we should solve the problems here first. Okay?"
Then it was Luffy's turn to grumble and whined again, before letting me go, only to drape an arm over my shoulder and move his hat back onto his head, adjusting the string around his neck.
"Hey!" Luffy said then and looked over at Usopp, who was now even more defensive.
"Did you follow me? What do you guys want?" Usopp demanded right off the bat.
"He did. I did not." I said with a soft smile as I answered to first question.
"Oh, ya know, nothin." Luffy smiled and finished answering the second question as he prodded me forward, and sit on the ground near Usopp
Usopp only sighed, "I can't believe that butler! Insulting my old man like that!"
I turned to look at Usopp with a sigh of my own, "Yeah, you shouldn't." I said as I moved to onto my stomach and looked over the cliff-side.
Luffy on the total defense for Yasopp, agreed at that he was a great pirate. I nodded, "Yeah! And he can't wait to talk to you!"
Usopp now in a far better mood, said "Yeah! Really?!" Then smiled. Usopp again talked about how brave, and much he looked up to Yasopp for living his live on the open ocean. Only to get upset again thinking about what the Butler had said.
Luffy then ask if Usopp will get to see a girl again.
"I don't know, Eh..." Usopp gasped then groaned as he thought about it. Then said that he would think about it if the butler apologized.
"That one, right?" I said pointing down to the pirate pretend-butler.
"yeah... That's the one, if he--" Usopp agreed before realizing that the butler was really there.
In surprise, Usopp rushed forward next to me, knocking Luffy's face into the dirt as he went. "What in the world is he doing down here?!"
I looked over the cliff-side with Usopp as Luffy spit dirt from his mouth, complaining about how uncool that was, as we listened to the pretend-butler lectured the other man on the beach below.
"There's someone else with him." I said.
Luffy, now next to me looked down at them. "Man, is he weird!" Luffy noted.
"I've never seen him before." Usopp added with a suspicious tone to his voice. "Who is he?"
As we watched them, the weird guy said loudly 'Rich Girl Murder Plan!'
Both Luffy and Usopp gasped, I could only sigh. But, of course. I had forgotten how stupid some of these pirates were... talking out loud about things like that, you're not even all that great at being bad guys. Stupid people... I sighed again as I shook my head.
"Ah! Murder?" Usopp in panic.
"Uh, what are those guys talking about?" Luffy asked in his cute dumb way, as he looked over at me.
"Just be quiet!" Usopp said cutting me off from replying to him. "If we listen a little closer, maybe we can find out!"
As we shushed down, and listened to the butler spell it out for his henchman Jango, then go on to reveal that he was really Captain Kuro, "Man of a Thousand Plans."
What a ridiculous name... I thought rolling my eyes.
As we listened, Luffy not paying any attention like always was now playing with my hair, "So, what are they talking about? Is it bad guy stuff?"
I opened my mouth again to start explaining, when Usopp turned quite upset and said "What? Weren't you listening to any of that? Those guys aren't just bad, they're evil!" Usopp then told us all about the 'Famous' Captain Kuro and then what he had over-heard about his plans for Kaya.
"Hmmm." Luffy said in understandingly, as Usopp went into full depressed-realism mode.
Luffy watched Usopp spiral for a moment, before standing up. I tapped my cheek, with a smile.
Usopp notices Luffy stand up and starts telling him to get down or they'll see him, but Luffy having a plan of his own yells instead.
"Hey, bad guys! You better stay away from that girl!" making Usopp groan in mild defeat, and me giggle at his silliness.
"Who are you?" Jango shouted up, having gotten the bad guys attention at the shore below.
As Usopp tried to get Luffy to move, they noticed him as well, making Usopp panic even more.
Luffy frowned, as the pretend-butler asked while looking up at us, if we had heard anything.
Usopp denied everything, right away trying to lie.
Luffy straight-faced said that we had heard it all, making me giggle again as I hide in plain-slight.
"Shut up!" Usopp said smacking Luffy.
Suddenly, Jango pulled out his hypnotist weapon, and told us to pay attention. Usopp having none of it tried getting Luffy to run instead.
Jango began waving the weapon back and forth, instructing that we would fall into a deep sleep at the count of 'Jango'. Usopp ducked in fright as Jango shouted from below, "Jango!"
Luffy begins to snore, Usopp still whimpering looks around in confusion at not being blow up.
Luffy swayed, still snoring as he toppled forward and over the side of the cliff. Jango only shook his head from below, "He had to go and fall off a cliff, didn't he? A pity really, I didn't mean to kill him, but there's no way he could've survived."
"This can't be happening!" Usopp said looking down at Luffy, "They killed him!" then looked over at me.
"Luffy is a lot tougher then that Usopp." I said quietly as Usopp slowly stopped panicking, the men on the shore not noticing me with them.
The pretend-butler pointed out Usopp's 'Boy Who Cried Wolf' flaw, as Jango was instructed to let Usopp go because of it.
"Tomorrow?" Usopp said shaking, I patted his shoulder in comfort, as Captain Kuro taunted he from below.
Usopp, now scared 'runs away' as I slipped my hand over his mouth and turn him 'invisible' to the men below.
"He has too much confidence in his plans." I said shaking my head, as we watched from above. Usopp still in a panic, but was calming as he noticed that they were paying neither of us any attention, and acting like we weren't there.
"What-" Usopp tried to speak and ask questions.
My hand tightened around his mouth and I shook my head. A finger raised to my lips, I silently hushed to worried man beside me.
Usopp clenched his teeth, with tears in his eyes nodded and waited.
Below, the men talked for a few moments longer. Then we watched them finally make their way down the beach and go separate ways. I removed my hand from Usopp's mouth, saying "You need to think before you just randomly go off on your own, Usopp. Come on, we gotta go wake Luffy up." I said standing now, before taping my cheek creating an illusionary path down below.
"How did you do that?" Usopp questioned following after me.
"I ate a devil fruit and now I'm an illusion woman. I can make any of my illusions 'real'." I said motioned using quotes about the word real, as I took the last step and was now on the shore. "It's all about my imagination, and how well I can 'bend' reality to my whims." I answered back, not really paying any attention to Usopp as I reached at and moved Luffy into a more comfortable position.
I tapped my cheek, then said loudly, "Luffy! Wake Up! I have meat!" As I waved around an illusion chunk meat Luffy was so fond of.
Luffy taking no time, suddenly sat forward. "Meat!" He shouted as he tried to grab at it, only for his hands to go right though it.
I smiled as Luffy whined about how I had tricked him again. "Well, I couldn't very well let you eat illusions Luffy. You know that it upsets your stomach." I said shaking my head.
(A.N. - This is unlike most of Big Mom's kids that have "Food Devil Fruits" powers. Mila's constructs are only in a person's head, and are in the realm of 'suspension of disbelief' making her able to use her illusions to the fullest. This means that nothing is actually real, and imaging you're eating something doesn't actually fill you belly. But for example: her making her own paths up or down things is a mix of her believing that it's there, making it into a tangible thing she can manipulate even further.
If you have any questions about her devil fruit, please ask!
"But Mila!" Luffy whined as he rubbed his head where he landed on it, when he fell down the cliff. He then asked, "Did those bad guys leave already?" as he looking around and brushed sand from his clothes.
"Yeah... this one almost ran off too but I stopped him." I shook my head and pointed my thumb behind me toward Usopp, who now looked abashed. "Now," I said standing next to Luffy, I brushed off the sand he hadn't gotten to yet, "We have a few things to do."
Luffy smiled at me, and placed the straw hat on my head. "What's the plan?"
"The rest of the crew will be here soon." I started, "That pretend Butler guy is counting on the fact that you lie Usopp." I said looking over at him, then back to Luffy. "But Kaya is the one in real danger here, with Merry arriving back at any time now, it will gives us a small window." Closing my eyes and shuffled the futures before us.
As Usopp started to question about how I knew all that, I instead choose to ignore him in favor of concentrating. I knew we had been gone for too long, Zoro and Nami would have the three little vegetables show them how to find us soon, then we could split into the groups we needed to.
"We should wait, Zoro and Nami will be here soon. It would be best to communicate before we take any steps forward."
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("Expose the Plot! Pirate Butler, Captain Kuro!")
"This is the place!" "Our Captain always comes here to be alone and think." Two different voices said from the cliff's edge above us. Making Usopp, Luffy and I all look up at them.
Another voice said, "it is nice."
We noticed them looking around, before someone said "I don't think they're here." Nami then moved toward the edge of the cliff carefully, only to see all three of us standing at the base, looking up.
I waved with a smile, as Nami shouted "Look! Down there! I found them!"
"Luffy! Mila!" Zoro shouted
"Yeah! We're down here!" Luffy said waving his arms, and signaling for them to come down.
I tapped my cheek and the steps appeared again, allowing them to hurry down with a wave.
"Are you guys okay?" "What are you doing way down here?" Nami and Zoro said at the same time, before glaring at each other.
"Yea, yea! We're fine! Luffy just fell asleep, and happened to landed here is all." I said waving away those kinds of concerns. Making Luffy laugh at my truthful joke.
"Hmm" Zoro said looking between the three of us suspiciously, eye-brow raised.
I smiled and winked. "Now that everyone is here, we have a few things to go over."
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It had taken Usopp some time to calm down as we relayed what had happened to everyone, and even longer when I told him rushing in wouldn't save Kaya any faster. He had gotten even more upset when I had suggested that he not be the one to talk to her but someone else.
This had him out right refusing, and stating that Kaya with like younger sister to him, that he had to protect her. I denied him, and told him back that she would not believe him, that there will need to be proof. Something we didn't exactly have at the moment.
Something passed over Usopp's face then, as he realized what I had said was true, and that things were more complicated then just running away.
As we continued talking, we started making out way back toward town. The sun was in the late stages of setting, and the sky was a rich red hue to it. The vegetable children were all gun-ho to tell the villager and let them get away.
I stopped the children away from the group, and bend down to be on their level. "Tomorrow the villagers are going to wake up save in their beds, with no fear of pirates because we are going to stop them before the townspeople ever find out. You guys are going to help us with that, okay?"
They all agreed happily, as I continued with, "But for now, I need you guys to head home, to eat and sleep well. You are going to keep this a secret from villagers to protect them, okay?"
I knew I was manipulating the children into lying, but it was for the best in this situation. I watched the children head back into town, waving good-bye to us.
"How did you do that?" Usopp asked in faint disbelief that the kids had agreed to lie for me and do as I instructed.
I laughed and patted Usopp on the back, "Kids love to know things adults don't, not only that but they think lying in this instance is more helpful then harmful, so they aren't opposed to it from the start."
"But now the townsfolk don't know, that's harmful Mila!" Nami said slightly upset.
"If I thought informing the townspeople beneficial I would have had someone do it by now. This will all be over by day-break tomorrow, and the townsfolk will be none the wiser. I think that's better then mass hysteria." I said back as I tilted my head at her and raised an eye-brow.
"Still..." Nami said with a small huff, and crossed her arms.
Usopp then spoke up and pointed out how everyone thought he was a liar, and how that was all they need to think, That he was going to fight all of them at the beach tomorrow as well, real conviction in his voice a the thought of saving the townsfolk. "This is my village. It's my home.. and I love everyone in it! I have to protect them!"
I smiled at Usopp, "Well said Usopp!" I turned to look at the others in the crew, a smile spread widely on my face.
Nami huffed again and said 'Fine! But I call dibs on all the pirate treasure!', Zoro chuckled at the idea of fighting some more pirates, and Luffy rubbed his shoulder like he was getting ready for a fight.
"You're gonna help me fight all these pirates?" Usopp said disbelievingly.
"Duh!" I said.
"Yeah, you said there's a whole buncha bad guys, right?" Luffy asked.
"And you look scared out of your mind." Zoro added, pricking Usopp's pride.
Usopp then declared that he had nerves of steel, and wasn't afraid of tons of bad guys. The whole time his body shook and his legs wobbled. Then he finally admitted that he might be a little scare, they were Captain Kuro's men after all.
When Usopp told us to leave if the only reason we were there was to pity him. Luffy asked, "Do you really think that we would risk our lives out of pity?"
Making Usopp gasp in understanding, then start tearing up. "Aww, you guys!"
I sighed.
Now that the dramatics were over, there was things to be down...
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|A.N.| - around 4800 words.
Sorry about uploading this one so late. There was an internet outage in my area last night and I couldn't post or do any writing until today.
We are right on track, but things will become more compilated as we start moving forward. There will be scenes don't exist or are written completely out all together.
If you want me to add the scenes that Mila has no interactions with I can, but I like the idea of them being able to handle things on their own, or even changing what they did compared to the original. This gives me a few freedoms in changing plots and actions for the future.
And, thanks to everyone who has been reading this. I'm a nervous writer and never publish anything, but this has been actually really helping so thank you (even you silent readers, I still see you).