"Just go already!" She screams, pushing me out the door forcefully. "Or you won't make it."

"I'll make it, Granny! Stop pestering me!" I take a step out the door, onto the old wooden steps, and turn to face her. She slams the door closed right in my face.

I huff out a breath, ticked off. "I'll be back, Old Lady!" I hear another muffled shout through the thick, wooden door and smile. Turning back around, I look at the people crowded around me who wait expectantly. "Well, which one of you has a ship around the area?"

Luffy raises his hand, his eyes bright. "Me!"

I laugh a bit. "Lead the way, Luffy."

~

Luffy holds my dagger in his hands. He stands in front of Ussop, Chopper, Brook, Franky, and I. Sanji, Robin, Nami and Sabo are currently in the kitchen making lunch while Zoro, Ace, Law, and Kid are having a conversation. Well, it's more like Zoro and Ace are having a conversation while Law and Kid glare at each other.

Luffy tightens his grip on the hilt, his frustration growing. "(Y/N)." He whines. "Why isn't it working?"

I stifle a laugh, keeping a straight face. "Keep trying, Luffy."

He's been trying to figure out how my dagger works for the past twenty minutes. He was told by Chopper that it could shrink and grow and immediately came to me, asking if he could try it out.

Abruptly, he points it towards the sky. "ACTIVATE!" He screeches aggressively.

Ussop and Chopper burst into hysterical laughter along with me while Franky and Brook laugh like civilized people. Tears fill my eyes in mirth as Ussop, Chopper, and I roll around the floor, sounding like dying whales.

He's got to be kidding me!

He looks at us, his brows furrowed. "Why are you laughing?"

"It doesn't work like that." I gasp between fits of laughter.

"Then how does it work?" He begs.

"It's a secret." I reply, calming down a bit. "I don't want random people stealing my dagger and using it."

"Can you tell me?" His eyes shine hopefully.

I shake my head. "You'll see soon, Luffy." I say with a small smile, getting up from the grassy deck of the Strawhats ship, the Thousand Sunny.

The grass tickles my bare feet as I make my way across towards the railing, leaning against it. I breathe in the fresh, salty ocean air, closing my eyes and enjoying the rocking movements of the boat. It's been two years since I've last been out on sea. Though I never really became a pirate the last time I was out here.

Eloa Village is located on a small island in the New World. I guess it is fortunate that I didn't have to go through the trouble of getting into the Grand Line. But it would have been adventurous if I had been able to. I sigh softly, opening my eyes and gazing at the vast, blue ocean, deep in thought.

"Oi, (Y/N)." A voice says. I open my eyes and see Sabo standing beside me, gazing out at the ocean as well. "What exactly are we going to Marineford for?" He asks curiously. "We really need to know."

I sigh. "I guess I can't keep the reason from you all anymore. After all, we're all going there to do one thing." I turn to face him. "Will you tell everyone to gather together in the kitchen?"

He nods his head and walks off, doing what I've asked of him.

~

I walk into the kitchen a bit hesitantly, holding the piece of paper in my hands. I absolutely hate having a bunch of people staring at me. It annoys me to the extreme and I have to admit, I do feel highly uncomfortable. But I'm surprised when I'm met with complete and utter chaos laid out before me.

Sanji attempts to serve food as Luffy attacks him for meat, causing Luffy to flip a bunch of chairs over in the process as Ace and Sabo try to stop him. A bunch of things shatter as the chairs crash into the kitchen table, Robin attempting to prevent any other damage. Kid and Law are beating each other up again while Zoro casually drinks booze. Franky and Ussop entertain Chopper and Brook as Nami tries desperately to stop the pandemonium.

I clear my throat.

They all stop and turn to stare at me. I glare at them and they rapidly try to fix everything, putting the chairs back into place, picking up shattered pieces of objects. I watch amused, arms crossed, an eyebrow raised as they all slide back into their chairs, lean against the wall, or sit on the floor.

I ignore their gaze and close the door behind me, walking up to the table and putting my hand on it. "Well then." I begin. "I'll get straight to the point." I close my eyes taking a deep breath, collecting my thoughts.

Just say it already, (Y/N)!

"Get on with it already." Kid huffs.

I open my eyes and glower at him. "Well then, I'll tell you." I turn my look on each and every one of them. "We're going to stop an execution." I state simply, slamming the piece of paper in hands onto the table. Immediately, they all reach forward to grab it, reading the words in haste before the others take it away to do the same. Soon, everyone's read it and they all turn their gaze back on me. I raise an eyebrow. "Any of you backing out?"

No one says a word.

"No objections?" I ask in disbelief as they look at me with plain faces.

Nothing.

I stare at them with wide eyes, shocked. "Are you guys seriously not backing out?"

"Obviously not." Law scowls.

I narrow my eyes at him but look around in confusion. "Are you guys completely serious?"

Kid rolls his eyes. "Are you going to make us all say it? Of course we're completely serious." He snaps.

Sabo grins. "So, we're going to need help, aren't we?"

"We'll call our crew." Kid and Law say simultaneously, turning to glare at each other a second later.

"How are we going to get in?" I ask puzzled.

Ace laughs. "What were you planning to do before when we hadn't decided to help?"

I furrow my brows. "I honestly don't know."

Luffy suddenly looks excited. "I can ask Hancock!" He suddenly exclaims, standing up from his chair.

"Is that how you got in last time?" Ace asks.

"Yeah! She can sneak us in." Luffy states. Everyone begins chattering, forming a plan. I watch in awe.

Are they really doing all this to help me?

I guess I've forgotten what it's like to have a friend.

~

I opened my eyes.

It was dark out.

I looked out the window, seeing the moon obscured by clouds. Thunder rumbled in the distance. It had been raining everyday for the past week now. The townsfolk had been getting annoyed and cursing me, saying I was the cause of the floods and the reason why their crops were being washed away. Because of that, I hadn't left the house in days. I shook my head, brushing off my thoughts and turned my gaze down to the cracked sidewalk, hoping to see a silhouette against the building.

Where is he?

My stomach tied up in knots, fear overtaking me. But I finally caught sight of a figure running down the narrow street. My eyes widened and I scrambled up from my chair and ran out from the room. My bare feet padded against the old wooden floor as I rushed through the hall and down the old, spiraling stairs. My tangled short hair framed my face as I came to a stop at the last step, my eyes wide in shock.

There he stood, beaten and bloodied, a crooked smile on his face. Tears pooled in my eyes, and I choked back a sob.

"(Y/N)." He murmured.

I ran across the kitchen, closing the distance between us and threw myself at him, sobbing. I clutched his shirt, tears staining my face, crying into his chest.

He gently patted my back. "It's okay." He said softly.

"No, it's not!" I cried, my voice cracking. "It's all my fault."

"You can't blame yourself for everything." He said sadly.

I suddenly took a few steps back, shaking my head. "But it is my fault! Why can't you just leave? I don't want to see you hurt like this all the time because of me!"

He took a step forward, his eyes pleading. "It doesn't matter. You'll always help me." He said. "We can try to fix everything."

I looked him straight in the eyes. "I can't always be there to save you and you can't always be there to save me. You know that. It's the truth."

"Just because it's the truth, it doesn't mean we can't change things."

"But things will never change!" I shouted, tears streaming down my cheeks. "I'm bound to suffer for the rest of my life!"

Silence.

He looked deep into my sorrowful eyes. "Things change, (Y/N)." He replied, his voice firm. "We can change this too."

"How?" I begged, desperately wanting to escape this hellish misery.

"You've always wanted to travel and go on adventures haven't you?" He asked with a small smile, a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

I nodded my head, trying to understand what he meant.

He grinned. "Why don't we become pirates, (Y/N)?"

My eyes fly open, my breathing heavy. I sit up in the hammock, eyes flickering around my surroundings confused. For a few seconds, I can't remember where or who I am. A wave of nausea washes over me, leaving me dizzy and feeling sick.

I gently get down to the floor, the wood cold under my feet. I stumble out of the room, Nami and Robin continue to sleep peacefully. I blindly make my way to the bathroom in my half awake state. Inside, I splash cold water on my face with shaking hands. Drying my face, I look in the mirror. The girl who looks back at me is broken, pain in her eyes. Tiredly, I walk out and onto the deck, looking out across the ocean.

When will things change?

"(Y/N)?" A voice asks. I stiffen and whirl around. Luffy stands there, yawning but looks puzzled. "Why are you awake?" He questions.

"No reason." I sigh softly, quickly trying to regain my composure, though I'm still a bit drowsy.

He walks over, seeming to understand what's wrong. "You don't have to worry." He says firmly, seeing the look in my eyes that I failed to hide.

The deep concern in his eyes makes something inside me break. The emotions I've kept to myself all these years come pouring out. And this time, I can't stop them.

Tears abruptly start flowing from my eyes, profusely as I choke back a sob. "What if we fail?" My voice cracks.

My barriers are breaking down, faster than before, exposing me for all others to see. I can't keep up this act any longer. I'm desperate. I've been alone for so many years.

I need someone there for me.

Luffy's eyes are hooded as he takes off his strawhat and puts it on my head. "We will save him, (Y/N). I promise you." I nod my head, not trusting myself to speak, my lips quivering as tears stain my cheeks.

They'll help me.

They can help me change things.

I look into Luffy's innocent, caring, and determined eyes, suddenly realizing this for the first time.

I don't think. I react.

My arms wrap around his neck, pulling him closer to me as I cry as I did many years ago. He puts his arms around me, comforting me just like he did back then. I cry until I have no tears left, letting go of the emotions I've kept bundled up inside of me for years.

Even if my past still continues to haunt me, I know that soon, it won't matter anymore.

Things are changing.

Soon, everything will be different.

And...I'll finally be free...

~

The next morning, we dock at an island near the Calm Belt to meet Boa Hancock, the woman who will help us sneak through, into Marineford.

I didn't get any sleep at all last night after I woke up. I spent the entire night thinking things over, looking for any flaws in our plan. I got dressed and ready when everyone started waking up.

Now we approach the island. From here on the ship, we can see a few figures standing at the shore with a ship next to them also filled with people. Luffy starts to wave as we get closer. A few women stand on the land with who I know is Boa Hanock. She is in fact the most beautiful woman in the world and is also a Warlord. She must act superior then. When we finally dock, a few of us get off the ship. I go along with Luffy, Kid, and Law who walk up to the women.

Law looks over his shoulder, back at the sea. "My crew should be here soon." He mutters.

"Luffy!" A voice squeals, knocking Law out of his thoughts. We turn and see Hanock blushing profusely when she sees Luffy. But her dark eyes catch sight of me and narrow. "Who are you?" She sneers, flipping her long, dark hair behind her shoulder, her voice turning serious.

I glare at her, annoyed by her behavior. "What's it to you?"

"Luffy's mine." She says through gritted teeth.

I walk over to stand beside Luffy and shoot him a small smile that he returns which ticks Hanock off even more. "Anyways, we're here to discuss important matters." I state. "Not your love life, Hancock."

Her face turns red with anger but she nods when Luffy agrees. "I can help get a few of you in. The others will have to sneak in by somehow following us underwater."

"I can help with that." Law says coolly.

Luffy thinks hard for a minute. "I can try to ask Rayleigh to bubble coat our ships."

I stare at him, surprised. He actually said something smart for once.

Kid speaks up for the first time. "Well then, we should start calling others now. We don't have that much time."

"One and a half weeks." I nod solemnly.

Luffy grins despite that. "We'll make it."

I can't help but smile at his optimism.

This just might actually work.

✥

A/N

This chapter's probably confusing, but it'll make sense soon! After all, (Y/N)'s past is just a few chapters away. And her past will be long, split into different chapters. It will also be written in third person.

（≧∇≦）

And (Y/N)'s finally opening up!
.

ヾ(⌒ー⌒)ノ

Sorry for all the Author's Notes. I'm also sorry for being so annoying.

(ノД')・゜・。

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