Journey to One Piece

278. The promise

"Do me a favor. Never talk about it to Luffy." Ken said. 

"Yes. But I don't think it would matter to him." Robin said as she had long ago realized that Luffy didn't care. He didn't even care to know the meaning of D in his name. 

"But how come Luffy is a Joyboy. Is there any criteria for that?" Robin asked. 

"I don't know much. But I do know is that Luffy's Devil fruit plays a big part. It is said that zoan fruits carry the will of the zoan always. For that reason their awakening sometimes could be dangerous as the will of the zoan can take over the will of the person. It is the same reason why the jailers in Impel Down can't be human anymore as their will had been erased by the fruit. Luffy's fruit also has a will and he just needs to get over the will to control the awakened form. And in that awakened form he is called Joyboy. The fruit probably was eaten by the previous Joyboy and the will had passed down through the fruit." Ken said. "And that I feel is just one of the reasons." 

Robin nodded. Ken yawned and went to sleep as he was a bit tired now. He needed to sleep. But of course Luffy needed to have a midnight snack. It was at night that Shirahoshi and Luffy 'bonded'. As an author I know this sounds very weird but that is the way Luffy is. Maybe Hancock would kill Poseidon one day if she came to know. 

Sigh!

Anyways, the next day the Straw Hats were ready to leave. Nami got herself a new Log Pose and of course he chose the most dangerous one. In normal circumstances, Nami, Chopper and Ussop would have been the first one to say no and get scared away but this time they went with the orders of the Captain. 

It was probably because they had progressed a lot over the years and their new characters definitely gave them an edge. While, the Straw Hats got ready, Ace and Marco also bade their goodbye. 

They had been in Fishman for quite some time and it was time they leave. 

"Ace, once we are ready for Wano, I will call you." Ken said while being on the side. 

"I will wait for it." Ace said. 

"Marco, the deal will stand." Ken said. 

"Deal? What deal?" Ace was confused and asked. 

"It's nothing. It's a deal between two First Commanders." Marco said shutting down Ace's curiosity.

"First Commander?" Ace didn't understand as the Straw hats didn't have a huge group or a territory so what was up with the First Commander thing. Marco refused to say more so he didn't bother to ask. Marco nodded at Ken as he knew what he would have to do. After bidding their goodbye Ace and Marco left in their quite small boat as compared to Merry. 

Merry's coating was already done and so it was time to get on the ship. The royal family were really heart warming and Shirahoshi came forward and cried. 

"Luffy-sama, are you really going to leave us?" Shirahoshi cried and said. 

"Of course. New adventures are waiting for us." Luffy replied. 

"We can stop adventuring and live with u here if you like." Sanji with his heart eyes said. 

"Then why don't you just stay here, curly eyed." Zoro said. 

"Who are you calling curly eyed, you marimo." 

"Who are you calling marimo." 

"I wish to go to adventures too." Shirahoshi said. 

"Then you should go." Luffy replied. 

"But.. But I can't. They say it's very dangerous out there." Shirahoshi said. 

"Hmm.. How about next time I come, I will take you to see the ground." Luffy said. 

"Huh! Really?" 

"Really!" 

"Promise?" Shirahoshi asked as she extended her huge pinky finger. In response Luffy extended is own pinky finger and promised. 

"Promise." 

This made Robin stiffen up. She looked at Ken, to which Ken shrugged his shoulders. Robin had a vague feeling that the promise of the Joyboy in the Poneglyph must be the same kind of promise that Luffy just made. 

Things just got more complicated.

Jinbei was also onboard the ship and was given a huge room like everyone else. In fact he was given a room at the basement, which gave him access to the ocean from his room itself. Jinbe loved the whole room and thus he became the helmsman of the ship from this point on. Everyone was really happy to have Jinbe onboard. 

"Well since he is onboard, I guess it's time he gets the privileges of being a member of the Straw hats." Ken said.

"Yes!"

"Hurray!" 

"We will get to see a new world hopefully." 

Jinbei was confused and didn't understand what were they talking about. Ussop came forward and gave him a rundown of how things were. Suffice to say, Jinbe was dumbfounded. At first he didn't believe but when he looked back at the war, he came to realize that the Straw hats were really different from others. No wonder they were powerful. 

"That crown on your head, was it because of your character?" Jinbe remembered the crown and how he felt once the crown came up. He felt like he was seeing a God in real flesh and blood. And he wasn't the only one. Most of the people around who had Haki felt it. 

"Yes." Ken replied. He knew what Jinbe was talking about. 

"Will I be able to swim after this?" Jinbe asked. 

"Supposedly yes. But I don't know if the ability you get might be detrimental to your origins. But it hasn't happened as of yet so it should be fine with you." Ken replied. 

"Hmmm.. Since I joined the Straw hats, then I guess I should pass the ceremony as you have mentioned." Jinbei said with a huge smile. 

"Then come with us." Ken said and in the next moment they were taken into a white world.