After defeating Jack, Yuta, Maki, and Ace continued their journey across the Grand Line. The sea was calm again, and the wind pushed their ship forward. Ace looked at the Vivre Card in his hand—it pointed clearly in one direction.
"He's close," Ace said with a grin. "Luffy's somewhere ahead. I can feel it."
Yuta nodded. "That would be Dressrosa. If I remember right, something big happens there." Well, actually he didn't know anything. He was talking with knowledge of the plot. That manga that he had in his storage room was really useful. Unfortunately for him, it wasn't enough. He bought the manga in the JJK world in 2018.
In his original world, he knew that One Piece must have completed the Wano Arc. However, in 2018, it was just the start of the said arc, meaning his knowledge about the Wano Arc was practically nonexistent.
"Then let's head that way," Maki added, crossing her arms. "I'd like to see what this Luffy guy is really like."
"Believe me, you don't..." Yuta stiffened at that.
After making sure that Jack had been taken care of, they moved on. Whenever he got free time and no eyes were on him, he sneakily took out the One Piece manga to see any corresponding event he experienced or saw in the newspaper to figure out where exactly in the One Piece timeline he was post-timeskip.
Seeing Jack meant that he hadn't attacked the animal kingdom yet. That meant Luffy and others should be in Dressrosa.
Seeing that his Vivre Card was also pointing in the exact direction, Yuta had some understanding of his current situation.
Their ship sailed quickly across the waves, the excitement building in their hearts. But as they got closer to Dressrosa, something unexpected happened.
Ace pointed out into the distance. "Hey… look at that."
Another ship was coming their way. It was fast, with a lion's head on the front and a bright orange color. Yuta's eyes widened in surprise. He couldn't say about others, but he knew the ship well.
It was the famous and everyone's dear Merry, but if after that there existed one ship he wished to board beside the famous Millennium Falcon, then it would be this one.
"That's the Thousand Sunny… that's the Straw Hats' ship!"
Everyone rushed to the edge of the deck, looking as the Sunny got closer.
"OI Luffy..." Ace shouted as the ship got closer.
But something felt off. As the two ships came side by side, it became clear.
Luffy wasn't there. Hell, most of the ship staff weren't there.
Standing on the deck of the Sunny were Sanji, Nami, and Chopper, or at least that many Ace knew by now. He knew Brook as well, but only by newspaper and his bounty.
A few more were there, like a young boy—Momonosuke, but only Yuta knew them. And tied up near the mast, looking annoyed, was Caesar Clown.
Sanji was the first to call out, "Hey! That's a Whitebeard ship, isn't it?! Who the hell are you guys?"
Ace stepped forward. "Sanji! It's me—Ace!"
Sanji's eyes widened. "ACE?!"
Chopper nearly fell over. "Wait, wasn't he—? HOW ARE YOU ALIVE?!"
Yuta just laughed. "It's a long story."
The two ships got closer, and finally, everyone met face to face. Sanji couldn't stop staring at Yuta in disbelief. Nami, Brook, and the others were equally shocked.
"You were supposed to be dead!" Nami said, hands on her hips. Though she wasn't there in Marineford, upon not getting any info about Yuta after that war, many considered him dead.
Only the Marines announcing his bounty gave the slightest hint that he was alive.
Yuta rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah… well, I was able to get out in time. This is Maki, by the way, and you already know Ace."
Ace stepped forward. "Nice to meet you again. We're here looking for Luffy. Is he on Dressrosa?"
Sanji shook his head. "Yup. Luffy, Zoro, Franky, Robin, and Usopp stayed in Dressrosa to handle Doflamingo."
Brook nodded. "We split into two groups. Our job is to take this clown to the next island. There's someone very dangerous after him."
"Big Mom's people," Nami added. There was no reason to hide it. "We didn't have a choice."
Ace frowned. "So you're being chased?"
"Pretty much," Sanji said. "But we'll handle it. We trust Luffy to finish things in Dressrosa."
Yuta folded his arms. "If Luffy's still there, he'll probably be heading your way once he's done. That means if we stick with you, we'll meet up again." He was, of course, talking with prior knowledge of the plot.
Now he knew the exact timeline of the story. He was keeping up with the newspaper, but still, this gave him a proper understanding of the current situation.
Luffy shouldn't have much problem taking care of Doflamingo if things went just like how they did in the story. But there was just a little suspicion in him that perhaps things might not go that way.
After all, he had changed things before. How could anyone tell that things would go how they went in canon?
Maki looked at the strange group of Straw Hats, especially the talking skeleton and reindeer. "Now I have seen everything..."
"Believe me, not everything." Yuta on the side just smiled.
Kinemon and Momonosuke were mostly silent.
They spent the next few hours talking, sharing food, and telling stories. Sanji and Ace caught up, while Nami asked more questions about where Yuta and Maki came from. Brook played music, and even Momonosuke tried to act like a prince.
Sanji explained more. "We are heading to Zou."
Yuta nodded. "Then that's where we'll go. If Luffy's coming too, he'll find us there."
Sanji agreed. "You're welcome to join us."
Ace smiled. "Then it's settled. We travel together—for now."
With that, Yuta, Maki, and Ace moved onto the Thousand Sunny. Their old ship was tied behind. The journey wasn't over, but the pieces were coming together.
They had survived the fight with Jack. Now they were travelling with the Straw Hat crew—or at least half of it. And soon, everything would lead them to Zou.
xxx
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