One Piece : Wild Hunt

A few minutes after Drake had departed, Thomas left her quarters to find Astolfo waiting for him with her Hippogriff. The latter drew a considerable amount of attention from the Straw Hats, specifically Lucy and Usopp, but Drake quickly got everyone on track, saying, "Now that we've finished the introductions, let's get this party started. Musashi, you're up."
Though she didn't think Zoro was at a level where she could enjoy herself, Musashi stepped forward with her hand resting on the end of her katana, teasing, "Do your best. Just know that once you run out of techniques, it's my turn to attack."
Furrowing his brows, Zoro said, "You shouldn't underestimate me so much..." before placing a white-hilted katana in his mouth and drawing his remaining two. His actions earned him a brow raise from Musashi, but she didn't call him out for his ridiculousness. Instead, she just spread her feet slightly, ready for whatever the green-haired man might throw at her.
Leaning forward, Zoro crossed his swords at a single point, exclaiming, "Oni-giri...!" as he rushed forward like a blur. Oni Giri was Zoro's bread and butter, the signature technique that had allowed him to take out numerous Pirates and bandits. No one had ever been able to see through or block the combination of three swords slicing from different directions, so his eyes widened to their limits when Musashi casually intercepted his attack with the pommel of her katana, remarking, "You have a lot of power..."
Before Zoro could respond, Musashi sent him skidding back by simply using her thumb to unsheathe her katana a few centimeters. As a Heroic Spirit, she had been vested B-Rank Strength, so, while she typically relied on her nearly-perfected techniques to defeat her adversaries, she wasn't lacking in raw power.
After recovering from his momentary stupor, Zoro's expression became severe as he rushed at Musashi. He was initially reluctant about fighting a woman, but now he 'had' to know the distance between him and Musashi.
Without drawing her swords, Musashi effortlessly evaded each of Zoro's attacks, no matter whether they were executed intentionally or as a result of him flailing about randomly. There was a tremendous difference in their respective speed and overall skill, so she could see through and react to Zoro's attacks before his body could catch up with what his mind wanted to do.
Seeing Musashi weave in and around his attacks with an almost bored look on her face, Zoro internally exclaimed, ("This is absurd! There can't be this big a difference between me and another swordsman!")
Creating some distance between himself and Musashi, Zoro raised his swords over his head, angling them behind the blade sticking out of his mouth as an illusory tiger formed around him. Even Thomas could see it, so Musashi perked her brows and mused, "Good spirit as well..."
Moving even faster than when he executed his Oni Giri, Zoro exclaimed, "Tora-Gari...!" through gritted teeth. At the same time, an audible tiger's roar echoed through the area as his figure briefly overlapped Musashi's, passing by her as if she didn't have time to react. At least, that was how things appeared from the perspectives of Thomas, Lucy, Nami, Usopp, and the two Bounty Hunters, Johnny and Yosaku. On the side of the Wild Hunt, each of them saw clearly as Musashi casually side-stepped Zoro's attack before returning to her initial position.
Feeling no feedback, even though his swords appeared to pass through Musashi's body, Zoro's breathing became progressively ragged. He was giving it his all, yet he hadn't even been able to force the former to draw her sword. It was maddening...
Looking back at Musashi, a fierce glimmer flashed across Zoro's eyes as he said, "The distance between us can't be this great..."
Sensing the pressure emanating from Zoro abruptly increase, a faint smile developed across Musashi's face. She suspected the former was tapping into the mysterious power known as Haki as, for a brief moment, he gave off a dangerous, seemingly indomitable aura.
Grabbing the hilt of her sword in a reverse grip, Musashi surprised Zoro by saying, "Remember that feeling." before abruptly 'disappearing' from view. In the very next moment, she appeared behind Zoro, sword resting on her shoulder as she added, "You will become strong in the future."
Immediately following Musashi's words, Zoro collapsed onto the ground, his eyes rolled back despite no visible wounds on his body. Musashi had reached the level where she could slice even concepts, so rather than cut Zoro's body, she directly attacked his 'consciousness.'
"Zoro...!"
Feeling slightly panicked, Lucy ran over to Zoro's side to confirm that he was still alive. When she didn't find any injuries on her body, a relieved sigh emanated from her throat, followed by confusion as she looked up at Musashi, asking, "What did you do to him...?"
Adopting a faint smile, Musashi stated, "I just knocked him out. He'll wake up on his own in an hour or two. You could also just toss a bucket of water onto him. That ought to do the trick."
Instead of using Musashi's proposed method, Lucy abruptly punched the sleeping Zoro on the head, shouting, "Oi! Wake up, Zoro...!"
Hissing in pain, Zoro abruptly sat up, rubbing a visible knot on his head as he grumbled, "What was that for...?"
Pointing toward Musashi, Lucy plainly stated, "You got beat up," with a deadpan expression on her face.
Following Lucy's finger, Zoro's expression paled when he saw Musashi standing relaxedly nearby while he had just awoken from being face-down on the ground.
The moment Zoro's gaze met her own, Musashi reiterated, "You have the potential to become much stronger. Once you do, feel free to challenge me again."
Returning her sword to her sheathe, Musashi turned away with the intent of rejoining her crew. Before she could take more than a few steps, Zoro called out to her, saying, "Wait! Tell me how you became this strong as a woman! What kind of secret method did you use...!?"
Half-turning, a confused look marred Musashi's face as she asked, "What does my gender have to do with my strength or skill? Once you attain true mastery, there are only two things that matter. Your desire to cut, and the object being cut..."
Punctuating her words, Musashi looked toward the cloudy skies above before drawing her sword at an ungraspable speed. Thomas had claimed there were people in this world that could part the clouds in two, so she was 'absolutely certain' she could do the same.
While other Swordsmen produced terrifying auras when they attacked, Musashi's swordsmanship gave off 'no' impression whatsoever. She had yet to master it fully, but she had stepped into the Realm of Nothingness long ago. As a result, unless her opponent possessed a similar degree of mastery or something like Advanced Observation Haki, it was impossible to perceive even the afterimage of her techniques.
Following Musashi's gaze, everyone from the Straw Hats stared in utter disbelief as they witnessed the clouds split in two. Thomas was similarly awed by the demonstration, but he also genuinely believed that Musashi could defeat Mihawk. Since the latter was considered the rival of Shanks, the first person in the series to exhibit a sky-splitting attack, it wasn't too surprising that Musashi could perform a similar feat.
Returning her sword to its sheathe, Musashi stated, "Swordsmanship has no limits whatsoever. Men may have the advantage in the early stages of development, but that's only when comparing common, everyday people against one another. There are women in this world that can destroy small mountains with their punches. If gender were a truly insurmountable wall, every man in the world would be able to accomplish such feats with ease. The only people who care about such notions are the weak..."
Finished with her words, Musashi returned to where the other members of the Wild Hunt were waiting, winking as she passed Thomas. He had asked her to show off a bit since he feared that Don Krieg and Mihawk might not show up. This was the result.
Nodding his head in approval, Thomas whispered, "Thanks, Musashi..." before breaking off from the group. There was no way Usopp could face Atalanta in a Sniper/marksmanship contest, so the next match would be him against Lucy.
As Luffy was still seated on the ground next to a visibly shaken Zoro, Thomas asked, "Should we continue this another day? Your First Mate looks like he's about to take the biggest shit of his life..."
Recovering from his stupor, Zoro growled, "Bastard..." while Lucy laughed in amusement. A few seconds later, she bounced to her feet, stating, "I'm ready when you are, Tom. But are you sure about this? Now that Zoro lost, I have no choice but to get a little serious."
Before Thomas could reply, Drake chimed in to say, "You speak as though you've already won. While it's true that Tom is the weakest member of the Wild Hunt, he isn't a slouch. He has worked hard to reach his current level, so if you look down on him, you'll end up experiencing a lot of pain..."
"Hmmm..."
Though she got the impression there was something 'off' about Thomas, Lucy didn't feel the same sensation from him that she got from people like her Grampa. He was tall, muscular, and had a rugged appearance, but he didn't 'feel' like a seasoned warrior. It was difficult to put into words, but there was a certain lack of 'conviction' in his expression and movements. He kind of reminded her of Usopp, just a lot beefier.
Taking advantage of Lucy's silence, Drake attempted to move forward with her proposal, stating, "Since you seem so confident, why don't we spice things up with a bet? If you win, Tom will join the Straw Hats as a member of your crew. If we win-"
Before Drake could finish baiting her trap, Caenis, Astolfo, and Benienma interrupted her, stating, "Bullshit!" "No way~!" and "Inconceivable, dechi!" Even Atalanta seemed displeased by the turn of events, glaring at Drake with a disproving look on her face.
As she expected a bit of pushback from those closest to Thomas, Drake remained calm as she said, "Don't get your knickers in a twist. I wouldn't be suggesting this if it wasn't for Thomas's benefit. Being trapped within our shadows is stunting his growth as-"
Though she raised her arm to try and protect her face, Drake was sent flying by a haymaker, courtesy of a crimson-eyed Caenis. Chiron quickly moved to restrain her, but Caenis sent him reeling with an elbow to the face before charging toward Drake, shouting, "You treacherous snake! I knew you eventually do something like this...!"
Before Caenis could reach Drake and give her a thrashing, the tip of her toe managed to catch a tiny yet uncompromising pebble, tripping her as the pink-haired Pirate Queen leaped into the sky to avoid her. When she landed, she spat out six teeth, blood trailing from her lips as she adopted a gruesome smile and remarked, "Man, you really got me good with that one..."
Materializing her two flintlocks and four of the Hind's artillery batteries, Drake's smile became especially vicious as she teased, "Attacking your Captain with the intent to kill is a fairly mutinous action..."
Generating an aura that caused stray dust and rocks to rise around her, Caenis glared at Drake with murderous intent as she growled, "You may be our Captain, but you are 'not' our Master..."
As the sky overhead began to darken and the seas became turbulent, Caenis manifested her spear, fully intending to kill Drake. Before the two of them could engage each other, however, Thomas abruptly raised his hand, shouting, "That's enough...!" as an invisible force radiating from the Command Spells on his hand...
...
..
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(A/N: Oh, wow, would you look at that? It turns out that Drake doesn't speak for every member of the Wild Hunt. Who could have possibly imagined such a thing? It's almost like events can occur outside the characters' expectations (O o O). Not that this is one of them...)

Though the crimson didn't fade from Caenis's eyes, she stood at attention with the pommel of her spear embedded in the ground. At the same time, Drake pointed her flintlock pistols toward the sky, the cannons behind her fading as the weather and seas began to calm.
As two of Thomas's Command Spells faded from his hand, accompanied by a burning sensation, an uncharacteristically fierce glower developed across his face as he exclaimed, "We're supposed to be allies, not fighting one another!"
Gripping her spear tight enough that her fingers were nearly white, Caenis barked, "That bitch isn't our ally! All she cares about is herself and doing as she pleases! You can't let her fool you...!"
Instead of refuting Caenis's words, Drake retorted, "What are you talking about, you foam-brained bimbo? I'm not trying to fool anyone, and this arrangement is for our Master's good! How do you expect him to achieve his dream of standing at the pinnacle if you keep babying him all the time? He'll never reach his full potential if we continuously remove every fucking obstacle in his path!"
Hearing Drake's words, conflicted looks appeared on the faces of Astolfo, Atalanta, and Benienma. Caenis wasn't even remotely convinced, but the crimson glow in her eyes wavered when Thomas abruptly stood in front of her, pleading, "Please, calm down..." in a soft, placating tone.
Looking up to meet Thomas's pained expression, a hint of blue returned to Caenis's eyes as she said, "But she's deceiving you...she wants to take away the Hind and do whatever she pleases..."
Shaking his head, Thomas replied, "The Hind has always belonged to her. And even if she 'does' leave, that's fine..."
Realizing that Drake might be trying to ostracize herself rather than him, Thomas placed his hands on Caenis's shoulders before giving the pink-haired Pirate a profound look as he added, "Even if people part ways, they can still support one another..."
Returning his attention to Caenis, Thomas's expression softened as he said, "Besides, there is some truth to her words. My power has increased tremendously over the past year, but it feels like I've been trapped in one place. Even if it's only for a short while, I want to try spreading my wings and experiencing the adventure that has captivated me these past twenty years..."
As her eyes alternated between red and blue, Caenis asked the question at the forefront of her mind, specifically, "Can I come with you...?"
Feeling a fluttery sensation in his chest, Thomas couldn't help smiling as he replied, "Of course. If Drake and I have decided to do our own thing, it makes sense that everyone else would be given a similar choice..."
Exhaling a faint, audibly relieved sigh, the crimson glow faded from Caenis's eyes, her animalistic ears perking up as she adopted a snide smile and remarked, "Then that settles it. I mean, you would pretty much be helpless without me around. After all, I'm the only one qualified to be your sparring partner. You also need to help replenish my Mana if it starts to run low, so, yeah...I'm coming with you..."
Feeling slightly embarrassed, Caenis broke from Thomas's grip on her shoulders before glaring at Drake as she asked, "You got a problem with that, 'Captain'...?"
Shaking her head, Drake maintained her usual calm and confident smile as she replied, "I firmly believe people should walk the path they choose. If you want to keep dragging our Master down, feel free. Who knows, the additional 'weight' might prove useful?"
Directing her gaze to the remaining members of the Wild Hunt, Drake asked, "What about you guys? I imagine Musashi will want to roam the world in search of powerful opponents?"
While Musashi adopted a wry smile, Benienma unhesitantly replied, "I am Master's Kosho, dechi. Even if I must remain in his shadow and become a kagemusha, Benienma will remain at Master's side, dechi...!"
Following Benienma's dutiful response, Astolfo was uncharacteristically reserved as she met Thomas's gaze and said, "I would also like to stay at your side. However, if it's true that we're holding you back...I might just fly around helping people...?"
Deciding to lend Astolfo a hand, Drake pointed out, "You would need him to recharge your Mana if you're going to fly around saving people on your Hippogriff. Besides, this is supposed to be us deciding what we 'want' to do. Forcing yourself to do something else because you're afraid of getting in the way is senseless. Isn't that right, Master~?"
Though his smile was wry, Thomas was sincere as he stated, "I would be happy to have you accompany me..."
Regaining her usual vigor, Astolfo smiled before darting over like a pink phantom, nearly knocking Thomas off his feet as she squeezed his body and replied, "Thank you, thank you, thank you~!"
Feeling the inordinate softness of Astolfo's body, Thomas floundered a bit as he freed himself from the petite pinkette's clutches, saying, "It's not a big deal..." with a flustered look on his face. His reaction earned him a sly smile from Astolfo, who, after a moment of hesitation, grabbed Thomas's arm and planted a kiss on his cheek.
"..."
Amused by the look on Thomas's face, Astolfo was tempted to tease him but ultimately decided against it. The atmosphere was still pretty tense, and the Straw Hats had been watching them with a mixture of confusion, intrigue, and fear on their faces. As tempting as it was, she didn't want to steal the spotlight and complicate things further.
As Astolfo gave Thomas a bit of space, Chiron felt compelled to offer his response, smiling apologetically as he stated, "I will accompany Drake. I have already taught you the fundamentals of Reinforcement, Alternation, and Projection Magecraft. Whether or not you master them will depend on your effort."
Though Caenis clicked her tongue, muttering, "Traitor..." Thomas returned a smile, stating, "That's probably for the best. Drake will need someone to act as her moral compass and train her future crew members. I'll trust you to keep things from getting out of hand..."
Placing his hand over his heart, Chiron gave a slight bow as he said, "You have my word." before raising his head and adding, "You have tremendous potential and a kind heart, Thomas. Follow the voice within, and it will never lead you astray..."
Nodding in affirmation, Thomas replied, "I'll keep that in mind..." before shifting his gaze to Musashi. In response, she exhaled a faint sigh through her nose, stating, "I would like to travel this world and measure myself against the strongest it has to offer. Also, the Pirate lifestyle doesn't suit me, so I'll most likely travel to Wano or join the Marines. I figure we would benefit from having someone on the inside, so I might give becoming an Admiral a go. If I can manipulate everyone's Bounties, that would put us in a pretty good position."
Blinking in surprise, Thomas parroted, "You want to become an Admiral?"
Shrugging her shoulders, Musashi replied, "I honestly don't care. My only purpose in life is to refine my 'zero sword' to the highest possible level. I'm just thinking about how I can help everyone else achieve their goals. We don't have anyone in the Marines, so I figure I can secure one of the top spots, collect information, inflate everyone's Bounties, and then stab them in the back once everything comes to a head."
Though he had no idea how Musashi would fare in the Marines, Thomas knew she could take care of herself. He would miss their chats, but if she could become an Admiral, it would benefit them tremendously. After all, this was a world where Luffy was a woman&mdash;having someone in the upper echelons of the Marines could give them access to important information about the world's structure, major events, and important characters that could drastically impact their plans moving forward.
Nodding his head in approval, Thomas said, "If it's you, I'm sure you could become an Admiral in no time. Just don't do anything to compromise your morals or integrity. If the World Government or the inbred Nobles backing them attempt to force you into something..."
Rolling her eyes, Musashi mused, "If that happens, the world will have a lot fewer Nobles. I would also receive a pretty hefty Bounty, so everyone wins. Easy peasy."
Inserting herself back into the conversation, Drake mused, "Then I guess that settles it. Our resident kitten will doubtlessly accompany you, so that leaves me with a centaur, a mad doctor, and a deaf/mute musician. Things are starting to get exciting."
Furrowing his brows, Thomas was about to 'insist' that Beethoven would accompany him, but Drake saw through him, asking, "Do you really think that girl would want to abandon the modern conveniences of the Hind...?"
"..."
Taking advantage of Thomas's silence, Drake asserted, "She'll be much safer and more content with us. And besides, you haven't even secured your 'own' position among the Straw Hats. At this rate, I may have to lend you a ship to start your own journey..."
With Drake suddenly looking toward her, Lucy perked up and replied, "I don't mind. You all seem like pretty interesting people, so it would be fun to travel together for a while. I just don't know about letting you become permanent members of my crew."
Electing to offer her input, Nami added, "Yeah. And what's the deal with you all referring to Tom as your Master? Is he like some kind of Noble or something...?"
With everyone looking at him, Thomas's body briefly tensed before he adopted a wry smile and replied, "It's complicated. I'm not a Noble or anything, but I do have a Master-Servant relationship with everyone in the Wild Hunt. The simplest explanation I can provide is this..."
Holding up his hand, Thomas began to condense Magical Energy around his fist as he explained, "I ate a Devil Fruit known as the Mana-Mana-no-Mi. It provides me with innumerable abilities, but the one most pertinent to this situation is something akin to summoning magic. It might be hard to believe, but everyone here is a Spirit I manifested with my power..."
While Nami, Zoro, Usopp, Johnny, and Yosaku had looks of disbelief on their faces, Lucy's eyes lit up as she exclaimed, "So you're like a Wizard or something!? That's so cool...!"
Smiling wryly, Thomas replied, "The technical term is 'Magus.' However, I'm more of a punchy-kicky kind of Magus than one who weaves complex magical spells. I can create barriers and fire blasts of Magical Energy, but I prefer to enhance my physical parameters and fight with my fists. It's a lot cooler..."
Punctuating his words, Thomas unleashed the gathered Magical Energy in his hand, destroying a small boulder a few dozen meters away. It was an incredibly inefficient way of utilizing his Magical Energy, but being able to unleash energy beams was every Otaku's fantasy. He had even created a version of the Kamehameha, but it was horrendously unstable and burned the shit out of his palms...at least for now.
Inserting himself into the conversation, Usopp's teeth clattered as he asked, "D-D-Does that mean everyone in the Wild Hunt is a g-g-g-g-g-ghost!?"
Shaking his head, Thomas replied, "No, though Benienma is technically a Demon from Hell. It would be best if you didn't tell lies around her. If you do so with malicious intent, she'll cut off your tongue..."
As the Straw Hats shifted their gazes to her, Benienma surprised them by speaking from the beak on her forehead, stating, "It's not good to tell lies, dechi..."
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(A/N: Who could have imagined the people who spent the last year at Thomas's side might want to accompany him on his journey...?)

After watching Lucy put down enough fruits and vegetables to feed an elephant, Thomas tracked down and explained the situation to Drake. When she learned that the person he had been raving about for the past year had their gender swapped, she laughed like there was no tomorrow. Fortunately, she had no qualms about engaging the Straw Hats in a 'mock battle,' weighing anchor and leading the way in the Hind while the Going Merry struggled to keep up.
During the brief voyage, Drake surprised Thomas by calling him into her Cabin and saying, "I think you should join the Straw Hats..."
Blinking in surprise, Thomas instinctually responded with a confused, "Pardon?" before furrowing his brows and asking, "Are you serious...?"
Nodding in affirmation, Drake, sitting behind her desk, linked her fingers together, saying, "Before you get too upset, let me explain my reasoning. If you disagree with me, we'll continue to do things as we always have..."
Inhaling a steadying breath, Thomas suppressed his growing anger and frustration, stating, "Let's hear it..." in a dull monotone.
With an uncharacteristically serious expression on her face, Drake said, "I've been watching you for the past year, Tom. In that time, I've come to understand many things about you. First and foremost, you didn't come to this world to experience your own journey. You came here to experience 'their' journey..."
Before Thomas could respond or try to defend himself, Drake raised her hand to silence him, adding, "Secondly, you're obsessive and have self-esteem issues. You're constantly fretting over one thing or another, and you can't help comparing yourself to the rest of the crew. Not only does that stress you out, but it also forces us to measure our actions so that we don't upset or offend you somehow."
Narrowing her eyes slightly, Drake declared, "Put simply, you're holding everyone back. Instead of focusing on your journey and making the most of your situation, you're constantly pushing yourself to try and catch up to us and people you haven't even met yet. By joining the Straw Hats, you'll be able to grow alongside them without having to worry about constantly being in our shadow. Furthermore, that frees us to travel into areas of the sea you simply aren't ready for."
Pulling out the guidebook Thomas had written for her, Drake added, "We already have a general understanding of where you'll be heading during your journey, so we can make preparations for the future while you focus on the present. That gives us the chance to grow without having to worry about your safety, and if shit 'really' hits the fan, you can always call us to your side using a Command Spell."
Setting the guidebook on the table, Drake wrapped up her pitch, stating, "This isn't a permanent arrangement. Once you reach Sabaody, we'll be primed and ready to pick you up at your leisure. We could also meet up sometime after the Paramount War. I have a few ideas in mind about how we can most benefit from that situation, and I can't implement them with you acting as a leash."
Though Drake's argument was fairly compelling, Thomas's brows remained firmly furrowed as he asked, "So, that's it? I'm in the way...?" Without sugarcoating things, Drake nodded her head, answering, "Yes, though, keep in mind, I don't blame you. By your admission, the world you came from was a mundane and perfectly 'ordinary' world. Even after a year, you haven't truly adapted to life within this world. The Hind offers you too many advantages, and you've never really had to struggle. You train hard, sure, but you always act with the knowledge that we will bail you out the moment shit hits the fan. While that's true, to an extent, you'll never be able 'reach the pinnacle' so long as we're babysitting you."
"..."
Taking advantage of Thomas's silence, Drake's expression softened a bit as she added, "Listen, Tom...you may be a fool, but you're not an idiot. I'm sure you realized most of these things before I laid them out. If you didn't have us as a crutch, we both know you would do everything in your power to become a member of the Straw Hats. That sense of 'responsibility' you feel, the thing that drives you to prepare exhaustively, is holding you, me, and everyone else back. Instead of planning for life, go out there and live it."
After drawing in another deep breath, Thomas exhaled a prolonged sigh through his nose. He knew Drake was right, but, at the same time, he felt like he was being 'discarded.' Their separation might only last a year or so, but by the time they reunited, Drake would have invariably recruited many additional members to the Wild Hunt. He would basically be an outsider in his own crew...
Seeing through Thomas's thoughts, Drake asserted, "Relax. I won't make any promises regarding myself, but I can assure you that Caenis, Musashi, Atalanta, Benienma, and Beethoven won't be sleeping around. The former would never admit it, but we both know she's developed something of a soft spot for you. Even if our future crewmen and women attempted to hit on her, I imagine she would just beat the shit out of them..."
Noticing Thomas was on the verge of relenting, Drake narrowed her eyes in amusement as she added, "You could also take her with you, but her ability to manipulate the sea and storms would make things too easy for you. Her presence would also remove your need to conscript that Franky fellow, and, depending on the situation, she might get in the way of you 'wooing' those lasses on the Straw Hats. Caenis might not be the jealous type, but her presence would be a powerful deterrent to any other women that want to get close to you..."
Hammering her point home, Drake mused, "What were their names again? Nami, Robin, Vivi, Shirahoshi, Scarlett, Carrot, Wanda, Reiju, Yamato, and now Lucy? As a member of the Straw Hats, you will invariably cross paths with each and every one of them..."
Smiling wryly, Thomas pointed out, "Shirahoshi is barely sixteen three years from now, and she's also like ten to fifteen meters tall..."
Rolling her eyes, Drake retorted, "She's also a living weapon with the power to destroy the world. Besides, with the power of the Mana-mana-no-Mi, you can do anything you put your mind to. Just look at how much you've changed in a year. You're more than 210cm tall, and your face and hair and indistinguishable from when you arrived in this world. If you want to grow to fifteen meters, I'm sure you could figure something out."
"..."
As frustrating as Drake's words were, Thomas found himself increasingly convinced. He no longer had plans to build a massive harem out of all the One Piece heroines, but he would be lying if he said he had renounced the idea completely. Each of the girls Drake mentioned had their charms, and if he played his cards right, he should have a chance with at least a few of them...
After letting Thomas's thoughts wander for the better part of a minute, Drake revealed, "We'll be reaching our destination shortly. Once we get there, I plan to make a 'bet' with that Lucy girl. If their side manages to secure the victory in our skirmish, they'll be permitted to let you join their crew. If our side wins, I'll ask them to look after you for the next year or so. Then, if things play out as they did in 'canon,' we'll either pick you up after Bartholomew Kuma has separated you or sometime after the end of the Paramount War. Sound like a plan...?"
Though he still had the impression he was being 'discarded,' Thomas only hesitated for a moment before nodding his head, answering, "Fine...as you pointed out, I 'do' want to travel with the Straw Hats. But what will you be doing in the meantime...?"
Without hesitation, Drake replied, "First and foremost, I'm going to go pick up that treasure at the Jewel Ice Sheet. After that, we'll follow your plan, becoming Shichibukai before spending the next year or so drafting people and preparing for the Paramount War. On that note..."
Narrowing her eyes, Drake said, "If and when you encounter Marshall D. Teach fellow, ignore him. So long as that Ace kid isn't dead for more than twenty-four hours by the time we recover his body, Asclepius should be able to do something about it..."
Before Thomas could question her, Drake regained her smile as she said, "There is a method to my madness. If you have Musashi kill Blackbeard, it will completely derail the 'plot' you're familiar with. And if Ace doesn't die, at least for a short while, Lucy and the Straw Hats won't feel compelled to train during the two-year 'time skip.' I don't mind if you want to accelerate things, but if you enter the second half of the Grand Line early, you risk never crossing paths with characters such as Kinemon and Momonosuke. You also imperil the 'prophecy' of Toki, so no matter how much you loathe Blackbeard, you should do your best to tolerate his existence. He is one of the many whetstones that will help you and the Straw Hats reach their full potential."
"..."
Realizing that Drake had likely memorized everything he wrote in the guidebook, Thomas asked, "Just how long have you been thinking about getting rid of me?"
Adopting a mischievous smile, Drake replied, "From the moment you first summoned me. I don't like to be bound or restricted, so even though we have a Master-Servant relationship, I've wanted to do my own thing from the beginning..."
Rising to her feet, Drake walked around to the front of her desk, stopping just in front of Thomas as she added, "Like you, I came to this world to experience the thrill of a new adventure. I initially planned to share that adventure with you, but you have far too many 'attachments' that prevent you from making the most of the opportunity we've been presented. That may change in the future, but only after you leave the proverbial nest and figure out what you 'truly' wish to accomplish in this world..."
Fixing Thomas's collar, Drake's smile softened as she said, "You wouldn't have been able to summon me if we weren't at least a little similar. Once you embrace that aspect of your character and blossom into the man you wish to become, I'll be waiting. That's one of the perks of being a Spirit...I never have to worry about getting old. Even if you spend the next century trying to figure things out, I'll be ready and waiting to accompany you on whatever journey you have planned. Just make sure it's exciting..."
Retracting her hands from Thomas's collar, Drake gave him one last look before walking around him, revealing, "We've reached our destination. Do your best in the upcoming battle. Even if the outcomes appear similar, there is a difference between 'joining' a crew and 'accompanying' one on its journey. If you want to stand on equal footing with that Lucy woman, don't be afraid to punch her in the face and prove your worth...both as a man and a potential partner..."
Finished with what she had to say, Drake pushed open the doors to her Cabin and departed without looking back. In her wake, Thomas lowered his gaze to the ground, his mind uncharacteristically empty except for the words Drake had just spoken. He honestly wasn't comfortable with hitting a woman, but for the sake of his future and to earn Lucy's respect, he was prepared to give it his all...even if he was 'very' likely to get his ass kicked. After all, even if he charged up for a full hour, he wouldn't be able to level a normal-sized building, much less a five-story pagoda...
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(A/N: For those who are apprehensive about the novel following the canon timeline, don't be. While many of the locations and people will be the same, everything Thomas does will create ripples that affect events later down the line. Lucy's gender will also factor heavily into how events play out, so treat this as a 'spin' on the original story. One with adult themes and a lot more killing xD...)

Chapter 28: Conflict of Interests