The ship sailed peacefully across the ocean, its sails billowing in the steady breeze. We had been at sea for two days, and those days had been intense.
Koby and I had been focusing on physical endurance and raw strength training. Each morning, after a hearty breakfast (which Nami watched over like a hawk to prevent Luffy from stealing extra portions), we would dive into the sea.
Tied to the ship by ropes, we swam against the current, dragging improvised weights behind us—rocks, sacks filled with iron, and even a barrel full of sand that I had pulled from my inventory.
Koby, who had struggled with this kind of training at first, had made remarkable progress. He could now swim for over an hour without stopping. He still had trouble maintaining a steady rhythm, but he no longer panicked and had greatly improved his breathing and endurance.
Luffy, on the other hand, had made huge strides in resisting seawater's effects. He still weakened when submerged, but he could now use about 30% of his strength, allowing him to move and fight more effectively, even when partially in the water.
It was a huge win for him, even if he wouldn't stop complaining.
"Uuuugh… I'm so tired…" Luffy groaned after a particularly tough session, his body swaying with the waves.
I chuckled. "You wanted to get stronger, right? Well, this is the price you pay."
"Yeah, but why is it so hard?!" He flailed his arms in the water, looking more like a pouting child than a fearsome pirate.
And then came the idea that cost me dearly…
It all started with a simple provocation.
While Koby and Luffy were still tied to their ropes, struggling in the water behind the ship, I casually approached Nami, who was lounging on the deck, soaking in the sun.
"You know, Nami, you could join us in training… Just so you don't get left behind." I said in a teasing tone.
Nami, lying back on a deck chair, cracked open one eye and shot me a cold glare.
"Say that again, Jordan?" she asked, her voice dangerously calm.
A shiver ran down my spine, but, being the idiot I was, I didn't take the threat seriously.
I shrugged, flashing a cocky grin. "I'm just saying, if you trained a little more, you wouldn't have to rely on me so much…"
Complete silence.
Luffy and Koby, still struggling in the water, immediately froze.
Luffy opened his mouth… then promptly shut it, as if he had just witnessed a man sign his own death warrant.
Koby paled slightly. "Jordan… you really shouldn't have…"
Nami stood up slowly, a sweet—far too sweet—smile on her face.
"Ah… so you're saying I should train, is that it?" she murmured as she walked toward me.
I took a step back, sensing danger.
"Uh… I mean, you're already super strong, huh! But, well, a little extra training is never a bad—"
BAM.
I didn't even see the punch coming.
A lightning-fast fist crashed into my cheek, sending me flying straight into the water.
A monumental splash echoed as I crashed next to Luffy and Koby.
Luffy burst out laughing. "AHAHAHA!! SERVES YOU RIGHT, JORDAN!!"
Koby, still in shock, looked at me with a hint of pity.
"Are you… okay?" he asked as I resurfaced, coughing and spitting out seawater.
I looked up at the deck, meeting Nami's murderous gaze.
She was holding an oar.
And she was ready to use it again.
"SO, JORDAN?! YOU STILL WANT ME TO TRAIN?!" she yelled, raising her makeshift weapon.
I immediately panicked. "NO, NO, NO! YOU'RE PERFECT AS YOU ARE, NAMI! NO NEED FOR TRAINING! YOU'RE A GODDESS, A QUEEN!"
She pretended to swing again, and in a desperate survival instinct, I dived underwater, narrowly dodging the oar as it slammed into the surface with a loud thud.
Luffy was crying from laughter. "That's the fastest dodge I've ever seen!"
Koby shook his head. "Does… does that count as training?"
I resurfaced, panting and desperate. "IF IT DOES, I NEVER WANT TO TRAIN AGAIN!"
Nami crossed her arms, visibly satisfied with her work, before returning to her lounge chair as if nothing had happened.
The day went on peacefully after my unintended "express training".
Luffy and Koby sat at the front of the ship, excitedly discussing their progress, while I remained on the deck, wringing out my soaking wet clothes.
My gaze drifted toward Nami, still comfortably lounging, sipping a cold drink.
She looked relaxed… but I knew something wasn't right.
I had hurt her, more than I had realized.
Taking a deep breath, I straightened up and slowly walked toward her.
"Nami…"
She didn't move at first, then finally glanced up at me, her expression neutral—almost emotionless.
"Hm? You want another one?" she asked with a hint of sarcasm, tapping the oar beside her.
I immediately raised my hands in peace. "No, no! No violence, I promise! I come in peace!"
She raised an eyebrow, waiting for me to continue.
I took a moment to think, then sighed. "Listen… I wanted to apologize."
Her eyebrows furrowed slightly, but she didn't say anything.
I continued. "Earlier… I teased you without thinking, and I didn't realize my words might actually hurt you. I was just trying to joke around, not make you feel… I don't know… weaker or anything like that."
She looked away, her fingers tightening slightly around her glass.
"Nami..." I lowered myself a bit, trying to meet her gaze. "I never thought you were weak. You're part of our crew, and you're stronger than you think."
A silence settled between us.
Then, she let out a long sigh, setting her glass aside before finally turning her gaze back to me.
"It's not just what you said, Jordan. It's what it reminded me of…"
Her fingers absentmindedly played with a strand of her hair. "Ever since I was little… I've always had to wait for someone to help me. Whether it was my adoptive mother, my sister… or later, pirates, marines, or even bounty hunters."
She paused before continuing, her voice quieter. "I've always had to wait for a hero to come save me."
I watched her in silence, sensing the pain behind her words.
"And you… you and Luffy… you're those heroes. Once again." She clenched her fists. "I'm tired of always being the one who has to wait for someone else to fix my problems."
I crossed my arms, thinking. "Nami… You don't have to be a fighter to be strong."
She raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
I crouched beside her, keeping a serious tone. "You're our navigator. You guide us through the seas. Without you, Luffy and I would probably already be lost in the middle of nowhere."
She didn't respond, but I saw her expression soften slightly.
I continued. "But… if you really want to get stronger, if you want to become more independent… then train. But in your own way. You don't have to become a fighter like me or Luffy. Use your strengths."
She stared at me in silence for a few seconds, then took a deep breath. "Then… help me."
I tilted my head, surprised. "Help how?"
She crossed her arms. "I want to learn how to use my magic more effectively. I can throw lightning bolts and summon tornadoes, but I haven't really learned to use them smartly yet. I want us to work on that."
I smiled, happy with her request.
"Now that's a solid plan. And I think I have a few tricks for you."
Nami raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh yeah? Like what?"
I held up a finger. "First, you need to think of your magic as an extension of yourself. You shouldn't just cast spells—you should adapt them to your surroundings. For example, instead of shooting lightning directly at an enemy, you could strike wet ground or a metal object so the electricity spreads naturally."
She nodded, seeming to think it over.
I continued. "Next, don't use up all your energy too fast. In a long fight, it's better to save your MP and use your spells at the right moment. You could combine your magic with sneakier tactics, like wind illusions or distractions."
A smile slowly formed on her lips. "Hmmm… Not bad."
I stood up, offering her a hand. "So, when do we start?"
She took my hand and got up with a smirk. "Right now. But you better be a good teacher, or I'll throw you back in the water."
I laughed. "Promise, I'll do my best… and I'll avoid any more stupid remarks this time."
She rolled her eyes, but I could tell she was already more relaxed.
Night stretched over the ocean, the clear, starry sky providing a perfect setting for our training session. The waves gently rocked the ship, and the silence of the open sea was only interrupted by the crackling of Nami's magic energy.
I crossed my arms with a slight smile. "We'll start with something simple," I said, pointing at the open space in front of us. "Precision is key. A well-placed attack is better than ten shots that waste your MP."
Nami nodded, already focused. She spun her staff in her hand, generating small sparks along its shaft. "Okay, tell me what to do."
I raised a hand and concentrated, forming a small shard of ice that hovered slightly above my palm. The biting cold radiated from the translucent crystal, illuminated by the starlight.
"I'm going to throw this ice shard into the air, and you have to hit it with your lightning before it touches the ground."
Nami smirked confidently. "Easy."
"We'll see about that," I replied, flicking the frozen projectile upward with a swift motion.
She reacted immediately, charging her staff with static energy before firing a bolt of lightning.
The result… was less than impressive.
The lightning struck the water about three meters away from the projectile, causing a useless burst of sparks.
Nami squinted, her brow furrowed in frustration. "What?! I hit it! Well… almost."
I raised an amused eyebrow. "Almost? You were miles off."
She shot me a glare. "You want me to electrocute you to see if I really miss?!"
I held up my hands, laughing. "Hey, relax! That's exactly why we're training. If you want your spells to be effective in battle, you have to master distance and anticipation."
Nami sighed, clenching her fists. "Alright… Do it again."
I formed another ice shard and launched it again, this time with more speed.
This time, Nami waited a fraction of a second longer before firing.
Her lightning still missed, but the gap was cut in half.
"Better!" I said with a nod.
She exhaled through her nose. "Not good enough. Keep going!"
And so, we repeated the exercise over and over.
With each failure, she adjusted her stance, the way she charged her staff, and how she calculated the projectile's trajectory.
After about twenty attempts, she finally hit an ice shard mid-air, shattering it into a rain of sparkling fragments.
She widened her eyes, a victorious smile stretching across her lips. "I got it!"
I twirled my Keyblade in my hand with a grin. "I knew you could do it. Now, the goal is to reach a 90% success rate. Because in battle, you won't have the luxury of missing."
"I'll get there," she declared with determination, raising her staff as if she was ready to keep going all night.
And so, we continued for hours, until her accuracy reached a solid 80%.
Finally, I crossed my arms and smiled. "Not bad at all. When we reach the next island, I'll show you how to adapt your magic for combat. Attack, defense, evasion… There are plenty of ways to use your magic beyond just shooting lightning."
She put away her staff and stretched, sighing with fatigue but wearing a satisfied smile.
"Honestly, I like this. If I become as strong with magic as you guys are with your attacks, I'll be way more useful in battle."
I nodded. "And you'll be able to protect yourself. No more waiting for 'heroes' to come help."
She gave a small smirk before lightly punching my shoulder.
"Yeah, but don't think that means I'll stop making you guys work." She grinned.
I rolled my eyes with a laugh. "Ah… we can always dream."
(Author's note: A little transition chapter. The next island is Usopp's, and I have no idea how I'm going to fit him in or if I even should, but I'll see where inspiration takes me ^^)