156Yes! The second chapter of Faker is up, I am super duper excited! HUZZAH! I'll have you know tight now that this chapter (And all the others won't be as long as chapter 1. I mean really, do you expect me to write over 10,000 words for each chapter!? I don't know about you, but I would like to have fingers by the end of this.
Any who, the second chapter starts. I COMMAND YOU TO ENJOY IT!
Beta: Performed by Undying Soul98.
Chapter 2: Fiction and Reality
When one usually wakes up from a long nap, they tend to feel a little drowsy. Sometimes it takes their brain a moment or two for it to kick into full-gear. And by that time, a good ten minutes had already passed.
For me it was as if I had woken up from a hangover.
"Uuuuuuugggggghhhhh…my head." I groaned as I simultaneously gripped my head and curled up into a tight ball. God, my head was pounding like a drum! "What did I do last night?" I mumbled. Wearily, I opened my eyes and hissed at the bright light that came shining into them. Ah! The light! It Burrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrns!
I rubbed my eyes a few times before my eyes managed to adjust to the incoming light. I seemed to have been laying in an alley on the dirt ground. Dear god; I repeat, what the hell did I do last night? Seeing as laying around on ground wasn't going to do me any good, I decided the best course of action would be to get up.
After a couple moments of trying to get up only to stumble back to the ground, I was able to shakily make it back up to both feet. I finally realized how messed up I was; my body was aching and rather stiff. Especially my chest. It felt like someone socked me right in the chest as strong as they could.
Something else was wrong, I didn't know what though. I felt different, like I was changed. Now that I thought about it, I felt a little shorter. Everything I was looking at looked a little higher up in my peripheral vision; I didn't know if it was just my thumping head and me or it was something else.
I noticed that I had somehow been put in a new set of clothing; it was nothing special. Just a pair of brown shorts, a black shirt, and a red hoodie. How the heck did I get changed into this? I sighed as I dusted off all the dirt specks from my(?) clothes. My head was hurting too much to figure this all out right now.
I was just about to leave this alley and find out where I was; probably go to the closest CVS and buy something for my raging headache, but I was quickly stopped. Something on the ground had caught my eyes. I studied it in confusion and curiosity because something like that shouldn't be here. I reached down and plucked it off the ground so that I could study it a little closer.
The item was a finely carved wooden plaque that had the shape of a pentagon. It was rather large, being so big that I was just able to curl my fingertips around it. Carved into one side was a 'X' shape, in the centre of it was a rather angled and cartoonish skull.
I'd recognize this emblem anywhere. It was the combat-pass used by substitute Soul Reapers in Bleach. This was one of the most well known symbols of the anime. I was planning on buying a replica online, but I never got the chance to.
But this one doesn't look like a something off of the assembly line, it looks more like something someone carved. I thought, rather impressed that someone had the capability to carve something as good as this. Whoever did this must have very good wood carving skills. I wish I could greet the lady or gentleman who made this and shake their hand for this job-well-done.
"I could've used his help bunches of time, especially during a convention." I muttered while running my fingers over its smooth surface. "Especially during the full-."
-TH-THUMP- -TH-THUMP- -TH-THUMP- -TH-THUMP-
"ACH!" I gave a startled cry as a aching pain coursed through my head. It was like my headache increased in level from 'Pain in the ass' to 'Ain't that a bitch', which was really bad. It was so bad that I was reduced to going down on one knee just so I wouldn't fall over. I hissed as the headache went down slightly but was still there.
I felt as if someone had taken a chisel and mallet and took apart of my brain, because what I was trying to remember was gone. I tried to remember what I was thinking but doing seemed to only make the headache worse.
"God damnit." I muttered through clenched teeth, as the throbbing soon dulled away into a soft but irritating thump. "Where's an Advil when you need it?" I rhetorically asked. And it was obvious where it was, not here where I clearly needed it. It took me a moment to stagger back to both feet, but when I did I decided I was sick and tired of being in this alley.
I walked out from the alley with the badge replica gripped in my right hand. Each step caused my stiff body to move. And as soon as I stepped out of it, my eyes looked upon the road and my ears were filled with the voices of many people.
The first thing I noticed coming out were the people that walked along the dirt road, either conversing with each other or walking across the street to do what they were going to do. The many houses, stores and other building were made of stone bricks with wood. And with the sun blazing down the way it was, it was not very comfortable.
So now that I was aware of the knew territory I was in, a single thought could only pop into my brain.
Just what the FUCK did I drink last night? Poison or something?
Honestly, I wasn't that bad of a alcoholic; I would have a beer or two once in a while, and get a slight buzz. But besides that, I've never been blackout drunk before. The only time I've ever really gotten drunk was when Johnson goaded me into a drinking contest. And after I spent the rest of the night leaning over the toilet, I decided that alcohol wasn't for me.
"Damn you Johnson, you psychotic pyromaniac." I grumbled out. Of course I would blame him, that bastard of a human being was the most alcohol-crazed of us all, and what he enjoyed second-most to fire, was getting everyone else drunk. So really, he was the only one I could think to blame. "Just how the heck did he do it?" I tried to remember just how it happened, but that only brought my headache back so I quickly stopped.
"Well, the best way to figure out just where I am, is to ask the people." I told myself while nodding my head. So without further adieu, I walked up to a street vendor selling an assortment of fruits. "Excuse me, could you tell me where I am right now?" I asked the middle-aged man.
All he did was groan in annoyance. "Look kid, your In Shells Town." Ok, Shells Town; where the hell was that? The name did sound familiar though. Actually, this town looked eerily familiar now that I had gotten a good look at it.
"Ok, and where exactly is Shells Town?" I asked only to receive a groan again in response. This guy was really starting to piss me off.
"It's in the Yotsuba Island region." I gave him a blank stare. "Ok kid, since you've been living under a rock your entire life, I'll spell it out for you. Shells Town is the location of the Marine's 153rd Branch, and is located in the East Blue. Now please, go away." He shooed me away, but that didn't work. I was glued to the spot, still trying to comprehend what he just uttered.
"W-what!?" I said a little louder than usual. Yotsuba Island region? East blue? "E-east blue!?" I squeaked with wide eyes. This man was obviously crazy, because what he was implying was darn right impossible! There was no way that the before mentioned location actually existed! That would be implying that I was in the East Blue, a region of ocean found in the anime One Piece, which didn't actually exist."You got to be kidding me!?"
"NO! I'm not!" he growled out loudly while facing me; he was trying to glare holes in my head but I was to distracted with my shock. "If you really don't believe me then look up there!" He yelled while pointing upwards toward a large building that had caught my sight earlier, just as I had made my way out of the alley. And when I brought my full attention upon it, I could only gape at the structure; I had recognized it quite easily.
When I had first woke up in the alley, I had realized that the ground had been slanted slightly. That meant that this town was built on a hilly area. But really, I didn't think much of it; I thought it was an insignificant factor, but now I'm not so sure about that anymore. It was actually playing a big part in as to how I knew what this place was.
As the very apex of this town, right at the top, was a building that was probably larger than any structure in this town. It was an odd building to look at, probably the most awkward building I had ever laid my eyes upon.
The structure was large, and shaped like a volcano; it was coloured a dark blue with a darker shaded camouflage pattern on it. Flanking the cylindrical tower were more buildings on each side, that had a far more normal shape than the blue one. To finish it off, they were all surrounded by menacing, stone walls, with a pair of massive, iron gates.
I really didn't pay attention to that though; I was more at the large words printed upon the tower and gates.
The sole word was 'Marines'.
It became hard to breathe…
No…
This feeling; it was like the world had come crashing down on my shoulders, as if I was Atlas himself and had finally let my grip on the sky slip...
This…this is physically impossible!
Not impossible, improbable… bad fanfic improbable...
OH GOD!
As the merchant went back to his many goods, I was left there trying to keep my breathing under control, but I was failing quickly. Sweat poured down my face; it wasn't from the sun's blazing, heat. It had accumulated as soon as ideas formed into my head as to where I was. And I prayed to god that I was wrong.
But I knew praying of any sort would do nothing, because I already knew where I was. I really was in the Yotsuba Island region. My current location was the Marine's 153rd Branch, which is located in Shells Town. This town was located in the East blue.
That meant…
I'm in the One Piece universe…
That single, fleeting thought caused an abundant of emotions to flow through my body, each one I was easily unable to control. My body shook, my forehead became slick with perspiration and my hands became wet with sweat. I felt extremely faint. I honestly didn't know what to do; I mean, who would know what to do in a situation like this!?
Then a feeling came to me; it was a feeling of clarification. A massive adrenaline rush then quickly swallowed up the former. So I ran. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me to the supposed Marine base of its 153rd branch. Because if this place was really Shells Town, then that meant that a rather important person was here.
All thoughts stopped circulating in my skull as I charged up the hill to the large army base.
Got to keep going! Got to keep going! Got to keep going!
My body worked like a well-oiled machine as I made my way up the hill at full power. I rushed as fast as I could to the oddly shaped building as if it were my final lifeline. In a sense, to me that is, it was my final lifeline. This moment might just tell if my life was over, or if I finally lost a few screws.
So I kept running; even if my body was begging to stop advancing (Which it was). I had to keep moving forward.
"Come on…*huff*…just a…*huff*…a little…*huff*…further." I managed to say through ragged breaths. I was starting to tire from the constant running toward my destination. Though in my defence, I had been running up hill the entire time in a full sprint for the past 10 minutes. But that wasn't the point; the point was that I was almost at my destination. "Almost…there!" I grunted out as my running soon deformed into an unsteady jog.
My enduring paid out, because after a few more steps I was finally at the top. I should have been admiring the view of the massive, Marine base in all its glory, but I was hunched over with both my hands on my knees trying to catch my breath.
Ok, maybe it wasn't the best idea to run up here so quickly. I berated myself with a deadpanned face. But that soon morphed into a look of determination. But I had to; this is a really important moment! I told myself with hardened eyes. So after I regained my breath, I stood up at my full-height and stared at the building that would decide the truth about my future.
I walked up to the so-called 'Marine Base' and stood in front of the imposing wall of rock that had to be at least 11-feet tall. I traced my hands along its rough surface; it was real. I cracked both my knuckles, before taking a deep breath to prepare myself for what I was about to do next.
I should have taken rock climbing when Michael offered to show me. I thought, now regretting not taking up my friend's past offer. But that didn't mattered, what mattered was I was going to climb this wall! If I'm correct, then he has to be here also. Though that might have been incorrect, as I didn't even know what the date was. Ok, here I go!
I dug my fingers into the large grooves in the wall, before pulling myself up with a grunt. The moment I was off the ground I placed the tips of my shoes into the grooves and pulled myself up the wall again. I repeated this again and again as I scaled the wall. And finally, not even five minutes in, I was at the top. I clung to the wall as I peaked my head over the wall, my eyes scanned over the large, deserted courtyard. I searched for the certain target that I had been looking for.
My search didn't take that much longer; as soon as I had set my eyes on this area, my eyes quickly centred upon the only person in there. All my breathing functions stopped and my eyes dilated; it took all of my willpower not to just let go of the wall and fall off. Why?
Because I knew this person, even though we never met before!
He was tied to makeshift, wooden cross. He was a tall, muscular man with lightly tanned skin. He wore black trousers that were tucked inside black boots, a plain white shirt with a green haramaki. To finish off his look, he wore a black bandana knotted on his head that cast a shadow over his eyes. Beneath the bandana, I could see sideburns that were coloured green, showing that he rather strange hair.
The man looked to be in bad shape; he had cuts and bruises all of his body. He also looked a little skinny, like he had been left out there for days on end without anything to eat!
But really, that didn't matter really in my head; the person's identity, that's what was important to me right now, because I knew the identity of this prisoner.
His name was Roronoa Zoro, the soon-to-be first mate, as well as the swordsman, of the Straw Hat pirates. A group of pirates whose combined bounties equals 800,000,050 berri. My eyes almost bulged out of my head as I stared at the "moss-head" with shock, fear, and awe. I was on the verge of hyperventilating myself into the peaceful world of the unconscious when a deep, menacing voice spoke to me.
"Hey, you." I looked down to see Zoro giving me an evil glare from beneath his bandana. "You're annoying me." I stared into his eyes without taking a breath. "Piss off."
I don't know why, maybe it was from shock of my location at the moment, or possibly just Zoro's intense glare, but at that moment my fingers lost all their grip on the wall and the next thing I knew I had quickly fell to the ground on my back with a rather loud –thump-.
No reaction was made once it was over; I didn't cry out in pain or just curl up into a ball in hopes of finding a way to deal with the considerable pain coursing through my body. All I did was stare up into the sky unblinkingly. Though at this time, a small thought was able to squirm its way into my head in my zombie-like state.
I really am in the One Piece universe…huh.
I really wanted to blame someone right about now.
Yes, the second chapter is done. The third chapter will have more action; he Patrick will meet Luffy and Coby and then a fight will go on, yay! This chapter was read over by Undying Soul98, please go and read his stories too, for they are a butt-load of awesomeness! Anyways, BYE BYE!