You woke up a couple hours later to find a basket of food in the sick bay by your bed. There was an orange beside it, a paper flower, a book, pen and ink, and a sword propped up nearby. It very much felt like an assortment of Get Well blessings, but different enough to remind you where you were.

Sitting up slowly you grabbed one of the sandwiches and began to eat. You were ravenously hungry after everything that had happened. The two bowls of broth had vanished with all the muscle tension from the return of your memories, and the sandwiches were far more filling.

Just as delicious as well. It was a small wonder to you that the entire crew wasn't rotund. It'd be difficult to control yourself with such delicious food so readily available.

You were on the second sandwich when Chopper came into the room.

"You're awake!" He says cheerfully, coming in and closing the door before bringing his chair over to the bed and climbing into it. "How are you feeling?"

"Good, I think. I'm still a little groggy, but the sandwiches are delicious. Are these all gifts?" You ask, nodding your head to the assortment of items.

"Yeah, I had to remove some. Luffy brought you some meat, but Sanji's keeping it safe for you. Zoro brought sake, but you shouldn't have alcohol yet, so I moved that away in case I didn't come back in time to stop you. The tangerine is from Nami, the paper flower's from Usopp. Robin and Brook brought the empty journal and pen set." Chopper checks your vitals as he talks. "I think it would be good if you kept a journal. We don't know what caused your amnesia, but if it happens again, seeing details in your own handwriting will be more comforting than anything else I could do."

"Your logic is sound, Dr. Chopper." You admit, turning the paper flower over in your hands. It was not hastily crafted, and you could see several different tones of paper folded together to create a delicate ivory white blossom. "These gifts are all very thoughtful."

"Jinbei says that his gift to you will be describing this world from his perspective, when you're ready." Chopper offers.

"He is from elsewhere as well?" You ask.

"Not from another world, no. Jinbei is a fishman, and while they are part of this world they tend to stay separate from the surface." Chopper explains. "Some of that is due to the past, and some of that is due to them, being, well, fishmen."

"When one is adapted to the water, one stays in it. I can understand that. Master Jinbei then is unique to the surface." You eat another sandwich. "I'm sure his perspective will be useful. What I know of this world is still brief. It is made up of mostly islands, with vast expanses of water. There is a world government, but the islands are often left to their own devices. The... marines are the knights of your government, and we do not like them or the government."

"We?"

"Myself and your crew."

Chopper smiles. "We like some of them, but there is a big difference of opinion between us."

"Hm. If something happens, I suppose it is best if I follow someone else's lead then." You point to the sword against the wall. "Is that for me as well?"

"Huh, oh yeah, Franky made it." Chopper explains. "Franky's not a swordsmith, but he says it should give you something to use for practice at the minimum. Until we can find you something else."

"Thoughtful gifts indeed." You muse with a smile. "Am I free to go for now, Dr. Chopper?"

Chopper smiles up at you. "Yes, you can do pretty much anything except try to go swimming again."

You laugh as you slide off the bed. "I will wait until we anchor somewhere, and I can practice in shallower and safer waters." You promise Chopper as you pick up the sword. The scabbard was wooden, lined with felt and polished beautifully. It was simple, but elegant, and you had to admire Franky's craftmanship for something that wasn't his primary vocation.

Pulling the sword out you were surprised to see an actual sword. You had expected a wooden training blade, or even scrap metal pounded into a decent semblance of a sword shape. What you held in your hands instead was something that you would've had easily gifted to your liege back home. You put it back into scabbard and turned to Chopper once more before stepping out onto the deck.

"May I leave my gifts here until I know where I will be sleeping?"

"Of course!"

You attached the scabbard to your waist with the leather straps Franky had worked into it as you stepped around to the open grassy area of the deck. You thought maybe the leather had been worked by Usopp – there was something about the style that reminded you of the flower than had been in the sickbay. You adjusted the straps and how it sat on your hip a little bit and when it felt right you pulled the sword fully from the scabbard.

It was beautifully balanced. If Franky wanted to make a name for himself as a swordsmith, he could take over the entire continent back on your world. A year of practice and his swords would be legendary.

You focused on the movements, taking yourself through the practice routines you had been learning your entire life. It felt good to move your body in a way that required little thought, allowing your mind to focus on the details of your situation. The easy movements let you trace the line of your memories without getting lost in the emotions and physical reactions of them.

This wasn't like when you jumped off the ship and the sensation of falling had triggered a flood of memories, this was you turning each page carefully. Minding the words, and considering the impacts.

By the time you finished you had a decently clear picture of what happened. The only thing you didn't know was how you'd gotten from your world to here. Your memories end abruptly in the middle of your day in Winternight, and the resume with you walking on water before all hell broke loose.

"That was like watching a dance." Robin muses, flashing you a smile that shows she means well.

"It was very elegant." Sanji says in agreement. "Much better than watching that mossy brute swing his swords around."

"Ah... thanks, I think?" You manage before offering a small bow toward Sanji. "Thank you for the delicious sandwiches, they were divine."

Sanji's eyes went wide, and his face goes pink. "It's... it was nothing, I'm the cook, I can't have anyone going hungry on my watch." He puts his hand up to his nose and mouth and starts toward the kitchen. "Excuse me, ladies."

"Is... Is he okay?"

Robin smiles and nods, "He is. Our esteemed chef has a soft spot for ladies and praise."

"He needs more training," a familiar voice grumbles and look over to see the swordsman sitting on the bench around the mast.

You step over to him, but something in you compels you to not bow. "I owe you an apology, and I also have a question, if you don't mind." You say the second part hastily, realizing he was getting ready to argue against the apology.

He looks at you for a moment with his good eye and then closes it. "What?"

You keep your voice low to avoid being overheard, but you're sure he can hear you. "I struck you in the water." His eye opens, but he doesn't say anything. "I was trying to use magic, but that power doesn't exist here. So... what did I do?"

"... Haki, probably." He says after a moment.

"Can you teach me?"

"Eh?" Zoro looks shocked and confused.

"Oh, uh, no, I mean I can ask someone else. I just... don't want to accidentally do that to anyone else." You admit scratching the back of your head. "You're sturdy, but if I hurt anyone else I'd-."

"Fine."

"Eh?" It was your turn to be caught off-guard.

"Follow me." Zoro says shortly and walks to the helm with you.

Jinbei's there, and once you're standing beside him, Zoro gestures to the older man and then walks off.

"Eh? Eh?" You look at Jinbei in confusion, and he looks back before you both look at Zoro who is already gone from the area. "Uhm."

Jinbei smiles. "Feeling better Miss (Y/N)?"

"Y-yes! Yes, I am, thank you for asking Master Jinbei." You reply, the conversation helping to shake off your confusion. "I... I'm sorry, I asked him for help in learning about this Haki that he spoke of and he brought me here."

"Ah." Jinbei says knowingly. "Then allow me to instruct you. Young Zoro's way of learning is very similar to the captain's, and neither are done safely on the ship. When one learns by doing it is also difficult to teach another."

"Ah. So, he is helping me learn by leading me to an instructor." You say, looking back toward the deck.

"So it seems." Jinbei agrees.

"Oh, and you also offered to provide me a better perspective on this world." You bow. "I am grateful for everything, Master Jinbei."

Jinbei laughs and there's something deeply comforting about it. "It will be my pleasure. We'll begin with the basics of Armament and Observation Haki, that way you can practice on your own when I'm busy."

Over the next hour Jinbei walked you through the theory and practical applications of Haki. You caught on quickly; as you had suspected given what had happened earlier, channeling and utilizing Haki wasn't too different from channeling and using winter magic. The applications of the two were different, though still fundamentally similar. Winter magic was meant for offense and defense, and so was Haki. But while winter magic had a chilling effect, often manifesting as tangible ice, haki was an invisible force that had no such manifestation.

Advanced Haki techniques were a consideration for another day, your first desire was to simply make sure that you could control yourself going forward. The last thing you needed to do was harm a different member of this crew and have their guardian hold you to account for it.

You were trying to get back home, not be slashed into itty bitty pieces by someone who carries two extra swords.

"That is alarmingly fast progression, Miss (Y/N)." Jinbei admits as the sun begins to dip low.

"Haki it seems, is not too dissimilar from mana." You explain. "Which means I have years of experience. Please don't give me too much credit, and your instruction was very easy to follow! I don't know how long I would've fumbled around on my own."

"Oi! Dinner's ready!" You heard Sanji's voice from deck and headed toward the kitchen with Jinbei close behind.

Mealtimes with the crew were a lesson in chaotic control. You weren't surprised to learn they had been restraining themselves the first time, but the difference between then and now was vast. On the plus side, it was a great way to work on your observation Haki while also eating delicious food.

Bonding over meals was also a good way to get to know the crew, as it gave you a chance to not only interact with all of them, but also watch how they interacted with one another. Half-way through the meal you realized this crew was more of a family than what you would think of for a pirate crew. Whatever motivated them to work together wasn't simple adoration for their captain, nor was it desperation to survive in a world that had abandoned them.

It also certainly wasn't fear. They may be protecting one another from something, but they certainly weren't following Luffy out of fear.

"What's brought you all together?" You ask during a brief moment of peace during the meal. "If it's not rude of me to... ask." You pause slightly as you realize the entire room is pointing at Luffy.

Turning toward Luffy, he just smiles and laughs light-heartedly. "I'm going to become the King of Pirates!" He announces.

You don't know what the King of Pirates is, or what he would need to do to become one, but you're suddenly struck with how certain you are that it will happen. It's only a matter of when, not if.

"I see." You say a little awe-struck. "Well, then I will do my best to help."

"We're going to help you get back home." Luffy says matter-of-factly as he reaches over to someone else's plate and snags a piece of food.

"Huh? Wait, are you going to put your goal on hold to help me?"

"Well, not completely," Nami answers. "We have no idea how we're going to help you get back home, so we're going to look for clues while we're traveling. We also have a couple places we can revisit to see if there's anything useful there."

"But -."

"Captain's already decided." Zoro says, taking a drink.

"I... well, thank you." You say trying to keep your emotions under control. "You owe me nothing and I haven't even repaid you for saving my life, so I am deeply grateful for this, truly. I am in your care."

"Hey, after this, Robin and I will show you where you'll be staying, and we can see what kind of clothes you can use." Nami offers. "I don't imagine you want to wear pajamas all the time."

You can feel your lip quivering a bit and manage a nod before going back to eating.

Ending up in a world completely different from your own, cut off from your Duchy and the magic surrounding it, with no explanation as to why, had been immensely stressful. It was almost worse knowing how utterly stranded you were, than when you didn't even know who you were. To make it all worse you had been pursued by powerful people and deemed a threat before you even had a chance to explain yourself.

The whole encounter had nearly been the end of you, battered and left for dead in the middle of a vast ocean with nothing to keep you afloat but a barrel that had been slowly filling with water. Luffy's hand had been a gift from the gods, and you hadn't even been aware of yourself and your surroundings enough to understand how he had pulled you onto the ship when it first happened. After that you found yourself surrounded by mythical looking creatures, the undead, and a demon with green hair.

You had been lost, confused, scared, and even afraid of your own body until your memories started to return.

Despite all that, you felt that you were the luckiest person in this world.

A/N – Whew – almost done with setup and we can get into the story (I hope the setup hasn't been boring, I felt like I needed to put down a good foundation for it, or it was going to feel off-balance, but so far this seems a good mix of juggling the whole crew, creating bonds/connections/etc., and setting up for things going forward. Also, I totally expected this to go from "ocean to Grandline Metro" but apparently we are ALL going on adventure and I'mma have to draw another map).