When Nox awoke again, they were midway up reverse mountain, "have I really slept this long? That dragon really took a lot out of me…"
The going merry was rising higher and higher, breaking through the clouds. Looking down, Nox's sharp eyes could spot the entrance to the grand line and- well there was no Laboon… what was going on? First the marines surrounded them, now he couldn't see Laboon anywhere… what the fuck? This just confirmed something which he had been pondering since he arrived here, this world… it was similar to the one piece story he knew but it wasn't the exact same. They rushed down and saw Crocus sitting down at a lawn chair next to the light house, reading a newspaper. He waved at them.
"Is that old guy wearing a flower hat?"
"Seems so… let's go and say hi!" Luffy ordered and they docked at the twin capes, "hello old guy!"
"The Namibia Crocus, not Old guy!" He huffed, pointing at Luffy and Nox, "I recognise you two"
"Have we met before?" Luffy tilted his head to one side, "you remember meeting this guy, Nox?"
"Nope", he was just as perplexed. The shinigami had thrown him into this world from the sky, no way he could know him, right?
Crocus pulled out two wanted posters, one for 'straw hat' Monkey D. Luffy 30 million berry and one for Amari Nox 12 million berry, no nickname. The photo on Nox's wanted poster was that of him riding his tattoo dragon through the skies of Logue town. Did they really give him a bounty so soon? Was his dragon that impressive or was there something different which he was missing?
"Woah- your photo is so cool!" Luffy shook Nox by the shoulders.
He did look pretty cool, riding on top of that massive black and white dragon. He looked like a king on that thing. All that was missing was a crown.
Nox chuckled, before transitioning to a full belly laugh, "this is just hilarious! I knock myself out and get a 12 million berry bounty, I couldn't hold that dragon for longer than ten minutes and they think I'm worth that much?" Sure, he had the raw physical might and his dragon looked impressive but he couldn't even hold his own longer than a few minutes against Zoro. All smoke, no substance. It was hilarious but also saddening. He couldn't stay this weak. He wanted to be feared across the seas, to demand respect with his mere presence!
"Zoro, spar with me. I need to get stronger!"
"Hey, why did he get a bounty before me?" Asked Usopp, "I'm the great captain Usopp after all! Shouldn't I at least have the second highest bounty?"
Sanji snickered.
Nox summoned his blade and they clashed with one another, Nox's one sword style was amateur at best but even after just a few days of practice, there were visible improvements to his technique.
"You are doing it all wrong", Crocus budded in.
"What do you know, old man?" Zoro asked, pausing their clash.
"I'll have you know that once upon a time, I was a powerful pirate. Sure, my glory days are behind me but I know a thing or two about swordsmanship. The way you grip your blade, that is a two sword style grip, it doesn't allow for the kind of power that a proper one sword style grip does", he guided Nox's hands, "now try again"
Nox swung his sword at Zoro, who blocked it, "hey, you are right! That packs quite more punch… what pirate crew did you say you were on?"
"It doesn't matter, all you need to know is that I am retired. I no longer wish to sail the seas, those days are long behind me. Also, your stance is off, just like with your grip, that stance is more useful for two sword style. If you position your feet like that, you lose mobility"
Over the next hour or so, Crocus helped him adjust his fighting style. They were minute changes but they improved his one sword style massively. The spar, whilst still not fair, was a lot less unequal. Zoro didn't beat him in a minute or two anymore. Now, Zoro and Nox clashed for an entire ten minutes before Nox landed on his butt.
"Thank you for your advice, old man Crocus, this will help massively", Nox bowed before the doctor.
"You sure you don't want to tag along?" Asked Luffy.
"I am quite sure. I don't belong out there, no, I belong on twin cape", Crocus chuckled, "oh to be young again, with such an unwavering spirit! Alas, I am old now, you lot hopefully have a long journey ahead of you, with lots of adventure, booze and women, I know we had a lot of all of those", a forlorn smile graced his wrinkly face as he stared into the distance, thinking about the good old days.
If memory served right -and assuming things were still largely the same as in canon- Crocus was the doctor on the Roger pirates, a comrade to the legendary Gol D. Roger, or as he is known now Gold Roger. Truly, he must've seen some awesome things on his journey, just like Nox would probably see all kinds of amazing things.
"We'll see you again one day, old man, once I am king of the pirates, I will visit here again"
"They all say that… so far none have succeeded"
"Well I'll be the first, I just know it! I will find the legendary treasure, the one piece and conquer the grand line, just like Gold Roger did!" Luffy had that adorable smile on his face and that fierce determination which only the bravest and most stupid of pirates had, "now let us set sail! Grand line, here we come!"
Nox smiled fondly, jumping onto the ship. There was adventure ahead and he was ready for whatever came for him!