Okay before anyone gets excited, this is only the prologue. I'm still in the process of writing it and wont be ready to post anytime soon, unfortunately. Call me selfish and impaitent but I just couldnt wait to start this one. I'll have it finished and ready to go as soon as I can. Now I've seen a lot of copy-cat stories on this site. As in fics copying movies mostly, and about half of those are Disney, and I'll take nothing away from that man. Walt is one of the best story tellers of this century, however, I think there might be someone even better (or at least equal) in storytelling prowess. I am talking about The Bard himself, William Shakespeare.

And don't groan. I know you guys in high school just did that.

Trust me this isnt written in a thee, thou, and hither kinda language. With some great help from No Fear Shakespeare I was able to translate one of his greatest plays into actual understandable english. Fortunately or unfortunately I can't and won't make too many changes to characters or story lest I absolutly ruin a masterpiece. I think I'm pressing my luck already going after both Aesop and Shakespeare at the same time. Oh well, we'll see how it goes from here, eh?

Disclaimer: Dont own One Piece/ Shakespeare

One Summer Night
Prologue

The Strawhat crew had been docked on an uninhabited island in the New World for about a day now. From what Nami and Robin were told, the log pose would set pretty quickly, and they would be able to continue their journey sometime the next day. The island had a very nice Summer climate, with temperate weather, and also no signs of huge monsters out to eat them. It was once a home to some civilization though, as evidenced by the abandoned city Robin had found earlier. It was nothing more than vine encrusted cobbled streets and white, stone, columns. Even an old temple, of sorts, still stood in the center of the city. The same stone pillars encircled the run down building to help support what remained of the roof.

According to the blue eyed archeologist this island was home to a very cultured society. It seemed fairly closely related to their own, as opposed to other ancient peoples she had studied. Robin had shared with the crew that this, in particular, was one that was more interested in art and learning than warfare. They had a complex law system and were advanced in their governing mindset. There was a very deep history in which they invested greatly and also a deep belief in the magical world. However, the only crew member who seemed halfway interested in this information was Nami.

While the rest of the crew was out exploring the island further, Robin had been looking forward to learning all she could about the city and its people. She would probably investigate the rest of the island further in the time before the log pose set the next day.

"It was really cool, Robin. Me and Nami found this great place today." Luffy was telling the ebony haired historian as the Strawhat crew sat around the table, finishing their dinner. He had already finished eating his share way before the others, as usual.

Ussop was regaling Chopper with one of his many extraordinary adventures from when he sailed around the world when he was 5. Or that's what it sounded like since no one really paid attention to Ussop's stories except for the ever gullible doctor and captain. Franky was in a chugging competition with Zoro. One had cola and the other had his beer. Sanji was in the kitchen, already started on the cleanup, and also keeping an eye out for anything his ladies might need. Brook was 'Yohohoing' to himself, half listening to Chopper's oohs and aahs and tuning his violin. Nami was reading the latest newspaper with a small, content, smile on her face. She was also secretly listening to her captain happily relive the little adventure they had gone on that afternoon.

Luffy continued on in the retelling of his and Nami's exploration. "Yep, I talked Nami into coming with me and we found this really cool looking fountain in the middle of the forest. The water was all glistening and it tasted good too, Nami said we shouldn't drink it, but we did anyway. It was so huuuuge." He stretched his arms out to either side of the room to show just how big the fountain had been.

"Is that so, Captain-san." Robin smiled gently at the excited strawhat captain as she sipped some tea. Even after their two year separation he still acted like a hyper kid whenever something new popped up. She turned to glance over at the ship's navigator to see the younger woman blush lightly at whatever memory the two had shared. Robin knew she had been listening.

Suddenly from the kitchen came the noise of a pot thumping down harder than usual on the countertop. It caught everyone's attention and all eyes turned to Sanji. The blonde chef was scowling, if not outright glaring, at the raven haired captain.

"Eh? Swirly-cook, what crawled into your apron?" Zoro growled in irritation, voicing everyone's thoughts, just more rudely.

Sanji ignored everyone else and focused his attention on Luffy. "Why do you keep bothering my lovely Nami-swan, you crap captain? Why is it that not even I could accompany my beautiful angel today and yet you dragged her away from her important map making to look at some stupid fountain?" The cook wasn't blind, he knew how much time Luffy and Nami were spending together lately, and it irked the hell out of him. Sanji had no proof anything was going on but he knew his way around that business all too well to be fooled for long. "My sweet flower shouldn't have to waste her valuable time hanging around with rubber idiots like you all day long. She has more important things to do than be dragged around on your half-assed adventures."

Everyone kept their eyes on the cook as he slowly made his way from the kitchen to the dining room. Maybe that's why no one noticed Nami's expression go from wide eyed surprise to an irritated anger. Luffy, on the other hand, kept his blank look. He acted as if he didn't quite understand why his crewmate was angry. Only the very perceptive could see the tensing of the captain's muscles under his shirt or the way he straightened up in his chair.

"What do you mean yours?" Luffy asked in a low voice, his hat shadowing his eyes. It had only been a matter of time before it came to this. He didn't like fighting with his nakama but he had been struggling to ignore Sanji's clear advances towards Nami the last few days. It was fine, at first, the cook was always like that anyway. And, he and Nami had agreed to keep it quiet for a while. However, Sanji had been more persistent than usual lately, almost like he knew he was losing her. "Whoever said Nami was yours? She doesn't belong to you."

The rest of the crew watched with apprehensive expressions. One or two times one of them would open their mouths to say something to try and break the heavy atmosphere but no words would come. Nami's eyes flicked back and forth between the two males as they stared each other down.

Luffy placed his hands on the table and pushed himself up into a standing position. "I didn't force Nami to do anything today. We went out and had fun. As for me bothering her all the time. I don't think I'm any worse than you hanging all over her 24/7."

"Bahhaha! He sure got ya there, love-cook." Zoro howled, nearly falling onto Franky in his laughter. Robin only watched with a slight smirk gracing her features. The rest of the crew were astonished that Luffy picked up on and used that kind of thing against Sanji. Nami was definitely one of the ones not surprised.

"That is enough, Sanji." Nami interrupted before Sanji could retort or Luffy could continue. The navigator intentionally left off the 'kun' from his name to show how serious she was. Both men turned toward her. Sanji with his visible eye widened and Luffy was back to his blank expression. She had learned long ago with Luffy, that look didn't necessarily mean he wasn't thinking anything. 'Geez, how did such a great day come to this?'

Suddenly Luffy lowered his gaze and turned away from everyone. He took a deep breath, as if to say something, but seemed to think better of it and instead heatedly walked out of the room. Nami and the rest watched the captain leave before turning glares to the blonde chef.

Sanji, for his part, kept his gaze lowered.

Nami waited no more than a minute in the silence left behind by the cook's and captain's confrontation before following after Luffy with her own glare directed at her fellow crewmate. Once the door closed behind her she leaned against it and took a deep calming breath of the warm nighttime summer air.

Luffy was already out of sight but Nami had a strong feeling where she could find him. Pushing off the galley door, she silently walked down the stairs and over towards the main mast. In any other situation she would be headed for the lion figurehead of Sunny but unknown to almost everyone else, Luffy had developed the habit of shooting himself to the roof of the crow's nest when he wanted to think, or when he was particularly angry or sad about something. There was no way anyone would bother him up there.

'Damn, Sanji, I knew I should've put a stop to all his crap a lot sooner. I just never expected it to end up like this. Luffy's been holding it back for a while, I could tell, but I didn't do anything about it.' Nami frowned at herself as she climbed the ladder and slipped inside the circular room that made up Zoro's training area and crow's nest. She left the lights off and walked to one of the open windows, leaning on the edge, and looking out.

On the deck below there was movement and the navigator glanced down to see the rest of the crew exit the dining room and head for their beds. Sanji wasn't among them. Zoro looked up and with a nod to her, abandoned his usual sleeping place to take a bunk in the guy's room. Nami placed her elbow on the edge of the window and rested her chin in her hand. She looked out at the dark island, not bothering to strain to see who she was talking to.

"Luffy." There was no answer. "Luffy, I know you're up there. Please come talk to me."

After a minute, some shuffling noise answered her and a small smile tugged at Nami's lips. She didn't back away from the window as a pair of legs swung into her view, followed by the yellow sash and scarred chest, and then the softly frowning face of her captain. He climbed in through the window next to her but still hadn't said anything. Luffy moved over to the couch on the other side of the small room and sat down. Nami sighed, taking one last look out at the island, and turned to join him on the couch.

Meanwhile, far above the center of the island, one of the brightly shining stars seemed to have gone crazy. First it zoomed to the left and then changed its mind and flew back right. All the while the glowing object grew bigger and bigger looking to approach the island from the sky. It circled the island once, then twice, and finally seemed to hover over the Thousand Sunny. The brightness of the thing faded when it reached several yards above the pirate flag that was fluttering in the slight breeze.

What appeared out of the bright star shine is something you'd have to see to believe. A person stepped out of the glowing light and onto the solid roof of the crow's nest. Or what appeared to be a person. The two pirates talking below didn't even notice the presence that had suddenly come aboard. He was clothed in green material that wasn't recognizable to any tailor of this very small world. The lithe man leaned over the side of the roof, unseen by either captain or navigator, and grinned craftily. His dark black eyes shone with all the mischievousness of the most talented prankster. Sitting back up on the roof, his sly grin never faded, even once.

"My, my, my. What does this fair Puck spy with his little fairy eye? Could it be a pair of vexed lovers?" He leaned back over the side of the roof to catch another glimpse of the young man and woman sitting below him. "I believe it may." He rolled off the roof to float nonchalantly outside the window of the crow's nest, watching the two with clear amusement.

Nami was speaking with Luffy, trying to lift his spirits after Sanji's little tirade. Neither of them knew they were being watched or, in fact, that the observer was floating just outside the window. "Luffy, believe me, I'd rather prefer it if you didn't act like him. I don't need all your attention or devotion or any of that crap. I know you love me even without all that. There's no way I'd get together with Sanji."

"Hoo-hoo, so these little humans are having some troubles, then. And if the information crafty Puck does know is right. These be the same mortals that had some sport and fun in Lord Oberon's fountain this very day." The trickster fairy's grin became even wider at that fact.

All three pairs of eyes turned abruptly to the sound of a door opening and closing on the deck below them. Puck was hanging upside down as he watched a young, blonde, man stride across the ship's deck. Sanji spared a glance up at the figurehead, frowned in confusion, but then shrugged like it didn't matter and continued inside the boy's bunk room.

Luffy made a harsh sound and that brought the fairy's attention back to the pair that had held his interest at the start. The young man wore a small frown and the orange haired woman at his side didn't look happy either.

"I don't want to be mad at Sanji. He's my nakama." Luffy was saying as Puck listened in once more. The Strawhat captain sighed wearily and slumped into the shoulder of his navigator. "I don't want to go down there and then Sanji tries to start something again. I don't like fighting my friends. I think I'll stay up here tonight and take watch."

Nami smiled softly down at the young man resting his head on her shoulder. She knew Luffy wouldn't last five minutes staying awake tonight. Yet, she could understand why he didn't want to return to the boy's room. So, the navigator only nodded, laying her head against the top of his. Her warm cheek resting in his wild black hair. "Alright Luffy, I think I'll stay with you then." She felt the squeeze of his sea worn hands on her own smooth skin and knew without words, he was grateful.

"Would you tell me a story?" Luffy yawned, already his eyes were getting heavy. It was just so comfortable sitting here with Nami by his side. "Whenever I was angry or sad back in Fuchsia, Makino would tell me a bedtime story."

"Um… well, I don't think I know any bedtime stories, Luffy." Nami reluctantly muttered into the young man's hair. She felt his body droop that much more and mentally resolved to memorize every fairytale she could lay her hands on at the next port. If it would help him she would look through every book on the island if she had to.

Outside the crow's nest window, unbothered by watching the sweet and sentimental moment, floated the invisible form of Puck. The fairy cocked his head in wonderment at the actions of the humans in front of him. With a flick of his fingers, Luffy's eyes finally slid closed, and his grip loosened on Nami's hand. "What a pathetic looking fellow. Hoo-hoo, don't worry young mortal. This gracious trickster knows a story just for you and your faithful lady."

The orange haired navigator felt her captain slip into sleep, still laying on her shoulder, directly before a great tiredness swept over her as well. 'I can't fall asleep. Someone has to keep watch tonight.' Nami yawned, trying to force herself to stay alert. However, even though she thought this, it didn't stop her eyelids from slowly closing. Her head tilted forward into Luffy's raven locks, and despite fighting it, Nami was fast asleep within the next minute.

The fairy, Puck, was watching over the two pirates as he came to rest on the sill of the open window of the crow's nest. Having cast the sleep spell over the whole ship, he wasn't worried about anyone coming to disturb them.

"Slip into sleep and let your minds wander. My story is yours sweet mortals. Faces you once have known will find their places and they will fulfill their role as a player in his troupe. A story for such a night I have for you, fair lovers. Once upon a midsummer night True Love is both lost and found again. And by sweet morning's light we shall see how this will end."

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Let me know what you think. I'm actually really excited about this fic and have been for a while. So I cant wait to see what you guys have to say on the subject.

Oh, before I forget, here's an important question I need answered. Do you guys want a character list before the story actually starts or do you want to be surprised as you go along? Message or review me so I can do that before the first chapter is ready.