Chapter Text
Oh, woe was the Thousand Sunny... Or Optimus Prime as the Thousand Sunny that was... The chains tugged and heaved against his ship form with force that could kill any other Cybertronian. He could only watch the Celestial Dragon harm those poor people they called 'slaves' up in the human auction house from afar with pity and agony he wished to never feel again. But then he felt the chains start to be ripped off of him piece by piece... It was Duval, of course it was. He waited until all of the chains to be torn off before speaking from his lion-like face.
"Much obliged Duval. They were getting really heavy." Optimus hummed wearily.
"No problemo Prime!" Duval said with an attempted wink. Duval's face screwed up in every way besides the wink he wanted so badly unfortunately.
"Could you get Rayleigh to help set at least a few of those slaves free for me...? Really quick...? Please? I want them to see the light of day once more aboard me..." Optimus begged worriedly.
"I don't know about my handsome self, but I could certainly send one of my lackeys to go get his help!" Duval spoke.
"Much obliged again... Thank you..." Optimus mumbled sleepily. He then let himself doze off lightly at his spot on the ocean water. He could just barely hear mild clamoring and the sound of a person running off in the distance.
A mere 4 hours later, Optimus woke up to the sound of happy cheering and intense sobbing beside him. He opened his eyes and peered over at the people on the roots of the mangrove trees. Rayleigh, Duval, the Rosy Life Riders, and maybe 3 slaves.
"Is that all you could save? I saw so many..." He inquired sadly.
"Yes unfortunately. We would have been caught if we tried to save anymore. Mainly by Kizaru. You know why I need to be cautious now don't you friend?" Rayleigh said calmly, yet also in understanding.
"I suppose so... Let them climb aboard me then. And hurry..." Optimus huffed.
The Prime then let the ladder fall down his side gracefully. Rayleigh helped all three slaves board upon the Sunny Optimus before climbing up and getting aboard himself. The sounds and smells of food and drink being served wafted from within the sentient ship... Good... That meant that those poor thin and beaten souls would finally be able to eat something...
The floorboards creaked as Rayleigh and Duval became defensive. Swords were unsheathed and guns loaded and ready to shoot. Then, a group of marine officers approached in loud marching steps towards Optimus. Optimus Prime then shifted his inner walls and floors to shield the freed three children that were no longer considered slaves. He felt some semblance of relief at the thought of protecting such precious treasures that were far more important to him than any amount of the gold and jewels and berries that Nami had smuggled throughout the journey.
They would give him another reason to wait for his beloved crew. The ones he considered his own mortal children to protect. Even as his face let out micro flinches at every bullet that hit him and every sword that got stuck on his surface, he stayed as still as possible. He attempted to soothe the quiet crying of the young children through pushing soft plushies towards them with his floorboards. The crying would only get even more panicked, which made him understand that they didn't actually know that he was sentient. He then fully shifted his walls and floorboards back gently. The crying quieted down slowly. The marines were driven off... Thank Primus. Now he wouldn't be in anymore pain. Now to wait for the Marineford War...