Surely Some Star Binds Me To You is an action-based, found family, with lots of humour, One Piece fanfic by Aachria on Archive of Our Own, first published in 2023, on April 30th.
After an original character, OC, using they/them pronouns and identifying as non-binary with no name, dies in a Dominoes parking lot from a red Honda Civic, they wake up to find out they’d been transported to the world of One Piece. More specifically, at the very start of the saga where they meet Monkey D. Luffy, they use a fake name of E. D. Domino or Ed for short. The two of them travel according to the original timeline and gather the rest of the crewmates, knowing how this world works and having watched One Piece themself, they use their knowledge to act as a self-proclaimed detective.
And if adjusting the plot ever so slightly to overcome challenges and to not die is how they must carry on, then so be it!
Surely Some Star Binds Me To You contains examples of:
Absurd Cutting Power: Roronoa Zoro really proves his power with his three swords when he cuts a giant pillar of pure solid gold into smaller pieces during chapter 56.
Adaptational Relationship Overhaul: In canon, Usopp and Kaya’s relationship reaches more of a friendzone, in chapter 10, E. D. Domino claims that Usopp is whipped for Kaya, until Kaya comes, they state Kaya is also whipped for Usopp. Aachria says in the end notes that the Kaya/Usopp tag is relevant for the end of chapter 10 and does not have any relevance for future chapters.
- In chapter 32 in the Alabasta Arc, when the Strawhats meet Portgas D. Ace, he lights Vinsmoke Sanji’s cigarette and his face goes pink. E. D. Domino thinks, “That was fruity as FUCK.” Later in the same chapter when E. D. Domino walks into the galley,
Adaptational Timespan Change: Starting first with Nami, in canon she appeared in chapter 8, in here it's pushed up to chapter 5.
- Usopp is first introduced in chapter 23 in canon, here it’s chapter 8.
- Sanji is canonically introduced in chapter 43, here it’s chapter 11.
The Baby of the Bunch: Tony Tony Chopper is often treated as a baby by the other members, including Nico Robin and E. D. Domino.
- In chapter 49 during Skypiea Arc, E. D. Domino and Nico Robin comfort Tony Tony Chopper when they get back to the ship,
Beware the Nice Ones: E. D. Domino is very kind to the people they meet and caring, unless they know they are the antagonist of the arc. E. D. Domino gets quite serious and tends to lose a bit of the humour behind when someone is in danger.
- Monkey D. Luffy also falls under this category, especially when Nico Robin is being blackmailed by CP 9.
Campfire Character Exploration: In chapter 50, during Skypiea Arc, When everyone is partying around the campfire, Aisa confronts E. D. Domino claims that everything is whispering to them and trying to tell them a secret and talking all at once. It’s not explained how or why but E. D. Domino thinks about when King Cobra said something to this effect about being privy to the world's secrets.
- In the same chapter, Wyper admits that their goals may not be so different. Almost immediately, E. D. Domino informs him that it looks like it almost hurt to say that and he should be more careful.
Character Development: Nico Robin is an incredibly accurate representation when Water 7 and Enies Lobby comes into play, during the more recent chapters when Nico Robin gives her iconic line of ‘I want to live! Take me out to sea with you!’ And when she is rescued by Franky and E. D. Domino. Enies Lobby is her journey through thinking she will eventually leave and betray the Strawhats for good, to realising she wants to stay with them and greatly cares for them wholeheartedly.
Cutlass Between the Teeth: Roronoa Zoro might as well have invented this trope with his iconic placement of where he holds his third sword when he’s fighting, his teeth.
Death by Adaptation: In chapter 78 when Nico Robin is being taken to the Gates of Justice and E. D. Domino and Franky fight Spandam, E. D. Domino kills Spandam by shooting him with their gun unlike in canon when Spandam never died at all and instead was incapacitated by Nico Robin.
- E. D. Domino aims up and shoots Miss Fathers Day and misses where they wanted to hit her and shoots her in the head and she falls from the top of the clock tower to the ground. E. D. is haunted by it but is given a nicer way of suck it up by Roanoro Zoro and they move up the stairs.
Draw Sword, Draw Blood: This trope is made clearly when Monkey D. Luffy, Nami, E. D. Domino, and Roronoa Zoro arrive in Syrup Village and meet Usopp. Monkey D. Luffy makes a statement since Usopp drew his weapon, a slingshot, he needs to be ready to put his life on the line since weapons aren't for threats, they’re for actions.
Establishing Character Music: In the Summary and chapter titles, music verses and lyrics are used to somewhat describe the chapter and E. D. Domino themself. We even get to see more of what type of music they like when they find a recording of Gol D. Roger and a mysterious unnamed crewmate from the original world and they start singing Frank Sinatra, My Way.
Everyone Has Standards: When E. D. Domino reveals that they are non-binary and aromantic, Vinsmoke Sanji respects them and although doesn’t make any serious romantic advances, still treats them as he would a woman.
Gold Fever: During Skypiea, Nami seemed very interested in finding the gold and even her signature ‘Berri Eyes’ came up.
Guns Akimbo: E. D. Domino steals a pair of twin pistols from an unconscious Marine and claims them as theirs, one hand for one gun.
The Medic: Quite obviously, Tony Tony Chopper is the literal doctor of the ship and has to heal the others many times.
- When E. D. Domino was pushed overboard from Portgas D. Ace and sprained their ankle.
- Again with E. D. Domino when Bellemy and his crew ambush them and beat them close to death and mess with the Going Merry.
- And with the events after Skypiea when everyone is injured.
- Again with E. D. Domino when Bellemy and his crew ambush them and beat them close to death and mess with the Going Merry.
No One Gets Left Behind: On multiple accounts, especially in Enies Lobby when Nico Robin is being blackmailed from CP 9, the rest of the crew refuses to leave her behind.
Number Two: E. D. Domino is the First Mate, they originally hated being First Mate since that title was canonically given to Roronoa Zoro. They tried to convince Monkey D. Luffy and Roronoa Zoro that Roronoa Zoro himself is a much better option then themself, but as time goes on, E. D. Domino gives up and accepts their role as First Mate.
Pocket Rocket Launcher: The twin pistols owned by E. D. Domino are later modified and use impact dials to create more force and faster bullets, sometimes causing smaller explosions.
A Shared Suffering: Post Alabasta Nico Robin and E. D. Domino have a somewhat short heartfelt moment when they share their experiences of losing their home countries and never being able to return.
- Franky and them relate as well during Enies Lobby
Self-Applied Nickname: When E. D. Domino meets Monkey D. Luffy, they tell him he can just call them Ed and when meeting the rest of the crew.
Socketed Equipment: E. D. Domino's twin pistols receive a big upgrade in Skypiea with tone dials. Although they don’t know how to use it and are greatly confused in the next arc, G-8.
Swordover Head: Within chapter 78, Nico Robin tells E. D. Domino that killing Spandam won’t be good and she’ll keep it in her conscience and to keep him alive. E. D. Domino ignores this and kills him anyway.
Two Girls to a Team: Nami and Nico Robin are the only two girls in the Strawhats crew, although, E. D. Domino tends to sleep in the girls quarter, they don’t like the men's quarter, they don’t count. For obvious reasons.
