I do not own either One Piece or Bleach.
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Beta read by the wonderful lincoln time, and MasterQwertster, whose own stories and art you should definitely check out!
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For those of you who prefer to read in Spanish, Pandaman300 has been absolutely amazing and has become. Go to Wattapad under 'Cheamer' to find it!
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Guest Review answers :-D
Creation Teller
Truthfully, most of these Arrancar that have joined are not exactly 'good.' I would say 'better' than most Hollows given how they were still willing to help Aizen to achieve his goals, and frankly were pretty ruthless at times. While they are paragons compared to most other Hollows —alright 99.9%— they still pretty dangerous and terrifying individuals by contemporary Human standards. Not trying to put you down here, just remind you that just because they are alongside with Luffy does not mean it is going to be sunshine and roses. Still, yeah, not going to go around hurting people unprovoked either.
On a related note there, it would take a LOT for the Seireitei to accept them walking around their streets. Humans with powers are one things, but Hollows have been their enemies since forever. You would have to cut through a LOT of prejudice to get them to listen. Not that I am not going to try of course ;-) Any suggestions?
And yes, the Seireitei has a LOOOOOOOT of issues. Their only saving grace is that the world without them —as far as we know, since frankly they are hardly the most credible of sources— would be worse off, except they use that very necessity of their existence to justify ignoring all their failings and refusal to do better, the full details of which would quite frankly take up more space than other readers would appreciate me writing down for :-P That Kurotsuchi is one of the top officials in their government, and gets off scott-free in the end really is a good example though. That he got so much screentime, and was so successful, when better characters did not . . . X-(
Glad you liked the Apacci and Chopper stuff, although unsure still how far it will go. Mila Rose I have some ideas on her, but had not considered Franky so will give it more thought. I do not see Halibel/Sanji happening though. Even assuming I have her liking guys, I feel that given her past, she would still be strongly put off by Sanji's perverted side. No question, his gentleman side is THE gentleman, the kind of guys ladies knife their husbands for so they can play the grieving-widow-who-needs-consoling around him (or at least so as he would like to think :-P ). In all seriousness though, a Sanji who would settle down for a woman would be an awesome husband, I just feel that Halibel would require 100% faith in her mate/partner/whatever and doubt Sanji would be capable of displaying that early enough in a relationship to convince her. She would need someone that she would be sure she could trust her heart with, more than most women from non-violent pasts.
While an interesting idea for Chopper's form, I admit I am having trouble visualizing all of that together. The Apacci reaction to what I have planned though . . .
Some weapons shown here, but powers will be revealed when they actually get serious.
Gin's ultimate fate is up in the air, but I do have a major plan for him that I feel will be unique ;-) That said, as this chapter will hint, he is going to be having a harder time than canon.
Yes, I had better get Brook an instrument soon or he will take offense ;-)
I confess that no particular anime arc really stands out for me, and I would probably have to alter it if I did want to do it. Is there one in particular that you have ideas for?
The timeline will be clearer with this chapter, but sorry the bird kid is in the afterlife already.
I agree that afro guy, a.k.a. Gantenbainne Mosqueda , the #107 Privaron Espada, is a character that I could really use for my series. You will have to see more below though.
In regards to Charlotte Chuhlhourne, I admit to being very tempted by your reasoning. Indeed, the Straw Hats (minus Sanji X-P ) would probably be the only ones to fully and truly accept him at all. That said, I feel his loyalty to Baraggan is too all-encompasing based on what we saw of his fellow Fraccion. So it would have to take some work to make that sort of scene you suggested happen. I definitely will have to give it some serious thought though!
Hmm, tempting and reasonably believable manner to get the SHP to Soul Society, but unsure if I can fit it into my grander plans. Will have to get back to you.
Whoops! Thanks for that catch about Jinbe's eye!
Here is the newest chapter, and I hope it was worth it! *Really* looking forward to hearing your newest thoughts! :-D
Thank you for your Review and awesome Support! :-D
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Guest
It can be tricky indeed handling all these characters, but that is what I have my wonderful Betas for :-)
Glad you are enjoying it, and here is the newest chapter, and I hope it was worth it! Looking forward to hearing your newest thoughts! :-D
Thank you for your Review and Support! :-D
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Guest
Glad you liked it so much :-) Although with your comment about them being 'somewhat in character,' were there any parts in particular where they were out of character?
Glad you are enjoying it, and here is the newest chapter, and I hope it was worth it! Looking forward to hearing your newest thoughts! :-D
Thank you for your Review and Support! :-D
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K
Yeah, it does make sense to use language to differentiate them. Same with the Quincy.
Glad you are enjoying it, and here is the newest chapter, and I hope it was worth it! Looking forward to hearing your newest thoughts! :-D
Thank you for your Review and Support! :-D
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Seas of Souls
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Chapter 3: Las Noches
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Previously:
The growing band of Straw Hat Pirates finally arrived at the base of Las Noches, to which they have been travelling to for so long. They hope that here they can find a new purpose in life beyond the endless sands of Hueco Mundo.
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"Well, here we are," Halibel softly said, staring up once more at the enormous heights the new walls of Las Noches reached to. The sheer scale of it all was staggering, and impossible for her to express. She could not even begin to grasp where the resources for it alone must have come from. Much less the labour. How many Hollows live within here?
"Yes, we finally made!" boasted Usopp, before placing his hand to his forehead, and started to look around as he obviously searched for something. "Except there's still no sign of a door," he groused.
"Oh," perked up Nel, "Why didya not thay tho? The entranthe is four dayth away thata way!" she pointed with one finger.
"Days?" Robin repeated with a quiet intensity. "You can tell time here?"
Jinbe, Sanji, Nami, Brook, Franky, Chopper, Usopp, Starrk, Halibel, and Sung-Sun all looked in curiosity at that revelation. For them, every night seemed the same under the light of the moon.
"Well, thure," Nel said a little nervously. "Can't you?"
As one everyone staring at her turned their attention towards Pesche and 'Dondo,' who visibly quailed under the attention.
"Eh, doesn't matter."
Everyone turned to Luffy at his words, just in time to seem him winding up a punch.
"Wait! Don—!"
With a mighty BOOM! smoke and debris flew away from his fist, carving a large hole into the side of the fortress.
Halibel gave him a tired look.
Lilynette laughed loudly, while Robin giggled.
Apacci and Mila Rose (missing their Lady's expression) eagerly joined in with their own fists.
Zoro just stood aside with his arms crossed, as his swords were for cutting, and it was beneath him to use his own hands for something as menial like this. Moreover, while he was very skilled with most of the Arrancar abilities, his Ceros and Balas were among the weakest due to lack of training. Not that he was lacking in alternatives . . .
Starrk quickly noted that despite the ongoing efforts, the wall was meters thick and figured it would take a while, so he laid down for a nap.
Usopp, Brook, Franky, and Chopper just bowed their heads and shook them in dismay.
With a sigh, Sanji and Jinbe went to assist, especially as Nami was busy furiously strangling their Senchou. "We came here to see what it was like, not invade!" she screeched.
"It's fine, it's fine!" babbled Luffy, unfazed by the attempt to cut off his air. "If they get all bent out of shape about it, we'll just point out that now they have a new door so others don't have to spend days walking around!'
Nel and her brothers were shivering in horror. Finally the little girl yelled, "Don'tcha know that'll anger Lord Aizen!? He'll thend hith Ethpada after you!"
Now everyone including Luffy was looking at her. "The who what now?"
—Seas of Souls—
The Arrancar of Aizen Sosuke, the ruler of Hueco Mundo, were in attendance.
At the edges of the vast crowd were the rank and file, those who had not even been Hollows of the Menos Grande-class before their transformation.
Closer, scattered about in a large semi-circle, were the Numeros; the hundred fighters whose power and loyalty had earned them a rank within Aizen's army. Originally they had been Gillian or Adjuchas-class Menos Grande. Each of them had a number branded upon their flesh somewhere to designate them.
Nearest to the center though were the Espada. The ten strongest of all the Arrancar. While the Numeros 11-99 were cataloged according to when they had joined, for the Espada, the lower the digit, the greater their power.
These generals, #0-10, were scattered about in no particular order, yet still keeping a careful distance from each other as there was no love lost between them.
The Cero Espada: Yammy Llargo (he was also the Diez Espada if he had not Released his true power, meaning that as he was now, he was actually the weakest of the Espada, instead of the strongest.)
The Primera Espada: Baraggan Louisenbairn.
The Segunda Espada: Ulquiorra Cifer.
The Tres Espada: Nnoitra Gilga.
The Cuatro Espada: Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez.
The Quinto Espada: Luppi Antenor.
The Sexta Espada: Zommari Rureaux.
The Septima Espada: Szayelaporro Granz.
The Octava Espada: Aaroniero Arruruerie.
The Noveno Espada: Dordoni Alessandro Del Socaccio.
Lord Aizen, the man who had personally recruited each of them, had assured them that they were each stronger than the Taichou of the Seireitei. Which was understandable as with the exception of Aaroniero, the rest were made of up the strongest of Adjuchas, or even Vasto Lordes!
All of them were gathered before the most massive Hollow of them all: Hooler. Hundreds of meters tall, its other most distinctive feature besides the lack of a Hollow mask or mask fragment, was its single, huge eye. Before it were twelve, regular Gillians, the dim-witted beings staying put under the authority of their betters.
They were all awaiting the arrival of their Master.
For this was the designated day of when he would break all ties with the Seireitei, coming to Hueco Mundo to rule full-time, as well as declaring war to destroy the Shinigami once and for all.
The honour of being part of that annihilation alone was enough reason for the majority of Hollows to bend their knee to one who was a Shinigami in turn. As were his top two lieutenants.
Of course there was at least one exception to this.
Baraggan Louisenbairn.
Formerly the God-King of Las Noches.
Now taking upon the appearance of a scarred, old —if still-muscular— man, he openly glared with impatience at where the Gillians swayed in place.
Others had thrown themselves at Aizen's feet in adoration, yet he had been forcefully conscripted, helpless before the illusions of Aizen's zanpakuto: Kyoka Suigetsu. While his own power was still terrifying, it was useless if he could not even see the man, nor even tell if what he thought was reality was true or not. If he attacked Aizen, he could never know if he had actually killed his en-slaver, without inevitably having to lower his guard, making him fatally vulnerable if he had failed and his hated foe was merely patiently waiting.
So he watched and waited in turn.
With varying patience.
He's already kept us standing here for hours! Bah, and no doubt he'll continue to do so for the rest of the day, until he deigns to make his grand entrance. Driving home his authority over us! Of course, some of these ants love it.
"Lord Baraggan."
Turning his head so his left eye could see the speaker (the other was scarred shut), he grunted, "What?"
Each Espada was permitted to choose a series of followers, Fraccion, who served as their personal soldiers, bodyguards, or servants. While Aizen and his Shinigami lackies had killed many of Baraggan's personal army, the best of them had been spared, and he had chosen his Fraccion from the strongest survivors. Ggio Vega, who was kneeling before him, was first and foremost of them.
"There's been a disturbance," he reported.
—Seas of Souls—
"Whelp, that's that," Luffy declared, his face twisted up in disgust. "Let's go."
Everyone stared in disbelief as he started heading right back into the endless desert of Hueco Mundo.
"WHAT!?" cried Lilynette. "ARE YOU SERIOUS!?"
"You heard her!" snapped Luffy, jabbing his index finger at Nel. "The people here bow to one ruler! So we already know this place sucks! Bug guy and Dondo confirmed it!"
(Pesche and Dondochakka were too relieved to take issue with their nicknames.)
"Is, is he serious?" Mila Rose asked Zoro.
He shrugged. "We don't lower ourselves to no one. So if we go in there, they'll try and make us. After we beat them, then everyone'll be trying to kneel to us. So why bother?" Then he barred his teeth in a bloodthirsty grin, "Of course if they do come after us, that works as well. "Least we'll get some fun!"
Halibel felt her usually absolute self-control faltering as she furrowed her brow at her leader. I risked the lives of my daughters coming here, and you—!
"Oi! Luffy!" Hearing that tone, Luffy stopped to look back at Sanji, who was facing Las Noches with his eyes closed, concentrating on his Pesquisa. "I think you're being a little hasty. Feel that?"
"Indeed," mused Jinbe, doing the same. "A possibly unique opportunity is before us."
The rest of the Vasto Lordes followed suite, along with Robin, Franky, Brook, and Usopp.
"Huh," Luffy said, pulling at his lip. "They're all concentrated in one place. Pretty far away too. A mystery!"
"The strongest are, yes," agreed Jinbe. "If we were to go inside to see if there was anything worthwhile here, now would most likely be the best time."
"There's only some weaklings scattered around nearby," noted Zoro with disappointment. He cocked his head. "I feel a breeze from the tunnel through the wall, so that means we have a way through."
"Given how those few guards are now coming towards us," Starrk added, "that means they know we're here."
"Baraggan is among those in the center," Halibel said, her composure restored. "That is concerning. For untold ages he has been the strongest of Vasto Lordes by a vast margin. Whoever this Shinigami Aizen is, his own might must be terrifying. Especially if he would risk leaving Baraggan alive."
"Luffy, the decision is yours," Robin spoke up. "Yet it may be best to confirm what Nel and the others have to say.
They waited for Luffy to make up his mind, before with a shrug he led the way into Las Noches. "Let's see what they have. Maybe we can even find something worthwhile."
—Seas of Souls—
"Intruders, eh?" Baraggan said with mild surprise, reaching out with his Pesquisa. The Reiryoku of one of them almost seemed familiar, meaning it would have had to been an ant that caught his interest at some point.
"Tch, what a pain," groused Grimmjow. "We can't leave to deal with them, because we have to wait here for Lord Aizen."
"The majority of our forces are all here and unable to mobilize," agreed Zommari, with him and Dordoni being the only ones who seemed genuinely concerned about damage to the palace. Or at least that Lord Aizen might be upset by it.
"They're going to be slaughtered," leered Nnoitra. After all, only the dregs were not present here; those deemed too weak to be worthy of their Lord's presence. Even the Privaron Espada like Cirucci Sanderwicci and Gantenbainne Mosqueda were present, so as to bask in Lord Aizen's arrival. Moreover, their Master deserved to see the assembled might of his army, and that included all of the strongest.
"Dispatch Calaveras to reinforce," Ulquiorra tonelessly ordered.
Rudbornn Chelute, the 61st Arrancar, was the leader and only true member of the Exequias, the Execution Division. His special ability was to generate expendable soldiers, the Calaveras, as extensions of himself. They were not the strongest, but in sufficient numbers they could be daunting.
"Tch, you're making a fuss about nothing," sneered Luppi. "The intruders are all weaklings! They don't even feel like Arrancar!"
"Hmm," mused Szayelaporro, adjusting his 'glasses' (really his Hollow mask fragment). "No, they're not. Three of them would do well as Fraccions, and the rest are likely hiding their power. Why else would they be so bold as to invade Las Noches?" Moreover, he actually recognized two of them, and was looking forward to a little 'reunion.' Why, he may even invite Nnorita along for the fun.
. . . Nah!
Still, what could have prompted Pesche Guatiche and Dondochakka Birstanne to return to where they and their mistress were crippled?
Privately, Baraggan agreed. For an ant to catch his notice enough to be remembered, and not be a former part of his army, than they must be a Vasto Lorde who managed to escape him.
"What about rearranging the corridors so that they keep running around until Lord Aizen gets here?" asked Yammy, with his typical idiocy. Given how much he had been scrunching up his forehead, it seemed he had only now managed to concentrate his Pesquisa enough to get a solid read on the weaklings breaking in.
"Because," said Ulquiorra, who was basically the larger being's caretaker, "only Lord Aizen, Ichimaru, or Tosen, have permission to do so. Moreover, from what strength they possess, they could just knock through walls to get where they want."
". . . So we're stuck here?"
"Yes."
—Seas of Souls—
It was pitch-black in the tunnel, so Luffy lit up a Cero over his knuckles without discharging it. An incredible display of control that also served as a subtle reminder of why he was the Senchou.
Although only Nel's brothers thought it was intentional intimidation. The child herself was too awestruck, having taken to riding on Zoro's shoulder because he was 'cool'!
"Why don't you get on Luffy then?" he grumbled.
"Because he'th too thmall and thin!" asserted the fem-Napoleon.
"Why're you guys even following us if you're so scared of Aizen!?"
"Because he'll kill uth for helpin' you, tho we've got tah thtay with you!"
"You do know he's probably going to come after us, right? So that makes no sense."
"You make no thense!"
"Oi! Mosshead! Don't yell at a lady!"
"She's a midget! Agh! You bit me!"
"That wath mean! I'ma cry!" So she did, long and loud right in Zoro's ear, while also throwing out increasingly original insults.
"They'll fit right in," Halibel deadpanned to Robin, who smiled in turn.
"Friends are what make life worth living, and the more exciting the better."
Eventually they entered a corridor heading both left and right. To their surprise, torches lit up along the walls at their presence.
Harmlessly dissipating the Cero, Luffy looked both ways in careful thought. After a few seconds, he gave a decisive nod, and brought his foot up to kick right through the wall in front of him. "Much better!" he beamed at the newly opened path.
To their confusion, it revealed a large open space, with a series of pillars in the middle of varying, yet still dozens of meters tall, height.
"What's the point of this?" asked Franky in confusion. "Those columns don't hold up the ceiling, so why're they all scattered around like that? And why put the roof so high?" The builder in him cringed at the pointlessness, and poor aesthetic.
While they all had vague memories of previous lives as Humans, even those had been of much smaller places. As Hollows all they had known was the open night sky, and desert sands. The way this place was built was unnerving to them, and thus putting them a little on edge.
"Could be to help the fighting style of whoever lives here," proposed Zoro. "We Hollows have a large variety of abilities after all."
"Or because it looks cool to them," supplied Usopp, scratching his chin.
"It's a demonstration of power," Halibel firmly said, with Jinbe nodding along. "Whoever built this place, was able and willing to waste the time and resources to make this over-sized room. All as a message."
Cocking his head, Luffy squinted, and declared, "I don't get it."
"I know!" Pesche suddenly declared, surprising everyone with his sudden confidence while standing heroically with his index finger pointing to the ceiling. "It's because whoever's in charge of this place needs to compensate for something!" He gave a series of long, slow blinks with his one eye, which took everyone a moment to realize were supposed to be 'winks.' "Y'know . . ."
"I don't get that either," said Luffy, with Nel and Lilynette looking equally confused. Dondo gasped in shock at his friend's daring, while the rest were looking at him with pained looks at what they hoped was merely a terrible, terrible joke. If he was right . . .
Pesche defiantly maintained his dramatic pose until everyone looked away, returning to being afraid of where they were.
"Hey!" piped up Nel. "There'th a doorway there!"
"Good eyes Nel!" grinned Luffy. "C'mon everybody!"
He, Chopper, Nel, and Lilynette raced off, with the more mature members hurrying on after them. Pesche and Dondo would not stop shaking with fear though, calling for Nel to slow down so she did not get lost on them.
"It's weird," Zoro suddenly said, catching even Luffy's attention. "The guys who live here, they've got to sense that we're inside, or close enough, but they're still not doing anything."
"Must be orders from up above," proposed Sanji. "They were told to gather up, so that's what they're doing."
In a rare moment of agreement, Zoro nodded. "Seems like it. Idiots. You should let people be free to do the job they're good at."
"I know. Clearly they need to take a few lessons from our own idiot leader."
—Seas of Souls—
After following the twisting corridor, they came out into a very tall, very wide hallway, leading to a staircase that at least a hundred meters tall.
"Whoever designed this place clearly had too much time on their hands," grumbled Nami.
"Or perhaps they wanted to keep their servants busy," Robin wondered aloud. "Whoever is in charge here, has an incredible army of Hollows. Making them construct this would keep them occupied, while driving home that they are to obey him."
"Wait, wait, wait," said a pained Starrk, holding his palms up. "Whoever this guy is, he made the people here build this this ridiculously big place?" Clearly he took offense to the idea of working like that.
"Ugh! Don't be so lazy Starrk!" yelled Lilynette.
"Incoming!" warned Sanji.
Down from the staircase came three giant, lumbering figures. Clumsily they fell off the staircase, but hauled themselves back up. They were dressed in white clothes, and while tall also seemed misshapen. Their masks were clumsily broken.
"Are those supposed to be Arrancar?" asked a confused Chopper.
"Perhaps failed ones," whispered Brook.
"GRAAAAH! Die in the name of Lord Aizen! Die intruders! Die! Die!"
Two of them brought their over-sized fists down on Luffy who just gave them a blank look—
—only for Starrk and Halibel to block them barehanded.
Flexing her fingers, Apacci put her fist right through the skull of the one attacking her Lady. Mila Rose cut down the one straining impotently against Starrk with her sword, while Franky just punched the last one so he went flying halfway through a wall.
Acting as if nothing had happened, Luffy kept walking.
"Whoa," murmured Nel, a little unnerved. While violence was the way of life for Hollows, she had not realized how strong her new friends were.
"It's okay, they attacked us," reassured Lilynette.
Nami however stopped to look more closely at the corpses. "Hey! Guys! These are clothes!"
The Straw Hats turned to re-examine their defeated enemies more closely, and realized that yes, those goons were wearing honest-to-goodness pants and shirts!
"Well now," grinned Robin. "Now we have a better idea of what we should be looking for." Everyone was tired of wearing rags, or pieces of Hollow hides or armour.
They stopped to search any rooms they came across, and there were many, except most of them were empty for whatever reason.
After a while, including just breaking through walls whenever it looked like the path was just going to lead them back to wherever they started from, they reached something totally new.
Before them were many massive buildings, scattered across familiar sand. Clearly (hopefully) this was the main part of the palace. What they also saw—
"Wh-what is this!?" gasped Nami. It looked familiar, and yet . . .
"I, I think it's the sky!" gulped Usopp.
"What do you mean the sky?" asked a confused Lilynette. "Where's the moon?"
Above them, they saw instead of a white ceiling like they expected of the massive dome atop of Las Noches, or even the familiar night sky, was a weird blue light. With white, fluffy things drifting across.
"Why's it so bright?" squinted Apacci against the glare.
Nel appeared almost enraptured by it, while her brothers were just cowering as usual. Everyone else was very impressed though.
Except Luffy.
He was now staring off at something in the distance, frowning in confusion. "Hey, there's something thataway I wanna check out."
"Are you crazy!?" cried Usopp, following the direction of his Senchou's pointing finger. "That's too close where all those super-strong guys are!"
"Don't worry about it!" grinned Luffy. "I'll be quiet, and they can't detect me anyways!"
It was true, like Starrk, to keep himself from hurting his nakama or drawing in would-be predators, Luffy had learned to suppress his Reiatsu and hide his Reiryoku to the point he was undetectable to all but the most skilled with Pesquisa. If they knew they were supposed to be looking for him. Only Nami and Robin were better.
However, that said . . .
"You wouldn't know quiet if it bit you on the nose," deadpanned Nami with a frown. "You suck at being sneaky."
"Yosh!" Luffy smacked a fist into his hand. "You're right!" So with that he wrapped one arm around her waist, "So you can help me!" he cheekily grinned. Before she could get out her horrified protest, they were gone in a blink.
"Uhm," now Pesche seemed too stunned to be afraid. "That's not going to go well, is it?"
"Nami will do her best to keep them out of trouble," sighed Jinbe. "In the meantime, what are we to do?"
"Keep searching and hope trouble comes our way?" offered a grinning Zoro.
"This is supposed to be a quiet raid!" screeched Usopp, smacking his friend over the head.
"So where do we start then?" Sung-Sun softly said, hoping to keep the discussion productive.
They took another look around at all the immense, individual building scattered across the sands miniature desert within the palace, trying to make sense of it all.
"What about over there?"
They all turned to see Pesche, looking comically curious and serious as he pointed off at one particular building. It was a green, oval shaped dome, with a bunch of strange bumps covering it. "That place looks fun!"
—Seas of Souls—
Pesche Guatiche was enjoying one of his moments of complete lucidity. Which was a miracle in two significant ways:
1) Being back where he and his sanity had been violated could easily have caused him to regress farther.
2) That he even had any sanity left in the first place was astounding in itself.
A Hollow's mask is formed from the hearts they had lost as Humans. It protects the naked instinct which is left in a being after the loss of its heart. To remove most of it to become an Arrancar was to gamble everything. Except in the end you were still left with a fragment of that mask.
To remove it further? Unthinkable.
To break or tear off someone else's? A crime beyond words. A taboo that none but the most depraved of Hollows —a species literally made up of heartless, cannibalistic monsters created by the worst of Human impulses— would even consider.
Yet Nnoitra Gilga and Szayelaporro had done just that.
For Nel, or Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck, as she had once been known, the proud warrior had regressed into a helpless child with amnesia.
With the last of their will, Pesche and Dondochakka had latched onto their beloved mistress as their new purpose in life. They would keep her safe. They would keep her happy. They would let her forget her blood-soaked life as the Tres Espada.
So the three of them and Bawabawa, one of the combat spirits Dondochakka keeps in his stomach, had run and played across the sands of Hueco Mundo. Him and his partner exaggerating their sense of humour that had first drawn Lady Nelliel's interest to them over all others.
Except now they were back in Las Noches.
Pesche and the newly re-named 'Dondo' continued to cower and squirm in terror that was only half faked, even while behind their fake masks they desperately tried to think of what to do.
Their biggest handicap though was that not only were they unsure these new people would let them go, it was that whatever they did could not in any way trigger Lady Nelliel's memories.
So they continued to act like cowardly, idiotic, goofballs that they had acted as for so long it had become who they really were . . .
. . . While the warriors who had once earned the attention and respect of one of the most feared yet impossibly peaceful Hollows, began to stir.
Now that they were able to see the main part of palace, with all the individual buildings, Pesche was finally able to get his bearings. Briefly he assessed the risks of what he was planning against the observed power of those who he was with, and how likely they were to take any frustration out on him.
Nel likes them . . .
"That place looks fun!" he dramatically cried while indicating a certain building.
Home of Szayelaporro Granz.
Let's see how much of your research we can wreck, he thought while carefully suppressing any violent intent. He could not let Nel catch any of it. More importantly, there should be more than enough in there to satisfy the Straw Hats, and decide to leave while the going's good. That'll get us out of here sooner than randomly trying out other places until they find something they like.
Briefly he thought Zoro may have reacted, but then the man was impassive again.
"There's others closer," argued Usopp. "Besides, we don't know how long it'll be before actual guards come at us."
"And they're all the same dull colour, and that means they're all dull inside of course, don'tcha know?" threw back Dondochakka.
"They've got a point," Franky said. "Not like we've got any other ideas."
"Yeah, why not?" grinned Zoro, and now Pesche definitely saw how that caught the attention of the Vasto Lordes, Sung-Sun, Franky, Robin, and Brook. I need to ham it up some more, he knew.
No one else had anything to say, so they started making their way there. "We should still keep an eye out for clothes and other supplies on the way," reminded Brook.
Choosing to speed things along, they all used Sonido. The faster and stronger ones helped carry the rest, and only traveled at a middling speed so as to not reveal what they were capable of.
Meanwhile, Pesche and Dondochakka did all they could to keep Nel's attention on themselves and their hijinks.
—Seas of Souls—
Halibel took the lead breaking down the green walls to go in, with Zoro right beside her, hand resting on his zanpakuto. Quietly she questioned him, "Why are you suddenly in favour of going here?"
"Those two numbskulls aren't who they claim to be," Zoro said in his normal voice. "They've got some grudge against whoever lives here, so I figure why not give it to 'em?"
She huffed at that, while continuing to make sure the path was clear.
Panels in the walls suddenly opened up, and a horde of mindless Arrancar swarmed at the Straw Hats.
—Seas of Souls—
"My palace!" gasped Szayelaporro in horror. "My lab!"
The rest of the Espada were either unfazed, or outright amused by this sudden shift for the mad scientist.
—Seas of Souls—
"You guys really don't like using your Zanpakuto, do you?" Mila Rose questioned, hefting her own broadsword. She gestured towards one Vasto Lorde in particular who had an over-sized katana resting on his broad back.
With a light grunt, Jinbe merely thrust his palm through the head of another of the mooks. Only then did he answer her question. "This is what feels natural for me. My blade is a part of me, yet not the part that fights."
"Yeah," Franky nodded, massive fist smashing someone else into a wall. "Besides, have you seen my Zanpakuto? Not really SUPER for cutting people with."
He jerked a thumb at his back, where a large hand saw was strapped. Indeed, it seemed better suited for cutting wood than people.
"Well," Sanji said, twirling over towards Mila Rose while incidentally also kicking away a few more with the same gesture, "My own talents are not nearly on par with your own, your skill with your sword being as beautiful as yourself. Besides," now he became more subdued, if still utterly serious, and drew his own Zanpakuto. "I will not sully this with the blood of my enemies."
Perfectly balanced in his hand was a long, sharp cooking knife.
Mila Rose still frowned a little, feeling it was strange to not use a weapon that was literally a part of you.
"Just let it go," Zoro said, looking almost bored as he hewed through several at once. "People should fight as they are comfortable."
"Don't boss around a lady, Mosshead!"
"What was that!?"
"Ugh, will you guys just stop it already!" groaned Apacci.
"Butt out Apacci!" snapped Mila Rose.
"What! Whaddya say to me!?"
Jinbe groaned, as the bickering only intensified.
"The guyth from the rear are here!" cried out Nel at the top of her voice.
In a swarm of white, the Calaveras had arrived. Dressed in white with skulls for heads and katanas in hand, they rushed at the intruders.
Unfortunately for them, they had been expected.
Sung-Sun danced around them with her twin sai, graceful and deadly as she spun around their every strike, while her own kept stabbing true through their eye sockets.
Starrk had created a sword of his own, and was cutting down the Calaveras with ease, while keeping a close eye on Lilynette. She was dueling against a single one who had gotten a little separated from the rest. While at this rate it remained an even fight, he was ready to intervene if necessary. Alas, killing all of the skull-guys with a Cero might start to cue in the 'Espada.' He could sense the waves of their own Pesquisa observing them after all.
"Dibs!" With that gleeful shout, Zoro leaped over the heads of his allies and into the fray, Mila Rose and Brook right behind them. Those three above all seemed to prefer fighting with their blades after all.
Brook's sword-cane was drawn, weaving a pattern of death.
Mila Rose's broadsword cleaved through her prey, yet Starrk noticed she seemed to be trying to develop her skills as opposed to relying solely upon brute force.
Zoro . . .
Was playing with his food.
With only a single one of his Zanpakuto in hand, he carved a path of death through his foes. Each strike cutting down three at a time, using maximum precision and force at once as he went through swords and bodies while they kept hitting air as they tried to reach him. If he had drawn all three blades it would already be over.
Within another minute it was all over (Lilynette even managed to kill her guy!), and Franky called out to say they had found the mother-load.
—Seas of Souls—
"So you can just log onto the computer?" Robin dubiously clarified.
"Yep!" grinned Franky with a massive smile. His fingers were too massive to punch the individual keys on the keyboard, so he was holding two broken swords from the wave of defeated white attackers, and tapping the duller broken ends of them down to do the job. It had only taken him a few tries (with minimal cutting of the keys themselves), and now he was soaring through file after file.
"Well, that's pretty arrogant," deadpanned Usopp. "And convenient."
"Indeed," nodded Brook.
"You won't make the same mistake, will you Franky?" Robin smiled.
(It was genuine amusement because she knew her friend was smarter than that, not a subtle threat.)
"Hah! Y'know it! I'm too SUPER to make an idiotic mistake like that!"
—Seas of Souls—
Only his overwhelming fear of Lord Aizen kept Szayelaporro from deserting his post and running off to preserve his research.
—Seas of Souls—
"So let me get this straight," Jinbe said, stroking his beard as they looked up at the various monitors. "You have an inventory of everything that's within this building, and all the rest, including descriptions of them all?"
"Yep!" grinned Franky like a shark.
The rest of the Straw Hats matched it, even Starrk.
(Which was frankly a bit weird since two of them technically were from sharks.)
"Well then," Robin said, lightly clapping her hands together. "Let's go shopping!"
"One moment," Halibel cut in. "As fun as that sounds, we have to plan out what we do next. With Luffy's approval," she quickly added.
"She's right," Jinbe reservedly nodded. "This Lord Aizen may very well want to avenge his wounded pride if we just walk in and out. Especially as we are now planning to rob him."
"Are we doing thomething bad?" asked Nel.
As a by-product of Hueco Mundo, her moral compass had no issue with killing and stealing, so long as those she cared about were fine.
"Well, it's a little complicated," hedged Usopp, who could see it would not be so simple for the guy in charge of this place.
"Sure it is," broke in Lilynette. "We broke in here and found a bunch of shiny toys, and we're taking the shiny toys. It doesn't get more complicated than that."
"Well said," grinned Robin, patting the younger girl on the head. Lilynette pretended she did not appreciate the gesture.
Robin's face hardened right after though, as did the rest of the original Straw Hats. "Coming here gave us purpose," she harshly said. "The journey led us to new friends, for which we are grateful, yet that does not change the fact that the destination is not what we were hoping for."
"So we need a new one," Brook stated. "But what? Where can we go?"
"Well, there's the Human World, don'tcha know?"
As one they all turned to Dondochakka. "Where?" Zoro flatly asked.
Cowering, Dondo quickly threw out, "The Human World! Where the living Souls dwell!"
The original Straw Hats blinked. They're memories remained vague, and they had never really questioned the details, but that there was another world did make sense.
It was embarrassing really.
"Hmm, that would definitely be different," mused Apacci.
"You knew!?" blurted Chopper.
Blushing a bit, Apacci furiously nodded. "Well yeah, I mean, I haven't been there myself, but most of the Hollows that make me up have been!"
"Why didn't you say anything!?"
"We thought you knew," cut in Halibel. "Moreover, Hollows like us cannot sustain ourselves there. When we were just Hollows the Souls were too weak, and too little Reishi in the air." She hesitated as she realized her mistake. "Although now as Arrancar it may be possible to make it work."
"Well," and now Starrk was contributing, stroking his chin and ignoring the surprise at him actually taking the initiative. "If this Aizen guys got this many Hollows together, then he's got to be feeding them. Maybe it's something besides other Hollows or those pieces of trees." As Hueco Mundo was abundant in Reishi, it was merely a matter of finding a way to inhale it. Alas, the Straw Hats had been forced to endure methods that were . . . lacking in culinary bliss.
"I'm an idiot!" facepalmed Sanji, before rounding on Franky. "Find out what they're eating here! Now!"
Not having to be told twice, Franky soared through the computer files until: "Got it! Apparently they're eating Reishi enriched food from . . . Soul Society? Huh. Guess this Aizen's been ripping off food grown for his fellow Shinigami, to feed his soldiers here. Classy guy."
"Where. Is. It," gritted out Sanji.
A map was drawn up, and Sanji Sonido'd out of sight. In another blur he returned to grab Brook, Starrk, and delicately asked Halibel and her daughters to help him grab as much food as possible.
That issue settled, Jinbe, Franky, Zoro, and Robin, all turned their attention back to what they would need.
"Clothing?" Robin asked, knowing that being able to change their appearances, even superficially, would help divorce them of this present life. "We also need any and all information on how to grow more of this food on our own."
"Before that," cut in Zoro, "we need to know more about this Aizen guy."
"I'd say he is due to arrive soon, and that the Hollows have gathered to be his audience," noted Robin.
"Oh great," moaned Usopp. "Which means that super-powerful army and their even more super-powerful boss are going to be on our heads any moment now!"
"We can't be sure, yet it's possible that all of his preparations for war against the Shinigami are nearly complete. In which case, he is bound to be distracted by that."
Jinbe turned to Pesche and Dondochakka. "Do the Shinigami go to the Human World as well?"
The duo bobbed their heads. "All the time. It's where them and Hollows fight the most," answered Pesche.
"Which means that the Shinigami will be distracted too," sneered Zoro. "Pity, I'd like to try my blades against 'em."
"Who?" Chopper asked. "The guys here or the Shinigami?"
"Both. If the guys that strong," he jerked a thumb towards the distant, mass gathering of Arrancar, "are concerned about these Shinigami, then they've got to be a fun fight too."
"I should've known," sighed Chopper.
"Oi!" interrupted Franky. "Says here this Aizen guy's supposed to arrive any time today!" He stepped away from the computer and clapped his hands together, and declared, "Right, we gotta move fast! Usopp, Chopper, you're with me. We're going for the science labs."
"What're we taking?" asked Usopp, ready to move.
"All of it of course! Especially the medical stuff." Then the large man looked at his hands. "I feel wrong still. Like my body's missing something." He smirked. "Something . . . robotic. This place? I bet if I can't find the tools to make me into a SUPER cyborg, I can find the tools to make the tools to do it!"
"Awesome!" cried Usopp and Chopper with stars in their eyes. Zoro and Jinbe were struggling to hide their own interest, while Robin just looked unimpressed. Nel, Pesche, and Dondochakka were confused. Unfortunately for Robin, she missed how intrigued Lilynette seemed at the idea . . .
No! Bad tomboy! Bad! Girls don't like or get cool Mecha! It's the rules!
Jinbe, Robin, Chopper, and Usopp all turned stern looks onto Zoro. "You're to stay here and not to leave!" ordered Usopp.
"What!? Why!?"
Ignoring him, Robin crouched down to Nel's height, and gently asked, "Please keep him in this room so he doesn't get lost?"
"Thure!" she chirped, showing her little fangs. "Nel'll keep him nithe and thafe so he doethn't wander off like Luffy was thayin'!"
"That's a lie! The desert just keeps shifting."
"Or maybe you get lost and you're an idiot," deadpanned Pesche.
"What was that!?"
"Nothing! Please forgive me oh violent one!" cowered Pesche and Dondochakka.
—Seas of Souls—
With a savage kick, Sanji knocked down the doors to the primary food storage depot.
Unfolding before his eyes were rows upon rows of preserved foods.
Openly weeping, he fell to his knees.
His companions barely heard him whisper, "I can be a cook again . . ."
—Seas of Souls—
While Nel kept pulling on Zoro's ears and hair whenever he tried to wander off, Pesche and Dondochakka were shanghaied by Franky into helping carry every piece of equipment he came across.
It was not that Franky was being lazy or a bully, it was just that there was so much to take. And Franky wanted it all.
As it was, he was meticulously packing up every scrap of the now former owner's databases to trawl through at his leisure.
Usopp was being particularly useful going over the various devices, as they all realized they had subconsciously remembered he was an amateur inventor. Chopper was proving how extensive his medical knowledge was as well. . . . Plus, the disturbing experiments they were discovering were putting pad to any lingering guilt over robbing blind whoever's place this was.
It was as sick, sick, twisted mind that lived here.
—Seas of Souls—
"I can be trusted to walk around on my own!" yelped Zoro.
"That'th not what they thaid!" giggled Nel, dangling from one of his ears.
"They're nothing but liars!"
"Thith ith fun!"
"Go have fun with Curlybrows then!"
The next moment Sanji was there, dropping down two sacks three times his height, before disappearing again, a strange, unsettling look in his visible eye.
"What wath that?" Nel quietly asked.
Idly, Zoro opened up one of the bags to peer inside. "Oh yeah. I forgot. He's an Idiot Cook as well . . ."
—Seas of Souls—
Brook did not collapse to his knees when he opened a room to shelves upon shelves of tea.
No, with icy determination he merely started looking for a cup, bowl, or anything to hold some water.
If he did not get a drink of sweet bliss he would just die!
Oh wait. As a Hollow he was dead already, right?
Yo ho ho ho~?
He stroked his chin, and then stood straight. "I'm already dead! Skull joke! Yo ho ho ho~!"
—Seas of Souls—
"So what's in here?" chirped Chopper.
"Well," boomed Franky, "this is the one place that whoever owned this place didn't keep records on. Except," and now he gave the large doors before him a shrewd look, "I'd say this is the most secure place in the whole complex. Made to survive as much damage as possible."
"No lock," pointed out Usopp, "so it's meant to protect whatever's here, not keep anyone out." He scratched his head. "I'm surprised there's not any traps at least."
"Eh, from what I could find, the loser's not only totally arrogant, he's also a micro-manager. All the security besides those guards is to be controlled directly by him. By any of his computer systems."
"Ah," Usopp and Chopper nodded in understanding, before the former finished that line of thought. "And since no one would dare break in here, and of course he'd be here to protect it all, along with the rest of guys living here, what did he have to worry about? Right?"
"Precisely," sneered Franky, wrenching the door open. "So let's see what kind of goodies he's got in—"
He broke off at the sight of corpses hanging from the walls and ceiling, in various stages of dissection. A computer station was set aside, doubtless for separate records of what went on here.
"Research samples," whispered a horrified Chopper. Then an intimidating fury broke out across his childlike face. "We're burning it all down."
"Roger."
"Roger."
—Seas of Souls—
More and more of the place was looted as teams raced back and forth, knowing they were on a shortening deadline.
A few more packs of weakling guards got in their way, only to be dispatched.
"They're trying to slow us down to buy time," warned Jinbe.
"Which means that they think their boss will be here any moment," agreed Zoro.
—Seas of Souls—
The Straw Hats were startled by the sudden return of Luffy and Nami, having gone unnoticed by both their speed, and from how they concealed their presence.
With a huff, Nami jumped out of Luffy's arms, clearly irritated by being carried in such a fashion. The duo blinked at the sight of everyone wearing sharp, white outfits. Brook was also passing around fine, ceramic cups of steaming tea, while Sanji was offering pastries.
'Bliss' was the only word to describe the looks on the Straw Hats' faces. Finally, real, actual, and delicious food and drink!
Within a heartbeat, Sanji was at Nami's side, offering her the sweetest of treats, while shoving towards Luffy a platter of sandwiches. "Delicacies for the angel, and enough to keep even you satisfied for now," declared the chef. "And that," he jerked his thumb over his shoulder, "will do for later."
The room was stuffed to the brim with massive bags and boxes . . . as were the corridors.
"Tch," grunted Zoro, looking into one particular bag. "Was it really necessary to take even the kitchen sink?"
"Where else are we supposed to wash up!?" snapped an irate Sanji. They could take his new kitchen from his cold dead hands!
Until he got a new one.
He figured he might be able to do that in the Human World.
Franky was carefully calibrating some machines that would allow them to take things into the Human World. Something about 'particle conversion' or whatever that would make sure the stuff all stayed 'real' in the Living World. Apparently it had originally been designed with the intent of bring things back, but who cared? Doors opened both ways, right?
Luffy and Nami quickly put on new outfits that had been set aside for them, with Luffy wearing white shorts, a white open coat, and Nami put on tight white pants, and a white shirt that showed her midriff and a generous portion of her cleavage. "Nice," she said, admiring herself. "How'd you know?"
"Just a guess," admitted Brook. "Did you put those panties on?"
"Huh? Yeah."
"Can I please see them?"
"Hiyaaah!" she shrieked, decking him.
"Hey, Luffy," smiled Zoro as he walked up. "How's a trip to another world sound for our next adventure?"
Beaming, Luffy hugged him with joy. "Y'mean it!?"
"Yes, yes, now get off," the one-eyed man said not unkindly.
"Well then, let's go!"
"Opening the Garganta!" called out Franky. They had been forced to do it close to the hole they had first entered through, due to how much stuff they had filled the hallways with. "Starrk, you go through first."
"Why?" the lazy man said with confusion.
"According to this, you'll be able to use your Reiryoku to make a platform within. Make a big and stable one for us to carry all the goods through at once."
"Ah, alright."
"We must be wary though," warned Halibel. "This is our first time doing this, and if we're not careful, we might open the Garganta into the Seireitei instead!"
—Seas of Souls—
"No, no, no, no, NO!" frothed Szayelaporro. "They're getting away! Who knows what they took from my lab!?"
"Well now, there's one way to settle that."
So incensed was the pink-haired scientist that he did not even register the voice until he realized there was an intensifying light from behind him.
Spinning around, he gasped at the sight of a sneering Grimmjow charging up a massive Cero.
None of the other Espada cared enough to really intervene for Szayelaporro. Several of them even considered it a worthy sacrifice to harm those who had dared insult Lord Aizen with their very presence.
"NO DON'T—!"
"DEATH TO THE INVADERS!" cackled the Espada who embodied Destruction, and let loose with the most powerful attack he could manage without his Release, or techniques forbidden within Las Noches.
—Seas of Souls—
"Incoming!" yelled Apacci as she saw through the hole in the wall what was coming their way. Honestly, as powerful as it was, a Cero was too slow to cover such a distance without giving them time to react. What kind of idiot would expect them to miss it?
Unfortunately, they were all a bit exposed right now while throwing bags and boxes into the open gateway as fast as they could.
"We're still getting ready to pack up!" hissed Mila Rose. "We've got to take it out!"
"Allow me." Dressed in an all-white kimono, with geta sandals even, Jinbe made his way forward. With a powerful palm-thrust he met powerful blast of Hollow Reiryoku and batted it aside. "Hmph," he grunted, hand not even singed.
—Seas of Souls—
"What!?" scowled Grimmjow.
"Hah!" heckled Luppi. "That was weak! Let me show you how it's really done!"
"If you attack my lab again—!" Szayelaporro began to threaten, just as Hooler and the Gillians gave a fearsome screech.
From Hooler burst a thin beam of golden light that stabbed into the air before disappearing through a rift in it.
Following his lead, the Gillians tore open the Garganta that largest Hollow had formed, and began to shove their way into the Seireitei.
"Lord Aizen is now returning," announced Ulquiorra.
"Obviously," snarled Grimmjow.
"Hopefully he'll let us go after the intruders," sneered Nnoitra.
—Seas of Souls—
While Jinbe could not see what was happening, he knew that now their grace period was definitely nearing an end. "It's time to go!" he called back over his shoulder.
Despite this, he did not budge.
"Hey, what're you doing?" asked Apacci, who had started to run back towards the others.
"Yeah, are you planning to stay?" called out Lilynette.
"Luffy!" Jinbe said instead. "While we have intruded upon their territory, and killed their underlings, we cannot let such an attack go unanswered."
It was the Hollow way.
Moreover, Jinbe knew there was a time to hide your strength, and a time to make clear you were not the type to overlook an attack upon those under your protection.
Face sternly set, Luffy simply said, "Jinbe, answer back."
Except a Cero would be too weak and slow.
So Jinbe dragged the knuckles of his right hand over one of the fangs of his Hollow mask, drawing blood. With careful deliberation he pulled back his fist at shoulder height, and charged a red Cero—
—and the energy met his blood. Instantly the blood shifted to a bright blue, rippling and crackling with energy contained and suppressed by his implacable discipline.
"GRAN RAY CERO!" roared the Sea Knight as he punched forward.
Unleashed, the blast rocketed towards the center of the army of Arrancar, a spinning disc that distorted the very fabric of space itself as it traveled, leaving ripples in the fabric of reality as it passed.
Even for most of the Espada, this overwhelming might would barely be contained within this form, wanting to break free. Compressing and decompressing due to the sheer speed and power held within.
For a Vasto Lorde such as Jinbe, it flew straight and true to fulfil its purpose.
—Seas of Souls—
With lightning reflexes, Baraggan and Ulquiorra leaped away first, with the rest of the Espada following suit.
The various Fraccion and other Numeros scattered in a panic as their lords reacted.
Burning with power the incredible attack erupted near where they had all been standing, unleashing a massive explosion that sent the weakest flying and the rest were forced to struggle to remain in place with spiritual energy.
"Peh, weaklings," scoffed Yammy as he saw the non-Espada struggle, before looking in the direction of the invaders. "And those losers've done it now. Not only did they just invite us over there to massacre them, they wasted their shot!"
"Uhm, I wouldn't say that."
Now Yammy was feeling a bit confused. Someone had made him angry, so that meant he could go squash 'em. Right? Right! Seems like he would have to remind his fellow Espada of that. "Who cares if a bunch of small fry died!?" he furiously yelled without turning around. "That just means they weren't worth living any longer."
No one said anything, and now Yammy registered the expressions of the rest of the Espada in sight, who were all looking past him with varying degrees of fear. Even Baraggan and Ulquiorra, who remained as impassive as ever, seemed to both project an air of nervousness.
Spinning around, he realized that near the edge of the crater, Hooler was twitching with death throes as a massive chunk of his gigantic body was missing. Meanwhile, the Gillians who had been helping it project the Negacion, were all dead or dying as well.
The Negacion that had just been activated at Lord Aizen's command to signal his return to take up permanent residence of Hueco Mundo.
Lord Aizen (and his two top lieutenants) who was now trapped within Soul Society after having been –too briefly—enveloped in said Negacion. As in three towering golden beams of light that could be seen for kilometers, originating from a massive tear in the sky.
"Uh, oh . . ."
—Seas of Souls—
"By the way, Senchou," Robin said, "did you find what you were looking for?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah." He popped back to the pile of rags that had been his clothes, and dug through them. "I sensed something weird, and when Nami and I got there, my Pesquisa found a small space where there was no Reishi or anything. So I focused harder—" Everyone nodded. Luffy's Pesquisa was unquestionably the most refined. "—and I found something. With Nami's help. Here."
He pulled out a small, purple orb.
At first his fellow Arrancar did not sense anything of interest, yet the more they looked at it, the greater the sense of something alien struck home for them. Something vast, aware, and still slumbering.
"Yeah, pretty cool, ain't it?" beamed Luffy.
Then he swallowed it.
Whole.
"I didn't think I'd ever find candy again so quick! Hopefully there's even more in the Human World!"
With that, he jauntily led the others through the open Garganta.
Franky, Chopper, and Usopp's arms were shaking between competing compulsions to facepalm and strangle him for eating that mysterious object before they could study it. Especially not knowing what it was. The rest just sighed and grabbed the last of the bags to head on out.
Unfelt and unseen by the rest, a pulse of energy went through him and to the rest of the Straw Hats new and old as well . . .
—Seas of Souls—
Author Notes:
Well, at least Aizen's the forgiving type, who will not take issue with his underlings failing to stop the disruption of his dramatic exit.
. . . Right?
*Resisting urge to have Aizen just kill off all the Espada because their names are so irritating to keep writing again and again.*
.
I was honestly tempted to have the SHP recruit Gantenbainne Mosqueda. I mean, the idea of a spirit in a Japanese setting praising God would alone be a fascinating approach. Not to mention his personality, and how despite being an ex-Espada he is probably Fukutaicho-class. Unfortunately, I feel that Aizen's ego would require all noteworthy Espada being present to bask in his arrival. As well as to emphasise his authority over them all.
.
I know that Aizen comes off looking pretty bad in this chapter as the Straw Hats run amok of his base. That said, this is not going to be one of those stories where Aizen is called a genius, but then makes some pretty stupid mistakes, or unimaginative plans. I want a decent villain for my story, not one who just arrogantly brags about his greatness, and then rants about how he is superior when things stop going his way.
So yeah, Luffy and Co. got lucky with the timing of their arrival. Otherwise there would have been some genuine opposition, including Aizen himself making a move once he figured out that there were 6 Vasto Lordes hiding their power.
.
Yes, in canon for Ichigo and Co. it was THREE days away from the entrance. It is just that Nel and her siblings were in a different spot when they ran into the others this time.
.
For the Espada, the reason Wonderweiss, or at least the Hollow that would become known as Wonderweiss, is not on the list is because despite is noteworthy power, he was being kept for a 'special mission.' So Aizen had him sequestered somewhere safe.
.
The line about 'shiny toys' is purely MasterQwerster.
.
I know readers will have a lot of theories about that 'purple ball,' as well as skepticism as to how it got there. Bear with me until next chapter.
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Next Chapter: "Aizen Sosuke and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day"
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Please Review, and I will get back to you!
