-Chapter 3-
Its speed was astonishing, it
had covered half the distance that Franky had made before anyone
could react. Having already recharged the ship's cola engines, Franky
was about to launch the ship skyward in order to get away from
impending threat.
"COUP De BURST" he shouted
before telling anyone to hold on. The sea king had been in mid jump
its razor sharp body inches from the exhaust port when the jet of air
knocked it back with such force that it skipped across the water and
was thrown into the air. Its course was the exact opposite of the
Sunny's current trajectory; which was a benefit Usopp would have
taken credit for if he hadn't been hanging on to the stern railing
inches from the missed attack, hanging on for dear life.
Their
flight was straight and true, the Luffy enjoyed the bliss of
unfettered flight (not so much as being out of harm's way)...that is
until the bow of the ship found itself smashed through a glass wall,
their ship rapidly falling. The rain of glass added a new dimension
of insanity to the air born Pirate ship, everyone shielded their eyes
from the spray of blinding glass and were unable to brace for impact.
It was rough, to say the least. Franky who had been posing while
shouting "SUPER!!" was thrown into the mast. Zoro had held
his ground by planting his katana in the deck. Sanji was waiting for
Nami and Robin to fly forward into his outstretched arms, but missed
his chance when he was grounded by a low flying Chopper. Nami and
Robin were saved by a web of Robin's hands between the two of the
mikan bushes. Usopp was unlucky enough to shot into the air along
with Luffy. Luffy, having won the race to the ground, was shot back
into the air like a rubber ball. The two crew-mates met mid air as
Usopp was bounced higher into the air by the now out of control,
ricocheting, rubber man. To stop his new found affinity for bouncing
Luffy wrapped an arm around a passing tree, which gave way almost
immediately, Luffy found himself being bounced about all over again.
Despite the sudden landing and the captain's distraction all eyes
went skywards and watched the plummeting spec that was Usopp come
into view. As always Robin was prepared...
"Cien Fleur"
she said "Chute"
As soon as she
had said this, thousands of strands of hair came out of the dazed
Usopp's back and began to form themselves into a parachute. The
strands worked their way around each other until Usopp was drifting
slowly out of the sky like a snowflake. Luffy was still ricocheting
with no sign of slowing. Zoro took it upon himself to stop the
bouncing Captain, he drew his two swords and turned them backward and
crossed them as he launched himself at the rock Luffy was about to
hit. This would be tricky, too soon and it would spell curtains or
blood for Luffy. The crossed points met on the rock with Luffy in
between them. Zoro held fast as the ricocheting subsided and Luffy's
body returned to normal.
