I'm really bad at doing things on time.
Little Garden
"Karoo," Usopp gasped, holding his own remarkably well under Miss Valentine's weight, "take this—run around the candle!"
Karoo seized the oil-soaked rope and frantically flapped his wings, running almost comically around the large wax cake where Zoro, Nami, and Vivi stood frozen.
"You think that's going to change anything?" Miss Valentine exclaimed with a giggle. "Your rubber friend's still busy with Mr. 3, and that silly giant is still our prisoner!" She glanced to Broggy, who was indeed held fast by wax shackles. "Hey, Mr. Giant, your friend sure was weak, wasn't he?"
"What was that?" Broggy growled.
"Oh, you know, the dead one?" Miss Valentine continued, daintily covering a giggle even as she continued to increase her weight on Usopp, who began wheezing. She glanced at Dorry, lying prone. "For a giant to be taken out by one of Mr. 5's explosives . . . goodness, what a weakling! All size and no strength!"
"Don't," Usopp gasped from underneath her. "Don't—talk about—his friend—like that—" His face contorted in pain. "You bi—"
The weight upon him increased tenfold and he was forced to go silent to concentrate on breathing properly.
"He wasn't weak," Broggy growled, something primal rising in his voice as he glared at Miss Valentine. She only laughed, knowing she was safe so long as he was bound by the wax. "How dare you, evil woman!"
"Everything okay?" Luffy called, fighting off Mr. 3 in the ridiculous wax armor while Miss Goldenweek watched curiously from her blanket.
"Oh, everything's fine, Strawhat," Mr. 5 drawled. He kicked Usopp's face, causing a small explosion; Usopp nearly passed out.
Karoo was just finishing his desperate run around the cake when the fight between Luffy and Mr. 3 sent the latter stumbling against Broggy's axe. It fell from its stuck position, the handle tipping onto the back of Broggy's right hand. He twisted his fingers just enough to grip the handle in a steel grasp.
And while this happened, unnoticed by anyone, a tiny dark moth fluttered through the sky and landed upon the axe.
The moth vanished and the axe glowed deep violet. Broggy's expression froze and he stared darkly ahead as someone spoke to him . . .
"Odin the Warrior," the disembodied voice whispered. "My name is Tigermoth. I will give you the power to deliver justice upon those who have fought unfairly in your righteous eyes, but in return, you must take the Miraculous ribbons from the ones called Ladybug and Chat Noir."
A grin crept across Broggy's broad face.
"Justice shall be served."
"What are you muttering about over there?" Miss Valentine called with a giggle. "You're—"
She cut herself off, eyes widening as an ugly purple mass spread over Broggy's huge body from his axe. When the glow faded, his appearance had changed drastically. His helmet now covered his nose in fine iron, the horns gone; his clothes had become fine robes and chainmail of old; his hair and beard had grown long and wild; and the axe he clutched had transformed into a sharp spear, colored an iridescent violet.
"What kind of power is that?" Miss Valentine demanded, decreasing her weight and standing at last. Usopp gasped, recovering from the brink of unconsciousness. "What were you hiding, giant?!"
"Miss Valentine, what just happened?" Mr. 5 exclaimed, eyeing Broggy.
"Luffy!" Usopp yelled, oblivious to what was going on. "The rope—set it on fire! There's no time left!"
"Luffy!" Tikki exclaimed into his ear.
"Wh—Tikki, what is it?" Luffy demanded. "I'm kind of in a hurry!"
He dodged another swing from Mr. 3, casting about for some kind of fire.
"That giant, Broggy, he's—"
Broggy, filled with newfound power, yanked his hands away from the ground, uprooting the wax and causing it to crumble to pieces. By flexing his legs, he unbound himself fully and stood tall.
"Humans!" Broggy roared, pointing rather dramatically to Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine. "I am the ancient King of Asgard, Odin! Forseti has spoken and you are deemed guilty of dishonorable conduct in battle! You are hereby sentenced to death; so sayeth Odin!"
"That round giant guy!" Luffy said in surprise as Mr. 3 paused, eyeing Broggy in confusion. "Tikki, are you saying he's—?"
"He's been akumatized," Tikki said with a nod. "Hurry and transform!"
"No way!" Luffy exclaimed. "I have to save my friends first!"
"But—!"
"I'm not arguing! There's no time! I'm saving my friends and then I'll transform!"
"Master Broggy, what happened to you?!" Usopp cried, struggling to sit up. He glanced to Luffy. "Luffy, are you talking to yourself?"
"Don't worry about it!" Luffy exclaimed. His eyes lit up when they fell upon Mr. 3's candle-like head.
"That'll work for a flame!"
He seized Mr. 3 and used his head to light the end of the rope amid loud protests. The rope was set aflame, fire racing across it and all around the candle cake.
As the wax began to burn, Usopp frantically crawled out of the way, keeping an eye on Broggy.
"Mr. 5," Miss Valentine said as they backed away, "didn't something strange happen to Mr. 9 back at Whiskey Peak?"
"Yes, Miss Valentine—did something similar happen to this brute?" Mr. 5 whispered. They cried out loud when the spear was aimed for them and dodged a thrust just in time, unknowingly also dodging blows from the freed Nami, Vivi, and Zoro.
"Hold still," Nami snapped. "Guys, you could be a little faster next time—what the hell is going on?"
"Guys!" Luffy exclaimed. "You're okay?"
"We're fine," Vivi said. She looked up. "But—Broggy-san is—?"
"Humans!" Broggy roared as Mr. 3 and Miss Goldenweek fled into the forest. "Leave this place or face the wrath of Odin with these two!" He gestured to Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine.
"He's acting weird," Zoro remarked.
Vivi frowned. "This feels familiar . . . it's like what happened to Mr. 9 at Whiskey Peak!"
"Luffy?" Usopp called, standing at last as Luffy charged into the woods. "Where're you going?"
"He must be going after that Mr. 3 asshole," Zoro remarked. He heard a whisper in his ear and nodded. "I'll go with him."
He ran off with a slight stumble, ignoring Nami's exasperated yell that he was going the wrong way.
"So, you have chosen to stay," Broggy rumbled, raising his spear once more. "So be it!"
"Master Broggy, what happened to you?" Usopp cried, legs shaking before the wrathful aura.
"I am no longer Broggy," came the declaration. "I am Odin, warrior of Asgard! These two have broken the code of battle and deserve death!"
"Okay, they're not great people, you're right," Usopp exclaimed, and Miss Valentine and Mr. 5 appeared very offended even as they took another step back from Broggy. "But that—that's no reason to kill them!"
"You would go against the word of a god?" Broggy roared, causing Usopp to squeak in fear.
"You're no god!"
The company turned to see Luffy in his Ladybug suit, cracking his knuckles with a grin.
"And even if you were a god, you're a pretty bad one!" he continued, striding forward. "Hey, guys!"
"Ladybug!" Usopp exclaimed in delight.
"Why am I always the second one here?" Zoro demanded, leaping like a cat down from the trees and brushing some wax dust off of his suit.
"Maybe you're bad with directions?" Luffy suggested. "Hi, Chat!"
"Chat Noir!" Usopp said happily. "Oh, I get to see you guys again, the dream has come true!"
"You two saved us back at Whiskey Peak," Miss Valentine exclaimed, eyeing them as relief dawned on her features. "You're . . . superheroes?"
"So you two are Ladybug and Chat Noir," Broggy said coldly, holding his spear like a staff.
"More or less," Zoro called. "Hold that thought."
He and Luffy turned around and clocked Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine, knocking them far across the clearing and leaving them unconscious in the trees.
"Now we'll take you down," Luffy declared, turning back around.
"Huh?!" Vivi cried. "They weren't good people, true, but what kind of heroes—?!"
"We're not heroes," they said together.
"Actually, you guys should probably get out of the way unless you wanna help," Luffy said. "This fight's gonna be interesting with such a big guy!"
"I'm sure you two can handle this," Nami said, giving them a thumbs-up. "Vivi, c'mon—"
They ran into the trees, peeking out from around the trunks.
"Think it's in his spear?" Luffy muttered to Zoro, pointing at the weapon.
"Dunno where else it could be," Zoro muttered back. He glanced behind them. "Usopp? You should leave."
"He said my name," Usopp whispered happily, but then shook his head. "You guys, uh—I know I must look pretty pathetic right now—but if I can, it would be an honor to—please let me help you!"
"Chat, keep this guy busy for a sec, okay?" Luffy said, shepherding Usopp several feet away as the fire from the candle cake died down. Zoro didn't have time to protest as Broggy began thrusting his spear for him, and was forced to dodge and block blows with his own staff.
"Usopp, are you sure?" Luffy said seriously. "You were hurt pretty badly before this."
Usopp looked at him in wonder. "How did you kn—? Okay, you're right, but that's not important! Master Broggy, this—this isn't like him—is he being controlled or something? He is, isn't he?"
Luffy made a face. "I think so? It's a little complicated, but sure, that's basically it."
"Then I want to help," Usopp declared. "He's my friend, and he's so tough and brave, like Luffy, this other guy I know—I hope he's okay, geez, he hasn't come back yet—point is, if he's in trouble, I want to help! If I can!"
Luffy stared at him in surprise before grinning broadly.
"Of course you can help!" he exclaimed.
Usopp grinned in relief. "Yes! Thank you, thank you so much—what do I do?"
"We gotta break his spear," Luffy said. "Once we do, he'll go back to normal!"
"His spear, got it," Usopp said, and they ran back to battle just as Zoro fell to his knees.
"Chat, you okay?" Luffy exclaimed. "By the way, Usopp's gonna help us."
"I'm just fine," Zoro said, struggling to his feet. "I hurt my legs earlier. It's nothing I can't deal with."
"Okay, good," Luffy said in relief. "I'm gonna try to grab it with my yo-yo, and then you can use your Catakiss—Usopp, do you have any ammo you can use?"
"Y-Yeah, I—do you need me to distract him a bit?" Usopp exclaimed.
"Yeah, if you can, thanks," Luffy said.
"It's Cataclysm," Zoro muttered, stretching his legs.
"You should not have interfered, human!" Broggy roared as Usopp charged for him, firing a pellet which Broggy easily deflected. He hefted his spear and aimed it for Usopp, who screamed and dodged it just in time. Luffy threw out his medallion, but it was knocked aside by the very spear he was aiming for.
"You should learn . . ."
Broggy pointed to Usopp, who readied his slingshot again despite his fear.
"That mere men . . ."
His finger began glowing.
"Are no match for a god!"
A beam of bluish light shot from his finger and struck Usopp directly.
"Usopp!" Luffy and Zoro yelled together, running to him as he fell to his knees, his head surrounded by a faint blue glow.
"I'm fine," Usopp exclaimed, but when he looked back at Broggy, he cried out and flinched.
"Usopp?" Luffy said.
"I—I can't," Usopp whispered, shaking violently as he bowed his head. "I c-can't—fight him—can't do it—"
Nami and Vivi, several feet from the clearing, peeked around the trees.
"What happened to Usopp-san?" Vivi murmured. "Did Broggy-san do something?"
"Broggy's calling himself Odin, isn't he?" Nami whispered. "It's said the god Odin could make men helpless in battle."
Luffy glared up at Broggy. "I don't know what happened, but you did something, didn't you?" he demanded as Zoro dragged Usopp out of the way.
Broggy grinned evilly. "Men should not pit themselves against a god," he declared. "That one got what he deserved!"
Zoro got Usopp to sit against a tree and hurried back, stumbling as he ran.
"Chat, I'm going to try to grab it again," Luffy announced. "Get ready!"
He ran forward, but then Broggy swung down a huge glowing finger, and a blast of light shot out—
"Look out!"
Zoro leapt forward with catlike grace, toppling Luffy out of the way only to be hit with the blast himself.
"Huh?" Luffy exclaimed. "Chat, what was—Chat!"
Zoro fell to his knees, a faint blue glow surrounding his head. Luffy hurried back to him.
"He got you, didn't he?" he said, making Zoro look up and noting the fear in his eyes. "That was so reckless! Why did you do that?!"
Zoro shook his head. "Didn't mean to," he muttered. "Couldn't let you get hit—you've got to purify it—"
"But you're my partner," Luffy protested, clutching Zoro's shoulders.
"You can do it without me." Zoro looked up at Broggy and his eyes widened as he began to shake. "You'll—I think you'll have to. I'm sorry, I—I can't—"
He clutched himself, staring at the ground, and flinched when he felt strong arms wrap around him.
"It's okay, kitty," Luffy whispered. "That was really stupid of you, but thanks for saving me. I'm gonna get you out of the way and I'll beat this guy and everything's gonna go back to normal."
He let go and grabbed Zoro's hands, pulling him to his feet. He managed to lead Zoro a ways away before letting go, allowing Zoro to sit against a tree near Usopp.
"Go get him," Zoro whispered.
Luffy grinned. "You know I will."
As he ran back to Broggy, he threw his medallion into the air with a cry of, "Lucky Charm!" and caught the item as he came to a stop.
"A mirror?" he muttered, examining his reflection. "Well, I look pretty cool, but how's that supposed to help me here?"
He flipped out of the way as Broggy thrust his glowing spear to him.
"You shall meet the same fate as your friends, Ladybug!" he roared, pointing a finger which began to glow. "And then I will take your Miraculouses!"
Luffy grinned. "Oh, I get it," he exclaimed. "Come at me, Oden or whatever your name is!"
He held up the mirror the second the blast of light was sent towards him. As it was deflected back, he muttered to himself, "I kind of want some oden now. Maybe Sanji will make it for dinner. With lots of meat."
Broggy was struck by the blast he had fired himself, and he fell to his knees.
"What—is this?" he gasped. "I can't—my legs won't move—"
"Nice try, Oden," Luffy said cheerfully, stepping forward, "but I'm going to send you back to Tartarus!"
"Wrong mythology!" Nami yelled from the trees.
Luffy seized the spear from Broggy's helpless hands and bit down hard. It splintered and cracked in two, and the moth fluttered out.
"Get over here," Luffy exclaimed, slinging out his medallion. "Gotcha!"
He soon released the purified moth, which fluttered into the sky. He knelt, picked up the mirror from where it had fallen, and threw it up to the heavens.
In just a few seconds, Broggy's outfit melted away, leaving him confused on the ground, and Usopp and Zoro regained their spirit, standing and hurrying over to Luffy (Zoro still wincing from his legs).
"Oh, thank goodness," Vivi exclaimed as she and Nami emerged from the trees. "Ladybug-san, Chat Noir-san, you did it?"
"Yeah," Luffy said, glancing at Broggy, who was sitting up and looking around in confusion. "He probably doesn't remember what happened."
"Ladybug, Chat Noir, I'm so sorry," Usopp blurted out, lip trembling. "I just wanted to help, and I only got in the way—"
"You didn't get in the way," Zoro said sternly. "Don't beat yourself up. It wasn't your fault."
"Hey, Chat," Luffy said. Zoro turned around and Luffy smacked his cheek. "Be more careful."
"You seem even more reckless than me," Zoro muttered, rubbing his face. "You're not exactly one to talk—"
"Oh, I'm about to turn back," Luffy exclaimed. "See you guys later!"
"I still have some time," Zoro said. "I didn't use my Ca-ta-cly-sm, after all."
"Okay, well, see you another time! Bye!"
Luffy turned around ran into the trees.
"You're both weirdos," Nami declared.
"Nami, they're heroes," Usopp protested.
"We're not heroes," Zoro said. "How many times do we have to tell you?"
"Okay, but you really dress like heroes," Usopp pointed out. Vivi and Nami nodded.
"If you're not heroes, why are you doing this?" Nami added, squinting. "You're both pretty suspicious."
"Gee, thanks," Zoro snapped. "It's not like I wanted to do this, and I'm not sure Ladybug did, either. We were forced into a deal, that's all."
"A deal?"
"Yeah, this is just temporary," Zoro muttered. "Going around saving people isn't what I'm into."
"You saved us," Nami pointed out.
"Well, we're friends, so that's different."
"Since when are we—"
"Well, wouldn't you know it, I'm about to turn back. I'll be off."
He turned and stumbled into the forest.
"Who was that?" Broggy murmured. "What happened?"
"Don't worry, Master Broggy, you're safe!' Usopp called. Broggy frowned in confusion.
"Hey!"
Luffy came running out of the trees, shirtless and dirty once more, a broad grin upon his face.
"I took care of Mr. 3!" he announced.
"What took you so long with that?" Nami demanded, hitting him over the head.
"Stuff," Luffy muttered.
"He probably got lost," Usopp muttered. "Luffy, did you run into Zoro? He said he went to help you."
Luffy laughed. "Well, Zoro's stupid, so he probably got lost in these woods!"
"Who's stupid?" Zoro demanded. The group turned to see Zoro emerging from a different part of the woods. "Luffy, there you are—"
"Zoro!" Luffy exclaimed in delight. He glanced down and his eyes widened. "Your legs are—?"
"They're fine, I'll sleep it off," Zoro muttered.
"That isn't something you sleep off!" Nami shrieked.
Grand Line Sea
"Sanji, you'll never believe what happened while you were gone," Usopp exclaimed as the crew sailed past the obstacle of the giant goldfish. "Ladybug and Chat Noir showed up! Master Broggy was being controlled, and they saved the day! Well, Ladybug did, Chat Noir got hit with some power, and I did too—"
Sanji held up a hand. "They showed up?" he repeated. "While I wasn't there? Again?"
"Yeah, it was so cool!" Usopp exclaimed, throwing his arms into the air in excitement. "I got to help them! I mean, I didn't help much in the end, truth be told, but I tried my best, really I did!"
"They showed up and you got to help them," Sanji repeated flatly.
Usopp nodded. Sanji cursed under his breath and turned away.
"Hey, Luffy," he snapped, "don't think I don't see you with those cookies."
Luffy froze. "Uh . . . what cookies?"
Sanji kicked him and caught the cookies which fell from his shirt.
"You might as well eat them now, but ask next time, shithead," he snarled, throwing the treats back at Luffy, heading into the kitchen, and slamming the door shut. There was a shout and several bangs, and then Zoro limped out of the kitchen, rubbing his head.
Luffy laughed. "Were you stealing food, too?"
"Maybe," Zoro muttered, clutching his prize of cheese and crackers. "Cook seems in an awfully bad mood."
"He's probably just hungry," Luffy said wisely, heading up to the bow where he could give Tikki food in private.
As he handed Tikki the cookies, which she took with quiet thank-yous, he thought back to the battle and smiled. His partner had been so selfless and cool, taking the hit like that—and not to mention that he was a great person to hug!
Luffy laughed to himself.
"What is it?" Tikki said, back to full strength.
Luffy shrugged, popping the last cookie into his mouth.
