This chapter has been written by yellowpikmin88 from Deviantart. Please credit him, too.
Soul EaterXOne Piece Collab Special! Ch. 4- Bluebeard's attack: vengeance is sworn?
The next morning on the Sunny followed its simple routine, but with a few twists this time due to the DWMA gang now living with the Straw-hats. Brook made his way onto the deck to begin his morning wake-up song which was thanked by Nami's shoe to his afro but also one of Maka's books.
"What do you have against the concept of a good night sleep, bone bag?!" Soul roared.
"But it's morning, Soul my lad" Brook replied pulling Maka's book out of his hair.
"Barely!" Meanwhile, in the men's quarters, the rest of the boys we're grumpily waking up from Brook's song and Soul's rant. Usopp was the first to sit up only for his long nose to come into contact with two round, soft objects.
"Well aren't you a bit forward, long nose~. Feel like playing with me~?" Blair purred as she moved her chest closer to the now terrified sniper's red face.
"RAPE! SUCCUBUS!" he squawked before grabbing spray bottle next to his bunk and spraying her with it. Luckily for Blair it was just water, but being a cat, it was more than enough to send her scurrying away in her kitty form.
"Yeah you'll have to get used to that. Blair's really fond of guys." Black Star said.
"Oh goody. Now I'll have to sleep with one eye open every night." Franky grunted as he got out of his bunk, but as he walked past the mirror in the room, he noticed something that caught his attention. "Hey! What happened to my shoulder?!" he said. It is revealed that the writing on Franky's left shoulder had been painted backwards. The cyborg's eyes narrowed before he faced Kid.
"You're welcome. Now you're perfectly balanced."
"STRONG RIGHT!" KA-POW! The reaper was sent crashing through the wall of the men's quarters by the cyborg's iron fist.
"NEVER PAINT ON ME AGAIN YA BRAT!" Franky snapped.
"Breakfast's in five minutes, everyone~!" Sanji called. On cue, Luffy immediately came speeding out of the women's quarters and into the kitchen.
"FOOD~! FOOD~! FOOD~!" he cheered, Nami closely following him, along with Maka, Soul, Robin and Tsubaki. It was then that Shino, Spike and Zoro came down from the crow's nest, the swordsman having finished his morning training and for some reason; Mark and Will were sitting on his shoulders.
"They wanted me to prove I could hold their weight while doing press-ups: piece of cake." He grinned.
"That's no surprise when it comes to you, Zoro." Robin smiled. As the group made their way into the galley, they found the rest of the group waiting for them. Mark and Will then hopped down from Zoro's shoulders, before they noticed Nami. They blushed slightly.
"Wow. She's pretty." Mark thought, before the navigator noticed them as well. She smiled at them before walking over and kneeling down to their height.
"You must be Spike's little brothers. It's so nice to meet you boys." She said as she petted them both on their heads making them smile goofily at her. "Wait let me guess who's who." She then tapped a finger to the corner of her mouth before smiling. "You're Mark, cause you have the mark of spades." She said as she pointed to the black spade on the boy's shirt.
"Yeah that's me!" he giggled.
"So you must be Will." Nami said.
"Yes. It's really nice to meet you, Miss." Will said with a small bow.
"You're really pretty." Mark added with a small blush. "Like a mermaid, only with legs."
"Aww you really mean that~?!" Nami swooned, holding her hands to her cheeks before pulling both of the pups into a hug as she cuddled them. "You're so cute~! I've only just met you and I already love you both to bits~!" the twins blushed heavily at the sudden hug, but smiled as they hugged her back. Luffy did his best to hold back the jealousy that was now bubbling inside him.
"Foods up~!" Sanji said as he arrived with everyone's breakfast. "Here you go, Blizzard. Just how you like it." He said as he set down some bacon with a small spread of peanut butter on top for the wolf-dog who barked happily, while Sanji petted him. "And for you, Blair dear. I hope you enjoy it." He grinned as he set down a fish for her with a small bow tied around it.
"Thank you, Sanji." She said before momentarily turning back to her human form to give him a peck on the cheek. This of course sent the man shooting off with another nosebleed until he hit the ceiling.
"WHOA!" Mark and Will both gasped in surprise.
"SANJI~!" Chopper squealed as he went to treat him.
"Damn, and I thought mine were bad." Soul said as he went back to eating his toast.
"He makes you look like nothing." Maka agreed.
"Are you the captain?" Luffy turned to see Mark and Will sitting next to him.
"Yep, that's me. Monkey D. Luffy." He flashed his trademark grin.
"Awesome. I've always wanted to meet a pirate captain." Will beamed, his eyes sparkling.
"Who's the pretty mermaid by the way, Captain Luffy?" Mark asked who was looking at Nami with his head in his palm. The latter, hearing this, blushed again from his compliment and blew him a kiss, causing the squirt to glow red again.
"That's Nami. She's the navigator of the ship." Luffy said as he looked at Mark staring dreamily at her. "And she's also my girlfriend." Mark then snapped out of his love-struck state.
"Really?"
"Yeah. See the story is, Nami was once a slave to this bad guys named Arlong." Luffy said quietly so Nami wouldn't hear the painful memory. "He took over her entire village and killed her mother."
"That's horrible." Will said sadly.
"Yeah, but she made a deal with him that if she got him lots of money she'd buy the village back and free all her friends, as well as her sister, Nojiko. But the bastard never kept his promise. That's when he made her cry." The captain clenched his fist at that part. "So Me, Zoro, Sanji and Usopp went straight to his headquarters and I beat him to a pulp. Nobody, but nobody makes my Nami cry and gets to brag about it."
"Wow, you're a hero, Captain Luffy." Will said.
"Nah! I'm no hero. I respect heroes but I don't wanna be one." Luffy grinned.
"But…you saved Nami and her village. That's what heroes do." Will said.
"Well that's what most people say. But here's the way I see it. Heroes are completely selfless and never care about their own wellbeing. Say for example there's a huge piece of meat. A pirate crew would have a feast with it. But a hero would give the meat to someone else. And I want all the meat."
"But you we're being selfless when you-" Mark tried to say, but Usopp put his hand on his shoulder to stop him.
"Don't bother, kid. Even though everyone he's befriended sees him as a hero, he's the only one who doesn't. That being said, you can still view him as one if you want. Just don't say it to his face cause he'll just disagree."
"You're Usopp aren't you? One of the guys who helped Captain Luffy beat that Arlong guy." Will said.
"That's right. I'm the great Captain Usopp. Leader of eight thousand men!" The sniper grinned, pointing his thumb to himself.
"That's so cool~!" Mark grinned.
"Isn't it~?!" said Chopper who'd shown up.
"Of course Luffy was the one who beat Arlong. I couldn't damage my Captain's honour. But I did take out one of Arlong's men with nothing but a bottle of sake and a hammer."
"No way!" Mark, Will and Chopper gasped.
"Yes way! I covered the bastard in booze and set him on fire and then smashed his head in with my hammer. His face looked like a cauliflower when I was done with him." The two pups and reindeer laughed at the description.
"So how did you beat Arlong, Captain Luffy?" Will asked.
"Well I stuck my foot up like this," Luffy began as he stretched his leg upward taking the pups by surprise. "and then smashed it back down on his skull. I sent him crashing through ten floors."
"Your…your leg." Mark said.
"Oh yeah, you don't know yet. I ate a devil fruit. It's a magic type of fruit that grows in our world. The one I ate turned me into a rubber." Luffy said as he stretched his mouth with his finger. But he then got annoyed when Mark and Will started grabbing parts of his body and began pulling them.
"You're like a big rubber band." Will laughed.
"Hey stop that!" Luffy said as he pulled them off.
"So you beat up Arlong with one kick."
"Well I did a few other things before that." Luffy smiled.
"And then I bet Nami ran up to you and gave you a big kiss for saving her." Mark said.
"Actually Nami didn't become my girlfriend until Brook joined the crew." Luffy said. "But I fell in love with her the moment I met her." The navigator smiled at him as he looked at her.
"You're really lucky, Captain Luffy. I bet most men would kill to get someone as beautiful as her." Mark said.
"Maybe." Luffy snickered as he ruffled the boy's hair. "But it doesn't matter cause Nami only love s me. And I only love her. No woman could ever replace her."
"And no man could ever replace you, you big goofball." Nami said as she wrapped her arms around her captain and kissed him passionately. Mark couldn't help but pout a little at seeing this.
"You liiiiike her~." Will said teasingly, making his brother blush from embarrassment.
"Yeah, well you like Tsubaki." He said back which made Will stop snickering.
XXX
After the group had finished eating, Maka, Soul, Kid, Luffy and Robin had gone into town to see if they could find any information on Bluebeard.
"I say we try that bar again. We need to apologise for the trouble we caused anyway." Maka said.
"I concur. I was never one to just leave without taking responsibility for my actions." Kid agreed. As the group arrived back at 'The Tourniquet' the first thing they saw when they walked through the door was the bartender pointing a shotgun at them.
"Look just turn around and get out of my bar! I don't wanna have to use this thing!" he said.
"Hey if you ask me, I figured you'd be glad to see people coming in here again after last night, even if it was us. You're business isn't exactly booming." Soul snorted.
"Soul!" Maka snapped. "Look, Sir. Luffy's not to blame for this. You see me and my friends are on a mission to hunt down a very dangerous pirate. We got the wrong idea and thought Luffy and his crew were in cahoots with him. I'll take full responsibility for what happened, but please could you just answer a few questions and we won't set foot in here again." The man lowered his weapon as he looked at the scythe meister.
"What do you want to know?"
"By any chance have you heard of a man named Jules Blake, AKA Bluebeard?" Maka asked. The bartender almost dropped his gun when he heard the name.
"You're searching for that devil?! I'd get as a faraway from the New World if I were you, young lady."
"So you do know of him. Do you have a name?" Robin asked, trying to lighten the tension a little.
"It's Carl," the man said. "Carl Turner."
"Well Mr Turner," Kid asked "how is it you know of Bluebeard?"
"Have you ever wondered why this town's so quiet, boy?" Carl stated. "Why the streets are always empty at night? And why all the windows are shut? And especially why we're all tightly lipped folk?" Apparently the man was able to notice when the group figured out the answer. "That's right. That sonofabitch came to our island eight months ago. We tried to defend ourselves but he squashed us like gnats. And what's worse. It would have been bad enough if he just killed us like most pirates. No offense to you Straw-hat." He then said to Luffy. "Unlike most of the world I know you're no murderer. Nor you Nico Robin. It's Blake the world should really be afraid of. He's a monster. And I don't mean figuratively either. You're probably gonna call me crazy when I tell you what happened next."
"We won't." Maka said. "Please continue."
"Blake and his crew took about three hundred of the islands villagers, including myself." Carl began. "We were all crammed into the bowel of the ship like sardines and the only time the door was opened was when they took about ten of us at a time. They took you to this room that reeked of blood…and then they slaughtered you like vermin. But that's not the worst part. There was something strange about the way they killed their victims. Cause every time a person died, this round, glowing, blue blob came out of their body. Mostly they would be put into a large crate, but this one time, I saw one of the crew pick one out and…they ate it." Robin and Luffy, by this point looked really disturbed, while Kid, Maka and Soul didn't crack their faces. "At first I had no idea what was going on and what it was they were harvesting, but the more and more I thought about it, the more I came to realise what they were….human souls. I never thought such a thing could be seen by the naked eye, let alone cut out of a person's screaming gut and feasted on!" by this point the man seemed close to tears. "So many of my friends met that damned fate. Even my little brother Howard." Luffy swallowed a lump in his throat when he heard that and saw Carl weeping.
"How did you escape?" he asked.
"It seemed that the Bluebeards only had taste for the strong and the healthy. So I did the only thing I could do. I starved myself. I refused to eat and drink whatever they offered me, despite the fact they we're practically making us eat shit. I starved myself for about a whole month until when they came for me, they saw me as unappetising. They threw me in a dinghy and even mocked me by giving me a log pose, because the cocky bastards were so sure I'd never make it back home before I died. But I sure proved them wrong didn't I?! HOW'D YA LIKE THAT YOU FUCKING DEMONS?!" he then roared at the air. "Sorry. Excuse me for my language." He then apologised.
"It's okay. We know what you're feeling, Mr Turner." Maka said. "And we're very grateful for you answering our questions, but the thing is, me and my friends have been tasked to find Bluebeard and kill him. And this time…it'll be him who gets his soul eaten. Will you tell us where we can find him?"
"…No."
"Wh…What?"
"You heard me. I said no." Carl repeated.
"Did you suddenly forget what you just told us, man?!" Soul shouted. "You should be jumping for joy knowing we plan to kill the bastard!"
"Of course I want him dead! I'd give up my legs to snap his neck with my own bare hands, but you don't know who you're dealing with! The man's the devil in the flesh! And the last thing I want to do is be responsible for you kids losing your lives and your souls to him! I'd never sleep again. But then I hardly ever do nowadays since he always haunts my dreams."
"Sir we may be young but we're no ordinary children. You've seen what we are. We're trained warriors who defend innocent people like you to protect and preserve peace. And since you know about the Straw-hats you must have some level of trust in them knowing how strong they are." Maka said. "Please Mr Turner, you have to trust us. We promise we will bring Bluebeard to justice and return with his soul to show the entire village. And you'll never have a sleepless night again." Carl looked at his feet for a few long moments before sighing.
"You've really gone off the deep end this time, Carlton." He muttered to himself before turning back to Maka and Luffy. "If you wanna find Blake, you'll find him at Dragon Fang Peak. It's where he and his crew hide like the rats they are. Hell rats have more humanity than those demons. Here." He then reached into his back pocket before tossing something towards Maka who caught it. It was eternal pose to Dragon Fang Peak. "It'll get you to him in one piece. And take this one too." He then tossed her another pose. This one was marked for True Blood Island. "So you can keep your promise and come back with the bastard's soul. And when you do, I'll be sure to have a table reserved for you and the rest of your gang." he then said with a small smile.
"We can't thank you enough, Mr Turner. And we won't let you down." Maka said bowing low in thankfulness before they turned to leave.
"And Straw-hat!" Luffy turned as Carl called to him. "Be sure to keep your guard up. Blake may be popular here, but he's barely known throughout the rest of the world. So it's likely if he ever crosses paths with you and your crew of misfits, he'll be sure to try and take your souls to up his ego. So be sure to keep a tight grip on them. This world needs pirates like you Straw-hats." Luffy looked at him before grinning confidently at him with a thumbs up.
"You just have the table ready for when we get back."
XXX
After the group had returned after getting the information from Carl, they planned to set sail for Dragon Fang Peak in the late afternoon so as of now everyone went about their daily business, and even the DWMA gang found something do or someone to help or spend time with. Luffy, Usopp and Blizzard spent a good few hours playing with Mark and Will, the games being tag, hide and seek and they even raced each other in teams: Luffy and Usopp riding Blizzard, and Chopper riding in a little chariot (made by Franky) being pulled by Mark and Will. After that Chopper had to get on with his medicine but soon found himself in a bit of a pickle when Patty and Blair started to cuddle him and kiss his nose and cheeks, which the reindeer didn't mind at first but soon became a bit smothered by their affection and had to resort to hiding behind Spike who told the girls to give him some space. Kid seemed to have taken an admiration to Usopp's sniping skills, being one himself, so the two decided to spend some target practise together to see who had the better aim. So far they were evenly matched. Black Star had been challenging Zoro to see who could train the hardest, both swordsmen switching to larger weights every minute and going to the length of lifting them with both their feet and hands. Much like Kid and Usopp, they were evenly matched. Soul, believe it or not, had been spending time with Brook who, through some convincing, had asked the scythe to show him his skills in piano playing, even though he didn't want to.
"You have talent with this instrument unlike any I've seen in a long time, my boy." The skeleton had said to him after Maka had told him about her partner's underutilised talent. "If you don't embrace it, you're not embracing part of who you are. What does it matter if there are others who are better than you? I'm a musical marvel and even I know that there are others who are better than me. The only opinions that matter are the ones from those you hold dear, and as far as I know you're friends admire you for what you're capable of, and I know that playing for them is what will make them smile."
"You have a quite a way with words, old man." Soul smirked, before sitting at the small piano that Brook owned. "This is the kind of person I am." He added before he began to play the instrument. Throughout the Sunny everyone could hear the scythe's music. The DWMA gang smiled warmly as they recognised the melody, while the Straw-hats seemed rather surprised.
"I didn't know Brook could play like that." Nami said who was sitting in the aquarium bar with Mark who had his head in her lap while sleeping, Liz, Crona, Shino and Spike. "It's a different style completely."
"That's not Brook." Liz smiled. "It's Soul."
"Soul can play piano?"
"He's has to be the best pianist I've met." Shino grinned.
"It's not often we get to hear him play." Crona smiled as well.
"Guess that bone-head musician of yours got through to him." Spike smirked.
"Well he's a wonderful piano player." Nami said as she gently raked her fingers through Mark's hair. Maka and Tsubaki, meanwhile had joined Robin in the library. Maka's reasons being obvious while Tsubaki seemed to find the room very relaxing. What's more, Will had wanted to spend some time with his crush due to Mark getting to spend time with Nami, so the dark arm was currently enjoying reading him a story as he curled up next to her, which both Maka and Robin found really adorable.
"It's so wonderful here." Maka said as she sipped the tea that Sanji had brought her. "All of you are so compassionate and kind and fun and you took us in so quickly."
"Well that's just how we are. Especially Luffy." Robin smiled.
"You're like one big happy family." Tsubaki said
"That's because we are, Tsubaki." Said Robin. "Luffy loves us all so very much. He puts himself before us in every situation and he'll stop at nothing to see us all fulfil our dreams. That's why we'll stay with him to the very end." She sighed happily at the thought of her crew. "Come to think of it, you lot are quite like a family too. We're not that different when you look at it."
"Absolutely." Maka agreed. "We all look out for each other and everyone in the DWMA looks out for each other. Lord Death always watches over us and Stein and Marie are like second parents to us. Or first parents in Crona's case." She smiled at the last part. "Even in just our little team, we all love each other and we all play a part in how we work, even Mark, Will and Blair, when they choose to tag along."
"We really aren't that different are we?" Tsubaki smiled.
"We'll you tow certainly aren't. You're both motherly and fuss over us all when we aren't pulling our wait. Believe me I can tell, and not just by looking at your souls." Maka giggled. KABOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM! The group jumped as the sunny suddenly shook from the blasts they'd just heard.
"PIRATES! ON THE STARBOARD BOW!" Usopp's voice screamed from the intercom. The whole crew rushed out onto the deck to see a large galleon ship approaching the Sunny with the figurehead of a dragon, and as the huge ship pulled up alongside, they could see six figures on board; four men and two women. They are revealed to be Turu, Judith, Naomi, Reggie, Lilith and Bluebeard himself. Brokko seemed to be absent.
"Will, Mark. Get inside." Spike said.
"But we can fight." Mark tried to say.
"NOW!" she barked. The pups backed away into the aquarium bar.
"Usopp. Blizzard." Luffy said. "Protect the kids."
"You got it, Captain." The sniper king replied before following Mark and Will, along with Blizzard.
"Blair maybe you should go too." Maka said, but the cat shook her head before transforming.
"I can definitely fight, Maka. Besides I still have eight lives left."
"AVAST THERE~!" Bluebeard then called. "You must be the Straw-hat pirates. Am I wrong?!"
"Take a good long look and ask yourself again." Zoro sneered. Bluebeard smirked back at the swordsman's comment.
"Sharp tongue you've got there, Roronoa. Now how about you step forward and face me, Straw-hat?" Luffy did so and glared at him. "I see you've increased your crew tenfold. I have to say I'm impressed."
"They're not my crew." Luffy said. "They're my friends."
"What's the difference? From what I've heard anyone you consider a friend is a crew member to you."
"Are you the one known as Bluebeard?" Kid asked stepping forward.
"…Yes I am. What's it to you, boy?"
"Girls…" Kid held his hands out as Liz and Patty glowed pink before morphing into pistols, taking the Bluebeard's by surprise.
"What the hell?!" Reggie exclaimed. Soul, Tsubaki and Spike soon followed, while Crona stuck his hand into his liquefied stomach and pulled out Ragnarok.
"They have devil fruit powers!" Lilith said in shock. Turu made several gibberish clicks and whistles.
"He said that's impossible." Judith translated the voodoo master's language. "Both those girls turned into identical weapons, and there's no two of the same fruit in the world.
"Then what are these children. SPEAK!" Bluebeard thundered.
"Blood-thirsty murderer, Jules Blake." Maka said slowly, her hair concealing her eyes. "You and your crew are found guilty of the murder of two thirds of the population of True-blood Island and the consumption of their souls."
"How do you know that?!" Lilith demanded.
"You're in no position to ask us questions." Shino said before looking at her. "Bitch."
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!" Bluebeard snarled. "Oh well who cares what you say?! We're going to eat you all anyhow! Your soul will give me strength unlike any other, Straw-hat." He then said to Luffy, his own mouth beginning to salivate a little. "You're girl looks tasty too. And once I and my crew have feasted on every one of you, we'll be unstoppable. I'll surpass Blackbeard! I'll surpass Red-hair! I'll surpass the world and the One Piece WILL BE MINE!"
"No." Luffy said. "Cause the One Piece belongs to me and my crew."
"Jules Blake." Maka spoke again before looking up with an authoritative look. "Your murdering days are done. Your soul is mine!"
"NO! YOUR soul is MINE!" Bluebeard screeched. "ATTACK!" the bluebeards let out a battle cry as they leapt toward the Sunny's deck. Crona raised his sword in front of his face.
"BEEYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH~!" Ragnarok screamed, though since the attack was aimed at the Bluebeards, the Straw-hats and the DWMA gang remained unfazed. "Screech BETA!" the swordsman spun like a top before taking off towards Bluebeards, a purple and black aura swirling around his body, causing the bluebeards to scatter to avoid him. This of course left them wide open for Kid to unload a barrage of shots at them. BANG!-BANG!-BANG!-BANG!-BANG! The attacks hit many of the Bluebeards but only seemed to annoy them as they roared in anger and landed on deck.
"Straw-hat is mine!" Bluebeard roared as he flew towards Luffy. "I'LL SWALLOW YOUR SOUL!" Luffy responded by stretching his fist back and twisting it, while also coating it in haki.
"Swallow this. Gum Gum RIFLE!" KA-POW! The man's iron first connected with Bluebeard's gut sending the man flying back from his prey as Maka then charged at him and tried to slice him in half only for Bluebeard to quickly get away in time. Sanji and Kid were currently locked in combat with Reggie who'd morphed into a gigantic tarantula. The huge arachnid lunged at Kid but he was ready.
"Say 'Ah'" he spoke nonchalantly as he stuck Liz and Patty in Reggie's mandibles.
"KID DON'T PUT ME IN ITS MOUTH~!" Liz wailed in terror. BANG! Kid fired a shot into the spider man's mouth sending him staggering back.
"NOW, SANJI!" Kid called. The chef (who was currently in the air with his moon walk) nodded.
"Diable Jambe! Poele a Friere: Spectre!" BAP!-BAP!-BAP!-BAP!-BAP!-BAP! The blonde man delivered many flaming kicks to Reggie's back. The spider hissed before shooting a stream of silk at Sanji, catching him by the foot and slamming him on the deck. WHAM!
"AAARRGHH! IT BURNS!" Sanji roared as he ripped the silk off to reveal his left calf now burned by the webbing, though he still managed to stand. "Those were my favourite trousers you shitty spider! Now I'm REALLY gonna step you like a bug! HELL MEMORIES!" FWOOSH! Reggie went up in flames as the cook delivered a full body inferno.
"My turn." Kid said.
"LET'S GO! SOUL RESONANCE!" he, Liz and Patty said, before the pistols morphed into two menacing silver cannons. Each donning Lord Death's mask on the sides of their barrels.
"Execution mode, activated. Prepare to die." Kid said.
"Resonance stable, noise 0.7%" Liz stated as rings of red light began to appear around the cannons, before taking the shape of Lord Death's mask at the front of the barrels.
"Black Needle 'soul wavelength' fully charged." Patty added.
"Feedback in 5…4…3…2…1" Liz and patty took turns as they counted down the number.
"Ready to fire!" Patty cheered. The red light vanished into the cannons which Kid pointed at Reggie.
"Death Cannon." He said in a sinister tone. KABOOM! Two enormous balls of energy were shot form the cannons before coming into contact with Reggie, resulting in a huge plume of skull shaped smoke, which when it settled revealed a charred Reggie who'd returned to human form. Winners: Kid and Sanji.
Meanwhile Naomi was facing off against Brook and Crona who both had their swords ready. Both swordsmen lunged at her, but the little mute girl seemed surprisingly fast as she suddenly vanished.
"Where'd she go?" Crona said but both he and Brook were taken by surprise as when she appeared again and struck both of them with a slash of her sword. Brook's head fell to the ground while a large gash split across Crona's chest. Naomi looked satisfied but then…
"Hold it." Brook spoke. Naomi looked in surprise as Brook's head floated back up and reattached to his neck, while Crona also stood up and turned to face her, revealing a mad grin on his face.
"Did you know my blood is black?" he said in a childish voice before Ragnarok changed shape. His blade became more curved and wide at the base while a large moth with square teeth appeared on the edge as well as a pair of slanted eye holes, and the blade became coated with a purple aura. "Screech gamma." In a flash Crona shot towards her and began to deliver a flurry of wild and quick, but strong slashes. Clang!-Clang!-Clang!-Clang!-Clang!-Clang!-Clang! Naomi struggled as Crona continued to attack her, until Ragnarok's mouth bit down on her sword, trapping it. But it was then that she noticed brook standing behind her with his back to her.
"Thank you very much, Crona, my lad. You were able to keep her still while I delivered the finishing blow." He then began to sheath his sword. "It's going to be very cold, so get ready. Song of scratches." He murmured. "BLIZZARD SLICE!" Clink! His sword fully sheathed. CRINK! A line of ice cut its way up Naomi's middle, but being mute, she couldn't scream as she fell defeated. Winners: Brook and Crona.
Robin, Chopper and Blair we're currently fighting Judith who had been trying to use his charms to trick the two women, which almost had done with Blair if Robin hadn't snapped her out of it and now the cat was pissed for being swooned.
"Pum-Pumpkin-Pumpkin-Pumpkin. HALLOWEEN CANNON!" the cat-witch sent a glowing orange pumpkin shooting towards the man which exploded in a blast of purple smoke shaped like the fruit it resembled. "That'll teach a man to try and woo me so he can kill-" POW! Judith, at that moment came flying out of the cloud (slightly burned) and delivered a kick to Blair's stomach knocking the wind out of her and cracking two of her ribs.
"BLAIR!" Chopper and Robin cried.
"Ocho fleur." Fwip! Eight arms surrounded the man's body and held him tightly, as Chopper morphed into his horn point.
"Horn Cannon…ELF!" Chopper shot forward with the triple the speed and strength of a cannonball before connecting with Judith and sending him shooting back onto the galleon. Winners: Blair, Robin and Chopper.
Meanwhile Zoro and Black Star were going up against Turu who was armed with a blow gun which fired small darts.
"They're probably poisoned so be careful they don't hit you." Zoro said.
"HA!-HA!-HA! A little poison won't kill a big star like me!" Black Star laughed. "You're goin' down witch doctor!" he then swung Tsubaki (in her Kusarigama mode) above his head like a lasso before swinging her at Turu who ducked before blowing a dart at Black Star who narrowly dodged it. But then surprisingly the voodoo man sped past Black Star and instead went for Zoro who was taken by surprise as the man drew a small dagger with a bone handle.
"What the hell?!" Zoro said. Swip! Turu made a quick slash just above Zoro's head before a few strands of green hair fell into his palm. "What is your game, paint-face?!" Zoro barked, but Turu made no reaction. Instead he reached into a pouch strung on his shoulder…and pulled out a little doll with just a pair of tiny black beads for eyes and stubby arms and legs. Zoro instantly recognised it as Turu tied the strand of his hair onto the doll. "Oh shit. BLACK STAR STOP HIM!" Zoro cried but then suddenly he flew at the assassin and began attacking him.
"Zoro what are you doing?!" Tsubaki cried.
"That weirdo's got a voodoo doll! He got some of my hair and now he's controlling my body!" Zoro said. SLASH! He swiped at Black Star who ducked his sword. He then placed Wado Ichimonji in his mouth before he crossed his arms. "Black Star run!" he said before he shot at him, executing his Oni Giri technique, cutting Black Star in the process.
"Black Star!" Tsubaki yelped.
"I'm fine. We need to take out that witch doctor, cause I won't fight Zoro…wait I've got it. Shuriken mode."
"Right!" Tsubaki said as she changed into her giant razor throwing star. Black Star reeled his hand back before throwing her at Zoro who ducked to avoid her as she flew off past him and Turu. The voodoo man laughed as he made Zoro slash at Black Star again, this time cutting his stomach as the assassin didn't quite jump away in time. But as he coughed up blood form the attack, he grinned.
"Heads up, asshole." Turu looked confused but as he turned around all he could do was gulp. CLANK! Tsubaki smashed off his head as she'd looped round and come back at Turu form behind where he couldn't see her coming. The man fell out cold and dropped his doll in the process, thus allowing Zoro to regain control of his body.
"Son of a bitch. Thanks Black Star. And sorry about attacking you." He said as he picked up the doll and pulled his hair out of it. Winners: Black Star and Zoro (kind of).
Maka, Luffy and Nami were now fighting Bluebeard who was proving to be quite a challenge. The man was solid as steel and yet fast as the wind. Clearly some side effects from eating so many innocent souls. But while Maka was blocking one of his attacks, she didn't see Lilith advancing behind her, her diamond claws prepared to shred the scythe meister to shreds, but then…
"MAKA LOOK OUT!" before Lilith could strike, Crona leapt in front of Maka, blocking Lilith's attack with Ragnarok.
"Impossible! No sword can take a hit form my diamond claws.
"Yeah well you forgot one thing about fighting a sword made of blood." Ragnarok spoke. "I'M PACKIN' IRON BEOOOOTCH~!" he yelled as Crona slashed at her, causing her to jump back.
"Crona you saved me. Thank you." Maka smiled, making Crona blush.
"Like I said. I promised to protect you, Maka." he replied.
"I know you will." Maka smiled before going back to help Luffy and Nami. The captain and navigator noticing the two meisters sensed something between them. Something Luffy and Nami shared, and looking at each other, they knew they were both thinking the same thing.
"I think after this is all over we should play a little game with those two." Luffy said to Nami while Maka blocked another of Bluebeard's attacks.
"I agree, Luffy. By any chance is the game you're thinking of…matchmaker?" the captain only grinned in reply before going at Bluebeard again.
"Gum Gum…GATLING!" BAP!-BAP!-BAP!-BAP!-BAP!-BAP! His rubber fists pounded against Bluebeard's iron body, but he man barely took notice as he threw his large fists at the Luffy and Maka. But meanwhile, Shino and Spike were battling Lilith who was swiping at them with her diamond claws, only for Shino to block them with Spike's blade. But it was then that she suddenly noticed about twenty small black orbs the size of a grape floating around her. Seconds later Ragnarok's eyes appeared on each one.
"Bloody needle~!" they squealed. PIERCE! With that each orb shot a long deadly needle towards Lilith. Some of them cutting her arms and legs but the main reason was to trap her, as the needles plunged in the deck forming a needle cage, immobilising her. It is revealed that Crona and Ragnarok had manipulated the blood from the wound they received form Naomi and used it to trap Lilith giving Shino and Spike an opening.
"Great job, Crona!" Shino grinned.
"You rock, little brother!" Spike laughed as well.
"Anything for my big sister." Crona smiled.
"Hey don't I get thanks too?!" Ragnarok barked.
"Thanks, Ragnarok." Shino said.
"Thank you very much!" Ragnarok corrected.
"Take it or leave it." Spike snorted.
"Ready, Spike?" Shino said.
"You know it."
"LET'S GO! SOUL RESONANCE!" they both yelled as their souls began to connect and their power rose. Shino lifted Spike before her blade changed into a glowing, wolf-like shape. "HOWLING SLICER!" Shino roared. SLASH!" with a single swing Shino slashed Spike across Lilith, just as Ragnarok released her. The woman screamed as the blade split her chest open in a really bad wound ad she was sent falling back against the deck, bleeding heavily. Bluebeard, seeing this, stopped dead in his tracks, as his pupils shrunk to pin pricks and his mouth opened in pure shock and terror.
"RRRAAAAAAAAA!" he roared, like a rabid dog. THWAP! He swatted Luffy, Nami and Maka aside like flies before flying towards Shino and Spike who were about to deliver the final blow. The scythe meister reeled his partner back before throwing her towards Lilith. As she flew towards her, Spike began to morph back into her human form but kept her blade sticking out of the back of her neck, which she aimed at Lilith.
"Wolf DAGGER!" she howled about to skewer Lilith to finish her. POW! A huge fist suddenly connected with her face as Bluebeard socked her in the jaw before she could kill Lilith.
"SPIKE!" Shino and Crona cried as they saw her hit the wall of the Sunny. But Bluebeard didn't stop as he charged towards the werewolf with his fist ready to smash her to pieces. On instinct, Shino dashed towards spike and gathered the unconscious young woman into his arms but as he ran Bluebeard sped after him and delivered a low flying kick to the boy's leg, causing him to trip and land his left foot hard. KRRAAK!
"GAH! MY ANKLE!" Shino cried in pain as he saw his left foot twisted at an unnatural angle. By this point Bluebeard was onto them his fists raised. When suddenly.
"FIREBIRD STAR!" FWOOSH! A huge fiery phoenix engulfed the captain who roared in anger before turning to see Usopp and Blizzard standing at the entrance to the aquarium bar, Mark and Will peeking from behind them.
"Alright Captain Usopp~! You're the greatest~! WHOO-HOO~!" they cheered.
"Thanks, kids. Here have another!" Usopp said as he launched another phoenix at Bluebeard, but this time Blizzard charged after it and jumped through, coating himself in Usopp's fire.
"FLAMING CLAW!" the wolf-dog howled as he slashed at Bluebeard with his flaming claws sending the man stumbling backwards into the centre of the deck.
"Hey ugly!" he then turned to see Luffy grinning at him with his arms stretched past either side of the captain and grabbing the other end of the sunny, while Soul and Black Star were holding Luffy by his sides and also grinning wickedly.
"Gum." Soul said
"Gum." Black Star added.
"SLINGSHOT!" both boys said as they let Luffy go. TWANG! With a powerful, rubbery thrust, Luffy catapulted Bluebeard back onto his ship.
"CAPTAIN!" the rest of the Bluebeards cried.
"Get Miss Lilith and retreat!" Judith said.
"This isn't the end!" Reggie snarled as he picked up the wounded Lilith and ran back to the ship, followed by the rest of the Bluebeards.
"Franky now's our chance! Coup de burst on the double!" Luffy ordered.
"Way ahead of ya, Straw-hat!" Franky said.
"But Luffy, the mission." Maka argued.
"We'll have more chances, Maka. But right now we need to get out of here! Shino's injured and Bluebeard's gone nuts. If we don't get out of here he'll sink the ship." Maka looked up to see Bluebeard trying to climb back onto the Sunny, but his crew we're holding him back.
"LET ME GO YOU DAMN FOOLS!" he roared. "I'LL EAT YOU ALL~!"
"No Captain, you're injured. We need to have Turu treat you, Miss Lilith and the others." Judith said as he held him back.
"You'll have other chances, Captain!" Reggie said as he struggled to hold him.
"Coup de BURST!" Franky shouted. BLLOOOOWW! The Sunny took to the air, taking her riders with her, far away to safety, and the Bluebeards could only watch as they disappeared.
"NOOOOO!" Bluebeard roared in anger. "I SWEAR! I will find you Shino and Spike! Enjoy your freedom while you can, cause this is the last peaceful day you will KNOW from this moment ON! I SWEAR IT! YOU'RE SOULS ARE MINE!"
To be continued…
Review, please!
