TRI: It's been too long. First I get hit by a very bad case of writer's block, and then my brain only wants to come up with ideas for chapters that are at least 5 chapters ahead of where I am. I've written 20 chapters for this story alone, all at least 6 chapters down the line.
Well, let's do it.
Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece.
START CHAPTER
Same place, a couple minutes later
He woke up strapped to what looked like a hospital gurney.
"I had hoped that the newbie could have held you back for a few more minutes, but he did well enough." A person above his head commented.
Even though he couldn't look up since his head was strapped down, he recognized the voice as belonging to the leader of the mysterious group he had been fighting for the last four years.
"You killed him, I see." Said the leader. "Oh well, he knew the risks when he joined up. After we finish up here, we're going to have to look for his replacement. We should be able to find somebody at least close to him in strength. If we had sent one of the others out, we would be hard pressed to find somebody who was one-seventh as strong as the one you would have killed.
"I should have killed you when I had the chance!" the restrained hero snarled.
"It's too bad that whole "evil clone" thing was a disaster." Said somebody else, ignoring the outburst.
"The past is the past," the leader started, "what matters now is taking care of this…problem." He gestured towards the gurney and his immobile prisoner.
"Once the spell's magic takes effect in a minute, we'll be free to take over this pathetic world! Of course, that's only the beginning!" One of them gloated.
"Idiot!" Another one of them hissed. "Save your celebration until after he's been taken care of."
"This will be a momentous day." Their leader said. "Let him enjoy himself.
And now…you have been an enormous pain in my side for far too long. But now it's time to say goodbye."
And with that, the spell began its sinister work.
present day
Simon and Zack had been walking for about 5 minutes when Simon spoke up.
"I was wondering…Why are you helping me? I mean, you're not just helping me, but you're also risking the wrath of your boss."
"…" Was all the answer he got.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, I'm just curious."
"…Let's just say it's a favor for an old friend and leave at that." Zack replied.
"Okay, I guess that's good enough." Simon thought for a moment, and then stopped. "Oh crap!"
"What?"
"My family…What if those people go after them? My mom and sister aren't exactly fighters."
"Already taken care of. I've convinced them to move to Canada."
"Why Canada?" Simon asked.
"Remember, your mom always talked about moving there."
"Wait, how do you know about that?"
"I've been observing and protecting your family since you were born."
"You have, have you? Well then, do you remember the type of bed I slept in when I was three?"
"Do you?" Zack countered.
"Don't insult my memory. Now answer me." Simon scoffed.
"Fine then…You had a red racecar bed."
"Correct, though I like the bed I have now the best."
"I know, it's very comfortable and it's the perfect size for you." Zack remarked casually.
"How-? Have you been napping in my bed while I went off to school?"
"Not quite. Since your family wouldn't have much use for your things with you gone, they likely would've sold them. So I just "borrowed" most of your things from your room."
"Like what?"
"They'll receive a good deal of money from the insurance. This way they get some money and you keep you things." Zack went on, ignoring Simon.
"Like what?" Simon asked again.
"Your bed, as I just said. Also, your video game stuff, your books, some of your cooler clothes, and those coins your "Nanny" gave you. Oh, and that flash drive you have. I'm very impressed by how many manga series you read…That's right, I also took your Yu-Gi-Oh cards. I put them in your backpack, which you forgot to bring. " Zack reached into a mini space-time portal like the one Simon had just been pushed through, grabbed something, and tossed a backpack to Simon. "You're lucky I'm here to help you. Otherwise you wouldn't have anything except the clothes on your back and your kukugane."
"Actually I'd just be dead, wouldn't I?" Simon pulled out his deck and checked to make sure they were all there.
Zack let out a small chuckle. "I suppose so."
They continued walking towards the small town in silence, which was only broken when Simon described the effects of a particular Yu-Gi-Oh card and his strategy concerning it.
10 minutes later
As the duo entered the town, which looked decidedly less impressive than any other town he had seen, they noticed a tavern. (or bar, or pub, or whatever you call it in your town) They entered and made a beeline for the bartender because, they were thinking, that bartenders tend to pick up a lot of information from their drunken patrons.
"Excuse me-" Simon started
"Simon," Zack said. "let me do the talking."
Zack started talking to the bartender while Simon sat at the nearest table and started humming.
"That's a good sounding song. I've never heard that one before." Somebody behind him said. "And you look pretty tough too. How'd you like to join my crew?"
Simon looked up and saw, to his almost nonexistent surprise since he had watched the anime version as well as read the manga, that the one who had spoken was Portgaz D. Ace, or Trace in the anime. He refused to acknowledge that version of his name though. Really, is anybody named Trace? Simon knew that some characters in other series had weird names, but Trace? C'mon, at least when Laharl renamed Vyers Mid boss, it was for comedic value. That moment just never seems to get old. Soul Nomad & the World Eaters was a good game, too. Excellent cast as we-
Simon mentally slapped himself. Now was not the time to let his mind wander!
"Thanks for the offer, but I'm not sure if I can accept."
"Well, you can think it over at my ship." Ace looked at the three burly men behind him, whom Simon had just noticed, (he needed to work on that later) and they picked him up and started running with Ace in the lead.
Zack had been so preoccupied that he originally didn't notice the pirates, but once Simon was taken from the tavern, Zack ran after them.
"Be back in a bit, Zack!" Simon yelled, not seeming to mind that he was being kidnapped.
later
As the group approached the ship, Simon jumped out of the hold he was in, activated his kukugane, and slammed the hilt of the swords hard on the heads of two of Ace's pirates. The third one drew a flail, but it didn't help. Even though the man managed to knock away Simon's tanto, Simon took the flail from his unfortunate opponent and knocked him out with his own weapon.
"Not bad." Simon mused, before retrieving his tanto and walking up to Ace, who had just stood and watched as three of his men were defeated.
"Don't try to attack me, please." Simon said. "I just want to talk to you."
"So…You won't join my crew, I take it?"
Simon smiled. "Not quite, I don't have any plans to become a pirate."
"You're not with the marines, are you?"
"Again, no. Just let me try something." Simon dropped his katana and reached out his hand to touch Ace's shoulder.
The moment he did, he could feel the power that the devil fruit had given to Ace. Simon envisioned that power coming into his body, and as he did so, he could feel himself get slightly more powerful.
"I'll most likely have to train to master this power. Stupid Rando; if he had spent more time learning about his techniques, he wouldn't have been defeated." Simon caused a small flame to flicker into life in the palm of his hand. "At least it's not too time consuming, copying somebody's abilities." Simon remembered Ace, who looked shocked that there were now two people who could use the power of the Flame-Flame fruit.
"Make sure you can still use your powers, Ace." Simon said.
"Who are you and who is Rando?"
"My names is Simon, and who cares about Rando. Anyway, just make sure you can still use your powers."
Ace nodded and caused his entire right arm to be engulfed in fire.
Simon walked over to one of the men he had just knocked unconscious, who was just waking up.
"Can you swim?"
"'Course. Every pirate knows how to swim. 'Cept those that ate a devil fruit, like the captain there." He replied.
"And like me." With that, Simon put his hand on the man's bald head and concentrated on finding the man's ability to swim.
At that moment, Zack caught up to them.
"Simon! Are you okay?" He yelled.
"Oh Zack, you're here. Better late than never, I suppose." Simon started walking towards a nearby cliff. "If I'm not back in the next couple of minutes, come after me!"
And then Simon started running and jumped into the water.
END CHAPTER
TRI: Whew…I feel so much better now that that's written.
R&R (somebody…)
