Hey everyone! Well, I've got no SBS Corner this time but I hope I will soon. And since I forgot to translate what Ai said in the last chapter from Japanese to English, I will be including it in this chapter. Hope everyone had a great Christmas and a great 2007, and Happy Valentine's Day! Now onto the story and the fight!!

Chapter 9: Battle in the Storm

Back on the deck, Koji was up against both Himawari and Bara Rose. Koji transformed into his full beat form and swiped his claws at one of the twenty clones of Bara. The ninja simply jumped away and laughed. "Geez, this is too easy!" she giggled.

"Just shut up and let's finish this." Himawari reminded her, tossing his bone and rock scythe at him.

Koji dodged it and pounced on the blonde boy, intent on pinning him down. Himawari jumped up and landed upside down on the mast pole…again. Koji growled and went to slashing Bara's clones until only the real Bara was left. He transformed into a full human again and wielded his axes. "Gotcha!" he smirked.

Bara smiled. "Are you so sure of that, cat?"

Himawari dropped from his spot on the mast and slashed his scythe, cutting Koji's upper back. The raven-haired man let out a loud cry and twisted around, landing a kick on the boy's chest and throwing him at the ship's railings. The blonde dragged himself back over the railing and spat some blood out. He nodded before running back to attack again.

On the mast, Mina dodged most of her former captain's vines, gaining only a few cuts and scrapes. She jumped back once and then raced forward, slashing her hybrid form's claws at the green-haired girl. Ivy back-flipped out of the way, avoiding the claws.

"Why don't you just stay still and die?" Mina demanded. "I'm not letting you leave! Not until I get revenge for what you've done to me!"

Ivy growled. "No thank you, traitor! I'd rather return to my master in one piece instead of in a dozen pieces. So I have to decline your offer to stay still."

"It wasn't an offer." Mina hissed, ripping some of the vines apart.

"So what?" Ivy giggled, raising her hands. "Vine Vine Coffin!"

Suddenly, vines wrapped around Mina and trapped her like rope…rope that was as hard as steel. The vines slowly started to crush the cat-woman, cutting off her movement and her air. Ivy was laughing her head off, turning to go back to her newly-risen ship. "Sorry I can't play anymore." She sighed. "But master wanted you dead, so I'll leave you to die."

Mina struggled in the vines, making them tighten even more. "Oh, no you don't!" she shouted. "You're not getting away with what you've done! I won't let you!"

Ivy paused. "So you still hate me for that?" she asked softly. "I made all the people who hated you go away. I took you in and cared for you. After all that, you still hate me?"

"Of course. The so called 'people who hated me' were my family and I never wanted them dead! You killed them right in front of me and then you kidnapped me! Is that what you call saving me?" Mina snapped. "What kind of twisted pirate are you?!"

"…Aren't all pirates like me?" Ivy asked softly. "All pirates are bloodthirsty, thieving, murdering cutthroats whose only goal in life is to find treasure, even at the cost of their crews. Are you willing to be one of them with this crew?"

Mina grinned. "At least they aren't like you."

FLASHBACK

Island of Gardenia, South Blue, 10 years ago

A small house sat in a large valley on the island of Gardenia. Gardenia was covered in thick forests, lush plants, and beautiful flowers. The island was a well-known yet peaceful place. It carried many herbs and medicinal plants to cure patients of illnesses. There had been no warfare on this island for over 15 years.

A loud crash was heard from the little house, along with a shout of, "Get out of here, you cursed brat! And don't you ever think of stealing from here again!"

A little 7 year old girl with short dark blue hair stumbled out of the house, clutching a bag in her arms. "I'm sorry but daddy really needs this!" she cried. It was Mina.

She ran all the way to the other side of the island, getting home just as the sun was setting. Once she entered, she was greeted by her mother Kaori. The little girl walked to the upstairs room where her father, Komatsu, worked on his medicines and star charts. Her family was a group of doctors and navigators. Mina loved looking at her dad's star maps.

"Here, dad!" she said, placing the bag beside his desk. "I got these for you so you could draw your maps better."

Komatsu peered into the bag and brought out writing utensils, mapping paper, a mini telescope, a few books on medicine and the stars, and a pair of silver rings that could fit around his wrists. "What are the rings for?" he asked.

"I just thought they looked pretty." Mina admitted, unconsciously running her hands along the side of his desk.

Komatsu chuckled and picked her up, petting her hair with a calloused hand. "I think you should have them. You're always getting things for me and your mother, but never anything for you."

Mina watched as he slipped the large rings over her small wrists. "I know, but I don't know what I want. I just want you guys to be happy, because when you're happy, I'm happy."

"Jahaha! I guess so, Mina." He laughed. "But tell me this. Did you steal this from Mr. Flix's shop? You know what we've told you about that place."

Mina wrung her hands nervously. "Yeah, daddy, I know. But I couldn't help it!" she whined. "We help people yet we can't help ourselves. That's not fair!"

Komatsu sighed. "I know, sweetie, but stealing isn't making the villagers like you any more than they already do, which isn't much."

Kaori's voice floated from downstairs. "Dinner time!"

"Coming, honey!" he called, standing up from his chair. "Come one, Mina, time to eat."

"Coming, daddy!" Mina chirped, following her father downstairs.

After dinner, there was a loud ringing noise and the sounds of screams coming from the valley. "What's going on?" Kaoru asked, peeking out the window.

"Whenever the bell rings, it means pirates." Komatsu growled, smashing his fork down on the table and headed for the door. He pulled on his coat and grabbed his gun. "I'm going out there to help. You two stay here and hide downstairs, okay?"

"'Kay, daddy!" Mina replied, grabbing her mom's hand and going downstairs to the basement. Stay safe, daddy…please!

Mina and her mother stayed in the basement for over an hour before the sound of footsteps filled the air. Someone…no, some people, were upstairs! After a few minutes, a voice said, "Check everything for valuables! If you find anyone, bring them to me!"

Many voices shouted, "Aye!" and began searching the house.

Mina and her mother stayed as quiet as possible. Then the door leading to the basement was smashed in. The sound of footsteps echoed down the stairs as the pirates searched every nook and cranny to find valuables. Mina spotted the stairs were clear and gently led her mother there, watching the pirates. Then someone grabbed Kaoru and she screamed.

The pirates whirled around and stalked towards the duo, grabbing Mina dragging her upstairs where her mother already was. They were held at gunpoint as a young boy, around 13 with dark green hair and green eyes, slowly paced in front of them. A green-haired girl sat in front of Mina and smiled.

"These are the only two people in this house?" the boy asked, not looking amused. "There were no valuables?"

One pirate spoke up. "There were star charts and medicine upstairs."

The boy turned to the girl. "Ivy, you may take those with you. You have no navigator and no doctor, or so I've heard."

The girl, Ivy, turned and nodded. "That's right, Forest. Oh, can I have the little girl? Please?!"

The boy, Forest, sighed and twirled his hammer between his fingers. "Go ahead. I'm still going to kill the woman though." Forest paused and looked at Mina closer. "This must be the girl that shop-keeper talked about before I killed him. The one who has caused all the trouble and is hated throughout this island."

"Yay!" Ivy cried, freeing Mina before hugging her. "I think she's a great candidate for that Cursed Fruit that Slate found a few months back."

"Maybe," Forest mumbled, holding his hammer in one hand. "Now take your pet and leave, Ivy. I don't want you complaining about me getting blood on your clothes."

"Okay!" Ivy said, scooping Mina up and running out the door to the docks. "You might not want to watch this, kitty!"

But Mina did watch. She watch, horrified, as her house was crushed by a gigantic hammer. Ivy and her subordinates continued to run until they reached the Rosethorns' ship. Once there, Ivy walked downstairs and shoved Mina into a cell. "Let me out!" the blue-haired girl cried, tears running down her cheeks. "What did you do to mommy?!"

"Your mommy's gone now, kitty!" Ivy answered, smiling. "Now you belong to me. Once we find Slate, I'll give you a nice treat in the form of a dark blue fruit. You'll love it!"

"I want to go home!" Mina shouted, punching the bars and ignoring the blood running down her small fists. "Let me out now!"

Suddenly, a sharpened vine erupted from the floor and placed itself just an inch from her neck. Mina fell silent. "Now listen here, kitty." Ivy hissed. "Your parents are gone and so is your village. We killed them all. Why do you care what happened to them? They all hated you."

"Mommy and daddy didn't." Mina protested.

"I bet, deep in their hearts, they hated you." Ivy predicted, planting seeds of doubt in the young girl. "Some days, the world just smiles down on you. Other days, it doesn't. Guess what the world was doing today, kitty?"

Mina didn't answer. Did mommy and daddy really hate me? No, they couldn't have! But what if they did?

Ivy smirked. Her plan was working. "I'll take you in as a cabin girl on my ship, kitty. Then when I give you your treat, maybe you can be my navigator. I saw all of those pretty maps upstairs and took them all with me. Did you draw those?"

"Some of them." Mina admitted. "Daddy drew most of them."

"Okay." Ivy said, smiling. The vine vanished. "You'll be my cabin girl and will be treated with respect by me. When you become my navigator, my entire crew will respect you. But should you ever betray me, I'll have you hunted down and killed. Understood?"

Mina looked at her and finally nodded.

"What's your name?" Ivy asked.

"…Mina." Mina choked. "My parents really did hate me, didn't they?"

Ivy grinned. "Yes, they did. You should keep the bracelets, though." She said, indicating the silver bracelets around Mina's wrists. "It will remind you of how much you hate them in return."

Mina looked up and nodded. "Okay, Captain…?"

"Ivy," Forest said, appearing out of the wood. "Slate has given me the Cursed Cat Cat Fruit. Will she eat it?"

Mina nodded. Ivy tossed it to her and Mina ate it, refusing to gag on it. After she swallowed it, she looked at Ivy and said, "I ate that fruit to show my loyalty to you, Captain Ivy!"

"Good girl, kitty!" Ivy cheered.

Once the duo left Mina alone, Forest turned to his fellow pirate captain and said, "What did you do to her?"

"I convinced her that her parents hated her." Ivy replied. "The young are so easily manipulated, aren't they?"

Forest nodded. "The strong will resist and the weak will say anything to end the pain."

"Yep!" Ivy chirped. "Now scram! I'm sure Master wants you to get looking for Gold Roger's kid!"

Forest nodded and vanished. Ivy sneered. This is going to be so much fun with Mina around!

END FLASHBACK

"I'm guess you remember all of that?" Ivy asked.

"Yeah, I do." Mina growled. "I still don't get how come you're the same age as when you kidnapped me."

"Maybe you'll find out later, kitty." Ivy replied.

A loud scream was heard on deck, startling Ivy enough that her vines loosened. Mina transformed into her full beast and jumped free. Ivy turned around to see Mina turn into a hybrid and thrust her claws directly at her face. "Say goodbye!!" Mina screamed.

Ivy opened her mouth and screamed.

Back on the deck, the scream came from Bara Rose the ninja. Mina's fan, which had fallen earlier from the mast, had hit the ninja on the head and scared her. Koji saw his chance and slashed both of his axes across her chest, sending her falling over the railing and into the ocean. Some men who were in the water grabbed her and started swimming to the newly-resurrected Rosethorns ship.

Himawari stared in shock. How could anyone, especially an everyday pirate, have beaten Bara? It was impossible! "How dare you do that?!" the blonde roared, loosing his cool. He charged but Koji was ready for him.

Across the deck, Jarred and Suisen were fight when Bara's scream reached them. Suisen stopped for a second before recognizing it. "Bara!" he shouted. As he tried to run to where the scream came from, Jared pounced and slashed his back with the Akayuki.

"Where do you think you're going, big guy?" Jarred asked, wielding his two swords and pointing them at Suisen's throat.

"Out of the way, short stuff!" Suisen bellowed, slashing the Big Blade at Jarred.

Jarred jumped up and landed on the blade, kicking Suisen in the face. After landing flat on his back on the slippery deck, Jarred landed on Suisen's chest and placed the Shirokaze at his neck. "Don't ever call me short stuff, big guy. Got it?!"

Suisen simply nodded, dumbfounded. After hopping off, Suisen jumped overboard to help get Bara to their ship. Jarred turned and helped Kuro Neko and Ai dispatch some of the stragglers left behind from his attack. After most of the crew was gone, they looked around for Ayame and Sakura, who had disappeared during the downpour.

A loud shout was heard and Himawari was tossed overboard. Koji joined his two crewmates and sister with a tired, "Did we get them all?"

"We took care of our guys but we can't find Ayame or Sakura." Kuro Neko replied. "Mina is still dealing with Ivy but that should be over quickly."

"Oniisan," Ai said softly. "Daijoubu?"

"I'm alright, sis." Koji panted. "Geez, these guys were tough."

"I found Ayame!" Jarred cried from the railing. "He fell overboard, but Sakura is still onboard somewhere."

"Find her before she does anymore damage to the Neko Neko!" Kuro Neko ordered.

The four crewmates fanned out, looking for the pink-haired pirate. Sakura had perched herself on the very top of the mast to watch her captain's fight. A wicked scar going across her back and a gash above her left eyebrow were the scars she'd gained in her fight with Mina. If the captain loses, I'll just take her on again. Sakura thought, watching the fight.

Ivy jumped backwards, Mina's claws slashing through her shirt. "You big meanie, this is my favorite shirt! I'll make you pay for that! Vine Vine—"

Just before she could finish her attack, she was hit from behind by a large chunk of wood. "Ara ara! Looks like I really did hit her!" Ai called from below.

"Ai, thanks for the help!" Mina cried.

"Arigatou!" Ai said. "Zutto tsuzukete!" Then the cougar zoan threw Mina's Ichiarashi fan up to her. "Isoginasai, Mina-san!"

"Will do!" Mina agreed, snatching her fan out of the air. She opened it and prepared to attack. "This is goodbye now…Ivy."

"That's Captain Ivy!!" Ivy shouted.

"Not anymore!" Mina growled and slashed her fan at Ivy. "Eye of the Hurricane!" A huge blast of wind hit Ivy and sent her spiraling back to her ship, destroying the Rosethorns' mast in the process. Mina sat down and closed her fan. "Well, that's done. All the Rosethorns have been defeated.

Sakura stood up and jumped, landing silently behind Mina. Not all of us, traitor. She raised her whip to give her a lashing when she heard a low growl. The girl slowly turned around to find an angry panther crouched there, growling at her. "Oh, snap." Sakura muttered.

Mina jumped down onto what remained of the deck. Most of it was torn up and started to fill with rainwater. The newly-named navigator looked up at her new captain and felt weird. "What's this weird feeling I get whenever I'm near my captain?" she asked herself.

"It might be love."

"AHHH!!" Mina shrieked, twirling around to find Ai standing there with a smile. "What did you hear?!" she demanded.

"Only the part about you having weird feelings for Kuro Neko-sama." Ai said. "I think you might be in love with him, Mina-san."

Mina looked away. "Yeah right! Why would I like a guy like him?"

"Sou nee…Atete mite?" Ai asked.

Mina sighed. "I don't know, Ai. Maybe we can talk another time."

"Mochiron." Ai agreed.

A loud splash signaled that Sakura was overboard. Kuro Neko pounced down and landed on the deck, transforming back into a full human again. "Everyone alright?" he asked.

"Yeah, we're all okay." Koji replied. "All our enemies are gone but our ship's damaged."

"Well, their ship's damaged too." Jared pointed out. "Their captain busted the mast when she was thrown back onto her own ship."

"We better get ready to go, guys." Mina said.

Koji and Jarred glared at her, still feeling uneasy with her on the ship. "So, we have a navigator now?" Koji asked coldly. "You're not going to betray us, right?"

"That's enough!" Kuro Neko spat. "We have a navigator and that's all that counts. Now let's get going and find an island. Mina, where's the next island?"

Mina looked around and said, "There's an island to the west, D'arc Island if I'm not mistaken. It's well known for the Guardians that once guarded the place. Now there's only a single guardian and he has a bounty for killing Marines. It could take a day or two to get there."

"Hope we don't run into that guardian, oniisan." Ai whimpered.

"Don't worry, sis! If we run into him, I'll knock his lights out!" Koji declared.

"You might not stand a chance against him, Koji." Mina said. "All of the Guardians have eaten a Devil Fruit to increase their capabilities of protecting the island. There may be only one Guardian left, but he probably has a powerful Devil Fruit if he's guarded the place his entire life."

"Well, onto D'arc Island!" Kuro Neko said. "We'll get our ship fixed, restock our supplies… and maybe meet this guardian guy!"

The crew agreed with him and cheered. The rest of the storm was spent trying to fix the ship as best they could before they reached D'arc Island.

On D'arc Island, two days from the Neko Neko's position

The cobblestone streets of D'arc Island had very few people walking on them. Most of the people on this stony island were Marines searching for the last Guardian of D'arc, whose name was unknown to most but spoken briefly by a few villagers. Some say he was as big as a giant, and others say he's been here for over a thousand years. Most of these rumors were untrue but few were true. He had a large dog with him, he witnessed the massacre of his fellow guardians ten years ago, and he killed Marines for fun and for a living.

Seeing as the Marines have no idea who they were looking for, they just looked for suspicious characters wandering the streets or back alleys. If they found him, they were forced to use seastone to look for signs of a Cursed Fruit. Only the Guardians of D'arc have consumed a Cursed Fruit on this island.

A heavily muscled man with a large cloak thrown over himself walked down the street. After bypassing all of the Marines, he entered the D'arc Bell Tower, the former base of operations for the once famous and protected Guardians of D'arc. All of that changed ten years ago.

The large man sat down and started stroking a large black dog with a heavily-spiked collar. "Good boy, Bones." The man said. "I'm surprised they never found you up here. Though, they've never come to the top of the bell tower before. Not after killing the Guardians off like pigs on a ranch. 'Cept they didn't eat them."

The man looked up, revealing short black hair and black eyes. "It's nearly time to put our plan into action, Bones. Almost, almost…"

Darkness fell over the stone island, the man's laugh tearing into the night like a knife.

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Sorry about the lateness of this chapter. I had trouble figuring out the last parts of the battle but I got it…I hope. I hope you guys enjoyed the first big fight! The next chapter will be the last chapter of the Ivy Rosethorns arc. I hope you liked it! See you next time!

This is the combined translations of Ai's Japanese from this chapter and last chapter:

Oniisan – older brother

Hai – yes

Bara – rose

Sakura – cherry blossom

Suisen – daffodil

Himawari – sunflower

Ayame – Iris

Ochitsuite – relax/calm down!

Ki o tsukete – be careful!

Yattemitara – try it

Baka – idiot/fool

Kami – God

Kiku – chrysanthemum

Hana – flower (can also mean nose)

Hontou desu ka – are you sure?

Arashi ni narimasu – the storm's coming

Samui – it's cold

Doshaburi desu – it's pouring

Daijoubu – are you okay?

Ara ara – Whoops!

Arigatou – thanks

Zutto tsuzukete – keep going

Isoginasai – hurry up

-san – Mr/Ms/Mrs/Miss

-sama – higher status person

Sou nee – well…

Atete mite – guess?

Mochiron – sure