Chapter 10: Dropping to the beat in the Music Zone!
Cover Page: Straw-Hats and Animals: Ellix and a cheetah are collecting groceries at lightning speed. Ellix keeps ahead using Soru.
To those who have read this fanfic from the beginning...please read the important message at the bottom.
The winding stone path felt like it went on forever.
"This stone path goes on forever." Roy complained.
"So, tell me a bit more about the Colour Carnival Zones." I asked Tack.
He scratched his head. "Colour Carnival's Zones each have a different theme and different attraction, but as Dimo said I guess they have a battle-ready side as well."
"Do you know anything about any of them?"
"No, not really. To be honest we only just got here."
"Oh! Oh! Guys! Guys! I can see the first Zone!" Roy yelled to us.
"R-Really? Let's be careful..." Sarah whispered.
We walked up to a giant pink gate, it had all three types of music notes printed on it in black.
"Right, we've gotta be ready for whatever's behind these doors." Tack said with determination.
"Let's do it." I agreed as all four of us pushed against the doors and they slowly swung open.
Our jaws hit the floor.
Beyond the gate was some type of giant pit, but it was filled with musical instruments as big as ships!
There seemed to be what looked like a castle in the middle of it, surrounded by trumpets and banners of all kinds.
The giant instruments played a constant calm, but also cheerful tune as we slowly walked to the music filled pit.
Looking around there were attractions as well, such as a house of mirrors, a xylophone lane, and other instrument and music themed rides.
"Okay, I was not expecting this." I admitted.
Tack noticed a nearby sign and walked over to it.
"The Music Zone, where the soul is settled." He read. "Well, at least the theme of this Zone is easy to comprehend."
"B-But what do we do now?" Sarah asked.
"We go to the place of authority." I said, pointing to the castle. "Then we can find a way out of this Zone and onto Creation Tower."
"Ilikethatplanverymuch." Roy said, nodding so fast I thought his neck would break. Did he have too much sugar or something.
"I agree with Ellix, let's move on." Tack said, leading us all through.
The first noticeable thing we came across was a chasm, a pretty deep and long one as well. However there was a means of crossing in the form of giant drum platforms.
"How creative." I noted.
Tack stepped forward. "Alright, I'll go first to make sure it's safe. You follow after me."
Taking a deep intake of breath Tack took a running jump onto the first drum.
BUMP!
The drum reverberated back up and threw Tack right into the gorge!
"TACK!" Roy and Sarah screamed whilst Kalamar blooped in despair.
"Hang on, Tack!" I cried as I sped down the gorge with Soru.
I managed to grab him mid-fall and Geppo our way back onto the platform, where Tack held a hand to his chest.
"That was too close." He gasped, turning to me. "Ellix, you saved my life."
"No problem, we're friends right?" I said, holding out a hand.
"...Heh...Yeah." He said taking my hand as I pulled him up.
Then Roy, Kalamar and Sarah swarmed him.
"TACK! WETHOUGHTYOUWEREGONEFOREVERANDTHENWE'DBEALLALONE!" Roy wailed.
"I was so scared Tack! I really thought you were..." She couldn't finish her sentence.
Even Kalamar did a squids equivalent of a wail.
Tack hugged his friends back. "I'm sorry for making you guys worry, that was selfish of me."
I looked on at the touching scene. I realized that these four were nakama, THEY would die to save each other, but they also cared about each other as well.
I didn't belong in this group, only Luffy's, which made my heart break a little. I quickly wiped away my tears before they could see.
"Are you four alright?" I asked.
They turned to us (Well, Kalamar was still on Roy's back, so he turned away.).
"Yeah, we really owe you Ellix." Tack said.
"Like I said, we're friends, you don't owe me anything." I said.
Tack smiled. "Are you sure you're a pirate?"
I just smiled back. "Pretty sure."
The four smiled at me then turned back to the pressing issue. "We could try getting on them more gently." Sarah suggested.
"We can't. We need to take a big jump just to get to the first one." Tack observed.
"I could carry everyone over with Geppo one at a time." I suggested.
Tack shook his head. "That'll take too long. We need to get to Creation Tower as fast as possible so you can see your nakama again."
My eyes widened. Even after nearly dying he was still worrying about my problems. Man, did I feel guilty.
Tack looked at the drums with his head in his hands. Then he suddenly hit his palm with his fist. "I've got it! We'll jump on it in piggyback."
"NANI!?" The rest of us yelled.
"Trust me, I have a plan." Tack said, walking over to Sarah. "Sarah will go with me, and Ellix will take Roy and Kalamar."
"What?" I said plainly, looking at Roy and the squid constantly stuck to his back. "You want ME, to piggyback HIM?"
"Exactly." Tack confirmed as he hoisted a blushing Sarah onto his back.
Before I could protest further Roy and his accompanying Kalamar had leapt onto my back.
"Woo! Let'sgoEllix!" Roy yelled as Kalamar blubbed his agreement.
"MY SPINE!" Was all I could manage, plus a face-fault.
We walked to the edge.
"On the count of three, we jump together, got it?" Tack said.
"Got it." I replied.
I don't know why, but in the short time we'd known each other, I knew I could trust him with my life.
Sarah clung on tightly and buried her face in Tack's shirt. "Please be careful Tack..."
"I will." He promised as we both got ready. "Ready? One, two, three!"
We both leaped towards the first drum. "Now, bodies straight, feet flat!" On Tack's command I did as I was told as we landed on the drum.
BUMP!
...BUMP!
...BUMP!...BUMP!...BUMP!
Turns out that instead of careening off into the gorge, we just kept bouncing high into the air and back down again on the trampoline like drum.
"And now we move on by bouncing." Tack said.
"That is both brilliant and awesome!" I said wholeheartedly.
And so we bounced from drum to drum, slowly crossing the canyon/gorge/thing.
That is until we saw something flying towards us in the distance.
We stopped and bounced on the spot, as we tried to make out the approaching flyers.
"What are those things?" Roy asked.
"I don't know, I can't make them out." Sarah said.
But as they got closer, and we made them out, our jaws dropped yet again.
Flying towards us were black music notes with bat wings, two pointed fangs and red eyes.
I. Am. NOT. Joking.
"Are those...BATS!?" I yelled.
"Music note bats!" Roy stated.
The bats immediately noticed us and charged.
"SKREEEEEE!" They yelled as they swooped at us, we bounced out of the way just in time.
"And they're not friendly! Rankakyu!" I whipped my leg and sent a white wave at one music bat.
"SKREEPTH!" The bat yelled as the attack hit and it disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"Well Kalamar, you know what this means? Fighting time!" The squid blooped its agreement with its master.
Still clinging onto my back, Roy whipped out two large guns that clamped onto his arms. Then Kalamar drew four regular guns, holding one in each tentacle.
They then began firing onto the bat swarm, knocking loads of them out of the sky with pained screeches.
"How can Kalamar wield guns!?" I gasped in pure disbelief. "Oh, never mind! I don't even care anymore! Shigan Dangan!"
I stabbed the air to launch air bullets at the remaining bats. We finally stopped, but still continued bouncing.
"What were those things!?" I gasped.
Tack looked pretty confused. "i don't know...wait...maybe-"
"SCREEEEPTH!" We turned to see a LOT more note bats looking REALLY annoyed.
"Taaaaack..." Sarah said.
"This is bad. Run! I mean bounce!" Tack didn't have to tell me twice as we bounced away.
"SCREEEEEK!" The bats dive-bombed us with fangs wide. Luckily we managed to jump into a tuba to hide from them as they flew past.
"Phew, that was close." Sarah sighed as we let her and Roy down.
"Now there's no doubt, those bats were created by Dimo." Tack said.
"Dimo made those things?" I asked.
"It's just a rumor, but they say Dimo is a Devil Fruit user." Tack said. "Nobody knows which fruit he ate though."
I looked at the retreating bats. To be honest they were pretty cool when they weren't attacking us. "Maybe he ate the Make-Make Fruit or something like that?"
"I dunno, but we're almost at the castle, so let's go." We agreed with Tack and moved on.
We finally arrived at the castle, only to find it guarded by two guards with xylophone key swords.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the intruders of the Food Zone." One guard said.
"Think you can make it through the Music Zone so easily?" The second guard said as they both readied their swords.
We got ready to fight but Tack held his arm out.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of these guys." Tack said as he cracked his knuckles.
"Are you sure Tack?" I asked.
He smirked at me. "You're not the only one with secrets Ellix."
He got out a small knife and made a small cut on his palm. "Blood Sword!"
A large dark red sword suddenly emerged from his cut, which he swung at the two guards who just barely blocked it.
Tack did a 360 spin which guard 1 barely blocked. Guard 2 then tried to attack him from behind.
"Don't get cocky." Tack whispered. "Blood Spear."
A spear emerged from the Blood Swords hilt and stabbed his stomach, making him pass out.
The two then sword clashed as much as possible, Tack parried a downward swipe, then performed a feint that dropped the guards...guard. Tack then punched him in the head and round-house kicked him away into unconsciousness.
The Blood Sword then turned back into liquid and sunk into his hand wound, then quickly closed up.
"So you ate a Devil Fruit as well then?" I said with half-lidded eyes.
"Tack ate the Blood-Blood Fruit..." Sarah said. "But he's not even scary."
"Sorry I had to do that." Tack said nervously, rubbing his head with a nervous smile.
"ThatwasawesomeasusualTack!" Roy said, Kalamar blubbing in agreement.
"Ah well, that was pretty cool, thanks Tack." I said.
Tack nodded. "Okay then, let's do this!"
And so we swung open the double doors to reveal a long hallway as we were blasted by music.
At the end of the hall was a woman wearing a long pink dress, playing a large grand piano with long music pipes, playing a calm steady piece.
"Um...hello?" Sarah called to the woman.
The piano player finished her piece before standing up and turning to us.
"Hello there! You must be Ellix-sama and the Unimportantlings." She said cheerfully, waving at us.
Her pink dress covered her hourglass figure. And she had a very child-like face with wide eyes.
"Stop calling us that!" The males yelled.
"Sorryyyyy! I'm Melody!" She called. "I'm reeeeeeally sorry, but the captain said." She then pulled a giant smile like Dimo's "'You will be doing the halting of their progress! Like the wasps that attack the bees over the honey of sweetness!' I hope you don't mind!"
She then turned back to the piano, stretched her arms and began playing again, this time a lot faster.
"Well, your in the way, so we have to move you!" I declared as I ran forward. Suddenly it felt like something hit me in the face and I was knocked back.
"Ellix!" I heard Sarah yelp.
"You okay?" Tack asked.
I stood up. "I'm fine, what...hit me...?" Turns out it was a bunch of floating multicoloured music notes coming from that piano Melody was playing.
"My pianos veeeery special!" Melody spoke up over the music. "I bet you can't even hit meeeeee!"
"Wanna bet!?" I yelled angrily and I leapt forward. "Shigan Dangan!" I shot loads of air bullets from my fingers, but those stupid music notes just blocked them all!
Tack made a small cut in his palm. "Blood Spear!" A sharp line of blood pierced through several of the music notes, but more just came and took their place.
Roy and Kalamar continued to fire rapidly, but there were just too many!
"We need another strategy!" Tack yelled over the music.
He was right, at this rate we really wouldn't be able to land a single hit on Melody! I decided to go for a more piercing attack. I jumped into the air using Soru. "Soru Tsubaitsu!" I spun around like a twister and drilled my way through the music notes, but I was pushed back JUST before I reached her.
"Wowee! You got soooo close that time!" I couldn't tell if Melody was being sarcastic or if she was actually praising me. "But how about this?" She suddenly slammed her fingers onto the keys, and the music notes crashed into us with devastating force, winding me and throwing us all back.
"Oh no! Everyone!" Sarah gasped. "P-Please be all right! Please..."
All three of us staggered to our feet, I was actually pretty surprised I didn't break a rib!
"Okay, now I'm annoyed." I stated.
"We're going about this all wrong, those notes make the perfect offense and defense, and she can make as many of them as she wants!" Tack said through gritted teeth.
I slammed my palms into both sides of my head. "Daydream!" I was covered in a rainbow light and veils.
"Wow...your beautiful Ellix." Sarah said. 'Beautiful wasn't what I was going for, but it made me smile nonetheless.
"So this is the Dream-Dream Fruit's power." Tack nodded.
I jumped into the air with Soru. "Dream-Dream Rapid Fire!" I shot my fists rapidly into the music notes, building up power and speed, getting closer and closer.
"It'sworkingit'sworking!" Roy cheered as Kalamar blubbed in praise.
I was almost there, just, a little...bit...closer...
Suddenly Melody smashed the keys again and the notes retaliated, I gritted my teth as they slammed into me and threw me to the ground.
"Damn it! So close!" Tack shouted.
I massaged my burning arms as my mind raced, physical attacks could just be countered, but I couldn't use any non-physical Dream attacks! They had to stay attached to my body!...Wait...what if...
"I have a plan!" I yelled to my temporary teammates. "Cover me!" I dashed forward.
Tack nodded and cut his hand. "Blood Bullets!" He threw blood droplets that pierced the music notes.
"Crazy Shooting!" Roy yelled as he and Kalamar shot wildly.
'Let's hope this works.' I thought to myself as small metallic cylinders stuck out of my body. "Dream-Dream Missiles!" The cylinders then launched off of my body and exploded violently on the music notes, leaving thick trails of smoke behind them. 'Yes! It worked! The dreams have to stay attached to my body, but I can keep them attached via the smoke!'
I didn't wait for the dust to clear as I leaped straight in, and I had made a clear path to Melody and her piano!
"Ellix made it!" Sarah cheered.
"Dream-Dream Scythe!" My arm transformed into a long, curved scythe blade that I pointed forward.
"He'sgothernow!" Roy cheered.
Melody's eyes widened in horror as I got closer and closer. "NO!" She screamed as she threw her arms over her piano.
I was beginning to have second thoughts when I noticed something on the piano. I squinted at it and suddenly gasped in realisation.
I put my foot forward and stopped my fall, my sythe arm pulled back but still only a few inches away from Melody's head. The piano players eyes slowly opened as I pulled my scythe arm away, she looked at me with tear filled eyes as my arm returned to normal.
"...Huh? Why did you stop, Ellix?" Roy asked.
I looked at the gold engraving on the front of the instrument. "'To my dearest daughter Melody. May the music created by this gift bring joy to yourself and others, and protect you from those who wish to do you harm.'" I read aloud as I turned to Melody. "Your mother made this for you?"
Slowly, she nodded. "Yes...she died when I was twelve...I...this is all I have left of her...please don't hurt it." She pressed her face into the keys as tears dripped down onto them.
"...I can't destroy something that precious to you, even if you are my enemy." I said solemnly, that's not how I fight. So I let Daydream fade. "Aggghhhh!" I clutched at my scalp.
"ELLIX!" My three new friends ran to me as they glared at Melody.
"It's the after-effects of Daydream, I'm fine, I promise." I reassured them as I slowly endured the pain.
"Ellix-sama..." I looked up at Melody, who wiped away her tears and smiled at me. "Thank you...I shall allow you and the Unimportantlings to pass." She then turned and walked to the piano, pressing a button on the side which made the piano slowly slide to the side to reveal a passageway. "This shall take you out of the zone."
"...Thank you melody." Tack said as we all walked to the passageway which was...a xylophone slide?
"Sugoiii! A slide! Mefirstmefirst!" Roy yelled as he threw Kalamar down followed by himself, the notes chiming on his way down.
Tack had to give Sarah an encouraging push before he could slide down himself. As I was about to slide down Melody called to me. "Wait, Ellix."
I turned back to her. "Here, a parting gift." Suddenly one of those music note bats flew out from behind her and over to me, except this one was red. "His name is Tempo, and don't worry, he's friendly. He'll lead you straight to the captain." The bat screeched happily before perching on my head.
"Thanks again Melody." I smiled as she waved me down the slide.
I wanted to throw up. There were so many twists and spins and even a loop-de-loop! I fell out the end onto a familiar stony road with a thump. "Ohhh...I don't feel well."
"Let's go again!" Roy cheered as we picked ourselves up.
"One down, more to go." Tack mumbled to himself.
"Umm...Ellix? Is that..." She sheepishly pointed at the 'bat' on my head.
"This is Tempo, he's our new guide." I explained as the bat gave a mock salute.
"Being led by a music bat...first time for everything." Tack shrugged.
"Screepth!" Tempo said as he suddenly took off and started flying down the path.
"After that bat!" I said as we all gave chase.
...I literally have no excuses...four months...I am a terrible, terrible person. To avatoa, Marcus is Ellix's Ex-Marine tutor,if you need more info on him check out One Piece OC Film: Strong World.
So, after being gone from this particular area of Fanfiction, why am I back?...Well, let's just say that the following dedications are to the writers who helped me out:
To Zusanheim. Even though I hadn't updated for so long, you still reviewed...you don't know how much that means to me.
To TheRealEvanSG. You've stuck with me for a good while and reviewed every chapter, I'm lucky to have you as a reader...however, I understand if you will no longer follow me...
And finally...to ThiefofStealth. I owe you more then you could ever know, for it was your story, that started out as one so small, that inspired me to write on this site. And I hate myself SO MUCH...for not staying with you through your times of success. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
I apologise, because that's all I can do. I feel so awful for just turning my back on you all without a single warning and...I'm literally crying typing this, because you all supported me and I failed you. I-I feel like crap for doing that to you all and...I understand...if you ignore this chapter and never read this message...but I'm sorry, I truly, truly am.
I don't know when the next chapter will be, that's all I can tell you because...I suck, basically.
I don't own One Piece, review or don't review, I understand either way.