a.n we own nothing


Several miles away a marine war ship was heading towards the island the Straw Hats were currently docked. They had received a distress call and like the other ships, this one was on the way to answer it.

"Full speed ahead men!" the Captain bellowed.

"Sir why are we changing course?" a marine asked.

"We received a distress signal; apparently some pirates had burned Romero Island down and killed everyone there. When other ships responded they attacked them as well," the Captain answered

"My God, are you sure we can take them sir?"

"We'll have to we're all that's left, we'll hit them with everything we've got," the Captain said.

"Yeah about that, sorry to burst your bubble Captain Crunch but that's not going to happen," another marine said as he walked up to the Captain.

"That's insubordination marine what's your name!?" the captain yelled.

The marine just smiled a sick grin that disturbed the Captain then with a flip of his wrist the Captain's head twisted 180 degrees and he fell to the ground dead the other marines just stared in shock.

"My name's not really important and I'm the Captain now," he said as he turned to the others.

"But I really don't need the crew," he said then he blinked and when his eyes opened they were pitch black.


Going Merry, Romero Island

It had just turned morning and the straw hats waited for the reinforcements, they saw the ship coming over the horizon and got ready to fight. But the ship passed them by and ran aground instead.

"That's odd," Usopp commented.

"Agreed but let's get this over with," Zoro said.

The crew boarded the ship and were surprised to see several dead marines littering the deck, they had all been torn apart and several of them were missing limbs and heads. They searched the ship and the entire crew was dead.

"What the hell happen?" Luffy asked.

"I see you're admiring my handiwork," a voice said.

The pirates turned to see that a lone marine had appeared on deck and he was covered in blood as he gave them a sick grin.

"Where the hell you come from?" Sanji asked.

"Bingo," the marine said.

"Did you do this?" Zoro asked.

"Yep some of my best work, second only to what I did on this island," he answered.

"And you must be the pirates that ruined all my hard work. Do you know how long it took to spread that virus?" the man asked in anger.

"Wait you spread the virus," Robin confirmed.

"That's right and it wasn't easy either," the man said.

"But Jack said only demons can make that virus so that means you're a demon," Luffy realized.

"Ten points to Captain obvious," the demon said as he clapped his hands sarcastically and his eyes went black.

"DEMON!" Usopp screamed as he ran for the ship leaving a trail of dust behind him.

"Well that's new," the demon said.

"Now where's Claymore?" he asked.

"What do you want with Jack?" Luffy asked.

"To kill him, that's what this whole thing was all about," the demon answered.

"You infected 10,000 people to kill one Ghost Rider?" Zoro asked.

"You think I should have infected more? Honestly this wasn't my idea. I suggested that we send several legions here and try to wipe him out with pure force but Crowley had other ideas," the demon claimed.

"Crowley? That was demon that showed up before," Sanji remembered.

"Yes sir, the King himself he said 'listen up lad I want that wanker dead you go to that rock and gum up the works, infect some Island with the croatoan virus then once Jackie boy got the sniffles end him,'" the demon said in his best Crowley voice.

"And then he went on about moose and squirrels but I lost track after that,"

"You'd attack him while he can't fight back, what type of dishonorable scum are you?" Zoro said with a growl.

"Hello demon, it's kind of what we do," he said with a smirk.

"Well you've wasted your time we'll never tell you were Jack is," Luffy said.

"Considering the Iland is nothing but ash and that ship with the stupid goat figure head is the only one I can't sense anything on. I'm going to take a wild guess and say he's on there," the demon said.

"Uh well, uhm maybe" Luffy said.

"That's what I thought, well if you'll excuse me kiddos I've got a Ghost Rider to disembowel" the demon said and began to move towards the ship.

"Now hold on a sec if you want to get to Jack you've got to get through us" Zoro said drawing his swords and the others blocked his way.

The demon looked at the pirates for a few seconds and burst out laughing.

"What's so funny?" Sanji demanded.

"You lot...you actually think...oh you guys are a riot," the demon said between laughs.

"We're serious," Luffy warned.

"You see that threat would work if you were actually threatening. I could kill you all with a flick of my wrist," the demon said as he walked slowly towards them.

"You know Crowley never said I had to let you live, but since you're such good comedians I'll let you live. I'll just grab the Rider and go,"

"LIKE HELL YOU WILL!" Zoro charged with his swords but was stopped by the demon using one finger.

"Oh I had no idea you wanted to watch me torture him to death, you should have said something I love preforming for an audience," the demon claimed.

The Straw Hats charged in for a group attack, but the demon blocked them and sent the attacks back to the Straw Hats knocking them down and leaving them weak.

"What is it with you humans and not listening? The demon sighed and headed towards the Merry.

As he approached he spied the pirate that had run off earlier on the deck when he saw him he shrieked and ran inside.

"This human's smart," the demon commented and walked up the gang plank, but just before the top he bumped into an invisible wall.

"Oh?" he reached out his hand and pressed against it, no matter how much strength he used he could not pass it.

"Well that's annoying. I bet Jack demon proofed this ship,"

Just then the door opened and Connor poked his head out, the demon looked at him and blinked. Connor took one look at the demon and his eyes flashed yellow for a second before he pulled his head back into the cabin and closed the door.

"Azazel? No old yellow eyes is dead...things just got a lot more interesting," the demon said to himself.

"Oh well. If I can't get on board I'll make the Rider come to me," the demon said as he turned to head back to where he had left the rest of the Straw Hats.


Inside the Cabin

Connor slammed the door shut, he had peaked out to see if the demon could get on board but the moment he saw him he felt very afraid of him, he could sense the darkness in him and unlike the one he felt in Jack this darkness was so much worse. He'd used his sight and the demon possessed Marine was black.

"He can't get on board, why can't he get on board?" Connor asked.

"Luffy said Jack made the ship imposable for a demon to find or get on board," Usopp claimed.

"So as long as we're on the ship he can't touch us?"

"I guess,"

"What about the others who are off the ship?" Connor asked worriedly.

"Ah...we should wake Jack," Usopp answered.

Usopp and Connor ran over to the bed where Jack was still sleeping, they knew the Rider was in no shape to fight but they needed his help.

"JACK WAKE UP!" Usopp screamed as he shook the Rider.

"Huh what's going on?" Jack moaned, waking up.

"There's a demon here!" Connor said urgently.

"THERE'S A WHAT! Achoo!" Jack sneezed; the acid hit the door and began to dissolve the wood.

"There's a demon outside," Usopp repeated.

"Oh Jack come out and play," a sing song voice called out.

Usopp ran to the window and saw that the demon was on the beach he had the rest of the crew tied up and kneeling on the shore. The demon walked back in forth with a sick grin on his face he stopped when he noticed Usopp.

"Hey big nose, tell Claymore if he's not out here in ten minutes I start slitting throats!" the demon yelled.

"What's going on out there?" Jack asked.

"He's got the others he says he wants you in ten minutes or he's go in to kill them," Usopp answered.

"If he wants me he's going to get me," Jack said as he tried to get out of bed but he fell to his knees.

"Jack you're not in any condition to fight," Connor said, as he helped Jack back onto the bed.

"What are we going to do?!" Usopp panicked.

"Don't worry I have a plan," Jack said.

"What's that?" Connor asked.

"First rule of hunting demons always sink to their level, Usopp go to the kitchen fill up your ammo with water from the sink. Then get back here and wait by the window, when I give the order you hit that black eyed son of a bitch with everything you've got and don't let up," Jack ordered.

"Got it," Usopp said and he headed to the kitchen.

"Five minutes Claymore!" the demon yelled.

"Connor bring me my chest with the holy weapons you and me are going to hit him head on," Jack ordered.

Connor hesitated for a second, before drawing his sword and ran out the door.


On the Shore

The demon continued to pace waiting for the time to run out, he had seen both Usopp and Connor come out of the cabin and grab stuff but Jack had not yet emerged. After the time was up he turned to the ship.

"Times up Claymore, they die!" he yelled.

"Hold it! I'm coming out!" Jack said.

Jack came out of the cabin and walked over to the gang plank the demon could see he was barely holding himself together as he looked extremely ill.

"Well if it isn't the Rider that every demon fears, you're looking a little green Claymore," the demon mocked.

"Bite me," Jack shot back.

"Maybe later, why don't you come down and we'll talk about things," the demon said.

"You let them come aboard first," Jack demanded.

"That's not how this works Claymore, you come here and then I'll let them go,"

"You really think I'm going to trust you?"

"You don't have a choice Claymore unless you want to see them die. Is that it? Which would you like me to start with first?" the demon said as he walked to Luffy.

"This one?" he asked when Jack showed no response he moved on.

"How about Blondie?" he said as he reached Sanji still Jack said nothing.

"No how about broccoli boy?" he said as he moved to Zoro still no response.

"Really? Well how about the pretty redhead?" he asked as he ran a finger down Nami's cheek.

"You touch her and I'll burn you straight back to hell!" Jack screamed in anger.

"Oh looks like we have a winner!" the demon said as he grabbed Nami and dragged her to the gang plank he took a knife and held it to her throat.

"You come down here Claymore and die like a good boy, or I'll spill her blood like a carton of milk," he threatened.

"Jack don't do it!" Nami yelled back.

"Aww isn't that cute beauty and the beast. You know doll I could show you what a real demon can do," the demon said as he ran his tongue down Nami's cheek.

"Thanks for the offer but I'm not into men with girly parts," Nami responded.

The demon snarled at that and Jack smirked.

"I'm going to rape you to death after this," the demon growled.

"You sick son of a bitch! I'll rip you a part!" Jack screamed.

"Down here now Claymore!"

"You know what your problem is? You're all washed up," Jack said.

Just then Usopp fired three balls from the window they hit their mark on the demon's hands and face causing him to let go of Nami and the knife. He grabbed his face while screaming as his skin burned from the holy water, Jack leapt from the ship and tackled the demon to the ground and began punching him with the holy knuckle dusters; the demon threw Jack off him and stood up.

"Connor now!" Jack yelled.

Connor jumped from the ship and landed on the demon's back he wrapped one of the holy chains around the demon's throat as the demon struggled against the chain. Usopp continued hitting him with holy water causing him unimaginable pain.

Jack slowly stood up and walked to the demon he grabbed him by his shirt and delivered one final punch to his head with all his strength knocking him out cold and dropping him to the ground.

"Connor tie him up with the chain, grab some red paint and paint a devil trap on the ground and put him in it," Jack ordered.

"Ok, what are you going to do?" Connor asked.

"Pass out," Jack answered and he fell to the ground.

"JACK!" the entire crew shouted with worry.

Connor looked at Jack's still form and sighed, he then turned to Usopp who was now on the deck.

"HEY USOPP CAN YOU BING SOME RED PAINT?!" he yelled to the sniper.

"SURE!" Usopp answered and went to go get the paint.

Connor turned to the crew and untied them, Chopper instantly ran over to Jack.

"No, No Noooo," he panicked.

"What's wrong?" Nami asked.

"His fever has sky rocketed, it's higher than what it was before," Chopper explained and shifted into his human form.

"I'll take him back to bed," Chopper said as he picked Jack up and waked back on board the Merry.

Usopp came down and handed the paint bucket and a bush to Connor; while Connor painted the devil's trap Usopp tied the demon up in the holy chains.

"Will that hold him?" Zoro asked.

"It held Jack didn't it?" Sanji answered.

Once the trap was finished and the demon was placed inside, everyone boarded the Merry. Safely back on the demon proof ship Chopper examined Jack. On deck however Connor approached Luffy.

"Sorry," he said.

"For what?" Luffy asked.

"I disobeyed your orders and now I'm going to be punished for it,"

The Straw Hats on deck all turned to stare at the boy in horror, they knew what he was saying and none of them wanted him to be punished.

"What? When did you…?" Luffy asked in shock.

"You told me not to obey Jack until he was given a clean bill of health by Chopper. I obeyed Jack's orders to trap that demon," Connor answered.

"But that was an emergency, our lives were at stake," Sanji pointed out.

"Doesn't matter I still disobeyed,"

"Well I forgive you for disobeying and I order you not to be punished," Luffy quickly declared.

"Sorry Luffy but…the punishments already started, plus you can't actually order that,"

"But if it's started how are you not in pain?" Zoro asked curiously.

"I strapped my blade to my brand to nullify it; the moment it's removed I get punished,"

"Connor…is there anything we can do or say to make it less painful?" Usopp asked, though he knew the answer.

"No, Luffy just forgave me so hopefully it won't be that bad. But…do you mind gaging me I don't want anyone to hear me suffer and please don't tell Jack. He'll only blame himself," Connor requested.

"Okay do you want to be alone?" Luffy agreed.

"If you don't mind,"

"Okay, let's go into the sleeping quarters then," Luffy said and the Captain and Connor went below deck.

Once there Connor took off his Jacket reviling that his blade was indeed tied to his arm, he took off his sheathe and gave it to Luffy.

"Would Zoro mind looking after my blade for me?" Connor asked.

"No I doubt he'd mind," Luffy answered sadly as he opened a drawer and pulled a bandanna out.

"You sure you want this on you?" he asked and held it up.

"Yes," Connor said firmly and sat down on the floor.

Luffy walked behind the boy and tied the gag to his head; he then grabbed the hilt of the blade, the only part not made from Sea Stone.

"Ready?" Luffy asked, he really did not want to do this.

Connor nodded.

"I'm sorry," Luffy whispered and removed the blade.

The second the blade was removed the brand went a pitch black color, Connor's eyes went wide and he gripped his left shoulder tightly. He fell to the floor and screamed in pain; but the gag muffled it out.

Luffy stood up and walked away leaving the boy to his punishment.

On deck he handed the sword to Zoro and the swordsmen took it without saying a word.

"No one goes in there till Connor comes out," Luffy ordered "and no one tells Jack,"


When Strange visited a bit later he was surprised to find that Connor did not show up, normally the boy would come running the moment he sensed him if he was not on deck. The only one that was on deck was the Straw hat captain; he was looking over the railing at the burned Island. Strange then noticed that the chalk board was leaning against the mast, it had two words written on it.

'Projection Only,' it read.

Strange knew what the message meant, something must've happened to the boy that could see him. He waited about a minute for the boy to come to him before heading back to earth to request Castiel's help.

Strange reappeared a few minutes later in his Astral form, he approached Luffy who was still the only one on deck.

"Where's the boy?" Strange demanded.

"None of your concern," Luffy shot back harshly, but he did not look at the spirit.

Strange blinked at the sudden change in attitude of the pirate, normally this one was carefree and happy, from what he'd observed this pirate was the most trustworthy of the group.

"I think it…Is that a demon?" Strange asked in shock once he saw what Luffy was staring at.

"Yes, he attacked us this morning," Luffy said and explained what had happened over the last couple of hours.

"I see this is troubling indeed, however I am glad that Jack managed to trap him," Strange said.

"Yeah no one's going to be leaving the ship any time soon," Luffy agreed "Jacks fever got worse after he trapped that monster. You should probably talk to Chopper,"

"And where is the Doctor?"

"In the cabin with everyone else," Luffy gestured to the cabin.

Strange walked in through the door, his astral from allowed him to walk through people and objects.

Inside he saw the rest of the crew were sitting and standing around the bed. The tiny doctor was treating Jack who was lying on the bed sweating and breathing heavily. Strange approached the crew and the green haired one who he and the other Avengers had decided must be the Captain of this crew.

"Hey about time you showed up," Zoro said gruffly.

"I apologize had I known the situation I would have come…" Strange trailed off and noticed that Zoro had the boy's sword.

'Why did the captain have the boy's sword? Had he been killed? Did the demon do it or were these pirates to blame?' Strange wondered.

Strange was drawn out of his thoughts when Chopper called him over.

"What are you doing here Strange? Jack's my patient," Chopper said.

"And it looks like you're doing such a wonderful job doctor Rudolph. Tell me did you receive your degree from Santa Claus?" Strange asked.

"I don't know what that means but I'm pretty sure it was an insult. What would you know about medicine? Where'd you get your training? Did it come with your magic kit?" Chopper shot back.

"I have more medical knowledge in my pinky than you do in your entire body you talking plush toy!"

"Is it the same pinky you make disappear along with your thumb? Because that would explain your incompetence, you wannabe wizard!"

"What did you say you cotton ball?!"

"You heard me hocus pocus!"

"Fuzz ball!"

"Witch doctor!"

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" they heard Jack yell.

"What is it with you doctors? Constantly fighting over idiotic things, well I don't know if you two noticed but we have bigger issues to deal with," Jack said as he got out of bed.

"Jack what are you doing? You need to stay in bed," Chopper said.

"For once I agree with Blitzen you need to rest," Strange said.

"As much as I appreciate your guys concern we have a bit of a demon infestation and I'm not going to rest until I send that smoky bastard screaming back to the pit," Jack said.

He tried to get up and walk but he began to stumble if Nami hadn't caught him he would have landed flat on his face.

"Jack listen to them, you're in no condition for this," Nami said.

"She's right Jack I can exercise the demon," Strange offered.

"Stephen you and I both know that won't work, you have to physically be here. Besides the rest of the crew needs to learn how to do this, it's obvious they're not going to stop coming," Jack said.

"I hate it when you make sense, very well Jack exercise it quickly and then back to bed," Strange ordered.

"I doubt I'll be able to go anywhere else," Jack joked.

"Good I'll return in a few hours to check up on you," Strange said as he vanished.

"Take your time," Chopper huffed.

Nami and Zoro helped Jack out of the cabin and on to the deck, he saw Luffy watching the demon but there was no sign of Connor.

"How's our guest?" Jack called out.

"Jack! What are you doing out of bed?" Luffy asked.

"I think our visitor has over stayed his welcome, so I've come to send him packing," Jack answered.

"How are you going to do that?" Luffy asked.

"An exorcism, it'll send him straight to hell and it'll be a wonderful opportunity for the rest of you to learn how to perform one," Jack answered. "Which reminds me where's Connor? he needs to learn this too,"

Zoro and Nami looked at each other in concern and Luffy froze up. Whether Jack noticed or not was hard to tell.

"He's taking a nap," Luffy said a bit nervous.

"A nap?" Jack asked suspiciously, he knew Connor never slept during the day.

"Y…Yeah…he…umm…he had a bad nightmare last night and…umm…was up all night so…he wanted to catch up on some sleep," Luffy lied.

Jack raised his eyebrow clearly not believing Luffy. Luffy was many things but a good liar he was not, that was Usopp's job.

"That's not what I heard," the demon called out in a light and cheery tone.

This caused Luffy turn to the demon with hate and anger in his eyes; Jack watched in confusion. Jack knew Luffy was lying about Connor taking a nap.

"What are you talking about you sulfur sucker?" Jack asked.

"I overheard the squirt and the idiot talking about something I think you would be very interested in hearing" he said with a twisted smile.

"You shut your mouth! Or I'll come down there and rip it off," Luffy yelled back.

"That's a bit extreme," Jack stated, his soul sense wasn't working but he did not need it. He could practically see the hate and anger radiating off the rubber Captain.

"Oh it seems I hit a never, this will be fun. Apparently Claymore when your little friend helped you capture me he disobeyed an order and had to be punished," the demon said with a smirk.

"What?" Jack said in shock.

He remembered what Luffy had told him about the brand, and how it would punish Connor if he ever disobeyed. Jack had been very careful when talking to the boy, choosing his words carefully so he would not give him any orders.

"It had something to do with a brand and that it would be very, very painful. Really Jack branding children I thought you goodie two shoes Ghost Riders were above that sort of thing. Maybe you're not so boring after all,"

"You're lying!" Jack accused.

"Am I Jack? Why don't you ask the idiot next to you," the demon finished.

"Luffy he's lying right? Demons lie all the time please tell me he's lying," Jack begged.

"Jack...it wasn't your fault," Luffy said sadly.

"No...no...NO!" Jack screamed as he ran for Connor's room despite his illness.

"Oops was I not supposed to say that?" the demon said with a sick laugh.

Luffy shot a quick hate filled glare at the demon and then looked back at Jack; he launched himself at the clearly upset Rider and talked him to the deck.

"JACK STOP!" Luffy tried.

"GET OFF ME!" Jack screamed and tried to Riderize but in his sickened state it didn't work.

The rest of the crew came running over to see what was going on.

"No, you can't go in there," Luffy hissed dangerously.

"What's going on? Why are they fighting?" Chopper asked urgently.

Upon hearing Choppers' voice Jack called for help.

"Chopper Connor needs you, he's in pain!" Jack yelled at the doctor.

"WHAT?!" Chopper shirked.

"DON'T MOVE CHOPPER!" Luffy ordered.

"But…"

"Chopper it's the brand, there is nothing you can do," Zoro said sadly.

Chopper looked at the first mate and he realized what he was implying, his face fell and he made no move to help the Jack or get to Connor.

Jack stared at the crew in anger, why weren't they trying to help Connor? Why were they letting this happen?

"Luffy let me go now," Jack hissed in his best if not croaky demonic voice.

"Jack you have to understand that there is nothing that any of us can do for him," Nami tried.

"BULL SHIT! I'LL GO IN THERE AND…"

"AND WHAT?! WHAT WILL YOU DO?!" Luffy screamed at the Rider.

"CLAERLY MORE THAN YOU!"

That was it the last straw Luffys patience was gone, he didn't care that Jack was sick; he had just crossed the line.

Luffy punched Jack in the face stunning the weakened Rider, Jack was not expecting it and he found himself with a very pissed off and dangerous pirate captain. The same one he had never hope to see again. Luffy grabbed Jacks collar and dragged him over to the mast and held him against it.

Jack struggled against Luffy's grip but he was still too weak.

"You think you're the only one that cares for him? You think that we don't want to help him?" Luffy said in a deadly tone.

"Connor knew what would happen if he helped you capture that thing down there and he did it anyway. If you go in there all you will see is him suffering,"

"Suffering because of me, it's my fault," Jack hissed back.

"No It's not if anyone's to blame it's me. I'm his master and I gave him the order not to listen to you," Luffy reminded Jack.

"Listen bone head there is nothing any of us can do, if the brand punishes Connor then we just have to wait until it's over," Zoro claimed sadly.

"Connor did not want us to see or hear him suffer; he even asked that we gag him. So if you have any respect for him you won't go in there, you'll wait up here with the rest of us until he comes out," Luffy finished and let Jack go.

Jack slid on the deck floor and processed what Luffy was saying he took a deep breath and slowly stood up watching Luffy for any reaction.

"You gaged him?" Jack whispered angrily.

"I respected his wishes, we all did," Luffy answered "What will you do?"

Jack took a few more breaths to compose himself he walked over to the gang plank and stared at the demon with all the hate and rage he could muster. Though the demon held his cocky smirk deep down he was very much afraid.

"I'm going to do what I said I was going to do I'm going to send him back to hell but first I'm going to make hell look like paradise," Jack said as his own sick and twisted smile crossed his face.

"Sanji I need a bucket of water from the kitchen all the salt you've got, an iron knife and a funnel," Jack said as his smile grew.

"Chopper I'm going to need a large syringe pretty please," Jack continued.

The two pirates looked at their Captain who nodded to confirm the order as they went Jack continued to stare the demon down, his sick twisted grin never faltering. It was honestly creeping the rest of the crew out.

"Jack you ok?" Luffy asked.

"Jack's not here anymore Luffy the Rider has come out to play," the Rider said in a sing song voice.

At this the demon began to tremble and lost his cocky smile, Luffy just looked at the Rider and back at his crew who shrugged as they had no idea what was going on.

"Uhm ok Rider what are you going to do?" Luffy asked.

"Jack said this was a learning experience and a learning experience it shall be, we're going to have so much fun," the Rider said happily.

Before the Rider could continue Chopper and Sanji returned with the supplies and handed them over to him.

"Oh goodie the toys are here, come along students we have much to learn," the Rider said, as he walked down the gang plank humming a tune.

"Luffy I think you hit Jack too hard," Zoro whispered.

"Oh no Zoro, Luffy hit Jack just the right amount, just like goldilocks," the Rider said with a laugh.

"You keep that thing away from me!" the demon yelled in fear as he tried to step back, but couldn't due to the devils trap.

"What's the matter little hell spawn aren't you having fun? Well don't you worry you're going to be our special class project," the Rider said. He then filled the syringe with the holy water before turning to the Straw Hats.

"Okie dokie boys and girls first lesson, if you believe some poor meat sack has a hell spawn in them an easy trick to remember is to say Christo," the Rider stated.

As the Rider said the word the demon's eyes turned black the Rider ran inside the devil trap and grabbed onto the demon's head and held one of the demon's eyes opened.

"As you can see, Christo will let you get a glance at those midnight blacks, allowing you to perform the next step," the Rider continued.

The Straw Hats glanced at each other in concern, Jack was acting really strange and it scared them a bit.

"What's the next step?" Luffy asked.

"This" The Rider answered.

He then stabbed the needle into the demon's eye and proceeded to inject it with the holy water. The demon screamed in agony as its eye sizzle and burn, while the Rider smiled and laughed. After screaming for a bit the Rider shoved the funnel into the demon's mouth.

"As I'm sure you noticed this starts a domino effect, which leads to the next step," the Rider said with a laugh the Rider then grabbed the salt box and walked to the demon.

"Over the lips and through the gums look out stomach here it comes!" the Rider said as he poured the entire container of salt down the demon's throat.

The demon chocked and convulsed as he began to cough up bloody foam, the crew could hear its insides burn and sizzle. The Rider danced around the demon clapping and laughing in excitement. The Straw Hats stared at Jack in horror at what he was doing.

"Wasn't that fun kids? But I think he needs something to wash it down with," the Rider claimed.

He grabbed the bucket of holy water and began slowly pouring it down the funnel, the demon screamed and burned as he was practically drowned in the water, the water boarding continued until the bucket was 3/4 empty.

"Jack maybe you should cool it" Luffy tried, the Rider slowly turned its head to look at Luffy with its disturbed smile.

"I already told you, Jack's. Not. Here. Besides the real fun hasn't started yet," The Rider claimed.

He then grabbed The knife and submerged it in the remaining water while he continued to hum his tune when the knife was very wet he began to circle the demon and started to sing.

"All around the devil's trap the Rider chased the demon! The Rider thought it was all in fun!" the Rider stabbed the knife into the demon's chest the demon screamed in agony.

"Pop goes the demon!" the Rider sang as he twisted the knife.

"A penny for a demon heart!" the Rider sang as he stabbed and twisted the knife inside the demon's chest.

"A penny for it's eyeball!" the Rider continued to sing.

"That's the way the money goes!" the Rider continued to stab.

"POP GOES THE DEMON!" the Rider screamed.

The Rider then went into a frenzy he began to stab the demon over and over again laughing like a diseased maniac, with such volume it drowned out the demon's screams. Blood gushed everywhere and completely covered the Rider, when he was satisfied the Rider stood up and grabbed the bucket of holy water. He dumped the rest on the demon's opened wounds causing it to scream and thrash in total agony.

"Oh this is so much fun! I haven't had such a good time in eons!" the Rider said as he continued to laugh in total insanity.

"Jack you need to stop," Nami said, as she grabbed on to the Rider's wrist.

"I told you little girl, Jack's not heeeerrreeee," the Rider sang, Nami looked into his eyes and noticed instead of their usual green they were a bloody red.

"I understand that I do, but Jack needs to come back now. We need him…I need him and Connor needs him," Nami begged. "Please let him come back,"

Tears welled up in her eyes, the Rider's smile lessened from its twisted state to regular normal grin.

"Jack likes you, he really likes all of you," the Rider claimed, his twisted face splitting smile returned as he walked back to the demon.

"I'm a bit sad I didn't get to play longer, but play time is over, and it's time for you to go," the Rider said and began to chant the exorcism.

As he chanted the demon thrashed and convulsed and when the Rider reached the end it flung back its head and a cloud of black smoke was vomited into the air. The smoke then drifted down to the ground where it sunk into the earth leaving chard marks in its wake.

"Bye-bye thanks for the fun. We should do it again sometime," the Rider said with a chuckle "I'm going to go back to sleep now, and Jack will come back. He'll feel really guilty about everything so go easy on him he's a really nice boy," the Rider said.

The Rider's smile returned to a regular expression, then Jack's eyes returned to green before they rolled into the back of his head and he fell flat on his back.

Luffy stared at the Rider with a mix of emotions in his eyes, anger, hate, shock horror and a few others were there. The rest of the crew had the same kind of look, none of them made a move towards Jack in fear of setting him off.

"Chopper is Jack physically injured?" Luffy asked in a serious tone.

The doctor quickly gave Jack an examination but could not find any physical damage; he just fainted.

"No he just has a cold…and now a bruised face," Chopper answered.

"Sanji get the glowing chains from the treasure room and bring them here," Luffy ordered.

Sanji nodded and went to grab the chains, when he came back Luffy wrapped them round the Rider binding his arms hands, legs and feet. He picked up the Rider and walked back onto the ship and leaned him against the mast.

"Move everything out of the treasure room into the cabin…including the holy weapons," Luffy ordered.

The Straw Hats looked at each other and then quickly got to work it took thirty minutes to move everything into the cabin; Luffy threw Jack in and looked the door. He ordered Robin to place an eye on the ceiling so she could let them know when Jack woke up again.

"Jack is no longer part of this crew; from now on he's our prisoner. I will tell Strange that next time he appears, I will decide weather we hand him over to the marines or drop him off at the next Island," Luffy said to his crew.

"Luffy Jack's sick," Chopper reminded him.

"You check on him twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. From now he is to be treated like a prisoner until I say otherwise,"

The Straw Hats nodded, they didn't like it but after what they had just seen Jack do; they all agreed that he was too dangerous to be left alone. Luffy was the Captain and it was his job to ensure the safety of all his crew and if that meant Jack had to be locked up and kicked off, he would do it.


A few hours later the Merry was sailing towards its next destination, most of the Straw Hats were on deck doing their normal routine when Strange appeared in his Astral Form. He was quite surprised to see Chopper was on deck and not with Jack.

"What kind of doctor neglects his patients?" Strange muttered.

"Oi wizard dude," Sanji said as he came up to Strange and gestured at Luffy "He needs a word,"

Strange walked over to Luffy and was about to ask about Jack when Luffy turned to him and gestured for Strange to follow.

The sorcerer did so and followed the Captain to the treasure room; Luffy unlocked the door reviling Jack's unconscious form bound in holy chains.

"JACK! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HIM?" Strange demanded.

Luffy explained the demon and what Jack had done to it, his torture methods and his refusal to stop; Strange refused to believe Jack was capable of such things.

"I chained him up because he is now a danger to everyone on board. He is now our prisoner," Luffy finished.

"You do know if you hurt him his family will come for your crew?" Strange warned.

"No they won't, they'll be too busy breaking Jack out of prison," Luffy claimed.

"What do…"

"I have yet to decide what to do with him, weather he stays or I hand him over to the Marines,"

"He'll fight back, he'd never let you do it,"

"No he won't, he already let them take him once and he blames himself for the death of over ten thousand people. He will not resist," Luffy said seriously "Tell his family that they have one chance to convince us to let him stay and he's not a threat. The next time you or any of them appear will be that chance," Luffy warned and walked out the door and locked it behind him.

Strange sighed he took one last look at Jack before disappearing.


Below deck

Connor was lying on the floor curled up into a ball, he was in immense pain; everything hurt. It had been four hours since he'd come down here and only now was his punishment ending, it had been a lot worse than he'd experienced before.

At first he had wondered why it was worse but he figured it out pretty quickly. He had disobeyed Luffy three times, so the punishment was three times worse.

Connor wanted to remove his gag now that it was over but was too weak; any movement that he made brought the pain back. This was normal, after any punishment the Brand would leave him so weak that moving a single muscle brought back the full extent of what he felt during his punishment; even breathing hurt. To make it worse his brand would not heal him for another 12 hours.

If he was ordered to do something the Brand would give him some strength back but that was it, he'd have to do his task while he was weak; another reminder of why he had to obey others.

Connor knew Luffy would not get him to do anything in this state, but his main focus was Jack, he'd herd both him and Luffy fighting not long after his punishment began and he figured that Jack must've found out somehow.

Personally he blamed that demon.

Connor wanted nothing more than to go up on deck and tell Jack that it was not his fault and he did not blame him. But he was too weak to move so he lay there and hoped that no one would come down yet, he'd try to move in a bit but not yet.


Avengers Tower, Ney York

When strange got back to his body he asked JARVIS to gather everyone in the meeting room, once they were there he explained what had happened. The Avengers were not impressed.

"So now the Pirates have him prisoner and bound in holy chains," Strange finished.

Everyone in the room took a few steps away from Widow, who was shaking with rage.

"Are they still going to treat his cold?" Sam asked.

"No, I don't believe so," Strange said sadly.

"That's it the entire crew dies," Natasha declared.

Everyone then took ten more steps away from her.