Ch. 11- Capone "Gang" Bege
One Piece © Oda
Blizzard, Jupiter, Monkey D. Aika, Kumi, Lucky, and Hoeru © Me
Hercules © Me and Gakuto1991
Pekoms gaped in stunned silence at the sight that lie before him: almost all of Kurau City, completely in ruins. Beside him stood Bege, who remained completely stoic about the destruction around. However...Pekoms could only growl in anger.
"What the hell...happened here?!" he questioned. "WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED, GRROOOWWR?! WHO DID THIS TO ZOU! WAS IT THAT THE STRAW HATS?! WHAT THE HELL DID THEY ALL DO, GRRRR?!"
XXX
Meanwhile, in Rightflank Fortress, all the Mink Tribe had gathered there, chattering amongst themselves as if Jack's invasion never happened. All the while, Chopper was still giving treatments to the sick or injured, while Sanji cooked for the hungry.
"Step on up, people!" Sanji called, handing out bowls of soup. "This soup is sure to revitalize the body and the soul! Take as many helpings as you want! There's plenty for everyone!"
"Garchu!" two Minks, a Grizzly and a Boar respectively, nuzzled up to Sanji, who chuckled. "Thanks, Sanji!"
"Sure thing," Sanji replied. "Now take it easy with all the nuzzling, okay?"
Inside one of the pineapple-shaped tree houses, Wanda was giving Nami the dress and pearls she was wearing, presently, while currently wearing Nami's bikini top.
"This fortress," Wanda began, "is a living space once used by our ancestors, long ago. Since ancient times, Zunisha has carried the entire history of Minkdom on its back."
"Is that so?" Nami asked. "Man, Robin would love this place...by the way, why are you giving me such a fancy dress?"
"The trading of clothes with outsiders," Wanda started, "is a sign of friendship, here in Zou!"
"Really?" Nami queried. "This dress looks like it belonged to someone important!"
"That's correct," Wanda confirmed. "This dress and the pearls are a national treasure."
"Really?!" Nami asked, Berry signs in her eyes. "And you're just gonna give it to me?!"
"Of course!" Wanda answered. "We want you to have them!"
"Wanda?"
Wanda turned to see Carrot enter...worry etched on her face. It didn't long for the Dog Mink to know what was going on, for she sighed.
"She still won't come out, will she?" Wanda asked.
"No," Carrot replied. "I've tried everything."
XXX
Inside a dark room...Hoeru sits with her arms hugging her knees and her tail curled around her feet, her eyes covered by the bangs of her hair.
XXX
"She is in mourning, Carrot," Wanda answered. "If it were you, you probably would be doing the same."
"I guess so," Carrot replied. "I always thought that out of everyone, Duke Inuarashi and Master Nekomamushi suffered more than anyone...but maybe it was Hoeru who suffered the most. She didn't lose any limbs...she lost her family."
"I'm just as sad as she is, you know," Wanda reminded. "Gyouko was like a daughter to me, too."
"Will Hoeru ever get better?" Carrot asked.
"Only time will tell," Wanda replied, causing Carrot to hold her arm, worriedly. It was then that Sanji walked in.
"Hey," Sanji greeted.
"Sanji!" Wanda and Carrot exclaimed before they went to nuzzle him, too. "Garchu!"
"Hehe!" Sanji chuckled. "I return the sentiment, ladies, but please, I need to talk to Nami."
"Of course," Wanda nodded before she and Carrot backed away from Sanji, who approached Nami with a serious expression.
"So where's Momonosuke?" the cook whispered.
"Still locked up in his room," Nami answered. "It seems to be the best thing for him, right now, since it's the only way he'll stay calm."
"I guess you're right about that," Sanji replied.
XXX
In another room, dark and secluded from everyone else, Momonosuke- in dragon form- lied on the floor, coiled up like a snake while he sighed softly, as if in some sort of meditative trance.
XXX
"So young Momonosuke still won't come out of his room, eh?" asked Brook, preparing bags of medicine that Chopper made. "It's for the best, I suppose. His human form must not be seen."
"You got a point there," Chopper replied. "Hey, Caesar! Where's that medicine?"
"I fulfilled my quota," Caesar answered, grinning smugly. "All in a day's work for a genius!"
"Your quota just expanded!" Chopper rebuked. "Go make some more, and no slacking!"
"What?!" Caesar questioned. "Why you little antlered rat! You can't tell me what to do-"
"Sanji~!" Chopper called, only for Caesar to cover his mouth.
"SHUSH!" the scientist cried. "Okay, okay! You win! I'll make more medicine! Sheesh!"
That's when a female Cheetah Mink walked in.
"Oh, Dr. Caesar!" she called. "I've come to pick up the medicine!"
"GAH!" Caesar cried as he put on some swirly glasses and a surgical mask over his mouth. "D-don't get confused! My name is Cedar, the Medicine Man, not Caesar!"
'Dammit all,' he thought with irritation. 'Why am I making medicine to help people?! I'm a mad scientist, meant to make weapons of mass destruction, not heal the sick!'
(A/N: Sack o' shit.)
"By the way, Baron Corpse," said the Cheetah Mink. "You have some fans waiting outside for you."
"Thanks, but no thanks," Brook replied, apprehensively. "I'm quite tired of being so popular with the canine persuasion."
XXX
Concurrently, Pekoms and Bege had found their way into Rightflank Fortress...where the former sobbed heavily as he was greeted by all the Minks.
"BWAAAAAAAAAAAH~!" Pekoms bawled. "YOU'RE ALL OKAY! MA! PA! ALL FAMILY AND FRIENDS!"
"Pekoms, sweetheart!" exclaimed a Lioness Mink. "Welcome home!"
"Good to see you, buddy!" added a male Fox Mink.
"I immediately feared the worst when I saw Kurau City!" cried Pekoms. "Thank the stars you're all okay!"
"Well, we have only the Straw Hats to thank for that," said a female Bear Mink.
"Yeah!" added a Monkey Mink. "Also, how long has it been since you were here in Zou, last, Pekoms?"
"I can't believe that this has happened!" Pekoms shouted as he dropped to his knees and pounded his fists on the ground. "Damn you, Jack of the Beast Pirates-grraaaawwr!"
Up in the tree house, Nami and Sanji gasped upon seeing Pekmons and Bege.
"Oh, crap!" Nami cursed. "The Big Mom Pirates are here!"
"Hmm..." Wanda hummed. "That looks like Pekoms. He's an infamous problem child, here on Zou."
"Huh," Sanji muttered. "Who'd have thought that he was a Mink, too?"
"AAAGH!" Caesar yelped. "They heard that we were here! They're after me! Please, whatever you do, don't have me over to them!"
"Why the fuck not?" Sanji asked. "You were our trump card in dealing with Doflamingo, and now that Luffy and everyone else has beaten him and his goons, we don't need you anymore."
"Oh, come on!" Caesar cried. "I thought we were bros!"
"Don't call us that," Sanji grumbled. "Besides, what the hell did you do to Big Mom, anyway?!"
"Okay, okay!" exclaimed Caesar. "It's like this: I accepted a grant for some research, and I wasn't getting anywhere with it...so I may or may not have lied to them and pocketed the funds, instead."
Sanji and Nami gave him an incredulous look.
"Oh, what do you want from me?!" the gas-man questioned. "I had Doflamingo backing me up, so I got carried away!"
"Sounds to me like you brought this on yourself, you jerk," Nami glared as Chopper and Brook came out, too.
"Well, if they just want Caesar, fine by me," Sanji said.
"EH?!" Caesar cried.
"There's just one problem," Sanji interjected. "First off, Luffy already picked a fight with Big Mom back on Fishman Island."
"Not to mention we busted up their ship," Chopper pointed out.
"Say, Black Leg," Caesar whispered. "What do you say we work together to off those two? Shulolololo!"
"Shut up," Sanji glared. "Nami, you and Chopper better stay up here. Watch Caesar and make sure he doesn't try anything."
"I understand," Nami nodded.
"Brook, you come with me," Sanji said.
"Of course," Brook nodded.
"But what about my brilliant assassination plan-" Caesar started, only for Nami to punch him in the jaw.
"Quiet!" she ordered. "We don't take advice from idiots who don't consider the consequences, got that?!"
"Yes, ma'am...!" Caesar squeaked.
Sanji tugged at the collar of his jacket as he looked down...only to see that Bege had already noticed him.
'...I got a bad feeling about this,' he thought as he Brook headed down to meet him and Pekoms. After a while, the two stood before them, and they decided to meet in a private place, away from the fortress.
"So," Sanji began, "what do you want...Big Mom Pirates? And let's not make a big scene here. The kind folks of this land are in tatters, physically and emotionally."
"The only thing I can say is...THANK YOU, GROWWR~!" Pekoms cried as he nuzzled Sanji, who grimaced in disgust at the tears and snot. "GARCHU~!"
"Eh?" Brook muttered in confusion.
"I...I had no idea," Pekoms began as he got down on his hands and knees, "that my home was in such a terrible state! You people are my saviors! How can I ever repay you?!"
"...Uhh...well..." Sanji muttered, clearly taken aback by this reaction.
"Mama's orders were to capture Caesar," Pekoms began, "but there's also a new order that's bound to spell disaster for you Straw Hats...I have no choice. I'll just tell her that the mission was a failure! Just hand Caesar over and I'll explain to Mama that we...let the Straw Hats get away!"
"Hold on one damn minute, Pekoms!" Bege barked. "Have you lost your mind?! You should never make your business personal!"
"Shut your mouth, newbie!" Pekoms yelled. "I'll take the fall for it! How can I even thinking of doing anything to the people who saved the lives of my family and friends?!"
"...You ignorant fool...!" Bege growled as he held up his hand...and not long after, BLAM-BLAM-BLAM-BLAM-BLAM! Somehow, Pekoms got shot in the back multiple times, causing him to scream in pain while Sanji and Brook gasped in horror.
"You...bastard...!" Pekoms gasped as he fell to the ground, his blood pooling around him.
"What the fuck?!" Sanji questioned.
"He shot his own comrade in the back?!" Brook cried.
Inside the palm of Bege's hand...there were tiny men holding machine guns.
"Hmph!" Bege scoffed. "He's actually a well-respected pirate, you know. And you see what a soggy sack of tears he became when he let his emotions get the better of him. Well, he's useless now. I'll take it from here." That's when a door seemed to open on his chest. "Come on out, men!"
"What the-?!" Sanji muttered as he looked and saw a group of tiny men charging out...and in a flash, when they jumped out of Bege's chest, they grew to regular size, armed with guns and swords, and before too long, Sanji and Brook were surrounded!
"M-men?!" Brook questioned.
"What the hell's going on?!" Sanji asked.
"Just give up and come quietly," Bege demanded. "You're out-manned!"
Sanji and Brook both looked around in shock as Bege's men had their firearms trained on them.
"I'm sure you both know who I am," said Gege. "I'm considered to be a member of the same generation alongside your captain and Pirate Hunter Zoro!"
CAPONE "GANG" BEGE, CAPTAIN OF THE FIRETANK PIRATES
BOUNTY: 300 MILLION BERRIES
"What kind of power do you have?!" Sanji shouted.
"Me?" Bege queried. "Oh, I'm just a man who ate the Castle-Castle Fruit. I'm a castle-man, you see."
"So when I saw tiny people in the palm of his hand, holding machine guns, earlier," Brook began, "then my empty sockets really weren't playing tricks on me, after all!"
"I could've killed the idiot with cannons, too," Bege smirked, "but we do need to keep this operation hush-hush, you see. That's in our best interest...as well as yours. If the Minks heard all the commotion and came here now, no doubt they'll take your side. I'm quite aware of their skill in battle. Vito! Bring those other two here!"
"Yes, Father!" a voice replied.
Sanji looked over and gasped upon seeing Nami and Chopper being pushed out of the forest, held at gunpoint by a tall, pale-skinned man with a curling, snake-like tongue that dangled from his sickly grinning mouth. His hands were disproportionately large and they both had a strange tattoo on the back of them which matched the one on his forehead. His hair was slicked back and curled at the back of his head. His attire consisted of a dark red suit with a cravat, as well as coat draped over his shoulders like a cape, the collar of which was feathery. He had on a pair of tiny sunglasses, and a pair of holsters, from which he had pulled the two large revolver pistols from.
"Nami! Chopper!" Sanji cried.
"We're sorry, Sanji!" Nami replied. "We got curious!"
"We thought there would only be two of them!" Chopper added.
"You bastard!" Sanji hissed at Bege, who only smirked before he looked up at the sky.
"That goes for you, too, Caesar!" he called out. "You have 2 seconds to show yourself, or else my men will point their seastone shotguns skyward and shoot you down! 1...1 1/2..."
"NO, NO! DON'T SHOOT! I'M COMING OUT!"
Soon after, Caesar dropped down to the ground.
"See?!" he asked. "Here I am, present and accounted for!"
"Good," Bege grinned. "We're all here. Oh, by the way, we don't really have seastone bullets in our shotguns."
"What?!" Caesar questioned, only to be pierced in the back by a spear...which caused him to groan weakly.
"But we do have a seastone spear," Bege pointed. "Now then...why don't we all talk somewhere a little more privately? Please...come into my castle."
"Shit...!" Sanji cursed as he looked at the situation around them. "He's the one holding the reins, now...fine! We'll do what you say, but don't you harm a hair on my friends' heads!"
"F...friends?!" Caesar wept, happily.
"NOT YOU!" Sanji barked.
XXX
A few moments later...Bege stood quietly in the middle of the rest, his eyes having rolled into the back of his head...as if unconscious while standing. However...inside of him was a different story. Inside Bege's "castle", there was a huge, elegant-looking dining room with decorative shields and axes, as well as portraits of Bege, himself. On one end of the table sat Sanji, who sat with one leg crossed over the other...and soon after, Bege suddenly appeared in front of him.
"There, now," Bege said. "That's much. Now then...how are you feeling, Black Leg? Would you like something to eat?"
"I'm not hungry," Sanji sneered.
"Well, how about some wine?" Bege offered.
"I said no!" Sanji barked. "Just say what you have to say, take Caesar, let us go, and beat it!"
Behind Sanji, Nami, Chopper, Brook, and Ceasar all sat on the floor, held at gunpoint and bound in chains...with Caesar weeping pathetically.
"I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die...!" he whimpered.
"Oh, shut up!" Nami hissed. "It's your fault we're in this situation in the first place, you big baby!"
"You're a rather impatient man, aren't you, Black Leg?" Bege asked while Vito, the one who captured Nami and Chopper earlier, lit his cigar for him. "Fine then." He then held up a card...with Big Mom's insignia on the back. "Since we met a week ago, circumstances have...changed. You see, I have an invitation for you. It's for a tea party, hosted by Big Mom- err, I mean...Mama, herself. The main event is a wedding. The bride is Pudding, 35th daughter of the Charlotte Family...and the groom...is you, Sanji, 3rd son of the Vinsmoke Family!"
A pause...but then Sanji's mouth fell open, causing his cigarette to fall out while his eyes went wide in absolute shock.
"W...what the fuck did you say...?!" he whispered in horror.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Sorry I took so long with this. ^^;
Review, please!