Fortunae Gauntlet

Part twelve of a fanfiction by Velkyn Karma

Disclaimer: I do not own, or pretend to own, One Piece or any of its subsequent characters, plots or other ideas. That right belongs solely to Eiichiro Oda. The only thing that belongs to me here is the concept for the story.

Note: This is officially my most reviewed fic. Did I ever tell you I love you all? No really, I do!


"Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live, taking the form of readiness to die."

~G.K. Chesterton


It took them more than an hour to get near the mountain from Sanji's clearing. Usopp was determined to see this finished, just like his captain beside him, but that didn't mean that they should be reckless trying it. So the sniper insisted they move carefully, darting from hiding place to hiding place to lower their chances of being spotted. Luffy had wanted to charge straight in, but Usopp had managed to convince him otherwise after grimly pointing out that it had already failed them multiple times in this game (Nami and Chopper specifically came to mind). After that Luffy cooled his head, and though he was obviously impatient to finish the battle game he agreed to go slow and followed Usopp's lead.

So they darted here and there, hiding in the shadows and other places where the blood-red moon couldn't reach. It was slow going, and fairly quiet. Other than the scuffle of pebbles as they crept from one sheltered location to the next, and the occasional rush of the wind, there was nothing. They had agreed not to speak much either, and only in whispers when they had to, to reduce the chances of their being found.

But slow though it was, they were making progress. Usopp guessed it was somewhere between two-thirty and three in the morning by the time they stood at the foot of the mountain, concealed by a pair of large yellow boulders. The structure was positively massive, stretching up so high the red moon seemed to perch atop the distant peak. This close up, he could tell that it too was an impossible structure; it resembled a volcano, in that he could see clear flows of stone marking the mountain's buildup, but the stone seemed to flow up, not down. He didn't really know why he was surprised at this point. After a pink ocean and trees that grew down into the ground, he supposed anything was theoretically possible in this astral-world.

Even now, the sniper insisted on caution. They hadn't seen either Sasori or Kawazu, nor had they spotted any signs of the remaining two Scorpion Hunters. That meant they were probably on the mountain somewhere, and likely at the very top. At the mountain's peak, one man would be able to see down on all their immediate surroundings, and put a quick halt to anyone trying to assault them uphill. It would be easy to roll a boulder down and crush their opponents before they could even reach the summit. Not that boulders would affect Luffy, but Usopp would definitely be dead pretty fast. And Luffy would still be held up in the tangle long enough for the two bounty hunters to prepare for him.

So the sniper insisted they circle the mountain instead, looking for some sort of path up where they could remain hidden. Luffy's eyes were narrowed dangerously, and he never took his gaze from the summit, but he nodded in reluctant agreement once Usopp explained the threat.

Circling took another long stretch of time, and Usopp figured they were pushing four in the morning before he finally called a halt. He felt exhausted, but at least he'd gotten some rest while Sanji was on watch. Their cook hadn't gotten any rest at all, and Usopp wondered briefly if Sanji would still be alive if he'd been in better condition while fighting...

The sniper shook his head firmly. It wouldn't do to dwell on the past, not now. If he wanted to get Sanji and all of the others back from their astral-grave prison, then they needed to finish this battle now. And that meant getting to the top of the mountain without dying in the process, and beating whoever might be at the top—if anyone even was.

Usopp had been searching hard, but he hadn't seen any way to sneak up the mountain without being spotted. There were boulders resting rather precariously on the up-stone (as he had taken to calling it) but they were too few and far between, and they would inevitably be spotted while trying to dash between them. There were trees, but they were scruffier, thin versions of the spiral trees they had first encountered, and would provide no shelter at all. Which meant they had to find another route up the mountain.

His eyes absently floated to the stream they had stopped by to quench their thirst. This water was also orange, and it also flowed uphill towards the top of the mountain, much like the ocean current had at Reverse Mountain so long ago and the up-stone did now. His gaze traveled up the little stream's path, which meandered its way up the side of the mountain and disappeared near the top between a pair of jutting rocks that almost resembled giant sword hilts. Not that anybody would be able to use them.

But somebody could grab them...

"Luffy," he hissed, gesturing for the rubber-man to come closer. "I think I have a plan."

His captain finally broke his gaze from the top of the mountain, turned to look at his final nakama. "Yeah?"

"We need to take away their advantage," Usopp explained. "The key to the mountain is that it's up high. So you could keep people from getting up after you, or even just have time to get ready for them since they'll be exhausted when they reach the top and you won't. But if we get up there fast, they won't have time for that, and we'll be just as ready as they are. See?"

"Okay," Luffy answered with a quick nod.

"And if we can surprise them, that's even better. So...see those rocks?" And he pointed out the two sword-hilt stones quietly standing guard over the little stream.

"Yeah."

"If you sling us up using those, we'll be able to get above them. They won't expect it and we'll have time to attack them before they can recover. Can you grab them?"

"I can get them," Luffy answered with grim determination. "Hold on."

Usopp checked his bag one last time and then threw his arms around Luffy's shoulders quickly. The rubber-man threw his arms back and shot them forward again with a sharp "Gomu-Gomu no Rocket!" His fingers wrapped around one corner of each of the sword hilts, and suddenly they resembled a giant slingshot, with Luffy as the sling itself.

Before Usopp had time to contemplate the irony of that further (or file that away for an excellent story in the future) Luffy lifted his feet and they were off at blinding speed. It was all that Usopp could do to hold on tight, digging his fingers deeply into Luffy's red vest as he struggled to stay put. No matter how many times Luffy slung himself and his crew around like that, and no matter how ready the sniper thought he was for it, it always came as a thoroughly terrifying shock to find oneself catapulted through the air at speeds no human should ever reach.

They overshot, as Luffy nearly always did, but Usopp had thankfully factored that into their assault and chose the sling-point accordingly. As they rose into the air over the top of the mountain, the sniper looked down and took stock of their situation.

He had to admit, despite himself, that the scene was beautiful. There was a tiny little valley exactly at the top of the mountain, where lavender grass gently dusted the yellowish stone. More spiral trees, these ones thicker and sturdier than their brethren on the mountainside, dotted the area. And the stream they had used as their guiding point wasn't the only one on the mountain; dozens of other little orange streams came together into one much larger pool, perfectly surrounded by the spiral trees. This in turn fed into a waterfall, which, much like the streams, defied gravity. The water's cascade fell straight up into the air, but the droplets of water didn't fall down again. Rather, they dissipated into the air and seemed to slowly form clouds, which drifted away when they became large enough. Nami would have had a field day studying this, if she were still alive, Usopp thought.

The beautiful landscape was marred only by the pair of furious, upturned faces that looked their way. Sasori and Kawazu both stood there near the pool, watching the Strawhats with identical expressions of shock, confusion and anger. Clearly, just as Usopp predicted, they hadn't planned on Luffy being able to stretch as far as he could, and weren't happy with falling for the same trick twice.

Both were running for their landing point now, drawing weapons as they did, but Usopp would have none of that. He wrapped his legs around Luffy's torso quickly to keep his grip, and then pulled his slingshot free. Aiming while moving was tricky, but he'd done it before, and with a roar of "Killer Exploding Stars!" he'd sent two of the bursting pellets straight into the enemies' faces.

Predictably, both reeled back in surprise and pain, clutching at their wounded faces while dropping or re-sheathing their weaponry. Usopp grinned, but it faded fast when he heard Luffy yell, practically in his ear, "Gomu Gomu no Gatling!" Then his captain's arms were whirling in a rapid-fire blur as they fired a number of successive punches straight down at their enemies, and it was all Usopp could do to hold on tight until the move ended. He could feel the woosh of the attacks' recoils bare millimeters from his ears and decided he never wanted to see Luffy's attacks from the captain's own vantage point ever again.

Then it was over, and Luffy landed down next to the pool with a staggering thud. Usopp fell off and landed on his backside before he could gather his legs underneath him, but scrambled to his feet hastily, wincing slightly as his injured foot throbbed. Luffy was standing just in front of him, feet planted wide in a powerful stance, fists at the ready.

"Stay behind me," the captain ordered. "I'll protect you with my life. I promised."

Usopp nodded and prepared to support Luffy with shots over his shoulders, then looked across at their enemies. Both were charging across at them now with weapons re-drawn, having recovered from both the stars and Luffy's Gatling Gun. Sasori carried his scimitar and knife again, just as he had when he fought Zoro. He was a little bruised, and the rag that had been tied over his dreadlocks had been burned away by the exploding star, but he seemed mostly unharmed. Kawazu had his single hooksword at the ready, but the man was staggering as he moved and had already fallen behind his leader. What was more, both his hand and his chest were heavily bandaged, and were already being stained red once more. His wounds had probably opened again in the assault.

Luffy didn't hesitate. He released a Gomu Gomu no Muchi with a roar, his foot arcing outwards in a furious leg sweep. Sasori and Kawazu both leapt into the air, jumping the rubber limb like they were skipping rope. Still without pause, Luffy snapped his leg back and launched a Pistol at the currently airborne Sasori. Usopp, wanting to be of help in some way, shot a Lead Star at Kawazu so that Luffy could focus on his own opponent.

Unfortunately, he hadn't planned for Kawazu's tenacity. The man took the shot in the shoulder and hit the ground with a heavy thud, but immediately kicked to his feet and charged—straight at the sniper.

Usopp yelped in panic before he could smother the sound and stepped back, fumbling for another star. Luffy was faster, however. He had aimed a second Gomu Gomu no Pistol for Sasori (the first one had barely missed), but at Usopp's cry he pulled back and swung the attack haphazardly for Kawazu instead. This turned his arm into more of a flail than a gunshot, and with the abrupt switch couldn't be aimed that well. His fist smashed into the dirt between Kawazu and Usopp, but it had the desired effect: the second in command, eyes wide, screeched to a halt and stumbled back several paces.

Luffy's arm snapped back quickly, but now he had a problem on his left. Sasori had used the break in concentration to rush forward, slashing his scimitar and knife—both unquestionably poisoned—at the rubber-man. Luffy jumped back, barely dodging the sword tip by a hair's breadth. Then, before Usopp could so much as let out another strangled protest, his captain collared him with one hand, stretched his other out to a spiral tree on the far side of the little valley, and rocketed them over to it quickly, putting distance between them and their opponents.

"That was too close," Usopp gasped, pressing a hand to his heart. "T-thanks, Luffy..."

His captain only nodded, eyes narrowed as he eyed their opponents. Sasori and Kawazu had already turned and were charging towards them again, and Luffy snapped his fist forward with a cry of, "Gomu Gomu no Shotgun!" Once again, he aimed for Sasori.

Two of the shotgun-pistol attacks hit before Sasori could react, bringing his scimitar swinging down in an angry arc towards Luffy's vulnerable limb. The rubber man retracted his attack early and recoiled his hand for another flying punch, but the two had closed the gap by then. Once again, Kawazu launched himself furiously at Usopp, and once again Luffy abruptly shifted his attack from Sasori to Kawazu to play interference. This time it cost him, and he received a vicious slash on his bandaged arm from the hooksword for the trouble. Before the Scorpions could press their attack further, however, Luffy once again snatched Usopp and rocketed them to the far side of the valley, back where they had first landed.

Luffy launched another series of rubber attacks this time, and Usopp began to understand their disadvantage in this battle. His captain just simply wasn't able to go all-out like he usually did in their battles. Some of his most powerful attacks, such as the Gatling Gun, couldn't be used when their enemies had poisoned weapons at the ready; each of his attacks had to be aimed with deadly accuracy, or Luffy would risk the toxins and a quick death. Nor, Usopp knew grimly, was Luffy made to be a defensive fighter. Luffy could be cunning in battle, and it wasn't as though he relied on brute force alone to bull his way through. But he could be overbearingly powerful, necessarily risky, and amazingly enduring, and that was often what won him his fights. He wouldn't win like this, not when he was reigning in his own strength to make sure Usopp wasn't hurt, and not when he was forced to constantly divide his power between two strong, separate attackers.

In short, it was exactly the same problem as last time, when Luffy had fought against Kawazu and Doku Spinifer, the enemy doctor. One on one, he could take his own risks and put all his focus into beating either of the opponents, but as it stood their defenses would eventually crack away and both of them would perish.

Usopp had to help. Needed to help, if he ever wanted to see his nakama again. He had a duty to his friends, and to his captain. Luffy didn't need them often—more than anything else, he was usually the one there for them, always and without hesitation. But this was different, and if he didn't break away now, keep at least one of those men away from Luffy, then his captain would stay chained to him in a desperate attempt to protect his last crew mate. He wouldn't be happy with Usopp's decision, but...but he had to do it. For everyone.

So as Luffy's arms snapped back after his latest attack, and he spread them wide in a defensive stance, Usopp took a deep breath and ducked underneath them. Luffy yelled his name in surprise, and—was that a touch of panic in that voice? No, it couldn't be. This was Luffy they were talking about after all. He did his best to ignore it, lifted his slingshot, and charged straight at Kawazu, screaming what he hoped was a battle cry but was more likely a noise of pure terror.

Luffy was yelling in fury behind him; out of the corner of his eye, Usopp could see that Sasori had assaulted him directly, providing enough of a distraction for his captain. Good. That would make it easier to implement his plan...he hoped, anyway.

Kawazu was getting closer now, and there was a maniacal look on his face as he approached. Clearly, he was none too pleased about his target from the last battle escaping. His shirt was open wide, ends flapping, exposing the red-dyed bandages wrapped tightly across his chest.

"Thanks, Zoro," Usopp whispered under his breath, as he loaded his final pellet. "For setting this up for me, couldn't have done it otherwise..." And at the top of his voice, he screamed, "Killer Flame Star!" and fired.

The pellet connected solidly with Kawazu's chest, and the man screamed as his wound was literally set afire. The bandages burned hotly, and Kawazu halted his swing to rip them off quickly, shrieking.

"You filthy little worm," the second snarled. "You think that's enough to kill me?"

In truth, Usopp was hardly surprised to find the man still standing, even after a direct attack to his most prominent wound. He had observed it before, and he would again: the man was just as tenacious as Zoro, and it would take more than one or two hits to bring him down. Usopp knew it well, and had never expected the star to work to begin with. That was only the setup.

Tossing aside his slingshot—he was too close to use it now, and it wouldn't do him any good anymore, anyway—Usopp reached into his bag instead. His hands grasped the smooth surface of a Skypiean shell, and he pulled his Impact Dial free.

"No," Usopp answered grimly. "But this might."

"That stupid shield-shell won't help you either," Kawazu hissed, raising the hooksword for another swing. But the man didn't know the other properties of the Impact Dial, and he had underestimated Usopp's speed, even with a bad foot. Forcing a final burst of agility, Usopp ducked within Kawazu's sword range, lifted the Dial in his right hand, and jammed it straight into the man's unprotected, reopened chest wound.

The cruel force of four hooksword killing blows rushed out in a torrent, smashing into the Scorpion second's wound with point-blank accuracy. Usopp felt the jarring impact all the way up his arm to his shoulder as well, and it was only by clenching his teeth so hard that his jaw hurt that he was able to keep from screaming out loud. But it was necessary, the only way to win, and he was a Brave Warrior of the Sea. If Sanji could die alone without complaint, if Robin could go smiling, if Zoro could be so confident as he left, then damn it all, he, the Brave Captain Usopp, could take a little pain for the sake of his nakama, too!

And the move definitely had its intended effect. Kawazu screamed, but this wasn't his usual roar of pain; this was eerie, almost ethereal, as though it transcended the living world to the afterlife. His fist, still holding his hooksword, came smashing down out of reflex, and Usopp felt his left shoulder seemed to light on fire as the wicked spike on the sword's hilt dug in deeply, heard something crack. And then there was blood everywhere, as the second's chest seemed to burst in on itself.

The man collapsed back onto the lavender grass and yellow stone, still wailing, clutching at his torn apart chest as though he could somehow stop the bleeding. But there was no way to block up that hole, not now, probably not even with a doctor. The damage likely wouldn't have been nearly so bad, if the wound hadn't already been in place. But with that deep gash, using the Impact Dial had been like setting dynamite in the cracks of a cave wall. The man wasn't dead quite yet, but he would bleed out in a matter of minutes, and there was no way he was getting up again, so it was as good as a victory.

Usopp staggered back as well, both of his arms dangling uselessly at his sides, and the Impact Dial dropped from his limp fingers to the ground. He was in so much pain, and it hurt so badly to even move. How did Luffy and Zoro and Sanji even stand this? And worse was the...the mess laying there on the ground, still scrabbling weakly, crying out with indecipherable screeches of pain. Had he really been capable of doing that?

The shaking started before he could even think about it. But this time it was the rush of raw terror at himself mixing with the heart-pounding relief that he'd survived, and not only lived, but contributed. He had felt guilty throughout this entire game for being the cause of it all, forcing his nakama through so much pain, while being so utterly useless throughout it. But he'd done it. He'd helped bring one of the men down, gotten them that much closer to rescuing the others. Now all he had to do was just help Luffy bring down the final one, and—

"Usopp!"

Still staggering, arms flopping uselessly, Usopp nevertheless managed to whirl around and look for Luffy and their final opponent. He was stunned at what he saw. Luffy looked relatively unharmed, and at the very least wasn't bleeding from any new wounds since Kawazu's slash at his arm. But his hat had been pinned to one of the spiral trees with the point of Sasori's dagger, flattening the straw and cutting several strands clean apart. Luffy's neck was stretched back at a bizarre angle, and Usopp noted after a moment that it had somehow become entangled with the string that normally held it to his neck if he wasn't wearing it.

Luffy was scrabbling frantically at the string and hat to detangle himself from it, or maybe release the hat from the knife that had caught it. Usopp began to stagger forward, thinking to help, when he realized Luffy's eyes were wide in horror, and he was yelling, "USOPP, RUN! RUN NOW!"

Usopp heard the crack of a whip, and his eyes fell on the knife. If that wasn't in Sasori's hand, then his other infamous weapon, the whip, had to be. Panicking himself now, he tried to run forward as best as his floppy limbs and bleeding foot allowed. At the same time, Luffy finally managed to snap his head free—the straw hat remained pinned to the spiral tree—and launched himself wildly, desperately, in Sasori's direction.

He was too late. Usopp felt, with a bewildering familiarity, something coil snugly around his neck. It was tight enough to make him choke, and he coughed, jerking forward with the motion, trying to force his limp hands up free himself. In that moment, he felt the sting in his neck: a tiny, insignificant little pain compared to everything else he was feeling.

And in that moment, he knew he was a dead man.


Shorter chapter than usual, I know. My apologies. It was originally going to be much longer, but Luffy stole the show and earned his own chapter, so...yeah. Incidentally, for all of you wondering WHERE IS LUFFY'S CHAPTER, now you know.

True Fax: I have a Zoro wallpaper set up as my laptop's background. It has him with all three swords out and bandana on, ready to kick srs arse. My aunt saw him and declared he was 'adorable.' I'll never look at him the same way again.

You know the drill. Nice considerate reviews. Mm...mind food.

~VelkynKarma