The Bracelet
Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece
Chapter 25:
AN: And so begins the All Blue Island Arc. There's lots more ZoSan interaction in this…Enjoy!
Several hours passed and most of the crew remained on deck while watching Aoi pointing northwest to All Blue Island. Sanji took breaks from his vigil to cook lunch and make snacks for the crew. As the hours continued to drag on by, Sanji was beginning to feel lightheaded. He could feel his magical energy being slowly drained out of him by Aoi.
Sanji put a hand to his forehead and swayed on his feet. He would have fallen over if not for the strong arms that embraced him from behind - Zoro.
Sanji looked down at Zoro's tanned muscular arms and smiled softly. He put a hand over Zoro's forearm. "Thanks Marimo."
Zoro put his head right next to Sanji's ear. "Are you okay? We could ask them to let you take another break?" Zoro's hot breath wafted over Sanji's ear and he shuddered.
Sanji shook his head. "No, I'm alright…it's close, Zoro. I can feel it…"
Zoro frowned. He didn't like how pale the cook looked. He was always pushing himself. The swordsman sighed and rubbed his temples.
Law was standing close by (the stalker!) and also keeping a close eye on Sanji for any abnormalities…Zoro supposed. The swordsman tightened his arms around Sanji and glared at Law for good measure.
Law raised an eyebrow at him as if to say 'What?'. Law was acting all innocent but Zoro wasn't buying it. He didn't trust that know-it-all smartass pirate doctor.
At that moment, Sanji gasped. "W-We're here! Aoi is going to open the gate."
"The gate?" Zoro asked, brow furrowed as he looked at the wide-open sea before him. There was no island…had Sanji lost it? "Cook, there's no-"
However, Aoi began to glow brighter and brighter with a blue-tinged light and the column of energy grew in size - until it was enormous. In front of the Thousand Sunny a gigantic whirlpool of silvery blue energy began to form above the ocean.
Sanji gasped and began to tremble in Zoro's arms as Aoi sucked more magical energy out of his body to open the gate. The cook let out a small whimper of pain that had Zoro panicking. "Cook?!"
Aoi stopped glowing and clattered to the deck. The gigantic 100-foot tall vortex of energy remained hovering over the ocean. The gateway to All Blue had been opened.
"The gate to All Blue - it's been opened!" Ussop cried out from the crow's nest.
"Amazing. It must be a dimensional portal. No wonder no one else has been able to find All Blue Island since the incident…" Robin said shrewdly. "You would need a mage in order to do so."
Sanji slumped in Zoro's arms as he lost consciousness. "Sanji?!"
"Sanji?!" Chopper had also noticed Sanji passing out and rushed over to Zoro as he lay the cook down gently on the deck.
Law followed after Chopper and allowed the reindeer to check Sanji's vital signs. Chopper let out a breath of relief once everything seemed to be in order. Sanji's heartbeat was steady. "He's okay…he's just exhausted…"
Law crouched down next to Sanji and just to make sure also checked Sanji's vitals before nodding in agreement. "I concur with your diagnosis, Doctor Chopper."
Chopper smiled and wiggled his hips from side-to-side. "That doesn't make me happy, asshole."
"Well, if Sanji is alright let's get a move on. We don't know how long that portal will be open." Nami huffed, arms over her chest.
Zoro stood up and glared at Nami. "The cook's dream is to find All Blue Island, sea witch. He'd never forgive us if he was unconscious during all this!"
"I have a solution." Law began and took out some smelling salts, which he held under the cook's nose.
The cook stirred, opened his eyes and sat up. He looked up at Zoro, Nami, Chopper and Law hovering over him with a confused expression on his face. "What happened?"
"You fainted, princess." Zoro rumbled.
Sanji's eye twitched. "What was that, shitty swordsman?!" Sanji leapt to his feet and sent a round house kick soaring at Zoro's head
Zoro dodged the kick by moving his head slightly to the side.
Sanji wasn't finished though and sent a sidekick at Zoro's gut next. Zoro unsheathed Shusui and blocked the blow.
Zoro and Sanji began to fight on the deck - something they hadn't done for a while. Both were smiling as they attacked each other fiercely.
Chopper was giving Zoro and Sanji wide-eyed looks. "Ahhh! Zoro! Sanji! You shouldn't be fighting!" Chopper exclaimed tapping his hoofs together nervously.
Law put a hand on Chopper's shoulder and chuckled lowly. "Don't worry…it should be okay. It's a good sign that his energy is returning to him."
Chopper let out a huff. "Well, if you say so."
"Shishishi they're really energetic!" Luffy laughed at Sanji and Zoro's antics. "Now that Sanji's awake - onward! Through the Mystery Gate and to All Blue Island!" Luffy cried as he stretched his arms out to grab onto the lion head at the bow of the ship and went flying through the air to land upon it.
"Aye aye Captain!" The Strawhats cried out in unison.
"This is totally super!" Franky was standing behind the helm and the cyborg turned the wheel so that the Thousand Sunny began to head right for the gate.
Zoro went over and picked up Aoi and slipped the sword into his haramaki.
Pirate…what should I do about the gate? After you and your crew have passed through should I close it? Aoi asked in Zoro's mind. Captain Kidd might still be in pursuit of us. Zoro frowned. "Oi…after we get through there should we have Aoi close the gate?"
Luffy frowned, brow furrowed, "But what about-"
Sanji cut Luffy off. "No, we have to wait for Ace. I was reading one of the books Robin-san gave me and the properties of the Devil Fish are pretty amazing. The fish is said to have healing properties and the ability to cure any disease or condition in existence. Ace's current 'condition' as a zombie might possibly be cured." Sanji offered his captain an urgent look.
Luffy's dark eyes sparkled with hope. "Yosh! Alright! We'll leave the gate open so Ace can get through!"
No one commented that for that to happen Smoker and Ace would have to defeat Captain Kidd first…
Sanji shot Law a concerned look. Sanji knew that Law still had feelings for Captain Kidd. Sanji approached the pirate doctor. "Law…why didn't you return to Captain Kidd's ship after Zoro and I returned from Smoker's?"
Law gave him an intense look. "You were dying…they may call me the Surgeon of Death but…I'm a doctor. The most important thing to me is…life. You're my patient. I had to help save you and give you a proper diagnosis."
Sanji blinked. "Well, what did I have?"
"You were lovesick." Law deadpanned.
Sanji's face began to turn red. "L-L-Love sick?! Quack doctor!" Sanji sent his foot flying towards Law's head.
Law blocked the blow with his sword and chuckled. "You know, I've never seen a couple more in love than you two. It's pretty…cute." He teased the cook.
"Arghhh!" Sanji attacked Law again. Sanji realized that law was pretty skill as he seemed to effortlessly dodge and block all of his kicks. "Not bad, Surgeon of Death."
Zoro scowled as he watched Sanji and Law fighting. That was his and the cook's thing, dammit.
The Thousand Sunny passed through the whirling gateway of energy and as the ship passed through everyone felt a tingly sensation wash over them.
In seconds they had passed through the gate. Sanji ran to the bow of the ship, grabbed the railing and peered ahead. This was it! All Blue Island! He had dreamed about this day for so long - since he was a little boy and could read the words on the pages of the fairytale book that had been in his possession since he was a baby. The book had been titled 'All Blue'.
All Blue Island…a place surrounded by a magical sea where fish from all four seas could be found and fish that existed in no other sea lived there too. Because of Robin he now knew it was also supposed to be a beautiful summer island covered in a unique, rare, blue flower.
Sanji had always envisioned All Blue to be this beautiful place with shimmering dark blue waters and filled with beautiful fish. Perhaps there would even be a lush tropical island there. Was what he had always thought.
But Sanji's daydreams were nothing like the reality that met his eyes. Sanji shivered and wrapped his arms around his body as a gust of cold wind hit him. "Brrrr."
Fat snowflakes were swirling through the air coming from the direction of the island. The island before them was not a summer island at all but a winter one…!
An island covered in ice and snow. Thick gray clouds swirled directly over the island but nowhere else. Beyond the island the sky was clear and the clouds were white. It was just over the island itself that the storm clouds hovered…it looked cold and desolate…
Sanji's eyes widened as he looked at the island and his spirits fell. That was All Blue? The place of his dreams? What the fuck? Sanji sunk to his knees in disappointment.
Zoro was standing next to Sanji and wanted to reach out to the cook but hesitated.
Something's wrong. Aoi said in Zoro's mind as she too looked at the island. It's not supposed to be that way. All Blue Island is a summer island not a winter island. It must be some kind of curse.
"Those clouds are not natural." Nami pointed at the strange gray storm clouds that were hovering over the island. "They're just over the island and nowhere else - see. And they're not moving, real clouds don't do that. The weather is perfect everywhere else except just on the island."
"The sea witch is right." Zoro spoke up. "Aoi just told me that All Blue Island is not supposed to be like that. It's a summer island…not a winter one. Someone must have put it under some kind of curse." The swordsman explained in his deep voice.
"A curse?" Sanji's ears perked up and pushed himself back to his feet. He glared at the island, fires burning in his deep blue eyes. "Someone put the island under a curse…" He clenched his fists at his sides. "Then…I'll find a way to break that curse." I'm a mage now…I should be able to do it. Maybe that's why I'm here…to break this curse…and to save Ace…! Sanji's body began to tremble from the overwhelming emotions that were coursing through his body and from the cold.
Sanji felt a hand on his arm and turned to see Zoro. Sanji shrugged the hand off his arm. "I'm okay…I'm just pissed. Someone dared to curse my homeland…my beautiful homeland…dammit!" The cook grit his teeth.
Zoro still looked at Sanji concernedly. He knew Sanji's lifelong dream had been All Blue - to finally find All Blue but for it to look like a desolate winter island was probably pretty disheartening.
"How is it being a winter island now a curse?" Chopper asked tentatively. His home island had been a winter one after all and he considered it to be a beautiful place.
Sanji gave Chopper an apologetic look. "It's just…not what I expected. That's all. It's different from how it's supposed to be."
As the Thousand Sunny drew nearer to the island they could see a castle on top of a hill that looked like it was made out of ice, but that was probably just covered in ice.
It reminded Zoro that Sanji was a prince. This was his kingdom and that was his castle…and it was frozen.
"Alright…before we prepare to dock and disembark everyone needs to get changed into proper winter clothes." Nami ordered, as always the voice of reason with the over-excitable crew.
"Hai~ Yes, Nami!" The crew all agreed.
Sanji headed to the men's bunkroom and over to his clothes trunk. This was it - All Blue Island. He decided he'd wear the suit Raven had given him at Magick Island and his long winter jacket overtop that was yellow and black and had 'S's on it, and which he had worn back at Punk Hazard.
Sanji was stripping his clothes off when he heard a sharp intake of breath behind him. Sanji turned to see Zoro giving him a wide-eyed look. The cook raised an eyebrow at the marimo as he took his pants off leaving him in only his boxers.
Zoro quickly closed the door and leaned up against it, putting his entire weight against the door so that no one else would be able to come inside. "Ero-cook…hurry up and get dressed."
Sanji was still giving Zoro a funny look. He shrugged as he began to put on the enchanted suit. The door creaked.
"Oi! Is the door locked?" It was Ussop's voice.
"That's weird! The bunkroom has no lock!" It was Franky's voice next.
Sanji pulled up his pants, zipped and buttoned them. What the hell was Zoro doing…? Some kind of prank?
"Hey let me try!" Luffy's voice. "Gomu Gomu no…!"
Zoro braced himself and wouldn't budge even as the door splintered. "No one is getting in here right now! The cook is getting dressed!" The swordsman growled.
Sanji blushed when he finally realized what Zoro was up to. "Idiot marimo! I'm not a girl!" The cook attacked Zoro.
Zoro couldn't move since he was still blocking the door and the cook's foot connected with his chest. The air was knocked out of him. "Oof." The swordsman looked at the cook's bare chest. "You have pink nipples…" He said conversationally.
Sanji blushed and covered his chest self-consciously. "Argh…you're insufferable, you brute!" The cook complained as he went over to get his shirt and quickly started to button it up.
And not a moment too soon - after all the abuse the door had taken it finally fell off its twisted hinges and Zoro fell to the floor flat on his face with the door on top of him. Ussop, Franky, Brook, Law, Chopper, and Luffy all fell in a heap on top of Zoro and the broken door.
As Sanji put his vest on he rolled his eyes at the heap of young men and began to put on his suit jacket. "Sorry guys, you missed the show." Sanji joked as he took out a cigarette, lit it, and took a drag. He grabbed his yellow and black jacket before strolling past his crewmates. He hopped over them and out the door.
"Show? What show? We missed it? Aw man." Luffy complained.
Sanji made his way to the galley and decided to make everyone some hot chocolate. A nice hot beverage would help to warm everyone up now that the weather they were experiencing was colder. Soon…they would be docking at All Blue Island…
Sanji melted pieces of dark chocolate in a pan, added milk, nutmeg, cinnamon, and sugar. It was his own special recipe. Sanji finished the hot chocolate and poured it from the pan into nine waiting mugs on a tray. The cook set the pan back on the stove, picked up the tray, and headed out to the main deck. By the time Sanji got out there everyone was dressed in their winter clothes.
Sanji's eyes were drawn to Zoro who was wearing the enchanted jacket Raven had given him at Magick Island - the long black leather trench coat with the design of three swords on the back and green accents. Zoro was looking extremely handsome in that jacket.
Sanji took a deep breath and began to pass around mugs of steaming hot chocolate to his crewmates. His crewmates blew on the hot chocolate, took their first sips, and their eyes lit up with delight. Sanji felt warmth spread through his chest as he noticed their reactions. He was always happy to make others happy with his food.
"Mmm~! This hot chocolate is delicious, Sanji!" Luffy exclaimed. Luffy was always so honest about his opinion about Sanji's cooking. Sanji acted like it didn't mean a lot to him…but it did. His captain always going on and on about how good his cooking was was one of the reasons he stayed with the crew - especially during the Davy Back Fight where Porche had shown an interest in him and had offered Sanji the opportunity to join Foxy's crew.
Zoro had joked that the cook should just leave the crew. Surely, he hadn't been serious at the time. At last, Sanji was offering Zoro a cup of hot chocolate. "Um, here, marimo."
Zoro raised an eyebrow as he looked at the mug of hot chocolate. It was very festive looking and even had a cinnamon stick in it. "I don't like sweet things."
"I made yours a little different from the others." Sanji admitted in a low voice to Zoro. Everyone seemed to be watching them curiously.
"Is that so?" Zoro took the mug of hot chocolate, blew on it, and took a tentative sip - dark chocolate and…wasabi? Zoro smirked. "It's good, cook."
Sanji blushed. "Thanks."
"Yohohohoho! How romantic~!" Brook declared.
Sanji kicked Brook across the deck and sent the skeleton flying.
The Thousand Sunny neared the island and Franky looked for a good place to dock. The cyborg noticed an inlet and pulled the Sunny into it. The anchor was lowered followed by the gangplank.
"Alright! All Blue Island!" Luffy burst out.
Sanji gave Luffy a surprised and slightly confused look. "Luffy…aren't you disappointed about how All Blue Island looks?"
Luffy blinked at Sanji. "Huh? Disappointed? We found All Blue Island! And even went through a Mystery Gate to get here! And apparently the island is CURSED! Isn't that so cool?! We'll have to find out what happened…it's a MYSTERY ISLAND!" Luffy shouted excitedly throwing his arms up into the air.
Sanji blinked. "Mystery Island? I suppose you're right…thanks Luffy." What was it about their clueless captain that he always knew the right thing to say to save his nakama? Luffy's right…we found All Blue Island…and that's amazing. I'll find out what happened here…who cursed this island…and then I'll kick his ass. I'll also find out a way to undo the curse…
The Strawhat Pirates began to disembark. Ussop and Chopper volunteered to stay behind and watch the ship. Sanji, Zoro, Luffy, Nami, Robin, Franky, Brook and Law began to make their way down the gangplank and stepped foot on All Blue Island on the snowy ground.
"I think we should head to the castle first." Robin suggested. "There might be some clues there as to what happened here…" Everyone readily agreed and a few of them nodded.
"Yosh! That sounds like a good idea, Robin. Onward! To All Blue Castle!" Luffy cried.
"Treasure…treasure…treasure…" Nami was saying to herself and her eyes had already turned into beli signs.
The group headed for the icy castle in the distance. They passed through a forested area that opened up to the city, which consisted of lots of homes and stores made out of gray stone. The buildings were covered in ice and…!
"People…there are people." Sanji murmured as he saw people in the distance. "Oi! Heyyy!" Sanji ran off towards the figures. He reached the figures that were standing in the middle of the snow-covered road. But they were frozen and covered in a thin layer of ice.
Sanji could see that it was a man and woman - they had blonde hair and curled eyebrows just like his. Their expressions were terrified and they seemed to be running away from the direction of the castle, as if they were running away from something. Sanji looked around and spotted more figures. "Hey!" Sanji ran over to them next but they were also frozen. He could see their curled eyebrows beneath the ice.
These were his people…he had a people…but…they had been taken away from him. They were all dead. What were they all running away from, I wonder? Sanji thought.
A thick snow was falling down around Sanji and he wrapped his arms around his shivering body as he gazed at the ghost city. Everything was covered in snow and ice.
"Hey…" Zoro said as he came up behind Sanji.
"They're all dead Zoro…my people…" Sanji said softly and brokenly.
Zoro embraced the cook from behind. He didn't know what to say. What do you say to an exclamation like that?
"Everyone's been frozen…they've been completely preserved inside the ice. How fascinating." Robin said morbidly.
"Robin," Franky warned.
"All these people would have been Sanji's subjects." Nami mused aloud. "What a waste."
"Nami…" Luffy scolded.
"It's okay Luffy…I…at least I got to see their faces…" Sanji spoke up suddenly. "At least I know I had a people…and I wasn't always alone. Luffy did you see their curled eyebrows?"
Luffy nodded. "Yea! It's so neat! It's like a whole bunch of Sanjis lived here! Shishishishi~!"
Sanji nodded. "Let's keep moving. I want to see where I was born…"
Zoro tried picturing Sanji as a baby and a dopey grinned formed on his face.
"Yosha! Alright!" Luffy exclaimed happily. "Sanji would have been the cutest baby!"
The Strawhats continued their way through the city. There had been no outer wall - the entire city was out in the open. The city led up to the castle, which was at the top of a hill.
It took twenty minutes and the Strawhat Pirates reached the castle. It was an impressive, medieval style castle with lots of turrets and pointed roofs. Regal golden pennants had been flying from the tops of the pointed roofs with the image of a blue fish with golden swirls on it. The flags were covered in ice - almost as if in suspended animation. The Strawhats could tell that just before this place was cursed those pennants had been flapping in the breeze. The entire majestic castle, which was made of a gray stone, was covered in a thin layer of ice. As the sun hit the exterior of the castle the building seemed to glow.
Soldiers and knights in medieval armor stood out in the courtyard but they were completely covered in ice. Their armor was spectacular and solid gold. They had been engaged in battle against marines and pirates, who were all frozen too.
"Look marines and pirates." Robin pointed out the combatants. "This 'curse' must have befallen the island during the final battle…when you were sent to North Blue, Sanji."
Law was inspecting the people trapped in the ice curiously and walking around the figures.
Sanji looked at the marines and pirates fighting his knights curiously. If that was true…and everyone got frozen during the final battle then that meant that maybe his parents - his mother and father had been frozen too! "Then…that would mean my parents…! Where's the temple?!" Sanji demanded.
"I think I saw a blue domed building east of here." Robin revealed.
"What?! You're not even going to go inside the castle?!" Nami exclaimed as she looked at the castle with starry eyes. "I'm sure there's treasure…"
"I could care less about that. If you want to go on a treasure hunt, Nami-swan, feel free. You can keep whatever you find…" Sanji offered. "But I want to go to the temple!"
Nami nodded. "Alright. Luffy, you stay here with me. We'll investigate and search the castle. Meanwhile, the rest of you can go and check out the temple. See what you find there…"
"I'm going to stay behind with them." Law spoke up suddenly. "While those two are busy searching for treasure they might miss something important."
"Sounds like a plan." Sanji nodded in agreement.
Luffy was looking excited. "Yosha! A treasure hunt! Maybe we'll find Sanji's crown!"
Nami hit Luffy over the head. "I doubt there's anything like that in here…"
Law was giving Sanji a curious look. No one had told him the whole story but…from what he had managed to piece together Sanji was a prince. There probably was something like a crown for Sanji inside of the castle. Law would make sure that if there were such a thing he'd keep the crown for Sanji, and wouldn't let the money hungry Nami take it.
Sanji wasn't listening. He was already speed walking east and towards the temple, which basically looked just like the Azure Temple back on Magick Island. Sanji realized that the Azure Temple's design had probably been based on this one.
Sanji, Zoro, Franky, Robin and Brook headed for the original Azure Temple of All Blue Island. It took ten minutes for them to reach the temple. The front courtyard was a battlefield - Bluians, marines, pirates, and mages dressed in black hooded cloaks with golden spiders on their chests.
"What the? It's those guys again…mages from the Order of the Golden Spider…!" Sanji said as he caught sight of the frozen mages. "So they were here too at the end. But why? What did those bastards want…?"
Sanji saw that the mages from the Order of the Golden Spider were attacking his priests and priestesses. Shit. Sanji wished he had been here as an adult - maybe he could have turned the tide of the war but it was too late now…
Robin seemed curious as well. "Indeed. I wonder…perhaps we will gain more answers inside."
"Right…" Sanji led the way to the temple. He climbed up the stairs and made his way to the entrance. He pushed on the door - it was frozen shut. Sanji sent a flying sidekick at the door and it was blasted open. Sanji and the others made their way into the freezing cold temple. It was pitch black inside.
Sanji noticed that there were tall bronze braziers scattered throughout the temple. "Hey, hang on a second." Sanji took a deep breath, summoned his magical power, and cast a spell. "Koron en' naur. Fireball!" Sanji formed a fireball in his hand and flung it at the brazier, which instantly ignited. He flung several more fireballs at the metal braziers throughout the temple as well as the candelabra until the entire temple interior was illuminated with flickering firelight.
"Show off." Zoro grumbled.
Sanji grinned.
A fierce battle had obviously been waged inside of the temple as well - the majority of the fighting seemed to have taken place around a large stone altar that stood at the back of the temple. A circle of priests and priestesses were standing around the stone altar - all with their hands thrown up into the air. On the altar sat a wooden cradle.
Sanji's eyes widened when he caught sight of the wooden cradle on the altar surrounded by the circle of priests and priestesses. Had that been his cradle…? If so…were his parents over there too?!
Sanji took off running for the altar, and made his way through the circle of priests and priestesses. And there standing right by the baby cradle were the King and Queen of All Blue Island.
The Queen of All Blue Island had long, golden hair that fell down her back in waves that reached the floor. She had bright blue eyes and curled eyebrows - though her brows curled in the same direction and were not asymmetrical like Sanji's.
The Queen was wearing a blue and gold, medieval gown with belled sleeves, and a lace-up corset. She wore a gold necklace around her neck with a golden fish on it. There was also a glittering golden crown upon her head. She was stunning.
"Mother…" Sanji breathed and sunk to his knees in shock.
He turned to look at the man standing next to her - the King of All Blue Island! He was tall, muscular, with tanned skinned and short, spiked-up blonde hair. He had fierce gray-blue eyes, a square chin, and curled eyebrows. His father had definitely been a manly man. He was wearing golden armor and held a golden sword aloft in his hand. A golden crown was sitting on the King's head.
"Father…" Sanji turned teary eyes to see his father next. His father had obviously been king but also a warrior - a fierce and powerful swordsman.
Zoro looked at Sanji's father curiously. His fingers twitching. Sanji's father looked strong. He would have loved the opportunity to fight him.
Sanji had vague memories of his mother…her softness and her lilting singing, but sadly Sanji didn't have very many memories of his father. Probably because he was always off fighting dragons and saving the kingdom and whatnot.
Tears began to stream down Sanji's face. These were his parents…! He hadn't been given away, abandoned or unloved. His parents had been the King and Queen of All Blue Island and had used all of their remaining magical power to send Sanji to North Blue.
Sanji looked at the tears streaming down his mother's face - her sad expression captured for all time within the ice. "Mother…" Sanji whimpered.
Strong arms wrapped around him from behind. He didn't even have to turn his head to know who it was - Zoro's embrace had become familiar - welcome.
Sanji turned around and flung his arms around the swordsman's torso as he began to cry into his chest. Zoro wrapped his arms around Sanji and stroked his hair.
Meanwhile, Robin had spotted a poneglyph off to one side. It was similar to the poneglyph that had been inside of the Azure Temple back on Magick Island. Crouched before the poneglyph was a person, who had been carving words into the poneglyph with a chisel and hammer. The person had obviously been adding a message in the secret language of the poneglyphs just before he got frozen like everyone else. This made the man's dying message even more intriguing. Robin was walking towards the poneglyph, however…
"Brook?" Came a soft female voice.
All eyes turned to look behind them. A cloaked and hooded figure was approaching them from the entrance of the temple where a fierce wind was blowing snow inside the temple. The figure was obviously female and her cloak was a dark green color.
The woman lowered her hood to reveal her long raven-black hair and large emerald green eyes. Her eyes were amazing, glittered just like gemstones, and were surrounded by long, dark lashes. She had pale skin and pink lips.
Brook's eyes bulged - even though he didn't have eyes. "E-Esmeralda?!"
Sanji looked back and forth between the beautiful mysterious woman and Brook curiously. "Esmeralda?"
Tears filled the woman's eyes and she raised a hand in front of her mouth as she began to run towards Brook. "It really is you…! Brook!" Esmeralda launched herself at Brook. He caught her in his arms and began to spin her around happily.
"Yohohoho! Esmeralda! You still look so young and beautiful! It's been 60 years! I see you found All Blue. I'm here as I promised, but alas, I'm a little late, I fear…"
"Oh Brook…" Esmeralda reached up to touch the skeleton's skull and traced the omega scar with her index finger. "What happened to you, my love? Are you dead? Are you a ghost?"
Brook nodded. "I ate the Revive-Revive Fruit, and so because of that I'm somehow still alive, but cursed as you can see. I no longer have flesh on my bones! My heart is beating madly in my chest from getting to see you, Esmeralda. Even though I don't have a heart! Yohohohoho!"
"Oh Brook…that's horrible but…there's hope! I found it, Brook! The secret to immortality! The flesh of the Devil Fish has kept me looking like this the last 60 years! The people on this island would capture that fish and eat its flesh to stay young. The royal kitchen here is filled with the fish in its freezer. Or rather it was filled with Devil Fish, but I've consumed the last one recently. Oh no…if I knew you were coming…I wouldn't have eaten it! Perhaps, if you eat the flesh of the Devil Fish you too will be cured! There must be a way to call the fish…but the ocean is frozen…what shall we do?"
Brook blinked - even though he didn't have eyes. "If I eat the Devil Fish then…Esmeralda…?" Brook hugged his love close to him.
"Whoa whoa whoa, wait just a minute." Sanji took out a cigarette, lit it and took a shaky drag from it. He pointed his cigarette at Esmeralda. "Who the hell are you?" The cook demanded.
"I'm Esmeralda - I used to be a pirate. I'm Brook's girlfriend." Esmeralda explained.
"G-G-Girlfriend?!" Sanji felt faint. Brook had managed to get himself such a beautiful girlfriend…and she seemed to be genuinely in love with him too. For some reason Sanji was feeling a little jealous. He had always had such bad luck when it came to wooing the ladies. Although…as he looked at Zoro out of the corner of his eye…that had become a mute point. He had a boyfriend now. An extremely hot boyfriend…
"That's SUPER!" Franky exclaimed. "You've got such a gorgeous woman as your girlfriend, Brook!"
Robin pinched Franky's arm out of jealously.
"Ow!" Franky rubbed his arm. Robin knew where his body was still real flesh and which parts of his body had been replaced with cybernetic components. That she-devil!
"But what is she doing here?" Zoro asked giving this Esmeralda lady a suspicious look.
"60 years ago…when we were both thirty years old, Esmeralda told me about the legend of All Blue. She wanted to find it to gain eternal youth. She told me that if we were ever separated that she would head here and wait for me…" Brook explained.
Esmeralda nodded. "Yes, that's right. I found this place but it was like this when I got here…it had been cursed. Apparently, an evil mage did this, but the curse can be lifted by another mage. There's a spell-"
"What do you mean the 'curse' can be lifted? What would happen to All Blue Island?" Sanji's heart began to hammer madly in his chest.
"Why everyone would be saved of course. Everyone is still alive - they've just been in an enchanted sleep. The ice would melt…everyone would come back to life and the island would return to being a summer island!" Esmeralda declared happily.
Sanji looked at her wide-eyed, and slack jawed. "Everyone's alive…my people are alive…my mother and father are alive…?! No way…"
Esmeralda gave Sanji a curious look and noted his curly eyebrow. She gasped. "Oh my God…the lost prince…you have returned! The Chosen One! The one who will save this place…just as it says in the prophecy. You're a mage, right?!"
Sanji nodded, feeling overwhelmed. "Yes…"
Esmeralda nodded. "Then you can undo the curse…the counter-spell is written on that ponegylph. The only problem is that no one can read it…" Esmeralda chewed on her lower lip fretfully.
"I can." Robin spoke up. "I can read the poneglyph."
Esmeralda's eyes went wide. "Oh my God…then…the prince can learn the spell and break the curse! Hurry! Read the spell so the prince can learn it!"
Robin nodded and made her way over to the poneglyph. She crouched down and began to read it slowly to herself and memorize it. Franky stood close by to protect Robin.
However-
"I don't think so." Came a drawling, baritone voice. "Blackleg Sanji."
Everyone turned to see a figure approaching them from the entrance of the temple and making his way down the center aisle. The light from the braziers and candelabra illuminated the figure-
"Vice Admiral Onigumo?" Sanji questioned.
Zoro narrowed his eyes at Vice Admiral Onigumo and his hand went to rest on Shusui's hilt.
Onigumo chuckled and spread his arms wide. "Yes, well, this is one of my many identities. Another of my identities is…" Onigumo began to summon his magical power and his clothes and appearance began to change. His face began to look younger, and his eyes turned golden. Onigumo's marine outfit turned into an all-black leather outfit - shirt, pants, and combat boots. On the front of Onigumo's shirt was a golden spider. He wore a long black cape with a gold lining that was billowing out behind him as he approached the Strawhats. "The Archmage of the Order of the Golden Spider!"
Aoi suddenly used the magic she had 'borrowed' from Sanji, so that she could materialize before everyone. She appeared semi-transparent and ghost-like. Her long blue hair cascaded down her back in waves, her blue eyes narrowed dangerously at Onigumo and her long blue dress seemed to move in an unseen wind. "It's you…Onigumo! The Order of the Golden Spider…of course, how could I forget?! They're an order of assassins that work in the shadows to move the entire world in the direction they deem correct. The Order of the Golden Spider came here to All Blue Island during the final battle to kill all of the Bluians…especially those who knew the song to call the Devil Fish. Now I remember what happened to me! Onigumo killed me and trapped my spirit inside of this sword! After that, I watched as he placed a curse upon the entire island. He even sacrificed his own men! This curse that's befallen All Blue is all Onigumo's doing!"
Sanji and Zoro had already met Aoi - but Franky, Robin, Brook and Esmeralda had not.
"Whoa…your sword is possessed?" Franky asked Zoro. "By a hot babe?"
Zoro nodded as Robin elbowed Franky in his side.
"That's super, bro." Franky gasped out as he rubbed his side.
"How fascinating. To be able to trap a soul inside of a sword must have taken a very powerful spell." Robin said. This man is dangerous.
Onigumo looked at Aoi and recognition flashed in his gold eyes. "Ah, it's you…the feisty priestess that tried to stop me single-handedly. You were very loyal to the King and Queen of this kingdom. Sadly, I had to kill you before we could have a little fun first…" Onigumo licked his lips.
Aoi wrapped her arms around herself and shuddered.
A fiery red aura burst up around Sanji. "How dare you address a lady like that!" Sanji charged Onigumo angrily.
A wide, evil, triumphant smile spread across Onigumo's face as he caused a scepter to materialize in his hand. "I've been waiting for this moment for the past 21 years, Blackleg Sanji! The moment I would kill you - the only Bluian who escaped ME! DIE!" Onigumo spun his scepter in his two hands and pointed the globe of glowing amber Sanji's way. "Koron en' naur! Fireball!" A gigantic fireball was sent Sanji's way-!
Sanji's eyes widened and he threw up his arms to protect his face as the fireball hit him.
"Cook!" Zoro called out in concern.
However, after the smoke cleared it revealed Sanji to be unharmed. Sanji lowered his arms and looked down at his suit - it was glowing with a blue-tinged light. Raven had said the suit was enchanted with protective spells.
Sanji continued rushing forward at Onigumo and sent a kick to his gut. Onigumo raised his scepter and blocked the attack. "Ahhh!" Sanji kicked Onigumo again, who easily blocked the attack with his scepter. "Why do you want to kill me so badly, shitty mage?"
Onigumo's golden eyes were full of hate. "You're the only Bluian with the power to undo the curse I put on this place! You also have the power of a Bard, and so have the power to call the Devil Fish. I and those of my order believe that immortality is for the gods! Humans possessing immortality is blasphemy! I've hunted you for 21 years Blackleg Sanji. How I hate you…how I despise you…! I've sent you running from place to place killing everyone you hold dear again and again, but each time you've managed to escape me!"
Sanji took a step back. No one had ever hated him so much. He could feel the hate Onigumo was sending his way and shuddered. The cook gave Onigumo a confused look. "What…? What did you do…? I don't remember anything like that!" Sanji's emotions were in turmoil…
"Maybe you'd remember after I've removed that enchanted bracelet from your wrist!" Onigumo growled as he reached out lightning fast and grabbed Sanji's bracelet. He pulled back and snapped it off his wrist. The string broke and round black onyx beads went flying through the air.
Ba-thump. Ba-thump. Ba-thump. Sanji's heart thudded in his chest.
Sanji gripped his head in pain as memories suddenly began to fill his mind…! He began to remember the dark presence in the shadows that seemed to be following him ever since he could remember….
First was the North Blue Orphanage…it had been burned to the ground and all of Sanji's friends - mere children - had been inside. Sanji had been in the nearby forest reading his favorite fairytale book 'All Blue' at the time, so had miraculously survived…
By the time Sanji returned to the orphanage that day it was to see the entire place up in flames. Sanji had wanted to go inside to try and save his friends but the flames were already bursting out of the windows and doors and there was no way for Sanji to go inside. Sanji waited for the flames to go down and tried to enter…but the place was crawling with spiders. The spiders were abnormally large - the size of a squirrel. Sanji watched the spiders and saw that they were feasting upon the burning corpses of his friends.
Sanji retched from the sight and the flesh-eating spiders spotted him. They chased Sanji through the forest and he ended up at a cliff. He jumped down into the water to escape the terrifying spiders. A fishing boat manned by an old man picked him up. The old man took Sanji home with him and introduced him to his wife, who suggested that they adopt Sanji.
But the shadow of Death followed Sanji, and one day while Sanji was out fishing in a tiny rowboat the village was burned to the ground. When he arrived back at the harbor it was to return to the chaos of the village burning…
People were running and screaming away from hundreds maybe even thousands of flesh-eating spiders. Sanji tried to get close to the tiny home where he lived with the fisherman and his wife, but as soon as the spiders spotted him they began to chase him. Sanji ran back to the harbor and hopped back into his little rowboat. Sanji rowed far out to sea, fleeing the spiders and knowing that they were after him. Sanji watched the village burning to the ground and knew that this had been his entire fault. That nice old couple that had adopted him had died because of him. The shadow of Death and the flesh-eating spiders had followed him there…
As long as Sanji tried to make a 'home' on land…the spiders would come for him. After that a cruise ship picked Sanji up and put him to work as a cabin boy. He started to help out in the galley and was soon helping out with the cooking. The galley was a nice, safe, warm place where spiders couldn't get him…or so Sanji had thought…
Sanji remembered how it really happened now. There was a storm but there was also an attack on the ship that caused him to get thrown overboard. Then Zeff saved him. The shadow of Death had even found him at sea apparently…
Afterwards, he and Zeff had been stranded on that rock for days and days, and he had almost starved to death. When Sanji had asked Zeff why he had saved him the old man had responded: "Because you have the same dream as me." Zeff also wanted to find All Blue…
Had flesh-eating spiders eaten Zeff's leg? Sanji's memories were confused…
"Arghhhh…ahhhh!" Sanji gripped his head and screamed in pain, sadness and terror as he remembered the dark shadow of Death that had been following him all his life. There's no escape…there's no escape…there's no hope…there's no hope…Onigumo will kill everyone again…the spiders…they'll come….!
Sanji sunk to his knees, continued to scream, and tears began to stream down his face.
Onigumo smiled and approached Sanji. He used his magic to transform his scepter into a sword. He prepared to run Sanji through with it. "As much as I'm enjoying watching you suffer…it's time to put you out of your misery. Good riddance, Blackleg Sanji! DIE!" Onigumo thrust his sword forward at Sanji's heart-
CLASH.
However, Roronoa Zoro stood in his path. Zoro held Shusui and Aoi in his hands and Wado was gripped between his teeth. He had used Wado to deflect the blow meant to pierce Sanji's heart. Zoro narrowed his eyes dangerously at Onigumo and a fierce, bloodthirsty aura flared up around him.
Zoro was pissed. Onigumo had taken the bracelet off - which meant his lover Sanji was suffering, dammit! This was unacceptable! Onigumo would die! "You'll pay for hurting the cook, Onigumo!" Zoro's swords flashed and whirled through the air - cutting deadly arcs towards Onigumo.
Onigumo was hard pressed to block Zoro's attacks with his scepter and was being pushed back.
"I won't give you the chance to cast a single spell, shit-mage!" Zoro growled as he pressed his attack and continued putting Onigumo on the defensive.
A dark scowl formed on Onigumo's face. "Roronoa Zoro…" He was quite the impressive swordsman - it was taking everything he had just to block the swordsman's fast attacks. "The Pirate Hunter…if only you would hunt and kill Sanji then we'd be on the same side. I could reward you quite handsomely for your services, Pirate Hunter. What do you say?"
"NEVER!" Zoro's swords sliced through Onigumo's scepter and sliced deeply into his chest.
Onigumo staggered backwards and put a hand over his bleeding chest in disbelief. "Roronoa Zoro…you're the first one to have ever injured me…and you'll be the last. You will be no match for me in my true form!" Onigumo snarled as he began to transform. His joints cracking, his bones breaking and reforming, his skin stretching until in seconds a gigantic golden spider that was twenty feet tall and weighed two tons was standing in front of Zoro. It had deadly, clicking mandibles in front of its mouth, and rows of glowing, red, multi-faceted eyes.
"SANJI~ DO YOU REMEMBER ME NOW? IT WAS I SANJI WHO DESTROYED THE NORTH BLUE ORPHANAGE…WHO BURNED DOWN THE FISHING VILLAGE…WHO ATTACKED THE CRUISE SHIP DURING THAT STORM…I WAS THE CREATURE YOU SAW THERE. DO YOU RECOGNIZE ME NOW, SANJIIII~?!" Onigumo's voice boomed throughout the temple.
Sanji was gripping his hair, tears streaming down his face. He heard Onigumo's words and he looked up at the gigantic spider and froze in fear. His eyes widened as he remembered…he remembered…the creature! The giant spider that was always hunting him…hunting him…he was never alone…
Zoro looked up at the enormous spider. "Now that's a big bug." He said before he attacked. No wonder the cook's afraid of spiders. "Hooryah!" Zoro attacked Onigumo's arachnid leg but his attack had no affect upon the chitinous exoskeleton.
Onigumo raised one of his eight legs and batted Zoro aside - sending him flying through the air. Zoro hit one of the stone columns inside the temple. Zoro's back hit the column with a crack, and parts of the stone column broke away. Zoro slid down the column where he lay at the base unmoving.
As Sanji watched Zoro go soaring through the air and hit the column - it moved something deep within him.
Ba-dump. Ba-dump. Ba-dump.
There's no hope…there's…Zoro…there's…Zoro…Zoro…Zoro. I love Zoro! Sanji realized that he finally knew his true feelings for the swordsman and that simple fact made all the difference. Zoro was the light in the darkness that haunted his life.
Zoro was hope. Zoro was love.
Onigumo began to walk towards Sanji, who was still lost in his thoughts, and did not notice the spider's dooming approach.
"Stay away from Sanji-san!" Came Brook's voice. Brook unsheathed his sword and rushed forward to attack the spider. His sword slashed through the air - but it had no effect upon Onigumo's hard exoskeleton. Onigumo turned his attention to Brook next, and with a wave of his leg send Brook flying. Brook hit the far wall and there was a sickening crack.
"Brook! You bastard!" Esmeralda pulled her cloak off to reveal her outfit beneath - that of a female pirate - a white blouse, black capris, an emerald green sash tied around her waist, and black boots with cuffs. There were two pistols in a holster around her waist. Esmeralda pulled out the two pistols simultaneously, stalked towards the giant spider, and fired.
Bang! Bang!
Her shots hit two of Onigumo's eyes that exploded in a mass of green blood and pus. The spider shrieked in pain. "HOW DARE YOU! YOU BITCH! DIE!"
Her pistols were old-fashioned and so only had one shot each before they needed to be reloaded. Esmeralda backed away from the giant spider and tried to reload her pistol, but knew she would be too late. A single tear trailed down her face. "Brook…"
Onigumo targeted Esmeralda next and his leg went flying through the air towards her-
CRASH.
Onigumo removed his leg from the column expecting to see Esmeralda's flattened body - but saw nothing instead.
Onigumo spun around and spotted Sanji carrying Esmeralda bridal-style and setting her down gently close to the alter. "Are you alright Esmeralda-san?" Sanji asked with hearts in his eyes.
Esmeralda blushed. "Um, yes, thank you…"
Sanji took off his yellow and black winter jacket, took out a cigarette, and lit it up. He took a drag and blew out a cloud of smoke in Onigumo's direction thoughtfully. "That is a big bug." He smirked echoing Zoro's words. Zoro…Onigumo will pay for hurting you. "It'll be hard to kill but not impossible…" Sanji walked back towards Onigumo. His tears and trembling had stopped. "Onigumo…you'll pay for making a lady cry, you bastard!" Sanji spun on his right leg, set his leg on fire, and attacked Onigumo. "Diable Jambe! Ahhh!" Sanji side kicked the spider in its side - it skidded backwards but came to a halt.
Onigumo spun and attacked Sanji with his leg-
Sanji was hit and sent flying backwards. The cook hit a pew that shattered upon impact. Pieces of food were sent flying up into the air.
"Sanji!" Esmeralda and Franky called out in concern.
Onigumo's attention was drawn to Franky and Robin because of Franky's cry. Robin was still crouched before the poneglyph and attentively reading and committing the spell song to memory. Franky was standing at her side to protect her.
"WHAT IS THAT WOMAN DOING…? IS SHE…? NOOO!" Onigumo charged towards Robin and the poneglyph next.
Franky stood in his path. "I don't think so buddy - EAT THIS!" The cyborg raised his arms and unleashed two rockets Onigumo's way.
Boom! Boom!
The rockets exploded as they impacted with Onigumo's body and smoke filled the air.
"SUPER!" Franky struck a pose.
However-
When the smoke cleared it was to reveal that Onigumo was completely unharmed. The evil mage's golden exoskeleton was really like solid gold. It was incredibly strong.
"Not super." Franky muttered unhappily. The cyborg bent low and pressed his lips against Robin's before he turned around to face Onigumo. He would protect the woman he loved. "Ahhh!" Franky attacked the spider with his fists raised. "Straight Right!" And unleashed a punch the spider's way. It had no affect.
Onigumo raised his chitinous leg and pierced Franky's torso with it-
"Franky!" Robin cried.
Onigumo lifted Franky's body up off the floor and flung him into the wall - while at the same time spitting out a glob of webbing that stuck and suspended Franky to the wall.
Onigumo approached Robin again. "AND NOW BITCH…YOU DIE!"
"I don't think so!" Came Sanji's smoke voice as he side-kicked Onigumo and sent him sailing away from Robin. "Didn't anyone ever teach you how to treat a lady? Dumbass…"
Onigumo pushed himself up off the floor on his eight legs, and turned to stare at Sanji in disbelief. "AREN'T YOU AFRAID OF ME?"
Sanji puffed on his cigarette. "I remembered something very important…" Sanji took a deep breath. "I LOVE RORONOA ZORO!" Sanji shouted at the top of his lungs and with a broad smile on is face. "AND HE LOVES ME BACK!" The smoke that was coming from Sanji's cigarette began to form tiny hearts.
"Cook…" Zoro began to push himself up off a pile of rubble. He was moved by the cook's words, slightly blushing and very shocked. He loves me? He said he loves me!
"And I'm so fucking lucky it's not even funny…and I should be terrified of you, but since I met Luffy…we've had one crazy adventure after another and…a giant spider doesn't seem so scary anymore…! I won't let you take away what's precious to me this time, Onigumo! I've changed! I'm Blackleg Sanji - the cook of the Strawhat pirates, lover of Roronoa Zoro and mage! I will defeat you!"
"Love?" Onigumo laughed bitterly. "A frivolous emotion. I will kill you Sanji and then I will kill all those dear to you - starting with the swordsman."
"Bastard!" Sanji spun and set his leg on fire before attacking Onigumo's body with a fiery barrage of kicks. But his kicks didn't seem to be affecting the gold exoskeleton at all! Dammit! He needed a more powerful attack. Sanji stroked his chin in thought.
"Zoro darling~ cover me! I need time to cast a spell!" Sanji called.
Zoro was standing again and his three swords were out and ready. "Tch. Don't call me 'darling' - it's creepy." The swordsman took off running for Onigumo.
Onigumo attacked Sanji with his leg - the cook leap backwards out of the way. "What should I call you then? I need to come up with a pet name for you now that I know I love you - Pumpkin? Sweetie Pie? Honey Bun? Pooh Bear?"
"Oh God no!" Zoro rejected the pet names as he came to stand in front of Sanji and blocked Onigumo's leg using all three swords. He skidded backwards but was able to hold his own against the giant spider this time.
Impossible…I should have sent him flying. Did he get stronger? But why? How? Onigumo wondered.
"How about Marimo!" Zoro called back to the cook as he began to attack Onigumo with fierce slashes.
"I thought you hated that name!" Sanji exclaimed as he began to summon his magical power and began to wave his hands down at his legs and started to chant. He was confident Zoro would protect him so that he'd be able to complete the spell.
"It's a hell of a lot better than Pooh Bear! Ero-cook! Asura!" Suddenly Zoro was holding nine swords that he attacked Onigumo with - the spider was being pushed back.
"Diamond Boots!" Sanji finished his spell and a pair of knee boots made out of diamond appeared on his feet. The boots had pointed toes and four-inch heels. "I kinda liked Pooh Bear!" Sanji took off running for Zoro.
Sanji leapt up into the air above Onigumo's body. "Let's do this! Diamond Boot Attack!"
"Kinky boots…I like, ero-cook!" Zoro said as he leapt up into the air and attacked Onigumo at the same time, aiming for the spot Sanji was attacking as well.
Sanji's boots connected with Onigumo's round back and finally the gold exoskeleton cracked. The cook leapt away, and out of the way of Zoro's attack.
Zoro dived down at the spider aiming for the crack Sanji had created, and plunged Aoi and Shusui into the crack - all the way up to the hilt.
The spider cried out in pain. It was this creepy shrill sound. Green blood poured out of the wound. Onigumo thrashed, spun, and tried to dislodge Zoro from his back. But Zoro held on.
Onigumo realized he wouldn't be able to get Zoro off that way, and decided to jump up towards the ceiling - planning on smashing Zoro against the ceiling. Onigumo jumped.
"Oh no, you don't!" Sanji cried, "Sky walk!" Sanji sky walked up to the ceiling and then brought the heel of his boot down upon Onigumo's head.
BAM!
Onigumo was sent flying back down to the floor with an enormous crash.
Zoro! I can inject Onigumo with magical energy and blow him up from the inside. Let go and escape! Aoi told Zoro.
Will you be alright? Zoro quickly asked.
Yes, pirate, thanks for asking. Now go!
Right. Zoro agreed, pulled out Shusui and leapt away from Onigumo.
"It's time for me to get my revenge, Onigumo! If I still had a solid body I could have had a threesome with Sanji and Zoro dammit!" Aoi cried as she let Sanji's magic energy flow into the spider's body.
"A th-th-threesome…?" Sanji nose began to bleed and he fell backwards to the floor.
"AOI? WHAT ARE YOU DOING? NOOO!" Onigumo bellowed as his body began to expand. "Damn you…damn you all…" Onigumo began to chant a spell. "Yala Onna! Summon creatures! Consider this my parting gift Blackleg Sanji - farewell."
BOOM!
Onigumo's body exploded - sending pieces of chitinous exoskeleton flying through the air and green blood spattering across the floor and walls. However, hundreds…about a thousand dimensional portals began to open up on the floor of the temple and a multitude of flesh-eating spiders appeared.
"More spiders." Zoro groaned.
"Flesh-eating spiders." Sanji corrected and his eyes darted over to the unconscious forms of Franky and Brook.
"Oh." Zoro gave the spiders a disgusted look. "I think after all this is over I'm going to hate spiders about as much as you do, cook."
"We have to protect the others." Sanji told Zoro.
"Of course we will, cook. I'll take that side and you take the other side." Zoro offered.
Sanji shook his head. "I can only kill them one at a time with my boots…that won't work. And your 100 Pound Cannon Attack and Tatsumaki will just send the spiders flying everywhere. Cover me while I take them out with fireballs!" Sanji summoned his magic power and formed a fireball in his two hands. "Koron en' naur! Fireball!" He flung the fireball at a group of spiders that were immediately incinerated. Sanji began to chant another spell and twenty spiders leapt towards him-!
Zoro stood in their way and with his swords flashing through the air he cut through the spiders.
"Koron en' naur!" Sanji sent a larger fireball off and killed at least fifty spiders at once. Zoro made sure to protect Sanji from leaping spiders as he cast another fireball spell.
Fighting back-to-back, together, and in perfect harmony, Sanji and Zoro were an unbeatable team. Not even one thousand flesh-eating spiders were a match for them.
Sanji and Zoro shared secret smiles - happy to be alive and fighting side-by-side.
"Zoro, you know what?" Sanji asked conversationally as he wiped out a hundred spiders with one large fireball.
"What?" Zoro said as he sliced a spider in half with a casual flick of his sword.
"I love you!"
Zoro blushed. "I heard you the first time cook…"
"I know." Sanji grinned as he waved his hands through the air. "I just wanted to say it again darling~"
"Argh…quit it, princess." Zoro growled.
Sanji's eye twitched. "What was that?!"
Sanji and Zoro turned and began to fight each other instead of the flesh-eating spiders.
"Shitty swordsman!"
"Dart board brow!"
"Moss-head!"
"Nosebleed!"
The spiders paused and shared confused looks as they watched Sanji and Zoro start to fight each other.
Zoro leaned forward and stole a kiss. He smirked.
"What…what was that, shitty swordsman?!" Sanji's cheeks turned pink.
Zoro waggled his eyebrows at the cook. "Did you know sparing with you always turned me on?"
"Gahhh pervert swordsman!" Sanji sent a kick flying at Zoro's head.
Zoro chuckled as he ducked, and Sanji's foot hit a spider that had been leaping at Zoro.
TBC…!
AN: And so the All Blue Arc will continues apparently. I started to feel bad for Sanji because in the fics I'm following…Gifted, Of the Sky, and Enlighten Me Sanji has had so much bad luck and torture…I decided to give him a Christmas present and have decided to bring Sanji's parents back to life! Uh oh Zoro…you're going to have to meet the in-laws! Will they like Zoro or reject him?! I wonder. I'm trying to get my original story, the sequel to Rockstar Ghost…Rockstar Ghost Resurrection done by Christmas so I won't be able to update this story until I've finished with that. I hope to get you all another update of The Bracelet before Christmas or around that time. For those of you who want another freebee my original story 'Cowboy Samurai X Badass Android' will be available for free in the kindle store from Dec 24 - Dec 28. Thanks for reading! And as always thanks for the reviews!
Sanji: Have a very Merry Christmas everyone!
Zoro: (puts his arm around Sanji) I know I will… (runs his hand down Sanji's back to fondle his ass)
Sanji: (blushes) Stop that…they're watching!
Zoro: Aren't they always…?
Sanji: (ignores Zoro) Don't forget to donate canned food for the homeless! No one wants to be hungry on Christmas! Starving…is not fun…
Zoro: (nibbled Sanji's ear) I can't decide if you're a sinner or a saint, cook.
Sanji: Idiot Marimo…