Chapter 21: Demons and Guardian

I want to give special thanks to my fellow writer, Thomas Drovin for helping in the names of the two devil fruits. So thanks again, Thomas.

"That horse can talk!" Skie said in shock.

"Of course I can," The horse said. "I ate the Gallop-Gallop fruit, demon horse mode." He tossed his head proudly as his companion growled in annoyance. "My sister ate the Sharp-Sharp fruit, demon shark mode."

"They're zoan users," Riptide said. "This is not good."

Tarlong could have cared less as he cracked his knuckles, eyes narrowing with rage. He had no love for devil fruit users especially after what Buggy did to him. "Who cares," he said. "All I see is dead ones!"

"What! Uncle wait," Riptide shouted. It was too late.

The older Swordblade charged with a roar only to be knocked aside by Marcus. He barely got his shield up in time to deflect the blast of flame. Marcus gritted his teeth as the metal of the shield became super hot fighting the burning pain that was seeping through the leather arm guard. He was so focused on protecting Tarlong that he failed to see the other zoan user until it was too late. The demon shark slammed into him, her sharp claws tearing through the leather armor he wore like it was nothing, sinking into his back and right side as blood gushed forth. Never had Riptide heard such a howl of pain as what his grandfather had produced. It was beyond anything human and it sent a chill down his spine. The neighing ring of laughter filled his ears and the hybrid looked up in horror as the demon reared up and brought his flaming hooves down onto Marcus' chest.

"No," Riptide screamed as he rushed forward to help.

The two zoan users turned to face him. Riptide managed to avoid a blast of flame and the slashing claws. The hybrid got behind the demon shark, seizing her by the tail and much to the shock of the zoan user, began swinging her around and around till they were a blur before he let go. His wild tactic paid off as the shark slammed right into her brother knocking him off his feet. He glanced back over his shoulder to see Hoji kneeling over his grandfather.

"Hoji is he-,"

"He's alive, but he is hurt pretty bad," the stingray said looking up. "LOOK OUT!"

Riptide reacted, a fraction to slow as a fist smashed into the side of his head that sent falling into a nearby tree. He winced in pain as he struggled to his feet and looked at the demon horse who was now in hybrid mode. The zoan user was coming towards him with a sick twisted grin on his face. Riptide knew they were in serious trouble unless he thought of something. Wait, maybe they did have a chance. "Hoji, toss me my blade. Now," he yelled.

"Here," the stingray said, tossing the blade.

Managing to avoid another fist to the head, Riptide threw himself to one side and caught his blade. He turned with a grin as the moonlight reflected off each saw blade. "Come on, horse face," he said. "Come and get me."

"Why you-," the fist came, connecting with the out held weapon. Riptide grin grew wider as his opponent suddenly staggered, looking weak. "What is wrong with me? I feel weak."

"It's called Seastone," Riptide said. "The blades on my kiribachi were made have it in them and just like the sea itself it weakens any devil fruit user."

The plan would have succeeded if the shark hadn't attacked him from behind. Her fearsome teeth sank into his shoulder, pulling him backward. Riptide was now enraged as he tried to free himself. How could he have forgotten about this bitch? He snarled as he twisted around bringing his free hand up and punching her right in the left eye. She shrieked in pain as she released her hold. Riptide, his right shoulder bleeding came right around driving a fist into her stomach. She dropped to her hands and knees, clearly in pain. The white shark knew they had gained a breather, but also they were no match for these two. He was hurting and his grandfather needed help and if he continued they would both end up dead.

"We need to fall back," he ordered.

"A very wise decision," Hoji said with a nod. "There is a town that is not far from here."

"Hoji, will my father even make to this town?" Tarlong was by his father's side and his expression was enough to reveal how worried he was.

"I'll make it," Marcus rasped coughing up blood. "I'll make it...even if I have to...drag myself all the way there."

"Hoji, help my uncle with my sofu," Riptide said keeping his eyes on the zoan users. "Skie, stay close to them."

"Rip, what are you-," she started to say.

"Don't you worry about me," he said. "Go! Now!"

Riptide faced their enemies who seemed very hesitant in attacking him. He knew he had to buy enough time for his nakama to get a safe distance before he could join them. He needed a plan and fast.

"Why are you so willing to throw your life away?" asked the demon shark zoan user. "It seems so foolish and wasteful."

"I would explain it but I don't think you would honestly understand," he said.

The demon horse zoan user looked at the hybrid in honest curiosity. "There must be some reason," he said.

"Brother, why do you waste time?" his sister snarled. "Kill him and be done with it."

To Riptide it was clear the brother was more intelligent than his sister. An idea came to mind and hopefully, it would work. "I have a feeling that you would be more understanding in this matter than your sibling," he nodded to the demon shark user. "I think we can talk about this,"

"Indeed we could," the demon horse user said. He was starting to relax more as if sensing the hybrid was no threat to him.

His sister was not so willing to let him have the chance. "You stupid fool," she turned on him and he was lucky to have dodged her sharp claws. "We have orders to kill him and I will not be denied the taste of flesh let alone blood!"

"Shit," Riptide knew it was time to run.

He took off and soon spotted the trail of blood following it to a nearby stream. Hoji and Tarlong helped Marcus across as Riptide ready himself for another attack. It wasn't long. Both zoan users came charging. A look of fury was clearly on the demon shark user's face. The hybrid held his ground, ready to die if necessary. He heard Skie yell and from the corner of his eye, he saw a little sawtooth girl playing near the stream. To his horror, the demon shark user seeing the innocent child decided to go after her.

"No sister! Stop!" Her brother was screaming.

"No," Riptide yelled. "Don't you touch her!"

He charged after the zoan user and couldn't believe how fast she was. Never in his life had Riptide ever wanted to have the speed needed to get to the child. Suddenly he became aware that he was moving faster than before. He got past the zoan user and turned around, delivering the strongest punch ever to the side of her head. The zoan user went flying sideways right into a group of small trees.

He was quick to scoop the child up into his arms holding her close to him. "It's okay," he said. "I got you."

The little girl looked at him and it was then he felt a presence, a very strong presence. Riptide was staring at the girl in his arms who now seemed to be fading. She was changing becoming like a white mist that actually surrounded Riptide. The mist began to glow as it took shape and it was growing in size and shape. The demon shark user returned looking angry when she froze in her tracks. Even her brother seemed frozen as the pair looked upon the mist which finally took the form of a shark, a saw shark and it looked pissed.

Riptide looked at it in disbelief and awe. That wasn't the little girl he had just saved, was it? It just couldn't be. The shark or whatever it was hovering next to him, wisps of mists coming off its form as it stared at his opponents as if waiting. Was it waiting for him or something else?

They tried to hurt you.

Riptide nearly jumped as he heard the child-like voice in his head. Did this shark thing just speak to him?

I did.

"What the-" He felt light-headed. Was he losing it? Did he actually hear that?

"Come on, boy," Hoji was at his side urging him to come. "We must go while the Guardian is buying us time."

"The Guardian," said the hissing voice of the demon shark as her eyes were fixed upon it. "Brother, we must destroy it."

"No," Riptide brought his blade up. "I will not let you do that!"

The Guardian turned, the blade-like nose coming in contact with the kiribachi and there was a blinding flash of pure light that light up the entire area, blinding them. Riptide shook his head, blinking rapidly as his vision slowly focused in again. There was no sign of their protector and he wasn't going to wait around either. "Let's get out of here now," he pulled the stingray Fishman with him as he crossed the stream.

Riptide helped his uncle and with Marcus between them, they got a good bit of distance between them and their enemies. The sky was turning pink as the morning slowly approached and they finally saw the edge of town Hoji had spoken of. Riptide finally got a good look at his grandfather and felt sick. Marcus had lost a lot of blood and was in worse shape than anyone realized. Skie was doing her best, but to Riptide it looked like his grandfather was nearing his end.

"Hoji, you said that was a Guardian," he said. "What did you mean?"

The ancient Karate master looked at him. "According to the ancient stories, Unity is supposed to be protected by six guardians," he answered with a weary sigh. "I thought I never would actually see one of them."

"I wonder where-," Riptide started.

I'm here. giggled the childish voice again. Look at your blade.

"Huh," Riptide held up his blade nearly laughing. On the blade near the hilt was the symbol, the mark that his father had used, burned right into the saw blade, "You can come out now if you want to."

The blade glowed a bright white as energy swirled from it, rising into the air and resuming the form of a saw shark. Hoji almost had a heart attack from the sight of it as Tarlong and Skie stared in absolute shock. Riptide chuckled as it circled lazily above them as if enjoying the feel of the morning rays of the sun as it rose. It turned its attention back to them and seeing Marcus, brought its nose down till it was mere inches from him.

"Saw, what are you doing," Riptide said.

The shark tilted its head in a curious manner. Saw?

Riptide nodded, "Your name. Is that alright?"

I Like it. I am allowed to help him?

"Skie, Saw wants to help. Is that alright?"

The female healer could only nod. Seeing that, Saw touched Marcus with her nose as Riptide knelt down watching. The guardian's energy flowed into the wounds and as he watched they slowly healed. He looked at their protector, Saw looked drained.

"Saw, are you-," Riptide grew concerned.

Tired. I need to rest.

"Go ahead," Riptide said.

Saw faded into a mist and returned to the marked blade. Riptide looked at his grandfather slightly relieved that he looked a little better. No doubt he was going to need time to recover. Riptide looked back over his shoulder at the stingray who was looking at him in total awe.

"Hoji, are you okay?"

"You are the one," he said. "The one Shella spoke of."

"The one what?" Tarlong asked

"Lady Shella had a vision," Hoji said. "In this vision, she saw a Fishman who would control the guardians and would bring peace to the island."

"A Fishman? That's all she saw?" Riptide asked.

"Believe me, there were other elders who questioned her vision and she said it would be the sawtooth guardian who would choose the one."

"Yeah, but all I saw was a child in danger," Riptide said.

"We all saw the same thing," Tarlong said. "I still can't believe it."

Skie looked at Marcus. "We need to get him to a safe place so he can recover."

"Agreed," Riptide said. "We all need to rest especially after those two."

"Dad, you think you might be able to make it to that town," Tarlong crouched by Marcus and pointed to the town that wasn't too far.

Marcus still weak, wrapped an arm around his son's neck. "I can," he said. "If you help me."

"I can do that," Tarlong said helping his father to his feet. "We'll go nice and slow if you want."

"Those zoan users...they still around," the mako said as he leaned on Tarlong some.

"They're gone, for now, sofu," Riptide said. "I had some unexpected help. I'll tell you all about it later."

Marcus gave a nod as Tarlong helped him along. Skie followed them as Riptide and Hoji brought up the rear. They made it to a tavern where Hoji spoke to the owner who insisted that Marcus be brought to his family's home where he could rest. Hoji joined Riptide as he sat outside on the tavern steps.

"Where are your friends?" he inquired.

My uncle and Skie are seeing if they can get a message bird for me," Riptide said. "I need to get word to my crew and fast."

"A wise decision."

"I hope so," he said. "Because I have a feeling we may see this Stryker very soon."

I wasn't sure how I wanted to introduce the Guardians of Unity, but I figured I do Saw first and then the other five. So read and review.