Protect Kaya
"I see. So that's the story. I knew something was wrong with that butler." Cade clenched and unclenched her fists. "We should have pounded him back at the mansion."
Usopp suddenly laughed and shoved his hand behind his back. "Wait. What pirates? Just like all the other times, of course it was just a lie! I was just having my revenge on that butler, by making up stories about him being a pirate!"
"What?! It was a lie?!" Pepper said.
"Man! I thought something big was going to happen!" Carrot said.
"Even the Straw Hat captain helped Captain Usopp lie to us." Onion glared at Luffy.
"Captain shouldn't make up lies just because of this. That's not honorable!" Carrot said.
"Yeah, I feel the same way," Pepper said.
"Me too," Onion said. "No matter how mean that butler is… Captain, I've never thought you would make up lies to hurt others. Let's go home."
"Yeah! Go home and eat dinner!"
"Wonder what's for dinner."
"Sheesh. Those boys are fickle. Let me bandage your arm. Sit." Cade waved to a rock. Usopp sat down and held out his arm. A cool breeze rose off the ocean as the sun sank in the sky. "Explain why you lied to them."
"Because I lie all the time. No one believes a word I say now," Usopp said.
"Even so… the fact that those pirates are going to attack, is the truth, right?" Nami asked.
"They're definitely going to attack in the morning," Usopp said. "But no one believes me. They all think tomorrow will just be another peaceful day." He shot to his feet.
Cade growled and pulled him back down. "Hold still! I'm not done yet!"
Usopp winced. "Since everyone that thinks I'm a liar I'll protect this village myself and prevent the pirates from attacking! In order to protect this village, then this will become just one of my lies! Although they… fired guns at me and chased me with broomsticks… here in this village were I grew up! I love this village! I want to protect everyone!" He covers his face with his hands.
Cade tightened the bandage on his arm with a yank.
"Ouch! Careful! I'm wounded!"
"I said to hold still. It's not my fault you didn't listen."
Usopp rubbed his sore arm. "Anyway, how can I just watch everyone get killed?"
"You are a pretty good guy. You lied to your crew so that you can do this alone," Zoro said.
"Okay!" Luffy stretched out. "I'm definitely going to fight this one!"
Cade nodded. "Definitely want to ruin that horrid butler's day."
"But first things first, all their treasure is mine!" Nami said.
"Of course that's what you care about." Cade huffed.
"What? You guys… are willing to fight with me?" Usopp said. "Why?"
"Because the enemies out number you!" Luffy said.
"And out weight you in strength," Cade added.
"You also have the words 'I'm scared' written all over your face," Zoro said.
"Idiots! Me? Scared! So what if they outnumber me?! They can't compete with me! I'm Captain Usopp! In my veins flows the blood of a courageous warrior!" His legs trembled. He pounds at them. "Ah! Stop shaking! Stop it! Stop it! What are you guys looking at?! They're Captain Kuro's fleet! Of course I'm scared! I don't need your sympathy! Go away! Now!"
Cade reached out and flicked him on the head.
Usopp fell stiff as a board to the ground.
"Oh, yeah. You're definitely going to stand up to an entire crew of pirates by yourself." Cade knelt down and tapped him multiple times. "I think you're already dead."
"I am not!" Usopp sat up.
"We're not sympathizing for you. But rather we're commending you for having courage," Zoro said.
"Even if you're going to die." Cade grinned.
"You are a heartless monster!" Usopp snapped. Cade flashed her sharp teeth. He bowed. "I'm sorry."
"Why else would we risk our own lives?" Luffy asked.
"You… you guys. I'm so touched!" Tears streak down Usopp's face.
"Stop crying. We don't have much time to prepare for them." Cade stood.
Usopp brushed his tears away then lead them to a different shore.
Cade eyed the deep slope of rocks that led down to the water.
"They're going to attack from this shore because this is the only way into the village," Usopp said. "There's only one slope the rest is just cliffs. This means, as long as we guard this slope with our lives, the village won't be harmed."
Cade hummed. Maybe this guy has some good qualities after all. At this point we have the advantage over anyone coming up the slope.
"Sounds easy!" Luffy said.
"Easier said than done," Usopp said. "What are you guys good at?"
"I cut."
"I stretch."
"I manipulate water."
"I steal."
"I hide."
"You have to fight too!" Luffy, Zoro, and Nami scream.
Cade snorted. "Should have seen that coming. So what do we do now?"
"Wait here for a moment. I'm going to go get some oil." Usopp ran towards town. A few minutes later he came back with a barrel of oil. Zoro cut a hole in the side. Cade picked it up and spread the oil over the slope.
"Okay, we're done!" Usopp placed his hands on his hips. "We've spread a massive amount of oil here. Now those bastards won't be able to get up this slope. This is the most effective way to battle them. No matter what we must guard this slope with our lives."
"Just don't fall down there yourself. Or else your screwed," Nami said.
"Yeah." Usopp nodded. "Don't worry! I have a lot of confidence in myself! The sun is up. The pirates are coming soon."
Cade glanced out at the horizon. They watched and waited, only seeing the sun rising and the occasional fish jumping from the water or a bird flying by.
"Where are they? It's already morning." Luffy kicked a rock.
"You don't suppose they slept in?" Zoro asked.
"Am I just overly sensitive?" Nami cupped her ear.
"I don't think there's a shred of sensitivity in you," Cade said.
"Seriously! I can here 'Go' coming from the north direction."
"The north?!" Usopp gasped.
"I'm positive," Nami said. "I can hear it."
Usopp screamed.
"What's going on?!" Zoro asked.
"There's another entrance into the village in the north… But…" Usopp grabbed his head.
"Don't tell me you got it wrong!" Luffy said.
"They talked about the plan here! So I thought they'd attack from this side!" Usopp said.
"How could you make a mistake like that?!" Cade demanded. "We could have sent half of us there to keep watch!"
"I'm sorry!"
"Hurry! Which way are they going to attack the village from?!" Luffy said.
"Going in that direction it'll only take three minutes!" Usopp jerked his thumb to the left. "The landscape on that side is basically the same as this one. All we have to do is prevent them from coming on top of the slope."
"Oh no! That's where we docked our boats! My treasure is going to be robbed!"
"I only need twenty seconds to get there!" Luffy dashed off.
Cade followed behind, noticing he's going the wrong way. "Luffy! Wait!"
"No! I can't!"
"You're going the wrong way!"
Luffy skidded to a stop.
"Jeez, Luffy! You should be able to tell which way is north!" Cade took the lead. A few minutes later they spotted Zoro. "Ack! Not you too! How did you even get here?!"
"Huh? I thought you were already heading to the north," Zoro said.
"Just follow me!" Cade growled.
Shouts grew louder the closer they got to the north slope. Cade spotted Nami and Usopp were cowering at the top. With no time to waste she and the boys leapt over them. She shot out a stream of water. "Hydro Shot!"
Men slipped and fell back down the slope from their attacks.
"I didn't know you guys were this strong," Usopp said from his spot on the ground.
"Of course!" Luffy said.
"What took you guys so long?!" Nami asked.
"Hey! It was you who caused me to fall down that slope! Now you're blaming me?!" Zoro said.
"You fell down the slope?" Cade looked at the swordsman.
"I didn't fall. She fell and pulled me down!" Zoro pointed at Nami.
"I couldn't help it! Better one person fall down than both of us!" Nami said.
"Then you should have been the one to fall!" Zoro growled.
"Usopp, you idiot! You said to go north but you didn't say which way was north!" Luffy said.
"You should know that just by looking at the sun." Cade flicked his ear.
"It was your fault for running off like that!" Usopp said.
"I was trying to help you!" Luffy said.
"Guys, now's not the time to argue over this! That guy with the heart glasses is doing something!" Cade pointed down to the man.
"Looks like he's hypnotizing his men," Nami said.
"Hypnotizing?" Cade looked at the navigator.
"Yeah. We saw him do it before," Zoro said. "His name is Jango."
The men pulled themselves up off the ground with a hearty yell. One slammed his fist against the cliff. Rocks tumbled down the side.
"They have really been hypnotized!" Nami grabbed her head.
"If just one guy can crush the cliff…. Then that many guys…" Usopp trailed off.
Jango pointed at them and yelled, "Go! Kill those pests!"
The men charged forward.
"You two hurry and go up the slope." Zoro jerked his thumb over his shoulder. "We'll take care of this."
Nami help Usopp stand. With his arm over her shoulder they trudged up the slope. "Hey, Luffy. Luffy?"
"Yeah!" Luffy threw his hands in the air.
Cade looked at her brother. His eyes were distant. "Don't tell me."
"You got hypnotized too?!" Zoro, Usopp, and Nami said.
Cade huffed and crossed her arms. "Of course. Well, might as well us it to our advantage." She tapped Luffy's shoulder then pointed at the pirates. "Go get them, Luffy."
Luffy charged down the slope. Pulling back his fists he released his Gum Gum Gatling. Blood spilled from bodies as they flew through the air. He then bolted past the remaining men and grabbed the front of the ship. The bow snapped off in his grasp. Jango lifted his hypnotizing tool and Luffy suddenly fell asleep with the broken ship part falling on top of him.
"Geez. Luffy." Cade shook her head. "At least he's still useful like this."
"His head is squashed under the ship bow," Usopp said. "Is he all right?"
"Don't worry. He won't die from that." Zoro rested his sword on his shoulder. "First worry about yourself. You're still bleeding. Hey, Cade, why don't you give Usopp a look-see? He might need stitching up. I can handle these guys for now."
"Fine." Cade walked over to the curly haired teen and knelt down beside him.
"You a doctor?" Usopp asked.
"No. I'm only know a bit more than first aid." Cade turned Usopp's head to get a better look at his head wound. "I studied a bit with Shanks' crew's doctor."
"Shanks? Then you too know my dad. Yasopp?"
Cade nodded. "Of course, I do. He's the best sniper I've ever seen. You're going to be fine. Just some disinfectant and bandages."
"What are they?" Nami asked.
"Wow. They jumped from so high up. They're like cats," Usopp said.
Cade turned back to the pirates to find two new guys, dressed like cats, had joined the group. Instead of rushing into the fight the two cat men cowered.
"What's going on? Aren't they any good?" Usopp asked.
"I don't know," Zoro said.
"They both seem scared," Nami said.
Cade watched as the two cat men talk to the hypnotist before turning back to Zoro.
"What's going on? Aren't they supposed to be strong? Why are they making those cowards fight?" Nami asked.
"Prepare to die! My claws are really sharp!" The smaller of the two cat men ran up the slope.
"What can you do to me with those claws?" Zoro asked. "If you don't stop now, I'll attack you!"
"Just you? You can't kill me." His claw glove came down on Zoro's sword. "You must be thinking that I'm just a coward, right? I was just pretending to be a coward. If I didn't, then you wouldn't have left your guard down.
"So he was just acting scared?" Usopp asked.
"Will you stop moving?" Cade re-positioned his head.
"Zoro! Your swords!" Nami shouted.
Where'd they go?" Zoro patted his side where his swords should have been.
"You look like you might have a few skills! But you underestimate me, Sham of the Nyaban Brothers. What are you missing something? I don't know where they went." He held Zoro's swords.
"Oh no! That guy took Zoro's swords!" Nami said.
"Thanks for pointing out the obvious." Cade rolled her eyes.
"Give me back my swords," Zoro demanded.
"Give them back? Isn't your sword already in your hand? Oh right, before the battle starts I should…" He took the swords off his back and threw them down the slope. "Get this junk out of the way. Okay." He licked his claw. "Now that's better."
"Don't treat others' swords with disrespect!" Zoro sliced the cat man.
"Wow! Powerful!" Usopp said.
Zoro dashed for his swords but was stopped by the cat man.
"That guy… he's actually very thin. No wonder Zoro's attack missed!" Usopp said.
The heaver of the cat men jumped into the battle. Together they sliced their claws at Zoro.
"Oh no! Zoro can't handle them!" Nami said as Zoro could only defend. "What are you doing?"
Usopp readied his slingshot. "He can't counter with two people attacking him! I'm going to help him out!"
"No!" Cade grabbed his hand to stop him.
"What are you doing?! He needs help!" Usopp said.
"Think about it! What if you actually hit one of those cat men? They'll come after you!" Cade said. "Zoro's having trouble fighting with a sword. Do you think you could do any better with a slingshot?"
"What?" Usopp lowered his arms. "But I can't just..."
"Zoro can handle this." Cade looked back to the fight.
"Maybe so but Zoro needs all of his swords," Nami said. "I have to get them back for him. If I can he'll definitely win this fight."
"Don't be stupid. They're not going to let you get near them," Cade said but Nami was already climbing over the side of the cliff.
"In that case, let me go!" Usopp said.
"Don't overdo it, you're badly hurt!" Nami disappeared over the side.
"Idiot!" Cade followed her. As Jango lifted his circle she shot forward, pulling Nami out of the blade's way. They hit the ground and rolled to a stop. "Are you trying to get yourself killed?!" The battlefield suddenly went quiet. Cade glanced up the slope to find the butler from the mansion standing there. "Great."
Kuro started to monologue and gave them five minutes before they all died.
Cade rushed towards Luffy. "Hey, Luffy, time to get up." She lifted the ship part off him, threw it aside, and tapped his head. "Get up, Luffy. We have another guest."
Luffy woke, stood, and examined the battle field while adjusting his hat. "So even the evil butler is here now."
"Yeah. Now the real fun begins." Cade smiled.
"Three more minutes and all of you will die," Kuro said.
"What?! There's no hope left! Even though we have Captain Jango and Bushi, but only three more minutes! How can we finish off these people?!"
"Buchi! We don't have any more time! You go kill the guy with the swords." Jango said. "I'll deal with the straw hat kid."
"Kuro! Stop it!"
"Crap." Cade looked up the slope to find Kaya. She pulled a gun on the pirate captain but is clearly unable to pull the trigger. "No! What are you doing?! Get out of here!"
Usopp rushed forward and punched Kuro.
Kuro turned sharp cat like claws on Usopp.
Luffy threw out a punch, nailing the butler in the face. The butler hit the ground.
"What happened? How did he knock Captain Kuro down from that position?"
"Captain Kuro's really angry now."
"What are we going to do?"
"Here's our chance!" The Usopp pirates appeared and beat Kuro over the head with a bat, pan, and shovel.
"Those idiots." Cade shook her head. "What are they thinking?"
Kuro shouted out for Jango to kill Kaya.
"Cade," Luffy said.
"Hm?"
"I need you to do me a favor." A pause. "Protect Kaya and those kids."
Cade's eyebrows rose for a moment before lowering. "Right." She launched himself over the battle field with a water twister. Grabbing Kaya's wrist she pulled her from the fight. "Let's go, kids!"
"What are we going to do?! That guy is coming!" Carrot said.
"Don't worry. I'll handle him. Let's get you all farther inside the forest. Find a hiding place in case others get past my crew and come after you," Cade ordered.
"You're going to take him on by yourself?" Onion asked.
"Don't worry." Cade smirked. "I can handle him easily enough." She stopped running. "Now get going."
"Come on, Kaya." Pepper took the girl's hand.
"Be careful," Kaya said before disappearing into the forest.
Cade turned and faced Jango.
"So one stayed behind to fight me," he said.
"Don't expect it to be easy."
Jango scoffed. "You're a child. A child who thinks they can stand up to an adult who's been a pirate for years."
"You say we're going to fight yet you're doing nothing but talking." Cade smirked. "You and your precious Captain Kuro are no threat to us Straw Hat pirates."
"You a pirate?" Jango laughed. "Very well. You asked for it." He tossed his chakram.
Cade kicked off the ground, landing on a branch. The chakram sliced through a tree. It crashed through its fellow trees. She eyed the remaining stump. The chakram had made a clean slice. Okay, that thing could be trouble. It can go through my water unless I hit it just right. But it moves so fast. Clearly he's a long range fighter. I have to get in close. One hit will knock him out. "Come on. Surely that's not all you can do."
Jango gritted his teeth and pulled out a second chakram while grabbing the first one that flew back at him. He threw them both.
Cade jumped seconds before the chakrams sliced the branch she stood on. She flew forward and landed a kick on his cheek.
Jango flew and crashed into a tree.
Cade waited for him to get back up. He didn't. "Well, I knew he was weak but still... All well." She glanced around the forest. "I wonder where they went."
"Hey! Cade!"
Cade turned to find Zoro running up to her with Usopp slung on his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
"You stopped him?" Zoro eyed the man on the ground.
"Yup." Cade nodded. "He was easy."
"Kaya! Where's Kaya?!" Usopp looked around from Zoro's shoulder.
"Farther in the forest. I had them go on ahead and find a place to hide in case more people followed."
Usopp ran off.
"How you doing?" Cade eyed Zoro.
"Just a few scratches. Let's go back. I'm sure Luffy's done by now. No one else should be coming after them." Zoro jerked his thumb over his finger. They left the forest.
...
Cade stretched. "Well, that was fun, but I wish they had put up more of a fight."
"You're insane," Nami mumbled.
"Maybe I am." Cade smiled. After regrouping with Luffy they headed back to the tavern to get something to eat.
"Oh, so this is where you guys went." The pirates looked to find Kaya walking towards them.
"It's you." Luffy waved.
"Don't you need to stay in bed?" Nami asked.
"No. I've been sick like this for a year. Ever since I lost my parents that day Usopp encouraged me. That's why I can't be so weak now. Anyway, I heard you guys need a ship."
"A ship! You're going to give us one?!" Luffy asked.
Kaya nodded. "It's ready right now if you want to see it."
"Yes!" Luffy jumped from his seat. The pirates followed the girl to a beach where a ship and a man were waiting, both matching with a lamb theme.
"Hey…" Zoro said.
"A caravel!" Nami gasped.
"Wow!" Luffy's mouth fell open.
"Not bad." Cade rubbed her chin.
"I've been waiting for you. It's slightly old style but I designed it myself." The sheep man held out his hand. "It's a caravel and it uses a staysail. The controls are in the back. It's called Going Merry." He eyed the pirates. "So it is you all who defeated the Kuro pirates with Usopp. I thought you'd be a little bigger."
"We're only teenagers." Cade blinked. "How big did you expect us to be?"
"Sorry. I meant no offense." The man shifted. "I didn't expect you all to be so young. But I do thank you whole heartily. My name is Meri. Please accept this ship as a token of my appreciation."
Cade shrugged and moved closer to the ship.
"We can really take this?" Luffy asked.
"Yes, I insist." Kaya nodded.
"I will explain the steering system. First of all, in order to adjust the yards in relation to the crew garnet," Meri said to Luffy.
"You'd be better to tell me." Nami stepped closer to Meri.
"This ship is so cool," Luffy said.
"Definitely better than what we've been using." Cade ran a hand over the wood.
"I had everything you would need for a voyage loaded on the ship," Kaya said.
"Thanks for causing all this trouble." Luffy grinned.
"You mean for going through all this trouble." Zoro bonked Luffy on the head.
Usopp's cries pulled their attention to the slope. He came barreling down the slope. "Stop me please!"
"Well, that's one way to travel." Cade chuckled.
"Usopp," Kaya said.
"What's he doing?" Luffy asked.
"I think we should stop him. If he keeps on going like that he'll hit the ship," Zoro said. He and Luffy stepped forward. Lifting their feet they planting them on Usopp's face.
"Th-thank you," Usopp said.
"No problem," Luffy and Zoro said.
Cade jumped to the railing then to the deck while the others used the rope ladder. Usopp remained on the ground with Kaya.
"Have a safe voyage, guys! Hope to see you again on the sea!" Usopp called.
Cade walked up to the upper deck where the others were.
"Why?" Luffy asked.
"Huh. Why?" Usopp sighed with a shrug. "Why do you think? I'm going out to sea and hope to see you again."
"What are you talking about? Get on." Zoro pointed at the ship.
"What?" Usopp asked.
"We're friends, right? Get on." Luffy crossed his arms over the railing and laid his chin on them.
Usopp's eyes brightened. He leaped into the air. "Yes! I'm finally a captain of a ship!"
"Hey! I'm the captain!" Luffy said. "We have to celebrate! Let's get something to drink!"
"I'll get it." Nami disappeared through a door. A few minutes later she came out with mugs.
"To a new ship and new crewmember!" They lift their mugs together. "Cheers!"