somebody: Thank you! I wish more people liked the story, but I get that ZoLu isn't that popular and fem Luffy isn't either lol. I made Sanji the bed guy in this one tbh. I'm sorry Sanji, but you know you'd have gotten pissy if Zoro got laid first.
Very long chapter, and a lot of stuff happens! Some violence in this one. Blood and all. Enjoy~
It was only three days later that a new wanted poster came out of Luffy. They were on the Sunny, heading to the next island, with Luffy playing checkers with Usopp, when Nami called out that her stunts got her in trouble. Luffy jumped up and leaped over Usopp, barely avoiding kicking him in the face, and ran up the stairs to see.
The new bounty poster had the same image, but the new name was a simple "Luffy". She liked it more than "Gasmask". The bounty had gone up a very small amount, five million more berris. "Man, they really don't think much of Smokey's defeat, do they?" Nami said. "I almost feel bad for him." Zoro's bounty didn't go up, but he wasn't expecting it to. It wasn't even a fight at all with Tashi-something. She was incredibly weak for Grand Line standards.
Yay! No more "Gasmask"! That name was irrelevant.
"Especially since you only wore the gasmask one time," Sanji commented, having come out to give the ladies their drinks. Lately, Sanji had been putting two straws in her drinks, and it really made Luffy happy. It was a silly thing to be so happy about, but it was an acknowledgment that Zoro and Luffy were together and it wouldn't be changing anytime soon.
Everyone settled back into their things, while Luffy abandoned the game of checkers to pester Zoro about trying the railing-cart. "I really am not going to," Zoro said in a toneless voice. Luffy pouted, and he patted her head. Just cause you think it'll look stupid.
"Yeah," he said honestly. "Don't wanna do that, especially in front of you." But I already know you're stupid. Zoro tackled her, "Brat!" he shouted, but she was laughing. He knew she was just being silly. Luffy wasn't intentionally mean to any of her friends, and especially not Zoro. She shoved at his face, but he stopped her by biting down on her neck.
"Mosshead, not in front of everyone!" Sanji shouted.
"She deserved it," Zoro shot back. "Mind your own business, perv-cook!"
"What did you say?!"
"You heard me. You're just jealous," Zoro taunted. Luffy sighed and sat up, rubbing the spot where he'd bit her. Zoro then got into an argument with Sanji, Luffy's insult forgotten. The two eventually got to blows, kicking and slashing at each other. Luffy walked over to Nami and Robin's table, where they were both sunbathing.
Nami looked up when she walked over. When is the next island?
"Should be there in two days. Why?" Nami asked curiously. I'm bored. And Zoro keeps fighting with Sanji.
"Honestly, Luffy, before you came, it was exponentially worse. I mean, it was pretty messy when you first came with everything, but now that things have mellowed out, their fighting really isn't as bad as it used to be. Just in general, Zoro's a lot nicer now. So, don't be bothered by them fighting. It's natural for them, even if they're doing it a little more often now, for some reason," Nami explained. Luffy pouted, but nodded. She created a chair and sat by Nami, though she didn't sunbathe, but watched the sea.
She tried to not pay attention to Zoro and Sanji fighting, but they were noisy. Over the waves she could hear Sanji yelling about not being jealous, while Zoro continued to use what he knew was a weapon against him.
"Luffy!" Chopper shouted. "Usopp broke his nose again, will you heal him?"
"Okay!" Luffy called, wondering how he broke his nose again. It happened often. Well, that's what happens when your nose is so long. She jumped down the stairs and ran past Zoro and into the infirmary. Chopper set a stool up in front of the hospital bed where Usopp was sitting, looking miserable with his crooked nose.
Luffy grabbed it gently and fixed it in a few seconds. "Thanks, Luffy," Usopp said, rubbing his now-perfectly fine nose. You're welcome. After Usopp left, Chopper thanked Luffy. She grinned and made him a fluffy stick of cotton candy.
"I'm really happy you can heal people, Luffy. I was always upset when I couldn't fix or at least help fix something. I don't feel useless anymore, cause you can heal wounds, but it's really nice knowing that, even if I can't heal someone, I have you to help," Chopper said, and put the cotton candy down to hug Luffy.
"I'm really glad you came. You make Zoro so happy, I can barely remember him before you came," he added.
"Nami said he fought a lot with Sanji before I was here."
"Yeah. It was normal when I came, though. Everyone were annoyed with it but not surprised. They were both stupid sometimes. One time they got in a fight because Sanji almost kissed Zoro, thinking he was Nami," Chopper said in a calm voice. Luffy burst into laughter.
"Really?! How did that happen?!"
"I guess Sanji heard Nami's voice and woke up and thought Zoro was her? It was strange, but Zoro was really upset."
"That's so funny, I wish I was there," Luffy replied, still laughing. Chopper giggled, too.
"Luffy, will you tell me some stories about you and Ace?" he suddenly asked. But, Luffy was more than happy to talk about her big brother, and began a story about when they dug a tunnel through the mountain to make a secret base when they were ten.
Zoro was extra irritable today. He didn't know why, but was taking it out on Sanji because that was the best way to release pent up stress, when he wasn't fighting Luffy or having fun with her in other ways. "I'm not jealous, mosshead, stop saying that!" Sanji growled, kicking him.
"You are jealous, that's why you freak out every time we do any sort of PDA. Just stop watching if it bothers you so much!" Zoro replied. Sanji didn't have a reply, and for once just turned and walked away. It surprised Zoro. Sanji stormed back into the kitchen, and Zoro shrugged it off before going to find Luffy.
"Zoro, it's bothering her that you're fighting with Sanji so much again," Nami called. Zoro frowned. He wished he could stop fighting with Sanji for Luffy, but it just wasn't going to happen. Maybe he shouldn't have suddenly turned his attention away from her to yell at Sanji. He felt guilty about that. He just stopped paying attention to her, maybe that upset her.
He looked around, Usopp saying Luffy was in the infirmary with Chopper, but neither were there. He looked around the ship before finding both of them in the aquarium, sitting and watching the fish swim. He could tell Luffy was talking with Chopper, and wished he could hear her. It looked like she was just sitting there in silence though Chopper looked excited and was asking questions. Zoro could go in and have Chopper translate. He almost walked away, but wanted to hear what they were talking about, too.
Opening the door, Zoro walked in and sat down next to Chopper. "Am I missing the party?" Zoro asked with a smile.
"Luffy's telling me stories about her and Ace," Chopper said excitedly. "They're really fun!"
Zoro smiled. Luffy talked all about Ace with him. "Did you tell him about the time you and Ace dug into the mountain for a club house?" the swordsman asked. Luffy nodded.
"Wow, you know all that stuff, too, Zoro?" Chopper asked in surprise.
"Of course. We talk about everything together," he replied, still smiling. "Now, don't stop talking cause of me, I want to hear, too." Chopper translated for Luffy and she told them a story about when she and Ace tried making mini submarines by trapping themselves in plastic balls with weights on the bottom when they were six. Really, there had been no one around to supervise them at all.
-x-
"We're going to go get information about how to get to the next island. Brook and Usopp will be staying on the ship, Sanji will get food, while the rest of us go get information," Robin announced once they saw the next island, though that wasn't where the log pose was pointed. It was pointed downwards. "We don't know why the log pose is pointing down and that is crucial information."
Luffy sat on Zoro's shoulders. She looked forward to being on an island, hoping Zoro and Sanji getting away from each other or distracted would be helpful to get them to stop fighting. "Where are we going for information?" Chopper asked.
"Bars are usually a good place to get information," Zoro commented. "Whenever I was bounty hunting, going to bars got me plenty of information about people and places." Robin nodded, thinking it was a good idea.
"We'll break off into groups and go to different bars, or at least try to find some. I know which of you would like to go to the shadier parts of town, so Zoro and Luffy will find a bar in the areas that are less hospitable than others. Nami and I will go into the shopping centers, Franky and Chopper will find anywhere else they can. And no fighting yet, unless it is self-defense. And I'm serious, not picking a fight and then fighting when they retaliate, like how I assume you did with Kid. I'm not stupid," Robin said, though she was amused. Luffy had a guilty face on, proving Robin's point. Promise I won't pick a fight.
"Luffy, will you make some baby den dens?" Nami asked, and Luffy made some, handing out the other two while she kept the third in that day's bag. Nami and Chopper already had some money. The money Luffy didn't create was in a safe in the ship, most from Water 7 still.
"Alright, everyone do their best. Find out how to get to the next island and as much information as you can," Nami said, and the three groups ventured off into three random directions, just hoping they got to the areas they wanted to. Luffy and Zoro walked to the side while the others walked inland, where they could hear voices and loud noises, meaning a more populated area.
There were a few shady people around the coast, but no one outright attacked them, so the couple just had to deal with stares. They were well known with their high bounties, and people were surprised with Luffy's size. They could both hear people asking for clarification on Luffy's bounty. She sighed, but didn't grow angry. She wished bounty posters weren't just the face. Then people wouldn't be so damn surprised at first.
A few people did eventually attack, but they were so weak they were knocked out by a single punch in the face from Luffy and one slash attack from Zoro. Luffy sighed, looking at the weaklings regretfully.
"Hopefully we'll find someone else to fight other than them, but we have a mission," Zoro said. Luffy nodded and padded over, taking Zoro's hand and looking around the broken buildings for any bars. He looked up and saw one at the top of some stairs. "Looks like there's one up there," he pointed. Luffy read it, Shakky's Rip-Off Bar. Oh well, they could pay for any high priced food.
Let's go see. Luffy climbed up Zoro's back and he walked up the staircase with Luffy on his shoulders, holding onto her legs to keep her steady. The second before they entered, a unconscious men were thrown out, blood on their faces. Luffy and Zoro looked interested, but walked in to see a woman with black hair behind a half-circle bar counter.
"Welcome," she said, smoking a cigarette. "Just got done dealing with some people who couldn't afford my high prices." Luffy jumped off of Zoro's shoulders and sat at the bar. They both expected a comment on Luffy's age, but none came. After all, she looked like a child but was at a bar.
We can pay for anything expensive, Luffy assured on her whiteboard. Zoro adjusted his swords and then sat next to her. He ordered a bottle of beer. After he was given it, Shakky, as they assumed that was her name, said, "That'll be 60,000 berris." Luffy formed the correct amount of money, a piece of the paper dropping onto the counter out of her downturned hands. Shakky looked pleased and interested.
"It's not usual for a customer to be able to afford my prices." I told you we could pay. Shakky smiled, and leaned forward on the bar. Zoro absentmindedly entwined his hand with Luffy's on the counter. "I should have expected such from Luffy and Roronoa Zoro. Your adventures sure have been interesting, though we've only just gotten to see Luffy-chan in Enies Lobby."
Luffy and Zoro didn't look worried, but surprised. "I keep up with the newspaper. Information is power. I used to be a pirate, so I'm interested in such things. Though, I gave up pirating forty years ago." Wow, you look great for your age! "Thank you, Luffy-chan. Though, I'm assuming you aren't a child." No, I'm 17. Zoro isn't a pedophile. Shakky laughed when Zoro frowned.
"Are you here for something other than a drink?" Shakky asked, knowing they weren't there for a single reason. We want some information. How do we get to the next island? The log pose points down.
"Do you have your whole crew here, too?" Shakky asked. "It's a lot of information to tell." Luffy and Zoro nodded.
"Should we bring them here?" Zoro asked, setting down his rapidly disappearing bottle of alcohol.
"If you want, you could always take notes. I don't mind waiting for them to come," the bartender replied. I'm sure Nami and Robin would want to be here.
Zoro nodded and called both groups on the baby den den. "Me and Luffy found a bar with someone willing to give information," he said into the device. Nami replied, "We did as well. All about going under the sea and needing the ship coated." Zoro and Luffy blinked, not having learned any of that yet. Under the sea?! Luffy grinned, since it sounded like an adventure!
"Yow, we learned that, too, but have no way to get the Sunny coated. I wish I could do it myself!"
"Luffy, we get to go under the sea!" they heard Chopper shout excitedly.
Zoro sighed. "Well, we hadn't learned any of that yet, but I guess we don't need to meet up," he said.
"I have someone who could do the coating of your ship," Shakky said simply. "Though, he's out right now. He'll be back later, but Rayleigh would be more than happy to coat your crew's ship. After all, I'm rooting for you."
There was silence on the other line, before Nami shouted, "Thank you! I was so worried we wouldn't find anyone to do it for us! Wait, who are you?"
Luffy wished she could explain, but she was utterly useless when it came to using the den den mushis at all. If there was an emergency, she couldn't even talk to Chopper over it and would be helpless. "The bar owner for the place we're at." Zoro turned to her. "Do you know when the coater will be back?"
"Probably later today if he doesnt get in trouble for gambling. He would sure like to have your power, Luffy-chan," Shakky said, taking a drag of her cigarette. "You can come back later tonight and Rayleigh can coat your ship tomorrow." Nami squealed on the other end, relieved that they had a way to get down. Luffy and Zoro still had no clue about the whole way to get down.
"Well, we can go shopping now! Zoro, Luffy, meet us at Sabaody Park at five to take us to where you are now. Bye!" and she hung up. Neither were surprised she wanted to shop. Truly a shopaholic, and she already had the money Luffy had given her.
Zoro sighed and put the den den back in the bag. "Can you please explain what those idiots were talking about?" Shakky smiled and explained all about how to get down to Fishman Island, and then to the New World. Luffy looked very excited for the New World, while Zoro looked mildly interested in the whole thing.
So the ship is in a giant bubble while we go under?
"Yes, that's right." What is a fishman? "People who live and can breathe in the water. Have you heard of mermaids?" Luffy nodded. "Fishmen live with merfolk at the ocean floor in Fishman Island. There are social problems between Fishman and humans, but you wouldn't know about any of that, not being human and all. Often, mermaids are taken as slaves by nobles. That's why you'll find no merfolk or fishman here. And it's best for now. Especially with all of the rookies here at the same time," the bar owner explained pleasantly. Luffy could tell she thought she was adorable, but wasn't rude about it, so it didn't bother her.
The woman was also glancing at Zoro's hand, whose finger was drawing circles on Luffy's knuckle. Rookies?
"Yes. Now that you've arrived, there are eleven of you here. All with bounties over 100 milllion berries. It is interesting that you've all come here at the same time." Are Law and Kid here? "Eustass Kid and Trafalgar Law are both here, yes." Luffy's face lit up while Zoro's turned sour.
We met them already, I fought with Kid. He's probably still angry with me. We also met Law, too. He was an interesting guy. When she looked and saw Zoro grumbling, Luffy smirked and wrote, Zoro thinks Law was flirting with me so he doesn't like him. Even though I don't think he was. Shakky chuckled.
"What did you write?" Zoro asked, and Luffy turned her board. "He made you flash him!" It was an accident. "Hmph," the swordsman said unhappily. So, who are the others?
"There is Capone "Gang" Bege, captain of the Firetank Pirates, with a bounty of 138 million berris. There's the other female rookie, "Glutton" Jewelry Bonney, with a bounty 140 million berris. Then "Magician" Basil Hawkins, with a bounty of 240 million berris." Luffy frowned. Everyone had a cool name, and she was just "Luffy". It was better than "Gasmask", but even Zoro had one. Even though he didn't hunt pirates anymore. She blushed at the thought of him hunting her. Neither of the others noticed, thank goodness.
Shakky continued, "There's "Roar of the Sea" Scratchman Apoo of the Long-Arm Tribe. His bounty is 198 millions berris. The highest is Eustass "Captain" Kid, who you seem to have already met and make an enemy." The woman sounded amused with Luffy's proud look. I defeated him. I slammed seastone into his face. He didn't like that. Zoro grinned, asking for another bottle. Luffy paid for it, though it suspiciously cost less than the first one did. "Anyways, then there is "Mad Monk" Urouge, a bounty of 108 million berris. "Massacre Soldier" Killer, Kid's first mate with a bounty of 162 million berris."
"WHAT?! Where the hell was he when Luffy was fighting Kid? I could'a fought someone instead of just standing there and watching," Zoro raved. Luffy put her hand on his shoulder, feeling bad for him. Next time. Zoro huffed, but calmed himself, taking an angry gulp of his second beer. Shakky was very amused with the two, and they thought she liked them.
"You may fight someone here, who knows? Anyways, back to the supernovas. "Red Flag" X, Drake, a former marine with a bounty of 222 million. And lastly, who you've also already met, "Surgeon of Death" Trafalgar Law. Bounty the same as Luffy-chan. Then, there's you and "Pirate Hunter" Roronoa Zoro." Zoro looked proud of the name, and grinned at the fact he was a supernova and love cook wasn't. Luffy pouted.
Why does everyone have a cool name and all I have is "Luffy"? That's not fair, I want a cool name, too.
"Well, not all of them were cool. "Captain" Kid is kind of lame. People are already called "Captain". Come up with something better," Zoro replied. But, he felt for Luffy. Her name was original, but nothing about it sounded threatening. Maybe "Banisher '' or something having to do with her most powerful power, the dissolving-of-anything one. Banishing was powerful, but it didn't necessarily kill. Her most useful one was creating things.
"It is strange that you're all here at the same time. Depending on whether they get their ships coated, you may all be going to the New World at the same time," Shakky said, tapping her cigarette so some of the ashes of the end dropped into a cup. "I'm sure something fun will happen."
Zoro and Luffy grinned, hoping so. Though they didn't want the Sunny or their crew to be in danger. Maybe while they were somewhere else. "Well, it's only ten, and your crewmate wanted you to pick her up at five. You two have plenty of time to cause trouble." The two shared a look, Zoro downed the last of his beer and slammed it on the table. Luffy left a generous tip, and Zoro snatched her up.
"See you later," Zoro said and ran out the door. He swung Luffy onto his back, where she usually stayed nowadays. "Where do you want to go? I wonder where they'd be most likely to be." I want to see you fight Kid again, but I'm curious about the magician guy, too."
Luffy had trouble writing as they ran, her words wavy and messy but still readable. Maybe in the middle of town. Where it's busiest. I want to see Law again. I doubt the floating was his only power.
"I don't want to see him again. I'm still mad he saw your panties. Those are for me to see and rip off only," Zoro said in a grumpy voice, making the nymph blush furiously. "We don't know what some of them look like other than the posters we had back on the island you fought Kid at." Well, they would just look for any people giving off a strong vibe. There were plenty of rough looking people, but that didn't mean any of them were strong.
They both searched the main streets, looking for anybody. Zoro had stopped running, and was now walking with Luffy on his shoulders, who had created a scoop of ice cream in a paper bowl. It was incredibly easy for her to hold onto Zoro just with her legs and to be able to stay upright and balance perfectly. So, he wasn't holding her legs. He was drinking a bottle of sake she'd made, though it still didn't taste quite right. Good enough, though.
"More! Give me more pizza!" the two heard, roaring from one of the restaurants. Luffy giggled and dropped down to go look in the window. Zoro followed leisurely after. Luffy looked inside and saw a woman with pink hair and a green hat with what had to be hundreds of empty plates of food. Luffy looked quite impressed, and Zoro whistled.
"That's gotta be more than you eat in one sitting," he commented, handing her the empty bottle so she could dispose of it. Luffy nodded in agreement. They watched her eat for a little while, as she grew angrier and angrier that no one was bringing her food at the pace she wanted.
Think she's Glutton Bonny? Luffy wondered.
"You could always ask. But she doesn't look like she'd be fun to fight." Neither do I. "Good point." She was about to walk in and ask her if she was Bonny, when she and Zoro heard some commotion from behind them. They turned to see Kid harassing an old man. Luffy jumped up and down and pointed at him like a child she looked like she was.
"Maybe his first mate is near. Do you want to fight him again? A rematch? Looks like his broken nose was fixed," Zoro said camly. Luffy nodded. "Captain" Kid hadn't seen her yet. Stay here, I'm gonna have some fun.
"There are normal people around, you might hurt someone," Zoro said. The crew really were not like other pirates, caring about civilian lives. And though Luffy didn't care much about humans, she didn't want innocent ones to be hurt. She huffed. "But, they'll probably run once they see two supernovas fighting. If he still wants to fight you after the beat down you gave him last time." He was so proud he was one of the supernovas, which sounded pretty cool. Luffy nodded, and then walked out.
Like a brat, she took a rock up off the ground and threw it at Kid. Apparently he was extremely sensitive about this and whipped around with furious eyes, even before he saw it was Luffy, grinning madly at him. "YOU!" he roared, and collected all the metal in the vicinity, tearing apart parts of the buildings to pull the metal structure out of them, forming a missive hand while his other hand held a sword. Looked like he changed some things after their fight.
It made Luffy grin that she'd affected him so badly that he changed up his moves. His hand was faster than it was before, and Luffy barely had time to get out of the way. It slammed into the side of a building after she ducked. When he was about to disperse it, there were still people around so she formed a shooter with a net of steel and shot it around his hand, stopping it from piercing any of the fleeing civilians.
A few pirates had come out of the restaurant who they thought Bonny was in, and looked interested and angry at their meal being interrupted. But, it had given enough time for the normal people to flee. Zoro watched from the side and a good distance away. Luffy climbed up the buildings and jumped down, a chunk of seastone in front of her like a shield as she landed on the huge hand. She dug through the metal with steel hands and swiped at his face while she was embedded inside of the huge thing. It was risky, but she wanted to have fun even if it risked her safety.
Zoro saw this risk and his jaw tightened, unable to not worry about Luffy. How reckless.
Luffy got a cut on Kid's face before jumping all the way through and kicking under his jaw, making him bite his tongue as blood came out of his mouth. She giggled and then danced away, though her dress was torn in the middle quite a bit and she had blood dotting her skin. The pirates who were watching were looking at her in a dark way, like she was a threat to them, though they didn't interfere. Not yet, at least.
"I'm gonna kill you, here and now. And then I'll go after your boyfriend and put his head on a spike!" Kid threatened. Luffy put her fingers at the corners of her mouth and made an exaggerated frowny face. Zoro chuckled from his hiding place, not wanting to interfere at all.
He shot out all of the scrap metal and pierced almost every part of the street, making the pirates run or dodge angrily, shouting at him and calling him names. Luffy didn't pay attention, glaring as a big piece of shrapnel poked out of her stomach and her legs were cut pretty badly. Zoro barely kept himself from shouting her name.
She ripped out the shrapnel, not thinking of dissolving it in the moment and put both hands on the wound, able to heal quickly even though the metal was deep. Her dress was in tatters and exposing much of her skin, to Zoro's anger. Any more cuts around the bottom and it would fall apart, exposing his panties.
Luffy darted to the side feet and legs made of metal so she wouldn't step on any of the sharp pieces of metal. But, he made it so she was shot forward by her feet, and she didn't want to be redundant and didn't think he'd fall for it again, but she made a chunk of seastone and went to smash it into his face, but at the last moment got rid of the metal on her skin and landed at his feet, barely staying there for even a second after forming a seastone cuff much like she did with smoker.
She had found it quite fun to use the sea stone and see the devil fruit users' funny faces. Lucci had made a funny face, too, when she showed that she could make it.
Though his devil fruit was nullified in an instant, he grabbed her neck and threw her down, her barely rolling to the side before he stomped on her head. She tripped him with a sweep under his leg, panting by now and covered in her own blood, even if most of it was from a healed wound.
She formed spikes and slammed them through his hand into the ground, but he didn't make any sort of sound that it hurt. She was impressed. He grabbed her foot with his other hand and pulled hard, snapping the bone. She kicked him in the face with it and limped away a few feet before crouching down to heal it.
While she was crouched and looking down for that second, a sword was thrown at her, and Zoro shouted her name when he knew she wouldn't react soon enough. Then, she was gone with a dome of blue appearing around the area.
Zoro immediately scowled and knew who it was, even if he was immensely grateful he'd saved Luffy. That sword would have gone right through her head and even she wouldn't have been able to save herself. But, did she forfeit the match by being taken out of it? Kid had the sea stone around his ankle and it wasn't a cuff like Smoker's had been. It was tightly around his ankle. He'd have to cut off his foot to get it off.
Luffy was plopped down on her butt in an alleyway, confused as to where she was, before she saw Law in front of her, looking amused. She grew furious that he interfered with her battle. She ran to punch him, since he'd made her lose automatically, but he said "Room, shambles" and she was ten feet away again. She scowled, not knowing what all of his powers were, but he was clearly having fun messing with her.
She formed a board and wrote You asshole you ruined my fight!
"I saved your life. That sword would have gone through your head." Luffy looked confused but still angry. "You hadn't even seen it. You were looking down and he threw a sword at your face. Wouldn't you rather be alive?" She bared her teeth in anger at both him and herself for not noticing.
Zoro came running around the corner and glared at Law, though he was grateful for his interference, even if it made Luffy really angry. Her dress was about to fall apart, so he hugged her and then told her to fix her dress. She wasn't thinking and dropped the dress right there and formed a new one. "Luffy!" Zoro hissed in anger. She looked at him blankly before she looked at the dress pooled at her feet and her face grew red, but she still glared at Law.
Zoro was gonna be mad at her later. Maybe tie her up again or something. Law just looked mildly entertained, but also a bit uncomfortable since, even if it was for a second, she's been only in her underwear. Though it wasn't like she had boobs anyway. Zoro was glaring at Law before he sighed. "Thanks for helping Luffy." Luffy looked angry at him. "You messed up, Luffy. He almost killed you. He may be trapped and very injured, but you almost lost that fight."
Luffy looked sour, not used to messing up in a fight. She felt stupid now, and turned to kick a hole in the wall. "You're welcome. It would be no fun to see her to die here." Zoro frowned, but pat Luffy's head soothingly, feeling bad and sympathetic for her. He had never lost a fight like this before, but he knew the feeling of failure.
"Why are you helping?" Zoro questioned in a suspicious voice. Luffy kicked the wall again, ranting in her head about that stupid Jaggy.
"I just told you," Law replied, seemingly over Luffy taking off her dress in front of him. Zoro didn't know what his reaction was. Part of him was glad he didn't seem phased of it but then another part, a much smaller, stupider part, was angry he acted like Luffy's body was nothing special. Though to someone other than Zoro she probably did look really young.
Luffy had snapped the board in half in anger but she fixed it and then wrote, I'm going back to Shakky's. She was pissed and probably pretty humiliated. Zoro sighed and Law watched her storm past. They were in a different part of town from where Kid was. Luffy barely paid any attention to the line of humans bowing, and walked right in front of some very ugly bubble-headed people.
Zoro saw Law watch and his eyes widened, before he ran forward. Zoro looked frantic and ran, too, but only saw Luffy punch some guy brandishing a gun at her in the face, hard. He flew back several feet, and she was standing there, pissed already, but also angry someone called her trash and tried to shoot her.
"Shit!" Law swore, and people started screaming and running away. She stomped up to the next one, who was shouting insults. "Room! Shambles!"
For the third time, Luffy was teleported and landed in front of Zoro. Law looked at her in a bland sort of anger. "You really shouldn't have done that." What? Why? "That's a Celestial Dragon you punched." Luffy and Zoro clearly had no idea what that was or why it mattered. "If you hurt one of them, a marine admiral and army are sent after you! Even someone as strong as you won't win against an admiral."
Why? What's so great about them?
Law sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "You know, you aren't a kid, yet you act like one. Learn to control your temper. An admiral is one of the strongest people in the world. They can go up against the yonko's and can easily overpower warlords! If you couldn't completely beat Eustass Kid, why do you think you can beat an admiral?"
Luffy's face flamed, but she controlled her temper. Just because she looked down now she would have that loss pinned on her forever.
Zoro was angry, but he knew Law was telling the truth. CP9 had been hard for him, even if it wasn't for Luffy, and they were still far below an admiral's power. Zoro didn't know anything about each one specifically, but he knew that they were incredibly dangerous. And Law, despite his harsh words, had summed it up pretty well.
"You probably don't even have time to gather your crew and flee the island. You're all split up in different places." Luffy looked panicked, not knowing how they were all going to gather and escape. And they were so close to the next island! She felt such shame at losing her temper and causing such a mess for her crew.
Will they only target me? Will they go after the others?
"Luffy, no, you're not going alone to fight one of them and die!" Zoro scolded. But she looked serious. It would save everyone else! I punched that guy and it's my fault that an admiral will come, not theirs! Zoro bit his lip, not knowing what to do.
Law didn't say anything, watching apprehensively and probably wanting to get to his crew so they could flee. Luffy grabbed the baby den den and thrust it into Zoro's hand. To call the others and warn them. Zoro swore. "Whatever you do, I'm coming, too," he said shortly, and Luffy knew not to argue. That would be pointless and anger Zoro.
"Good luck, I hope you don't die," Law said and turned to leave.
"Law! Thank you," Zoro said simply, before calling the other two den dens. Law didn't respond, and left. Luffy should have thanked him too, and maybe apologize. But it was too late, he was gone just like everyone else who had fled. Kid was trapped, and Luffy didn't have time to go get rid of the seastone cuff, nor did she want to.
"Robin, Franky!" Zoro shouted once both of them picked up. "You gotta get back to the Sunny and leave the island! Lu… Luffy punched some guy and now an admiral and a bunch of marines are gonna come!"
"WHAT?!" Chopper and Nami shouted. Luffy wanted to apologize, but she couldn't. "Celestial Dragons. An admiral is gonna come, if you leave now you should be fine. Hopefully."
"We are not leaving you and Luffy, Zoro!" Robin said angrily. Luffy winced. "We will all get together and fight at the same time, together!" Luffy had tears in her eyes, looking at the ground in utter shame and guilt. But that guy pointed a gun at her first, it was natural to punch him. It was just who she punched that was the real problem.
"Robin, we're at a completely different place than you, and there's a marine base here already. They might be on their way. We… we'll figure something out," Zoro said, though his vigor died at the end. He didn't want to leave his crew, they were his family. Even before Luffy, they were his family. But he didn't want to endanger them, and wouldn't be leaving Luffy. "Please, Robin. We don't want you to get caught up in it."
"Well, that is just too bad," Robin said, sounding like a strict mother. "I am captain and I am ordering you to come back and regroup. I don't care if you are in danger or we're in danger, we're staying together no matter what."
"But-"
"Are you disobeying a captain's order?" Robin asked sharply. They could hear people shouting on the other end, and the panting of Chopper and Nami while they were running. All back to the Sunny. Luffy was sobbing, but no sound other than sniffles were coming.
Zoro never disobeyed orders, and looked down at Luffy. His resolve hardened. He was underestimating their crew. But, was he? Law said so himself, admirals were some of the strongest people in the world.
"No, we'll regroup. Head to the Sunny, Luffy and I will start heading there. If the admiral comes before then, we're gonna have to fight whether you like it or not. But we'll try to get there. If we get away, or something happens, keep the den den!" Zoro shouted. Luffy was glaring at him and mouthing at him to take it back.
"Roger. Be careful!" Robin shouted before the line cut. He shoved the den den in his pocket. He grabbed Luffy under his arm.
"We're a crew. We'll fight together! They're family, they won't leave us to die alone. I don't care if you feel guilty, we're going back and we'll do what we can!" he shouted, running through the streets. Luffy was squirming but Zoro was strong and had her in a position she couldn't get out of without hurting him. "I know this is hard. I know you don't have full trust in our strength, but you have to try to. We live together, we die together. That's what a family does," he finished the last part softly and Luffy turned limp and stopped fighting.
For once, Zoro wasn't getting lost and knew where to head. But, they were across the island from the Sunny. They barely got anywhere when Luffy saw a man in a yellow suit with a bunch of marines. She didn't need to see him use any powers to tell he was strong. Probably the admiral.
Luffy closed her eyes, knowing she couldn't bear it if her friends and Zoro died because of her temper. Her eyes snapped open and she flipped, kicking Zoro in the head so he fell forward. She slammed him to the ground and shackled his leg deep into the ground. "Luffy!" he shouted angrily before she turned and ran towards the admiral, who Zoro hadn't noticed had come. His face grew pale as he tried digging the shackle out of the ground. He saw her toss the key about a dozen feet away. So he could get it off after she was gone.
It was deep in, and when he tried to cut it, he swore after knowing it was seastone, which was unable to be cut by any normal sword. If anything could destroy it at all. As he dug into the ground, stabbing at the dirt with his swords, he was starting to panic. That stupid, stubborn brat! He would never forgive her if she died. He would never forgive himself. He pulled at the shackle as hard as he could, but it wasn't coming off.
It was so deep in the ground that even sticking his swords as deep as possible, it didn't reach the bottom, but he kept trying, digging with his hands until his fingers turned bloody. He could really use that Law showing up, but Zoro knew he'd left a long time ago.
He was hyperventilating and swearing at the same time as he dug. He looked at his foot, considering cutting it off. If he cut it off, he wouldn't get to Luffy in time. He looked up to see her no longer running, and standing a good distance away from the admiral. He couldn't watch, and went back to digging. He had to get it out and then run to get her. If he could do anything.
Luffy was determined not to let any of her new family die because of her. She didn't turn back even as Zoro shouted for her, and sprinted towards the admiral, who was watching and didn't seem to be coming any closer. Luffy created a huge wall, blocking sight of Zoro, even if she knew it wouldn't do much than let him not see her fight, or her death.
She stood in front of the admiral in a yellow suit, looking at her while seeming utterly bored. Usually, it would have made her bristle, but now her eyes were wide and her lips were pursed tight. She wouldn't cry in front of an enemy, but she could hear Zoro screaming her name desperately before swearing.
That shackle was so deep in the ground that he'd have trouble letting it out. He'd probably escape, but she'd be either the winner or dead before that. She wasn't going to give up, though.
"I didn't expect her to be so tiny," the man said in an annoying voice, drawing out his words and sounding disinterested at the same time. "Like a child. Though she sure did a lot to Smoker." Luffy put both of her arms up in a fighting stance, coating herself in the hardest metal she could. "If I ask you what you are, will you tell me?" Luffy shook her head. "Well, you can't speak in the first place, so I don't know why I asked."
Luffy felt a burn in his shoulder before she saw him do anything, and looked to see a hole was completely through her shoulder. She was shocked before she put her hand up to heal it.
"I know some of your powers, I won't let you use them," he said, and a light beam was shot through her hand twice before she moved it away and stopped attempting to heal herself. She couldn't do anything fast enough since he was zipping around in light speed, literally seeming to be made of light. The only choice she had was to banish him and then hope for the best.
She ran at him, but it was useless as he was so fast. He didn't need to get anywhere near her to fight against her. Holes and burns were all over her body, stinging painfully. She formed a gun with sea stone bullets and did her best to shoot at him, but he was so fast she couldn't see where he was before he'd shoot her again.
One of the beams shot through her ear, probably to get revenge on Smoker's ear. She couldn't cry out even if she wanted to. It was pitiful for her, getting shot over and over until she felt like swis cheese.
He was drawing it out. None of the beams had hit her anywhere critical, or in her head or face. It was all her legs and arms, some parts of her stomach. Each point was controlled, missing all major organs and vital areas. He wanted to make her suffer. When one of the shots went through her knee bone, burning a hole into her bone, she fell to her knees, wincing at all the injuries when she made the jarring motion.
She hadn't moved much since the beginning of the fight, her thinking too slow to keep up with the devil fruit user's ability. "I'm not going to kill you like I'm supposed to, though I want to," the man said once Luffy fell to the ground. She was breathing heavily. "I'm going to take you in and we'll figure out what you are and where you came from."
Luffy at least found solace that she would never expose where she came from, or anything about the nymphs. She'd protect them to her death, just like she knew Ace would. They may have defected from them, but they were still nymphs over pirates. Loyal to their own kind.
The man, who hadn't broken a sweat, was about to walk to Luffy before someone she didn't recognize was there. She was so tired, but seeing someone help gave her a little hope. It was an older man, and he used a leg to fight against the light man. Luffy's arms shook as she tried to get herself up.
"I don't know the young lady, but someone I care about has taken a liking to her. I won't let you kill her." Her current savior didn't sound bothered by the situation at all, and sounded like he was smiling. Luffy knew why. He was having a fun fight with a difficult opponent. Luffy wanted to help, and pulled out another seastone gun. Her hands could barely hold it, though. But, she persisted and shot it at the man, barely missing him.
The admiral turned to glare at her, the carefree look gone. But the older man brought out a sword before the light man could rush her. She shot another bullet, though it missed completely and she winced at the pain it caused in the multiple holes in her hands.
She heard shouting coming from somewhere even if there was nobody around anymore, she didn't see anyone. Only a couple minutes had to have gone by since she locked Zoro away. He would find a way to get the key soon, she had to defeat this man.
Though she had holes in her feet, too, she stood strong, and raised the gun with as much focus as she could, closing one eye. The mystery man was fighting distractedly, and the admiral was fast. Luffy didn't want to hit the mystery man, who was doing his best even though his opponent was strong.
Luffy shot the gun in three successions, and one of them grazed the admiral's cheek. She saw it draw blood, and cursed that it wasn't just a couple inches to the side. Luffy hadn't really had fun with guns, but she and Ace had practiced nonetheless. She was alright at it, but not as good as she could be.
She couldn't help to grin tiredly at seeing her enemy look shaken up. But now he looked really angry. The old man caught him before he rushed at her, and Luffy wondered how he was keeping solid against the logia admiral.
Suddenly, there was someone else there, and Luffy barely staggered back to miss a huge hand. She looked up to see a very big man, who was dressed in a way to look like a bear. She swiped at her again, but she fell down to avoid it. She saw he had pads on his hands, and she didn't want to learn what they were for or what they did.
She got up to try and limp away, dodging another swipe. She barely was paying attention to anything other than keeping away from the hand. "If you were to go on a vacation, where would you go?" he asked, and Luffy thought of going on the Sunny.
She was so tired and hurt everywhere. Maybe if she thought of the Thousand Sunny, this man would send her there. As he finally touched her, she felt a fist grab onto her clothing and a dull sound of shouting her name in her ear before everything was gone and all she felt was the heavy weight attached to her dress.
Zoro heard the sounds of fighting and some dialogue as he stabbed at the ground, cutting savagely as he dug up the damn shackles. He'd finally found the bottom, a good fifteen feet into the ground. But it was going to slow, and he heard the sound of beeping of some sort from behind the wall, which was keeping him from seeing what was going on. He was pissed at Luffy for that. That especially, not just her stunt at locking him there and running off to die.
He finally gave up on getting the shackle out of the ground and started slicing in as neat lines as he could while he was shaking to alter the ground to dip the key she threw down to him, slide it across the displaced ground. It was working better than the digging had, and he swiped at the key with the tip of his sword frantically, barely picking it up and quickly unlocking the cuff, only to find she had made six key holes. Trying to slow him down as long as possible, but he did it quickly.
She was still breathing quickly as he sliced through the stone wall and shouted Luffy's name as she dodged a huge man dressed as a bear. She was covered in holes and blood was all over. Tears were in his eyes as he saw her battered body, and that she'd been unable to heal any of them. Someone he didn't recognize was fighting the admiral, but he didn't pay attention to that, wanting to grab Luffy and run away.
He knew he was no match for the admiral if all of Luffy's powers had been useless. The huge man swiping at her was about to touch her and he knew whatever happened because of that would be bad.
"Luffy!"
"If you could go on a vacation, where would you go?" the bear-man asked in a soft voice before touching Luffy, while Zoro's hand was fisted in her dress.