Chapter 145: Eventual and Simultaneous

Elsewhere on Sabaody.

"It's Camie! She's been kidnapped!" The frantic voice of Sanji spoke over the transponder snail to Zoro's group of straw hats. "We're going to see Duval, since he has knowledge of where we might look".

It had happened so fast one moment Luffy and his half of the crew had been laying low from the celestial dragons, then as they had decided to go to Sabaody Park they had noticed that Camie was gone. Her bubble seat was empty and the food she was eating was smushed into the ground, signifying a captive struggle. "Be careful Sanji", Chopper spoke back to the chef, "Duval may still hate you".

The chef chuckled, "if he still wants a fight then I'll beat him into a pulp until he agrees to help us. Sanji out". As soon as the snail shell receiver was depressed back on the snails back Vivi, Suki and Hachi were running after he chef back towards grove 18, where Duval and the Flying Fish Riders were based. "Wait! We're coming too", Luffy yelled, grabbing Nami's hand and hurrying after. "Camie is our friend. And we will all free her".

Locating Duval again wasn't very hard, as Sanji and Vivi spotted the former crime boss and his followers outside a small dockside industrial facility; their attires, logos and identities in the process of being changed. The dark uniforms of slavers were replaced by blues and greens, and the smiles adorning the men's faces was a complete 180 from what Luffy, Sanji and Hachi remembered.

"Well hello there! It's Handsome me! Oops - I mean, Duval!"

The twisted smile on Duval's face was excruciatingly uncomfortable to look at but the sheer joy and happiness on his face was evident for all to see. "Thank you, very much, for coming to see us, Young Master Black Leg!" A chorus of followers added, all kneeling down and bowing to Sanji, whilst also showing deference to their own boss. Duval himself practically threw himself at the chef and hugged him, "You gave me back my life! And with this new handsome face, I'm gonna finally get a girlfriend, —- I mean have a fresh start at life".

Vivi and Nami immediately moved forwards and separated chef and former slaver before Sanji's temper could flare up. "Young Master, straw hats", exclaimed Duval. "We're the Rosy Life Riders, now!" He tried to wink but ended up being a contorted mid of facial movements. "Will you please listen", Luffy sighed, as Sanji was held back by Hachi. "We need you to take us to where newly captured slaves are taken, for you see one of our friends was recently kidnapped" Vivi cut in. "And you know the old saying," Nami said. "'It takes a thief to catch a thief', so we really need your help!"

"Of course! I'd be honoured to help you straw hats. You gave me back my life, and I am in your debt" Duval declared. Turning back to his followers ,the reformed criminal yelled, "go get the flying fish ready for flight!" Then looking back at Hachi, he bowed his head and apologised for having him in chains and threatening to tune him over to the "human shop".

"All we have to do is find the mermaid before she's sold, and luckily the sea around Sabaody is our backyard! I already know where your friend will be. So you can put your faith in is Rosy Life Riders!" Duval was suddenly erupted by the sound of the flying fish moving through the air towards them.

"Now everyone, climb onto a flying fish we're off to see good old Disco!" Luffy, Nami, Vivi, Suki, Sanji and Hachi climbed onto the backs of six large flying fish, each with two other people as well armed with guns, they heard Duval shout. "The slave auction is not far from here, it's grove 22. We should get there in roundabout ten minutes". And then, each fish sped through the air towards the direction Duval was pointing.

After the humiliation of being shoved to the ground by an Emperors subordinate, Eustace 'captain' Kidd had stormed off seeking a bar to get thoroughly drunk in. Yet, in his crews wanderings, they ended up around the market district of the archipelago, specifically grove 22, and after recognising one particularly building Kidd decided that watching others humiliation was a good cure for ridding his own. Not realising that his amusement would be interrupted by one straw hat wearing teenage boy.

After entering the establishment, the Kidd pirates moved to the back of the terraced room, looking down at the people in the other levels and those upon the stage below. The only other person that Kidd looked at with some semblance of begrudging respect was his rival, and fellow Supernova, Trafalgar Law. Who was seated with his crew, in the middle stalls of the audience.

"Ladies and gentlemen..." a purple coated, top hated and sun glass wearing grey haired man stated, walking out on the stage flanked by the huge banner above of the 'mad grin'. "My name, of course, is Disco and I'm here to act as auctioneer on this very special produce sale".

Ordinarily, Kidd didn't care about slavery. Money was money, no mater where it came from or whatever deeds were done to obtain it but there was something about the way that the auctioneer spoke, so candidly, about his own industry that ticked Kidd off. "Killer..." Kidd muttered but then he was interrupted by the sound of the entrance doors opening.

Standing in the entrance way, were three white robed helmet wearing celestial dragons. "Saint Roswell, Saint Shalria and Saint Charloss!" Disco welcomed, dropping to his knees and ushering the guests to the central raised box in the audience, made specifically for any visiting World Noble. From their observation point, Kidd scowled as the world nobles walked past.

"The worlds so-called leaders are scum, who birth more scum. And they say that we pirates are the ones who lack morales and humanity. Such irony, such disgrace. By comparison... dare I say, we're kinda cute wouldn't you agree Killer?" The second mate of the Kidd pirates nodded his head, and spoke from behind his mask. "Indeed".

It was then that the auction got into full swing, with an assortment of captured pirates; of both sexes, children and half giants were paraded onto the stage and sold off to whomever wanted them. And to Kidd and Law, seeing slaves being sold wasn't anything new for them but neither of them had ever seen the 'star attraction'.

"The last slave on display today", as Disco spoke the floor opened up and a large bowl of water raised up with Camie inside. "A mermaid, freshly caught and ready for..." Disco didn't even have a chance to finish his selling points, before Saint Charloss bolted upright raised his hands and yelled; "I bid Eight hundred million!"

The whole auditorium was silent, no one daring to bid against a celestial dragon. "Any further advances on eight hundred million anyone?" Disco asked, before banging his gavel down on his auctioneers desk. "...No, then... then the mermaid is sold to Saint Charloss". Turning away, Kidd prepared to leave the hall muttering; "the real world in action". And in the seats below, Law gnashes his teeth together "damned fools..."

Suddenly there was an almighty crash, landing down on the roof and then tearing through into the room. Six flying fish flew through room destroying more walls and opening more holes in the ceiling, and then a blonde haired man and a blue haired woman launched themselves directly onto the stage. With wide eyes, both pirate captains watched as the two individuals reached the captured mermaid and as the woman freed the mermaid, the man rounded on the auctioneer impaling Disco through the stomach with his foot.

"Sanji! Vivi! Leave some for me!" A voice yelled, as another figure, one that Law and Kidd recognised, fell directly onto the stage. A large plums of darkness surrounded the straw hat captain, "black hole!" Instantly, the whole building, people included, began to sink into the boy captains darkness, making both Heart pirates and Kidd pirates flew the building.

'Let me loose'.

Luffy had been trying to subjugate the voice inside his head for months now. 'Darkness will eat your enemies. Darkness shall free the world. Darkness is the truth'. Just before the flying fish had smashed through the ceiling, Luffy had seen what had just occurred. He'd seen Camie's terrified face, the wicked sadistic world noble and the baiting crowds. So instead of allowing the simple recuse mission that Vivi and Nami had planned, Luffy jumped off the fish and decided that the entire building and all those inside had to be disappeared.

"Cataclysm!"

Darkness in Luffy's hands appeared and then struck out at the three celestial dragons, hoisting them into the air towering above the ruins of the slave market, and then buffeted them around inside his "prison void". Suki was stricken with fear. World Nobles had that affect on her, her mother was captured, beaten and raped by one. And as the illegitimate child of a high ranked celestial dragon as her father, Suki, knew that these particular dragons would no doubt recognise her. The young artist felt arms wrap around her and then a soft kiss press to her head, "you're safe here with us. Never forget that Suki". Looking up, she saw the face of Nami holding her tightly in her arms, to which the younger girl just snuggled even more into.

And outside, the Heart pirates and the Kid pirates just watched in astonishment, as the three celestial dragons suddenly reappeared suspended in mid air by chains of darkness. All three bloodied and unconscious. And then all they heard was a defiant voice, that gave away no sense of regretting his actions.

"My name is Monkey D Luffy, and I'm going to be the King of the Pirates!" Straw Hat's words echoing around the ruined area as the flying fish, and the straw hats themselves, flew away. Leaving Law and Kidd grinding their teeth at being outdone by one of their rivals. "Oh no you don't Straw Hat!" They both screamed.