Chapter 147: Cornered and Defeated!
The Last Day of the Straw Hat Pirates!
High in the sky, above the archipelago, a single bubble that had risen from the mangroves popped. Down below, the Straw Hats stared, transfixed, horrified at the spot where once Zoro stood. The swordsman had been about to lash out, along with Luffy, at the grinning Doflamingo. Yet, before they both could do so the big bible carrying bear like man appeared directly before them and swung his hand down right into the swordsman. And then, the moment the warlords hand made contact with Zoro's chest, he was gone in a flash of air.
Disappeared. Vanished.
There was a sudden collective look of anger washed over the faces of the remaining straw hats. "Where's Zoro?" Usopp spat, aiming his rifle but not firing it at the warlord. "What have you done?" The group then heard a loud roar coming from the direction of Chopper fighting the ax wielding Sentomaru, who had just landed a glancing axe blow to the giant reindeers right hoof, producing a deep cut and a lot of blood.
"Chopper, stop!" Nami cried. "Please, just calm down and come with us!" The group then heard the axeman snarl out loud before throwing his axe at the warlord Kuma. "Bartholomew Kuma?" Sentomaru yelled, "why are you here! I understand Doflamingo's actions, but you're supposed to be at Navy Headquarters right now!" Having his question go unanswered, as well as his axe deflected right back at him, Sentomaru pulled out a transponder snail to alert his uncle Kizaru. But he was stopped by a fist slamming into the back of his head, making him drop to the ground unconscious.
"What had happened to Zoro?" Franky questioned. "He just disappeared into thin air!"
Robin was still openly glaring at Doflamingo, and so didn't hear the question me answer. She did not realise that Luffy had his eyes on her. "I've seen it that power before! Nami exclaimed. "Back at Thriller Bark...he made that ghost girl disappear, me and Suki saw it. One moment the girl was there, then the next she was gone!" The group suddenly became aware of the shadow of a de transformed Chopper falling down towards them, yet before Sanji could jump up and catch their doctor the figure that had knocked Sentomaru out cold leapt into the air and took ahold of the reindeer, and then landed in between Doflamingo and Kuma.
A forlorn expression on the old mans' face, "Hello Luffy". As expected, the straw hat captain strode forwards and pointed at his grandfather, frustration and annoyance clearly visible. "Hey!" Luffy yelled, "what happened to Zoro? What did that bear guy do to him?" Garp didn't immediately respond, instead he turned back to the other warlord and handed him a transponder snail. "Go help Kizaru. I know you want to fight the sword".
Doflamingo sneered at being effectively sent away but he did follow orders, turning and heading of towards the location given to him. The last thing the straw hats heard was the laughter, "see you in the New World, straw hat! I still need to reward you for your time in Skypiea".
It took all Sanji and Usopp had, to grab and hold onto their captain once the second warlord threatened them about the time they ended his subordinates rule of a sky island. "Luffy!" Garp loudly interjected, making his grandson forget about Doflamingo and refocus on him. "I'm sorry it's come to this... but you really have caused a big heap of trouble right now, at the worst possible time".
This time it was Vivi who raced forwards, twirling a sandstorm in her palm, just waiting for a good time to release it, "just tell us where Zoro is!" Walking forwards and hading the sleeping reindeer to Robin, Garp towered over his grandsons crew, before he explained vaguely what they had seen. "People say that anyone who Kuma touches with his paws will be sent flying away from three days and nights. No one knows where they land, only Kuma, knows exactly where he sends them".
Luffy clenched his fists as he broke out of Usopp's hold and. Stoked up to his grandfather, "why are you here Gramps!" However, at that moment Kuma darted past and made contact with Brook and Franky; disappearing them both. Spinning around, Luffy grabbed Nami's hand, pulling her close to him, "guys split up! Meet up back at the bar!"
As the straw hats split up and went in different directions, Garp brushed tears out of his eyes before he took a deep breath and shaved through the air towards Sanji and Vivi. "We have to run..." Sanji yelled, carrying the princess bridal style, as Usopp followed them. "Argh!" Glancing up, Usopp noticed a shadow fly over him, "guys get down! Garp is closing in on you!" The warning came a little late as the old man suddenly descended and grabbed Sanji bringing himself and the princess toppling them. "Get off them!" Usopp cried out firing four 'lead stars' at the vice admiral, who moved enough away to allow the chef and princess to get up and begin running again.
"Thanks Usopp..." Vivi began, only to stop when she saw the hand of Bartholomew Kuma come down upon her friend, and with a swirl of air, Usopp was gone. "Why? Why are you doing this!" Vivi screamed as she thrust out her hands, creating a sand vortex trapping Garp and Kuma, "why are you causing Luffy so much hurt?" Again neither warlord nor marine answered, and then Kuma broke out of the vortex and grabbed both chef and princess vanishing them as well.
—
Luffy was frozen.
Six of his crew members, and friends, had just been erased... and he was powerless against the warlord in question. Not to mention fighting his grandfather was something that he really couldn't see himself doing, 'family and friends are the greatest treasure in the world', his grandfather used to say. Yet argh his point in his life, Luffy was filled with hurt and anger.
"Dark Grasp".
Bringing a large mace into his hands, the captain lunged at Garp attempting to swat him across the face, only seconds later to be himself summersaulted backwards into a tall mangrove tree. Looking up through bleary eyes, Luffy saw Chopper disappeared, followed by Nami, who had run over to and was holding on to Suki; so that the younger girl wouldn't be alone. Pushing himself upright he bolted at full speed towards the last of his crew still here, Robin, and managed to grab ahold of her just as Kuma swooped in towards them.
However, upon seeing the two pirates together, Kuma straightened up and let his arms fall once more to his sides as a teary eyed Garp made his way to them. "I'm sorry Luffy... I know you must have questions. And I know you're angry about why I'm doing this, but all you need to know is I am doing this for you and your crews own protection. You are my grandson Luffy! I'll always love you!"
Hearing such words coming from Garp's mouth had the affect of neutralising the anger in Luffy's heart. Still with his arms wrapped around Robin, not wanting to risk being separated from his last shipmate, the boy captain looked up at his grandfather. "J-J-just tell me why", he wept, burying his head in Robins arms. "Please Grandpa!" The sound of heavy footfalls approached the two straw hats. "Kuma... keep them together. Please".
Those were the only words Garp spoke, as the warlords hand swiped down through the air towards Luffy and Robin. As the inevitable vanishing began to sink in, both pirates heard Kuma speak to them. "You and I, will never meet again. Farewell, Straw Hat". And with that, both pirates disappeared, leaving the warlord and vice admiral to carry the unconscious Sentomaru back to the marine warship. "Forgive me Luffy", Garp whispered, "it's better that you're not here or aware of the events that are about to unfurl".
—-
Taking out a second transponder snail, the vice admiral enquired about the status of the arrest attempt of Maris Cajun by Admiral Kizaru and the warlord Doflamingo. "The fight ended in failure, Maris Cajun escaped. And the surrounding areas were completely destroyed... the admiral has gone off hunting down Supernovas, whilst Doflamingo was last seen in a fierce revenge battle against 'Mad Monk', whom seems to know the warlord, assisted by Jewellery Bonney", the voice in the other end of the snail receiver stated.
Rubbing his forehead, anticipating a growing headache, Garp simply ordered the marines back to the ships, 'taking with them any pirates already captured'.
As the navy battleship left Sabaody, Garp was filled with a deep sense of regret and sadness.
His grandson had just been separated from his crew, sent flying by Kuma's devil fruit powers, the only thing that kept the vice admiral from openly crying was knowing that the straw hats pirates were safe, and that Luffy wasn't alone.
All he wanted now was to reach Marineford and wallow in salt crackers to make him feel better. And yet he knew that he would be fighting a far more serious fight soon, and this one would be over the fate of his adopted grandson, Portgas D Ace.
