Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece.
"One Piece." – Speaking
'One Piece.' – Thinking
One Piece. – Flashbacks
One Piece. – Devil Fruits and Techniques
Deadly Drinking Pirate
Marines Join The Fray
Previously on Deadly Drunken Pirate,
"If anyone is going to take Mugiwara's head…" Blackbeard grunted in confusion while Luffy hid a smirk as the voice was familiar to the latter and not the former. "It is going to be the White Hunter. And let me show you, pirate scum, how the White Hunter does his work." Smoke soon filled the wrecked Mock Town, with a certain 'smoker' standing besides Luffy, both staring at Blackbeard.
"So, Commodore, do I have the pleasure of thanking you for getting the scum out of the way?" Luffy made this comment towards Smoker's direction and the marine had to grin his teeth; it still felt insulting to have a pirate, Shinchibuki (Royal Pirate Warlord) or not, talk to him that casually.
"You can stuff it in your throat and croak like a toad, Mugiwara. We are just doing our jobs and while you with the government, I still don't trust your kind." Smoker spoke like the strict grump that he projects himself as. "So, do you have anything on this fatass of a scumbag?"
"Plenty." That single word was spoke with so much verbal venom that you will think that it will drip out and on Luffy's lips.
"You seemed to hold a grudge, Mugiwara. What did this 'Blackbeard' do to you?" Smoker asked in genuine curiosity; he never seen a pirate show so much hatred onto a single person in all his career.
"He did what half of your marine corps been doing for years; he backstab a fellow sailor and abandoned ship to save his own skin." Luffy spoke and this time, Smoker was too shocked to retort. He reviewed the reports and profiles on every marine Luffy personally sank his fists into; they all had spots of being corrupted, tainted by greed and selfishness.
"And he is the one who had sights on taking Crocodile's place as one of the Shichibuki (Seven Royal Warlords) if I didn't bargain with the Gorosei (Five Star Elders) a few days ago" Luffy spoke and Smoker suddenly felt a surge of anger and disbelief. But instead of letting his lid blow, Smoker got his bearings together.
"Somehow you didn't surprise me anymore Mugiwara and you always seemed to have a reason for everything you've done." Due to the circumstances, Luffy hid his smirk; he just heard his marine rival competent him. "So, I don't care what you want to do, just don't get in my way."
"Then move it!" Luffy suddenly shouted and shoved Smoker across the rubble and moved himself to dodge yet another airborne landslide of garbage. "While you were monologuing worse than a comic book villain, the fatso nearly got the drop on us! Learn some awareness for crying out loud!"
"Whatever." Smoker grumbled, digging himself out of the rubble as if he was actually covered in leaves. "Howaito Auto (White Out)!" Smoker used one of his signature moves to try and ensure Teach. However,
"Kurouzu (Black Vortex)!" Teach used gravity to free himself from the smoke cloud that also got him, and also made for more ammo to use later. "You are more hardheaded and idiotic than Mugiwara and even myself! I knew that the World Government was looking for an excuse to hide Mugiwara's actions in Alabastra, defeating Crocodile, by promoting the one marine who did nothing!"
"Howaito Burō (White Blow)!" Teach was interrupted when Smoker used his powers to land a swift attack with similar force to that of a missile. "I guess you were right, for once, Mugiwara." Smoker remarked without even bothering to look at the straw-hat wearing pirate; he still has an image to keep. "Now then, Blackbeard…" Smoker addressed the fatso of a pirate getting back up without as much as a bruise. "It is poetic that you will face me, the Hakuryō (White Hunter), so let's see if white beats black or otherwise!"
XXXXX
Elsewhere in Mock Town,
"Man." Usopp took a customary two seconds to let out a breath, "What does it take to beat these guys? They just keep getting up." Usopp then moved to dodge a large body sliding past him.
"I know. Especially that old man with his horse." Usopp turned to see who sent the otherwise unbeatable champion of Mock Town flying; it was Chopper, still in his Master Point. "Ever since we started fighting, the old sick man already lost twenty pints of blood. Just what is he?"
But neither of them had any time to ponder when they moved out of the away of a building that nearly crashed on them. It was Burgess, the 'Champion of Mock Town', and he wasn't happy the slightest. "Don't you bastards dare send me back and then talk shit about my crew mates! Onihōyō (Ogre Bear Hug)!" Burgess intended to use his large, bear-like arms to crush both Usopp and Chopper.
But he underestimated their teamwork, "Dangan Dorirushotto (Air Bullet Drill Shot)!" Usopp proclaimed and, using just his dormant arm, shot out of his custom rifle not a normal bullet round but one that shook the atmosphere it was soaring through. While Burgess dodged it despite his size, that was a mistake on his own accord as he still took damage from the surrounding impact. In fact, Burgess was nearly buried in the rumble from the sheer force that completely covered his frontside.
Still, the ogre champion barely got a change to wipe his nosebleed when Chopper' shadow covered his disgusting face. "Sakura Shokuju Eikyō (Sakura Tree Planting Impact)!" Chopper used both of his impressive arms to land a hand hammer right on Burgess's face, with enough strength to plant an entire tree like the move's namesake.
Yet it didn't finish the job. "Going after a fighter's face!? That is underhanded even for our Blackbeard Pirates! You all are worse than pirates!" Burgess finally got his feet and unsuccessfully tried to return punches but Chopper and Usopp resorted to dodging those attacks, thanks to weeks of hellish training by their captain. "And hold still for fuck's sake! GRAAGH!"
Usopp and Chopper didn't know to be surprised or deadpan to see Sanji's foot on where Burgess was just hurt. "You ugly bastard! That blast nearly sent Nami-cwhan to the filth and garbage on the shitty ground! You will pay!"
'Called it.' That was an oddly shared thought. "And while you are doing that, we will be elsewhere." Usopp spoke and walked away along with Chopper with the other Blackbeard Pirates in mind.
"Piss off or you won't get even polished rocks for your dinner!" Mock Town had an echo that was heard clearly for hours, not that anyone cared. The sounds of gunshots and blades dancing were louder and sounder more reliving somehow.
'Just what is up with this sniper and those eyes?' Kuro was occupied with Van Augur, trying to get close but the calm gunman was always a centimeter close to hitting the former pirate captain. And each of those shots were powerful enough to destroy a large pile of garbage and can even level one of the wooden buildings.
Then Kuro's eyes widen, feeling someone had sent him a message to his head. One telling him to go for the side of Augur. The next instant second came with a gunshot not in front of Kuro but behind him! This one had meet Augur's latest deadly blow perfectly and even stunned the sniper for just a moment. But Kuro was still as fast as in the East Blue, one that scared even his own former crew; and he took the chance to sink his Neko Te (Cat Claws) in Augur's bare side.
Also, Kuro was still the tactical genius from before and intermediately figured out who was responsible for giving him that opening. Looking up and behind, Kuro had the urge to smirk at how Usopp was standing above him and wasn't even shaking in the wind. "Never thought that this day will come, Usopp."
"Took the both of us long enough, Kuro." The Straw Hat sniper responded with no more fear, not when he just aided the one man that Usopp thought he was going to hate for the rest of his life. Perhaps even Kaya can make amends but that will be up for Time to tell. "Now then…" Usopp then jumped off the top of the building, walked over to Kuro's side and popped out the same hidden blade he used against a pair of assassins in the Sandy Kingdom. Even Kuro himself marveled at the simple yet beautiful blade, a miniature sword even that shun in the sun. "Let's finish this."
Once Augur got back up, his face didn't even twitch at the flesh wound staining his clothes. Not even when he saw Kuro charging for him with claws out, with distance that didn't give even a man like Augur enough time to take a shot. So, the Blackbeard Sniper resorted to blocking those blades with his own oversized rifle, showing that it was more durable than it looks. He did notice that Kuro was pressing with only one of his clawed gloves but couldn't ponder much when his rifle was hit with another blade and to his right side.
"Psyche." Usopp smirked and, with strength that defied his petite and slim arms, managed to force Augur's rifle to the left which had the mouth of the rifle. When Usopp pulled the trigger, Augur was able to dodge by moving to the left. The latter had assumed that Kuro won't dare to use his other set of blades on Usopp to get to him. But, to his eventual shock, Kuro leaped over Usopp with the balance and grace of an actual cat.
This once again left Augur will no room or time to dodge and felt his left side also slashed terribly. But this time, pain also surged from impact to Augur's kneecaps, curtesy of a swift and strong swipe of Kuro's leg. And yet he didn't fall on his legs, Augur was able to correct them using the blunt of his rifle!
"Damn." That was all Kuro could say. An Augur had a vicious smirk on his mouth.
"There are no weaklings in our crew, the captain will never allow one to join." Augur spoke and aimed his rifle again. "And I still have enough rounds to blow this town into the ocean. Come and see what fate has decided for us!"
Finally, there was Zoro, Nami and Gin against Doc Q and his horse Stronger. "I am no doctor but just how is that shithead so sick that he coughs up blood but has the strength to cut through the crap around us like paper!?" Zoro shouted in disbelief and annoyance, that his attacks were deflected by Doc Q's double-bladed scythe.
"I agree. I was never able to use even half of my strength when I was half-starved back in the East Blue." Gin had a strange fondness for this battle somehow, as if he was facing a fighter who had the appearance of being not a foot but his waist in the grave. Not to mention that the Horse, Stronger, was supposed to be sick like the Blackbeard Doctor but Gin couldn't even strike at the legs with his tonfas.
"I think that we already established that this four are like us, only darker and eviler!" Nami shouted back, blocking the scythe thanks to her trusty staff and some Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki) to make it hard enough that a blade can't even scratch it. Too bad that Doc Q was as fast as he is surprising strong; she had no room to use any of her weather magic.
"It is Fate that keeps me alive as we were chosen to be the best there! Our captain is going to be at the top with us as the strongest crew in the world!" Doc Q proclaimed even though his solemn look didn't match the ambition quite much. Then, "Move, Stronger!" The sickly doctor commanded his equally sick horse to jump back when someone landed in the middle of the fight.
"I am disappointed and insulted by you, both calling yourself a doctor and not even treating your stead!" Chopper appeared in his Master form to once again thought to match himself against Doc Q, a doctor-vs-doctor battle if you will. "And this time, you aren't going to sic your ogre on me again!"
Chopper then sent out a hail of hoofs that were darkened with Haki, yet each where blocked by Doc Q's scythe. "I think that the doctor doesn't need all of us." Gin said, "As much as I want to keep at this pathetic doctor, I am going after someone with more meat." And with that, Gin headed over to where the wrestler was occupied with a certain blond cook.
"And I will get back above, where I am most at home in this stinking battle." Nami said before vanishing in a blur. This left Zoro with Chopper and Doc Q,
"Dammit. They are just sugarcoating this and I guess that it is difficult to figure out who is the strongest under the boss this time." Zoro mumbled to himself, "Hey Chopper!" The swordsman charged, briefly taking away the reindeer doctor's attention away from their shared foe. "Sanjūroku Pondo Hō (Thirty-Six Pound Cannon)!"
Zoro unleashed only one of his three swords and unleashed something that he had been perfecting from his hellish training from his captain. And he mastered it to the point that the flying slash attack moved around even Chopper's Master Point, forming a closing spiral right in front of the reindeer fighter. And Chopper understood where this was going and added his own attack into the mix. "Sakura Hana Bishihon (Sakura Petal Book Press)!"
Chopper coated his hand with Haki to prevent any self-damage while striking the central spiral to add more force, making it a virtual wind cannonball that moved too fast for even Doc Q or his stead to dodge. "Shinigami Satsujin Donki (Grim Reaper Murder Blunt)!"
Yet another impressive feat of the sickly doctor, he was strong enough to not only take in that combined attack but also cancel it out, with the blunt center piece of his double-bladed scythe. "You can't defy Fate and everything that Fate protects can never be harmed."
But before either Doc Q or Stronger could budge, another fighter appeared and clashed a blade against the Scythe. "If you want to cut down the Pirate Hunter, get in line! I have reservations!" This swordsman, or rather swordswoman, proclaimed only to realize that she suddenly was talking to just another pile of rubble. It could only be one person, Tashigi, the one from Loguetown and Alabastra.
For once, Zoro wasn't annoyed and somehow was amused to see her of all woman to intervene. He then decided, despite the circumstances, to tease her a little "I heard that you got a promotion along with your stovepipe of a boss." Zoro remarked, smirking to see that Tashigi was trying to ignore him. "I hope that this means you finally gotten your act together and gotten stronger at all. Or do you still want to be a man?"
"Shut it Pirate Hunter. You still owe me for the disgrace back in Loguetown!" Zoro just shook his head in disbelief while Chopper made a self-note to ask about this after the battle.
"I know that I never told you that I became a pirate but after seeing you nuts about swords and looking like my old friend, I couldn't break it to you." Zoro walked up to Tashigi, who was still trying to ignore him, and got into his three-sword style stance. "You just had no reason to hide that you were a marine. Everyone welcomes marines no matter what and you know that."
"Shut it." The marine swordswoman muttered and then charged for Doc Q, only for her attempt at a vertical slash to miss with Stronger moving to the left. Suddenly Chopper appeared again,
"Sakura Bākupuresu (Sakura Bark Press)!"
"Shinigami Satsujin-Han (Grim Reaper Murder Block)!"
Once again, Doc Q used his scythe to block the attack, only this time with the side of the staff. Yet that was what Chopper wanted, and Zoro emerged from above with his two swords from Loguetown descending downward. "Tsuin Komettohanmā! (Twin Comet Hammers)!"
Zoro struck both blades in hand on the scythe blades, using his enhanced strength to force the weapon and the stead holding both of them down to the ground. That was when Doc Q realized that he, like his sniper crewmate elsewhere, was duped. And saw no way out when Tashigi appeared above Zoro this time and with her personal sword drawn.
"Doragon Kurasshu Kyanon (Dragon Crash Cannon)!" Tashigi shot and made a stabbing motion with her katana that didn't make contact but instead sent a pressure shot that struck Doc Q right on the chest. And this time, Doc Q couldn't stay on Stronger and was sent flying off and into a pile of rubble.
Despite this, the sickly doctor got back on his feet, albeit with legs shaking worse than Usopp back in the East Blue. "It seems that you are not only guilty of disbelieving in fate, but also for defying it! I can never cure that or forgive any one for it! Come Stronger!"
The sick horse turned and actually ran while clutching the large scythe in its teeth, all in an instant of coughing up blood. While Doc Q couldn't walk right, he was able to jump back onto Stronger and readied his weapon to charge at his enemies. Yet while they were ready for it, someone else beat them to it; and by means of using another sword to not only block the scythe but also lift both Doc Q and Stronger with just his sword, sending them back to the ground.
"Vice Admiral, sir!" Tashigi suddenly gotten stiff in her salute while Gin and Zoro scanned this marine, assuming the cloak spoke true. And this man truly was no pushover and gave off a rather strong aura. Then he started to speak,
"Straw Hat Pirates, Blackbeard Pirates, my name is Momonga. I am a vice admiral of the Marines and it seems that I am needed." Momonga is a man with a black mohawk and a mustache. He wears the standard marine uniform, consisting of a purple and white pinstripe suit with a coat draped over his shoulders. Underneath his coat lies a dark blue shirt and a light blue tie. He is of average height and very well-built. He carries around his weapon of choice, a katana, either attached to his right hip or on his shoulder. "But while the Blackbeard Pirates are my prey, I don't trust Shichibuki or anyone who sails with them. Stay out of my way."
The pirates either let out a sigh or hide it, they may have a Shichibuki as a captain but it will take a lot more than that to show the marines that the Straw hats are no like most pirates. Luffy was right, his status as a Shichibuki was just to give some added protection until his crew was confident to take on the marines should the captain resign for someone else to take his place.
XXXXX
Back to Smoker and Teach, the former was running low while the latter was still on his legs and now is occupied with Luffy. 'How the hell does Mugiwara do this? None of my attacks are doing anything, he just sucks them up like a vacuum cleaner. Even when they do hit, that scumbag gets back up again; does he really feel no pain?'
Whatever thought he had, Smoker forgot about them when the human flesh-bag was sent crashing near him. "Dammit! Mugiwara, you are testing my patience?!" Luffy had the look of slight disappointment.
"Hate to be blunt but no, you are testing mine. Seriously, I thought the fine marine example such as yourself will find a much more suitable place to get distracted." Smoker growled and barely swallowed his temper.
"So, what do you suggest we do? You seemed to be making the progress here and my attacks are doing jack!" Luffy let out a sigh and a sad shake of the head.
"Smoker, only fools think that feeling no pain is to take no damage and thus they are invincible. They're not and there is a way to exploit this scum's ability to feel no pain." Luffy said vaguely and yet it only took a few seconds for Smoker to realize it. Too bad that this means he is truly unable to fight Teach as his methods are brute force and bruising, which leaves no wonder to how the scumbag could take them. "Now here's my plan…" Smoker took a look to see if anyone else is watching before leaning in to Luffy whispering in his ear.
And by the time Teach dug himself out, he was really about to blow his lid. "This is getting old too fast, Mugiwara! You will see why I was the more suitable Shichibuki…candidate?" Teach stopped his monologuing when he realized that Luffy was nowhere in sight, only Smoker and the garbage piles around them both.
"Shiroi Fīrudobyū (White View Field)!" Smoker slammed his open palm onto a piece of rubble and out of his arm came a heavy mass of smoke; a classic smokescreen that only someone like Smoker can do.
"Like that is going to help you two! I sailed under Shirohige for twenty years! You can't escape me!" Teach shouted out and was about to focus on finding Luffy who apparently disappeared in the smoke screen. But then Smoker appeared and swung his large weapon, the Nanashaku Jitte, at Teach. The seasoned traitor of a pirate was able to catch the weapon despite the damage on his body.
"If you are going to charge then what was…the point…of…" Teach was about to try and taunt Smoker, to get under his skin like always. Then he started to wonder two things; one that he couldn't absorb the weapon and two, he was feeling rather weaken from the point he caught the Jitte.
"Do you know what Kairōseki (Sea Prism Stone) is?" Smoker asked with a sadistic smile to see that Teach learned the hard way on what he can't absorb just yet. And Smoker loved the look on the fatass's face when Teach realized that he was duped.
"…Saidobāsurasshu (Sideburn Slash)!" Luffy appeared from out of the smoke with his katana out and both hands on the handle. And Teach couldn't even scream in pain when his bare other side had been sliced clean through.
Meanwhile,
"You're were right, these scumbags just don't fall and stay down." Momonga had rounded up Tashigi and, reluctantly, the Straw Hats to try and combine their efforts on the Blackbeard Pirates as a whole; a change of tactics he called it. But still, the results weren't any different, only the appearance of the enemy pirates; each one was covered with open wounds, ugly bruises and even their clothes were worse for wear.
"Yes, sir." Tashigi spoke up. "Despite their low numbers, they were still responsible for the destruction on Drum Island and defeating the former king, Wapol, who is now missing." Neither of the marines noticed that each of the Straw Hats growled or else gritted their teeth; it was infuriating that they couldn't break it to the marines that Wapol had fled like a coward, not even bothering to fight the Blackbeard Pirates.
"When I want a report or a comment, I will let you know." Momonga sneered at Tashigi, who realized that she spoke out of line for a moment. "But that can wait, because…what the hell?"
That was when the Blackbeard Pirates were engulfed in a smoke screen that even blocked out any awareness to where the scumbags were. Because both the Straw Hats and the marines were in the winning tide, the captain of the Blackbeard Pirates himself had issued a silent order to retreat.
XXXXX
Earlier, both Luffy and Smoker were the ones standing high and above a fallen fatso that is Teach. It was clear that the pirate who calls himself Blackbeard was about to lose conscious if he tries to keep the battle train running.
"Give up Blackbeard!" Smoker shouted, "You can absorb all the pain you want but you have to feel Mugiwara's poison sooner or later! As we speak, more and more marines will be arriving and you will not be able to fight you way out!" Smoker hoped nobody heard that part about Luffy still, "We are putting you under arrest for the destruction that you caused on Drum Island, still registered to belong to the World Government.
"You should listen to him." Luffy wanted his own two cents while the fatso was still on the ground, losing feeling in his legs. "But in the case that we meet again as hated enemies, I want to thank you. It was you and your little band's actions on Drum Island that was the best thing to happen since Wapol took over. You can give yourself a pat on the shoulder, good bad boy~!"
Teach gritted his teeth, he never was so humiliated in all his life. He thought that he could fix this setback by defeating the newest Shichibuki only a week the most after being ranted the status by the World Government. But Luffy was far stronger than he left on, which could explain how he easily defeated Crocodile, and the marines came to actually back him up which doomed the plan from the moment they arrived.
"Ribereishon (Liberation)!" Teach used not one but both of his hands clad in darkness to release the smoke he absorbed from Smoker to create his own smokescreen. "Retreat you bastards! We're not ready to face Straw Hats, not with the marines too!" Teach was able to tell that his crew had heard the call and made their way past him but not before, "Remember this Mugiwara! I spent twenty years to enact my plan and I will not be denied of what I deserve! I will become the King of Pirates!" Then Teach turned tailed like before and didn't get far before he was answered,
"If you want to be the next Pirate King, then I am more than glad to fight you for it. But I will never accept someone who harms my friends, my family and smears on the Name of D, a rival for my dream!" Luffy shouted back at Blackbeard who still kept running. "I am warning you Teach! Once I learn that you harmed a hair on my brother, I will go to war with you if I have to!"
Then the world froze, everything suddenly moving as if time had slowed to the speed of a snail. Only Luffy and Teach seemed to be affected as their heart rates are still pumping hard from all the excitement. "I will get what I want, whether you are my ally or enemy. I promise that." With that, the world started to move like normal and the Blackbeard Pirates somehow evaded the marines while Luffy didn't budge an inch to stop them.
End of Chapter 33.
*What do you guys think? I hope you had a wonderful, warm and delicious thanksgiving! I sure did and I am glad to get this chapter done just in time!
I did my best to show how each of the Blackbeard Pirates fared in battle since we rarely get to see them get serious with the exception of their captain in his canon battle with Ace. They were already strong to take on the entire Drum Island and battle their way into Impel Down even before expanding on their crew size.
To be honest, I will have to admit but in the far future, I will be doing my version of Impel Down and the Marineford War. So, I am still having Blackbeard face against Ace and capturing him. Trust me, Luffy will be outraged and will not hunt Blackbeard down like a pirate, but as a god!
Still, I hope you all had a good thanksgiving and all there is left to await is Christmas. We better remember to do our shopping! Ciao!*
