Chapter 19: Fight for your Right
With a solemn sigh Cooper began telling the story.
-What you first need to understand is why us Minks left Zou. Many years after a long journey in the outside world, our leaders returned, traumatized and in a constant state of squabbling with each other. Alfred saw a chance to rule and tried to take it.
Koby thought of the myths of a cat and a dog traveling with Gold Roger.
-Sadly for him, they reached a truce and continued ruling. By that point it was too late; Alfred was . He convinced a bunch of canines, all weaker in Electro than the wolves, and convinced them to follow him and colonize an island in the outside world. Though it was all a trick…
Cooper described how when they stepped foot on new land, the wolves took over and ruled with an iron paw. Planning to conquer more islands, they set the other dogs to cruel, neverending work building ships and castles. All until one day, a Navy ship went ashore…
Doggy Valley, 15 years ago…
The branch under Cooper's feet erupted into lightning. The last second he jumped away, desperately flailing to grab onto the next tree. Alfred caught up to him again and smashed him through the tree. His clumsy, malformed body stood no chance against Alfred's horrifying power.
Cooper squealed as his neck was pinched in-between two massive claws and lifted into the air.
-It's less painful to accept your status as my subordinate, rather than struggle. Now, get back to work You should be proud I had to chase you down myself!
Cooper took a long, deep look into Alfred's eyes before beginning to play dead. Alfred flailed around his limp body.
-I can smell that you aren't dead, you know? You're not fooling anyone!
Cooper remained still. Frustrated, Alfred shook him violently. Cooper waited for the exact moment Alfred's claws slipped.
-Sayonara, sucker! High on adrenaline Cooper jumped off the tree and landed on the sand. Alfred crashed down next to him, shaking up a minor sandstorm.
-Full-Force Feral Slash!
Alfred raised his arm like the blade of a guillotine; his beautiful fur spiked as thousands of volts coursed through them. Cooper shut his eyes as it descended upon him.
-Is there any way to get some lunch around here? A goofy human voice interrupted the fight.
A couple of feet away an extremely muscular human man dressed in a military suit with, was sitting on a crate eating a sandwich
-H-huh…w-wha…you're already eating! Alfred shouted.
-Yeah, but this is just a build-up! Hey, what's up with the two of you being dogs? You one of them…zoos? Alfred started to shake with fury at the man's stupidity.
-Just…who are you? Can you leave before I kill you? The man dramatically stood up, his cape flapping in the wind
-On the first question; Monkey D. Garp, Vice Admiral of the Navy, who has come to investigate and form an alliance with the people of this island. On the second question; depends on if you buy me lunch.
Alfred rushed on all fours across the beach, frothing. With a simple backhanded slap Garp sent him straight into a nearby tree.
-How did you do that!? You're human! Cooper exclaimed.
-Rude! It's called Haki, if you gotta know. But the real trick is just having a firm han…
Alfred dashed forward again, interrupting Garp. Mildly annoyed he punched the wolf to the ground and comfortably took a seat upon his head.
-Now, you, shortstack! He shouted to Cooper.
- What's this guy's deal?
Cooper nervously stuttered.
-E-ehm, he's… he's our leader. Those wolves behind you are his bodyguards.
A troupe of wolves dashed towards Garp, licking their lips.
-Hey, I can't beat all of those guys! Let's hit the road! Garp put Cooper under his arm and booked it.
-Where is the ship that you came here on? Cooper shouted after five minutes of hectic escape.
-Damn, that's in the other direction! Garp stopped to slap himself in the forehead, only to get dogpiled by all of the wolves.
Eventually they managed to shake off their pursuers and set up camp.
-So, what's the deal with this island? Why were those guys chasing you? Cooper explained the island's history the second time in this chapter.
-So, those guys are forcing you to work for 'em? And you're too weak in this electric thing to fight back? Garp scratched his forehead.
-What if I trained your entire clan in Haki to defeat these wolves, and in exchange you form a pact with the world government!
Cooper's eyes teared up.
-R-really? You would do that? Garp laughed.
-When I was sent on this mission I was worried there would be too much diplomacy! Beating the crap out of that high-and-mighty wolf guy would be damn welcome!
The day after the enslaved dogs were crouched in the large secret space under their camp, watching Garp ferociously eat an entire table of food.
-This man may be the only hope for the future of this island! Cooper declared, only to be met by silence. The rottweilers leader Rettel spoke up.
-Cooper, why are you bringing a human into our home? He's naturally weaker than us pugs, what can he do to the wolves? The rest of the clan agreed.
-So, you're pointing to "the natural order" now? My dream is that us pugs will stand on equal grounds with all other races! We must reject the idea that natural strength is all there is, or we may as well give up on defeating the wolves!
Heated debate erupted between the dogs until Garp silenced it with a large burp. Everyone looked at him in disgust and confusion.
-Cooper, should I show them? Cooper worriedly nodded. Garp plucked a single hair from his head, charged it with Haki and flicked it across the room. It flew across the room before making the wall explode into a cloud of dust.
-I'm going to be honest, I have no idea what this entire fight is about. If I teach you this and help you defeat those wolves, will you form an alliance with me? The dogs cheered. Rettel gave Cooper an bitter stare before strutting off.
The following months started going by. While the dogs worked during the day, they would train in secret together with Garp at night. At first, they had difficulties learning the abstract art of Haki.
-I just don't get it! How do I control this Haki thing if it isn't actually physical? Cooper asked after yet again failing to summon Haki.
-Well it's…it's like, ehm…Garp struggled with an analogy.
-It's like your fur! It's a part of your body, you know it's there, yet you can't feel or control it! When you fight, you channel your energy into your body, your claws, your teeth! Let your inner energy flow outside of that into your fur, and manipulate it! Cooper nodded and began intensely concentrating on his own fur.
Garp had imagined his words as a simile, so his jaw literally fell to the floor as Cooper's fur turned into a massive spike. Seeing the dogs similarly surprised, Garp regained his composure.
-Yes, you have finally learned to control your Haki! Congratulations! Let's drink to that!
Using the new fur-based technique Cooper developed, the training rapidly picked up pace. Within months the dogs had learned to manipulate their fur with incredible skill, the hope that they would be able to win their freedom fueling them to train even harder.
Sadly, those hopeful days came crashing to a bitter end. In the middle of the night, Cooper was awakened by the ground shaking. Smoke was rising, outlined by the moonshine, and even from Garp's camp Cooper knew where it was coming from; the home of the pugs.
-I have to go! He began to rush, only to be stopped by Garp.
-I'll go with you, he smiled and the two set off through the forest.
They arrived to an harrowing sight. The majestic beech tree that had been the pug's home was sliced in half, an inferno rising out of the rubble. Bodies of pugs laid dead in puddles of their own blood, the harrowing laughs of wolf soldiers echoing across the forest.
On top of the wrecked tree stood Alfred, speaking to the crowd of horrified dogs forced to watch.
-This is what happens when you defy me! May the worthless pugs be an example of how powerless you are!
Cooper fought to hold back his rage and sorrow. If he revealed himself now, it would only put the rest of the rebellion in trouble. Garp had already sacked Alfred straight in the face.
-Shut up! You sound like those damn Celestial Dragons, it annoys the crap out of me! He turned to the onlookers.
-Why are you just standing there!? Do you want your comrades to die in vain!? Go on, fight your captives! A battlecry spread like wildfire through the slaves as they savagedly begun to attack the wolves.
In the present, Cooper began to softly cry as he told the story.
-A-are you okay? You don't have to go on if it pains you, Koby comforted.
-Thank you, but it is not tears of pain. It is tears of joy. Garp saved the bodies of each and everyone of my clansmen, allowing them a proper funeral. The wolves killed them to sink morale, but the effect was the exact opposite. The pugs were killed so that the other dogs would fight in their memory.
Cooper stared out at the stars with a contemplating look.
-We managed to defeat them, and exiled them to the deepest depths of the forest. I began my dojo, in the honor of him and my clan.
For a moment, Koby recognized a bit of Garp in Cooper's stern, contemplating face. The story had been beautiful, but it had also made him doubt. Could he really follow up on his mentor's legacy?
The end of this chapter had to be a bit rushed. These things happen, but oh well. At least I got to scratch my constant backstory itch.