Everyone stared at Lambo's slouched figure in shock, eyes showing nothing of what he was thinking.
"Woah!", Luffy shouts excitedly with a wide grin and big eyes, "How'd you do that!? Did you eat a Devil Fruit too!?"
Lambo raised a brow, "A Devil Fruit? No, only read about them once or twice when I was younger though. Thought they were only a myth until I met you and Buggy here."
"WHHAAATTT!?", Buggy screeches, "YOU EXPECT ME TO BELIEVE YOU CAN USE LIGHTNING WITHOUT THE USE OF A DEVIL FRUIT!?"
Lambo rubs his neck tiredly, "I've got nothing to prove to you, but if you don't believe me, I can go take a swim as long as you surrender quietly."
"Like hell I will!"
The teenager shrugs uncaringly, "Welp, you'll never know for sure then."
"You insufferable brat!", the big nosed pirate growled out a tic mark appearing on his forehead.
"I've been called worst."
"AWESOME!", Luffy pumps his fist in the air, "I'm so glad you joined my crew!"
Lambo turned to Luffy with a raised eyebrow.
"Eh? What are you talking about?", Lambo asked, still confused about that fact, "I never joined your crew, I was never a part of your crew."
"Then why're you here!?", Buggy screams angrily,
"My Boss sent me out on vacation. Said this town was quiet, no marines or pirates nearby.", Lambo's eyes rolled to the heavens, "I should probably tell him to update the info he has on the other islands. If he even listens to me that is."
Shaking his head, Lambo returned to the matter at hand, "Point is, when did I even 'join' your crew."
Lambo made quotation marks with his hands when he said the word join.
"Didn't you ask to join before we came here to fight?", Luffy asked innocently.
Lambo face-palmed, this guy.
"I was asking if I could tag along for the fight.", Lambo clarified, dragging his hand down his face in exasperation.
"Oh~.", Luffy nodded in understanding, "It's too late now. Especially, after that cool lightning thing that you just did, I've decided that you're going to join my crew!"
"I already have a job numbskull!", Lambo shouts with shark teeth, "I'm on vacation here remember!"
"Some vacation.", Luffy says, crossing his arms apprehensively.
"You're telling me.", Lambo sighs again, before his eyes widened, and he pulled Luffy to the ground, a big explosion blooming several feet behind them.
"That was close.", Luffy said looking back to the scorch mark created by the explosion.
"That was rude you know.", Lambo states, brushing himself off as he got to his feet approaching the area underneath the spider web of cables, "I was in the middle of a conversation."
"I will not be ignored by some lazy eyed brat!", Cosmo protested loudly, while stomping his foot childishly.
Lambo couldn't help but wonder how he did that so easily while balancing precariously on the cables like he is.
"You're not that much older than me you know.", Lambo comments listlessly, noting how the cables were metal.
Upon that observation, he grabbed hold of a cable above him, just barely within his reach. Green electricity surrounded his body with no filter and with a push forward, he messily thrusts the electricity through the cables.
It traveled up up up, until it made contact with the bomber himself, causing him to let out a shout in pain as he fell from the cables.
"That's cheating!" Cosmo complained sitting up quickly as he pointed at Lambo angrily.
Lambo raised an eyebrow, "Said the one who threw a handful of bombs to help his older brother win a fight."
Cosmo growled furiously, before a sharp smile overtook his features.
"I think it's about time someone shut you up!", Cosmo declared, holding his bombs in a way very similarly to the Storm Guardian, Gokudera, back from Vongola.
"Hey Luffy...", Lambo called out, his voice tight as he tried to hide his fears and insecurities from the pirate captain, "Mind if you let me take care of this one?"
Luffy stared at Lambo's turned back for a moment before a wide smile took over his features, as he gripped the top of his hat, laughing happily.
"Sure thing. Kick his ass for me, K? Then you can join my crew!"
Lambo looked over his shoulder at the older teen with half-lidded eyes and an unreadable expression on his face.
"We'll see if I can win this fight.", Lambo says turning back to face Cosmo.
"You will, I know you will.", Luffy said confidently, causing Lambo to freeze in surprise, "You're strong."
'Why do you keep helping me?'
Lambo sat on top of the hospital bed, on top of the covers, cuddling close to Ms. Motina as she helped him study and get through his history homework. He has always struggled in history. Sheet's paper, notebooks, and a textbook all laid scattered across the duo's lap.
'What a silly question.', she said, squeezing him tightly, 'I help because I care, but also because, despite what others, or even you, may think. You are strong Lambo. One of the strongest kids I have ever met.'
'But-!'
'Ah!', Ms. Motina held up a finger cutting him off with a firm look.
After a couple moments of silence, she softened and rubbed her nose against Lambo's.
'Your strong. One day someone else will think so too.'
"Bomber Technique..."
Lambo's head popped up, coming back to the present.
With his hyena laugh, Cosmo began to throw his bombs erratically along the street. Luffy screamed in a panic as he somehow managed to drag Zoro to the side were there was cover from the multiple bombs raining around them, but still allowed Luffy to watch the battle.
"Circus Hail!"
'What the hell kind of a name is that!?'
Lambo ducked and rolled, zig-zagging between the explosions that had no rhyme, reason, nor pattern to where they would land next. That's fine though.
Lambo may not be strong, only just barely able to fight with his Flames, but there has been one thing that he has always been good at doing. Angering Gokudera, followed by him running and dodging the dynamites the Storm Guardian would throw. Much like the way Cosmo does with his bombs as well.
The only difference would be that Gokudera's attacks were much, much, more destructive than Cosmo's puny bombs in comparison.
It makes this child's play when it comes to defense in this fight.
The exact opposite in Zoro's fight, where the swordsman struggled with his defense because of his injury, but Kabaji was no match for Zoro's offense. With Lambo, thanks to Gokudera and Hibari, that skylark loves Namimori and his rules, despite somehow not following or finding loopholes in them for himself, who both would attack him. Gokudera more than Hibari would. But the thing is, despite his strong defense, Lambo's not strong. Unlike Zoro, Lambo's offense is weak, making it harder to end the fight.
There is a high probability that if Lambo goes in for a strike, he won't come back from it unscathed. He needs to find an opening.
Should he use, his Dying Will Flames? It would raise his offense just enough to have a chance at winning this fight, because if he loses, Zoro may not come out of this as unscathed as he did.
Luffy is rubber and, as far as Lambo knows, and is correct about, has no experience with fighting in explosions, unlike the Lightning Guardian. If he does somehow win against Cosmo, he won't come out unscathed and would be less likely to win against Buggy.
No, Lambo has to face this fight on his own, he may be weak, but that doesn't mean he'll give up easily. He's going to give it his all and figure out a way to win.
Lambo stopped short just as a bomb landed just in front of him, throwing him back several feet from the force of the explosion. Tumbling to his side, but managed to land in a crouch ready to run again, sprinting left and right as he successfully avoided more bombs until, finally, the barrage ended.
Breathing heavily, panting for breath, Lambo turned his attention to Cosmo who was giggling madly.
"What? No lightning?", Cosmo grinned sadistically, "Or was it just a fluke?"
"Using it three times in a short span of time and you call it a fluke?", Lambo asked with a raised brow, "Are you stupid?"
"Am not!", Cosmo shouted with sharp teeth before clearing his throat and regained his composure, "Anyway, if anyone was stupid here... It'd be you for fighting me in the first place!"
"Wow, what a comeback.", Lambo said, rolling his eyes.
"Shut up!", screeches Cosmo, "Bomber Technique... Mine Field!"
Bombs rolled all across the ground like marbles, it only took one to explode, then it became a chain reaction right beneath Lambo's feet.
Lambo leaped up into the air and took cover in an empty alley, using the left-over smoke from the explosions as a cover.
"Yare Yare, I'm fighting an idiot.", Lambo said, loud enough to be heard but not found.
Luffy laughed from the sidelines, no longer taking cover, "He's got you there."
"Oh yeah?", Cosmo challenged, "Well how about this!"
Cosmo clicked something on his wrist and juggled multiple unlit bombs.
"Bomber's Technique...", Cosmo tossed each bomb in the air and when they all landed in his palm, shaped as a sphere, he lit the fuse of the bomb on top, creating one giant bomb, "Cosmo's Extra Juicy Cherry Bomb!"
"THIS WILL SHUT YOU UP!", Cosmo screamed, throwing the bomb hard enough, it sped through the air almost as fast as a cannon ball.
"Gum Gum..."
"Luffy no!"
Several things happened at once. There was an explosion, a scream, a loud crash, and then pain. It all happened so fast that it took Lambo a second to comprehend what just happened as he struggled not to black out.
Luffy was going to try that balloon trick like he did with the Buggy ball, not realizing that since it was a bomb it was going to explode before he could bounce it back. Lambo did though, he knows explosives thanks to Gokudera and Reborn, despite the later only told him without realizing he wasn't as stupid as everyone thought, and learned from them both. Lambo had rushed forward, electricity surrounding his legs, somehow speeding up his approach, pushing Luffy out of the way, taking the attack instead, sending him flying though a building.
Lambo groaned in pain as he slowly tried to get up, surrounded by smoke and dust, obscuring other's view of him, but the pain was too great for him, so he collapsed back down in the rubble.
That was brutal.
Lambo concentrates on his breathing, trying to not pass out as he gathers himself enough to get back to his feet. He's pretty sure he hears Luffy screaming for him.
Luffy screaming his name.
"LAMBO!"
As if we was worried for him.
"Lambo! Are you okay!?"
As if he cared about him after only meeting for a short amount of time.
Cosmo's hyena-like laugh grated irritably against Lambo's ears, "Keep screaming all you like. That weakling is dead, didn't even try to come in for a hit too. What a bore."
"I know you can beat this guy! I know you're strong!", Luffy called out to the unmoving pile of rubble and dust.
"SHOW THEM WHAT YOU'RE MADE OF!"
Lambo's eyes widened as another voice rung clearly like a bell in his head, barely even registering the Vongola ring burning his finger once more.
'I want you to promise me, that no matter what, you'll find another to help you achieve your goals. Whatever your goals may be, now or in the future, I want you to find someone who will believe in you and always have faith in your skills, just like I do. Who believes you can become strong.', Ms. Motina said earnestly, 'Promise me, won't you? Promise me you won't give up and find someone who will continue to support you in my place.'
"I promise...", he mumbled, a single tear rolling down his face, as a smile curled on to his lips, closing his eyes at peace, "I found him, Ms. Motina. I found my person."
Thunder could be heard rumbling in the distance.
…...
Meanwhile, inside Buggy's hideout, a girl was busy filling a giant bag with all of Buggy's treasure, when she froze and looked up at the ceiling above her.
"There's a Lightning Storm coming in, I better hurry."
…...
Tsuna jolted in his seat, having been in the middle of doing his paperwork, hands grasping at his chest as he gasped. Wither it was because of shock or pain, he didn't know. All he knew that he felt a small uncomfortable shockwave run through his body.
It would have been painful if it didn't happen in a blink of an eye. But it was enough because it had him falling out of his chair, panting heavily besides his desk as if he has just run a marathon.
…...
Lambo's eyes snapped open. Rings of green lightning outlined the rim of his irises and an explosion of green lightning exploded out of the destroyed building, the energy source coming from within. Then it began twisting and crawling and jerking around or even through the still standing walls, effectively knocking them down to join the rubble below. Thunder could be loudly heard from the distance.
"What the hell is happening!?", Buggy shouts angrily, but staring at the lightning covered building in shock.
"He can't still be alive, can he?", Cosmo asked incredulously, "No one's survived my Cherry Bombs!"
Luffy was laughing wildly as he stared at the electric light show.
"Lambo!", Luffy called excitedly, fists raised high in the air, knowing exactly what was happening (more or less, I mean, come on, it's Luffy).
Not too soon after Luffy's call, the green lightning retreated back within the now totaled building. A figure with horns could just be seen through the smoke.
"Hey captain,", the smoke retreated to reveal Lambo looking worse for wear, but otherwise perfectly fine with two small, cow-like horns now attached to his head and green lightning surrounding his figure, often sparking at random moments.
Despite all the other times he has used his lightning before, this time is different. Everyone can see, if not, feel, the change. The Lightning was much more powerful than before, but the biggest part isn't that. No, the biggest part is, the lightning looked more controlled compared to those other times. Lambo can feel the lightning, can feel it bend to his every whim and command.
He has never felt stronger.
"I think I'm going to quite my old job now.", Lambo said, actually sounding light heartedly, "I have a promise to keep and I don't tend to break my promises. You still have room for me Luffy?"
Lambo may be weak, have low self-esteem in himself and his abilities, and may seem lifeless, hiding behind a constant mask of boredom, neutrality, and laziness. But for Luffy, his captain, his nakama, well, Lambo guessed it won't hurt to let the mask go and let himself be who he is. He felt Luffy would take it in stride, prefer it even, that Lambo was himself around his nakama. He felt like, unlike with Vongola, Luffy would see who he is and would happily take him for it.
Quirks and all.
So why fight it? Why not join with someone where he'll be happy?
"Of course!", Luffy giggled, "Now as your captain, my first order to you is to kick that guy's ass!"
Luffy pointed to Cosmo who stared shakingly at Lambo, eyes wide with hints of fear, shakily holding up his small bombs at the ready.
Lambo stared at Cosmo emotionlessly before a small smirk took over his features. Finally dropping the metaphorical mask as it shattered before him into smithereens.
"Aye-aye captain."
Lambo adjusted the horns to his head, making sure they were securely attached to his head, he hasn't put them on in a while, there never was much reason to until now. Once satisfied, Lambo faced Cosmo directly, dark clouds started to roll in, blocking out the sun and darkening the area. Thunder rumbled within the ominous sky.
"You ready?", Lambo asked tonelessly.
"I should be the one asking you that!", Cosmo shouted out throwing a chain of bombs at Lambo, "Bomber Technique Chainsicle!"
"Thunder Set.", Lambo said, barely audible enough for Cosmo and the spectators to hear.
As soon as the words left his mouth, lightning jutted down from the sky, striking Lambo head on, charging up his horns to full power while simultaneously setting off the bombs before they could get anywhere near Lambo.
Once the lightning disappeared, everyone stared at the unharmed Lambo in shock as he stretched out his limps.
"Sorry if I don't seem very good.", Lambo comments lightly, "I haven't had much training or use for this."
"What power...", Cosmo mumbles as he stares at the mix of green and blue lightning that snaked all over Lambo's body with the occasional spark, "Where did such power come from if not a Devil Fruit?"
He never got the answer to his question, for Lambo was sprinting up to him.
Cosmo tried to ready himself and throw a bomb, but Lambo was too fast, the lightning glowed around his legs, with a single bound, burst forward in a great act of speed.
"Elettrico Cornata!", Lambo shouts, ramming into Cosmo in the middle head first, tackling him to the ground.
All the stored and built-up lightning he has made struck Cosmo as soon as the two made contact, Cosmo screamed from the large electrical shock he received before collapsing to the ground with Lambo in top of him. The eccentric teenager's body now smoking from the attack.
Lambo slowly got up, standing over the barely conscious, twitching body of Cosmo the bomber. Panting heavily as he struggled to remain upright on his feet. He hasn't used his flames in such a long time, his stamina when using them aren't as great as Lambo would like. Not to mention that Cherry Bomb attack really did a number on his body, even if he came out of it alive.
He pushed himself to win this fight.
And he just proved Luffy and Ms. Motina right. He is strong, and he is determined to get stronger.
"What...?"
"Hm?", Lambo looked down to see Cosmo still conscious beneath him.
"What... are y... you?", Cosmo managed to say quietly, his voice raspy from the electrical attack he endured.
For a moment, Lambo just stared at his opponent, thinking over on what to say to him, until he came to a decision, an answer.
"I'm a Guardian."
He spoke with such finality before looking down at his pulsing Vongola ring, his finger throbbing from the pain.
"It's okay.", he could hear the first Vongola Lightning Guardian, Lampow, whisper from the ring, "He is no longer your sky. He hasn't been for a while. You've found a new Sky in that idiotic pirate captain. Fight hard, and protect your Sky as this one will no doubt protect you, along with the rest of his nakama, with his life."
With those reassuring words whispered to him, smoothing over any doubts or fears he had upon his decision, Lambo carefully slipped off the ring from his finger, for a later use he had in mind when this whole thing was done, and then he stuffed the ring in his pocket.
"Oi, Luffy."
Luffy stared at Lambo, giving the younger male his full attention.
"I think I pushed my abilities a little too far.", Lambo told Luffy quietly, as he slowly walked, his form wobbled every other step, towards his captain, his Sky, "I think I'll follow the swordsman's lead and... rest..."
Unable to handle the strain his body took upon the battle. Lambo crashed forward, quickly falling to the ground at the hand of unconsciousness.
Only to be caught in a warm embrace. It felt like he was being held by the sky, large and comforting, as he drifted off to sleep.
He chuckled tiredly, "Never thought... I'd... become... a pirate."
"You fought well. Now rest.", was that last thing Lambo heard before succumbing to the darkness.
Sleeping peacefully for once in the span of five years.
…...
"Tenth! What's wrong?", Gokudera called out worriedly, sliding to his knees by his boss's side.
Tsuna was pale, sweating heavily, and just barely had his breathing under control so he wouldn't start hyperventilating. He gripped his head and groaned quietly.
His Hyper Intuition is going crazy right now. Tsuna can tell that whatever it was trying to tell him the past couple of weeks, it's the same thing right now. The only difference is that his Hyper Intuition seems more frantic, somehow even desperate.
Tsuna rubbed his aching head, "It's my Hyper Intuition, it's been trying to tell me something for a couple weeks now, but I could never tell what. Now, whatever it is, got worst. I feel like a part of me is cracking, threatening to break off, and it's making my Hyper Intuition go crazy."
Gokudera seemed to mule over Tsuna's words, trying to help his boss figure out what just happened and what may yet to come.
"Any patterns pop up when you Hyper Intuition acts up?", Gokudera questions.
"None that I can see.", Tsuna answered with a shake of his head as he shakily got back up to his feet, with the help of his right-hand man, "Of course there is a chance I may be over looking something."
"I've kept this quiet for too long.", Tsuna sighs wearily as Gokudera helped him walk to his room in order to rest, "I was going to bring it up after the Gala if I still couldn't figure it out by then. But with what just happened, we need to tell Reborn and the other Guardians, now. We got to find out what my Hyper Intuition is trying to tell me."
Gokudera agrees silently, "But first we have to get you to bed and call up Shamal for a checkup just in case, I'll gather everyone in your room while Shamal makes sure you're okay."
Tsuna didn't want to wait any longer, look how good that did him now? But Gokudera is right, he has to make sure that whatever happened didn't affect negatively long-term. As well as, Shamal may be able to bring light on the matter if what happened had to do with his flames.
If his Sky Flames are part of the cause of his sudden collapse.
Then what is happening?