Chapter 5: Sugar high
Sanji had finally calmed down after yelling himself hoarse at Zolo and then trying to kick his head in. As punishment for not keeping an eye on Luffy while he was classified as manageable, Zolo was given the task of looking after Luffy while he was on his sugar high. Oh lord would this never end! Trace had gone into the town to buy another bag of sugar for poor Sanji so he could make the dessert for that night.
Trace wandered through the street, looking for the shop he needed and then he heard a shout. It caught his attention instantly.
"Get revenge on your enemies! Turn them into children, cats, dogs, rats and even mice! Whatever you wish, I will sell!" a squeaky old voice cried. Trace moseyed on over and stared at the old crone who was behind the stall.
"Excuse me miss?" Trace asked politely. The old crone turned and gave him a toothy smile.
"Yes sonny?"
"Did you say you can turn people into children again?"
"Yes, do you want a bottle"
"No, but, I want to know how long the affect lasts for?" Trace asked and the old crone looked him up and down suspiciously.
"Why do you want to know?" she asked. Trace realised that he would have to come up with a good story to get her to believe him.
"Well, you see there was this guy that betrayed me, so, now I want to turn him into a kid, but, I have to get him back to my boss. And if he's a kid it won't be so hard to handle him but, I want to know how long I have to get him back to my boss before he turns back." Trace explained using all the right expressions and leaning down so he could whisper. The old crone nodded.
"It usually lasts about 3 months. But, for a small fee I could give you an antidote." she said. Trace brightened and winked.
"That would be gladly appreciated." he said.
"Stay there, I'll be right back." she said and then hurried back out to the back of her stall. She came back with a small vial of dark green bubbling liquid. Trace handed over the berries and thanked her. He was about to hurry back when he remembered what he had originally came for. He hurried off to find the shop he needed, hoping Zolo could handle his brother for a little longer.
Zolo was nearly ready to rip his own hair out. Luffy was going ballistic, using his gum gum abilities to stretch himself into places Zolo couldn't reach.
Luffy had now climbed up the mast and Usopp was making vain attempts to grab a hold of the literal monkey. Luffy just giggled and jumped out of reach using his arm as a bungie cord. He flew around, spiralling himself around the mast and then landing on the ground.
(Play some sort of corny chase music here) Zolo took chase running up the stairs of the ship after Luffy only to find that Luffy had rocketed over his head and was now at the other end of the ship. No one was planning to help the swordsman and they were just sitting back and laughing except Chopper who was yelling at Zolo to be careful not to hurt Luffy. WHERE THE HELL WAS TRACE! Zolo ran across to the figurehead which Luffy was now bouncing around on. Zolo went to grab the boy's arm but Luffy dodged and then swung himself over so he was lying on the deck. His hat flew off before he landed but he didn't seem to notice. He didn't stay still long though and got up to run over to where everyone else was standing. Luffy grabbed Chopper's hat and pulled it down over the poor doctor's eyes.
He then grabbed Usopp's hair and pulled it and then grabbed Nami's drink and poured it over her head. Oops. Sanji let off a string of curses that are too crude to type but let's just suffice it to say that Luffy even stopped and gasped, horrified by what the older man had said and it caused Zolo to start yelling at Sanji about not using those words in front of a young child, of course Zolo nearly used all the same words Sanji had said in his retaliation anyway. Luffy laughed at the two and then stopped.
"HAT!" he screamed and looked around wildly. Zolo smirked and held up the straw hat.
"Lose something kiddo?" Zolo asked. Luffy sighed glad that it was safe.
"Thanks Mr Zolo. Can I have it back?" Luffy asked. Zolo shook his head.
"Nope, not until you apologise to Chopper and Usopp." he said.
"And Nami!" Sanji shouted.
"Yeah and her too I suppose." Zolo grumbled. Luffy pouted and looked between his hat and the others and then back again.
"Fine." he said, "I'm sorry." he mumbled.
"Didn't hear you." Zolo said a little louder. Luffy sniffed.
"Sorry!" he shouted and then gazed at his hat with tears in his little wide eyes.
"Good boy. Now come and get your hat." Zolo said and held it out so Luffy could get it. Luffy walked forward, his little eyes becoming sleepier as he walked. The sugar high was wearing off and Luffy's energy was hitting an all time low. He barely reached Zolo, grabbed his hat and then collapsed, snoring gently. Zolo sighed and wiped the sweat off his head. Thank heavens that was over. Then he looked up sharply at Sanji.
"You have a really foul mouth." Zolo said. Sanji growled.
"The punishment of being stuck on this damn boat with you too much." Sanji responded. Zolo sneered and was about to pull out his swords when Chopper let out a shout.
"NO FIGHTING!" he yelled and ballooned into his man-beast form. "Not until Luffy is back to normal. He is small now and if you fight you may hurt him or get him thrown over board. Besides, it's all ready be a stressful day for us all, why don't we go to bed, the sun is going down and it's obvious you're all tired." he said and then went back to his cute and fluffy form again.
"I agree with Chopper." Nami said pointedly towards Sanji.
"Of course my gorgeous Nami!" Sanji cried doing his famed noodle dance. Zolo rolled his eyes and then looked down at the boy at his feet. It was true though. They would risk hurting Luffy when he was like this.
Luffy had been venturing about all morning, talking about how he wished he had a ship like this, and how he wished he could be the captain of it. Oh the irony. Zolo felt a smile tug at the corners of his mouth and leaned down to pick the boy up.
"Bed time squirt." Zolo said quietly. He carried Luffy towards the door and felt a small fist close around the fold of his shirt and looked down to see Luffy hanging onto him, still asleep. He snickered and walked down to the dormitory wondering vaguely where Trace could have gotten to.
Eep. I hope I never have a kid like that. Scary.