King0fP0wers: Yeah, about that event last chapter… I'll be real, I don't know why I included these two. Frankly, I don't like them and was just adding them because I needed someone who knew the area to lead them to Sanji.
Maybe I could have done something different, but I did want to introduce bounty hunters because… well, they'll be a bigger part in the narrative. Bounty hunters, I mean. As for Zoro's decreasing patience for Carina's shit, without Ussop to fake stab, somebody had to fill the role.
On the subject of Silk, I suppose she is a little ditzier than her introduction. Let's chalk it up to early Devil Fruit euphoria; like how Logias in their first year think they're invincible, and Zoans call themselves the pinnacle of strength, Paramecias get too lax, seeing that their Fruits can defend them from most accidents, i.e. Buggy willingly getting cut, or Hancock assuming everybody will fall in love with her.
Also, if you like Kisame now, wait until later!
Chapter 18: Departures and Arrivals
As Silk woke with a yawn, she took note of her surroundings and found herself laying on a small bed in a quaint little cottage. 'Wait,' she thought. 'Wasn't I supposed to be doing something-!?' "Gah! Zoro and Johnny! I almost forgot about them!" Silk gasped loudly as she sat up in a rush.
"Hey! Knock off all that yelling in my house!" Silk turned to look at a blue-haired woman, who was somehow looking bored and annoyed at the same time.
"Eh? Huh!? N-Nami!?" Silk sprang up. "Why'd you dye your hair!?"
The woman blinked, before turning her head to look at Silk sideways. "Sounds like you've met my sister. I'm Nojiko. I grow tangerines."
While Nojiko introduced herself, Silk wandered over toward the window to see a grove of said tangerines. "Nami's sister..." Silk mused, before whipping her head around! "Wait! Are you telling me Nami grew up in that grove!?"
Nojiko chuckled at Silk's expression. "Well, yeah. We both did."
Silk's eyes got wider. "Whoa... I had no idea you could grow blue tangerines..."
Nojiko gave Silk a weird look before a deadpan look crossed her face. "...do you think me and Nami literally grew out of the grove?" Silk's reddened expression answered Nojiko's question pretty well.
"W-well, I've read some pretty out-there stories before - Oh!" Silk pounded a fist to palm. "I've been sidetracked again! I still have to find Nami, rescue Zoro, and beat Kisame at his own game!" Silk picked up Dorado from leaning on the wall. "Hey, if you're Nami's sister, do you know where she is? There's this girl with a monkey who dragged her here to do something with a guy named Arlong..."
Nojiko casually said, "Well, if you're looking for both, that'll be easy... Nami is one of Arlong's top lieutenants."
The blonde paused at that, having heard of the name, but not able to recall where or what it meant… "So that's her unfinished business."
Nojiko huffed, though not rudely. "Look, I get it. Nami wiggled into your crew, robbed you, and you came here for revenge. But, take it from me – it's not worth it. She has the backing of the Arlong Pirates-"
"No, she's our crewmate!" Silk effortlessly cut Nojiko off. "She may have been a member of a different crew, but she's one of ours, now! We laughed and fought for too much – and as far as Hook's concerned, she never asked to go, so she's stuck!"
Nojiko looked like was about to say something, but paused. "Nami... laughed with you? Really?"
"But man, if Kisame could blast me off like that," Silk rambled on, ignoring Nojiko's indignation at being ignored, "I'll need to wait for Hook and the others to get here so that they can help with the rest of Arlong's lieutenants! Hook can have Arlong, but Kisame will be all mine!"
Nojiko just scoffed. "How outlandish. Do you realize what you're saying? Arlong and his men have plagued this village for years. Do you really think you and your small-time group can make a dent in...?"
Nojiko's words died a quiet death at the glare the blonde leveled at her. "Our crew ain't small-time, Tattoos! I don't care how tough Arlong is, he'll just be a drop of water in our journey! Even if it's God, our legacy won't end!"
Nojiko was startled into silence. The bluenette was at such a loss for words, she didn't even try to stop Silk from leaving as she sped out of the door.
Zoro sat back in his cell, stewing over recent events. He'd been too stupid to not see-through Carina's tricks, too weak to overcome Mihawk, and now Johnny was...
After all this time, you're still a sore loser!
Zoro gritted his teeth at the memory. It was stupid, just a passing thought! But still... what good was he if he couldn't pass his limits? If he couldn't protect his brothers? "...what would you say, if you see me now... locked up again... Kuina?" At the sound of the opening door, Zoro's head came up, his shoulders tensing to draw... forgetting his hands were tied. Literally.
Coming into the darkened cell, sword drawn... was Nami, keys dangling in her other hand. "Rise and shine~" the thief smirked while sheathing the blade.
Zoro growled. "Great. The other witch. Arlong too chickenshit to finish me himself?"
Nami rolled her eyes. "You're being a bit too paranoid, Pirate Hunter. Besides, I come bearing gifts." She motioned to her back, where Wado Ichimonji was slung as it peeked over her shoulder. Zoro rose an eyebrow, so Nami answered the unasked. "Arlong's so busy getting ready to shove off, he won't even notice." As Nami went to work on his chains, she exposited, "The overgrown bastard spread out anybody who isn't filling the ship up with supplies to wring the last petty cash out of the villages nearby. He even has Chew and Kuroobi collecting for him. He and... Carina are overseeing the stock-up of some ship they were able to patch up really quick." After Nami had removed the chains from his person, Zoro took great pains to get up slowly. Nami did not ignore this. "Hey... you're pretty hurt. What happened after I left?" Instead of answering, Zoro grabbed Nami's shoulder, much to her confusion. "Huh?" Said swordsman then proceeded to pick her up, and throw her over his shoulder. "WHAT!? P-PUT ME DOWN, DAMNIT!"
"Tsk, not happening," the moss-head mumbled, biting his cheek to not wince at the stinging in his wounds. "Hook wants you back? I'll bring you to him, myself."
Nami took this well; by that, I mean constantly banging on Zoro's back, even as they exited the building and entered the main area of Arlong Park. "Listen, will you!? I'm not-!" Nami stopped talking when the sound of something came from over the wall of Arlong Park near the ocean. It sounded like a trumpet and a roar. When it ended, a voice perked up:
"Mohmoo! Mohmoo~ Where is he? Did he eat already?"
"Hm?" Zoro hummed as he made his way over to the wall. "Was that a trumpet?"
"Crap! That's Hachi!" Nami whisper-yelled at the oblivious swordsman. "Put me down now, you muscle-headed Nimrod! I'm gonna escape and catch up with you as soon as I get an opening! But first, let me go and pretend like I'm chasing you!"
"Huh!?" Zoro's eyes almost crossed at that plan. "That sucks! Why don't I just walk out of here! Who's gonna stop me!?"
"Oi~ Arlong!" A voice called from the gate. "I'm back from Cocoyashi! Even brought you a souvenir!"
"Oh, fuck!" Zoro blinked at Nami's sudden curse. "That's Kisame! He's new, but I get the feeling he's stronger than he lets on! Head for the wall, At least I can bullshit Hachi into not killing us!"
A grand understatement that must be stated is that Zoro hated running from a fight! Every retreat felt like a loss; even if that killed him, it would never change. However, since the last time he bit off more than he could chew, with new scars to prove it, he was less inclined to throw his weight up against a guy who he was warned, like last time, was a heavy hitter. With this conflict going on in his mind, Zoro sighed in resignation. "Fine, damn witch, let's do it your way-but only this time! You'd better explain what the hell's going on when we ain't surrounded by enemies!" So, as Zoro ran for the wall ("That's the direction we just came from! The wall's behind you!") …with Nami's support, Zoro was able to clamber up and over the barrier. Well, not before throwing Nami over, to land roughly-
"OOF NUU~!"
...right onto Hachi.
As the Octopus Fishman blinked at suddenly becoming a cushion, he looked back and forth between Zoro and Nami, still sitting on his back as she glared daggers at Zoro. "Hmm? What's all this? Nami, who's this?"
As Nami got off, she slung an army over Zoro's shoulder, changing her expression to a more amiable one. "He's a friend of mine, an absolute dumbass of a meathead, but a friend!" Zoro grumbled something that sounded like 'I still hardly know you people,' as Nami continued. "Can you give us a ride to Cocoyashi? I need to pick up Arlong's payment, and this guy," she jabbed her fingers into his throbbing side, coursing out a yelp, "needs a doctor."
Hachi blinked. "Wait, what? You mean... you finally got it all!? And you wanna leave right before such an incredible voyage!?" Hachi was so perplexed and surprised, his hands were each doing or pointing one way. "Are you serious!?"
Nami gave the excitable being a catty grin. "Aw~ Gonna miss me, Hachi?"
To Nami's surprise, the old Fishman really did tear up a bit. He even pulled out two handkerchiefs. "It was... *sniffle*, a little nostalgic is all. T-to have a small, bright-eyed human running around..." Hachi blew his nose, the sound like that of a sad tuba.
Nami's face softened a bit; while Hachi was just to blame for Cocoyashi's years of terror, she was on the way out, and maybe a little kindness to one of the least stifling personalities while on this hell of a crew wouldn't be too bad. But not without one last jab from 'Nami the Blood Traitor.' "Sorry Hachi, I have no interest in a fool's errand," the redhead stated calmly. "No way is the Pure Gold actually real." 'Even if my treasure senses are tingling...' she thought to herself. "Also," Nami's change of tone, though now facing away from Hachi, caught the Octopus' attention. "It's not like I won't see you again. I... I found some friends." Nami turned to Hachi and, for the first time as Hachi had ever seen... she smiled. Not her catty smirks, or sinister grins, but a real smile, happy... and content. "They... helped through this last voyage, and now that I'm done, I'm gonna sail with them to the Grand Line."
"Nami...nuu~" Hachi blinked, as his tears stopped flowing, transfixed by a sight he had no clue he had never really seen until just now. Rapidly, he wiped his eyes and stood tall. He had two thumbs pointing to himself, two fingers pointed toward Cocoyashi, one hand giving the OK symbol, and the last arm pointing at a floating pot. "Well, what are ya waiting for!? As this is your last day as a member of the Arlong Pirates, I'll give you first-class seats to where you need to go, nuu~!"
As Nami smiled and nodded, before shoving Zoro headfirst into the 'Octo-Pod.' Meanwhile, Hachi scratched his chin, glancing at a succulent roast pig. "Still... where are you, Mohmoo! Did you eat something already?"
Blinking awake, Hook found himself in a familiar void, his benefactor grinning at him from behind his desk while the dogcan chewed on a meaty bone. "Well, well, well," Shay D. spoke up. "Defeating an enemy without the gifts I'd given you? Can't say I saw that coming."
"Were you surprised?" Hook leaned back in his seat, shooting the figure a catty grin.
"For more than one reason…" he said vaguely. "And not only have you earned a chef, but the willingness of nine others to follow you…you might need a bigger boat."
Hook waved off the comment. "We can manage. Although, I could just make another with my powers…"
At this, Shay D. laughed boisterously. "At your level, you might make a better coffin than a boat! You will need an expert before you should even try…" He chuckled a bit before calming down. "Still, your growth is promising. To even unlock such a rare ability...maybe it is time to evolve your difficulty curve." Hook had little time to wonder what that could mean as the room slowly faded around him, Shay D.'s grinning visage the last to vanish.
The wind at his back and fire in his eye, Hook looked out over the sea as-
"Waaaaaah!"
...as his group sailed ever closer to-
"Bwaaaaaah!"
…sailed ever closer-
"WAAAAAAAAH!"
Sighing at his internal monologue being interrupted, Hook turned to Yosaku, who was still bawling over yesterday's goodbye with the chefs. Patting the weeping swordsman on the back, Hook asked, "Do you need a tissue or something?"
"I'b sowwy! Id was all so booving!" the shaved-headed man bawled.
"Just knock it off!" A groggy Ussop griped. "You kept me up all night with that blubbering! Sanji made that goodbye, and even he's fine now!"
Sanji, smoking just off starboard, huffed out a cloud. "Can you even steer in that state?"
"Clakakakaka! Glad to see you guys are getting along!" Hook laughed. "He's doing a good job so far, so don't worry. Hey, Yosaku! What are you and Johnny doing after we get through with this Arlong guy?"
Yosaku wiped his face before fixing Hook with an 'are-you-serious-look?' look. "Waitaminute! I respect you up and down, Captain, but you can't go discrediting Arlong like that! In bounty huntin' circles, he's called the 'Monster from the Grand Line!'"
Ussop was suddenly very awake and shaking. "M-m-m-m-monster!? Well, it's not like we actually have to fight, right? We just grab Nami and go..."
"Nonsense!" Sanji barked. "We need to also save Carina!" He then sighed, his smoke forming heart shapes. "Ah~ Silk, Nami, and Carina~ I'd conquer the Grand Line for those beauties~"
"Big bros, take this seriously!" the swordsman snapped.
Hook gave Yosaku a stern if lightly exasperated glare, shutting him down. "Yosaku, calm down. We are being serious, but there's no reason to panic like we're gonna die at any moment against someone who we haven't even seen yet. Plus, in case you missed it, I did beat down Krieg and ALL of his crew, with my bare hands, remember?"
"T-that's true, Captain..." Yosaku looked back at the sea for a bit. "But the Grand Line is no laughing matter! Even Big Bro Zoro would be intimidated by that place! But to Arlong..." He shuddered. "Big Sis Red is heading for one dangerous guy!"
Ussop was practically vibrating in anxiety. "U-u-u-um, H-h-h-h-hey, H-h-hook? M-m-m-maybe w-we s-s-s-should l-l-l-listen t-to h-h-him?"
"Nah, let's eat," Hook said casually.
Sanji grinned. "Sure thing. About Lunchtime anyway."
Ussop and Yosaku bowed their heads like they were at a funeral. 'They're hopeless~'
"Besides, what's the deal, Ussop?" Hook caught the moping sniper's attention. "You'll be fine. After seeing you fight, I can guarantee that if you put forth your all, you could beat at least one of Arlong's crew. You're not as weak as you think you are, man!"
Ussop blinked at the praise, before puffing out his chest and standing like some caped crusader. "O-of course! I'm the great Captain Ussop! Even 100 men aren't enough for-!"
Yosaku cut in again. "That's just it! Arlong and his ilk ain't even human!"
Ussop's bravado deflated. Sanji raised one visible eyebrow. Hook just tilted his head, confused. "Not human? So, what? Nami's going after dwarfs? Mermaids? Ooh, maybe guys with long legs!?"
Yosaku pulled out his bounty list. "I wish it were something that less threatening..." With that, he found the poster he was looking for, before slamming it on deck. "This is Arlong!"
To say the picture was a shock would be selling it short. While the picture was not in color, it was easy to notice the scales on the man's face, the sharpened teeth, and the knife-like nose! Ussop blanched at the sight. "What the fresh hell is he!?"
"A 'Fish-man,'" Yosaku sighed. "He's one of the species that can only be found in the Grand Line! Saw Nose Arlong... a pirate that was dropped off in East Blue by a Warlord himself!"
Hook looked at the picture and gaped. "Oh. My. God. His nose is bigger than Ussop's!
Ussop doled out a dope slap for the offhand comment. "That's what you notice!"
Scanning the picture again, Hook tapped his head in thought. "Now that you mention it... He looks kinda cool. But also, like an asshole."
Ussop delivered a second dope slap. "Read the room! This is serious!"
Sanji puffed thoughtfully. "Warlord...? I feel like heard that recently..."
"We all met one yesterday," Yosaku stated solemnly while smoking with Sanji. "The World's Strongest Swordsman – Hawk Eye Mihawk!"
"What exactly is a Warlord?" Hook questioned aloud.
"The Eight Warlords of the Sea," the shaved swordsman explained, "are one of the Three Great Powers that rule over the Grand Line. Simply stated, they are government-sanctioned pirates."
Sanji coughed at that. "What? Why would the World Government recognize a pirate?"
Yosaku went on, "The Eight Warlords sail on wild oceans, and attack every pirate they can find. The government looks the other way for half of their haul. Other pirates call them 'government dogs,' but they're tough!" Ussop gulped nervously, but only his knees shook a little. Sanji stayed silent, digesting the words. As for Hook...
"So, they're strong? After getting Nami and Merry, let's go fight one of them next!" He threw out, excitedly.
"You really shouldn't, but you will be running into their own sooner than later," Yosaku groused. "One of the eight is a Fishman – Jinbe, Captain of the Fishman Pirates!"
Ussop's knees really began clacking together. "We're heading toward a Warlord!?"
"No, not a Warlord. Just the subordinate he banished to East Blue," Yosaku corrected; for some reason, Ussop was not calmed by this. In fact, the sniper probably would have fainted if he hadn't grabbed Hook's arm for support.
"Fishmen, eh? Ya know, Fishman Island is world-famous," Sanji's face once more blushed. "I've heard the mermaids are beautiful~!"
Hook grinned impishly. "Ehhhh, but what kinda mermaids are they, though? They could always be reverse mermaids, like with human legs, fish head, right Sanji~? Clakakakakaka!"
Sanji served the mouthy pirate a third dope slap – well, kick, actually. "Don't soil a Man's fantasy!"
Undeterred, Hook looked at the chef. "Hey, I thought it was almost lunchtime?"
Sanji tsked. "Yeah, it is late. I'll whip up something quick." He walked over to the cabin, while Ussop followed, asking if there was some tea to steady his nerves.
As they left, Hook turned back to Yosaku, waving away his cigarette smoke. "Hey, Yosaku! What about the other Warlords? What do you know about them?"
Yosaku thought for a moment. "Well... only rumors, but I'd hardly call them useful, but..."
There are tales of Warlords that leave lifeless husks…
In a kingdom of sand, a man in a fur coat strides away from what had to be 50 mummified men.
That can strike from the shadows…
In a dark and cold room, a pale man laughed gleefully as he looked upon a project that would crush the strongest the world had to offer.
Or appear from thin air!
On a broken ship, a pirate with a weird split hairstyle looked up in fear at a towering man carrying a bible.
Broken men say they rule the sea…
On a calm bed of water, a ship was being pulled by two large snakes, as an incredibly gorgeous woman looked across the water with dispassion.
The sky…
As the sky darkened, several pirate ships sail as fast as possible from the large shadow of a fantastically large bird that could be seen through the clouds.
And even beyond Hell! There's no escaping them!
On an island full of laughter and merriment, a madman laughed as two people fought for his amusement… pleading for their lives as they swung for each other's necks.
"...From the few people who will talk about the Grand Line when they come crawling back... it's always the same..." Yosaku looked haunted thinking about what he heard about the Grand Line. "To sail those waters... is to court death!"
Hook heard what Yosaku said, really thought on it, before he... well...
First, there was a smile – the widest smile the worried man has ever seen. Then, he began to laugh: "Heh... he he... ha ha ha... Clakakakakakaka! CLAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKA!" As loud as possible, Hook laughed from the excitement and fire coursing through him, at just the thought of these being the guys he had to surpass! It was... invigorating!
When the laughter subsides, still grinning, he cracked his knuckles in anticipation. "I say... bring it!"
(A/N: I'm almost tempted to stop here, but I do have a word count to consider…)
"Hey, bastards! Lunch is ready!" Sanji called out. On the table Ussop had set up... was a mouth-watering five-dish course, including fish and beef! "It's not much but it's something."
Hook whooped in delight. "Three cheers for our awesome chef!"
Ussop grinned while wiping away drool. "I watched him make it in that tiny kitchen and I still can't believe it!"
As everyone sat down to eat, Hook to grabbed two plates with a little bit of everything. "Slow down, Hook. I made enough," Sanji pointed out. Said young man opened his mouth to respond – and closed it as the hairs on his neck stood up...
Ussop looked up from his cranberry-citrus salad and rice pilaf when he noticed the serious expression. "Hm, Hook? Are you alright?"
Food forgotten, Hook got up to look around. "Nothing in the sky, or coming over the horizon... that must mean it's coming... FROM BELOW!" With that declaration, Hook released Cat Catch Wire right into the water! "Come here and try... to take my meal!" As he roared, a huge something emerged from the water! It was not just bigger than the fishing boat – it was enormous compared to any ship any one of them encountered. Hook's Cat Catch Wire was found hanging from its mouth... along with something else.
"That's... big," Sanji commented as Ussop and Yosaku screamed while hugging each other.
"Huh. And what's in its mouth?" Hook muttered as he squinted to get a better look.
"What even is it?" Sanji added. "Is it some sort of sea-cow? Or maybe a hippo?"
"THERE IS A GRAND LINE MONSTER IN THE EAST BLUE! HOW ARE TWO NOT TERRIFIED!?" Yosaku calmly pointed out.
"If it attacks, we're dead!" Ussop tossed in.
The sea monster leaned in, smelling the food. This brought its face close enough to better catch the aroma...giving the others a chance to see a familiar figure with a blue jacket hanging half out of the creature's mouth.
Yosaku started. "That's-! Johnny!" Fear pushed to the side, Yosaku whipped out his blade to charge! "Smile, you son of a-!" The sea creature raised its head suddenly, delivering a swift headbutt that bodily knocked Yosaku over the other side of the boat into the water!
MOOOOOOOOOO! The creature roared and released Johnny from its grip. The unmoving form plunged into the ocean.
"Shit! I'll get him!" Sanji commented as he sprung overboard for Johnny, and Ussop clambered to the other side to find the ship's other passenger. Hook left it to them, as his eyes were locked firmly on the sea-cow-thing, as it lunged for the ship. In the back of his mind, that crack opened again.
As the monster attacked, Hook gave it a stern glare, before barking out, "Sit!"
The released pressure was enough to actually stop the beast from attacking. It paused and looked around with a puzzled expression, before looking right at Hook. "Good boy," Hook said hoarsely, smiling as he lifted a plate to the unexpected lunch guest. The sea beast opened its mouth...
"Cut that out!" Hook yelled while bopping the creature on the nose with enough force to stop, but not hurt. "You keep trying to eat me, and you're gonna ruin the meal!" The beast bowed its head in shame at the scolding.
Ussop balked at the scene as he came back with a dazed Yosaku. "W-w-what! Hook, don't baby it! Kill it!"
Hook crossed his arms in protest. "Not if he behaves! Besides, see that nose ring? He must belong to somebody."
Ussop jabbed his finger at Hook, while Yosaku coughed up water pitifully. "That's-!...Actually, that is a good point." Ussop was startled out of his consideration when Sanji clambered up with Johnny slung over his back. "Sanji, what do we do with – oh my God, what happened to Johnny!"
Ussop's response was perfectly reasonable, as Johnny did have a small hole in the center of his forehead.
"Brother!" Yosaku, though comatose a second ago, sat up, before stopping to cough up more water. As he did, Sanji laid out Johnny on the deck.
"He should still be breathing," the chef stated. "Seen a lot of gunshots, and his don't look like any of 'em I've seen."
"Yeah, actually," Hook murmured as he too inspected the wound, "this definitely doesn't resemble any bullet wound I've had since I started sailing. And I've been shot by a lot!"
"Hey, move already!" Ussop pushed between the both of them. "Maybe let the guy who's worked with gunpowder look at this." Ussop looked over Johnny's wound, while Yosaku coughed from his corner of the deck. As he looked Johnny over, Ussop's face went from disgusted, to confused, before settling on perplexed.
"What is it, Ussop?" Hook asked as he slapped the worrying swordsman's back, forcing the remaining water from his lungs. "Awesome, you look a lot less blue now!"
"Well, it's just..." Ussop's words faded into muttering before he spoke up again. "Gunshot wounds have burns from the gunpowder. Unless I'm wrong, this was almost point-blank, but no burns. Also, I've seen some holes from Lead Stars to cannonballs – they're always round, and this one... is clearly oval!"
Sanji scratched his head. "I don't know about all that. Can you just take it out?"
"Hmmm. It is a shallow wound. Whatever was used didn't even get to the skull. Where's my bag again?"
"Sanji, get this man his tools!" Hook called out, Sanji rolling his eyes in response.
"Yeah, whatever. He left his shitty bag in the kitchen." Sanji got up and made for the cabin.
"Oh, yeah! That reminds me!" Hook turned back to the cowed sea-cow, who was watching the scene very carefully. "You behaved yourself, so how 'bout a treat?" With that, Hook held out some of the beef dish and Ussop's salad. This time, when he leaned down to eat, he didn't try anything.
With that done, Hook became a plate for himself again. By the time he was done, Sanji brought Ussop his bag and said long-nose was using tweezers to root around in Johnny's head, while Yosaku was biting down on a napkin. 'Geez,' Hook thought as he ate and watched, 'with how many people get hurt around here, a doctor on this crew would be welcome sooner-!
"Ah-ha!" With another tug of the tweezers, Ussop finally pulled the object from Johnny's head...
"A... peanut?" Ussop blinked.
"A peanut..." Sanji's cigarette hung limply from his lips.
"A peanut!" Yosaku tore the napkin up to scream.
"Moo!" Five guesses who that was…
"He was shot... with a peanut?" Hook asked, his voice almost sounding normal again.
"Yeah... except I can't think of a single weapon that could fire a peanut!" Ussop exclaimed. "I've tried a lot of food-based weapons! These are too fragile! What unconventional weapon could have launched this!?"
'Unconventional weapon?' Hook frowned as only two unconventional weapons within 100 miles came to mind.
"Whatever happened," Sanji began, "at least he's okay-!"
Johnny sat up screaming into Ussop's face, who fell over scrambling to get away! Also, the hole in his head was oozing blood, pus, and God knows what else now. Gross. "Bro!" Yosaku rushed over and grabbed the screaming man by his shoulders to prevent him from hurting someone. "Hey, you're alive! Everything's ok!"
"Not really," Sanji pointed out. "He's oozing everywhere..."
"Shut up!" Yosaku yelled, before turning back to Johnny. "Johnny, what happened! Why were you in that thing's mouth!?"
Johnny had stopped screaming but was breathing heavily as he assessed where he was. "I... I... where's Big Bro Zoro? And Big Sis Nami? And..." He paused before he began struggling against his partner's hold. "Where is that bitch!? I'll kill her for shooting me!"
"Gah! Johnny, calm down!" Yosaku pleaded, to no avail, as Johnny kept going for a sword he did not have, while practically foaming at the mouth (and the wound).
Growling, Hook put down his plate and helped Yosaku hold him down. "Johnny, you're fine! If you just calm down a moment..." Despite the firm tone, it was not getting through to the incensed bounty hunter. "Alright, hard way it is. Stop!" Hook unleashed a burst of Decree, and Johnny was stunned enough to knock off the thrashing. With the immediate opportunity, Ussop took that time to wrap Johnny's head.
Meanwhile, he recalled what happened after Yosaku fell off the Merry. After getting tied up, Jango kicked Johnny a bit, and Nami sailed them straight to the Conami Islands. He was left on the ship, rescued by Silk and Zoro, captured with Zoro, brought to Nami and... that name he can't say without wanting to punch someone (Ussop inched some away), and when faced with assured death, he cracked and almost spilled you-know-who's whole plan. It was at that point a certain someone interrupted. "Plan? Don't be stupid! How could such a beauty~ do something so underhanded!?" Sanji crooned and scolded at the same time.
"Especially when she clearly didn't try to kill you," Hook pointed out, his voice once again coming out in a rasp.
"What!?" Johnny looked livid but calmed down with a healthy dose of Decree. ("Stop that!" Ussop pleaded. "I'm afraid you'll go mute if you keep that up!") "I mean, she shot me in the head... how was she not trying to kill me?"
Hook raised an eyebrow. "You hear of a lot of people dying by peanut bullet?"
"They might have an allergy," Ussop pointed out.
Hook gave him a look that made him realize he was not helping, before launching into a list for his reasonings. "Carina has two guns. We know at least one can do some damage. She did not use that gun on you, and after she shot you, she kicked you into the water – before anyone could confirm your death."
Everyone paused and seemed to think about all the points brought up before Sanji spoke up. "So, I was right! Such a lovely angel-!"
"Who still wants to steal Nami's treasure," Johnny deadpanned. "She's a thief, Big Bro Hook. How do you think you can trust her when all she keeps doing is lying?"
Hook thought back to her reactions at the Baratie. "Maybe she's scared. All you guys keep saying is she's acting manic – well, it might be for a reason! She's running – from who or what, I don't know. But, hey! Look at everyone here and who's not! Nami tried to rob us, Zoro's a feared bounty hunter, and even Silk tried to kill me when we first met!" As he spoke, he raised a finger for each person who had previously put him in jeopardy, and even his voice sounded less raspy. "Even you two attacked our ship when Ussop accidentally shot your cliff!" It wasn't an accusation, but it was compelling enough for Johnny to look a little less stubborn. "Sometimes a second chance is all someone needs. And that's what I'm giving Carina too! I'm gonna help her by finding her monster and beating it to a pulp, just like we will to whatever Warlord we see next!"
Sanji chuckled. "Only this guy makes speeches that double as challenges to people we ain't even met yet..."
While Johnny looked cowed, Ussop spoke up. "Well, what do we do? We've already lost a lot of time dealing with all this! We need to get to Merry and deal with this now!"
Hook snorted. "That's not a challenge! He can give us a ride!" He pointed over to the sea-cow... who looked just as surprised as everyone else.
"WHAT!" Everyone yelled, Moo in the monster's case, and Hook blinked innocently. 'Was it something I said?' he wondered.
A/N: Whew! What a chapter! Lots of foreshadowing and character dynamics! Got a favorite? Let me know! For sneak peeks of your favorite stories or other ways to support me, please explore my profile page! Don't forget to let me know what you thought, and have a great day!
