A/N: At the time of editing, I have seen Sonic 2. What a watch! Highly recommended!


Chapter 22: Hook Pirates vs. Sunset Pirates

Hook blinked as he came to, taking in his surroundings. As his senses slowly returned, he smelled burnt wood, with a smoky citrus hint. Damp, but drying quickly, he stood up to find himself in a very charred house – everything in it melted and damaged by fire. Picture frames were in a pile on the far wall, and there was a large hole in the opposite wall that looked faintly shaped like the lightly injured boy. Heading over to the fallen photos, he picked one up, wiping off the soot. "Hm? This is..." The photo had a tough-looking redhead, with a mohawk-ponytail combo hairstyle, holding a snoozing swaddled baby, some familiar orange tufts sticking out of the blanket, and a blue-haired girl standing next to them. "She's young, but..." Hook looked at the picture, then around the destroyed house... and his vision grew red as a sneer crossed his face.

"Now, what's with that expression? You know the humans who lived here are still alive?" Hook glanced over to the hole as Kisame stepped through it, crouching under the low entry. "Besides, you should be grateful. The fewer attachments she has here, the more she will cling to your own cause after all." Kisame was so busy chuckling at his own joke, that he missed his opponent coating his arms with Wootz Steel. "I'm sure you have questions, and I have a few as well..." The Fishman then proceeded to sit down, so now the pair of them were at eye level. "To think someone else can use Decree... this is the first time it's happened to me. And you?" He fell silent, clearly expecting an answer; Hook doesn't respond, putting down the photo and walking toward Kisame. "You and yours' defeating those other Fishmen is impressive," he goes on. "You and that blonde young lady would be the perfect ambassadors for the Human Divi-"

"Wootz Hook!" Hook cocked back a metal fist and rammed it right into Kisame's shithole of a mouth, sending him flying out of the hut. As Kisame blinked and checked his mouth to see 'yes, he's really bleeding,' his assailant clank-cracks his knuckles. "... You really don't get it, do you? You really have absolutely no idea what any of this means to her or any other person. Pathetic." That comment seemed to strike the Fishman's nerve. Hook fixed him with a look of pure venom, his sneer only growing more pronounced with a nose wrinkled in disgust. "You aren't worth the time of day. Shut up and let's get to your ass beating!"

Kisame stood up, wiped his mouth... then laughed a bit. "You are every bit as scrappy as he warned me. This will be engaging!"


Silk was perplexed as to why everyone was so shocked. The scarred-up old man was frantically stammering like he was having a seizure. All she'd done was smack some mullet-wearing Fish-moron who was getting too close to her pile of gold. He was still standing and now glaring at her, but that just meant he was a little tougher than the sea monster she chucked off the island. "You..." the mullet growled. "Do you know who I am!?"

Silk fixed him with a questioning look. "How should I know, stupid?" As everyone only freaked out more, the blonde looked to Nami, who looked stuck between fear and delight. "Hey, Red. Do you know who Long Nose II is?"

"T...That's... Arlong, Silk," she muttered through her facepalm. Speaking of the fish, Arlong looked even angrier at not being recognized.

"How dense are you, human!?" he hissed at Silk, more of his old energy leaking out. "Are you that wet behind the ears? Among the seas, I come from the strongest species!"

Silk bluntly responded, "Then you must be a wimp among your kind because my friends are creaming ya."

By now, the spectators' shock meters had finally given way to sheer annoyance. "SHUT UP, GIRL! YOU'RE MAKING IT WORSE!"

True to form, Arlong was shaking from rage. "Between you... my own men... that bastard, Kisame... don't you dare look down on me!" With that, he lunged at Silk, mouth open and teeth ready to carve through flesh! Had it been Silk at the start of this journey – a barmaid with a rusty saber way over her head – she might have been chewed up like Nojiko. But since setting sail, all Silk had faced were people who were faster than her; Greasy Hair, Siam – Arlong was a little faster than them... but Silk was also a lot stronger now.

Shifting Dorado into its Gauntlet form, she grabbed his jaws, preventing him from biting down, while also sticking her foot into the gold pile. "You've kept Nami... her sister... all these people under your heels for so long... like I care to remember some damn slaver!" As she yelled, she kicked out, nailing Arlong in the gut... with a glob of gold on her foot!

As the Fishman went flying back, all eyes were on the glob on Silk's foot. "Silk..." Nami muttered, some tears of relief slipping through; hell, every villager was enthralled by the sight. Arlong getting laid out by someone a head shorter and half as wide was like an early birthday present!

"Poo," Silk lamented, as she looked at the gold glommed onto her foot. "That was supposed to be a grieve..." Arlong sat up, his row of teeth very much shattered. As Arlong glared at the girl, Silk glared back just as acidic. "That first hit's for Nami, you saw-faced worm!"


Kuroobi tsked as he looked down at Sanji. "Fool. One hit from a 40th degree master of Fishman Karate, and you're already down? You should have stayed on your toes..." As Kuroobi considered helping his fellows, he heard the sound of a cigarette being lit. He looked back at Sanji... who was smoking while laying down. "What!? You're still conscious? How...?"

Sanji got up, dusting off his suit jacket. "So, that's a 40th-degree punch? That crap geezer's kicks must be 400th degree, then."

Kuroobi glared at Sanji, murder evident in his stance. "You... I have trained for years in this sacred martial art! My fists are lethal to the likes of you!"

Sanji tapped some ash off the end of his smoke. "What a crap fish. My old man can punch harder than that, and he's never used his hands for anything except cooking."

Kuroobi's face looked ready to explode... However, rather than going mental on the clearly delusional human in front of him, he took a deep breath and exhaled, all to recenter himself. "You've done well to survive this far. However," he took a stance, left hand raised to be parallel to his head, right hand open with right elbow tucked in, ready to lash out, "in the water or out of it, Fishmen will always be the stronger of the two! I will show you with the ultimate attack of Fishman Karate: the Hundred Brick Fist! Once this hit lands, your chance of survival... is zero! Now, prepare-!"

"Collier Shoot!" Before Kuroobi could blink, Sanji was in front of him, laying a kick that took the air, and words, from his mouth. The manta ray Fishman couldn't even register what the hell happened until Sanji landed another strike on his shoulders!

The Fishman stood up shakily. "W-wha..." was all Kuroobi got out before his sentence was garbled anguish, as the chef spun fast enough to kick his back, then his front! The Fishman got up again. "T... the power I have-!" And was cut off by his own gargling as Sanji struck a heel of iron into his sternum, followed by a strike to his thigh that would definitely bruise!

Kuroobi looked up from his kneeling position, glaring at Sanji. "Why... you... little-!" and was cut off by a boot to the head!

"Mouton Shot!" Sanji called as he launched Kuroobi ass over teakettle a yard away from him!

As the Fishman landed, barely clinging onto consciousness, he took stock of his surroundings... Water! He had been launched closer to the water. 'Just... get to the water,' he thought morosely, refusing to spit up the blood gathering in his mouth. 'Get... to the water... then... then-!' Sanji's boot stomps down, firmly planting him between the being and his salvation.

The sea chef leveled a glare that could fry sea bream at Kuroobi. "After all the pain you've caused Nami, why'd you think you could just swim away, shit guppy!?" Kuroobi looked back at the chef, not even realizing how pitiful he looked holding in all his pain. "Tsk. You really want to get to that water? Fine." He stepped aside, drawing confusion from his gilled adversary. "Beating you at your strongest is the best gift I could give Nami for all the hardship she's suffered under you bastards."

Kuroobi looked from Sanji to the open ocean, checking to see if he was serious. When nothing was taken back, he quickly hoisted himself over the edge and into the drink! Sanji... made no move to go after him. He lit a new cigarette, took a deep drag, and watched the water. Finally, a large amount of blood floated to the surface, followed by an unconscious Kuroobi.

"Hm. Tougher cuts of meat need to be tenderized... especially when serving a young lady." With that, the sea chef of the Hook Pirates turned on his heels and left the shoreline.

Sanji vs Kuroobi!

Loser: Kuroobi

Reason: Heavy internal injuries

Winner! Sanji


Ussop shivered as he lay in his Ketchup Star. The Smelt-Whiting Fishman had got a glancing blow on the teen, and in his familiar panic, he pretended to fall dead on his back in the sticky red sauce. Chu seemed to buy it, as he never even came to see if he was still breathing. "You gave me a hard chase, human, chu," he huffed. "One shot, and you're down? Heh, Arlong's gonna be proud of... right. He's not the Captain anymore..." He grew silent after that. Carefully to avoid detection, Ussop raised his head to see Chu was still there... but at least had his back to the "corpse." He made a sucking sound and massaged his face like a man who had had a long day.

"Damnit! How could so much go wrong in one day, chu! Nami, that bitch she brought with her, now Kisame and these stinkin,' land-dwelling-!" He growled and began to turn around, just as Ussop quickly dropped to the ground, playing dead again. "Is this right?" Chu muttered aloud. "Brother Jinbe... Brother Tiger... Humans are the reason the Fishmen have gone through such suffering... We have to stand together! Against them!" While Ussop could not see him cry from his position, he knew a tearful tone when he heard it. He also suddenly heard the sound of a slap. "No... No! You're not Hachi! You will not be weak on this! Kisame... forget Kisame! I'll follow him as long as I deem fit! Save humans, kill humans – who the hell cares! As long as the Sun Pirates – whatever form that looks like! - survives! That's all that matters! That's all that matters! That's all-!"

"Surprise Attack! Tabasco Star!" Ussop sat upright and fired into the open maw of his enemy! He immediately went to coughing and clutching his throat!

As the teen sprinted into the trees, Chu straightened up, pure murder on his face. "You're... still alive?" he croaked through pepper-chapped lips.

"Ha ha ha!" Ussop's laugh echoed through the forest. "You think some wimpy squirt gun can harm the mighty Captain Ussop!?" From his hiding place, he prepared his shot. "For your ignorance of the difference of our power levels, I hope you're prepared to die! Wootz Star!"

His shot rang true through the air and nailed the Fishman between the eyes! He gasp in pain as he fell over into the rice paddies! Ha, he's down! Passed out... under all that... water.

Gulp.

Before Ussop's eyes, Chu rose from the rice paddy... engorged with water! "I've had it... up to here... with tricky humans! Lip-o-Cannon!"

Ussop threw himself to the forest floor as the liquid missile blew the trees apart. Save for some twigs and leaves, he was unhurt. The forest, on the other hand, was a hellscape. He looked up and around at the devastation. "Phew! That was close!"

Chu looked over at the sound. "So, there you are! Lipoweritzer!" Ussop's eyes widened as the next salvo was levied at him; he only had enough time to dodge and hide!

Time slowed around Ussop. "I've got to hide! I've got to hide! If I'm hit, I'll die! Then, I can't adventure with the others! But... everyone's giving it their all. Even Nami. Even Zoro and he doesn't want to be part of the crew! Hook... Silk... Keeping up with them feels impossible! But... will I get any closer, just running away all the time?" the liar wondered to himself.

"...to be a water-logged corpse!" Chu finished his threat just as he began to fire! Everywhere the water bullets hit, dirt and wooden shrapnel were kicked up! A cloud of dusty debris settled over the area as Chu's assault gave out. He smiled at the destruction. "What were you saying about 'preparing to die,' speedy freak, chu!?"

"UWHOOOOOOOOOOOA!" Ussop roared like a madman as he charged out of the smoke. He was cut up from the debris, glancing blows of the Lipoweritzer, and just plain filthy! But after leveling a hill to kill him, and it still not taking, Chu felt he was looking right at a devil! "I SAID! FOR YOUR IGNORANCE! OF THE DIFFERENCE! IN OUR POWER LEVELS! PREPARE TO DIE TO... CAPTAIN! USSOP! SURE KILL!"

Chu could barely react before Ussop was in his face, his 'sure kill' weapon right in his face! He flinched and fell back, hoping to dodge what could only be the deadliest weapon in his arsenal-! "Rubber Band of Doom." Chu watched as the toy flew over his head. He blinked. He blinked again. Nope, still processing. He was processing for about five minutes… giving Ussop enough time to level a Wootz Hammer to his fish eggs!

Good news, it hurt! Bad news, it woke him up... "I. Have had. E-fucking-nough! Of you!" Chu laid a haymaker right into Ussop's nose in his fury! As the sniper fell, Chu stepped on his chest. "I'm gonna rip off your damn arm and shove it up your-URGH! LITTLE SHIT!" Unfortunately, he should have started with his threat, as Ussop was still holding the hammer to hit him in the shin!

As he goes hopping and limping back, Ussop pulled out his slingshot. 'Just one more thing to distract him, then the coup-de-grace!' "Lead Star!" Ussop shot one bearing in the general area of Chu. He caught the first one easily... so he wasn't expecting the second one launched at exactly the same time, nailing him in the eye. "Double Lead Star!" The minute he went to nursing his face, Ussop whipped out a bottle of grog and slammed it over the Fishman's head! Technically, he was not strong enough to swing the bottle hard enough for it to break... a good thing his target had a stone-like skull. Chu stumbled back, covered in liquor. He opened his mouth to say something... but it was lost to time, as Ussop shot him, point-blank, with a Fire Star... which ignited the liquor. "WELCOME TO HELL! SATAN'S INFERNO!"

Chu screamed as he was ignited, jumping around and patting himself with flaming hands! When his fiery hands failed to extinguish his fiery body, he ran for the water! 'GET TO THE WATER! GET TO THE WATER!' Chu thought frantically. He was almost there-

"Ussop's Deadly..." Chu barely turned his head before a leaping Ussop beaned him a rubber mallet... capped with high-quality steel! "Hammer!" The momentum of the hit sent both of them flying away from each other, their bodies crashing into the rice paddies. Silence reigned, as Ussop lay on his back, looking up at the sky.

Movement in the corner of his eye caught his attention. He looked over to see Chu getting up again! He sluggishly reached for Gingo Pachinko-!

"You... you wretched... hu-!" Chu coughed up an unhealthy amount of smoke, before collapsing back into the water. He did not get back up.

Ussop blinked as he processed what had happened. "I won..." He dropped his back to the ground, relaxing finally, before yelling, "SEE THAT, BASTARDS!? EVEN I CAN WIN WHEN I TRY! DON'T EVER UNDERESTIMATE ME!"

Ussop vs. Chu

Loser: Chu

Reasons: Third Degree Burns, Blunt Force Trauma to the Head, and Psychological Exhaustion

Winner: Ussop


"Everyone! Arm yourselves!" Genzo yelled as the villagers gather their weapons. "Those bastards are getting up again!" Sure enough, some of the Sunset Pirates were getting up again. Granted, it was only 10, but to the average townsfolk, one was frightening enough.

Silk gnashed her teeth as she looked at the situation from the corner of her eye. She refused to take her eyes off of Arlong, but Nami and Cocoyashi…

"Silk," Nami spoke clearly, as she stood with her back to the blonde. "Just focus on Arlong."

"Huh?" Silk blinked and looked at Nami over her shoulder. "Red?"

Nami looked back... and gave her an OK sign with her free hand, her other holding her fully assembled Wootz Staff. "I've got this!"

A low chuckle floated over the battlefield. It took only a second to realize it was Arlong. "Oi, Nami. Just what do you have? Have you forgotten... you still haven't paid for your village's freedom!" The Fishman glared past Silk, at Nami's back. "Even if the name is different, the Arlong Pirates still have everyone here under their reign! If you're breaking your deal, does that mean you're willing to let them all die!?"

Nami's hand tightened on her staff, to the point her knuckles whitened. As Cocoyashi's denizens and scaly pirates alike prepared to charge, Nami finally spoke. "Everyone! I'm sorry, but..." Arlong grinned toothlessly; he was down for sure, but not out! As long as he could keep Nami under his thumb- "...will you fight and die with me!?"

Arlong's face fell in surprise. The Fishmen's eyes bulged in shock. The villagers cheered with vigor and charged with fervor. Silk laughed her ass off in merriment. "Gorugorugoru! Guess she's made her choice! Even still!" Silk glared through Arlong. "As long as I can help it, the only thing dying today is your control on these civilians, you fishy bastard!"

It was at that moment that the door to the infirmary opened, and a drowsy, bandaged Nojiko limped out. It took a minute for her to process what was happening around her. It took 10 seconds for Arlong to lunge at her with new teeth. It took 5 seconds for Silk to drop her gold glob boot and rush in to block with Dorado. It took a second for human blood to be spilled by the Monster of East Blue.


Hachi gnashed his teeth, his emotions bouncing everywhere with today's events. Nami leaving the crew, Mohmoo getting absolutely pulverized, and Kisame and Arlong? He didn't even want to unpack that! Now, with Chu now busy chasing off the human, it was just him and Roronoa Zoro. "...So. Nami was telling the truth. She's really joined another pirate crew? How could things have gotten like this?"

"From how you've treated her, can you blame her?" Zoro stated plainly, causing the Octopus to flinch. 'Then again,' he thought to himself, 'that Hook guy has some way about him... it's like he draws people in. Blondie, that dumbass cook… hell, even me. The hell's with that guy's charisma?'

"That's... I never hurt Nami!" Hachi yelled back. "She was our mapmaker and crewmate! I'd never put any of my crew in danger!"

"That so?" the Santoryu user glared at his opponent. "Did this protection extend to her home? Or her sister?" That detail made Hachi look visibly attacked! "While we were waiting for the others, Silk told us what your 'captain' was capable of! In your own words, her talent is worth more than her. I've only known these jackasses for three days, and she's way more relaxed than she's been around here! So, where's your moral high ground now?" Zoro finished his spiel with his patented predatory grin.

"Grgh- S-SHUT UP! You have n-no understanding what t-this crew has gone through!" Out of nowhere, Hachi pulled out six curved blades, snorting in righteous fury! "I was trying to figure out what to do here, but if all you're gonna do is look down on me for trying to keep my crew together, then that's all I need to focus on right now!" He made a battle pose as he continued his declaration. "I'm Hachi of the Six Sword Style! The second-best swordsman of Fishman Island! You couldn't beat me if you wanted to! Even if Heaven and Earth were turned upside down!"

Zoro grins with bloodlust, before placing Wado Ichimonji between his teeth. "Well, I'm Roronoa Zoro, and I'm the man who will become the number one Swordsman! Unlike you, I won't settle for second place!" He points one of Hook's manufactured blades at the pirate. "Now, let's turn the world upside down!"


A/N: Two down, and, if we count Kisame, that's three to go! How are the battles grabbing you so far? Please let me know what you think!

10/16: Two re-edits in one day? Must be an early Halloween treat!