"Sir? Captain Brandy, we're currently approaching Charity Town. We should reach the harbor in a half hour. Sir, are you awake?" Ryoga knocked again on the door. He sighed as a low groan reached his ears. "He's at it again. He'd be an admiral if it weren't for this habit."

A series of thuds, clatters, and muffled curses proceeded the door to the captain's cabin opening. Captain Brandy looked terrible. His marine cap was backward, his uniform was askew, and his eyes were blood shot red. Stumbling slightly, he saluted. "Good evening, Ryoga. Care for a drink?"

"Sir, it's noon. And you know I never drink." Brandy made a disappointed sigh. "You're too much of a stickler, Ryoga. What's the use in being a marine if you never live a little?"

"In any case sir, you should go ly down. I can handle this by myself." Brandy shook his head. "Nonsense. I've never felt more able. Now then, shall we..." Abruptly, his eyes turned back in his head and he collapsed unconscious. Sighing, Ryoga picked him up and layed him back in his bed.

"Rest easy, sir. I'll get your ship back, I promise."

One Piece: The Skull Pirates

Chapter Four: Conquering the Giant! Escape from Charity Town!

Bellowing like a beast, Bandock charged towards the three, lifting up one of his meat cleavers and chopping downward. "SCATTER!" Jack yelled, prompting the three of them to dodge in different directions. Gerald and Frank went left and right, while Jack jumped backwards, missing getting chopped in half by the giant blade by inches.

"And now, counterattack! Doku Doku no Rocket Fist!" Jack's fist shot out and slammed into Bandock's face. However, when it deflected and reconnected to Jack's arm, Bandock didn't seem phased at all. Jack then jumped as Bandock swung his other cleaver around sideways, cleaving the fountain in half, a flood of water pouring out to soak the already wet square to the bone.

Landing, Jack grimaced as his feet slid out from under him on the slippery cobblestones. He then scrambled out of the way as Bandock slammed his foot down where he had been a second ago. "Dammit, how do you stop this guy?" He then gulped as Bandock opened his mouth, a red light growing in his throat. "Geki Geki no..."

"GERALD, MASK GUY, OUTTA THE WAY!" Yelled Jack, scrambling out of the way. "BEAM!" With force surpassing a cannon, the beam fueled by rage shot out from Bandock's mouth. Jack covered his eyes from the red light, lest it blind him.

When he uncovered his eyes, he gaped at the aftermath. "Oh, bugger." He heard Gerald gasp next to him. Not only had the blast ripped through the wall around the square, but it had blown apart several houses before finally fading away.

"So, uh, anyone for running back to the ship and getting the hell out of here?" Jack put in. Gerald nodded. "In this case I'm inclined to agree." They both turned to see Frank blocking their way. He pointed an accusing finger at them. "Nonsense. What sort of warrior would you be if you ran like a coward?"

"In case you haven't noticed, he's got about five feet on us, and he just blew up part of the island. Not to mention those meat cleavers he's carrying around. How can we fight a guy like that?" Frank nodded. "With careful planning, that's how. Now listen up."

After a quick minute of him running them through it, Jack nodded. "Sounds good, but can we pull it off?" Frank nodded decisively. "We must. That is all." Gerald pointed behind them. "Either way, we should get moving now. Our big friend is coming to his senses."

Swiveling his head to look at them, Bandock began to stomp over towards them. "One, two, three, go!" Turning, the fellow pirates ran into the nearest exit and down the street, the giant pirate in full pursuit.

"What on earth..." Ryoga mused, looking at the dust clouds rising over Charity Town. "No way Jack Bones could be responsible for this, at least not alone." Turning to the nearest marine, he asked, "What other notable pirates are currently at this town?"

"Well sir, we did get a report of Bandock the Butcher and his crew docking at this town." Ryoga stared, aghast. "What!? That madman is here, and I wasn't informed?" The marine recoiled sheepishly. "Well, Bandock is usually docile unless he's provoked. Perhaps that Jack Bones we're chasing is responsible?"

Ryoga nodded. "Well, that's another crime we'll hold him responsible for; if he's still alive, that is." The ship sailed closer to the island.

Bandock stalked down of the town's streets. The three pirates were nowhere to be seen. He briefly considered using Geki Geki no Beam to flush them out of hiding, but quickly dismissed it. A direct hit from it would kill them outright, and he wanted them alive.

"Excuse me, Mr. The Butcher?" Bandock snapped his head around to see Gerald standing at the top of a sloping street that curved upwards, leaning up against a stand of barrels. At the sight of him, Bandock began to charge up the slope. Smiling, Gerald kicked the stick holding the barrels in place away, then grinned as they began to roll and bounce down the slope.

Snarling, Bandock sweeped one of his cleavers around, smashing the barrels to pieces. He continued up the slope, then let out a confused grunt as his feet suddenly stuck to the cobblestones. Gerald nodded. "In those barrels was a powerful industrial adhesive used for repairing ships. I'm afraid you're quite stuck."

Despite this, Bandock began to roar and struggle, but no matter how hard he did, the glue held fast. "Didn't you believe me? And now, Frank, if you would be so kind..." Gerald gestured to a rooftop overlooking the slope, where the shinobi was perched. "Step one: using the simple-mindedness of our opponent, lure him into position and prevent him from moving."

Frank flicked his wrist, sending another slip of paper into his hand. "Tao Storm; Absolute Zero!" Flicking it across, Frank grinned behind his mask as it landed on one of Bandock's cleavers, quickly encasing it in ice. The giant man stared at it, confused as Frank prepared another. "And now..."

"Tao Scroll; Fire Storm!" The second the paper collided with Bandock's frozen weapon, it literally exploded in a spray of metal. Bandock yelled as the shards slammed into his face, putting a hand there as he screamed in pain. Leaping across the gap, Frank quickly drew the Sandai Kitetsu and quickly slashed down Bandock's wrist. His hand spasmed, causing him to drop his other cleaver.

Frank easily landed on the opposite roof, sheathing his sword. "Step two: by manipulating the elements of ice and fire, as well as with my own blade, force the opponent to drop his weapons, evening the odds for our side." He then leapt as Bandock slammed his fist down onto the roof, crushing it.

Bellowing like a beast, Bandock began to struggle again. Amazingly, his legs began to pull free from the glue as the street below him cracked away. Landing next to Gerald, Frank lifted his hand and showed him three fingers. Gerald nodded, both of them turning and running as Bandock charged after them.

Leaping nimbly off the ship, Ryoga looked to the left, where the Majestic was docked. "There's the ship...but where's Jack?" He winced as another crash came from in-land. "I suppose that answers my question." He ran off in that direction.

"GET BACK HERE!" Gerald wheezed as Bandock bellowed from behind the two of them. "Are you positive this is going to work? Even without his weapons, I'm not so sure Jack can take this monster." Frank shrugged. "There's no use worrying about it now, is there?"

"No, I suppose not. Even so, I'm still doubtful unless it's a one hundred percent chance of success. I'm a bit of a worry wart, I suppose."

Running out, the two of them entered Charity Town's square for the second time today. The little area had lost most of it's charm during the fight, however. The fountain was demolished, the walls were covered with cracks, and one of them was destroyed entirely.

Jack stood in front of the ruined fountain, clothes fluttering in the slight breeze. The two of them stepped to the side as Bandock stopped dead at the sight of him, breathing low. The skeleton pirate pointed upward at Bandock's face. "So, you gonna hand over that map now, Bandock?" Baring his teeth, the giant man pulled his fist back. "Geki Geki no..." Jack sighed. "Alright, have it your way."

"Genkotsu!" Jack leapt upward as Bandock's fist, covered in the crimson red aura, slammed into the ground below him, smashing a crater into the ground. "Doku Doku no Stamp!" His feet bones changing into circular clamps, Jack came down hard on Bandock's hand, causing the giant to bellow in pain. "Doku Doku no Spike Knuckle!" Fists changing into spiked gauntlets, Jack slammed them into Bandock's upper arm, scaling up it like a mountain.

"Doku Doku no..." Leaping off Bandock's arm, Jack sailed in front of the giant's face. "Roundhouse!" Swinging his leg around, he smashed his foot into the side of Bandock's head, sending the giant stumbling backward.

Straightening up, Bandock suddenly began to tense his muscles up. Jack blinked at this, before his eyes widened as Bandock leaped into the air. "Geki Geki no..." The last thing Gerald and Frank saw before Bandock's weight came crashing down was Jack running to get out of the way. Then he was blocked from their vision as the giant man crashed down, sending a cloud of smoke upwards. "CRASH!"

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!" Raising his head, Bandock roared victoriously at the sky. "NO-ONE CAN DEFEAT BANDOCK THE BUTCHER! NO-ONE!"

"OH YEAH!?" Bandock's eyes widened. "Doku Doku no...Barrage!" Bandock looked up as a storm of bones came sailing down from the sky. First came Jack's fists, which slammed into both of his eyes, giving out impacts that would undoubtedly leave a pair of shiners. Then came Jack's arm and leg bones, hitting Bandock in the arms and legs hard. Jack's feet then came down, hitting the top of Bandock's head and bowing it downward. Lastly came the pirate's skull which impacted directly in the giant man's throat, plowing him backwards into what remained of the wall around the square.

Flying upward, Jack's bones reconnected to his head. The complete man then landed back on the cobblestones and smirked. "That's a lesson everyone who's met me has learned; never underestimate Jack Bones."

"THAT'S IT..." Pushing free of the wall, Bandock opened his mouth. "Geki Geki no..." Jack turned to his two friends. "FRANK, NOW!" Until now, the shinobi had merely been standing and observing the battle. Now he sprang forwards, springing into the air.

Cupping his hands, Jack boosted the shinobi up into the air, coming level with Bandock's mouth. "Tao Scroll; Fire Storm!" Flicking the paper slip out, Frank smiled as it sailed into Bandock's open mouth.

Rather than the destructive crimson-red beam from before, all that came out of Bandock's mouth was a plume of smoke. Then the inside of his mouth exploded. The detonations continued down Bandock's throat and finally erupted in his stomach. Bandock's eyes rolled up in their sockets and, swaying, he fell backwards, landing on the pavement with a giant crash.

Jack grinned. "Nobody defeats Bandock, huh? Then, it pleases me to be the first." Frank tapped him on the shoulder. "I think you mean 'us', Jack." The skull pirate smiled sheepishly. "Right, right, of course. Oh yeah..." Cautiously approaching the fallen giant, Jack rooted around in his pockets, smiling as he produced a rolled up scroll. "Here we are; one map of the Grand Line."

Gerald tapped his foot, looking annoyed. "And why, pray tell, do you want to go to the Grand Line so badly?" Jack shrugged off-handedly. "We're pirates, right? Where else are we supposed to go?" Gerald tweaked his mustache. "Ah yes, the age old dream: find One Piece, get the money, power, the women. As I recall, there's one man who already did that. What happened to him...oh yes, he was beheaded." Jack sighed. "Look, let's just get back to the ship and we can figure this out later."

Gerald frowned. "Fine. After this commotion, the Marines can't be far behind. I'd rather avoid getting executed this early in my grand career as a pirate."

"Same here. Now let's go." The three of them ran out of the square for the upteenth time that day, Gerald and Jack taking the streets and Frank taking the rooftop.

"Hold it right there!"

Not five feet out of the square, Gerald and Jack were stopped by Ryoga, who was standing in the middle of the street, Bo Staff held in a karate stance. Jack sighed. "Aw, come on Ryoga, I'm really not in the mood."

"Silence, pirate! You two are coming with me this instant!" Jack sighed. "Alright, fine. But you are wrong about one thing; there's not just three of us." Smiling, Jack pointed up. Ryoga glanced upwards, just in time to catch a glimpse of Frank's foot before it smashed into his face, knocking him to the ground. Jack grinned skeletally. "Now let's go."

Groaning, Mr. Kamikaze slowly came back into consciousness. "Shaa, dude...can't believe I let that shinobi dude wipe me out." Glancing around, he gasped at the destruction Bandock had wrought. "Shaa, they must've pissed the captain off somethin' fierce. Well, at least he..." He trailed off as he noticed Bandock's prone form. "...Shaa, the captain lost? Bogus, dude."

Walking around the giant man's body, he gulped at the marionette's scattered body, lying where it had came to rest after Bandock had destroyed the fountain. "If that creepy thing is there, then where's the puppeteer dude?" He nodded as he saw Mute lying against the wall. "Ah, there you are. Shaa, wake up, little buddy, we gotta get moving."

Slowly, Mute's lantern eyes lit back up, and he tottered to his feet, giving an appreciative nod to Mr. Kamikaze, who shrugged. "Anytime, dude. Now let's wake up the captain. I dunno where everyone else went, guess they must be back at the ship."

Walking over, Mr. Kamikaze reached over and slapped the captain's face lightly. "Shaa, captain, wake up dude!" Slowly, Bandock's eyelids opened. "Ghaaa...what happened?" Mr. Kamikaze shrugged. "I guess that Jack Bones guy wiped you out, dude. Anyway, we gotta get outta here, captain. The marines'll be swarming this island before long, and it'd be radical not to be here when they do."

"Yeah...that's a good idea." Slowly getting to his feet, he felt his head. "Ugh...I have to stop using that Geki Geki Fruit for so long." Mr. Kamikaze looked concerned. "Shaa, you sure you're cool, captain? We don't need you tubing out on us, 'cause carrying you is not cool, dude."

"Yeah, I'm fine. Now let's get out of here." Much like the pirates that had left the crew minutes earlier, Bandock, Mute, and Mr. Kamikaze left the square. Stopping momentarily, Mute pointed his strings at the marionette. Slowly rattling to it's feet, it ran after them.

"Hold it...right there..." By now Ryoga had gotten to his feet, and now pointed his bo staff at Bandock. "You're coming with me...Bandock the Butcher." Mr. Kamikaze frowned. "Shaa, no way dude. The captain's tired from his brawl with Jack, so buzz off." Mute raised his strings, jerking Ryoga into the air with a cry from the marine. Jerking his strings, Ryoga was thrown aside. Bandock and his crew then continued on their way.

Jack and his friends were met with another problem as they came out onto the harbor. The port was swarming with marines. Fortunately, this turned out to be quite a minor problem.

"Doku Doku no Boomerang!"

"Tao Scroll; Fire Storm!"

"Hole in One Smash!"

Jack and his crew leapt onto the Flying Skull, leaving dozens of battered marines behind them.

Immediately, Jack began barking out commands. "Gerald, untie the ship and get us out of here. Frank, do whatever shinobi do on ships. I'll be in the captain's cabin, looking over the navigational charts. We'll need to stop at another island to get supplies."

As the Flying Skull began to glide out of the harbor, one marine turned to another. "Should we pursue them?" The other shook his head. "No, we can't leave Deputy Captain Ryoma behind!"

Meanwhile, Bandock and his crew had made it back to their ship, where the rest of the crew had fled after Bandock began his rampage. "C-captain! We were just waiting for you to get back, y'see..." Mr. Kamikaze shook his head. "Shaa, no thanks to you, dude. What a total buncha cowards you are." He looked to Bandock. "Should we chase after that Jack dude, captain?"

Bandock shook his head. "No. He ain't worth it. Let's just get going to the Grand..." He frowned as the hand digging in his pocket closed around nothing but air. "Why that little punk...belay that order, mates. We're heading after that Jack Bones!" The crew roared their approval."

The marines sighed as Bandock's ship left the harbor. "Damn it, they're getting away! Where the hell is Deputy Captain Ryoga!?" Suddenly, the sound of the door to below decks opening reached their ears. They both turned to see Captain Brandy take a swig from his bottle of rum and rub his blood-shot eyes. "So...what did I miss?"

To be continued...

With another mouth to feed, the need to replenish their supplies grows ever more important. To that end, the Skull Pirates travel to Rose Island, a resort island reknown for it's wide flower gardens and plentiful bounty of food. However, they soon realize that something is wrong with the island, and the strife revolves around the island's female population.

Next time, Rose Island's flowers! The Dictator and the Dancer.

Attacks

Jack

Doku Doku no Stamp: Changing his feet into larger clamps, Jack stamps down hard on a foe.

Doku Doku no Spike Knuckle: Jack changes his hands to have large spikes on the ends.

Doku Doku no Roundhouse: Jack swings his leg around and hits an opponent with a roundhouse kick. Not technically a Devil's Fruit attack, but he does the chant anyway.

Doku Doku no Barrage: Splitting his limbs apart, Jack attacks his foe with all of his body parts at once. Can be very powerful if used in the right way.

Bandock

Geki Geki no Beam: Bandock expels a massive beam of force from his mouth, the destructive capabilities of which are devestating, as shown in this chapter.

Geki Geki no Genkotsu: The giant unleashes a giant fist powered by his anger. Because of his size, this technique can easily pulverize even tough foes. (Genkotsu is Japanese for 'Fist')

Geki Geki no Crash: Bandock leaps into the air (a feat, given his size) and comes crashing down to earth, creating a shockwave using his Devil Fruit.

(Next chapter marks the arrival of two named female characters. So if you had an idea for a Yaoi story, you can stop right now.)