Ch. 3- Abduction
One Piece © Oda
Blizzard, Monkey D. Aika, Kumi, and Kovar © Me
Later that evening, at the Thousand Sunny, the Straw Hats had made it back to their ship and were sailing away strange island. In the sick bay, Chopper had just gotten through wrapping up Sanji's chest and back in bandages.
"There you go, Sanji," Chopper said. "Be sure to take it easy for a little bit, okay? Don't do anything that might strain you. I know you have strong resillience, but I still don't wanna risk it."
"I know, I know," Sanji assured with a slight grin. "Don't worry, I promise I'll take it easy. Thanks, Doctor."
"Sh-shut up!" Chopper exclaimed, doing his little "happy dance". "Like saying that's gonna make me happy!"
Sanji chuckled before he got up, although he grunted a little, and proceeded to put his shirt and jacket back on. Then he walked out to the galley, where he found Nami and the rest of the Straw Hats waiting...except for three. The cook sighed, not needing to ask where they were, for the atmosphere and the concerned expressions told him exactly where they were.
Inside Aika's room, the younger D. Carrier was hiding under the covers in her wolf form, sniffling and wiping her eyes. Kumi sat next to her before she gently nuzzled her face against her best friend's own, giving a sympathetic whimper. Aika nuzzled the Akita pup back...but she continued to softly weep.
As for Luffy, he was sitting on the figurehead, and he didn't look very happy at the moment, either. The moment Aika ran off into her room, everyone gave him these disapproving glares and they didn't say a single word to him. Not many could blame him after his little outburst at Aika, today. After all, how could anyone not to be afraid after seeing such an evil...and intelligent dragon with nothing but malicious intentions?
As for the rest of the Straw Hats, they all sat in the galley, discussing what had transpired on the island.
"Something about that dragon kinda bothered me," said Sanji.
"Yeah, me too," Nami answered. "I mean...whenever one of us looked into his eyes...we saw something that traumatized us in the past. Like me...I saw my Mother's death at Arlong's hand."
"I saw my Mother, too," Usopp spoke up.
"...I saw the destruction of my island," Robin added, grimly, while Zoro put a hand on her shoulder in consolation.
"I saw...well, it's not important," Sanji muttered.
"...I saw...the death of my old crew," Brook said, somberly.
"I saw myself trying to stop the Puffing Tom from taking my mentor away," Franky announced.
"...I saw my dead friend, Kuina," Zoro admitted.
"I saw...Dr. Hiriluk getting shot," Chopper said, sadly.
"...I bet I know what Luffy and Aika might've seen," Blizzard said as he put a paw on Chopper's shoulder. "As for what Kumi saw...she wouldn't tell me..."
"...But let's forget about that for now," Sanji said. "While Chopper was tending to me, he told me something that Blizzard told him."
"What was it, Sanji?" Nami asked.
"Did anybody notice how that shitty dragon seemed to easily mop the floor with us?" Sanji inquired. "It was like he was...thinking."
"Thinking?" Zoro repeated. "Please...you've gotta be kidding. That giant bag of scales?"
"That giant bag of scales easily dislocated your arms, Moss-head!" Sanji retorted. "What do you think of that?!"
"Well, he cracked your ribs!" Zoro barked.
"Enough!" Nami shouted, causing the two to stop arguing. "Sanji, what are you getting at?"
"I'm saying," Sanji said, "whatever kind of dragon that was, it was a lot smarter than ones we've seen!"
"Now that I think about it," Usopp began, "that one dragon we fought when we first entered Punk Hazard certainly wasn't too bright. I mean, it fell for Luffy's trick and tore holes in its own wing, and it didn't stop to realize it until it was too late! This dragon, on the other hand, he acted like he was anticipating our attacks! Sure, we got a few hits in on him, but he still did a number on two of our best fighters!"
"Well, it's a good thing we're not going back," Nami said.
"For once, I agree," Franky agreed. "No way are we tangling with that SUPER freaky dragon, again!"
As everyone reached a mutual agreement, Blizzard got up and walked out to head to the figurehead, where Luffy was sitting.
"Hey," the ship's guard dog. "How long are you gonna be sitting out here, sulking?"
"What the hell do you want?" Luffy asked, bluntly.
"No need to get nasty," Blizzard said. "Look...Luffy...I came to talk to you about Aika."
"There is NOTHING to say about her," Luffy replied.
"Dammit Luffy, don't you test me," Blizzard growled before he heaved a sigh. "All right, look...it's true, she probably should have run away when you told to her to, but at the same time, you can't scold her for being scared!"
"...You think she was the only one who was scared?" Luffy asked. "I was terrfied!"
Blizzard's expression softened upon hearing those words, though it still retained a bit of sterness mixed with a little concern.
"I was scared for her and Kumi, too, you know," he said. "All of us were...but you didn't see any of us yelling at her, did you?"
Luffy didn't respond...although he did have a guilt-ridden expression on his face, which was rare.
"I understand you just wanna protect her," Blizzard said, "but you have to remember one thing, Luffy: though she's trying to get stronger...she's still just a little girl."
On that, he turned and walked away...while Luffy just sat there, heaving a sigh before he looked up at the stars.
"...What would you do if you were still here...?" Luffy whispered...as an image of his late older brother appeared.
XXX
Later that night, after everyone had eaten, everyone was in bed for the night except for Usopp and Robin, who were on watch duty. However, one particular member of the crew was not able to sleep.
Luffy groaned as he lied in bed with Nami, who lay sound asleep beside him with her earplugs in. However, the former sat up before he put a hand on his growling stomach.
"Ugh..." he groaned before he got out of bed, grabbed his shorts and hooded shirt, and slipped on his sandals. It seemed a midnight snack was in order. Hopefully, Sanji wouldn't catch him this time.
As Luffy headed out to the kitchen, he stopped when he saw the familiar face of Aika, who gasped upon seeing him. A beat passed before the 6-year-old to go back to her room, until...
"Aika, wait!" Luffy called, causing her to freeze before she glanced up at her older half-brother. "How about...we go out and talk?"
"...You're not gonna yell, are you?" Aika asked.
"...No, Aika, I'm not gonna yell," Luffy said, feeling his guilt increased at least twofold. "Come on, let's go outside."
"...Okay," Aika replied as she followed the older D. Carrier outside to the deck, where they stood at the portside railing. Luffy leaned against the rail while Aika stood next to him, holding onto the rungs. The two only stood quietly, letting the sea breeze blow and ruffle their hair. Aika looked up at Luffy, shuffling her feet awkwardly while the latter just stared out towards the horizon with solemn-looking eyes.
'...Should I say something?' the wolf-girl thought, but before she could open her mouth to utter even a single sound.
"I'm sorry, Aika..."
Aika gasped silently while Luffy exhaled through his nose.
"I never should've yelled at you," Luffy said. "I mean...you were probably really scared, right?"
"...Yeah," Aika admitted. "I was..." She then looked up at Luffy with a bright smile. "But you weren't, Big Brother! You ran up and punched him away! You weren't scared at all! You're not scared of anything!"
"...Heh," Luffy chuckled, although it sounded rather...forced. "Yeah...hardly anything scares me. Marines? Feh...they're nothing. Rival pirates? Bring 'em on, I can take 'em. Sea Kings? Psh...I eat those guys for dinner. No...hardly anything scares me, Aika...well, except for Nami, and that's why I try so damn hard not to piss her off."
Aika giggled a little at this, and unbeknownst to the two, Robin and Usopp also chuckled at the comment about Nami's temper.
"...But there's only one thing in the world that I'm afraid more than anything else," Luffy said before he looked down at Aika and put his hand on her head. "Aika...more than anything...I'm afraid of losing the people I love."
"Big Brother," Aika whispered in concern.
"That's why I always fight so hard," Luffy said. "It's not just because I get a thrill out of it. I fight because I know what I'm fighting for: I fight for my dream...but more importantly, I fight to protect you...in fact, not just you. Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Sanji, Chopper, Robin, Franky, Blizzard, Brook, and Kumi...I fight to protect each and everyone of you."
"But...but why?" Aika asked.
"Because I'm the captain," answered Luffy. "I'm in charge of all of you...it's my job to protect you and your dreams...because if I didn't, I would've failed horribly."
"...Luffy..." Robin whispered, feeling touched by the raven-haired boy's words.
"...God, I love this guy...!" Usopp whispered, tearfully. "No wonder he's the captain...!"
"...But...who protects you?" asked Aika. "Who protects you, Big Brother?"
"...I don't need protecting, Aika," Luffy said. "I've...I've been protected enough."
Aika couldn't help but notice a tinge of sadness in her brother's voice, and Usopp and Robin couldn't help but hear it, too, and that made them glance at each other in concern.
"The point is," Luffy began, "I'm sorry for hurting your feelings. I let my temper get the better of me...but I hope you forgive me."
"...I do," Aika smiled, causing Luffy to smile before he pulled Aika into his arms and hugged her tightly, causing her to giggle as she returned his embrace.
"Ohh, I love you, Aika," Luffy said as he squeezed her, but not too tightly. "I love you, so much!"
"I love you, too, Big Brother," Aika said, while Usopp and Robin both smiled at the heartwarming scene. However, Luffy's stomach grumbled again, reminding him of his hunger, and not long after, Aika's stomach responded with a gurgle of its own, causing her to gasp and blush as she put her hands over it.
"Shishishi!" Luffy laughed. "Come on. What do you say we raid the fridge. Besides, you're the only one who can unlock it for me."
"Wait...she knows the code?" Usopp asked, worriedly.
"Oh, dear," Robin muttered. "Maybe I shouldn't have given it to her."
"I, uh...better go wake Sanji," Usopp said as he went to go and wake the cook (even though Chopper said he needed absolute rest).
As the D. Siblings prepared to head into the galley, Luffy spotted something out of the corner of his eye, and at first, he didn't think much of it...until it started increasing in size...or rather, it was getting closer. Once Luffy got a good look at what it was, he gasped in horror before he glanced over Aika, who just walked ahead of him, seeming completely unaware.
"AIKA! LOOK OUT!" Luffy cried as everything seemed to move in slow motion. The Straw Hat Captain forcefully shoved his palm against Aika's back and pushed her forward, causing her to be propelled into a bunch of arms that suddenly bloomed out of the grass. It was those few short seconds...that Luffy was snatched by large talons. As time returned to its normal speed, Aika gasped as she saw Luffy being carried off...in Kovar's claws.
Luffy's straw hat, which had fallen off in his haste to push Aika to safety, floated gently to the deck, but the younger D. Carrier quickly picked it up as she ran to the railing, desperately reaching out to Luffy as Kovar flew away.
"BIG BROTHER~!" she shrieked.
"AIKA~!" Luffy shouted back.
"Oh, my god!" Robin cried.
"HOLY CRAP, DID YOU SEE WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!" Usopp questioned. "Wait, what the hell am I doing, just standing here, gawking?!" He then grabbed the Transponder Snail intercom. "ATTENTION, STRAW HAT CREW! ATTENTION! THIS IS AN EMERGENCY ALERT! CODE RED! I REPEAT, CODE RED! OUR CAPTAIN HAS BEEN KIDNAPPED! THIS IS NOT A DRILL! I REPEAT, THIS IS NOT A DRILL!"
Upon hearing the sniper's cries, the Straw Hats immediately ran outside to the deck as panic began to set in.
"What just happened?!" Nami questioned.
"Th-the dragon!" Aika stammered as she ran up to the navigator, holding Luffy's hat in her arms. "He came back and he snatched Big Brother up!"
"WHAT?!" the Straw Hats cried as they looked off in the direction that Kovar flew off in, and sure enough, he was still within sight, and they could barely make out Luffy struggling to get free.
"Good heavens!" Brook exclaimed.
"Quick, we have to go after them!" Chopper shouted.
"LET GO OF ME, YOU OVERGROWN, FLYING SALAMANDER!" Luffy shouted as he tried to squirm his way out of Kovar's talons. "PUT ME DOWN, DAMMIT!"
"Not likely," Kovar spoke, causing Luffy to gasp silently.
"Y-you can talk?!" he asked. "Wait...how are you doing that without a samurai's legs stuck to you?!"
"Silence!" Kovar ordered. "Struggle all you want, but you will never escape me. You are mine, now...Straw Hat...and soon, I will partake in feasting upon your despair...and then...your soul."
Luffy gritted his teeth as he continued to struggle and squirm, but it was no use. Kovar's grip on him was tight as a vice. Even a rubberman's lungs could not function when squeezed too tightly. Before too long, Luffy fell limp in the beast's talons.
Back on the Sunny, the Straw Hats were hurrying to follow after the dragon.
"Franky, hurry and turn 95 degrees to starboard!" Nami shouted. "Zoro! Usopp! Unfurl the sails!"
"Got it!" the boys shouted as they did their respective tasks.
"Everybody better hold on tight, hear me?!" Franky asked as he grabbed at the lever next to the helm, which was everyone's cue to grab onto either rail or mast, and soon after, the shipwright pulled at the lever, which caused the aft cannon to glow. "Coup de...BURST!"
KABLOOOOOW! The Sunny soon flew through the sky, following after Kovar, who was quite a distance away. However, for some reason, it seemed he wasn't even making an attempt to stop them from following him. In fact...he almost seemed to grin as he kept flapping his wings. The Straw Hats, meanwhile, glared at after him with fierce determination.
Aika, however, looked to be on the verge of tears as she hugged Luffy's hat in her arms.
"Hey, kiddo."
Aika looked up at Franky, who flashed a grin at her.
"Don't you worry your sweet li'l head, hear me?" Franky asked. "We'll get your bro back, no sweat!"
"He's right, Aika," Nami added. "We're gonna get Luffy back...I promise."
"...Mm..." Aika nodded her head and sniffled a bit.
"Until then," Brook started, "why don't you keep your brother's hat for him and give it back to him when he returns."
A pause...but then Aika sniffled and put Luffy's hat on her head.
"That's a girl," Nami praised before she glared after Kovar, who was still quite a distance away. "...Hang on, Luffy. We're coming!"
XXX
Sure enough, the Straw Hats had followed Kovar right back to the island where they had encountered him, and once they were all back in their daytime clothes, they were preparing to disembark.
"Big Sis," Aika said as she had her backpack and pipe on, "I'm coming, too, right?!"
"Aika, we've been over this," Nami replied. "It's just too risky. You stay here with Kumi and stay hidden in your room."
"But I-" Aika started.
"Is that clear?" Nami asked, sternly.
"...Yes," Aika muttered.
"I can't believe we're back at this creepy place, again," Usopp bemoaned.
"Shut it," Zoro told him. "Luffy needs us, and as his crew, we have to help him."
"And if our hunch is correct," Sanji started, "that dragon's lair is somewhere in that crater."
"Then that's where we're going," Nami said. "Let's go, you guys."
But before they could so much as take a single step...
"You should not have come back here."
"Who said that?" Nami asked.
"Up here."
Everyone looked up to see the same white cat that Blizzard had encountered, before.
"You!" Blizzard exclaimed.
"Yes," the cat replied. "It's me."
"A TALKING CAT!" Usopp and Chopper cried.
"ARE YOU TWO SERIOUS, RIGHT NOW?!" Zoro questioned. "WHY DOES THIS SHOCK YOU SO MUCH?! WE HAVE A TALKING REINDEER IN OUR CREW!"
"What do you want?" asked Robin.
"It's too late for your friend," said the cat, grimly. "Abandon all hope...Kovar has him, now."
"...Excuse me?" Nami asked with a hint of venom in her voice.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Next time on One Piece: The Fire Within!
Nami: You just want us to up and abandon Luffy?!
Cat: Kovar is no ordinary dragon! He goes by many names...the Reaper, the Devil, the Embodiment of Evil...but most call him "He Who Devours Souls".
Kovar: You humans amuse me...willing to risk your lives for someone who is not worth protecting...how about we play a little game?
Next time: Into the Fire
Originally, I was gonna wait until Thursday to upload this chapter to upload this chapter, but...lately, something really personal happened and I'm taking it pretty hard.
I guess this is just my way of coping.
Review, please.