Ch. 4- Into the Fire
One Piece © Oda
Blizzard, Monkey D. Aika, Kumi, and Kovar © Me
The Straw Hats stared up at mysterious cat, who sat perched in a tree, staring down at them with her golden eyes, almost coldly, even as she licked her paws to groom her face, as if her comment didn't bother her...and the sight only seemed to anger the pirates even more.
"Did you just say what I think you just said, you damned cat?!" Zoro questioned.
"You just want us to up and abandon Luffy?!" Nami asked.
"I am only telling you this for your own good," the cat answered. "You know what Kovar is capable of."
"Maybe we do," Sanji replied, "but there's no way in hell we're gonna just leave Luffy here!"
"Yeah! We'll just kick that dragon's tail and scram!" Franky added.
"Kovar is no ordinary dragon!" the cat arged. "He goes by many names...the Reaper, the Devil, the Embodiment of Evil...but most call him 'He Who Devours Souls'."
Usopp, Chopper, and Brook already looked lik they were about to soil themselves at this.
"Are you guys serious?" Zoro asked. "Jeez, even Aika and Kumi aren't scared, and they're younger than you are!" He then looked over to the girls in question...only to see that they, too, were shivering. "...Okay, in their case, I can't really blame them."
"We don't care what this 'Kovar' is called!" Nami shouted. "We're getting our captain back, and that's final!"
"What?!" questioned the cat. "You cannot be serious! You've seen what he has done to you! He can peer inside your memories...make you relive your deepest, darkest despair. Even those with the strongest wills could not survive...except for...well, that one man...but even so, you do not stand a chance. Please, I am telling you this for the last time: forget your friend and leave this place at once!"
"...No," Nami replied, causing the cat to gasp. "Maybe you didn't hear us...we are NOT leaving without Luffy!"
"Are you mad?!" the cat asked. "You'll all run headlong into death!"
"You think that's news to us, kitty?" Sanji asked as he lit a cigarette. "We pretty much do that on a daily basis. After all, we are pirates."
"Luffy's our captain," Zoro spoke with a confident grin. "Without him, we're not much of a crew."
"And it's gonna take more than some overgrown, flying lizard with an attitude problem to make us up and leave him behind," Franky added.
"Besides, I'm already dead!" Brook exclaimed. "Yohohohohohoho!"
"I'd do just about anything for Luffy," Blizzard said. "I'd even follow him into hell and back if I had to! I mean, in a way, I kinda did, but still!"
"I'd stake my life for Luffy a thousand times over," Robin said, almost casually.
"So would I!" Chopper piped up.
"You're all insane," the cat said. "Kovar is not just some obstacle that you can overcome with brute force."
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure we kinda figured that out, earlier today," said Usopp. "Still, we're not leaving Luffy behind!"
"You are all insane," said the cat. "Don't you realize that Kovar could take your souls in a heartbeat?!"
"If it's for Luffy," Nami began, "we would gladly give up our souls!"
"We would?" Usopp asked, only for Zoro to smack him in the back of his head. "OOF! I mean, y-yeah! Of course we would! Um...she means figuratively, not literally...right?"
"Stop being a wuss," Sanji said.
Nami and the cat glared at each other, the former giving off a determined, almost defiant stare...and that made the cat's eyes go wide.
"...I see, now," she realized. "You're all serious, then."
"Yes, we are," Robin replied. "For Luffy...we'll go through any extreme to protect him...just as he would do for us."
A pause...but then cat sighed.
"Very well," she said. "You may proceed."
"...Let's go, guys," Nami replied before she and the others headed off...while the cat seemed to smile after them.
"It has been quite some time since anyone had challenged Kovar," the feline said. "Whatever they say in that boy...I think it's good."
XXX
The Straw Hats found themselves in the barren crater where they had battled with Kovar. Here, in the darkness of night, it seemed even more foreboding than during the day. Even the glowing lights of the fireflies, usually soothing and wondrous, gave a rather ominous feeling in the air.
"Uh...guys?" Usopp asked. "I think my Don't-Go-Into-This-Crater Disease is acting up."
"Usopp, we already established we're saving Luffy," said Zoro. "Stop being a damn wimp, already!"
"Can you blame me?!" Usopp questioned. "That dragon could jump out at us again at any second! Let's just find Luffy, grab him, and get him back to the ship!"
As they kept walking, Robin suddenly stopped before she glanced back momentarily, then she sighed.
"Shouldn't you two be in bed?" she asked, rather loudly, gaining everyone's attention. As everyone else looked back, as well...they saw the shape of a familiar straw hat with a light blue butterfly hair clip, and beside that were two pricked ears, both hiding behind a log. Nami groaned as she pinched her sinuses in exasperation, but then she took in a deep breath and sighed, trying her hardest not to lose her temper.
"Okay, you two," she said. "Come out."
Sure enough, Aika and Kumi came out of the hiding, the former still carrying her backpack and her pipe.
"I told you they would know," Kumi glared.
"...I'm sorry, everyone," Aika said, "but...it's just-"
"We know, Young Miss Aika," Brook said. "Luffy is important to you, as well."
Aika smiled, knowing that the skeleton understood.
"But listen, girls," Zoro began, "we're not here to play babysitter. You had BETTER stay close."
"We will, Zoro," Aika answered. "Promise."
Kumi held up one of her paws while making a cross motion with her other paw.
"Good," Robin smiled. "Now let's go."
Aika smiled before she ran up to the archaeologist, reaching up to hold her hand as the others continued walking. At first, it felt like they were just walking aimlessly...but they only had one thing to guide them: Luffy's Vivre Card, which Nami held in her palm, staring down at it intently as it slightly inched forward.
"We're going the right way," she said. "Shouldn't be too much farther now."
"Uh...Nami?" Franky asked. "I think we're here."
Everyone looked up to see what Franky was talking about and gasped upon seeing it: a gigantic cave...no...more like the gigantic mouth of some terrifying creature, its maw wide open as if it were awaiting its prey.
"...I deduce that this is Kovar's lair," Robin said.
"Looks like it," Franky nodded.
"That's definitely where he lives," said Aika, although her voice sounded a bit shaky, just like earlier today. "I can feel his aura from right here...but Big Brother's aura is definitely in there with him...but...I don't understand."
"What's wrong, Aika?" asked Blizzard.
"...Big Brother's aura," Aika said. "I...I feel like something's wrong with it. I can't explain it...but...all I can sense is nothing but fear and pain and loss! It's...just sweeping over me!"
"...We have to hurry and get in there," Nami said. "Let's move, everybody!"
"Right!" the Straw Hats exclaimed as they hurried inside the cave, showing no hesitation whatsoever. The moment they entered the cavern, all they could find within was darkness with only the wind making a hollow, whispering noise...almost as if the cave itself were alive and breathing. It sent chills down the spines of the Straw Hats, and yet they continued onward. As they did, most of the crew brandished their weapons while others kept up their guard, as well kept the two youngest members in the center of them in order to keep them safe from any harm coming from any and all directions.
As they reached the innermost chamber of the cavern, they all gasped as they saw a familiar figure, lying limp on the ground.
"LUFFY!" the Straw Hats cried as they had finally spotted their captain...lying on the cold, stone floor, completely unconscious.
"Big Brother!" Aika shouted as she ran to Luffy's side, but before she could close, a familiar black and scale slammed down on the ground in front of her, causing her to shriek before she ran and hid behind the others. Sure enough...Kovar had appeared, his fiery eyes aglow with malice.
"You!" Zoro barked.
"Well, well," the dragon said with mock amusement. "I'm quite surprised to see you all here. Normally, one would not be so foolish as to step into my lair. You mortals are usually such cowardly creatures. Whenever one would see me, they would run away like pathetic mice, scared of your own tails..."
"We came to get our captain back!" Nami shouted, which caused Kovar to chuckle in a sinister manner.
"I am sorry," he apologized, "but I'm afraid I cannot give him back, now...his soul belongs to me."
"So that cat was right," Robin said. "You do steal the souls of others."
"I do indeed," Kovar confirmed, "but what I love most is feeding upon one's despair...and it has been quite some time since I have tasted as big as this boy's." He glanced down at the motionless Luffy. "And now, I refuse to let him go."
"Despair as big as his?" Chopper repeated.
"What do you mean by that?" inquired Brook.
"Hmph!" Kovar scoffed. "I am actually not surprised that you don't know, by now. You'd think your own captain would be honest with you lot, when he is still clearly in suffering. For almost 3 long years now, Straw Hat has been showing signs of severe psychological trauma. The feelings of loss, regret, and guilt are eating away at his mind and soul."
The Straw Hats all gaped in shock.
"Even if I had not come along," Kovar began, "your captain would still be doomed to nothing but pain and despair."
"...We don't care," Nami spoke up. "We're still taking him back with us!"
"Is that so?" asked Kovar.
"For Luffy, we'll go through just about any extreme," Brook added while Blizzard growled in agreement, baring his fangs defiantly.
Once again, Kovar only snickered, evilly.
"Again, you amuse me," he said, "willing to risk your lives for someone who is not worth protecting."
"What do you mean by that?" Sanji questioned.
"I have seen his memories," Kovar answered. "I have seen just how much he has endangered all of you with his foolish whims...why do you even bother?"
"Because he is our captain," said Nami. "Without Luffy, we're nothing!"
"Nothing more than some empty words," Kovar rebuked.
"All right, that's enough!" Zoro barked as he drew his swords. "I've heard just about enough of your bullshit!"
"Oh, come now, Roronoa," said Kovar. "Surely, you know by now that trying to attack with those measly swords is meaningless. What was it that Hawk Eye called you? 'A big frog in a small pond'?"
"H-how the hell did you know that?!" Zoro questioned.
"Again," Kovar began, "I can see into your memories...I have seen everything about you all...your pasts...your happiness...your trauma."
The Straw Hats all glanced at each other upon hearing that, while Kovar looked down at the still unconscious Luffy.
"Even so," he began, "nothing you do will wake him...Straw Hat is now a mere shell of what he is."
Aika gasped at this.
"You mean...he's dead?!" she asked.
"He can't be!" Kumi cried.
"Oh, no," Kovar replied. "He is actually from it, little girl. As we speak, he still tries to cling to life...one thing I like about those with 'D'...they make me work for my meal."
''D'?' thought Robin in surprise.
"Then we'll just have to go into his memories and get him back ourselves!" Nami exclaimed, but that only caused Kovar to laugh even more.
"Surely you jest!" he exclaimed. "You fools have no idea of the horrors that could await you within the confines of his subconscious!"
"We don't care!" Aika shouted. "You're just a big bully, and when Big Brother wakes up, he's still gonna kick your butt!"
Kovar growled at the younger D. Carrier, who squeaked in fright as she and Kumi hid behind Nami.
"...Well, he is," Aika said as she peeked behind the navigator's legs.
"Insiginificant whelp," said Kovar. "Very well...I shall see just how strong your bravado truly is. In fact...let us make a game of it."
"A game?" Robin repeated.
"Yes," Kovar replied. "If you can somehow managed to reach your captain at the end of all this and save him...I will let you all leave this island, peacefully...but if not, his soul, as well as all of yours, will be mine."
"Well, see ya," Usopp said as he backed away. "Have a nice life."
Before he could turn to leave though, he bumped into Blizzard, who growled as he got in his face.
"He said 'Turn your ass around'," Chopper translated.
"Eep...!" Usopp squeaked.
"What do you think, Nami?" Zoro asked.
"Should we go for it?" Franky inquired.
"If we don't, Luffy is doomed," Robin added.
"...We're in," Nami spoke.
"Hmm-hmm-hmm..." Kovar chuckled. "Excellent." He then held up his necklace for all the Straw Hats to see. "Now...look into the gemstone."
The Straw Hats began to do just that.
"Your eyes will start to get heavy," Kovar told them. "When you close them...you will all fall into a deep slumber...and when you awake, you will find yourselves in a world that is both strange and familiar to you."
A pause...but then everything began to grow hazy.
"B...Big Sis?" Aika asked. "I feel funny...haaa..."
Without warning, she suddenly collapsed, and so did the Straw Hats. Nami groaned as she tried to stay standing...but before long, she fell unconscious along with the rest of the crew...while Kovar snickered evilly.
"You will all watch," Kovar began, "as you see his very beginning...and his end."
XXX
"...B... is... ig...S...! Big Sis...! Open your eyes! Wake up, Big Sis Nami!"
"Unh..." Nami moaned as she opened her eyes.
"Aika...?" she asked as she began to sit up, and sure enough, she was hugged by the younger D. Carrier.
"Big Sis!" Aika exclaimed. "You're okay!"
Nami made a slight noise of surprise before she returned Aika's embrace, and as she looked up, she found herself surrounded by the rest of the Straw Hats.
"Guys?" she asked before she looked around. "Where are we?"
"Why don't you tell us?" Usopp asked.
Nami took a good look and found that she and others were standing in some sort of black void.
"W-what is this place?!" Nami questioned.
"If I didn't know better," Robin began, "I'd say we're on the border between life and death, otherwise known as 'limbo'."
"WHY YOU GOTTA PUT IT LIKE THAT?!" Usopp questioned.
"You mean we're dead?!" Chopper asked. "NO WAY!"
"This cannot be!" Brook cried. "I don't want to die a second time!"
"WILL YOU IDIOTS SHUT UP?!" Zoro barked.
Just then, the sound of barking got the Straw Hats' attention, causing them to turn to look at Blizzard, who walked off in some seemingly random direction. It didn't take long for the crew to realize that their guard dog wanted them to follow him, and so they did. At first, it felt like they were going nowhere, seeing as how this empty black void seemed to be just endless...but then, they spotted something ahead. At first, it looked so small, they could barely make out what it was, but as they drew closer, they saw it was some sort of cup with a tiny flame flickering inside it.
"A flame?" Nami asked as she picked it up and inspected it closely, and that's when she saw something on the cup's front: Luffy's name engraved in it. "Luffy? What's his name doing on this cup?"
Suddenly, the small flame began to wave and rise, causing Nami to gasp before she dropped it. Thankfully, the cup didn't shatter. However, the flame started to grow higher and higher until it seemed to form some sort of ring, and not long after, an image came into view: it was the sea, vast, blue, and magnificent as the sky above it, and by the looks of things, the sun was just starting to rise.
"It's...the sea," Nami said.
"Obviously," Zoro spoke. "What is this thing?"
"Hey, look!" Aika chirped. "I can see an island!"
The Straw Hats looked closer and indeed saw that there was an island on the horizon. Before long, the flame grew bigger and bigger until it surrounded the crew, causing them to gasp in surprise...but to their surprise, it did not burn them. Instead, they found themselves somehow standing right above the sea and below the sky.
"...Okay, anybody else wondering what's happening here?" asked Franky.
"I think we're about to find out," Nami replied as she looked to the island. "And it's all gonna start here...on this island."
TO BE CONTINUED...
Next time on One Piece: The Fire Within!
Nami: ...Oh, my god...that's Luffy's mother, Star! Guys...we're watching Luffy's birth!
Star: One day, Luffy...I just know you'll do big things in the world.
Garp: I'm only trying to help Luffy get stronger!
Star: What you're trying to do is kill him! I told you, let Luffy decide his own future instead of deciding it for him!
Random Kid: Freak! FREAK! GET OUTTA HERE!
Toddler Luffy: How come everyone keeps running away from me...?
Star: Some people just fear things that they understand...
Toddler Luffy: Hey, Mommy...I know what I wanna be when I grow up!
Next time: Mother and Son
Review, please!