Ch. 49- Surpassing A Warlord
One Piece © Oda
Blizzard, Monkey D. Aika, Kumi, Kovar, and Monkey D. Star © Me
Shade © Gakuto1991
"Whoa!" Aika exclaimed. "Did you see that?! Big Brother got Croc! He finally hit Croc!"
"YES!" Usopp cheered. "I knew Luffy could do it! As if he'd let Crocodile beat him!"
"Wait, wait!" Nami called. "How did Luffy hit him without Haki?!"
"Huh...actually, come to think of it, how did he do it?" Usopp asked.
"Wait, look!" Chopper exclaimed as he pointed at Luffy's arms, which were dripping wet. "Is that...water?"
"Why are Big Brother's arms wet?" Aika asked.
In the memory, Crocodile stumbled back for a moment before he managed to catch himself, but then, Luffy stretched out his arms and grabbed the Warlord by the shoulders, winding up his legs before he pulled himself toward him.
"GUM-GUM BUZZSAW!"
He spun head-over-heels toward Crocodile and kicked him in the jaw before he flipped backward, a confident grin appearing on his face while Past Robin watched the fight with an impressed look in her eyes.
"Wow!" Aika exclaimed. "Did you see that?! He got him, again!"
"Yeah! All right, Luffy!" Kumi cheered.
"Get up, Croc!" Luffy barked as he glared at Crocodile, who lied on the ground. "I finally figured it out, back there..." He grabbed the hose attached to his barrel and poured water all over his arms. "When the water from Yuba soaked your arm, I was was able to touch it. If water touches you, then that means you turn into sand...am I right?"
"...Kuhahaha..." Crocodile chuckled to himself.
"That's why you stole the rain, isn't it?" Luffy asked. "It's because you're afraid of water!" He then took a fighting stance. "Now I can finally hit you, so get ready for a real fight, sand-man!"
"So that's how Big Brother was able to hit him!" Aika exclaimed.
"You really think that's why Crocodile took all the rain away?" Franky asked.
"That and to instigate the fighting, so...probably," Sanji answered.
"Still, that's quite an impressive strategy!" Brook added.
"Yeah, but even if Luffy's hands are soaked with water," Zoro began, "it's not the same as having Armaments Haki."
"That's true," Blizzard said. "Let's see how this fight turns out."
Crocodile grunted as he stood up while Luffy gently dropped his hat to the side, not wanting it to get damaged.
"You really think you can beat me, Straw Hat?" asked Crocodile.
"That's right!" Luffy declared.
"I'll admit, I'm impressed that you figured out my weakness while you were on the verge of death," Crocodile began, "but there's no way you'll ever defeat me, boy. You're way out of your league! There's a great difference between you and I that you will never be able to become! After all, I'm one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea!"
"...The Seven Warlords, huh?" Luffy asked. "Then if you're one of the Seven Warlords...then I must be...the Eighth Warlord!"
The Straw Hats stared at their captain's past self, incredulously.
"...He would say something like that," Nami muttered.
"It's times like these I wonder if he still has any brains, at all," Zoro added.
Robin could only chuckle in amusement...but Crocodile was far from amused.
"Now Gum-Gum PISTOL!" Luffy yelled as he threw his right arm at Crocodile, who simply ducked to avoid his fist.
"What good is an attack if it can't hit?" asked Crocodile. "Even if it's still wet..." He grabbed Luffy's arm, causing him to gasp. "...My palm can still suck the moisture out of anything!" On that, he proceeded to dry up Luffy's arm, causing the Straw Hats to cringe.
"That is still so creepy...!" Kumi winced.
"Yeah, tell me about it...!" Aika agreed. "But...Big Brother will still win this!"
"Dammit!" Luffy cursed as he ran toward the Warlord. "I forgot he could still do that!" He attempted to kick Crocodile in the face, but he turned into sand before he could make contact, but at least he managed to get himself free of his grasp. During that time, the Straw Hat saw him gulp down some water from his barrel, causing his arm to return to normal. As soon as he landed on his feet, he smirked at Crocodile as he grabbed the hose, dousing himself with water.
"You said it yourself," said Luffy. "Devil Fruit powers are only as strong as the person using them, right?!"
"Wait, why did he douse himself with water?" Brook asked. "Won't that make him weaker?"
"Yeah, what's Big Brother trying to do?" Aika inquired.
"Just keep watching," Zoro answered.
"Gum-Gum...PISTOL!" Luffy shouted as he stretched his soaked fist at Crocodile, but this time, he tugged at his arm, causing it to undulate, making it seem as though he was making multiple fists at once with just his one arm. "AND SHOTGUN!"
The attack barely grazed Crocodile, who dodged to the side.
"Very clever," the Warlord said, mockingly, before he sent a blade of sand at Luffy. "DESERT SPADA!"
"Look out, Big Brother!" Aika cried.
"That blade thing, again?!" Luffy questioned before he managed to dodge by comically flattening himself to the left, barely avoiding the blade of sand, which left a rather large fissure in the palace roof. "Phew! That was a close one!" He then turned to Crocodile before he attempted another Gum-Gum Pistol attack.
"Hmph!" Crocodile scoffed. "That same trick, again? Do you expect to beat me with that?!"
To his shock, Luffy suddenly pulled himself right in front of him!
"I sure do!" he shouted. "I know I will!" He then backhanded Crocodile, who slid across the ground.
"Yes! He got him, again!" Aika cheered.
"All right, Luffy!" Kumi added.
"Man, he's really getting him good!" Franky added.
"It's not over yet, though," Robin said.
"Huh?" Chopper asked. "What do you mean, Robin?"
"Did you forget that I was there?" Robin asked while pointing to her past self, who stood idly by, watching with Cobra. It was then that it occurred to the Straw Hats that she witnessed how this battle would end...but for now, they decided not to ask. They wanted to see it for themselves.
At that moment, Luffy grabbed the barrel from his back and hoisted it over his shoulder.
"This was my plan all along, Croc!" he shouted. "I'm gonna get you...SOAKING WET!"
Just as he was about to douse Crocodile with water, the Warlord suddenly held up his hand.
"I saw that coming," he said.
"Huh?!" Luffy questioned as he froze in his tracks while the Straw Hats, sans Robin, began to brace themselves.
"SABLES!" Crocodile shouted as he threw a tornado of sand at Luffy, who was sent flying, momentarily, but luckily, he managed to regain his footing and caught the water barrel before it could get smashed.
"Phew!" Aika sighed. "That was a close one..."
"Yeah, but Crocodile's starting to get wise," Blizzard added.
"Kuhahahaha!" Crocodile cackled. "You seem pretty desperate, Straw Hat. You can't really fight without that barrel, can you? Which means this battle will end just like the one we had in the desert! KUHAHAHAHAHA!"
"Damn that Crocodile...!" Usopp cursed.
"He's right, though," Sanji said. "Luffy's so worried about protecting that barrel, that he can't really focus on much else."
"Then what's Big Brother gonna do?" Aika asked.
"Just watch and see," Robin answered.
Luffy panted as he clutched the barrel tightly...then he heaved a small sigh as if in resignation.
"...You're right," he admitted. "This is the same as before."
The Straw Hats stood, waiting for their captain to make a move...but what happened next absolutely stunned them, because the next thing they knew, Luffy ripped the hose of the barrel off...and began to guzzle down the water inside. Cobra watched in utter disbelief. Hell, even Crocodile looked horrified!
"Now...I'm not the same as I was!" he declared once he had drunk the barrel dry.
"...You must be crazy...!" Crocodile hissed.
As for Luffy...his body had now taken on a pear-like shape, his bloated stomach making a sloshing noise from all the water he had consumed.
"Water Luffy," Luffy said while he let out a belch, and not long after, water sprang out from his bandages. "OH, NO! A LEAK!"
"...What the hell just happened?" Sanji asked in shock.
"Your guess is as good as mine," Franky answered while he raised his sunglasses in disbelief.
"And I thought he was being an idiot, before," Nami muttered.
"Why can't he ever take things seriously?" Zoro grumbled in annoyance. His captain was such a headache.
"What is Luffy thinking?!" Chopper questioned. "He's not a water balloon! He could have gotten water toxemia from drinking that much!"
Aika and Kumi didn't know whether to laugh at how funny Luffy looked or be horrified by what Chopper just said.
"Well...that's something I'll never be able to erase from my memory, anytime soon," Blizzard spoke up.
"I'm glad that wasn't me," Brook added while Luffy was trying to keep the water from bubbling up his throat.
"Ugh..." he said as he swallowed it back down. "I guess I shouldn't have drunk that much water."
The only ones who found this amusing was Robin, for she was laughing along with her past self.
"Robin, how can you laugh at this?!" Nami questioned.
"I'm sorry," Robin apologized, "but it's still a bit amusing to me."
As for Crocodile...he was anything BUT amused.
"HOW DARE YOU PLAY GAMES WITH ME, BOY!" he roared as he lunged at Luffy, who gasped before he began to pump his arms up and down, like a water pump, then he spat out a bunch of water at Crocodile, completely soaking him from head to toe!
"AGH!" he cried.
"Who says I'm playing games?!" Luffy questioned as he stretched his arms back. "I'm always serious! Now Gum-Gum...BAZOOKA!"
WHABAM! He struck Crocodile in the stomach, causing him to cough up quite an amount of blood.
"So that's his plan!" Brook exclaimed. "If Luffy couldn't use the barrel to soak him, he'd have to find another way! Genius!"
"If you call engorging yourself 'genius'," Nami quipped, "but I guess it got the job done, so I'm not complaining."
'At least he's okay...for now...' she thought.
"I gotta admit," Sanji began, "I thought he wasn't taking things seriously for a second, there."
"Yeah, leave it to Luffy to come up with a silly battle strategy," said Usopp.
"Even so," Zoro said, "Luffy better watch himself. He already lost to this guy, once."
"Big Brother will still win," Aika said. "...Right?"
"We'll see, Aika," Zoro answered as Crocodile was sent crashing into a stone structure behind him while Luffy panted and wiped his chin.
"How'd you like that, Sand Croc?!" he questioned while Past Robin and King Cobra stood nearby, the former still pinned to the wall.
"...Incredible," Cobra whispered in awe, but then yelled out in pain as Past Robin yanked the metal pins out of his arms.
"I'm afraid you won't get to see the rest of this fight, Cobra," she said. "Now...you're going to take me to the Poneglyph. Is that clear?"
"Ugh..." Cobra grunted, painfully. "And...and why would I show you such a thing?"
He got his answer when Past Robin began to painfully twist his arms with her powers, causing him to scream in agony.
"Don't ask stupid questions," she said with a cold glare. "Take me there, right now!"
"...Sheesh, Robin...!" Usopp muttered.
"Just so you know," Robin began, "I'm not happy I did that."
"Hey, I believe ya!" Franky replied.
"I believe you, too, Aunt Robin," Aika said. "We know you're different, now!"
"Thank you, sweetheart," Robin smiled.
"Hmm?" Luffy hummed, inquisitively as he noticed Past Robin out of the corner of his eye, and she could only smile at him while chuckling in amusement.
"It seems your luck has finally run out, Straw Hat," she said. "There's no time left for you."
At that moment, Crocodile got back up...and he was laughing.
"...That's not good," Chopper muttered. "Why's he laughing?"
"Yeah, I think this is where we start to get worried," Blizzard added, nervously.
"...Get out of here...Nico Robin," Crocodile said as he glared at Luffy, "unless you wish to die, too. I've run out of patience!"
"N...Nico Robin...?!" Cobra whispered as he glanced at Past Robin, who tipped her hat over her eyes.
"As you wish," she said as she turned and walked away, taking Cobra with her.
"...What did he mean by that?" Brook asked.
"...Suddenly, I'm scared," Aika said, prompting Robin to cover her eyes with her powers, along with Kumi's.
"You girls don't wanna watch this," she said, grimly.
At that moment, Crocodile placed his hand on the ground.
"Get a load of this, Straw Hat," he said. "I'm going to make every stone in this courtyard turn to dust!"
Luffy gasped silently as if realizing what was about to happen. Before he could even do anything, though, Crocodile's powers were already taking effect. The grass and palm trees had begun to shrivel up, and soon, the whole place began to crack and crumble beneath his feet!
"GROUND SECCO!" Crocodile yelled as Luffy almost slipped into a crevice, but he managed to hang on by hanging upside-down by his feet, causing the water in his stomach to go into his chest, instead.
"GAH! That damn bastard!" Luffy cursed as he began to pump his arms again. "Water-Water PISTOL!" He then spat out more water bubbles at Crocodile, who held up his right arm, and suddenly, his hand absorbed the water bubbles.
"What the hell?!" Luffy yelled in alarm. "He swallowed it up with his hand?!"
"W-w-what's going on?!" Chopper questioned. "He absorbed the bubbles!"
"Crocodile is showing Luffy the full extent of his Devil Fruit powers," said Robin.
"Did you really think that you could defeat me with that...'Water' Luffy?" Crocodile asked, mockingly. "Well, you were wrong. The essence of my Sand-Sand Fruit power...is dehydration! Just watch..." He then put his hand on the ground, again. "My right hand dries up everything! Trees, rocks, and even the very soil!"
Soon, everything around Luffy began to crumble into nothing but sand: the plants, the stones, the statues...even his sandals turned into dust!
"Everything that right my hand touches," Crocodile continued, "shrivels up into nothing!"
"I don't believe it...!" Nami gaped. "Everything's dying around him!"
"Luffy pushed Crocodile too far," Robin said. "It's rare when he has to use THAT against just one man."
"Then Luffy must have really pissed him off, huh?" Usopp inquired while swallowing the lump in his throat.
"Wait!" Blizzard cried. "If Luffy doesn't get outta there, then-"
As if knowing what Blizzard was about to say, Crocodile grinned as he forced his hand down on the ground, harder than before.
"GROUND DEATH!"
Soon, everything exploded into a giant dust cloud, forcing everyone to shield their eyes, even though it couldn't really affect them. They could make out Luffy grabbing his hat before it could get caught in Crocodile's power, then jumped to the wall, hanging on for dear life. As for Crocodile, himself, he was nowhere to be found.
"Hey...where did Crocodile go?!" Franky asked.
"I don't know!" Zoro answered. "All I can see is sand!"
Soon, the sand settled, revealing Luffy hanging over the edge of the wall, still bloated with water. He panted heavily as he looked down at the ground below him, seeing the damage that had been done.
"That was too close," he whispered. "Man...that right hand of his is nothing to laugh at it. He practically turned the whole garden into a desert! ...Where did he go, anyway?"
As if to answer his question, Crocodile soon appeared over him in a whirl of sand, causing him and the others to gasp.
"Luffy!" Nami cried.
"Look out!" Franky yelled, even though he knew Luffy wouldn't hear him due to it being a memory.
"You've wasted enough of my time and energy as it is!" Crocodile shouted before he grabbed by the neck, causing him to gag.
'Dammit...not again! I can't lose, again!'
Aika, who still had her eyes covered, all this time, gasped before she began to pry Robin's hands off her eyes.
"Aika, wait!" Robin cried, but it was too late, for Aika soon managed to pull her hands away...only to gasp in horror upon seeing Luffy caught in Crocodile's grasp.
"...Oh, no...!" she whispered.
Luffy, in his desperation, began to spit several water bubbles at Crocodile, who simply moved his head out of the way and gave a sadistic grin.
"Missed me," he said.
"C...Croc...o..." Luffy gasped as his body began to shrivel up, causing the Straw Hats to gasp in horror at their captain's second defeat at the hands of the Warlord.
"Oh, no...!" Kumi whispered. "Luffy's a mummy!"
"LUFFY, NO!" Chopper cried.
"Once again," Crocodile began, "you lose...Straw Hat."
Luffy only made a hoarse gasp, causing Crocodile to cackle.
"In just six minutes," Crocodile began, "the palace square will be blown sky high, along with this garden." He then let Luffy go, causing him to fall to the ground below. "So why don't you stay...and celebrate the birth of the Sand Kingdom's new king?"
Luffy soon fell to the ground, gasping for breath...but if Crocodile had stayed a while longer, he would have noticed that the water bubbles that Luffy spat at him were falling to the ground, again. They all hit Luffy at once, causing him to gasp as he sat up, his body completely rejuvenated.
"GAH!" he cried. "I thought I was a goner!"
As for the Straw Hats, they all let out simultaneous sighs of relief...except Robin, of course, since she knew what the outcome would be. She only smiled, glad to see that Luffy survived.
"Damn, that was way too close to comfort," Usopp said.
"I wasn't scared," Zoro muttered.
"Yeah, right!" Sanji barked. "You were gasping, like the rest of us!"
"I'm just glad that Big Brother actually managed to survive, again," said Aika.
"Yeah," Kumi said. "It's almost like he died, two times!"
That's when Luffy looked off to his right and growled in anger.
"I saw that Croc fly off that way," he said. "Well, he's not getting away from me, this time!"
With that being said, he soon ran off after Crocodile, determined to settle the score with him, once and for all.
"Man...I knew Luffy had a bit of a hard time with Crocodile," Usopp began, "but...I didn't realize it was THIS hard on him."
"Did Big Brother really have such a hard time fighting with other people, back then?" Aika asked.
"Well, Aika," Nami began, "Luffy was strong, but here, he wasn't as strong as he is now. He didn't have things like Armaments' Haki to help him in his fights."
"Crocodile got the best of him not just once, but twice," Zoro said, "but you know what they say: third time's the charm."
"Man, I hope so," Blizzard said.
At that moment, the memory shifted, showing Luffy running through the capital city. As he did, he suddenly stopped and found, of all people, Tashigi, who was lying on the ground, panting heavily.
"Miss Tashigi!" Aika exclaimed.
"What happened to her?!" Sanji questioned.
"I...had something to do with that," Robin answered. "I mangled her legs. She and her men...were talking about my past, and...it just wasn't pleasant."
"So that's why she was limping when I saw her," Zoro said.
"...Hey...where is he?" Luffy asked while panting heavily. "Where's Croc?!"
Tashigi seemed to gasp silently before she looked around, hearing the people fighting all around her, as well as looking up at the clock tower. She heaved a small sigh before she looked up at Luffy and pointed to her left.
"He went that way," she told Luffy, "to the royal mausoleum...hurry and go after him!"
"Got it!" Luffy answered before he turned and ran off in the direction she pointed at. "Thanks, Sword Lady!"
"...Is it me?" Aika asked. "Or did Miss Tashigi look kinda sad?"
"She was frustrated about something," Zoro answered. "Probably because she got defeated so easily."
"Poor girl," Nami muttered. "I guess that would be frustrating on someone."
Suddenly, as Luffy kept running, he suddenly grunted in pain as he grabbed at the wound in his chest, from which blood spurted out. He soon tripped and collided with a wall before he soon fell to the ground. He strained as he tried to force himself to stand, and yet, he just couldn't get up.
"Huh?" he muttered. "Hey...what's going on? I...I can't move...I don't understand. I ate a lot of meat, earlier..." He panted as he tried to stand up, again.
"...His wound's opened up, again," Chopper said. "He's losing blood, fast!"
"Big Brother!" Aika cried.
"Oh, no...what's gonna happen to him, now?!" Kumi asked.
"Urrrrgh...it's...only a cut," Luffy said, blood still dripping out of his wound. "Maybe...I'm...just a little...tired..."
On that, he soon collapsed on the ground, causing the memory to turn black...but not before the Straw Hats could hear the all too familiar sound of their captain snoring.
"...He fell...asleep," Nami deadpanned. "I don't believe it!"
"That moron, falling asleep at the most inopportune moments," Zoro grumbled.
"Like you're one to talk," Sanji quipped.
"Well," Chopper started, "at least Luffy got a little rest...I guess...but I wish he wouldn't push himself so far!"
"You're tellin' me," Franky agreed. "Most of my body's made of metal, but even I gotta take it easy, once in a while! Especially with wounds as bad as that!"
Suddenly, the Straw Hats heard a snort and the memory soon reappeared in front of them, showing Luffy groaning as he sat up while groggily smacking his lips.
"Mmm...man, I slept good," he muttered while scratching the back of his head, then looked around. "...Oh, right...I couldn't move, so I decided to take a little nap to get my strength back."
"You need more than a nap for a wound like that, you know!" Chopper shouted, even though he knew Luffy couldn't hear him. His captain could be frustrating, sometimes.
"And now that I'm all better...oh, right!" Luffy exclaimed before he stood up and began to run. "ALL RIGHT, CROCODILE! THIS TIME I'LL SEND YOU FLYING!"
"He's back to normal, all right..." Blizzard muttered.
"Big Brother sure has a lot of energy," Aika said. "Still...I get worried about him, sometimes."
"Yeah, me, too," Kumi added.
"So do we, honey," Nami said while petting Kumi on the head. "So do we."
Just then, Luffy came to a screeching halt before he looked over his shoulder and noticed a hidden staircase.
"That hole over there..." he said between pants. "Looks...kinda Croc-ish!"
"...Croc-ish?" Usopp repeated while Robin chuckled, still amused by how Luffy could still make her laugh in such dire straits such as this. Soon, he ran inside, entering the kingdom's hidden tomb, but as he ran, the whole place looked like it was falling apart.
"What the hell's going on?!" Luffy questioned as he narrowly dodged a large hunk of falling rubble. "This place is collapsing!"
"Yeah, why is the place coming down on his head?!" Nami questioned.
"It was Vivi's father," Robin answered. "He triggered a booby trap in an effort to trap Crocodile in the tomb...but it would never work."
"Right, because of Crocodile's powers," Brook said. "A noble idea that the king had, but foolish, I'm afraid."
Soon, Luffy crashed through one of the pillars...and sure enough, there was Crocodile, standing before a giant stone block with many different inscriptions on it. Nearby, Cobra was sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall...and not too far from him was Past Robin, lying on the floor with blood seeping from her lips.
"Oh, my god! Robin!" Nami cried. "What happened to you, there?!"
"...Did Crocodile do that to you?" Zoro asked with a vicious glare.
"It seems that my luck with him ran out, as well," was Robin's only answer. "When we found that Poneglyph, there, I lied to Crocodile about Pluton's location...and...well, let's just say he didn't take it well."
"That dirty Croc!" Aika shouted.
Speaking of Crocodile...he did not look the least bit pleased to see Luffy, at all.
"You...!" he hissed.
"I finally found you...Crocodile," Luffy said while glaring at him, intensely.
"...Why?" Crocodile asked. "Why the hell...DON'T YOU DIE?!"
The Straw Hats noticed an unsettling shakiness in the Warlord's voice...he almost sounded manic.
"I killed you, TWICE, and you still get back up!" Crocodile barked. "WHY DON'T YOU DIE, STRAW HAT?! JUST HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO FUCKING KILL YOU?!"
At first, Luffy didn't answer him. He just panted heavily, clearly still tired from running the whole way to this point.
"...Give back...what you stole," he said.
"...What I stole?" Crocodile asked. "Kuhahahahaha! And just what exactly do you want me to return, Straw Hat? Money? Fame? Trust? Life? Or...the rain, perhaps? Kuhahahahahaha! Which one do you want me to give back, Straw Hat?! I've already stolen so many things!"
"...This kingdom," Luffy answered, his eyes intensifying, unwavering. Of course, Crocodile only scoffed at him.
"The kingdom, you say?" he inquired. "Such nonsense you speak...I'm about to conquer this kingdom! I will soon be its new ruler!"
"Yeah, right!" Aika shouted, remembering a certain flamingo-themed Warlord.
"...When we first landed here on this island," Luffy began, "this kingdom of hers...was already long gone...it wasn't hers, anymore!"
Crocodile only scowled.
"If this were really her country...SHE'D BE SMILING A LOT MORE!" Luffy yelled, his fury reaching its boiling point as he charged at Crocodile. At that moment, multiple images flashed...showing the devastation that the Straw Hats saw throughout Alabasta...as well as Vivi shedding tears.
"...Luffy was right," Sanji said. "This country wasn't Vivi's anymore when Crocodile took over."
"I think it's more than that," Zoro said. "Luffy knows what Vivi's going through. He's seen these kinds of things back where he lived. He's seen what cruelty can do to a country, firsthand...that's why he understands Vivi more than anyone."
Soon, the memory had returned, showing that Luffy was still continuing his charge.
"Hey, wait a sec!" Blizzard exclaimed. "How's Luffy gonna hit him?! He doesn't have any water!"
"Oh, crap, Blizzard's right!" Usopp cursed. "What is Luffy gonna use to fight Crocodile with?!"
"You fool," said Crocodile as he raised his hook. "You don't even have any water! How do you expect to hit me when you- OOF!"
To the Straw Hats' shock, Luffy kicked Crocodile across the face, blood falling from his nose and jaw before he was soon crashing into a stone column.
"He...he got him?!" Usopp questioned.
"But how?!" Franky asked. "He doesn't have water!"
"...Wait..." Aika muttered as she took a closer look at Luffy...and saw that his arms and legs were coated in blood...his blood.
As Crocodile sat up, Luffy roared as he charged at him again and decked him across the face, sending him flying, once again. The Warlord coughed and groaned, his nose broken by the blow...before he turned and glared at Luffy.
"...I see," he said. "You're using your blood, aren't you?!"
"...He's what...?!" Chopper whispered in shock.
"...Blood hardens sand, too, doesn't it?" Luffy asked while he held up his fist, which dripped with blood.
A pause...but then, Crocodile started chuckling...then he began to cackle.
"Oh, that's never good," Sanji muttered.
"Oh, dear..." Brook murmured with dread.
"...Fine," Crocodile said as he slowly got to his feet...almost as if he was rising from the grave. "First, in the desert outside...then at the palace...and now, this underground tomb. You will die a third and final time, Straw Hat! For daring to challenge me...I shall reward your persistence..."
Luffy growled as he ran to kick Crocodile again, but this time, the Warlord jumped out of his way.
"But this time," Crocodile began, "I will fight you as a pirate." He soon took off his golden hook...revealing a thinner hook inside that was covered in holes. "I'll admit...your never-ending drive to defeat me is quite impressive, boy. You might be a pest, but you are indeed a worthy opponent."
"...What is that?" Luffy asked.
"A poisonous Scorpion Stinger," Crocodile answered...as a peculiar purple fluid dripped out of the hook.
"...I see," Luffy said in his usual simplicity.
"P...Poison...?" Brook whispered in horror, remembering how he and his crew met their demise.
"Oh, crap..." Blizzard cursed.
"Well...it's okay!" Aika exclaimed. "Big Brother's immune to poison! This won't hurt him!"
"Aika, this was before Luffy was immune to poison," Chopper spoke up.
"...Oh..." Aika squeaked.
"So you understand, then," Crocodile said. "When pirates duel...it's a duel to the death. There are no fair fights here! When the square above us explodes...this place will be buried in an instant." He held up his hook while Luffy took his signature fighting stance. "This is the end...so let's settle this, once and for all!"
"...Bring it," Luffy said, and with that, the final round had finally begun. Soon, Luffy and Crocodile were going at each other with full force. Luffy threw several blows at Crocodile and managed to land a few good hits. He even managed to stop himself from punching him when he raised his right hand. However, despite Luffy trying his best, Crocodile still managed to hit him with his Scorpion Stinger several times, causing the Straw Hats to cringe every time it did. In spite of that, though, Luffy continued to land several more hits on the Warlord until the two soon stood across from each other, both of them panting heavily.
"Yeah!" Aika cheered. "Way to go, Big Brother! You've got him on the ropes, this time!"
"I think it's a little too soon to be cheering, honey," Robin said.
"Huh? Why?" Aika asked.
"Luffy got hit by Crocodile's hook several times," Zoro pointed out.
"Really?" Aika asked. "He stills looks all right, to me!"
"Kuhahahahaha...!" Crocodile laughed as he glared at Luffy. "I've impaled you...I buried you alive, dried you up...and even then, you still continue to oppose me. However...there's no way you'll be coming back from this. I've won this battle, Straw Hat...the poison in your veins will soon take effect."
"...You don't understand a thing," Luffy said, defiantly, to Crocodile's bewilderment.
"What are you talking about?" he asked. "What don't I understand?"
Luffy charged at him, once again, throwing a stretching punch, Crocodile dodged his attack by jumping to the side. Despite that, Luffy still threw another punch at him, which he still dodged, followed by a Gum-Gum Gatling Attack, and still, he could not hit him.
"Wait, what's happening?" Aika asked.
"Is it me?" Kumi asked. "Or did Crocodile get faster?!"
"It's not that Crocodile got faster," Zoro corrected. "Luffy's slowing down...the poison's starting to affect him."
Sure enough, Luffy's vision began to blur and his legs started wobbling. The Straw Hats could hear Crocodile speaking, but it was starting to sound like Luffy's ears were filling up with water. They could still hear Crocodile talk, but some of it was getting garbled.
"No matter whether you win or lose this fight," they could hear him say, "you won't leave this tomb alive. You've taken plenty of hits in our three battles. It's a wonder you're able to even stand."
Luffy attempted to kick Crocodile, but because of his failing vision, he wasn't able to connect this time, instead crashing into the ground behind him, causing the Straw Hats to wince. This was getting harder and harder for them to watch.
"You see?" Crocodile asked. "It's useless! Why do you continue to fight?!"
Luffy panted before he forced himself to stand, and then he glared at Crocodile, seething with rage...but even then, everything was starting to go dark around him. He grunted as he fell to his knees, his breath ragged and short.
"...Luffy...!" Nami whispered, worriedly.
"This kingdom has absolutely nothing to do with you!" Crocodile shouted. "You're fighting on someone else's behalf! Why risk your life for something so trivial?! People can be replaced! If you had just abandoned one or two members of your crew, you'd be able to spare yourself from this nonsense! Why are you all so foolish?!"
"...Like I said," Luffy said as he tried to stand. "You don't get it...Vivi...she keeps telling people not to sacrifice themselves...but she's always the first one to try and sacrifice herself to save others! If we don't help her...she'll die! You'll kill her!"
"Damn right, he would," said Nami, bitterly. "If Crocodile didn't kill her directly...Vivi would have died of a broken heart from seeing her country so devastated."
"That's probably what Luffy really means," said Zoro. "Luffy...he really does understand Vivi better than anybody because they come from the same background. That's why he called Vivi naïve."
"Yeah, but at the same time, Luffy's kind of naïve, too," Blizzard said. "When he was a kid, he'd talk about not wanting anyone to die for him...which is why he's always trying to sacrifice himself for us."
"Wow..." Aika whispered. "It's kinda sad, when you think of that way, huh?"
"Luffy kinda confuses me, sometimes," Kumi said, "but at the same time, I kinda understand it, too. Who knew Luffy was such a complex guy?"
"I don't understand you, at all," Crocodile said. "You should simply just walk away and-"
"SHUT UP!" Luffy yelled. "DON'T YOU GET IT?! I DON'T WANT VIVI TO DIE! SHE'S MY FRIEND!"
Hearing that word seemed to irk Crocodile.
"As long as she keeps fighting to save this kingdom," Luffy began, "then we'll keep fighting alongside her!"
"...Even if it costs you your lives?" asked Crocodile.
"...If we die...then we die and that it's," Luffy answered.
The Straw Hats all stood tall and proud. To die for the sake of their friends...that had always been their creed, no matter what. Even in the face of death, Luffy still hung to that belief...which made them even prouder of him than they ever could be.
However, before long, Luffy soon fell to his knees, the world beginning to darken around him and his heartbeat slowing.
'Dammit...I...I can't move, again...am I...really gonna die here?'
"...Luffy pushed himself too far," Chopper said. "Fighting Crocodile only spread the poison through his system faster."
"That idiot...!" Nami whispered as she looked away. "I admire his resolve, but I wish he'd think these things through a little more!"
By now, Crocodile had burst into full-blown laughter as he watched Luffy collapse.
"...You know something?" Sanji asked. "I'm getting sick and tired of hearing that sicko laugh."
"That makes two of us," Robin concurred.
"Talk all you wish," Crocodile began, "but it's getting harder and harder for you to stand, now isn't it?! A fine state you're in, Straw Hat!"
Luffy panted as he tried to fight off the poison, but he still couldn't stand up, and Crocodile continued to cackle at his current state.
"As if a weakling like you could ever defeat the likes of me!" he shouted. "No matter how much you care about your crew, no matter how much you defy me, or try to thwart my plans, if you can't even surpass me now, then everything you and your friends have done was in vain! A greenhorn such as you is simply no match for the likes of me, a real pirate! That's life! Accept it!"
"Like he knows what a real pirate is," Franky growled.
"...Big Brother...come on...!" Aika whispered. "Please, get up...!"
Suddenly, the memory seemed to shake as the Straw Hats heard a loud rumbling...but Luffy ignored it as he began to get to his feet.
"...It's over," Crocodile grinned as he held out his hands. "This country...is mine, now!"
"Was that the bomb that Crocodile was talking about?" Blizzard asked.
"Yeah, it went off," Nami answered, "thanks to Pell, though, it didn't detonate where Crocodile wanted it to."
At that moment, Luffy finally stood up. He was wobbling and he was panting heavily...not to mention he was bloody all over...but he wasn't going to go down, now. Not when he was so close...and the Straw Hats seemed to feel that, too. They could see his vision starting to clear up and the sounds around them became less muted.
"...I'm not gonna lose...to a bastard like you...!" Luffy hissed, hatefully.
"Hmph!" Crocodile scoffed. "Is that really all you can muster, Straw Hat? Empty words? Just look at you...you're pathetic. You're more dead than alive! You've got nothing left, now...you're finished!"
"That's what he thinks," Zoro smirked, and Robin crossed her arms as she began to feel a sense of satisfaction. She could tell she was going to enjoy this.
"I'm the man," Luffy began, "who's gonna be the King of the Pirates!"
"...Listen here, boy," Crocodile said while holding up his Scorpion Stinger. "If you had any idea what this sea was really like, you wouldn't make such a claim! It's just as I said before...you're just some idiotic kid with his head in the clouds!" He then charged at Luffy, preparing to stab him with his hook, one more time. "The more you know about this sea, the more you realize how foolish your dreams really are!"
Just as he was about to hit Luffy, though, he gasped as the Straw Hat Captain suddenly raised his leg up and stamped his foot against Crocodile's hook...snapping it off like it was a mere twig. Crocodile gasped in shock and disbelief before he glanced at Luffy, who panted heavily.
"...I...AM GOING TO SURPASS YOU!" he shouted, and with that being said, he soon slammed his fist into Crocodile's stomach, forcing him to stand upright as he coughed up blood, then Luffy followed through with a kick to his jaw. After that, he stretched his arm back as far as he could before he landed a hammer fist on Crocodile's head, sending him crashing into the ground.
"Yes!" Aika cheered. "He's doing it!"
"HAHAHAHAHA!" Usopp laughed. "That's the Luffy we know and love!"
"Yeah, go, Luffy!" Franky shouted.
"You got this, babe!" Nami yelled.
"Come on, Luffy, you can do it, man!" Sanji cheered as Luffy grabbed Crocodile by the collar of his shirt and slammed into a wall like his body was made more out of water than sand. Soon, Crocodile was the one who was struggling.
"Incredible!" Brook exclaimed. "Luffy's actually regaining ground, even though he's still so badly poisoned! How does he do it?!"
"It's because Luffy's determined to win this," Zoro answered, "and when Luffy knows he has to win...that's when he's at his most dangerous."
"But why isn't Crocodile using his Devil Fruit powers?" Nami asked. "He could easily beat Luffy, then!"
"Because Crocodile's lost all rational thought, by now," Robin answered. "This is the first in a long time that someone has ever pushed him over the edge. Seeing Luffy get back up to challenge him a third time caused him to lose what little sanity he had left. He can't understand why someone like Luffy is able to stand up again and again, despite everything he threw at him. Basically, Crocodile had a breakdown."
"Huh," Blizzard muttered. "You know, that always seems to be the case with most enemies Luffy faces."
Crocodile seethed angrily, his hair falling in front of his face, while Luffy just stood there, calmly. Soon, the Warlord stood up, and a small blade appeared out of his broken hook.
"You're just some two-bit nobody who comes from who knows where!" he shouted before he charged at Luffy. "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHO I AM?!"
To his shock, Luffy ducked down to avoid getting stabbed.
"I don't even care who you are because it doesn't matter!" he shouted. "WHOEVER YOU ARE, I WILL BEAT YOU~!"
He then kicked Crocodile high into the air.
"...It's over," said Zoro. "This battle has been decided."
"You mean Luffy's actually gonna win this?!" Kumi asked. "I mean, not that I doubt him, you know!"
As for Crocodile, he was hovering in mid-air as he glowered at Luffy, who glared right back at him.
"Now fall with this ancient temple and let the desert sands bury you!" the Warlord bellowed before he formed a whirlwind of sand in his hand. "Sables...PESADO!"
Soon, a giant shockwave of sand was thrown at Luffy, who managed to brace himself against the blast while everything else crumbled around him. Luckily, Luffy jumped out of the way in the nick of time before he could get crushed by a falling statue. Then, he took in the deepest breath he could ever take, inflating his stomach to gigantic proportions. Once he had taken in enough air, he held his breath in and began to twist his body around, tightly, then he pointed his head down and let his breath out, sending himself flying toward Crocodile with his fists held back.
This was it...the finisher.
"GUUUUUM-GUUUUUUUUUUUM..."
"DESERT...LA SPADA~!" Crocodile roared as he threw several giant blades of sand at Luffy in a desperate attempt to stop him...but it was no use.
"STOOOOOOOOOOOOOORM!"
Soon, Luffy began to pummel Crocodile with a storm of rapid-fire punches, unrelenting and brutal. He punched him so far, that he had pinned him against the ceiling, and the Straw Hats could've sworn that they saw several teeth fall out and they could hear the sound of breaking bones. Crocodile was unconscious at this point, but Luffy kept going, roaring furiously as he continued his relentless assault. It wasn't too long before Luffy made the final punch that finally sent Crocodile flying through the ceiling.
"Holy shit!" Franky cursed. "He punched him right through the bedrock!"
"He did it!" Blizzard exclaimed. "He finally beat that sonuvabitch!"
"YAHOO!" Aika hollered. "I knew he could do it! I knew it!"
"That's my man!" Nami declared.
"HAHAHAHAHA!" Usopp laughed. "Nothing can stop Luffy!"
"Yohohohoho!" Brook chortled while playing a triumphant song on his guitar.
"...Nice job, Captain," Zoro nodded with a proud grin. It was touch and go for a while, but against all odds, Luffy proved that sheer determination won the day, once again.
Soon, Luffy collapsed on the ground, his chest heaving and his body trembling...but despite that, he felt a sense of triumph. That's when Cobra crawled his way over to the exhausted boy...and bowed his head with a grateful smile.
"...You have my gratitude," he whispered...causing Luffy to give him a big, dopey grin.
"It was nothin'," he said...as the memory soon faded to black.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Next time on One Piece: The Fire Within!
Past Robin: Hurry...give this to him. *hands Cobra the antidote*
Cobra: You...?
Past Robin: *smiles with tears in her eyes* Once again...too many enemies got in the way of my dream.
Nami: ...Robin...
Robin: *looks away sadly*
*Later*
Luffy: *yawns and sits up in bed* I slept great!
Vivi: Hey, Luffy! Do you feel better?
Luffy: Better? I was never not better.
*Later that night*
Past Nami: So, Vivi, what will you do, now?
Vivi: I...I don't know...
Luffy: Well...you could always come with us, you know.
*On the Merry*
Past Robin: Well, we meet again.
Next time: Goodbyes and the Sixth
Finally finished this chapter, and there will be at least two more to come before I start the Reverie Arc next week. :)
Review, please!