Ch. 51- The Dead End Race
One Piece © Oda
Blizzard, Monkey D. Aika, Kumi, Kovar, and Monkey D. Star © Me
Shade © Gakuto1991
"Robin...you knew that Luffy talked to the stars at night?" asked Nami, prompting everyone to look at the archaeologist, who heaved a small sigh.
"I didn't mean to walk in on him like that," Robin said. "I felt like it was special to him, so I decided not to tell anybody about it."
"I guess that makes sense," Usopp concurred. "I wouldn't want everyone finding out about any of my private secrets, either."
"Although, in this case, we don't have a choice, do we?" asked Brook. "We have to see these memories to see what Luffy's been through."
"How much longer do you think we have to go until we find him?" Chopper asked, worriedly.
"Hopefully, not too long," Sanji answered.
"Yeah," Blizzard agreed. "I have a feeling that we're halfway there."
"I feel it, too," Aika added, "even though I think there are still a lot of memories to go through."
"So, we just got through all the ones in Alabasta," Nami said. "What's next to see?"
As if to answer her question, the loud crack of thunder boomed throughout the void, causing Aika, Kumi, and Chopper to shriek as they all ran and hid under Blizzard. As the Straw Hats looked up, they saw the Going Merry, sailing through a terrible thunderstorm...and behind them were at least 3 Marine battleships. Before the small caravel ship was a huge island.
"Oh, wait!" Nami exclaimed. "I think I know what that island is! That's Hannibal Island!"
"Hannibal Island?" repeated Aika.
"Ah, that place, again," Robin smiled.
"I guess we'll be seeing this memory next," said Sanji.
"What do you mean?" Aika asked. "What happens here?"
"You'll see in a minute, Aika," Usopp answered.
Eventually, the Past Straw Hats managed to shake the Marines and had made landfall.
"Looks like we finally lost the Marines," said Past Sanji.
"Yeah, for now," Past Nami agreed as she looked up at the sky and noticed that the clouds were beginning to clear up, partially showing the stars above. "Looks like the storm's letting up, too."
"So now what do we do?" asked Past Chopper, wearing a blue shirt that said "SMILE" on the front in yellow letters. He soon got his answer in the form of Luffy's stomach making an angry growl.
"I'm hungry~!" the Straw Hat Captain whined.
"Why does that not surprise me?" asked Past Usopp, but his stomach soon growled, as well, and Past Chopper's stomach followed, not long after that.
"Perhaps we should take this time to have a rest and eat while we can, no?" Past Robin suggested.
"There should be a pub somewhere around here," said Past Zoro, and with said, the small crew soon headed into town, traversing the slum areas and avoiding shifty-looking characters and drunkards lying around in the gutters. One woman who was wearing extravagant clothing attempted to flirt with Luffy as they walked by, but Past Nami quickly pushed him onward, and Luffy, being ever thickheaded, was only left confused.
"Sheesh, look at this place," Franky said as he looked at the trash-littered streets. "It's almost as bad as the backstreets in Water 7!"
"Tell me about it," Sanji replied. "The place smelled like blood and piss."
"Sanji! Language!" Nami chided as she covered Aika's and Kumi's ears, prompting the cook to clear his throat.
"Sorry..." he mumbled.
Soon, the Past Straw Hats arrived at a tavern, where they found a lot of wanted posters plastered on the walls...including Luffy's.
"Hey, I noticed something," Usopp said. "Luffy's bounty got updated after the whole Alabasta incident, right? How come these posters have his first bounty?"
"Perhaps they were slow in updating them?" Brook inquired.
"That does tend to happen," Robin replied. "There are times when the new wanted posters arrive late, so people don't see them until later."
Meanwhile, in the memory, the past versions of the Straw Hats were eating their fill...well, Luffy ate more than everyone else, as per usual. He devoured anything he could get his hands on, such as meat, fish, and anything else. A tower of plates soon stacked up on the table until Luffy finally polished a bowl full of fried rice, then let out a loud, boorish sigh while patting his overstuffed belly in satisfaction, the buttons on his vest looking like they were about to burst off from the strain of staying on.
"Man, I'm stuffed!" Luffy exclaimed.
"I bet you are," Past Zoro sneered. "You ate a ton."
"I still have room for more," Luffy said.
"Enough, already!" Past Zoro snapped.
"Why does that not surprise me?" asked Blizzard.
"Because Luffy's stomach is nothing but a bottomless pit, that's why," Sanji answered in exasperation.
"Yohohohoho!" Brook chortled. "I suppose my stomach is bottomless, as well! I don't have one, anyway!"
"Man, those were simple, yet delicious dishes," Past Sanji commented. "Nami, Robin, would you like anything for dessert?"
"I'm fine, thanks," Past Nami said.
"I'd like some coffee, please," Past Robin replied.
"Of course," Past Sanji nodded as he went to go and get some.
"I'd like some more!" Past Chopper piped up.
"Hey, no fair!" Luffy complained.
"No more for you!" Past Nami snapped.
"What?!" Luffy questioned.
"Don't what me, Mister!" Past Nami ordered, causing Luffy to pout. "If nobody stopped you, you'd eat forever!"
"Well, that's true enough," Franky said.
"You said it," Sanji said, just as his past self came and gave Past Robin her coffee.
"Thank you, Mr. Cook," Past Robin said.
"Hey, Aunt Robin?" asked Aika. "How come you only called Big Brother and everybody else Captain and stuff like that? Why didn't you just say their names?"
"I wasn't quite used to being around them, yet," Robin answered, "so I stuck to formalities for a while."
"It's the same with me!" Franky exclaimed. "I just used to call your bro 'Straw Hat' before I got used to being around him!"
"Huh..." Aika muttered.
"So, are we running low on money?" asked Past Sanji as he sat back down.
"Well, we haven't really earned much, lately," Past Nami bemoaned. "After we stock up on food, we'll barely have anything left at all!"
"Well, that's just great..." Past Sanji grumbled.
"What the hell?!" Luffy questioned. "Hey, let me just say this as your captain! You guys spend way too much money!"
The memory momentarily turned black before it showed Luffy lying facefirst on the table with bumps all over his skull while Past Zoro, Past Usopp, and Past Sanji all stood around him, snarling.
"IT ALL GOES TOWARD FEEDING YOU, YOU IDIOT!" they shouted.
"Was money really a big problem, back then?" Aika asked.
"Yeah, Aika," Nami answered. "Your brother's appetite was a real problem, financially. We had to spend so much, just to keep him satisfied."
"And you know it takes a lot for your brother to be satisfied," Sanji added.
"I didn't think it was such a big deal," Aika said.
"Yeah, me either," Kumi added.
"Well, I can't tell you how many times I emptied my wallet on account of your brother's stomach!" Usopp complained. "Seriously!"
"Shh!" Brook shushed as they went back to watching the memories.
"Anyway, this is a big problem, isn't it?" asked Past Sanji as he sat back down.
"Anything will do," Past Nami answered. "Isn't there any way to make some quick cash around here?"
Nearby, the bartender stared at the small crew of pirates...and it didn't go unnoticed by the Straw Hats.
"How come that bartender guy is looking at you guys like that?" Aika asked.
"He overheard us, that's why," Nami said. "He's just wondering if he should help us out with a tip."
"What kind of tip?" Blizzard asked while Past Sanji was going on and on to Past Nami about how there was no casino or other such facilities in town, but the navigator caught the bartender staring at the group from the corner of her eye, which prompted the bartender to go back to cleaning out glasses.
"What's wrong?" asked Past Sanji.
"It's nothing," Past Nami assured, and that's when a man walked in, wearing rugged clothing and a bandanna around his head, as well as a purple tattoo on his arm. He had a suspicious look to him and he was constantly looking over his shoulder, acting as if he thought was being watched.
"What's with that weirdo?" Franky asked.
"Maybe you should look at yourself before calling someone else a weirdo," Sanji muttered.
The man walked up to the bar and sat at the stools.
"A tankard of rum, please," he said, and soon, the bartender handed him a mug. "Thanks." He then took a quick look around while the bartender put up some bottles in the cabinets. "Hey...this is Hannibal Island, right?"
"Yeah," the bartender answered, causing the man to snicker. There was a small clacking sound, causing the bartender to glance over his shoulder and see that the man had put down two 100-Berry coins. He grinned, chuckling cockily, yet he still seemed nervous.
Aside from Past Nami, the only others who seemed to be paying attention were Past Robin, who had that usual mysterious smile on her face as she sipped her coffee, and Past Zoro. Luffy was too busy fighting with Past Usopp over the last bit of food.
"What's up?" asked Past Sanji.
"It's nothing, Sanji," Past Nami answered.
"That guy who walked in here," Past Zoro spoke up. "He was probably a pirate. Plus, he had a mysterious exchange with the barkeep, am I right?"
"So you were watching, too?" asked Past Nami.
"Well, more like I saw it out of the corner of my eye," Past Zoro answered while Luffy snatched a drumstick off of Past Chopper's plate.
"Hey, Luffy!" Past Chopper shouted. "Don't go taking food from mine, either!"
"I'm surprised that Luffy was actually paying attention to this!" Kumi added. "He wasn't even watching!"
"Might be because he learned how to listen to conversations while eating while he was being raised by Dadan and the bandits," Blizzard answered.
"Oh...I guess that makes sense," Aika said.
"I still wish he wouldn't do it," Chopper grumbled.
"So, what do you think?" asked Past Zoro to Past Nami with a knowing smirk, even as small bones began flying and knocking off of his forehead. "Did you catch it? The scent of your precious money?"
"What are you trying to say?" asked Past Nami. "That I'm a money fiend?"
"Am I wrong?" asked Past Zoro as another bone hit his forehead.
"Hey!" Past Sanji shouted. "How dare you insult Nami, Moss-"
"Nope, you're spot-on!" Past Nami exclaimed. "There's nothing I love more than money and tangerines!"
"Except us, right, Big Sis?" Aika asked, causing Nami to giggle as she picked her up and kissed her cheek.
"You bet," Nami answered, and the rest of the Straw Hats smiled, as well.
"Luffy! Usopp! Chopper!" called Past Nami, causing the trio to look up as they were fighting over the last chicken wing. "I smell an adventure. Now's not the time to be fighting, okay?"
"OOOOOOOH!" Luffy, Past Usopp, and Past Chopper cheered excitedly while Past Nami went up to the bar and sat down.
"Excuse me!" she called to the bartender, causing him to look at her. "Can I talk to you for a second? You see, my crew and I have this problem with being flat broke almost 24/7, and I can't help wondering if maybe you know for us to get some quick cash around here?"
The bartender only gave Past Nami a flat look.
"Oh, no, it's okay!" Past Nami assured. "We can pay for what we ate here! We're not your typical dine-n-dashers..." She then looked at him with half-lidded eyes, almost as if she were seducing. "It's just...I can't help thinking that maybe you know something interesting."
The bartender gave a quick glance to Luffy and the others. Past Usopp had Luffy in a headlock, but he didn't seem to mind. The bartender gave a soft sigh before he looked back to Past Nami.
"You guys are just a bunch of kids," he said, gruffly.
"That may be," Past Nami answered, "but we're also a crew of notorious pirates."
"I noticed that much," the bartender replied. "I recognize the boy in the straw hat from the wanted posters...and while I do sympathize with your money situation, I don't think I should go around, helping young people like you throw your lives away so carelessly, should I?"
Nobody seemed to notice that Aika tensed at that.
"We don't intend to," Past Nami said, "but we really do need the money. Besides, doesn't the saying go 'Nothing ventured, nothing gained'?"
At that moment, Luffy and the others congregated to the bar, as well.
"Plus, since we are pirates," Past Nami began, "it's not like we can earn money out in the open. Not to mention that treasure hunting has a lot more misses than you might think. The point is nobody hits the big time without taking some risks here and there, am I right?"
By then, the bartender was eyeing the entire assembled crew as they gathered around their navigator...or more particularly, he was looking at Luffy.
"So no, we don't plan on throwing our lives away," said Past Nami, but it's not just money. My friends and I aren't the type of people to run away from a challenge...especially our Captain."
Luffy only blinked in perplexity.
"Heh!" Franky smirked. "True that."
"He might be an idiot," Blizzard began, "but he never backs down from a challenge."
"That being said," Past Nami started, "do you mind sharing with us...where this smell of money is coming from?"
The bartender looked at her confident smirk, then back at the others, then heaved another sigh.
"There's really no cure for pirates and idiots, is there?" he asked. "Now I'm positive you wanna die young."
"Hey, Zoro," Luffy said, "did he just call you an idiot?"
"Why make that assumption?" asked Past Zoro in annoyance.
"Because I'm a pirate!" Luffy answered.
"I'm a pirate, too, idiot!" Zoro yelled, causing the others to laugh.
Soon, the bartender led the small motley crew to a door in the back of the bar, which he unlocked and opened.
"Hurry inside and shut the door," he told them while he lit an oil lantern, and as the Past Straw Hats entered, they saw a long, dark tunnel ahead.
"Man, it's dark...!" Past Usopp muttered, nervously.
"So we go from here, right, Pops?" Luffy asked, excitedly.
"That's right," the bartender answered. "Just go straight ahead through here."
"Hey, wait a minute!" Past Nami cried. "You haven't told us anything yet!"
"Yeah, she's right!" Past Usopp agreed.
"That's because this is as far as I go," the bartender replied. "You'll understand if you keep going."
"Sounds good to me!" Luffy exclaimed.
"Wait a minute, Luffy, you moron!" Past Usopp shouted. "This sounds way too fishy! It's gotta be some kind of trap!"
"If you don't want to do it, then just quit," said the bartender. "That way, I can sleep peacefully at night."
"Well, that certainly shoots down your trap theory, now doesn't it?" asked Brook.
"Eeyup..." Usopp muttered in exasperation.
"Well, I'm going!" Luffy exclaimed. "This smells like an adventure to me!"
The bartender seemed to smile fondly. "An adventure, you say?"
"So you're certain we can make some money here?" asked Past Nami.
"That's right," the bartender said. "I'm not one to lie. You can make some money here. I just can't give the details as to how."
"Ugh..." Past Usopp groaned. "My chronic I-shouldn't-go-through-this-tunnel disease is acting up, again...!"
"Give it up, Usopp," said Past Zoro as he put a hand on the sniper's shoulder. "Our Captain's made up his mind."
"The fact of the matter is we don't have any money," said Past Sanji. "What choice do we have?"
"I've got a bad feeling about this...!" Past Usopp moaned.
"There's an adventure waiting for us, isn't there?" asked Past Chopper.
"You bet!" Luffy answered, causing him to let an excited gasp.
"Well, I guess everything will turn out okay, eventually," Past Nami shrugged. "Now's not the time to be having second thoughts."
"That's our usual way of thinking, isn't it?" asked Aika. "Do it now and ask questions later, right? Shishishi!"
"Yes, it is, sweetheart," Robin replied with an amused chuckle.
"All right then!" Luffy cheered. "Let's go, guys, and get my food money!"
"That's all you care about?!" Past Usopp questioned.
"He certainly does have a one-track mind..." Blizzard muttered.
"Well, that's Luffy for you," said Kumi.
Soon, the Past Straw Hats began to head down the tunnel.
"Remember," the bartender said, cryptically. "Show two 100-Berry coins at the end of the tunnel. That's the password."
"Thanks a lot, Pops," Luffy said.
"Can I ask you something?" asked the bartender.
"Sure, what's up?" Luffy asked.
"...Why did you become a pirate anyway, boy?" the bartender inquired.
"To become the King of the Pirates," Luffy replied without a moment's hesitation, causing the bartender to stare at him in surprise. "Besides, the sea is nice and free, isn't it? There's treasure hunting and adventures to be had...and a whole lot of other cool things, too."
"...Heh," the bartender chuckled. "I see...I like guys like you."
Luffy gave him a grin, which he returned.
"...Try to stay alive."
Soon, the memory shifted, again, showing the Straw Hats walking down the dark tunnel with Past Zoro leading the way while he held the lantern.
"You sure it's a good idea to let Zoro lead?" Blizzard asked. "He'd get lost in a wet paper bag."
"Excuse me?" Zoro asked with a twitching eye.
"How come that man seemed to like Big Brother so much?" Aika asked.
"I guess Luffy reminds him of someone he used to know," Franky mused. "Maybe even himself."
"Huh," Aika muttered. "I wonder why that is."
"Luffy's always seemed to have that effect on people," Nami mused. "He seems to remind people of a life that they once had and that makes them feel a little nostalgic, I guess you could say."
"I suppose that's why Rayleigh grew so fond of Luffy, don't you think?" asked Robin with her usual amused chuckle.
"...Wait, who's Rayleigh?" Aika asked.
"You'll see later, later, honey," Nami replied, causing Aika to shrug as she kept watching the memory with the others. The Past Straw Hats were still walking down the tunnel when for just a moment, they saw a light at the other end, which caught Past Zoro's attention.
"What's wrong?" asked Past Sanji.
"...It's nothing," Past Zoro answered as he looked back at the cook, but as he looked forward, he suddenly ran into a creepy-looking old man with a "Z" tattooed on his forehead, causing him to scream in shock before he nearly dropped the lantern. He managed to catch it, but he grabbed it by the sides instead of the handle, and since it was so hot, he ended up burning his palms and falling back from the pain, prompting Past Sanji to catch it on his calf.
"Hey, Zoro, what the hell are you..." Past Sanji started, only to notice the old man, who had his hands behind his back for some reason.
"HAHAHAHA!" Franky laughed. "He sure got you good, Zoro!"
"Yohohohoho!" Brook chortled while Zoro grumbled in annoyance.
"It's not like I meant to catch it that way!" he shouted.
"Man, Zoro, was such a goon, back then!" Kumi said before she started to laugh.
"Watch it, pup!" Zoro spat, causing Kumi to flinch.
"Who the hell are you?" asked Past Sanji as he glared at the mysterious man.
"Wait, Sanji!" Past Nami exclaimed as she walked past him and stepped over Past Zoro. "Zoro, you're in the way!"
"It wasn't my fault!" Zoro spat as he glared at Nami, who simply shrugged at him with a sheepish smile.
"There's no need to be on your guard!" Past Nami said as she reached into her pocket. "We've got the password, right here!" She then held up two 100-Berry coins. "See?"
The Straw Hats heard a small ka-chink noise before the man stepped aside and opened a door.
"What was that sound?" asked Aika.
"He had a knife, didn't he?" Blizzard inquired. "That's why he had his hands behind his back."
"That's right," Nami replied. "Since I've spent eight years as a thief working under Arlong, I know a thing or two."
Soon, the Past Straw Hats entered a brightly with Luffy, Past Usopp, and Past Chopper excitedly running ahead of the others. Needless to say, the place was huge, not to mention extravagant. There were many different chambers that held different kinds of pirates, all of them drinking and feasting to their heart's content.
"My word!" Brook exclaimed.
"Now this is a happening place!" Franky smirked.
"Wow! It's so huge!" Aika added. "And look at all the pirates!"
"This is awesome!" Kumi chimed in.
"Hey, hey!" Luffy called out while holding Past Chopper in his arms. "What is this place, anyway?!"
"Yeah, they've even got a ship hanging from the ceiling!" Past Usopp exclaimed as he looked up at the ceiling, where a large rowboat was hanging from for decorating purposes.
"You know, it's kinda weird," Nami said. "Despite what happened here...it's kinda nostalgic."
"How so?" Brook asked.
"We don't really have adventures like those anymore, now do we?" asked Robin.
"Huh...come to think of it," Usopp began, "things have gotten so intense since we first entered the New World...but I guess that's just how it is."
"Whew!" Past Zoro sighed as he walked in. "Man, that lamp was hot."
"Even so," Past Nami began, "what kind of place is this? There weren't that many ships at the port when we first got here!"
"Hey, baby doll!"
Luffy, Past Nami, Past Usopp, and Past Chopper turned to see a man playing cards with his friends. He asked them something about wanting to make a bet and told the group that the bookmaker was up on the top floor. When Past Nami didn't answer right away out of confusion, the man asked them if the crew was there to enter some kind of race and told them not to bother with it.
"What race is he talking about?" Aika asked.
"The Dead End Race, honey," Robin answered.
"Oh, yeah!" Franky exclaimed. "I heard about that!"
"Ah, that takes me back," Brook added.
"I've actually heard about it, myself, once or twice," Blizzard spoke up.
"But...what is the Dead End Race?" asked Aika.
"Yeah, I wanna know, too!" Kumi added.
"The Dead End Race is an event that pirates on Hannibal Island hold once every few years," Robin answered.
"It's a race where anything goes," Franky started, "made by pirates, for pirates, you see?"
"We just happened to land there the night before it started," Sanji added.
"And apparently, everyone that island were once pirates," Nami chimed in. "Right, Robin?"
"That's right," Robin replied. "At every race, the finishing point is different, but the starting point is always at Hannibal Island."
"The first one to make it to the finish is the winner," Brook began, "but whatever happens on the way there is your problem."
"I heard that sometimes, there's not even a winner," Blizzard added. "They usually end up losing their lives in some crazy way."
"...I guess that's why it's called 'Dead End Race', huh?" Aika asked, nervously.
"Sorry I asked..." Kumi muttered.
At first, Past Nami seemed interested, Luffy more so than the others. Of course, once Past Nami and Past Usopp saw the competition, they immediately began to have reservations...especially when they saw Willy the Orca Fishman, who was previously a rival of Arlong. Of course, as per usual, Luffy just had that happy-go-lucky grin of his while he was holding Past Chopper, who was also grinning and pretty much repeating everything he said.
Once Past Nami heard that the prize was 300,000,000 Berries, she quickly changed her tune, and Luffy, Past Sanji, and Past Chopper were all too eager to agree.
"You sure change your mind quick when it comes to money, don't you, Nami?" Zoro asked with an irritated glare.
"Oh, bite me," Nami sneered.
"Now, now, you two," Robin chided. "Not in front of the little ones."
While Past Nami went to sign the crew in, Luffy looked down at his stomach as it started growling.
"Really?" Past Zoro asked.
"I can't help it," Luffy said. "I didn't get to eat that much."
"Are you serious?" Past Usopp asked. "You ate your food, my food, and everyone else's!"
"Captain?" Past Robin asked. "If you're looking for something to eat, why don't you go down and get some food?"
"But Robin, won't we have to pay?" Past Chopper inquired.
"Not really," Past Robin answered. "The food here is free. You can eat as much as you want."
"FREE?!" Luffy and Past Chopper repeated, excitedly.
"In that case, what are we waiting for?!" Past Usopp asked, and soon, all three of them bolted to the bottom floor to get as much food as they. Past Zoro begrudgingly followed, just to keep an eye on them. It wasn't very long before mountains of plates were practically stacked up on the table where they were sitting.
"I wouldn't be surprised if Luffy ate the entire food stock out of that place," Sanji quipped.
"Big Brother sure was hungry," Aika added. "Shishishi!"
"It's a good thing that food was free," Nami said, "or else I would've busted a blood vessel in my brain."
"Mmm...man, this stuff is so good!" Luffy exclaimed.
"Yeah, I guess," Past Zoro replied, "but I thought that you were full, earlier."
"No," Luffy answered as he took a bite of some chicken, "that was really just 60%."
"If you say so," Past Zoro answered.
"The race starts tomorrow, doesn't it?" Luffy asked as he downed a tankard of some drink. "I gotta get myself charged up for it!"
"Yeah, gotta!" Past Chopper parroted while stuffing his mouth with potatoes.
"You don't have to repeat after him, you know," Past Usopp said.
"Eh?! I don't?!" Past Chopper asked.
"Mm-hmm," Past Usopp nodded.
"It seemed like all I did back then was copy Luffy or Usopp, huh?" Chopper asked.
"Eh, you couldn't help it," Usopp shrugged. "After all, we were like your idols, right?"
"Little brothers always tend to copy the people they look up to," Blizzard said as he gently pet Chopper on the head. "It's absolutely natural...as long as you don't do anything stupid like they do."
"Are you implying that I do something stupid?" Usopp asked.
"Actually, Usopp," Nami began, "between you and Luffy, you always do something stupid."
Everyone laughed at that while Usopp grumbled under his breath.
As the memory continued, Luffy, in his usual greed, grabbed any and all food that was being carried by the waiters and gobbling it all up as much as he could, ranging from bread to hot dogs to sandwiches. While Past Zoro was musing about how the Straw Hat Captain's stomach seemed to be bottomless, he suddenly tensed before he stood up from his chair.
"Huh?" Luffy muttered, his cheeks stuffed to bursting. "What's up, Zo- OOF!"
Before Luffy knew it, he was suddenly slammed face-first into the table by a man wearing a yellow sweatshirt, black pants, and matching boots. He had pale rose-colored hair and what looked like a hook tattoo across his face...and for some reason, he looked absolutely pissed.
"...Mommy...!" Aika squeaked as she hid behind Robin.
"Who's that guy?!" Kumi asked as she hid underneath Blizzard.
"Ah, yes..." Robin realized. "Shuraiya Bascúd. A famous bounty hunter."
"He got some kinda bone to pick with Luffy?" asked Franky.
"Well...somewhat," Zoro answered.
"...What the hell did you do that for?" asked Past Zoro as he glared at Shuraiya while Past Usopp and Past Chopper were both sweating bullets, the latter still holding his fork and knife in his hooves.
"What was it for?" asked Shuraiya. "What was it for?! What was it for, he says...THAT'S WHAT I WANNA KNOW!"
"I don't know what the hell you're talking about!" Past Zoro shouted.
"Shut it!" Shuraiya yelled while pointing accusingly at Luffy. "He kept stealing all my food with his arms stretching like that! Just because his arms can stretch it doesn't mean that...wait...his arms can...?" He then gawked at Luffy, who was still lying on the table. "Wait, his arms can stretch?!"
"A little slow there, pal," Past Usopp and Past Chopper said.
"He acts like he's never seen a Devil Fruit user before," Brook added.
"You'd think that someone like that would see Devil Fruit users more often, right?" Nami asked.
Just then, Luffy stood up, wiping some food off his chin...and he did not look pleased.
"Okay," he said. "You know what I'm probably gonna do, right?"
"...You wouldn't happen to be a Devil Fruit user, would you?" asked Shuraiya.
"Yeah, what about it?" Luffy asked.
"Hey, hey!"
The others looked up and saw several other pirates standing up, led by a man with a lanky form and short, pink hair.
"Hey, hey, you bastards!" he called while he held a cutlass against his shoulder.
"Don't get cocky, just because no one's been saying anything about you stealing all the food!" added one of his crewmates.
"Who are they?" Franky asked.
"The Gasparde Pirates," Robin answered, grimly.
"The Gasparde Pirates?" Aika repeated.
"Ah, yes, I've heard of them," Brook added. "Gasparde was once a Marine, but then he defected and became a pirate."
"Wait, that can happen?!" Aika asked.
"That's right," Nami replied.
"Did you really think you can piss us off and get away with it?!" asked the pink-haired pirate while Shuraiya pulled his napkin off from around his neck and approached the menacing crew. "Heheheh...we'll kill you before the race starts, tomorrow!"
"What's he doing?" Franky asked.
"You'll see," Zoro answered as Shuraiya confronted the pirates, who mocked him, thinking he was attempting to apologize. Luffy, on the other hand, was trying to get Shuraiya to notice him, claiming that they were about to start fighting first. However, one of the pirates shot him in the chest, causing him to stumble back. The Straw Hats weren't worried, though, since they knew that Luffy's powers would cause the bullet to bounce back...but it still gave the other patrons in the bar quite a shock when they saw his skin stretch out behind him.
"Hey, what was that for?!" Luffy questioned. "You startled me!"
"A-actually, I was going for more than a startle," said the pirate that shot him.
"What the hell are you, anyway?!" questioned another pirate who was wielding an ax.
"Who, me?" Luffy asked as he picked his hat up from off the floor. "I'm a guy who at the Gum-Gum Fruit." He then placed his hat on his head. "I'm a rubber-man!"
Soon, with a single Gum-Gum Pistol sending several pirates flying into a wall, the barroom brawl began. While Luffy dealt with several of the Gasparde Pirates, Shuraiya was busy dealing with his own horde of enemies. It seemed that the bounty hunter was able to hold his own quite well without the use of a weapon. He was quite the adaptable fighter, able to use his surroundings to his advantage, such as using a table to block gunshots. Franky, Blizzard, and Brook had to admit that they were rather impressed by his skills. Even Zoro was rather impressed.
Speaking of Zoro, his past self also got into the brawl, using his swords to block several pirates' blades at once while Past Usopp and Past Chopper hid behind him.
"Is hiding seriously all that you do?" asked Zoro.
"Oh, come on, man, you know that we don't!" Usopp argued.
"It was still scary, though!" Chopper added.
Eventually, the fight led to Luffy and Shuraiya hanging onto a turning chain that led all the way up to the ceiling. As they climbed the chain, Past Nami noticed Luffy hanging onto one of the links while Past Robin and Past Sanji sat at the table with cups of coffee.
"Luffy, what are you doing up there?!" the navigator asked.
"It's nothing," Luffy answered. "Just a fight."
"Ah, I see," Past Nami added. "Just try not to get lost, okay?"
"Sure thing!" Luffy replied.
Nami had to laugh to herself. She sounded like a girlfriend who was a little worried but not very surprised that her boyfriend got into a bar fight. She wasn't even aware of his feelings for her back then. It was actually a little cute.
Soon, Shuraiya, Luffy, and the Gasparde Pirates found themselves standing inside the large boat that was hanging from the ceiling, but now they had nowhere to go. Shuraiya warned the pirates about cutting the ropes, but they seemed so caught up in their bloodlust that they didn't seem to care. Shuraiya, with a shrug, used one of the boat's oars to knock them all off...save for one: the pink-haired pirate, who had ducked down at the last second.
"Hey," said Shuraiya. "You still up for this?"
"Wow!" Luffy exclaimed as he sat on the port side of the boat. "That was great!"
"Who?" Shuraiya asked. "You talkin' about me?"
"Yeah!" Luffy answered. "You were so light on your feet! I had fun just watching you!"
"Well, it was my pleasure," Shuraiya smirked. "I gotta be honest: I didn't expect a man with 30 million Berries on his head to show up here."
"It was kinda fun watching," Aika said.
"That guy's got moves, I'll give him that," Franky smirked.
"I honestly felt bad," Zoro said. "I never got the chance to fight him, myself."
"What's your name, dude?" Luffy asked with a cocky grin.
"Who, me?" asked Shuraiya. "My name is-"
"Hey, hey, hey, hey!" the pirate shouted as he stood up. "You think you can just begin idle chitchat and ignore me?!"
"Oh, you still wanna fight?" Luffy asked.
"Damn right I do!" the pirate shouted as he pointed his cutlass at Luffy. "You think you're all high and mighty, just because you have 30 million on your head?! Well, I got news for you! Our boss is a real big shot! He has a bounty of 95 million Berries on his head!"
Nobody missed the smirk that Shuraiya made at that declaration.
"Wow!" Luffy exclaimed. "That's even more than Crocodile's bounty!"
"You think that the crew of a pirate as big as our captain's is just gonna sit by and do nothing after someone pisses us off?!" asked the pirate.
"Sometimes, they don't!" Luffy laughed.
Naturally, the pirate took offense to that and attempted to cut Luffy down, but Luffy ended up ducking out of the way...and the pirate ended up slicing through the ropes that held the boat suspended.
"Whoops," Blizzard muttered.
"Ugh..." Nami groaned as she squeezed the bridge of her nose. "Really, Luffy?"
"Talk about 'devil-may-care', am I right?" Usopp asked.
Soon, Shuraiya jumped off the boat as it tipped over, leaving Luffy and the random to fall off. Luckily, Luffy wasn't just about to let himself fall to his doom. Thinking quickly, he managed to stretch his arm and grab onto the railing before pulling himself up. To no one's surprise, he also saved the pirate that was attempting to cut him down.
After all, Luffy wasn't some bastard.
Soon, Luffy landed on solid ground, right in front of Shuraiya and an open bar.
"You grabbed that guy, too?" Shuraiya asked as he glanced at the pirate that Luffy had saved.
"Yeah, I just felt like it," Luffy said.
"You're a strange one," Shuraiya said. "Well, in any case, shall we get back to the matter at hand?"
"Oh, that's right," Luffy said as he dusted off his pants, then took on a fighting stance. "So, shall we?"
"Fine by me," Shuraiya answered, "but that guy doesn't seem to be finished yet."
"Huh?" Luffy muttered before he turned around and saw the same pirate, who growled as he stood up and glared at him. "Oh, come on, man..."
"Shut up, you obnoxious pests..."
The Straw Hats gasped quietly as they saw someone sitting inside one of the chambers. Beside him was a man with a shaved head, pale skin, and a darkened look in his eyes...and all around them were many pirates, beaten and battered.
The man responsible...was an imposing figure with long, dirty blonde hair, his abdominal muscles in plain view as he left his coat open: a Marine coat, to be more precise...but the Marine insignia had been crossed out by two large red cutlasses that formed an X shape.
"...Who's that guy?" Aika asked, worriedly.
"General Gasparde..." Robin answered, grimly.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Next time on One Piece: The Fire Within!
Gasparde: How about you guys join me?
Luffy: No way!
Aika: That guy's scary...
Nami: I don't blame you, Aika.
*Sometime later*
Chopper: The race is about to start!
Kumi: Oh, this is so exciting!
Blizzard: Hey...who's that kid?
Sanji: Oh, yeah...Anaguma.
Next time: Because You Live
Yeah, I know, I took a long time with this one again. I'm actually gonna be splitting this movie and Movie 5 into parts. That way it's easier on me. Movie 6, though, will be one big chapter, I hope.
Review, please!