Ch. 53- Luffy vs. Gasparde
One Piece © Oda
Blizzard, Monkey D. Aika, Kumi, Kovar, and Monkey D. Star © Me
Shade © Gakuto1991
"You know," Usopp began, "I gotta hand it to Luffy. He sure knows what to say, sometimes."
"Yeah...can't count how many times he's encouraged us with his words," said Nami.
"Big Brother really can be wise, huh?" asked Aika.
"Yeah, even Luffy's not a complete idiot," said Sanji. "He can actually be really understanding. He sees what that kid's been through because it reminds him of what he's gone through when he was a kid."
"I guess in a way," Robin began, "that's Luffy's way of comforting someone, isn't it?"
"I guess so," Kumi shrugged...but then, all of a sudden, the memory practically shook as there was a loud explosion followed by the sound of sirens blaring, causing the Straw Hats to look up and see that they were sailing toward what appeared to be a Marine base...an all-too-familiar one. They could see several shipwrecks in the water, indicating that many pirates had already been sunk.
"Oh, right...I remember this place," said Usopp with dread. "We actually ended up coming back here."
"What's going on?!" Aika asked.
"Is that a Marine stronghold?!" Franky questioned. "Why were you guys going there?!"
"That's Navarone, otherwise known as Marine Base G-8," said Nami. "It was all a part of Gasparde's trap!"
"His trap?" Brook repeated.
"Hey...what's going on here?!" asked Past Nami as she stood at the fore deck with the others. "Isn't that a Marine stronghold?!"
"Nami, what do you think this means?" asked Past Sanji.
"I don't know," Past Nami answered as she looked at the Eternal Pose. "I mean...the needle is definitely pointing forward!"
"Say," Past Robin spoke up. "Suppose that Eternal Pose might be a fake..."
Past Nami and Past Sanji both gasped before they looked down at the Eternal Pose's nameplate, which Past Sanji pried off using a knife before it fell off, revealing the real name underneath: Navarone.
"Dammit, I knew something was fishy!" Past Sanji cursed.
"It was Gasparde's doing," Past Luffy suddenly spoke, causing the others to look at him.
"Luffy?" asked Past Usopp.
"There's not a doubt in my mind," Past Luffy replied. "Only he could have done something like this."
"What?" asked Past Nami. "But you don't know that!"
"I'm certain of it," Past Luffy answered.
"Actually, I think he's right," said Adelle as she came up to the fore, a bitter, defeated look in her eyes. "When we were sailing...I saw a huge stockpile of Eternal Poses in the cargo hold on the Salamander. I think that might be one of them."
"So it really was Gasparde's doing?" Aika asked.
"That's right," said Nami. "Gasparde played us for fools. He was determined to win the race, no matter what, so he duped us and used fake Eternal Poses so that everyone else would either get killed or arrested by the Marines and he could win the race, no problem!"
"Why, that dirty cheater!" Franky barked.
"That's what we said," said Zoro.
"Pirates stabbing pirates in the back, eh?" questioned Past Zoro. "Some 'general' he is."
"What a shitty bastard," Past Sanji cursed.
"What should we do?" asked Past Usopp. "Go after him?"
"How?" asked Past Nami. "We don't have a real Eternal Pose!"
"She's right!" Adelle shouted. "It's too late! It's all too late, now!" She then lowered her head, her body trembling. "And...and now...Grandpa's gonna...!"
"Your...grandfather?" Past Nami repeated.
"He's not related to me," Adelle replied. "He saved my life, once...but he's really sick...and those damn pirates say that he's not their comrade, so they won't help him! That's...that's why I snuck on board your ship!"
"...You were gonna use the money to buy medicine," Past Nami said, almost sadly. "Now it makes sense."
"Wow...poor Adelle," said Aika, sympathizing with the disguised girl.
"I feel for her," Chopper agreed.
"...Man, you're a moron," said Past Luffy, causing Adelle to look up at him.
"Luffy!" Past Nami chided. "How could you say that?!"
"The old man didn't save your life, just so you could go around doing stuff like that," Past Luffy said.
"I...I know that!" Adelle snapped.
"If you know that, then keep living!" Past Luffy argued. "If your resolve really is that strong, then go and rescue him from that ship! Otherwise, if you're not gonna do anything about it, then you don't have the right to talk about risking your life!"
"...Luffy..." Past Nami whispered.
"That sounds like what he said to Sanji," said Aika.
"He's right, though," Sanji replied. "You can't go talking about risking your life, and then not do anything about it. That's the same as being a coward."
"Someone like you," Adelle began while tears fell from her eyes, "doesn't need to tell me that!"
"Well, that's good, then," said Past Luffy as he turned to face Adelle with that same cocky grin. "I'm about to go and kick Gasparde's ass...you coming with?"
"Of course, I am!" Adelle shouted. "I definitely am!"
"Good!" Past Luffy nodded while the Past Straw Hats grinned, as well.
"Well, there's no way I'm letting that 300 million Berry prize get away," said Past Nami, although the sound in her voice made it sound like it was for a different reason than the money. "We will need a real Eternal Pose, though."
"Uh..." Past Usopp muttered, nervously. "It sounds to me like you're actually going to fight Gasparde..." He was soon interrupted by the sound of a cannon blast. "Oh, crap, they're shooting at us!"
"Gum-Gum...BALLOON!" Past Luffy shouted as he inflated his stomach, causing the cannonball to get bounced back. "All right, then, guys! Let's go!"
"Right!" the Past Straw Hats agreed.
"But, wait!" Past Usopp cried. "How are we supposed to find them?!"
"With Chopper's nose!" answered Past Luffy.
"Ah, I see," Past Sanji mused.
"That can't possibly work..." Past Usopp muttered.
"Don't worry about it," said Past Nami. "Just leave the rest to me, the navigator!"
"Are things always so lively on this ship?" asked Past Robin.
"Oh, yeah," Past Zoro answered. "Pretty much every day."
Soon, the memory faded to black, once again.
"Were you seriously doubting my nose?" asked Chopper as he glared at Usopp.
"Yeah, sometimes even Chopper's nose works better than mine," said Blizzard.
"Well...I...err..." Usopp stammered.
"You know," Robin began, "I can't help but wonder...does Luffy take his own advice to heart, now?"
"Huh?" Nami asked. "What do you mean, Robin?"
"...It's nothing," Robin replied. "Probably something silly...I think."
Zoro couldn't help but notice the slight tinge of doubt in Robin's voice. Truthfully, he was starting to wonder the same thing. He knew that Luffy tended to be reckless...but ever since the crew came back together after those two years spent training, the swordsman couldn't help but notice that Luffy seemed to be a bit more reckless than normal, especially when the crew was in battle with a major rival. There were some pretty close calls, what with Hody Jones on Fishman Island, Doflamingo on Dressrosa, and others. Of course, he managed to bounce back and he always seemed fine after that...but...
Could it be that Luffy had unknowingly developed a suicidal tendency?
Perhaps it was best not to think about it...at least not until they got the real Luffy out of this mess.
Soon, the memory shifted...showing Past Luffy standing on board the partially destroyed deck of the Salamander. It was raining hard and there was wind all around. The sky was dark with storm clouds. Both masts had been broken and so one of the paddle wheels. Before Gasparde...laid the battered, bruised body of Shuraiya.
"Oh, no!" Aika cried. "What happened to him?!"
"Obviously, Gasparde beat him up," said Zoro. "Poor fool."
"Why was he trying to fight Gasparde, anyway?" asked Blizzard. "Judging by the look of him, it looked like Gasparde overpowered him easily...and what happened to that bodyguard of his? The creepy man with the claws?"
"We don't know," Sanji answered, "but...about why Shuraiya tried to fight Gasparde...actually, you'll see in a while."
"I'm surprised you made it this far," said Gasparde. "I guess that 30-million Berry of yours isn't just for show, after all."
Past Luffy only turned and glared at Gasparde, who only glowered down at him.
"What is it?" the General asked. "You wanna end up like this punk here?"
At that moment, Past Luffy seemed to finally notice Shuraiya.
"Huh?" he asked. "What's he doing here?"
"This is what happens to those who try and come after me," said Gasparde. "Though I will admit, he did put on a good show."
Past Luffy only glared at Gasparde before he turned to face him completely.
"What is it?" asked Gasparde. "You look like you have something on your mind-"
"Why'd you do it?" Past Luffy interrupted.
"Huh?" Gasparde muttered. "Oh...you're talking about the stronghold, right? Anything goes in this race, remember? I don't have time to listen to someone complaining."
"You're a strong guy, aren't you?" Past Luffy asked. "You didn't have to go and take everyone out of the race, did you?"
"That's right, you cheater!" Brook shouted.
"It doesn't matter," said Gasparde. "This is all just a game."
"A game?" Past Luffy repeated.
"That's right, a game," Gasparde confirmed. "If I didn't have a way to entertain myself, this boring shit of a sea would be unbearable. You're all nothing but a lousy bunch of pirates with pointless dreams. Buried treasure? Untold adventures? What kind of bullshit is that?!"
"Hey! Our dreams are not-" Aika started.
"Don't even think about repeating that, young lady!" Nami shouted.
"Should we just cover Aika's ears for most of these memories?" asked Usopp. "Seriously."
"All you really need in this world is power," said Gasparde. "With power, you can have everything you want...and anyone pathetic enough not to understand deserves to be crushed by me."
As the Straw Hats listened to the former Marine, they couldn't help but be disgusted by what he said. He sounded no different from Crocodile and all those other jerks they ever came across: pirates who believed that dreams were meaningless and that power is the one way to get by in life. It was absolutely sickening to listen to and quite frankly, they heard more than their fair share of it throughout their voyage.
"And by tripling the prize money," said Gasparde with a smug grin, "we ended up getting some rather interesting participants...and anyone who had survived, I'd reward them by having them join me."
"Ugh..." Nami grimaced. "I'd die before I joined someone like him."
"Same," Zoro agreed.
"Me, too," said Blizzard.
"It's that kind of a game," said Gasparde. "All just to cure my boredom."
"I get it now," said Past Sanji as he came aboard the ship with Past Zoro, who was carrying Adelle under his armpit. "You're that bookie's accomplice, aren't you? I bet he's probably left the island by now...with the prize money to boot."
"Well...I wouldn't know if he's still alive, though," Gasparde replied, to Past Sanji's confusion. "His Eternal Pose...was also a fake." He then let out a typical evil cackle.
"I get it," Franky said. "He set up the bookie, too, didn't he?"
"Yep," Sanji answered. "That's how it is in the world of cutthroats."
"He really is evil," Kumi said as she stood beside Chopper.
"Yeah, he sure is," Chopper agreed.
"Grandpa!" cried Adelle as she ran to the side of an old man that was wearing some ragged clothing. In fact, the old man looked rather poorly at that.
"Anaguma!" the old man shouted as he took the disguised girl in his arms and hugged her tightly. "Thank god...I'm so glad you're safe...you little idiot...!"
"Is that Adelle's grandpa?" asked Aika.
"Not her real one," Robin began, "but yes, that was the old man who had been taking care of her."
"Adelle asked us to save him," Zoro answered, "but...it looked like the oldtimer had other plans."
"Huh?" Aika muttered. "What are you talking about, Zoro?"
"Well...you see..." Zoro started. "The old man planned to blow up the ship along with himself...and kill Gasparde in the process."
"What?!" Aika questioned.
"Why would he do something like that?!" Franky asked. "I know old men can be pretty crazy sometimes, but I didn't think he'd be that nuts!"
"He planned to sacrifice himself while Adelle escaped with us," said Sanji. "At least, that's what he said."
"So...the old man is...?!" Aika whispered.
"Just watch and see, honey," said Robin. "You'll see it's not as bad as you might think."
"Hey, Luffy!" Past Zoro called as he walked away with Adelle under his arm, again. "We're done here!"
"Fine," Past Luffy answered as he momentarily glanced back at the swordsman.
"What, you're going back, already?" asked Gasparde, who still had that same wicked grin. "But you went through all this trouble of tracking me down. Why not stay and play a bit?"
"He sounds like a bratty little kid who wants a new toy," said Usopp in disdain.
"Yeah, he sure does," Nami agreed.
"Shut up and let's fight, already," said Past Luffy, causing Gasparde to scowl at him. "What have you been gabbing on about, anyway? Are you stupid or something? I'm not here to play your stupid games...and I don't give a damn about all your bragging. I'm here for one thing and one thing only...and that's to kick your ass."
Hearing that caused the veins to pop up on Gasparde's forehead.
"I thought I told you," he growled. "Watch your mouth, or you're gonna end up dead!"
Just then, Shuraiya suddenly staggered to his feet.
"Hold on," he said, weakly. "Stay out of this...Gasparde is mine to kill." He then gave the General a grin. "Come on...let's get on with the show."
"Forget it," said Gasparde. "I don't play with broken toys."
"FUCK YOU, YOU BASTARD!" Shuraiya yelled. "For eight years...eight long years, I've thought of nothing but my revenge against you! My sister...my parents...my friends...you killed every last one of them! I know that I'm being an idiot a hundred times over...but I've lived my entire life bathed in the blood of my enemies! I can't turn back now! I refuse to let you go...not until we've finished this, once and for all...my dear General."
Past Luffy only stared at Shuraiya in stunned silence.
'This guy...he's trying to get himself killed, too...I can't let him do that.'
The Straw Hats all gasped silently as they watched the memory.
"Hmph!" Gasparde scoffed. "That's the very picture of stupidity."
"Call it what you will...but I won't quit," Shuraiya said as he accidentally stumbled into Past Luffy. "Oh...sorry about that."
"...I'm sorry, too," Past Luffy replied.
"Huh?" Shuraiya asked. "For what?"
"For THIS!" Past Luffy yelled before he punched the bounty hunter in his face, sending him crashing through the wall...where he soon passed out.
"Stay outta my way!" Past Luffy shouted.
"What did he do that for?!" asked Chopper.
"Is he crazy?!" Usopp questioned.
"This was the only way he could stop him," said Zoro. "If Shuraiya kept trying to fight, he'd only get killed. As rough as it was, Luffy saved his ass."
"Just like with that Boodle guy," Aika noted.
"That's our Captain," said Sanji. "As unorthodox as ever."
As for Gasparde, he simply cackled again.
"You're right, he was in the way," he said. "That emotional sap. You, Straw Hat...you might have a smart mouth, but I like you!"
"...Don't make me repeat myself," Past Luffy said in an almost cold voice. "Shut your mouth and let's fight, already!"
Gasparde only growled, despite the grin on his face...but the Straw Hats could tell that that was more than enough to piss him off.
"That does it," he said. "I'm gonna beat that impudent mouth of yours from the inside out!"
With that said, he lunged for Past Luffy, who took a fighting stance, signaling the start of the brawl.
Gasparde took a swing at Past Luffy, who deftly evaded his fist before he gave a right hook. He grinned, thinking that he had managed to land the first hit...but then, he noticed that Gasparde was smirking, too. That's when the Straw Hats noticed that Past Luffy's fist was stuck in Gasparde's stomach...which had turned into some sort of green substance.
"W-what's going on?!" Aika asked.
"Gasparde ate a Devil Fruit," said Sanji. "The Candy-Candy Fruit. It causes Gasparde's body to turn into candy syrup. Anything that hits Gasparde's body ends up sticking to him like glue."
"Ugh...that's gross!" Franky grimaced, and Past Luffy soon expressed the same sentiment as he tried to pull his fist out of Gasparde's body, but it was in too deep for him to get free. Meanwhile, a gloating Gasparde explained his Devil Fruit power to the rubber-man.
"No matter how strong your punches are," Gasparde said, "they don't mean a thing against me." He then gave a malevolent grin. "And now...it's showtime." On that, he proceeded to punch Past Luffy across the face, causing his hat to go flying off his head. The memory blurred for a just a moment, showing that he had temporarily lost his senses...and as if that wasn't bad enough, Gasparde started to mercilessly pummel on him, causing Aika to wince as she covered her eyes while Chopper bit his lip at the sight of his captain's blood splattering in different directions. The Straw Hats weren't too far off, themselves, wincing and flinching at every hit that had landed.
It was moments like this that they were glad that Luffy developed Armaments' Haki later on.
"Oh, man, he's getting creamed!" Blizzard exclaimed.
"You're tellin' me," Sanji said.
"Ugh...this is so painful to watch," Nami added while she hugged herself.
"Tell me about it," Usopp agreed with a noticeable grimace. "I feel those punches, and I'm not even Luffy!"
"Ooh!" Franky cried as he saw another hit land. "Oh, right in the jaw!"
"Someone do something!" Brook exclaimed.
"Oh, don't worry," said Sanji. "I actually had a plan."
At that moment, Past Luffy had finally dropped to his knees.
"Oh, that's not good," Franky muttered in dread.
"Wait," said Zoro. "Just give it a second."
"What's the matter?" asked Gasparde while he glowered down at Luffy. "You've had enough, already?" He grabbed Past Luffy by his head and lifted him up. "Well, I haven't had my fill, just yet...you had better let me enjoy this fight, boy, or-"
He soon got his answer when Past Luffy threw his other fist into his stomach, even though it ended up getting stuck in there, too.
"I guess you are, then!" Gasparde grinned.
"Why did Luffy do that?!" Kumi asked. "Now his other hand is stuck!"
"I think he's trying to show Gasparde that he's not ready to give up, just yet," said Blizzard, and that's when Past Luffy stretched his head all the way back (and accidentally startling Past Sanji in the process).
"GUM-GUUUUUUUUUM...BELL~!"
He soon smashed his head against Gasparde's body, causing his arms to get free as his body was splattered, and while the General was trying to go into a little boast, saying that it was useless to do anything, Past Luffy kept using his attacks and even attempted to eat him, just like he did in his first fight with Crocodile. It was at that moment, though, that Gasparde had had enough and he came jumping out of Past Luffy's mouth.
"Stop screwing around and get serious, boy!" he shouted. "Don't you understand the situation you're in!"
"I am serious!" Past Luffy retorted.
"Are you, really?!" Gasparde questioned.
"I got myself free, didn't I?!" Past Luffy asked.
"Sometimes, I still wonder if he takes these fights seriously," Nami said, worriedly.
"Uh...Big Brother's hat..." Aika muttered as she glanced at the precious headwear that was now lying beside Gasparde.
"You impudent brat!" Gasparde spat before he glanced to his left, where Luffy's hat was...and that's when the Straw Hats could have sworn that they saw this glint in his eye as a smirk appeared on his face.
"...Uh-oh..." Usopp murmured, dreadfully.
"I don't like the looks of this...!" Chopper squeaked.
"You sure about this?" asked Gasparde as he looked to Past Luffy, again. "Leaving your precious treasure lying around like this?"
Past Luffy's eyes went wide while Aika gripped at the rims of Luffy's hat and pulled it against her head, almost as if she was bracing herself for something.
"You sure got mad when Needles was about to step on it," Gasparde said. "It's the precious hat that Red-Haired Shanks gave to you, isn't it?!" He soon turned his left hand into a spike made of candy.
"...Oh, dear..." Robin whispered.
"He didn't give it to me!" Past Luffy shouted. "I'm just holding onto it for him! Don't you touch it!"
"If it that's important to you," Gasparde began while he pointed his spiked arm at the hat, "then you should protect it better!"
"DON'T YOU DARE!" Past Luffy barked. "IF YOU PUT EVEN ONE SCRATCH ON IT, I'LL KICK YOUR ASS!"
"Just screaming...WON'T PROTECT ANYTHING!" Gasparde shouted...before he stabbed the precious straw hat, causing Aika and Past Luffy to gasp in horror, the former gripping her brother's hat tightly in her hands. As for the Straw Hats, they all grimaced, knowing just how angry their captain could get when his precious treasure was harmed...but they were also worried because they knew that Luffy when got angry...he got reckless.
"YOU BASTARD!" Past Luffy yelled while Gasparde cackled.
"There! Maybe now, you'll fight a little more seriously!" he declared.
"That sonuvabitch," Franky sneered. "All for his stupid little entertainment!"
"Jerks like him actually give bad guys a bad name," Nami added...but then, to everyone's surprise, Past Luffy ran up and actually grazed Gasparde's right cheek!
"Whoa! How'd that happen?!" Usopp questioned. "Luffy didn't have Haki back then, yet!"
"Probably because Gasparde got a little too cocky," Zoro replied. "Thing about Logia-types...sometimes, they get a little overconfident."
"Tell me about it," Sanji concurred.
As Gasparde stumbled, his cheek bloodied from the punch, Past Luffy stood up as the rain poured down on him, the thunder rumbling in the clouds as if to emphasize his anger.
"Gimme my hat back!" he demanded.
"That's a serious look you have, there," Gasparde mused. "Fine, then...CATCH!" He then threw Past Luffy's hat down, the spike ripping a huge tear in it, causing Past Luffy's eye to widen and quietly clench his fist while Aika tightly hugged the straw hat to her chest.
"Oh, dear...that's not good...!" Brook muttered.
"Uh...hey, is it me?" asked Franky as he looked up at the darkening clouds. "Or is the storm getting fiercer?"
"That's because a cyclone was coming," Nami answered, "and if Luffy didn't get out of there fast, he was gonna get swept away with it!"
As she said this, Past Luffy charged at Gasparde and attempted to hit him with a Gum-Gum Pistol, but the General grabbed his arm, swung him around like he was a ragdoll, then threw him across the deck, which was slippery due to all the rain. Past Luffy crashed into the wall behind him, but he didn't give up, just yet. He spat out some blood that had formed in his mouth before he charged at Gasparde once more, but he only ended up getting punched in the gut before he got socked in the face, sending him skidding across the deck, again!
"Sanji, you said had a plan, right?!" Aika asked.
"Yeah, why'd you take so long?!" Kumi questioned. "Luffy's getting pummeled out there!"
"I had a hard time finding what I needed!" Sanji answered. "And besides, I wasn't the only one with a plan! Remember the old man?"
As Past Luffy attempted to hit Gasparde once more, he only ended up getting sent flying, crashing into the Captain's Quarters. He groaned as he tried to pull himself out of the wreckage, blood and bruises all over his body.
"Ugh...bastard...!" he cursed.
"Pathetic fool," Gasparde said from behind him, causing Past Luffy to glance back. "Standing back up after taking all those punches." He then looked up at the storm clouds. "Oh, looks like the storm's getting worse. I think it's high time we finished this, don't you?"
"I told you that you'd be a dead man, didn't I?!" Past Luffy questioned before he stretched his arm at Gasparde, who simply moved his head out of the way...but he didn't see that Past Luffy's hand had grabbed onto the mizzenmast.
"Enough of your weak attacks, boy," said Gasparde. "Is that really all that you, a man worth 30 million Berries can offer? Well...I suppose against my bounty of 95 million, you didn't stand much of a chance, now did you? Don't worry...I'll be sure to make your deathless as quick and painless as possible." He then turned his hand into candy claws. "I'm really a kind man, aren't I?"
"Gum-Gum...FLOWER ARRANGEMENT!" Past Luffy shouted before he pulled on the mizzenmast, tearing it down and impaling Gasparde with it!
"He got him!" Chopper exclaimed.
"Wait, it's not over yet," said Sanji.
After Gasparde had been thrown down onto the deck, still impaled by the mast, Past Luffy leaped into the air and did a complete 180-flip.
"GUM-GUM SPEAR!"
Stretching his feet down, he slammed Gasparde right into the deck before he landed near Past Sanji, who ran up to him while carrying two large sacks in his hands.
"What are those?" Aika asked.
"Flour," Sanji replied.
"Flour?" Nami repeated. "What did you need those for?"
"You'll see," Sanji smirked.
"Hey, Luffy, you finished yet?!" Past Sanji asked as he approached him. "This ship is gonna sink at any minute, now. We gotta get the hell outta dodge!"
"Go back to the ship without me," Past Luffy answered. "I'm sorry...but this might take a little while longer."
"Well...that actually hurt..."
To the Straw Hats' shock, save for Zoro and Sanji, Gasparde was actually beginning to reform his body...with the mast still stuck in it!
"When my body isn't syrup, it turns normal," he said as he spat the mast out. "It's been quite a long time since I've felt pain."
"Well, that would have done more than just hurt..." Past Sanji muttered. "Well, guess it can't be helped, then. We'll get the ship outta here and then come back for you. You don't have a problem with it, do you?"
"Not one," Past Luffy answered.
"You're leaving him behind?!" asked Aika.
"Aika, as much as we hated to, we didn't have a choice!" Nami answered.
"But still!" Blizzard exclaimed.
"We couldn't wait for Luffy and get caught up in the cyclone," Zoro said. "Besides...he would have wanted us to escape without him. That's just how he is."
"Ugh...that doesn't mean I like it," Blizzard bemoaned.
"Before I go," Past Sanji began as he handed Past Luffy the sacks of flour, "here. Take these."
"W-what are these for?" Past Luffy asked.
"You can use them," answered Past Sanji. "Anyway, see ya!" With that, he ran off the ship.
"Hey, wait a minute!" Past Luffy called, but he was already gone.
Soon, it was just him and Gasparde. The two pirates stared each other down as the storm raged on around them, the cyclone drawing ever closer...but then, out of nowhere, KABOOM! The ship suddenly exploded!
"What the hell?!" Franky questioned.
"W-what the hell just happened?!" asked Blizzard in shock.
"The old man happened, that's what," Sanji replied. "Remember? I said that he blew up the ship."
"But...then...what happened to the old man?!" Aika asked.
"Just keep watching, honey," Robin assured. "Trust me, it's not as bad as it seems."
"GAH!" Past Luffy gasped as he emerged from the cloud of steam and smoke, and as he looked down, he saw that the ship was split in half. Now, he was practically staring down at the sea below. "Jeez, what the hell happened?! It just blew up all of a sudden! How come it did that?!" He then looked around. "And more importantly, where's that scumbag Gasparde?! Did he sink?"
"I'm up here, fool."
Past Luffy gasped before looked up and saw Gasparde standing on the railing, which was now upside-down.
"There you are!" Past Luffy shouted, only for Gasparde to turn both his hands into spears and attempt to stab him, but he missed, only hitting one of the sacks of flour, which created a large cloud of the white powder.
"I'll admit, you were a worthy advisory," said Gasparde. "I rather liked this ship."
Past Luffy only glared up at him while holding the other sack of flour.
"Looks like your underlings ran away without you," said Gasparde.
"They're not my underlings," Past Luffy replied. "Those guys are my friends...my family."
"Huh?" Gasparde muttered.
"I don't have any 'underlings' on my ship," Past Luffy said.
"Damn right, you don't!" Usopp shouted with a proud grin.
"You tell him, Luffy!" Chopper added.
"Hmph!" Gasparde harrumphed. "I was wondering what kind of bullshit you'd say. A pirate captain, making friends with his crew? What nonsense! Here on this sea, there are those who rule and those who are ruled over! Power is everything! That's why I left the Marines and became a pirate! I may despise this sea, but with power, I shall rule it all!" He then burst into laughter, again.
"Ugh...this spiel, again?" Nami groaned.
"I wish Luffy would just shut this jackass up, already," Franky said.
"Oh, don't worry," Zoro smirked. "He'll be doing that soon enough."
"I certainly hope so," Brook replied.
"...This is why I said that you're trash," Past Luffy spoke, causing Gasparde to glare at him. "You don't understand anything about being a real pirate. That's why you think you can just spout crap like that. Anybody who doesn't believe in his crew can't raise a Jolly Roger and call themselves a pirate! Whenever I meet someone like that, I kick their asses!" Soon after that, he grinned. "Just like I'm about to do you, right now."
Gasparde only snarled at Past Luffy while the Straw Hats smirked. They knew that people like Gasparde...people who spouted on about having power more than friends was what really got to their captain...and that's when they knew that Luffy was going to be the one to win this battle, shortly.
"How interesting," said Gasparde, trying to keep his calm demeanor. "You've certainly given me a lot of grief, boy. To repay your tenacity, I'll keep playing with you until the very end. Listen up. There are some lifeboats down below...and then there's that."
As he pointed to his right, Past Luffy followed his gaze, only to yelp in surprise as he saw the huge cyclone that was coming even closer!
"What the hell is that?!" Past Luffy questioned.
"Holy hell, that thing's close!" Franky shouted.
"Big Brother...!" Aika whimpered while Kumi gulped, nervously.
"Don't worry, Aika, he'll get outta there!" Nami answered. "Somehow..."
"In a storm like this," Gasparde grinned, "the boat will get trapped in that huge cyclone. It's the perfect setting for people like us...two men who have gained powers and have become Hammers of the sea. In other words...whoever wins this battle gets to live! Now...here I come!"
Soon, Gasparde threw his fist down at Past Luffy, who stretched his fist at him. Both attacks ended up striking each other, and Aika and Chopper both winced as they saw that Past Luffy had gotten impaled in his right side. It caused the Straw Hat Captain quite a deal of pain and he ended up coughing up a little blood. Meanwhile, Gasparde snickered while Past Luffy's fist was stuck in his chest.
"I got you, now," Gasparde said. "Just another example of your stupidity- UGH!" To his shock, however, Past Luffy managed to pull his fist out!
"Agh...ow...!" Past Luffy winced...but then he looked down at his hand and that's when he noticed it was covered in flour.
"Wait a minute..." Aika whispered before she gasped. "The flour! It made Gasparde not sticky, anymore!"
"Exactly," Sanji smirked. "Every Devil Fruit has a weakness, Aika. Even Logia-types aren't invincible."
"I guess you were useful for something, after all, cook," Zoro quipped, causing Sanji to glare at him.
"Don't even start with me, Moss-head," Sanji snarled.
As for Past Luffy, he smirked as he glared up at Gasparde before he held up the other sack of flour.
"Hey, Gasparde! CATCH!" he shouted before he threw the other sack at the General, the powder covering him from head-to-toe.
"UGH!" Gasparde cried. "W-what is this?! Is this...flour?!"
Then, WHABAM! Past Luffy's foot ended up kicking him in the side, sending him against the wall.
"If you're not able to keep up with me," Past Luffy said, "then here I come, Gasparde!" Soon, he charged at him with both fists reeled back. "GUM-GUM GATLING~!"
Without little mercy, he began to pummel Gasparde with a relentless flurry of fists.
"Yeah!" Aika cheered. "Get him, Big Brother!"
"All right, Luffy! Way to go!" Kumi exclaimed.
After Past Luffy gave one last punch to Gasparde's face, he grabbed him by the collar of his coat and pinned him against the wall.
"You're the one who's been playing at being a pirate, Gasparde!" Past Luffy shouted...even though blood was spilling from his open wound. "But this is where it really ends!" He then began to spin around, head-over-heels, winding his arms up as he did. "Now GUM-GUM...BOWGUN!"
He soon sent Gasparde flying into the air!
"Yes!" Usopp cheered.
"This is it!" Sanji exclaimed.
"I'm not done yet, Straw Hat!" Gasparde declared while holding onto the dragon figurehead. "This time...I'll pierce you right through!" Soon, he turned his whole body into candy spikes and began to descend!
"Uh-oh!" Chopper cried. "That's not good!"
"Watch out, Big Brother!" shouted Aika.
Past Luffy glared up at Gasparde, completely undeterred...then he stretched his arms far behind him.
"GUM-GUUUUUUUUUUUM..."
"You idiot!" Gasparde shouted. "Don't you see these spikes on me?!"
"...It's over..." Zoro whispered.
"BAZOOKAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
BAM! Past Luffy struck Gasparde with both barrels...even though his hands got impaled by the spikes. However, it was that one last push that sent Gasparde flying off the ship...and soon, he disappeared within the cyclone, never to be seen again.
"Haa...haa...!" Past Luffy panted. "Finally...I beat him..." He then gave a tired smile. "...Serves him right...bastard..."
Then...everything went black.
"Oh, no! What happened?!" Aika questioned in shock. "Is Big Brother okay?!"
"Relax, Aika," Chopper answered. "Luffy lost too much blood and passed out, that's all."
"But what about that cyclone?!" Franky questioned. "How'd he even get the hell outta here?!"
"Well...remember that old man?" asked Sanji. "The one who blew up the ship?"
"What about him?" Brook asked. "Didn't he die?!"
"Well...about that..." Sanji started, but then, the memory began to slowly fade into view...and the first thing that the Straw Hats saw was the blue sky and a flock of seagulls soaring overhead.
"...I'm...alive...?" Past Luffy asked.
"Well, welcome back to the world of the living, boy!"
Past Luffy groaned as he sat up and saw Shuraiya as well as Adelle's adopted grandfather.
"Wait...that's Adelle's grandpa, isn't it?" Aika asked.
"What happened?!" Franky asked. "I thought he blew up the ship!"
"Turns out the old man was going to watch until the end," Zoro pointed out. "Not die. He saved Luffy and the other guy at the last second."
"Huh?" Past Luffy asked. "Old man? And...you?"
"Hey," Shuraiya greeted. "You sleep well?"
"Ugh...I feel pretty sore," Past Luffy answered. "Where are we?"
"Luffy!"
Past Luffy gasped before he turned around and saw the Past Straw Hats waving to him while standing on the shore of a small island.
"There he is! He's okay!" Past Usopp exclaimed with tears in his eyes.
"Luffy, over here!" Past Chopper called while waving his arms.
"Oh, thank god!" Past Nami added, wearing her raincoat.
"See?" Past Zoro asked with a grin. "I told you he'd make it."
"Yeah, right! You were nervous, just like the rest of us!" Past Sanji spat.
"How lively," Past Robin mused.
"Guys!" Past Luffy called as he got up and ran to them. "You're okay!"
BONK! Past Nami bopped him on the head, causing him to yelp in pain.
"Ouch, Nami!" Past Luffy cried as he held the bump that formed on his crown. "What'd you do that for?!"
"What'd you think, idiot?!" Past Nami questioned. "You scared me half to death!"
Past Luffy blinked while he rubbed the bump on his head...but then, Past Nami wrapped her arms around him, tightly, causing the memory to turn pink as the Straw Hats heard the sound of their captain's heartbeat quickening.
"...You really had us worried, you know," Past Nami said. "Don't scare us like that, again."
"Nami..." Past Luffy whispered.
"Aww," Aika smiled. "You were about Big Brother, huh, Big Sis?"
"Of course, I was!" Nami answered. "I thought he was gonna get in that cyclone!"
"Did you have to him, though?" asked Zoro.
"Again...I was worried," Nami repeated. "Being worried kinda makes me lose rational thought."
"...Fine," said Zoro. "I guess you get a pass for that."
"Good to see you safe and sound, Captain," said Past Zoro as he put his hand on Past Luffy's shoulder.
"I wasn't worried, you know!" Past Usopp added. "I knew you'd be back, one way or another!"
"I was so scared!" Past Chopper bawled while he hugged Past Luffy, who laughed as he gently patted his head.
"Sorry I worried everybody," he said.
"Uh...hey, Luffy?" asked Past Sanji. "Where's your hat?"
"Huh?" Past Luffy muttered before he looked around...only to gasp in horror as he remembered the last place he saw it. "OH, NO! I LOST IT! I LOST MY HAT!"
"Oh, that's right!" Aika exclaimed. "How did Big Brother get his hat back?!"
The memory shifted, showing the Past Straw Hats sitting in the galley. The old man sat at the table with the crew. Shuraiya was leaning against the wall behind him...and Adelle was sitting facefirst toward the northern wall...and meanwhile, Past Luffy was sobbing his eyes out.
"Jeez, what's with the atmosphere?" asked Blizzard.
"Yeah, you could cut the tension with a knife," Kumi added.
"...Well, this is a bit of an awkward situation, wouldn't you say?" Past Usopp whispered.
"Of course, it is..." Past Nami whispered. "After all, they just found that they're brother and sister, and so suddenly, too."
"Wait...what?" asked Aika.
"Adelle is Shuraiya's younger sister," said Robin. "Eight years before this, Gasparde came to their hometown with his crew and...well...in the ensuing chaos, Adelle was separated from Shuraiya."
"Say what?!" Franky questioned.
"So then...all this time..." Brook whispered.
"Yeah," Nami said. "Shuraiya believed that Adelle was dead and he planned to take his revenge on Gasparde...and he was actually willing to kill himself along with him."
"What he didn't know was that the old man saved Adelle's life," said Sanji. "She was so traumatized, she forgot all about her brother."
"Wow...it almost sounds like Big Brother and me," Aika said. "I didn't know that I was related to him until later...but if they know, how come they're not hugging each other."
"Different people have different ways of coping with things such as these," Robin said. "Shuraiya and Adelle don't really know how to deal with this sudden revelation. All this time, Shuraiya that Adelle was dead and Adelle didn't think she had any other family. It's a bit of a shock."
"I guess if I were Shuraiya, I'd be shocked, myself," said Franky.
"My haaaaat...!" Past Luffy bawled, a literal waterfall of tears falling from his face and onto the floor.
"Come on, cheer up, Luffy," Past Sanji said. "I told you, we looked everywhere. I know how you feel...I'm sorry."
"My haaaaaaat...!" Past Luffy sobbed, again.
"Aww...poor Big Brother," Aika said, sadly.
"Oh, don't worry, this has a happy ending," Nami smiled, and as she said that, Shuraiya tossed something onto the table: Luffy's hat, which had a large tear down the middle, but otherwise intact.
"Here," he said.
"AAAAH! MY HAT!" Past Luffy cried, happily.
"You found it! Thanks!" Past Usopp said.
"You said it was important to you, right?" asked Shuraiya. "I found it lying at my feet, so I picked it up for you."
"Thank you!" Past Luffy sobbed. "You're a great guy, aren't you?! Nami, please fix it again!"
"I know, I know," Past Nami said. "Give it here."
The memory shifted, once more, this time showing the Going Merry sailing towards an island.
"I see an island up ahead!" Past Luffy exclaimed.
"That's the real goal island!" Past Nami answered, holding an Eternal Pose. "The needle from the Eternal Pose that the old man gave us is pointing right towards it..." She then grinned, along with Past Luffy and Past Chopper. "Which means...!"
"WE WIN THE RACE~!" the Past Straw Hats, except for Past Zoro and Past Robin, cheered loudly.
"Well, what a stroke of luck, eh?" Brook asked.
"Well...not quite, Brook," said Nami. "You see...it seemed that we had company."
"Hmm?" Brook hummed, inquisitively, but then, Past Luffy, Past Usopp, Past Chopper, and Past Nami let out horrified shrieks, and it didn't take long for them to see why: a fleet of Marine battleships had appeared!
"Oh, no, not the Marines, again!" Aika complained.
"And they were the same ones that were chasing us before the race," said Sanji. "Talk about persistent."
Soon, the Past Straw Hats were at the aft, where Shuraiya, Adelle, and the old man were seen standing in a small dinghy, which had been tied to the railing.
"What do you mean you have to leave?!" asked Adelle. "Just tell them that you saved us!"
"You know that they won't listen to us!" Past Usopp argued.
"We are pirates, after all," Past Nami pointed out. "In a situation such as this, we have to run away!"
"But...but...!" Adelle stammered.
"From now on, you're gonna live in a place where the sun will be able to reach you," said Past Nami. "You can't be seen with wanted criminals."
"...But...!" Adelle started as tears welled up in her eyes.
"So don't ever say that your life has no meaning, ever again, okay?" Past Nami asked before she walked away. "Well, see ya, Adelle!"
"You take care, you hear?" Past Usopp asked.
"Be sure to grow into a fine young lady," Past Sanji added.
"And to do that," Past Robin began, "maybe you should stop talking like a little boy."
"Work hard, kid," Past Zoro added.
"Take care of yourselves out there, okay?" Past Chopper asked while Adelle sniffled.
At that moment, Past Luffy and Shuraiya locked eyes with each other, and the former's smile fell for just a moment.
"...You think that you saved us?" asked Shuraiya. "Well...whatever." He then smirked at the Straw Hat Captain. "I don't ever wanna see that face of yours, again."
Past Luffy smiled while Adelle stared at her long-lost older brother in surprise.
"What'd he say that for, ingrate?!" Blizzard questioned.
"I think he was just trying to put up a front," said Nami.
"Of course," Robin said. "A bounty hunter, admitting he'd like a pirate? Not so professional, wouldn't you say?"
"Besides, Luffy didn't take it personally," said Zoro.
"...Get out of here...you damn pirate," said Shuraiya.
"Sure!" Past Luffy answered before he cut the dinghy loose from the railing, just as the Going Merry sailed away. "Bye! Take care of yourself!"
"Bye~!" Adelle called as she waved after him.
Soon, Past Luffy went to join the others...and he saw that Past Nami was strangling Past Zoro for some reason.
"That damned bookmaker, working with Gasparde!" Past Nami shouted. "I'll never forgive them for this! 300 million Berries, GONE!"
"At least you have your life...!" Past Zoro croaked.
"Was that necessary?!" Zoro questioned. "Why take it out on me?!"
"Sorry...!" Nami said, sheepishly.
"Ah, let it go, Nami," Past Luffy said, causing Past Nami to glare at him. "Don't sweat it! We still got a long journey ahead of us, so something's bound to turn up, eventually!"
"Luffy's right, Nami," said Past Sanji. "Besides, we should probably do something about those guys." He gestured to the pursuing Marines behind them.
"Ugh..." Past Nami groaned. "I'm tired of being a flat-broke pirate all the time. Why is everyone so happy?"
"Shishishi!" Past Luffy laughed, only for Past Nami to growl.
"Listen up!" she barked. "Hurry up and lose those Marines so we can get to the next island, already!"
"Of course, Nami, dear!" Past Sanji exclaimed.
"You heard the lady, you guys!" Past Luffy cheered. "Full speed ahead to becoming the King of the Pirates! Our next adventure awaits!"
"Yeah!" Past Zoro, Past Usopp, Past Sanji, and Past Chopper cheered, and Past Robin could only smile in amusement...and even Past Nami couldn't help but smile, a little, and the present-day Straw Hats smiled, as well as they watch their past counterparts sail onward.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Next time on One Piece: The Fire Within!
Past Nami: Luffy, what happened to you, this time?! Why are you all wet?!
Past Luffy: I was just trying to get my hat back.
Past Nami: *groans* Come here, Luffy.
*Sometime later*
Aika: EEEEH?! A GIANT SHIP IS FALLING FROM THE SKY!
Nami: Oh, yeah...I was starting to wonder when we'd ever get to this one.
Chopper: The Sky Island!
Aika: Huh? Sky Island?!
Next time: Adventures in Jaya
Hey, look, this one didn't take me two months, this time!
Review, please!