This is the 19th chapter. This story is where Ventus won't be in this chapter, he'll be on the island which it was Cocoyashi Village on the Conomi Island. I don't own the series of One Piece.
No flame reviews.
Protect the Baratie! 'Red Foot' Zeff
Somewhere in the ocean, Baratie
The atmosphere was intense since Don Krieg knew who Zeff really is and he even called him 'Red Foot' Zeff, a notorious pirate who was also a cook for his crew. The chefs were able to be alive since they've got shot from Don Krieg's arsenals in his wootz armor. Zeff then turned and walk away when the chefs look at their boss since they didn't want him feeding the food to the Krieg pirates and worried that the Krieg pirates would take over the sea restaurant.
"Wha-wha-wha-what are you doing? You can't be serious!?"
"If all those pirates get their strength back, the restaurant will be completely taking over!?"
"That will be true." Zeff said seriously. "If they still have the will to fight."
It got the chefs confused and shocked of what Zeff have meant about the will to fight as he spoke.
"Tell me, did your will survive defeat?" Zeff questions, turned his head to Don Krieg.
Don Krieg then gasped since Zeff knew that his crew were defeated which the chefs were shocked, realizing that the Krieg pirates were defeated for the first time.
"That...can't be."
"The great Don Krieg was defeated?"
The chefs look at Don Krieg when they heard that Krieg and his men couldn't make it to the Grand Line.
"Wha!? Not even he could do it!?" Carne exclaims. "A pirate with 50 ships couldn't make on the Grand Line."
Gin couldn't forget about the Grand Line which to him, it was one hell of a nightmare since he and the Krieg pirates have been into the Grand Line once, but lost most of his entire fleet.
"The Grand Line?" Luffy repeats, but Don Krieg was still looking at Zeff with his stunned expression on his face.
"It is you, isn't it?" Don Krieg questions. "Your 'Red Foot' Zeff."
That got the chefs shocked when they heard of his title Red Foot as Don Krieg then returned to his serious expression as he spoke.
"So, you are alive? The unrivaled pirate captain who was also the ship's cook." Don Krieg said.
"Yes, that's right I'm still alive." Zeff admits. "But what does any of this got to do with you? I haven't been a pirate for many now, I chose the life of a cook."
Then Don Krieg laughed for a few seconds as he spoke.
"Chose the life of a cook, huh? Yeah right." Don Krieg mocks. "You didn't have a choice old man. You live as a cook, because the only you can be now as a cook."
Don Krieg then turned into his expression since he's going tell them about Zeff's reputation as a pirate.
"He was known far and wide, 'Red Foot' Zeef was a master of deadly kicks, he never used his hands in battle." Don Krieg explains. "It was said that with his mighty legs, he could crush bedrock to sand and leaving footprints on solid steel. Red Foot referred to his boots which became soaked in the blood of his enemies as he kicked them down."
Don Krieg then look at Zeff's peg leg since he lost his leg long ago.
"You know, it really is a pity that you no longer have that precious leg of yours." Don Krieg said, smirked. "I heard that rumor some time ago, how unlucky for you to have such an accident at sea. Now that your greatest weapon has been sacrificed to the sea, you're defenseless, completely unable to fight."
"I don't need to fight anymore." Zeff told him. "I'm a cook and as long as I have two hands for that, I'll be just fine. But enough chit-chat, let's get to the point. What do you want from me?"
"'Red Foot' you're the man who sailed the perilous waters of the Grand Line and came back unscathed. Impressive." Don Krieg said with an impressed smirk, leaving the chefs stunned. "There should be a logbook detailing your tactics, a full-year of your journey there. Give it to me, now!"
Zeff then scoffed since Don Krieg wanted his logbook which he doesn't want to give up his logbook since it's his most valuable.
"Whoa, so is he saying you've been to the Grand Line too, pops?" Luffy asked with an amazed smile.
"Yeah." Zeff answered without looking at Luffy. "My logbook, huh? You're right, I do indeed have a record of my travels, but I would never hand it over to you."
That got Don Krieg mad since he didn't like the answer.
"You ignorant brute. That logbook is sacred to me, it's the pride of the crewman that I sailed with. It's far too important to give to you." Zeff told him.
"Alright, I'll take it." Don Krieg said, clenching his fist. "Yes, it's true that the Grand Line beat me. Still, I will never give up on it. I am Don Krieg! In the end it's just another ocean, I've had enough weapons, and men, and ambition. Regrettably, the only thing I lacked was information, I just didn't know enough, but now I'll fix all that. Once I have your logbook, I'll form another pirate fleet and seize the legendary One Piece. Then, I will stand as ruler of this Great Pirate Era."
After that statement, the atmosphere was starting to grew more intense since Don Krieg have told them of his ambition and become the ruler of the Great Pirate Era which made the chefs, except Zeff and Sanji, shocked. Luffy walk past Zeff while approaches him as he spoke.
"Now hold on." Luffy said, pointing his finger at him. "It's me who's going to be the King of the Pirates."
That got the chefs both shocked and confused, trying to find out if Luffy was either brave or reckless because of his statement.
"Wait! Don't be such an idiot! You better back off, chore boy!" Patty warned him.
"No way! Not from this!" Luffy refuse with a grin.
"Did you say something, kid?" Don Krieg questions with a scowl. "I won't allow that kind of stupidity again."
"Oh yeah? Well stupid or not, I'm just stating the facts as they are." Luffy retorts.
"This isn't a game." Don Krieg told him furiously.
"Yeah, I know. I'm still going to conquer the Grand Line." Luffy said, leaving Don Krieg angry.
"No You Won't!" Don Krieg yelled. "It's True That We Didn't Have The Information We've Needed, But My Fleet Of 5000 Men Was Wiped Out In Seven Days, You Brat!? That Sea Is Hell!?"
"What? One week?" Patty questions with confusion and shock.
"Don Krieg's ships were wiped out in seven days?" Carne added with confusion.
The chefs were also confused of Don Krieg's entire fleet were wiped out in seven days, wondering what have happen back in the Grand Line.
"Unfortunately, I don't find your smartass remarks very amusing. If you insist on this foolish behavior, I'll crush you right here and right now." Don Krieg threatened him with a snarl.
"Go ahead if you can." Luffy dared him, raise his fist.
"I can and I will!?" Don Krieg growled. "It would be my pleasure to send you to an early grave, you cocky runt!"
Don Krieg then draws out his weapons on his shoulder pauldrons and prepare to kill Luffy, causing the chefs to take a step back with fear. However, what stopped him was when he saw Zeff. If he kill the head chef, he won't be able to know where the logbook was hiding which he has to do the old-fashioned way, but both Zoro and Usopp were seen at the stairs.
"What's going on, Luffy? You need a hand?" Zoro rhetorically asks with a smirk.
"If you don't need help, it's okay too." Usopp said, shaking his knees when the chefs, Luffy, and Don Krieg looked at them.
"Oh hey guys. I appreciate the offer, but I think I can handle this clown." Luffy declines.
"Ugh, too bad. But if you say you don't need any help, who am I to argue. Us awesome fighters are just gonna set this one out. Holler is you us-"
Zoro have heard enough when he tripped him with his scabbards, leaving him down to the stairs.
"What you do that for, Zoro?" Usopp shouts.
"Shut up already, you weirdo." Zoro retorts, causing Don Krieg to laugh.
"Are those two guys your crew? That's a pretty small group you got there, kid." Don Krieg mocks with a smirk.
"Well that's not all, I got three more." Luffy stated, showing his fingers.
"I'm Not Apart Of Your Crew!?" Sanji shouts with annoyance.
Don Krieg then look at Zeff again with his serious expression which he still needed a logbook to get to the Grand Line while forming his fleet. He decided to withdraw his weapons as he spoke.
"I'll deal with you later." Don Krieg said, lifting the big bag of food and water. "Right now, I'm going to go feed my men. Those of you who don't wish to die can leave the restaurant now and escape that fate. The only things I'm after are the logbook and this ship. However, if you wish to stay and be slaughtered, I have no problem burying every last one of you at sea. Know that."
With that, Don Krieg then left the Baratie to feed his crew, leaving the chefs, Luffy, Zoro, Usopp, Sanji, and Zeff alone in the sea restaurant.
Meanwhile at the Going Merry, Johnny and Yosaku is seen peeking at the sea restaurant while Ventus was in the crow's nest since Zoro told him to stay with the ship because he needed someone to look after which he was only 14 years old. Also, Ventus have got nothing else do since he can hear of the loud noise that was coming from Don Krieg, heard everything of what was going on due to his dragon hearing. He was right now taking nap since he knows that Luffy and Zoro can take care of themselves, but Usopp, doubtful.
"It just got really quiet." Yosaku said, wondering.
"If Big Bro Zoro is in there, then everything should be fine." Johnny assures his partner.
"Yeah I know, but what if it's not?" Yosaku questions with worry.
"Good point." Johnny agrees, turned to Nami. "Big Sis Nami! Should we go in there too? What do you think?"
However, there was no respond from Nami since she was too busy looking at the wanted poster, leaving Johnny confused.
"Big Sis?" Johnny called her, but Yosaku falls along with him when they accidentally kissed each other, causing them to stick their tongues out with disgust. Ventus couldn't help but chuckle a bit since he can see those two kissed which it was an accident. Few seconds later, both Johnny and Yosaku were looking at Nami with worry. "Hey, are you okay?"
"Hmm...Yeah, I'm fine." Nami lied, hiding the wanted poster. "Is something wrong?"
Ventus knew that Nami was lying to her teeth when he used his Dragon Sight to see the wanted poster she hid, both Johnny and Yosaku were looking at each other, wondering if Nami was really okay.
Meanwhile at the sea restaurant, Gin was holding his shoulder with pain while the chefs and the Straw Hat crew were looking at Krieg's crewman.
"I'm...so sorry, Sanji." Gin apologize. "I never thought it would be this way."
"You have nothing to apologize for us, sailor." Zeff told him, earned their attention. "Every cook at this restaurant did what they thought was right, that's all there is to say about that."
"But Boss!? Why are acting as if you're taking Sanji's side?" Patty argued. "This mess is his fault!?"
"He's right! Sanji is responsible for this whole damn thing!?"
"Yeah, boss!? That man's gonna put your precious restaurant out of business!"
"YOU FOOLS DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT!?" Zeff yelled at his co-workers with anger, causing the chefs to flinch. "None of you have any idea what it's like to be on the brink of starvation, to have no food or water on the open ocean. There is no way you could possibly understand what a terrifying prospect there is. It's the most difficult situation a man could ever face."
"What? I don't know what you're talking about, Chef Zeff." Patty said with wonder.
"The difference between all of you and Sanji is that Sanji knows." Zeff told him, leaving Sanji blow the smoke.
The chefs then look at each other, wondering what Zeff was talking about since neither of them had the experience of being starved or dehydrated because of the open sea. The Straw Het crew were looking at the chefs with their serious expression.
"If all of you are gonna do is stand around grumbling, then leave this place and never come back." Zeff told the chefs, raise his hand.
But, the chefs didn't want to leave the Baratie because this is the only place they've got and they don't want to leave Zeff or Sanji from the hands of Don Krieg and his men.
"I for one am gonna stay and fight." Patty said, refuse to leave. "I couldn't live with myself if I accepted defeat."
"I'm staying too!? After all, this our restaurant isn't it?"
"That's right and this place is all I've got too!?"
The chefs then have made agreement which they all refuse to leave the Baratie, saying that they stay and fight against Don Krieg and his crew as they raise their weapons, prepare to fight. Gin wonders why would the chefs refuse to leave the Baratie since Don Krieg has given him one chance to leave or die which they've chose the latter as he spoke.
"What are you doing!?" Gin shouts, slamming the floor. "You saw how powerful Don is right?"
"Hey, Gin." Sanji called him, earned his attention as he walk towards the wooden table. "Listen up, cuz' I'm gonna say this once. Feeding someone who's hungry is my sacred world duty, but..."
Sanji then flips the table, slamming the table in place with his foot.
"...Now that you're crew is well fed, I have no obligation to them. With that clean conscious, I can beat every last one of them to a bloody pulp. If anyone tries to take the restaurant, they're dead, I'll kill every without a moments hesitation. Got that?" Sanji said with killing intent, leaving Gin frightened.
"Heh! You're a real head case, Sanji. Letting them live, then threatening to kill'em?" Patty argued.
"Can it, cook." Sanji muttered.
"See, this guy is awesome." Luffy told his crew, pointing at Sanji.
"Who cares how awesome he is!?" Usopp exclaims. "We gotta get out of here right now!?"
"Easy there, Luffy. It is Don Krieg, but he's in pretty sad shape." Zoro told him as Luffy then look at Gin.
"Hey Gin." Luffy called him, earned his attention. "You said you didn't know anything about the Grand Line, I thought you've been there. That doesn't make any sense."
The chefs were wondering the same thing since Don Krieg and his fleet have been here once which they've been wiped-out. Gin then swallowed a lump on his throat as he then spoke about what happen out there in the Grand Line.
"Nothing makes any sense now. What happen to us on the seventh day of our journey through that cursed sea? I don't know if it was a dream or reality...I saw things that I can't bring myself to believe...I know in my heart that it's impossible...for that entire 50 ship fleet...to be completely eradicated by a single man..." Gin explains with a frightened expression on his face, leaving the chefs getting frightened while Sanji, Luffy, and Zoro was starting to feel intense with shock and Usopp screamed with fright.
The atmosphere was now starting grew more and more intense by a minute since it explains why Don Krieg's entire fleet was wiped out and only one ship was in hell-bent, being defeated by only one man.
"It all happens so fast...As soon as this man appeared, he began to systematically sink our ships one after another." Gin explains since he never forget after what happen to his crew being killed by one man. "If that raging storm hadn't come upon us when it did, then that monster would've destroyed our flagship as well. I don't know if a single other ship made it out...It all seems like a terrible nightmare burned into my memory...I just want to forget...His eyes...They like a hawks...sharp and murderous...His gaze alone felt like a cold hand of death..."
That got Zoro's attention when Gin explain about that murderous gaze which it was someone he knows.
'What did he just say?' Zoro mentally questions with shock.
"Well then." Zeff said seriously, earned his attention. "That can only be one known as 'Hawkeye'. Your description of his heartless gaze isn't proof of his identity in of itself, but the way he so easily decimated your fleet confirms without a doubt that it's him."
"'Hawkeye' Mihawk!?" Zoro stated with shock.
"So you know him, Zoro?" Luffy asks, leaving Zoro calms himself down from that shock.
"Yeah, I do. He's the man I've been looking for." Zoro stated calmly. 'Hawkeye' is only reason I set out to sea."
"Could that man have some kind of score to settle with you guys?" Sanji questions.
"We didn't do anything to him." Gin denies.
"Perhaps you disturbed him during a nap." Zeff stated.
"Stupid Cook! Why would he destroy an entire fleetfor something so trivial!?" Gin shouts, causing Zeff to smirk.
"There's no reason to shout, it's just an example." Zeff said. "I thought you might like a little friendly advice on what kind of a place the Grand Line is."
"And what kind of place is that?" Usopp inquired, scared to know about the Grand Line.
"He probably means that anything can happen there." Zoro answered, leaving Usopp in teary eyes.
"Hey Luffy!? Do we really, really have to go there?" Usopp questions which he doesn't want to go something that dangerous, getting no respond from his rubber captain. "Luffy?"
Though there was still no respond, but Luffy have gotten excited about the Grand Line.
"THAT'S SO AWESOME!? THIS IS GONNA BE SUCH A BLAST!?" Luffy yelled with excitement.
"Don't you understand the concept of danger?" Usopp questions, showing his white eyes and shark-like teeth.
"Finally, my life's goal will be achieved on a Grand Line." Zoro said with confirmation. "My rival, he's out there somewhere and I'm gonna find him."
"Are you that stupid?" Sanji questions, earned his attention. "It's idiots like you guys that'll end up dead."
"That may be true, but lay off the name calling." Zoro retorts. "I devote my entire life to becoming the 'World's Greatest Swordsman'. I've made my choice, so I'm the only one who gets to call me stupid."
Sanji didn't like his answer which his goal was pretty much reckless as Luffy spoke.
"Hey, what about me!?" Luffy shouts with his big grin.
"Me too right? I mean it only seems fair." Usopp added, causing Zoro to bonk his head with his katana scabbard.
"Shut up, stupid." Zoro said with annoyance.
Sanji look at Luffy and his crew for a few seconds, turned away as he spoke.
"What morons." Sanji muttered, causing Zeff to smile.
"Enough!?" Patty yelled, earned their attention. "Do any of you maggots understand the current situation? That enormous galleon mourned in front of our dear little restaurant is none other than Don Krieg's flagship. So why don't we check back into a reality and deal with this?"
When Don Krieg climbed up to his ship, he then tossed the big bag of food to his men as the entire crew then eat their food and drink til' their hearts content. When they finished, Don Krieg's crew then roared with cheer, felt revitalized and saved since they haven't eating anything for days.
"That's right." Don Krieg said with a smirk. "And I'm glad you all made it because I'll need a healthy crew to go back to the Grand Line."
That got their attention when they heard that they'll be heading back to the Grand Line which they really want to go back.
"Hey, why the long faces?" Don Krieg questions, looking at his crew.
"Sir, why are we going back there?"
Don Krieg then drew out his weapon, shoot one of his crewman and resulted dead which their Captain didn't like being questioned as he spoke.
"Point taken." Don Krieg said seriously. "Are there any other objections?"
Of course, many of his crew would object but they didn't want to end up dead like him. They then form a smile as they began to cheer as Don Krieg then stood up and spoke.
"First, we need to take over that floating restaurant." Don Krieg told his men, thrusting his thumb at the sea restaurant. "Then, we can abandon the wreck were on before it falls apart. Don't worry about the enemy, they're just a bunch of prissy cooks. It won't take much to crush them."
Until, a man named 'Hawkeye' Mihawk was sailing with his coffin-like ship, heading towards Don Krieg's ship as soon as they were about to attack the Baratie, 'Hawkeye' Mihawk then sliced the wrecked ship in half with his sword, causing the ship to bisected into three and the crew holding on the wooden rails for their lives when the chefs heard that noise which it was coming from the outside of the restaurant, leaving the chefs, Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, and Zeff shocked while Usopp shed his tears with fright.
"WHAT'S GOING OOOOOOOOONNN!?" Don Krieg yelled.
"Don Krieg! The main ship...it was cut!?"
One of his crewman was right since the ship was cut into three, many were trying to grab hold but they were heading straight into the ocean.
"IT WAS CUT!? WHAT DO YOU MEAN!? SOMETHING SLICEED UP THIS GALLEON!? NO WAY! IT CAN'T BE! THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE!?" Don Krieg denies with yell as the galleon then began to sink, causing a big wave right next to the Bartie when the chefs were trying to balance themselves as Zeff spoke.
"Raise The Anchor! Or We'll Sink Along With Them!" Zeff ordered one of his fellow chefs, leaving him heading towards the anchor.
Luffy was rushing outside of the sea restaurant since the Going Merry was still out there.
"Wait! Nami and the guys are still on out ship out there." Zoro said with worry as he follows Luffy.
"I hope it's not too late!?" Usopp exclaims when he hit his head on the rail, rushed with the others.
Luffy stopped when he saw the galleon have sunk because 'Hawkeye' Mihawk have split the ship. Zoro and Usopp joined Luffy when they saw the ship have sunk. Johnny and Yosaku swam towards the Straw hat crew, shouting to them when Luffy rush towards the two bounty hunters.
"Yosaku! Johnny! Are you okay?" Luffy asks with worry.
"What happen to the ship? Where's Nami and the kid?" Zoro added with a question. "Are they okay?"
"I'm sorry, Big Bro. I don't know how to say this but, they're gone." Yosaku told him.
They then began explain this situation since Nami was the one who toss the two overboard, sent them a message that she's leaving with the ship.
"Big Sis Nami..." Johnny said with teary eyes.
"...She took all the treasure sailed away." Yosaku finished with his teary eyes.
"SHE DID WHAT!?" The Straw Hat crew yelled in unison with their face paled and shocked.
Zeff then walked outside of the Baratie when he saw the coffin-like ship and saw 'Hawkeye' Mihawk, leaving him shocked and frightened.
'Hawkeye' Mihawk is a tall lean man with black hair, short beard, mustache, and sideburns that pointed upwards. His eyes were yellow which resembles a hawk. He wears a black and red ornate clothing with a crucifix pendant, a wide-brimmed black hat decorated with a large plume, a long open black coat with no shirt underneath, light purple pants held up by a decorated belt and tucked inside overly a large boots.
"That man is..." Zeff said, leaving Zoro look at him with shock.
Zoro saw 'Hawkeye' Mihawk on a coffin-like ship who was responsible for eradicated 49 ships and split the last ship in three. Don Krieg then look at 'Hawkeye' Mihawk as he spoke.
"That bastard! He followed us back!?" Don Krieg exclaims with shock.
Zoro was then trembled with excitement since he would finally achieve his goal for becoming the 'World's Greatest Swordsman' for fighting against 'Hawkeye' Mihawk.
That's it for the 19th chapter.