Chapter 3
Change of Plans
They lost...
Foxy had enough momentum in the air to fire another one of those beams at Nami and the others. They were barely and inch from the finish line when they were stopped. Monda, Capote, and Porche then caught up and dived through the white tape for the race.
Maxwell could hear the cheering from where he was. Having won the race, Hamburg didn't even feel the need to hit him. He just laughed, covering his mouth, and said, "Better luck next time!" The gorilla just walked around the barriers and joined up with his crew.
It was then, Maxwell could feel his body turn back to normal. He had to stumble as he was mid-run when he was frozen. The mage had to use his improvised staff to steady himself. Any sudden movement was disorienting him and threatened to have Maxwell fall over.
The mage huffed as he tried to get his breath back under control. Maxwell could hear the ice wall melt and the line of fire extinguish. He had failed.
"...Damn it...!"
Still, he had to get back to the others. That pompous cheat was probably gloating in front of them. Maxwell used his bamboo shoot as a walking staff, taking careful steps as he oriented himself.
"Fuehehehehehe! And look who comes crawling back!" Foxy gloated as he saw Maxwell walking back, "Looks like the whole gang is back together~ Pff! Not for very long! I'll admit, you almost had me, it no-one can out fox the Gr~eat Foxy!"
Sanji had stood up after check on the girls, "ASSHOLE! WHAT DID YOU DO TO NAMI AND THE OTHERS!?" Maxwell settled for a glare.
"Fueheheheheh! That was thanks to my Noro Photon."
"Noro photon!?" surprisingly it was Luffy who asked.
Foxy put he thumbs and middle two fingers together to show off the ball of purple light, "It is an atom that was not yet discovered by scientists. Anything from life-forms to liquid and air hit by its radiation will not lose any energy, but... it's physical velocity will decrease dramatically!"
"What kinda crap are you talking about, stupid!?" The rubber-man demanded.
Foxy dramatically fell to his knees and hung his head, "He called me stupid..." Porche fretted over her boss, knowing how fragile his ego was.
Nami got to her feet, "A thing like that is not possible—"
"Not possible!?" Foxy seemed to recover fast from his mood swings, "Haven't you learned by now that anything is possible in the Grand Line...!?" He crossed his arms, "Anyways, anything it hits will slow down. THAT IS THE NORO PHOTON!"
"Oh. What didn't you just say that earlier, 2-Piece head?" Luffy said it as if it was his real name. The best and worse thing about Luffy's nicknames was that they were unintentional. Luffy's mind was just wired that way.
Foxy got over that one quickly as well, "Hah! After eating the Noro-Noro Fruit, I gained the power to emit these photons, and I became the almighty Slow-mo-man! Behold! I shall demonstrate my power! Hamburg!"
"Okay!" Hamburg approached at a distance with a bazooka cannon and fired it at Foxy.
"...Noro-Noro Beam!" Foxy then fired another ray of light at the oncoming cannon ball.
"EH!?" Usopp's eyes bulged at what was happening, "The cannonball stopped in mid air?"
"Fueheheh..." Foxy didn't even bother moving out of the way, "Anything hit by the beam will slow down dramatically. Most humans are ignorant of the world on the sea. The effect lasts for around 30 seconds before the object resumes its movement. With this, nothing is a threat to me..." Foxy patted the sluggish cannonball. It was still coming towards him...
"Do you doubt your eyes?" Foxy cackled as he noticed the mage had rolled his eyes.
"No. I just doubt your intelligence," Maxwell commented.
"Eh?"
*BOOM!*
The cannonball had exploded in Foxy's face, "BOSS!" and sent him flying.
"Damn... So that's why we lost..." "That's a really dirty trick to use in a race..." "No wonder the bastards were so confident... His power clinched him the match."
Porche rounded on the Straw-Hat Pirates, "All that matters is crossing the finish line! We made it first, so you lost! No excuses!"
Foxy sprung up with soot all over his face, "That's right. The victor of Round 1... IS MY TEAM!"
The Foxy Pirates went wild and Itomimizu got out his speaker, "[The first match has officially ended. Now it's time for the highly anticipated crew selection!]" Foxy started chuckling as he revelled in his victory, "[The captain of the winning team will choose a member from the losing crew. Please proceed, Boss~!]"
A pair of drummers appeared behind Foxy and started a drum roll. Maxwell, with the rest of the crew, waited in morbid anticipation of Foxy's choice...
Well, except Zoro. He was busy glugging down a bottle of wine with his back turned to everyone... "Wait, where did he find that?"
"The first one I shall take is..." Foxy took a deep breath.
"YOU!" The pirate pointed at their crew.
"THE DOCTOR, TONY TONY CHOPPER!"
Maxwell closed his eyes and let out a silent breath. He then looked up, knowing what he had to do, as he watched Chopper be taken away. They were clever bastards, he'd give them that...
"NO CHOPPER!" Nami tried to reach out as two men grabbed Chopper, but she couldn't do anything about it. The little doctor meanwhile was yelled and struggling in the two pirates' grip.
Maxwell walked up to Robin and whispered something in her ear, eyeing Itomimizu.
"Yeah~!" Chopper was brought to Foxy, who started snuggling the furry chibi to his protest, "You will make a wonderful pet~ You're more cuddly than I imagined~ What a great prize!"
Robin nodded and pretended to stretch in a deliberate motion.
"It's so cute!" "Eh~ Boss. Can I hold him too~!?" "WUAAAH!"
"CHOPPER!" Luffy yelled seeing his friends discomfort.
"Those bastards..." Sanji took the cigarette out of his mouth, "They took Chopper because he looks like a rare pet."
"Is he a collector of rare animals!?" Nami looked at Chopper worriedly.
"Hopefully not a collector of rare pelts," Robin reached down and passed Maxwell a piece of paper that had conveniently passed by.
"WHAT!? THIS IS NOT THE TIME FOR JOKES!" Usopp yelled at the crew, "THEY TOOK OUR FRIEND!"
"And we'll get him back..." Maxwell spoke in a controlled tone. The mage had Salem open, and the possessed grimoire was turning it's own pages while Maxwell held the paper.
Foxy meanwhile had gotten Chopper to the stage, "Listen up! Dr. Chopper, you are now one of us... You must swear your loyalty to me! Put on the mask." When Chopper didn't move, two of Foxy's members put the black mask and fox ears on him.
Usopp scrubbed his bandana covered head, "Chopper..."
Salem had come to a stop, a single page standing up from within the book. Maxwell tore it out and handed it to Robin. The other piece of paper melded into the pages place. And this didn't go unnoticed by Zoro.
"Everyone..." Chopper whimpered.
"Chopper...!" "I'm sorry Chopper. We lost... Ah... DAMN IT!" "Fueheheheh... A rare pet indeed~"
Both papers were both gone, like they were never there. Zoro meanwhile kept on drinking as Foxy Pirates clamoured to introduce themselves to their new member.
"...EVERYONE!" Chopper suddenly yelled. He was trying his best not to cry, "I... I don't want to do this~! I started sailing with you guys... Luffy! Luffy asked me... I only went because Luffy asked! I don't want to join these people!"
Zoro slammed his now empty bottle into the ground, "SHUT YOUR MOUTH CHOPPER! YOU ARE DISGRACEFUL!" He was done drinking.
The swordsman stood up, back still turned to everyone, "It was your choice to get a life on the sea. Dead or alive, the choice was yours alone. Don't blame it on others. We accepted he challenge! Usopp and the others tried their best. In the world of pirates, tears won't get you anything..." Nami tried to scold him but it fell on deaf ears.
"If you are a man..." Zoro finally turned to look at Chopper, "Then just sit tight... And quietly watch the game!"
Chopper looked at Zoro despite the tears in his eyes and snotty nose. Nami still wasn't finished with the swordsman though.
"How can you say that!? He must feel terrible right—" "DO-KAY!"
Nami jolted at hearing Chopper respond. The doctor had sucked it up a resolutely sat on his chair.
"Much better... Let's get read for Round 2." Zoro started walking to where they would do the sports event.
"WUOOOH!" "That swordsman sure can talk!" "Boss will probably choose him next round." "The reindeer is a tough guy too." "I'm so touched that I shed a tear! Look! At the corner of my eye! See!?" "YEAH, ZORO! WIN BACK MY PRIDE NEXT ROUND!" "WIN CHOPPER BACK!"
"...That's right..." Sanji took another drag and then threw away his cigarette, "There are two more matches. We have to retrieve our emergency food friend." Sanji was in the next event too.
"[The conversation is now finished! Cheer as the Davy Back Fight continues!]" The Foxy Pirates did just that.
"Cook me. Fry me. I don't care. I am a man!" Chopper kept his arms crossed with a tough-guy scowl.
"Wait... Isn't Chopper—" Usopp was then muffled as a hand covered his mouth.
It was Maxwell, and the mage put a finger to shush him. He wanted Usopp to remain silent. The First-Mate of the Straw-Hat Pirates then strode up to the field, knowing what was about to pass.
Itomimizu then got Chuchun back in the air and started doing his job, "[In Round 2, Groggy Ring, and Team Straw-Hat which... Wait... Is this right?]"
Maxwell smirked, bolstering his staff.
"[The... The...]" The announcer was clearly confused, "[The Straw-Hats have 3 contestants! Which puts this as a 3 on 3 match!]"
"WHAT!?" "But how!?" "Ito! You sure you got the right paper!?" ...Usopp meanwhile looked wide-eyed at Maxwell on the field.
"You have something to do with this, old man...?" Zoro glance at the mage walking alongside him.
"You gonna complain...?" Maxwell eyed the swordsman.
"...Nah. It's not like I need any of you."
"Shut up," said Sanji, "You're the unneeded one, seaweed head!"
Nami looked as three of her friends walked onto the field. She had eyes on two of them in particular, "I hope they don't end up fighting each other."
"YOU WANT TO FIGHT NOW!?" The swordsman and chef yelled at each other.
Maxwell whacked them both with his bamboo staff, "Not now you idiots!"
"[Now. I shall explain the rules for the Groggy Ring!]" Itomimizu continued, "[In the court, there are two goals on each side. You win by throwing your ball into the enemy's. However, you won't be using a regular rubber ball. You'll use a person! So first, each team must choose a person to be the ball!]"
One of the Foxy Pirates approached the Straw-Hat team, "Which one of you will be the ball?"
Zoro thumbed at Sanji with a grunt. Then another pirate placed a ball attached to headgear on Sanji's head, "Here."
"Eh?"
"Ball sign," Zoro shrugged.
"OI! WHEN DID YOU GET TO DECIDE!? YOU GODDOMANED SEAWEED #$&!" "Now Sanji, Zoro, let's talk about this—"
Maxwell was interrupted by the sound of turning gears and sports music, "Hm?" The lower jaw of the Sexy Foxy's figurehead was beginning to lower.
"[You are listening to their entrance music~ It's our returning champions for Groggy Ring!]" Maxwell then started realizing the sizes of their competitors, "[Naturally they have gone undefeated in the past~ They are the Groggy~ Monsters! And they are entering the field.]" The Foxy Pirates went wild for their sports team, "[HERE THEY ARE~! In the front is the Four-Hoof-Driven Dasher, Hamburg~!]"
"That guy, huh.." Maxwell eyed the big-lipped gorilla.
"[Behind him is Pickles, the Tackle Demon~!"]" Pickles was event taller than Hamburg, and looked more like a monkey than Hamburg.
"[And standing at the rear is the half-fishman, half-giant, Big Pan the Wotan~! They are literally the monsters of the ring!]" Big Pan was stomping a hollering behind the others, clearly excited for the game.
"...Now that's just not fair," Maxwell deadpanned. Big Pan was wearing the ball sign.
Sanji just looks at the enemy team, unimpressed, "Suprised?"
Zoro just creeks his neck, "Not really."
"[Going against our undefeated Groggy Monsters, they are... The one who eliminated our interference group with one kick, the 'Violent Chef—]'" "It's 5-star chef." "[Sanji~!]"
"[His partner is the Pirate Hunter that has a bounty of 60 million... Roronoa Zoro~!]" Zoro only remained silent sizing up their competition.
"[And finally! For reasons I cannot fathom, he is the first-mate of the Straw-Hat Pirates, with a bounty of 29 million... On the field, we have the Magister, Maxwell~ P.D. Trevelyan!]"
"BOO~!" The crowd immediately started booing a heckling the mage as he stood on the field. Some of them even tried throwing paper cups at him. They clearly knew something was up with Maxwell on the field, "Go back to the station, you copper!"
"Huh?" Maxwell didn't get that last jeer.
Pickles smirked, "Since the Captain specifically appointed us to the game... I thought our opponent would be tougher than this. Right, Big Pan?" The half-giant just put a hand to his ear, not even looking down.
"Pufufufufufu! He didn't even hear it!" Hamburg giggled into his hands.
"Alright!" The Referee stepped up between both teams. "We'll be using this to decide which team chooses." It was a coin toss.
"Heads or Tails?" "Whoa wait a second. We haven't even—" "Tails." *Ping... CLAP.*
The ref flipped the coin, caught it, than slapped it on the back of his hand.
"...The Monsters have it. Do you want to ball first or choose the ring?"
"Ball," Hamburg responded.
"[Our Groggy Monsters chose to ball first! The ball of Team Straw-Hat will now go to the center of the opponent's side. May I remind you that the ball seal marks the two balls in the game! If you hit the opponent's ball into the enemy life buoy, you win!]"
The field itself was the size of a football field. It was improvised, marked with white chalk to make a giant snake-eyes domino. Life preservers were placed at either end, and the crowd stood watching on the one side.
"Yo, ball guy. Go stand there!" Zoro pointed with his thumb again behind him.
"Shut up! You decided it by yourself! I never wanted to be the ball!" Sanji pointed at the outlandish headgear, "Plus, how can I wear this lame thing on my handsome head?"
Maxwell rubbed the bridge between his eyes, "Ugh... Okay, let's talk about this log—"
"You are annoying... Wow, Sanji! You look so handsome with that thing!" "UP YOURS! I'M NOT FALLING FOR THAT!" "Well it certainly doesn't make you more of a dumbass." "YOU WANT TO GO MOSS-HEAD!?"
"ENOUGH!" Maxwell swung his staff between the cook and the swordsman, "Clearly, neither of you are going to accept being it... Sanji, I'll take it."
"Pfft. Yeah right," Sanji scoffed, "You're magic's useful and all, but it ain't going to help you against those bastards. Let the neanderthal have it."
"No way! I'd rather die before I put that thing on my head," Zoro then looked at the mage, "The only thing I agree with Curly-brow here is you. You shouldn't have the ball."
"You pricks...!" Maxwell's eyebrow began to twitch, "Do you think I want it either!? I'm only suggesting myself, because you two dunderheads can barely utter a complete sentence among one other!"
"Blame him," Sanji gestured to Zoro, "He's the one who's always been beaten in the head with a stick."
"Like you're any better, Fishmonger!"
"Fine, fine, fine!" Maxwell got between the two before they could start fighting each other, "...Since we can't talk this out, there's only one way for us to settle this...!" The mage looked both of them straight in the eye. The other two glare at him, awaiting his answer.
...
...
...
"Rock-Paper-Scissors."
"Loser gets the ball sign." "Fine." "Fine!"
The three men stand in a triangle and place their fists in their palms out in front of them. They look at each other ready to play. And like any game, they start a beat.
"You know the chant, crap-cook?" "Of course I know, Moss-for-brains!" "What are you two talking about?" "Just do the thing when it happens, old man."
Zoro and Sanji then started to chant. Maxwell had no idea where these words were coming from, but he beat his fist alongside it, "1, 2, 3, take one away. Put none out, you get no say. For this is the game we play."
Rock—Paper—Scissors—Lizard—Spok!
...
(Just kidding.)
"Rock—Paper—Scissors!" The beat stopped and all three men had their choices.
...
...
...
Zoro and Maxwell both had Paper.
Sanji had Rock.
"YOU CAME OUT SLOWER! CHEATER!" "NO WAY! I WON FAIR AND SQUARE! I'm just stronger in everything." "How the heck can one be stronger in Rock-Paper-Scissors?" "SHUT UP! YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW THE CHANT!"
"Are you done yet? Decide already!" Pickles yelled at the Straw-Hat Team. Hamburg was just having a laugh.
"Butt out!" Maxwell turned towards the jock, "We're trying to decide—"
"Sanji~ You look awesome with that hat~!" Nami's voice came out from the sidelines.
"Like I was saying, there is no man more worthy to be the ball than me!" Sanji put his hands in the air, certain at Nami's encouragement.
"Yeah, you do look good. You look like the Prince... of Dumbass Kingdom."
This phrase immediately starts a fight between Zoro and Sanji. Both go lightning-fast in their respective styles, trying to beat up one another. However, every hit was met with a counter from one another.
"WILL YOU TWO QUIT IT ALREADY!?" Maxwell yelled at the two crewmates. He conjured a small Ice Wall between the two to break them up.
"Hey, you two!" The referee pointed at Maxwell and Zoro, "It's against the rules to use weapons. Put them away!"
"Eh? Really?" asked Zoro.
"[That's right. This is a competition of balling skills. No weapons allowed.]"
"...Sigh. Robin, Usopp, Nami, can you keep care of these for me?" Maxwell walked over to his crewmates and handed them Salem, Mordred, Mineive, and the rough bamboo staff. He did partially consider them his weapons.
"Sure thing," said Ussopp, accepting the hilt and tree shoot. Nami held onto the book while Robin held onto the skull. Usopp was also handed Zoro's three katanas.
"...Fine. No weapons. Hah—" Zoro thumped his fists together, "—Not like it matters at all."
"Are you sure you'll be alright?" Sanji asked Zoro, "A swordsman without a sword is..."
"What about it?" Zoro glanced back at the chef.
"Well... Doesn't that make him... a big wuss?"
The two broke out in a fight again. "DO I HAVE TO FREEZE YOU TWO AS WELL!?" Maxwell meanwhile had a Winter glyph in hand, ready to get in there.
O O O
"MAX~ ZORO~ SANJI~ GO KICK THEIR ASS!" Luffy cheered for his friends along the sidelines.
"YOU HAVE TO WIN CHOPPER BACK!" Usopp sobbed as he held onto Maxwell's staff and wand, "I'M SORRY! YOU HAVE TO WIN BACK MY LOST PRIDE!"
"It's the first time I saw a fish-giant," murmured Nami.
Robin commented, "He's a bit smaller than a pure giant though."
"Fueheheheh. There is no point in cheering for the losers. Our team is unbeatable in the ring!" Foxy had come up to gloat in front of the Straw-Hats.
"...You say something, 2-Piece Head?" Luffy looked at him blankly.
This was another hit on Foxy's ego, "He said it again..."
Porche hovered over her hunched over captain, "Oh Boss! You are so low, Straw-Hat! You're immoral!"
Luffy himself blinked. Was that a sort of candy?
Nonetheless, Foxy stood up again, "Hah! They won't need any support to win this. I'll just sit here and enjoy the show."
"You can interfere in this game too!?" Nami yelled at the Silver Fox.
"Fool! You can disrupt any game! There are teams that would win regardless of the method. Then there are that want no less than a clean win! It's all up to your personal standards."
Foxy's then gave Nami a sly grin, "Though I got to say... Nice job with forging those papers. I didn't even know the roster had changed, and there wasn't any evidence to prove it otherwise. Good job... Though it ain't going to change anything."
"Like I want to hear that from you!" Nami retorted. She was still miffed at losing the Donut Race at Foxy's interference. They were so close, until the were suddenly going at a snails pace. Maxwell had tried to stop it, she knew that. This next event might just even the odds.
Though truthfully, she didn't know how Maxwell got onto the roster. All she knew was that Max had quieted Usopp before he could say anything. She only had a feeling, and that feeling grew stronger the longer she held the grimoire in her hands.
All three spirits were watching as well. Lit up eyes glowed from each object intent on watching the game.
O O O
"[The preparations have been completed. The ball of the Straw-Hat Team is finally in position.]"
Zoro called out to Sanji as he walked out to the one circle, "Hey chef, let them stomp you flat, okay?"
"Go to hell!" Sanji called back to him. Both Maxwell and Zoro stood in the other half of the field, getting ready to play. The basic premise was to get Big Pan in the buoy behind the Groggy Monsters, and keep Sanji out of theirs.
"[The cheer from the audience intensifies!]" "Smash them Big Pan!" "Pickle, send them flying!" "Make hamburgers out of them Hamburg!"
Pickles sports a pumped up grin, "Big Pan, let's finish this quick."
"...Huh?"
"Pfft! Fufufu! He didn't hear again!"
Pickle looks at Big Pan awkwardly then starts laughing as he pats Big Pan's stomach, "Listen up—Hihihi-hihihihi—You're really...! Hihihi..."
"Huh...? Ah... Heheheheheheheheh..." The half giant smiles with his shark like teeth.
"Pufufufufufufu!" Hamburg still giggles into his hands. Sanji just looks at them awkwardly as he stands in front of the three men.
"[The Groggy Monsters are laughing for no apparent reason again. They will win again with this cheerful attitude. No time limit. One point wins the game!]"
"I see," Zoro does some stretches as Maxwell takes his own position, "So if I throw that big guy into the ring on the other side, I win. I lose if the chef's head falls into my buoy."
"[Will the Straw-Hats be able to win back the reindeer lost in the first round~!? Or will they keep losing members? The intense Groggy Ring is starting right now!]"
"[Ready~!]"
...
...
...
"[BEGIN!]"