Chapter 19

Don't Mess With Me

"DEMI CANNON!"

*BOOM!*

*Splish.*

"…It didn't even make a hole…" "Of course not…!" "WRAAAH!" *BOOM BOOM!*

Tilestone and a few members of the Franky Family were trying to shoot holes into the Aqua Laguna. The Rocket Man was chugging right towards the tsunami sized wave. Tilestone's bazooka was actually a giant gun, or a miniature cannon… on a stick.

"No! No! That won't do any good! Move back! Leave this to Franky's Special Cannon—!" Zambai yells back to the roof of their Franky-themed caboose, "Target Aqua Laguna—! SUPER SCAP CANNON! FIRE!"

*BOOM!*

*Splash!*

…

…

…

It didn't do anything.

"DON'T PANIC! KEEP FIRING!" Most people would think it would dumb to fire artillery at an incoming wave. However, this was their best option currently. Aqua Laguna was a recurring natural disaster around these parts. The wave stood taller than any lighthouse, including any sort of seaside cliff that might have stood beneath it. They had already seen what it could do at Water 7, but the alliance was going to have to find a way through it.

They couldn't go over it. Rocket Man was going to fast for it to try and climb the swell. They couldn't go under it. The sea train simply wasn't submersible, or else they'd risk the furnace going out. Nor could the train afford to go around Aqua Laguna. They'd have to turn around. Additionally, all three solutions had the same problem. They would lose track of the train tracks.

The Rocket Man was perfectly able to sail by itself. However, operation wasn't the issue. Their problem was expediency. The Oceanic Railroad was the quickest way to catch up with the Puffing Tom, arriving at Enies Lobby. They had to catch up with that train. If the alliance chose to avoid Aqua Laguna, they would lose that precious time and possibly lose their friends. Franky, Robin, and Sanji were in danger, being on the Puffing Tom. It was heading to a World Government-owned island. And even if the Frankys, Galley-la, and Straw-Hats took a longer route, that didn't guarantee their own survival. They were still out in the middle of the Grand Line.

So, their only solution was to go through Aqua Laguna. The railroad had been caught in the swell, but it didn't rise above the crest. They all had to punch a hole through that wave so that the Rocket Man could pass through Aqua Laguna. If they didn't… Well, then this was going to turn in a horrific game of Chicken.

"OOOOO~! WE'RE GOING TO CRASH INTO THE WAVE!" "WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!" "WE'RE DEAD—!" "STOP WASTING TIME WHINING, AND KEEP FIRING!" "OPEN A PATH!" *BOOM BOOM! BOOM BOOM!*

Maxwell then climbed onto the top of the train car with Luffy and Zoro. Luffy had swung on top from one of the windows, while Zoro and Maxwell climbed the normal way. Zoro yelled back at the others "Hey, just keep firing!"

Paulie looked at the three pirates, "Are you guys trying something!?"

"Mmhmm," Luffy hummed in agreement, as they went to the front of the train. The captain then cracks his neck. Zoro drew all three of his katanas. Meanwhile, Maxwell energized Salem's grimoire to float in front of him.

Luffy then looked at Zoro, "How much is three times 108?"

"Three hundred and twenty-four."

"What!? But that takes too long to say…"

"Are you seriously trying to argue the semantics of a combo name?" Maxwell deadpanned, looking at Luffy. This wasn't exactly a casual situation… For most people, anyway. Pages flew through Maxwell's book as he gathered mana for the attack.

"But Ma~x! It's a combo attack! It has to have a cool name!" Luffy whined to his first-mate.

"Then just change it," growled Zoro.

The Franky Family and Galley-La Shipwrights all look at the Straw-Hats on the front of the engine.

"What are they doing?" "Wait, they don't have any guns!" "He did say to keep firing."

"Give them cover fire!" Zambai yells at the rest of them. They couldn't afford to be distracted, even if the Straw-Hats couldn't produce anything. The coalition then open fires at Aqua Laguna, gunning at full salvo.

"500 then," Luffy decides swinging his arm around.

"Fine," his two crewmates grunt together, each getting into their own stances.

Luffy stands on the right side of the chimney, unleashing a flurry of shadow punches in front of him. Zoro stands on the left, focusing into a stance with all three of his katanas. Maxwell stands in front of the lamp, with one hand outstretched to his book and the other raised like he was about to slam it. Both his hands and eyes glow green as Maxwell channeled his magic into a single spell.

"GOMU-GOMU NO—" "Five Hundred Pound—" "Veilstrike—"

"CANNON!"

*KA—BOOSH!*

…

…

…

*Chuga-chuga chuga-chugu chugu-chuga chuga-chuga, WOO~! WOOO~!*

"…We… WE~ MADE~ IT~!" Everybody cheered.

Luffy, Zoro, and Maxwell's combination attack worked! The three of them had managed to blast a hole through Aqua Laguna, in a one-two punch! Max had softened it up, slamming down a mass of kinetic energy, while the others blew through it. Luffy had struck with both hands, arms shooting like a bullet, similar to his Bazooka technique. Zoro had swung producing a trio of wind blades that cut through the water. They had made enough air pressure for there t be an opening, and the Rocket Man was able to chug right through the hole. They were even able to stay on the rails!

"OOOOO~! I THOUGHT WE WERE DEAD MEAT!" "WE SURVIVED AQUA LAGUNA!" "THAT WAS AWESOME~!"

Zoro simply sheathed his sword. Maxwell took a breath to calm his energies. Meanwhile, Luffy smiled back at the crowd, raising a fist and giving them a peace sign.

"They would be terrifying if they were enemies… But as allies, they're more reliable than anyone!" one of the Franky Family cheered.

"Don't relax yet, gang!" Zambai called back to the rest of the Franky Family, "We're not through the storm yet!"

"YEAH! NOTHING CAN STOP US NOW!"

Maxwell, Zoro, and Luffy didn't stick around for the praise though. They had another appointment down in the rail car.

Luffy jumped off, while Maxwell and Zoro climbed down to enter the passenger box. They just saw Luffy swing in from the window.

"Wow~! Straw-Hat! You guys are amazing!" "Something like that shouldn't even be humanly possible!" The Square Sisters were gushing at how they were able to bypass Aqua Laguna.

"Luffy!" Luffy perks up as he readjusted his hat. Nami held out the den den mushi, "Come here. It's Sanji!"

Luffy takes the snail by the shell, while Maxwell and Zoro listen in, "Hello?"

"[Oh, Luffy!]"

"Sanji!" Luffy smiles, "How is it over there!? How's Robin!?"

"[Robin is… still in their hands. Nami told me everything just now. Every. Single. Thing…]" Like, how they had been turned into a bargaining chip. How Robin was trying to sacrifice herself so they all didn't get obliterated… Oh, and she was likely a dead woman if she stayed with the CP9 agents.

"Is that so…?" Luffy nods to himself, as if having a thought, "Okay, go kick their asses!"

"Luffy!" Zoro scolds his captain, "Don't mess around! Tell him to wait for us!" He then moves around to yell at the snail, "Hey, cook! Do you hear me? Those guys are dangerous!"

"Forget it Zoro," the swordsman blinks at his captain's retort, "If it were you… You wouldn't stand idle either."

"[That's right! …Oh, and is the Moss-head actually worried about me?]" There was a hint of amusement in Sanji's voice.

"LIKE HELL I AM!" Zoro yelled back at the snail.

"[Well, unfortunately, after hearing about Robin's reasons… even if Captain ordered me to, I would not stop… NO MATTER WHAT!] Krrch—Ka-cha."

"Wait, what!?" Maxwell realized the den den mushi had disconnected, "Dammit! I was hoping Sanji could do something for me…!"

"You'll have to worry about that later," Nami takes the snail back from Luffy, "You think he'll be okay?"

"Hm…" Maxwell crosses his arms, and strokes his beard. Sanji's on another train, full of World Government operatives, four of which could move at superhuman speeds and be tough as iron, "…Maybe?"

"Granny, make this train go faster!" Luffy yells at Kokoro. She had been sitting on the coach during the whole wave fiasco.

"You want it to go faster!?" The old conductor raises an eyebrow, "It's already past it's safe maximum speed. It's out of control! I don't even know if we'll be able to stop, Nagaga…!"

"Well… If we got nothing better to do," Nami pulled out another sack that was inside the food sack. They had taken it aboard when they left Water 7 as Luffy still needed to eat, "We might as well get changed."

Nami grabbed a piece of clothing and threw it at Maxwell. He looked at the garment, "…Nami, when did you find time to buy new clothing?"

"Who said I bought it?" The cat burglar replied. Maxwell opened his mouth to say something, but then closed it. He was guilty of that too, back when they were sneaking around the streets of Water 7.

"Well, I like the jacket you got me. Though, how did you find a—SWEAT ANDRASTE, NAMI! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?"

O O O

"Okay! Ready for battle!" Nami tapped her clima-tact on the floor. She was wearing new skirt with a sheath to hold the three sections of her weapon. Nami had also changed shirts, from a t-shirt to a rather short blouse, if it could even be called that. A denim jacket was now over her shoulders, short enough to show off her midriff. She looked good. However…

Nami looked back at the guys, "What's wrong?"

"YOU CHANGED IN HERE WITHOUT A SECOND THOUGHT! YOU SCANDALOUS WOMAN!" Paulie yelled at the navigator.

"Nice scandal…" Lulu, Zambai, and Tilestone all raised a thumbs-up, while haunched over, trying not to bleed out their noses.

"It couldn't be helped, you know, since we only have one car," Nami explained, not at all ashamed.

"COVER UP YOUR STOMACH! YOUR SMACH AND YOUR LEGS! YOU TOO SQUARE SISTERS! YOU'RE WHAT'S CORRUPTING SOCIETY!"

"Shut up, shy boy." "Shy boy!" "WHY YOU…!"

"Paulie," Maxwell placed a hand on his shoulder. He was now wearing a gambeson square jacket over his shirt and pants. It looked like a coat made of brown quilting blankets, but it still was protection. He wore it unbuttoned, but Maxwell still kept it tied together at his waist with his belt. Mordred, Salem, and Mineive still all hung from it. His undershirt's collar was sticking out, making him look more like a modern magician. However, Maxwell suspected he would need to get some armoured additions when all this was over. It was a start, but it didn't feel like him yet.

"Normally, I'd be all with you, scolding Nami about a woman's decency. Heck, I would have made an ice wall if I could have made it smaller. However… YOU COULD HAVE ALSO JUST LOOKED AWAY, YOU CLOSET PERVERT!" Maxwell yelled as his hand clamped down on Paulie's shoulder. He at least had the sense to look away when Nami started changing. The shipwright didn't know whether to be flustered, angry, or embarrassed.

Tilestone, Zambai, and Lulu all snickered at Paulie's scolding. However, they also froze up when Maxwell's gaze fell onto them, "Don't think I haven't forgotten about you three either! I'm half tempted just to fry you all with lightning and be done with it!"

"Man, these black shorts… I wish their pockets were bigger. My lunch won't fit."

Maxwell drooped his head in exasperation, taking his attention away from the Water 7 natives. Luffy was trying to stuff a two giant drumstick into his shorts. Nami had given him a new red vest, that wasn't stained with blood, and fur lined black shorts to change into.

"Don't stuff meat in your pockets!" Nami scolded. It wasn't even dry.

Zoro looked back at Nami. He he switched out his usual white shirt for an open yellow jacket, "Did you change weapons, Nami?"

Nami was glad he noticed, "Nope. After returning from Sky Island, Usopp strengthened it using dials." Nami spun it around until she had all three sections grasped between her fingers, "It's the Perfect Clima-tact!" The rods now looked like batons, each one having a sphere at the end of it. The dials were encased inside.

"I see, Usopp—"

"It's his post-humorous work…" Both Nami and Luffy sulked at having Usopp gone. They missed their sniper.

"Don't act so solemn!" Zoro yelled at the two. They were being to dramatic!

"Let them be Zoro," Maxwell shook his head, "You forget, this all happened rather recently… Robin's just been the greater priority lately."

He didn't like that Usopp was gone either. It was a shame really, they could use all the help they could get. However, some things had been spoken on that day that should never have been said. None of them could take it back. Not to mention, Maxwell had really been looking forward to that new staff he had asked Usopp to create. Still, beggars can't be choosers. They would have to make due without him.

"…Yeah, I suppose," Zoro crossed his arms, sighing. He had already accepted Usopp was gone. Zoro always was one of the more serious members of the crew. He had a code of honour that was instilled in him since he was young, growing up in a dojo. Maxwell even forgot Zoro was a teenager himself, sometimes. Of all the crewmates with the Straw-Hats, Maxwell definitely the closest with Zoro. Beyond his hopeless sense of direction, Maxwell didn't expect any crazy shenanigans with him.

"Oh yeah," Zoro looked back at the mage, "What were you going to ask Curly Brow?"

Maxwell frowned, absentmindedly noticing Luffy climbing out the window, "…I was going to ask Sanji to grab something of Blueno's, if he ever encountered him. You know, the guy with the bullhorn haircut? I saw his devil fruit ability. He can create doors, and worse, portals out of then air. I noticed it had a particular connection to the Fade."

"…Well, that's not good."

"Indeed," Maxwell pursed his lips, "I want to exploit it. His powers are the ultimate back up plan if the enemy needs to escape. We wouldn't even be able to follow… Unless we had someone on the other side."

Zoro eyebrows rose in understanding, "…Oh! I get it. Sick Salem, Mordred, and Mineive on his ass, the next time he steps into the Fade."

"Yeah. But I can't just fumble around while looking in the Fade again. We got lucky trying to find Drum Island. I'll need something—a hair, piece of cloth, blood—something I can use to track him down…" Maxwell punched his fist and palm together, "Besides, I owe him for throwing me into the ocean."

Zoro smirked, "Well, I think you already got your opponents lined up."

Maxwell let's out a small snort for a laugh, "Yeah… We'll see." Mages weren't technically front line fighters. However, Maxwell might make an exception in this case.

"I call the Square Nose, by the way."

Maxwell smiled, "He did seem to use those saws like swords, didn't he?"

"Hey! Do you see Bashing Tom yet!?" Maxwell heard Luffy yell from outside the train.

Nami then stuck her head out, looking towards the engine, "IT'S PUFFING TOM! GET BACK INSIDE, LUFFY! THE NEW CLOTHES YOU CHANGED INTO WILL GET SOAKED!

"That's okay! I like being here!"

"Don't tell me he's on the nose, again." Maxwell moved to look out the window too. However, he paused listening to Zambai, Lulu, and Tilestone. They were re-enacting their encounter with Aqua Laguna.

"GOMU-GOMU NO—" "500 Pound—" "Veilstrike—" "Cannon! BOOM!"

"WAAAH~!" Mozu, Kiwi, Chimney, Gonbe, and Chopper all raised their hands leaning backwards, "Aqua Laguna's been destroyed!"

"Can't you guys be serious for one moment!?" Zoro yells at the guys. It only happened just recently.

Zambai, Lulu, and Tilestone all shrug, "We're bored."

"Then go sharpen your blades or something!" Zoro walks away shaking his head, "Idiots…"

"HEY!" Maxwell looks back out the window. It was Luffy again, "Guys! There's a train in front of us!"

"What!?" Everyone gears up ready for a fight, thinking they had caught up with Puffing Tom.

Kokoro however looks towards the engine, stopping from her drinking, "It's too soon…"

Nonetheless, the whole train car, minus Nami and Kokoro's family, travel to the engine. They climbed to look over the roof and get a better look at what's ahead.

Zambai identifies it through his remaining goggle lens, "Wow! It's a sea train without an engine! It's just 2 cars stranded there!"

"What!?" Both Zoro and Maxwell try to squint trying to see the cars better.

"How'd that happen!?" "Did it get disconnected from the train or something!?"

Chopper get's an idea, "Maybe Sanji and Usopp are inside!"

"Wait, Usopp's also on the Puffing Tom!?" Maxwell looks at Chopper. That would certainly explain one of Sanji's two idiots.

"Maybe Bro's inside too!" The Square Sisters yell.

"Luffy, what do we do now!?" Chopper called out to their pirate captain.

Luffy was already stretching his arms, holding the lamp and the smoke stack, "I'll check it out! Gomu-Gomu no… ROCKET!" Luffy flew off the Rocket Man like a rubber band, heading right for the train cars.

"Whoa…" Zambai looked at Luffy impressed. He even crashed into the train cars.

They all waited a moment when Zambai spotted him again, "It's Straw-Hat…! He says they're not there, and he's being shot at!" Maxwell could imagine Luffy making an "X" with his arms, while bullets stretch out his skin.

"Then those people must be from the World Government!" Lulu tapped down another hair.

"So what now!?" Tilestone yelled, "If we don't get rid of it, we'll be in danger too!"

"Okay!" Zambai pulled out a wrench, "Then we'll dismantle it in an instant before we crash!"

"Now that doesn't make a lick of sense!" Maxwell argued. None of them had the ability to fly ahead like Luffy! …Or at least, not very far.

"HEY, ZORO~!" They then heard Luffy's voice from the stranded train cars.

"Hey, Roronoa! He's calling for you!" Lulu looked back at the swordsman and pointed ahead. Both crewmates looked at Luffy having jumped onto the roofs of them.

"CUT IT! It's in the way."

"Sure," Zoro then moved up to the front, placing himself at the nose of the engine.

"'Sure?'" the Water 7 natives balk at how casually he said that.

"Just give it a moment…" Maxwell tells the incredulous engineers. Zambai technically counted, being a ship dismantler.

"The consciousness of a forsaken world can be rent asunder… Nitoryu Iai…"

*SHINK!*

"Rashomon!"

The train cars were split, cleanly in two.

"EEEEEHHHHH~!?" The Franky Family all dropped their jaws and bulged their eyes. Galley-La could barely believe it. Even the WG agents and marines could scarcely believe it, and they were in the train cars.

Maxwell just hummed, seeing the mooks in boxes fly off the tracks. He was starting to accept these king of feats were going to be part of his everyday life. Luffy had just jumped off and landed back on the Rocket Man.

"Could you at least warn us before you do that sort of thing!?" Lulu yelled at the Luffy

"I did say to cut it."

"Yeah, but we couldn't have dreamed it was like that!"

"He's so terrifyingly strong, and he's not even the captain…!"

"I did say to give it a moment," Maxwell smirked at the non-believers.

"…Hey!" Zoro barked from the nose, "Stay sharp! This isn't over yet…!" Maxwell watched him put on his bandana, and immediately drew Mineive. Whenever Zoro put that bandana on, Maxwell knew he was serious.

"Eh—!? Look! In front of us!" Zambai then noticed what was ahead on the tracks, "That's a sea king! It looks 5 times bigger than the sea trains, and it's been chopped in half!"

The sea king carcass wasn't actually in half. Most of it still sunk in the ocean, while the rest of its face still hung onto the track. This beast seemed to be modelled after an eel, and Maxwell could even see half the brain still stuck in the cranium. Maxwell swiped a few arcane bolts at the carcass to topple it into the ocean. That way they didn't have to deal with any blood or guts smearing the sides.

Still, something had to have made that carcass. Something human. No animal could have made a cut so clean.

"There's someone on the water!" Lulu pointed out ahead of them. It was a man, someone who wore a helmet, but he was to far to see properly.

Zambai adjusted his lens, but then stumbled back as he yelled in surprise, "Ah! It's the Ship Butcher!"

"Ship Butcher?" Luffy looked at him curiously.

Zambai explained, "He's a Marine Captain from the Navy! T-Bone the Ship Butcher! He can chop a pirate ship into pieces, like it's beef! What's he doing here!?"

It was a valid question. Why would a prestigious marine like that be out in the middle of the ocean? He was clearly out on the railroad. Why wasn't he in any sailing vessel?

"Alright boys! Man the cannon! Get ready to fire!" Zambai called out to the Franky Family.

"YES SIR!" "WAIT!"

Zambai turned to Luffy, who had told them to stop, "What!? If we don't hurry, he'll chop us in half, too!"

"Are you blind!?" Luffy frowns at the mobster, "Leave it to Zoro!" Zambai then blinks, realizing the three sword swordsman was still at the prow.

Zoro then called out to the marine, "I'LL ONLY SAY THIS ONCE! GET OUT OF THE WAY, OR DIE!"

Captain T-Bone drew his broadsword. He seemed aware of who they were, "This is the road to the home of Justice! I am a captain from Marineford! I shall cut you in half in the name of Justice!"

"…Then so be it. Our destination lies in the place you're trying to protect!" Zoro bites down onto one of his katana. He was going full out for this opponent.

"THEN COME!" T-Bone the raised his sword, "I hate swords that don't go straight…! Chokkaku Hichou Poon—"

"Santoryu… Gyuuki…" Zoro angled his arms and sword to look like bull horns. Maxwell could se the aura of a bull-like demon rise from Zoro's form.

"OODORI!" T-Bone slashed, and Zoro charged off the sea Train. The captain's stoke had unleashed a spiralling wind blade, that jerked in 90 degree angles, heading right for Zoro.

However, Zoro seemed to see through all that, and got in close, "MYUZUME!" He slashed at T-Bone, thrusting like a lance. The strike broke through T-Bone's armor, the captain's sword shattered, and the force flung the marine off the tracks.

"WOW~! WE BEAT THE SHIP BUTCHER!" Zambai cheered. The rest of the Franky Family and Galley-La cheered with him.

Zoro had quickly jumped and caught onto the side of the train. He looked back at his fallen opponent as they left him in the water, "…You left the cars I had chopped in half. To pursue the sea train on foot… You're a good man, but we can't stop for you. Maybe Justice is an important burden to you… But we have more important things on the line!"

The swordsman then noticed a ring of faint plasma surround him. "Need a hand Zoro?" Zoro looked up, seeing Maxwell above him. He had kelt down onto the engine, holding onto a handle to anchor himself. Zoro recognized the spell as a Static Cage, Maxwell's electric trap and occasional safety net. The mage had a hand reached out to him.

"…Sure," Zoro clasped onto Maxwell's arm, and the mage pull him up. It wasn't wise to stay out here for long.

T-Bone was just the first. Their enemies were close, and war was about to begin.