Enjoy!
/—-/
Harsh words to face reality.
The Strawhat crew told the commanders their goal. But instead of helping, Red did something unexpected.
"You should train for two years before going." Red said in a stern voice. Luffy was surprised the woman said that. Red has always pushed Luffy into doing the best he can. So why is she stopping him now? And what shocked him further, was Ace agreeing with her.
Luffy slammed his glass against the table out of frustration. "Why Red? Why Ace? We've come so far; I'm not stopping now!" The younger brother doesn't understand what changed. Do they not believe in me anymore?
"Luffy, the new world isn't like anything you've ever seen! Don't be childish and think this one through!" Luffy pushed back his stool and stood up. He felt hurt, hurt that his sister doesn't believe in his abilities.
"I'm not being childish! We are going to be fine!" The hurt in Luffy's eyes didn't break Red's resolve. She knows he knows she's right, the man barely got out of Enies Lobby alive. That place is a piece of cake compared to the new world.
Red sighed, "if you go there now… you'll never become king of the pirates." Everyone was shocked by the redheads' words. Ace knew the woman was right but saying it like that is just brutal. Marco was surprised by how harsh the woman could be.
The Strawhats were outraged by her comment, how dare she tell them that! She has no idea what they've gone through together! "How dare you! You-"
"She's right." Zoro interrupted. The man looked up to meet Red's eyes. In her eyes held fear, fear of her brother being hurt, or worse dying. Luffy missed that fear.
"Zoro!" All of them shouted.
"Look, if you really think you're all that, I want all of you to come at me."
Everyone went wide eyed except for the one person laughing, the bartender. "Red, come on, don't hurt their feelings like that."
"Shakky! They need to know who they're facing!" Red frowned. She didn't want to discourage Luffy and his crew, but they need to know the true strength of a Pirate.
Luffy, of course, didn't understand what Red was trying to do. "You're on! Let's go!"
"Before you do. Red, put these on." Shakky handed Red a blind fold and rope.
"Tie one hand." Red nodded.
While Marco put on the blind fold and rope, the Strawhats went outside to form a plan. Izo and Thatch went out there too, but Ace stayed inside. He had a bad feeling about this fight.
"Red, don't hurt them ok? They saved Hatchan." Camie said. Red nodded and watched as Camie, Hatchan, and Pappag left.
"Why haven't you left Ace?" Red could smell the second commander behind her. She could tell he was nervous about the fight. "I don't think it's a good idea… what if you get hurt, or he gets hurt."
Red sighed, "then we'll get back up again. Ace, nothing can crush our brother's spirit." The second commander nodded and joined the others.
Marco finished tying the rope and turned Red around, "you going to be ok, yoi? You may be strong but there's nine of them." The red head leaned forward and placed a kiss on the blonde's cheek. "Let's go!" She smiled before trotting outside.
When she got outside, she sniffed the air to tell what position they were in. The crew circled around her, but Zoro, Sanji, and Luffy were in front of the others by three inches. Meaning they'll be attacking first. Sending the three strongest after me, while Usopp and Robin attack from the back? That's a good strategy, you've grown up. The others must be there to support the strong fighters, while analyzing my moves. Not bad at all…
Red pov
"You guys ready?" I asked with a smirk plastered on my face. I heard a growl come from two of the crewmates, my guess is it was Luffy and Sanji. The swordsman was studying me carefully, what a good right hand man… reminds me of my uncle.
As I anticipated, the three strongest jumped at me first. Luffy threw a signature 'gum gum pistol' at me. At the same time, Sanji was rushing towards me. I tried moving out of the way, but I was stuck. I could smell hands grabbing my legs in place. I see, Robin's devil fruit. I moved my head to the side, dodging Luffy's punch and grabbing the arm. I used him as a whip to strike the blonde running beside him. Luffy hit against the blonde's legs, making them both tumble down the hill.
I didn't have time to smile however, Zoro somehow got behind me and Brook was coming at me. I ducked Zoro's three swords, but I was defenseless for Brooks attack. Well, that's what he thought, my scythe blocked the other attack with ease.
The Strawhats were surprised by my weapon. I used their surprise to headbutt Zoro in the chin and to push the end of my scythe into the skeleton's rib cage. Both were forced back from my attack. Now that that's taken care of, let's get these hands off of me. I expanded my scythe and swung it at the remaining crew. Once again, they were surprised by my weapon.
"Now that my legs are free, let's get started." I mumbled. I dashed at Robin with lightning speed and sent a kick to her side. The woman could barely block it, leaving her crashing into Chopper beside her. "She's faster than the boys." Nami said, astonished by my agility. I could smell gunpowder approaching, it was Usopp's ammo. With a quick dodge, I set my sights on the sniper.
He kept taking shots at me the closer I got, but I was too fast. Before I could get a proper hit in, Luffy and Sanji's scent started approaching me. Looks like I'll need to hit harder. Sanji's foot was on fire, and Luffy was in Second Gear. "Gum gum… whip!" His foot came flying at me. I flipped onto my hands to push me upward, letting the foot fly into Usopp.
"I got you now!" Sanji screamed. Normally, Sanji wouldn't hurt a woman, but he's probably mad at me for disrespecting his crew. Oh well. My arm swung up to block the foot with my scythe. Both my hands gripped my weapon, helping me move in midair. I spun my body around and kneed Sanji in the face, using half my regular force. The impact was enough to knock the cook out, leaving eight more remaining. I retracted my scythe and landed back on my feet.
Luffy was getting ready for another attack, but this time I didn't let him use it. I close the distance with a quick dash. My fist connected with his face and leg smashed against his side. The captain was sent flying and crashed into Sanji's passed out body.
"Kiki Kyutoryu Asura!" Zoro's aroma shifted. It was as if there were three of him. His odor smelled demonic, making my nose want to fall off. It's almost as bad as Teach's. The man dashed towards me, it was as if he teleported. But before he could get a hit, I used one of my special moves. His swords clashed against my scythe. Dust rose and blocked out everyone else around us.
"The weapon of Purgatory! Defender Scythe!" My scythe now had three blades. Two on the top of each side, and one at the bottom. I'm surprised I had to use it, Lu picked a strong crew. I'm proud of him. I hit the swordsman with the bottom that had no blade, making him sore out of the cloud of dust.
When I walked out, everyone was shocked to see my new blade. "I didn't think I'd have to use this, congrats Zoro."
"Is this the other shape of your weapon?" I turned to Izo and nodded. I mentioned it before hand, I've just never used it.
My nose scrunched at the pressure change. Looks like a certain navigator can change the weather. I didn't bother looking up, one I'm blind folded, and two I can tell it was thunder clouds.
"Thunderbolt Tempo!" The clouds roared as an electric ball flew into the air. Huh, so she's going to hit me with lightning. Quickly, I threw my weapon towards her like a shuriken. The weapon attracted the lightning. Nami let out a yelp when the weapon zapped her.
A scent started moving towards me, it was the skeleton and the reindeer. "Arrow not slash!" Brook's attack came first, it was a speed attack like Zoro's. "Rumble ball! Cloven hoof!" Using my triple bladed scythe, I blocked the attacks with ease. The reindeer was now in my range, so I pinned him down and brought my scythe to his neck.
"Chopper!" They all yelled, when they saw my weapon about to cut him.
"Now tell me! His life or yours!" My statement reverberated throughout the grove. The strawhats eyes went wide as gasps escaped them. Making a choice like that, holding someone's life in your hands, is the worst possible situation.
The Whitebeard Pirates lowered their heads, they all know how it feels to be in that situation. It is awful and brutal, yet it is part of being a pirate.
I retracted my weapon from his neck and threw it in Luffy's direction. The blades pinned him against the wall behind him, making him listen to her words. "Listen to me Luffy! You are the captain, start acting like one!" My words were a slap to the face. But I continued.
"Could you make that choice? Tell me Luffy, would you kill one of your crew for your dream?" I bounced off Chopper and trotted to Luffy.
"Tell me, Nami or Zoro. Pick one and I'll kill the other. Could you make that choice?" My stare narrowed at Luffy. His eyes started to tear up from my words, the scenarios I'm throwing at him are unbearable to any crew member. The sight of their blood on the floor with the life fading from their eyes.
Anyone could be scarred for such a horrific event. "Stop it Red!" Ace shouted, he wanted to run and save his brother from my words. I could smell the anger and grief building up inside him. Probably because of Sabo's 'death'. He was about to run at me, but Marco stopped him.
"She's right Ace, yoi. Listen." Ace balled his hands into fist, frustrated to be a bystander. He was even more frustrated by the fact I was right, everything I was saying is the truth. Every pirate should know this.
I turned my attention back onto Luffy. Tears were falling from his round eyes from the thought of his crewmates dying in front of him. I stopped in front of my little brother and analyzed him. Fear was creeping inside; my guess is that he's thought of this before but didn't want to admit it. "Lu…" I put my hand on his head and ruffled his hair. "I believe you can become King of The Pirates, but Luffy, you need to train a little more before you can get there." I returned my scythe back to its original charm and hugged my little brother.
"I love you Lu, please listen to me." I whispered into his ear. The boy nodded, "I love you too Red."
Third pov
"So where is this ship coater?" Luffy asked Shakky. Sanji was still out cold, and Zoro was lying on the couch napping. Everyone else's injuries were minor, which made them wonder how much Red was holding back.
Shakky let out a puff of smoke from her cigarette, "you can go find him, I haven't seen him in a year."
"A YEAR!" The Strawhats yelled.
"Hahaha! Uncle has been missing for that long?" Red said with a smile.
"I'll give you a few places to visit, but besides that I can't help you. Red, are you going to help them?"
"Nah, I bet they can find uncle on their own. I want to check a few places out." Red stood up from her seat and gestures for the commanders to follow. They did with confused looks.
"Where are we going Red?" Thatch asked with a smile. She hasn't been to Sabaody in a while, she missed the food they served. Maybe I can get new recipes to try! Red turned to face the commanders, "were going to the human shop!"
"Why are we going there again?" Izo asked, trying to get his thoughts in order. He was behind Red and Marco, struggling to rap his head around Red's thought process.
Red stopped walking and turned around to look at the sixteenth commander. "My brothers are there as well, and most likely my uncle." Red answers in a casual tone, as if it didn't make everything more confusing.
Why would her brothers be there out of all places? They know she used to be a slave, or are they dicks? Why is her uncle there anyways!? Izo went on another one of his mental rants.
"Why is your uncle there, yoi?"
"He sells himself as a slave, then robs his owner for cash. His in massive debt because of his gambling problem."
Ace sighed, "can we go somewhere less soul crushing first? Like a restaurant? I'm freakin hungry!" The second commander whined.
"Fine, fine. There's one up ahead." Ace perked up and trotted along with his crewmates. I swear food is all he thinks about, reminds me of Blue. Red thought with a fond smile.
Thatch pulled Red away from Marco and Ace and stuck her in the middle of her and Izo. Red was confused, but when she saw the knowing looks, she sighed. "What is it now?" Red's defeated voice made the fourth commander smile. "Are you dating yet?" Thatch asked, getting right to the point and making Red flustered.
"N-no, I sa-said I'll give him an answer in three days." Red replied in a low tone.
Izo frowned, "you're delaying it."
Red huffed "No! I kissed him a few times, I want to date him! It's..." her voice went quiet again. Saying those three magical words to Marco is so hard for her, no matter how much she wants to say it. Damnit!
Thatch leaned closer to Red, "what? Come on Red, tell us."
"No matter how much I try… I can't say I love you…" her last sentence was barely a whisper, yet both of them heard it.
"YOU LOVE HIM!" They both shouted from the top of their lungs. Marco and Ace heard them yell, everyone did. Everyone on the grove was staring at them.
She tilted her glowing face down and hid behind Izo to get away from Marco's gaze. "Did you have to yell that?!" Red growled against Izo's kimono.
Thatch waved her hands in the air frantically, "False alarm! She doesn't love him!" That's not helping Thatch!
"Yeah… I don't… because I'm not into that gender..." Izo said in the most awkward way possible. What the hell are you guys trying to do! Red mentally screamed.
Red decided to play along, "Neither am I…" and just like that, things became more awkward. Red didn't know whether or not she was denying the fact that she was in love or if she was straight. Either way, this situation is weird.
Marco and Ace were the most confused by the scene, what are they talking about? "Alright, we'll be going now!" Thatch said. The fourth commander dragged the other two to follow her.
"What was that about?" Ace asked once everyone returned to their activities.
"Nothing.. lets eat." All three of them were embarrassed by what happened, it was so cringy.
/==================================$$===================================\\
Izo is so adorable!
Anyways... I hope you liked the fight scene, first one I've ever made. I know i didn't focus much on Marco's and Red's relationship, but the next chapter will have it. Some Izo x Thatch as well.
Like, Comment, or whatever.