Usopp wakes up the next day late in the afternoon, somehow managing to get a good few hours of dreamless sleep, it takes him a few moments to work up the will power to get up but he manages. Stretching his back and cracking his neck give a satisfying though utterly disgusting loud pop and while scratching his head make's his way up the ladder to the deck, pleased when he notices Apis up and about talking with both Tiny and Karoo laughing happily.
"Finally up are you? Good to see you getting some sleep at least! Here try this, it's a special drink I made!" Sanji speaks up smiling handing him a sparkling glass of a fizzy and fruity smelling drink to which he happily accepts.
'This is really good! Lime, peppermint, passion fruit and citrus mixed with sparkling lemon water and a carbonated extract of some sort to get the fizziness of the drink yeah?' Usopp writes on his expandable white bored since he wouldn't be able to write nearly as much without it. Earning a large earnest and excited grin from Sanji.
"New you would be able to tell! Except it was lemon and blackberry water mixed with crushed basil with a hint of thyme" He adds making him nod in understanding and equal excitement since he never would have guessed the thyme or blackberries like the foodie he is.
"Hey, Usopp! Make us some fishing gear!" Luffy asks slash demands to which he nods at since he has the perfect blueprints for them.
"Fishing sounds good! Usopp could you make some training gear to? After how hurt Apis got last night I think it's time I start training her a bit more" Zoro asks and nodding seriously at that he makes plans to teach Apis about how to use her new weapon as well given the blow up last night.
He's guilty that he was apart of her getting so badly hurt but it did give him valuable data on how to improve things for all involved.
"Hey, you think it will snow?" Luffy asks looking at the sky.
"It's not that it won't snow, the sea was different back there because of all the clashing magnetic fields coming from reverse mountain, the oceans in the grand line are still unpredictable and dangerous so remember the cardinal rule- never underestimate the grand line! HEY ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING TO ME?" Not really Vivi, he already knows all this and the others besides Apis and his darling Tiny are complete idiots.
"They'll pitch in if theirs a blow, they don't wish to die either you know? Here have a drink!" Nami says shrugging.
"Still… I don't like it!" Well, princess, not everyone can have a royal background in seriousness… relax a little! If you don't you'll get wrinkles before you're 30!
"Hey everybody look It's a dolphin!" Sanji calls out.
"A dolphin? Wow! It's huge!" Apis cries in excitement while Usopp is already dashing for the sails after he snapped a few photos of it and everyone else.
"Too big! LETS GO!" Luffy shouts happily and before you know it it's chaos as they all run around trying to get away from the gigantic dolphin lest they drown.
After 15 minutes is when they get another break but Usopp doesn't stop to rest, he has to complete Nami's Clima tact and finish adjusting Apis's whip. He refuses to leave his two female crewmates and friends defenseless when things are only going to get tougher when they reach Little Garden.
He is determined to make Nami and Apis a powerhouse way before the water 7 arc like in the original, Nami will not be a damsel in distress needing to be rescued on his watch and same goes for Apis now that she's apart of the crew.
Though really the one he's most concerned about is Tiny, while he is growing bigger all the time despite his still small size it leaves very little room for him to make any kind of protective armor for him, and until they reach Skypiea he won't be able to build him a protective armor slash weapon to do so either! It's made worse since he doesn't know what to do with him when they reach Alabasta since he can't take such a small hatchling into the harsh desert where danger lurks around every corner!
Ughh it's causing him a panic attack just thinking about it! Sighing he shakes his head and head's to his workroom to finish his work, he'll think about arrangements for Tiny later when he actually has the mental energy to contemplate more than a dozen things at one time.
He manages to finish adjusting Apis's whip and get's around a quarter way done with Nami's weapon when he hears Luffy's shout of excitement.
"THERE IT IS! OUR SECOND DESTINATION IN THE GRAND LINE! LITTLE GARDEN!"
"EXACTLY WHAT PART OF THIS PLACE IS LITTLE!?" Chuckling at Nami's screech he moves to pack up and collect his pack of both homemade and brought tropical medicine and bug spray he paid a heck of a lot of money to acquire back in LogueTown.
While they need Chopper he would feel absolutely wretched if he didn't at least try to prevent Nami or anyone for that matter from getting sick! Especially Nami! Since if there is anyone they truly need to keep all of them safe on these dangerous and unpredictable seas it's her.
Packing up quickly, he grabs the Whip and Whip holster he built for Apis and quickly heads up to snap a billion and one photos of Little garden and also Sabar tooth tigers, he has always loved Sabar tooth tigers, foxes and dinosaurs.
"This island is overgrown and practically uncharted…. It's weird they named it Little Garden don't you think?" Nami, questions curiously.
"I guess, theirs too much chatter for me to understand any of the animals in the jungle to guess why they would call it little" Apis adds on holding Tiny tightly.
"Whatever they decided to name it we'll need to re-stock on food supplies here since Usopp didn't steal any food back on whiskey peak" Usopp huffs at that offended, he's not going to leave all those people hungry even if they are their enemies and he's affronted Sanji even said it.
"Are you sure anything is even edible here? I mean look at everything! It's huge and I've never seen plants like this in any book!" Nami exclaims and that pulls Usopp up short before looking at them himself. He can only recognize a few things even if vaguely from the knowledge… after a bit of thought, he decides to get quite a few cutting's of things since some of it could be medicinal, he'll have done some research and ask for clarification from Chopper later.
KAWWWWW
"EEEEKKK! WHAT WAS THAT?" Nami and Apis screech covering their ears frightened and surprised in Apis's case utterly amusing him at their reactions that he snaps a few pictures of unnoticed for who knows what Nami could consider blackmail for herself.
Friend or not Usopp will use any means necessary to get out of having to pay the money witch if he needs it for something.
"Aww, Nami-swan you're so cute when you're scared! Don't worry this is just a normal jungle and that was just a bird!" Sanji you're a moron for that is not how you comfort someone.
"..? A lizard?"
BOOOOOM!
"DOES THAT SOUND LIKE A NORMAL JUNGLE TO YOU IDIOT? IT'S MORE LIKE A VOLCANO THAT BLEW IT'S TOP!" That's exactly what it was Nami, at least someone has the brains to be terrified with him.
Rustle….
"Eh? A tiger! Wait it's hurt!" Apis cries out worriedly as the Tiger spurts blood and collapses to the side and Usopp mourns for it at least in peace with the knowledge it wasn't a bloody sport poacher he'd have to teach a lesson too, hunting for food is one thing, hunting for sport or pleasure is another and just plain sick to Usopp who believes all life is precious big or small… though he is also a hypocrite admittedly since if he even sees a bug he freaks out and kills it only feeling guilty for it afterward.
"THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING NORMAL ABOUT THIS JUNGLE! WHAT COULD ATTACK A TIGER THAT BIG? THEY ARE THE KING OF THE JUNGLE! I SAY WE DON'T SET FOOT ON THIS ISLAND! Let's just patiently wait on the ship for the log to reset and get the hell out of here! Since we need to get to Alabasta fast!" Nami yells before slightly calming down and while Usopp would agree with her, unfortunately, his fear is mostly held back by the knowledge they would be waiting a year and his curiosity of the stuck in time jungle of prehistoric mammals.
He's also curious of if there are any devil fruits on this island, given just how many people have died here waiting for their log to set. Not that it matters if he does or not since he isn't looking to eat a devil fruit for himself and he will be busy with other tasks but will still keep an eye out for any, never know what could come in handy, especially if things don't work out for Merry as he plans.
"Sanji! Prepare me a pirate's boxed lunch! I smell adventure!" Luffy cries excitedly over large smile on his face and shaking his head he heads towards him to inject with some medication and spray him with bug spray.
"Oh! I'll come too! Usopp can I take Tiny along?" Apis says just as excited and after giving a long look to Tiny who just looks back cutely he shrugs.
'Only if you ensure he doesn't move too far away from you and is covered in this first' Usopp says to her handing Apis a large brown bottle of bug spray and protective coating of any ticks or diseases he modified just for Tiny. He isn't a vet so doesn't know what is safe for Tiny or not so will wait for Chopper to help him before even daring to inject him with anything potentially toxic to him
"What's this?" she asks looking the bottle over.
'Bug spray, tick repellent and a protective coating for any diseases, tropical places like this are full of dangerous and fatal plant's and insects which is why I'll need to treat you as well if you're going off into the jungle'
"Ah! Makes sense! Okay! I'll get Luffy, Vivi, and Karoo for you to treat too!" Apis says in understanding before running off to the others while he just chuckles softly as he starts rubbing in the not very nice smelling liquid into Tiny's scaly and feather coat much to his protests to which he just taps his nose in a sign for him to behave.
"Pe-whee! That stinks! Do we have to put that stuff on?" Luffy questions scrunching his nose as they come over.
'That's just for Tiny and Karoo, I had to make it different for them since they are animals' Usopp explains inwardly laughing at Karoo's shocked expression that he snaps a photo of as well as Tiny since he looks adorable in his pouting.
"Oh okay then!" Luffy grins now just as amused while grabbing a-hold of Karoo before he runs off.
After he finishes thoroughly coating the two in the not so nice smelling stuff he moves on to giving a slight skin test to make sure none of them are allergic to the medicine before injecting them and spraying them in a nicer smelling bug spray. Even if they do wince at the injections since they are slightly more painful then a bug bite and the medicine is thick and strong so feels uncomfortable where injected for a bit.
"That hurt!" Luffy and Apis complain while Vivi just uncomfortably smiles.
"Well at least we have less of a chance of getting sick now, especially without a doctor on board, thanks Mr, Sniper," Vivi says before starting to move off with the others as they begin their adventure on Little Garden.
"WELL ANYWAY LET'S GO!" Luffy shouts almost running into the jungle.
"See you all later!" Apis and Vivi call back waving happily following Luffy.
As they are leaving Usopp is sure to do the same to the others much to Zoro's protests but he somehow manages to get him still long enough to treat him much to his glares, looking very much like an Oni but he ignores it unafraid like he used to be, now fully knowing Zoro would never purposely seriously harm him in any way shape or form.
"Che! Well, I guess I have time now too so I guess I'll go for a walk!" Zoro says walking off with a scowl still on his face and Usopp just stares at him with narrow eyes, he better not wash off the bug repellent or there will be more hell added onto Usopp's list of revenge specifically made for Zoro.
"Zoro wait! Since you're going if you run across anything that looks edible bring it back, we're running out of food" Sanji don't ask Zoro! Knowing him he'll bring something poisonous back! Or worse a rock!
"Will do, I'll be sure to bring something back you could never kill" Zoro why do you have to egg him on? You know exactly what you're doing don't think no one else can tell!
"HOLD IT RIGHT THERE! They are fighting words! You think you can bag a bigger beast then I can?" shaking his head Usopp ignores the moronic duos pissing contest and just grabs an empty large backpack and jumps off himself after injecting himself and spraying his clothes and the back of his neck in the spray.
"NOT YOU TOO USOPP! WHY ME!" Usopp silently chuckles at Nami's screams but ignores it and heads deeper into the jungle.
While he would love to meet Broggy within the next 20 minutes or half hour he has his own self appointed job to do and not a lot of time to do it in, so with a deep breath, he rushes off snapping pictures and collecting plant cuttings as fast and swiftly as he steals.
Usopp made 3 trips to and from the ship with his backpack full to the brim with plant cuttings, unknown but edible fruit and fruit seedlings and a few other things he found interesting like a few fossils and even a new pet! Or lunch since he has no idea what it is because it hasn't yet hatched from the huge egg he found.
He wouldn't' have taken it but it was all alone, cold and had obviously been abandoned and his bleeding heart couldn't just leave it, so after quickly building it a warm and cozy incubator he went off to find Nami and Broggy who had arrived not too long ago but before he had come back.
When he finds them Broggy was still in the middle of cooking the huge chunk of dinosaur meat and Nami was as still as a board. Not that he took much notice besides snapping a few photos because he was in much to much starry-eyed awe seeing Broggy for the first time up close, he really is gigantic! Grinning he snaps a few photos of him before fully coming into the clearing.
"HOHOHO! Another human! Is this a friend of yours girl?" Broggy asks grinning ear to ear and Nami just stiffly nods much to his amusement.
"T-this is Usopp, my shipmate, He can't talk…" Nami shakily explains looking with her eyes to him to help and Usopp just shakes his head and indicates Broggy is safe much to her disbelief.
"HOHOHO! Mute huh! Well nice to meet ya human! I'm Broggy! The greatest warrior of Elbaph! Join us for some grub! It's almost done!" Broggy exclaims patting the ground and grinning behind his mask Usopp eagerly sits next to Nami even when she gives him a betrayed look so he quickly writes on his whiteboard.
'It's okay, I have read about giant's and they are honorable beings, He won't eat us, we wouldn't even pass as a snack to them' Usopp stats to her slightly untrusting gaze.
"Do you not see all the human bones around! He is probably just trying to fatten us up so we can classify as a snack!" Nami whispers to him harshly and he just shakes his head even while shivering at all the dead bones around.
'They probably died waiting for the log to set, none of the bones are crushed and I highly doubt these bones came out completely intact from his rear end' Usopp sarcastically writes down gaining a sharp elbow to the side for his trouble.
"Disgusting! Don't even joke about that! Mph! still, I guess your right… I'll ask him" she huffs before stiffly turning to face Broggy.
"U'um Mr. Broggy… how long does the log take to set on the island" she asks much too timidly for her usual spitfire self and Usopp snaps another picture pointedly ignoring her glare.
"Mm? one year! So make yourselves comfortable! HOHOHO!"
Usopp doubles over laughing at Nami's expression and defeated form snapping a few photos as he goes. The painful punch to his side is completely worth it though.
"There! It's ready! Eat up! Dinosaur meat if delicious!" Broggy states placing the much too big chunk of meat on a leaf in front of them and while Nami declines Usopp just opens a pouch filled with a small foldable bowl, plate knife, and fork and cuts a few slices off before digging in, pleasantly surprised. It is good though it could use a few more spices and some tomato sauce.
After eating his fill Usopp opens his whiteboard to as far as it will go and writes something down before going as close to Broggy as he dares.
'Know any Elbaph recipes?'
"HOHOHO! Do I ever! It's been a while since I have dined on true Elbaph cuisine! Okay, human listen up and I'll tell you some of the greatest Elbaph recipes I know!" Broggy states and before you know it Usopp is eagerly writing down a whole notebook full of Elbaph recipes from back when Broggy still lived on the island. Usopp can't wait to try them!
"U-um Broggy? Why do you live on this island all alone?" Nami questions having given up and are now eating a small slice of meat herself.
"Mm? Well, I'm not alone! Another giant lives on the other side, you see us giant's of Elbaph live by a code, when theirs a dispute and neither side will yield, the god of Elbaph decides the matter! Our god protects the one who is right and lets him live, so for the past hundred years I have been fighting him but nothings been settled yet! HOHOHO!" Broggy goes on laughing and Usopp inwardly fanboy's practically shaking at how utterly cool that is! Usopp wishes he had even a toothpick the amount of honor Broggy and Dorry hold!
Even if he knows what started the stupid fight and hopes to figure up a decent enough argument so they can go back to traveling the world as pirates.
BOOOOOM!
"Well! That's my cue! Better get going for you see it was decided ages ago that the eruption of dead center mountain.. would be the signal for battle!" Broggy says standing up and Usopp snaps a billion photos of both Broggy and Dorry fighting since it is so, so utterly cool! Terrifying but cool!
"And the reason we fight this battle of honour…. I can't remember! ARGGGG!"
Usopp is dead the sheer amount of awesomeness has killed him… is what would have happened if Usopp didn't need to check something first.
"Now's our chance! Usopp let's leave!" Nami says but he still shakes his head and moves over to the barrels of grog and is unsurprised to see it's been tampered with slightly. Removing the disgusting explosive boogers while promising to burn his gloves later he then secures the lid back on and puts a rock on both of the barrels each tied with a little bell on them to make sure they aren't tampered with again.
He utterly refuses to allow any harm to come to these two true warriors… If they still do well then at least he tried, he can't do anything more then his best.
"Geez! This fight is a pain! I just don't get this warrior stuff!" Nami huffs sitting back down on the log obviously not willing to enter the dangerous jungle without him, not that he blames her, she doesn't yet have a weapon capable of utterly destroying foes, let alone powerful ones like devil fruit users.
'I guess it is hard to put into proper context, but it's a truly magnificent thing to witness' Usopp writes watching the fight avidly, not even daring to blink.
"What's so magnificent about it? Just seems like to guys bashing each other up to me!" Nami says shrugging and Usopp chuckle's, sure Nami knows more about it then she even realizes.
'Let me put it this way, they are fighting for honor and while their honor fight is most likely over something silly, in a way… and in very different extremes it's sort of what you yourself did with Arlong, while doing everything you could to protect your village, you fought for yourself and your villages honor and protection, they fight for honor and pride to themselves' Usopp writes trying to put it in a better prospective for her and Nami is surprised and silent for a while before turning to gaze back to the giants fight.
"…I guess… still, think it's stupid though!" Nami sighs with a small smile and Usopp grins behind his mask at the sight. Glad she is learning how to smile and talk slightly about her past even if only a little.
When the fight is over Usopp decides it's his time to leave, he has a lot to do, and he's not needed just yet
Usopp leaves before Nami even realizes and chuckles when he hears her screeching.
Moving through the trees swiftly Usopp curses plot lines and fate as he saw Dorry go down, though luckily it wasn't from the grog but the food. Usopp didn't interfere with Luffy's and Dorry's follow up fight.. though guilty he still took a few photos of the fight since it was tragic but cool.
Knowing he didn't have much time left he took off almost a blur through the trees before coming to a sudden stop causing him to face plant into the ground but uncaring about that he looks up spotting something surprising, he blinks in utter shock for a few seconds before grinning, packing what he found in his bag and running off again.
When he spots his target he grits his teeth in anger, it takes a lot to get him angry but interfering with a true blue warriors battle where honor is everything? Well, that angers him! So making sure he is unseen and far enough away he readies his slingshot and loads a single pointed shaved off sea stone flake coated bullet.
Just before the number 3 freak uses his power to make Dorry slip he fires with a smirk before dashing off again unseen more than pleased at Mr. 3's howl of pain and rage. Usopp doesn't yet know how to work with sea stone but scraping off a few rock shavings is easy enough and more then good enough for his purposes.
Usopp doesn't go too far away though, call him cruel but he absolutely refuses to not get a photo of Zoro, Vivi and Nami on a giant candle like candles in a birthday cake! Also Zoro's posing…. Well, that's definitely one for the photo album.
Laughing harshly, all but choking on to death clutching his throat in pain Usopp can't help himself from laughing at Zoro, Vivi and Nami looking like candles on a birthday cake, it was all he could do to take photo's without his hands shaking and messing up his to perfect photo's.
While he knows this is a serious situation he still finds it somewhat funny, though he is pleased to see Mr, 3's wax powers aren't working at full strength and the bastard is still bleeding sluggishly with sweat beading on his brow from the sea stone dust and flakes no doubt still in his wound.
When Zoro states he'll cut off his legs he huffs irritated when he realizes the dialog is different in the way that he adds on that HE could easily just build him some prosthetics later. He most certainly will not! The moron can deal with his own stupidity! Leave him out of it!
When Zoro is about to pierce his legs with his swords he fires a white smoke star and a few normal pachinko balls preventing him from even TOUCHING his legs with his swords just as Luffy, Karoo Apis, and Tiny come rushing in and in the split second they enter the field Usopp is seeing red.
Tiny is burnt and clearly injured.
They hurt Tiny…
THEY.
HURT.
TINY!
Expression twisting grotesquely, safely hidden away by the mask he wears Usopp plans on teaching the fucking bomb head a lesson he won't soon forget!
"HEY JERKS! GET READY TO DIE!" Well said, Luffy! He thinks reading his slingshot with a very special bullet or two aiming directing at the bomb bastard.
"Duck! Apis! Tiny! Let's beat these guys!" Luffy shouts a serious expression on full force as the others follow suit… even his precious Tiny! He will have to have a talk with Luffy later about encouraging Tiny to fight when he is physically incapable to do so yet let alone even attempt to defend himself.
"RIGHT! RAW! QUACK!"
"Don't worry Mr, Broggy! We'll help you pay them back!" Apis cries whip in hand just as injured as Tiny.
"Luffy! Apis! Tiny! Karoo! You're here! Thank god!" Nami cries out in relief and Usopp scowls again, Tiny can't fight or defend himself yet! Don't include him in your mental escape plans!
"BATTER THESE CREEPS BEYOND RECOGNITION AND DROWN THEM IN THE OCEAN!" Nami shouts after a moment shark teeth and all, pissed at almost being turned into a human candle.
"Got it! These buttholes ruined the giant's battle! Hurt Tiny! Possibly made Usopp pissed with me and Apis and now… Now we'll make them pay!" Pleased at that Usopp decides to go easy in his talk with Luffy later since he obviously knows what's what when it comes to his precious little one.
"So you're the one with the highest bounty in the east blue? My they sure have lowered their standards! You don't even look decent enough to turn into my art!" Scowling at that Usopp heavily disagrees, art is a form of expression, to create something from nothing, but pure imagination, intent and whatever is available is art.
This guy is just covering people in wax and paint with no direction! That is not true art! It's nothing more than a morbid lazy copout that takes only a few seconds when true art takes time passion and emotion!
"WOW! Look at that weird hair! It's a three and it's on fire!"
"SHUT UP!"
"NEVER MIND THAT LUFFY! JUST BREAK THE PILLaR BEHIND US!" Nami screams and Usopp just shakes his head no since that's plain stupid, just knock off the spinning wax pumpkin with the flames, and you'll be golden.
"Oh, you guys are in danger?" Obviously, they are dumbass!
"Nope! No problem here! Just break the pillar when your ready, we'll let you finish up here first!" Zoro as cool and handsome as you look right now please be a little more self-safety conscious!
"Sure thing!"
"I'm afraid I can't let you do that!"
"Too bad! Blah! I'm gonna wreck it!" Luffy says seriously fist out while sticking his tongue out and it is so ridiculous looking Usopp puts his weapon down for a split second to snap a photo of it.
"Just hurry up! Were getting stiff here!"
"You got it Nami! We'll get you out!" Apis calls snapping her whip while Tiny stands beside her with his chest pumped out and giving a raw not even a mouse would be frightened of and Usopp WILL most certainly be having serious words… of sorts with him later!
"Just what are you doing!?"
"If I'm going to be a statue I want a cool pose like this"
Hearing that Usopp suppresses a laugh and snaps a few photo's of the stupid scene before readying his ammo again back towards Mr, 5, ignoring everything else he takes a short breath before firing a Sea bath Star and icy cage.
Revenge is a dish best served cold and that's just what he's giving to the bomb bastard.
No one hurts his Tiny!
KA-BOOOOOM! WHOOOSH!
"GAHHHH! W-W-W-WHAT T-T-T-H-THE FU-FUCK!?" Mr, 5 screams and stutters out as sea water drenches him head to toe and icicles form rapidly causing him to shiver uncontrollably.
"Usopp! You're okay! WHERE DID YOU GO!?" Nami screams at him after he steps out into the clearing pissed he had left her alone but Usopp ignores her for the moment. In a humid and hot tropical place like this water dries fast and ice melts quickly.
Given the murderous glare Mr, 5 and the small explosive sparks he's letting off he knows it too.
"I'm going t-to k-kill, you kid!" Mr, 5 grit's out, and Usopp just lets out a silent nervous chuckle and fires an, X explosion star his way before getting the heck out of dodge Mr, 5 swiftly following suit. Miss Valentine moves to follow but is held up by Apis.
"No, you don't! I'm your opponent now!" Apis growls out and Usopp can almost hear the silent and unsaid bitch she most likely wanted to tack on but didn't.
Good girl.
"Get back here you bastard!"
Kaboom!
Inwardly screaming at the close call of the booger bomb Usopp dodges a few more rounds, twisting and turning in ways a person shouldn't while firing off his own shots of Sea bath Stars, icy cages and X explosions as he maneuvers them both further away from the battle with the others to a larger area for his plan.
Devil fruits are scientific marvels and defy, all commonly known logic to man but it is still science and follows the same basic rules as everything else even if humans haven't found the root cause yet.
"DAMN! I DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE TO USE THIS!" Mr, 5 screams out and Usopp catches a glance of a revolver pistol in his side vision and curses.
Bang!
Usopp managed to stop just in time from getting shot in the head and turns to face the bomb bastard fully.
"Colour me surprised, you managed to dodge my new 44. Caliber 6 shot flintlock revolver, it's all the rage back in the south blue and with me doing the shooting you'll never know what hit you" Talk is cheap and Usopp could make something a heck of a lot more dangerous with his knowledge if he was so inclined he thinks smugly to himself while gritting his teeth since right now his gun is much faster then his slingshot.
"Oh! I forgot to tell you! My breath is explosive too" Didn't need to since he already knew!
"Breeze breath bomb!" Usopp attempts to dodge but it's already too late and Usopp can't see the wind.
KABOOM!
In a silent painful scream of agony, Usopp goes flying into a few trees snapping them clean in two as he has finally, been hit by Mr, 5.
Coughing harshly for a few moments, when he finally manages to catch his breath it's gone again as an explosive foot hit's his stomach hard.
"Heh, finally got you monkey bastard, how's it feel to be beaten by the enemy you knowingly helped heal eh?" Mr, 5 smirks smugly amused and Usopp inwardly curses, He thought he had knocked them both out cold! He forgot about devil fruits superior immunity defenses!
Boom!
"Why did you bother healing your enemies anyway?"
Boom! Boom!
"To try and sway us to your side?"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
"Or are you just a fool with a bleeding heart?"
KA-BOOM!
With each mocking question, multiple explosions ring out agonizingly against his person, each kick breaking ribs, burning skin, and melting flesh. It takes all it has in him not to black out from the pain and lack of breath.
"Heh, I suppose I should at least know the face of the person who treated me before I kill them" Mr, 5 states reaching down to take off his mask and though weak Usopp just smirks and uses his quick draw land a few X explosion Stars face first making him back of a few steps and taking the chance for what it is, fires another special bullet while inwardly whispering before blacking out from the pain and ensuing blast.
'Red smoke Star!'
KAAAAAAA-KAAAAAA-KAAAAAA-BOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
The earth shakes around him and goes up in flames.
"Something is very wrong here! They have been gone a long time and if it was just the moss head he wouldn't care since he gets lost in straight lines but the others? AH! Could something have happened to Nami-Swan, Vivi-chan, Apis-chan, and Usopp-kun!? Not that he would be caught dead calling the masked bastard Kun of all things!" Sanji wonders and frets looking around for any sign of the others or that he was heard.
Usopp's not a chick but he's almost as sensitive and emotional as one and needs to be looked after less he gets himself killed like last time, not to mention he's the only one on the ship who knows anything about cooking and Sanji very much enjoys their chats on the subject, he's almost like the little brother he had never been blessed with.
Shaking his head of those depressive thoughts and definitely not wanting to think on the other bastards who share his blood Sanji heads off since now is no time to making a lizard dinner.
"Na-mi! Vi-Vi! Apis-chan! Where are you! I love you!" he calls out into the jungle atop the cat that tried to take him for a meal before spotting a strange little white wax house.
"What's this thing?" opening the door he looks around the weird place and takes a few steps' inside when a snail phone starts ringing. Lifting a brow he walks over and picks it up.
"This is the shitty café! how may I take your order?" he jokes while taking a seat.
"Shut up fool! This is no time for joking, you have been gone a long time… have you taken care of them or not Mr, 3?" tensing up Sanji raises a brow.
Thinking for a moment Sanji realizes that this must be Mr, 3's place, one of the guys who want to kill Vivi so the guy on the other end of the snail-phone must be Mr, Zero, one of the seven warlords of the sea. What a spot! Were still being hunted… he hopes the others are okay!
"Why hesitate? I asked you a question… have you killed princess Vivi and the Straw-hats?"
"…Oh yeah, you can call off the hunt, everyone who knew your secret has been eliminated, mission accomplished" Sanji lies through his teeth if they can get to the next island without being followed all the better for them.
"Good work, the unluckies are on their way to confirm the job is done and deliver an eternal pose to Alabasta, head here with miss Goldenweek, it's time to begin the most crucial part of our plan, when you arrive await further orders" Sanji is amused this warlord guy is believing his bullshit so easily, guess all the code names and secrecy doesn't work as well as this guy hoped but… what are those things?
Sanji and the two animal creatures have a weird stare off but the animals don't even move and though weird he ignores them.
"Got it boss"
"This will be our last electronic communication, we can't have the navy catching on to us, hereafter you will take your orders directly like in the past"
Click
"Huh… he hung up?" Sanji mumbles before laying the phone back down with a shrug before looking back at his two quests.
"And what are you two supposed to be?" he asks the strange vulture and otter but just gets a brown box shoved in his face before the two fly off.
Blinking strangely at what just happened Sanji opens the box surprised to find an eternal pose to Alabasta and a letter addressed to a Mr, long nose… guess it means those were the unluckies but why address a letter to Usopp?
He'll have to ask him later for now he's got to find the others.
"Get off me you brat!" Miss Valentine shouts but Apis ignores her and just pulls tighter on her whip where she managed to get it wrapped around her ankle.
"That does it!" Her opponent huffs annoyed before using her devil fruit powers to float up into the air and Apis grins, for that is just what she wanted her to do.
"What goes up must come down! This is for hurting Tiny! Ugly!" Apis cries before pressing a button into the side of the handle and twisting as hard as she can downwards and Valentine widens her eye's in surprise as she screeches and crash's to the ground after getting a good dose of electricity running through her body.
Apis uncoils the whip from the electrocuted woman after the dust settles and grins at a job well done before Tiny gives a cry of warning.
'Apis the lady is getting back up!'
"Just who are you calling ugly brat?"
"Kyaa!" Apis screams as what feels like 100 kilos are bashed into her side from the unexpected kick to her side.
"Brats should know not to mess with their better's, though then again what can I expect from a crewmate of that fool of a sniper! Can you believe he was stupid enough to heal mr, 5 and 1? Kyahahaha!" Miss Valentine mocks and Apis grits her teeth in anger.
"Usopp is not a fool! He's kind and more then you could ever be ugly!" Apis shouts out at the women mocking her older brother figure, unsurprised Usopp was kind enough to help even their enemies because he's super amazing like that.
Krack!
"I said… who are you calling ugly!" Miss Valentine screams out a hideous expression twisting across her otherwise pretty features as Apis screams.
"Apis! Need any help!?" Luffy cries out in his battle with mr, 3 but Apis shakes her head and grits her teeth.
"No! I'm good Luffy!" she manages out as she coils her whip in a fast figure 8 towards her opponent managing to wrap her whip around her out stretched leg tightly and pressing two buttons this time watches pleased as Miss Valentine goes down screaming, shivering and twitching from the water and electricity now covering her head to toe.
"Alright then! Take this! Gum-Gum hammer!"
Ignoring Luffy's fight for the most part Apis hobbles up and after making sure she is down for good this time quickly makes her way to the others who by now has fully turned to wax and with a heave extends and wraps her whip completely around them while twisting the top of the grip handle while pressing a button hidden beneath it and covers her eyes as fire lights her friends up like fireworks.
"HOW DARE YOU RUIN MY SPEACIAL CANDLEBRA!" Mr 3 shouts enraged as Luffy punches him away from her and the others.
"What heat! Was that really nessercary Apis?" Nami asks stepping out of the flames to which she grins widely.
"Sorry, Nami! There was no other way!"
"Well at least where alive and free now, that's the main thing"
"I just hope Usopp got my good side, he no doubt took photos of us as birthday candle statues" Zoro jokes, stepping down as well
"He better not have! I'll kill him otherwise!" Nami says good naturedly, and Apis grins wider.
"Heh! It's good to be alive" Zoro grins picking off a few stray pieces of wax off himself.
"HOHOHO! Aye! That it is! Only two left to fight now!" Broggy says sitting up himself.
'Apis Carer not back yet… I'm worried' Tiny states and turning to him Apis gently picks him up.
"Don't worry Tiny, Usopp's strong and real smart! I'm sure he's fine and will be back in no time" Apis comforts him and Tiny just gives a little nod back while staring off into the jungle where Usopp ran off.
When Usopp wakes up it's too the smell of smoke, fire, blood and a whole shit ton of pain. Half his pants and top are gone and Usopp is actually surprised all of his many pockets, pouches, and everything else is somehow still completely intact though he's glad for it, it would have been a complete pain to have to replace all his tools and ammo.
Slowly and painfully sitting up Usopp looks around for mr, 5 and spots him down, bleeding, burnt practically stripped naked and completely out cold and he sighs in relief at that.
Crawling over to his downed opponent Usopp starts treating his and mr, 5's wounds, call him stupid but he has no real hatred for him besides him hurting Tiny and he has no right to judge his life choices. Usopp would feel incredibly shitty if he didn't at least help him out a little.
Usopp finishes his treatment of mr, 5 with an injection and bug spray and covering him with a good many bandages and with a thin but good towl to stop any bugs or other crappy things from getting to him.
Done with both of them Usopp goes off to meet back up with the others and treat their wounds and make sure Tiny is okay.
When he makes it back to the clearing Dorry is up and about and he sighs in relief at not changing too much of the time line, he would have felt utterly wretched if Dorry had actually died this time around.
"Usopp your back!" Apis calls out happily running towards him with Tiny in tow before jumping on him in a hug a huge grin on her face.
"Usopp I totally beat that Valentine woman thanks to the whip you built me! And I did it on my own to!" Apis brags excitedly and Usopp just chuckles softly at her excitement while patting her head gently in praise before gently picking up Tiny from the ground where he was rubbing against his legs and checks him over, sighing in relieve to see Nami, Apis or Vivi had treated his injuries before hugging him gently but tightly to his chest while stroking his head gently.
After that little bonding time, Luffy bounds over with some rice crackers exclaiming something about a cracker party…
"Woah Usopp you look awful! Come on! Let's have a cracker party! Apis and Tiny you join too!" Usopp huff's at that remark before slapping him over the head, Luffy doesn't look so dandy himself so he's on to talk!
"Hahaha! A cracker party sounds fun! Lets eat!" Apis and Tiny cheer, sitting down with Luffy eating crackers and Usopp joins them only because Tiny and Apis still have a hold on him.
"HOHOHO! You little guys saved our lives! I had totally forgotten their was a price on our heads! HAHAHA!" Dorry and Broggy laugh boisterously and Usopp grins at the sight while writing on his whiteboard and asking Apis to speak to the giants for him to which she widens her eyes but grins in understanding.
"…they only came to this island because of me… OUCH!"
"Don't even think about it! No ones mad at you and it wasn't you're fault"
"She's right Vivi! Don't worry about it! Want a cracker?"
"Where did you even get those?"
"Paint girl had em"
"Geeze! You're an idiot! Apis don't you dare turn out like them!"
"Ahahaha!"
Usopp enjoys the moment of peace they have after the battle, it's good to relax sometimes.
"Ah! Nami! Vivi! Apis and you guys! You're all safe! Thank goodness!" Sanji calls sweeping into the clearing like a strange heart shaped twister and Usopp inwardly laughs at Nami smacking him over the head for not being here sooner.
"Wha-What! Are you mr, 3!?" Sanji the giant is not mr 3, you really need to get a clue.
"What! How do you know about Mr, 3?" Nami questions surprised.
"Wow! Nami your beautiful!" Sanji get your head out of the gutter!
"Where were you stupid love-cook? figures you wouldn't be here for the actual fight" Zoro smirks pissing Sanji off and Usopp sighs at the predictable response.
"SHUT IT MOSS HEAD! I'll have you know I just had a very interesting conversation with mr, Zero!" Sanji exclaims while placing his jacket around Nami's shoulders.
"You mean a little awhile ago you actually spoke with Mr. Zero?" Vivi asks shocked.
"That's right, he thought I was mr, 3 so I told him we were all dead"
"Seriously? Well, that's a relief I guess" Vivi sighs.
"Were still stuck on this island though since none of the other eternal log-poses we have to go anywhere near Alabasta!" Nami says and Usopp want's to point out that is not true!
"Were stuck here? But why since we now have this!" Sanji asks bringing out the Alabasta eternal log pose and Usopp snaps a few photos of the hilarious sight of everyone but him dropping their jaws, this is sure to go into the blackmail scrapbook!
"An eternal pose to Alabasta! Yes, now we can go!" Apis and Luffy cheer.
"IF YOU HAD THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE SAID SO SOONER!" Bang! "Owe! Nami-swan your beautiful even when you're angry!"
"THANK YOU SANJI! I HAD ALMOST LOST HOPE!" Vivi beware who it is you hug, the wolf does not live far.
"Hehe I didn't know you'd be so happy~~~" Whelp Sanji, you are the prince of perverts.
"Alright, it's time to go" Nami stats bringing Luffy away from the three rice cracker party he was trying to host.
"You guys are leaving already? Well, it's sad to see you go but I won't stop you! I hope you save your kingdom" Dorry says and Usopp nudges Apis to speak to the giants alone just before they leave.
"BYE giants! I hope you don't kill each other!" Luffy that is practically what they are trying to do.
When they get to the ship everyone but Sanji goes about changing their clothes for stuff intact and when he comes out it's to Sanji and Zoro bickering about whos catch is bigger which he frowns out.
Animals should not be harmed for a stupid hunting contest.
"Take a good long look! It's obvious my lizard's bigger"
"Are you blind? It's obviously my rhino!" That is not a rhino Zoro… learn your animals.
"Who care's! They both look good to eat!"
"YOU SHUT UP!"
"Usopp you agree with me right! My rhino's bigger!" Zoro asks and Usopp just taps his foot not impressed in the least.
'They are two different animals in both size, weight and everything else and hunting for a contest is utterly despicable' Usopp writes before stalking off not noticing Zoro's stiff stricken look and Sanji's follow up teasing resulting in a fight breaking out.
"Usopp I'm back! I told them what you told me to and they agreed! They won't fight any more!" Apis whispers to him quietly and Usopp grins behind his mask, this is perfect and now another part of his plan's can go forward depending on Dorry and Broggy's actions from here on out.
'Thanks Apis good job!' Usopp writes before moving to put down the sails.
"Hey look! The giants came to see us off!" Luffy shouts out pointing to the two grinning ear to ear, weapons in hand as they face forward look strong pillars of cool that he snaps a photo of.
"There is one big reason you little people won't reach the next island!"
"What! No way! What is it!?" Apis and Luffy shout surprised.
"You risked your lives to defend our honour…. And thanks to your masked friend and the child we no longer have a reason to fight any longer on this island! So now! No matter what we will not allow any enemy to trample on our friends pride!" Dorry speaks and Usopp and Apis shy away from the shocked and startled looks they receive.
"Have faith in us and no matter what happens…. SAIL STRAIGHT AHEAD!" Broggy bellows.
"OKAY! WE'LL SAIL STRAIGHT AHEAD!" Luffy he is right here there is no need to shout.
"I hope we meet again!" Dorry says with a grin with Broggy smoothly following along suit "Yes! I hope so to…in the New World!"
"Kyaa! What's that!? Something big is coming out of the sea!" Apis shouts.
"There it is! You will make way! The honour of Elbath is at stake!"
"It's a sea monster! Turn the ship! Hurry or we'll be eaten!" Nami shouts at him and Usopp shakes his head despite his rapidly shaking frame.
"Right! The giants said straight ahead so where going straight ahead!" Luffy grins, excitement etched visibly on his face and Usopp just sighs since it's not like they haven't been eaten by a sea beast before.
"DON'T BE INSANE! This isn't like Laboon!" True but you didn't know Laboon was part submarine at the time then either Nami.
"I know! But I trust the giants! Here have the last rice cracker!" Usopp huffs at that, he wanted it!
"NO THANK YOU!" So he can have it then?
Rice crackers aside Usopp is more terrified then he's ever been in his life! He knows they will be fine but it's still terrifying! Though now that he thinks about did original Usopp have a knowledge base like his own on a much lower scale that he believed it was simply an overactive imagination? It would certainly explain a lot of his almost prophetic fibs and stories!
"Straight ahead!"
WHOOOSH! BANG!
"WHOAH WHERE FLYING!" yes they are and Usopp is not happy! He is hurt enough thank you! He doesn't need more bruises to add to it!
"MAY GOOD FORTUNE ACCOMPONY YOU ALWAYS! SEE YOU IN THE NEW WORLD FRIENDS!"
Usopp is in his little nest, just relaxing for a while more before working on Nami's weapon again while thinking what to do about Chopper since as far as he can tell no one is that injured or sick. Not that that's a bad thing since Usopp is pleased his stuff worked but it still means he has to come up with a way to reach the kingdom without a name right now.
After a while, Usopp get's up before pausing since something… doesn't feel… quite right….
Usopp doesn't know what happened, only that the world turned black along with his consciousness for a few short minutes, the next time he comes to it's to blurry vision and a distinctly uncomfortable heat burning inside him.
It takes a few minutes but he inwardly chuckles at fate's way of fixing the plotline, he had forgotten he had only put bug spray on any exposed skin and his clothes that burnt up in his fight with mr, 5.
At least this means he won't have to worry about what to do about getting chopper… for now, though he thinks sleep is a mighty fine idea and he won't even need pills to do it he's so exhausted right now. So closing his eyes Usopp falls asleep knowing one of the others will find him soon enough or Tiny will complain to Apis about his scent or something along those lines.
Tiny's an adorable little sweetheart like that… though Luffy and Sanji better not find or hurt his egg otherwise Usopp will do worse in his revenge to them then he will to Zoro.
Staring at the crows nest Tiny wonders when his human is coming down, he's been up there an awfully long time, much longer then usual when his human needs some time to himself away from the other and not working on his human inventions.
Apis is taking a nap and Luffy is doing something strange again, the blond human is in the food den and the door is closed, Nami is scary and Vivi is with Apis reading and Karoo is no help since he cant fly which leaves only Zoro to help since Tiny is still too small to fly yet.
Nodding to himself Tiny walks to where Zoro is working out and tries to get his attention.
"Roar!"
"Mm? What do you want?" Zoro asks not even pausing in his training.
"Roar! Roar! Grrr!" it's difficult getting the green one to understand since he's an idiot but pulling slightly at his pants leg he walks off, pausing at the stairs and looking at him before indicating for him to follow.
"Geez, what do you want?" Zoro stops himself short of insulting him since last time he did his human scolded him and ignored him for the rest of the day. His humans mate prospect didn't like that at all and Tiny was smug the rest of that day, his human could do better in his opinion than the green one even if he is strong.
"Roar!" Tiny stops at the mast and tries to climb it to get him to understand, earning a raised brow with him looking up himself.
"Isn't Usopp up there? What you want me to check on him or something?" Zoro asks and Tiny nods happily glad the idiot understands for once.
Zoro shrugs and makes his way up not about to turn down an opportunity to check on the man and when he gets up he pauses at the sleeping form of Usopp, something doesn't seem quite right and he can hear his breathing is off, climbing over into the crows nest Zoro shakes Usopps shoulder trying to get him to wake up and when he doesn't he puts his hand on the back of Usopps bare neck and growing concerned when it boiling hot.
Picking him up carefully Zoro scales down the mast to the floor and over to Nami, The which should know what's wrong with him if the idiot got himself sick.
"Oi Nami something's wrong with Usopp! He's burning up, you know what's wrong with him?" He asks placing Usopp down carefully as Nami comes over quickly.
"What? No way he really is! This is bad, I know the rapid changes in weather can cause one to get sick but Usopp is more careful then all of us! It must have been something on Little Garden that made him sick despite his precautions!" Nami deduces and calls everyone over to decide what to do, if she's right and it was something on the island she doesn't have the skills to treat it.
Noting his human's sick form Tiny runs over crooning in worry, his human is hot, very hot and he can smell the strong scent of Illness wafting off of him in waves. His humans aura is also fluckturating rapidly, wavering to and fro from it's usual calming and luminescent green, blue and pink to a dark brown, yellow with hints of black that worry him more then anything else.
Black means death and his human can't die! Tiny won't allow it! Not when his aura is so bright, so clear and pure, earnest and kind and just everything so overwhelmingly good it's addicting to any dragon sensitive to such.
Such auras mean fate's chosen one in dragons lore and history and always leads to positive changes to the worlds otherwise normal fate and a destiny as bright as the sun, Luffy has one as well but not like his humans, his humans is softer, brighter and clearer and oh so much kinder and just all around amazing it dazzles and sparkles and shines like a lone star in the otherwise bare night sky.
His human can't die…. He just can't.
Absolutely no way will Tiny allow it!
Word Count: 9447
Would anyone be interested in me posting another story set in the One Piece world I have in the works? It's a genius Gamer OC who makes her own pirate crew unwittingly when hiring people to work for her budding merchant business…
Even if you don't I may post it anyway even if I don't continue it like I will this one and Aki Heartfilla but either way I'm curious.
OnepieceZoroOc thanks you for reading!
P.S one more thing do people mind the switching povs thing? I won't stop but I can lessen it to fights and Tiny if you do.