CHAPTER 1 - Prison Break
Everyone was out cold. Their battle ended before anyone had realised it. The ship of Thriller Bark was as calm as the breeze they blew in from the sea. Tramps were heard. Big ones at that. The Captain of the Straw Hat Pirates was out cold. His fight with Warlord Moria took its toll on its body, and little did Straw Hat Luffy realise that his life was in danger. The tramps closed. Luffy was knocked out and there was no hope of him getting up. A large rock lay above him. The obstacle was a mere speck of dust for the one who touched the heavy stone. It flew like a cannonball.
Warlord Bartholomew Kuma wasn't a man of mercy. Thus his moniker of the 'Tyrant' suited him well. He wasn't to spare the life of Monkey D. Luffy.
"Lion's Song!"
A ray of hope dashed through the air cutting a fragment of the Tyrant's arm. Spark exposed. Swordsman Zoro couldn't sit idle as the Warlord attempts to take away his captain. The swordsman was surprised to find the hard metal body of the modified Kuma.
"So you are a cyborg like Franky, huh? Not quite, you are made of something tougher than he is." he observed.
A laser beam was let loose.
...
"The only way you'll back down is to give you Luffy's head?"
"That is the only compromise I'm willing to offer."
"You want a head? Then I'll give you a head." Zoro bows in front of the might Warlord, "However I can't give you my Captain's. You'll have to take mine instead. Please settle for that…"
...
"…what's the point of ambition if I can't even save my Captain." Zoro declared.
"LUFFY IS THE MAN WHO'LL BECOME KING OF THE PIRATES!"
"Real cute! Stop trying to show me up!" Sanji entered.
The ship entered into a fog, back into the shrouds of the Florian Triangle.
...
"Listen, you giant oaf!" Sanji bellowed upon an upstanding Kuma, "If you are taking a head, take mine. The government doesn't consider me a serious threat right now, but you'll regret not taking my head over his once I start making trouble. Now's the chance to take on Black Leg Sanji!"*
The giant ship crashed onto solid ground. Zoro and Sanji were thrown from their stance, weakened as they were from the vicious battles against Moria and his crew that dragged on long enough. It was a miracle that they were standing. Kuma could've ended their mortal coil without much effort. Zoro surrendered his head, so did Sanji. There was no point in continuing the battle. Warlord Kuma disappeared and returned back in a few moments. He scouted the land that they had stumbled upon. He gave his verdict.
"If that's what you want, I give you my word. I won't take Straw Hat's head. But I shall offer you death as I see fit."
"You have our respect." Zoro acknowledged.
"You shall fight to the death." Kuma mentioned.
"What?" Sanji was surprised. They were in no strength to continue a fight against the Warlord, let alone a victory. But then again, it was better to die fighting than give up their head as a sacrifice.
"Very well. Just let us pick the location." Zoro said.
Kuma agreed. Zoro led the way and discovered the island that they had made ashore.
"This should do." Zoro said as they walk along the shore, far from the bridge, "Please do us a favour and let the ship sail afterwards. We don't want them to discover." Zoro explained.
Sanji agreed with him.
"Very well." Kuma mentioned, "Now, you'll experience a living hell."
"Alright, Moss Head. This is it then?" Sanji asked.
"I never expected to alongside you, Stupid Cook." Zoro replied, drawing his blades.
The decisive battle took place. Zoro and Sanji gave their all to make any significance, but Kuma destroyed them with a single shock from both his palms.
The sight turned dark in their eyes.
The shroud of the Florian Triangle gave way into the island, but it seemed that the whole place was a nest of the unknown. Dark shrouded the forest. A large stronghold stood amidst the end of its labyrinth. The place was defended by a large force of troops.
A member of the group named Black Fang, Leila was a cautious woman that set the perimeter with strict surveillance. They were in the Dread Isle and anything could've gone wrong. During her surveillance, her band of misfits had found two strangers knocked out cold on the beach. Upon her command, they were spared from death but were brought back to the fortress, only to be imprisoned.
It was a sinister night and deep thoughts were discussed amidst the council of villains that shared major agendas in the fortress. The location was of significance and was named the Dragon's Gate for some reason.
Zoro woke up after a long swoon, finding Sanji in the same cell. The former was deprived of his swords, and thus created uproar upon his rise.
"Shut up, Moss Head. We don't know where we are. My bet's that we are on that island." Sanji mentioned.
"The Warlord. What happened to that guy?" Zoro asked surprised.
"We were spared, I guess. I really couldn't understand his logic. We were supposed to be the prized heads for the Marines and the World Government. Well, we did burn down their flag."
"It doesn't matter. We need to get out of here back to the others." Zoro said.
Sanji agreed standing up.
"I heard a lot of noise a while back. It seemed we might be facing a large group of enemies." he speculated.
"I'll need my swords before everything else." Zoro mentioned.
"No one gives a damn about your swords, Moss Head."
"Shut up!"
Leila walked down the dungeons to arrive upon the prison cells. She had no business with any prisoners, but an urgent message to be relayed once she escaped from the secret path. She's stopped on way by an unexpected, yet the most unneeded person to have shown up in the circumstance.
"Jaffar!" she exclaimed.
"Where are you heading off to?" Jaffar demanded. He's a man of lesser words, yet he was compelled to enquire.
"To the cells. I found some unexpected people on the shore. They need questioning."
"Is that so?" Jaffar had no interest in her words, "I have orders."
"Orders?" Leila was confused.
"Orders to kill you." Jaffar revealed, "Ephidel suspects you, and that's enough reason for me."
"Wait, Jaffar…"
Jaffar drew his blade. There was no time to talk. A prison door bashed upon from the inside. Both of them were startled from the unexpected event.
"It must be them." Leila took advantage of the chaos and rushed downstairs. Jaffar followed her with the intent to kill. He could've ended her life but prison break took priority.
"Well, that was lame." Sanji said, getting out of the cell. The rest of the prisoners began creating crowded chaos.
"What's up with these morons?" Sanji looked around.
"Come on. We need to find my swords and get the hell out of here." Zoro mentioned getting out.
"You don't get to order me, Moss Head. I have a feeling there's something amiss."
Sanji was right. He turned his gaze and realised that they were discovered. A woman and a man stood near the stairs. The latter held a sword, ready to strike upon the escapees.
"A prison escape will be put to rest here and itself. Prepare to die." Jaffar walked ahead. His opponents carried no weapons, but the man had no prejudice against killing anyone. He did it clean.
"Damn, if I had a sword." Zoro complained.
Leila overheard him and decided to act. The act would've declared her a pure traitor amidst the Black Fang.
"Here!" she drew her sword and threw it towards Zoro. Jaffar rushed into his prey. Zoro caught sight of Leila blade and grabbed it before Jaffar could've struck. Sanji dodged Jaffar's hack.
"Whoa, this guy's fast!" he remarked. Zoro stepped in and clashed blades. Leila was surprised at the unexpected people capable of holding their own against the Angel of Death. Jaffar was no ordinary opponent and Zoro acknowledged that. The clash went on with heavy cheers from the prisoners, demanding the death of Jaffar. Zoro paid no heed but realised the fact that his body hadn't healed from the bashing he had taken from Oars. His unhealed body dropped his guard a moment, allowing Jaffar to deal a final blow. But to Leila's surprise, his sword stopped short from its target. Zoro retreated back whilst the opportunity. The chaos of prisoners, moaning and shouting inside the prison cells began to quieten as a voice drew with a melody and a hum.
"…Yohohoho Yohohoho…" the voice hummed. Sanji looked back surprised.
"Well, thank you for your attention. A wonderful audience, indeed… Three Verse Humming… Arrow Notch Slash!"
The sword clicked the sheath as the enemy is diced. Jaffar bled from Brook's unexpected wound but managed to stand.
"That was a warning." Brook mentioned, "You are outnumbered, assassin. I can tell from one."
Leila was surprised by Brook's intuition. More was Zoro when he had discovered that Brook acquired all three of his swords.
"I had a feeling I'd find you here. I found the swords on the way." Brook told Zoro.
"You have my thanks, Brook." Zoro appreciated.
Sanji declared, "Well, you are surrounded. I wouldn't let you hurt a lady whilst your carnage."
Zoro and Brook were surprised to find Sanji on the other side, protecting Leila from Jaffar, and altogether, surrounding the assassin on both sides. The wound on his chest was not good. Jaffar knew that his attempt had failed. He dropped his sword. Sanji walked ahead and kicked off his blade.
"Kill me." Jaffar demanded.
"Get lost." Sanji retorted, "We didn't have any business with you and yet, you are a hindrance."
And with that, the two Straw Hats, Brook** and Leila managed to end a potentially bloody fight.
"I know a way out." Leila mentioned.
"Well, I have better." Brook replied.
To their surprise, the Humming swordsman had knocked out every last one of the troops guarding their posts to the entrance.
"We need to get to the shore." Zoro mentioned.
"My lovely lady, would you like us to accompany you?" Sanji asked Leila, with his usual flirt.
"Excuse me?" Leila was startled.
"Hey, we need to get back to the shore!" Zoro retorted.
"I'll show you the way." Leila agreed.
"When I look from close, you are indeed a sight to behold." Brook remarked upon Leila's looks.
Leila chuckled, "And you are indeed an odd bunch."
"Yohohoho…" Brook agreed.
"I will protect you with my heart and soul, my lady. Leave all your dangers to me." Sanji said.
"Come on, let's get going." Zoro demanded.
They made a move.
"Ah… I forgot." Brook remembered, "Could you show me your panties?"
A bonk to the head.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Footnotes:
*The following dialogues are a recount of the One Piece from Episode 377. The conversation is devised in accordance with the Funimation English Dub of the anime.
**Brook wasn't a member of the Straw Hats until the end of the Thriller Bark arc. The story begins around Episode 377 of the anime. Please refer to the One Piece anime/manga for reference.