Queen of the Silver Jubilee
Disclaimer: I own nothing (unfortunately). All rights and characters in One Piece belong to Eiichiro Oda and other respective owners and creators. I gain no profit from this; it's purely for fun. I do own my OC's.
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Chapter 3: Mystery of the Beast Brand! The Adventurers Set Sail!
''The Beast belongs to a pirate crew?'' Kara gasped.
''It would seem so,'' Laura replied. Her eyes were fixed on the brand scarred into the creature's back leg. The Beast continued to struggle, especially when the reckless pirate took a few more steps closer. Kara held out her hand, wanting to pull her new friend away just in case things went wrong. The blue-haired pirate got close enough to get a better view of the Jolly Roger. ''I don't recognise it.''
The Beast's growls grew louder and its muscular hands grabbed at the rope, trying to pry itself free. Kara wasn't exaggerating when she said that this rope was strong. The only thing that the gorilla was accomplishing was injuring its bulging muscles.
Kara shook her head and paced up and down, so many questions now burning at the back of her mind. ''Why would a pirate crew send this animal to attack our town? What could they hope to gain? It explains why the Beast wouldn't attack when the marines came because someone was using it. But, who? Why? I don't know!'' She slapped her hands against her head, hoping that she could beat the knowledge into her subconscious.
She lifted her head when she felt Laura grip her arm firmly. ''We're not going to get to the bottom of this mystery just standing around.''
''I know, but…we don't know who that Jolly Roger belongs to.''
Laura grinned. ''Then we best find out.''
''How?''
Kara wasn't sure if it was a good or bad thing when she saw Laura's smile grow wider and more mischievous. She pointed at the Beast. ''We get this big guy to show us the way.''
Kara's bottom lip trembled and her knees began to wobble. ''Are you out of your mind?''
''No, I'm thinking outside of the box. It's a habit a pirate picks up.''
''Probably why the life expectancy of a pirate is incredibly low!''
If Kara had any hopes of convincing Laura out of her extreme plan, they would soon be crushed as the pirate rushed towards the Beast. Kara quickly followed behind, cautious enough to keep as far away from the struggling creature as humanly possible, whilst remaining close by to her comrade. The Beast noticed their movements and grew interested in what they planned to do, especially when Laura moved a few steps closer.
Before she did anything else, Laura turned to Kara. ''Stay behind me, just in case.''
''You don't need to tell me twice.'' Kara gulped and grabbed the back of Laura's shirt.
An amused giggle emitted from the pirate. ''You shouldn't stand too close.''
Kara looked at her in confusion. Laura never seemed to have a problem with personal space before, so why now all of a sudden? Not wanting to argue, Kara let go and tracked back, giving the pirate plenty of free room.
Laura exhaled as she reached forward. ''Don't try to bite my hands off, I'm going to let you go.'' She whispered to the Beast, hoping that it would have at least the slightest bit of understanding on what she was about to do.
Surprisingly, the Beast seemed quite calm and didn't try to attack Laura as she took another step closer. They were literally within close enough of a distance to smell each other's breath. It was only when Laura's hands glowed blue around the edges and vibrated that the animal started to get agitated. Kara clasped her hands together, afraid to watch. Still, the Beast didn't attack. Laura was now close enough to grab the rope. She took it in her hands, flinching slightly, expecting the Beast to grab her. Still nothing. Letting out a silent, relieved sigh, Laura got to work, using her hands to heat the rope and slowly cut through it like a hot knife through butter.
The Beast moved raising its body upwards when it realised what Laura was doing. Kara took an instinctive step backwards and ignore the part of her that was screaming to grab her friend and run for the hills…which was every part of her. A shadow loomed over both girls as the Beast revealed its full size, feeling the rope loosen. Any moment now, the Beast would be free, and Kara wasn't sure what would happen next.
A single bead of sweat trickled down the side of Laura's brow as she finally managed to burn through the rope. In a flash, the Beast latched its giant hands on the gap and pulled it apart, tearing the hot rope to shreds.
Kara screamed and Laura leapt backwards, igniting both her hands into balls of energy. The sound of twin engines thundering boomed throughout the forest, followed by the sound of the Beast pounding its chest and roaring mightily, loud enough to blow the trees back and cause them to wave. After letting out a cry of freedom, the Beast turned its attention to Laura, looking like it was out for blood.
''This was a bad idea!'' Kara whimpered.
If the Beast had looked at her, he would have seen how terrified she was. However, its eyes were drawn to its real opponent, who glared back with ferocious intensity. ''If you want to go again, then come at me!''
Kara stared at Laura. ''That wasn't the plan!''
Ignoring her, Laura tensed her body. Blue light shone all around her, and she started to vibrate fast enough to become a blur. For a second, Kara thought that she could see smoke radiate off the pirate. Despite the Beast towering over her, the blue-haired fighter struck a more imposing figure, and Kara didn't seem to be the only one that knew it. A low, rumbling growl passed through Laura's gritted teeth.
The Beast slowly started to retreat, not wanting to have another go, especially when it had only just reclaimed its freedom. Laura advanced one step, and then two. At this point, the Beast figured that it wasn't worth it. It turned around and hobbled further into the forest, threatening to disappear amongst the thick vines and shadows. Thankfully, because of its huge size, its devastated path wouldn't be difficult to track.
Winning the face-off, Laura panted and relaxed her body. The smoke, if there was any, and the blue around her body disappeared. Her body stopped vibrating, although a small shiver crawled up her spine. She winced and cleared her throat before looking back at a still startled Kara. ''Come on, let's follow it!''
''Follow it? I won't be able to keep up.'' Kara said ashamedly.
Instead of blunting agree with her or harshly criticising her, Laura merely smiled and reached back to grab her hand. ''Okay, then you better hold on tight.''
Kara grimaced. ''I'm going to regret this.''
The breath was thrown right out of her as Laura tugged her onto her back. Luckily, Kara latched her arms around Laura's neck just in time, because the pirate soon sped off like a rocket. Kara's weight seemed to have no impact on her, as her feet glowed a brilliant blue and hurried after the Beast, following the dismayed path left in its wake. Kara held on tightly, afraid of being thrown off as Laura seemed to get faster and faster, throwing her arms back and shoving away any giant leaves or vines in her way.
''Are you okay back there?'' Laura yelled.
If Kara opened her mouth, she would end up swallowing a large gulp of air, or worse, a swarm of bugs. Instead, she opted to hold her thumb up in front of Laura.
The pirate smiled widely. ''Good, cause the Beast is a lot quicker than I thought, so I'm going to move faster.''
''What?'' Kara shrieked. At that moment, a bit of bark slapped her in the face, becoming stuck in her open mouth.
She didn't have time to remove the bark as Laura sprinted to insane speeds, almost jumping about like a rabbit in a race.
For Kara, this torturous ride seemed to last for an eternity, when really it might have been ten minutes at the most. Laura could cover a lot of ground, and apparently, the Beast could as well. They had long left the limits of where Kara had ventured in the forest. At this point, they were flying blind, Kara couldn't be Laura's guide anymore, and this troubled her. What good could she do now? Suddenly, her anxiety increased to new levels she didn't think possible. She was in unknown territory.
Finally, Laura dug her heels into the ground and skidded along until they came to a complete stop. She set Kara down before hiding behind a large boulder and peering over it. Kara swayed about, with her head wobbling off her shoulders and her eyes juddering all over the place. At least she could finally spit the bark of wood out of her mouth, catching it in her hand. Clutching her stomach, she walked over to Laura and leant against the boulder. ''Are we there yet?''
''I think so,'' Laura replied and pointed into the distance. ''The Beast is going into that cave.''
Kara glanced over the boulder, needing a moment to not see double vision. She was staring at the wide mouth of a cave, shrouded in darkness, and the Beast climbing into the cave.
''My guess is that the pirates that own him are in there.''
''So what's the plan? We sneak in and then what do we do?'' Kara inquired.
Laura grinned and gave her a thumbs-up. ''If we find the pirates, you just let me handle them. Come on, let's hurry before we lose it.''
There was nothing in Laura's tone that was malicious. She didn't intend to hurt Kara, however, the shy girl couldn't help but feel disheartened at the pirate's comment. Now, she really was beginning to feel useless. She had served her purpose, not she just felt like dead weight that would distract or annoy Laura. Letting out a shaky breath, she followed her as closely as possible.
Once they reached the mouth of the cave, they looked inside. The moment the light from the setting sun stopped, it was impossible to see anything. They would be hopelessly blind in there. Kara turned to Laura. ''Can you use your Devil-Fruit to light the way?''
Laura hummed thoughtfully. ''I could. But that would make noise.''
Kara considered their options. Her eyes drifted to the shadows, slowly growing as the sun continued to set. The sun. An idea sprung to mind. She took the bark in her hand, setting it on the ground. She quickly reached into her back and pulled out a small glass cup. Holding it at a certain angle, the light from the sun shone through the glass and focused on the bark. A small whiff of smoke appeared, and soon, the top part set alight in a burst of flames.
Laura beamed. ''Awesome! Great thinking,''
With a shy nod, Kara took the bark and lifted it over her head, using it as a torch to light their way.
The only sound they could hear was the faint drops of water landing in puddles. Their visibility was limited, as the light of the torch didn't travel far. They took slow steps, making sure that they wouldn't walk into anything they shouldn't. Traps, bottomless pits, Beast leavings. Kara shuddered at the thought of anything jumping out and surprising them, although, she felt hopeful knowing that Laura was standing close by, ready for action.
Seeing Laura so determined to venture forward, seemingly not afraid in the slightest, it gave Kara more confidence in her stride. It was something she knew she needed to work on herself. Looking back at the pirate, seeing how resolute she was about helping her find these pirates, Kara grew curious. ''Why are you helping us?''
''Hmm?''
Kara mentally slapped herself. ''No, no, sorry. That was horrible of me to ask,'' She mumbled nervously. Taking a moment to collect her thoughts, she tried again. ''I mean…before today, you didn't even know me. Yet, you bought my painting when I really needed the money. You saved us from a group of pirates you had no business with. You fought against a monster to free us, and now you're looking to find the people at the root of our suffering. I just want to know why you're going to such lengths to help people you don't even know.''
''Well, the painting one is easy to answer. It was a really great painting and I wanted to buy it,'' She giggled, cupping her hands behind her neck and looking at Kara with a cheeky grin. ''And does it matter whether or not you know someone if they need help?''
''No, it doesn't. It's just that you're doing so much to help.''
''There's a few reasons. The most important one is that I do know you,'' She nudged Kara in the shoulder, surprising her. Another giggle came from her when she saw Kara narrow her eyes in confusion. ''We may have only known each other for a day, but I've gotten to know you in that time, and you're one of the most awesome girls I've ever met.''
After that statement, it wasn't just the flames that were lighting up the cave, as Kara's cheeks brightened and her heart felt like it was going to rip out of her chest.
''Also,'' She continued. ''I promised that I would help you. Until we get this Beast mess sorted out, then I can't say that I have helped you. When I make a promise, I never break it. Not even if Skypiea fell from the heavens and threatened to crush me. Besides, I'm curious to get the bottom of this mystery. This is the most fun I've had on my adventure so far. It'll be a great test for me. If I one day hope to defeat Monkey D. Luffy, then I have to push through every challenge that comes my way. Right?''
Kara stared blankly at Laura, a million thoughts racing through her mind. She still couldn't believe how dedicated she was to help her, despite explaining her reasons for helping. They were very understandable reasons. But to be coming from a pirate, a group of people she had only ever had negative experiences of in person…it left her in awe that such a pirate would exist, and that she would get to meet one. A smile grew on her lips. ''I understand what you mean.''
The moment was interrupted, as a strong gust of wind seemed to come from further in the cave, blowing out their touch. Laura and Kara groaned, wondering what they were going to do now until they realised that there was another light in the darkness. Further ahead, at the very end around the corner, a dim source of light beckoned them. Not only that, but there was also the faint sound of metal banging.
They rushed forward, keeping quiet and remaining on guard. Unsure of what they would find, they peeked around the corner and they eyes widened. There were many possibilities on where the light was coming from and what was making that noise, but this was not something that either of them expected.
Beyond the gloomy entrance, illuminated by a few lanterns and hanging torches, lies a long wooden pathway with a dozen or so pirates using pickaxes to hack into the rocky walls. Further ahead were two more paths, twisting into one large balcony with a man overlooking the mining operation. A tall, lean man with a thin moustache jutted out to ludicrous lengths. However, his moustache wasn't the most striking feature, as Laura and Kara couldn't tear their eyes away from the abnormally large ears the man processed. In his hand was a metal rod with twisted carvings and a foul stench secreting from small holes.
Behind him, sitting on a table at was a large man hidden in the shadows, looking at broken shards of gold. The shadowed man laughed maniacally as he played with the gold in his hand. ''We're making a breakthrough today. We've dug up more in the past few days than the months before.''
Before Laura and Kara could tell each other how familiar the man's voice sounded, the tall pirate turned around to address the man in shadows. '' After your hiccup in Kaishi Town, you have no right to applaud my operation. You're lucky I haven't cast you and your motley crew out to die at sea.''
The silhouette got out of his seat and stepped out of the shadows to address the tall man. Kara couldn't stop a quiet gasp from leaving her when she saw who it was. Laura clenched her fist tightly as it took all her willpower not to jump up and punch his lights out.
Cofresi De Soto groaned and refused to look the tall man in the eye. ''Listen, what happened in town was just that…a hiccup. If that bitch of a pirate stayed behind, then the Beast has probably torn her to pieces right about now. We've got nothing to worry about. Once she's dead, I'll go back to town and watch the townspeople grovel at my feet once again.''
Kara bit her lip. ''That heartless…''
''I knew there was no way that brute could fight the Beast himself,'' Laura hissed quietly.
Up above, the tall man stalked Cofresi, remarkably looking down on him. ''No, I don't want to make it that easy for them.''
Cofresi arched his eyebrow. ''Then, what do you want me to do?''
Unlike the loutish captain he was speaking to, the tall man's voice was slick and honeyed. ''Once this pirate that drove you out of town is dead, we will let the Beast rampage on Kaishi Town. A few days at the least. No let up. No mercy. Even when the townspeople beg for you to intervene, you will stand by and watch. Only when they are reduced to their last resources and they have experienced grave loses will you arrive to drive the Beast away. But, only after you double your asking price.''
''Double?'' Cofresi chortled. ''Not to harp on your plan, cause I love it, but those poor bastards could barely afford the first target we set them. I don't know if they're going to be able to keep up.''
The tall man gazed over towards one miner, who was in the middle of pulling out other small shards of gold from the rubble he was digging into. The man's expression was cold. ''Then…we don't stop the rampage.''
''What?''
''The next time I set the Beast loose on the village, we won't call it off. The only reason we even do so is to keep those villagers off our backs and away from our true operations. The gold in this mountain is worth more than what those poor scroungers can provide for us. It's not worth keeping them around for much longer. When the Beast returns, we shall set him loose on Kaishi Town…one final time,'' A rumbling sound came from underneath the balcony, causing it to wobble. Everyone on it shook and lost their balance, all except for the tall man, who glanced to the side. ''Speak of the devil.''
Right on cue, the Beast that Laura had set free climbed up the balcony and rested itself right in front of the tall man. Cofresi backed away nervously with one hand over his golden sword, ready to use it. An edgy smile slithered across his face. ''Look who's back! I guess that pirate must have been taken care of. Shame I didn't get to see it.''
The Beast panted, keeping its head down as the tall man advanced towards it, unflinching. Whilst in terms of overall mass the Beast dwarfed the man, their height was comparable when it hunched on its hands. Nothing about the man's expression changed. Ever since Laura and Kara spotted him, he kept the unwavering, dull look constantly on show for all to see.
BAM!
Suddenly, the tall man raised the rod and smacked it onto the Beast's shoulder. The animal let out a hollowing cry, cowering away and holding the wound. Laura and Kara looked on in shock, even Cofresi seemed stunned by the out-of-nowhere attack.
''What the hell is wrong with him?'' Laura snarled.
Subtly, Kara pointed towards the Beast, ''Laura, look,'' Immediately, something stood out. As the Beast whimpered, it pawed at its aching shoulder, a rash forming underneath the hair and turning a dark shade of red.
''Whatever that rod is made if is painful to the gorilla. That must be how he keeps it in check.''
Kara shuddered, her heart going out to the creature she had only ever come to fear. ''That's so cruel.''
As the Beast whined and backed away into a corner, Cofresi stepped forward, approaching the tall man with a perplexed look about him. ''What did you do that for?''
''This stupid animal, not only failed to kill the pirate you talked about,'' He shifted his gaze down from the balcony, glaring in the direction that Laura and Kara were hiding. ''But also let itself be followed.''
The two women panicked and pressed themselves further into the wall, out of sight. Not that it would do them any good right now. ''Busted,'' Laura mumbled.
Cofresi looked confounded. ''What? There's someone down there?''
The tall man called out. ''I know that you are hiding there. Whoever you are, come out. If you don't, I will just send my men to come after you.''
Kara felt her heart race. She thought about bolting for the exit, but it was already too late. They would be hunted down before reaching the mouth of the cave. She'd never felt so trapped in her life. Laura's hand being pressed against her chest brought her out of her panic attack and back to reality. She turned to the pirate, a serious look on her face as she locked eyes with Kara. The gesture wasn't lost on the timid, young woman. She shook her head at Laura, expressing her opinion. As if that would do anything.
Before she could stop her, Laura turned heel and emerged from her hiding spot. She leapt into view, staring up at the tall man and Cofresi. The brutish pirate's jaw dropped. ''You?''
''You should have high-tailed it out of here when you had the chance, you big bully,'' Laura yelled confidently, pressing her fist into the palm of her hand. ''But I'm kind of glad you stuck around because now I can teach you a listen you won't soon forget.''
Cofresi's face started to drown in sweat. His feet were locked onto the floor of the balcony, too afraid to move. The tall man looked over his shoulder at the scared man. ''So this is the pirate that drove you out of Kaishi Town?''
A disgraceful expression formed on his face. ''Yeah, that's her. She's tougher than she looks, and she has a Devil-Fruit.''
''I see,'' He returned his glare in Laura's direction, twirling a finger around his pointy moustache. ''I have two questions for you. Who are you? And who else is with you?''
''The name is Aleyn Laura! And it's just me that you have to worry about!''
His lip twitched slightly. ''I highly doubt that. These ears never lie. I know that I heard another voice. You didn't come alone.''
''Like I said, it's just me you have to worry about,'' She stretched her hand out and beckoned Cofresi forward. ''Come on then, how about round two?''
''There is no need for that,'' The tall man replied, much to the relief of Cofresi. ''He already had the chance to take care of you and failed miserably. Now, I will deal with this matter myself.''
''And just who the hell are you?''
''My name is Van Gorad. I am the captain of the Gold-Digger Pirates!''
Laura scanned the area around her, eyeing all the miners working away. ''Real original with the name.'' She mumbled sarcastically.
''And what of your crew, Aleyn Laura?''
''I'm still working on that part.''
''Either way, you have seen too much. I cannot promise that your death will be quick, but it will be painful,'' He prowled the edge of the balcony, never taking his eyes off of Laura. The pirate gleefully waited for her opponent to come down so that they could square off, cracking her knuckles. Gorad whipped his rod about, purple liquid oozing through the holes.
Kara watched on from her hiding spot, keeping as quiet as possible so not to be heard by Van Gorad's giant ears. She clutched the fabric of her shirt over her chest, praying for her friend's safety. Whereas she knew all about Cofresi and what he was like, this was going to be way out of her league. Unlike back in the forest, she didn't know how she was going to help Laura with this battle.
BAM!
Just when it seemed like Gorad was ready to come down, he surprised Laura by whacking his rod hard against the Beast, causing another rash to appear on its skin. The gorilla howled in exasperation and jumped off the balcony, down in front of Laura. It bared its teeth and growled at the blue-haired pirate. It knew what it had to do to get on its master's good side, whether it was consensual or not.
Laura felt anger surging through her body as she barked at the deceitful abuser. ''What's the matter? Too scared to fight me yourself, coward?''
''I prefer not to dirty my hands. When I have such a powerful creature obedient to my every whim, why let it go to waste?''
Cofresi couldn't waste the opportunity to let out a hollering chuckle. ''Not so tough now, are you?''
''I beat the Beast before and I can do it again. Once I've done that, I'm going to come up there and kick both your ass's!'' She scowled at them before fixing her gaze onto the Beast, softening her expression. ''Sorry big guy, but I need to get through you. I promise I won't go as hard as I did before.''
It was as if it could understand her and register her words. The growls weren't as harsh and there was no bloodshot look within its eyes. A fight would happen one way or the other, and the animal instinctively knew that to avoid another lashing it would have to win, however, it felt compelled to hope that this stranger could save him.
Gorad walked to the other side of the balcony, standing before a large curtain blowing gently in the wind. ''In that case, we shall have to raise the stakes.''
He prodded the rod into the curtain before using it to pull it away, whilst slamming the tip against whatever was inside. The fearsome roars of multiple large gorillas quickly drowned the sound of banging metal. Inside five other cages, more giant gorillas, all resembling the Beast beat their chests and cried out in fury. The odour from the rod was more than enough to antagonise them.
Van Gorad's expression never faltered, even after his dramatic reveal. ''There's always the chance that my Beast would die by natural causes. So I had to be sure, and enlisted a whole family to serve me.''
Laura stepped back, looking on in disbelief, as did Kara from a distance. ''Oh no,'' She whispered. For the very first time, she was scared for her friend's life and didn't see any hope in her situation.
Flicking a switch near the cages, all of the doors opened and the animals sprung from their cages. Gorad smacked his rod onto the ground next to them, causing them to jump in fright. Without any hesitation, all of the gorillas hurled themselves down into the main area, surrounding Laura.
''Crap,'' She whispered to herself.
The Beasts slammed their large fists into the ground, pounded their chests and roared so loud they caused the cave to shake. However, they stayed back, waiting for their master's command. He greatly obliged. ''Kill her.''
All six leapt at her, coming in at blistering speed despite their massive size. Laura ducked underneath one of them and vaulted underneath it, avoiding its giant arms. However, she didn't see another one reach out and grab her by the leg until it was too late. Its grip was tight as Laura felt herself being flung back and crashed into a wall nearby. She got back up, only for another gorilla to beat its arms onto her. She blocked the attack, her feet caved into the ground by the force of the blow.
Lifting one foot off the ground, it glowed before morphing into swirling vortex of energy. ''Hacksaw!'' BAM!
She kicked the gorilla in the stomach, knocking it away and giving her some space to move. By the time she glanced around, another gorilla slammed elbow into her back. BAAM! Laura cried out and flew over the ground, skidding along and almost crashing into another gorilla waiting for her. Thinking quickly, she pressed her hand into the ground and pushed herself upwards. The momentum carried her upwards and she kicked at the gorilla. BAM! It stumbled backwards and she had room to land.
''Buzzsaw!'' Both fists glowed and vibrated fiercely. Turning her heel, she didn't even need to look to know that another gorilla was hovering over her. As it came down to crush her, she weaved underneath its massive arms and uppercut it underneath its hairy chin. BAM!
As that animal was propelled into the air, Laura failed to notice another one sneak up behind her and drape its arms around her, squeezing her against its chest. Laura felt her bones being ground into dust. She struggled to break free, pushing against its arms in the hopes of liberating herself. Another gorilla charged right at her, and she was powerless to run away. There was no way she could outmuscle the gorilla in this position. She needed another way out, and quickly.
BAM! Catching the gorilla off guard, Laura slammed her head back into the gorilla's face. Its eyes rolled into the back of its head briefly, and its arms loosened their grip on her, giving her just enough time to throw her arms back. She grabbed the gorilla by the hair on its shoulders and using all her strength, tossed it over her head and launched it into the charging gorilla. They collided into one another, smashing their faces together and slumping to the ground.
Once she landed back down on her feet, Laura let out a croaked cough, spraying a bit of blood onto the ground. The other gorillas swiped and punched at her, and she gave it her all, ducking and dodging to the best of her ability. Easier said than done. She could keep her eyes on one or two just fine, but when they attacked together, she needed eyes on the back of her head.
Kara could see that she was in trouble. Despite Laura giving it her all and doing damn well for someone in her position, all she could manage was to knock one back only for two more to attack her from behind. There was only going to be one outcome in this brawl, and it wasn't an outcome that Kara wished to see. She looked around the area, hoping to find something that Laura could use to turn the tide. Nothing stood out. These gorillas weren't going to stop as long as their master commanded them.
It suddenly hit Kara like lightning. Gorad's rod! That's what he was using to keep the gorillas in check. If he didn't have that, then the creatures would have no reason to serve him. Kara knew what had to be done, however, Laura had no way of reaching the cruel pirate. The only way they could get their hands on the rod was if Kara went after it herself. She knew that the chances of her succeeding were as low as her confidence. But, Laura was out there getting the crap beating out of her.
''We may have only known each other for a day, but I've gotten to know you in that time, and you're one of the most awesome girls I've ever met…I promised that I would help you…''
Reminded of Laura's words, Kara exhaled and ignored the rapid pace of her heart. She quickly peered around the corner, taking her eyes off the fight to properly inspect the balcony that Gorad and Cofresi were on. She followed the trail, past the wooden and ledge and along a small, rocky pathway just behind them. There was a way for her to climb up and around them without being spotted, especially with them being focused on Laura's battle with the gorillas. After patting her hand over the wall next to her, Kara checked for anything she could use to climb up.
Her hands were trembling and the layer of sweat building on her fingers wouldn't help, however, she started to climb upwards. The times long before where she would climb the trees in her hometown to get better views of landscapes kept her motivated. If she could climb them, she could climb this! She could make it! She repeated it over and over again in her head. Stifling any doubts or fears that she had, her trek blurred with every rock and ledge she climbed. Before she had even realised it, she was already high up and looking down at the battle, with Laura still fighting valiantly, though noticeably more bruised and bloodied.
Kara couldn't let herself get distracted now. She fixed her gaze towards Gorad, more specifically, his rod. Keeping as close to the wall as possible, she shimmied along the ledge, occasionally needed to stop so that she could step over a gap. One misstep and a fall would result in a painful landing. Closer and closer, she soon found herself crawling right above the balcony, looking down on the seemingly unsuspecting pirates. Now that she was above them, she realised that she hadn't properly thought about how she was going to get down and take the rod from Gorad.
''Bucksaw!''
Laura's struggling battle cry brought Kara's attention back to the fight. The blue-haired pirate launched both of her powered-up fists into the stomachs of two gorillas, firing them both into the air and causing them to clatter into the wall. At last, the fight stopped for a moment, so that both parties could take a breather. The gorillas panted heavily and their growls were muffled. Bits of hair ruffled and blood over their face and chests. Laura wasn't in much better shape. She slouched forward, keeping her fists clenched, showing off her heavily bruised knuckles. A single trail of blood rolled out from her nose, which she wiped away with her sleeve.
Cofresi rubbed his hands gleefully, enjoying the show. Gorad remained motionless before walking over to his partner, keeping his eyes locked with Laura. ''You are impressive. I'm surprised that you've lasted this long. However,'' Swiftly, he grabbed Cofresi's gun from his holster, ignoring the brute's mystified grunt.
BANG!
Without looking up, Gorad fired a single bullet in Kara's direction.
The rock that Kara was attempting to grab blew into little pieces and she lost her balance, slipping over the ledge and rolling down the side of the slanted wall. Her body thudded along the rocky surface before crashing into a table on the balcony. Everyone near Gorad, including Cofresi, watched in confusion as Kara cried out in pain and rolled off the table and onto the balcony floor.
''Kara!'' Laura screamed, dumbfounded at this new development. As far as she was away, she thought that Kara was still safe in her hiding spot.
Gorad nonchalantly placed Cofresi's gun back in his holster and walked over to the wounded, young woman. ''I told you that these ears never lie. I knew that the pirate wasn't alone.''
Fighting through the pain, Kara sat upwards. Her weak arms shook horribly and when she opened her eyes, everything was blurred for a moment. By now, her heart was pounding so rapidly, it wasn't a series of beats…it was a single hum. Tears stung her eyes as she felt Gorad jab his rod into her chest and push her against the leg of the table, holding her down. A foul stench wafted near Kara's nose, almost making her vomit. She could even see the purple mist seeping through the holes of the wooden weapon. It might not have had the same effect it had on the gorillas when touching her, but she could understand why it would be harmful to them. To be hit by this thing, it made her heart weep.
''Hey,'' Cofresi yelled. ''I recognise her. She's the girl who tried to talk back to me earlier today in Kaishi Town.''
The blue around Laura's body flared severely. ''Don't touch her!'' She thundered.
Before she could run in to help, the gorilla's blocked her path. Laura knew that she couldn't get to Kara without being stopped by one of them. She tried to think of something, but her head was throbbing too much.
As Kara felt the rod being thrust against her chest, possibly close to piercing her skin, she stared at Gorad. ''Why are you doing this? What kind of sick mind would force animals to cause pain to others?''
Gorad looked down upon her. No emotion as he spoke. ''A pirate.''
Something about that answer pained Kara worse than any injured she had sustained. The way he so callously summed up his view on being a pirate, something that Laura was, caused a fire inside of her to rise. She grabbed the rod, indifferent to the harsh feeling on her palms, and stared deeply into Gorad's harsh eyes. ''You're no pirate!''
''Really? Then what is a pirate in your eyes?''
Pushing aside her fear, Kara argued strongly. ''Laura is a true pirate! She's not only strong and courageous, but she's thrilled by adventure and never backs down from a challenge, no matter how hard it is. She lives her life the way she wants to and has dreams and aspirations that make her life one big journey. You just hide and plot, using other people to get what you want. That's why she's more of a pirate than you'll ever be. That's why while you're still crawling in dark caves digging for gold…she'll be the one to beat Money D. Luffy, the King of the Pirates!''
Kara's voice echoed throughout the cave. Everyone's eyes were all on her, including Laura's, who stared in amazement.
Gorad didn't display a noticeable reaction until he lifted his head upwards slightly and narrowed his eyes. He didn't say anything. No one did. The silence was only interrupted when Cofresi let out a bellying laugh, amused tears flowing down his hairy cheeks. ''You can't be serious! You actually believe that crap? Her? Defeat Monkey D. Luffy? It's funnier listening to that joke the second time!''
As Cofresi continued to cackle, much to the infuriation of Kara, Gorad pressed his rod harder against Kara. She groaned agonisingly but kept her hands locked on the rod, ignoring the pain that the smoke seemed to be causing her. Finally, he responded dispassionately. ''Tell me, how will she defeat Luffy…when she will soon be lying here dead along with you?''
Panting heavily, Kara shifted her gaze away from the tall man and to his weapon, strengthening her grip on it. ''That's why I came with her. I had no idea what I would face, but I wanted to help Laura in any way I could. No matter how much it hurts!''
Kara let out an unexpected scream and lifted her right knee up as hard as she could whilst pushing the rod down. Everyone watched in slow motion as the rod snapped, breaking apart into two pieces, purple ooze spraying from the cracks. Gorad's eyes bulged and a single gasp escaped him. For the first time, an emotion was plainly seen on his face…utter surprise and panic.
Kara's knee immediately turned red and flinched. Her hands grabbed her leg and she bit her bottom lip to stop herself from bawling. A few tears slipped through her closed eyelids.
Below, the gorillas watched on in disbelief. They saw the broken rod drop to the balcony floor, liquid and smoke seeping out before disappearing into nothingness. It seemed to slowly dawn on them what this meant. They could stand taller than before, not have to cower and flee at the smallest slip-up. Even they began to shed some tears. Quiet whimpers filled the ears of everyone in the mine. Speaking of which, the miners and pirates of Gorad and Cofresi's crew slowly started to back away, realising what this now meant. The shackles were off.
At the very back, Laura couldn't stop herself from smiling proudly.
''What…what have you done?'' Gorad shuffled away from Kara, looking at the remains of the rod. ''Do you know what you've done?''
Kara didn't answer. She simply smirked, finding joy past the indescribable pain.
However, that moment didn't last, as Cofresi dived forward and grabbed Kara by her hair. She cried out at the sudden movement, her right leg shaking uncontrollably. ''If I knew that you were going to be this much trouble, I would have done this earlier!'' Cofresi hissed before taking out his gun and holding it against her forehead.
The cave trembled. The wind started to howl and rage all around, blowing out the fires of the lanterns. Soon, the only light that could be seen was coming from down on the ground, coating everything in a dark shade of blue. Cofresi was afraid to look, but his curiosity got the better of him. He glanced down at Laura and felt his heart stop.
Smoke poured from her body, as a blue aura that resembled the flames of a furious fire flickered and sparked outwards. The ground beneath her cracked and broke apart. Even the gold collected nearby started to bubble. The gorillas backed away, overwhelmed by the sudden outburst of heat that the pirate was generating. Laura let out a thunderous roar as she stared at Cofresi, her pupils turning blue. The brutish pirate was too scared to pull the trigger and had even forgotten he was still holding onto Kara.
''I said don't touch her!'' In the blink of an eye, Laura disappeared, rocketing past the gorillas that were blown away by her speed. Gorad and Cofresi lost sight of her. They could feel her presence but couldn't find her. As quickly as she disappeared, Laura reappeared right in front of Cofresi, both her arms engulfed in a pulsing blue light. A pitiful look flashed across his face, but it was too late for sympathy as Laura flung her arms back before propelling them at him like canons.
''Chainsaw!''
BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!
She unleashed a flurry of punches at him. One after the other, the punches just kept coming and coming. Kara was free of his grasp and dropped to the floor. Laura still didn't stop. The barraged and super-powered blows hit Cofresi everywhere. His eyes were white as he lost sub-conscious halfway through the hellish barrage. Eventually, he was flung right off his feet and sent careering through the wall behind him, demolishing the rock in his path. Light poured into the cave as he soared outwards, disappearing over the horizon, leaving behind a single glimmer in the sky.
Gorad stumbled backwards, scarcely believing what he had just witnessed. Laura's arms lost their blur but the smoke remained. Her voice was hoarse as her body heaved with every pant. Gorad looked at the pirate's quaking fists, still clenched when he saw her body turn. The look on her face sent a bolt spearing through his body. ''No, don't hurt me, please. Take the gold. It's yours. I surrender.'' He begged.
Now, Laura was the one who was emotionless, probably because she was too exhausted. ''I'm not the one you need to deal with.''
Before he could question her, the balcony wobbled as the family of gorillas landed next to him. Now, he felt quite small standing next to the animals, especially when they flashed their sharp, bloody teeth at him. ''Stay back!'' He cried out, quickly grabbing one piece of his rod and hitting it against the first gorilla's arm. It splattered into small pieces upon impact. The gorilla didn't baulk. Whatever substance was in the rod had lost its effect when the rod broke.
Gorad shrieked and wasted no time in running away and climbing through the hole created by Cofresi, as the gorillas beat their chests and gave chase.
Laura sighed with relief, finally finding the chance to relax for the first time in hours. She limped over to Kara, who was struggling to stand up with her bad knee. ''I got you.'' The pirate soothed, taking Kara's arm and hooking it over her shoulder.
Letting out a husky laugh, Kara rubbed her eyes. ''I can't believe I did that.''
''I can,'' Laura beamed. ''Told you, you are awesome!''
Their moment of peace was interrupted as a shadow loomed over them. They looked up and were surprised to see a single gorilla approaching them. Instantly, they recognised it as the one they had dubbed the Beast. It stood before them and then bowed its hand and stretched its hand out at them, revealing its palm.
''What's it doing?'' Kara asked.
Laura chuckled. ''I think he's trying to tell you thanks.''
Kara turned and stared at the creature she once feared. To see it show her respect and empathy, it went against everything she thought was black and white in the world. She thought that monsters existed in this world. Well, with people like Gorad and Cofresi, that was true. However, she now knew that things were never as they would first appear. She reached out with her own hand, brushing her fingers against its smooth palm.
Satisfied, the gorilla drew its hand back and stood back up, turning to leave through the hole that its family jumped through.
Seeing such a magnificent creature give her its respect and part ways, Kara couldn't hold back a wide grin from growing on her face. Laura laughed infectiously and started to help her friend. It would be a long walk back home in the state they were in. But in the end, it was worth it to save Kara's home. Before they left, a glimmer caught their eye and they turned around, staring at the pile of gold still sitting at the table.
Kara stretched her arms over her head as she limped out of her room and into the kitchen, where her parents were already busy cooking a delicious meal. The smell of sizzling bacon and eggs was a fulfilling reward after the day she had yesterday. Her stomach growled loudly, signalling her presence to her folks who greeted her with warm smiles. She shyly rubbed her stomach and hobbled over to the table. Thankfully, her leg wasn't broken, although it would take at least a few days before she could walk properly and she had a nasty bruise to show off.
''Hmm, breakfast smells lovely.''
Elizabeth laughed. ''This is actually dinner.''
''I've been asleep all day?''
''We just couldn't bring ourselves to wake you.'' Gareth rolled away from the table and over to her. ''How are you feeling, kiddo?''
''I'm better,'' Kara replied. ''Is Laura still asleep?''
''No, I think she's awake. She hasn't come out from her room yet.''
Kara peered over at the door of the spare room, wondering what the pirate was doing. She would have thought she'd be starving after what she went through. It had taken them all night to walk back home. Needless to say, not only were the townspeople shocked to see the two women return at the crack of dawn, but also return with chunks of gold to help pay back for all that they had lost thanks to Cofresi's swindling.
After setting another plate on the table, Elizabeth walked to Kara and hugged her firmly. ''I'm so glad you're okay.''
''Better than okay.'' Kara returned the gesture.
''Damn straight,'' Gareth said.
Elizabeth shot a glare his way. ''Honey…''
''What? It's true,'' He retorted and gazed at his daughter affectionately. ''What you did was nothing short of a miracle.''
Feeling her cheeks redden, Kara shrugged her shoulders. ''I think it's obvious that Laura did most of the work.''
''Hmm, that's not what she told us.''
''What do you mean?'' Kara inquired.
Her mother placed her hands on her shoulders and smiled warmly. ''Before Laura tucked in for the night, she told your father and me how instrumental you were in stopping Cofresi's plan. She says that she couldn't have saved the town without you.''
''Really?''
Elizabeth nodded, a prideful twinkle in her eye. ''She said, and I quote, that she may be the pirate, but you're the hero.''
If Kara thought that she had used up all her tears yesterday, she soon found that she was wrong. A smile tugged her lips and she glanced over to the spare room door. She locked eyes with her mother. ''I'm just going to check up on her.''
With a nod, Elizabeth allowed her daughter to go to her friend. Kara briskly walked through the hallway, not even letting the pain in her knee be a distraction. She knocked twice.
''Come in!'' Laura called out.
Kara opened the door and stepped inside. She was surprised to see Laura sitting on the window ledge, feet dangling outside and looking out towards the sea. The pirate peeked over her shoulder and smiled at her. ''Hey, how's it going? Leg feeling any better?''
''Yes, it's better. Thank you,'' Kara nodded and strolled over to her new friend. ''How long have you been awake?''
''Few hours, I think,'' Laura replied. ''Just wanted to have a good look at the view.''
''Hmm, it is a wonderful view,'' Kara rested her elbows on the free space of the windowsill, staring out at the waves gently brushed against the shore. ''Sometimes, if I'm lacking in inspiration to draw, I would just come in here and stare out at the sea for hours.''
''It's pretty easy to get lost in the sea. Both figuratively and literally!'' She chuckled.
Kara giggled lightly before going silent. Although the timid young woman was happy for Laura, there was a bit of sadness in her voice. ''You'll be leaving today, won't you?''
She failed to pick up on the tone of Kara's question. ''Yeah, your dad mention that there's a harbour just a few days walk from here. If I'm going to get myself a ship, that would be the best place to start.''
''And a crew?'' Kara spoke before she could stop herself. She sharply turned to Laura. ''I mean you're going to need one, aren't you?''
Another laugh escaped the pirate. ''Of course! Not only is it going to be tough out there, but I'd be bored as hell if I journeyed on my own.''
Kara hummed in agreement. ''Do you have any idea of what you're looking for in a crew?''
Laura took a moment to ponder, folding her arms over her chest and drifting into a deep thought. ''Just fun people who I enjoy being around.''
After that, Kara remained quiet and kept her head down. Laura looked to her just as the artist turned to pace around the room, rubbing her arms anxiously. Seeing her get so nervous all of a sudden, Laura tilted her head and shifted her body off of the windowsill. She walked over to Kara, who stopped suddenly and turned sharply in her direction, keeping her head down.
''Kara? What's up?''
Kara took a deep breath. ''I know that I'm not strong. I'm not that smart. Sometimes I don't have the right answers, and even if I do, my mind might get jumbled up and I end up forgetting even the simplest of things. I feel like I get in the way or annoy people. But I still want to help. I don't know the first thing about being a pirate. Before today, I didn't even know you existed, but I'm willing to help you fulfil your dream. I didn't want to trouble you, but I knew that I would regret not asking you before you leave. You don't have to accept but…but…I want to come along with you!''
The room went quiet. She felt like she was going to faint, not because she got her speech out in one take, but because of the seriousness of what she was asking. She lifted her head, panting heavily, and locked eyes with Laura. The pirate stared at her with wide eyes. ''You want to…join my crew?'' Laura asked in disbelief.
There was no turning back now. Kara nodded affirmatively. ''I do! If you want me to come along.''
She kept her head bowed. Partly out of respect, although she felt embarrassed at the same time. She braced herself for the inevitable. Being a pirate was beyond her, that's what she believed. Keeping her eyes on the ground, she felt Laura move slightly but didn't say a word. Curious, Kara lifted her head, almost having her eye poked out by the pirate's outstretched hand.
''Welcome aboard, first mate!''
Kara's breath stilled. The words got stuck in her throat as she continued to stare at Laura, the blue-haired woman smiled brightly. Kara extended her hand, grabbing Laura's as the two shook. A smile form on her face, slow at first, before growing wider and Kara jumped up in delight. ''I can't believe this is happening!''
''It's happening, if you want it to.''
''Yes, yes! I'm really doing this. I'm really doing this? I am really doing this!'' Kara bounced about the room until a sharp pain twisted around her knee. She reached out to grab the door handle to stop herself from falling, pushing the door open slightly. Releasing a mixed bag of laughs and groans of pain, Kara looked back at the amused pirate. Laura laughed along with her friend. However, when she glanced past the door, her expression turned serious.
Kara followed her gaze and was met by the sight of her parents waiting at the end of the hallway, eyeing her with similar grim expressions.
Quickly standing back up, Kara approached them. She cupped her hands together, timidly fiddling with her fingers. ''Mother, father…did you hear what I said?''
They nodded unanimously.
Tentatively, Kara looked away. There was still time for her to change her mind and apologising for making such a rash decision, especially without informing her parents first. But that would break Laura's heart. Kara had just poured her soul out to the pirate, begging to go with her. She wanted to go. The consequences will come, but she was willing to live with them. Looking at them both, Kara lifted her chin. ''I know that this is shocking to hear…''
''Actually,'' Gareth hushed. ''We expected this.''
''You did?''
''It's not what we wanted to hear, but we knew it was coming. I just expected Laura to ask you first.''
Now it was Gareth who stared at the ground. Elizabeth took his hand in her own, still gazing at her daughter with teary eyes, though her smile never wavered. ''Your father and I talked last night…if you did decide to go with Laura on her adventures. We discussed the possibility of stopping you. But, that wouldn't have been fair to anyone.''
''But you want to stop me!''
''Of course, we do,'' She pleaded, faltering a little bit. She brushed aside a single tear that flowed down her cheek. ''The world is a dangerous place, especially for a pirate. You'll be put through all kinds of perils, and we hate to think of something terrible happening to you, and we're powerless to do anything to stop it. You're our little girl.''
Understanding where they were coming from, Kara nodded her head and cursed herself for failing to hold back her own tears.
Just when she was about to say something, Gareth spoke up. ''After yesterday, we realised that you're not a little girl anymore. You're growing in a brave, young woman. Ready to see the world and all its wonders. If it's what you really want, we won't stop you from chasing your dream.''
''You're going to let me go?'' Kara choked, her smile returning.
They answered her by opening their arms. Kara rushed forward and embraced them, letting the waterworks flow. Holding one another tightly, they didn't want to let go, even when snot bubbled out of their noses and onto each other's shoulders. They enjoyed the feeling of being together for what would surely be the last time in a very long time. With the day going by, Kara knew that if she was going to make her move, it had to be now.
She reluctantly let go and wiped away her tears. ''I'm going to go pack! I need to make sure I'm fully prepared!''
She dashed down the hallway, passing by a grinning Laura and into her own room. The pirate didn't want to step in where she didn't need to. It was a family moment, and she thought best to stay out of it. Now that Kara was free to pack, Laura exchanged a look with Gareth and Elizabeth. Their expressions were hopeful, yet…suspicious. Not of Laura, she had more than proved herself with all she's done for them.
''Take care of her,'' Gareth snivelled. ''She means the world to us. Please, make sure she stays safe.''
Resorting to a simple tilt of her head, Laura calmly stated. ''I promise.''
Kara stared at Kaishi Town one last time. From up on the hill, she could faintly see the townspeople gathered around their homes wishing her a fond farewell. It took all of her willpower to not burst into another tsunami of tears. She kept herself strong knowing that this wasn't a final goodbye, but merely…till we meet again.
Next to her, her friend nudged her playfully on the arm. ''Ready to go.''
Gulping and shaking away her fears, she turned to Laura. ''Yeah, let's go!''
''Awesome,'' Laura fished out a map from her pocket, revealing their route across the land. ''Your dad said that the harbour we're looking for is called Southporton. It's not too far.''
''They'll have ships there.''
''He said that's where they sell them. Obviously, pirate ships are going to be hard to come by, but I'm sure we'll manage!'' Laura marched forward, taking long strides as Kara followed closely behind. The captain turned around to see that her first mate was retrieving something from her bag. ''What are you looking for?''
Kara flinched haven been spotted and worked frantically to find what she wanted to get. She might have overdone it with the packing, but she needed assurance that she had all essentials and didn't go unprepared. Finally, she grabbed a folded sheet of paper and handed it over to Laura. ''It's for you. I managed to finish it before we left.''
''Wow, I've never had a present before,'' Laura unfolded the paper and felt immobilised when she saw what was inside. The sight of a beautifully drawn and detailed pencil sketch of herself, her body flowing with blue energy and striking a battle-ready pose welcomed her.
The artist shifted. ''It's a little rushed, I know, but I felt inspired to draw it…
Her heart raced a few clicks faster after Laura let out an ear-piercing squeal of delight. ''I love it! I love it! I love it!'' She wrapped her arms around Kara and swung her around.
She let go, and Kara was left spinning and wobbling about to find her balance. ''T-thank you. I'm glad you do.''
Laura giggled happily. ''If you're going to draw more stuff like that, we're going to need to buy the biggest ship so that I can hang them all in my cabin!''
Boosted by her Nakama's praise, Kara beamed. ''With the adventures we have, I hope that I feel inspired. I want to draw as many incredible works of art as I can, for as long as I live.''
With a confident smirk, Laura looked into the distance. ''Then let's go and see what lies beyond the horizon!''
Shielding himself under the thick vines from the torrential rain, Gorad listened out, praying that he would be spotted by any of the fierce wildlife, especially a family of vengeful gorillas. In his rough, mangled hand, a Den Den Mushi rung, waiting for an answer from the other side. The communication device was completely white, with two, large bunny ears draped over its eye-antennas. Gorad was afraid that he would be left to rot until finally, a voice was heard on the other side. ''Who is speaking?'' The voice was calm and deep.
''Yes, hello? This is Van Gorad, captain of the Gold-Digger pirates! Located in the East Blue on…''
''Yes, yes, I know who you are,'' The voice interrupted impatiently. ''Hurry and update me on your progress, I'm a very busy man!''
Gorad gulped. ''My progress…has…hit a dilemma.'' He bit his tongue, dreading the need to elaborate any further.''
A few seconds passed before a reply came. ''What kind of dilemma?''
''My mining operation was foiled by a pirate! She came out of nowhere, defeated Cofresi and my beasts, and took off with most of the gold. Now, I'm on the run from my own slaves and have no way of escaping. I need your help to…''
''What is this pirate's bounty?''
''Huh? Uh…I didn't get a bounty.''
Another moment of silence passed. ''I see. How many were her crew?''
The snail almost fell out of his hand, because of the heavy rain that thrashed down and him and because he couldn't stop himself from trembling. ''Um…she was alone. She doesn't have a crew.''
The voice took his time to reply again, but this time, Gorad could hear a disgruntled sigh. Any remnants of the calm and imposing figure that controlled the gorillas were long gone, as he feared for what his boss would say next. ''Did you at least get a name?''
''Yes, yes, I did! Aleyn Laura.''
''The name is unfamiliar to me.''
''I believe that she may be a rookie. But she is strong and has the added benefit of a Devil-Fruit. But I know that you can stop her, and help me to reclaim my gold and…''
''Stop right there!'' The voice said calmly, though a hint of malice was evident. Gorad did as instructed. ''I don't care for you, I don't care for your gold, and I certainly don't care for some rookie pirate.''
''But…Boss Furopp?''
''I have more important deals to make with more important people. You and that loutish pirate, Cofresi, are small game. I will not waste my time to help you. You are wasting my time now. The only reason I entertained your business proposition was that you supplied a decent amount of gold. In the long run, your operation being halted means nothing to me.''
''Please, don't leave me here to die!'' Gorad wept, losing any sense of pride.
''I am going to ignore the fact you just talked over me simply because you will be dead soon enough and be a forgotten memory. If you have nothing more to say, then we are done.''
Whimpering louder than before, Gorad tried one last desperate plea. ''She…she said that she was going to defeat Monkey D Luffy!''
He was expecting to hear the click of the Mushi, instead, he heard his boss move in the background. ''Repeat that.''
''She thinks that she can defeat the Pirate King. She's probably going to search the seas to find him.''
Furopp deliberated for a moment, suddenly finding himself intrigued, if only in an amused sense. ''She wouldn't be the first pirate to think that. But I want your opinion, do you think she has what it takes?''
''I do. She's stronger than any pirate I've ever seen!''
''And that is why I'm considering your life forfeit.''
''What?''
''You live in a world of paradise. In the real world, pirates make continents shake and cower before their might. Luffy was no exception. It would take a pirate with the strength to turn the world upside down to defeat him. I doubt that a rookie who got lucky can pose a threat. She is of no concern to me…''
Gurod's ear twitched. He glanced over his shoulder and to his horror saw the family of gorillas advancing towards him from all directions. He had nowhere to run. As they closed in, the call from Furopp continued.
''That being said, if I happen to encounter a pirate by the name of Aleyn Laura on the Grand Line…I will deal with her.''
''Don't go!''
CLICK!
To Be Continued…
If you'd like, you can follow my original stories on Wattpad. My penname is Thomas-LF. Thank you for your time, if you do read them, I hope you enjoy them.