Overcoming Prejudice!

The Burden of Being Strong!

"Zesiro!" screamed Mikoto as his feet hit the ground, he was nearly running on air in effort to get to his teammate faster. He had left Ridley and Sage behind in his dust, in terms of speed even together (or alone for that matter) they were no match for him. His feet were hitting the ground like a machine gun, each step so close in succession they happened at almost the same time. He wasn't going to let Zesiro down, he had been with him through thick and thin. He was the fourth member of the Infinity Pirates! The smell of blood as well as the setting of this fight sent shivers down Mikoto's spine. Something definitely wasn't right! Mikoto's hair stood on end as he continued to rush forward towards his teammate in mortal peril! Please, just let him get there on time!

(-With Zesiro-)

Zesiro rushed in even without his swords he still had his overwhelming inhuman strength. He charged in, making several quick punches. He never had the formal training in Fishman Karate like most had. He didn't grow up on Fishman Island, but rather some puny island in the East Blue where Fishmen were treated as monsters. He had learned swordsmanship so it was very little surprise when the Vice Warden flew about him without resting for a moment, moving from one spot to the other, his feet barely touching the ground as he went. Suddenly the Vice Warden twisted around, apparently unsatisfied with this prey and instead set his eyes on the larger prey.

"Fishman Karate! 4000 Brick FIST!" screamed Monsuta as he brought all four punches forward, entwining them all together to form one large and solid punch with all the strength of his four arms behind it. The Vice Warden didn't seem bothered by the incoming attacks and instead just shot up to the skies above Monsuta, a feat which should've been impossible for any normal human. After all Monsuta was at least a few stories tall, but this man made it look like a cake walk. The Vice Warden twisted around, bringing all of his weight and force behind his leg and slammed it into the side of Monsuta's face, just below his right ear. Monsuta's body flinched from the impact as the world seemed to twist before him. Monsuta stumbled for a few seconds his balance completely shot from just that one attack. The inner ear controls our balance if it takes a direct and powerful enough hit then we lose our ability to stand for a few seconds. Monsuta had lost his ability to stand he waver around, his feet not seeming to move just right. They tangled themselves up as he tried to move forward, backwards, to the side, but it all seemed to be in vain as he slowly tipped forward right for the floor and right for Zesiro and the Vice Warden.

The Vice Warden wasted no time. He darted out of the way, his cloak fluttering in the wind of his own incredible speed. Zesiro, on the other hand, looked up at the falling mountain and said one word, "crap." Zesiro twisted around and tried to take out for the space outside of Monsuta's falling zone, however, he was soon met with some interference, the Vice Warden. The Vice Warden had safely skirted to outside the range of the falling giant. This didn't mean he was going to let Zesiro out of it. He zoomed in quickly and fired a powerful right kick straight to Zesiro's gut and sent him flying in, slamming into the wall of soft octopus-like flesh. Zesiro had just the briefest of moments to look up at the darkening sky and repeat himself, "CRAP!" The loud thundering slam of Monsuta's body could be heard all over the prison.

The Vice Warden paused for a moment from his spot just a few feet away from the goliath's fallen body and looked upon his vanquished foes. He didn't move from his spot as he kept his eyes on the monstrous human mountain's body as if waiting for something. This fight left a bad taste in his mouth. It wasn't that he felt like his opponent had won through unfair means, it wasn't that he felt like his opponent hadn't been up to his level, it felt more like…he missed out on desert…like there was something his opponent wasn't showing him. He felt…cheated out of something great. He turned around, about to leave, deciding that whatever was left wasn't worth for him to stick around anymore, but suddenly a rumbling came from behind him. The Vice Warden froze where he stood and threw a glance over his shoulder and at his fallen foes. Through some miracle Monsuta was starting to muster up the strength to stand. He supposed it shouldn't be unexpected after all he was the size of a mountain, but surely his many months here have broken his will and left his body to rot. The Vice Warden's eyes started to expand as he watched on, a fearful look shot through them. It wasn't Monsuta who was still up and kicking! Zesiro was up…hoisting the mountainous Fishman up with his own two hands. Zesiro huffed, but managed to throw the huge man to the side and free himself from the crushing weight.

"Definitely don't want to do that again," said Zesiro, his chest heavily sagging and a slight burn running down his back from the immense strain. His opponent looked shocked however, which Zesiro suppose was a small victory. Then again Zesiro's entire body now ached and he was certain that if fought for too much longer the strain would definitely become too much. However…Zesiro clenched his fist and looked at it, he knew he had the power to end it, but he wasn't used to using his fists in a fight. He had fought so long with his swords without them everything felt strange. His attacking range was shorter, his defense was weaker, even his footsteps seemed off without having to support the extra weight of his blades. It was odd his entire life he had been supported by his blades to suddenly be stripped of them was weird. He suppose he only had one option…and it wasn't a good one. He just had to stay alive until Mikoto got here.

The Vice Warden cocked his head, turning his full attention to his latest prey and just his body language spoke tons. He was not going to be holding back anymore. He stepped in, sending his weight charging in with enough force and a good sense of direction. Zesiro had no choice without his blades at the ready he couldn't counter attack. He brought his two arms up and place them in front of him, squeezing all the air out from in-between them until they were as tight together as they could get. No attack would be piercing this defiant Fishman's last-ditch shield. The Vice Warden seemed more than confident in his own strength. He struck out producing a flashing strike straight at Zesiro's arms. Zesiro remained confident in his strength, confident that he could survive this blow. However, as he felt the Vice Warden's foot rake across his arms he realized something was wrong…and that this fight definitely wasn't in his favor. He barely made out the Vice Warden twisting his body around, readying another powerful strike from behind his arms, but as soon as Zesiro did, he booked it back. He took several steps at once jumping back and carrying his body away from him. It was just a flash of it, but Zesiro was sure he saw it. A bird's talon. The Vice Warden wasn't human!

"What are you!" barked Zesiro swinging his arms, demanding an explanation. His arms were bleeding. The talon had raked across his arms and drew blood when he had attempted to guard the attack! The more Zesiro thought about it the more it made sense. A bird. The man didn't jump up above Monsuta, he flew up there. Zesiro chuckled. He had never fought someone who wasn't human before. Most of his fights had actually been rather boring before. It looked like Zesiro might actually enjoy this fight to its fullest…once he had his swords back! Zesiro twisted around and took off, attempting to outrun the Vice Warden. Without his swords random punches were all he could rely on. He wasn't about to put his life on the line here. They were both expert fighters and his opponent was much more accustomed to fighting without weapons. In the end Zesiro was still at a huge handicap! Suddenly he slammed on his brake, but he didn't do it fast enough.

He ran full speed into one of the Vice Warden's oncoming kicks! Zesiro's body was sent flying backwards for a brief instant before he felt something tug on it. The shock traveled up his back and to his neck where it shot upright to see what had grabbed him. The Vice Warden's bird-like feet had gripped onto Zesiro's leg and Zesiro had a sinking feeling it wasn't about to just let go. The Vice Warden yanked him back and Zesiro felt his entire body snap forward from the force of the swing. However, the real problem laid in front of him. One of the prison walls and he was approaching it fast! Zesiro grimaced, preparing the moment of impact and he felt the entire wall shudder into him and around as he hit it full force.

Zesiro felt several of the large heavy building bricks slam down on top of him as he slid to the ground. He couldn't do anything against this man. Even with his swords, he doubted he could've won easily, without them though he was equivalent to a ragdoll. "Crap…" Zesiro tried to stand up and push the rocks off of him, but they felt too heavy. His arms were still losing blood as well, he felt them draining out beneath him. He felt like he could pass out from the weight pressing against his chest. He felt completely like a dead man here. He could hear the footsteps of his opponent drawing in closer…no….that wasn't the Vice Wardens. They were faster and more human than his would be…not to mention there was something else about them. As if they were carrying voices labored by a heavy breathing. He heard the voices!

'ZE-SHI-RO!'

Zesiro's eyes shot open. He wasn't done! He heaved his entire body up and stood up, shoving the rocks up and off of him, standing tall. The Vice Warden just shook his head, the Fishman didn't know when to give up…however, Zesiro's gaze went past the Vice Warden and down the hallway. Zesiro caught sight of him…the little coyote captain of his. "ZESIRO!" shouted Mikoto as he raced faster, trying to undo the straps that tied the sheaths to his body. Mikoto struggled another moment trying to break them loose, but finally decided it wasn't going to work. The straps wouldn't come loose! Mikoto did not race all this way here not to hand off the swords! Mikoto reached down and pulled the two swords free from the sheaths and tossed them with all of his might sending two spiraling swords straight to Zesiro.

"What was the guy doing!" thought the Vice Warden as he watched the two swords buzzsaw their way through the air and over to Zesiro, "Was he trying to cut his friend's arm off!?" The Vice Warden watched the sword fly towards the sluggishly moving Fishman. The Vice Warden had to commend his challenger the ability to stand up again and again after all that was commendable, but now he was going to be killed by his own friend! How sad was that?

"These swords," said Zesiro as he looked up to the Vice Warden, completely ignoring the twin blades swerving for his head, "would never hurt me!" Zesiro's two hands shot up into the sword's path as if reading where they would be going. Even more impressive though, was that he was right. The swords didn't hurt him. His hands caught the swords' hilts! Most men would say that there was a million to one chance that such a fluke, such a miracle could occur here and now, but the truth was it was only natural.

Zesiro heaved as he brought the two swords around and in front of him taking up his fighting stance. The first sword was a gift from his parents who had passed away long ago. His mentor had given it to him and taught him how to use it. The second sword was a present from his brothers…they weren't blood brothers nor was there any official document saying that they were, but they were and this sword was all the proof he needed. They didn't make the blade nor did they ever use, they just touched it and handed it off to him and right now Zesiro could feel it. Their souls and spirits pumping through the treated steel and into him. Zesiro knew it right then and there…this fight was over!

"One!" shouted Zesiro releasing a monstrous upwards slash the reached to high heavens and nearly blew the Vice Warden's right foot off. "Two!" Zesiro leapt into the air, following his slash upwards until he was at the same level as the Vice Warden. Suddenly he let loose a powerful sideways slash that cut all the space around him up, including where the Vice Warden was. He felt the sword breach through the Vice Warden's heavy cloak, but the cut was nothing, but superficial. The cloak was all he had cut. Zesiro suddenly clasped his two swords together having the hilts lay across each other as well as having the two swords butted up close to each other. Zesiro gripped both of the two blades now with both of his hands, applying all the power of his arms to this one slash. "Three!" Zesiro brought the two swords down with a gargantuan swing. The Vice Warden once more managed to skirt to the side of the powerful swing, but once more his coat had gotten sliced up revealing his right arm…or, er, wing. It was a beautiful black wing akin to a raven's wing. However, Zesiro was in no mood to admire his opponent's body. Zesiro hit the ground with a tremendous force and immediately shifted all that power forward, shooting himself forward like a rocket aiming to slice the Vice Warden's head off with his own immense power, "FOUR!" The blade cut through the air with the power and precision of a veteran swordsman. More importantly then the air it had cut through the Vice Warden. The Vice Warden stumbled backwards for a few seconds until he finally collapsed with a nice thin gouge shooting right through his abdomen.

Zesiro sighed and went to re-sheath his swords only fumbling as he remembered that Mikoto had only thrown him the blades and not the sheathes to them. He motioned for Mikoto to come closer now that the fight was over. Zesiro needed somebody to lean on right now. He was tired, he was dripping blood from his arms…and he had been squashed TWICE. He believed he was due a little helping hand. Mikoto smirked for a second, happy to have a crewmate like Zesiro on his side and began to head over to aid in the Fishman's recovery, however, he soon froze in his steps. The Vice Warden still hadn't been defeated. He had slumped up back to his own two feet, standing strong and ready for a fight…however, the most surprising thing about him wasn't that he could take a beating.

It was that he was a SHE!

The cloak that had been hiding her true gender had been turned to scrap and patches due to Zesiro's vicious cuts. With the cloak out of the way it was obvious that Zesiro was right not to assume she was human…she had brilliant black wings that stretched out in the place of her arms and her feet were large talons like Zesiro had seen. "Looks like you've found out, congratulations," she muttered as she pulled her wings to the side revealing a pair of breasts hidden beneath a modest white top. Zesiro just realized these were the first words she had spoken throughout their entire fight. It made sense too. After hearing that lavish voice, nobody would think of her as a guy. "I guess that just means I'm going to have to go all out to make sure my secret doesn't leave your lips!" She took to the air and flew at Zesiro, outstretching one massive talon trying to take Zesiro's head off with a powerful kick. Zesiro managed to block it, but only by a few seconds and the next attack was even closer. The Vice Warden was obviously annoyed at the two of them finding out about her little secret.

"I don't care about what you do in your free time," shouted Zesiro blocking another incoming attack that came in, swooping from the side. Zesiro hated to admit it, but he was slowly losing ground. Each attack forced him back each and every single time. He couldn't keep his feet steady against her unrelenting attacks! He tried in vain to make a few slices with his sword, but the bottom-line was she had greater maneuverability than he did. It wasn't even speed that made the difference here, it was the simple fact that the Vice Warden could push herself into any direction using her legs or her wings. If Zesiro even tried to pin her down, she'd just dash out of the way even if she was in mid-attack. "I'm just not going to let you stop me!" shouted Zesiro as he threw out another big swing, which he immediately regretted. The Vice Warden swung in low and then immediately shot a kick straight up and through Zesiro's guard, smashing into his chin and managing to make a small scratch due to her sharpened talons.

"I don't care," she muttered beneath her breath as she swung in again and made another clean-cut contact with Zesiro's sharp blades, recoiling off them before either one of them sustained any real injuries. "That's what I kept telling myself when I applied to become a prison guard! When I applied to become a Marine! When I applied to become a bounty hunter! I didn't care what other people thought about me! I didn't care that other people thought of girls as weaker and inferior to men! I'd prove them wrong! That was my war-cry throughout my entire life!" She shouted as she twisted her entire body around and landed another powerful blow to Zesiro, and this time due to his accumulating damage, he couldn't bring his sword around to block in time. He took the powerful kick straight to his shoulder and he felt his arm crack. It wasn't broken, thankfully, but it hurt whenever he moved it. Things just kept looking down for him.

The Vice Warden ducked low, straightening out her body and sending it gliding all the way across the ground, skimming just inches above it as she came catapulting forward. Zesiro twisted his blade around and prepared to pierce it downwards, but the Vice Warden just swung around his body, sending herself shooting to the sky and forcing Zesiro to adopt a different strategy against the dive-bombing mad woman. "But the rest of the world did!" she continued, "I was always treated like some second-rate parakeet! People called me weak just cause I was a woman! Nobody ever treated me seriously! The men always rushing to protect me!" She fired another kick aiming it at Zesiro's chest, it was met by a powerful parry. "The women always trying to set me up on dates!" She stomped down onto the ground and sent a powerful kick upwards, using her one grounded foot as a pivot and strengthener to accelerate her kick through Zesiro's guards. "I just wanted to promote justice!" She shouted bringing her leg back down at an incredible rate, releasing a powerful axe kick that dragged her talon all the way down and through Zesiro's skin. "But as a woman I couldn't do it. I disguised myself as a man and made my way through the Marine ranks, came here, and became the second strongest person in this prison. I hid my entire life away just to accomplish my dreams…and you think you can beat me just cause you have swords? I got convictions! I got my beliefs! I got my dreams! I refuse to be beaten here because of you! I'll prove to the world that women are just as good as men!" She looked down at her foe, watching him get up for the third time. He lightly thrust his sword at her, resulting in nothing more than a simple poke.

"If you wanna talk about discrimination…" Zesiro huffed out as his entire body sagged forward. "I'm afraid I've got you beat. I was never protected by other people…I was never set up on dates by people…I was hunted, treated like crap, and people tried to kill me because of what I am. And I never ran away. If you want to talk about convictions, fine! If you want to talk about your beliefs or your dreams, that's also fine by me…cause trust me, sister, I've got you beat in all three." Zesiro stepped forward and in one smooth instant brought his sword twisting around, using the back of the blades to scoop the Vice Warden up and throw her into the air. "Whirlpool Rush!" The Vice Warden tried to catch herself, but the vicious momentum of the spin made it hard for her to stop. "This is my conviction! This is the conviction of the man who stood up against the beatings, the fights, and the wars! This is the conviction of the man who did not run away!" Zesiro twisted his blades upwards, pointing them sky high at the Vice Warden still spinning around like a top. "Flying Swordfish Thrust!" Zesiro made rapid upwards thrust using his swords, firing small almost invisible shots upwards and at the Vice Warden. When Zesiro was happy with it, he took his swords and turned away to Mikoto. The Vice Warden fell behind them, letting out a hollow empty thud as she hit the ground.

Zesiro clasped a hand on Mikoto's shoulder and motioned him forward as well as take his sheaths back off of his idiotic captain. "Let's go, captain," Zesiro said as he marched forward.

"Are you sure?" Mikoto asked looking back over at the Vice Warden, who was still laying out on the ground. "You do know you didn't hit her at all with that last attack, right?" Mikoto flashed a look over his shoulder at the poor harpy-girl laying on the cold stone floor, painfully aware of what they were talking about just a few feet away from her.

"It is okay, Mikoto," Zesiro said as he tightened his grip on his captain, who Zesiro realized in this instant still hadn't fully matured to a true pirate on these high seas, "It is okay. I hit her somewhere that hurts a lot more." The halls of the prison were still filled with the vicious sounds of people fighting…but Zesiro could hear it. He could hear the sound of someone with their beliefs and convictions shattered in a single instant sobbing quietly. Zesiro had taken on the task of many pirates who he had fought before, taking their burdens as his own. He had taken the burden of Shion, the guard back at Reverse Mountain, Zesiro vowed to take down his home island with its barbaric rituals of killing anyone who lost a fight. He had accepted the burden of Nito and Ichi in their quest to defeat Shigoro…however, this goal of hers, no matter how close it was to the goal of all Fishman, the goal of equality amongst all the races…he could not accept. This goal was something she would have to accomplish herself.

Which was why as Mikoto and Zesiro left the defeated sobbing harpy on the floor of the prison, Zesiro lifted one arm up into the air proudly and shouted to her, "YOU CAN DO IT!"

The Warden Arrives

Um...hello? Anybody out there? Didn't see all too many reviews for the last chapter...oh, well...next chapter. As stated Zesiro's fight is a good one in my opinion. Have a happy Halloween! (Aka I can't think of anything to post here so here's a generic saying).