Big Adventure, Yet Small Fries

"That's the power of a Shichibukai," scoffed Zesiro as he sat up. "And also our latest opponent. He took down a giant with two shots and managed to hold all of us back fairly easily." He shook his head, "this is kind of what we live for, isn't it?" In terms of monster potential on the crew Zesiro was probably the leader. His battle senses finely tuned an incredible hunger for power and the strength to achieve it. In a way, he probably was the most dangerous man around. He seemed to strongly desire stronger opponents and was willing to seek them out no matter what it took. Perhaps it was just because he had finally seen such an opponent in action for the longest time, but he really did want to fight him now.

"You say that," stated Dango standing up and shaking his body free, "but don't forget there's three of them like that in there and who knows what else." Dango looked over at the two fallen giants, "like whatever this Queen Helena's secret is. It sounds like the Fox Brothers decided to delve into it and are now in control of whatever it is." Zesiro looked over at him and slowly nodded. That's right...they did say something about that. Oh, well...they'd burn that bridge when they came to it...it was kind of how they got this far after all. Why mess with the tried and true strategy? "I just hope the strategy goes according to plan. A single wrench in it can definitely throw us for a loop. I think them knowing about us qualifies as a wrench."

Zesiro chuckled and nodded. "Could be worse. Mikoto could be captured, held captive by a raging psychopath, and we are forced to participate in an arena filled with blood-thirsty opponents." Dango lifted his eyebrow wondering where he had gotten that idea from. But Zesiro just chuckled...as that was what it was like when they went against Trevor. Zesiro could just laugh at them back then, taking down a Shichibukai and considering themselves big stuff when another six pirates still existed out there. And this time...they definitely did not have the advantage. Mikoto's speed was the perfect anti-Trevor weapon, but against a man who could seemingly teleport and attack from long-range...Mikoto's speed meant nothing. Oh, well...that opponent was designated to be Shane's, not Mikoto's...so as long as everything went according to plan, they didn't need to worry about it.

"Wait," struggled Charon as he moved to sit up. He looked over at his fallen friend, Pathos, and sighed. "We were together for so long..."

"Yeah, we kind of don't have time to mourn your friend," pointed out Shino as he motioned forward. Zesiro nodded. He felt bad, but it was true. They really couldn't stay back. They had to keep moving forward. Suzanne and Dango both moved after them.

"Queen Helena's secret...if they really are planning to use it...you must get away from this island," he stated plainly. "Her secret is not something you should want to butt heads with. It is a horrible machine that should remain sealed away forever. If they got it up and running again...then the free world is already doomed."

"Its just a machine," stated Suzanne with a shrug, but Charon shook his head.

"The Ancient Weapons were just a machine. Queen Helena's secret was a weapon that even a thousand war ships couldn't match. We were proud guards until the end," he hung his head and shook it, "we were originally very proud of everything we did. However, after a war went down, we understood how weak we were. We created that weapon to starve off intruders to protect our home...we never expected it would draw so much unwanted attention."

"So, did you guys create a weapon that rivaled the ones of the Ancient?" asked Zesiro raising an eyebrow. If that was true than no wonder the Fox Brothers came here. If a weapon of that strength was laid to rest here.

"I wouldn't say rival them," muttered Charon, "but...if there is one thing human beings are good at...it is building weapons of mass destruction. I don't foresee that ever changing. It really just a weapon that was laid to rest over hundred of years ago. We figured as long as we never used it would die off as a legend, I'm fairly certain few people probably even remember its existence. Even now I doubt it would work due to old age. It would take a man with exceptional intelligence and a cold heart to re-awaken that monstrosity."

(-With Aaron-)

However, even the best of plans can easily be thrown for a loop...and this was one of those things that caused plans to crumble. Aaron deserting his post for a reason he could not quite specify. He had a falling out with Mikoto and refused to tell them anything about himself...most people would consider such an act to be very, very dangerous for the course of the actions, but he didn't care. He may not be an official Infinity Pirate, but after all he has done to help them...he'd be damned if he let them treat him like that. He'd rescue Maria and...what's his name and be on his merry way. They'd have to thank him for that!

He had forgotten the original plan long ago. However, right now he highly doubted he would've cared about the original plan. When something goes wrong like your friends getting kidnapped shouldn't that take precedence over any and all stupid plans! He launched a swift kick at the ground, more due to anger, but he couldn't help it! He was angry, he was annoyed, and he thought that he deserved the right to kick the ground! He shook his head. Mikoto may have turned his back on his crew for the sakes of some stupid plan, but he would do the same. He would turn his back on the plan for the sake of his friends.

"Valiant attempt," muttered a voice behind him, causing Aaron to spin around launching into a rather impromptu roundhouse, aiming for the source of the voice with his heel. However, he soon found himself to be rather silly as his heel sliced nothing but air. He shook his head, stuttering for a bit. He was growing tired, but he was also fine with it. He had been running for way too long. He probably just needed a break. Aaron sighed, moving to a nearby tree and hiding beneath the large overgrowth, resting in the shade.

"Howdy." Aaron turned around, slower this time to make sure it wasn't just his imagination and it wasn't. Crouched down next to him was an older gentleman. He wore a scaled coat and had sharp hooked gauntlets attached to his hands. Aaron's hands snapped around and grabbed onto the collar of his scaled cloak.

"Howdy," he said back, lifting his hand into the air, ready to punch him. "Give me one good reason not to punch you for sneaking up on me. Especially since you seem to be one of those predators that are populating this base."

"Yup, I am...level 7 to be exact," he said with a cocky smile, but he shook his head soon after that to clear his thoughts. "Yes, well, you see, I'm fairly busy, but we got a promise which was for every one of your heads we bring in Alistair gives us more power...and ensures that we survive the upcoming Armageddon he's planning on leading. Which let's face it we all know he will."

"Are you sure?" asked Aaron, "may I remind you that Mikoto and Shane, two huge pirates, are here on this island and trust me, they are hellbent on taking them down." The man scoffed. "Excuse me, combined they have a bounty exceeding 350 million! They are coming here and trust me, they are going to do it, too! Besides an Armageddon, don't you think that's just a bit too big-headed."

"Hee hee!" laughed the man, "big-headed? What? No, for them this is such a simple plan, they have amassed everything they needed to run it too!" He spread his arm wide, "Queen Helena's secret!"

"Who? She sounds kind of hot," Aaron laughed, the scaled man just shook his head. "Oh, well, if you are right, I don't really have time to stand around talking to you do I! Impulse!" Aaron quickly shifted his legs around to create a short burst of speed. He struck out with the back of his hand, creating a brief shock-wave as he slammed into him and sent him backwards.

"Dang! And this attack defeated those other predators we had?" said the scaled man as he straightened himself out. "We really need to re-think our recruitment. You know only pick people who can survive these wimpy attacks." He spread his arms wide and wiggled his clawed fingers as if to show them off to his opponent.

"Well, then you better be ready to hand in your resignation," Aaron shouted, disappearing for a brief second, barreling under his opponent's first swipe and moving in, instantly closing the distance between the two of them. Aaron spun around launching into an upwards sweeping kick that could easily shave years off of a man's life it had hit. However, to his surprise the man disappeared into the background...an act that was seemingly impossible.

"I should explain my powers to you, you see Alistair has a fondness for animals such as eagles, turtles...and chameleons. He dissects them and figures out how to reproduce their power through science...and here I am. A man with the power to turn invisible just like a chameleon!" There was a flash behind Aaron, causing him to turn around and roundhouse kick the air. "You should know against a foe who is invisible there is no hope for you. You can't hit what you can't see!" There was a sharp pain, screeching across Aaron's face forcing him back. Aaron took a few steps back and then another streaming slash attack to Aaron's cheek causing him to recoil. More attacks began to pour in all of them coming in from a different location. Aaron pivoted, launching a series of counter-attacks, but all of his attacks struck air. It seemed like his opponent was employing a hit-and-away strategy. He was there to attack and then gone when Aaron had the chance. He was expertly employing such a strategy and leaving Aaron in the water.

"Crap," Aaron stated as he took a step back and a deep breath. He couldn't see his opponent, it looked like running away until he found a way to counter his attacks was the best bet. Then again he wasn't a big fan of running away. Aaron took a wide stance. "Impulse! Shotgun!" Aaron through his fist forward once more. Mimicking his previous attacks he sent a shockwave forward, however, unlike his previous attacks that was just one shockwave. He created a widespread effect of five of them in a random pattern. If he could just find him, he could follow up his attack with another series. However, all five shots came up empty. The Chameleon man was already on top of things, he took advantage of Aaron's now opened pose. Jetting in and landing a series of powerful blows on his open chest, ripping his clothes open before darting away. Aaron shook his head. "Shotgun!" Aaron shouted throwing another series of shockwaves into the air. They were widespread and didn't require any aiming whatsoever, so he supposed that was a good thing. His aim was rather low quality.

"You can't hit me!" shouted the chameleon man appearing behind Aaron and bringing his claws raking down his back. Aaron stumbled forward, managing to throw a random punch behind him which swiped only air. The chameleon was soon beneath Aaron launching an upwards slice. Aaron couldn't see his opponent, he didn't know where he was going, just where he had been. "You're never going to be able to hit me!" A series of slashes came at Aaron, coming from above, below, side-to-side. They rocked Aaron's body back and forth, sending him flying backwards and onto the ground. It was only due to Aaron's decent reflexes that he didn't wind up on his back, a prime target for any well-trained fighter.

"Its going to be hard to hit you if you do turn invisible," muttered Aaron, "so if I can't hit you...I may as well level the playing field." Aaron began rapidly shifting his weight between his feet. He put his power into his legs and pushed forward. He disappeared briefly, but only because he was beginning to move. He was becoming difficult to keep up with his eyes, he wasn't disappearing just moving quickly from one side to the other. He was doing nothing more than moving fast. Burning his energy in order to stay out of his reach.

It was true with such speed there was no way for him to catch up, he was stuck just waiting for his opponent to eventually come close to him. He remained at the read, his claws out-stretched as if waiting to receive a pass. "Oi, going quiet, are we?" mocked Aaron as he kicked it up another notch, "I'm not surprised very few people could keep up with me at this pace." Aaron laughed, Mikoto was probably the only person he met that he felt could. They both lived in different worlds from other people. They lived in a world where time passed slowly. A second was like a minute to them...everybody else just seemed to lag behind. He could see a leaf fall to the ground for what seemed like an hour. He was faster than anyone else. It was truly his own belief that he was faster then Mikoto in a foot-race.

"It doesn't matter how fast you are!" shouted the chameleon, "you can't see me, you can't find me! You can't hit me! Run around and waste your energy like all predators I am patient. I'll wait for you to tire out and then I'll sever your throat in one-go." He laughed. Aaron was approaching him again and again, he'd draw in close and then jet off in a different direction. Originally he was scared until he realized he was just moving in random directions. He just had no battle plan. If he kept going like this he'd probably crash into a tree or something.

And it was indeed something. Aaron smashed into the chameleon man. "There you are," Aaron laughed. His random running around was well-planned out. He had assumed a grid-like approach, he was checking the area for his opponent. Turning invisible was one thing, it just meant he couldn't see him, but he was still there. Aaron was checking the entire space with his rampant running. It just turned out he just now found him. Aaron twisted around, catapulting the man into the air with a kick. Aaron knew his own strength. He knew just where to find his opponent. He jumped following, the trajectory of his kick and wound up right next to him. "I said this before, but I just exist in a different world then you. Predator, phbt...this is true speed and this...is true power!" Aaron twisted around, snapping his entire body around like a whip. The attack hammered into the man's body at a random point. Aaron really didn't care cause after the sound of the crash. He was definitely knocked out.

"Maybe when you can at least move at half of my speed, then you'll be worthy of the real might of the Infinity Pirates!" Aaron lifted his hand into the air. He had done it again. Maybe he had gotten slightly carried away with his attack and little speech, oh, well. He shrugged it off. He still had to find where Maria was being imprisoned. He shook his head. Maybe the battle strategy was still questionable. The way this fight was going was amazingly difficult. They were out-numbered and in all honesty Alistair had bestowed some weird powers onto his subordinates. It was possible that at least one of them would be dangerous. Until then, however, Aaron would just have to make do with small fries.

Always More Trouble

WRONG CHAPTER! WRONG CHAPTER! Thought I'd get prepared for a few weeks in the future and uploaded an additional chapter today. Just posted that additional chapter by accident. It should be fixed by now.

Yeah, I really couldn't think of a title for this chapter...so I went with one of the worst ones that popped in my head. Can't think of anything good? Go with the absolute worst. That's what my dad taught me.

Anyways! I was wondering about something. One of my arcs in one of my stories (I'm not going to spoil it for you) involves the crew getting lost due to a broken Log Pose or something. And here's what bugs me. Why can't they just use the Sun's position to figure out East and West, use the stars for basic navigational positioning, and sail around that way? One Piece made a pretty big deal out of the Log Pose and how the crew would get lost without it, but I mean with a good map and basic navigational skills you should be able to find your way around. And there is a map of the Grand Line. Buggy had one. So I just mean, it seems like with a good head on your shoulder you wouldn't even need the Log Pose. Just wanted to ask you guys if there is something I'm missing or...

Not to mention the Jaya arc when the entire crew was racing around in search of the South Bird. Couldn't they just use the sun? The sun rises in the East, sets in the West. This has been bothering me!