The Man Who Took Down Three Shichibukais

"Got you!" shouted Alan as he opened up the dimension once more and let Alistair fall into his arms. "It was a close call. We almost lost everything." The Shichibukais disappeared back into the thick darkness. Alan settled down, pulling a small table with tea cups and small bakery goods. "I can't believe the monsters that have appeared in this world once more."

"I was going to be king," Alistair sputtered.

"I guess this was to be suspected when the Revolutionaries have rose to such power," muttered Alan. "We should've guessed that they would've come here and begin to raise such a fuss. They sensed the slightest slack in our defenses and decided to go for it. That is exactly the kind of power I should've feared all along."

"Does this mean that Mikoto really is working together with the Revolutionaries?" Alistair stated as he came to and sat up. "Is that why he felt so confident in attacking us? Did he foresee us leaving the Marines? Was he really so confident in his ties with the Revolutionaries that he knew that if he attacked us we would have no way to go? Did he really back us into a corner like that?"

"Its Mikoto!" shouted Alan, "we should've been able to think circles around him. All the rumors of the guy say he's an idiot. And that's true. I've met him before, he's not a very smart person. Mikoto definitely didn't think it through to that degree."

Alistair paused and looked down at the floor. "If it wasn't him, somebody else on the crew, must've thought such of a genius counter-plan to stop us. Somebody else must've gotten in contact with the Revolutionaries before the attack began."

"They didn't do anything like that!" shouted Alan, "there's no way they thought of such a silly trick. Besides when would they have had the opening to do such a thing! They were busy...shit!" Alan slammed his fist against the table. "Of course, they did that. You hear the news somebody wants help taking out a Shichibukai and is accepting help, who do you think is the first person to sign up?"

"The Revolutionaries?" asked Alistair, "but I thought once we dropped out of it, its possible that they would've just left us alone. They should've. They should've seen the helpfulness of us as allies. I mean, ex-Shichibukais? Who could be worth more than that?"

"I'll give you one hint," muttered Alan as he slid off of his seat and onto the floor, "How about the monster who took down three Shichibukais?"

"There's no one like that," muttered Alistair.

"There is now."

(-With Ridley-)

"A perfect match," Ridley stated with a broad smile as he saw the body fall from the skies. Had it been Mikoto he would've used Geppou before hitting the ground, so he knew for a fact it was the monstrous Shichibukai instead. "I'm glad the Revolutionaries decided to stay out of the fight after all."

"Of course they would've," stated Alys as she came into view of Ridley causing him to back off a few inches and stare at her, "one of my inside men alerted me to how this would've gone down. Apparently one of the men in charge of the alliances had told them that they should stay out of it. After all, even rumors of them having a man worthy of three Shichibukais is enough to make them become ten-times more feared."

Ridley smirked and nodded, "yup. The threat of a Shichibukai hunter is enough to scare a lot of people. Hopefully all of the Shichibukais. When news of the fall of another Shichibukai at the hands of a pirate, who may or not be aligned with the Revolutionaries, you can bet that the Shichibukais who are aligned with the Marines are going to run right to the arms of the Revolutionaries and in exchange they stay out of our way."

"From what I've heard they plan on doing more than staying out of your way," Alys stated causing Ridley to chuckle and lean back.

Without a care in the world, he threw his arms up and into the air with a shrug. "In all honesty they aren't really my business. I'll admit it I like as much extra help as I possible can get, but our agreement was only for them to stay out of our way. Past that they could do anything they wanted."

"Well, that's what they did."

"And I'm fine with it. They knew that this had nothing to do Mikoto officially joining their ranks, so if that's what they are planning, they'll be very unpleasantly surprised," Ridley stated.

"Can you think of another reason why they'd be here?"

"Heh, I don't know who you are," Ridley brought up, but he knew the girl meant him no harm. If she did he would've been shot about five sentences ago, "but that question just proves that you have no imagination. Think for a second about the giant flying ship we have above our head. Or perhaps of what made the Fox Brothers Shichibukais in the first place. Both require more prodding."

"The ship's nothing too important especially for the Revolutionaries. I do not have any knowledge about the Shichibukai's rise to power," Alys stated, "nobody told me anything about it, but to be fair I didn't bother to research about it so I never thought of it as something important."

Ridley nodded and pulled out a file from the nearby cabinet and placed it on the table. "Apparently they attacked and raided a Marine base, earning them both their bounties as well as a few valuable trading secrets. Which they traded for the ability to be a Shichibukai."

"Something that could force the Marines' hands? Impressive," stated Alys, "I'm rather amazed that there is even something like that in this world."

"Not really," Ridley stated as he lowered himself further into his seat, "if you think about it there are more than enough treaties broken and mistakes within the Marines that need covering up than within any other organizations. They have done a lot of horrible moves."

There was little contention to what Ridley was saying. A lot of people have made horrible mistakes during their turn on the throne so it was only natural that plenty of mistakes have occurred throughout the entire time of the Marine history. So naturally things would have a few sour notes hidden throughout everything.

"So, what exactly did they find out which allowed them to strong arm the Marines like this?" Alys asked.

"Apparently the past of one of the Marine Admirals isn't exactly squeaky clean, so they went after him specifically," Ridley muttered quietly to himself as he tried to think everything, "when the rest of the Marines found out they had to keep him on as he was useful, but the problem is, of course, that left a large whole in their defense."

"Its amazing that such a Marine has remained on task," Alys muttered, "but who knows for how much longer. If the Revolutionaries get their hands on him, they'll probably try to force him onto their side. Just like they are going to do to you and your captain."

"You don't know Mikoto, he's not going to be forced into doing anything," Ridley pointed out, "no matter how hard they try and force him. And if you think that Shane or Bando are going to go ahead and join up with them you're even more clueless. Shane'll pound them into the ground before he joins up with them."

Alys looked away from him and to the sky, "do you really want the Revolutionaries, the Yonkou whose working with them, alongside the Marines, and Shichibukais? You guys are creating a long list of enemies, way too fast."

"Remind me to apologize to them when we're King of the Pirates," mocked Ridley as he shook his head. "We can have all of the enemies in the world cause in the end the only thing that matters is whether or not you win. And I'm taking it from the falling fool we won and not him. The title of the man who took down three Shichibukais will be worth quite a lot."

"Wanna start selling bobble heads? Its the only thing you're good for."

"What was that!?" shouted Ridley standing up and grabbing his guitar, taking aim at the girl with his instrument.

"I'm just saying once again Mikoto risked his life to save the day and here you are sitting as far away from the action as you possibly could," Alys stated making Ridley recoil slightly before sighing and shrugged. Alys smiled and shook her head, "everybody always risk their lives, but you always seem to be messing around in the middle of danger."

"So I know how to have fun, don't blame me for that," muttered Ridley making Alys seem to only hate him more.

"Just for once you could try considering the danger you are putting Mikoto in."

"You know what, I may have no idea who the heck you are, but I do know one thing. My crew is absolutely none of your business!"

"I don't really care about your crew," Alys stated without a single ounce of concern in her voice, "my only 'business' involves Mikoto."

"Then go bug him!" Ridley stated taking a swing at her. However, he was in for a rude awakening as his swing ran right into her arm, which had been turned pitch-black from Haki. Ridley gritted his teeth as he felt the reverb from his swing fill his body. Had he really did it with all of his strength, he was certain his entire body would be shaking. Completely unable to move for awhile.

Ridley took a step back and settled back into his nice little chair, which seemed to prompt Alys to continue to talk, "Of course, if you are really in the mood to cause such a fuss and annoy Shichibukais and Yonkous. I suggest you start treading carefully."

Ridley kicked his head back and let loose a loud a laugh, "you really don't-" however Alys' own laughter cut him off.

"I understand how stupid what I just said was," she stated with a sigh, "Mikoto would never tread carefully. Especially when he got wind of the stuff to come. All of the major powers in the world are finally beginning their motion. Of course, Kai and the Revolutionaries as you can see. The Marines are always in motion. The other three Yonkous and remaining four Shichibukais are also going to start causing a ruckus."

"And Mikoto will be there leading the ruckus all the way through the New World!" shouted Ridley kicked his shoes up onto the table and laughing loudly. "You make it sound like we got here by begging and crying. All of the people on my crew are just going to get stronger and stronger from here on out. Hell, we are already on the way there."

"You seem awfully cocky," muttered Alys. "You may have garnered an incredible name for yourself, but now people are going to be seeking you out to make a name for themselves."

"Yeah, right, with the way everybody else has been the world is going to blow up before they ever focus on us. The Marines and Revolutionaries are way too busy fighting each other, I doubt they'd ever bother us again for a long while. Who knows whose going to win between the two of them, the Revolutionaries or the Marines."

"I guess it depends on how the remaining Shichibukais fall and how quickly the Marines can replace these last three. There is no short supply of pirates around nowadays. No matter how you look at it a great war is coming and you guys are going to get caught in the middle of it."

"And I don't think we'd have it any other way."

The Man Behind the Revolutionaries