Upturning Odds

"The battles will soon begin to split this mountain in two," stated Johnathon, echoing the thoughts of Victoria even though she hadn't said a single thing yet. She smiled slightly and nodded. Johnathon smiled widely as he saw that familiar smile creeping over her face, "it makes you remember, doesn't it? When we used to be just like them. Just a bunch of foolish pirates who had gotten a ship and a flag and set out to change the world."

"And we did," Victoria stated with a nod, "we caused a lot of chaos and we had a lot of fun. Isn't that exactly what we always wanted? And yet we have a strange sense of apprehension at the end of everything. We are about to see our lives as pirates wind down. We were always warriors and now here we are standing at the very edge of everything. Our last goal is just to make sure the world doesn't shift too dramatically."

"I must say," Johnathon spoke up, "I am surprised you didn't take up the offer the Revolutionaries gave you. They plan to bring down the World Government, a restart if you will, and that restart would automatically include the restart of the slave trade. And you could destroy it then. Many Revolutionaries are planning on doing such a thing. The slave trade is the most despicable element that remains in today's world, many people hate it, but its staying around out of tradition. If you destroyed the tradition, it would also crumble."

"Are you saying you want to join the Revolutionaries?" asked Victoria.

"No," Johnathon stated, "even if the slave trade would get abolished by going down that path. There are some other huge problems that'll bubble up through out it. The slave trade is horrible, but huge problems will ensure. An avalanche would just follow and bury everyone involved. Even the freed slaves."

"Not to mention there's the thin question of whether or not we will win," explained Victoria, "if the pirates or the Revolutionaries fall the Marines will appear as the victor. The last standing man as a monster with an infinite amount of resources." Victoria faked a shiver before laughing, "I guess that's why we are here."

"Just to be a general thorn in the side of the Marines?" Johnathon questioned before chuckling slightly. He usually didn't laugh like this. When these two first met Johnathon was a solemn man, he stayed quiet for the most part. It was only his sword skills and pure heart that made Victoria want him on her crew.

These two weren't childhood friends or anything of the sort. They only met each other on the high seas. Victoria had set off, barely managing to free herself from the bonds of slavery and hit the high seas, but she was all alone. She wasn't a pirate now and she held no intention of doing anything about it. Just hate the slave trade that was the only thing on her mind.

However, then she met John. John was a swordsman, nothing more or less. He was all alone as well, just training to become better than everyone else. His eyes being set on the gods that laid before him. All of his interest was in becoming the very best and nothing else and after all of his trouble he was nearly there. Very few people questioned his skills, then again even back then he was considered great.

The two of them often wondered what their first impression was on each other. They knew they hit it off greatly as the two of them then formed their group together. They didn't have a name back then, just Victoria and Johnathon. It wasn't for another couple of weeks before the Shogun Pirates actually had a name and took form.

After that they went out and began becoming a real ruckus for pirates and Marines alike. They took down anybody who got in their way and with Johnathon's sword play and Victoria's Devil Fruit they weren't many people who actually stood in their way. Which made sense considering how quickly they climbed to the rank of Yonkou.

They were soon number one on so many pirates' most wanted list as well as the Marines, people began to try and recruit them, but the two of them turned them all down. Amassing their own crew with their own goals in mind they became worthy of the title of Yonkou. They soon took over the world, a wide smile crossing their face.

They were proud of what they were aiming for and now, much to their surprise they have taken over a couple of crews and their titles. They never had much of a problem with the Revolutionaries, which was probably why the Revolutionaries were so quick to call on them.

They had worked together with the Revolutionaries on many occasions, raiding slave camps, abolishing a few Marine bases, nothing much to really call what they were 'allies' more like people fighting against the common enemy. Nonetheless the Revolutionaries knew not to cross with her and she was wise enough to return the favor. This was the first time she believed when they actually didn't see eye-to-eye. And now the world would be split. Of course, Victoria refused to side with the Marines too.

Had she been stupid enough to join the fight on the side of the Marines, especially after Kai joined with the Revolutionaries the war would just devolve into a bout between Yonkou. And if those two start fighting it out undoubtedly other Yonkous would soon either get involved or stand back to clean up after both sides had been whittled down. Undoubtedly they were still planning on something similar.

"Joining up with the Revolutionaries would've been very advantageous to me," Victoria explained. "That would probably immediately secure the victory for the Revolutionaries. Two Yonkous are powerful and would manage to completely turn the tides of the fight once and for all."

"But."

"The Admiral of the Marines is no fool," explained Victoria, "when you realize you have no way of winning a war you decide to skip the idea of even trying. Your next immediate goal becomes lowering the gains your opponent could get. They'd start razing everything, maybe even start holding people hostage. People hate losing more than they love their morals."

"Its a shame we had to grow up and learn stuff like this," Johnathon chuckled, still remembering the days of being starry eyed swordsman. He had never met a slave before he had encountered Victoria. He had heard about them, just never met them and never gave them a second thought. Just focused on his own skills.

"Anyways," Johnathon stated, "do you still think Mikoto has what it takes to make it to the top? There are a lot of good pirates out there. I know you think highly of him, but we've seen already that he and the rest of his crew clearly aren't cut out of the same cloth as the others. They've been struggling ever since they got on this island."

"Ravenbone and Shigoro are both very talented men," Victoria nodded solemnly. "As it currently stands I estimate that those two will win." She wasn't about to beat around the bush, she knew what really mattered in these fights. Mikoto just barely managed to get a proper grasp on Haki and his Devil Fruit power put him at a severe disability to Ravenbone.

Ravenbone's Devil Fruit was sound something that was nearly impossible to outrun. Breaking the sound barrier was impossible to do and even if it wasn't to keep it up for an entire fight would be impossible. Mikoto's speed was completely useless against him. Mikoto's sole life-saving ability would prove pointless against Ravenbone. She sighed. The kid's strength would probably seem to run out during this next battle. Victoria would wish him the best of luck.

"The kid's going to have it cut out for him," Victoria muttered and shook her head, "I don't think the guy actually holds a very high opinion of Mikoto. When it comes down to it, Ravenbone will be absolutely ruthless against Mikoto. The odds of Mikoto coming out on top seems slim. Maybe his experience against absolute monsters like Trevor will come in handy."

Johnathon nodded, his assessment of the situation was pretty much the same. Mikoto was someone who Johnathon actually had decent faith in. He had bumped into him once or twice and he was training hard, these two facts should mean that Mikoto could actually turn out to be much stronger than what he believed.

"What about Zesiro?" asked Victoria, wanting to get the opinion of the much stronger swordsman. Victoria was decent with a sword, but if it came down to a match with just blades, no Haki, no Devil Fruit, than Johnathon would win nearly every sword battle they had. The difference between the two of them was just that big. But, of course, she was the captain of the crew, not him.

Johnathon settled down and sighed, "Zesiro seemed talented enough. However," Johnathon shook his head, "I still don't think he's good enough to challenge Shigoro one on one. Shigoro is a monster. I may be able to handle him, but even then I'd still say my victory is only a 60/40 percent chance."

"Not that high, huh?" Victoria stated as she shifted uneasily. "And Zesiro's chances?" asked Victoria, very interested in knowing what Johnathon thought of the guy. The man was a Fishman which gave him extraordinary strength and he could mow down enemies with a single swing of his mighty sword. However, Shigoro has already proven his superior strength. Just like Mikoto when Zesiro was pushed to a wall his greatest superhuman strength vanishing in comparison to his opponent's. What would he do? Obviously Johnahton knew what he would do, but it would up for Zesiro to find his own way through.

Finally Johnathon sighed and admitted to it, "I estimate Zesiro's chance of winning about 3%."

"That's not good," Victoria stated calmly. "Then again..." Victoria trailed off.

"Then again what?"

"I would've put their odds against Trevor at 0, their odds against Kraven at 30, their odds against the Fox Brothers at 25," Victoria stated. "These guys have the potential to turn things around on us. Don't you agree?"

Johnathon groaned and shook his head, "Don't get your hopes up, miracles don't come around too often. They've already pulled victories out of thin air three times, do you really want to be on that to win these few battles? Much less the war?"

"I think after this turning of the tides," explained Victoria, "you can no longer wave them off as a group that relies on miracles. They do so much more than that."

Johnathon paused unsure of how to tackle the new issue she just raised. They have had many miracles now it seemed to be more than just a coincidence. They have been offered a place on the Revolutionaries, a Shichibukai position, and now a Yonkou had her eye on them. They were either born under the luckiest star ever...or the unluckiest star either. The greatest burdens kept getting shoved on them and if they weren't up to snuff, then they would be rolled over and destroyed without a worry. It was fearful to see such a thing.

Johnathon looked up at the sky. He hoped they wouldn't see them being crushed by the weight of their own burden. Something should change eventually.

Kings of Land and Sea