Fight with the Fates: Part Two
Disclaimer: Don't own One Piece.
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"LUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNCHTIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIME!"
"Shit, duck and cover everyone!"
Axe, Kairi, Toby, and Tommy dove to the floor of the galley while a very attractive girl with blue hair facefaulted at their actions.
"Very funny, guys, get up off the floor, would ya?" she grabbed a few plates and started to set the table, "Should we get the others?"
"Nah...," Axe waved her off, "They're busy. Also, about the floor thing, can you blame us? Half the time you scream 'Lunchtime!' like that, you end up bashing someone with Canti, Haruko!"
"Nya," Haruko, the musician and the chef of his crew, turned her head away and picked her ear, "Whatever...," she pulled out the wax from her ear and flicked it off, barely missing some of the food.
"Oh geez!" Kairi pushed away her plate of food, "Haruko, your cooking is great, but there are things you shouldn't do around the table! Didn't you teach your family table manners?!"
"Whatever,"
---
"Uhm...what are they fighting about now?"
Haruko, Shruta, Tommy, and Axe stared as Kairi and Toby engaged each other in combat, katana against rapier, the sound of metal clanging echoing around the ship.
"Good question...,"
"Ookami Kamu!"
"Hot Fencer!"
Shruta sighed as the First and Second mate hit the deck of the ship, a stab wound in Kairi's shoulder and a smoking gash on Toby's chest.
"Bakas...,"
-----
Axe opened his eyes slowly to see that he wasn't on his ship with his friends, but in a large tent, once again laying on a large, comfortable bed. Groaning, Axe did his best to rise, but ended up propping himself up against his pillow.
He looked around and sighed, "That's right...I'm in the sky, not with the others," he looked at himself, "Man, I'm sore...," he paused as a loud growling filled the air inside the tent. He grinned sheepishly to no one, "Starving too,"
"Herman's making food for you as we speak, Captain,"
If it wasn't for his fatigue, Axe probably would've jumped out of his skin. He turned to see Chizuru seating in a chair off to the side.
Why didn't I see you there before?
"Because you didn't look everywhere, Captain," Chizuru smiled slightly and lifted her hat, looking at him, "Dreams of the past, hm?"
Axe frowned, "You saw?"
Chizuru nodded, "Yes. I hope you don't mind,"
"I kinda do,"
"Then, I apologize," Chizuru bowed her head slightly, "May I ask a question?"
"What?"
"These friends of yours...I'm aware that there was some mutinous actions between you, but...what happened, exactly?"
Axe stared at her for a bit and leaned towards her, beckoning her closer. Chizuru walked over and knelt down to his level.
"If you want to know," he reached out, grabbed her head and pressed her head against his, "Find out for yourself!"
Though she was a little surprised at both her captain's speed while injured, and his invitation to probe his memory, Chizuru began to dig through the mess of Axe's mind. After a few moments of the things she already knew, Chizuru found what she was looking for...only, she wasn't expecting it.
Her eyes went as wide as saucers and she began to visibly shake as she went deeper and deeper.
"Now, you know why I don't share this with anyone else," Axe whispered, "No one should see the horrors I've seen, Chizuru,"
-----
"You know, chicks in leather who want to hurt ya...are usually a good thing for the right price," Azu sighed and shook his head at the Norns, "But you three just ruined that for me!"
WHAP! WHAP!
"FOCUS, PERVERT!" Dusty and Niri screamed as two large lumps appeared on Azu's head, "GET YOUR HEAD OUTTA THEIR PANTS!"
The Norns watched as Azu lowered his head, tears running down his face. Urd looked at Belldandi and Skuld, "These people are part of the group that defeated Hod, Heimdall, and Tyr?"
Belldandi nodded, "They are the Champion's nakama,"
"This will be interesting...," Skuld mused loudly as she gripped her blades, "I say we divide them up among ourselves. Sisters, which do you want?"
While the sisters talked amongst themselves, Dusty and Niri tried to free Azu from the Steel Wire Web he caught in. They pulled and even sliced at the wires with everything they got, but all they got were bloody palms with cuts on them.
"Shit," Niri sucked a little on her cuts, "Can't get you loose, Azu,"
"Geez, thanks for that, I had no clue," the dreadlock wearing shipwright muttered as more of his blood oozed down his body.
Niri shot a glare at him, and backed away, "Looks like we can't free ya just yet, Azu...," she looked over her shoulder to the Norns, "Dusty, you and I are gonna have to fight for now. Maybe, if we're lucky, we'll find a way to get Azu freed,"
"Skuld, release the boy,"
"Fine...I was going to do it anyway. Much more fun when they can move,"
Dusty and Niri turned to see the woman with the scissor-like swords move around the Steel Wire Web. Quickly, she snipped the nearly invisible wires in certain areas of the woods. Moments later, a loud thud and an 'oof' was heard. Both pirates turned to see Azu laying on the forest floor, face in the dirt.
Niri bent down and began to unravel the wires around him, which came off very easily thanks to the woman and her giant swords.
"You okay, Azu?" she asked, helping her bloody nakama up.
"Oh, just peachy," the male said sarcastically as he rose to his feet, "Just need a little drink, and I'll be fine," he looked around, "Where's my jug?"
"You mean this?"
They turned around and Azu saw that his beloved jug of drink was in the hands of Urd, the one with the wire wheel on her back.
"Give that back!" Azu shouted at her, "That doesn't belong to you, so fork it over!"
"Yeah, that'll work," Dusty muttered under her breath, "Why don't you tell her and her sisters to surrender, too?"
"Shut up, kit!" Azu cracked his knuckles, "Listen, you leather-clad, wrist slittin' bitch, gimme that back, right now!"
Niri and Dusty stared at Azu, taken back but his sudden mood swing.
Urd raised an eyebrow and hefted the jug, "Is this important to you?"
"Hell yeah!" Azu punched his fists together, "That's my treasure! My sensei gave me that before I left after I was done with his training," he glared at her, "Give it back, or you will suffer the wrath of the Drunken Monkey!"
Dusty and Niri sweatdropped, "Drunken...Monkey...?"
"Shaddup," Azu took a stance, "Let's go ladies!"
The Norns' faces were soon covered with identical smiles.
"Azu," Niri held up her fists, "If we die,"
Dusty spun her scythes around, "You're gonna get an after-life asskicking!"
Azu grinned, "Deal, but only if and when we die,"
-----
"Chizuru, how is-WHAT THE HELL!?"
Herman stared at the sight in front of him. Axe lay quietly in his bed, fast asleep, while Chizuru was laying on the floor, shaking, her eyes very wide. Herman hurried to his nakama and gently took her into his arms.
He had never seen Chizuru like this. The red-haired navigator looked as though she had seen something horrifying...like, Azu dancing naked (as everyone was cursed to see on the ship from time to time).
"Chizuru? Chizzy, can you hear me?"
The navigator, still shocked by something, slowly lifted her head upward to see Herman's face above her head.
"H-Herman?"
"Yeah, it's me, Chiz," Herman nodded, "What's wrong, what happened?"
Chizuru shook her head and glanced at Axe, who was asleep.
"What is it?" Herman looked up at his sleeping captain, "Did something happen?"
"N-No...," Chizuru held her head and sighed, still shaking a bit, "Nothing happened at all," she looked at Axe again, No wonder you're so fucked up, Captain...interesting name, too. So, you're one of them? Very interesting...
Herman sighed and slowly helped her to her feet, "C'mon, let's go and get you some fresh air, hm?"
"Yeah...," Chizuru winced and held her head again, "I'd like that, Herman, "I'd like that very much,"
After the two of them left, Axe opened his eyes and rolled over onto his side, back facing the tent flap.
"Sorry, Chiz," he whispered, "...but now you know that it's dangerous to go into someone's mind without their permission,"
-----
"Watch out, Niri!" Dusty shouted as she blocked Skuld's swords with her scythes, "Incoming at six o'clock!"
Niri snapped her head around and rolled to the side, barely missing the large needle that was aimed for her. If she hadn't dodged it, she'd probably be dead and hanging off the needle. She and her friends had been fighting with these New World foes for a short time, but already, it wasn't looking very good for them.
Azu's injuries were slowing him down with bloodloss, Dusty's strength could barely keep those large swords away from her, and with her gun bag on the ground a short distance away, Niri couldn't damage her own enemy, which she would've loved given she can't go close distance. The large network of metal wires didn't help either. The three of them were constantly cutting themselves on the wires and tripping traps like large, sharpened logs that shot out of nowhere or small explosives hidden under plants.
"Shit!" Niri winced as a wire sliced through her arm. She ignored the wound and looked at her opponent, as well as her friends' fights, "Three against three is usually even, but in our case, I'm beginning to doubt that!"
Belldandi grinned as she twirled her needle-spear, "You're just beginning to doubt yourself and your friends? Girl, you never had a chance to begin with!"
"Shut up!" Niri snapped at her, Gotta find a weak spot in their attack!
Meanwhile, Azu was ducking and dodging the wire lashings that Urd was unleashing on him.
"Hold still!"
"Make me!" Azu ducked underneath another wire and sped towards her, "Crazy Corkscrew!" he pushed off the ground and began to spin through the air, aimed right for Urd's leather-clad chest.
I get to hurt her and cop a feel... Azu grinned as he spun, Bonus!
"I don't think so," Urd quickly stepped to the side and with amazing speed, she whipped the wires outward again, wrapping them around Azu's passing legs.
Shit! How'd she dodge it?!
With a hard tug, Urd stopped Azu in mid-flight and flung him through the Steel Wire Web, giving him more and more cuts as he flew. Azu hit the ground hard, more of his blood seeping out of his numerous wounds. He coughed and wiped the blood from his lips, Hardly anyone can dodge the Crazy Corkscrew! How did she-?
"AAH!"
Azu lifted his head and turned to see Dusty falling backward, two large gashes in her back, her blood flying into the air. The kitsune hit the ground and rolled over, adding more pain to herself. She glared up at Skuld, "Bitch...you're quick, but you're not as quick as the fox!"
Skuld smirked, "Is that so?"
"Yeah! I'll prove it, too!" Dusty flipped over onto her hands and began to backflip over and over away from her enemy, hoping to gain some room. However, on the fourth or fifth landing, Dusty came to a sudden halt as pain tore through her body. She looked down to see both of Skuld's swords were going through her abdomen.
Skuld giggled as blood slowly poured out from behind the kitsune's lips, "What was that about foxes being quicker?" she asked, lifting Dusty higher and higher with her swords, which were going deeper and deeper as she did so.
"DUSTY!" Azu screamed for his nakama, jumped to his feet and began to run for her, "HANG ON, KIT!"
"No! Bad boy!"
Azu suddenly fell flat on his face and felt himself being dragged backward. Growling, he looked back to see that his ankle was once again wrapped in metal wire and Urd was reeliing him in like a fish.
Shit! The girl can dodge my Corkscrew, and Dusty couldn't get away from hers, it's like... Azu's eyes widened when a possibility came to him, They're predicting our movements, as if they had Mantra like Austin and Aisa...but that's impossible! You can only get that if you're born with Skypeian or Shandian blood in you, so how are they doing this?!
He coughed again and climbed to his feet, sore and feeling weak, thanks to the wires and traps Urd used against him. Panting, Azu stared at his opponent as he listened for his nakama. They weren't making any noise at all.
"Niri...can you move?"
A groan from the side, "No...you?"
Azu tried to move his feet, but he was unable to move. However, this time, it was due to the strain on his body rather than the wire trap. He shook his head, "No...Dusty? Kit, how are you?"
Dusty shot a light glare at him as she held her large wound as blood oozed between her fingers, "Oh, I'm just fine!"
The Norns regrouped and looked at their prey, sharing another identical smile.
"Seems that the only strong members of the Champions group were the ones who killed our comrades. These three...they're nothing compared to them!"
"Man...screw you, bitch!" Niri shouted from her place on the ground.
"Seems the little girl has not yet learned her lesson, nor her new place in our paradise," Belldandi sighed and shook her head, "Do you think that Lady Frigga would be upset that she won't have at least one handservant to her?" she asked, tapping the Vearth with her spear.
Niri tried to push off the ground, but she was pinned down by something she couldn't see, Dammit...! If I had my guns, I might have a chance! But, I don't know where they are!
I need my drink...if I can drink it, my power would be enough to handle each of these freaky chicks! Azu thought, knees buckling.
I should've brought my Rumble Balls, but noooo, I decided not to risk going into that freaky Monster thing again! Dusty rolled her eyes as more blood poured into her hands, Stupid mistake!
"Sisters, do you mind?" Belldandi brought her spear up and started walking towards Niri.
"Not all," the other two replied in unison.
Niri could hear the footsteps of the spear woman get closer and closer. Finally, they came to a stop and she flinched when she felt the sharp needle end on the back of her neck.
"You should've behaved, girl...you may have lived longer," Belldandi raised her spear, a smirk on her face, "Hopefully, in your next life, you'll know better than to go against those stronger than you!" she chuckled.
Niri shut her eyes tightly, but the needle never came. Instead, a loud, muffled blast was heard and the next thing she heard was the sound of wolves howling and footsteps running past her. Wincing, Niri lifted her head to see what was going on. Belldandi was no longer standing in front of her, but was on the ground with both a surprised and angry look on her face.
"Damn brat!"
The sharpshooter looked around to see that they weren't alone with the Norns anymore. Now, a large pack of fierce-looking wolves standing between her, her friends, and the Norns. What surprised her even more was what was riding on the apparent leader of the wolves.
"Impossible!" Urd scowled, "We should've sensed them coming, but we didn't! How is that possible?!"
Belldandi held her gut as she got to her feet, "I don't know, sister, but that boy just pissed me off,"
"Guys...look!" Niri called out to her friends, a hopeful smile crossing her face.
Azu and Dusty looked up to see Austin and Aisa, both of them riding the back of the wolf pack leader. Austin slid off the back of the leader, scratched and rubbed him on the ear before the large wolf went back, carrying Aisa to the others.
"It's the Champions little brother!" Skuld exclaimed, "Does he really think he can fight against us?"
"I don't know, and I don't care for what he thinks or if he's still any use to us!" Belldandi gripped her spear and dashed towards him, "He's mine!"
"Sister, wait, come back!"
"Belldandi!"
"You're dead, boy!" Belldandi screeched as she came closer.
Looks like you and your sisters can't be all calm and collected all the time, hm? Austin grinned, his Mantra predicting what Belldandi was going to do. His smile changed and he jumped into the air, missing the spear just in time, This is for my nakama, for Kirsty, for this island and it's people, and for my brother!
Belldandi watched in surprise as Austin drew closer, and as he did, he thrust both palms outward, his gloves barely touching her face.
IMPACT!!!
Seconds later, Belldandi flew backward, screaming as she skidded across the ground. Austin landed on his feet and took a fighting stance, one hand back and one held outward. He grinned and beckoned the two other sisters towards him.
Come get some!
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Kilnorc: Okay, I hope this one was interesting. I've had some difficulty with it, but I hope you guys enjoyed it. For some reason, I wanted at least ONE person to know the truth about Axe, and who better than an inquisitive telepath? Anyhoo, Austin and Aisa are finally out of hiding, but where have they been, and can they help their friends? Stay tuned!
On the next chapter of Homeland...
Niri: Kids...so stupid. Get out of here, you two! It's too dangerous!
Dusty: Can't believe we got our asses saved by kids...I'll never hear the end of this!
Azu: Ahh...that was some good drink! You guys can hang back now, it's our turn again!
Austin: Time for a little Penguin Missle action!
Fight with the Fates: Part Three
Niri: You think you're strong, New Worlders? Witness our full strength!