Chapter 3

Hawke stared around her in horror as the ground itself came alive and surged up above them. She could see Sanji and Zoro off to her left and Luffy was a ways away on her right. She could hear the panicked yells of Usopp and Chopper behind her and Nami's screams could be heard from the other side of this swirling upheaval of dirt.

As she stared at the fluid earth towering around them, giant lion heads were formed and began roaring and gnashing their teeth. The Earth Lions bore down on them from all sides, encircling the crew and trapping them in a ring of rock.

"This guy is too powerful!" Hawke gasped and stumbled back, bumping into Sanji.

"Don't let him scare you, Hawke-chan," the cook said as he squared off with the lion head in front of him, "I won't let this bastard lay a hand on you."

The scout bit her lip ad nodded. She couldn't let herself be intimidated by this guy. They had to defeat him so he wouldn't take Nami away again!

She faced the rippling rock she was facing and clenched her knuckles around the hilts of her knives.

Luffy obliterated the rock that was hiding Shiki from sight and Sanji shot Zoro up for an attack.

Hawke felt fear rise once again in her chest when she heard the Golden Lion mutter some disdainful words at them.

"Sorry, but no," he easily blocked Zoro's attack and shot the swordsman down hard into the earth, "You guys aren't even worth killing."

"Zoro!" Hawke ran over and helped him to his feet.

Then the lions made of rock around them gave a unified roar and shot upwards.

Hawke followed their ascent and saw what was about to happen.

They're covering the sky! She felt fear coursing through her body.

She turned and tried to grab Zoro's arm as the ground beneath their feet tilted. The swordsman lost his balance and Hawke missed his hand as he fell, swearing, down the slope.

"Damn it!" Hawke heard Sanji yell, but she couldn't see him.

I need to get out of here! her instincts took over and she spread her wings, springing off the ground and making for the small point of sky still left clear.

She pushed through the rain of dirt and rocks and burst into clear sky. Turning, Hawke cried out as she saw the earth being pressed into a giant, swirling pillar. She could see the faces of the crew, all unconscious, as the pillar was turned and compressed into a solid monument.

"Oh? One of you escaped? I have to admit I'm impressed with the women on this crew."

Hawke stiffened and turned in the air, hovering to hold her place.

Shiki was drawing level with her, using his devil fruit powers to float through the air.

"Luffy!" Hawke heard Nami's scream and looked down to see the navigator sprinting over to the pillar of stone.

"Don't worry, Nami," the scout called as she turned back to face Shiki, "I won't let this guy take you away again!"

The man before her laughed at her words.

"I believe babycakes has decided which crew to join," he said in a mocking voice, "You guys weren't even strong enough to take her back."

Hawke clenched her fists and glared at him.

"Don't say things like that until the last one has fallen!" she spat and dove.

Hawke's wings sliced through the air and she aimed her knives at her enemy's head. She saw the amused look on his face and his leg-swords come up to deflect her. The scout waited until the last moment to switch her target and instead flew right over Shiki's head. As he turned, she brought her knife down on one of the pegs that stuck out of his head. It sliced through the wood and made a scratch on his scalp. This had an effect and the man sank a little in the air, wobbling a little. Hawke saw an opening and brought her second knife down on his chest, but her wrist was suddenly gripped in a vice like hold.

"Made me use my hands again, eh?" Shiki smiled malevolently up at her, a trickle of blood ran down his temple.

Hawke let out a gasp of fear and beat her wings hard. She managed to wrestle herself free and put some distance between them.

"No, Hawke! Stop!" Nami's voice suddenly shouted up to her, "Don't fight him anymore!"

Hawke glanced down and saw the navigator looking up at them. Her tear stained face made Hawke's heart squeeze in her chest. She didn't like seeing her friend cry, and she hated the man who was responsible for it.

"Don't say that, Nami!" she called down, "We'll always fight for you. You can't leave the crew without Luffy's permission!"

With these words she let loose her knives and threw them at Shiki. And as soon as they had left her hands, she took out two more and launched them as well.

She felt a small hint of relief as her weapons closed in on their target, but then saw the look of annoyance on Shiki's face and felt her stomach drop.

"Babycakes can do whatever she wants," he growled, "And if a captain's defeated, the victor can have what he likes of the spoils."

He lifted his hands and slapped all four of Hawke's knives out of the air with as much ease as if they had been leaves in the wind.

"And you, sugarpie, are quite persistent," Shiki sent Hawke an amused glance, "So I shall dispose of you directly."

Hawke watched him lift his hand and clench his fist. She immediately looked around for any giant lion heads made of earth again, but the ground remained still.

She had just enough time to hear Nami scream a warning to her before she was hit. Shiki appeared above her and slammed his fist down. The force of the blow shot Hawke rocketing down onto the ground, wings still outstretched. Her breath rushed out of her body and she lay there gasping as Shiki hovered over her, grinning maniacally.

"I know who you are, sugarpie," he leered, "And I won't let you take my thunder. You put up a decent fight, but no one can stop me. Once the East Blue is dealt with, I might ask you to join me too. If you survive, that is."

He lifted his hand again as Hawke made to stand. Her movement was suddenly stopped as pain seared along her wings. She let out a scream and fell back onto the ground. Her wings, which had been spread out behind her, were now covered in blood. The red liquid was oozing from two points, one on each wing, where her own knives were pinning her to the ground.

He used my own weapons against me! Hawke felt anger boiling up inside her.

"Hawke!" Nami screamed from somewhere the scout couldn't see.

"Damn you!" she spat at the man floating down towards her, "Nami, run! Get away from here!"

Shiki grinned and lifted an eyebrow.

"Now, now, sugarpie," his voice was full on condescension, "You shouldn't speak that way in front of someone who can kill you so easily."

He pointed a finger at her and there was a sudden swishing sound as Hawke's two other knives embedded themselves in the ground on either side of her head, close enough that Hawke felt blood dripping from the scratches along her cheeks.

She lay there, panting and blinking back tears.

"That's a good girl," Shiki landed, bladed legs straddling her body, "Now have a nice rest. I hope the animals'll leave you be… but no promises."

Hawke could only glare through the pain radiating through her wings and into her body as she watched him lift a rock from the ground and hover it over her head.

"Nighty night, sugarpie," he said sweetly before letting it drop.