Brand New World
Ch. 18: Ring Around the Long Island
-X-
Disclaimer: The following is a fan made work of fiction. One Piece is owned by Funimation, Toei Animation, Fuji TV, Shueisha, Shonen Jump Manga, and Eiichiro Oda. I do not own One Piece or any of its characters, nor any of the songs I put in here. The only thing I own here is Kakusei and a few fan characters.
Summary: I`m Kakusei. I have no idea where I am, or who I am, but I feel I m in a familiar world, just not my own. Mentions other mangas as the character is from our world. I`m being realistic. Also, Robin x OC later.
Rating: T for Language, Violence, and Blood.
-X-
"Crap, how could I forget this retard?" I said face-palming himself.
"You remember this man, Kakusei?" Robin asked me as I held my head.
"Unfortunately, but not everything," I replied as I realized we was staring at the ship of Foxy the Silver Fox.
"Davy Back Fight?" Nami asked.
"It`s a game between pirate crews," I said calmly. "It begins the moment both ship captains agree to it."
"He`s right," one of the Foxy Pirates said. "At this very moment, our captain is probably propositioning your captain, Monkey D. Luffy, to play the game...!"
"Propositioning, my ASS!" I yelled at the Foxy Pirates while unconsciously venting Haki, causing the crew to fear me a little. "He`s just a shrimpy, little pretentious asshole who can`t even fight outside his own terms!"
"Propositioning?" Zoro said calmly. "I call it "challenging to a fight"!"
"Don't you know what that is? It's not a fight," Sanji said more calmly than Zoro. ""Davy Back Fight" is a pirate's GAME."
"That's right. The game originated long ago on "Pirate Island," the legendary pirate paradise that is said to exist somewhere on the sea..." Robin said explaining the history behind the game. "It was a way to gain a better crew by simply stealing it from another pirate.
"Pirates stealing from pirates...?" Nami said shocked at this idea.
"Yes," Robin replied calmly.
"I'm surprised you've been pirating without having heard of it," Another of the Foxy Pirates said mocking us a bit.
"I`m surprised your boss can actually win a fight," I said with a sarcastic tone in my voice.
"DAVY BACK FIGHT IS A BATTLE FOR MANPOWER! WHAT WE WANT IS A THREE-COIN GAME! A THREE-PART CHALLENGE!" A third member of the Foxy Pirates yelled loudly. "The winner of each game gets to choose whatever crewmembers he wants from the other ship! And the crewmembers he wins have to claim allegiance to their new captain! By swearing to Davy Jones at the bottom of the sea!"
"If you lose... your crew is taken away?" Nami said shocked.
"AYE! And if the crew doesn't have any worthwhile members," yet another Foxy Pirate said aggressively, "you can even take away the life of the ship, its Jolly Roger."
"You're wagering your companions and your pride. Succeed, and your strength can be multiplied..." Sanji said slowly, "…fail, and what you lose will be immense... A tasteless game...!
"It really is the lowest kind of bet you can make," I said trying to keep my cool. "Human lives and the place of your friends should never be gambled."
"Then... you think that ship we saw without any leadership..." Nami said slowly. "No sail, no captain..."
"Oho... so, you ran across the Fanged Toad Pirates, eh?" the first Foxy Pirate said speaking up. "That ship was just prey for the game! Look! These are our new members!" Then they all went on how great the Foxy Pirates were and how they were glad they lost, and blah blah blah.
"...THAT'S PREPOSTEROUS!" Nami yelled at the Foxy Pirates. "THERE'S NO WAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO ACCEPT YOUR PROPOSITION!"
"Stupid girl! That's not something the crews decide! It's all up to the two captains!" the second of the Foxy Pirates said. "Cry and scream all you want, if your captain Monkey D. Luffy says so, you're all going to be participants in the game!"
"They're right, Nami-san... it's an unwritten law in the pirating world...!" Sanji said staunchly. "Try to sneak your way out of it, and you'll be shamed for life!"
"Who cares about a little embarrassment?" Nami said worriedly.
"I'd rather die than suffer any dishonor," Zoro said in his usual tone.
"Same," Sanji said agreeing with Zoro for once.
"What the hell is wrong with you two?" Nami yelled at Sanji and Zoro.
"Forget about it..." Robin said calmly. "That's what men are like..."
"What am I, chopped liver?" I said to Robin.
"FINE! Then we have to stop Luffy!" Nami said worriedly again.
"Don't waste your time," the Foxy Pirates said arrogantly. "When both captains fire pistols at the same time, that's the signal that the game will begin! Just wait for it..."
"And while we`re waiting for it, we could thin the opposition a bit," I said glaring at the Foxy Pirates with a devilish grin on my face. Half the crew looked like they just shit themselves. Then again, my grin was always devilish. It just makes me look plain evil.
"How so, Kakusei?" Zoro asked with his devilish grin on as well.
"Well, we could rip the anchors out of the ground and send the entire crew off so far, they can`t participate," I said calmly. "Or we could just kill them," I said looking more evil than I ever had as I glared right at the crew, causing more than likely all or most of them shit themselves, and then half of them to pass out in fear. On the inside, I was cracking up over how easy these guys were to intimidate. Then we all heard a gunshot almost immediately followed by a second.
"HUH? HE JUST...!" Nami said shocked a bit.
"Here we go..." Sanji said.
"Just what I wanted..." Zoro said grinning devilishly.
"Told you guys Luffy would do something like this before the day was over," I said shrugging my shoulders.
"This should be fun..." Robin said smiling.
"THE GAME HAS BEEN ACCEPTED!" The Foxy Pirates yelled loudly. In less than an hour, the Foxy Pirates had set up three carnivals` worth of tents, concession stands, and a stage.
"OKAY BOYS, SETTLE DOWN!" A young woman with dark blue hair, blue eyes, and a long, pointed nose said to the crowd. She was wearing a pink jumpsuit with extremely puffed pant legs, and a bikini top exposed beneath the jumpsuit. Her outfit had several large, white puff-balls over it mainly on the joints; the biggest one was hanging from her hat.
"Porche-chan!" The Foxy Pirates yelled at the top of their lungs.
"I WILL NOW REPEAT THE THREE CONDITIONS FOR THE LOSING SIDE!" Porche began. One! All crewmembers and flags lost during Davy Back Fight cannot be won back in another game of Davy Back Fight. Two! All people chosen by the winner must immediately swear loyalty to the captain of the enemy ship. Three! You cannot EVER display your symbol again after you have lost it!"
"How can you be fine with this?" Nami said while sitting on a small bench and holding her head.
"Cotton candy for you!" Sanji said as he ran towards Nami.
"Are you still whining?" Zoro said.
"He`s gotta point," I said calmly. "We`re here, and this was bound to happen. We can win this."
"Anyone who fails to abide by these rules will be shamed as a pirate and sacrificed to Davy Jones' Locker!" Porche said dramatically. "Do you swear by these rules?"
"I DO," Foxy said confidently.
"I DO!" Luffy said while stuffing his face.
"WOOOOOO!" the Foxy Pirates exclaimed.
Now, watch the coins! We announce this three-coin game by orthodox rules..." Foxy said as he chucked the three coins into the sea." …TO DAVY JONES NOW! LET THE BATTLE BEGIN!"
"Who's Davy Jones?" Chopper asked Robin and I.
"A pirate of old who was cursed by the devil and is supposedly still alive today, at the bottom of the sea," Robin said calmly.
"You can live at the bottom of the sea?" Chopper asked innocently.
"According to the legend..." Robin began saying, "…his ship sank, and all of his treasure lies buried underneath the deck, in his "locker.""
"THE OCEAN FLOOR IS SCARY...!" Chopper said as he chomped down on some cotton candy Robin had given him. "Mmm, sweet!"
"That legend is heard back in my world too," I said calmly and thinking back on my life as bit. "I`ve even seen artist interpretations of what Davy looks like now."
"What does your world think he looks like?" Chopper asked also piquing Robin interests. I whipped out my sketchpad and quickly drew a sketch of Davy Jones from Pirates of the Caribbean. "That looks scary…" Chopper said sweating a bit.
"Just like everything that sinks under the waves becomes Davy's...you can take everything from your opponents," Sanji said calmly. "That's why the pirates call it "Davy Back"."
"Mmm fweh fweh fweh..." Foxy laughed.
"Who catches your eye, Boss?" Porche asked.
"Captain, swordsman... navigator, sharpshooter," Foxy said beginning to name our professions off. Cook, doctor, archaeologist, tactician... Let's see... which ones do I want? ...yeah, THAT one! THAT'S THE ONE I WANT!"
"Hey! You guys know how the orthodox rules work?" one of the Foxy Pirates said yelling at us.
"Lots to choose from over there," Luffy said as he looked at the Foxy Pirates.
"You can choose seven or less members for three games!" the guy continued. "Each person only participates once, and once your lineup is decided there are no changes!"
"We know! Buzz off!" Sanji yelled at him.
While Nami and Usopp were beating up Luffy for getting us into this, Zoro, Robin and I were looking over the competitions. "The types of competition are: race, ball game, combat," Zoro said looking at the paper. "I call combat."
"What? No, I wanna fight!" Luffy said complaining.
"Leave it to me, my legs are itching!" Sanji said arguing in his defense.
"So, Kakusei, how do you think we should set up our team?" Robin asked. "You are our tactician after all." We had decided to change my title on the crew to make it shorter and more accurate.
"Well, we need to maximize our chances at winning," I said slowly as I sat in a thinking pose. "But we also need to provide a safety net in case on team loses in the first or second match, and provide an absolute win in the final match no matter what. With the abilities I know our crew has," I said as I began writing down the line-up, "I think this line-up is our best bet. Sorry to leave you out, but I want to be sure we don`t lose any of our nakama."
"It`s fine," Robin said looking at the line-up. "This should work nicely." She walked away to turn in the paper as Nami and Usopp sulked over the fact that they may be chosen to go first.
[Round One, "Donut Race"]
"Uh, I've got "Can't-participate-in-a-race-itis," so..." Usopp said nervously trying to get out of the race.
"I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS, EITHER! JUST SHUT UP AND PLAY ALONG!" Nami said yelling at Usopp.
"Seven of us have to do it..." I said as looking at the two of them. "We`ve got this, don`t worry guys," I said confidently. "I`ve got it all figured out."
[Participants: Usopp, Nami, Kakusei]
[Round Two, "Groggy Ring"]
"Don't hold us back," Zoro said looking at Sanji.
"That`s my line!" Sanji said glaring back at Zoro.
"I'll do my best!" Chopper said enthusiastically.
[Participants: Zoro, Sanji, Tony-Tony Chopper]
[Round Three, "Combat"]
"HELL YEAH!" Luffy said standing alone.
[Participant: Monkey D. Luffy]
"Okay, first up is a one lap dealy around the entire island, the "Donut Race"! The materials for your handmade boats will be three simple two-ply barrels! Anything else equates to a disqualification!" a skinny Foxy Pirate said over a loudspeaker. "Time to show off your ship-making skills! Overseeing the competition will be me, Tubiflex, the Foxy Pirates Master of Festivities. I will now announce the lineups from atop my South Blue "Super Sparrow," Tweetums!" And Tweetums just chirped. "First, the Straw Hat Team! Navigator Nami! Sharpshooter Usopp! Tactician Kakusei! The name of their boat is the "Barrel Tiger"!"
"This isn't going to sink, is it?" Nami asked Usopp worriedly.
"I told you, I'm not a shipwright!" Usopp said holding one of the paddles.
"We`ll be fine," I said as I slung a rope across my shoulders like backpack straps. "As long as this thing stays afloat long enough for us to finish the race, I`m happy." And the Foxy Pirates kept saying lewd remarks about the girls and Usopp and I. Man, I wanted to punch their faces in.
"And, representing the Foxy Pirates is our idol, Porche-chan!" Tubiflex said loud and proud.
"It's in the bag, boys!" Porche said confidently and almost like a valley girl. I didn`t even know they existed here.
"With her is the swordfish fishman, Kapoty! And the starshark, Monda!" Tubiflex announced. Kapoty was a swordfish Fishman with green skin and dark red hair. He wore a yellow shirt, purple gloves and shorts, a yellow belt and a dark purple mask with a light purple hood. Monda was an orange shark with yellow stars on him in the upper side of his body. He also wore a mask-like purple with black stripes hood. "The name of their boat, the "Cutie Wagon"!"
"Wait... that shark is a fish!" Nami objected.
"Sorry! No rules say you can't use a fish!" Porche said smugly.
"YOU GUYS BETTER WIN!" Luffy yelled at us.
"I'll send you down under the waves," Porche said confidently.
"And I`ll send you below the island," I said as I stood in the Barrel Tiger glaring at her. She looked a bit nervous as I said this. I was using my evil grin again.
"Both teams, to the starting line!" Tubiflex said while riding Tweetums. And now, the moment you've all been waiting for! Both teams have come to the starting line!"
"Sink the nose-man!" The Foxy Pirates chanted.
"SHUT UP!" Usopp yelled back.
"Now, allow me to explain the rules!" Tubiflex began. "Just one little lap around this island, Long Ring Long Land! That's all! Also, pistols, cannons, explosives, cutlasses, any weapons are perfectly OK! Anyone who complains about that not being fair is a sad excuse for a pirate!"
"Is this really gonna be a race?" Zoro asked.
"Hey, Usopp, Kakusei! If anything happens to Nami-san, you're in deep shit!" Sanji yelled at us.
"DON'T LOSE! USOPP, NAMI, KAKUSEI!" Luffy yelled, cheering us on.
"This is so exciting...!" Chopper said excitedly.
"Let`s see how our tactician handles this," Robin said to herself.
"Fweh fweh fweh, those fools," Foxy said confidently. "We've never lost playing by orthodox rules! Think they'll last five minutes in this race, Hamburg?
"Pffpffpffpfft...! Nope," Hamburg, a big gorilla-like human next to Foxy said.
"Shut the hell up, you retarded turnip head!" I yelled at Foxy, sending him into his depression mode. I felt a bit better looking at that.
"Well, now it's apparent that WE'VE GOT TO WIN!" Nami said loudly.
"Any weapons, any techniques, and we're allowed to sink our opponents," I said smugly with a huge grin plastered on my face. "This is gonna be a cakewalk."
"Yeah, that's reassuring," Usopp said only focusing on the sinking part.
"Oh no, listen to what they're saying," Porche said a bit worried.
"They're free to say what they like, Porche-chan," Kapoty said confidently. "They'll be sunk in three minutes! Right, Monda?" The star shark gave him a thumbs-up. Then Tubiflex gave both teams Eternal Log Poses for the island so we wouldn`t get lost.
"Take your positions!" Tubiflex said loudly. Nami and Usopp kept arguing about the course we should take, but I reassured them I had it covered. "Readyyyy… DONUTS!" Just then, the Foxy Pirates shot cannons at us, to slow us down.
"Fuupou! (Wind Step!)" I said as wind surrounded my legs, and I jumped out of the boat. The cannonballs hit the water causing massive waves, and sending the Cutie Wagon forward.
"Both teams start at once!" Tubiflex said surveying the damage. "And at the same time, the Foxy Pirates unleash a barrage of firepower! The Cutie Wagon has a good start, but where`s the Barrel Tiger?" Tubiflex looked around the field before he saw something that he could not believe. "I-impossible, the Barrel Tiger has the lead!" The Foxy Pirates including Foxy himself looked like they just shit bricks. "The tactician, Kakusei, is running across the water and pulling the Barrel Tiger! What in God`s name is he?"
"Kakusei! You could have told us this was your plan all along!" Nami yelled at me, but she seemed thankful I had this idea was well. "When did you learn how to do this?"
"I had plenty of free time to perfect this during that last training session," I said with a bit of arrogance in my voice as I ran. "And I got the water-walking technique down too."
"That`s awesome!" Nami said happily as she and Usopp hung onto the sides of the Barrel Tiger. "But anyway, that CAN'T be in the rules! They're not racing, so how can they interfere?"
"Does it matter?" Usopp said calmly. "As long as we have Kakusei on our side, we can`t lose!"
"Damn them!" Porche said angrily. "This isn`t over yet! Monta, full speed!"
"Kakusei, Miss Navigator, Long Nose-kun, look above you!" Robin said warning us. We looked up and saw a huge boulder, easily able to sink us.
"A BOULDER?" Usopp exclaimed.
"Fweh fweh, you're goin' down!" Foxy said laughing confidently.
"More attacks?" Nami exclaimed.
"RUN KAKUSEI! "Interference" is a given at any pirate competition!" Usopp said bugging out over the rock.
"What a bunch of CRAP!" Nami exclaimed.
"I`ve got a better idea," I said as I jumped into a bicycle kick and sent the boulder straight towards the Cutie Wagon.
"Gaah!" Porche screamed as the boulder headed for her before getting blown to bits by a cannonball.
"Nice work, Foxy," I yelled loud enough for him to hear. "Are you trying to lose this one, or are you really that stupid as to underestimate me, turnip head?"
"Not the turnip head thing again," Foxy said as he went into depression mode.
"If they're allowed to interfere... Wouldn't that be the same for us?" Robin said aloud watching us from the shore.
"That sound…" Nami said as she looked at the shore. We all looked and saw Sanji kicking the crap out of the guys who threw the boulder at us.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING TO NAMI-SAN?" Sanji said as the Foxy Pirates got their asses handed to themselves.
"Sanji!" Usopp said loudly. "Thanks!" Then the Foxy Pirates began to run away from Sanji.
"Get back here! I'll pulverize your skulls, you little bastards!" Sanji said angrily as they ran away.
"Good, now we just have to keep the lead," Usopp said as I continued to run.
"Kapoty, we have to regain the lead," Porche said confidently. "Show them your fishman karate!"
"Uwoh!" Kapoty said as he got in front of Monda. "SURFACE SPLITTER!" Kapoty swung a karate chop at the water, and caused a giant break to form in the water`s surface.
"Ah! Kakusei! Do something!" Usopp yelled worriedly.
"No shit, Sherlock," I said as I spun the boat around and faced the incoming water split quickly. In a split second, the force of the wave had been redirected towards the Cutie Wagon, but they barely dodged it. "Busoken: Wind Sword (Armament Fist: Wind Sword), and Avan-ryuu-sappou: Wave Slash (Avan Sword Style: Wave Slash!)!" I declared after the attack had finished. I quickly turned around, and resumed my pace, with the Cutie Wagon not far behind.
"Dammit, it`s no use!" Kapoty said to Porche.
"Keep going, Monda!" Porche said fervently.
"GO, GO, GO!" Luffy said excitedly. "Keep it up, Kakusei!"
"GOOD LUCK!" Chopper yelled to us. I gave him a thumbs-up, and he cheered louder.
"Fweh fweh... They're even more interesting, now...!" Foxy said sweating a bit. "...let's get going with our specialty, Hamburg!"
"Sure thing, Boss," Hamburg replied obediently.
"We could just go straight to the goal," Porche said a bit angry at her situation. "Or should we sink them?"
"I want to get back at that bastard tactician for making a fool of us," Kapoty said in response.
"The race is heating up now!" Tubiflex announced for all to hear. "We've come to the "Long Coral Reef" that cuts across the raceway! In the lead is the Straw Hat Pirates' Barrel Tiger! Following is Porche-chan's Cutie Wagon!"
"Oh no...! We can't lose the chance here to take the lead!" Porche said worriedly. "Go, Monda!"
"Look at the size of those coral reefs," I said as I slowed down a bit. "They`re huge!"
"Wait Kakusei!" Nami said causing me to stop. "The Coral`s causing some really strange water currents...! We shouldn't just charge in...!"
"Right," I said confident in Nami`s abilities.
"Oh? What's this?" Tubiflex said in surprise at our actions. "The Barrel Tiger is starting to slow down!"
"Hey, Kakusei, get going!" Usopp yelled at me. "We can`t lose this!"
"The Cutie Wagon is using this opportunity to pull further ahead! DIRECTLY INTO THE LONG CORAL REEF!" Tubiflex announced loudly. However, every time they tried to get between the coral, the boat got turned around and spat back out where they started.
"I knew there was something funny about those currents," Nami said realizing what we needed to do. "Okay, Kakusei, get going!"
"Roger!" I said as I bolted towards the reefs.
"Oddly enough, the Cutie Wagon is being pushed back each time it enters the reef!" Tubiflex said surprised. "And now the Barrel Tiger makes its move! Both boats head INTO THE LONG CORAL REEF!" Both of our boats went towards the coral, but Foxy sent a smoke-producing arrow in front of use to try to blind us.
"Kakusei, now!" Nami said.
"Got it!" I replied as I jumped into the boat as we let the currents steer for us.
"Look! The Barrel Tiger passes right through the coral reef!" Tubiflex said loudly as Foxy sat in shock. "And the Cutie Wagon is still being pushed back!"
"OH NOOO!" Porche cried out loudly.
"We passed right through! How did that happen?" Usopp asked us.
"This is a "labyrinth of currents"!" Nami replied.
"Currents?" Usopp asked aloud.
"Because of the whirlpool up ahead, there are lots of odd little current whorls inside the reef!" Nami replied confidently. "If you can find the right entrance, they'll carry the boat right through. So we didn't have to worry about visibility in the first place!"
"Gahahaha! Yeah, that's our navigator for you!" Usopp yelled confidently as Foxy cursed to himself.
"I had a feeling you had a plan," I said smiling at Nami.
"But their exultation is cut short! After the reef is the "Long Ring" whirlpool!" Tubiflex said, reminding us of what was ahead.
"What the hell? It's even elongated at the bottom! Gyaaaaaa!" Usopp said worriedly.
"Stop shouting, Usopp..." Nami said calmly as I jumped back out and began to run again. "Kakusei can keep us going. Otherwise we'll be sucked down."
"...no wonder you were so relaxed," Usopp said shaking in fear. "You counted on this from the very start... GYAAAAA!"
"The Barrel Tiger accelerates again! Kakusei is putting everything he`s got into this!" Tubiflex said anxiously. "Wait, it's not just accelerating..." he said as I leapt into the air and began to fly, pulling the Barrel Tiger along with me. "…it's flying! It's shooting right over "Long Cape"! And they've landed! The Barrel Tiger pulls off an incredible TURNAROUND! They're now FAR in the lead! Will the invincible Cutie Wagon finally know defeat?"
"We may have underestimated them a bit, Porche-chan! Hang on tight!" Kapoty said aloud.
"Do it!" Porche said in response.
"UNITE! "TWO FISH ENGINE"!" Kapoty called out as Monda bit down on Kapoty`s legs.
"Uh-oh, they haven't lost yet! With fishman muscle and shark fins, the engine power is doubled!" Tubiflex proclaimed. "They're crushing the coral and blazing through the waves! We're well into the race, now! The Barrel Tiger is moving frantically!
"Aaah, look out!" Usopp said fearing the pillars of water that kept popping up in front of us.
"What's with these pillars of water?" Nami asked sarcastically as I weaved the boat in between them.
"They pass through the high-soaring Long Breaking Waves!" Tubiflex announced. We got closer and closer to the goal, all the while ignoring Foxy`s stupid tricks.
After the fake goal thing, I yelled, "Cut the crap, you retarded turnip-head bastard!" and caused him to go into a deeper depression mode. That made my day.
"Look, the goal's right ahead of us! We can pull away!" Nami said as I ran towards the goal.
"The first round of Davy Back Fight, "Donuts Race"…" Tubiflex yelled getting the crowd riled up. "…is heading into the final straightaway!" Foxy just ran up besides us, probably to do a stupid trick again. "WHO WILL BE THE VICTOR?" Tubiflex said bringing the crowd into suspense.
"Nami's team is winning! YAHOOO!" Luffy said excitedly.
"NAMI-SAAAAN!" Sanji said doing his heart dance. "You're beautiful even when you're speeding!"
"Hey! Tactician!" Foxy said gaining my attention while I was running. "You've caused me a lotta trouble!"
"Him again," Nami said annoyed at Foxy`s behavior in the Davy Back Fight.
"Too bad for you guys," one of the Foxy Pirates said to Luffy.
"Why? We're winning!" Luffy said in our defense.
"Gyahaha, for now..." the pirate continued, "…but watch! Here comes the Boss! Just like you, our Boss... has "Devil Fruit" powers."
Then my memory of Foxy`s power came back. "Shit, he`s gonna…" I said as I turned towards Foxy to see him posing for his attack.
"NORO NORO BEAM!" Foxy cried out as he shot a beam of light at us. One instant, I`m looking at Foxy doing that, the next, he`s gone, and we lost!
"Goddammit!" I cursed at the top of my lungs. "Loyalty or not, I`m gonna kick his ass after this is over!"
-X-
One game down, two to go. What new tricks will arise in the next game?
And for as why I`m calling Foxy a turnip-head, just look at his head! It looks like a turnip got cut in two!
Next chapter, we play ball!
Tsugino jikan made! (Until next time!)