Brand New World
Ch. 19: Play Ball
-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-
Slowing Things down a Bit
-X-
Well, we got back to the goal, and everyone began asking if we were okay and what happened. How in hell`s name do you go about beginning to describe what just happened to us? It was like after we got hit by Foxy`s attack, we had been given a slug`s speed. Or like someone just loaded our bodies full of painkillers and we were on an acid trip (I have no idea what that`s actually like for your information.). Everything around us just sped up.
"You aren't hurt, are you?" Chopper asked us as he looked us over.
"Besides my wounded pride, yes," I answered glaring at Foxy.
"What did they do?" Luffy asked.
"Ooh! A toast to our victory!" Porche said happily. Man, I hated that voice.
"Fwehhh fweh fweh... nothing to be mystified about," Foxy said smugly. "It was because of "Noroma Photons"!" (A/N: Noroma means "slow" or "stupid" and Foxy ate the Noro Noro no Mi.)
"Hey, what the hell did you do to Nami-san's team?" Sanji asked aloud and angrily.
"Noroma Photons...?" Usopp asked.
"I think I can explain," I said still glaring at Foxy. "That turnip-headed bastard is a devil fruit user."
"What?" my crewmates yelled in shock as Foxy went into his depression mode again.
"He ate the Noro Noro no Mi, and the devil fruit let`s him create these Noroma photons which are special particles of light that are completely uncategorized," I continued slowly. "Anything hit by these photons, and I mean anything, retains its energy, but slows down for 30 seconds."
"That`s a retarded power!" Luffy yelled at Foxy sending him into a deeper depression. That never gets old.
"They yelled at me..." Foxy said as he sat on his hands and knees depressed.
"No, Boss!" Porche said trying to cheer him up.
"To put it simply, anything that light hits slows down," I said dumbing down the explanation for Luffy.
"Oh, well that makes sense, then," Luffy said getting the idea now.
"Ever since I ate the "Noro Noro no Mi, I've been able to emit Noroma photons from my body! I became a "Noroma Human"!" Foxy said arrogantly. "But don't take it from me, JUST WATCH!" Then Foxy had Hamburg fire a cannonball at him and he used his powers to slow it down, but was too stupid to get out of the way before it sped back up. I burst out laughing and had to hold my stomach cause I was laughing too hard.
"What a retard!" I said in between laughing.
"Again with the retard thing…" Foxy said depressed again.
"Boss!" Porche said trying to cheer him up again.
"Damn, so that's what got us..." Usopp said.
"If he uses that thing in a race...!" Nami said realizing his trickery.
"No wonder they had so much confidence coming into this...!" Sanji said realizing their motives. "What a ridiculous power...!"
"Now do you understand? YOU LOST!" Porche said aggressively.
"WE WON! THE FIRST ROUND, "DONUTS RACE"!" Foxy said a bit battered from the cannonball.
"Uh-oh! Too bad!" Porche said in a mocking tone.
-X-
The Trust of a Friend
-X-
"THE FIRST ROUND IS OVER! The moment you've been waiting for! Spoils of war! Go ahead, Boss!" Tubiflex announced for all to hear. "Pick out the enemy crewmember you'd like!"
"The one I wanted the most out of the entire crew WAS YOU...!" Foxy said as he pointed t Chopper. "THE DOCTOR! TONY TONY CHOPPER!"
"ME?" Chopper said shocked at Foxy`s choice.
"Oh no...! Chopper!" Nami said worried for Chopper. Boy, I felt sorry for Chopper. Both Foxy and Porche were acting like he was a pet.
"CHOPPER!" Luffy yelled worried for Chopper.
"So Chopper was the one he was after," Sanji said. "Come to think of it, he does seem like a rare pet."
"Does he have a thing for rare pets?" Nami asked.
"Maybe he has a thing for rare pelts," Robin said darkly.
"IS THIS REALLY THE TIME FOR JOKES? IT ISN'T FUNNY, YOU GUYS!" Usopp yelled at Luffy, Nami, Sanji, and Robin. "He took our crewmate!"
"GUYZZZ!" Chopper said through his tears.
"Come now, Dr. Chopper! You're our medic, now!" Foxy said as some of his crewmates came closer to Chopper with a Foxy Pirate mask. "Swear loyalty to me! Put the mask on him!"
"Hold it!" I yelled at Foxy and his crew, easily gaining their attention while exuding Haki. Okay, so I don`t have the best control over my Haki, but at least I can use it, right? "Foxy, there`s still two more events left," I said as I walked on stage. "He doesn`t have to swear loyalty until the Davy Back Fight is over!"
"Ah! Kakusei!" Chopper said happy I was standing up for him.
"Fweh fweh fweh!" Foxy said arrogantly. "What makes you think you can say that in such confidence? You guys have no experience in Davy Back Fights, and you`ve already lost a crew member. Why shouldn`t he swear loyalty to me?"
"Chopper..." Usopp said slowly.
"Because, I have faith in my nakama," I said still exuding Haki and making a majority of Foxy`s crew fear me, including Foxy himself. "If you won`t decide because of that, then how about we make a bet?"
"A bet?" Foxy said interested. "Now you`re talking. So what`re the terms?"
"Kakusei, what the hell are you doing?" Nami said worried I might do something stupid.
"Three conditions first: You don`t make Chopper swear loyalty until after the Davy Back fight is over, neither of us interferes in the next event, and if either of us or our team breaks this deal, their side automatically loses the bet," I said loudly and calmly. "If we lose this next game, I`ll join your crew regardless of whether you pick me or not."
"Kakusei…" Chopper said slowly as he was tearing up in awe at my confidence in our nakama. "Sniff...!"
"Fweh fweh fweh!" Foxy laughed at my apparently idiotic notion. "And what happens if your crew wins the next game?"
"If we win the next game, I get to raid your ship for any supplies I deem necessary and I can take up to half your treasure," I said calmly and smiling devilishly.
"Kakusei!" Nami said astonished I`d make such a deal.
"Fweh fweh fweh, it`s a deal!" Foxy said as he and I shook on it, and a few of his crewmates took pictures for evidence. I quickly snatched up the pictures using the wind to grab them from the holders without moving one step. I held them all in one hand and stared right at Foxy with a blank look on my face. "What, don`t you trust me?"
"No, in fact I don`t," I said calmly. "I am a man of my word, and I will hold up my end of the deal should we lose. I`m not too sure about you though, so I want to have the evidence."
"That`s fine," Foxy said as he walked back to his side of the field.
"Sucker," I said in my mind as I walked off the stage and pressed something in my pocket.
"YOU GUYZZZ! I... AH... I DON' WANNA GO!" Chopper yelled out through his tears. "I went to sea because I was with you! Luffy! I joined the crew because you invited me to! I don't wanna be with these people-"
"QUIT YOUR BELLYACHING, CHOPPER!" Zoro said after taking a swig from his beer bottle. "IT'S PATHETIC!"
"Zoro!" Chopper said shocked at Zoro`s response.
"Coming to the sea was your own choice and responsibility! Whatever end you come to on the sea depends on YOU! You can't fault anyone else!" Zoro said as he slowly stood up. "We accepted this game! Usopp's team gave it their all. Hell, Kakusei`s risking his spot on the crew so you don`t have to put that mask on yet, and he`s the one who made the line-up! What kind of pirate is going to be sympathetic to your tears if your crewmate is showing that kind of confidence in us?"
"Zoro?" everyone but Sanji and I said aloud.
"If you're a man..." Zoro said slowly. "YOU SIT TIGHT, BE QUIET AND WATCH THIS MATCH!"
"You can't be serious...!" Nami said shocked at Zoro`s statement. "Why don't you consider his feelings?" Thanks to that speech, Chopper straightened out and sat with a determined look on his face.
"GOOD!" Zoro said as he began walking towards the field. "Get the second round started, already!" Then the Foxy pirates went on and on how Foxy would probably pick Zoro next.
"Go Zoro! You better win this round, dammit!" Usopp yelled cheering Zoro on.
"Get Chopper back!" Luffy yelled as well.
"Kakusei said it best..." Sanji said calmly as he lit a cigarette. "We still have two rounds left. We can get our precious EMERGENCY RATION source... and something extra to boot..."
"Sanji! Zoro!" I yelled getting both their attentions. I motioned for them to come over to me, and they did after glaring at each other. "You guys remember what I said, right?"
"Yeah," they both replied in unison.
"Well, we still need to hold back against these guys," I said quietly, "but if it comes down to it, go all out and kick their asses. We need to get Chopper back. You guys both remember the signal?" In response they both nodded. "Good. Now get out there and kick their asses." The Tubiflex explained the whole deal that the Foxy pirates had the advantage now that Chopper wasn`t participating in this round. The whole "No Changing the Line-Up" thing again. That didn`t bug me though. I made the line-up this way for a reason. And Sanji and Zoro started arguing, as usual.
-X-
Round 2: Groggy Ring
-X-
"There is no way those two will have any teamwork..." Nami said a bit annoyed at their fighting.
"They`ll pull through," I said standing next to Nami. "You trust my judgment right?" Then Nami looked at Sanji and Zoro continuing to fight.
"It`s not you I`m worried about…" she said a sweat drop forming on her head.
"Now, let me explain the rules of the "Groggy Ring"!" Tubiflex said as Zoro and Sanji continued to argue, "There are two goals on the field! Toss your ball into the goal, and you win! However, the "ball" is not actually a ball! IT'S A PERSON! First off, each team must choose who will be the ball!"
"Hey, which one's gonna be the ball?" one of the Foxy Pirates asked aloud.
"Him," Zoro said immediately, and then a Foxy pirate placed a leather head strap on Sanji`s head with a white and red striped ball on top.
"Hmm?" Sanji mumbled confused at what was going on.
"There's your ball!" another Foxy pirate said.
"HEY, THAT'S NOT FOR YOU TO DECIDE! YOU SHOULD BE THE BALL, STUPID MARIMO!" Sanji said as some music started playing. "Huh?"
"Ooh, I can hear their introduction theme being played!" Tubiflex said as the crowd got louder and louder. "The undefeated masters of the "Groggy Ring"! That's right! It's IMPOSSIBLE for them to lose! Yes, the "Groggy Monsters" are walking onto the field...! HERE THEY ARE!"
"Wow! What are THOSE?" Luffy said looking at Sanji and Zoro`s opponents.
"In front, the master of the four-foot dash, Hamburg!" Tubiflex said over the loudspeaker. " Next is the "Tackling Machine," Pickles!" Pickles was a large husky guy wearing green clothes. He had relatively long arms and relatively short legs in comparison to his body. He also had a hippo-like face. On his shoulders, he wore round shoulder pauldrons, which are shoulder pads which look like shields. In size, Pickles was larger than Hamburg and smaller than the last guy. "And last, the half-giant, half-fishman! The "Wotan," Big-Pan!" Big-Pan was a gigantic Wotan (a half-fishman, half-giant) that towered over any of us. His Fishman qualities stood out very noticeably. He had a pattern running down his arms and shoulders, sharp teeth, and an orange dorsal fin made of his hair. His giant qualities stood out easily too. He had orange hair and a beard to match, and incredible size. He wore a yellow Speedo, boots and gloves together with the standard Foxy Pirate mask.
"Holy shit," I said staring at our opponents. Now mind you, I never saw how big a giant is in this world, so the Big-Pan was the biggest person I`ve seen at this point.
"It's a regular lineup of MONSTERS!" Tubiflex announced. "LET THE SECOND ROUND, "GROGGY MONSTERS," BEGIIIIN!"
"What is that huge fishman?" Nami asked in shock.
"And he's the ball!" Usopp said scared out of his mind.
"Fweh fweh fweh! Let's see if you can win!" Foxy said smugly as he looked at my expression.
"Any problems?" Sanji asked Zoro.
"Nope," Zoro replied.
"Up against our proud and mighty Groggy Ring commandos are the "berserk cook" who crushed our Interference Squad in the first round, Sanji!" Tubiflex said announcing Sanji.
"Call me a first-rate cook..." Sanji said a bit angry at Tubiflex`s comment.
"And the sixty million Berry bounty, the Pirate Hunter, Roronoa Zoro!" Tubiflex said rounding up the line-up for the Groggy Ring.
"What kind of opponent were you espectin', since they needed us to show up? Eeheehee!" Pickles said laughing. "Right Big-Pan?"
"Huh?" Big-Pan said not hearing Pickles.
"Pffffft! Pffpfpffpff! He can't hear you," Hamburg said laughing.
"Who are these guys?" Sanji asked.
Then the referee flipped a coin for ball or field choice, and Hamburg chose ball. We didn`t care for sides, so it didn`t matter. Then the players were told to take their places.
"Get in your spot, "ballman"," Zoro said calmly to Sanji.
"Hey, you can't decide that on your own! I never said I would be the ball!" Sanji said annoyed as he pointed to the ball on his head. "I'm not wearin' this stupid-ass thing!"
"Shut up and stop complaining!" Zoro said annoyed at Sanji as usual. "Ooh, nice ball! Where'd you get it?"
"YOU CAN'T FOOL ME THAT WAY, MORON!" Sanji said angrily at Zoro.
"ZORO, SANJI, IT'S ALL UP TO YOU!" Luffy yelled at them.
"Get Chopper back for us!" Usopp said crying. "There's no other hope, I'm sorry! Please!"
"That's the first time I've ever seen a "Wotan" before," Nami said looking at Big-Pan.
"It doesn't seem as large as a pure-blooded giant," Robin said calmly.
"I wouldn`t know," I commented calmly as well. "Never seen a giant in person."
"Fweh fweh fweh, your cheers will mean nothing in the end," Foxy said appearing out of nowhere. "Because my team is made of experts at Groggy Ring!"
"What do you want, Split-head?" Luffy asked sending Foxy in depression mode.
"No, Boss! Stop that, Straw-Hat!" Porche said scolding Luffy.
"He said it again..." Foxy said depressed then snapping out of it. "I don't think I even NEEDED to interfere with this match. I'll just sit back and watch. You got a problem with that, or do you want our deal to be broken?"
"You can interfere with this game, too?" Nami said shocked at this idea.
"As with ANY game, you fool! However..." Foxy said slowly, "some people want to win so bad they'll mess with their own team mates, and some are just plain interested in the battle itself. It depends on how you feel. If anyone should call themselves a pirate and still complain about it, others begin to wonder if they're really fit to live the pirate lifestyle, hmm?"
"What kind of excuse is that?" Nami said yelling at Foxy.
"The excuse of a cheating turnip head," I said just to see Foxy go into his depression mode. It worked.
"And what's wrong with your team?" Foxy said snapping out of his depression. "If you can even CALL it a team!"
"Be quiet! When the match starts, they'll be ready to..." Nami said as she looked over at Sanji and Zoro and saw they were still fighting.
"Hey, you just showed yours a second late!" Sanji said yelling at Zoro.
"No I didn't! I won fair and square! Like in everything else," Zoro said in response.
"Stop trying to change the subject!" Sanji said still angry at Zoro. "I'm talking about janken (rock, paper, scissors)!"
"C'mon, dammit, just choose your ballman already!" Pickles said annoyed at the pair fighting.
"They still haven't decided yet?" Nami said amazed they were still fighting.
"Yep," I said calmly. "Nami, if you wouldn`t mind…"
"Sanji-kun, that ball looks lovely on you!" Nami said getting what I wanted her to do.
"YES! I AM THE BALLMAN! I WAS BORN TO PLAY THIS ROLE!" Sanji said now enthusiastically.
"Seriously, you look great, just like a prince," Zoro said complementing Sanji. How unlike him. "The Prince of Retardia." There`s the normal Zoro we all know and tolerate. And with that comment, Zoro and Sanji started swinging attacks at each other, Zoro with his swords and Sanji with his legs.
"START THE GAME ALREADY!" Usopp yelled at Sanji and Zoro.
"Hey you, weapons are against the rules! Take off the swords!" The ref said to Zoro as he took his swords.
"That's right! This is a sport, so any kind of weapons are forbidden!" Tubiflex explained.
"Either way's fine with me...!" Zoro said slamming his knuckles together.
"Hey... you gonna be okay? A master swordsman without his swords..." Sanji said almost sounding sincere.
"Is what?" Zoro queried.
"Better than you, moss head," Sanji said sounding like his old self. Then they started fighting again.
"KNOCK IT OFF, YOU TWO!" Usopp yelled at them.
"Finally, we're ready! The Straw-Hat team's ballman Sanji has entered the opponent's circle!" Tubiflex announced as Sanji went to the enemy side of the field.
"Hope you get squashed flat, cook," Zoro said calmly.
"Shut up!" Sanji said angrily in response. Then the Foxy Pirates started cheering on their team mates, and our opponents started laughing for no reason.
"So, let's keep the fun rolling! No time limit! One point game!" Tubiflex announced.
"So basically I have to knock that huge thing's head into the ring on the other side, and we win...! If the cook's head goes into the ring behind me, we lose...!" Zoro said outlining what they needed to do.
"Will the Straw-Hat team be able to regain the reindeer they lost in the first round?" Tubiflex asked everyone.
"Damn right we will," I yelled loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Crush 'em!" the Foxy Pirates yelled loudly.
"Or will the Foxy Team gain another member? It's time for the Groggy Ring!" Tubiflex announced. "Here goes the whistle!" TWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET! "LET THE GAME BEGIN! What will the ballman Sanji do in the opponent's circle? Pull back, or attack?" Pickles then tried to tackle Sanji, but Sanji just jumped over him and went straight for Big-Pan. However Sanji`s attack failed cause he couldn`t get any traction on Big-Pan`s arm where he landed, as he was half-mudfish fishman.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING? YOU IDIOT! Attack!" Zoro said yelling at Sanji, who was still trying to run on Big-Pan`s arm.
"What? Who did you just call an idiot, jackass?" Sanji yelled at Zoro in response.
"PUNK PASS!" Big-Pan yelled as he slammed Sanji off his arm with a strong palm thrust.
"Gwaah!" Sanji said in pain as he flew to the opposite side of the field.
"There it is! Big-Pan's special extra-long pass!" Tubiflex said excited.
"UWAAAH! SANJI!" Luffy yelled in fear for Sanji`s safety.
"Hamburg, the leader, rushes around to the landing point!" commented Tubiflex. "As does Roronoa!"
"If you get tossed in the goal, I'll cut you dead!" Zoro yelled at Sanji.
"Shut up! Stop your whining!" Sanji said as he sailed through the air.
"CLEAN UP TACKLE!" Pickles said as he slammed Zoro with his armored shoulder.
"Pickles cuts Roronoa off!" Tubiflex announced.
"Aaah!" Zoro yelled in pain.
"Pickles rushes into enemy territory!" Tubiflex narrated. "Hamburg leaps into the air and catches Sanji! And then..."
"Pff! Gorilla Throw!" Hamburg said said he chucked Sanji across the field.
"aaaaAAAA!" Sanji screamed as he flew towards the goal.
"I got it, I got it," Pickles said calmly.
"Pickles is ready and waiting!" Tubiflex narrated. "But here's a counterattack! Roronoa rushes to head Pickles off!"
"Wait, you bastard!" Zoro said rushing Pickles.
"SPINNING TACKLE!" Pickles said as he spun around quickly deflecting Zoro, and at the same time, knocking Sanji into the air.
"Huh? Uagh!" Zoro said in pain after being knocked away.
"Uwaaaah!" Luffy said in shock.
"Sanjiiii!" Usopp yelled shocked as well.
"Aaaaaaa!" Nami said imagining how much that must hurt.
"Holding up the back line is the formidable Big-Pan!" Tubiflex said as Big-Pan ran to where Hamburg was falling.
"PUNK RECEIVE!" Big-Pan said as he bumped Hamburg back into the air as if he were a volleyball.
"He bumps the falling Hamburg through the air!" Tubiflex said excitedly. "Hamburg grabs Sanji in midair! HERE IT IS! The ring is within range!"
"That stupid freakin' eyebrow!" Zoro said as he charged at Pickles.
"Game over! It's the Hamburger Dunk!" the Foxy Pirates cheered.
"GYAAAAAA!" Chopper yelled in fear of being lost to his friends forever.
"Huh? What are you...!" Pickles said as he realized Zoro had grabbed his leg.
"ZORO, SANJI, DO SOMETHING!" both Luffy and Usopp yelled in panic.
"Wha...? Wha...?" Pickles said as Zoro began to lift him by his leg.
"Is it over already?" Tubflex asked over the loudspeakers.
"You don't have to tell me..." Zoro said slowly as he spun Pickles around in a circle. "I'm not letting up any goals!"
"AAAAH? AAAAAH!" Pickles said as Zoro got ready to throw him.
"DORYAAAAA!" Zoro grunted as he chucked Pickles at Hamburg.
"This game's not over," Sanji said breathing a bit heavily as he grabbed Hamburg`s arms. "I'm still perfectly fine! If you think I'm gonna let that stupid swordsman save my ass... YOU BETTER THINK AGAIN!" Sanji kicked Hamburg right into the path of Pickles, making them collide head-on and knocking them both out and out of the ring.
"NO GOAL! It doesn't look like the ballman Sanji is going to make it easy to score!" Tubiflex announced excitedly.
"What the hell was that for?" Sanji asked Zoro angrily.
"Cause you're spending too much time getting bashed around in the air!" Zoro replied also angrily.
"We've got two guys here who can meet the Groggy Monsters, power for power! This is sure to be one MONSTROUS game! The stands are in an uproar! The Straw-Hat team is mighty!"
"Don't get confused thinking I need YOU to help me out!" Sanji said to Zoro still angry.
"I did that cause you're not trustworthy enough!" Zoro replied also still angry.
"Those guys are amazing!" the Foxy Pirates commented. "They threw Pickles! And knocked away Hamburg-san!" Foxy just stood there with an "Oh shit!" look on his face.
"Oh no! What are you doing, Hamburg? You'd better not lose!" Porche said as she hugged Chopper tightly.
"What's this? Is something wrong with the Straw-Hat team?" Tubiflex asked as he looked at Sanji and Zoro arguing. "Both ballmen are on the field! The game is still going, but they're fighting like nothing else is happening!"
"Ahahaha, oh those guys are so silly," Luffy said laughing at Sanji and Zoro.
"Zoro, Sanji, you idiots! This is your chance!" Usopp said yelling at Sanji and Zoro. "Only their ballman is left! Work together and knock him into the ring!"
"Huh?" both Sanji and Zoro said at the same time. "WHOA!" They both noticed Big-Pan`s foot hovering above them.
"Big-Pan sees his chance to attack!" Tubiflex announced as Sanji and Zoro dodged Big-Pan`s stomping attack.
"Wh-?" Zoro said in response.
"What the...?" Sanji said confused as well.
"TOO BAD DANCE!" Big-Pan said as he began stomping around the field as Zoro and Sanji ran away from him. "Bushishi! Bushishishi! Bushishi!" (A/N: Big Pan`s laugh.)
"Aaaah!" Zoro said while running.
"Gyaaah!" Sanji said while running alongside Zoro.
"WHY ARE YOU RUNNING? HE'S THE BALL!" Usopp said bugging out.
"We know that! But look! He's got knives on the soles of his boots...!" Zoro said drawing attention to the rows of knives on the soles of Big-Pan`s boots.
"Huh?" Usopp said now noticing Big-Pan`s boots.
"Hey, Ref! I thought there were no weapons allowed!" Sanji yelled at the ref while he was running. And the ref just looked away and whistled.
"What the hell is he doing?" Usopp asked loudly.
"Too bad, he just HAPPENS to be looking the other direction," Foxy said smugly.
"Happens my ass," I said a bit peeved at the unfair ref. Well, he was a Foxy pirate after all.
"SCREW THAT!" Sanji said as he kicked his shoe off and it hit the ref. Everyone was shocked at that including the ref. I saw it coming.
"NO, SANJI-KUN!" Nami said trying to get Sanji to calm down.
"YOU SAW THAT!" Sanji yelled at the ref angrily as Usopp held him back and I came back with his shoe. "WHAT'S WITH THAT WATERFALL OF SWEAT POURING DOWN YOUR FACE?"
"Stop, stop, he's the referee!" Usopp said as he held Sanji back.
"I... didn't... see... nothing`," the ref said calmly but slowly with a huge lump now protruding from his head.
"LIAR!" Sanji yelled angrily.
"Yellow card to Sanji, Straw-Hat Team!" the ref said as he held up his yellow card and blew his whistle.
"WHAT THE HELL-?" Sanji said annoyed.
"Wait, wait, wait!" Usopp said trying to calm Sanji down. The ref then held up a yellow card.
"There's a warning yellow card! If Sanji receives another one, it'll be a red card and he'll be kicked out of the game!" Tubiflex announced.
"KICKED OUT?" Sanji said upset.
"Here`s your shoe back, Sanji," I said as I tossed him his shoe.
"And what kind of a dirty cheating scum would dare to attack a referee?" Tubiflex asked over the loudspeakers.
"SHUT UP, OR YOU'RE NEXT!" Sanji yelled at him still quite, in a word, pissed off.
"Yes folks, he's one sick bastard," Tubiflex said calmly taking shots at our integrity.
"Still, he's using a weapon..." Sanji said looking at Big-Pan, who was now chasing Zoro while swinging an axe for his size.
"HEY, IS HE ALLOWED TO USE THAT?" Zoro asked the ref angrily.
"LOOK, REF!" Sanji said angrily to the ref, who was again looking away. "HE'S USING AN AXE! A FREAKING AXE!"
"Don't see it," the ref said while still sweating bullets. "Coincidence."
"Forget about it, you don't want to get ejected!" Usopp said trying to get Sanji to focus back on the game.
"I can`t take this crap anymore!" Sanji said still steaming.
"By not getting angry!" Usopp said trying to calm Sanji down. "That's just what they want! This is for Chopper's sake, chill out!"
"Okay, I'll go sock him a good one," Luffy said getting ready for a punch.
"Don`t make things any more complicated, Luffy," I said as I grabbed his shoulder. He backed off getting my reasoning.
"Just win, Sanji-kun!" Nami said spurring Sanji on.
"I WILL!" Sanji said as he made a "Love Pose". He knelt down on one leg and held his hands in a heart shape while looking at Nami with a heart in his visible eye.
"I will never understand you," Usopp said with a sweat drop on the back of his head.
"He`s a sucker for a pretty face," I said quietly to Usopp so Sanji couldn`t hear me and focus on the game.
"Back to the game!" Sanji said still in his "Love Pose". And he ran right back besides Zoro, continuing where he left off.
"Did he have to be that literal?" I asked as I face-palmed myself.
"YOU DON'T HAVE TO CONTINUE WHERE YOU LEFT OFF!" Usopp said angrily.
"This is getting us nowhere!" Sanji yelled while running.
"If I'd counted on them having weapons from the start... I would have kept mine," Zoro said while running as well.
"IT'S TIME TO STRIKE BACK!" Sanji said as he and Zoro turned around.
"DON'T GET IN MY WAY, I CAN HANDLE HIM MYSELF!" Zoro said as he and Sanji charged at Big-Pan.
"Here they go, they`re about to collide!" Tubiflex said as Sanji and Zoro got closer to Big-Pan.
"Work together! You're a team!" Nami said loud enough for them to hear. They tried to attack Big-Pan, but he dove to the ground and Sanji and Zoro jumped over him to avoid his arms.
"LOACH-SCOOP SLIDING!" Big-Pan said as Zoro and Sanji jumped over him.
"Crap," Sanji said as he realized what Big-Pan was doing.
"Aaaargh!" Zoro said as he slid along Big-Pan`s arm.
"LOACH RACING CIRCUS!" Big-Pan said as he contorted his body into a wheel shape.
"Uwaaah!" Zoro said as he slid onto his back, completely at the mercy of Big-Pan.
"There it is! The acrobatic "Racing Circus"! They're stuck sliding around on his slippery back!" Tubiflex revealed to those of us who didn`t know what Big-Pan was doing.
"HEH! Can't make me fall for this one again," Sanji said confidently. "It's just like ice-skating!"
"Now they can't get away!" Tubiflex announced. Looking closer I could see what he meant. Sanji and Zoro were caught in a slimy loop, forcing them to slide around and around like they were stuck in a rollercoaster loop.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! I'm getting dizzy," they said as they slid around.
"COME ON YOU GUYS, SERIOUSLY!" Usopp yelled at Sanji and Zoro.
"At least they didn`t say something like, "This is fun"," I said in response to Usopp`s comment.
"During this time, the other two players have gotten back on their feet!" I looked and saw that Hamburg and Pickles had gotten up. "But what's this? Do they look different to you?" Yes, they did. Hamburg was wearing a pair of metal elbow guards and brass knuckles. Pickles was wearing spiked shoulder guards over his shoulders. "Weapons are against the rules, as we know! But the referee just so happens to be stretching now, so he's got his back to the game!" Man, this biased ref was beginning to piss me off.
"Bushishishi," Big-Pan laughed. "Here we go. "LOACH COASTER"!" He uncurled and sent Zoro and Sanji into the air towards Hamburg and Pickles.
"Whoaa-! AAAAAH!" Sanji said looking dizzy.
"My eyes... spinning too hard!" Zoro said with what looked to be spirals in place of his eyes. Then Hamburg jumped near Pickles' shoulder.
"Spinning Tackle!" Pickles said as he spun around quickly again, launching Hamburg into the air.
"The newly-returned players strike back!" Tubiflex commented. Then Hamburg flew up above Zoro and slammed him into the ground with his "Hamburg Hammer" attack. Quickly following this, Bug-Pan jumped above Hamburg, who had one of the elbow guards in front of him, and spiked him into Zoro`s stomach with his "Punk Attack". Almost immediately after that when Big-Pan landed, Pickles jumped into Big-Pan`s mouth, and faced Sanji. Big-Pan quickly spit him out, making their "Human Cannon" tactic, and Pickles flew right at Sanji, who was on the ground nauseous from sliding around on Big-Pan`s back and arms. Sanji was knocked into the air by Pickles' "Sling Tackle" Attack, and then the Groggy Monsters executed their "S-M-L" combo on Sanji.
Hamburg jumped into the air where Sanji was flying. "Small!" he cried out as he punched Sanji into the path of Pickles, who was away from the goal.
"Medium!" Pickles cried out as he bounced Sanji off his spiked shoulder into the air.
Then Big-Pan jumped above Sanji and slammed him into the ground, and yelled out, "Large!"
"The Groggy Monsters put together a mind-boggling chain attack!" Tubiflex announced.
"That was awful..." Nami said as she stared at Sanji and Zoro`s unconscious bodies in fear and disgust.
"ZORO! SANJI!" Luffy cried out in fear for his friends` lives. Usopp didn`t say anything because he was half-passed out. Robin didn`t say anything because she had probably seen worse. I kept quiet because I knew I`d seen worse, but that was brutal and completely uncalled for.
"Unngggggg...!" Chopper groaned from where he sat.
"They won't be getting up anytime soon!" Tubiflex commented on the state of Sanji and Zoro.
"Fweh fweh fweh!" Foxy laughed. "Soon I`ll have three new crewmates!"
"The Straw-Hat must be feeling GROGGY RIGHT ABOUT NOW!" Tubiflex said making a horrible pun.
"Gyahahahaha!" The Foxy Pirates yelled out.
"All we have to do now is drop their ballman into that ring-shaped coffin!" Tubiflex commented. "That'll be our second victory! INVINCIBLE! The Groggy Monsters are just TOO strong!"
"Wahahaha! We win again!" The Foxy Pirates cried out as Hamburg, Pickles, and Big-Pan basked in their apparent victory.
Nami looked at me, and immediately became angry (But not as angry as she usually was. This was more of a justified and caring anger.). "How the hell can you just stand there like that?" she asked as she grabbed my shirt with one hand, and started punching my chest weakly. "You`re the one who set this line-up up." She kept punching my chest, and began to cry. "You should feel the worst out of all of us for SENDING THEM TO THEIR GRAVES!" I grabbed her hand and she stopped crying, waiting to hear what I was going to say.
"Zoro! Sanji!" I yelled out as the Foxy Pirates looked at me.
"Why the hell are you calling out to them?" they said laughing at me. "They`re dead! Dead men tell no tales you know!"
"I know damn well you two are still alive out there!" I said loudly, and shocking a few of the Foxy Pirates. "And I also know you two had your heads so far up your asses about one-upping each other you forgot your real goal here! I`ve got two things to say to you two dumbasses right now! Get up and kick their asses!"
"What`s the other thing?" Usopp asked as Luffy smiled, knowing what I was gonna say. I took a deep breath…
-X-
The Code Phrase
-X-
Back when we were training (a few chapters ago), I had told the guys I wanted to put down a code phrase to let them know when to go all out with their Ki.
"Why the hell do we need a code phrase?" Sanji asked me. "We can use our own judgment on when to go all out with Ki."
"For once, you`re right, Ero-Cook," Zoro said agreeing with Sanji, and causing Sanji to get angry with Zoro.
"Settle down Sanji," I said calming him down a bit. "I want to set a code phrase because there will be time I can tell you whether or not to go all out with your Ki attacks. Unless you know how much Ki you`ll use in each attack, you can burn out quickly. That`s why I don`t use Ki in all my attacks."
"That makes sense," Chopper said smiling gently.
"So what`s the phrase?" Luffy asked.
"I`ve been thinking about that," I replied to Luffy`s question. "It has to be something I`d never say to you guys, especially not in a combat situation, so I`ve got a few in mind. The code phrase are "Luffy`s will never be the pirate king!", or…"
-X-
"Nami is damn sexy!" I yelled out loud, just before Nami punched me over the head making a new welt on my head.
"What the hell is your problem, Kakusei?" Nami said, now just plain angry. "First you go on this whole inspiring speech, then you say that to finish it off? Seriously, do you have a hole in your head or something?"
"Nope," Luffy said smiling. "He just said the code phrase."
"Code phrase?" Nami asked momentarily stopping her beating of me. She looked over at where Sanji and Zoro were lying on the ground in small pools of their own blood. "What for?"
"He just told them to go all out on these guys," Luffy said with his huge smile plastered on his face. Sanji and Zoro stood up slowly and the very air around them started to shift and get heavier.
"Hey Cook," Zoro said as the air around him seemed to crackle with electricity. "Help me out for about ten seconds."
"That sounds like the right amount," Sanji said, as the air around him seemed to heat up and dry out.
"Guys!" Chopper said as he got immediately happier after hearing the code phrase. "You`re alright!"
"They're standing! The Straw Hat team has stood up!" Tubiflex announced in shock that Zoro and Sanji were standing up. "Look at these two young toughs! Roronoa the swordsman! Sanji the cook! But what is this new strength they have found? And why the hell did the tactician, Kakusei say that perverted remark about Nami, the navigator?"
"YEAAAAAAAH!" Luffy yelled as his aura peaked up a bit, surprising the Foxy pirates, and Nami, Usopp, and Robin.
"THEY'RE UP! YOU BETTER BEAT THOSE GUYS, DAMMIT!" Usopp yelled at Sanji and Zoro.
"What`s going on?" Tubiflex yelled as he looked at the surrounding areas around Zoro and Sanji. "Roronoa seems to be exuding lightning! And Sanji seems to be heating up! Even the grass at their feet seems to be smoldering!" The Foxy Pirates looked on in fear and disbelief. "What is going on here? Are they truly monsters?"
"Does anyone here know what happens when a fire and lighting mix?" I asked standing up and looking at Sanji and Zoro. There was a short pause as everyone just looked at the two of them as well. "What happens is AN INFERNO BLAZES!"
-X-
Things are really starting to heat up in this shocking match!
We`ll deal more with the new techniques the guys picked up in later chapters, so stay tuned!
Next chapter, we wrap up this match!
Tsugino jikan made! (Until next time!)