Chapter 3: The Paper Hero

It was later on that Chief R escorted the hero groups to their Base of operations alongside X and Spider.

(MMZ3-Prismatic)

"I'm glad that we were able to regain control of the tower, but it seems like some of the Resistance Members are missing." Ace said.

"I know what you mean. We are short staffed, and our base has seen better days. Luckily, we were able to locate a member of yours, and she fits right in here." Chief R said as Anna was at the monitors.

"Anna!" Ace said as he and the others ran over to her. "How were you able to find us?"

"After I lost contact with you all at the ruins, I managed to trace back your DNA signatures which led me to here." Anna explained.

"DNA signatures? Anna, you haven't been sampling our blood while we were sleeping, have you?" Shiozaki asked.

"Of course not, I merely scanned you which also analyzed your DNA, so no worries." Anna said.

"And of course, your friend Duplica has recovered. She's currently eating her head off trying to regain all of her energy from that Hockey match." Chief R said.

"Don't remind us." Rachel said.

"Wait, Duplica can recover her energy to clone herself by eating? What does she eat?" Hope asked.

"Does that even matter?" Scott asked.

"In any case, we located a member of the Resistance at the POW camp in Tianna Island. The system operator, Nana." Vera said.

"So we need to go rescue her, right? Leave it to us." Ace said.

"Let me know when all of you are ready, and I'll transport you to Tianna Island." Anna said.

"Also...we found a suspicious ship on the island. It looks sort of like this." Chief R said pulling up a picture of a large ship with colorful colors on it.

"Oh crap." Jexi said. "Big Mom's ship?"

"Capone's come to collect… how did he know we were here?" Nami asked.

"Let's not jump to conclusions. At least not yet." Jexi said.

"But you can confirm if that is the Ship of the Emperor, Big mom… then you know Capone "Gang" Bege of the Worst Generation is on Tianna Island?"

"We have photos of a few individuals." Chief R said bringing up a photo of a long legged man in pink.

"Tamago." Pedro growled.

"What would one of Big Mom's men be doing here, especially one like Tamago, a knight?" Hope asked.

"We also found this man with them." Chief R said showing a man holding a candy cane and having a long tongue.

"Who's that?" Pit asked.

"I know that guy." Connor said. "The first son of the Charlotte Family. Charlotte Perospero. He's the Minister of Candy."

"We all know why they're here though. Who are they trying to invite this time?" David asked.

"It was already a close call back on Stryker's Island." Ramona said.

"Wait, what's that?" Nami asked as they showed pictures of treasures, including a large red block. "Treasure and...A Road Poneglyph!"

"Nami, I know what you're thinking. Just…" David said.

"We need what's on that Poneglyph. It leads to Raftel. To One Piece." Nami said.

"Well, I guess there's no stopping you." David said. "Alright, Anna. Take us in."

"Alright, commencing transfer." Anna said as the transporter started lighting up. "Transfer!" She said and everyone was transported to Tianna Island. "Good luck."

"I've just received word from our generous benefactor-bon." Tamago said. "It seems a few meddlers are coming to this Island. I will take a few men to deal with them, Mr. Silver Horn."

"Very well, while you do that, I'll continue torturing my favorite prisoner." Silver Horn said as he laughed.

Meanwhile in another room…

"Out of my way!" A large green reploid said smacking maverick and Big Mom Pirates alike aside with his axe. A few Chess Piece homie's charged, but he smashed them to pieces.

"Whoa! Now that's what I call a powerhouse!" Akane said.

"That armor.. It can't be!" Fulgore said. "Is that really...Massimo?"

"I believe so, he's a hero reploid, correct?" Harpuia asked.

"Hey you there! You're Massimo, right?" Connor called over to the reploid.

(MMXCM-Steel Massimo)

The reploid let out a haughty laugh. "That's right. I'm Massimo. Call me Steel Massimo!"

"Massimo, huh? Why not join us and rescue the reploids trapped here?" Leviathan offered.

"Uh...yes. Sounds perfect." Massimo said.

"Massimo...they were transporting a large block. It was red. Did you see where it went?" Pedro asked.

"They were taking it to storage, I believe." Massimo said. "But it's under heavy guard."

"How heavy?" Mustang asked.

"It doesn't matter. We just need to play with them. Lure them away. I'll take on that task." Pedro said.

"You sure you're okay with playing decoy on this?" Zelos asked.

"I'm fine with it. And while I lure them away…" Pedro said.

"I'll go and copy the poneglyph." Brook said.

"We'll go look for Nana, so let's be sure to meet up with each other when you're done, be careful." Ace said.

"Alright. Massimo, be sure to stay with us, I've heard you're a real hero to the Resistance. Wouldn't want you getting caught." Connor said.

"A-Alright." Massimo said.

"Does anyone feel like there's something off about this guy?" Ochako asked.

"I've researched a lot of heroes, Massimo is one of them." Izuku said. "Apparently, he's fought for freedom before."

"Yeah but this guy seems a bit off." Jexi said. "But we can worry about it later. We all have our roles."

"Pedro, Brook, good luck." Hope said.

As the two groups split off, we now cut to the storage room. There, a large woman with incredibly long legs sat in the room.

"Geez… why did we have to move half the treasure here along with a Road Poneglyph?" she asked. "I'm supposed to be guarding all this at Whole Cake Island, not on a world where technology doesn't make sense."

"Its for the best, Commander Smoothie." Tamago said. "Besides, this is just a short stop over on our way to the location of the wedding. We will resume our travels in the morning."

"I hope so." The woman called Smoothie said. "Ah, shoot. I'm almost out. Gimme a second…"

"No wait, Miss Smoothie, don't do this…!" A female servant said as Smoothie grabbed her easily with one of her large hands and squeezed the woman like squeezing an orange as juice emptied out into a glass below.

One of the Three Sweet Commanders

Minister of Juice

14th Daughter of the Charlotte Family

Charlotte Smoothie

"I think I'm gonna be sick…" David said having watching from the corner.

"Please don't!" Ace said.

"You can't blame em. That was Smoothie's Devil Fruit in action. Not to mention she's on the same level as Katakuri and Cracker." Connor said.

"No...I can tell she's stronger than Cracker." Indigo said.

"I wouldn't be surprised the devil fruit she ate would be called the Juice-Juice Fruit considering her ability." Ace said.

"We don't want to start a fight with her here. We need to focus on freeing the Reploids and letting…" Jexi said.

"Sir!" A chess piece said running in. "There appears to be a leopard mink attacking the facility."

"Pedro. Of course he'd be here." Tamago said. "My old scar's been itching a bit and now I know why." He said drawing his sword.

"Looks like Pedro did his job." Hawkeye said as Tamago went off with his men with Smoothie right behind.

"Still too many Homies in there… how's Brook gonna get in?" Nana asked.

"I may have an idea, Siren, play your harp and put them to sleep." Ace said as Siren appeared.

"Hold up, Ace. You don't know this… but Brook has a little trick up his sleeve." Hope said.

"Sorry." Ace said.

"It was still a good idea. Now watch." Hope said as Brook entered the room and played the song he did back in the capital as the Homies started fainting one after the other as they looked pale.

"Nicely done, Brook." Ace said.

"We'll leave the rest to him and Pedro. Let's move to the prisoners." Sectonia said.

As the groups made their way through the mines, they managed to free the prisoners and came upon a large room where they saw a female reploid strapped to a chair.

"Nana, I presume?" Connor asked.

"Hang on a sec. I'll get you loose." Maki said as she loosened the straps, causing the visor to open.

"When I noticed you were breaking in, I managed to reprogram the systems so the alarm wouldn't go off." Nana said. "I was captured, and they told me… if I didn't cooperate, they'll kill the POWs. I...I couldn't!"

"We understand. It's alright now." David said.

"Guys!" Hope said as multiple homies came in.

"Freeze!" A knight homie said. "By the order of Big Mom, hand over the groom and…" they started before the wall was broken down as Pedro and Tamago broke into the room.

"Nice entrance." David said.

"So...this was your plan. Trying to distract me while you made off with the Poneglyph. I expected this of you Pedro, captain of the Nox Pirates." Tamago said.

"I find it strange my Electro wasn't able to hurt you." Pedro said.

"I'm wearing special tights that are resistant to electricity." Tamago said.

"TMI! No one wants to hear that, Egg Man!" Sonic said.

"Talk about disgusting." Kagura said.

"Oh… and I see you have the faker causing trouble with you here-soir." Tamago said as Massimo looked away.

"Faker? Wait… this isn't Massimo?"

"No. He is but an imposter who took the real Massimo's armor." Tamago said sipping from the cup on his head. "The real one is dead."

"By your hands?" Hope asked.

"No. It was Lord Silver Horn who did the deed. I merely battled him until he collapsed." Tamago said. "Now...I shouldn't be wasting time. It's time to be gone with you lot." Tamago said turning upside down and spinning at them. "Sunny Side Legs!"

"Get lost!" Saki said as she grabbed his legs and spun him around, tossing him.

"Uh… how did you know he won't boomerang back? He was still spinning, you know."

"I grabbed his legs and tossed him into the wall, duh." Saki said as they looked to see Tamago stuck on the wall.

"Sorry your thunder was stolen, Pedro." Hope said. "To be fair, he was aiming for all of us."

"I was going to use Shivering Wind, but I guess there was no need for that since Saki took the initiative." David said.

"Eww." Lacy said looking at the broken Tamago and the yolk like stuff that was leaking out of his broken body. "He really was like an egg."

"Excuse me for a second." Simon said as he quickly ran off and came back with a pale face. "I'm good now."

"Anyway… Massimo, is what they're saying true?" David asked.

"It is true. I am not Massimo." Massimo said. "I'm...an imposter. Just like he said."

"But… That stuff doesn't matter. The fact that you have his armor proves that you have the one thing they'll never take from him...his soul." David said,

"Y...you really think so?" Massimo asked.

"It's not the name, or the armor…." Hope said pounding on Massimo's chest. "It's the man."

"Yeah, imposter or not, you've helped us out a lot by freeing the prisoners, so I still consider you the hero who inherits the original Massimo's Legacy to live up to." Ace said putting a hand on his shoulder.

"You're right. I'm here, so Massimo's legacy lives! I will carry his will onwards. So then…" Massimo said turning to X. "Please, X! Let me join the Resistance, so that I can carry this heroic will!"

"Of course. We would be glad to have you." X said.

Suddenly, the Alarm sounded.

"We gotta go." Hope said before a knife flew by his cheek. "What the?"

"So...there you still remain. Now that I have regenerated...I will battle you as...Viscount Hiyoko, peep!" Tamago said now looking more like a chick. "I will get you, peep!"

"He just got even more freaky!" Ochako said.

"Here I come, Peep!" Tamago said rushing at them as Pedro quickly slashed with his sword, breaking Tamago in two again as the yolk hit the ground once more as it then slowly started to form.

"How the hell is he doing that?" Bakugo said.

"You are a fool. I have eaten the Egg Egg Fruit. Every time I am defeated...I will return a stronger evolved form." Tamago said.

"Not quite. I've seen this before. There's only one way to stop someone like you." Pedro said pulling out a roll of Dynamite from his coat.

"By blasting him into atoms, of course!" David said.

"You cannot stop me. Even now I form. And believe me...Count Niwatori is someone you can call a true knight." Tamago said already forming into a chicken like shape.

"Ok...this guy is really starting to annoy me." Ace said.

"Seconded. Let's scramble this egg!" Hope said.

"We need to go now!" Pedro said tossing it as they ran as the room exploded.

"There is no WAY he survived that." Hope said.

"Wouldn't be too sure." Lacy said looking back seeing the chicken man still standing unscathed.

"Geez… He may as well be immortal." David said.

"All we can do now is escape." Pedro said.

"Good idea. This way!" Massimo called as they ran.

"Brook! Were out of time, were getting out of here! Grab the plans you wrote and let's get outta here!" Hope said.

"I'm afraid I can't join you." Brook said through the communicator.

"What? Brook, there's no time left! What's the holdup?!" Jiro asked.

"Because I have him." Silver Horn's voice said.

"Silver Horn!" Spade said.

"I have the skeleton. I got him before he could even copy the glyphs. I think I'll enjoy breaking all his bones." Silver Horn said.

"That dino bastard! We gotta stop him!" Hope said.

"Let's hurry!" Ace said as they hurried through the mines and made it to a large room where they saw Brook on the ground.

"Brook!" David called.

"So, these are the rats who were scurrying around our death camp?" A voice asked as Silver Horn was stomping towards the groups.

"H-He's Huge!" Carrot said.

"Hmph. Fools! How dare you resist the Rebellion Army?" Silver Horn asked.

"So… You're Silver Horn. Let Brook go, and we'll spare your life." David said.

Silver Horn merely laughed and stomped on Brook. "I don't think so, he's been a bad boy, so he must be punished."

"You think cause you're so big that you have to prey on the weak, toy with em? You're no better than everyone Big Mom has enslaved over the years." Hope said.

"And what would any of you know? Big Mom's empire will be equal to ours! And now...I will gladly put this one out of his misery." Silver Horn said laughing before spotting Massimo. "Hm? Is that Massimo? No, of course not. I took that feeble Massimo...And turned him into so much scrap!"

"Feeble Massimo?" Massimo asked as his arms started shaking in anger.

"Don't Listen to him Massimo! You're the new one, so do something about his insults!" Hope said.

"He refused to join us. So I tore him limb from limb! Riip!" Silver Horn said as he laughed before he was shot by David.

"To revel in the pain, suffering and despair of others… People like you… Make me sick!" David said.

"You may have beat Skyler and the rest of us to the punch, David. In fact, I think you made her point perfectly clear. Everything Silver Horn just said… is everything the Freedom Seekers are fighting against!" Jane said.

"Yes...we will not allow this atrocity to stand." Skyler said as the wind in the room intensified.

"You sonnuva…!" Massimo started.

"I feel for you Massimo. I really do." David said as he armatized with Tapu Koko.

"David's got the right idea. Silver Horn is weak to lightning-based attacks." Vera said.

"Massimo. Considering all the crap that he put you and the other prisoners through, it is only fitting that we weaken him as much as we can, and let you deal the finishing blow." Tapu Koko said.

"Yeah, leave it to us so you can finish the job. Rock on!" Ace said as he Megamerged with Ramuh.

"Time for you to go extinct, Silver Horn!" Hope said.

"Such idle threats. Very well… prepare to die!" Silver Horn shouted.

W-A-R-N-I-N-G

Warning! Warning! Warning!

(MMXCM-Maverick Boss theme)

"Ready to be destroyed?" Silver Horn asked.

"No, are you ready?" Hope said. "David! Let's do it! Spectral Thunder!" He said blasting lighting at Silver Horn.

"Way ahead of ya!" David said as he socked Silver Horn with a Thunder Punch uppercut.

"Here goes! Judgement Bolt!" Ace yelled as he spun the spear and threw it dead center at Silver Horn's chest, weakening him.

"You little Ants!" Silver Horn said getting on all fours. "Ultra Blizzard!" He called firing an ice attack from his horn cannons.

"Delaware Smash!" Izuku called blasting the projectile away.

"Lightning Devil's...Rage!" Volta said firing at Silver Horn.

"Lightning Tiger Blade!" Kor and Sectonia yelled as Kor jumped into the air as Sectonia rained lightning bolts on Silver Horn as Kor slashed down.

"Lightning Flame Dragon… Iron Hammer!" Natsu yelled coming from above and slammed on Silver Horn with a torrent of Electric fire.

"From the land of the living, we call upon thee from the land of the dead to unleash thy fury of thunder...Indignation!" Philia and Genis chanted as a giant lightning bolt rained down on Silver Horn.

"Damn...you…!" Silver horn said staggering from the repeated Electric attacks.

"Massimo, now!" Sectonia said.

"Right! Behold...my true power!" Massimo said as he started gathering energy before firing a huge beam. "Stay...down!"

"Noooo!" Silver Horn yelled before he started flashing and exploded.

"Yeah… we did it!" Hope said.

"Steel Massimo would never. EVER. Lose to scum like you! Scum that uses force...to crack the wills of the weak! Once there was a man. He despised his own weakness, so he sought Massimo for strength. Massimo was a hero who used his strength to fight for the weak. I… I wanted to be like Massimo. As strong as Massimo! But now he's dead! What do I do now?! X… Everyone… I… I'm a fraud!" Massimo said.

"It's like we said before, Massimo. Steel Massimo will live on as long as you still have the armor that contains his soul." David said.

"The man, makes who wears the armor." Hope said. "You're Steel Massimo, so long as you believe that you can be as strong as him, and carry his will."

"A hero that uses his strength to fight for the weak, huh?" David muttered to himself.

"Alright, Mission accomplished, now let's get outta here." Ace said before some strange liquid covered him, Chopper and Petra.

"You won't go anywhere." Perospero said entering.

"Perospero!" Hope said.

"What is going on? What are you doing to them?" Lacy asked.

"Oh...in about 3 minutes, that liquid from my devil fruit will turn them into candy men. And then...I'll lick away at them." Perospero said laughing. "But they can be saved...if you hand over...her." He said pointing to Indigo.

"Me?! What did I do?" Indigo asked.

"You and your comrades assaulted my younger brother. We cannot let it stand." Perospero said.

"Cracker. Crap." Indigo said.

"Hand her over and I'll undo my power." Perospero said.

"This is bad. We just finished here. We can't get caught in another fight right now." Spectra said.

"Sorry, but we're not gonna just sell out our comrade." Ace said trying to escape.

"This is bad." Carrot said as Pedro rushed at Perospero before he was pinned.

"Hahaha." Perospero said laughing before Pedro opened his jacket revealing the bombs. "What the?"

"Jexi, Hope, David, Luffy. I'm afraid this is where we part ways...for good." Pedro said lighting them.

"Pedro!" Hope called.

"I'm sorry if this killed the tone but...you all need to live. So it can happen. The Dawn of a New World!" He shouted before the explosion went off as the candy shells broke as they all teleported out.

"Anna, get us outta here, NOW!" Hope called.

"Understood, commencing transfer." Anna said. They were teleported back to the base as Hope slammed his fist into the wall.

"Dammit! And we just finished off Silver Horn! Perospero had to stick his tongue right at the good part!" Hope said before David punched him.

"Pull yourself together, man!" David said.

"He's right. Massimo...the original one. And Pedro...they gave their lives so others could live. This was their victory!" Jexi shouted.

"I would know this as well, as I am used to seeing comrades dying. All we can do now is keep fighting so that their sacrifices weren't in vain." David said.

"Yeah… I needed that, thanks." Hope said shaking his head.

"Pedro...his sacrifice...won't be forgotten. I mean, he wouldn't want us to be crying right?" Carrot asked crying herself.

"The Rebellion Army, the Titans… Pedro sacrificed himself so he can give us a chance to defeat them. We would be fools to waste it." Sectonia said.

"Of course we have Despair for me to worry about too." Hope said. "And you've got someone you need to fight, right Ace?"

"He can wait. We have more important things to take care of." Ace said.

"Right. We can mourn them later. Now...we need to keep up the fight." Jexi said.

End of Chapter 3