Thugs
"We're getting closer now," Nami said. "But the trail is really dark. I can barely see it."
"That means we're heading to the Black Hole clusters," Hoshi said.
"Black Hole?" Neo asked.
"It's a cluster of island where the worst of the worst live," Hoshi said. "We'll need to be on our toes and expect to get into a lot of fights."
"Don't worry," Sanji said flipping his bangs. "I'll be there to protect our beloved women. I will not let them get hurt."
"Get over yourself," Zoro said.
"What did you say?!" Sanji growled.
"You heard me," Zoro said.
"Okay, no fighting," Nami said pocketing the compass. "We're almost there. And we'll need our strength the fight the enemy not each other."
"Fine," Sanji and Zoro said.
Twenty minutes later they landed on the cluster. The rocks were black. Several small volcanoes were spotted around the cluster. Tons of disheveled men and women with several tattoos and piercings watched the group's every move.
"It's a good thing we have that compass," Kailen said. "Otherwise we'd never find our friends here."
"We're lucky that they're close together," Nami said. "They must have landed together. Or at least in the same general area."
"Let's just hope they're not in any trouble," Neo said rubbing her hands over her arms. "I don't like this place. There's practically no nature here."
"The foliage and animals will be in the center of the cluster," Hoshi said. "These small volcanoes are all along the edges of the clusters so it's hard for life to be sustained here.
"Just stay close," Law said brushing his thumb over her skin.
Neo nodded and stepped closer to Law, his body warmth soothing her nerves.
"Well, look at what we have here," a man with earrings all over his ears said. He stepped in their way, flanked by ten other men. "You've got a lot of nerve coming to a place like this. This is my territory. Jingo is my name. And I don't like trespassers here. And you're obviously not from around here. So either pay the fine to walk among our clusters or get lost."
"We're not going anywhere until we find who we're looking for," Zoro said.
"And we're not going to pay you anything," Sanji added. "You're just punks looking for a fight."
"Its your funeral then," Jingo said cracking his knuckles. "You're not setting another foot on my cluster."
"Do we really have to fight?" Nami asked with a sigh. "We don't really have time for this."
"Don't worry, my dear," Sanji said. "I'll handle this in just a single moment."
"You? You think a scrawny little man like yourself can defeat all of us?" Jingo asked.
"Why don't we find out?" Sanji smirked.
"Very well. It's your funeral," Jingo said. "Battle ready, guys."
The men around him chuckled.
"Careful," Hoshi said. "Most of them have star flakes."
"I don't care!" Sanji rushed forward.
Zoro followed.
"This is going to be so much fun," Luffy said before joining Sanji and Zoro.
"Think we should stop them?" Robin asked.
"Let them be," Hoshi said. "This could be interesting."
"You better not be expecting them to get hurt," Neo said.
"Of course not," Hoshi said. "Just watch and see. The rest of you be ready to fight."
The group turned their attention to the three diving head first into battle. Luffy had his star flake powers crackling around his skin. Each time he hit or kicked something they would get electrocuted before dropping to the ground.
Sanji leaped into the air. Landing in a handstand, he roundhouse kicked about ten guys before planting a kick on one more guy.
Zoro swing his swords, creating a tornado. The force picked up over thirty men, throwing them several yards away.
"Wait. Where did Jingo go?" Neo said looking around for the missing man.
"I didn't see him walk off," Topaz said.
"Crap! He has a velocity star flake," Hoshi said just before Robin, Nami, and Kailen were knocked off their feet.
"What the heck?!" Topaz summoned her fire crystals. "Where is he?!"
"He's moving very fast!" Hoshi said. "We're not going to be able to keep up with him!"
Topaz was knocked off her feet.
Franky reached out and caught her before she could hit the ground. He placed her back on her feet. "You okay?"
"Fine. Thanks," Topaz said. "But he's clearly going to be a pain to stop."
"Neo, try to slip him up by moving the ground around," Law said.
"I'll try." Neo summoned her earth crystals. They started to glow. The ground, in small patches, started rising and lowering all around them.
"It's slowing him down a little but," Hoshi said. "But we still can't keep up with him.
"I'll get him! Just don't move!" Luffy said. He leaped into the air. "Gum Gum Gatlin!"
The rubber man's punches crashed into the ground. The electricity from his star flake snapped and crackled around them.
"Hey! Careful, Straw Hat! You're going to hit us with that!" Law said.
"Sorry! I'm doing my best!" Luffy said as he continued his assault.
"Let me help," Robin said. She crossed her arms over her chest. Multiple hands sprouted up out of the ground. "Cien Fleurs." She winced. "I can feel him rush by but I can't grab a hold of him."
"Everyone get ready to duck," Law said. He pulled out his sword. "Room. Now duck." Everyone dropped to their knees. He swung his sword around.
"Hey!" Jingo cried out. He came back into their view. His body was now separated at the waist. "What the heck happened?!"
"Gum Gum Pistol!" Luffy pulled back and punched the man in the face. He dropped to the ground, his arm snapping back into place.
"That was not fun," Nami said.
"Says the one who didn't fight," Zoro said putting up his swords.
"These guys are nothing but a bunch of punks," Sanji said blowing out a puff of smoke.
"But they're all not like that. So don't let your guard down," Hoshi said. "They'll get tougher the more we go inland."
"Shall we get going then?" Kailen asked.
"Where to?" Topaz looked at Nami.
Nami placed the compass back on her eye. "It looks like all three of them are near the center of the cluster."
Jingo laughed, drawing everyone's eyes to him. "Yes, go on into the middle of the cluster. That's where the strongest stay. And there are three who rise about us all. They'll be more than glad to have you come see them."
"Shut up." Law sliced his sword again, cutting the man's jaw off. He then sheathed his sword. "We'll be just fine. Worry about yourself. That volcano next to you looks like it's about to erupt."
Jingo turned his eyes to the volcano. He flicked. Red liquid was bubbling over the top.
"Let's get out of here," Law said. Slipping his arm around Neo's waist, he led her away from the man.
"You are so heartless," Hoshi said.
"That's what he gets for trying to hurt Neo and our child," Law said.
"You give me the creeps," Hoshi said.
"Something smells yummy," Luffy then said.
"It does smell like something's cooking," Franky said.
"It might be," Hoshi said. "People do use the lava on this cluster to cook."
"We should stop and eat," Luffy said.
"Is that all you think about?" Law asked.
"We just ate before we arrived here," Nami said. "You can wait until we find our friends."
"This place is very interesting," Robin said as they passed through a small town. The builds were made out of the same rocks they had already seen.
"I don't think I could stand living in a place like this," Nami said. "There's not enough color. It looks like an explosion of charcoal."
"I think it would be a nice place to live if there was more plants and animals around," Neo said.
"Yeah," Kailen said. "It's like this entire place is dead. I don't like it."
"Volcanoes can do that. They kill after all," Topaz said.
"I wonder if I can liven this place up with my crystals," Neo said.
"Don't bother," Law said. "We're here for a short period of time."
"Fine." Neo sighed. "So how many people do you think we're going to have to fight again?"
"None if you fly us," Hoshi said.
"You people need to stop taking advantage of her abilities," Law said. "It won't kill you all to walk for a while."
"I don't mind," Neo said.
"You can fly later," Law said.
"Okay. If it makes you feel better," Neo said. "I won't fly for a while."
Law nodded.
"This place must have a wonderful history to it," Robin said.
"So boring. How can you think about that right now?" Luffy asked.
"I'm not sure. Working in the library I spent a lot of time reading the books when I wasn't working," Robin said. "It all was very interesting."
"Well, the picture says your our archeologist," Nami said. "So maybe you already like reading books."
"It's possible," Robin said.
"Are we getting closer yet?" Luffy asked an hour later. "I'm tried of walking. And it's getting hotter."
"I didn't notice," Kailen said. "But Luffy's right. It is getting warmer."
"The volcanoes do that. Their temperature rises there for rising the temperature of the cluster," Hoshi said.
"Does that mean the volcanoes are going to erupt?" Nami asked eyeing one as they walked passed it.
"Yup," Hoshi said.
"How can you be so calm in saying that?!" Nami demanded.
"Because I know Neo will protect us," Hoshi said. "Besides we'll be safe inside any of these buildings. All we have to do is go to the upper levels to get away from the majority of the heat."
"Can you tell when they're going to erupt?" Franky asked.
"Nope," Hoshi said.
"I can sense the animals. They're getting upset," Neo said. "So it'll probably happen fairly soon."
"That's going to be so cool," Luffy said. "Let's find some food and cook it when they explode."
"Don't be stupid," Sanji said. "You'd die if you did that."
"But Neo can fly the food over the lava," Luffy said.
"She's not immortal! You moron!" Sanji dropped his heel onto Luffy's head.
"Will you two just shut up?" Zoro said. "It's too hot to deal with you two morons."
"Who you calling a moron?!" Sanji demanded.
"I think we're all getting a little cranky. Here have some water." Neo summoned a water crystal for each other them before pulling them into the air with her wind crystals.
"That was super great!" Franky said.
"Thank you for the water," Robin said.
"I think it was just what we all needed," Nami said.
"Yummy!" Luffy sucked in a lot of water.
"How far are we?" Neo asked.
"That largest rock formation over there," Nami said pointing the one she was talking about. "They're near the bottom of it."
"I hope they're okay," Neo said. "The volcanoes are becoming more and more active."
"We better hurry then," Sanji said.
Neo nodded. She picked up speed and got them there in a few seconds. Several people were standing around the bottom of the rocks. "Should I lower us down?"
"Yes," Law said.
Neo lowered them down. She shivered at the cold looks the people gave them as they landed.
"Let's not fight again," Topaz said.
Kailen nodded. They summoned their crystals. Flaring them up with their elements, they held them directly at the thugs' faces. "We're looking for three people. Just stay out of our way and you won't get hurt."
"What kind of star flakes are these?"
"They can't stop us. Let's just fight them."
"You go right ahead."
"Coward."
"Who you calling a coward?!"
"Flaming Star!" someone called out.
"Not today!" Topaz summoned a crystal at the bird shaped fire coming right at them.
"What was that?" Zoro asked.
"That was so cool!" Luffy said.
"Ah!" someone laughed. "You are powerful if you can stop my flames!"
"Who's talking?" Robin asked as she and everyone else looked around.
"You're in trouble now," a woman said. "Usopp is one of the three kings who rule this cluster."
"Usopp?" Luffy asked. "Isn't he one of our friends?"
"Yeah." Neo nodded.
The woman laughed. "You're out of your minds. King Usopp doesn't have friends outside of this cluster."
"He's up there," Law said.
Neo followed his eyes to find Usopp standing on a balcony of the rock building they were standing at.
"You fiends will not get away with hurting my people." Usopp pulled back his slingshot. "I am all mighty and powerful! I have a hundred million men getting ready to strike you down! Run while you can!"
"Neo," Law said.
Neo nodded. Summoning an earth crystal near Usopp, she wrapped a vine around him, trapping his arms to his sides.
"Hey! Let me go!" Usopp shouted and squirmed. "I am the might Usopp! I am one of the three kings! You can't do this!"
"Just shut up," Zoro said. "You're annoying."
"We only want to talk to you," Neo said holding up the picture for him. "Look at this."
"What's that?" Usopp said. "What?! How dare you?! That is a fake!"
"It's not," Neo said. "You don't remember anything but for your name, right?"
"How did you know that?" Usopp asked.
"We all are like that," Law said.
"We're gathering everyone in that picture in hopes to get our memories back," Kailen said. "There should be two others here with you. Do you recognize anyone on the picture?"
"Yeah," Usopp said. "My fellow kings. Shachi and Penguin." He looked over his shoulder. "They're inside."
"We need to talk to them as well," Neo said.
"Oh, fine," Usopp said. "Let's go inside. You can let go of me. I won't attack you again."
"Okay," Neo said releasing her vines from them.
"You people are really strong," Usopp said leading them inside. "We heard about what you all did at the beach."
"That was just a little while ago," Nami said.
"News really does travel fast," Hoshi said.
The group scanned their eyes around the black hall. Small lights were mounted all over the wall but barely gave them enough light to see. They passed several doors. Some thugs were standing in the doorways, watching them carefully. Soon they passed through a doorway into a large cave like room. Several large pillows were scattered in the back of the room. Two guys wearing identical suits were sitting on the pillows with a couple of women gathered around them.
"Who are they?" Shachi asked.
"What's going on, Usopp?" Penguin asked.
"You guys are going to want to hear what these people have to say," Usopp said. "Apparently we're friends with them."
Penguin and Shachi looked at each other before hearing them out.
"It's insane," Usopp said staring at the picture that Neo was once again holding out. "Isn't it?"
"Yeah," Shachi said. "But we're all right there. How did this happen?"
"That's what we're trying to figure out," Topaz said.
"How did you three get to this point?" Nami asked. "I mean being the three kings or whatever?"
"Well, we just woke up here one day," Penguin said. "We all had lost our memories but for our names. Thinking whatever happened clearly happened to all of us. There were these three strange star shaped thing sitting beside each other. Soon we learned what they were and where we were. Then it was only a matter of time before we moved up the ladder."
"We apparently have strengths that those living here do not," Shachi said. "And with the star flakes we were even more powerful."
"Especially me," Usopp said. "My skills with this slingshot are unrivaled."
"If only he wasn't such a coward," Shachi said.
"Hey! I pull my own weight around here even if I don't have a star flake!" Usopp said.
"Yeah right! You run and hide every single time there's a fight!" Shachi said.
"I'm a sniper! We're not supposed to be seen!" Usopp said.
"Lousy excuse!" Shachi said.
The ground rumbled.
"That can't be good," Franky said.
"The volcanoes are about to erupt," Neo said. "We don't have much time."
"Then we need to get going," Law said. He looked at the three. "You are coming, right?"
Penguin, Usopp, and Shachi looked at each other.
"It's not like we're doing anything here that will get our memories back," Usopp said.
"You've got a point," Shachi said.
"And this might be our only chance of getting them back," Penguin said.
"Then let's go," Law said before another rumble shook the ground beneath them.
Neo wrapped her winds around them. She flew them back down the black hall as several others were running in the opposite direction. Exiting the building, they found several volcanoes were erupting already.
"What?! We're going to die!" Usopp screamed.
"So cool!" Luffy said holding his hat to his head.
A stream of lava shot up right in front of them.
"Room! Shambles!" Law warped them to the other side of the stream of lava.
"Nice move, Tra!" Luffy said.
"That was way too close," Nami said.
"I'll fly a little higher," Neo said lifting them higher in the air. She looked down. The volcanoes were starting to erupt more. The lava was bright against the darkness of the rocks. Looking back up she got them to the ship in just a few minutes.
"We better get out of here before the lava starts pouring into the sea," Nami said rushing up to the helm.
"I've got this," Neo said. She lifted the ship up and pushed them out to sea.
"Wow," Penguin said. "What kind of star flake do you have?"
"I don't," Neo said with a sigh.
"You should sit down," Law said.
Neo nodded and sat in one of the chairs they had on the deck. "I'm an elemental. I can control the elements."
"You okay? You don't look very good," Penguin said.
"I'm fine," Neo said rubbing her stomach. "Just tired."
"You're pregnant?" Shachi asked.
Neo nodded. "I am. And that's on reason I really want to get our memories back." She looked at Law. "I want to remember our relationship."
Law nodded.
"So you two…" Penguin pointed back and forth between the two.
"We're married," Law said giving the three new men a pointed look.
"Hey, don't look at me," Usopp said. "She's cute but I have no interest in dating her."
"Same!" Shachi and Penguin said quickly.
"Sails are down," Zoro said as he and Sanji dropped down from above.
"And we are out of here!" Nami shouted. "Only three more friends to go!"
"Let's eat!" Luffy threw his hands into the air. "Neo, I'm hungry!"
"Neo is not cooking right now," Law said. "She's going to rest. And if anyone argues I'll cut them into a million pieces and stick them to the side of the ship."
"I'll take care of the cook," Sanji said stepping over to Neo. He took her hand and kissed it. "You just rest and take care of yourself and that sweet little package you're carrying."
Law pulled out his sword and pointed the blade right at Sanji's neck.
Sanji chuckled nervously.
"It's all right, Law," Neo said. "He's just being friendly."
"He can be a little less friendly," Law said sheathing his sword.
"Come on," Kailen said. "I'll show you three around the ship."
Usopp, Shachi, and Penguin followed Kailen into the ship.
Neo slumped in her chair. "I can't wait until this is over."
Law nodded in agreement.
"So what star flakes do you two have?" Nami asked when the other returned to the deck.
"I have a velocity," Penguin said. "It gives me super fast speed."
"And I use a nebula," Shachi said. "It creates a cloud of gas that temporarily disables those who breathe it in. My flake is less known."
"No wonder you three were at the top of the thugs," Franky said. "With those types of abilities you all are super strong."
"Strong enough," Penguin said. "But we're still not strong enough to face up to the Astro Units."
"They've been all over the cluster a few weeks ago," Shachi said. "We're not sure what they were looking for. But whatever it is they either found it and left or found it wasn't there and left."
"I wonder where those guys are," Nami said. "We've only ran into them once before."
"They might have gotten called back to the capital by Kuro for some reason," Hoshi said. "It is odd that we haven't seen them. Something must be happening. We need to hurry and find the last of your friends."
"So the last ones are Bepo, Brook, and Chopper," Neo said. "I hope they're fine wherever they are."
"I hope they're easy to get to," Nami said. "I'm really getting tired of this."
"I like it," Luffy said. "It's been fun."
"Just shut up," Zoro said.
"I'm ready to get back to my old self too," Sanji said. "I don't like not knowing who I am or where I came from."
"I think we all can agree on that one," Topaz said.