"Hey, Zeke-san!" Frank opened the door to the hospital roof with a smile on his face. Zeke had been recovering quite nicely, in fact...
"What are you doing Zeke-san?" He asked puzzlingly.
Rika was sitting on the roof ledge drinking coffee and reading some kind of book she had bought. "He's working out, what's it look like?"
"Aw Rika-chan.... you don't have to talk like that."
"Don't worry about her Frank.... 597.... She's just mad I'm doing this at all.... 599...."
"Hell yeah I am! This won t help your wounds you idiot! They'll just make them worse!!"
Frank noticed something about Zeke, "Zeke-san.... what are you wearing?"
Rika huffed as Frank noticed the large black pants Zeke was wearing while he continued his set of 1000 ONE FINGER vertical pushups.
"They're Sea Stone Pants..... you idiot." The last part was directed at Zeke.
"Sea Stone? Which pair?"
Rika scoffed again, "The heaviest they make!"
Frank's eyes widened, "I... I didn't know you were at that Level Zeke-san."
"Yeah..... it's kind of hard actually.... 605...."
Frank now noticed the pools of sweat covering the ground. "The HEAVEST.... really?"
Sea Stone pants.... a recent invention of the past 10 years. Sea Stone is actually a very heavy and strong substance when concentrated right. A piece the size of a pea could weigh up to 5 lbs. Sea Stone pants were first normal pants that were then lined with sea stone then filled up with the heavy concentrate of sea stone. They were used as a training device and are very popular with some of the strongest people in the world using them to train with. They were sold at a fairly cheap price due to the fact they were so heavy and sea stone was abundant. Their weights were 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 tons. 5 being what Zeke was currently wearing.
"Last I knew, you could only go to 3 tons Zeke."
"Yeah.... I'm going for broke right now.... 612.... I figured.... If I can withstand the beatings of a guy who's Devil Fruit is to make him stronger than anyone else... I can do this right?..... 617....."
Frank agreed, but he was still afraid was pushing himself to early. Rika thought so too, even more emotionally as well.
Zeke could tell this though, "You know this is nothing right?" This caused both Frank and Rika to look at him in confusion. "This... is nothing compared to what my DAD probably does every day..... You know what my mom told me when I trained as a child.... When my dad fought Mihawk for the title the second time...... 622.... She said their difference in power and skill was still MILES different.... "But you know why he won?" she would ask..... 626..... Because Mihawk had lost his heart long ago... never being challenged, feeling like it didn't matter anymore..... 630..... But my dad.... He still goes for it..... EVERYDAY.... he feeds of just being able to prove himself to HIMSELF..... 634.... And now that my mom is back with him.... now that his lover is back with him.... he probably lives each day even greater.... I can feel it..... 637..... He is getting stronger each passing SECOND..... He hasn't had a REAL challenge in a long time either.... I was shit when we fought.... he took it EXTEMLY easy on me when we fought..... 644..... And that EXCITES me.... that you can get that strong.... and better than that..... they still say the king is even STRONGER.... 649.... can you imagine that?.... Two BEST of friends and they are both insanely strong..... 652.... I think that's what's driving me now..... to be like that.... to be..... LIKE THAT..... 657..... 658... 659....."
Frank and Rika couldn't help but smile.... Zeke was becoming something... and it was exciting for them too. Something was about to happen, they could feel it as well, something that make Zeke happy as a person and would make their life change.... but for the better.
~Z~X~Z~X~Z~X~
Episode 19: Foresight
~Z~X~Z~X~Z~X~
*step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step*
"..... 775.... 776..."
*step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step*
".... 781................" Zeke stopped counting, he could sense something happening..... he could then here... footsteps... many of them.
*step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step*
Frank became alarmed too, he drew his sword and ran over to where Zeke's were.
Rika was alarmed by this and looked around to see if she could find anything that would be a threat.
*step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step**step*
Zeke dropped down from his vertical position and put his regular pants back on but was still shirtless and he put his two swords in his mouth and gripped the other two in his hands.
"HALT!!!"
The stepping stopped, and it was too late for Zeke and his friends.... the were surrounded. Dozens of marines with guns on every surrounding roof top. Zeke noticed them on the ground in the streets too, they were surrounded.
"Roronoa Zeke...." A large man stepped from the hospital roof door. He had a thick door knob shaped goatee and a giant cigar in his mouth. "I am Commodore Jogo Rodriguez.... "THUNDERBOLT" Rodriguez." He said the last part very proudly.
Zeke looked at him as if he was stupid, "Was 'thunderbolt' thing suppose to make me know who you are and fear you?"
This made him very mad, "Listen you little shit... I'll get straight to the point. You are 'requested' at MARIEJOIS as an....HONORED guest."
Zeke's eyes widened. ( The holy land!?!?!?!! )
"Mariejois!???.... Why!?" Rika spat out first.
"SILENCE BITCH! I WAS TALKING TO ZEKE-SAN!" 'Thunderbolt' raised his hand, as if he was going to strike her.
"stop...." It was a strong sounding, but quite command.
'Thunderbolt' Rodriguez looked at Zeke who said that word to him.
"TWO things...." Zeke looked at him as if he was going to KILL him. "NEVER call her a bitch again, and DEFINATELY never act like you're going to strike her.... Second, don't ever call me 'SAN' again like me and you are friends. There is no way in HELL I would ever go to Mariejois as any kind of "guest"."
Rodriguez gritted his teeth, "You really think this is a CHOICE!? You are REQUESTED, no matter how much you don't like it. I don't care. And if you think you can say 'no' and LIVE....."
The marines on the roof tops cocked their guns. Zeke knew that he couldn't get Frank and Rika out of there. He was pretty sure he could escape, but he would NEVER leave either of them.
"And if you think you can save everyone from our grasp... say, you MOTHER perhaps.... You're DEAD wrong."
Zeke wanted to cut him down so much right now, but he knew it was not going to happen.
"............. Fine......" He looked at Rodriguez with much anger, "Let's go."
This made the Commodore grin wide.
~Z~X~Z~X~Z~X~
Mariejois.
The Grand Hall was amazing. It was so big and the simple fact that a PIRATE was an honored guest in here actually made Zeke have a giant smile on his face. "Ha! This is actually a little funny. I wonder why the hell I'm here. I hope it's a stupid reason so I can rub it in thier faces in the fact that they wasted thier time and mine."
"I'm sure it will be Zeke-kun, but I doubt you'll be leaving anytime soon. You don't seem to have ANY idea why we are ALL here. And for that, this "meeting" will be very rough for you."
Zeke, Frank, and Rika looked behind them in the Grand Hall to see two females walk in.
"ZEKE-SAN!!!!" He was suddenly hugged at the waist by a small blonde girl.
He was shocked, "H-Hatori!??!"
"I'VE MISSED YOU ZEKE-SAN!!!"
"Yes, I guess it is.... good enough to see you again Zeke." Zeke looked back up and saw Hatori's mother, The Strongest Bounty Hunter in the World, Gweniveir Romaine.
"What are you guys doing here!?"
This question made Gweniveir very serious and a little looking frustrated. "So they must have FORCED you to come here."
Now this made Zeke angry, " 'forced' is an understatement."
"AH!! So I have at least ONE fellow pirate here with me! Maybe this mission won't be so boring after all."
Another person came into the Grand Hall. He had short brown hair that was in small spikes that almost didn't seem like spikes. He also had a short goatee strip.
"Parker Rye.... Gweny and her daughter..... Last but not least.... Rononoa Zeke himself, and his friends of course."
Everyone in the room got turned back around to the chair at the farthest end of the Grand Table. "Welcome, Please, sit down."
Zeke was the first to speak, mostly because he thought he would never see this man. "Smoker.... Well I'll be. Mom told me about you. It's kind of scary actually." His face created an almost sadistic smile, he seemed very scared... and very excited.
The man with even whiter hair now and THREE cigars in his mouth seemed a little nostalgic. "The children of famous pirates. Zoro's, Law's and-"
Gweniveir dashed up on the table and pointed her long slender samurai blade at Smoker's throat. "If you breath my FATHER'S name scum, I don't care if you're a pirate or a marine!.... You don't say his name. EVER."
Smoker didn't blink at all, he just smiled lightly, almost in an amused way.
Then he glanced at Parker, who was now standing next to his chair.
"Law... Hadn't heard my old man's name in forever." THIS Parker was standing next to Frank. Frank was looking at him in disbelief.
"Yeah, I didn't even know he WAS my dad till about 8 years ago." Another one, next to Zeke. "And you're Zoro-donno's kid eh? That's pretty cool."
"Oooo! And look at the legs on the girl he brought with him!" This one was looking up Rika's skirt. "AAHH! PERVERT!"
*SLAP!*
"Yeah... that was painful." A giant red mark across this one's face.
"Ahahahaha! I am so stupid!! Hahahaha!!" Another one, laughing and rolling on the Grand Table.
Then, all the Parkers spread across the Grand Hall sucked up into a single one, the one on the table. "So, I guess this is everybody?"
Everyone looked at him, some with confusion, some with anger and annoyance. "What? Never seen a DF user before? Haahahaha!!!" He began to laugh out loud again.
"SILNCE YOU STUPID PIRATE BOY!!!"
*SCREEEECH!!!!*
*BOOM!*
A giant shadow flooded the Grand Hall and an enormous bird landed on the table and snapped at Parker.
But then again.... it WASN'T just a bird.
The GRIFFON'S tail swayed back and forth as the creature growled. "To think we have to go as low as ask PIRATES for help." The Griffon began to shrink into a large man with a Marine Admiral coat and dark short hair that connected to his equally dark and thick and bushy beard.
"Ross... calm down."
The bushy bearded man looked at Smoker as he called him, "I really don't think you like this as much as I do.... ShiroiRyu." (white dragon)
Smoker cocked a brow, "Oh, we're formal now? Fine, KuroiGurifon (black griffon), I DON'T like this at all. But that was NOT what I said. I said, CALM DOWN. There is a difference in hating something and being calm about it. It may be the difference in a deciding factor."
"I agree Shiroi, *cough* *cough* *cough!* You should listen to him just this once Ross-donno."
Ross, a.k.a KuroiGurifon, jerked to now another man entering the room. He was a very tall man with pale white skin, possibly he was an albino. He was also bald and seemed to be very sickly as not only his face showed it, but his body was VERY thin, almost putting anorexics to shame.
"Well, GureeOni (gray ogre) or should I just say OLBOGAN since no one seems to care about the aliases put in place for us!"
"woooooooo" Parker gave out a long whistle, "ALL THREE ADMERALS huh? That big I see. Oh, and if you really think you need 'aliases' in front of ME, you are sadly mistaken." He first pointed at Smoker, "Admiral Smoker, most thought you were kicked out of the Marines after what you did during the WhiteBeard War. But OH were they mistaken."
Smoker grunted angrily.
Parker then pointed at Ross, "You sir, are Ross Tucci. The man who got Admiral after you captured Monkey D. Garp after he went "rouge", nice job by the way." He used serious air quotes on the word rouge to express how much he felt that situation was bullshit.
Ross gave him an evil glare.
"Last... we have Olbogan Jane. First you were a top apprentice of Dr. Vega punk when he was still around. But after you gained your... scary and impressive DF power you were immediately put to work. And then made Admiral after the Tenryuubito massacre. Something I think even pirates agreed with for the first time in centuries. I've studied that slaughter over and over. I still can't believe the Government issued that." He gave Olbogan a deep, serious glare, an Olbogan gave one back, "I mean I REALLY CAN'T BELIVE they did that."
*clap* *clap* *clap*
The claps echoed through the Grand Hall. "Arurararararara.... Very good Mr. Rye. Now...." His face came in to light, "Can you guess who I am?"
FLEET ADMIRAL: AKOJI
~Z~X~Z~X~Z~X~Z~X~
Inside the Orca (Wolfgang's ship)
The fiery red head was the first to arrive. He had his hair slicked back yet it was very wild. He had yellow, red and blue colored tattoo sleeves on both arms. He wore a simple red shirt and jean pants and shoes.
"Zo, wat is zo urgent?.... Frederic?" Wolfgang was seated at his chair behind a wooden desk. The room looked similar to the Oval Office (U.S. President.)
"No, I want to wait till THEY get here too." The red haired man gritted his teeth.
Wolfgang let out a little chuckle, "Du U reely suspct fo a't leest Beethoven ta com? You're a fool if zo."
"A DAMN fool I say." A large lurking figure came into the room and sat down next to a fire that was going. Wolfgang and Frederic looked at him.
"Intrestin, de fac dat Zir Zabation Bach zhowed up iz remarkable."
The man with white spikes of hair on his head looked at them with a glare that showed he wasn't here because he felt like it. He was here, because it actually benefited him.
"Do you still think Beethoven is coming.... Chopin?"
Chopin gave him a glare of his own, ".... Fine, I say we strike NOW!" He slammed his hands on the desk.
Wolfgang stared serious at Chopin, "... U tink dat is wize?"
"I don't give a FUCK if it's fucking wise damn it! I want as many fucking heads of those Goddamn marines as POSSIBLE! THEY DESTROYED MY FUCKING CRYSTAL!!!" He was spewing anger, hate, venom.. and spit.
"Pleeze, is de cursin necicary? Wat du U tink Bach? Dis is U'r fist tim 'ere in som while."
His answer was already decided when he came onto this boat. His mind was set, his plan was in motion, and if it helped these men as well, his 'fellow' Yonkou, he could care less. "....... Let's go."
Chopin's eyes lit up, "PERFECT! And people say you can't be reasoned with. Come on Wolfgang. We've got Marines to kill."
And the 3 men set off.... for Mariejois........ all by themselves.
~Z~X~Z~X~Z~X~Z~X~
Zeke couldn't believe it, "Wait.... REPEAT THAT!??!"
Fleet Admiral Aokiji took a deep breath. "Three of the Four Yonkou are coming... HERE to Mariejois. But, due to the image we are trying to keep, we cannot engage just THREE men who are walking here.... ON the Red Line. The treaty I and the King banned all high officers of either side to battle in fear it could cause major civilian deaths. And I cannot blame him for asking us to make such a decree. So many would die with one contact between an Admiral, a Younko or a Shichibukai."
Ross scoffed, "This is bullshit!"
Aokiji shot a look at him, "Hold your tongue KuroiGurifon. But there is more to this than simple confrontations. MUCH more... but POLITICS... of course, will not allow me to reveal to civilians. Even though you are wanted pirates and a mercenary... You are all still civilians. But simply put, WE cannot stop them from coming an killing whoever they want.... but YOU can. If you do succeed in even just making them retreat, you all with be greatly rewarded."
"WHAT THE HELL!?!?!?!" Zeke rose from his seat. "US!?!? Why the fuck!? I don't want a single part of this! Find someone else!!!"
Aokiji coughed in his hand, "We sent squads to gather THIRTY 'willing' pirates. Most... declined, one way or another."
Zeke smiled a little, "I bet you tried to ask Tatum didn't you? Bet you used the same tactic to get him as you did me. How that work out? Bet you haven't heard from the commander you sent after him have you?" His smiled turned into a jackass's smirk when he saw Aokiji's face, "I'm guessing the 3 of us here are the only ones who didn't fight, run away, or escape when you came to give us such "great" offers. Romaine is hear because she hates pirates and is looking for an excuse to get at the big boys. Rye most likely is a greedy basted you bribed for this-"
"Guilty as charged!"
"And me.... I'm here because you threatened my FAMILY. If it wasn't for that, I wouldn't be here. You played her desires, his greed, and my nobility. Guess we're the 'EASY' pirates? Right?"
Aokiji kept eye contact with him for a moment till he chuckled, causing his eyes to close. "Yes.... so, will you do this?"
Zeke stood there for a moment, then he looked at Parker. He could tell he knew something else in all this. He wanted to ask him something. So he decided on his answer.
"You know that ass who you sent to get us? Rodger I think."
"I believe it was Commodore Rodriguez."
"Yeah, that's it......... FIRE him and we got a deal. I don't like how he thinks he's better than us."
Aokiji raised a brow, but only for a second, "Very well. I'm almost certain he got promoted to Commodore because he was so annoying."
Zeke smiled, "You guys made a mistake."
All 3 admirals and Aokiji looked at him, "No matter why or how.... we're still pirates. You're stupid to think WE think this will all even out."
~Z~X~Z~X~
With that, they were lead to the edge of Mariejois, to were you could start WALKING on the Red Line.
"You know it's bullshit right?"
Everyone looked at Parker. "This 'treaty', has NOTHING to do with why they aren't fighting the Yonkou themselves."
Zeke nodded, "I thought so. That what I wanted to ask you, you look like you research everything. So what's the real reason?"
"Hatori, stay here." Gweniveir began walking down the Red Line.
"Mommy.....!???"
Gweniveir looked back at her daughter, "You will be safer with Ms. Rika, I'm sure. Don't worry baby, I just want to ask a question more than fight them. I'll be back baby... I won't die here if that's what you're worried about." She gave a very motherly smile to her daughter and began walking again.
Rika patted her on the back, "Don't worry Hatori, you'll see her again."
The little girl began to cry, "THANK YOU!!! And I'm so sorry I ever called you an old lady!" She talked her and gave her a big baby hug.
"Oh.. right, I almost forgot about that." Rika gritted her teeth now, Frank looked very concerned.
"Alright Parker... Tell me, what's really going on." Zeke and Parker exchanged serious looks.
"Ok, first off about all this, it's mostly a chess move. They probably don't like ANY of us, so why not force us to fight each other? One, we kill the Yonkou, the marines have the power at the moment. Two, they kill us, some small pirate specs are gone and they will at least be a LITTLE tired and if they keep going, there is a chance they will get killed with ease by the Admirals or whatever. Secondly, politics wise... it could be catastrophic for EVERYONE."
Zeke blinked, "How?"
"Think about it... If a Younko kills an Admiral, an Admiral kills a Younko, the balance shifts... AGAIN. You ever even read about what happened after WhiteBeard and then SHANKS dies? Like that all of a sudden. Two powerful bodies gone from the pirate world. People deemed unclean, sinful, scum, not pirates but people considered just as bad or worse were killed. Sengoku went on a mass genocide of pirates and anyone else that weren't part of the Government. If it wasn't for that crazy Dragon and all the stuff he had hidden for like ever, we could all be dead by now. Who knows. It's a balance order that King Luffy understood. When he had the strength and the recognition as Pirate King, the first thing he did was that damn treaty in hopes something like that was less likely to happen. Cause who would really be likely to kill a giant than another giant right? Get the metaphor?"
Zeke totally realized it, "Yeah, now I get it... so then why are you doing this?"
Parker smiled, "I got my reason's. What about you? You really doing this because you can't protect your loved ones enough?"
Zeke closed his eyes and clenched his fist, "...... Yes."
Rika went to comfort him, she could tell he was feeling heavy, but Frank held her back. "Go Zeke-san, we'll stay here."
Zeke looked back at his best friend, then his girlfriend, then Hatori.
.... He smiled, "But when this is over... I'll be able to. Come on Parker, let's catch up with Gwen!"
Parker smiled, "Alright."
They ran off, leaving Frank, Rika and Hatori behind... waiting for them to return.
"Don't worry Rika-chan... He'll be fine." Frank looked at Hatori, "They ALL 3 will."
The little girl smiled.
~X~Z~X~Z~X~Z~X~
A familiar remote island.
"Sir.... everyone is here and waiting for your word."
"Do you realize what is going on Samson?"
"Uh... no sir."
"The 3 other Younko are about to face off again the up-and-coming generation. Zoro's kid, Law's and...." He looked at the cross, "HIS little girl."
"Um... yes sir, that's what are intel says."
"Do you see what is going on?"
"No.... Master Beethoven... I guess, I don't."
Beethoven stood up from his sitting spot, "This.... is going to be... one FLASHY BATTLE!!!!!"
To Be Continued....
(HOLY SHIT! IS THAT WHO I THINK IT IS!?!?!!?)