Ugh…so hard to get onto a computer anymore…but…I can't give up...I won't give up! Coming at you, it's Chapter 7!

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Adventures of the Seagull Pirates

A One Piece Fan-crew story by Viewtiful Aryll

Chapter 7:

It's All About Fighting Spirit!

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Milo and Diego moved quickly towards the outskirts of town. A short while ago, they had passed a couple of pirates with sword wounds. Without a doubt, their captain had gone this way. They only hoped they could get to her before she got herself into trouble. As they approached a bend in the road, Milo's hand shot out, stopping Diego.

"Something wrong?" Diego asked, shifting into a combat stance.

Milo just shook his head. "I want to get an idea of what we're about to face. Wait here….I see a tall tree I can get a good view of the area from. I'll be back." With that, Milo jogged off to the side of the road. Arriving at the base of the tree, he analyzed it for a few seconds before reaching into his bag. He pulled out a grappling hook, and tossing it at one of the higher branches, he climbed his way up the rope. Once he got up high enough, he nestled himself against the trunk, hoping the leaves would hide him. Gazing out, his sharp eyes quickly found the Black Pearl camp. It was very short distance away. There seemed to be a small reserve group of pirates. Two of them looked wounded, nasty sword gashes on them. A man who appeared to be the captain was reclining on a crate. On one side of him was a man in a very light red karate gi and on the other side of him was a barrel. And sitting in that barrel, tied up, was Aryll! "….I…I don't think I want to know what happened." Milo said as he slapped his face with his palm. Scribbling a quick note, he tied it to an arrow which he shot towards Diego, and then settled into position, his bow at the ready. He was ready to do his part.

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Diego jumped a little in shock as the arrow thudded into the ground near him, and glanced around for any enemies. After he was sure no enemies were nearby, he glanced at the arrow and realized it was Milo's. He quickly ran over and grabbed it, tearing the note off and reading it.

Diego,

The Black Pearl camp is real close, just around the bend and a little further, hidden in a grove of trees. There are about 20 guys or so. Sis is in a barrel, her sword laying a couple of feet away. The captain is there, and some martial arts guy. I'm going to stay here and snipe. Good luck.

Milo

"So, looks like it's time to finish this," Diego said. He crumpled the note and stuck it in his pocket. He straightened his cravat and began to calmly walk towards the enemy camp.

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Aryll was bored. Not to mention, her clothes were wet, and she was fairly certain her socks were going to smell funky for a while now. Nearby, a Black Pearl crewmember was watching her, giving her some nasty glares.

"Hey, I'm hungry. Got any steak?" she asked.

"LIKE HELL WE'RE GOING TO FEED YOU! Once you're useless to us, the Captain'll slit yer throat," the pirate said, drawing his thumb across his own throat to highlight his point.

"….I'm still hungry," Aryll replied, completely unfazed.

The pirate just fell to the ground in disbelief.

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Diego glanced around a tree trunk. The first Black Pearl pirate guard was less than a foot from him. He needed to move fast. Closing his eyes for a moment, he opened them just as he began to move. With a blur, he was behind the guard, his elbow having already rammed the guard's head. By the time anyone noticed him, the guard had already slumped to the ground, and Diego was standing there, his arms crossed.

"Ah! Another wannabe hero, trying to save the day! Just like little Miss Devil Fruit here. Give up! Yer outgunned and surrounded," Barbass taunted.

"Ah, but I'm not here alone," Diego replied. As if on cue, four pirates fell to the ground, arrows thudding solidly into them.

Barbass laughed. "So what? You have a sniper with a dinky little bow. Still, you have guts, I'll give you that. Hibiki, take this guy out." Barbass then motioned his hand at the martial artist beside him. The man jumped high in the air, preforming multiple flips before landing in front of Diego.

"You cannot hope to defeat me! I have trained under 25 different masters! I am unstoppable!" the main in the gi said, striking a stereotypical martial arts pose.

Diego grinned. "I only studied under one. But she was a good one. Let's see how you stand against my Rabbit Style." With that, he struck his own pose. Brining his hands in close to his chest, he began to bounce lightly from foot to foot.

"What a lame name for a style! Face my Bleeding Iron Fist style!" Hibiki said as he charged towards Diego, throwing a multitude of strong punches at him. Without missing a beat, Diego calmly dodged each and every one, darting around Hibiki's hands with little effort. A look of rage crossed Hibiki's face, and he began to wildly spin around, trying to hit Diego with a strong kick, but Diego easily flipped over the spinning martial artist, turning in midair so he was still facing his opponent when he landed.

"Your blows look strong, but they won't do much if you can't hit me," Diego chided, his voice sounding a little arrogant.

"I'll show you! Now, tremble before my Fist of the One Thousand Shooting Stars style!" Hibiki shouted. Taking a new stance, he began to throw another flurry of punches at Diego, these ones faster and more randomly aimed. Still, Diego easily ducked and weaved around them, not even a bead of sweat forming on his forehead, unlike Hibiki, who was already beginning to show signs of weakness.

"Don't tell me you're tiring out already. Is this really all you've got?" Diego taunted as he smirked and shook his head.

"I will not give in to you! Face this! My Ultimate True Fist Style! Path of the Burning Demons of the Nine Underworlds!" Hibiki screamed!

"Hah! This is the style Hibiki once used to kill a tiger! He's as good as dead!" one of the pirates shouted.

"Cool name. Makes your Rabbit Style sound lame," Aryll said as she turned to look at Diego.

Diego nearly broke his stance out of embarrassment. "Last time I ever try to save you," he muttered under his breath.

"Don't ignore me!" Hibiki snarled as he rushed at Diego. Bringing his arms up over his head, he clasped his hands together and tried to smash them into Diego. Diego calmly hopped backwards, but as Hibiki's fists hit the ground, they left a small crater. "Hah! Now that you've seen the strength of this style, perhaps you will give up!" he said.

"All the power in the world means nothing if you can't hit me. Face it…you're an amateur," Diego said, his face becoming serious again.

Hibiki's face turned a bright red color that matched his gi. "Amateur? I've studied the styles of 25 masters! I've endured years of training! I'll show you amateur!" he shouted as he charged towards Diego. He began to wildly swing at Diego, throwing punches, kicks, elbows, knees, and any other part of his body he thought might hit. Yet Diego dodged each and every blow effortlessly, and at the end of the barrage, Hibiki was panting, sweat dripping from his whole body, and Diego was completely calm, still in his original Rabbit Style pose.

"You're tired, aren't you? I noticed it before the fight even began, when you jumped into the air. You over choreograph yourself and exaggerate your movements. I've never met someone so easy to read. This fight was over before it began. You may know many different styles…but the simple fact is you lack any form of discipline. And that's what separates amateurs such as you from true martial artists such as me. Now…let's finish this," Diego lectured with a mocking grin on his face the entire time. Suddenly, with a blur, he was in front of Hibiki. "Rabbit Flip" He then did a back flip, his foot catching Hibiki in the chin and launching him into the air. Diego jumped up after him. "Rabbit Barrage" Diego's foot began to shoot out with blinding speed, each blow landing perfectly. "Rabbit Hammer" Then, flipping in the air to gather momentum, Diego brought his foot down onto Hibiki's back, sending the two of them hurtling to the ground. Hibiki landed first, and was quickly knocked unconscious, caught between Diego's foot and the ground. Diego pushed off of Hibiki and did a back flip, landing perfectly on his feet. As he landed a shot rang out, and Diego just barely tossed himself to the ground to avoid the bullet.

"Don't think I was so stupid as to set up camp without my own sniper!" Barbass laughed as Diego rolled back onto his feet.

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From his safe position in the tree, Milo saw Diego dodge the bullet. "Ah, a sniper, huh? Keep him shooting Diego, and I'll be able to find him," Milo muttered to himself as he began to scan all the good hiding spots he could see.

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Diego dodged another bullet, and his foot flew out and caught a Black Pearl pirate that had been charging at him in the face. He then jumped into the air and landed behind another pirate, his leg shooting out and catching him in the knee, knocking the pirate to the ground. Two more pirates charged him, swinging their swords. He dashed between them, causing them to block each other, before smashing their heads together. He heard gunfire, and as he moved to dodge, felt a bullet graze his shoulder. He clutched it in pain as he spun around, looking for the sniper.

"Hah, look at him! Thinks he can still win!" Barbass laughed. "No one has ever evaded our sniper's sights!"

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"C'mon….where are you?" Milo said as he scanned the area quickly. Things were going to end badly if he couldn't find the guy before he could get another shot off. Suddenly, a cloud moved in the sky, and Milo saw the glint of sunlight on the sniper's gun barrel. "Bull's-eye." he said. Selecting one of his bomb arrows, he quickly drew his bowstring back, adjusted for wind and distance, and let loose.

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"Any last words before my marksman puts a hole in yer head?" Barbass asked before he broke out into mocking laughter.

Just as Diego was about to open his mouth, and he heard an explosion. He quickly looked up to see a person falling out of a tree a few yards away, a gun landing besides him. Suddenly, another arrow shot out, landing in front of Aryll's barrel and exploding. A third arrow whistled through the air and cut the ropes binding Aryll.

"Don't just stand there! Get the girl!" Barbass shouted as he drew his sword. A bunch of pirates rushed at Aryll.

"Diego! I need my sword!" Aryll said as she slugged the closest pirate as hard as she could, knocking him out.

Diego dashed forward, moving like a blur, and arrived by Aryll's sword, kneeing the pirate who was trying to pick it up. He grabbed it, but as he turned to toss it to Aryll, some pirates rushed at him.

"Quick Diego, point it at them and let them have it! Just…tell it to attack! It's all about fighting spirit!" Aryll shouted, dodging a slash from one pirate's sword and using a piece of the barrel to block another.

Diego didn't really understand his captain's instructions, so he let his combat instincts guide him. Pointing her sword as the pirates, he let his ki flow forward. To his astonishment, a beam shot from the sword, plowing into the pirates and knocking them back, into some of their comrades. Just then, a few arrows shot out, clearing up the space around Aryll. Diego tossed the sword, which his captain easily caught.

Barbass was just dumbfounded. "But…but…you…how could he…" he stammered.

Aryll grinned. "When did I ever say I ate a Devil Fruit?" She then placed her hand on her hat and pointed her sword at what was left of the pirates she was fighting. Another beam blasted out from her sword, sending them flying away.

Diego chuckled. "I've heard of weapons eating Zoan Fruits before, but this is the first time I've ever seen an object with the power of a Paramecia type fruit. What an interesting thing…a Beam Beam Sword."

Barbass began to back away nervously. "Um…we can talk about this, right? Maybe work together? I'll let you join my crew!"

"No thanks. I've already got one," Aryll said as she pointed her sword at Barbass.

Barbass fell to his knees and began to beg. "Please spare me! I'll give you lots and lots of treasure!"

"This…is for my socks," was all Aryll said as her sword flared to life. A blue glow surrounded the blade as it began to hum with power. Suddenly, a huge beam shot out, hitting Barbass and sending him flying high into the air.

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Back in town, Roark had joined the fight. Rallying the remaining townsfolk and shipwrights, he had turned the fight in their favor. His left arm-drill conked a pirate on the head, and as he turned to find a new opponent, he saw something odd. A person was falling through the sky, screaming loudly, and it looked like he was heading straight for the Black Pearl Pirates' ship! Apparently, he wasn't the only person to notice, as the entire fight suddenly stopped and the combatants all looked to the sky.

"You know, that sort of sounds like Captain Barbass," one pirate mentioned.

"I think it is him" another on commented.

Suddenly, with a loud splintering sound, Barbass crashed into the deck of his ship, and his momentum was so great, he shot through the other decks of the ship and right through the bottom.

"THE CAPTAIN! THE SHIP! ALL PIRATES, BACK TO THE SHIP!" one of the senior pirates called out loudly. Suddenly, all of the pirates who could still move were stumbling over each other to retreat.

The fight was over. The Black Pearl Pirates were defeated.

And while no one on that island knew it at the time, history had just been made. For on that day, the Seagull Pirates had their first real victory against another pirate crew.

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And there we have it! CHAPTER 7 COMPLETE! One chapter to go, and then the Spiral Island story arc will be complete!

That said, I have an announcement. Back in chapter 3, I mentioned I wanted to do an SBS Corner like Oda does for One Piece. And apparently….it went entirely unnoticed. Well, I'm mentioning it again. This time, I'm hoping to do my first SBS after chapter 10, when it eventually arrives. Still, I'm going to need some questions beforehand, so if you have any questions about the plot, the characters, anything at all, no matter how silly they are, please! Just mention them in the reviews, and I'll pick my favorites to answer!

I'm not going to do a preview for the next chapter, because I'm revising my outline slightly, so I'm not entirely sure what to do next chapter. Don't worry though. I know exactly how the next story arc is going to play out, so once I can access a computer, I should be able to have those chapters up with little problem. So, until then,

~Stay Viewtiful~