Disclaimer: All the characters herein, with the exception of some random extras, are the intellectual property of Eiichiro Oda and all the companies involved with publishing and production of the One Piece manga and anime. I just twisted 'em a bit.
Spoilers/Warnings: This story will eventually encompass the entire first season of the anime, which is up to about halfway through volume 11 of the manga, just so you know. This is an AU, so many things have been changed/altered/warped to suit my needs. Also, there is some language and violence.
Pairing: None. However, I like subtext, so you can probably find hints of just about anything, if you look for it.
Dedication: To the OP at the fanforall at LJ, for requesting a cowboy AU and spawning this in my brain. Many thanks to Dandy Wonderous for beta-ing.
A/N: Name order for all characters has been westernized. Don't like it? Tough cookies! I do not claim to be an expert on anything involving gun fighting, the old west, or the cavalry. I did some very basic research for some of this, but I probably got lots of stuff wrong. Humor me!
Part 23- Let the Fun Begin
It took an embarrassingly long time to find Arlong's estate. Usopp hadn't exactly been focusing on remembering directions when he was brought in as a prisoner and had been only semi-conscious on his way out again. Zoro kept trying to lead them off the road because that was the way he'd travelled. Finally, they found themselves looking down at the main house from a hill to the east. On the bright side, if they had approached by the main road, they would probably have been seen already.
"Right," Luffy stated with a decisive nod. "Let's go!" He only got about a foot down the hill before he was tackled to the ground by all three of his companions.
"Idiot!" Sanji seethed. "You can't just barge down there and kick in the door!"
"Why not?" The others were temporarily stunned by the fact that Luffy's question was completely sincere.
"They'll shoot you," Usopp finally answered in the slow tone reserved for answering particularly stupid questions.
"Oh," Luffy shrugged. "So, what do we do, then?"
"We need a plan," Zoro mused.
"Well, obviously," Sanji snorted. "I suppose you have one?"
"Why would I say, 'we need a plan,' if I had one?" Zoro retorted. "I woulda just said, 'I have a plan.'"
"Do you think they're expecting us to attack?" Usopp wondered.
"I would be," Zoro replied absently, eyes roving over the area below them. He hadn't seen any signs of movement, and that was suspicious.
"Hold on, though," Sanji interjected. "They only know about two of us, right? I can't imagine they'd be too terribly worried about retaliation from only two people."
"They know there are more people in the group-"
"Gang," Luffy interrupted Usopp to correct him.
"Gang," Usopp conceded with a roll of his eyes. "They were trying to get me to tell them everything, remember?"
"If they're holed up in that house," Sanji grumbled, "it will make things considerably more difficult for us."
"I volunteer to remain here, as back-up, if needed." Zoro and Sanji exchanged a knowing glance and then simultaneously gave Usopp identical looks that were equal parts amusement and disdain. It was a little disconcerting...
"You know," Zoro finally announced, "I don't think Arlong's even home, at the moment."
"What?" Usopp blinked. "How can you be sure?"
"It's too quiet down there," Zoro offered, shrugging. "There should be some kind of activity visible, if they're waiting for an attack. Besides, take a look at that paddock." Obligingly, the others all looked carefully at the enclosure adjacent to the stables.
"I see," Sanji chuckled. "Unless they keep the horses in their stalls all day, some of them ought to be out, right?"
"Where would Arlong have gone?" Usopp placed a hand on his chin as he considered the question. "The mine perhaps?"
"Don't know," Zoro grunted. "Don't much care either, but we'll want to get between him and the safety of the house."
"I volunteer to remain here, as a look out, to let you know when Arlong approaches." Usopp floated his slightly altered plan again.
"Let's go!" Zoro snagged the back of Luffy's collar before he could get very far.
"We'll still need to sneak over there," Zoro cautioned. "If it's anything like the last time Arlong left, there'll be a guard."
"Maybe if you belly crawl over, your hair will blend in with the grass." Sanji couldn't resist taunting the gunman a little.
"You just wish you didn't have a permanent target on your forehead," Zoro countered. "Still, that sort of approach might work. Only a few windows face this way, and the curtains are drawn."
Sanji slung his rifle across his back, the others all checked their weapons, and they crept down the hill and up to the side of the house. Usopp was just about to peek over a window sill and into the house when they heard the screen door to the front porch creak.
"Guard?" Usopp silently mouthed to the others. No one decided to grace the query with a response.
They slunk along the side of the house and peered around the corner to see a man sitting in a chair. He had his seat tipped back as far as he could manage without tipping over, his feet propped on the porch railing and a hat down over his eyes.
Sanji decided to take the initiative in this instance, and crept silently up the porch stairs. He was scarcely a foot away from the stupidly negligent sentry, when a board squeaked underfoot. The man looked up just in time to see the sole of a boot rapidly approaching.
***
Arlong met with Marshal Nezumi at the mine for the hand off of the marshal's portion of the silver and to receive his cut of the stash retrieved from the Dunn property. He had offered to let the man stay the night before beginning the trip back to his usual residence. Nezumi had declined that offer, but he readily accepted additional men to help guard his money on the return trip. Thus, when Arlong arrived back at his estate, he was accompanied only by Kuroobi, Chu, and Hatchi.
As they got closer, a figure could be discerned, sitting on the porch. Initially, Arlong thought he was asleep, it had happened before, but then he noted how limply the guard's arms were hanging and, as they got even closer, a trickle of blood down the side of his face. He was about to bring it to the attention of the others when they were suddenly surrounded.
He recognized Roronoa and the long-nosed boy but not the other two. All four men were armed, even though one only had a slingshot and the dark haired kid held his weapon like he wasn't entirely comfortable with it. Subtly, he slid one hand to a coil of rope hanging near his saddle. He tied one end around the saddle horn as he spoke to draw attention away from his hands.
"Well, well. Is this your entire circle of friends, Roronoa? One would think a gunman of your reputation would surround himself with comrades a bit less... green?" He chuckled at his own pun.
"I'm not in charge of the group," Zoro informed him. "Am I, Boss?"
"Nope. I'm the boss." The dark haired boy, hmm? Really...
"Well, Boss," the fourth man, a blond with a rifle, drawled sarcastically, "are we just going to stand here all day?"
"No." The boy scratched his nose absently. "That would be boring. I wanna fight Arlong man to man. He made Nami cry."
"What about the rest of us?" The long-nosed boy sounded nervous.
"You can fight one of the other guys, if you want," Luffy suggested.
"Dismount, all of you," Zoro barked. "Keep your hands where we can see them, and don't try anything funny."
Arlong and his men complied. Arlong had used the short conversation to tie a loop in the end of the rope not attached to the saddle. He carefully arranged the rope so it wouldn't tangle.
"I can't say as I think fighting you is worth my time, boy," Arlong sneered at him. "What's your name, anyway?"
"Luffy D. Monkey," he answered. "I'd say, 'pleased ta meet ya,' 'ceptin' I ain't."
"How would you like to play a little game?" Arlong's teeth gleamed wickedly as he grinned. "How much do you trust your little gang?"
"They're good guys." Luffy had enough good sense to be wary of his opponent. "I think I'd trust any one of 'em with my life."
"That's an excellent answer. Shall we test it?" There was a very brief, tense moment before all Hell broke loose.
Zoro spied Arlong's makeshift lariat, but he had no time to shout a warning. Arlong tossed the rope loop over Luffy, pinning both the boys arms to his sides, and slapped his horse's rump, hard. The horse took off at a full gallop, dragging the unfortunate boy behind.
Arlong, Kuroobi, and Hatchi dove for the porch, drawing their weapons as they went. Similarly, Zoro and Sanji ran for the limited cover that a nearby utility shed provided, bullets chasing them the entire way.
Chu started to turn for the porch, when he felt something small and hard pelt the back of his head. He turned to see Usopp pull himself onto the horse closest to him. The two of them were being ignored by the others.
"You called me worthless earlier," Usopp smirked down at the former outlaw. "Care to try me out for real?" He turned his mount and took off toward the hills, in the direction of the mine.
Chu rubbed the lump on the back of his head and glared. Arlong and the others were in a standoff with Roronoa and the blond. It didn't look like he was needed here, and he felt like teaching that little punk a lesson. He remounted his own horse and pursued the boy with the slingshot.
The firing between the others had reached a temporary lull.
"How long do you think that horse will keep running?" Arlong tossed out the question casually. "Someone really ought to go help that boy. There's still a horse here one of you could take to go find him. Of course, that person would have to get past us, first..."
Zoro clutched a fist to his chest, panting slightly, face pale and drawn.
"You alright, gunman? Have you been hit?" Sanji really didn't have time to deal with an injured idiot, three armed opponents, and Luffy's situation all at the same time.
"Not today," Zoro grunted. "We're in a damn tight spot, though."
"We'll just have to find a way out then, won't we?" Sanji smirked challengingly at his companion. "Unless you're not feeling up to the challenge."
"I can handle anything you can." Zoro returned the smirk. "Better even. We'll need to be quick about it. I expect Luffy's not having much fun right now."
Sanji reloaded his rifle from his bandolier. "Let the fun begin..."
End Notes:
I couldn't help putting in that "can't just kick the door down" line, because I love how that's exactly what they did in canon!
My incapacitation of Luffy is a bit... extreme. It was the best I could come up with at the time, though.