Chapter 11

One Piece © Oda

Pokemon © Nintendo, Game Freak

Blizzard, Vice-Admiral Moss, Captain Knuckle © Me

"COME BACK HERE, STRAW HAT!"

Luffy panted as he dashed through the forest, ducking beneath low branches and jumping over rocks. All the while, Zorua is still clinging to the back of his hat, trying hard not to lose his grip and fall, and Moss still chasing after the two.

"Luffy, run faster!" Zorua cried. "He's gaining on us!"

"I…I'm running as fast as I can, Zorua!" Luffy replied between pants.

Suddenly, Luffy came to an abrupt stop when he realized he was about to fall off the very same cliff that Zoroark had chased him to earlier.

"Whoa!" Luffy cried, his feet nearly slipping off the edge. "Man, that was a close one!"

"Luffy, look out!" Zorua cried, pointing behind the Straw Hat Captain.

Luffy turned around when he saw Moss throwing his kusarigama at him. Before he could react fast enough, SHUNK! SPURT! The chained scythe ended up penetrating Luffy's bandaged abdominals, causing a large amount of blood to come spraying out of the cut. Luffy cried out in pain, but he managed to pulled out the blade of the scythe from his stomach, but in doing so, he had accidentally lost his footing, and he and Zorua ended slipping down the cliff. Luckily, the former managed to grab the latter and curled up into a ball as he and Zorua tumbled down together until they landed on the ground below with a THUD! Luffy ended up landing on his back, clutching Zorua to his front. At that moment, the Tricky Fox Pokemon noticed that his human friend had a rather strained face on.

"Luffy, what's wrong?" Zorua asked. "Are you okay?" He suddenly felt something warm, wet, and maybe a little goopy oozing onto his paws. Looking down, he saw that Luffy's stomach had begun to bleed, and rather heavily at that. He gasped in shock.

"Luffy!" Zorua cried. "You're bleeding, again!"

"Damn!" Luffy cursed as he attempted to sit up. "That Marine bastard…opened up my wounds, again!"

Moss laughed before he proceeded to jump down the cliff to go after Luffy and Zorua, once more.

"Now to finish you off, Straw Hat!" he declared.

"Luffy!" Zorua cried. "Luffy, get up! He's coming!"

Luffy looked up at Moss, who cackled as he drew ever closer to the pair. Gathering whatever strength he had left, the Straw Hat captain picked Zorua up and ran off into the forest once more, but Moss was hot on his tail.

"What's wrong, Straw Hat?!" Moss asked. "Are you a coward?!"

I'm no coward! Luffy thought. I just can't fight with Zorua here!

SLASH! Moss attempted to cut Luffy's head clean off his shoulders from behind with his kusarigama, but the latter managed to sense it in time, thanks to his Observation Haki, and ducked down to avoid the blade, which ended up cutting through the trunk of a huge tree in his stead. KREEEK! THOOM! The tree ended up tottering over and falling down to the ground. Fortunately, it ended up falling in front of Moss, therefore giving Luffy and Zorua some distance between him and themselves. Unfortunately, Luffy couldn't get too far. He had to stop and catch his breath, so he hid himself behind a tree with Zorua.

"This isn't looking good, Zorua," said Luffy, his breathing a bit labored. "We can't…run from this guy forever. We gotta…fight back, eventually!"

Plip! Plip! Plip! Small droplets of blood dripped from Luffy's open wound, staining the grass beneath his feet.

"Luffy," Zorua said, sitting on the ground with a concerned expression. "Your tummy is bleeding really bad."

Huff! Huff! Huff! Luffy panted as he clutched his wound, the blood seeping through his fingers. He seethed in pain as his wound began to throb. Just then, he turned around, looking to the dense foliage behind him.

"What's wrong?" Zorua asked.

"That Marine guy," said Luffy. "He's coming. I can sense him." He then turned to face Zorua. "Zorua, you better get outta here! Find somewhere safe to hide or something! I'll hold him off for as long as I can!"

"No!" Zorua said. "I'm not leaving you here to die!"

"I'm not asking!" Luffy barked, but not too loudly so that Moss would hear him. "Zorua…your mom told me to protect you, and I don't intend to let her down! If something happened to you…she'll never forgive me. Do you understand?"

"But Luffy-," Zorua started.

"Just go!" Luffy ordered. "If he catches us both, it'll be too late!"

"…no," Zorua answered.

Luffy seethed.

"Why are you being so stubborn and hardheaded?!" he questioned.

"Because I should be able to fight with you!" Zorua answered. "You, Momma, and everyone else got to fight for me, so now I should be able to do the same for you!"

Luffy just stared at Zorua.

"After all," Zorua began, "we're…friends forever, right?"

A pause, but then Luffy seemed to smile.

"Yeah," he replied. "Friends forever, Zorua."

Zorua smiled back at Luffy, but in spite of the tender moment, the sound of a twig snapping beneath the sole of a heavy boot reminded them of the matter at hand.

"That's right," Luffy muttered. "We still gotta take care of that guy!"

"So what do we do?" Zorua asked.

Luffy quizzically cupped his chin in his hand, making a soft but distinct hum until his eyes went wide.

"I got it!" he said.

XXX

SWISH! SLISH! SLASH! Moss cut down any stray plant-life in his way as he continued to trudge through the forest in search of Luffy and Zorua.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are~!" Moss called in mock singsong. "I know you're here somewhere!"

A pause, but when Moss was met with silence, he growled.

"You and Zorua can't hide forever, Straw Hat!" Moss called. "Show yourselves!"

Just then, WHOOSH! A shadowy figure dashed by out of the corner of the Vice-Admiral's eye. He turned around fast and saw none other than Luffy, who seemed to gasp at the sight before sprinting off, deeper into the forest.

"Straw Hat!" Moss shouted before he gave chase. "Come back here!"

Luffy panted as he kept running as fast as he could, jumping over hollow logs and splashing through a shallow creek before he was about to enter an upcoming clearing, but before long…

"Not so fast, Straw Hat!" Moss barked.

SLASH! The Vice-Admiral swung his kusarigama at Luffy, who ducked down to avoid the blade. However, he ended up stumbling on the ground until he fell into the clearing.

Moss snickered as he approached Luffy from behind, but as he came closer, he spotted something that made him gasp in disbelief.

For some reason…Luffy had a big, bushy, grayish-purple tail sticking out of his backside!

"What the hell?!" Moss questioned. "Zorua! It's you!"

GLEEEAM! FWIP! "Luffy" began to glow purple and shrank in size, and when the light dispersed, it is revealed to be none other than Zorua, who snickered at Moss.

"Gotcha," he said.

"But if you're here," Moss started, "then where's-"

"Looking for me?!"

Moss looked up at one of the nearby trees and saw, to his shock, that the real Luffy is perched on one of the branches, his knees bent, his body steaming, and his skin a hot pink.

"Gear…SECOND!"

Moss seemed surprised at first, but then he smirked.

"Fine," he said. "I'll deal with you first, and then I'll take Zorua for my own."

"Zorua!" Luffy called to the Tricky Fox Pokemon. "Go! You've done enough!"

Zorua nodded before he ran off to hide.

"Before we start, Straw Hat," Moss started, "I want to ask you a little something. Why do you put your life on the line for these pathetic Pokemon?"

"…pathetic?" Luffy repeated, questioningly.

"Yes," replied Moss. "Pokemon are nothing more than mindless creatures. The only thing they're good for is to be used as tools and fodder, and yet you fight for them, just like Zoroark." He then smirked. "You're being just as foolish she is, as well as all the other Pokemon here!"

Luffy's eyes went wide.

"I mean, really," Moss said, "that stupid beast went and chose her own demise! What a waste."

Luffy gritted his teeth and growled.

"You're the one who's pathetic!" he spat.

"Hmm?" Moss hummed, questioningly.

"You think that because Zoroark sacrificed herself to save Zorua, it makes her foolish!" Luffy barked. "You're wrong. Zoroark didn't sacrifice herself because she was being a fool! She fights because she has someone she loves and wants to protect! That's why the Pokemon on this island fight, too! They fight because they know that they're all they have in this world! They fight because they're family! They love and wanna protect one other, just like how I love and wanna protect my friends! That's all the reason I need!"

Luffy, Zorua thought, watching from within the tall grass.

"Big talk coming from such a little man," said Moss. "I can't wait to cut off that head of yours so I won't have to listen to your incessant bark anymore, and as soon as I'm done with you, Straw Hat, rounding up your little crew, as well as Zorua and all the Pokemon will be all too easy!"

"Wanna bet?" Luffy questioned before he raised his arms, one fist cocked back and the other held out, as if he was looking through a crosshair and taking aim.

"JET PISTOL!"

BAP! Moss is suddenly struck in the stomach by a punch that was so fast, that it looked like Luffy barely even moved, at all. The force of the punch was so strong, it sent the Vice-Admiral flying into a nearby tree.

"Now you've really got me riled," Moss hissed as he pulled himself off the tree's trunk, where an imprint of his body is left. The moment he got to his feet, he started to swing the chain of his kusarigama again.

WHOOSH! He threw the weight at the other end of the chain, hoping to snag Luffy where he stood, but Luffy disappeared before the weight could so much as touch him.

"Where'd he go?!" Moss questioned, looking around in hopes of finding the Straw Hat Captain. He didn't have to look for long, for he soon found Luffy standing right behind him.

"JET BULLET!"

POW! Luffy punched Moss in the face, knocking at least 4 teeth.

"GAAAAAAH!" Moss screamed as he is soon sent crashing into the ground, once again.

"What's wrong, Marine guy?" Luffy asked. "Can't keep up?"

Moss growled as he grabbed his chained scythe. SLASH! He swung the blade at Luffy's side, only to miss when the pirate disappeared, once again.

"Damn him!" he shouted.

"JET WHIP!"

BAM! From out of nowhere, Luffy's outstretched leg struck Moss in the back, sending him crashing into another tree. When Moss turned to face Luffy, he had disappeared again. The Vice-Admiral growled again, his frustration growing higher.

"Show yourself, Straw Hat!" he shouted.

"Zoroark says that people lose concentration when they get frustrated," said Luffy, who is perched on another tree branch.

Moss stood up, holding his head before he looked up and growled at Luffy. He threw the blade of his kusarigama at him, only for the Straw Hat Captain to disappear, again, and reappear right in midair.

"JET STAMP!"

KABAM! Luffy's stamped his foot right into Moss's stomach, causing him to cough up blood.

Dammit! Moss cursed in his head as he fell to his knees. I can predict his moves, but he's just too fast! I can hardly keep up with him! C'mon, Moss! Think! He has to have a weak point somewhere! Everyone does!

From his hiding place, Zorua smiled as he watched Luffy getting the upper hand against Moss so easily, despite his wound.

"Luffy's so strong!" the little fox whispered.

FWIP! Luffy suddenly appeared beside Moss, his arm stretched out and twisted behind him.

"JET RIFLE!"

KAPOW! Luffy sent a fast, spinning punch at Moss's chest, once again sending him flying. However, as soon as that blow landed, Luffy suddenly started to stagger. PLURT! Some blood squirted out of his stomach, and before long, he fell to his knees, panting.

"Not good…!" Luffy muttered. "I've lost too much blood, already!"

"So I see," said Moss with a grim smirk.

WHOOSH! He threw the chain of his kusarigama around Luffy's body, binding his arms, thus rendering him unable to move.

"Not the Sea Prism Stone again…!" Luffy seethed.

Zorua gasped in shock while Moss snickered.

"Well, well, Straw Hat," said Moss as he approached Luffy, holding the scythe of his kusarigama. "Looks like I finally have you right where I want you."

BAM! Moss stamped his foot right into Luffy's throat, pinning him down against the ground.

"Now then," Moss began, "how to proceed with finishing you off is the question. Should I just slice your head off quickly and be done with it? Or should I just let you suffer some more and slowly slit your throat wide open?"

Luffy gagged as he tried to pull Moss's foot off his neck.

"Hmm…I think I'll just go ahead and get it over with," Moss with a snicker before he raised his scythe with a sinister chuckle.

Zorua gasped again, this time in horror.

"Say 'goodbye', Straw Hat Luffy!" Moss exclaimed as he prepared to bring the scythe down on Luffy's throat.

Suddenly, Zorua began to feel something welling up inside of him, and he began to growl viciously.

"NO!" he shouted before he opened his mouth wide, and when he did, a ball of blackish-purple energy began to form before he fired it right at Moss, and when it made impact, it exploded right in Moss's face. The Vice-Admiral staggered and coughed for a moment, but as the smoke from the ball cleared, he saw Zorua coming out of the tall grass, looking very angry.

"You leave Luffy alone!" he barked.

Luffy gasped in surprise when he saw Zorua but when he did, he noticed that the chain of Moss's kusarigama had loosened.

"Well, well," said Moss. "It looks like you know a few moves after all, Zorua. Still…that won't save you!"

Zorua growled at Moss, his fur bristling.

"Zorua! Run away!" Luffy shouted.

Zorua just stood in his place before he jumped at Moss's face and bit him right on his nose, sending him screaming in pain.

"GET OFF!" he cried. "GET OFF, I SAID!"

While Moss was busy trying to pry Zorua off his face, he didn't notice that Luffy was beginning to pull the chain of his kusarigama off, freeing himself of the effects of the Sea Prism Stone.

"I said…LET GO!" Moss cried before he pulled Zorua off his face. "You little fleabag! I'll teach you a lesson!"

WHAK! He kicked Zorua right into a tree, head-first, much to Luffy's shock.

"Zorua!" he cried.

FWUMP! Zorua fell to the ground…but he didn't move.

Luffy stared at the motionless fox with eyes as wide as saucers, but then he started to feel his blood boil. He turned to Moss with eyes narrowed and brow stitched, a vein beginning to appear on his forehead as he began to approach the Vice-Admiral, who turned to look at him.

"What?!" Moss questioned. "How did you get free?!"

Luffy didn't answer.

"Humph," Moss scoffed. "No matter. It's still the end for you!"

WHOOSH! He swung his chained scythe at Luffy, who grabbed the weapon by the blade and gave it a hard squeeze. KRIK! KRAAK! The scythe shattered in Luffy's fist, much to Moss's shock. As the Straw Hat Captain began to approach the Vice-Admiral, and as he did, his arm began to turn black and shiny. Moss gasped before he looked at Luffy, who had a vicious glare in his eyes. Before he knew it, he found himself cornered against a tree.

"W…wait!" Moss cried, his knees shaking and his hands clasped together. "No! Please! I'm begging you, Straw Hat, please don't kill me!"

A pause, but then Luffy raised his blackened his fist.

"RRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRGGH!" he roared.

KAPOW! Luffy delivered a devastating punch to Moss's jaw, sending him flying off into the distance.

THOOM! The Vice-Admiral ended up landing somewhere in the forest, in very great pain. As he steadily picked himself up off the ground, he realized that he couldn't move his jaw, for the lower half dangled as if it were unhinged.

"Herro?! (Hello?!)" Moss called. "Ith ahyone dere?! (Is anyone there?!)"

Suddenly, Moss heard what sounded like bushes rustling close behind him. Turning around, he saw none other than Mightyena.

"Miheyena! (Mightyena!)" Moss called. "Ith yoo! (It's you!)"

Mightyena just stood there, but then he began to growl viciously, baring his sharp fangs, which crackled with electricity, much to Moss's confusion, but as Mightyena began to prowl towards him, he soon started to get the message.

"W…whath ah yoo thoing (W…what are you doing)?" Moss questioned. "Sthop it, yoo thupid bees! THAY BACK (Stop it, you stupid beast! STAY BACK!)"

Mightyena roared as he lunged at Moss, his mouth agape. KRRZZZZT! KABOOM! A huge bolt electricity shot up into the sky, followed by an explosion, and then…silence.

XXX

Back at the clearing, Luffy held the limp Zorua in his arms, a worried expression on his face.

"Zorua?" Luffy called. "You okay, little buddy?"

A pause, but then, Zorua slowly opened his eyes and looked up at Luffy.

"L…Luffy?" Zorua asked.

"Hey!" Luffy said with a smile. "You took a pretty bad hit to the noggin! You okay?"

"I think so," said Zorua. "Luffy…did you see me?"

"Yeah," said Luffy. "I know it wasn't much, but you held your own for a little while. I bet your mom would've been proud of you."

Zorua smiled at Luffy, but at that moment, realization hit the both of them like a ton of bricks.

"Oh, my god!" Luffy exclaimed. "Your mom! Zorua, we gotta get back there!"

"You're right!" Zorua agreed.

With that, the two ran off, back the way they came, hoping that Zoroark had survived.

XXX

About maybe ten minutes later, Luffy and Zorua returned to the rest of the Straw Hat crew, as well as the other Pokemon. Once there, they found many Marines, especially Captain Knuckle, sprawled around on the ground, defeated…and the Straw Hats, as well as Zorua's friends, surrounding Zoroark, who is still crumpled up in a motionless heap.

When the Straw Hats and the Pokemon looked at Luffy with somber expressions on their faces…Luffy immediately began to fear the worst.

"Luffy," Chopper said, tears beginning to form in his eyes. "I…I managed to get bullet out, but…but…!"

"There was nothing else we could do," Nami concluded, also tearful.

Luffy gasped silently, a look of horror etched on his face.

"We're sorry, Luffy," Robin apologized.

Blizzard whimpered, his head and ears drooping. The Pokemon made their own distinct cries, but they sounded sad and almost ready to burst into tears themselves. However, the one who seemed the most saddened of all…is Zorua.

The little fox approached his mother's limp and lifeless body and stared at her sadly.

Zoroark's body is covered in scratches, and she had blood dripping out of her mouth and from the open wound in her chest.

Plip! Plup! Zorua's eyes began to well up with tears, and he sniffled.

"Momma," he muttered before he began to nudge his face against hers. "Please…please, wake up, Momma! Please! I…I don't know what I'd do without you!"

As Zorua sobbed, Luffy clutched at his chest, feeling a familiar pain beginning to throb in his heart. He chewed his lip, trying hard to hold back his tears. When he managed to compose himself, he approached Zorua from behind, dropped down to one knee, and gently pet the tuft of fur on Zorua's hair, causing the Tricky Fox to look up at him, his eyes puffy and red.

"I'm really sorry about your mom, Zorua," said Luffy.

Zorua sniffled before he jumped up into the raven-haired boy's arms, sobbing into his shoulder.

"It's not fair!" he cried.

Luffy held Zorua closely, his eyes squinted tightly shut in an effort to keep his tears from escaping.

Dammit, Luffy, don't you cry, now! he thought to himself, but it seemed in vain, for a single tear ended up falling out of his eye. He heaved a sigh before he wiped his eyes with his sleeve.

"Zorua?" Luffy asked. "Would you like us to give your mom a proper burial?"

Zorua stared up at Luffy before he nodded.

"Okay," said Luffy as he set Zorua down and walked to a nearby tree. "Zoro, Sanji, Blizzard. Help me dig."

"Right," said the three Straw Hats before they went to help their captain dig Zoroark's grave.

As the Monster Quartet was busy and Brook prepared to play a funeral march, the others decided to take care of Zoroark's corpse. Chopper reached down and picked up Zoroark's arm, but when he did, his eyes suddenly went wide in surprise.

"A…a pulse…!" Chopper whispered.

"What?" Nami asked.

"She still has a pulse!" Chopper answered, causing the Straw Hats and the Pokemon to gasp.

"LUFFY!" Chopper called, frantically. "LUFFY, COME QUICK! ZOROARK STILL HAS A PULSE! SHE'S STILL ALIVE!"

"What?!" Luffy asked in disbelief before he ran over to Zoroark and grabbed her wrist. He gasped when he felt a small but noticeable pulse.

Without warning, Luffy rolled Zoroark over onto her back, sat on her stomach, but not too hard, and opened her mouth.

"Nami, please don't get jealous!" Luffy said to the navigator, who looked at him quizzically.

Luffy put his hands on Zoroark's chest, right where her heart is, and began to press down at least five times before he took in deep breath, grabbed Zoroark's face, and breathed into her mouth. Now, if a normal person ever saw this, they'd be disgusted at the sight of a 19-year-old boy doing CPR on some strange-looking fox creature, but the Straw Hats and the Pokemon knew that Luffy was doing whatever he felt like he could to save Zoroark's life.

Zorua watched in anticipation as Luffy continued the pattern: press on Zoroark's heart five times, breathe into her mouth, and repeat.

After what felt like hours, Luffy finally got a reaction: he heard a gag come from Zoroark. He quickly jumped off of Zoroark's stomach, allowing her to sit up. KOFF! KOHOFF! Zoroark gasped and coughed until she felt like she could really breathe again. Once she did, she looked around and saw Luffy, his crew, and the Pokemon.

"Straw Hat," Zoroark muttered. "You…you saved me."

Luffy just flashed his signature toothy grin.

"M…Momma?" Zorua asked, a hopeful smile on his face as tears began to form in his eyes, once more: tears of joy.

Zoroark smiled at her son and nodded her head.

"Momma!" Zorua cried before he jumped into her arms and nuzzled her face, affectionately. "You're okay!"

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH~!" Franky bawled. "That is just so precious~!"

Robin just chuckled.

"Momma, I'm so sorry!" Zorua said.

"About what, my son?" asked Zoroark.

"When I said that I hate you!" Zorua answered. "I didn't mean to say it! I was just mad because-"

"Shh," Zoroark shushed her son. "No, Zorua. If one must apologize, it should be me. When I lost you in that storm…I was afraid I'd never see you again, but when I got you back, I was so determined not to lose you again that…I lost sight of what was truly important: your happiness." She then turned to look at Luffy.

"Thank you so much, Straw-" she stopped when she was about to say Luffy's epithet. "Thank you…Luffy. Thank you…everyone. Because of you, the Pokemon of Lostlorn Island, as well as Zorua, are all safe."

"No problem, Zoroark," Nami said with a smile.

"It's just something us Straw Hats do," said Sanji. "Think nothing of it."

Suddenly, FWUMP! The Straw Hats heard something collapse behind themselves. Turning around, they saw that it is Luffy, lying flat on the ground.

"Luffy!" the Straw Hats cried.

"Luffy, are you okay?!" Nami asked as she dropped to her knees and pulled her captain into her lap.

"Oh, no!" Chopper exclaimed as he took a lot at Luffy's reopened wound. "He must've almost bled out again!"

"It's not just that," said Luffy, weakly.

"Then what's the problem?!" asked Blizzard.

A slight pause.

"I'm…"

"Yeah?" Zoro asked.

"What is it, Luffy?!" Usopp.

"…I'm hungry."

GRRUUUUUUUUUMBLE! Luffy's stomach let out a huge growl, and everyone except Robin heaved a mixed sigh of annoyance and slight relief.

"I could sure go for some meat right now," Luffy said.

"You idiot," Nami chastised. "Worry about your wounds first and then your stomach."

"Heh…I guess you're right," said Luffy before he broke out in laughter, and soon, the Straw Hats, Zorua, Zoroark, and all the other Pokemon joined him as well.

"Hey, guys!" Luffy called to his crew. "Since we won…you know what that means, right?"

The Straw Hats seemed confused at first, but then they smiled once they got the general idea.

"PARTY TONIGHT~!" Luffy shouted, earning a cheer of agreement from his crew

"But first, we need to get Luffy's and Zoroark's wounds treated!" Chopper pointed out.

"Oh, yeah," Luffy muttered.

And so, after throwing the Marines back on board their battleship (although unable to find Moss and Mightyena, somehow) and setting them adrift, and after Luffy and Zoroark had their injuries treated by Chopper, the Straw Hats held possibly the biggest bonfire party they ever had that night, and the Pokemon joined in on the festivities. They all enjoyed a feast of meat, fish, sake (which the Pokemon decided not to drink after they had their first taste of it), and roasted berries that even Luffy and Blizzard enjoyed, sang songs, danced, and made merry, and this lasted for nearly five whole days.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Sorry if the fight wasn't very epic.

Review, please!