THE CHILDREN Set Sail!
Disclaimer: Hang on a second, my loyal readers I just got a fax. Let's see… … … … … … … … … …Damn it! Still no ownership over One Piece or Zettai Karen Children! Oh! But they are allowing me to name those objects as I please. Good…
Shiho: What "Objects"?
Normama: You'll find out…Now back to the story!
Somehow or another, The Children managed to remain together as they ditch the Marines.
"Looks like we somehow lost the marines for now," Aoi patted.
"I had never run so much before," Shiho managed in-between breaths.
"Shiho has a weak body," Kaoru giggled.
"Shut up!"
"Anyway," Aoi huffed as she scanned around, trying to spot the Rain Dinners, "Since the Marines are finally off our tail, we should-…"
Aoi stopped mid-sentence when her eyes fell upon a particular shop on the street. Aoi, being a typical girl at her age, was always on the lookout for something that would spark her interest. Especially now that she had money on hand. Under the circumstance, however, one would think Aoi was crazy to be in "shopping mode" now of all times. But what caught Aoi's eyes weren't fashion shop or food stall…
"…? Aoi, why you stop mid-sentence?" Kaoru tilted her head in confusion.
"…A 'sword shop'…" Aoi managed in her daze.
"Huh?" Shiho frowned, before staring towards the direction Aoi was looking towards. Sure, enough, in that direction there was a store with sign that looks like a cutlass saying "Swords for Sale". "Oh~, I see…"
"This's a good chance," Aoi began to walk towards the shop, "…Actually, it may be my ONLY chance…"
"I second that," Shiho nodded as she and Kaoru followed Aoi, "I wonder if they got anything good for Aoi to use…"
"We're about to find out," Kaoru glee as the three enter the store.
"Excuse us for entering!" the three called out politely once they were inside the shop. Like any shop that specializes in a single type of product, this shop was teaming with various types of swords. Most were stack in barrels while more refine-looking swords were carefully display on proper racks. Behind a counter sat an old man reading a newspaper; he looked up after hearing the three and eyed them curiously.
"…Welcome," the old man greeted, "pick out any sword you wish and be mindful of your budget…"
"U-Uh, got it," Aoi nodded nervously.
"Not the most pleasant salesman, that old man," Shiho mumbled.
"…And not the most DEAF, either, brat," the man informed before returning to his newspaper.
"… …Scary…"
"That's rich coming from you," Kaoru snickered.
"Shut up!"
Aoi, meanwhile, scout out all the swords in the barrels since they were the only one in her budget range. She wasn't picky, considering her situation, but none of the swords so far stood out to her. It would have definitely be easier if she just snatch any random sword and use them, but she wanted to be one with her swords just like Zoro is with his swords. But none of the swords in the barrels stood out to her-…
Then she saw it. Nearly bending perfectly among the other swords was a single blue handle katana. It was probably overlooked due to the wore-out scabbard and the rotting fabric that cover the hilt. But, somehow, Aoi found herself drawn to it.
"What-!?" Kaoru frowned as she saw Aoi held up a battered katana, "Aoi, don't tell me you want that sword…"
"… …Mister," Aoi called to the shop owner, ignoring Kaoru's comment, "What is this sword?"
The old man looked up upon hearing Aoi's question. His eyes strain a bit upon seeing the blue hilt katana but it quickly turn back to his newspaper before answering.
"…Kid, you better give up on buying that sword," He began, "No one has been able to pull that sword out of its scabbard for a long time…"
"…Pull it out from its scabbard?" Shiho stared oddly at the katana before trying to pull unsheathes the sword. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't do it. "What the-!? It's like the katana is glued into the scabbard!"
"Seriously!?" Kaoru also tried to remove the katana from the scabbard, but she also failed. "Whoa! You're right!"
"Aoi, you better put this back. It's just a waste of money…"
Aoi continue to glare at the sword that she took back, enchant by it for some reason. Something inside her was telling her that there is something peculiar about it. It was then an idea hit her and she closed her eyes and concentrate. After a while, she heard it: something like heartbeats reverberate deep within it…something similar was reverberating not too far away as well.
Remembering the location, she opened her eyes and made her way to another barrel. This action made her two friends worry, but caught the shop owner's attention. After searching carefully through the barrel, Aoi once again came across another katana that gave off a unique feeling.
This katana also had rotting fabric on its hilt and was sheathe in a shabby scabbard. The only difference is the color of the handle which was red.
"…? A-Aoi?" Kaoru wondered as she watches Aoi pick up the sword.
After glaring at both of the swords for a while longer, Aoi brought them over to the counter and presented them both to the shop owner.
"Mister Shop Owner," Aoi called, "how much for both of them?"
"WHAT!?" Shiho and Kaoru exclaimed as the shop owner blinked incredulity between Aoi and her swords of choice.
"…Kid, I know you're just some inexperience brat, but I didn't think you'll be THIS stupid about swords," the man frowned, "You end up choosing the only two katanas in this entire shop that no one has been able to unsheathe…"
"Seriously!?"
"That's right. And because no one could, they've been in this shop for Fifteen generations. They're hardy worth zits now…"
"F-Fifteen generation!?" Shiho nervously sweated before turning to Aoi, "Hey, Aoi, I think it's best to choose something else…"
"Mister," Aoi continued, pulling out her 10,000 Belis, "I've only got this much on me. Will this be enough?"
"Aoi! Were you listening!?"
"Kid," the old man pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration, "I may be a merchant by nature, but I have fifteen generation worth of honest business on my shoulders. If I sell you these two unusable swords, it'll be like I swindle you. There is no way I could face my ancestor with that sin on my shoulder…"
"It's not a sin if I want it sir," Aoi reasoned, "So in the name of good business, please sell me these swords…"
"Were you NOT listen!? I won't question your intent, but these swords are utterly useless in battle! You kids obviously didn't come here to look for swords for display! There are plenty of other katanas to choose from-…"
"I want these swords, sir," Aoi affirmed determinedly.
"For what? Are you doing this out of stupidity or pity!?"
"Neither. I just want these two swords, no more and no less…"
"A-Aoi," Kaoru began before stopping when Aoi picked the katanas up and cross them.
"And if it's about usefulness," Aoi then swiftly grabbed the handles of the katanas and, to everyone's shock and amazement, pulled them out from their scabbards, "I know I can work them…"
Now that they were out, both Shiho and Kaoru could now see that the red handle katana has blood-red blade while the blue handle katana was ocean-blue. Engrave into the blades were symbols, the blood-red blade has several sun marks while the ocean-blue blade has several moon marks. The glint coming from both justify sharpness despite everything else about it being worn out.
"You got no complaints now, right sir?" Aoi smiled sweetly before she sheathes the katanas.
The old man blinked incredulity for a while before slowing nodding his head.
"Okay. So, how much are they? Is what I have enough?"
The old man stayed silent for a long time, as if contemplating on something serious. Finally the old man looks up and pushed the katanas towards her.
"No, you can have them for free," the old man declared, "Take them; they're yours…"
"Eh? But what about the money?"
"… … …These katanas," the old man began suddenly, "their names: TAIYŌ NO HĪRŌ (Solar Hero) and TSUKI NO TSUBASA (Lunar Wing). They have been in my family shop for fifteen generations. According to the legend pass down through my family, they were forged and wielded by tragic couple, who mostly lived and died apart. Their swords were fable to have been made from the same star that fell to earth many centuries ago; they have been sought after by all who interest themselves in swords. Ever since the couple's demise, however, no one was able to remove them from their scabbards; every method and every men available was utterly powerless to remove them from their scabbard. Some say that they became curse by their only owners upon their death, as if a last form of defiance against all who chase them. Some claimed that the souls of their makers remain alive within them and that was what kept them sheathe…"
As expected, Shiho shivered badly once she heard that ghost and curse was involve.
"Eventually, they were forgotten by all except for my ancestors who kept for generations, hoping to one day see their brilliance. And after fifteen generation, it was I who threw them among the other non-worthy swords that got to see them. I had never saw value in them, only eyesores in a shop that couldn't sell them. But now it would seem they have chosen you as their masters…"
"…They…chose Aoi?" Kaoru repeated.
"The swordsman does not choose the swords, the swords choose the swordsman. That is what I believe even if I had seen them as eyesores. I don't know what they see in you, kid, but that much is clear. And since I disrespect them in such a way, I have no right to charge you…"
"…Is that so," Aoi blinked, before looking down at her 10,000 Belis, "…but, are you sure-?"
"If you feel obligated to do so, do this for me instead. I don't care if you use them for the sake of justice, for battle, or for evil deeds; all I ask is that you take care of those swords as much as you take care of yourself. DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?"
"…!? Y-Yes sir!"
The old man nodded. "Then that's good enough for me!"
"That old man was a bit creepy, huh," Shiho wondered later after they left the shop.
"He sure was," Kaoru nodded, "But, he gave Aoi those two swords for free, so I guess he isn't all bad…"
"Yeah," Aoi smiled, her two swords strapped to her back, "…Whew, I feel like a real swordsman-…err, woman already!"
"Good for you, Aoi," Kaoru grinned before spotting two familiar people ahead, "…!? Oh! Sanji! Chopper!"
Just ahead of them stood both Sanji (wearing glasses) and Chopper (in his "human" form)…surrounded by a mass of fallen bodies.
"…? Oh, Kaoru-chan!" Sanji noted when he heard the redhead.
"Aoi!" Chopper called, "Shiho!"
"Hey!" Aoi greeted, "Sorry for being late! Did we miss much?"
"Nothing worth mentioning," Sanji puffed his cigarette, before noticing the accessories on Aoi's back, "Looks like you're armed now, Aoi-chan…"
"I have to be," Aoi shrugged, before staring around curiously, "…Where's everyone else?"
"Inside," Sanji pointed to the pyramid-shape building with a crocodile statue on top, situated in the middle of the lake, "I just saw Vivi-chan being 'escorted' inside. My guess is that those bastards screwed up and got themselves and Nami-swan in trouble…"
"Eh!? Seriously!?" Kaoru jolted, "We got to go rescue them!"
"Hold on now, Kaoru-chan," Sanji proceed over to one of the fallen bodies and picked up what looks like a palm-size snail, "First, we got to-…"
"EEK~!" Aoi screeched, teleporting around the corner of a nearby building, "W-W-W-W-What are you doing, Sanji-han!"
"…? I just picked up a Baby Transponder Snail…"
"…? A what?" Shiho frowned comically, eying the small snail.
"It's a type of Transponder Snail, which are used for communication over long distances…"
"Oh~!" Kaoru awed as got closer to the Baby Transponder Snail, poking it with interest, "So this is how you communicate in this world…"
"Poking it would NOT be my first choice, Kaoru!" Aoi hissed in fear, "Keep that thing away from me!"
"What's wrong with Aoi-chan?" Sanji blinked at Aoi's display of fear.
"She's afraid of things that crawl," Shiho informed with a sweat drop.
"…I see. A typical girly reaction. Well, anyway, like I was saying we got information. I presume this Baby Transponder Snail I connected to someone higher up in Baroque Works…"
"Ah~!" Kaoru thumped her palm as she glance around at the fallen bodies, "So these guys are with Baroque Works…"
"The same," Sanji then led the group onto the isle where the building was on, situating themselves off to the side of the entrance, before pressing down on a button on the shell of the snail, causing it to sound off as it was ringing.
It wasn't long before it made a clicking noise and its expression change to that of calm girly face. It then spoke with a mature woman tone, "Hello?"
"(What-!? I-It talked!)" The Children thought in surprise.
"Hello?" Sanji spoke into it, "Hello? Can you hear me?"
"Yes," the snail responded, "I can hear you. You're 'Millions', aren't you?"
"…Hey is this getting through? I never used a Baby Transponder Snail before…"
"(Then why are you using it?)" The Children thought with a sweat drop.
The snail suddenly changed its expression into a bored and irritated one and spoke with a low man voice, "Spit it out already! What happened!?"
"(Now who's talking?)"
"Oh!" Sanji noted, a tad surprise, "That voice…I've heard that voice before… … …Yeah, hello. You've reached the 'Crap Café'. Want a reservation?"
"(…What are you saying, Sanji?)" The Children thought with an even larger sweat drop.
"…! …'Crap Café'!?"
Sanji smirked. "Nice…you remembered. I'm so happy…"
"… …Who the hell are you!?" the snail responded in a more threating tone.
"Me…? I am… …Mr. 'Prince'…"
"(Who's 'Mr. Prince'?)" The children sweat dropped.
"…I see, Mr. Prince," the snail growled, "And where are you?"
"Can't tell you," Sanji remarked immediately as if expecting it, "If I do, you'll come to kill me, won't you? Well, whether you can or not remains to be seen. I give out lots of 'info' easily…and I'm not an idiot…unlike you, Mr. 0…"
In an instant, the Children and Chopper finally realized what was going on. Sanji was currently speaking with the leader of the Organization that threatened Vivi's country; Mr. 0 otherwise known as Crocodile, a pirate that works for the government…supposedly.
Suddenly the snail changed its expression again that a desperate one and familiar voices cried out.
"Prince!" the snail cried out in Luffy's voice, "Save us!"
"We've been captured!" the snail cried this time in Usopp's voice, "We don't have much time left!"
"(So they really are captured…)" The Children thought with a sweat drop.
As the snail continued to cry out in many familiar voices, Sanji tapped Shiho on the shoulders allowing her to read his initial thought. Having read it, Shiho smirked and ran off only to quickly return with one of the goons that Sanji and Chopper previously beaten up.
"Well I'll be told," Sanji continued to talk to the snail, "That sounds like my crew. Very well, I'll just be-…"
Sanji suddenly cut himself and began hawking and gawking, as if being beaten up. While this surprise Kaoru, Aoi and Chopper, Shiho on the other hand began making some background noise…by beating the shit out of the goon she picked up with her newly acquire kicking techniques.
"S-Shiho-?" Kaoru managed only to fall silent when Shiho place her index finger on her mischievous smile.
"…Say exactly what I what I'm going to tell you what to say," Shiho then whispered to the goon, "And I'll spare your manhood~…"
The goon gasped, but obediently listens to Shiho as she whispers her instruction into his ears. Once she was done, she held him up to the Baby Transponder Snail which Sanji offered.
"…P-Pesky Bastard," the goon panted tiredly to the snail, "H-Hello!? What should I…do with this weirdo?"
The snail remained silent for a moment before returning to the stern face from before; Crocodile was talking again. "Where are you? Spit it out…"
"Y-Yes, sir…At the front gate of the casino called 'Rain Dinners', in Rainbase…" with that, Sanji hung up the Baby Transponder Snail.
"Nice," Sanji smirked at the goon, "Very well done. You should win an award. Now your boss will come here…"
"T-T-T-Thank you… …N-Now…M-May I go…?"
"No, sir," Sanji glance over to Shiho, "Go ahead, Shiho, practice more with more him…"
"Okay~!" Shiho chimed before giving the goon a sinister grin, "Oh, don't worry~! I promise to spare you manhood~! I'll just take care of everything else~!"
"…That was evil, you two," Aoi sweat dropped at Sanji and Shiho after the latter finished "practicing" with the goon.
"Well, we can't let him off," Shiho argued, "Otherwise he'll rat on us…"
"Well, yeah, but…"
"Look Chopper," Sanji suddenly voiced, pointing to a huge crowd not too far away, "More of their friends have shown up at the place where we were fighting earlier…"
"Yeah," Chopper nodded.
"Alright, Chopper and Aoi-chan…"
"Huh!?" Aoi jolted a bit for being called on, "Uh yeah?"
"You two go beat up those jackasses. Make sure you got them thinking that Chopper at least is 'Mr. Prince'. Once you're done, and you see someone asking for 'Mr. Prince', catch his attention and run off! Keep him occupied as long as possible…"
"O-Okay," Chopper nodded nervously.
"Alright," Aoi smirked confidently, "If it's that much, I can help! I'll make sure Chopper won't get caught!"
"I'll be counting on you, Aoi!"
"You got it!" With that, they sped off.
"You two," Sanji directed to Kaoru and Shiho, "Come with me. Be as discreet as possible…"
"Got it!" Kaoru nodded before giggling, "I feel like I'm doing secret agent stuff; I'm getting excited…"
"But we do this all the time…" Shiho sweat dropped.
"Shiho, don't ruin it for me…
"Let's do this, Mr. Prince!" Aoi declared loudly, pulling out both of her swords.
"Y-Yeah!" Chopper hollered loudly, "I-I'm Mr. Prince!"
"What-!?" one of the goons they confronted exclaimed in shock, "What do you want?"
"Wait," Another sounded suspiciously, "was it you who did this to our pals!?"
"Duo-Sword-Style!" Aoi rushed forward, cutting up a few goons, "Goddess Slash!"
"GAH-!?"
"Whoa-hey!" another goon cried, "What are you-!?"
He was cut off when Chopper suddenly punched him hard. "I'M MR. PRINCE!"
"They're going wild~!" Kaoru awed.
"Oi, Kaoru," Shiho hissed, "You're not supposed to stand out!"
Sanji, meanwhile, watched the crowd of people going in and out before catching sight of two distinctive people. As soon as they walk over the bridge, Sanji turn to Kaoru.
"Hey, Kaoru," Sanji called.
"…? Yeah?"
"I got a favor to ask of you…"
"Hmm~!" Aoi hummed from behind a building as she glared at the two people that went and began question the fallen goons, "A man and a woman. I'm guessing the man is Mr. 0. So far so good, now how are we supposed to get his attention without making look like we want to gain his attention?"
She looked down at Chopper to ask for his opinion, only to realize that Chopper was not hiding his body behind the building like she was.
"…That would work too, I suppose," Aoi sweat dropped when she saw the man glaring in their direction, "RUN~!"
"Yosh! He ran off!" Kaoru smirked before causing her hand and the bridge to glow red, "Psychic~ Broken Bridge~!"
In an instant, the bridge connecting the Rain Dinners to the town was destroyed and sank beneath the water.
"Whoa! What was that!?" one of the bystander exclaimed, "The bridge to Rain Dinners has sunk!"
"What!?" Another exclaimed, "WHY!?"
"What cause it to fall!?"
"Nice work, Kaoru," Shiho smirked, "No one saw it either…"
"It was already hard enough to detect Psychic power to begin with," Kaoru grinned back.
"Alright, let's go!" Sanji directed as he lead the two inside. They were rushing in so fast they nearly pass a familiar figure, running desperately towards the exit of the dinner.
"No," they could hear her mumble, "That means I can't go outside!?"
"…No, it's not that you can't get outside," Sanji called with a smirked, stopping the person in her tracks, "The Baroque Works can't get back…all according to plan…"
The person turned to reveal herself; it was Vivi. "Sanji! Kaoru! Shiho!"
"Miss us~?" Kaoru grinned.
"Chopper and Aoi are buying us even more time as decoys," Shiho informed with a knowing smirk, "We better hurry, the rebellion is starting…"
"Just tell us where we need to go," Sanji smirked, "Princess…"
Meanwhile, Aoi and Chopper continue to toy around with who they presume to be Crocodile, slowly leading him farther and farther away from the Rain Dinners. Chopper was scared at first, but thanks to Aoi's teleportation he soon began to enjoy himself as he help keep the Pirate Warlord busy.
Of course, Aoi soon deemed it too dangerous to continue doing so and they quietly made their escape.
"Are you sure it's alright to stop now?" Chopper asked, now in his hybrid form.
"We're no use to anyone dead," Aoi reasoned, "we can only hope now that we bought enough time…"
"I guess you're right," Chopper nodded before noticing a familiar camel up ahead, "Hey! It's Eyelash!"
"Eh? … …Yep, that's him…"
"Oi~! Eyelash-!" But Chopper stopped midsentence when he saw that Eyelash was talking to… a pair of leering eyeballs that was sticking out of the ground.
"W-W-W-What the heck is that!?"
Noticing them after hearing Aoi's exclamation, Eyelash turned to beckon them over.
"Uh," Chopper began to translate Eyelash's words, "Hey you two! I like you to meet one of my friends from this town here…"
"….Um," Aoi started dumbfound at the pair of leering eyes, "Hi?"
No sooner did she greet the eyes, the ground beneath them shook. As Aoi and Chopper did their best to remain standing, the eyes began to rise as well… …taking something huge up with it.
"…! W-W-What-!?"
"…And that's the whole story," Vivi finalized as they rush on ahead, "Anyhow, I'm glad you are all alright!"
"Glad to hear you care," Kaoru glee before frowning uncomfortably, "I just hope we make it!"
"If this was the case, we should have brought Aoi," Shiho sighed, "But I suppose if we can get the key, all is well I guess…"
"…? You guess?" Vivi managed.
"Crocodile is a more evil man than I thought. Since he prepare this entire civil war, it's possible that the key he showed you was a fake…"
"What-!?"
"I could guess that much…considering I came in contact with him indirectly before…"
"You mean at Yuba, perhaps?"
"Yeah. Now I know why there was a hint of evil intent in the sand I scanned…"
"…-ring it on, you stupid Banana!" a familiar voice suddenly yelled out from up ahead, "You damned Banana~!"
"… …B-Banana…?" Shiho sweat dropped, "…Of all the idiotic things he could shout at a time like this…"
"No, you've got it wrong!" another familiar voice exclaimed up ahead, "See, fundamentally it's a crocodile…"
"… …Huh…?" Kaoru blinked in confusion.
"If Usopp says it's a crocodile," Shiho sweat dropped, "How did Luffy got a banana…?"
"…The banana is growing from its head," Usopp's voice continued to ring out ahead.
"… …What-?"
"Banana growing out from a crocodiles head?" Kaoru exclaimed excitedly, "this I GOT to see!"
The group soon arrived at the room. Just as Vivi described it, Luffy, Zoro, Usopp, Nami and Captain Smoker of the Marines was lock up in a cage surrounded by several large bronze-yellow crocodile with a banana appendage growing out from its head.
One of the gator's rows of teeth was broken, indicating that it must have tried to bite the cage only to fail miserably to break it.
"Never make any noise while eating your meal," Sanji proclaimed before diving under one of the huge Crocodile and kicking into the air with amazing strength, "Anti-Manner Kick Course!"
"Hey there," Sanji smirked with a knowing smug in a "cool" pose. "Did we keep all of you waiting?"
"…Was that really necessary…?" Shiho sweat dropped at Sanji's cheesy choice of pose.
"AH~!" Luffy and Usopp comically cried out in joy, "Prince-san~!"
"We're saved…" Nami managed in relief.
"Oi~!" Zoro hissed, "Stop screwing around and find the key NOW!"
"NAMI-SWAN~~~!" Sanji swooned, falling once again into love-struck mode, and began dancing on the spot, "D-Do you love me!?"
"…Yes, yes, I do," Nami rolled her eyes, "Now open the door!"
"Coming~~!"
"His stupidity has no limits…" Zoro rolled his eyes.
"Ah-! Sanji!" Kaoru cried out in complain, "No fair! I want that confession too!"
"This is not the time for that!" Shiho comically chopped Kaoru on the head.
"…Those two are no better," Zoro sighed.
"Vivi!" Luffy called to the said person in the top of the broken stairs, giving her a thumb up, "Good Job!"
Vivi, in turn gave a thumbs up in return.
"Whoa~!" Kaoru awed as more giant crocodiles appear, "They do have banana growing from their heads!"
"That's what you're worked up about!?" Shiho sweat dropped.
"Whew, look at them all coming together," Sanji smirked confidently before turning to Shiho, "Think you can handle a few?"
"…I'll take all the ones on the right!" Shiho smirked as she braced herself.
"I got left!" Kaoru declared, winding up her glowing red fist.
"Go you three!" Luffy called, "Beat them all up!"
The crocodiles surge forward towards the three.
"No matter how big a bunch you are," Sanji began warming up his leg, "just try and beat me, you shitty bananas. Any shitheads rude enough to attack a lady…needs some table manners beaten into them!"
"Sanji!" Usopp lectured, "There's no time! Hurry up and beat them in one second! No, in an instant!"
"…Take out the third one that just entered the room," Smoker suddenly directed.
"Huh?" Kaoru blinked, "Why?"
"…The growl from that one…is the same as the one that ate the key…"
"Yosh! Got it!" Shiho smirked before performing a dive kick at the target Crocodile, "Intense Gut Tendon Kick!"
The kick didn't do anything at first, but the crocodile's face soon twisted into agony before barfing out…an orb the size of a man.
"… …T-That doesn't look like a key!" Kaoru frowned in confusion.
"What is this?" Shiho pondered as she knocked on it a couple of time, "…! This feeling! Wax!?"
"…Wax-Wax Ball," a voice proclaimed from inside.
"Eek!" Shiho gasped as she jumped back, putting a distance between her and the ball, as the ball began to crack open.
Out pops a shrivel man wearing glasses and had an unusual hair style that shape into a three.
"…Freedom~!" The man gasped in a whiny-like voice (to the Children, he had a Nagoya dialect) before scarf down the water around him, "W-Water! WATER~! It's a miracle!"
"What the-!?" Everyone aside from Sanji and a confused Smoker exclaimed.
"It's him…" Zoro frown uncomfortably.
"Him?" Kaoru blinked in confusion, "Him who?"
"It's '3'!" Luffy yelled, "Mr. 3!"
"Eh!? A number name-! A Baroque Agent!?" Shiho exclaimed.
"Mr. 3!" Vivi exclaimed as well, "Why is he inside the Crocodile's stomach!?"
"HAH~! I'm revived!" Mr. 3 huffed, no longer shriveled and dehydrated, "I thought I was a goner! Heh! You were naïve to think you could exterminate me, Crocodile! The moment I was swallowed, I used the last of my power to create this Wax-Wax Ball and was able to protect myself from harm! A brilliant plan, if I do say so myself…" Mr. 3 continue his monologue, still oblivious to those around him, as he marvel what's left of his lifesaving Wax-Wax Ball only to discover a key stuck on its surface. "Oh? What is this strange key-like object attached to my Wax-Wax Ball…?"
At last, Mr. 3 turned around to see…
"GAH~~~!" Mr. 3 comically screamed in shock when he saw Luffy, Zoro, Nami and Usopp in the cage, "It's YOU~~~!"
Everyone in the cage sweat dropped before noticing the key in his possession. "Ah~! That's our key! Hand it over!"
"What about this key-!? Wait!" Mr. 3 glanced around, taking in the clues to the situation, before smirking, "I see~! I grasped your plight…"
"Really now?" Shiho sweat dropped.
"So you're Mr. 3…" Sanji began to make his way over once the Crocodile gave him a chance to, "Hand over the key…"
"Oh, no problem," Mr. 3 presented the key before throwing it far away in the opposite direction, "HERE YOU GO~!"
"What-!?"
"Hey!" Kaoru exclaimed in shock; it happened so fast that she couldn't use her psychic power to grab it before it disappear to who-knows-where.
Mr. 3 laughed victoriously. "I don't know who you are these kids are…but you all look like their friends! Find the key if you want it! However…I'm not responsible for whether you can find it or not~!"
"You time-waster!" Shiho growled as she ran up to him and deliver a nasty kick into Mr. 3's manhood, shooting him up into the ceiling and knocking him out before he could react to the pain, "Sky Rocket Kick!"
"…I told you that you didn't need to aim there," Sanji sweat dropped as the other male members in the room shiver at the sight of the move.
"Well, he was being a jerk!"
"…Ah-! Damn it!" Usopp suddenly slapped his forehead in realization, "We could have used his Wax-Wax power to make a duplicate key for the cage…"
"Ah-!" Nami and Zoro face quickly went pale, "Now that you mention it…"
"Great," Sanji sighed, "We better find that key then…"
"But!" Vivi frowned in dread, "it could have been a fake like Shiho said…"
"…Oh yeah. But then what should we do now-?"
"Leave it to me!" Kaoru declared as she glared at the cage with confident, "I'll rip it open!"
"… … … … … …Huh?" Everyone aside from Shiho managed.
"Oi, Kaoru," Usopp sighed, "I know you're strong, but this cage is made out of Sea-Stone, the hardest material you can find in this world. I know you want to show off but-…"
"Psychic~~~~!" Kaoru made her hands glow red, causing the cage to glow faintly red as well, "Prison~~~ Break~~~!"
The cage strained and creaked for a moment before it suddenly snapped, destroying the entire cage.
"…Phew," Kaoru puffed a sigh of relief and used her powers to throw away the broken pieces still held by her power, "Done…"
Everyone aside from Shiho gasped incredulity at Kaoru.
"…? What?"
"… …She broke a Sea-Stone Cage," Smoker whispered to himself in shock.
"Well, anyway, hurry!" Sanji recovered, "We don't have much time! I think the tunnel they went down should lead to the Capital!"
"But there are still too many Crocodiles in the tunnel!" Vivi turn towards the tunnel mentioned…only to see Luffy, Zoro and Kaoru towering over the defeated pile of Crocodiles.
"WHAT, IS THAT ALL!?" Luffy huffed, "Damn! I couldn't use full power cause of the water!"
"…That reminds me, Zoro," Kaoru addressed as Zoro sheathes his swords away, "Aoi got some swords of her own now!"
"Is that right?" Zoro muttered.
"Nothing to worry about," Nami sweat dropped as she inform Vivi.
"…I couldn't do anything against just one," Vivi comically sulked, remembering her attempt to fight a gator earlier before finding Sanji, Kaoru and Shiho.
"No, Vivi, it's not you!" Usopp tried to comfort, "Those guys are just freakishly strong!"
Meantime, Sanji took out a piece of paper and attached it onto Mr. 3. Out of curiosity, Shiho went over to read it. "See you later, Shitty Croc.—Mr. Prince" was written on it.
"You're going to insult him to the end, aren't you?" Shiho sweat dropped.
"Nothing wrong with that," Sanji smirked.
CRACK!
A sudden ominous sound caught everyone's attention. They turn to the source to find that the heavily damaged wall was developing lots of cracks; water was already starting to leak in.
"AAH~!" Luffy exclaimed in horror, "The wall's cracking!"
"That's because you were fighting too wildly, you idiots!" Nami comically lectured.
"The tunnel's is collapsing!" Usopp exclaimed.
"Escape!" Shiho managed as everyone bolt towards the tunnel hoping to get out before it's too late, "We have to escape!"
But just as they reached the tunnel entrance, the wall finally gave way and torrent of water poured in.
"…! Shit-!" Smoker managed before he got engulf by the water.
"GYAH-!" Usopp managed before the wave of water cause him to hit his head onto one of the surrounding debris.
"…!? Usopp-san hit his head on a rock!" Vivi managed before taking in air and diving into the water after Usopp.
"Oi, Zoro!" Luffy called over to his first mate as he struggled against the wave, "Help Smoker!"
"…Huh!?" Kaoru exclaimed in shock; she couldn't believe Luffy was thinking about an enemy at a time like this.
"Just leave him!" Zoro began, "He's our enemy-!"
"But if we leave him, he'll die!" Luffy exclaimed, "He can't swim!"
"Uh, yeah… I know that but-!"
"Just do it!" Luffy managed before getting swallow by the wave of water.
"… … …Alright," Kaoru nodded before diving into the water after Smoker.
"Oi! Kaoru!" Zoro managed before seething in irritation and diving in after her, "Seriously~!"
Despite the peril, they all managed to escape drowning by swimming out of the flooding room and out of lake.
"Hey, Luffy," Shiho panted for air as she and Sanji dragged the water-inflated Luffy onto land, "Are you alive…"
Luffy responded by squirting out water like a fountain, slowly expelling the water from his stomach.
"Honestly," Sanji sighed in frustration, "These Devil Fruit Users sure carry some troublesome risks with them…"
"Get up, Usopp-san," Vivi cried as she and Nami dragged the unconscious Usopp onto land (Vivi comically pulling Usopp by the nose).
"What are you doing!?" Nami huffed in irritation, "Why is it that you have to get knock out when you know how to swim!?"
"Heave ho!" Kaoru huffed as she and Zoro dragged Smoker out of the water as well.
Upon seeing the Marine Officer, Nami yelped. "The Marine Captain!"
"Smoker!?" Sanji sounded, "Oi, Oi Zoro! Why'd you two bring our enemy up!?"
"Shut up," Zoro sighed in condolence, "I didn't want to either. This was the perfect chance to get rid of him, but-…"
"It was captain's order," Kaoru informed, a little winded.
"Whatever," Sanji panted, "We got to hurry! We lost a lot of time. Can we still make it, Vivi-chan?"
"I don't know…"
"Before that," Shiho began, "What about Chopper and Aoi? We got to find them, don't we?"
"About that," Sanji turned to Nami, "Nami-san, do you still have that perfume you bought in Nanohana?"
"Huh?" Nami blinked as she tied up her messy wet hair, "Yeah…why?"
"Put it on, please…"
Though confused, Nami took out a bottle and spray herself with it. "Like this?"
"AH~~!" Sanji comically swooned, "Fall in love to the end of the world~!"
"… …At a time like this?" Shiho sweat dropped, "Quick joking around and get going!"
"Seriously, just die," Zoro added with a sweat drop before defending himself from Smoker's surprise attack, "…!"
"Roronoa~!" Smoker growled.
"Whoa! Smoker!" Kaoru exclaimed in shock, "What are you-!?"
"…Why did you save me?"
Before Zoro could answer, Kaoru kicked Smoker weapon (that he used to attack Zoro) away and glared at Smoker. "I went to save you; Zoro only went to help me!"
Smoker glared incredulity at Kaoru. "Then why did you save me…?"
"… …Partly out of following orders from Luffy…my Captain!" There was another reason for why she did it, actually. Hearing Luffy's selflessness to save an enemy that may one day kill reminded her of the values of human lives. "…And you don't need a reason to save someone, right?"
"…And if you're going to question why he asked us to," Zoro added, "It's just him being weird. So you don't have to thank us…"
Smoker glared at the two before spatting out, "Then…I assume you don't have any complaints if I have to complete my official duties as Marine Officer, right?"
Kaoru and Zoro grumbled with an uncomfortable frown.
"What!?" Shiho huffed in astonishment, "Come on! They saved your life despite being an enemy! Yet you-!"
"Save Shiho-chan," Sanji sighed, "this is what happens when you save a stupid sailor…"
"ALRIGHT!" The tension was suddenly broken by the awakening of Usopp and Luffy, "FULL SPEED TO ALUBARNA~!"
"WHERE ARE YOU CROCODILE~!?" Luffy glared around madly.
"…Oh, they're finally up," Nami noted.
"Whoa! Smokey!" Luffy exclaimed when he saw Smoker and got into a fighting stance, "You want to fight or something!?"
"GAH~! Smoker!" Usopp yelped in surprise upon seeing the Marine Captain, "Oi Luffy! Don't do it! Let's get out of here, Luffy!"
"You two calm down already," Shiho sweat dropped.
"… …Is this kid for real?" Smoker muttered, meantime, with a somewhat dumbfound expression. After a while glaring at Luffy, he finally sighed and lower his weapon. "…Go…"
"…Huh?"
"Only this one time…will I let you get away… … …But this is the last time I will do so! When we meet again, your life is over. You better remember that, 'Straw Hat Luffy'…"
Everyone blinked dumbfounded by this sudden turn of event before Kaoru giggled, Shiho sighed in amazement, and Zoro laughed at the irony of it. However…
"There they are!" Shouts were heard a distance away; it was the marines, "the Straw Hat Crew!"
"Alright! Hurry!"" Sanji smirked as he turned around to run, "The Marines are coming!"
"Which way to the Capital?" Shiho wondered.
"That way," Vivi informed, taking the lead, "Straight east…"
"Yosh!" Nami declared as almost everyone started running, "Let's go!"
"What are you two doing?" Zoro called back when he notice Kaoru and Luffy hadn't begun running, "Hurry!"
"Uh, yeah!" Kaoru nodded before turning to Luffy, "…Luffy?"
Luffy was still staring at Smoker. Finally, Luffy gave a big grin at the Marine Captain.
"You know what?" Luffy rhetorically asked, "I don't hate you after all!"
Shock by that proclamation, Smoker face reddens before he tried to attack.
"Yikes!" Luffy yelped in shock.
"Shut up and GET the HELL out of HERE~~~!" Smoker growled.
Kaoru giggled mischievous at this. "No need to be shy now-…"
"That goes for YOU too~!"
"Whoa," Kaoru narrowly dodge Smoker's attack, "He's mad! Run for it~!"
With that, she and Luffy scamper off after the others.
"Heh," Kaoru giggled, "When you do a good deed, fortune smiles on you~!"
"Hey~!" Usopp comically panted after Luffy and Kaoru caught up, "Don't tell me we're supposed to run all the way to the Capital from here~!"
"…I hope not," Shiho sweat dropped uncomfortably.
"Speaking of which," Nami glanced around, "Where did Eyelash go?"
"…? Oh right! If he's here, we girls don't have to run!"
"What-!?" Usopp comically gawked, "You jerk!"
"I can use my power to make use fly there," Kaoru noted, "But I can only currently take three people with me on a fast flight…"
"OH~! Let me fly!" Luffy cheered with sparkles in his eyes.
"No need for that," Sanji suddenly smirked, "Look ahead!"
"Ah! There they are!" a voice that sounded like Chopper suddenly rang out.
"Hey~! Everyone~!" Aoi's voice called out from ahead as well.
When everyone peered ahead, as they expect they saw Chopper and Aoi; even Eyelash the camel was there. What they didn't expect was what they were riding on: a giant reddish-orange crab with a human grin and leering perverted eyes. It came to a halt right in front of them.
"A-A-A Crab!?" Usopp comically gawked with his eyes comically turning into crab-like eyes.
"Chopper!" Nami exclaimed.
"Aoi!" Kaoru mouthed in the same manner.
"That's…" Vivi blinked in shock, "A 'Moving Crab'!"
"Damn!" Luffy awed with a drooling mouth, "That looks tasty~!"
"Is food the only think on your mind constantly!?" Shiho comically whacked Luffy on the head.
"Get on everyone!" Chopper called from above the Moving Crab.
"We can ride that thing!?" Luffy exclaimed enthusiastically, "Awesome~!"
"Total 180," Shiho sweat dropped.
"Nice work, Chopper, Aoi-chan," Sanji called in appreciation.
"Wait," Nami stared at the Moving Crab suspiciously, "Doesn't that face look a little…well, shady?"
"That's what I first thought too," Aoi sweat dropped, "But…don't worry…"
"Yeah," Chopper nodded, "He's one of Eyelash's friends. Eyelash was born in this town, so he has lots of friends!"
"…Though they're all, apparently, perverts…" Aoi added with a huge sweat drop.
"Wow!" Vivi exclaimed in astonishment, "Moving Crabs are always under the sand, so some people don't believe they exist!"
"Seriously?" Kaoru glared at the Crab from top to bottom, "Even in a desert like this, how could you NOT spot this…?"
"It's pretty fast, right?" Zoro wondered.
"It sure is!" Aoi glee, "We were just on the on the other side of town a moment ago…"
"Yosh!" Kaoru nodded and floated onto the crab along with Shiho, "Aoi! Get everyone else, would you?"
"No problem~!" Aoi smirked before teleporting everyone onto the Moving Crab.
"… …Teleportation is really convenient," Nami noted in astonishment.
"Okay~!" Chopper called to the Crab beneath him, "let's go!"
In an instant, the Moving Crab bolt eastward; despite only able to move sideways like a normal crab, it was incredibly fast. But before they could get a good distance from the town…
"KYAH-!" Vivi, who was situated at the rear, screamed catching everyone's attention immediately.
They turned around just in time to see Vivi getting dragged off forcefully by a disembodied golden hook, with a trail of sand that seems to lead back to a person too far away to see.
"Ah-! Vivi!" the Children called in shock.
"Chopper!" Zoro called, "Stop the Crab!"
"Ah-! The hook!" Aoi gasped, "I've only saw it from a distant, but that's-!"
"It's HIM!" Luffy yelled as he used his power to retrieve Vivi. But just as everyone was about to breathe a sigh of relief, Luffy went and trade place with Vivi.
"KYAH-!" Vivi cried in shock as Zoro and Aoi caught her on her return.
"Hey!" Kaoru exclaimed towards Luffy who was being dragged back in Vivi's place, "LUFFY~!"
"That idiot!" Sanji managed and was about to jump off after his captain when Luffy voice rang back.
"You guys go one ahead~!" Luffy's voice could be heard, "I'll be fine by myself~!"
"But there are two of them!" Nami informed confirming it after glaring back.
"Make sure you get there~!" Luffy grinned confidently regardless, "Get Vivi to the Palace~!"
"…Idiot," Zoro grunted, but nevertheless smirked in understanding and turn to Chopper, "Head straight to Arubana, Chopper!"
"Okay," Chopper nodded in acknowledgement.
"What!?" the Children and Usopp exclaimed in shock, "We're just going to leave him!?"
"Luffy-san!" Vivi began to jump off, worry about Luffy, but was held back by Nami.
"It's okay Vivi!" Nami informed, "He'll be fine!"
"He'll be fine!?" The Children blinked.
"Yeah…Actually, I feel sorrier for them! There isn't one single person who's tried to fight Luffy and gotten away safely…"
"Understand, Vivi," Zoro addressed the worried Vivi, "He'll stop Crocodile. The moment the rebellion moved to attack, this country's 'limit' was defined. If the army and rebels collide, this kingdom is done for! If you are our only hope for stopping this then you must stay alive no matter what! And it doesn't matter what happens to any of us!"
"…! But!" Vivi began only to be cut off by Sanji.
"Vivi-chan," Sanji began, "You helped set this fight up. You left your country years ago, and you began fighting an organization you knew nothing about…However, you're not fighting alone anymore…"
Vivi fell silent upon hearing their reasoning.
"T-T-That's right, Vivi!" Usopp suddenly declared, his knees buckled under him, "D-D-D-Don't worry~! I'll… I'll…"
"Yeah we understand, Usopp," Shiho patted Usopp on the back in comfort.
"…We also have nothing to do with all this, supposedly," Aoi readjusted her glasses, "…but, we'll gladly get involve to help you Vivi. So trust us…"
Vivi stared at Aoi for a while before turning back towards Luffy.
"…Luffy-san~!" Vivi yelled back, "We'll be waiting for you~! In Arubana~!"
"…OKAY~!" Luffy managed to roar back before they were out of hearing distance.
Kaoru: "You updated already!?"
Normama: "I got to update while I still can...don't I?"
Aoi: "Are you trying to make up for that entire year of being absent?"
Normama: "Yeah~, there's that too..."
Shiho: "So when are you going to update again?"
Normama: "I'm thinking soon again today..."
Kaoru: "REALLY! That's great! Hurry up!"
Normama: "Okay, okay~! ... ... ... ...Just put me down~!"
Kaoru: "Oh, sorry!"
Minamoto: "Don't drop him! We're currently ten stories high~!"