THE CHILDREN Set Sail
Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece or Zettai Karen Children. So Luffy, quit punching me!
Luffy: "Sorry~!"
Kaoru: "Hey, Normama! I got a bone to pick with you!"
Normama: "Kaoru? What is it?"
Kaoru: "We're not getting much action! We're almost like side characters at this point! Get us more involve, would you!"
Normama: "…Kaoru, you're about to get some action in this chapter…"
Kaoru: "Really!? What!?"
Normama: "Sorry, no spoiler! Moving on~!"
Kaoru: "Hey~~!"
Back in the Children's home world, Minamoto was tirelessly researching on his laptop, looking for clues that might lead to the Children's whereabouts. Unfortunately, even after spending two nights without sleep Minamoto was still no closer to determining their whereabouts.
"…Nothing here either," Minamoto sighed, rubbing his aching forehead. He then causally glances over at a separate laptop screen. "…Still, what is this sudden turn of event?"
The laptop was provided by Fujiko; it contains only one important data on it: "Prediction Probability of Change: Pending Issue #666" with the Sub-title of "Will the Children become Angels or Devils?"
"Just a few days ago, the prediction shows 'Either': 30%, Devil: 30%, and Angel: 40%. But now the prediction shows 'Either": 27%, Devil: 29%, and Angel: 44%. It is as if it is really saying just remaining missing will provide a good future for us all…"
Minamoto sighed and took a sip from his coffee mug.
"…Still, what could they possibly be doing? Or what have they got themselves into that is causing this? Well, whatever it may be, I hope they're not doing anything dangerous…"
As per planned, the Children infiltrate the Capital with ease. Their mission is simple: locate and free the king, Vivi's dad. With all the high-ranking agents busy with their pirate friends, even if they have to fight they would still be able to rescue the king.
Unfortunately there was one slight problem they have completely forgotten about.
"…We don't know what Vivi's dad looks like," Aoi pinched the bridge of her nose in regret.
"…How are we supposed to rescue someone we've never seen before?" Kaoru sulked in the same manner.
"Well, it's not a complete lost," Shiho hummed in thought, "All we have to do is look for someone that Mr. 2 impersonated back on the Merry Go…"
"But there was over a hundred faces that guy showed us," Aoi frowned, "How are we-?"
"Leave it to me then!" Kaoru suddenly announced, standing tall with a smile, "I sat through Mr. 2's entire show! If I see the kings face I'll identify him immediately!"
"Oh! That should work!"
"Now," Shiho hummed, "Our only priority is to figure out where he is being kept. We got an entire city, so we need a way to narrow our search…"
"For that, I think our only option is to find Baroque Works' member…"
"…?" Shiho and Kaoru gave Aoi their full attention.
"Even with all the Officer Agents out, there should still be some 'Billions' that works for them, according to Vivi. They should be the ones left guarding the king…"
"Ah~!" Kaoru and Shiho thumped their palm, "I see~!"
"Still," Shiho frowned, "How are we going to find the Billions?"
"Well," Aoi adjusted her glasses, "Remember how I was helping Chopper draw attention back at Rainbase, in front of Rain Dinners?"
"…? Yeah, and?"
"I notice an obvious trend among them. Each of them had a tattoo of Baroque Works on them…"
"… …The same one that was on that fleet?" Kaoru inquired.
"The same. As long as we can find someone with that tattoo on them, they're with Baroque Works. Even if we can't find the one guarding the king first…"
"We can interrogate them~!" Shiho snickered evilly.
"And Minamoto isn't here~!" Kaoru snickered in the same manner, "So there are even more ways we can interrogate them~!"
Back in the Children's home world, Minamoto sneezed with a slight shiver creeping up his spine.
"…? Am I getting a cold?" Minamoto wondered in confusion.
"Yosh!" Kaoru punched her palm in determination, "Let's begin operation 'Search, Destroy and Rescue'!"
"Uh, Kaoru," Aoi sweat dropped, "Don't you mean 'Search, Interrogate, Destroy and Rescue'!?"
"Same Difference!"
"And yours is too long, Aoi," Shiho shrugged.
"Only by one more word," Aoi pouted.
"Alright," Kaoru cheered, "Let's go~!"
"…Phew, I need a break," One of the Billions sighed as he and several of his pals huffed loudly in a random alley. They were all wearing either Arabasta-style armor or rebel clothing, worn from the battle they were just in. "…These people from Arabasta Kingdom sure are a bunch of fools…"
It has been nearly thirty minutes since the Rebel Army and the Royal Army collided. Vivi had failed to come in contact with her childhood friend Kohza, the leader of the Rebel Army. Now the battle had spread to the very street of Arubana.
Among the Royal Army were a few dozen Billions, minor members of Baroque Works. They were task with escalating the situation of Rebellion. But with everything so chaotic, even they need a break to recover their strength.
"Well," the goon smirked, "It's because they're a bunch of fools that we can manipulate them so easily…"
"Yeah," another goon snickered, "The situation is as good as done…"
"…Oh really~?" A voice suddenly called out from above, "You sure seem confident about that…Baroque Works~!"
The Billions jolted in shock and peered up. What they saw was three girls, only about ten years old, glaring down at them. One had short blazing red hair, one had short curly silver hair, and the last one had long straight dark-blue hair and wore glasses.
"…!? You brats-! How do you know that name!?"
"Who can say~," the silver-haired girl shrugged, "But you all look like rather important figures…"
"Surely you know," the dark-blue-haired girl readjust her glasses, "Where we can find the king you all frame and kidnapped, right~?"
"…!" The goon growled before he and his fellow goons picked up their weapon menacingly, "It looks like you little kids know too much. Nothing personal, kiddies, but you three are now going to die…"
"I like…" the redhead smirked before the three pounce them, "…TO SEE YOU TRY!"
"Kill them!" the goon cried, point his rifle at them. But in an instant, the three disappeared after glowing faintly green. "…!? Where they go!?"
"Right here~!" the silver-haired girl informed from behind the goon, before kicking him in his manhood, sending him high into the sky, "Sky Rocket Kick!"
"Ugh~!"
"What the-!?" the other goon exclaimed, cringing a bit seeing how the silver-haired girl didn't hesitate to kick there.
"Duo-Sword-Style!" the long hair girl declared at she somersault through them, "Rolling Gust!"
"GAH-!" Some of the goons cried as the attack gashed them from above.
"Psychic~~," the redhead appeared in front of the remaining goons with her brightly glowing hand high in the sky, "Gangster Arrest~~!"
Throwing down her hands, the remaining goons felt the gravity on them increase and they were instantly planted into the ground.
"GAH~~~!" they managed before a majority of them fainted.
"…This is way too easy," Kaoru grinned over the beaten up Billions, "How many have we taken out again, Aoi?"
"By group," Aoi sheathed her two swords, Solar Hero and Lunar Wing, "that was our 26th group…"
"Hopefully," Shiho smirked mischievously, "These people knows more than the last few…"
"Yeah," Kaoru nodded before using her powers to levitate one of the conscious goon towards her, "Now then, tells us everything you know about the king's whereabouts, would you~?"
"…I-I'll tell you nothing," The goon managed in defiant.
"… …Sir~," Kaoru grinned innocently, "Between having your skull smashed in…"
"Being buried underground…" Aoi added in the same manner.
"Or having a lethal wound to your heart," Shiho finalized in the same manner, "Which do you rather have~?"
The goon sweated in fear as the three's chuckles grew more eerie.
"…Finally something," Kaoru cheered as she and her friends soar above the battle, "Now we know where to find Vivi's dad…"
"It took a while," Shiho smiled, "But it was worth it…"
"According to that goon, the king should be held at the palace itself," Aoi pointed at the fortress at the very heart of the city, "Guarded by none other than Mr. 0 himself…"
"So we'll finally meet Crocodile, huh," Kaoru growled.
"Yeah, I only got a glimpse of him back at Rainbase…"
"We didn't even get to see him yet," Shiho noted.
"Well, it's about time we see for ourselves," Kaoru punched her palm in determination, "The man that tormented Vivi!"
Her two friend nodded as Kaoru accelerated towards the palace.
"…The only thing you can do has been obvious from the beginning!" Vivi exclaimed to a blood-cover rebel, the leader of the Rebel Force and Vivi's childhood friend Kohza, "You have to stop this falsified rebellion! And you're the only one who can do that!"
Unbeknownst to Vivi, though, as she was telling him that a figure appeared behind her. A large muscular man with pale skin dressed like an Italian Mafia Boss complete with a long stitched scar above his nose that run vertically across his face, a thick buck cigar in his mouth, a long thick dark-green pelted fur coat on his shoulder, and large golden hook in place of his left hand.
"So you think," the man spoke with a deep relaxed voice, ready to strike Vivi from behind with his hook, "I will sit her quietly and let you do what you wish?"
"Princess Vivi!" a man that seem to be half jackal called as he rushed forward, trying to reach his princess in time to save her.
"Vivi!" a bloody man pinned to a wall by large nail exclaimed.
Vivi manage to turn to see the hook drawing in close to her. It was about to hit her when…
"Psychic~ Mega-Dropkick~!" Three girls descended from above, promptly diverting the hook's course into the ground.
"…!?" Surprise, the menacing man leapt back a bit. When he rose his head up he was confronted by…
"Kaoru!" Vivi exclaimed, "Aoi and Shiho!"
"Sorry we're late!" the Children declared, getting into a fighting position.
"Careful! That was Crocodile you attack!"
"So that's him, huh?" Kaoru glared at the Mafia Boss-like person.
"I take it," Aoi noted as she point her blade at Crocodile, "The man behind you Kohza and the old man pinned to the wall is your dad?"
"Yeah," Vivi nodded.
"Vivi, it looks like you got something planned," Shiho began, "Go do, even if only a few more minutes, we'll hold him off…"
"…! But-!"
"A few minutes, got it!?"
"… … …Alright, thank you!" Vivi hesitantly nodded as she and Kohza left to deal with the battle.
"… …Who are you brats?" Crocodile growled calmly.
"Her friends!" Kaoru declared immediately.
"…Ah~!" Crocodile suddenly smirked, "Now I remember. Mr. 2 Bon Kurei identify you three as guests of those pirates that were helping the Princess…"
"…? Guests?" Aoi blinked in confusion, "We're proud members of the Straw Hat Pirates!"
Crocodile laughed. "Foolish little brats. Quit playing pretend-pirates already…"
"… … …Pretend~!?" Shiho frowned with a comical vein pop.
"You're playing with some rather dangerous people here~. Playing grown up will only get you some boo-boos~…"
"…Who's getting hurt?" Kaoru angrily growled before using her psychic powers to blast Crocodile, who was sent sliding back in surprise, "Not us!"
"It is you!" Shiho and Aoi exclaimed, teleporting behind Crocodile.
Once there, Shiho gave a heavy sidekick at Crocodile's abdomen. "Abdomen-Ache Kick!"
Aoi one the other hand aimed her sword swing at Crocodile's ankles. "Balance Breaker!"
However, before their very eyes, the areas they attack turned into sand, nullifying their attacks.
"…That actually got me off-guard for a moment," Crocodile commented before disappearing into sand only to reappeared behind the two, ready to strike them with his golden hook, "I assure you kiddies…it won't happen again-…"
Before he could finish, Crocodile felt an impact on his entire body again and was sent flying back.
"What the hell," Aoi commented teleporting Shiho and herself back next to Kaoru after narrowly escaping the attack, "The guy just turned to sand!"
"Vivi did mention that he has a Devil Fruit power," Shiho clenched her teeth.
"Sending me that far back," Crocodile suddenly appeared behind the Children in a mist of sand, ready to strike Kaoru, "That was done by you, wasn't it?"
"Ah-! Damn it-!" Kaoru try to turn to defend herself.
CLASH!
But the Half-Jackal Person, Chaka, intercept Crocodile's attack instead, saving Kaoru's life as Aoi teleported themselves a distant away in response.
"You insist in getting in my way?" Crocodile growled.
"I am the guardian spirit of Arabasta, the Jackal!" Chaka declared, "I destroy the enemies of the royal family! As long as I can breathe I will fight!"
"Now that is what I call an idiot!" Crocodile rolled his eyes unimpressed.
"He's NO idiot!" Kaoru declared as she dive kick at Crocodile's head with a foot glowing brightly red, "He a better man than YOU! Psychic Mega-Kick~!"
But Kaoru's attack merely went through Crocodile's sandy head, causing her to create a large crater on the ground instead.
"Damn it!" Kaoru grunted, "Stay human, would you!?"
"…This nonsense has gone on long enough," Crocodile sighed, bored, as he suddenly created a small sand twister in his hand, "Sables ~!"
Like an explosion, the twister abruptly grew and engulfs not only the palace courtyard they were battling in, but the majority of the city as well.
Having teleport back by her friends' sides, Kaoru try to use her power to shield them from the onslaught. But the force behind the epicenter of the sandstorm was too great and sudden, so they were eventually sent flying back, colliding into the palace wall behind them.
"Ah-!" they managed from the impact before falling to the ground, paralysis for the time being.
"…Ow~," Shiho managed, "That hurt…"
"…! I-I can't move," Aoi staggered a bit trying her best to regain control of her body.
"Damn it!" Kaoru growled, "At a time like this-?"
"Hurry up and run!" the king suddenly called, "Run away from that man!"
Using their eyes, the Children turn their gaze over to Crocodile, who was making his way over to Vivi.
"…No!" Vivi suddenly declared, glaring at the approaching Pirate Warlord, "The sandstorm is your work, isn't it Crocodile?"
Crocodile didn't reply, but the Children could tell he was smirking to confirm Vivi's suspicion.
"As long as I can stop the cannon in fifteen minutes…I can reduce the amount of casualties!"
"…Stop the uprising this way, stop the uprising that way," Crocodile huffed before suddenly seizing Vivi by the throat, Wake up, Princess! Your dream isn't realistic, and this is reality!"
"Dreams are something only the powerful can bring into reality…."
"Even if it's not realistic! I don't care! I will not give up!" Vivi declared, "The likes of you wouldn't understand! I am the Princess of this Country!"
"Such an un-cute girl…"
"For this Country, I will never give up! I WILL SAVE EVERYONE!"
Crocodile glared at Vivi before walking over to the edge of the palace wall, dangling Vivi dangerously over the edge.
"Fifteen minutes left until the cannon fires, and the reinforcements for the Rebellion will be arriving soon," Crocodile informed Vivi, "Your fate is sealed, along with the blast area. If you told the loyalists about the blast there would be chaos, but you could have save thousands of lives…"
"…!" Vivi's eyes widen when Crocodile told her that.
"Stop!" The king called to Crocodile, "Stop it Crocodile!"
"You thought you could save everyone? How naïve," Crocodile mocked, "In the end, you lead everyone to their deaths…" Vivi was beginning to break; the Children desperately try to right themselves, using their growing anger of Crocodile as fuel. "From now on, no one will know any better. You worked for us for two years, I thank you for that. So in the end you don't have a choice at all. Whether saving this country or rebelling, which ever boring ideals, either one would result in more deaths let me tell you…You cannot save this country!"
"CROCODILE~!" The Children screamed as Kaoru launched them at the warlord, aiming to punch, kick or even slice the cruel man. But their attacks only went through his sandy body. At the same time, Crocodile release his grip on Vivi, sending her falling with the exhausted Children who had used up their remaining power.
Unable to save themselves or Vivi next them, the three could only glare back at the Pirate Warlord, who was laughing cruelly at their approaching demise.
"…Damn you~!" Kaoru managed before noticing that Crocodile had suddenly halted his laughter as he glared directly at the sun. Following his gaze, Kaoru stared at the nearly blinding sun as well to see what was up. As she continued to stare, a shadow came into view; as it got bigger, it began to take form of bird of some sort. On the back of that bird was hump that was no doubt human…with a familiar silhouette!
"…CROCODILE~~~!" the silhouette roared over the sandstorm.
"…! LUFFY~!" Vivi and the Children exclaimed in relief.
Kaoru: "Yeah~~~! Action~~~!"
Aoi (pouting in anger): "Damn that Crocodile~! he won't let me cut him!"
Shiho (pouting in anger): "...Why is it that only Kaoru could hurt him, Normama? There were times that Kaoru could hurt him and times that she couldn't! Are you cheating us?"
Minamoto: "Shiho, don't talk about the plot holes..."
Normama: "Actually, it's not much a plot hole..."
Minamoto and the Children: "... ... ... ... ... ...IT'S NOT!?"
Normama (donning a lab coat and glasses): "Basically, the times that Kaoru could hurt Crocodile she was wasn't focusing her powers on particular spot but all of him; her psychic powers envelop Crocodile's entire body, making it difficult for Crocodile to naturally disperse. Whereas when she simply try to kick him or punch him, her psychic powers envelop her attacking parts, not Crocodile; it would be no different than setting her hand on fire and punching Crocodile then..."
Minamoto (thumping his palm): "Ah~!"
Aoi: "Damn it! Then I could have done it as well is I used my Teleportation powers..."
Normama: "Yes. Shiho using her Psychometry power to read him or Aoi using Teleportation to bury him would have worked. you just didn't realized it..."
Kaoru: "So I was just lucky, huh? Well, anyway, please review this chapter!"