THE CHILDREN Set Sail!
Disclaimer: No ownership, period!
Kaoru: That's short!
Shiho and the mysterious man continue to stare each other down. Chopper kept on blowing on the whistle in panic before "hiding" behind the main mast.
"A strange animal and child barely beyond her diapers, huh," the mysterious man grunted as he got off the giant bird and landed on deck of the ship, "Some poor excuse for felonies…"
Shiho grumbled angrily to herself; she has been called a child many times before, but not once in such an insulting way. Under normal circumstances, she have viciously retorted back but this isn't like those other situation where Minamoto was lecturing her about the difference between children and adults…this guy is something else, obviously.
It was safe to say now that she and a few of her comrades have been taken into Upper Yard, the place where the God Enel resides…but it was far from just pleasantry. It is a forbidden ground, so not many can freely enter here. So for this person to waltz in with the gall to criticize felonies of Sky Island, it could only mean one obvious thing: this guy is with the enemy.
Considering what she had read earlier from Conis, this guy is certainly powerful. Though Shiho earlier had comfort Chopper by saying she'll handle anyone who comes after them until the Sky Knight arrives, against a powerful opponent she has little to no information about it is hard to say just how long she can last.
So for now, Shiho needs to do what she does best: gather information and stall for as much time as possible before considering going on the offense.
"You must be one of the greatly esteem Sky Priest of the Almighty God Enel," Shiho put on her best smile and bow respectfully to the mysterious man, "it is a honor to meet you, I am one of the felonies that has been brought before you, Sannomiya Shiho. May I have the honor of knowing which of the most powerful of the being that serve the Almighty God has come to grace this one with his appearance?"
"S-Shiho!?" Chopper gawked at Shiho's calm introduction and inquiry.
"…Hoh~?" The man smirked as he glared down at Shiho in interest, "It seems for a mere criminal, you at the very less have some manners…"
Shiho kept her head bow and patiently waited for a response to her "polite as possible" question.
"Very well. Since you seem to be more than just mere criminal in terms of your conduct, I am Shura the Sky Rider, one of the Four Sky Priest of the Almighty God Enel and the Priest in charge of the Trial of Strings in the Ordeal that you criminal are in right now…"
"Shura-sama, is it?" Shiho raised her head, "I am honor to have my question answer by one such as yourself…"
"Is that right~?"
"Pardon me for inquiring further, Shura-sama, but may I asks of what this magnificent beast you by with may be?"
"Ah, you're talking about Fuza?" Shura turn to the giant bird that perch obediently behind him, "He's my pet [Three-Length Bird] who doubles as my steed…"
"Ah, I see. A grand steed unmatched by any other steed. Truly, Shura-sama deserves the title of 'Sky Rider'…"
"Naturally," Shura huffed proudly.
Shiho continue to smile. For now, her words are both her sword and shield for both her safety and that of Chopper. As long she can still use it, she must continue to do so for as long as possible.
Unfortunately, it won't last.
"Well, enough with the pleasantry," Shura glared back at Shiho with murderous intent, "I am not here for that, now…"
"O-Oh?" Shiho try to stir the flow of the situation back to her pace, "Surely I thought someone such as yourself would—…"
The change came suddenly; Shiho barely managed to twist her body out of the way as Shura sent his jousting javelin forward; a bit of her shirt was all that torn instead.
"You're not the first to try stalling for your life!" Shura smirked as his javelin embedded itself into the railing Going Merry, "Though are the first to try to do so politely~!"
"…Is that right?" Shiho chuckled nervously, "I suppose that was foolish of me to try and deceive a Sky Priest of the Almighty God Enel…"
"Foolish indeed," Shura replied as the area that his javelin hit burst into flame.
"…!?"
"WAAAHH~~!" Chopper cried as he, in Body Point, rushed over and try to put out the flame, "Fire! Merry's on fire! It's going to burn down~~~!"
"Hey, hey," Shura glared down at Chopper as he ready his javelin again, "Should you really be worry about your ship before your own safety?"
Seeing the oncoming attack, Shiho rushed forward kicked the javelin, diverting its course just barely from Chopper's expose back.
"…!?" Shiho hissed silently. No sooner did her foot came in contact with the javelin she felt a surge of heat as hot as flames in area where her foot and the javelin touched for a brief moment. "Hot!"
"…!? WAH~~!" Chopper, who finally notice what had just happen, cried to Shiho in worry, "Shiho! Are you okay!?"
"More or less," Shiho nervously chuckled as she eyeballed her foot. After a couple of testing, she sighed in relief: her leg was overall fine for now. "But that javelin Shura-sama certainly is unique…and dangerous…"
"How right you are," Shura smirked as he prepares to send forth his attack again.
"Chopper, run!" Shiho ordered as she dash forward and attempt to kick at Sky Priest's abdomen. But to her surprise, by the time she initiate her attack, Shura had already long move out of harm's way. "…Eh!?"
"Not fast enough, little Shiho!" Shura swatted her abdomen with his javelin.
"…!?" No sooner did the javelin came in contact with her body, Shiho felt the searing heat she had felt in her foot earlier, only this time the area where her body was and still made contact with began to burn and combust in flame. "WAH~~~!?"
Shiho immediately fell to the ground and start rolling around, trying to stuff out the flame that was beginning to develop. After about ten seconds of this, the flame had died out.
"Phew~!" Shiho sighed in relief as she quickly got up, "That was close…"
"Close indeed," Shura huffed, "A second later, and your body would have been consumed in flame, an agonizing death if I must say so…"
"… … …So, using Flame Dial in such a way can make a weapon even more dangerous I see," Shiho suddenly smirked.
The Sky Priest's stance falter a bit before Shura glare suspiciously at the silver-haired girl. "So you know the secret to my weapon's strength despite not being new to Sky Island, huh?"
"More or less," Shiho smirked as she rushed forward, stood on her hands and start spinning with her leg spread out, "Buzz-Saw Rib Cutter!"
But Shura had long since sidestepped the attack by a huge margin.
"…My, Shura-sama, by any chance you have precognition? This is going to be troublesome…"
"Precognition?" Shura huffed a knowingly huff, "It's a bit different; this is Mantra…"
"Mantra, huh?" Shiho made several attempts to kick at Shura, only for him to easily dodge them all, "An ability to, I guess, predict one's movements, Shura-sama!?"
"You're almost right," Shura responded as he jabs at Shiho several times, with Shiho barely able to dodge them, "rather it is more about reading one's intent…"
"Reading one's intent? I see; that's not an easy task. Shura-sama is not a Sky Priest for nothing…"
"Still being polite and talking with guile, huh?" Shura finally got the upper hand and pinned Shiho on the deck, with his Javelin embedded into her right bicep.
"…!? Ugh-!"
"Commendable~! If you are not a criminal, you would have been taken in as a servant of the Almighty God…"
"WAH~~~! SHIHO~~~!" Chopper exclaimed in worry as he rush over.
"Idiot!" Shiho screamed pass the pain in her arms; her injuries were already starting to burst into flame.
"Please~~! I'm begging you~~! Don't kill her~~~!"
"…Don't kill her you say?" Shura frowned as he retracts his Javelin from Shiho's arm and pointed at Chopper, "Then are you saying you'll take her place?"
"WAAHH~~~!" Chopper exclaimed in shock; the tip of the javelin was only centimeters from the area between his eyes, "NO~~~~! I don't want to die~~~! Don't kill me~~~~!"
Shura glared at Chopper before stabbing into the main mast of the ship; it soon set the main mast ablaze. "Then that means, you're saying, your ship will go instead then…"
"Ah-!" Shiho gasped after she managed to wiggle her way out of underneath the Sky Priest's foot and put out the flame from her wound.
"WAAAHH~~!" Chopper screamed as he tries to put out the main mast that has gone aflame, "Stop~! Stop~~~! I beg you! Stop! Don't attack the ship! Please don't do that~~!"
"Chopper!" Shiho called after taking her distance from Shura, "Rip off the main mast and throw it into the sea!"
"Eh!?" Chopper exclaimed, "But-!"
"It's better than having the whole ship get engulfed in flame, hurry!"
"O-Okay!"
Chopper managed to rip off the main mast and threw it into the Sea Clouds.
"Phew," Shiho sighed in relief, "That's one problem down…"
"P-Please stop!" Chopper suddenly directed to Shura, "We are in charge of the ship, Shiho and me! They ask me to watch the ship!"
Shura sighed and turns to his giant bird. "What should we do Fuza?"
Fuza cawed, emitting fire from its beak.
"Seriously," The Sky Priest Shura the Sky Rider sighed in annoyance, "First you tell me not to attack your friends, then you say you don't want to die, then you tell me not to destroy this ship. You put me in a difficult situation…you selfish animal; you really piss me off!"
Shura suddenly try to stab Chopper, but Chopper narrowly managed to dodge.
"If you want to live," Shura lectured as the area of the ship that got stab ignite on fire, "then why are you so weak!?"
"Wah~~~!" Chopper cried, "Stop! That lance burn stuff! Stop it~~~!"
Chopper hastily put out the fire before swing at Shura with his fist in rage, but by then Shura has long since move away.
"You want to live without any sacrifice?" Shura rolled his eyes, "If someone wants to survive, then someone else must die; that's how the world works…"
"…I'll half agree there," Shiho sighed, "But it does always have to be that way; there is a better way, Shura-sama!"
"Humph, believe what you want," Shura shrugged, "Anyway, did you know that this is the Alter of Sacrifice?"
"…? Yeah?" Shiho tilted her head at the question, "But what's that got to do with this, Shura-sama?"
"So you don't know, huh?" Shura sighed, "Well, I guess that should be expected since you're brought here suddenly. I'll give you criminals a little rundown on your current situation then…"
"…A-Ah, if you would please, Shura-sama," Shiho chuckled nervously by the sudden change in pace.
Regardless, she is thankful for the change; Shura was powerful as a fighter after all. Shiho has confidences in her abilities, however lacking they are in comparison to Sanji, but even she could not picture herself being able to fight toe-on-toe with this Sky Priest for long; coupling with his 'Mantra' ability of his to anticipate her intentions even before she acts on it makes him all the more difficult in a long fight. Although she knew none of this before she fought him, as she expected the best she could hope for at the moment is to stall out for time until the Sky Knight comes, preferably without resorting to action.
"Right now your other friends are risking their lives to come here!" Shura began to explain, "On this island, each of the four priests controls a territory. When the target enters one of the territories, no one other than the corresponding priest may attack. That's the rule. But this altar is not part of any area, let's call it the free area; it doesn't matter who does what here, but…well, it's for after the people being tested are dead…"
"…So then," Chopper suddenly piped up, "If Luffy comes here and saves us, we can escape from here together?"
"Yeah. That's it…if you can escape from this free area…"
"Eh?"
Though Chopper was stumped at the way Shura had made that remake, to Shiho it was an ominous hint. Whether Luffy and the other make it to the free area or not, the point of all of this is to ensure no one who enters here will have an easy time leaving here alive. Supposedly, until the entire ordeal is over, the Sky Priest will make it their life's mission to give them hell to the very bitter end.
Still, according to Shura so far, that would mean that there should not be any reason for a Sky Priest to even be here until Luffy and the others are dealt with. Shura has also stated that the others are still in the midst of their trial, so wouldn't his being here be problematic to his situation.
"Anyways," Shura continued, "that is just the original rules for judgment and in special situations, the rules can be changed…"
"Special?" Shiho noted and brace herself to hear his justified reason for being here.
"Correct. For example: three of the sacrifices used vines to escape to that forest over there…"
"Heh~?" Shiho hummed, "So that's considered a special—…"
The image of Zoro wanting to go check out the forest flashed across both Shiho and Chopper's mind.
'… … …It's HIS fault THIS guy came then!' Shiho palmed her face as Chopper comically gawked in realization.
"For the crime of running away, someone must pay for it with their lives as 'sacrifice'," Shura ready himself to launch another attack, "This is the way of the world. When they come back they will also be punish…so they can realize their mistakes!"
"… …I don't suppose," Shiho, sensing the approaching attack, ready herself to receive the Sky Priest's attack, "going with the idea that 'one who does not know holds no guilt' does not apply at all here?"
"None whatsoever!"
"No!" Chopper cried as he tighten his fist ready to attack and charged at the Sky Priest, "No way~~~!"
"Ah-! Chopper!" Shiho called…but it was too late.
Seeing the clumsy and desperate charge as he had anticipated it, Shura stabbed Chopper in his right shoulder, which the wound immediately burst into flame. Taking advantage of Chopper reflex to the burning pain, Shura pinned him down and prepared the finishing blow.
"You must give up your lives to God~~~!" Shura roared.
"No~~~!" Shiho dashed forward and dive-kick the lance. But as if he had once again expected that, Shura with a smirk held the weapon firm, ensuring that the lance would not move…and that Shiho's attacking foot remains in contact with the lance long enough for it to burst into fire. "AGH~~~~!"
"…!?" Chopper struggled under the Sky Priest gripped when he caught sight of something approaching from the sky.
That something was actually two things, one riding above the other. The one riding, once close enough, leapt towards Shura who, as if he knew it was coming, use his lance to block the attacker's lance. The attacking figure was…
"Thank you for waiting!" the person called.
"Sky Knight~~~~!" Chopper cried in joy.
"It's about time!" Shiho breathed a sigh of relief.
"Heh~, a rare guest~!" Shura smirked, "Gan Fall~!"
The moment Shura managed to break free of Gan Fall's initial clash, the aerial dogfight begins.
"…Are you alright, Chopper?" Shiho wondered as she inspects both her wounds and that of Chopper once she limps over.
"…Y-Yeah," Chopper nodded as he inspects his shoulder, "Although there's some minor burning, the tissues are too heavily torn by the weapon. No important tendon were damaged either…"
"… …Uh, sure~!" Shiho sweat dropped, "A simple 'I'm okay' would have suffice…"
"…You, on the other hand have some severe burnings in several areas, especially around your foot region…"
"…As expected of an All-Star doctor," Shiho sighed as she watches Chopper immediately attends to her injuries, "… …Wait, shouldn't you worry about yourself first?"
"My wounds are rather light compare to yours…"
"I guess…besides, I want to get back into battle as soon as I can…"
"Uh, we should probably leave this to the Sky Knight!"
"Are you sure?" Shiho gave Chopper a skeptical look as she pointed to the dogfight that was still going on above them, "Shura doesn't look too worry after he came in…"
"Uh…yeah~…but at the very least he seems to be doing better against him. If you jump in now, you'll probably just get in the way…"
Shiho grumbled before turning skyward as the two warriors of Sky Island continue their dogfight before sighing in resignation. Chopper was right; even from the ground Shiho could tell that both of their skills are on the same level…much higher than her own current level. The amount of time it took Shiho to get in some of her own attacks against Shura, Gan Fall had managed ten times the amount easily. Even if she has the passion to fight on, even if she has the courage to enter that evenly matched fight, just as Chopper said, she would've only get in the way or even make things harder for the Sky Knight to fight.
It was pathetic…really pathetic, as Shiho would put it. Back in her own world, she had all the confidence to face any opponent and emerge victorious. It didn't matter whether it was the Esper-hating Terrorist the Normal People or even the Mastermind behind P.A.N.D.R.A Hyoubu Kyousuke, as long as she can assess the situation—no, as long as she has her esper power, she can always find some way to win.
She is one of the strongest esper in the world; she has seen the darker and uglier side society and humanity since the moment she became self-aware; of course others would not be able to match her.
But ever since she came here, it was as if her eyes, which have been closed in content at the illusion that she knew everything, were forcefully pried open time and time again. Crocodile of Arabasta; Smoker of the Marines; Shura the Sky Priest. They were unbelievably strong; so strong that it made her own knowledge of the world seems meager in comparison. Sure, Crocodile and Smoker weren't exactly in the realm of human strength, but Shura is human through and through and he easily toyed with her even after she exploit every arsenal in her possession; most importantly, none of her opponent were Espers, let alone High Level Esper. Despite that, she could not surpass them when back in her world being an Esper would be akin to being power—or rather a dangerous weapon.
"…My world… …is so small," Shiho muttered bitterly to herself, "Even though…I was on top, I thought…I thought I could be counted as one of the top. But now…"
"…? Shiho?" Chopper tilted his head as he finishes his treatment only to not receive the praise he was expecting. Instead, he finds a rather discourage Shiho watching the fight between two warriors.
"… …Why," Shiho muttered bitterly to herself, not registering Chopper's concern, "Why couldn't I see it before? Why only now do I realize… …how utterly helpless I am…?"
Meanwhile, Gan Fall and Shura continue their aerial dogfight with their respectful flying steed.
"A strong opponent," Gan Fall commented after their tenth bouts, "He is well trained. We must fight harder, Pierre!"
Pierre cawed in acknowledgement as it dives at Shura and Fuza.
"An old man like you is useless!" Shura sneered on top of Fuza, "Let's just play with him, Fuza!"
Fuza cawed in acknowledgement it soars its way towards Gan Fall and Pierre.
The two fly steed race at each other with determination, as if playing chicken to see who would bail out first. At the last possible second, as if realizing that neither was going to back down, the two alters their course just slightly to avoid collision. Their riders, on the other hand, use that one brief moment that they were in range to engage in a short but fast fury of attacks, most being parry by the other's attack.
"Die~~~!" Shura exclaimed as he try to squeeze in one more attack.
"Yell all you like!" Gan Fall huffed; by the time Shura attacked he and Pierre has already flown out of range.
"This island doesn't need two Gods~~!" Shura roared as he stirs Fuza to meet Gan Fall and Pierre head on again.
The two clash again, but somehow this time Gan Fall managed to unbalance Shura atop Fuza. By the time Shura recovered, Gan Fall was no longer in sight. Sensing the Sky Knight behind him, he swung his lance widely behind him, but even after it hit Gan Fall's gloves he didn't receive any damages. Gan Fall in response shoved the hand that had received the attack closer to the Sky Priest's face. Unable to react in time, Shura was blasted away by some unseen force from Gan Fall's outstretch hand.
"Oh~~~~!" Chopper cheered in awe, "Sky Knight~~~~!"
Shura was knocked off Fuza and began to fall towards the Sea Clouds. Fortunately for him, Fuza quick flew down to catch his master on its back.
Shiho clicked her tongue. "Damn! So close! If he had just fallen into the water, this mess would be over…"
"It's alright, Shiho," Chopper cheered, "The Sky Knight got him once, he can do it again!"
"That certainly would be nice," Shiho gave a nervous chuckled.
But she knew better by now. Up until this point, both fighters were evenly matched…but that's only because Shura wasn't taking Gan Fall so seriously and the fact that Gan Fall has a surprising amount of energy for an old man. But that's just it: Gan Fall is old and that high amount of spirit might not be able to last much longer if the fight is prolong. The other thing is…
"We need to finish this, Pierre!" Gan Fall called to Pierre, who responded with an enthusiastic cawing as he ready to propel himself towards their enemy again.
"You bastard!" Shura, who had recovered, snarled in anger, "You know that you are a criminal too! Why have you come here!? Foolish thing, I will show you my anger towards the foolish! By the Trail of Strings~~~~!"
…Shura, like any human, isn't someone who is content to playing around while allowing himself to get beat up. More than likely, this now is when the true fight between the two would really begin.
With burning heat from the desire to fulfill his obligation to the one who blew the One Whistle or from the desire to slay the enemy who invades Upper Yard and dare inflicts damages onto his person, Gan Fall and Shura continuous clash furiously whenever their steeds brings them close enough to each other.
As if responding to their riders' enthusiasm, Pierre and Fuza twist and turn in the air to pass by each as often as possible to the point where both Shiho and Chopper from the Sacrificial Altar would wonder if they are even doing anything more than just circling each other.
That was the least of their concern as with every clash, Shura and Gan Fall's images would blur almost as if they just faze out of visual plane; in reality they were both fighting each other at superhuman speed which made them briefly invisible to the naked eye.
"I don't think I'm able to bargain with you," Gan Fall noted, bruised from his numerous clashes with the Sky Priest.
"Hah," Shura sneered, also rather beaten up from his clashes with the Sky Knight, "You're still lukewarm!"
"W-What a battle," Shiho noted as the two charged at each other again.
With every clash, the two combatants would disappear from her eyes. Instead, her ears would receive a jumble of weapon-colliding sounds that ratter throughout the area; shockwaves would be generated from the area the two would have been at. They would partway briefly before the cycle repeats.
And here Shiho was, witnessing all of this. She was shivering as she watches, but it was not out of fear. Under normal circumstances, Shiho would claim she was shivering in excitement, but this was not such a circumstance. Shiho could feel it with every moment Shura and Gan Fall clash: both were fighting with all their might…with the intent to slay their adversary.
It was those intents, communicated through their very action, that Shiho felt that cause her to shiver. It was from neither fear or excitement…it was tension of the battlefield where only Gan Fall and Shura danced on.
"Ugh," Shura staggered a bit from the injury he just sustain from his most recent.
"…!?" Gan Fall, meanwhile, staggered roughly on Pierre's back as both are suddenly frozen midair, "My body…! Suddenly…won't move!?"
"…!? W-What happen!?" Chopper noted in confusion, "Why did the Sky Knight stop moving!?"
"I don't know," Shiho admitted in the same manner, "But by the way he and Pierre are moving, it's like they're caught in something…!"
"Finally reached your limit, eh?" Shura smirked before he and Fuza charged at the seemly stuck Sky Knight and his steed.
"Why you villain!" Gan Fall struggled to move his body, "What did you do to me!?"
"There is no need to answer a dying man~~~~!" Shura sent forth his jousting lance.
"…!? Look out~~~~!" Shiho called out in concern. But even as she calls out…
"Behold the amazing Trial of String~~~!" Shura stabbed through Gan Fall, setting his body ablaze.
"GAN FALL~~~~!"
"SKY KNIGHT~~~!" Chopper wailed as Gan Fall fell towards the Sea Clouds.
"…In the Upper Yard," Gan Fall managed as he fell, "watch out for the Four Sky Priests' dangerous trials…make me a promise…in memory of those defeated… …defeat God Enel… … …oh youngster from far below…"
"No~~~!" Shiho and Chopper jumped in after the Gan Fall.
"…Ah-! Chopper!" Shiho, "You idiot! Now I have to save you too~~~!"
"…!?" Chopper comically gawked in realization, "I'm sorry~~~~!"
Shiho clicked her tongue as Chopper who was closer to the Sea Cloud fell in first. And in the corner of her eyes, she caught glimpse of Shura striking Pierre and sending him into the Sea Cloud as well.
"Great~!" Shiho hissed as she hit the Sea Clouds, "Now I got three on hand…"
Meanwhile, the expedition group that set off from the Sacrificial Altar had finally decided to stop and rest at the base of one of the giant tree. While Zoro and Robin remain on the ground, Nami had decided to climb the tree to get a relative bird's eye view of the area.
As she uses her binocular to survey the scene around her, she suddenly froze in startle as her vision caught sight of something. It caught her so off-guard, she didn't even register Robin and Zoro calling up to her.
"…No way," Nami muttered in shock, "Could this be-!?"
Shiho: "So~… …What happen~~?"
Normama: "I am so~ sorry! My Father got tired of our current internet service so he turned off our connection to the internet. It was only yesterday when we finally got a new internet service, but since it was new there was a couple of disturbance that made the connection a bit uneasy to use for an extensive period of time. From all of that, I decided to wait until today to update…"
Aoi (thinking): "Your reason… … …is logical, I guess…"
Shiho (smirking): "Well, at least this time I managed to hog most of the spotlight…
Aoi: "Yeah, yeah~! But the next chapter is all Kaoru and me again!"
Shiho (rolling eyes): "Whatever~!"
Kaoru: "Hey, Normama! What did Nami see at the end?"
Normama: "Sorry, Kaoru. No spoilers! Maybe you'll find out in the next chapter…"
Kaoru: "Good point! So everyone, please wait patiently for the next chapter. R&R in the meantime~!"