Well then, here's a oneshot after not writing a long time. That being said, this was an excerpt of a story that I wanted to write a long long time ago.(Admittedly, it was ambitious at best but it was a very confusing plot) Anyway, I don't think I'll ever write that one but this one seemed appropriate for a short scene. I hope you enjoy :)
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Luffy cursed under his breath. His first mate had gone back to face Akainu. It was becoming more and more like that day almost 3 years ago. He skidded to a halt and turned to the fighting pair. It was obvious that Zoro was losing. Of course, they had been fighting non-stop with very powerful opponents for hours now. Not only that, he has received some powerful blows from the fight with that other admiral.
Luffy felt very happy when his crew came to save him but also hoped that they didn't come. He was grateful enough that Zoro wasn't captured and executed as he thought. Luffy didn't think twice to save him despite the possibility that it could have been a plot to lure him, the Pirate King when they parted ways. He already lost a brother and he wasn't about to lose another one especially one who believed in him the most.
In a flash, Luffy got in between Akainu and Zoro, his eyes gleaming hot in anger. He pushed Zoro back so that he was sitting on the ground.
"Luffy!"
"I told you to retreat!" He barked but Zoro merely glared back.
"We need to finish him now!"
"I'd like to see you try," Akainu said as he shot a ball of magma toward them with the speed of a bullet.
Luffy's mind froze in that second where the magma landed right beside his leg. Even after all of these years, he had nightmares of magma burning through Ace's body and then the nightmares started to include Sabo too. He could feel from behind another ball of magma heading in their direction, much bigger, hotter, and definitely faster. Luffy frowned as he turned to Zoro; he didn't have the time to pick him up and avoid the attack. But then, he saw his first mate's expression and he found himself not caring anymore.
He knew what Zoro was thinking. Luffy did not doubt Zoro that he would sacrifice his life for him much like Ace did. There were a number of times when he had sacrificed himself to protect Luffy and so why would he stop now?
As if he'll let that happen. Never again.
Zoro looked at his captain who had his eyes on the molten lava beside them cautiously. A speck of red appeared in the corner of his eye and it was approaching faster than the previous one. Zoro didn't have the time to tell Luffy whose eyes still locked onto the molten lava. Neither did he have the time to use his swords to block it.
Time slowed down for Zoro. The next ball of magma was approaching fast, way bigger and hotter than the last one. All of his ideas were being duped because of the lack of time,
except one.
It was to push Luffy away from him just in time for the magma to hit him instead of his best friend. Zoro didn't like that plan. 'Fire Fist' Ace was already taken away from him and he was about to sacrifice himself in the same way that had traumatized Luffy even after all these years. But what was he supposed to do? Everyone's too far to help and he wasn't about to let the man he set off to save die in front of him because then all of the effort would've been for naught.
Zoro cursed himself. Despite already being the best swordsman, he can't be faster than a mere ball of magma. Why can't he be even stronger than this? Whatever… He'll do this so that the Pirate King, Luffy, his captain, and his best friend would be able to live another day for more adventures. He had sacrificed himself many times for him why should he stop now?
He gathered all of his strength to give himself that one last push that would save his captain's life. Time started to speed up and the strength came flooding into his arms and he forced them out.
Zoro gave the strongest push of his life.
But nothing happened.
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.
.
.
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Amidst the roar of the battlefield, you could hear the cry of one man followed by many others.