Chapter 56
Pirates of the New Age

An umpteenth whine pierced the air. It had escaped the girl's mouth as she felt her limbs going painfully numb, her vain struggle in a net of vines only causing the indigenous ties to entangle her body tighter than before. Hearing footfalls closing in, Eli hastened her strive. Grumbles and wailing accompanying her jerks and kicks, her south bird was looking at the reckless girl questioningly.

"What are you trying to do, I wonder ?" a very familiar voice asked from behind her.

Tilting his head to the side, Ace observed the girl and the very odd position her skinny body was in. Bonded a few centimeters above the ground by the natural cordage; she resemble a broken puppet.

At a loss for words, Eli struggled harder, yet very ineffectively, her hands going blue from the lack of oxygen in her veins. Her face, however, flushed scarlet as she could feel the young man's dark eyes gliding over her enslaved body.

Ever since she had managed to leave the flame user's tender embrace, finding her crewmates was Eli's top priority. But despite her want, her urge to find them as soon as possible, it seemed that her body wished to stay alone with Ace, by all means possible; her feet treacherously getting caught in almost all of the passing vines, rocks, and roots, her eyes blind to the trunks and spider's web that stood in her way...

She undoubtedly looked extremely stupid.

With a deep sigh, the flame user unsheathed his dagger and swiftly cut the vines. Eli gasped as she hit the ground roughly.

"Thanks..." she mumbled.

Rubbing her aching arms, Eli felt blood rushing again, pins and needles biting her flesh. However she didn't have time to linger there, she had to find her crewmates and put an end to the awkward tête-a-tête. Hastily, she stood up and forced her wobbly legs into a stride.

In her hand, her south bird rolled his eyes making Eli glare at the judgmental bird, and through his little orbs, she could almost read his reproaches.

"You ask him to stay with you and now you flee him like the plague...? Make up your mind !"

Eli huffed and promptly disregarded the bird.

It was true, though. She had previously requested Ace's presence to her side, always, the memory of the degree of intimacy of the demand causing the girl to slap herself inwardly and quite repeatedly, and even if he hadn't expressively concurred, the young man was there and his company was hard, so hard on her now that she had realized the loving feelings she held for him.

Seeing him, hearing him, sensing him so close to her, seemed unbearable. Eli wanted to flee, she wanted to hide, kicking the ground with her heels, she had hastened her pace many times. However, despite her several escape attempts; she had yet to leave him behind. Once distance was created between herself and the young man, a pain would swell inside of her chest, and, distracted from her course, the chronicler would end up tripping on any obstacle that stood in her way; Ace joining her a few seconds later, helping her out of any pinch she was in, every time.

In his stares and sighs, Eli read the confusion and the annoyance. They felt like stings in her heart yet she couldn't, she wouldn't tell him what was going through her mind. Impossible, unbearable, for her acceptance of those feelings was yet to be considered.

Distracted once more, the girl stepped in a puddle of slime. Slapping her forehead, she felt herself slowly sinking in the mud.

"Shut up..." Eli muttered, looking at the south bird who was once more judging her through his little, mischievous orbs.

Ace quickly caught up with her, and watching the girl stuck in slime for the third time in less than an hour, the young man couldn't seem to contain his laughs anymore. Maybe their cause was this stupid running gag, or maybe it was because of the mortified look on her flushed face. Regardless of his reasons, his laughs were warm and unrestrained.

Since her dreadful epiphany, the flame user had been awfully quiet. He had been considerate and helpful, but not once had he looked into her eyes like he used to. Not once had he smiled at her, and now that he was laughing, even if he was laughing at her, Eli felt warmth and affection lighting up inside of her. His laughter filled her ears, her soul, and the girl found herself gazing at the joyous face of her new-found love interest.

He was arrogant, his flashy hat, his shirt left open showing his muscular body, and the ostentatious accessories he sported on him made sure that he wouldn't go unnoticed through the thickest crowds. He was childish, his boyish freckles and his hearty laughter were perfect proof of that. He was strong, he was warm, he was handsome. His deep voice, his shaggy raven hair, his slightly tanned skin... everything on him made her heart pound as if she could see him for the first time. He was like a sunny day of summer. And while she was dazzled by all of his charming and radiant features, a smile on her face, Eli understood.

That was why. That was the very reason why she had fallen in love with him. The warm joy emanating from every bit of him; he made her happy. It was simple and amazing at the same time.

His laughing fit gradually fading, Ace reached out his hand to help the girl out of the pinch she was in.

Taken aback, as she had completely forgotten about the slime, Eli startled and stared at his hand, his large and probably deliciously warm hand. With a hard swallow, the girl tried to unwind her trembling insides.

"Come on, I won't bite you," he said with an amused tone of voice, reaching out a bit further.

Eli clenched her hand nervously and, glad to feel that it wasn't sweaty, stretched out her arm. Blood throbbing in her sensitive fingertips, her skin brushed against his and the exquisite touch made her heartbeats increase instantly.

Awwwwww...

Her insides melted, squished, and moaned in delight as the young man curled his fingers around hers; warmth splashing over her heart on the spot. A large grin on his face, Ace tightened his grip and pulled her slowly out of the slime.

On second thought, Eli reckoned that being with him wasn't so bad. The two of them hanging out around here just a little longer even seemed like a very lovely idea and that in spite of the insects, the dark night, and the dangerous sounds emanating from every bush.

Yet, it appeared that luck wasn't on her side since at the very moment Eli decided not to find the other pirates, the sound of Nami's yelling reached their ears. The two pirates soon found one, then two and all the groups that had dispersed through the forest, and every last one of them welcomed Eli like the messiah seeing that she had captured a south bird, putting an end to their perilous quest in the wicked forest filled with even more wicked insects.

All the while, the chronicler found herself continuously peeking at Ace. Watching him walking, talking, laughing... all with an unexpected interest. It seemed that a part of her wanted to treasure his every breath inside of her mind. It was only when her eyes met his that she managed to snap out of her daze and realize what she was doing.

Stop that ! Her face flushed with embarrassment, Eli squeezed her eyelids shut.

She was aware of how creepy she was and hated herself for that. But she couldn't stop it; released at long last, her loving feelings for Ace were taking the control of her mind and body. She was a slave of her love. Completely powerless against her cravings for every bit of him.

However, when they returned victorious from their dangerous expedition, Eli was definitely jerked out of her daze in a quite terrible way. Walking over to Monblanc's house, the pirates found that the chestnut-man had been attacked while they were gone. The Merry was heavily damaged too, its mast and its prow detached from the ship.

Luffy and Ace tried to make Montblanc tell them about the aggressors, but the man did not say a thing, pretending that it wasn't important and that the pirates' trip to sky island was the main priority.

"LUFFY !" Nami called out urgently. "The gold... it was taken !"

The gold... It wasn't just gold; it was Montblanc's dream, the result of a ten years long quest, the cause for his illness, his precious treasure... Eli felt an impulse pound inside of her; wherever the criminals were, she would hunt them down, and seeing Luffy's eyes she knew he was sharing the same urge.

Even if Montblanc kept secret the identity of his aggressors, Zoro found the mark they left on a tree near his house; a crossed-out smiley face grinning widely. A pride mark probably, but they were going to regret this, bitterly. Apparently Luffy, Nami and the swordsman had already met the crew to whom the mark belonged, it was the ones who claimed to be the pirates of a 'New Age', the ones who despised dreams; Bellamy's pirates, and they were stationed in Mock Town, the town were the Straw Hats had set foot earlier that day.

Luffy and Eli exchanged a knowing nod, and without wasting any more time, the young captain jumped on his crewmate's back.

"You only have till dawn !" Nami said harshly.

"We'll be back way before dawn," Eli said with a self-confident smirk on her face.

"Let's go," Luffy said while holding his straw hat.

One split second later they were gone with a powerful gust of wind. Eli ran along the coast, she was careful in not using all of her energy, even though she was more than impatient to give the dreamless pirates a lesson, because she might have to fight too, and then have enough stamina for the way back.

All the while Luffy was silent, but she could feel the rage burning constantly inside of him, because she shared the same feeling. What that Bellamy did was unforgivable, he could mock their dreams as much as he wanted, but stealing Montblanc's treasure was something else. Eli couldn't help but feeling guilty, if she had gone back faster instead of wasting her time obsessing over Ace, the pirates might have been able to stop him before he could even lay a hand on their comrades.

Yet, turning those possibilities over in her mind was utterly useless. If she wanted to make things right, she only had to focus on her course and bring Luffy to the aggressors. Seeing Mock Town appearing in the distance, Eli felt Luffy's embrace tightening. The teenager was restless and impatient to get Montblanc's treasure back, she sped up, and appeared right in the middle of the main street.

"Thanks Eli." Luffy got off her back and propelled himself on the roof of the tallest building in sight.

"BELLAMY !" he called out, his voice was so loud that Eli wouldn't be surprised if the Straw Hats heard him as well.

Standing in front of a tavern, Eli turned her head in the direction of squeaking hinges. A man stood there and blasted a glare at her. He was medium sized, had a tanned skin, and unkempt blond hair. He wore a navy blue pirate coat over his large shoulders.

"Bellamy, I guess," Eli said disdainfully. "My captain is looking for you." She pointed Luffy standing on the top of the roof and a sneer appeared on the man's face as his eyes met with the teen's.

"Do you have something to say to me ?" Bellamy asked, a dark frown on his face.

"Yes," Luffy said. "Return the gold you stole from diamond-head mister."

"Gold ! That old Cricket's treasure ?" Bellamy's legs turned into spring and he performed an amazing jump to join Luffy on the rooftop. "It's my loot as a pirate, and you're a pirate too. You don't have the right to say stuff like that to me."

His tone of voice was obvious mocking, but despite that and the scornful look on his face as he looked at Luffy, the young captain did not show any sign of fear.

Eli looked around as the main street of Mock Town quickly filled with dozens of people, looking eagerly upwards at the two pirates' confrontation.

Vultures...

"Yes I do," he stated calmly. "They are my friends, so I will take the gold back."

Bellamy laughed loudly, mockingly. His laughter resembled those of a sadistic, causing Eli's impatience to shoot up. A scornful look on her face, she clenched her fists to keep her rage inside.

"Can you even fight ?" he taunted. "Do you know how to throw a punch ?"

Luffy remained silent, no matter how many times Bellamy taunted him, no matter how insulting he was, the teenager just stood there, an unreadable look on his face. Eli was extremely impressed by his self-control; if it was her, she would have probably already lost it and went berserk.

"What can a trash like you do ?" Bellamy said loudly, and used his spring-legs to jump onto another roof, destroying the one they were on with the power of his propulsion. "I will destroy you in an instant !"

With maddened eyes, Bellamy launched himself at high speed toward Luffy who evaded the powerful attack at the last moment.

The crowd was amazed to see Luffy getting up, yet Eli didn't even bother to look if he was okay as she focused on Bellamy and took great delight in watching his surprise when the teenager stood up, unharmed.

With an insane laugh resonating throughout, the town Bellamy propelled himself from one building to another rapidly. The crowd looked upwards in awe as they searched for him, but Eli could see his every movement clearly. His jumps were random, and an utter waste of energy in her opinion. He was apparently trying to show off, but Luffy didn't budge. Eli was sure of it, he could see as clearly as her, after all he had trained with the fastest being in the world.

"That old man and those monkeys are idiots just like you !" Bellamy yelled. "Golden city... Sky Island... The age for daydreams is over !"

Luffy raised his hand slowly. "You asked if I know how to punch, right ?"

"FAREWELL STRAW HAT KIDDO !"

Bellamy charged straight toward Luffy, and Eli saw the look on his face, the devious face of a mad man driven by blood-lust. She saw Luffy's fist as he hurled it into Bellamy's scornful face, he didn't even use his ability.

Just a punch.

to be continued

Betaed by Fox MC.

Sooooo... What do you think of Eli's reaction to her love epiphany ?
Apparently she is suffering from extreme clumsiness and stupidity...
Sadly, those are the effects one-sided love can have on some of us.

Luffy was so damn cool during this fight, I hope I managed to renew its epicness !

See you on Monday my friends :)

ps : I got TWO gifts from Daddy's Little Bloodsucker ! Thank you :D
You can see them on my profile.