Chapter 10 - Ocean Guide
Shing! Clang! Ting!
Zoro's swords were unrelenting as he struck blow after blow at his blue haired opponent. They were fighting in a volcanic pit. The heat of the volcano was coming through the floors but the rocks stayed solid at their feet. They were surrounded by hardened lava that seemed to have solidified while it was shot up in the air. The rocks were tall and almost tree like.
It wasn't the environment that was making this fight somewhat difficult for Zoro, though. Just based on her swordsmanship, he would've been able to defeat her easily but her Devil Fruit power added an annoying component to their match. He had to constantly be wary and avoid her touch.
"Modo Modo!" she shouted, touching large rocks that stood on each side of Zoro. They reverted back to their lava state and started to melt down on him.
Zoro grunted and quickly used his air slices to create an opening around him. The liquid rock flung to the sides and it sizzled on the ground. "Is that all you can do?" he taunted, "I thought for someone who trained with the Know It All, you'd put up more of a fight."
"You know nothing about me!" Ain snapped as she quickly backflipped away from Zoro. As her hands touched the floor, they turned into lava so that Zoro could not run after her. He launched himself into the air, kicked off of more tall rocks, and catapulted himself after her. "And don't compare me to that hypocrite!"
Zoro smirked and his two swords collided against her two daggers. They landed onto the ground but Zoro's force pushed her back. She dug her feet into the ground and glared at him. "I am nothing like him."
"Ah," Zoro agreed as he jumped back just in time to avoid her purple glowing hand coming for his chest. "You're right. You're just a copy cat. A sorry replica of the Know It All."
"Shut up!" Ain said throwing her daggers at Zoro, who avoided them with ease. She ran backwards as she pulled out two guns and shot at him continuously.
Zoro walked after her at a brisk pace. He sliced through the bullets without even breaking stride. He was taking his time, like a cat toying with his prey.
"He was the one who told me to stick to my beliefs," Ain shouted angrily, "And now look at him. He's turned his back on the king he swore to protect. He's a pirate who brings nothing but death and sorrow to everyone. He's a humiliation to the Beffi Army and to King Tannenbay."
Zoro's eyes glinted red and he shot off towards Ain. His whole demeanor had changed from toying to full on attacking. HIs bloodlust was raging and he steadied his three swords. "Santoryu! Blue Dragon..." The aura around him turned blue and formed into a powerful dragon as he sliced through Ain. "Running Water!"
She gasped and collapsed onto the ground. Zoro turned to look at her and took the sword out of his mouth. Her eyes were widened from her surprise to be alive. "Why didn't you kill me?" she gasped.
She tried to push herself off the ground but her arms gave out and she fell back down.
"I promised the Know It All I wouldn't kill you," Zoro said. He sheathed his swords and glared down at her. "The person you accused of bringing death and sorrow just spared your life."
Ain struggled to respond but then she passed out.
"Tch," Zoro said to himself as he removed the bandana on his head and tied it back on his arm, "I hope the Know It All is a better sparring partner than this. I didn't even have to go all out."
He stuck his hands in his pockets and made his way over the volcano with a sigh. "I wonder if that Ero-Cook has finished his fight."
"Ahhhhh!" Nami cried as her chest expanded and her body grew taller.
"Whoah!" Usopp shouted as he watched her skirt get a bit fuller too.
"Rei-san, have you fully changed?" Brook asked politely.
"Of course I have," Rei said, "I'm back to my full height now. Why do you ask?"
"Well, there seems to be no difference in your chest area…" Brook said.
Kyang!
Zoro's fist connected with Brook's afro and a huge lumped formed under his black hair. "Idiot," Zoro said, "Be careful of where you're looking."
"Ah but how can I-" Brook started to say.
"Yes, you don't have eyeballs! We know!" Zoro snapped before the skeleton could finish his joke.
Still Brook laughed since Zoro was able to deliver the punchline for him. "Yohohohoho!"
Usopp slapped Zoro on the back in a cheerful attitude. "Oy, Zoro! I'm surprised to see you here! I didn't think you'd come this fast. We thought you might get lost or wander towards…" Usopp's voice trailed off with one glare from the swordsman.
"I felt like this was the direction I should be going and I stuck to it," Zoro said with a shrug, "Is that too hard to believe?"
"Yes," Usopp, Nami, and Chopper said deadpanned.
"Oy! What kind of attitude is that?!" Zoro snapped.
"Oy! Nami-swan! Robin-chwan! I'm okay, you can stop worrying about me now," Sanji yelled from the distance as he ran over to them.
"Oh, there's Sanji," Rei said and she waved to the cook, "Now all that's left is Luffy."
She turned her attention to the edge of the ridge where they were all standing and started to walk over. She stopped suddenly when she realized how tight her shorts were on her adult body. It wasn't the fit that bothered her but the length. Her black shorts cut right at the top of her thigh and she felt exposed. She gave a gentle tug on the sides to maybe extend the length a bit but it wouldn't budge. She frowned down at her legs.
Suddenly, Sanji walked over with his black feathered coat draped over his arm. "Rei-chan, do you want to use my coat?"
"Oy, you shitty cook, no one wants to wear your stupid feathers," Zoro barked.
"I'm trying to help out a lady!" Sanji retorted back. "Why don't you learn some manners, you dumb cave man?!"
"Are you trying to start a fight?" Zoro shouted and walked past Rei towards Sanji, "Because I'm ready to go!" He took off his coat, flung it at Rei and he reached for his swords. The coat flew towards Rei and covered her head in a giant heap. Rei quickly pulled the heavy fabric off her face and looked at Zoro in confusion. Sanji raised an eyebrow but said nothing. They glared at each other for a second before Zoro broke away and turned his annoyance at Rei. "Well?! Do you need a jacket or not?!"
Rei was startled but she still willingly draped the coat over her shoulders. It was definitely too large for her but the length reached to her ankles. "Thank-"
"Tch," Zoro interrupted and brushed her gratitude to the side, "It was too confining for me anyways."
"Guys! Focus!" Nami yelled with her back turned to the group. There wasn't any anger in her voice though. Instead it was filled with concern for what was happening below them. "Luffy," Nami whispered.
Over the ridge and in the pit below, Luffy locked in an intense battle with Z. This pit was much larger than the one Zoro and Ain had fought in. In fact it almost looked like a valley of rock and lava. Luffy's fists were bleeding. There were scratches and bruises all over his body and Z, himself, looked pretty beat as well.
"Ahhhhh! Z!" Luffy charged forward, his fist coated in Armament Haki, as he slammed it into Z's left arm. The pieces of Z's metal arm broke off and the large gun that wrapped around his arm fell to the ground, leaving only his arm and metal hand.
The impact of their blows sent shockwaves throughout the mountain and exploding a few of the Dyna Stones. Nami winced and covered her head with her hands. Majority of the Dyna Stones remained untouched and Rei breathed a small sigh of relief.
She felt a powerful energy above them. Rei lifted her head and saw Aokiji standing at the top of a crest across from them. He was watching the battle with just as much intensity as they were. Rei could've sworn she saw a small smile on his lips too. She looked to the other side and saw Binz and Ain standing on a ledge, watching over their master.
"I will...I will do it!" Luffy shouted, "I will become the Pirate King!" He raised his fists, which were coated in Armament Haki all the way to his elbows.
"My name…." Z shouted back, "...My name is Z!"
Z's fist connected with Luffy's face but then Luffy punched his stomach and then his jaw.
"Arrrrgghhh!" Luffy shouted as he unleashed another punch but he dropped to his knees at the last second from exhaustion and his fist weakly collided with Z's stomach.
Z smirked but then he fell backwards onto the ground. The fight was over.
"I…," Z gasped, "I've gotten old. What a shame. That fun moment ended so quickly."
Sanji let out a long stream of smoke from his cigarette, "Whew. Frankly, that battle ended right on time. What a close call."
"Luffy!" Usopp, Chopper, and Nami shouted excitedly as they raced down the side to get to their captain.
Chopper hugged Luffy with such force that he was knocked backwards. Usopp caught him just in time and helped him back up on his feet.
"Hey guys!" Luffy said with a laugh.
"Master Z!" Ain called from the other side of the plateau. She and Binz had rushed from their ledge.
"Ain...Binz…" Z said as he got up on his feet, "Forgive me...for giving you so much work."
"I...I…." Ain's eyes filled with tears. "I'm just happy to see that you're alright."
"Zoro…" Rei said under her breath as she pulled out her daggers, looking up at the peak of the volcano..
"Ah," Zoro responded, taking out his swords.
"Rei? Zoro?" Robin asked, noticing their movements.
"We've got company," Rei said glaring upwards.
The Straw Hats gasped as they saw they were surrounded by marines along the tops of the volcano with Admiral Kizaru leading them along with many of the leading figures of the Navy, who were all Z's disciples. "Ah, seems everyone's all here!" Kizaru shouted down delightedly, "It's a shame that the Straw Hat and Master Zephyr are almost dead but seeing you're all going to die anyway, it's the same."
Z scoffed and walked forward. "Looks like you brought everyone."
"Master Z!" Ain cried after him but he ignored her.
"At the end, I did what I wanted," Z replied without looking back, "Now, I have to pay the price for doing what I wanted or I wouldn't be able to face the ones that went before me. Straw Hat Luffy, you have your own adventure, don't you? Leave the rest with me...Z!"
"Old man!" Luffy cried, "What are you doing?!"
Ain ran for her master, "No, Master! Please, don't do this. Please, just-"
Suddenly, a wall of ice formed in front of her. It reached from one side of the canyon to another, blocking the Straw Hats from Z and the Marines. The thick wall of ice reached to the tops of the volcano and encased all the Dyna Stones as well.
Rei looked up towards at Aokiji and Zoro followed her stare. "What's he doing here?" Zoro growled.
"He's giving Z the death that he wants," Rei murmured.
"Master!" Ain cried pounding the wall of ice, "Master! Master!"
Everyone fell silent as they all listened to the terrifying explosions and cries from the other side of the ice. The sounds of a frightening battle shook through them. It sounded as though the marines were clashing against an army instead of just one man. Every moment of silence was filled with anxiety until the cries of Z would rise again, signaling that he was still alive but everyone knew it was just a matter of time.
"Master…" Ain whimpered as she collapsed on her knees and buried her face in her hands.
"The sea watches us quietly, guiding us through our death and our birth..."
Ain froze in her tracks and she turned to look at Rei. Even the Straw Hats were looking at her, unsure of what she was doing. Up on the ridge, Aokiji, who had turned to walk away also stopped in his tracks.
"From humble hometown waters, to the waves at the end of the earth," Rei continued to sing as she approached Ain. Rei helped Ain back on her feet, while Ain continued to sob.
"The sea carries us carefully, through the dark of night and light of day.."
The Straw Hats looked up to see Aokiji join in Rei's song. Their voices echoing and bouncing off the icy walls. "All our pain and suffering, it swallows up in its warm embrace, so knowingly and gently, washes them all away..."
Rei fell silent as she let Aokiji take the last line for his mentor and master. "There will come a day, I'm sure, when I must heed its solemn call, and walk side by side with my old friends, resting in its foamy waters."
Silence fell with distant sounds of battle continued from the other side of the ice wall. Rei handed Ain over to Binz, who was weeping loudly. "I've buried too many people in my life," Rei said, "To know that this is not a death to cry over. To be able to end on your own terms is a blessing not given to many people like us."
"You're not one of us," Ain snapped at Rei, "You're nothing like us."
"I told you before," Rei said solemnly, "The sea is a battleground and all it cares about is your strength and your will, regardless if you are marine or a pirate. And you don't have to be either to help people."
She rummaged into her utility belt and pulled out a small chess piece carved out of wood. She handed it to Ain. "If you are still the girl I first met, then you will take this piece and give it to King Tannenbay. He'll know it's from me."
Ain looked down at the knight in her hand and she looked up at Rei with a mix of confusion and anger. "What am I supposed to do with this?"
"I believe there's an open position for a Commander back home," Rei said and she closed Ain's hand over the chess piece, "And they could use some help."
Ain looked up at Rei in surprise but Rei had already turned her back to them and was walking away with the rest of the Straw Hats.
A/N: Thank you to BethxAngel for suggesting I use the song in the story and sending me the Ocean Guide lyrics. Wanted to give you credit at the beginning of the chapter but didn't want to spoil it ;) Thank you again!