Ch. 5- About My Torso
One Piece © Oda
Blizzard, Aika, Kumi, and Jupiter © Me
KABOOM! One of the volcanoes of Punk Hazard erupted, spontaneously, much to the shock of the G-5 men, who are wearing gas masks.
"Whoa! A volcanic eruption!" shouted one. "Standing here, on this island…it's like being caught in the gaze of both Akainu and Aokiji, themselves!"
"Brrrr~!" another shuddered. "Jeez…this place gives me the creeps!"
"Hey!" Smoker shouted. "Pay attention, you bunch of clods! We're about to run into an iceberg!"
"Right! Sorry, Smokey!" cried one of the G-5 soldiers.
"FIRE!" Tashigi ordered.
BOOM! The G-5 men fired their cannons at an iceberg, destroying and clearing a path for themselves. Soon, as the smoker cleared, they found themselves looking at an icy river.
"It's true!" said one of them. "We broke through the iceberg, and there really was a river behind it!"
"How'd you know there'd be a river behind the ice, Smokey?!" asked another.
"Pay more attention to the currents, you inattentive clods!" Smokey snapped. "The problem isn't the fact that there's a river behind the iceberg…it's whether the iceberg blocking the river was natural…or artificial."
"On an island practically filled with toxic gas?!" asked a soldier. "You think that someone lives here, Smokey?! You'd have to wear a mask your whole life!"
"But the person on the transmission we picked up said the name of the island," Tashigi pointed out.
"We must've heard it!" laughed a soldier. "I mean, look at this place! Even a Transponder Snail would shrivel up and die, here!"
The other soldiers laughed at this.
"You said it, brother! DAHAHAHAHA!"
"Silence!" Tashigi barked. "Stop your laughing and get to firing on the next iceberg, you halfwits!"
"Y-Yes, Cap'n!" the G-5 soldiers cried.
Not long after they said this, shelves of ice began to close in on them.
"Ah, crap!"
"Quick! Shoot 'em! Icebergs this big could crush our ship!"
XXX
But meanwhile, back on the burning side of Punk Hazard with Luffy's team, they had just made it to the lake. However, they suddenly found themselves hit with a cold breeze.
"Brrrr~!" Luffy shuddered as he began to put his cardigan back on. "Man, that's cold!"
"Talk about a blizzard!" Usopp exclaimed.
"Yes?" Blizzard asked.
"Not you, Blizzard," Luffy said. "He means the wind."
"Oh," Blizzard said.
"Well, naturally, with such an extreme swing temperatures on this island, it's bound to cause fierce winds," Robin noted.
"So how are we gonna get across this lake?" Usopp asked. "One half is burning and the other is icy!"
"Maybe the temperatures just right and we can take a little swim," Zoro pondered.
"ARE YOU NUTS?!" Usopp questioned.
"Don't forget that Robin and I can't swim," Luffy reminded while Robin imagined herself and Luffy sitting on Zoro and Usopp's backs while Blizzard swam along behind them, all laughing happily.
"I HOPE YOU'RE NOT EXPECTING US TO FERRY YOU TWO ACROSS ON OUR BACKS!" Usopp shouted. "Look, if you guys are really determined to cross this lake, then I've got just the thing! Everyone, stand clear!"
He then held up his Black Kabuto.
"Special Attack, Green Star! BOATY BANANA and FAN GRASS!"
POP! POP! Two Pop Greens were shot from the Black Kabuto, revealing a boat in the shape of a hollowed out banana and large grass in the shape of oars.
"Whoa! Cool!" Luffy said.
"Just like that time on Secon Island, only we're not running for our lives down an empty street from a volcanic explosion," Blizzard said.
"And this fan grass should make great oars!" Usopp said, snapping off some fan grass.
"You've got quite a collection of seeds, Usopp," Robin said. "How fascinating."
"Heh!" Usopp smirked. "The Bowin Islands I was on were a treasure trove of bizarre plants! And the closer I got to the dangerous heart of the island, the more useful the plants I found! I tell you, if I could survive THAT place, then there's no crisis I can't handle-"
"Hey, Usopp!" Luffy called, he, Zoro, Robin, and Blizzard already on the Boaty Banana. "Get on, already! Why are you talking to yourself?!"
"H-hey!" Usopp cried. "Wait for me!"
Soon, the Straw Hats are rowing across the flaming/freezing lake.
"Here we go!" Luffy exclaimed, "Ashimaro" still sticking to his backside. "Man oars! We're headed for the land of shave ice!"
"Will you get those hairy legs outta my face?!" Blizzard questioned.
"Luffy! You're supposed to be rowing, too, you jerk!" Usopp barked.
"Hey," Zoro said. "The water's boiling over here."
Robin just chuckled.
Soon, they were hit by a strong breeze.
"Whoa!" Usopp cried. "Heads up! We've got a headwind, here! A fierce one, too!"
"Shishishishishi!" Luffy laughed.
However, not long after they left the burning shore of the lake, a familiar paw stepped forward. It is revealed to be none other than the Leopard Centaur, who is still a bit bloodied up from his beating from Luffy.
"WAIT JUST ONE DAMN SECOND!" he roared before he threw something at the group. BLOOSH! The huge object is revealed to be a boulder, which ended up crashing into the lake, just barely missing Luffy and company!
"WHOA!" they all cried.
"Dammit!" Blizzard cursed. "What does that Centaur wannabe want now?!"
"What's up, big guy?!" Luffy called. "Do you wanna join my crew, after all?!"
"ARE YOU RECRUITING, AGAIN?!" Zoro, Usopp, and Blizzard barked. "STOP TRYING TO SIGN UP EVERY FREAK WE MEET!"
"Hmm-hmm-hmm," Robin chuckled under her breath.
Just then, PWOOO~! PWOOO~! PWOOO~! The Leopard Centaur started blowing what looked like a horn of some sort.
"What's he doing now?" Luffy asked.
"Looks like he's blowing a horn," Usopp said.
'…He's calling somebody,' Blizzard thought, 'but who?'
"BOSS!" shouted the Leopard Centaur. "The intruders are coming to your side! TAKE THEM ALL OUT!"
"D-did he say 'Boss'?!" Usopp questioned, remembering that the voice on the Transponder Snail was calling for their "boss".
At that moment, Robin spotted something on the icy side of the lake.
"Look there," she said. "On the other bank."
Soon, the Straw Hats looked and saw…a group of shadowy figures appearing from the snowy wind, one of them towering over the rest.
"Is that…their boss?!" Usopp questioned. "So the distress call we got was meant for THAT GUY?! In that case, they shouldn't be hostile to us for trying to help!"
Zoro glared, warily at the figures…who seemed to be glaring right back at him in particular.
"One of them has a katana," said the Boss. "He must be the samurai who cut down our kind."
XXX
Meanwhile, inside Dr. Vegapunk's former laboratory on the icy side, Team Nami is busy helping the children escaped.
"HACHAA! HWACHAA!" shouted Chopper, who is still in Kung-Fu Point. "This way, kids! Follow us if you wanna be free!"
Nami smiled as she ran while carrying Aika in her arms.
"Looks like Chopper's got the kids under control," she said.
"What kind of animal is Chopper?" Aika asked. "A raccoon dog?"
"He's a reindeer, sweetie," Nami said, "although people tend to call him a raccoon dog a lot."
'I can't see any difference,' Kumi thought.
"If he's a reindeer, how come he can talk and walk on two legs?" Aika asked.
"He ate a Devil Fruit," Nami said. "The Human-Human Fruit. It allowed him to switch back and forth between being a reindeer and a human, and it also gave him human speech."
"Oh," Aika said.
'A Devil Fruit, huh?' she thought as she watched Chopper. 'I wonder…if he's like me.'
"Sanji put me in charge of you guys! HOCHOO!" Chopper exclaimed. "That means I'm a man making a stand! HACHAA!"
"But where would be running to?" asked Nami.
"That's for you to figure out! WACHAA!" Chopper answered.
Nami sighed.
"It's surprising he's a doctor and yet, sometimes, he's not very bright," she muttered. "He's lucky he's adorable."
XXX
Meanwhile, in the Biscuits Room, Sanji and Franky are busy keeping the guards at bay.
"Weapons LEFT!" Franky shouted before he fired bullets from his left knuckles, shooting the guards. "GAHAHAHAA! SUUUUUPER!"
"Urgh…!" one of the guards groaned. "He's got his body outfitted with all kinds of weapons! He must be the one who blasted the door open!"
"Pack your poison rounds!" shouted another guard, holding a large bazooka. "The kids have all left the room! Show no mercy!"
"I don't think so, pal!"
WHAM! Sanji kicked the guard in the chin, so hard, he knocked his mask off!
"Why don't you take off those masks," he said with a malicious grin, "and enjoy the gas with us?!"
WHAK! WHAK! WHAK! With several more kicks, Sanji kicked off the guards' gas masks and their air tanks! However, in doing so, he revealed something shocking: the men in the masks had…curled-up horns on their heads…like sheep!
"Dammit!" shouted one of them. "He took out our air tanks and our masks! HEY! NO ONE SHOOT ANY GAS ROUNDS!"
"What the hell?!" Sanji questioned. "What ARE these people?! Sheep?!"
"Nrrrgh…agh!" the samurai suddenly grunted, as if he was struggling.
"What are you doing, guy?" Franky asked, confused.
"Haa…haa…who IS that?!" the samurai panted. "I cannot take him down, whoever it is!"
"What are you talking about?!" Franky asked.
"I'm not talking about me, you lout!" the samurai shouted. "I'm talking about my torso!"
"What?!" Franky questioned.
XXX
Outside the entrance to the Vegapunk's former laboratory, the sound of metal clanging against metal is heard, followed by startled shouts.
"My word!" Brook cried. "What in the world happened to your head and legs?! Just who exactly ARE you, sir?!"
It is revealed that Brook is in a swordfight…with the samurai's torso.
"Please, stop this! You're frightening me!" Brook shouted. "Say something, already! Are you a spirit?! In broad daylight?! What did I do to deserve this?! I was only making a snowman!"
Just then, the torso pushed itself up with just one arm and jumped off the ground, trying to hit Brook with the sword it was armed with, but luckily, the skeleton blocked it.
"Oh, I'm scared!" Brook cried. "He's so strong! How frightening!"
When the torso didn't answer (not that it could anyway), Brook had no choice but to fight back.
"Aubade COUP DROIT!" the skeleton shouted before he thrust his sword at the dismembered torso, which dodged his attack and revealed that it had not one but, but TWO swords, brandished!
"Oh, good heavens!" Brook cried as he ducked down to avoid a slash from one of the swords. "He uses two swords! YOHOHO!" He then stood back up while glaring angrily at the torso.
"See here! That is QUITE enough!" he shouted. "What reason do you have to fight me?!" He then turned and ran away. "Leave me ALONE, I say! You're much too scary for me!"
XXX
Meanwhile, inside the laboratory, a guard is seen talking to the Master…who, strangely, seemed to be swirling around in glass beakers and vials.
"I have an update on the battleship, Master," said the guard. "It's destroying the icebergs with its cannons and nearing the island!"
"What?!" the Master questioned. "Do those fools have certain knowledge of something?! Why else would they be so persistent in approaching?!"
"How should we react to them, Master?"
"There isn't supposed to be anyone here on this island. Don't let them see you! I cannot emerge, either!"
"Which would mean…"
The Master just remained quiet.
XXX
Outside the lab entrance, Smoker is seen, standing in front of the door, trying to ring the doorbell. BZZZT! BZZZZT! BZZZZZTT!
"I don't believe it!" said one of the G-5 men. "There's really no gas here!"
"Then what was all that poison gas, earlier, then?!" asked another.
"Someone obviously doesn't want us here," Smoker said, still ringing the doorbell.
"Then who in the hell is living here?!" shouted another soldier. "Come on outta there!"
BZZZT! Smoker kept on ringing the doorbell.
"Smokey, cut it out!" one of his men complained. "Stop ringing that doorbell! We're Marines! We can't be polite with pirates! They're probably too chicken to answer, anyways!"
"Yeah! He's right!" said another. "Let's just blow this door open with cannons and stick a needle in 'em until we get some answers!"
Soon, they all started shouting while brandishing their weapons.
"Hey, you pirates! Come outta there!"
"Yeah! This island's off-limits!"
"Anyone found squatting down in here will get hauled off in chains, so come out and take your medicine!"
A pause…but then, GRRRK…GRUNK! The door began to open, much to their surprise.
"Oh, look at that," Smoker said.
"Ha!" one of the soldiers laughed. "So, you finally gave up and surrendered to the might Marines, did ya?!"
However, the moment the door opened all the way, the G-5 men gasped in horror…upon seeing a large, white, wolf-like dog with black spots all over his body, a furry collar with brown speckles, two small cuts in his left ear, and a scar going down his right eye, which, for some reason, is milky white.
"I…it's…!" Tashigi whispered in shock.
"'Beastly Bird' Jupiter," Smoker hissed. "A member of the Heart Pirates. Ate the Bird-Bird Fruit; Great Horned Owl Model."
GRRRRR! Jupiter growled viciously as he began to advance towards G-5, but Smoker quickly held up his sea prism stone jutte and pointed it at the owl-dog threateningly.
"Back off, Scooby!" the Vice-Admiral shouted.
Jupiter seemed unfazed by this threat, but just when he was about to attack…
"Stay!"
The dog froze at that order, causing Smoker, Tashigi, and the members of G-5 to gasp.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" the G-5 soldiers screamed. "IT'S…IT'S YOU!"
It is revealed to be…Trafalgar Law, Captain of the Heart Pirates…and, as of 2 years ago…one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. His former bounty was 440 million Berries, but now that he works for the World Government, they nullified it.
Law had certainly changed over the passed two years. He had grown a full goatee, and his hat now looks like some sort of cap with dark brown spots. Also, he is wearing a long, black coat with his Jolly Roger printed on it in gold.
"Well, well," Law said as Jupiter came to his side. "If it isn't Vice-Admiral Smoker? And to what do I owe this visit?"
"What the hell are you doing here, Law?" Smoker questioned.
"Me?" Law asked, an almost wicked smirk on his face as he stroked Jupiter's back. "Why…this is my vacation home. But…I think that's the question I should be asking you, now isn't it?"
"IT'S TRAFALGAR LAW!" the G-5 men screamed.
"What the hell is one of the Seven Warlords doing in a joint like this?!" asked one of them.
"Hey, Smokey! Let's blow this pop stand!" shouted another. "I don't want ANYTHING to do with this guy!"
"Yeah!" cried one more. "This guy's a psychopath! A madman, I tell ya! In order to become one of the Seven Warlords, he sent 100 pirate hearts back to Marine HQ!"
Law chuckled while Tashigi gulped nervously. Smoker, however, remained completely stoic.
"This island is off-limits, Law," Smoker said. "That especially goes for Government men."
"Oh, is that so?" Law asked. "Well then…I guess that means you shouldn't be here, either…right, Jupiter?"
GRRRRRRR~! Jupiter growled, once again, his fangs bare and saliva dripping from his mouth.
Things were about to take an interesting turn.
TO BE CONTINUED…
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