Ch. 28- Puppet Master
One Piece © Oda
Blizzard, Aika, Kumi, Jupiter, and Rita © Me
Law and Jupiter entered a room…and found a large tank that said "S.A.D." on the front. Many pipes were connected to it, and a strange fluid is seen being pumped into it.
"So…this is what we've been looking for, huh?" Jupiter asked.
"That's right," Law answered.
"Law…I'm sure you know what you're doing," Jupiter said, "but I just wanna be sure on something. You do realize that once we destroy this…we'll be opening a can of worms that shouldn't be unleashed."
"Oh, believe me, Jupiter," Law reassured with a confident grin. "I'm well aware of this."
Jupiter seemed to smirk at those words.
"Very well, then," he said. "Let's do this."
XXX
Meanwhile, back at the connecting hallway between Buildings A and B, G-5 began to panic as the gate behind them began to shut.
"No! Stop! Don't close that door!"
"Black Leg and that Fake-Vergo are till in there!"
But it was too late. The gate had completely shut, seemingly leaving Sanji and Vergo trapped on the other side with Shinokuni.
"NOOOOOO!"
"It's closed! Now Black Leg and that Fake-Vergo guy are dead!"
"Alert to all sections!" shouted a voice on the intercom. "I repeat! The traitors, Trafalgar Law and Jupiter have breached the S.A.D. room!"
But the G-5 soldiers were too busy mourning the supposed death of Sanji and "Fake-Vergo" to listen.
"Black Leg~!"
"That brave man! Going out to protect us all!"
Even Tashigi seemed to feel a bit of remorse for Sanji…but then, she felt an odd presence coming from somewhere and looked up to see a mysterious figure, coming from the ceiling!
"What's that?!" asked a soldier. "Another dragon?!"
"Wait!" said another wearing a polka-dotted beanie. "I think that's…"
"Are you okay…little Marine sweetheart~?!" a voice swooned, causing the G05 soldiers to gasp in joy…for it is revealed to be none other than Sanji, who landed right before Tashigi with a sweet smile while holding an injured soldier.
"B-Black Leg!" Tashigi yelped.
"All right!" a soldier cheered.
"Black Leg! You're alive!" another cried.
"SHUT YOUR DAMN TRAPS!" Sanji barked. "THE ONLY CHEERS I WANNA HEAR ARE FROM THE LADIES, NOT YOU FILTHY DOGS!"
However, as Sanji took a step forward, he winced in pain when he tried to put weight on his right leg.
"Ah, damn…!" he cursed under his breath.
"Hey, Black Leg!" a soldier said. "You sure you didn't get hurt during that little fight of yours?"
"I thought I told you to shut your mouths!" Sanji said. "I only take concern from the ladies, not you jackasses!"
'That was too close,' the cook thought. 'If I kept fighting with that guy, I'm pretty sure my shinbone would've shattered to pieces.'
"That guy was your commander, right?" Sanji asked. "For some reason, he got all pale and then he just disappeared!"
"N-no way!" a G-5 rifleman answered. "That guy's not the real Vergo! He must've been a fake! Yeah, that's it! A fake! Heh…right, Cap'n?"
"…Y…yes!" Tashigi answered. "Of course! It was just an impostor this whole time! The real Vergo was like a father to you all! He would never harm any of you! Now then…let's hurry and save those children!"
"Y-yes, Cap'n!" the soldiers saluted.
The truth was, Tashigi knew very well that that was the real Vergo…but she didn't have the heart to tell her men the truth, for she knew how much they respected Vergo. If they knew the horrible truth, it would break their hearts.
Unfortunately for Tashigi, there was a good chance Smoker might disagree with her reason.
XXX
Meanwhile, in Building B, Vergo is seen practically running through the air using his Geppou ability. In his hand, there is a Mini Transponder Snail, and he appeared to be having a conversation with someone.
"What?! Law and Jupiter are after the S.A.D.?!"
"Yes," Vergo replied. "They've definitely betrayed us!"
"I see. Heheheheheh!"
XXX
On an island in the New World known as Dressrosa, people are seen swimming around in a pool and relaxing. It is revealed that the person Vergo is speaking with is none other than one of the Seven Warlords: Donquixote Doflamingo, sitting on a lounge with his harem of women and being served fine wine. Beside Doflamingo, putting grapes on her fingertips is a girl with mint-green hair, a lavender dress with purple polka dots, and an odd patch over her left eye.
Her name is Sugar, a member of the Donquixote Family.
"That's what I thought!" Doflamingo laughed.
At his feet, there is a saber-tooth tiger with bronze-yellow fur and brown striped, and a scar on her left shoulder.
Her name is Rita, Doflamingo's pet saber-tooth tiger.
"What a shame," Doflamingo said as he pet the large, prehistoric feline on her head, causing her to purr. "Why, I practically raised Law and his little mutt!"
"I know what you mean," Vergo said on the other side.
"The S.A.D. manufacturing room, eh?" Doflamingo asked as a door suddenly exploded, and not long after, a woman with long, black hair, dressed in a maid's outfit appeared, armed a machine, a saber, and a rifle…which was actually her left arm. For some reason, she seemed to be crying.
"Well," Doflamingo said, ignoring the woman aiming her rifle-arm at him, "if I were Law, here's what I'd do. First, I'd destroy that room."
KABOOOOOOM! The woman opened fire on Doflamingo creating a huge explosion that sent several of Doflamingo's guests flying! As the dust cleared, it is revealed that Doflamingo was left virtually unscathed by the blast!
"I'd also kidnap Caesar," said Doflamingo as he sat up. "Nah…scratch that. I'd actually kill the bastard! Heheheheh! After all, Caesar's the only man in the whole world who knows to manufacture S.A.D."
As he said this, he dodged another strike from the teary-eyed woman, who turned into her arm into a scythe-blade.
"But if that happened," Doflamingo began, "then I'd be the one with problems on my hands, Vergo!"
BANG! A man wearing some sort of steampunk suit shot the woman. She didn't look injured, though. All the bullet did was graze her.
He is Gladius, another member of the Donquixote Family.
"And if I had a problem," said Doflamingo, "then what happens next?!"
Just then, a large, obese man wearing a red shirt with white swirls on it, a hairy chest, arms (with the Doflamingo insignia on his biceps), and legs, blonde hair, mustache, and beard, a red cabby hat approached the woman.
His name is Machvise, another member of the Donquixote family.
"Hey-n!" the man said. "Cool your jets-n, Baby-5! What've you got-n against the Young Master?"
"I can't forgive him!" the woman, known as Baby-5, shouted. "Not this time! I'm gonna kill that son of a bitch if it's the last thing I do!"
"So what comes next?" asked the man in the steampunk suit.
"What next?!" Doflamingo asked. "Then misfortune spreads, of course!"
Sugar began to suck the grapes off her fingers as he said this.
"And what is your plan, Young Master?" asked Jora, a round woman with blonde hair on one side and orange hair and the other, wearing a purple dress with golden yellow flowers, a pearl necklace, and a pair of glasses playing cards with an old, short man wearing some sort of leotard. "What will you do with sweet little Law and his doggie?"
"It is clear!" said the old man, whose name is Lao G. "The boy is leading a rebellion against us! Is it not so?!"
"…I know it'll pain you to have to do this, Vergo," said Doflamingo, "but I need you to get rid of Law and that dog of his. Kill them so atrociously, so wretchedly, that they regret the day they were born!"
SLASH! Baby-5 swung her hand, which had turned into an axe, at Doflamingo, who dodged it deftly.
"I hear you, loud and clear," Vergo said. "I can take a picture of their corpses to show you, Doffy. I can use that new camera I bought in Dressrosa."
"I bet you didn't buy any cameras."
"Oh, yeah…I didn't buy any cameras. Oh, well…how about I bring you back both their left ears, instead?"
"That'll work!" Doflamingo answered as he made a finger gesture at Baby-5, causing her to stop. "I look forward to seeing my little gifts. In the meantime, I'm going to make a quick call. Let me know when you've killed those two, yet."
"Got it," Vergo answered.
Not long after, Doflamingo dialed a different number, and soon, someone picked up.
"Monet? Caesar?" he asked. "It's Joker. Do you read me?"
"Yes, Joker," Monet's voice replied.
"Ah, Joker!" Caesar exclaimed. "Good to hear from you, Young Master!"
"Watch out for Law," Doflamingo said, "but also, keep your eye on Straw Hat Luffy, while you're at it! That boy's awakened the Conqueror's Haki within him! His potential power could be even greater than Law's! I've got a woman over here who's a little too excitable for her own good."
As he said this, Baby-5 turned her left index finger into a pistol and aimed for her head, planning to shoot herself.
"I'm sending Baby-5 and Buffalo over to you," Doflamingo said, "and when this is over, I want all of you back here on Dressrosa, on the double!"
XXX
Concurrently, on the Brownbeard Bus, the Straw Hats, plus Brownbeard have found themselves in a bit of a fix. However, Zoro was the only who didn't seem worried.
"This dragon's even tougher than the big one," Zoro said. "He's a slippery little lizard, isn't he?!"
"Stop lounging around on my back and DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE DRAGON, ALREADY!" shouted Brownbeard.
It is revealed that the dragon is laying waste to most of Building B, spewing flames all around!
"The whole place is on fire, already!" cried Brownbeard. "If he manages to light up one of the tanks in here, it'll blow the wall down and send that killer gas inside! And then, we'll all be dead!"
"But wait, my friends!" exclaimed Kin'emon! I have a score to settle with the whole of dragon-kind! If he must be dealt with, let it be by my hand!"
"Not so fast, sir!" Brook shouted, brandishing Soul Solid. "That dragon has done me wrong as well! Did you not witness his twisted nature, earlier?! He swooped in, as though to swallow me whole…AND THEN HE HAD THE GALL TO LOOK DISAPPOINTED WHEN GOT A GOOD LOOK AT ME BEFORE HE FLEW AWAY!"
"Well, you don't have any meat on you," Usopp said. "What's the point?"
"BONES ARE JUST NUTRITIOUS AS MEAT, I'LL HAVE YOU KNOW!" Brook retorted.
"Okay, okay!" Usopp cried. "I'll keep that in mind! Just calm down!"
"Kin'emon, sir!" Brook said. "I insist that you let me handle this!"
"My apologies, but I cannot!" Kin'emon said. "You ought to yield and allow me to handle this!"
"No! It's mine!" Brook argued.
"No! It's mine!" Kin'emon shouted.
"Mine!"
"Mine!"
"MINE!" they both shouted.
As they were arguing, Nami is seen, holding her hands in an odd gesture.
"Come on, strike!" she whispered. "Nin-nin-nin…! C'mon! Work, already!"
"What are you doing?" Brownbeard asked.
"I'm trying to be a samurai," Nami said.
"That's more like a ninja, don't you think?" Usopp asked.
"Shh! Look!" Nami said. "Here it comes!"
It is revealed that the dragon is flying around 3 dark clouds.
"Thunder…TRAP!" Nami shouted.
BZZZZZAAAAAAAP! The thunderclouds ended up electrocuting the dragon!
"Hey!" Brook shouted. "That was our target!"
"My word!" Kin'emon exclaimed in surprise. "You can use ninjutsu, breast-band girl?!"
"DON'T CALL ME THAT, YOU PERV!" Nami shouted.
"Get a whiff of the world's smelliest flower!" Usopp shouted as he aimed Black Kabuto at the beast. "Special Attack: Green Star…RAFFLESIA!"
TWANG! BOMP! Usopp shot a Pop Green at the flying reptile, which sprouted into a Rafflesia plant and released a foul-smelling odor, which paralyzed the dragon!
"Oh! The long-nosed goblin can use sorcery as well!" Kin'emon exclaimed.
"Who the hell do you think you're calling a goblin?!" Usopp questioned.
"Quarenta Fleur…Quatro Mano!" Robin exclaimed as four large arms appeared and grabbed the dragon. "HOLD!"
CRUNCH! Using her Devil Fruit powers, Robin snapped the dragon's wings, rendering them useless!
"Even the courtesan knows ninjutsu!?" Kin'emon questioned in shock, causing Robin to sweat-drop.
"Should I tell him?" Zoro asked.
"Let's just leave it be, for now," Robin answered.
Soon, the dragon began to fall to the floor!
"It's falling!" Brook said. "I shall finish it off!"
"Nay!" Kin'emon objected. "The beast is mine!"
The dragon noticed the two swordsman about to attack, so in a last-ditch effort to defend himself, he opened his mouth, preparing to let out a blast of fire! FWOOM! A jet of flames was released from the beast's jaws!
"Follow my lead, my corpse friend!" Kin'emon shouted as he charged forward with Brook following behind. "Foxfire Style…BLAZE SLICE!"
SLASH! Kin'emon brandished his sword and cut through the dragon's flames!
"…He cut through the fire, again," Zoro said. However, he didn't sound as impressed as he did before.
"Most brilliant!" Brook exclaimed.
"Humph!" Kin'emon scoffed. "A humble skill."
Before the dragon could attempt another attack…Brook and Kin'emon finally struck!
"GAVOTTE BOND EN AVANT!"
"FIRE WILLOW SLASH!"
SLASH! The dragon was soon cut down by their blades!
GRYAAAAAA! The lizard roared before he fell to the floor, defeated!
"…Wait a second," Brook said. "JUST WHO DO YOU THINK YOU'RE CALLING A CORPSE?! …Oh, wait…that's me."
"Way to go, guys!" Usopp cheered. "We beat him!"
"Go on!" Brook shouted as he and Kin'emon stomped on the now unconscious dragon. "Say that bones are delicious!"
"You wretched beastly dragon!" Kin'emon shouted.
"Leave the dragon alone and get on, already!" Nami called.
"Hmm?" Brook hummed, inquisitively. "Just a moment. I have a perfectly good reason to attack this dragon, but what is yours, Kin'emon? You speak of dragons as if you feel the need to avenge your family against them or something!"
Kin'emon seethed angrily before saying, "As a matter of fact…you're practically correct!"
"Eh?" Brook muttered, a bit confused, but then he realized that the others were about to leave without him and Kin'emon. "Oh! I say! Wait for us!"
"Hold on!" Kin'emon shouted.
Just then, Nami yelped as something fell on her face. She let out a muffled scream for a moment before pulling whatever it was off, and it is soon revealed to be Kumi!
"Kumi?!" Nami questioned. "W-what are you doing here?!"
"Hey! Look up there!" Usopp shouted.
Everyone looked up and saw…Chopper, in his Monster Point form, trying to fight the rampaging children on a catwalk!
"BWOOOOOOH~!" Chopper roared furiously as he tried to keep the children back.
"Isn't that Chopper?!" Nami asked.
"What's he doing in his Monster Point form?!" Zoro questioned.
XXX
In Building B's 2nd floor examination room, a little girl is seen finishing up her "checkup".
"That's it for today's examination, little girl," said a guard. "Now, go on back to the Biscuits Room and go get your candy!"
"Uh…before I go," the little girl said, "what happened to that boy?"
"Huh?" the other guard muttered. "What boy?"
"The one who went into the Secret Room and turned into a little dragon," the girl answered. "You know, Momonosuke?"
TO BE CONTINUED…
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