Sanji turned to see Luffy streaking across the sand, Usopp not far behind.
"Chopper, where are they going?" he asked.
"I don't know. I have to look after Zoro, but maybe you should go after them." Sanji nodded, lit another cigarette and set after them, but then he saw the brim of a cowboy hat on the horizon, which was soon followed by the rest of Ace. Standing his ground Sanji watched him approach.
"Hey Sanji. Where's everyone, and . . . what happened here?"
"Cut the crap. What's the big idea?" he growled. He received a grin in response as Ace closed the distance between them.
"You haven't figured it out yet? Shame, Nami did, but that didn't get her very far now, did it?"
"What did you do to her, you bastard!" he shouted, looking around for the lovely orange haired navigator. Ace only laughed. "I don't know what you're trying to do, but it ends here."
"You don't stand a chance. Have you seen the power of the Mera Mera fruit?"
"I have, but you've forgotten. I'm a cook, fire's my element." Without any more hesitation Sanji struck, his right leg swinging through the air and then on through Ace, whose grin never wavered. Ace's body morphed into a wall of fire and it swept forward, trying to engulf Sanji. He flipped to his hands and his legs spiraled over his head, momentarily dissipating the flames. Ace reformed a foot away and eyed Sanji, daring him to step forward again.
Ace's reaction was too slow. Sanji lashed out, and his foot hit Ace in the stomach, causing him to stumble. He wasn't thrown off for long however, and he grabbed Sanji's arms, wrenching them behind his back. He slammed the cook into sand. Sanji groaned as blood poured from his nose, and his eyes stung. Ace pressed his knee into Sanji's back as he tried to get up.
"Weak," he growled as he stood, observing Sanji. "What kind of crew are you? You have all lost. Now you have no cook, no navigator, and no swordsman, or first mate for that matter. You're pathetic, and what are you left with? A doctor who doesn't understand medicine, a sharpshooter whose skills are less than questionable, and my useless brother. The Straw Hat Crew is disintegrating, along with any chance Luffy had of becoming the Pirate King." He glanced down at the cook, and then turned towards the crew's doctor. The little reindeer was darting back and forth trying to revive Zoro. Ace started towards them when he heard a voice from behind him and he looked back to see Sanji pushing himself up.
"You have no idea what you're getting yourself into," he chuckled as he relit his cigarette, and blew out a puff of smoke. "Luffy's no push-over and if you think his crew is any less, you are largely mistaken." Ace was taken aback, but his grin soon returned.
"I hope I can prove you wrong."
Ace attacked, and Sanji dodged, his legs blurring as they whipped through the air. Sanji ducked and spun as the flames surrounded him. Without warning a fiery hand gripped his throat, the fingers tightened and Sanji choked. A long leg crashed down on Ace, but he didn't even flinch, and it moved harmlessly through him.
"I said you were weak. You should have listened." With that Ace hurled Sanji away from him. The cook slammed into the rocks and then dropped to the sand. When he made no move to get up Ace returned his focus to the doctor, who was now staring at him, eyes wide with shock.
The characteristic grin was back as Ace strolled towards Chopper who was now trembling. It will all be over soon. Then his brother's voice rang out and Ace felt a small shred of fear.
"Who did this to my NAKAMA?!"