Chapter 15: Farewell Colour Carnival! Next Destination: Marineford!
"KANPEI!" Dimo, Tack and Roy all clacked their sake mugs together as the whole crowd cheered.
After the conclusion of mine and Dimo's battle, the captain had insisted that we held a party in my honour, and that everyone in the carnival would be invited! And I was sure a quick party couldn't hurt...
Naturally I was at the buffet table. The sausages are all mine! And I'll take those mini hot dogs! Pasta! Get a big forkfull of that! No, no, gotta be responsible and have fruit and vegetables...give me those strawberries and bananas! What was this? Barbeque sauce? Dunk my hot dog in their thank you, and what was this stuff? Oh well, dunk it in anyway! Next to go would be those stuffed pepp-AHHHHH! THE SAUCE WAS WASABI! WATER! WATEEEEEEER!
I chugged down a whole mugful of, thankfully, ordinary water and gasped for breath.
"Heeeeey! Ellix!" Tack stumbled over to me with an obvious red tinge on his face and clumsily held out a mug to me. "Cooooome oooon! Just ha-just have a l-little sake, I mea-mean prease, pletty prease." He did not handle his booze well.
"I don't drink." I told him plainly as I downed a mug of apple juice. I'd just never really been attracted to the idea of drinking your troubles away, even though Oren and Marcus both drank the stuff constantly.
"Sp-S-Spoiiiiilprort." Tack gurgled as he collapsed at my feet and started drooling.
I sighed as I stood up and went to the hot tub, undressing and getting into a towel. I still like water despite becoming a Devil Fruit user, in fact I had been trying to increase my stamina in water, and it was kinda, sorta working. I only felt a little weak when half-submerged and I could still paddle three quarters submerged. I still sink like a stone when it reaches my neck though, annoyingly. I had actually tried it with Luffy Chopper and Brook, but the three bakas had just dived in face first and had to be fished up by Sanji and Zoro.
I sank into the water and willingly let my strength slip as I had a narcoleptic attack, my little journey must have drained me more then I thought. I noticed Roy and Kalamar happily in the water through my Dream Dream Mirror, everyone was avoiding them as Roy was stark naked.
I pulled down my loudspeaker and shouted into it: "ROY! PUT A TOWEL ON!" Everyone's faces where priceless.
I woke up and just cleaned myself off, man I missed washing. I was one of the few Strawhats who actually liked bathing and did it every day. Luffy...he was like a cat in the Sunny's tub.
When I was sure I had thoroughly cleaned myself I got out and got dressed again as I walked in on a red-faced Dimo. "Ellix-sama! We must have a toast!" You'll never believe this, but Dimo being drunk actually makes him talk PROPERLY! He led me up to the front and held up his booze mug. "To Ellix-sama! An amazing battler! Like the bull among the cows! KANPEI!"
"KANPEI!" Everyone else yelled as they downed their mugs.
I just walked over and sat in between two pirates to drink some more juice. The one to the right of me, who was reading a newspaper, suddenly spoke to me. "Hey Ellix-sama? Did you hear about this?"
I looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Depends on what it is."
"They say that the captive that new Shichibukai caught is gonna be executed at Marineford."
Marineford? How prestigious, poor guy, the World Government must really hate him, now my curiosity was peaked. "Does it list a name?" I asked as I took another sip.
"Says here he's called Portgaz D. Ace."
NANI!? My eyes widened as I spat the entire content of my mouth over the people opposite us, actually causing everything to stop and turn to me. My brain was trying to trick me, convince me that my ears heard wrong, that I was delirious, but I turned my head slowly towards him. "What...did you say...?"
Flashback
We all trudged through the hot sands as Luffy complained about it being hot along with Usopp, Zoro pulled Chopper along on his wooden sleigh and Nami and Vivi strode ahead. As for myself, I was bringing up the rear with Ace, trying to shield myself from the sun.
"Hey, what do you do?" Ace asked suddenly.
His question caught me off guard in the blistering heat as I just stared at him dumbly. "Pardon?"
"You know, in my little brothers crew? I know you keep him outta trouble but you gotta do something else, right?" He laughed.
I scratched the side of my shadowed cheek. "Well...I'm...Lookout."
I expected him to burst out laughing, but he just nodded. "Good position, they can really help in terms of sea battle strategy, I know a few good lookouts."
I just stared at Ace, how could this guy be LUFFY'S brother? "Can I ask you something?"
He shrugged. "Sure, what?"
"What's it like having a little brother like Luffy?"
He chuckled lightly and looked like he was thinking. "Well, for one thing he doesn't change, always going in fists first." THAT was truth right there. "And no matter what you do he's always gonna find trouble." Ohhhhhh definitely. "And he can be a pain in the ass sometimes." ...I'll give him that one as well.
"But, Luffy can always make ya happy with that stupid grin and optimism of his...he's a pretty good little brother." He nodded to himself.
"He's a pretty good captain too, hehehe..." I laughed.
Ace looked at me with a smile. "Hey...your all right Ellix."
"You too, Ace!" I nodded.
Flashback Ends
"Ace is going to be executed!?" I yelled at the pirate in anger. "When!?"
"I-In a few days from now!" He stuttered.
I snatched the newspaper off of him and scanned it over, damn it! It didn't list where he was being held! How could this happen!? Ace was so strong! Whitebeard won't take this lying down!...And neither will Luffy...
I scrunched the paper up and tossed it to the floor in rage. I steadied my breathing and tried to calm myself down, I stared at the wristband Nami gave me as one thought raced through my mind: What do I do?
"Ellix-sama?" Dimo spoke up, sounding more sober, but I just blocked everything out.
Luffy...will go to Marineford, no doubt...but...everyone else would be heading to the Archipelago, Zoro, Usopp, Sanji, Chopper, Robin, Franky, Brook...Nami...
I held out both my hands, as if I could picture them. One, my nakama, the other, my captain and his brother.
What do I do?
"What do I...do?" I sobbed as tears poured down my face.
"Ellix?" I heard Sarah call.
I couldn't take the pressure, so I faked another narcoleptic attack. I strolled through the bottom of my dreams as I mulled it over...I'm not going to say what I debated in my head...it was too personal. But...I eventually reached a decision, and I woke up.
"Ellix-sama! You are having the waking!" Dimo breathed a sigh of relief as I stood up. "Okay are you?"
"Yeah." I nodded. "I've made my decision."
"What decision?" I heard someone asked.
I stared at the large crowd with a determined glare. "I'm going to Marineford!"
"...N...N...NAAAAAAAAAAANIIIIIIIII!?" Practically everyone yelled. Random voices began shouting at me.
"Marineford!? Why the hell do you want to go there!?"
"Are you insane!?"
"A massive struggle of pirate and marine powers about to go down!"
"Whitebeard will be there!"
"What possible reason could you have for wanting to go straight to the main Marine Headquarters!?"
I turned to all of them with dead seriousness. "Because my captain is going to be there!"
"H-Hold up!" One pirate yelled. "If your captain IS going to Marineford, how are YOU supposed to get there! You think the gates of justice will just let you walts on through!? And even if you DO make it there, you'll be amongst some of the strongest people in the world! You don't have a chance!"
I slammed my hands down on the table and got RIGHT in his face. "I don't CARE what I have to do to get there! I'll find a way somehow! And I don't care if I DIE there! 'Cause I know that I'll die doing something IMPORTANT! I have nakama waiting for me elsewhere, I admit that! But if I had never met Luffy I would never have met them! I would probably be dead by now! Luffy has helped me through the toughest times! Luffy has always put his unwavering faith in me! Luffy has picked me up even when I've been beaten up so much I can't walk! So don't you DARE say I would leave him to go into that warzone alone! I PRACTICALLY OWE LUFFY MY LIFE! AND SO MUCH MORE!"
Everything was silent except for my panting after my rant...until..."Spoken well words, Ellix-sama...Your loyaltiness is having the above and beyondness! I am having the respecting of that! I shall be having the helping of you in ways of any possibilities!" Dimo...
"Ellix...if your g-going to Marinesord...then c-coun-count me in." Tack...
"Thatwassuchacoolspeech! Let'sgorescuethisAceguy!" Roy...Kalamar...
"I know I'm not brave but...I want to help you out somehow! Your my friend!" Sarah...
"Screepth!" Tempo...
I smiled at them. "Thank you, but I don't want you to come with me, this will be dangerous."
"Too bad! Yo-Your stuck with us now!" Tack slurred.
"We will be having the lending of a ship now right Ellix-sama!" Dimo announced.
Wow...these guys...
"This is great and all, but how do you plan to GET to Marineford?" Someone called out. I crossed my arms at his good point, that place is heavily secured, and I don't think I can hitch a ride with Whitebeard...
"There could be one way..." We all turned to the pirate who spoke up. "There's a legend about a group of pirates...called the Thief Pirates."
"Thief Pirates?" I echoed.
He nodded. "Nobody knows ANYTHING about them, they don't even have bounties 'cause nobodies seen 'em. But they've made themselves known by leaving messages, they steal everything! Food, gold, Devil Fruits you name it they've took it...its said they can sneak into any place..."
"Sounds promising..." Another nodded.
"How do we find 'em?" I asked.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper which he unfolded. "I killed some guy on his way to their hideout for recruitment...here."
"Your just giving this map to us?" I said sceptically.
"I'm not going there anytime soon, those guys are dangerous..." He handed me the map and I looked at it.
"Dimo? Can you get me a navigator as well?" I asked starring at the shabby work.
"Course of, Ellix-sama!" Dimo nodded.
I looked up with a determined glint in my eye. "Then let's set sail for the Thief Pirates' Hideout!"
SummitWar
The ship Dimo gave me was pretty nice. Kinda basic but clean and full of food, as well as a steerer and navigator. Tack, Roy, Kalamar, Sarah and even Tempo were coming with me, despite my protests, I knew this was gonna be dangerous. Tack was enduring a hangover.
"HAVING THE WAITING ELLIX-SAMAAAAAAA!"
We all turned to see Dimo jump onto the ship with a giant paper notepad strapped to his back. "Dimo? What are you doing here?" I asked.
"Such a joyful reunion Ellix-sama! Like the tears of weeping! I am having the coming with you! Like the tin can that follows its production machine mother!" Dimo grinned.
"Aren't you owner of this place?" I asked.
"To you I say yes! But I was having the explaining earlier."
"CAPTAIN-SAMAAAAAA!" Suddenly all of Dimo's crewmates ran to the shore. "WE'LL MISS YOOOOOOU!"
"I shall be having the missing of you too, nakama!" Dimo over-the-top wailed. "But we shall be having the reunion of sobs soon!"
"BE CAREFUL CAPTAIN-SAMAAAAAAA!"
And so we all walked to the front of the ship. "Are we ready?" Our helmsman asked.
"Yep." I nodded.
"Let us be having the shipping off!" And so we untied the ropes and began sailing off. Tempo perched on my shoulder and nuzzled my cheek as I hardened my expression and looked out towards the ocean.
'Don't worry Ace, I WILL help Luffy rescue you...I promise..."
Anotheeeeer chapter!
Ellix: At least your back on track!
Tempo: Screeepth!
Hey! What's Tempo doing in here!?
Ellix: He was bored, let him stay, pleeeeeease?"
Tempo: Screeeee?
Okay fine, let's do reviews.
To TheRealEvanSG: Thanks for the praise! I'm very pleased with how the Colour Carnival Arc turned out!
Ellix: Yeah! Dimo sure had to make me work for my victory!
Tempo: Screeee!
To Thief-chan: Wow, Ellix, your Devil Fruit sure is popular.
Ellix: SUGOIIII! I'm so loved! Yaaay! Thank you Eri-chan! Thank you Thief-chan!
Tempo: Screeeeeepth!
Well, next up is my second OA, and I'm accepting OC's! They can either be an ally (Who will also take part in the Paramount War) or an enemy!
Ellix: Needy author!
Tempo: Screeepth!
Look! Is that some meat over there!?
Ellix and Tempo: *Lunge in the direction*
Now then, I don't own One Piece! A now healthy Oda does! Thank you for reading!