Just early warning - I'm not sure when the next chapter will be out. For those of you who have been following me for a long time, you may remember when I had a knee operation. Well, it's time for the next one to be done so I'll be in hospital for a few days and I won't be able to get to the computer. I can't tell how long it'll be though, it depends how I feel after waking up. It varies from person to person and last time I had the other knee done, I had to stay there for an extra day due to how I felt. Fingers crossed that won't happen again. That's happening around next weekend, which is usually about when I post chapters. My apologies if this inconviences anyone, I'll try to get things back to normal as soon as I can.
I like your shoelaces.
'It really is you, isn't it, Ikol!' I snapped, my anger rising. 'You, fucking, bastard! Where am I! What have you done! Oh, yeah, that's right. Now that I can talk to you, I have a lot of questions that I want to ask. Let's see you worm your way out of it this time! Now you listen here you fuc-'
POP
In a second I went from darkness to a sudden overload of green and freshness around me. I swayed on my feet for a second before shaking my head to try and gain my balance back.
"You honestly don't know how to shut up, do you? I was going to do it the easy way and let you reply civilly, but if you're going to act like that and run your mouth off, we are going to do it the hard way," Ikol grumbled.
'You…' I snarled, my eyes snapping open to glare him as my tail swished behind me. Ikol looked exactly the same as the last time I saw him. He still had short black hair and silver eyes. My eyes then trail behind him to the scenery that surrounded us. We were in a forest, again. But this one seemed different from the last. Everything was way too green, and there were no sounds of life around us. No sounds of insects or animals. There was no wind and I couldn't feel the heat from the sun on my fur either. 'Damn it! And damn you too!'
"Now, I'd like to talk to you without rude interruptions this time." Ikol reached up to run his hand through his hair. "Oh, and as to where we are, I'll answer that question. We are here. But we are also there. Mentally, we are both here. Physically you are back at that island. This, all that you see around us, is an illusion. It's pretty, no?"
'Illusion? How could you do that?'
"Take a seat," Ikol said, waving his arm in a sweeping gesture. He then proceeded to drop his ass straight in the ground from where he was standing, crossing his legs as he leant forward to place his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. "Well."
'…' Silently I lowered myself to the ground in a laying position, placing my head on my paws as I stared skeptically at him. 'Just what are you Ikol…'
"So, anyway, I didn't call you here for a garden party obviously. As lovely as I am sure you are, your company wouldn't be right for such an occasion. I would have come to you in person, but it would have upset those little friends of yours. They don't seem to like me very much. What a harsh judgment," he sighed.
'Harsh judgment? You tried to kill me and then you went and told them. How is that harsh?' I quirked my eyebrow.
"What I wanted to talk you about was Devil Fruit users. I've seen that you've taken my last advice into mind when you are fighting, but you're still not anywhere near good enough." His silver eyes bored straight into my blue ones that flickered angrily at his criticism.
'Not this bullshit!' I snapped, my head shooting up off my paws. 'You think I'm going to sit here and let you tell me what I've done wrong? Like hell! I know where I've messed up! I'm well aware! I freaked out in that fight with Enel because I had no way to fight him! I've thought it through a million times and it won't happen again. I need to keep a cool mind in a fight.'
"You, being a normal fighter, don't have much chance against Devil Fruit users. Enel is a great example, isn't it?" he asked calmly, although I could hear the jab at my pride under the façade.
'What do you care!' My eyes narrowed.
"You fight short range and with only a knife. Oh, and your teeth. But most Devil Fruit users will have the advantage physically over you. Get used to it, life is a total bitch - I've met her. If life was easy, there would be no point. If they are stronger physically, you need to be stronger mentally. Use your brain! Last I checked you had one, although I had to check before I could make such an assumption. Use the damn thing would you? Devil Fruit users are not invincible - they just have stronger physical strength or abilities. Well, most of the fighters anyway. What you need to do if make use of their weakness. Enel was a lightning user and what is lightning weak against? Rubber. Think next time. Figure out their weakness. It goes back to the basic elements of things most time. What is fire weak against? Water. What is water weak against? Ice. What is ice weak against? Fire. What can get rid of wax? Fire. What can penetrate rubber? Sharp objects."
I slowly lowered my head back onto my paws as I listened to him, reluctantly taking in his advice.
"Then there are also the Zoan users, most of them take on the form of normal animals. They'll have teeth, claws, beaks, horns, and other stuff like that. But guess what? You have those things too! Use them!" He took his head out of his hands and dropped them into his lap. "Understand? As you get further along, you'll run into more and more Devil Fruit users. Get used to it. When they start getting stronger, then you can learn about Haki. But that is a topic for another day."
'Haki?' My ears twitched the moment he mentioned the foreign word.
"Anyway, that's all I have to say. Any questions? No? Good." He didn't even give me a chance to reply. "End of that conversation."
Silence echoed over the area once he was finish talking, and we stared silently at each other. He seemed to be thinking about something.
"…You really are thick sometimes. I can't believe you haven't figured it out yet. Or even guessed close to the real answer," he sighed, rubbing the side of his face with his hand as he broke eye contact and looked up into the sky. "Although, that is probably better as of now."
'What? That makes no sense… What was I meant to figure out?'
"Anyhow, that's all I have to say to you, so it's goodbye now."
'Wait! I still haven't got my answers! Hey, liste-'
POP
My eyes shot up and I jumped straight to my feet, my head snapping around to try and find the slippery bastard. The sudden motion made my vision spin, my legs shaking under me for a second as they threatened to dump me back on the ground.
"Ah! Mamori! You're awake! Thank goodness! I was worried!" Chopper exclaimed.
"Mamori! My princess! You're okay!" Sanji cooed and I side-stepped his lunge, letting him grasp at air.
I glanced his direction and noticed the rest of the guys sitting and standing right near me. No sign of Ikol. The race must be finished, and judging by the look on the others' faces, we lost.
'What happened?' I questioned.
"You passed out all of a sudden when the race started!" he exclaimed.
'No, with the race,' I corrected him.
"Oh…" he mumbled.
"What the hell happened?" Luffy echoed my question, hands on his hips.
"Why are you asking us?" Nami grumbled.
"We're the ones who want to know!" Usopp exclaimed. "Why did we lose at the last moment?"
"I thought you were going to win but you suddenly slowed down and they passed you," Luffy shrugged.
"Hehehe!" Foxy laughed, walking towards us. "There's nothing strange about that! It was caused by my Schlep Photons."
"Oi! You bastard!" Sanji snapped. "What did you do to Nami's team?"
"Schlep Photons?" Luffy echoed.
"They are particles that have yet to be understood by modern science." His fingers lit up as he was talking. "Anything this light touches, be it an animal, liquid, or solid, it will retain all of its energy, but physically lose a constant amount of velocity."
"The makes no sense!" Luffy protested. "Are you an idiot?"
'No, it makes sense. If that thing hits you, you slow down,' I mumbled to myself.
"He ridiculed me," Foxy gasped, falling to the ground.
"But something that stupid…" Nami mumbled.
"Impossible? Is that what you think?" Foxy straightened back up, crossing his arms over his chest. "I think you already know that kind of naïve thinking doesn't work on this sea! Everything it touches slows down. That is the power of the Schlep Photons."
"Why didn't you just say so!" Luffy protested.
"I ate the Noro Noro Fruit and gained the ability to emit them from my body. I am a Schlepman!"
'Hmmm,' I hummed to myself in a distracted manner as what Ikol had said slowly came back me. 'Weakness. Weakness. Well, he makes things slow. Would that reflect off a mirror? A knife blade? Or is the beam too wide? If he can't hit us, then it can't affect us… Hmm.'
"The first event is over!" Itomimizu announced as everyone gather around the main stage. "And with no further ado, we shall commence the awarding of the prize. The winning captain will select one member of the other's crew!"
"Hehehehe!" Foxy laughed, stepping up to the main stage. Everyone from our crew tensed, glaring at him as we all wondered who would be picked. Well, all but Zoro, who was drinking and not paying any attention at all to what was going on. "The first one I want is... You! The doctor, Tony Tony Chopper!"
"Me?" Chopper gasped.
'Oh no, Chopper!' I gasped, sending him a wide eyed look. Of all the crew it had to be Chopper, the youngest and most naïve…
Two of Foxy's crew came over to escort Chopper to the stage and when he refused, they picked him up between then and carried him to the stage.
"No, no, no! I don't wanna!" Chopper cried out, flailing.
I could feel my heart breaking as I had to hold myself back from mauling both of the bastards that dared to lay hands on Chopper, but that would insult the whole aim of the game. It would insult Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, and the whole crew. It would shame us. Even though I knew that, Chopper's cries upset me. In the end I ended up following right behind the two dragging Chopper before the rest of the crew could stop me. I needed to calm Chopper down.
'Chopper, listen to me! Chopper!'
He ignored me and continued struggling as he was taken up to the stage and handed to Foxy who cuddle him like a toy. I sat at the bottom of the stage, glaring at Foxy.
"What a rare creature!" Foxy cooed, rubbing his face against Chopper's. "He's even softer than I imagined!"
"Ooh, let me feel him too!" Porche gasped, taking him from Foxy and cuddling him.
"He's so damn cute!" Foxy yelled, throwing his hands up in the air. "You're ours now!"
"Chopper!" Luffy called from the background.
'Chopper, hey, Chopper, listen to me!' I couldn't get his attention, he was panicking too much.
"Guys…" Chopper cried, tears in his eyes as he was set on a chair.
"Oi, oi, Dr. Chopper." Foxy stepped up in front of him. "You're our ship's doctor now. You must swear loyalty to me. Now, don the mask."
Foxy reached forward, placing the Foxy crew's mask on his face.
"Guys!" Chopper sobbed.
'Chopper, listen to me, you need to calm down!' I begged him, my ears flattening back against my skull. It was only at this point, seeing Chopper like this, that I realized how much I saw him like my little brother. They almost identical in personalities. Somewhere along the line Chopper had shifted from being someone that was like my brother, to someone that I actually considered to be my brother. I would give my life for him in a heartbeat. All I wanted to do was protect him, no matter what it cost. So, seeing him like this and in this situation was killing me.
"Sorry, Chopper!" Usopp cried on the background. "It's our fault for losing! Shit!"
"Hehehe! This is truly a sight!" Foxy laughed.
"Having a talking reindeer is so delightful!" Porche cooed.
"We'll get along great!" another of Foxy's crew commented, patting Chopper's head.
"Welcome aboard, crewmate!" yet another greeted.
"GUYS!" Chopper screamed. "I went out to sea because of you! No! I refuse! Luffy! I went out to sea because Luffy asked me to! I won't go with these guys! I won't! I'm the doctor of the Straw Hat Pirates! NO!"
'CHOPPER, LISTEN TO ME!' I snapped with a growl at the same time Zoro slammed his bottle down on the ground with enough force to shut everyone up.
"That's enough of your bellyaching, Chopper!" Zoro scolded. "It's shameful! Going out to sea was your decision. The place and time you die will be your decision too. No one can change that! We accepted this game! Usopp's team did everything they could." Zoro stood up. "In a world of pirates, no one will sympathise with those tears. As a man you're going to suck it up and watch the rest of the events!"
"How can you say that!" Nami snapped. "Don't you know how he feels?"
'Chopper, Zoro is right,' I said, gaining his attention finally as I braced my front paws on the edge of the stage. 'We haven't lost yet. We won't lose anymore! You're coming back with us! We will win you back, just you wait! You trust us, don't you? Leave this to us. I promise that I will do all I can to get you back! Believe in us! Please!'
Chopper wiped away his tears and cleared his face of emotion before crossing his arms over his chest and declaring, "Boil me or cook me! Give me you worst!"
"YEAH!" the crowd cheered, whistling, and celebrating.
'Good boy, Chopper,' I cooed in a soft voice, tilting my head to the side as I sent him a soft smile. 'Nothing will happen to you – I won't let it. Behave yourself, okay?'
"Mhmm!" Chopper nodded, looking at me with innocent eyes that didn't match his determined face.
"Let's get on with the second event," Zoro said, walking towards the field.
"I couldn't agree more, there are two events left. We're taking our emergency food supply back." Sanji lit his cigarette.
"The deal is complete!" Itomimizu announced. "The Davy Back Fight is building up steam."
"Wait, Chopper was supposed to be on the on the next team. But he got taken…" Usopp pointed out.
"Indeed," Robin commented.
"Going against out undefeated Groggy Monsters, they are; the one who eliminated out interference group with one violent kick, the "Violent Chef"!" Itomimizu called out as the next event got under way.
"It's "5-Star Chef"," Sanji grumbled, his hands in his pockets.
"His partner is the Pirate Hunter that has a bounty of 60 million, Roronoa Zoro!" the announcer continued.
'Partner,' I snickered quietly to myself, glancing off to the side as Zoro shot me a glare.
"And the reserve, their pet dog, Mamori!"
I twitched.
"Pet!" Sanji protested loudly. "Mamori is not a pet, she is a beaut-"
I cut him off by throwing my head into the back of his knee, shutting him up for a few seconds. I sent him a glare as he looked down at me, shaking my head as I did so.
"Since the Captain specifically appointed us to the game, I thought out opponents would be tougher than this. Right, Big Pan?" the second largest of our three opponents asked.
I frowned unhappily as I sized up the three we were competing against. Two of them looked like monkeys and one looked like a fish. Oh, and they were freaking huge. Like, massive. The smallest of the three was twice Sanji and Zoro's size. The second biggest was twice that size and the third biggest was three times the size of the second biggest.
'I feel like an ant…' I sighed when I noticed that I was the smallest on the field by a long shot.
"…Huh?" the biggest of the three, Big Pan, muttered.
"Pufufufu! He didn't hear it! Fufufu!" The smallest laughed, covering his mouth.
"What are they doing?" Sanji muttered.
The coin was flipped, as was customary when starting most sports games, and the winner of the toss was the other side.
"Do you want to ball first or choose the ring?" the ref asked.
"Ball," the small one answered, stepping up to be leader of their team.
"Our Groggy Monsters choose to ball first!" Itomimizu announced. "The ball of the team Straw Hat will now go to the centre of the opponent's side. May I remind you that the ball seal marks the two balls in the game! If you hit the opponent's ball into the enemy life buoy, you win!"
"You, ball guy. Go stand there!" Zoro ordered, jerking his thumb.
"Shut up!" Sanji snapped back, pointing to the ball that was strapped on his head. "You decided it by yourself! I never said I wanted to be the ball! Plus, how can I wear this lame thing on my handsome head?"
"You're annoying," Zoro commented before snapping his head around in mock surprise. "Wow, Sanji! You look so handsome with that thing!"
I chocked and started coughing, not expecting anything like that to ever come out of Zoro's mouth, joking or not.
"UP YOURS!" Was the reply. "I AM NOT FALLING FOR THAT!"
"Would you rather Mamori wear the ball?" Zoro asked, knowing what his reply would be.
"NO! I couldn't put my princess in any danger!" he argued back.
"ZORO! SANJI! MAMORI! GO KICK THEIR ASS!" Luffy yelled from the side line, interrupting the fighting.
"You have to win Chopper back!" Usopp sobbed. "I'm sorry I lost because I am useless!"
'Yeah, yeah, we know, we're working on it,' I sighed, my tail swishing behind me.
"How about 'Rock Paper Scissors'!" Sanji suggested, glaring at Zoro.
"Tch, fine!" he agreed.
'Really?' I grumbled as they lined up and started playing Rock Paper Scissors. 'You guys sure are mature. I'll take the flippin' ball if neither of you want it!'
Zoro pulled paper and Sanji pulled rock, meaning Zoro won the round.
"YOU CAME OUT SLOW, CHEATER!" Sanji disputed.
"Impossible! I won fair and square!" Zoro protested. "I'm just stronger in everything!"
"Shut the hell up! I'm talking about 'Rock Paper Scissors'!" Sanji continued to argue.
"Pufufufu!" the smallest of the other three laughed, covering his mouth again. "They can't decide on anything."
'No, it's not that, they just like arguing,' I grumbled as I watched the two argue back and forth. I was trying to stay calm.
"Are you done yet! Decide already!" the second biggest snapped.
"Sanji, you look so awesome with that hat!" Nami cooed in the background.
"Like I was saying, there is no better man to be the ball in our group!" Sanji yelled, throwing his hands up in the air.
"Yup. You look like the prince," Zoro agreed, "of idiots."
I had to stumble back out of the way as Sanji sent a flying kick at Zoro who blocked in with his swords.
'KNOCK IT OFF!' I screamed, growling at both of them.
"START THE GAME ALREADY!" Usopp yelled from the sideline.
"Hey, you!" The ref called out, pointing at Zoro. "It's against the rules to use weapons! Put them away."
"That's right. This is a competition of balling skills. No weapons allowed," Itomimizu the announcer agreed.
"Eh, really?" Zoro mumbled. "Fine. No weapons. Haha. Not like it matters at all."
"Are you sure you'll be alright? A swordsman without a sword is…" Sanji trailed off.
"Yeah. Better than you, sandbag," Zoro taunted and before I could blink, the two were exchanging kicks.
'Calm, Mamori. You need to keep a level head for this game. Chopper is counting on you. You can't lose. Don't lose your cool. They're just idiots,' I cooed mentally to myself, closing my eyes. 'That's it, calm.'
"STOP MESSING AROUND! DON'T MAKE ME GO OUT THERE!" Usopp raged from the sideline.
"Dumbass cook!" Zoro taunted.
Twitch.
"Bastard!" Sanji returned as they continued to attack each other.
'Calm, Mamori. Cal- OH FUCK IT! I'M GOING TO KICK BOTH YOUR ASSES!'
"The preparations have been completed," Itomimizu announced. "The ball of Team Straw Hat is finally in position."
'Damn straight he is!' I sapped in an annoyed manner, my tail swishing behind me as I held my head high in an aloof manner. They were both being idiots before, so I stepped in and settled it.
Sanji was on the other half the field, standing in the circle with the three opponents surrounding him.
"Hey, chef, let us stomp you flat, okay?" the smallest asked.
"GO TO HELL!" he snapped.
"Smash them Big Pan!"
"Pickles, send them flying!"
"Make Hamburgers out of them, Hamburg!"
"The cheers from the audience intensifies!" the announcer commented, but it wasn't needed. My ears were ringing with the droning sound of people cheering, for the other team.
"Big Pan, let's finish this in lightning speed," Pickles, the second biggest commented.
"…Huh?" Big Pan question.
"Pufufufu!" Hamburg laughed. "He didn't hear again."
"Hihihi!" Pickles laughed, slapping Big Pan on the stomach. "You're really… Hihihi! Listen up!"
"Huh? Ah…" Big Pan seemed confused for a second. "Hehehehe."
"Pufufufu!" Hamburg laughed as well.
"The Groggy Monster are laughing for no apparent reason again!" Itomimizu felt the need to say. "They will win again with this cheerful attitude! No time limit! One point wins the game!"
"I see," Zoro said, stretching next to me. "So if I throw that big guy into the ring on the other side, I win. I lose if that chef's head falls into my buoy. Mamori, you make sure that stupid chef doesn't get his head into the buoy, and I'll take care of the others."
'Hey, is this a really bad time to mention that I failed Physical Education class? I swear all the balls had magnets in them because they always hit me in the face. Always. The only thing I was remotely good at was Netball and I was only good as a defender because the ball seemed to come to me anyway!' I sent a sidelong glance at Zoro.
"Will they be able to win back the reindeer lost in the first round? Or will the Straw Hats keep losing crew members? The intense Groggy Ring is starting right now!" Itomimizu called. "Ready?"
Everyone tensed.
"BEGIN!"
As soon as the start sounded, the other team jumped into actions. Pickles jumped forward, throwing his shielded shoulder at Sanji who was standing on their side. "DIE!"
"Will the ball, Sanji, attack furiously, or run away in fear? We shall see!" Itomimizu called out. "Dealing the first hit is Pickles, the tackle demon!"
"Come! I'll take you all you!" Sanji challenged, running towards Pickles and jumping on his back as he tried to tackle Sanji.
"Suringu Takkuru!*"
"Out of my way!" Using Pickles as a platform Sanji jumped up off of his back, aiming for Big Pan who the ball for the other team. "I'm aiming for you! We win if I hit you into the buoy ring, right!"
"The two ball-men are going head-to-head!" the crowd cheered.
"COLLAR-" Sanji swung his leg back so that he could kick Big Pan in the collar bone. Big Pan saw Sanji's hit coming and threw a punch at the air-born Sanji. Sanji managed to dodge the punch, and went to use his arm as a point to run up, but as soon as his feet touched the surface of Big Pan's arms, he started to slip. "W-What the hell! This guy is so slippery!"
"Sanji he chef is unable to move on Big Pan's arm! But that can't be helped," Itomimizu commented. "Big Bang is a fish giant with mudfish genes, so his skin is extremely slippery!"
"Dammit!" Sanji swore, still trying to run up his arm.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING IDIOT!" Zoro snapped.
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING AN IDIOT, ASSHOLE!" Sanji yelled back.
'What is he planning…' I noticed Hamburg running over to our side of the field and I took a few steps away from Zoro, standing in Hamburg's way.
"Panku Pasu!*" Big Pan yelled out, punching Sanji off his arm and into the air.
"Good hit! It's Big Pan's ultra-long pass!" Itomimizu announced in the background.
Without needing to be told what to do, I dropped back, taking up position in front of our buoy. No doubt that's where they'd be sending the ball. Zoro could act as centre.
"SANJI!" I heard Luffy yelling in the background as Sanji sailed through the air and towards out direction.
"Hamburg has positioned himself to catch the ball!" Itomimizu said as Hamburg kept running towards us and Zoro quickly started to run alongside the monkey. "Zoro is also running to catch it!"
"If you fall in, I'll dice you into bits and feed you to the dogs!" Zoro yelled at Sanji.
'Oi! I resent that!' I protested as they came closer and close towards the buoy.
"Shut up! It's your fault I wasn't looking!" Sanji snapped in reply to Zoro's comment.
"Osōji Takkuru!*" Pickles appeared, shoving Zoro to the side with the shield on his shoulder.
"Pickles snuck in and eliminated Zoro!" the loud mouth on the bird called. "Pickles now takes the chance to go further into the enemy ring! On the other hand, Hamburg catches Sanji in the air."
'I can see what you're planning, I won't let you!' I barked out my challenged, hovering in front of our Buoy as Pickles charged towards me.
"Pufufufu! Gorira Surō!*" Hamburg launched Sanji directly towards the buoy while he was still helpless in midair.
"Pickles is already in position!" The announcer was really starting to annoy me. "Zoro refuses to give up and attacks Pickles!"
"Stop right there fat bean!" Zoro called out, attacking Pickle from the side as he got ready to catch the ball.
"Supiningu Takkuru!*" Pickles saw it coming and spun himself around, much like a mini tornado. Pickles smashed into Zoro again and sent him flying into the ground.
'Zoro!' I gasped, tensing up as I saw it was almost my turn. I couldn't leave my post at the buoy unless I saw sure I could stop the ball. As Sanji fell, he fell onto the rotating Pickles, sending him flying back up into the air like a real ball. 'Sanji!'
"The falling ball, Sanji, gets hit by Pickles and flies off again like a lost kite!" Itomimizu commented in excitement as Big Pan dove to the ground, using his fists to project Hamburg back up again and towards the flying Sanji. "From the back court, Big Pan rushes forward and bounces the falling Hamburg into the air again!"
"Ground-Shattering Rebound!"
"In mid-air Hamburg catches Sanji once again!" Itomimizu called as the smallest of the three grabbed Sanji yet again, getting ready to throw him into the goal. "Wait, wait! He is within shooting distance!"
"Pufufufu!"
"Hihihi!"
"Yeah!"
"Damn it you curly-eyed dumbass!" Zoro snapped, jumping back up.
"Score Hamburg! Slam-dunk!" the crowd cheered.
"NO!" Chopper screamed in the background.
'I WON'T LET YOU SCORE!' I growled, jumping up onto the edge of the buoy, crouching down as I got ready to jump up at the right time.
"Hm? What are you doing!" Pickles gasped and Zoro grabbed onto his leg.
"YOU'RE LOSING! ZORO! SANJI! MAMORI!" Luffy and Usopp yelled at us.
'Have some faith dammit! I made a promise! We will save Chopper and I won't lose!' I launched myself up into the air and at the oncoming Sanji and Hamburg.
"Could the game end so soon! The dog has finally made a move, but is it too late!" Itomimizu made the whole situation even more suspenseful.
"I will not let them win!" Zoro yelled, picking Pickles up off the ground and spinning him around even then he was many times the size of Zoro.
"WUAAAAHHH!" Pickles cried.
I collided with Hamburg mere meters from our buoy, swinging around in mid-air so that my back feet connected roughly with the ape's chin. The blow sent him tilting backwards and his grip on Sanji loosened enough for Sanji to slip free.
"EAT THIS YOU PIECE OF SHIT!" Zoro yelled in the background, letting go of Pickles so that he went flying towards us.
"It's not right to end so soon!" Sanji declared, twisting around and grasping onto Hamburg's arms. I, having achieved my goal of getting our ball free, used Hamburg's body as I push off point to launch myself back up into the air. "I still haven't done anything! That seaweed head stole my snapshot moment! But at least I am not losing to him!"
As Sanji finished that line, he let go of Hamburg and delivered a blowing kick to the monkey, sending him flying down towards the ground. Pickles, whom Zoro had thrown before, smashed in Hamburg before he could hit the ground. The collision sent them both sprawling to the ground in a pile outside the ring.
"It didn't go in!" Itomimizu cried an amazement as Sanji and I landed safely back on the ground near Zoro. "This is the first time someone has defended against the Groggy Monsters' attack! The game is heating up!"
"Mamori! My princess! Thank you so much for your help, you are such a strong and brave woman!" Sanji cooed at me before spinning to face Zoro. "I don't need you!"
"You were the one being tossed around!" Zoro snapped in reply.
'Enough! For the gods sake! Let's work together as a freaking team!' I growled at them both.
Suringu Takkuru- Sling Tackle
Panku Pasu – Punk Pass
Osōji Takkuru- Sweep Tackle
Gorira Surō- Gorrila Throw
Supiningu Takkuru- Spinning Tackle
Xxxxx
Beta read by praeses