Hello as always, readers. Welcome to another chapter of SCP: Soaring the Sky. Now, in this chapter, you may be disappointed in what happens, but I do believe that you all will understand why this chapter is as it is.
Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece or Kingdom Hearts. I do not own Guthrie and Allen. Well, actually I kind of do own him.
*OPENING*
Let's fly to the sky
(The sun rises as Merry sails across the ocean)
There's not a single cloud in the sky
(All the current Straw Hats watched the sun rises, Luffy on the figurehead)
Let's fly to the sky. (It's time to fly around) Catch the perfect breeze for you
(The camera faces the sky as the title appears on the screen)
Paint the sky with (Let's go to the wonder world) imagination that no one's ever seen
(Camera faces back to the Going Merry as everyone went on with their peaceful business)
OH! OH! Even if it's too dazzling (Come on)
(Xion looked up and saw Marines ahead of them and warned everyone)
OH! OH! under the sun
(They all prepared themselves for battle. Marines fired cannon balls at them)
OH! OH! If it's you, you can make it! Throw away your pride and FLY!
(Luffy, Zoro and Sanji sent the cannons back at them. Usopp fired a cannon of their own with Xion, in her Wisdom Form, unleashed Triple Firaga at them, followed by a Thundaga, clearing their path)
Everyday is plain!
Real talent makes the world go round
(Going Merry sailed through the smoke. Everyone looked content as they enjoyed the sea breeze)
Deceit won't work anymore.
(Scene changed to Jaya in Mock Town, as camera faced each of the Blackbeard Pirates.)
Mayday, the red light is stopping you too
(Scene changed to Cricket's home, showing Cricket with Masira and Shojo side by side.)
Lend me an ear! And I'm gonna stick on my RAP! Wussup!
(Guthrie fights against some pirates and Heartless. One tried to sneak up on him and Chirithy knocked it away.)
"From tomorrow on I'll get serious!"- seriously cut it out with excuses like that
(Allen danced as he dodged the attacks of the pirates and attacked them at the same time)
Increase your money with your dream! Time is money like NASDAQ!
(The Straw Hats looked at Cricket's gold and searched for the South Bird)
When will you do it boy? It's now or never man! This is the moment, right?
(The crew then arrived at the Knock Up Stream and went to the skies.)
Everybody put ya hands in the air and clap ya hands like this like that
Clap ya hands everybody! Everybody just clap ya hands!
(Scenes quickly changed to different scenes. Xion and Guthrie crossed blades, Luffy's one-hit KO on Bellamy, the group trying to catch the South Bird, then finally their first encounter with the Shandia Warriors)
Let's fly to the sky (It's time to fly around) Catch the perfect breeze for you
(The Straw Hat Pirates arrived on Skypiea and were approached by the White Berets and fought them)
Paint the sky with (Let's go to the wonder world) imagination that no one's ever seen
(Scene changed to the group in the Upper Yard fighting against Heartless, Shandians and Priests)
OH! OH! Even if it's too dazzling (Come on)
(Scene changed to Xion fighting against a blonde Organization XIII member with knives and lightning magic)
OH! OH! under the sun
(Changed to Guthrie and Allen teaming up against the Nobodies)
OH! OH! If it's you, you can make it! Throw away your pride and FLY!
(Changed to Luffy battling Eneru. In a flash of light, opening ends with all of Straw Hats on Merry, facing the camera)
Last time:
Allen was horrified. "No... Eneru and that girl just..." He looked down, seeing Wyper getting back up onto his feet again, his teeth gritted and his gaze set on Eneru.
However, he felt a dreadful rage circulating to his side. He turned to see Xion stand up on top of the ruins, in full view of everyone's sight. She glared down at Eneru and Larxene, who she could tell was yet another person, like Luxord and Lexaeus, who was sent to try and take her. However, the way she felt and the way she witnessed two of her friends down for the count, plus how many others were bested by this 'god' and Organization member, they would be lucky to even tug on her coat.
She inhaled deeply and roared out, "DAMN YOU!" Her scream was loud and long, almost quaking the ground at the shockwaves. Nami, Zoro and Wyper all looked up, fearfully knowing who that was who screamed.
Eneru veered his eyes up at her, and Larxene looked almost casually at Xion, standing high above them. A smirk formed on her face. "There's our little puppet. Time for OUR little game of cat and mouse to come to an end."
The remaining conscious members of the group below looked up to see the angry, seething Xion, glaring down at two people with looks that could kill. While they were frightened by the glare she was sending, Eneru and Larxene were both unaffected by the look.
"Now that you're here, it'll make my job that much-" Before Larxene could finish her sentence, before anyone knew it, Xion shot herself forward, Desert Nakama in hand as she, with unbelievable strength, knocked Larxene away.
The Organization member was knocked into several ruins before finally coming to a stop. Once she did, Larxene painfully got up.
"Oh... What hit me?" Next thing she knew, Xion appeared in front of her again and attempted to strike her. The blonde acted fast and blocked the strike with her knives.
"I WILL KILL YOU!" the Keyblade wielder shouted, using an Aeroga spell to blow Larxene away and into the woods.
The Organization member managed to land on her feet and looked up to see Xion charging at her again. Instantly, she made clones of herself and jumped away from her spot.
The enraged Keyblade wielder looked at each and every Larxene around her, not knowing which is the real thing.
"Now what will you do?" they all asked in a mocking tone. "Get mad all you want, it's not going to change anything, puppet. You're coming back one way or another!"
"Shut up!" Xion shouted, trying to keep her eyes on them all.
Next thing she knew, each and every one of them started tossing their knives at her. Xion did her best to block them all, but still received scars all over her body from some of them.
Watching her pointlessly struggle like so made Larxene laugh. "I thought you said you want to kill me. You're never going to get anywhere like this."
"What the hell do you know?!" Xion demanded, now charging in at the army of clones.
"I don't know you personally, but I know enough about you," one of the Larxene said, before Xion cut her down.
"Number 14, Xion," another spoke, before meeting the same fate.
"As title states, you're ironically the 14th member of the organization." Another met the same fate.
"Ironic as in, considering what our group is called."
"You're what some of us considered special, Xion. Not including me, of course."
"I taught you how to use magic, and surprisingly enough, you're quite sufficient with it."
"Not like another certain wielder I know of."
"It's so sad to see you struggle like this. Instead of coming at me at your strongest, you're coming at me at your weakest."
"And that's where you lose." As Xion was about to strike down this last Larxene, this one suddenly vanished.
The vice captain of the Straw Hats looked around with her guard up, trying to pinpoint her opponent's location. If there was one thing she knew for sure, it was that Larxene was not like the previous Organization members she fought. She's tricky, has a sharp mouth, really fast, and quite agile. Sure she had fought Heartless, both real life and in her dive, that were as fast, but not like this. Before she knew it, she felt a strong kick to her side and was sent flying into a tree.
Larxene walked up to her and clicked her tongue and shook her head. "Shame. Such a shame," she said. "You have so much potential, and because of this crew you've joined, you failed to make full use out of them." Xion slowly got back up. "What? You're still going to fight me? If you really want to fight me, then how about you heal yourself first? Fighting you like this is like kicking a puppy. Though, truthfully, I'm not one of those that mind that."
Xion actually considered doing such a thing, but decided not to. Why? She had decided that, for this battle, she won't be using magic. The reason? She wanted to prove herself that she can protect her friends without magic. Yes, she was that bothered by Guthrie's words that time they sparred together. She knew she shouldn't be, and that this wasn't at all the time and place for her to deal with that problem, but she felt that had to, especially for her friends who are counting on her. Besides, if Larxene does know how she is with magic, as she claimed, then all the more reason to not use it, for the blonde may have something against her magic. And that wasn't a risk she was willing to take.
With that in mind, she charged in once more with Desert Nakama in hand. Larxene charged back, faster than before and struck the Keyblade wielder. Xion just managed to have her weapon up to block the strike, but then blonde Organization member mercilessly continued to strike the defending wielder, so much Xion was forced to get down on one knee. Larxene then kicked Desert Nakama out of her hands and jabbed one of her knife in her shoulder. Next thing the vice captain knew, she felt lightning course painfully through her body, and she let out a loud scream.
Soon enough, the pain was over. Xion felt Larxene remove the knife from her and she fell to the ground.
"It really is too bad," she heard Larxene said. "All that time away from the Organization, only to be forced back. I do hope you enjoyed your freedom. After I watch Eneru take over this land, as he planned it to be, you and I are going home."
After that, she blacked out.
Back to Allen and the others, as soon as Xion and Larxene were away from the ruins, Zoro and Wyper tried to attack and kill the self-proclaimed 'God'. However, because of his Logia powers, it turned out to be easier said than done. Even though Wyper used the Reject Dial, a dial that is much more powerful than an Impact Dial, enough to have said to destroy the user's own body, it wasn't enough. While it did hurt him, especially thanks to Wyper's Seastone Skates nullifying the Devil Fruit powers, Eneru restarted his own heart and came back to life.
"That's not possible..." Allen muttered. "Even with the Reject Dial?"
"He... He's a monster..." Chirithy breathed out in a panicking tone.
"People do not fear God..." Eneru spoke, wiping away blood on his lips. "Fear is God." Looking down on Wyper, with a smirk on his face, he then said, "Warrior Wyper. I warned you, didn't I? I told you to stop." Wyper fell on his hands and knees, injured from the recoil damange. "See what happened? What a pitiful sight you are, Warrior Wyper."
"Don't say my name... without a reason!" Wyper managed to say. "It was 800 years ago... when the fate of this land was decided in battle... by the proud warriors of Shandia! And we are their descendants. One day, our homeland was suddenly taken from us. And for these past 400 years, we have carried Great Warrior Calgara's regret! For generations, our ancestors have thought of nothing but reaching this place! And we are finally here! And you... are in the way!"
Allen couldn't help but frown as Wyper struggled to get back up. No, it wasn't because his cousin was still struggling to fight, but because he felt bad for his ancestors.
Eneru didn't seem to care about the struggles and knocked Wyper back down, breaking one of his skates in the process. "I heard what you said before, Wyper," he said. "Your Seastone has certainly been a nuisance. Using a Reject even once is enough to obliterate a normal man. You're still standing after using it twice. For that, I commend you."
Allen's eyes widened when he heard that. 'Twice?! Wyper, that's crazy! You could've died!' he thought.
"However, you have chosen your opponent poorly," Eneru added. One hit on his drum with his staff and electricity was conducted and emerged out of it.
"The drum... became a bird..." Nami said.
"30,000,000 Volt Hino!" Eneru directed the lightning bird at the downed Wyper.
"WYPER!" Allen cried out, as his cousin took a direct hit from the attack.
While Eneru was somewhat distracted, Zoro went for the broken skate. "If there's Seastone in here..." He rushed back to Eneru with the skate.
"You too, Blue Sea Swordsman?" Eneru questioned, hitting another drum.
"This is something I have to do!"
"Kiten!" This time a tiger was formed from the lightning and hit Zoro.
"ZORO!" Nami cried out, watching as the first mate of her crew was easily taken out.
The three remaining survivors of Eneru's sick game looked on in great shock.
"You can't be serious..." Allen spoke.
"Even Zoro...?" Nami breathed out.
"No way..." Chirithy managed to say.
Eneru coldly looked back to them and slowly approached them. Chirithy immediately poofed himself away, saving himself from whatever wrath Eneru planned to give him. Nami was extremely frightened of the man walking towards them, not wanting to meet the same fate as the others. Allen, angry as he was, tried to keep a calm head and think the situation through. As he looked behind Eneru, however, his eyes dilated.
"What are you thinking...?" he asked.
Eneru stopped in his tracks, knowing that it wasn't him he was asking.
Nami looked behind the Logia Devil Fruit user and was just as shocked as Allen. 'He's been hurt so badly, and yet... And yet he still wants to fight?' she wondered.
"Why are you standing?" Eneru asked, looking behind him to see Wyper standing back up. "You'll be dead soon. Why not go peacefully? You said that it has been 400 years since you Shandians began the war to reclaim your homeland. But ultimately, both you and your cousin were the only warriors to make it here. This land will soon fall down to the Blue Sea." Wyper faltered a little, but still stood on his feet. "If you continue to struggle, you will only make yourself more unsightly. So why do you stand?"
"... For my ancestors!" Wyper answered.
Both Nami and Allen were slightly touched by the response. Eneru... not so much. "I was hoping for a more inspiring answer. I'm not even sure if you're still conscious."
As soon as Allen saw the man using his powers, he instantly stood between him and his cousin, causing Eneru to stop. Nami was shocked that Allen would get in his way.
'What is that idiot thinking?! He saw how powerful he is; he'll die!' she thought.
"Don't tell me I have to kill you as well," Eneru said.
Allen gave no response. Nami was still thinking and panicking about how crazy Allen must be to die trying to stop Eneru. The self-claimed God also thought that he was crazy and was prepared to go for the kill... when the uninjured Shandian said, "You're mistaken, God Eneru. Surely a god such as yourself wouldn't want to waste so much energy on an almost-dead man. And I'm also sure you have better things to prepare for than his funeral. As his cousin, I request that you allow me to be done with him."
Hearing those words made Nami gasp and widen her eyes in surprise. She may not have known this man as long as Xion had, but she recalled how he cared for his fellow Shandians. Did he actually not care about them after all? And that is his cousin behind him!
Eneru, on the other hand, smirked at Allen's words. "Is that so? Very well then. Prove your loyalty."
Allen had actually lied about swearing loyalty to Eneru; he had hoped that saying that would leave them be, even if for a little while. But now, seeing as he had to fight his near-unconscious cousin, he had to give Eneru the show he was asking for. That said, he turned to Wyper and walked towards him. With his current condition, he wasn't sure if Wyper really knew what was going on.
"Al... len..." he breathed out. "I... trusted you... Even though many in our village continuously spat at you, I still had your back. They claimed you'd turn against us, especially because of your father. I never believed them. I said that you, Allen, are a Shandian like us. You were born in our village! You have our blood! For you to turn against us... you who were never bothered by the insults and the jeers they sent you... You who always look on the bright side of things... For you to betray your people... it was impossible!" With each word that came out of his cousin's mouth, Allen sucked his lips, not wanting to make this harder than it should be. "Don't tell me you've forgotten, Allen! The promised we made to each other!" When he was within distance, Allen placed his right hand on his cousin's chest.
"... I remember," he muttered. "And it's pointless." Without a moment's hesitation, he pressed, unleashing the wrath of the Impact Dial on Wyper and sending his weakened body flying back.
A few seconds of nothing later, Allen turned to Eneru. "Is this enough proof of my loyalty, God Eneru?"
The man let out a hearty laugh. "I must say, I greatly underestimated you! I didn't think you actually have it in you to kill your own cousin!" he commented. After the few moments of laughing, he faced Nami. "And that leaves you."
The girl was still puzzled with what had occurred, which did not at all help her with her fear for the God. Before he can zap her to oblivion, she quickly said, "I... I want to go with you! I'll follow you to the World of Dreams!" When she saw that his expression remained unchanged, she panicked slightly. "I can't?"
Just then, another voice called out. "Huh? You're kidding me. You already wiped them all out? That's not fair at all, Eneru." Nami began to panic even more, and Allen just widened his eyes in great shock, as both turned to the voice. Standing there, on top of some ruins, was Larxene.
"Larxene. I assume that means you're done with your mission?" Eneru asked.
"See for yourself," she answered, tossing something to the ground below her.
Nami had a hand to her mouth and held back a gasp, while Allen became still, with shock and worry clear on his face. Lying down there, right in front of them... was a charred Xion.
"Xion... You can't be serious..." the navigator uttered.
Allen was speechless. He couldn't say a word, as he tried to process with the sight before him. Xion, the strongest person he knew, one of the very few who cared about him, lost? That can't be possible.
"She was easy to take out," Larxene said. "I find it hard to believe the other two members before me couldn't handle her. It's really sad. I barely broke a sweat against her. It's no wonder why she needed a guardian. Too bad for her~"
"But I thought you want her alive. She seems dead to me," Eneru said.
Larxene placed a hand on her cheek, elbow on her other hand in a thinking posture. "Hmm... You have a point. Why don't we see if she's alive or not?" She landed right by her side and landed a hard kick to Xion's abdomen, much to Nami and Allen's horror and causing the girl to let out a gasp and cough. "Yep. She's still alive," Larxene sadistically said.
Allen wanted to go over there and punch Larxene in the face, but he knew that even attempting it may get him killed. Nami, on the other hand, was panicking on the inside, this time in seeing Xion's defeated form.
"Well then. I assume that means you're going home?" Eneru asked.
"Eh. I have plenty of time to spare," Larxene said. "I can just waste time watching you bring this island in the sky to the sea below where it belongs."
"If that's what you wish." Eneru started to walk away, with Larxene following him, dragging Xion as she walked. The two came to a stop as they realized one other thing. Or rather, two other things. "What's wrong? Did you change your mind?" the God asked Nami and Guthrie.
"O-Oh! Uh, no. We'll be right there!" Nami answered, following the two with her Waver in tow.
"You want to bring that thing?" Larxene questioned.
Nami flinched slightly at the question. "Well... If I can't bring it, I can leave it here."
"I do not believe that you will be able to use that where we are going. Nevertheless, do as you wish," Eneru told her.
"T-Thank you! I-I'm very attached to it!"
Eneru looked over to Allen. "And what of you? Aren't you coming?"
Nami flinched as he asked that, wondering if Allen was still planning on going against someone so strong and powerful after all.
"Actually, if it is possible, I wish to remain here for a bit," Allen answered. "I wish to give these poor souls a proper burial before we go. Especially to my foolish cousin. Call it my final gift and act of mercy towards him."
Eneru just smirked and walked away. "Do as you wish," he said, waving his hand. The girls followed him.
As soon as they were out of sight, Allen fell on his butt and let out a breath. "That was a close one," he muttered. "Now to get the others out of here."
In truth, he lied about being loyal to Eneru; he only said that so Wyper wouldn't die. Knowing his cousin, a blast of the Impact Dial wouldn't be enough to kill him. Knock him out? Yes. But not kill him. Besides, what kind of cousin would he be if he killed his only family member? Not only that, but there were also his crew members. If Eneru dared fire that blast if he didn't interfere, they would most likely die, if they hadn't already.
At first, he planned on hiding them somewhere and then regroup with Xion to somehow stop this godly man. But seeing that she was beaten like that? Change of plans.
'Wait for me, Xion. I'm going to save you!' he thought, as he started to carry his cousin over his shoulder and round up his fellow Straw Hats and Gan Fall. At least... that was what he planned to do, until something started to appear around them.
"What?!" he gasped. "No... Not here! Not now!"
Meanwhile, with Eneru's group, the man was chuckling as they walked, almost as though he thought of something funny.
"You seem to be in quite a mood," Larxene noticed. "Thought of something fun to do when you take over?"
"Oh no. It's more on the now that I'm laughing about," he corrected. "That Shandian thinks he can fool a God? What a joke." Nami looked at him in confusion as he said that.
"Um... What do you mean? If you don't mind me asking," Nami asked.
"He thinks he can pretend to side with me, only to use it as a diversion to hide those friends of your's back there as soon as I leave, as well as save his cousin from death. Not like that last part matters. With the condition he was in, that one Impact should be enough to kill him."
The navigator's eyes widened when she heard that. 'Allen was lying about joining?' she wondered. 'But wait, why is he laughing?'
"It's too bad that all his effort will be for naught. After all, with those Heartless and Nobodies keeping him busy, I doubt he'll be able to save them all," Eneru added in.
It was then, Nami understood what he meant. 'He can summon Heartless?!'
"I'm glad you like our gift," Larxene said. "My master knew you'd like it."
"Very much so. With them, even if no one joins me, I'll still have an army," Eneru said, ending that statement with a laugh.
Nami, on the other hand, was more frightened by the man she was following. It was bad enough he was powerful with his Devil Fruit powers, but he controls Heartless?! She may not know what Nobodies are, but now she was sure he was too powerful. And seeing Xion unconscious like so from the corner of her eyes wasn't making things better at all.
Soon enough, the trio arrived at a cave, with white drapes mostly covering the entrance.
'What could be in here?' she wondered.
"Excuse me..." she spoke up.
"You will follow me in silence," Eneru told her.
Knowing that it was more of a threat, Nami kept silent. She looked back, in hopes that Allen had survived the Heartless assault and protected the others.
When they entered the deepest part of the cave, Nami couldn't help but gasp at the sight before her. "What is that?" she whispered.
In the room was a very large ship, if one can call it that. Besides its great and sheer size, there were what seemed like fan-like projectiles attached to it, as well as oars on the bottom half of the ship.
"Well? Splendid, is it not?" Eneru asked. "It is the only ship of its kind in the world. And only I and Larxene can control it."
"In other words, it is powered by lightning," Larxene specifically added.
"Incredible..." Nami breathed out.
"I can understand your surprise," the God said. "This is made possible by a material capable of transmitting my superfluous energy."
"A material capable of transmitting energy?" Nami looked closer and gasped as she realized what the material was.
"Yes. It is the gold residing in the city. The people of this island will be overjoyed," Larxene said.
"Yes. As they die, they get to witness the world's first and only flying ship with their very own eyes," Eneru added.
'A flying ship? That's impossible!' Nami thought. 'If that thing really flies, I'll have no time to escape!'
"This is the Ark, Maxim! In this ship, we shall embark on a journey to the boundless land, Fairy Vearth!" Eneru laughed as he claimed that.
Back to where Allen was, ways away from where he was exactly, we see the charred and unconscious Sky the snake lying on top of some ruins, tongue hanging out. His eyes suddenly opened and bulged out, almost as though the eyeballs wanted to get out of his head. His eyes close at the failed attempt. Once they open again, we can see, in one of the eyes, Luffy stood, still trying to get out of the snake. One poke at the cornea and Sky's eyes began to water. Both Luffy and Aisa, who was with him the whole time quickly escaped and moved to the next location.
Not long after, Sky's mouth opened up, dropping the falling Luffy, Aisa and Pierre. The bird managed to catch the girl, but landed on his head, as did Luffy.
"We're outside..." Aisa spoke. "We finally made it out." The girl looked up from the bird's chest, taking notice of her new surroundings. "The ground is paved with stone. What is this place?"
Luffy didn't care at all, as he ran up some stairs of an altar, screaming like a madman.
"Do you see something?" Aisa asked. She received no answer, as the pirate just continued up the stairs. "I'm talking to you! Luffy!" She followed him up.
"I'M OUT! I MADE IT OUT!" Luffy shouted at the top of his lungs in great joy. "Hey, check it out! Where are we? There's ruins all over the place! That huge golden bell has to be here!"
The child had a hunch of where they were. "Could this be... out homeland?"
"It is? You guys are pretty cool." Luffy noticed something from a distance. "Hey, what's that? There are a lot of people over..." He trailed off as he realized who and what was over there and jumped down the altar.
"Luffy! Wait! What is it this time?!" Aisa asked.
Returning to where Allen was, he was trying his hardest to defeat the Dusks, Shadows, Yellow Operas, Sniperwilds, Air Pirates, and Wizards. But no matter how hard he tried, no matter what sort of dance moves he pulled, they just keep coming like roaches. And it didn't help that his dials were running out of juice to provide their specialty. And not only that, but most the weapons he had on him during his and Xion's journey to the ruins were also wearing out as well. Let's not forget that he also had to protect his friends and family from these Heartless, mainly Chirithy, who was doing his best to at least round them up in one spot, to make it easier for the dancer of a fighter to protect them.
"There's too many of them!" the Dream Eater said. "We can't win like this!"
"I know!" Allen said. "I know but... Xion needs us! And even if she isn't, she's counting on us to save our crew! I will never forgive myself if I let any of them die on me! I can't live with myself knowing I failed her here!"
"What's the point when she's already captured by the enemy?! Now that they have her, who knows what they'll do!"
"You can't be suggesting we leave these guys here!"
As much as the little guy wants to keep arguing, he saw a Heartless trying to get a jump at the only fighter of the two. "Look out!"
Allen looked and came face-to-face with an Air Pirate.
"Gum Gum Pistol!" They heard a familiar voice, as something hit the Heartless in the face, sending it flying away from the dancing Shandian. Both turned to the source to see Luffy charging down the street behind him, making a big leap. "And Gum Gum Gatling!" He unleashed a barrage of punches that rained down all about Allen, the Dream Eater, and the fallen comrades, taking out every single remaining Dusk and Heartless that was there. The two were dumbfounded at the sudden eradication as Luffy landed near them and raced to Zoro, grabbing him by the shoulders and shaking him.
"Hey, Zoro! What's wrong with you?!" the pirate captain demanded. "Come on, say something!" Zoro didn't wake from his voice, worrying Luffy. "How could this have happened to you? How could any of this have happened with you here?!"
"Luffy!" Chirithy called out, getting his attention as he and Allen drew near.
"Allen!" The Shandorian turned and saw Aisa and Pierre approaching them.
"Aisa! You're still okay!" Allen stated in relief, racing to her.
"What happened here?!" Luffy demanded, picking up Chirithy and shaking him. "Who did this?!"
"Stop shaking and let me answer!" the Dream Eater barked, causing Luffy to drop him. "Eneru attacked us, along with a member of that Organization that is hunting Xion down. A girl named Larxene. They took us all down, one by one. Nami, Allen and I were the only one who remained alive. Then these Dusks and Heartless showed up and..."
Luffy looked about at the scene. He saw Robin, Chopper and Guthrie had also fallen nearby where he knelt. Pierre wept as he shook his master, Ganfall, praying for him to be awake. There was a pair of people that were missing from the group.
"Where's Nami? And Xion?!" he demanded, looking about. Chirithy looked down, hesitant to answer that.
"WYPER!" The two heard Aisa's bawling cry as they looked to where she was, seeing Wyper char-boiled and on his back, having taken the worst out of everyone there. Allen stood there a bit away from her, his teeth clenched and his fist bawled.
"I'm... I'm sorry, Aisa," he apologized. "Wyper tried but... Eneru was just..." He couldn't finish the sentence, as the result was already clear.
"That bazooka guy was really strong, but even he fell in this fight," Luffy pointed out, recalling when he fought him in the forest before he was eaten by the snake.
"Guthrie fought really hard, too," Chirithy added. "He tried defeating that Organization member, and he was doing pretty good until that god guy attacked Robin before his eyes."
Luffy looked down at the cat-like being, then at a teary-eyed Aisa, who ran their way, but then tripped. Allen caught her, his eyes shadowed, looking away from his defeated cousin. The fact that he was practically the cause of Wyper's condition, no matter what the reason, weighed heavily on his heart. Not only that, but if Luffy learned about Xion... He will never be forgiven.
"I... can never forgive him for what he did," he muttered. "And I can't forgive myself for not being able to at least stop it." Aisa heard the tone in his voice and looked up at him. She was surprised, as he was doing his best holding back the tears that were starting to form on his face. "I can understand if you hate me, Aisa. I really do suck. I guess... I am too pathetic to be called a Shandian. No, even more so. If Wyper thinks lowly of Blue Sea Dwellers... I'm even lower than that."
"Allen..." the young Shandorian girl muttered. Though he was an outcast, and despite the discrimination he was given amongst other people in the tribe, he never once broke down. He was always strong, smiling and dancing, and overcoming all insults with something that was not ignorance, but determination. A resolve that he was loyal and part of the tribe. Now, he had been broken, and Aisa could tell it was more than just not being there to save Wyper.
"Stop... putting yourself down..." muttered a voice. Luffy, Chirithy, and the two Shandorians looked to the direction and saw Guthrie starting to regain consciousness. It wasn't just him, though, as Robin was also starting to move.
"Robin/Guthrie!" Luffy and Chirithy cried out simultaneously, racing to the people they called out to.
"You woke up! Thank goodness!" the Dream Eater sighed in relief.
Guthrie took a few seconds to try to make his next move, then he shakily reached out, calling his Keyblade to his hand. He slowly pointed the Keyblade towards Robin and Luffy as he muttered, "H-Heal..." The three pirates glowed green from the Cura spell, healing Luffy of the injuries of the stomach acid in the snake, as well as some of the damages done to Guthrie and Robin.
"Hey, are you okay?" Luffy asked the two as Robin slowly regained herself more, getting on her hands and knees.
"Our navigator... she went with him..." Robin moaned, startling Luffy, as Guthrie shakily rose to his feet.
"You're saying Nami was taken away by that god guy? Where? And what about Xion?" Luffy asked Robin as he helped her up.
"Ask... him..." Luffy was confused with what she meant by that, as Robin tried to stabilize her footing..
Allen, painful as it was for him, explained what happened. "Xion... She's taken..." The captain was now shocked beyond belief at the answer. "I could've done something, but that woman who took her, the very one who defeated Guthrie... Her and Eneru together? How can I ever? Instead I... I went and attacked my own cousin! Just to get on Eneru's good side!" It was silent at his confession. Aisa couldn't believe what she was hearing from Allen's mouth. He may be on bad terms with a large majority of their people, but Wyper was one of the very few who had his back. He was one of the very few who Allen got along well with. To hear that Allen betrayed him like so... Now she knew what Allen meant when he said he was lower than Blue Sea Dwellers that his cousin, their leader, looked down upon.
"You can scold him later, captain," Robin said. "But listen carefully. If we don't do something, Skypiea... will disappear."
"What?!" Luffy gasped, though not as shocked as Allen and Aisa.
"Our homeland will be completely gone?!" Aisa echoed, her eyes blank in shock.
"What are you saying? He may be powerful, but I don't think he's THAT powerful!" Allen exclaimed, for he didn't hear of Eneru's complete intentions when he arrived.
"He is going to destroy everything and everyone," Chirithy explained, getting everyone's attention. "He claims this entire place in the sky was unnatural. He will send it back into the surface. Every man, woman and child will go along with it, dead or alive." The words petrified the Shandians.
"Eneru will definitely go after the Golden Bell," Guthrie continued. "He figured out where it was, but he won't destroy the place until he gets his hands on it."
"That's right. He won't stop until he finds it," Robin told the team. "But you have to hurry, because we don't have that much time left. The person who took Xion is still around and will still be until he finds that bell. You can't let Eneru find it."
Allen curled his fists. "Even so, we don't know where he, Nami and that blonde woman are. And besides... do we even stand a chance against someone who can destroy our homeland that easily?"
"I know where they are," Aisa told the team, surprising them. "There are three voices moving on this island. It has to be Nami, Eneru and the woman with them."
"How do you know?" Chirithy asked, perplexed.
"Your Mantra," Allen answered, knowing full well of her powers.
"Allen," Guthrie called to him, getting his attention. "You'd better not be giving up this easily. Just because Wyper is down doesn't mean you should give up, too. No matter what the reason."
"But... what can I do?" he questioned. "I'm no where near as strong as my cousin. I betrayed him. You all saw! I turned on you guys! Even if it was for a moment... even if it was a lie to make Eneru leave... I could've killed Wyper. And if Luffy hadn't arrived when he did, we all could've died! I wasn't strong enough to protect any of you! I could barely stop Xion when she..." He halted his sentence for a second, getting a confused look from Guthrie. "... The point is, I couldn't do anything to save your friends or my family. What good am I in this situation? The way I am now, with the actions I took... Calling me a scum would be putting it lightly."
"You can still fight, right?" Guthrie asked. "Sure, you screwed up. You couldn't stop Eneru from taking each and every one of us down, or Larxene from taking Xion away. And yes, you don't have the same power as your brother, and you did attack him. But if you let all that hold you down, then you can't progress forward. I know that feeling of screwing up something I can't get back..." He curled his fists at this, reminded of a past that he could never forgive himself of. A past where his vengeful rage almost completely ruin his life. "If you can't forgive what you have done, then own that guilt. Keep pushing forward. Redeem yourself a little bit at a time, and do what you can to protect the people you care for. Do what you can for the land you love. Whatever it takes, you can progress, and be stronger than the person you are now."
The speech surprised Allen as he looked at Guthrie. He was still injured in some areas, especially on his back, where the puncture wounds of Larxene's knives still were at. And yet, there was something about him that filled Allen's heart with his words. He was basically telling him to stop beating himself up for letting things happen, or whatever happened to Xion back before.
"Aisa..." Luffy spoke up, getting the young Shandian's attention. "I need you to take me to Nami and Eneru right now." Aisa and Allen looked surprised at his request.
"That might not be a bad idea," Robin told them, surprising the team. "In fact, after witnessing his powers, our captain might be the only one to defeat Eneru."
"But what about the Organization member?" Chirithy asked. "She'll be quite troublesome for the captain! And she has Xion..."
"Xion's not that weak," Guthrie spoke. "I read the journal. She survived from an explosion, didn't she? If she can survive from that, then of course she's going to get back up from that loss and fight Larxene again."
"Then we'll have to back her up, now!" Chirithy exclaimed. "She needs your protection! We have to-"
"Don't worry," Guthrie assured him. "I know she may lack sword combat skills... but I know she can beat her. That fight they had, I doubt she was serious that time, if she was already able to beat two members of the Organization. I have complete faith in her." Chirithy was both worried at his lax nature, yet the tone in his voice showed how serious he was in his faith.
"We can take care of everyone else," Guthrie informed Luffy, indicating himself, Robin, Chirithy and Allen. "We'll head towards the area above here through the ruins. We'll be waiting up there. Give that Eneru a good beating before he tries to destroy the place!"
"Right. I'll beat the crap out of him!" Luffy answered. "Let's go Aisa!" Pierre made an outcry, indicating that he was going with the two.
"Luffy!" Allen called, getting his captain's attention. "I may have no right to request this, but if Xion does get back up, and knowing her, of course she will eventually, but if and when she does, if she fights Larxene and does something stupid and not like her... Tell her..."
It was silent, as the dancing Shandian told Luffy what he want to tell to Xion, hoping that despite what he found out, the Devil Fruit user will relay the message to their vice-captain.
After telling him the message, a smile formed on Luffy's face as he turned to the new member. "Of course! Leave it to me!" With that, they took off, leaving Robin, Allen, Guthrie and Chirithy alone.
"Do you really think Luffy can do it?" Allen asked Robin.
"He has to, or all hope is lost," she answered, with Guthrie nodding in agreement.