A.n I own Nothing.
Just a reminder that updates on all my stories will continue to be slow till mid-November. So for those people who have been sending me PM's demanding and shouting at me for new chapters I am telling you now that your constant pestering is not going to make them come any faster.
As I have previously stated this is the busiest and most stressful time of year at my job. Between full time work that leaves me run off my feet and part time study….it leaves very little time to write. I go through this phase every year and there is nothing I can do about it. So please stop complaining about lack of updates. I know the story is in a really crucial and exiting part, but is it really too much to ask for some patience.
If this sounds harsh and condescending I am sorry but I feel the added stress these PMs are making this already stressful and difficult worse and I know the readers who send them will not stop unless I speak out.
I will be putting this notice up on my Lord of the Castle Story as well.
Also the Bounty Competition is still open and I am still taking entries.
As always Please Review
At the appointed time for the duel, the entire crew minus Robin were watching as Luffy and Usopp stood apart from one another on the shore. In the time between when Usopp left and the actual duel had been very tense.
Zoro and Sanji were at each other's throats; blaming each other for the situation. Sanji blamed Zoro for not finishing off all the Frankie's when they were on the ship and Zoro blamed Sanji for wandering off into to town to do the shopping when he should have stayed.
Nami found herself stuck playing peace keeper between them but was pulled into the argument when Zoro blamed her for not keeping a closer eye on the money or Usopp. After Usopp had left Chopper had run off after the sniper to continue his treatment but the sniper rejected him and sent him back in tears and he had been crying…which only fuelled the three way argument.
Luffy stood on deck looking in the direction that Usopp had gone with a very serious expression and didn't say a word or make any move to stop the others arguing.
Connor however could not stand the crew yelling at each other so he squatted down in a corner closed his eyes and covered his ears in an attempt to block out all the arguing and yelling; as well as staying out of the crews' way out of fear.
At the appointed time of the Duel the whole crew came out to watch. Connor didn't want to see either Luffy or Usopp get hurt but Zoro had scolded him for it and told the boy that if he had any respect for either Luffy or Usopp he would be present and watch the duel.
Luffy was standing close to the Merry with his arms folded, while Usopp stood on the other side of him, close to the gate of Water 7.
"So, you didn't lose your nerve after all," Luffy said coldly to Usopp. There was none of the friendliness that Luffy usually had in his voice. He spoke to Usopp like he was a true adversary "Last chance to back out,"
"No I'm not going to let you throw the Merry away," Usopp answered in an equally cold voice. "I have already figured out a way to defeat you so don't you dare go easy on me,"
"Make no mistake, I'm not like any other opponent you faced before," Usopp said as he pointed at his former captain. "We've been friends a long time. I know all your powers, your strengths and your weaknesses….and I will use them against you,"
None of the crew spoke, despite Usopps claim and self-assurance, they all knew he couldn't actually beat Luffy…this made it harder for the rest of the Straw Hats to watch.
Luffy slowly unfolded his arms as he prepared to make his move.
"But there's something you don't know about me," Usopp suddenly said as he narrowed his eyes "I HAVE EIGHT-THOUSAND MEN ON MY SIDE!"
The Crew groaned and Luffy's eye twitched. It wasn't the lie that made the rubber captain mad, but that Usopp had the nerve to invoke the memory of their first meeting.
"If you don't surrender now, I'll order them to attack!" Usopp yelled, bringing the memory back to Water 7.
Chopper completely freaked out believing the obvious lie. Usopp then started pumping his arms in the air and yelling about razor sharp needles in teeth.
"What is he doing?" Connor asked. He was completely baffled by Usopps behaviour.
"He is trying to provoke Luffy into making the first move," Zoro answered.
"IF YOU'RE GOING TO FIGHT, AT LEAST TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY!" Luffy yelled in anger, tired of Usopp's mind game and charged in.
"GUM GUM NO PISTOL!" Luffy yelled as he prepared to throw his punch.
At that moment, Usopp suddenly coughed up a fountain of blood and collapsed to his knees, startling Luffy. He immediately stopped his attack as he looked at Usopp in concern.
Usopp held out his 'bloody' hand and glared at Luffy.
"Special Attack, Ketchup Star," Usopp smirked.
Luffy moved to finish his punch, but that moment of hesitation gave Usopp the time needed and he put his goggles on and lifted up a dial. Before Luffy knew what was happening, a bright flash hit his eyes that blinded both him and those watching.
"SPECIAL ATTACK, EGG STAR!" Usopp's voice was herd.
The Straw hats heard the sound of eggs being broken, but they saw nothing. They did, however, smell something rotten in the air. Luffy despite being blind felt Usopp pelt him with rotten eggs.
On the ship Chopper was near tears by the odour since he had such a sensitive nose. It felt like he was going to faint.
"How old were those things?" he cried out.
Luffy had the same thought as the terrible smell assaulting his senses. His vision started to clear a little and Luffy could barely make out Usopp reaching into his bag for more rotten food to hit him with.
"DAMMIT, WILL YOU STOP MESSING AROUND ALREADY!" Luffy yelled in annoyance once his vison was completely back.
"You think this is a joke?" Usopp asked darkly. "Because I'm deadly serious right now,"
"Oh yeah?" Luffy growled
"Yeah," Usopp responded and fired something into Luffy's mouth..
Luffy didn't get a chance to move as something flow into his mouth. By habit, he bit down on the strange object and got a nasty surprise. His mouth started to burn and he screamed in pain as he fanned his flaming mouth.
He was so distracted by his current discomfort that he failed to noticed that Usopp had thrown spiked jacks all over the ground. In a span of a second, Luffy figured it out as they went into his feet and he fell on the ground. Several of the jacks got embedded into his back and butt and since they were sharp Luffy's rubber body could not protect him from them.
He cried out in agony as he hopped around trying and failing miserably to avoid the small spiked objects.
"LISTEN, LUFFY! YOU CAN PITY ME IF YOU WANT!" Usopp yelled "BUT, I'M GOING TO BEAT YOU AND TAKE THE MERRY WITH ME…NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES!"
Luffy was too busy trying to crawl his way out of the spike battlefield with minimum damage to pay too much attention to Usopp. He wasn't doing too well given how many times he stabbed his foot on the spikes.
Finally he was able to stand straight up, but Usopp didn't give him a chance to make his next move as the rubber captain he was hit by a paper ball that exploded in his face.
"SPECIAL ATTACK, PEPPER STAR!" Usopp yelled.
Luffy fell back onto the jacks, stabbing his hand and legs. To add to his misery, he was now sneezing uncontrollably from the pepper. He also couldn't see straight since his eyes were watering badly as the pepper had gotten into them.
Within moments, Luffy was making sounds that were a mixture of sneezing and crying in pain. It was bizarre, almost funny to hear.
"So is it weird that Usopp is the one controlling this fight?" Sanji asked watching from the ship.
"It's like he said…he knows how Luffy fights… So he knows what attacks are going to work the best," Zoro commented.
"Wait…does this mean Luffy could lose?" Connor asked.
"No…not a chance," Zoro claimed shaking his head "Usopp doesn't have anything to keep Luffy down permanently. Once he runs out of tricks Luffy will end it,"
The crew continued to watch the fight and Luffy was finally able to regain control of himself as he position himself in a way where the jacks were not sticking him.
"I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU AN INCH!" Usopp yelled fiercely. "SPECIAL ATTACK, SHURIKEN SHOOTING STAR!"
Luffy's eyes widened when he saw a horde of shrunkens heading right for him. He jumped out of the way, but he had to triad carefully since he was still in the jack field. This made him easy prey as Usopp mercilessly shot rows of shurikens at him.
"When and where did he buy those?" Chopper wondered.
Luffy finally escaped the jack trap and was now able to easily evade the shurikens, but it wasn't long before Luffy knew something was wrong. The entire battle began to fill with some kind of yellowish smoke and there was a loud hissing sound in the distance.
He looked around for a second in confusion and saw a dial not too far from him emitting the smoke.
"Dammit, this stuff stinks, my mouth is burning, and it hurts," Luffy complained.
"I'm using a Breath Dial," Usopp said when he saw Luffy noticed the dial. "You didn't notice the smell because of the rotten eggs. And now, you're completely surrounded by gas."
Luffy's eyes widened in horror. He knew he was in trouble.
"Sorry!" Usopp said, unapologetically as he shot a flame star at Luffy.
Within moments, the entire area exploded, startling the Straw hats who were watching the duel. Luffy's hat blew off in the resulting explosion.
When the fire started to clear, Luffy was lying on the ground. He didn't appear hurt. If anything, the explosion just slightly burnt his skin. It was his eyes that told the crew everything.
He looked angry. Luffy stood up and began to walk slowly out of the smoke that surrounded him. Once again, Luffy's eyes told everyone present what he was thinking. At that moment, he wanted to hurt Usopp.
"I'm no fool," Usopp said darkly "I realise that it will take more than that to beat you,"
Luffy kept walking towards Usopp. Oh yes, he wanted to hurt Usopp badly now.
"I know you, Luffy," Usopp said as his eyes narrowed. "You fight every battle with all your strength. But, I'm ready for any technique you got,"
Luffy charged at Usopp as he released a battle yelled.
"GUM GUM GATLING!"
"Special Attack, Blasting Cactus Star!" Usopp yelled as he shot a small ball at Luffy. When the ball hit Luffy's fists, it exploded into dozens of small spikes, nearly taken Luffy's eyes out and covering his body.
Luffy cried in pain as attempted to pull the small spikes out. Some were buried fairly deep into his skin. Without waiting for Luffy to regain his bearings, Usopp rapidly shoot Luffy with exploding stars.
Luffy was forced to jump around the shore to keep from being blown up.
"GUM GUM PISTOL!" Luffy yelled as he nailed Usopp's in the face from across the battlefield. Once Luffy's arm returned, he readied another attack in for the finisher.
"GUM GUM BAZOOKA!"
Usopp, however, took him by surprise and brought his hands up. When Luffy's attack hit Usopp did not react at all. It was only when Luffy's arm retracted that reviled why. Usopp was held a Dial in his hand and it had absorbed the blow. Luffy's eyes went wide as he recognised that particular dial.
"Recognize this? I bet that Bazooka would have hurt," Usopp asked mockingly with a smirk, as held up the dial. "Let's find out,"
Because of Luffy's pervious momentum, he was unable to stop himself from running into Usopp.
"IMPACT DIAL!" Usopp screamed as he hit Luffy point blank in the face.
Luffy was pushed back and blood spurted from his mouth. Usopp's arm cracked and popped from the stress of the Impact Dial and was forced to his knees. Despite being hit by the force of his own attack, Luffy righted himself up almost right away and landed several feet away from Usopp.
"That's it…the fights over," Zoro sighed "Usopp has lost,"
Usopp knew he had nothing left; he glared at Luffy as he slowly stood up on his unsteady legs. He refused to be defeated on his knees and to show defiant even in the end.
Luffy returned Usopp's glare with one of his own. They stood like that for several seconds, both breathing hard from the exertion from the battle.
"GOMU GOMU NO…" Luffy pulled his fist back, hesitating as fond memories of all their times together flooded back to him. However he quickly pushed them to the back of his mind.
He would not get distracted and he would finish this…he would do what needed to be done.
"PISTOL!" Luffy shouted as he nailed Usopp in the stomach, sending the sniper tumbling back. Blood gushed out of Usopp's mouth as he fell onto the cold ground.
There was nothing but silence for what felt like an eternity. Not even the wind blew.
Luffy went to his knees and clutched the arm that had punched Usopp with; he wanted to rip it off for harming one of his friends.
"You dumb idiot….You knewyou couldn't beat me…" he cried softly over Usopp.
Usopp's harsh breathing was his only response.
Luffy took a deep breath and then turned away from his former crewmate. Slowly, he began to walk away, heading back to the Merry for the final time. On his way towards the ship, Luffy grabbed his fallen hat and placed it firmly on his head, covering his eyes.
"Do whatever you want with Merry," Luffy said in a pain filled voice. "We're getting a new ship and sailing on…It's been fun…Usopp,"
The rest of the crew who had been watching stared at Luffy as he approached. None of them had ever seen Usopp fight so savagely and effectively before. However the duel was over and the victor was indisputable.
"USOPP!" Chopper cried out after a moment of silence. He jumped from the ship fully prepared to run out and give Usopp much needed medical attention.
"STOP CHOPPER!" Sanji yelled and caught the tiny deer as he tried to jump off the ship.
"WHY?! I'M A DOCTOR! HE WAS IN PIECES BEFORE AND NOW HE'S EVEN WORSE. I HAVE TO HELP HIM!" the reindeer screamed.
"This isn't that simple Chopper," Sanji said sternly.
"I DON'T CARE!"
Sanji would have none of it though; he held Chopper up and glared right in his eyes.
"Think about how Usopp must fee, he just lost a duel and was then pitied," Sanji growled "Think about how this kindness pains the loser. He walked into this knowing this would happen,"
Chopper looked over at Usopp and nodded in understanding. Once Sanji put the reindeer down he leapt over the edge and dropped off some medical supplies for Usopp and then ran right back.
"Why…Why did this happen?" Connor asked "How could it end like this?"
"That's what it means to be a captain. You don't hesitate and you can't be indecisive…because if you are then then your crew can't rely on you,"
"Then I don't ever want to be a captain…or in charge of anything," Connor said softly trying to hold back his tears.
Zoro looked down at the boy for a moment then turned his back on the battlefield.
"Let's get our things. We can never return to this ship," Zoro said.
Zoro and Sanji immediately headed into the ship and began to pack up everything. Once Luffy was back on board he joined them. Connor, Chopper and Nami also helped out but only after Zoro called to them again.
Once everything was packed up the crew left the Merry with all the supplies and belongings. The only thing they hadn't taken was some of the repair supplies as they could not carry it. They all walked past Usopp without a word.
Luffy Zoro and Sanji didn't even glance in Usopp's direction; Chopper and Nami cried softly as it pained them not only to see Usopp this way but also leave in his current condition. Connor stared at Usopp's defeated form as he walked past, the boy just felt so devastated.
The crew was splintered, their ship useless, their money was stolen, a fight between friends had broken out and Robin was missing.
"Were do we go now?" Chopper asked once they were nearing the bull rental and entrance to the city.
"Find a hotel and stay there till our new ship is ready," Luffy responded serisly.
The crew all headed in but Luffy stopped and turned back to see Usopp weakly trying to push himself up.
Luffy watched him for a moment.
"Goodbye Usopp," he said before turning his back on the sniper and heading into the Water 7 gate with the rest of his crew.
