"Everyone has their own turn," mutters Run, voice muffled by the ringing in his ears. The ship pitches and rolls, tossed about by the waves as a result of the massive explosion on the cape. Big Mom and the Seducing Woods are completely obscured from view by a sea of flames, and a massive cloud of smoke. The red head watches the flames, and the ashes slowly descending in their direction. Carrot suddenly lunges forward and Run catches her around the waist quickly, holding her back with ease as he snaps out of his stupor.
"Let go of me!" cries Carrot. "Let me go to where Pedro was! He could still be alive!"
"No! No, he's...Pedro is gone! He bought us the time we need! It was his choice to make and we...we can't change what's done! Going out there now isn't what he wanted!"
"Nami! Are we ready to fly?!" Luffy questions quickly.
"Yes! It's all set!" Nami confirms. "Chopper! Brook! Are you with us?" A series of hacking coughs echo from the upper deck of the Sunny as if to confirm her question. Run releases Carrot, and turns to look down at the lower deck of the Sunny where Katakuri and Luffy are still standing across from one another.
"If we waste this moment...we'd only make Pedro ashamed of us! We'll get out of here no matter what! At any price!"
"Why is everyone so heated up?" Katakuri asks. "No matter what-"
"Get off the Sunny," orders a voice from behind Katakuri. The large man glances sharply over his shoulder at the red head. He'd taken his back without a sound, and without being caught by his Kenbunshoku? Katakuri's eyes flash a deep crimson, and his brow creases seconds later as he frowns behind his scarf. There's...nothing? Once again his eyes flash, and once again he can sense nothing from the red head; neither presence nor life force seems to eminate from him. An impossible situation...that's what this should be. "I said...get off the Sunny, Katakuri. I won't tell you a third time."
"And if I should refuse? What then, red-" The red head's figure blurs and Katakuri moves immediately. The Sweet Commander turns, large pieces of mochi launching out in the direction of the red head. Large crimson jaws spring to life, consuming the mochi as Run appears before the man with fist raised. Katakuri's world spins as Run's strike lands firmly on his jaw, a brief spray of blood and a molar erupting from his lips past his scarf. The Sweet Commander turns with the impact, staggering several steps away before he can right himself and just in time from Run to plant his foot firmly in the man's gut. He's briefly lifted from his feet as he flies back and strikes the far wall of the Sunny. He drops to a knee, bracing himself with weapon and hand. "I can't see his-" Both eyebrows raise as Run appears before him with foot raised.
Katakuri moves immediately, dodging out of the way as Run drives his foot into the wall where his head should have been. The wood cracks under the impact, splintering in all directions before a large hole is blasted through the wall. It's clear now, this isn't a fight to force him off the ship but a fight with the intention of ending his life. Katakuri steps in the red head's direction as he turns and then very suddenly appears above him. Katakuri raises both arms as Run's knee comes up. A deafening 'boom!' echos across the deck of the Sunny as their Busoshoku clashes, and surprise flickers across the Sweet Commander's face as he's very briefly lifted from his feet, guard broken and arms throbbing. Run grasps tight to the wall, fingers piercing the wood as his free hand grasps Katakuri by the hair of his head.
"I won't let you demean his sacrifice!" With that he surprises everyone by driving the larger man head first into the wall, once more punching a large hole in the wood. Even with his vision obscured, Katakuri shakes off the hand grasping him, strands of hair flying in all directions as he surges towards the red head, grasping him tightly around the waist and carrying him across the deck of the Sunny before smashing him into the base of the mast. The whole ship shudders and groans, rocking in the water from the impact even as a loud 'crack!' echos and Run grunts with pain. The Sweet Commander releases him, allowing him to drop to his feet before pinning him by the throat and driving his fist into his jaw. A spray of blood splashed across the deck as Katakuri draws back a second time, tendrils of mochi sprouting from his back. "Devour!" Large jaws spring into the air around the Sweet Commander who lunges backwards, offering his mochi as a shield as they snap shut in a whirl wind of gnashing teeth and fangs.
"You-"
"Gum-Gum...Elephant Gun!" shouts Luffy, blind siding the Sweet Commander and grasping him tightly. "Run! Are you alright?!" The red head turns his head and spits out a small mouthful of blood onto the deck before grinning at him.
"Just a scratch in the paint, Luffy," Run tells him. "Sorry for buttin' in."
"It's fine! But...I'm the Captain, so I'll take care of him! Run, help Nami with the Coup de Burst! We need to leave, now!" Run quickly dashes up the stairs to the Sunny's helm to join Nami.
"The sails are furled, and the cola is loaded!" Nami tells him. "We'll make our escape to the Northwest! Azimuth forty-five degrees, and Pitch thirty-five degrees. All that's left is to agitate the cola!" Nami grasps a lever and pulls it sharply. The whole ship begins to rumble and vibrate softly. "We should be ready to-" Run suddenly turns sharply, gazing into flames on the cape as a massive figure steps through. Big Mom...it seems that the explosion did little more than knock her off her feet for a few minutes. It's not just her, either...even Perospero rises from the smoke, although he's minus an arm now.
"Uhhh...Nami? Must sail quicker," Run says. "Big Mom is-" A chorus of cannon fire cuts him off, and seconds later numerous cannon balls splash down into the sea around them. "Aaah, fer...give us a fuckin' break here! Yer startin' ta wear on my last nerves, you-"
"The cola energy has reached it's maximum!"
"Now! Go!" demands Luffy. Nami grabs the lever once again but before she can pull it, the whole ship suddenly shakes and shudders violently as the bow is lifted from the water. Nami is thrown from her feet into a far softer landing than she'd anticipated as Run actually slides down the deck of the Sunny to catch her. Big Mom clings tightly to the stern of the Sunny, holding it tightly as she braces herself on the cape.
"Th-Thanks, Run!" Nami stands quickly, returning to the helm while Run stares down Big Mom. She quickly yanks the lever...and then again and again when nothing happens. "Wha...? I can't use the Coup de Burst!"
"What's the matter?" Brook questions her. "I thought we were going to fly!"
"Cola must have leaked out due to the impact!" The boom of cannons in the distance causes Brook, Chopper and Jinbe to immediately spring into action. The three cut, toss and deflect the cannon balls as they approach the Sunny while Run picks himself up off the deck. Big Mom and her children...no matter what they're bound and determined to drag this fight out to it's final and bitter conclusion! Pedro bought them time to make an escape, and now this is like spitting on his grave! He grins his teeth, jaw tightening and iris' flashing a deep crimson. "Run! I need...you to..." Her words trail off as notices her breath in the air and...snow...? His figure flickers from view, and a deafening 'boom!' rattles the ship and the cape.
Snarling and growling fills the air as Big Mom is thrown back, tumbling across the ground before being tossed through the Seducing Woods several hundred meters back in the direction they've come from. A frigid wind sweeps across the deck of the Sunny, and the flames once blazing across the cape are snuffed out; replaced by a towering mass of ice beside an absolutely massive black wolf. It isn't until Big Mom stands from the position she'd been thrown to that they realize the scope of it's size as the massive Yonko is barely chest height to it.
"R...Red hair?" Jinbe mutters in question, watching it's ears flick in response to the name.
"I'll keep her busy," Run says, voice deep and gravelly. "Now, go."
"Wedding Cake!" cries Big Mom in the distance, stomping back in his direction with sword in hand. Run surges forward, covering the distance between them in leaps and bounds as she raises her sword. "Iko-" Her words are cut short as she's swatted across the face by a massive paw, driving her head first into the earth. She slides several hundred meters, digging a trench the whole way before finally coming to a stop. The massive Yonko pushes herself up, and turns sharply at the sound of foot falls. Her vision is met by a massive set of jaws opening wide and then clamping down on her shoulder. With a single motion she's tossed into the air, and the wolf spins as she descends actually smashing his hip into her and sending her tumbling across the earth once more before coming to a stop.
"Hah. What is your body made of that my fangs couldn't pierce it, old woman?" Big Mom picks herself up once more, appearing no worse for wear but for the long and deep crimson lines dotting her skin where his fangs had found purchase. Big Mom immediately hefts her weapon.
"Ikoku!" With a single swing she launches shock wave in his direction, and rather than move he simple raises a paw and stamps it with a deep growl. The earth shatters and then freezes over as the wave approaches. However, rather than dodge Run simply opens his mouth and snaps his teeth shut on the wave of force. Several long seconds of silence follow before the earth explodes on either side of him.
"Huh. So this is it...the power to consume even gods. How-"
"Ikoku!" Once more she swings her weapon in his direction, and the Run's massive body seems to flicker as he surges out of the path and covers the distance. "Wedding Cake!" Big Mom's sword comes up quickly, and a huge 'boom!' proceeds a brilliant shower of sparks as Run catches the blade between his fangs. His paws slam into her shoulders and he forces her down to her back.
"M...Mama! I-It hurts!" cries Napoleon, a soft crinkling sound resonating from the weapon. "It hurts!" Run bites down as hard as he can manage, the crinkling turning to groaning. "S-Stop! No! D-Dont!"
"No more games." With a single surge his teeth snap shut, shattering the blade and Run immediately leaps back. He lands several hundred meters away with loud crunching fills the air for several moments before a deep 'gulp!' sounds. "Ugh! Tastes like a mouthful of coins! That was...unh..." Run shakes his head, the motion following to his entire body by instinct. Power...strength...it radiates from his stomach through his entire being. His nose curls, fangs exposed to the sunlight. "I see. That is the strength of this Devil Fruit. The power to consume the strength of an enemy. How interesting..." His crimson eyes flash seem to pulse an even brighter crimson as he slowly stalks in the direction of the rising Yonko. "...how interesting indeed."
"Prometheus!" shouts Big Mom, thrusting her right arm skyward and summoning the sun Homie. "Heavenly Bonbon!" The Homie takes a deep breath, expanding it's flaming body several times before suddenly spitting out several dozen massive fireballs in Run's direction. The wolf raises a single paw and stamps it on the ground, flattening the earth around him before once more freezing it over. The fireballs appear before him as he opens his jaws, and then snaps them shut with a loud 'click!'. An icy blast of wind assaults the Yonko, staggering her back several steps as the balls of fire disappear, and a massive chunk of earth is gouged out between the two. Loud crunching once more fills the air before being punctuated by an even louder 'gulp' seconds before Run exhales a small puff of smoke and licks his chops.
"Dahahaha~! Spicy~! Those were actually pretty good! Much better than that sword! Care to send a few more my direction?"
"Ma...Mama!" calls Prometheus. "Th-This man! Something is weird about him! He ate Napoleon! We need to be-" His words fall on deaf ears as Big Mom grasps the Homie, and reels back. "Wait, wait, wait!"
"Heavenly Feuer!" booms Big Mom, actually throwing Prometheus in Run's direction. Panic appears on the Homie's face as he closes in on the wolf...who only responds by opening his jaws once more.
"No, no, no!" The wolf snaps it's jaws shut just as Prometheus shoots skyward. Once more the earth is gouged out as Prometheus barely dodges the fangs of the wolf, circling through the sky before racing back in the direction of Big Mom. "Whew~! That was close! I was almost dog chow!" Run's ears flick and his posture actually relaxes; hackles lower and fangs are covered as he draws himself up to his foot height.
"Hah," grunts Run. "Looks like the crew has made their escape...so I'd say this is where we part ways. Shame I could eat you, too." The words send an involuntary shudder through the Homie before Run suddenly charges forward. "But I guess I could grab a snack for the road, Prometheus...!"
The rushing of wind, and the pounding of his feet against the air for hours on end. He'd given Big Mom a target to chase across Whole Cake Island for a bit and bought the crew the time needed to escape...all that he has to do now is catch up. Cacao Island, that's where the crew is planning to meet up with Sanji and if his sense of direction hasn't failed him he should be catching up with everyone soon. He's covered miles of open sea so far but he hasn't seen hide nor hair of them...which hopefully isn't a bad thing. Maybe they just had to use Coup de Burst multiple times to make their escape. The red head's breath hitches for a moment and he burps, exhaling a small puff of smoke accompanied by a metallic taste.
"Ugh...what in the hell was I thinkin'?" complains Run. "Chowin' down on fire and metal of all things. I should really-" His words are cut short by sudden explosion in the far distance, the night lighting up with the bright orange glow of flames. "Oh-ho! That's not good!" Rapidly approaching the flames, the red head to see a massive fleet in the seas ahead of him, and beyond the fleet of ships, the harbor of Cacao Island turned into a sea of flames. All of the sails of the ships approaching the island are boldly emblazoned with two large 6's. It seems that Germa intends to get some revenge on the Big Mom Pirates before making their escape as well. Beyond the fleet of ships, and in the distance, Run can just barely make out an extreamly familiar looking ship...the Sunny! "Dahaha~! Jackpot! Hold on, everyone, I'm comin'!" The red head changes direction, swooping in low and landing heavily on the deck of the Sunny...only to go sliding across it and strike the railing at waist level. "Ohhhhh...that hurts!"
"What's happening?!" calls a trio of voices. "Who's hurt?!" Run steps back from the railing, a hand placed on his lower stomach with a grimace.
"Whew~! That's...That's definitely gonna bruise." Hearing sprinting footsteps he turns to look at the familiar faces of Chopper, Brook and Carrot before flashing a bright grin at them. "I'm back! What'd I-"
"Run!" shout Chopper and Carrot in unison, nearly tackling the red head to the deck at they launch themselves at him. Chopper and Carrot cling to the red head as he braces himself against the railing and pats the both of them on the head with a grin.
"Relax, relax~! I'm totally-" He doesn't even get a chance to finish his sentence before someone raises a trio of knots across the top of his head. "Owie! Didn't hurt! Argh...!" He reaches up and rubs the knots on his head while Nami glares at him. "Dahaha~! Good to see you, too, Nami!"
"Are you an idiot?!" demands Nami. "Throwing yourself at Big Mom like that?! After...After what happened?!"
"Well...depends on the day, really." Nami raises a fist and then sighs heavily.
"What...happened with Big Mom?"
"Aah, well, I kept her busy running around the island and just made a real nuisance of myself for a bit before making my escape." He scans the deck slowly and eventually turns his attention back to Nami. "Where's casanova gone off to? And for that matter where is Luffy at?"
"Luffy pulled Katakuri off the ship into the Mirroworld. Sanji should be-" He's cut off by the loud ringing of the Transponder Snail. Brook quickly picks up the receiver but before he can speak a word in greeting, however, Sanji's voice quickly sounds across the connection, telling them to sail by the harbor at full speed. No matter what he'll make it there with Luffy in tow. "Alright, casanova, we'll be there! Hard to starboard, Jinbe!" He quickly turns the ship towards the harbor, ignoring the flames and ships gathered there. If Sanji says he'll be there, then he'll be there. They watch the burning harbor with baited breath, looking for any sign of their crew members as they begin to sail past.
"It's Sanji!" shout Carrot. "Here he comes!" Above the clouds of smoke, and flames, they catch sight of Sanji carrying Luffy over his shoulder and moving as quickly as he can through the air in their direction. Their cook approaches rapidly, and finally touches down on deck to the cheering of Nami, Brook and Chopper. Both men appear as though they've been put through the wringer...but at last they're finally all back together! Luffy, who is sound asleep despite all the noise around him, only wakes up when Carrot surprises him by biting him on the ear when the crew swarms them.
"You guys...you kept me waiting so long!" complains Luffy, staring at the group of them.
"Luffy, did you beat Katakuri?" Chopper asks.
"Yeah!" Luffy pauses for a moment before falling back to sleep. Chopper finally takes notice of the state of both Luffy and Sanji and quickly scrambles to get his doctor bag. Before he can make his move, however, the sound of cannon fire echos through the night, and the Sunny shakes violently as the cannon-balls strike the sea around them.
"They caught up with us before we realized!" shouts Brook.
"We'll treat them as we sail!" Nami tells them. "We've come too far to get caught!" With Jinbe at the helm they quickly turn tail and sail out to sea, dodging volley after volley of incoming cannon-balls. It seems that Big Mom's forces intend to chase them until they've finally sunk them. Unfortunately for Big Mom's forces, they very quickly find themselves intercepted by Germa ships. They sail past Germa's flag ship looking up at the railing of the ship, surprised to find Sanji's father staring down at them.
"What's so good about him?!" screams Judge. "Straw Hat Luffy! This is the Yonko Big Mom's territory! Once you enter, you'll never be able to leave! You risked your life just to get him back?! Sanji is Germa's failure! His skin is useless as a shield! He works as a cook because he has no pride in his royal blood! His emotions are easily swayed, and his soft mind makes him put his life on the line for the weak! He's just a failed soldier!"
"Hmmm...thanks for your help!" Luffy shouts back. "See you around!" They sail past the massive Germa ship with Judge still shouting at them as they do. "That was pretty surprising! Wonder why he was listing all of the good things to say about you?"
"He didn't mean it like that!" insists Sanji.
"Uhhh...Nami!" calls Run, pointing past the bow of the Sunny. "Ships!" All heads turn quickly towards the horizon their eyes widening when they realize that they're sailing in the direction of a massive fleet.
"Oh, no!" screams Nami. "We got sandwiched again! All their available ships must have come around the island to cut us off!" Cannon fire booms from the ships gathered ahead, splashing down into the sea around the Sunny. "We're already in their range!" More cannon balls fly in their direction, and Run leaps onto the figure head quickly.
"Devour!" He swipes his hand through the air, a spectral set of jaws appearing and snapping shut on the encroaching cannonballs in a whirl wind of fangs. "Whew~! That's much better...looks like I can't taste it like this."
"That's right!" bellows a voice from behind them, drawing their attention to a massive genie hovering over the ship. "We're coming from both the front and back! You're between the fleet and the genie! Genie-uine...Rage Split!" Sanji is quick to react, leaping up and deflecting the genie's giant weapon.
"This might be the end of us!" cries Jinbe. "We've come this far but they've got us completely sandwiched!"
"Keep sailing forward, Jinbe!" Run shouts, completely devouring another volley of cannonballs with a swipe of his hand. "Dahahaha~! If they won't move then we'll just have to sink the whole fleet, won't we?"
The Fish Man actually grins in response, and holds steady at the helm. Seconds later, however, the sea in front of them begins to roil and churn, tossing the approaching ships this way and that.
"Who's brave enough to trouble my Boss?!" demands a familiar voice, as Wadatsumi breaks the surface of the sea. "I won't forgive them!" The ships caught in the wave of his sudden eruption from the sea are scattered in all directions, shattered to little more than bits of splintered wood and twisted metal. Jinbe releases the helm and quickly dives over the railing of the Sunny, disappearing below the waves as Wadatsumi begins to destroy ship after ship around him. Jinbe leaps out of the water and back onto the deck, taking the helm once again. The sea turns into a battlefield around them. What ships aren't sunk by Wadatsumi are sunk by a group of Fish Men who easily over power the crews of each ship. It isn't long before a path has open up before them...a path to the open sea!
"Advance!" The Sunny pushes on across the sea quickly. "I should have noticed it sooner...they disabled the Territory Slugs for us. Even in the end, they saved me."
"Only Jinbe's friends could do that!" agrees Luffy, grinning from ear to ear. They sail on past the sunken and destroyed ships, cheered on by Jinbe's old crew as they continue onward to make their escape. To their surprise, however, they find a single ship looming on the horizon.
"Straw Hat! Red!" bellows a voice from the ship ahead. "The two of you...you bastards! You brought down Katakuri and Cracker! I'm not going to let either of you go alive, no matter what!" Oven heats up arms rapidly, and thrusts them into the sea, causing the water for hundred of meters around his ship, and even the Sunny to begin boiling madly. "Hot Sea Hell!"
"Dive! Dive deeper!" screams Jinbe. "Get away from the surface!"
"What should we do, Luffy?!" Chopper asks quickly, as enemy ships close in on all sides...and they're even joined by Big Mom's flag ship, all their cannons pointed in their direction.
"What should we do?" echos Luffy, approaching the bow of the Sunny. "Jinbe and Run already said it...we'll keep advancing!" As all cannons open fire, and the crew tenses, they're surprised to find themselves suddenly drug completely under water. The strength drains from Run's body immediately, the red head floating along paralyzed at the mercy of the currents and helpless but to watch as they're stuffed into Wadatsumi's mouth. However, as quickly as they've been shielded and hidden away they quickly find themselves thrust back out into the open.
"It's hot! It's hoooot!" screams Wadatsumi. The giant spits them out onto the surface of the sea and quickly turns to shield them from incoming cannon fire. "Straw Hat! I was a bad person at Fish-Man Island! I'm sorry for that! But Boss Jinbe let me come along with him...I thank him for that! Since Boss Jinbe said he wants to join the Straw Hats we want to help him! We're determined to help!" Numerous Fish Men suddenly break the surface of the sea, placing themselves between them and Big Mom's fleet.
"We celebrate your departure!" screams one of the Fish Men. Without waiting for Jinbe to reply the Fish Men charge forward towards the approaching fleet. They watch as the Fish Men fight against Big Mom's forces as they retreat.
"We're taking on water," Jinbe finally says. "That's making us slow and heavy...and the sails need repaired if you're going to catch the wind properly, so you can advance as fast as you can. There's still several hours until we make it out of enemy territory."
"What are you doing, Jinbe?" Luffy asks. "What are you trying to say?"
"Luffy...I can't leave them behind!"
"Fine! Then, we'll stay, too!"
"I'll bring up the rear to cover you! If you're chased by that mother ship and the fleet now, then you'll never be able to get away. So...let me bring up the rear! I'll pull it off, and come back alive!" After a few long moments Luffy finally nods firmly.
"Don't forget, Jinbe...I'm your Captain, now! I won't stop the ship! I'll be waiting for you in Wano! Come at any cost! Also...don't die no matter what...!"