Chapter 13

Consequences

"Haa… Zeeh… Haa… Zeeh…" Luffy crash landed onto a pile of rubble in his chibi form. Gear Third often had the side effect of shrinking Luffy. A consequence for expanding his body beyond its normal limits. He was panting, exhausted from all the fighting.

Indeed, everyone actually fell back to sit on the ground. Sanji took a deep drag on his cigarette. Zoro leaned against a piece of rubble for an arm rest. Maxwell hung onto his staff like a life line, just so he wouldn't lay back. This battle had been a real test of their endurance.

"…Hah…" Franky let out a breath. "Bastard's finally down…!" Kuma, or whoever they had been fighting, laid sprawle in a crater of rubble from Luffy's last attack.

"Well… That's to be expected." Usopp swallowed, his throat dry from all the heavy breathing.

Nami hugged her knees as she rested. "…He looks like he'll start moving at any moment… It's creepy." Even battered and bleeding, Kuma still kept the same cold stoic expression on his face. Most of they defeated opponents usually had their mouths ajar.

"If that happens, we're done for…!" Usopp laid back, half serious about the cyborg getting up again. "I… I'm so exhausted, I can't move a muscle…"

"Geh…" Chopper panted like a hot dog, "Maybe instead of fighting… We should focus on getting away…"

"…We should get rid of the people we can, since they'll just come after us later anyways." Robin was falling back on her days as an assassin for reference. She was used to being on the run. Take out who you could then don't wait to see who comes after you next.

"Agreed…" Maxwell replied. "But the real problem is sanctuary. We can't afford to stick in one place for too long. So long as we're on here islands…" Marineford is literally half a day's sail from here. Marines will be swarming these islands soon enough!

"Yeah… But.. Just what was that guy…!?" Zoro looked over at the fallen Kuma. Only it was never Kuma. Just a copy!

"Given that he was a cyborg… He must've been a person who looked exactly like Bartholomew Kuma," Franky reasoned. "The most natural possibility was that he was a twin brother or a super lookalike who had been modified." Franky's cheek was darkening with the bruise he received from that punch. "Whatever the case, you can't just make a person from scratch."

Sanji got up and looked down at their fallen foe. There was something on his left shoulder, beneath the clothing. "PX-4?"

Luffy slowly expanded back into his original height. He didn't move from his spot though. "…Let's just rest for a minute… I didn't think we'd be fighting at full strength all of a sudden…"

"Not need to fight—!? Ugh…!" Maxwell was too tired to be angry. He could scold him later when they left this place!

"I'd love to stay here and rest, but if someone finds us right now, they'll get us in one shot…" Sanji then looks around, "We should hide the body first…"

Luffy sits up, "…That's true… Just give me a sec here…"

"Jeez, just look at you guys have done!"

Adrenaline rushed into their minds, making them all look about. That voice wasn't anyone they knew! "What!? Another enemy!?" "Where's that voice coming from…!?"

Chopper spotted them first. "Above! Look up!"

A pair of individuals were high up, sitting on a branch of the Grove 12 yarukiman tree. They jumped down, crashing into the ground beside them.

"…Who's there!?" Luffy demanded through the dust. There was no way a simple fall like that killed them!

"Hey, hey, you're looking pretty pathetic PX-4…!" Standing in dust was a… man? He wore a red apron with a tomoe spindle and flower like crest. He wore nothing beneath it beyond a hemp rope belt and some bandages on his hands and feet. "Building one of you Pacifistas costs as much as a battleship!" His hair cut was feminine, a straight laced bob cut and bangs. His wide slanted features were marred and a long surgical scar between his eye and the edge of his mouth. And he hefted a LARGE two handed battleaxe. The bladed heads were just about as tall and wide as he was!

Standing with him was… ANOTHER KUMA!?

"Jeez, just what am I supposed to report back to Vegapunk…!?"

"UWAAAH! THERE'S ANOTHER WARLORD!" "C-COULD THAT BE THE REAL ONE!?"

Maxwell looked back between the downed Kuma and the standing one. They looked exactly alike! Maxwell couldn't tell the difference!

"It doesn't mater if he's real or fake, we don't have the strength to fight him now…!" Sanji hunched over, ready to flee or fight.

"Did he say Pacifista just now…?" Robin wondered.

Nami looked at the archeologist, "'Pacifista?' That mean like a pacifist?"

Maxwell gritted his teeth. "Not pacifist. Pacify!"

"HEY! BROADAXE! WHO ARE YOU!?" Franky yelled at the sumo guy.

The newcomer looked over at him "…Who do you think you are, calling me by my weapon? Don't bother asking me any questions. I'm a straight laced man, who's the best bodyguard in the world. My lips are sealed!"

"…You won't even tell us your name!?" Usopp asked him.

"I have no reason to tell you. I'm Sentomaru, the most tight-lipped man in the world."

…He just told them…

"…It's Sentomaru, huh…?"

"Just so you know, I voluntarily told you that. I wasn't answering your question."

Right, right…

Sentomaru huffed, "Let's start, PX-1!"

The Kuma raised his hand and fired a laser at them, making them scramble for cover!

"He's shooting lasers from his palms too! They're not paws!" Sanji backflipped looking at the duo. "I hate to say it, but that means he's a third one. Just what's going on!?"

PX-4… PX-1… That meant they were mass producing these cyborgs! Maxwell felt like he was going to be sick!

"Now's not the time for that," said Zoro. "We need to focus on our safety. If we fight again, someone's seriously going to get hurt! And that's before we run into an admiral…!"

"Yeah…" Luffy panted. "We're getting out of here!" he told the crew, "Split up and run away! We can't stay together!" Luffy jumped out of the way as PX-1 fired another beam.

"SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN!" Usopp and Chopper screamed.

Luffy, Maxwell, Zoro, and Sanji quickly huddled for a moment. "The four of us need to split up!" "Right! Will you be okay?" "Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on him!" "SCREW BOTH OF YOU!"

Sanji went after their navigator, "NAMI~! I'll protect you! Even if it costs me my life~!"

Nami took it in stride, running. "Okay, thanks! Let's hurry up and go!"

"If you're prepared to lay down your life, why don't you go act as bait for the rest of us?" Franky ran alongside them.

"This offers only good for the ladies, asshole! You can look out for your own life, pantyman!"

"Zoro! Max! You'll protect me with all of your strength, right!? Right!? Please!" Usopp jump onto Zoro back, with his arms around Zoro's neck.

"Uh—! Hold on Usopp, I'm injured enough as it is…!" Zoro kept running despite the extra weight.

"Do not worry! I will cover you!" Brook ran up behind them. "The truth is I saw everything on Thriller Bark."

Zoro's eye widened a bit before nodding, "I see, thanks—Wait, where's Max!?"

"Come on you guys! Let's escape this way!" Luffy pointed, Robin and Chopper running behind him.

"Yes!" "Those beams are scary!"

"EVERYONE! MEET UP AT THE SUNNY IN THREE DAYS!" Luffy yelled aloud as he ran!

"YEAH!" "YES!" "RIGHT!" They all yelled, affirmative.

Sentomaru looked all around him, "They're splitting up! Pursue them, PX—"

*Zzrt!*

Sentomaru looked up to see a purple ball of plasma hanging above their heads.

He looked ahead and saw Maxwell Trevelyan standing before them. His hand out stretched, and wielding his staff in the other hand. Sentomaru wasn't impressed.

"You really sacrificing your life for these hooligans?"

Maxwell shrugged, "Well, I laid down my life twice already… I wanted to see if a third time's the charm." "Sorry guys, I lied…" Maxwell's eyes started glowing an ethereal green. He needed to keep this guy busy so everyone else could get away. The PX-1 was slow. They could probably escape if they found enough cover, but this Sentomaru guy was an unknown.

"Fine. You first! PX-1! Don't let them out of Grove 12! This one's mine!" Sentomaru grabbed his axe with both hands, staring down the mage.

"MAX! NO!" He didn't know who yelled that. Just that there was smoke all around them.

The Kuma started running, even ignoring the effects of Static Cage as the lightning tried to pull it in! Sentomaru simply batted the lightning aside and charge Maxwell. He could feel his spell break as the warrior did.

Maxwell wasn't surprised. His clarity could tell there was no stopping this Sentomaru. The most he could do was distract him. And so, he shall!

The mage energized his anchors and levitated them above him as Mordred, Mineive, and Salem possessed their foci. All four of them unleashed an Energy Bombardment! Elemental energy streaming from the four circles!

Sentomaru batted the first volley away with his broadaxe. Then the second. Sentomaru had to block the third and fourth swarms of bolts though.

Maxwell cast Immolate three times, popping his grasp as if it were a jab to the face. Then he swung his staff down and an Exploding Bolt fired out of the air!

Sentomaru held up his arms, covering his face as the hellfire imploded around him. He endured it. Then when the thunderbolt came down he hefted his axe, spun around, and whacked the lighting strike like it was a tennis ball!

"OOF!" Maxwell grunted as his own spell rammed into him. He was sent flying backwards into the rubble of a ruined building.

"HRAAAAHHHH!" Sentomaru jumped forward raising his axe in a downward cleave!

One thought occurred in Maxwell's head. Dodge. Don't let that thing near you!

Maxwell rolled onto his side, his torso barely dodging as the axe head chopped into the earth!

…The same could not be said for his hand though.

"GGGGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

His left forearm had been caught under the blade of Sentomaru's axe… His forearm was now sheared off at an angle. Close to where his wrist used to be. It wasn't a clean cut either.

"MAXWELL!"

"AAAAAAAGGHHHRRRR!" Blood stained his glove as Maxwell grabbed his arm with his good hand. The metal in his gauntlet were torn like they had gone through some shears. A piece of bone near the end was lose. Sentomaru's axe had caught his arm at a weird angle, likely snapping the bone as the blade fell. The only reason it didn't fall out was because of the tendons still attached to it.

Max fought through the pain. He had too! If he didn't, he was going to die here before everyone could get away!

Not even thinking, Maxwell twisted around, thrusting a bloodied Spirit Blade at Sentomaru. He didn't know where he was aiming, just that it was going right for the warrior's jugular!

Sentomaru caught his wrist. "Good. You didn't try to become intangible. You're smarter than you look, Magister." Sentomaru threw him like a ragdoll, rolling onto the ground. Blood and dust trailed in his wake.

Maxwell rolled with the momentum. He couldn't stop it. All he could do was clutch his arm and make sure he couldn't lose any more blood. When he stopped, he desperately reached out with blood magic, making the wound congeal and crystallize around his stump! Maker, the pain!

"Don't think I'm going easy on you, Trevelyan." Sentomaru stalked towards Maxwell, throwing his axe behind him, high into the sky. "Your crew signed your own death warrant when Straw-Hat attacked the World Nobles. I just want some data on you before I report back to Vegapunk."

Maxwell reminded silent, beyond a strangled open growl. He couldn't form any words as he looked between his arm and the sumo wrestler.

"No last words? Fine. This is your end!" Sentomaru thrust a palm towards Trevelyan, fighting like a sumo wrestler!

Maxwell turned into the Frost Step, kicking his legs to roll away from the apron wearing warrior! Frost did build on Sentomaru's hand, but even a glancing blow, Maxwell could feel it. Sentomaru had touched him through the Fade Step! He shook the ice off his hand and kept stalking up towards Maxwell.

Luffy, then suddenly appeared in the air behind him. "STAY AWAY FROM MY CREW!"

"HOISA!"

Sentomaru spun around and slapped Luffy with a two palmed thrust. It shouldn't have been so effective, but like a concussive blast! Luffy went flying!

Luffy didn't understand what he happened. "What!?"

Sentomaru followed up. "You've got some good attack power, but my guard is the best in the world! ASHIGARA DOKKOI!" He thrusted another palm, and this time stepped forward with the strike. Luffy shot back like a bullet into the nearby ruins.

"Luffy!" Maxwel yelled, watching Sentomaru go after his captain. He tried to get up, but stumbled as his arm dropped. "F***!" Right, he didn't have a hand anymore!

Luff himself clutched his head, "Owowowow! There's something weird about his techniques…!"

Then an explosion blew up near them, causing all three combatants to pause. "ZORO!" Maxwell snapped his head to where the explosion went off as he heard Usopp scream.

"WHAT!? WHO ARE YOU!? GET BACK! GET AWAY FROM ZORO, YOU STUPID BASTARD!" "Z-Z-Z-Zor got hit by a beam!" "HEY ZORO! HANG IN THERE!"

Zoro was laying on the ground, smoking like tinder, while Usopp aimed his kabuto into the smoke.

Sentomaru relaxed, no longer interested in fighting. "Jeez, you're late! So you're finally here, Uncle Kizaru."

Robin, who was with Chopper and Luffy in front of the axe, spun around. "Kizaru…!?" The axe had nearly gotten them as it fell down. "BE CAREFUL! THAT MAN IS A MARINE ADMIRAL!"

"An admiral!?" Maxwell saw him as the smoke cleared. He was huge. Tall, like a bean poll, in a gold and yellow pin striped suit. A green dress shirt and mauve tie lied beneath, while a white spauldered coat hung over his shoulders.

Kizaru Borsolino looked down at Zoro behind amber tinted glasses, "…It's too late for you Pirate Hunter Zoro. Bounty of 120 million…" His close cropped curly hair and scraggly goatee made him look like some old laze-about.

Yet, that didn't mater as light shone beneath his heel! "A one hit K.O… You must have been tired." His foot hovered above Zoro! "Go ahead and rest for a while."

"ZORO!" Both Maxwell and Luffy cried out to their crewmate.

"Hey, he's got beams, too!" Maxwell heard Franky yell. "This is bad, we've got to do something! If he takes another one at that range, he'll die!"

Maxwell tried to Fade Step towards Kizaru, but Sentomaru grabbed him and pinned him down mid-spell. "Where do you think you're going!?"

The mage winced and growled as he slammed into the ground. Sentamaru had grabbed him by his good arm, pulled his stump behind his back. He couldn't make out much, but he spied the blinding light above Zoro.

"Damn it! Why!? Nothing hits him! Move that leg!" "I can't cut him either! What do we do!?" Both Usopp and Brook tried to attack the admiral but their stars a lunges went straight through him!

"It's pointless," Kizaru said in his slow drawl. "I ate the Pika-Pika Fruit… I'm a Logia. Light-Man."

"No…!" "It can't be! He'll die!" "ZORO GET AWAY!"

Zoro couldn't move. The attack from the laser and the phantom pains wouldn't let him control his body!

"No! He's already at his limit!" Even Sanji yelled in concern.

"Feinted Fleur!" Robin tried to roll him out of the way. A lane of arms, rolling him to the side. Kizaru just popped into existence, standing on the pirate with his legs still in the same position!

"It's useless. I won't let you move… Now, you die."

"ZOROOOO!"

Another shape entered the light.

It was Rayleigh!

He kicked the laser filled leg up and Kizaru's shot fired into an unsuspecting building!

…Both men stood off. "So you're making an appearance, Dark King, Rayleigh?"

Rayleigh smiled back at the admiral, "You shouldn't be plucking these young sprouts… Their time, is just beginning…!"

"GRAMPS!" Luffy cried as he saw Rayleigh save his friend. Words could not describe the relief and terror he felt in that moment!

"I kept hearing that you were on this island. But to think you really were here~" Kizaru stared at the old pirate. "I never thought you'd be looking out for small timers like these. A pirate to the end, eh Rayleigh?"

"If you would kindly tear up my wanted poster, then I could live out my retirement in peace."

Kizaru tilted his head, "Your sins as a pirate won't just disappear. Especially when you were one of the Roger Pirates. But even if we tried to capture you here, we would need to make certain preparations…"

Usopp and Brook looked between the two titans, dumbstruck. "Th-Thank God, Zoro…! That old guy really is something!" "I couldn't touch that body no matter how hard I tried… How did he stop him!?"

Rayleigh's smile tightened, "Now, is there any that you could let them go, Kizaru…?"

"Give me a break…" the admiral sighed. "If I don't get them, then the marines would lose face with the Celestial Dragons and Mariejois… Won't you stay out of my way?"

"USOPP, BROOK! GRAB ZORO AND RUN!"

Luffy yelled at the top of his voice. Maxwell never thought he'd ever actually hear the word "run" escape from Luffy's mouth.

The two scrambled to pick up Zoro and his swords. "LET'S GO BROOK!" "RIGHT!"

"EVERYONE! THINK ONLY OF GETTING AWAY! RIGHT NOW, WE CAN'T BEAT THESE GUYS!"

Maxwell gritted his teeth. He f***** up. He knew it. But that didn't mean he couldn't do nothing!

His eyes glowed again and Maxwell preformed a powerful Mind Blast. It threw Sentomaru off of him, but Maxwell didn't wait to see how he had reacted. Max immediately transformed into the Fade Step and followed after Luffy.

He was vaguely aware the Franky preformed another Coup de Vent. But they were all having the same thought. Run!

Maxwell energized his foci and brought them back to himself. He even brought his own hand. No way he was leaving that lying around!

"Thanks old man!" Luffy called back as they ran. With Rayleigh there, they might have had a chance to escape.

Speaking of chances, "What the hell were you thinking!?" Luffy shouted at his first-mate.

"Sorry, Luff—grrr!" They didn't stop running, even as Maxwell craddled his detached hand. "I genuinely thought I could buy us some more time!"

A vein mark appeared on Luffy's forehead, "Dammit Max! After you pulled this shit in Alabasta, I thought I told you never to do it again!"

"No you didn't."

"Yes I did!" Luffy retorted.

"No, you didn't!"

"YES, I DID!"

"Luffy, you didn't!" Maxwell hissed like a snake. He didn't want another childish argument!

"Maxwell! What's the point of being captain, if I can't protect my own crew! YOU'RE MISSING A HAND!" Luffy finally shouted at him.

Maxwell thinned his lips. Luffy wasn't angry, Max realized. He was scared. A genuine fear that someone else had to do his job for him. Luffy would accept outside help, he did know his limits. But knowing that someone else, someone in their crew, tried protected them all, when he couldn't? Luffy would have genuinely felt he had failed as a captain.

The captain was meant to be the strongest person on the crew, after all.

"…I'm sorry Luffy. But this is my crew too! And I will protect our family any way I see fit!"

…Both Maxwell and Luffy grimaced at that. Luffy, for realizing just how hard headed his first-mate could be. And Maxwell, because he felt embarrassed having finally said it aloud! They WERE a family! You couldn't handle the amount of shenanigans on their ship without some sort of bond to hold them all together.

Like that time Luffy tried to put peanut butter in Nami's—

"…Grah! Just don't do it again!" Luffy told his first-mate.

Maxwell nods, acceptingly. "Yes, captain!"

"As touching as this is…" Both Luffy and Maxwell look behind them to see Sentomaru following after them. "We are not letting you go that easily!"

"OH SHIT!" they both yell and immediately speed up to try and get away.

They kept running. Chopper and Robin ahead of them. Sentomaru after them! Maxwell tried to speed them up by summoning some Winter glyphs, but the pain wouldn't allow Maxwell to concentrate. Sentomaru wouldn't lose their trail either! That sumo wrestler wasn't even breaking a sweat!

And it wasn't like they couldn't change course either. Explosions blasted just beyond the mangrove root, where Zoro, Usopp, and Brook had gone. "It doesn't look good over there!"

"You don't have time to be looking out for them!" Sentomaru suddenly burst into speed, coming behind Luffy. "I don't even have to use my broadaxe… ASHIGARA DOKKOI!"

Sentomaru hit Luffy, knocking him off course. However, Maxwell caught a glimpse of his captain's eye before he went rolling, "Max…!"

"…I promise!" Maxwell nodded back, and kept running!

"LUFFY!" Chopper had stopped to looked behind them. "Why are his striking attacks working on Luffy, who's made of rubber!? Damn it!"

Maxwell ran up to the reindeer, gently trying to move his antlers and muzzle, "Come on Chopper we have to go…!"

Chopper shook Maxwell's arms away from him. "SANJI!" He saw Sanji hit by a laser from the PX-1 Kuma, piercing his shoulder. He had ran over to cover for Brook, Usopp, and Zoro as they ran. The Pacifista then shot at Usopp and Zoro. Usopp had managed to throw Zoro out of the way, but the laser still grazed his shoulder. He clutched his shoulder as he fell down screaming in pain.

"DAMMIT! EVERYONE'S GOING DOWN!" Chopper then raced over to Sentomaru, who was still looking down Luffy.

"NO WAIT—!" "You can't! Chopper!" Both Robin and Maxwell tried to stop the reindeer before he could run, but they had simply reacted too late!

"STOP IT YOU BASTARDS!" Chopper transformed into his human point and threw three small candies into his mouth. The Rumble Balls!

Maxwell watched in horror as Chopper transformed again. This time beyond what the human-reindeer could usually do! He stood like a troll, towering over all of them. Chopper's horns had matured into a wicked 20 point rack. His head was like a mature bull elk. Fur grew out of him like a shaggy curtain, covering his chest and shoulders. Chopper's hands now had black fingers, the keratin in his hooves fusing with the liminal appendages he had with his transformation! But worse, was his eyes. Maxwell could see no intelligence in Choppers eyes. Just a senseless, savage rage, under his bloodstained muzzle!

"BUOOOOOO!"

Chopper had told him about this, the Monster Point. He told Maxwell if he ever overdosed on his own Rumble Balls, this monster would be the result.

…And Chopper had did this for on purpose! Tears welled up in Maxwell's eyes. It reminded him too much about Abominations for his liking!

Sentomaru was actually caught off guard, "What the hell is this!?"

"BUOOOOOO!"

Maxwell saw Chopper raise a hand and realized where he was about to strike, "Chopper, NO!"

Robin jolted, following after Maxwell as they both grabbed Luffy! Or more specifically Robin grabbed Luffy, and Maxwell hovered.

"BUOOOOOO!"

Chopper was on a rampage. Attacking at random! And there wasn't anything they could do to stop it!

*PO-WONG!*

Robin and Maxwell looked behind them, not recognizing that sound. Even Luffy looked, being held between the two of them.

Over in Brook, Zoro, Sanji, and Usopp's group was another Pacifista. Two stone faced giants staring down their friends… Only, one of them held a tome in his left hand!

"Kuma!" It was the real Bartholomew Kuma, and he had appeared on the battlefield!

…And Zoro was missing.

"…What? Zoro…!? ZORO!?" Maxwell stared in mounting horror, not quite believing it, even as Usopp screamed at the top of his lungs.

Zoro had disappeared!

"BUOOOOOO!"

Both scholars snapped their heads up and jumped out of the ways as Chopper slammed another clawed hand down.

"Don't be foolish, Chopper!" Robin tried to reason with him.

"Chopper! You have to stop!" Maxwell tried to reason with the doctor.

"ZORO! WHERE DID HE GO!" Luffy yelled as he wrenched himself out of his crewmates' grip.

"KUMA!?" Sentomaru jumped out of the way of another cloved hand. "WHY IS THAT BASTARD HERE!?" He had rescued his battle axe before it could get snapped.

Luffy decided to try his luck with Sentomaru, "HEY! What did he do to Zoro!?" Luffy breathed through the pain, "Where did he go!?"

"I'm not saying anything! But the people who are repelled by those paws are said fly through the sky for three days and nights… Or so he says. But only Kuma himself knows where he flies them to. You won't be seeing him around here any time some. He might very well have sent him to the other side of the world."

Both Luffy and Maxwell widened their eyes in horror. Kuma only had to touch them to separate them! …But why would he just send them away, rather than kill them?

They saw the Pacifista gathering light again, but Kuma simply touched the PX-1 with his paw, and the cyborg vanished!

Sentomaru scowled, "That guy—Even PX-1…! What is he doing!? WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO YOUR OWN ALLIES, KUMA!?" He was one of the Seven Warlords, allied with the World Government and Navy! How dare he!

"RUN! ALL THREE OF YOU!" Luffy yelled at his crewmates. They couldn't take him on then, they couldn't take him on now!

"EVERYONE, JUST GET AWAY FROM HERE! THINK ABOUT WHAT TO DO NEXT AFTER YOU'RE SAFE!"

"But Luffy—!" Maxwell covered his face as more dust and debris kicked up from Chopper's hand.

*PO-WONG!*

Brook disappeared after Kuma swiped him. He was trying to make a last stand!

"BROOK…!" "No…!"

Luffy saw Sanji scramble onto his arms and legs as he tried to attack Kuma. Only Usopp tried to hold him back! "RUN SANJI! JUST RUN!"

Sanji tried to jump-kick Kuma's head off, but the Warlord deflected it with his paw. He didn't disappear, but Kuma had sent the chef spinning into the ground

Kuma simply approached Usopp, even as the snipper pelted him with bomb stars.

*PO-WONG!*

"USOPP!"

Sanji tried to get revenge, but Kuma simply swiped him.

*PO-WONG!*

They were ALL gone!

Luffy's shoulders dropped, he wasn't even aware that tears and snot were running down his face. "…What the hell… What do I do…!?"

Maxwell grabbed him by the shoulders, "Luffy! Luffy—we have to go! Now!" Maxwell wasn't even sure he could here him. He tried to lift him with one arm, "We can rescue them later! Come on!"

"YOU BASTARD!" Luffy ignored him, steam bursting out him as his Gear Second activated.

"Gah!" Maxwell fell back as the steam burnt his face. Luffy wasn't listening. He was being irrational! "Damn it!"

Kuma had seen them. But his simply disappeared, then reappeared, before Franky and Nami.

Franky tried to punch Kuma, but the scissor extended fist did nothing to the Warlord.

"FRANKY!" Luffy dashed after him.

"Wait Luffy, you're doing exactly what he wants!" Robin tried to call after him, but it was useless. Luffy fired an extended fist at the Warlord, but Kuma simply deflected it with his palm.

Robin turned around, even as Franky disappeared with Kuma's touch. "Maxwell, can you move!?"

"Yeah! I can!" the mage grunted. His cheekbone stung with the fresh air, but thankfully he could still see! It was just he damn arm! The nerves were still firing!

"LUFFY!" "NAMI!" "HELP—!"

*PO-WONG!*

"UWAAAAH!" Luffy gave a senseless yell as he lunged for the Warlord. However, Kuma vanished out of his path and tumbled.

Kuma then suddenly reappeared before them, making both scholars flinch. He was there for them!

"BUOOOOOO!"

Kuma simply looked up as the monsterous Chopper roared into the air.

"STOP IT!" Luffy tried to yell! "PLEASE STOP!" He dashed towards them.

*Po-WONG!*

But Kuma already made Chopper disappear.

There was a giant whoosh of air. A result of displacing something so huge so fast.

"ROBIN, MAX! GET AWAY!"

Maxwell tried to shive Kuma with a Spirit Blade, but all he felt was a hand against his back, before suddenly conking out.

…

…

…

On that day,

In Grove #12, of the Sabaodey Archipelago,

That was when the Straw-Hat Pirates, lead by Monkey D. Luffy, suffered a complete and utter collapse…

…

…

…

To be continued…

Alright we are at the end of the Sabaodey Archipelago. You know what that means. We will be following Maxwell wherever he's going.

I have a contest here. If someone guesses the the NAME of the island Maxwell is heading to, they will be entitled to one question about this series. Whether that be spoilers, process, or my thoughts on the future. And you guys will have plenty of time to do it!

Sadly, we are at the end of this Holiday Update Rush. Work is going to be picking up again, and that means less brain capacity. Chapters are probably going to slow back down too every two weeks or more.

I'm also going to take a brief break like I do with every arc, and maybe take a little longer. I want to make sure the story I right next is consistent with what I have going on, because~ I don't really have the manga to build off of anymore. We're going more into OC territory with this, so I really hope I do well!

Still, thanks again for keeping up with this story! READ, REVEIW, ALL THAT GOOD STUFF. We'll see you either the later part of this January, or early February.

—Sorceric7