Shaska, Korla, and Legree stood in the busted building, saying nothing as the citizens of Lant scrambled to flee the city.

Shaska took a step forward, and a tear fell down her face. It was followed quickly by another. And another. And another.

"K-K-Korla…?"

"Shaska…?" Korla replied, tearing up as well.

Soon, Shaska closed the gap between them, tears pouring down her face like a fountain.

"K-K-K-KORLAAAAAAA!" she cried as she embraced her long lost big, but smaller, sister.

"SHASKAAAAAAA!" Korla responded, hugging back.

The two sisters held each other and sobbed, having not seen each other in over forty years. They cried together for what felt like hours, before their reunion was broken by the sound of a gunshot.

The two broke apart and hurriedly looked around.

"Excuse me, missy! Jus' what d'ya think yer doin' with mah slave?!" Legree demanded, having shot at the ground to get their attention.

Shaska grabbed the gun out of Legree's hand and crushed it with her monstrous strength, then pushed him away. "WE ARE HAVING A MOMENT HERE!" she roared.

As Legree backed down like a scared child, Shaska turned back to Korla, and the two continued to cry together. Eventually, they broke apart and just looked at each other, tears still streaming down their faces.

"Oh, Shaska… you've grown into such a beautiful woman…" Korla said through her tears. "So big, too! You must be ten feet tall!"

"K-Korla…! I thought… I thought I was never gonna see you agaaaaaiiiiin!" Shaska cried as she re-embraced her sister. "When-when you disappeared that day… mom and dad didn't care. They just continued hating each-each other… b-but you're aliiiiiiive!"

Shaska pulled away again, wiped away some of her tears on her sleeve, and sniffled. She turned to Legree and asked "you! Dragon! How much for my sister's freedom?! I'll pay literally anything!"

"Wh-what…?" was all Legree could say.

"I'm the richest commoner in the world," Shaska stated firmly. "No price is too small for me. I want my sister to be free."

"Ah'm not sellin' mah slaves! They're mahne, ya heah?! Any more talk o'this and ah'll blow her head off!" Legree declared angrily.

"Shaska… please. I'm branded as trash for life. After seeing you again, I can die happy. But I'll never have a normal life on Fish—" Korla tried to say.

"Bullshit!" Shaska interrupted. "I'm having none of that. If you can't have a normal life on Fishman Island, then you'll live with me on the Humo Robinson!"

"But Shas—"

"But nothing! Forty years as a slave destroyed your mind! I'm not taking 'no' for an answer!"

Korla clasped her hands over her mouth and tears began to pour again. It was then that Zinnia made an appearance, having been running down Piedmont Street and being drawn to the sound of the gunshot.

She stepped through the hole in the wall and took in the sight of Shaska, Korla, and Legree.

"Oh, hello, Miss Shaska. Hello, Miss Korla."

"Zinnia?" Korla asked.

"You two know each other?" Shaska asked, somewhat confused.

"We were both slaves under Saint Legree," Zinnia explained. "That is, until he gave me away due to crying so much."

"Wh… WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME YOU KNEW MY SISTER?!" Shaska shouted.

"You did not ask, Miss Shaska."

"You! Crah-in' whelp wit' th'snake!" Legree ordered. "Come back t'me an' be mah slave again!"

Zinnia just looked at him with a blank expression. She then slowly walked forward, cracking her knuckles.

"Snake g—Zinnia! Don't make things worse!" Shaska ordered.

"Miss Shaska, a Marine admiral is already on his way to the island. I do not see how things could possibly get worse unless a different Celestial Dragon is attacked as well. Legree's only leverage is your sister's life, which he can't be trusted with regardless."

"Hm. You're more perceptive than you let on, snake girl," was all Shaska could say.

"Take one step further an' th'slave loses her head!" Legree shouted.

Zinnia stopped, then turned her head to Ruth and nodded. Ruth uncoiled herself from around Zinnia and began to slither on the ground toward Legree.

"That was a poor choice of words, Saint Legree," she said.

"Wh—AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!" Legree cried as Ruth sank her fangs into Legree's stubby leg. He collapsed to the ground and let go of Korla's chain that connected to her bomb collar, grabbing his leg in utter agony.

As Ruth slithered back, Zinnia explained "Ruth's fangs secrete a powerful neurotox—"

"Korla! Snake girl! Let's get out of here!" Shaska interrupted.

"But, Shaska, I-I-I've completely forgotten how to not be a sl—"

"Can it, Korla! We're getting you and every other slave off this island!"

Shaska scooped up her sister bridal style and took off through the hole in the wall. After a few moments of watching Legree writhe in pain, Zinnia followed suit.

—-

The city of Sens lay in ruins. The buildings had crumbled, and the streets ran red with the blood of Marines, Celestial Dragons, and anyone who refused to join the cause of Minus World, men, women, and children alike. Any buildings not turned to rubble were on fire. Ships trying to flee were sunk, and crops on the outskirts of town were burned, the earth purged with salt. Slaves working the fields were either assimilated into the army or, should they refuse, put to the sword.

The forces of Minus World marched toward Lant, von Esens and Rusila in the front, followed closely behind by the archangels. Immediately behind them was a row of soldiers carrying the heads of the World Nobles on pikes.

A battalion of Marines attempted to intercept the mighty force.

"Halt!" cried the commanding officer as the soldiers raised their rifles.

Minus World was undeterred.

"By the authority of the World Government, I ORDER you to stop!"

A shockwave rippled through the air from Balthasar von Esens, and the Marine battalion fell unconscious.

"Kill zem. Kill zem all," von Esens ordered. The Minus World soldiers promptly rushed forward and slaughtered the Marines like animals.

Rusila, never one to miss out on any sort of carnage, dove into the front lines of the Marines and tore several limb from limb, giggling childishly as she did so. She grabbed one by the throat, and somehow, a massive current of electricity coursed through him, frying him to a crisp. Another one she grabbed was engulfed in flame, and the sounds of his agonized screaming were music to Rusila's ears.

Von Esens kept up his pace, not slowing down at all as his men (and sister) brutally murdered the Marine squadron.

Two hours remain until Minus World reaches Lant.

—-

The Marines led by Commodore Franco reached the city of Lant and took off into the city. The soldiers of all but the first division followed their orders and started to evacuate the city. The citizens were much more willing to listen to the Marines than Worldwide Smoke.

Then, the Marine divisions collided with Worldwide Smoke in the street.

"Halt!" shouted a commanding officer of the Marines, raising his rifle at Worldwide Smoke. "You all there! With the weapons! You must be Worldwide Smoke! We can do this the easy way, or the hard way. Lay down your weapons and come with us!"

Puerco stepped forward out of the crowd of Worldwide Smoke grunts holding his hands up.

"Now, now. You and I? We have the same goal, navy man."

"Oh?" the commanding officer asked, slightly lowering his rifle.

Puerco began pacing back and forth, then said "see, I'm just a simple paramilitary officer and miracle worker doctor. But I'm also a man on a mission. I'm here to stop Minus World, just like you! So why don't we put our differences aside for the time being and work together to take out Minus World!"

The commanding officer was unimpressed and simply said "light him up."

The Marines and Worldwide Smoke began exchanging fire, Puerco caught in the middle being riddled with lead. Fortunately, it didn't really affect him, now that he was a living beehive due to his newly acquired Hive Hive Fruit. His bees immediately began flying out and repairing the bullet holes.

"No, really, I'm pounding you, government dogs," Puerco growled. "Let's try a new technique I just came up with!"

Puerco reared his head and upper body back and sharply inhaled as long and hard as he could, and his cheeks swelled wide. He then shot forward, spitting out a massive wave of honey all over the ground the Marines were standing on.

"¡ONDA DE LA MIEL!"

The squadron of Marines found themselves trapped in the honey, unable to move their feet.

Puerco leapt forward and delivered a mighty punch to the face of the commanding officer, knocking him out of his boots and sending him flying through the wall of a nearby building.

"Ho yeah! I'm pretty damn awesome!" Puerco shouted as he landed. Unfortunately, he landed right in the honey he just laid down… leaving him unable to move his feet.

"Ah… crap," he muttered, looking down at his stuck feet. The Marines promptly pointed their guns at him and began shooting. Of course, just as before, the bullets really didn't hurt Puerco, due to him being a living beehive, but being shot at still isn't pleasant.

The Worldwide Smoke grunts, in turn, started attacking the Marines, and the skirmish continued in earnest. Puerco wiggled his way out of his shoes and hopped away from the honey, releasing a swarm of bees on the Marines as he did so.

Puerco then backed up, standing at the edge of the battle with his hands on his hips. He scratched his chin and said "I'll check on the survivors in a bit. Right now, I should probably focus on getting back to evacuating the city!"

He then took off in his socks, heading in the direction of Piedmont Street. Though, not before stepping on a rock or two.

—

By pure happenstance, Johnson and Roxanne found themselves at the entrance to Piedmont Street with a small platoon of Worldwide Smoke grunts. Johnson had assumed his half-ostrich form and one of the hands of his backpack popped out to scratch the back of his head.

"Ah geez, here I go again, saving a city of people while Minus World invades," Johnson said, crossing his wing-arms. "I still have a baaaad feeling about this mission."

Roxanne elbowed his ribs. "Oh, stop being such a pessimist! We're gonna do fine. We trained for months for this moment. I can't wait to get my hands on that creepy princess!"

"Being more of a realist, honestly," Johnson replied, to which Roxanne shot a glare at him.

"Alright, guys! Let's get these citizens out of here!" Roxanne called to the grunts, who gave a "YES, MA'AM!" and took off down the street.

"Now just who are you people? Ya heah t'stop th'Marines?!" shouted a passing World Noble riding on a slave.

"We're here to minimize the bloodshed, your highness," Johnson explained, coating the last two words with venom. "You'd be wise to get out if you want to live."

"Puh-lease, talkin' ostrich, ah'm a Noble. Marines know bettah than t'hit me!"

"A Marine started this whole incident," Roxanne replied.

"Hmph, I don' lahk ahther of y'all's tones," the Celestial Dragon said. He pulled out his gun and pointed it at the two officers. Johnson grabbed the gun with a robot hand and proceeded to shock the Noble, incapacitating him.

As the Noble collapsed, Roxanne said "well, it can't possibly get worse, can it?"

"As the resident optimist, of course it can!" Johnson retorted, to which Roxanne glared again.

He shifted to his full ostrich form and said "hop on. It'll be faster if we go together."

Roxanne nodded and mounted Johnson's back, and the two took off, following after the grunts and quickly passing them.

Not even five minutes later, though, after warning as many people as they could, Roxanne and Johnson ran into Franco and the first division.

"Captain Franco!" Johnson exclaimed.

"A talking ostrich!" Franco replied.

"Seriously?"

"I'm just messing with you, Lieutenant," Franco replied. "It's 'Commodore' Franco, now, by the way."

Roxanne hopped off Johnson's back and walked up to Franco, saying "look, we don't want any trouble. We're trying to get rid of Minus World, just like you. Surely you understand."

"See, I heard it was a couple of goons disguised as Marines who attacked that Celestial Dragon, not Minus World. And it's my job to put a stop to both of them."

He paused, then added "and don't call me Shirley," to which Johnson buried his face in his wing.

"Besides, you guys are wanted criminals too. I can't just let you go. You're still wanted for destroying that city in the Mazurka Kingd—"

"THAT. WAS A. CROOKED. MARINE!" Roxanne interrupted. "Worldwide Smoke had nothing to do with it! It was someone named Rear Admiral Izmena!"

"Nonsense! She's completely devoted to the ideals of justice!"

Franco shook his head and said "you two are coming with me." He raised his sword and the Marines behind him raised their rifles. "Just come quietly, okay?"

Roxanne reached into her pocket and pulled out a crumpled up glass jar.

"What's that?" Franco asked. "Better not be a weapon."

"How about you get bent?" Roxanne retorted as she uncorked the bottle, unleashing the lightning she had trapped in it. With a massive thunderclap, it shot out of the jar at the Marines. Franco was quick enough to dodge, but his subordinates got fried.

"That's it!" Franco exclaimed. He jumped off the air with his Moon Walk technique and brought his sword down on Roxanne's head. Johnson quickly intercepted with one of his robot hands, catching the blade and delivering a powerful electric shock to Franco.

Franco landed and was briefly stunned. Johnson shifted back to his half-ostrich form and said "Roxanne. You keep moving. I'll deal with Franco. Do your best to get anyone else you can out of the city."

Roxanne nodded and started running down Piedmont Street. Franco turned his attention to Johnson and said "Lieutenant, I don't want to hurt you. But I will if I must."

Johnson responded by squaring up his wing fists and crouching down. "The feeling's mutual, old friend."

—-

Shaska and Zinnia bolted down Piedmont Street, the former still carrying her sister bridal style.

"Shaska, really you don't have to car—" Korla tried to say.

"It's fine! All we need to do is find the key to your bomb collar and you'll finally be free! Then we just gotta find the blond pretty boy and he'll teleport you to the Robinson where you'll be safe!" Shaska said.

"Where is Mr. Schwarz, anyway?" Zinnia asked.

"Dammit! I left my transponder snail in my jacket that I gave to those villagers!" Shaska exclaimed.

"It is okay, Miss Shaska, I have mine," Zinnia responded. She pulled it out and dialed Schwarz.

"What's up?" Schwarz asked.

"Mr. Schwarz! Miss Shaska needs you to make a portal to the Humo Robinson so we can save her sister!"

Schwarz flashed back to his own sister's death.

"Big bro… it hurts…" choked out a bloodied Johann Noire.

He shook his head to clear the memory and said "I can't. I don't know where you are relative to me!"

"We are in front of a clothing boutique on Piedmont Street!" Zinnia responded.

"I don't know where that is, woman! I'm sorry, but you're on your own until I find Piedmont Street!" Schwarz exclaimed.

Caaaaalick

Schwarz hung up.

"Crap," said Shaska, coming to a stop and putting down Korla.

"What now, Miss Shaska?" Zinnia asked.

"Korla, do you still know how to fight?" Shaska asked.

"Not… not really. My muscles have long since atrophied in my captivity…" replied a dejected Korla.

"It's okay. I'll protect you, Korla. I'm pretty damn strong now," said Shaska with a reassuring smile.

It was then that a rhino in a Marine officer's jacket with a sword in its mouth came charging up Piedmont Street. It saw Shaska, then came to a dead stop, then transformed into Vice Admiral Izmena.

"Ohoho… hello, Shaska," Izmena chuckled as she unsheathed her sword.

"You…!" was all Shaska could say.

"You know, I was really annoyed when you got away from me at the Mazurka Kingdom, Shaska," she said, strafing around Shaska, Korla, and Zinnia.

Zinnia uncoiled Ruth and assumed a fighting stance. Shaska reflexively held her arm up to protect her sister.

"I had to take some… drastic measures… to get justice that day…"

"SLAUGHTERING A CITY ISN'T JUSTICE, YOU PSYCHO!" Shaska shouted.

"Eh. Potato, potahto," Izmena responded. "All that matters is that the government sees you as the menace you are!"

Izmena took notice of Korla… and her bomb collar.

"My… who's this lovely lady, Shaska? A slave?" she asked, bouncing her sword off her shoulder.

"Touch her, and you die," Shaska growled. "We spent forty years apart and I'm not letting her go again!"

"Ohoho, I promise, I won't touch her…" Izmena said chillingly.

She promptly used her Shave technique to close the gap between her and the Worldwide Smoke group, specifically reappearing right next to Korla.

"I won't touch a hair on her head…"

She grabbed the chain to the bomb collar and pulled with all her might.

The chain broke.

The collar exploded.

"KOOOOOORRRRLLLLAAAAAAAAA!" Shaska cried.

TO BE CONTINUED