Chapter 11 : Guerre-Nika
In the frosty shadows of Drum Kingdom, Sabo, Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army, huddled with his comrades in the clandestine heart of their operation. The chilling air echoed with their suppressed breaths as they prepared to embark on a daring mission: the overthrow of the tyrant, Wapol.
Sabo, shrouded in a hooded cloak, addressed the assembled revolutionaries with a steely resolve. "This is our moment, comrades. The time to liberate Drum Kingdom from the clutches of oppression has come."
The makeshift headquarters, hidden from prying eyes, buzzed with a quiet intensity. Sabo continued, "Wapol the Glutton may think he's secured his rule, but today, we'll prove that the will of the people is an unyielding force."
As the revolutionaries finalized their plans, Sabo's eyes gleamed with a fierce determination. "We strike with precision and purpose. Our objective is clear – dismantle Wapol's reign, liberate the people, and usher in a new era of freedom."
"Yeah, Freedom. And snacks".
Everyone turned to Kizaru.
Before anyone could react, chaos erupted. Screams pierced the air as panic set in, and Sabo, driven by instinct to protect his friends, lunged at the Admiral with all his might. A resolute strike met its target, or so it seemed, as Sabo's attack landed on nothing more than an illusion image.
"Uh. Happy to know I can use it in combat situations." Kizaru's nonchalant remark hung in the air, contrasting with the turmoil around him. In less than a second, the devastating speed of the Admiral rendered everyone but Sabo unconscious. The room, once filled with the fervor of rebellion, now lay in disarray, the revolutionaries incapacitated by the overwhelming power of Kizaru.
In a swift and powerful kick of Kizaru's, Sabo found himself propelled to the far end of the cave, laser rays trailing in the wake of his forced trajectory and exploding against his torso. Shaken but resilient, Sabo managed to rise to his feet. The pain lingered, but it was nothing he couldn't endure.
As he gathered his bearings, Sabo's tanned up. Kizaru, the formidable Marine Admiral, crouched and… settled on the cave floor. To Sabo's amazement, Kizaru casually retrieved snacks from his pockets, as if the intense combat was nothing more than a break in the routine. Sabo's brow furrowed in disbelief as he watched the Admiral leisurely munching on his snacks, seemingly unperturbed by the chaos he had just unleashed.
"Look, mate, I'm not here to fight",Kizaru remarked with an air of unparalleled nonchalance. Sabo was perplexed, to say the least.
"Just tell your guys, when they wake up, I had to take off, and you managed to get me away or something," Kizaru suggested, as if discussing the weather. Sabo, still processing the abrupt turn of events, struggled to make sense of the Admiral's laid-back approach.
Continuing his unexpectedly relaxed dialogue, Kizaru mused, "You're here to overthrow Wapol, right? The guy's a real tyrant. And me, I'm not exactly a fan of monarchies. Barbarian stuff, you know? I'm not even Lockean ! ". Kizaru took another snack out of his pockets.
Amidst the snacks scattered on the cave floor, Kizaru produced two pictures and casually tossed them toward Sabo. Catching the images, Sabo found himself gazing at the faces of two boys, an inexplicable emotion stirring within him.
With his characteristic nonchalance, Kizaru dropped a bombshell. "By the way, these are your brothers"
Sabo's eyes widened in disbelief. "What?" His…brothers ?
With an almost absurd flair for the dramatic, Kizaru effortlessly conjured an entire picnic setting from the depths of his pockets. As he nonchalantly arranged the spread, he continued his revelatory tale for Sabo.
"Well, before you had your bout with amnesia or whatever it was, you had two brothers. Sworn brothers. The three of you grew up amidst mountain bandits," Kizaru began, his tone retaining that breezy, insouciant quality. "The eldest is none other than Ace – Whitebeard's second division commander. And the youngest, the sprightly one, is Luffy. Oh, and he happens to be Dragon-Man's son. Heh. You're like the boss's son, or maybe half-son. Talk about nepotism."
Amidst the lavish spread, Kizaru indulged in the food before him with an insatiable appetite, reminiscent of Gargantua himself. Between bites, he continued to elucidate his perspective to Sabo.
"Here's the deal, mate," Kizaru began, a mouthful of food not hindering his casual tone. "You should just roll with it, act like we never met. Overthrow the tyrant, get back to your revolutionary business. I'm just here to get myself a raccoon"
Two days later, as Sabo recounted the encounters, even Dragon found it hard to believe him.
"Aah. Finally, you're awake. I'm no doctor, so I was not sure when…Well, you're awake now".
Chopper awoke to find himself on a strange island, bewildered and disoriented. As his senses slowly returned, he noticed a peculiar sight—a strange man in a yellow suit peacefully enjoying noodles near him. The last thing Chopper could recall was the heartbreaking loss of his father figure, Dr. Hiluluk.
Haunted by grief, Chopper recalled the agonizing moment when he transformed into a gigantic monster after spending time alone in the forest. The memory hung heavily in his mind, a painful testament to his sorrow. Then, a shocking realization hit him—had he harmed others during that monstrous episode?
"I found you just before you started attacking a village. So I stopped you and brought you to this island," the stranger in the yellow suit calmly explained. Horror gripped Chopper as the revelation sank in. The mere thought that he might have posed a threat to innocent lives shook him to the core. The weight of the word "monster" now carried a darker resonance in Chopper's mind, and he grappled with the unsettling truth of his own potential for destruction.
"How…How did you stop me ?"
The stranger smiled.
"I'm super strong".
Chopper did not believe him.
A Sea King arrived and tried to eat the island. The stranger blew his head with a laser.
Chopper believed him.
Chopper, overwhelmed with guilt and self-loathing, couldn't hold back the tears as he grappled with the belief that he was a monster. Seeing the distressed reindeer, Kizaru decided to offer some words of encouragement.
"Hey there, little guy, no need for all those tears," Kizaru began, adopting a surprisingly gentle tone.
"Monstrosity isn't about what you look like; it's about intent. And you, my furry friend, have a heart that's pure and kind."
Kizaru went on to remind Chopper that his actions were not driven by malice but by grief and confusion. "True monsters are the ones with dark intentions, not those who make mistakes," he emphasized. "You're a nice reindeer, and that's what counts."
The Marine Admiral's unexpected pep talk served as a ray of reassurance for Chopper, helping him see beyond the label he had given himself.
Suddenly, a den-den mushi rang. With a glance at the device, the stranger retrieved it and answered the call. After a brief exchange, he turned his attention back to Chopper.
"For now, it's not much, but you can stay on this island," the stranger said, a genuine kindness in his voice.
"I'll visit you a bit each day, and I'll bring back some books for you tomorrow. In the future, other researchers and scientists will come to visit as well. I put defenses on the island, so no need to worry about sea monsters. I'll introduce you to the others ! They are scientists and builders !".
The offer provided a glimmer of companionship and the promise of intellectual stimulation for Chopper, who had found himself alone on the island. Gratitude filled the little reindeer's heart as he realized that, despite the initial shock and confusion, this stranger in the yellow suit might become a significant presence in his life.
"I'm admiral Kizaru, by the way. But don't tell anybody - just you and Franky know me by my true identity. For the others, I am just Groovy Orion Appolo Turner. Or The G.O.A.T, for short". Kizaru disappeared, just as another man entered.
"Hello Doctor Chopper ! I'm Zambai ! I'm the Chief Builder on this Island !"
The crew gathered around Smoker as their ship approached Alabasta, mere minutes away from their destination. The anticipation in the air was palpable as they prepared to delve into the enigmatic contents of the B.O.R.S.A.L.I.N.O.
"Hey there, future Alabasta saviors! Hope you're enjoying the scenic voyage. Just a little heads up before you hit the sandy shores: Crocodile, the supposedly 'heroic' Warlord, is pulling some shady moves. Under that sandy exterior lies Mister 0, the puppet master of Baroque Works. And guess what? He's got plans to overthrow the kingdom! Oh, and by the way, did you miss the memo? Vivi isn't just your average gal; she's the princess. Surprise!
So, here's your mission, should you choose to accept it: Beat the living daylights out of Crocodile while making sure the king, the princess, and the random dude we've got stowed away on your ship (he's a big shot royal guard and local noble, in case you're wondering) come out unscathed.
Oh, and before I forget, our charming Mister 4 is a walking artillery with his bazooka, and he's got a partner in crime, the festive Miss Merry Christmas, who's not just a fan of the holidays. Nami, Vivi and Koby, take care of them. Yes, Vivi, you too. Not fighting is for pooheads.
Then there's the artistic genius, Mister 3, who can whip up some deadly creations with his wax powers. Don't be fooled by the vibrant palette of Miss Golden Week; her art can mess with your mind. Don't touch her - Dark-Sasuke, make care of them
And let's not overlook the man of a thousand faces, Mister 2, who can be anyone he darn well pleases. He's quite the he kicks. Sanji'll take care of him. Nicely - don't beat him too much - he may be one of my spies and the reason I know all of that. Who you still have to fight him to train your Youth.
There's also Mister 1, a one-man army with a killer touch, and the striking Miss Doublefinger, whose lethal spikes can give you a prickly situation. Zoro and Tashigi, you're on it.
I'll take care of Miss All Sundays, Crocodile's partner. No, not like this type of partners. You sicko.
Smoker, you capture Crocodile.
No pressure, just your usual day in the life of pirates saving kingdoms. Good luck, and try to have some fun while you're at it! —
Borsalino
Everybody groaned - but Zoro, who was still sleeping.
A knock interrupted Kizaru's solitude. Despite his specific instructions to his assistant for no interruptions, a visitor sought entry. Strange.
"Enter," he called, his curiosity piqued.
In stepped Guernica. A white bowler hat adorned his head, a dark purple and blue polka-dotted scarf hung around his neck, and a white long coat draped elegantly. An award ribbon on his blazer hinted at accomplishments shrouded in secrecy.
Kizaru observed Guernica's loosely worn tie.
"CP0," Kizaru acknowledged, "What brings you here?"
The agent took off his cloak - but not his mask - before he sat.
"I just came to…chat. And to give you a small mission, I guess."
Guernica extended rare praise, "Kizaru, I must say, your recent work has been exceptional, especially your diplomatic finesse with Big Mom and Kaido. Your choice of words has impressed many, and it's earned you quite a reputation."
A pleased smile played on Kizaru's face, satisfied that no mention was made of his little side project with Smoker & Gang.
"Thank you. Always happy to contribute," Kizaru responded, his nonchalant demeanor intact.
Guernica continued, "Now, for the small mission. We have a matter that requires your unique set of skills. Given your extraordinary mobility, we'd like you to locate and eliminate Nico Robin. She's proven to be a persistent nuisance, and it's time we put an end to it. Find her, kill her, and bring back her head. Literally. We need proofs".
Hmmmm…It was time to speed up the execution of his own plans. He always, always had to appear loyal to the world government, otherwise…, if they suspected that he…
But before that - snacking!