Everyone panicked as the MH5 flew toward Luffy, Gin, and Sanji. Patty and Carne grab Zeff and ran into the restaurant, while the other cooks and pirates dove under the water.
"Sanji, grab this!" Luffy said as he grabbed a pirate's mask and threw it to Sanji.
"Thanks." Sanji said as he put it on and looked at Luffy before gasping. "Hold it! What about you?!"
"I'll get...oh." Luffy said as he noticed that no one else was there, so all the masks were taken. "Oh well."
"OH WELL?!" Gin said in horror. "That's poison gas! What exactly do you plan to do?!" Luffy only smiled as he looked back at the gas bomb heading towards him.
"Time to die straw hat!" Krieg yelled from behind his mask as the the gas was almost there. Just before the bomb hit, Luffy ran toward the edge of the broken deck and jumped in front of the bomb. He then did something that made everyone's jaws hit the deck.
"AHHHH!" Luffy said as he opened his mouth and caught the bomb in his mouth.
"WHAT?!"
"KID!"
"HE ATE IT?!"
Luffy kept his hands over his mouth as he turned into an oversized balloon, roughly the size of the Baratie as everyone seemed unable to understand why he did that. Luffy fumbled around on his feet before he looked back at Krieg, who started laughing.
"What was that?! You have a death wish or something? That gas will kill you within the hour." Krieg said as he laughed again.
"Wanna bet?" Luffy squeeked out. Then, aiming at Krieg, he exhaled the poison gas right back at Krieg with as much force as a small gale. Krieg held his ground, but was now blinded by the cloud of poison gas all around him. The gas blew away from him, giving him back his sight. He stared at Luffy, gapping really, to see Luffy perfectly okay. Luffy was looking over himself before smiling.
"HOW ARE YOU PERFECTLY FINE?!" all three of them screamed out. The chefs who were watching from the Baratie windows, along with the Krieg pirates with masks, were equally stunned.
"Well, I can't remember when it happened," Luffy said before he hit his chest with his hand. "But somewhere along my life, I became immune to poison." He said before he thought to himself. 'Phil was right. Even my immunity is still intact.' Everyone was staring at Luffy as if he was something that shouldn't exist, yet did. Luffy continued to laugh until it slowed to a stop and he got a serious look in his eyes. "Anyway, time to kick your ass Krieg." Luffy said. He then jumped onto the mast again before running toward Krieg.
"Sorry kid, but your luck has run out." Krieg said as he threw some bombs into the water. The exploded, causing a column of water to shoot upwards between Luffy and Krieg. Krieg then shot more spikes at Luffy through the water, hoping to kill him. He stopped his onslaught of spikes as the water came down, showing an unharmed Luffy who was holding one spike in his hand that was less than an inch from his head. "WHAT?!"
"My luck has run out huh?" Luffy asked with a smile as he flung the spike back at Krieg, knicking his cheek as blood fell. Luffy then started running toward Krieg and stretched his arm out. "GUM GUUUUM!"
"Go ahead and try!" Krieg shouted as he brought out a spiked caped. He smiled, thinking that Luffy couldn't hurt him. He was proven wrong when Luffy's fist collided through the cape and smashed into his face.
"WHAT?!" many of the spectators screamed as everyone was now holding onto their hands at the sight of it. Luffy stood there as Krieg fell to the deck.
"He punched him through those iron spikes?!" a chef yelled.
"Yeah, but look!" another chef said as he pointed at Luffy. "His hand's not even scratched!"
"How'd he pull that off?!"
"I think you have it the other way around Krieg." Luffy said as he stood over Krieg, who was starting to get up. "It's your luck that's run out."
"That kid's crazy." Sanji said from the Baratie. While Krieg was getting up, he remembered something Zeff told him before the battle started. To watch Luffy fight from start to finish. He then looked back at Gin, who watched in awe. He may not be a Krieg pirate anymore, but to see Krieg get hit so easily, he just couldn't fathom it.
"Is that so?" Krieg said before he jammed his shoulder plate into Luffy's chest and fired a cannon at point-blank range. "DIE!" Luffy didn't even bother moving as the smoke cleared, showing Luffy with his right arm raised over towards his left shoulder.
"No thanks." Luffy said before smacking Krieg down with the back of his hand. Krieg lay there in a slight daze as his crew stared in awe and horror.
"He's literally smacking Don Krieg around!" one of them said.
"This can't be happening!"
"You don't think...that kid is stronger do you?" one asked, whiched irked Krieg immensely.
"SHUT UP YOU INSECTS!" Krieg shouted as he stood up. "THERE'S NO ONE STRONGER THAN ME!" He then put his shoulder plates together and turned them into what the Krieg pirates shouted as his ultimate weapon.
"He brought out the Great Battle Spear!" one cheered as the others followed.
"That thing's dangerous!" Gin said as he narrowed his eyes. "It explodes upon impact, and gets stronger depending on how hard you swing it." This worried Sanji, but Zeff remained neutral.
"That kid's toast." Sanji said.
"Nope." Zeff said. "Krieg can bring as many weapons as he wants, yet that kid won't fall, for he doesn't know fear." Both looked confused at what he said.
"Time to die you little shit!" Krieg shouted as he ran toward Luffy and swung towards Luffy's head. A split-second before impact, Luffy used his Iron Body and remained still as an explosion went off. The smoke cleared to show Luffy burned black, but okay. Frustrated, Krieg kept swinging and hitting Luffy with all his strength.
"Stand or fall," Zeff went on. "Life or death, with your very existense on the line, even the smallest hint of fear means death." Sanji and Gin just stared back at Luffy, who hadn't moved an inch. "When that kid fights, not even death scares him. Is it instict? Or a plan? We'll know if he lives."
"WHY...WON'T...YOU...DIE?!" Krieg screamed between swings. He swung again and set off another explosion. Though smoke covered around Luffy, Krieg looked like he was struggling to move. The smoke cleared to show that Luffy had grabbed the tip of the spear with his bare hands and was keeping it completely still, shocking all but Zeff. "What the- let go you turd!"
"I've had enough of this Krieg." Luffy said as he tightened his hold on the spear tip, smashing it with ease.
"MY GREAT BATTLE SPEAR!"
"He broke it?!" Gin said in shock.
"I'm ending this." Luffy said before he shot his arm back, stretching it out far over the ocean before it stopped and pumped, making Luffy's body go red and steam up a bit.
"What the fuck?!" someone screamed as Luffy used Haki on his arm and brought it back at a blinding speed.
"Gum Guuuuum." Luffy said quietly as his fist burst into flames.
"FIRE?!" some of them shouted.
"Finish it?!" Krieg shouted as he raised his spearless bomb stick into the air. "Fool! I am...THE STRONGEST!" He then brought it down towards Luffy's head.
"RED HAWK!" Luffy screamed as his and Krieg's attacks hit in unison, creating a massive explosion on impact.
"DON KRIEG!"
"STRAW HAT!"
Smoke billowed from the sight as everyone watched, wondering what the outcome was. After what felt like hours, the smoke cleared. Krieg's spear had been completely destroyed as he hung over Luffy. His eyes were white, his wootz steel armor shattered, Scorch marks on his back, and Luffy's fist in his gut. Luffy pulled his fist back and stepped away as Krieg fell to his knees, staring blankly into the sky. Luffy put his straw hat back on his head as he walked away from Krieg. Just as he was about to stretch over to the others, he stopped when he heard a gurgling sound coming from behind him.
"DON KRIEG!" the Krieg pirates shouted as Krieg struggled back onto his feet. His eyes were still white as he slowly walked towards Luffy, one step at a time.
"You...fool." he grunted through clenched teeth as he grabbed Luffy's shoulder with his right hand. "I am...Don Krieg...I...am...invincib-" was all he said before blood poured out of his mouth and he collapsed before Luffy. Everyone was quiet as they stared at what happened.
"He...he won...the kid won." a chef said. A few seconds was all it took to sink in before all the chefs cheered.
"THAT KID BEAT DOWN DON KRIEG!"
"THE TERROR OF THE EAST BLUE'S BEEN DEFEATED!"
All the chefs cheered as the Krieg pirates looked on in horror.
"This is a nightmare!" one of pirates yelled.
"Hey!" Luffy yelled, getting everyone's attention. "If you guys still wanna try and take the restaurant, then step up!" Luffy said with a grin, as if daring them to try. All the pirates turned different shades of blue before shouting.
"WE SURRENDER!"
()()()()
Moments later, all the Krieg pirates and Don Krieg himself were floating next to the restaurant.
"So Gin, what do you plan on doing now?" Sanji asked as he stood there with the other chefs, Zeff, and Luffy stood between them all and the restaurant.
"Who knows." Gin said as he stared out at the ocean. "Maybe head to the Grand Line."
"The Grand Line?" Luffy asked.
"Yeah." Gin said as he looked over his shoulder at Luffy. "I don't know why, but after seeing you put everything on the line, I've decided to as well. And this time, I'm not gonna run." Luffy smiled.
"YEAH?!" Patty yelled. "But know one thing you bastard! You ever come here again, we'll kick your ass!"
"YEAH!" screamed the other chefs. Gin just smirked before he turned back to the boat.
"Hey Gin." Luffy said before Gin got on. "If you're going to the Grand Line, why not come with me?" This got everyone's attention as they all stared at him.
"Huh?!" they all said.
"You still plan on being a pirate right? If you're heading to the Grand Line, why not join my crew?"
"Whoa! Hold on kid!" Carne yelled. "After all the crap he put us through, you want him to join your crew just like that?!"
"Yeah." Luffy said, causing all the chefs to fall over.
"You're asking me to join you?" Gin said in equal shock.
"Sure. You're strong, and I need crewmates. What do you say?" Luffy asked. Gin just stared at him before he looked back at the boat. Luffy kept a blank face as the wind gently blew threw. Gin placed a foot onto the edge of the boat before smile crept onto his face and he kicked it off to sail out without him.
"You know what kid?" Gin asked before he looked back at him. "Why not? What have I got to lose?"
"Shishishishi." Luffy laughed as everyone just stared before they heard a growling sound. "I'm hungry." he said, causing almost everyone to fall over. Zeff was laughing however.
"Then come on in. You saved our asses and this restaurant. What better way to pay you back then letting you stuff yourself?"
"YAHOOOO!" Luffy yelled as he practically broke the door down to find a table.
"What have I gotten myself into?" Gin asked as a few beads of sweat fell down his face.
()()()()
After eating his fill, Luffy and Gin went to find Sanji, who was looking out at sea from a balcony.
"Hey Sanji-
"No. I'm not leaving. I'm staying until Zeff recognizes me as a chef." Sanji said without looking at him.
"Hmm. Fine, I give up." Luffy said as he grabbed Sanji by the collar. Sanji shook him off and looked back at him.
"I can't leave yet...but someday I will. That's a promise." Sanji said.
"How about right now?" Luffy asked as Gin just watched them go back and forth.
"It's not the right time...not yet." Sanji said. They all looked out at sea for some time before Sanji mumbled, "There is one place." He then turned to the both of them with a wide smile. "Either of you ever heard of the All Blue?"
"The All Blue?" they asked. Luffy heard it before, but hearing a friend's dream was still nice.
"You've never heard of it?" Sanji asked still smiling. Both Gin and Luffy listened as Sanji told them about this 'miracle sea' that has fish from all the Blues in it. That it was somewhere on the Grand Line and that he'd find it one day. While he talked, Zeff was looking at them all from above with a smile on his face. Sanji kept going on about the All Blue, but stopped when Patty shouted that lunch was served.
"Don't know how they still have food here." Gin said since he saw Luffy eat everything in sight earlier.
"Forget it. Let's eat." Luffy said as the trio left for the kitchen. They walked in, only to find that there were no seats available. They got themselves some food and sat on the floor before starting to eat. As they did, someone asked who made the soup.
"I did." Sanji said. "Good huh?"
"Good?! This slop is good?" Patty yelled. "I'd be amazed if the customers didn't vomit from one taste!"
"What did you say?" Sanji asked with a dark look on his face, which got worse as other chefs said that his soup was horrible. It really got bad when Zeff agreed with the chefs, which caused Sanji to lose it and to start screaming at the geezer. Zeff shocked them when he finally used his hands to strike Sanji, who left in a huff.
"What are you all talking about?" Luffy asked in mock surprise. "The soup's delicious."
"Can't argue with you their...Captain." Gin said. It just felt strange calling someone else captain.
"Of course it is." Zeff said. "Sanji's a great chef. Everyone here does." All the chefs were then saying how great his cooking is. But no matter what we say, that kid's too thick-headed to listen." Luffy ate more soup as Gin listened. "Hey kid. You said you needed a cook for your ship right? I wouldn't ask anyone for this...but can you take that kid with you? To the Grand Line." He smiled as he said that it was Sanji's dream.
"Man boss." Patty said. "You sure made us put up quite the act."
"I thought we were found out because of your bad acting." Carne said.
"My acting?" Patty laughed. "Did you hear how bad you were acting."
"No way." Luffy said. Some of the chefs fell over at that, while Gin had starting choking on his food in surprise.
"What?" Zeff said, now sounding angry. "You said you wanted him to be your ship's cook earlier! What, he not good enough for you?"
"Oh, he's good." Luffy said. "But he wants to stay here and cook for this restaurant. I want him to join, but I won't force him." Luffy then started eating again before slapping Gin's back, making him cough up his food and breathe. Zeff was playing with his moustache as he spoke.
"So unless he agrees to come with, you won't take him huh?" Zeff asked.
"Right. More food please." Luffy said.
"Fair enough. But who knows if that hard-headed twerp will agree to join ya." Zeff said. Luffy asked for more food as his haki picked up on Sanji hanging outside the door. Sanji was trying to light up a cigarette, but failed as he sat with his arms on his knees and his head down.
"I can hear you all, you bastards." Sanji said in a quiet tone. Meanwhile, Luffy, Gin, and the chefs were eating, but were interrupted by something crashing through the wall. Everyone looked to see Yosaku stuck in the mouth of a Panshark, with Sanji underneath them both.
"It's Yosaku." Luffy said in a calm voice. "You come for the food Yosaku?" Luffy asked with a smile.
"Do you even notice the Panshark that has him in his mouth?" Gin asked with a few sweatdrops. Everyone pried Yosaku out of it's mouth before they sent the fish away and gave Yosaku a blanket and some food.
"What are you doing here Yosaku?" Luffy asked. "Weren't you going after Nami?"
"Actually Big Bro, we couldn't catch up to Nami." Yosaku said. "But we did know where she was going. If it's that island, we're gonna need your strength Big Bro Luffy. Where we're going could mean death.
"I know where she's going Yosaku." Luffy said, stunning him a bit. "I also know why she did what she did."
"You...you do?" Yosaku asked.
"Yeah, but it's something she doesn't like to talk about or have in the open." Luffy said, knowing how touchy a subject this was.
"Then we should get going." Yosaku said before he noticed Gin. "Uh, Big Bro Luffy?"
"He's part of my crew now." Luffy explained. "Anyway, let's go." All three were heading out to leave, but were stopped by Sanji, who was leaning against the rails.
"Your dream's crazy kid." he said. "But so is mine. Guess now's the best time to go. Why not start looking right now?" They all looked at him as he turned to them.
"Sanji?" Luffy asked.
"I'll join you on your journey to be King of the Pirates." Sanji said as he looked at him. "I wanna be the cook for your ship, okay? That alright?"
"Yeah, of course!" Luffy yelled with a grin before he and Yosaku started dancing and singing. Gin just stared in utter confusion.
"How can a guy that strong act so...childish?" he asked himself. Sanji turned to the chefs behind them all.
"You all happy now?" he asked grumpily, but he smirked at their faces. "Sorry. I'll go now. And sorry that you had to do some shitty acting."
"You knew?!" Patty yelled.
"I heard everything assholes." Sanji said as he looked at Zeff. "Stomping on my pride huh? Was that all you could think of to get me to leave, you shitty geezer?"
"YOU WANNA FIGHT SANJI?!" Patty yelled before Zeff stopped him.
"I've always hated children." he said. "I've always regretted letting a brat like you live Sanji."
"Tch. Fine. Have fun with your crappy life, ya stupid old man." Sanji said before he turned to the three of them. "I'm gonna get my stuff. Wait for me by the ship." As they got ready to leave, Luffy was packing food for the trip when Zeff approached him, offering him his logbook.
"Thanks, but no thanks pops. That's your adventure in there. I'm going out there to make my own adventure." Luffy said. Zeff smirked before leaving as Luffy was still packing. After some time, all the chefs were outside on the patched up fin as the trio were in the boat, waiting for Sanji so they could depart. Finally, Sanji stood in the doorway with his gear, taking a last look around before walking towards the ship. Patty and Carne attacked him as a last goodbye, to which Sanji took them both out with two kicks and kept walking till he got to the edge of the fin.
"Let's go." he said.
"No goodbyes?" Luffy asked.
"Nah." Sanji said as he was about to get on the boat.
"Sanji!" Zeff called from the balcony, stopping him in his tracks. "Be careful out there kid." Sanji just froze as tears came to his eyes. Luffy gave a soft smile as he remembered what happened next.
"CHEF ZEEEEEEF!" Sanji yelled before spinning around and bowing till his head hit the Baratie's deck. "THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR ME! AND FOR ALL YOUR KINDNESS! I OWE MY LIFE TO YOU OLD MAN! THANK YOU!" Sanji stayed there on the deck crying, which was soon followed by Zeff and all the Chefs on the Baratie.
"WAAAAAAH!" Patty yelled out, getting Sanji's attention. "This is sad!"
"Really sad!" Carne yelled out as well, both with tears in their eyes.
"We're gonna miss you Sanji!"
"This place won't be the same without you!" Everyone was saying how they'd miss him as Sanji's smiled through his tears.
"Rotten words." Zeff said with bloodshot eyes. "Real men should part ways without words, let alone tears." Sanji finally got in the boat after regaining some control.
"LET'S GO! SET SAIL!" Luffy shouted as they unfurled the sails and sailed off. Sanji was still crying as he waved back to them all.
"I'LL SEE YOU ALL AGAIN!" he shouted before smiling. "IT'S A PROMISE, YA CRAZY BASTARDS!" he didn't stop until they couldn't see the Baratie anymore.
()()()()
"The weather's nice." Nami said as she sailed towards her home island. As she stared ahead on the bow of the Going Merry, her mind wandered to her friends that she had just stolen from. "Luffy...everyone." she chocked out as tears started falling from her eyes. "Maybe one day...they'll let me be with them again." She started trembling as she hugged herself. "If I ever meet them again...Bell-mere."
'Why don't I help you?'
Nami froze. Time felt like it stopped as she stared on at the ocean.
'You've seen how strong I am Nami.'
Nami fell to her knees as bottom lip quivered.
'I can beat him.'
"Luffy..." was all she said before she cried her heart out to the heavens.
A/N: Sorry if it seems a little rushed. I wanted to get past this arc, and I felt like I was taking forever. Don't remember if I spelled her mother's name right. Hope you all enjoy.