-At Brogy's home-
"There." Brogy said after placing a giant hunk of meat in front of Usopp, Nami, Valerie, Gin, Johnny, Yosaku, and Alvida. "It's ready everyone. Dig in!" he said with a smile.
"We're...not hungry." most of them said.
"No need to decline out of modesty." Brogy said. "Eat all you like. Dino meat's truly delicious."
"It's fine. I'm not very hungry anyway." most of them said again.
"He's gonna eat us too!" Usopp whispered.
"Only after fattening us up first." Nami whispered back. Avlida looked like her heart stopped at those words and turned a little blue in the face.
"Not good." Johnny and Yosaku said in unison as Valerie stayed quiet.
"Really? More for your friend then." Brogy said. Everyone looked at him before hearing meat being ripped from the giant bone.
"He's right you guys." Gin said with a mouth full of food. "This aint bad."
'HOW CAN HE BE SO CALM?!' they all screamed in their heads.
"GABABABABABA!" Brogy laughed before eating some himself, clearly amused by all of their faces.
"Um...Brogy, was it? Mind if I ask a question?" she said, hoping he'd be in the mood to talk.
"What's that?" he said.
"How long d-does it take for the log pose to finish recording on this island?" she asked.
"Just one year." he said with a smile. Gin's eye shot open as he stopped chewing while everyone else fell off the leg they were resting on. "So relax everyone! GABABABABA!"
"That's not good." Gin said after finishing his food.
()()()()
-At Dorry's home-
"GYEGYEGYEGYE!" Dorry laughed as Luffy stuffed his face full of dino meat. He had invited Luffy, Vivi, Nojiko, and Carue to his home for a meal.
"This is delicious!" Luffy said.
"And your pirate lunchbox is great too! Small though it may be." he said with a laugh.
"Yeah. My chef made it, so I'm glad you like it. Otherwise, I'd have to kick your ass." Luffy said, causing Dorry to stop laughing.
"Did you just threaten me?" he asked, causing Vivi, Carue, and Nojiko to jump with worry before he started laughing again. "I like you shrimp! You're funny!"
"They're getting along so well." Vivi thought. Even Nojiko was a little surprised at them becoming fast friends.
"Do you live here Dorry?" Luffy asked.
"No." Dorry said. "I come from a village deep in the Grand Line called Elbaf. It's a village for Warriors." he said.
"Elbaf huh?" Luffy said with a grin.
"Yes." Dorry said. "But my village has a certain law. If a fight breaks out and can't be settled, then we call on our god Elbaf for judgement. He's blesses those in the right and protects them. I've gotten in one such fight with another giant, and this island is our battleground. The winner will be the one who will win and survive." he said before laughing. "AND WE STILL HAVEN'T SETTLED IT, EVEN AFTER 100 YEARS! GYEGYEGYEGYE!"
"100 years?" Nojiko asked.
"It's nothing. We giants live 3 times longer than you squirts!" Dorry said before laughing.
"Even so, why keep fighting after 100 years?" Vivi asked. "Can't you resolve this another way? Do you want to kill each other that badly?" She looked ready to go on until a large volcano erupted.
"Guess it's time." Dorry said as he got up and grabbed his sword and shield.
"What do you mean 'guess it's time'?" Nojiko asked.
"I don't remember when, but the eruption of that middle volcano signals the start of our battle." Dorry said. Vivi started ranting about why they would want to kill each other again before Luffy stopped her.
"It's not about that anymore Vivi." Luffy said.
"Exactly." Dorry said as Brogy came into view, looking ready to fight. "This battle is one of pride." he said before he and Dorry rushed each other. "THE REASON FOR THE FIGHT IS LONG FORGOTTEN!" All four of them were knocked onto their butts after a shockwave from their battle hit them. Vivi and Nojiko stared at them while Luffy had a huge grin on his face.
()()()()
Back at Brogy's home, Nami and the others were watching the duel as well.
"This is a good time to leave!" Nami said.
"Right behind you." Alvida said. "Come on you guys."
"Wow." Usopp said, staring up at the two giants trying to kill each other.
"What are you doing Usopp?" Nami asked.
'The reason? I forgot a long time ago!' were the words going through Usopp's head at the moment.
"No reason, yet they fight." Usopp said.
"They're just being stupid." Alvida said.
"Fool!" Usopp said. "This is what a man's fight truly looks like!" he said crossing his arms.
"Huh?" Nami said.
"Think of it this way." Usopp said as Johnny, Yosaku, and Gin began to join him in watching the battle. "Both of them have raised a metaphorical flag in their hearts. One that they value more than their own lives. They wish to keep those flags raised, no matter what. So they protect that flag by fighting each other, even after 100 years." he said. Gin was smiling while Johnny and Yosaku were on the verge of tears from understanding what he meant. "This fight," Usopp went on. "Is one of pride between these two great warriors!"
"That was beautiful big bro." Johnny said as he and Yosaku wiped their eyes. Gin only smiled while Alvida and Nami just stared at them before trying to leave, saying they weren't interested.
"I'm staying here to watch." Usopp said. "This is what I've always dreamed of becoming one day."
"A giant?" Nami asked as she and Alvida sat back down in defeat.
"NO! DIDN'T YOU LISTEN TO ANYTHING JUST NOW?!" he demanded as the others snickered. He calmed down before resuming watching. "Imagine a whole village of warriors like them. I wanna see it one day." he said with a smile.
"Same here!" both Johnny and Yosaku said in agreement.
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'd like to see it too." Gin said.
"Men." Nami and Alvida said with a sigh before both giants reached the end of their 73,466th fight, which ended in yet another draw. Both fell to the ground and didn't move for a few moments before they both burst into laughter.
"GABABABABA! Hey Dorry! I got some booze from our guests!" Brogy laughed.
"Great! I haven't had any in a long time. Mind sharing?! GYEGYEGYEGYE!" Dorry laughed back as they both got up. Brogy handed him some barrels, but stopped Dorry before he could leave.
"One moment." Brogy said. "One of the guests said they needed to speak with their captain. Said it was urgent."
"Alright." Dorry said. He waited for a few moments before Brogy came back and handed him Valerie.
"Thanks Brogy!" she said.
"Anytime! GABABABABA!" he laughed before heading back to his home, with Dorry heading back to his home as well.
"Hey Dorry!" Luffy said. "Looks like it was a draw!"
"GYEGYEGYEGYE!" he laughed. "Just like always!"
"What are those barrels?" Nojiko asked.
"Booze from Brogy's guests." Dorry said. "They wouldn't happen to be your crew, would they?" he asked. "Along with this woman?" They all looked up at him to see Valerie standing on his shoulder.
"Hey Valerie!" Luffy said. "Yep. They're our friends." he said before his eyes widen. 'Wait a minute...that booze...CRAP!' he thought.
"Hey Captain Luffy." she said as she floated down until she was standing next to him and sat down next to him. While Vivi asked Dorry if it really takes a year for the Log Pose to set, Valerie and Luffy got to whispering about something.
"We've got trouble." Valerie whispered. "Baroque Works followed us to this island."
"They w-" Luffy stared screaming before Valerie covered his mouth. She let go of him so he could whisper "How do you know?"
"Because...back on the ship-" she said.
-Flashback-
"Where's the booze?" Valerie asked Gin as they went below deck to find the alchohol and give it to Brogy.
"Here they are." Gin said as he lifted two barrels up and walked up the stairs. "Hurry up!"
"I know!" she shouted back as she lifted a barrel. She started walking towards the stairs, but tripped over some rope and fell. She reduced her weight to avoid hurting herself, but the barrel she dropped started leaking a bit. "Shit!" she said as she propped it up. She looked at the small hole that appeared before he eyes widened. "This rum..." she said, recognizing that it had been tainted somehow. 'Mr. 5!' she thought.
"What are you doing?!" Gin shouted down to her, snapping her out of her thoughts.
"Sorry." she said before putting the bad barrel aside. After giving the other barrels a quick check, she sighed in relief that none of them were tainted as well and started bringing another barrel up.
-End Flashback-
"So your old partner somehow put a bomb in there?" Luffy whispered.
"Yeah." she said before smiling. "Don't worry. None of those barrels are bad."
"Really?" he said before sighing. "That's good." He was glad that his friend wouldn't be hurt by that bomb like last time, but then remembered what Valerie said before. "So, if that bomb was in that barrel, then-"
"Yeah." she said as she looked out at the jungle. "Somewhere out there...Baroque Works is waiting." She had a grim look on her face before she noticed Luffy smiling at her. "What?"
"See? You promised you wouldn't do anything against us." he said with a smile. She just looked at him before a small smile tugged at her lips.
"Well...you did let me on your ship." she said.
"Hey." Dorry said, gaining both of their attention. "What are you two whispering about?"
"Huh?" Valerie said. "Oh. We were just talking about...how to get off this island as soon as possible."
"That so?" Dorry said before laughing."
()()()()
-At Brogy's home-
"A brave warrior of the seas?" Brogy said. "What's that?"
"Someone like you." Usopp said. "I want to become like you two one day."
"A giant?" he asked, causing all but Usopp to laugh.
"NO!" he said before thumping his chest with a smile. "I want to live with honor and pride, just like the warriors of Elbaf."
"GABABABA! I see!" Brogy said. "We giants longer lifespans that humans. Because of that, we wish for nothing more than honorable deaths. After all, one's forture or life will cease one day. To us Elbaf Warriors, to die with unbroken pride is what we call an honorable death. Our pride never ceases, making it an eternal treasue that is passed on throughout our land!"
"So your pride is your treasure!" Usopp said in admiration.
"Amazing!" Johnny and Yosaku said.
()()()()
"I wanna go there one day!" Luffy said with a grin as Dorry finished the last of the rum. Luffy grinned wider when he saw for himself that the rum didn't explode, which also caused whatever traces of anger he felt at Valerie to disappear.
"GYEGYEGYEGYE!" Dorry laughed. "Is that right? Well then, Brogy or I will show you around one day. IF WE EVER FINISH THIS DUEL!" he shouted before laughing, which was followed by Luffy. Vivi however wasn't finding any of this amusing.
"How am I going to stop this stupid war if I have to wait for a full year to leave?" she asked herself. She just stared at the ground in anger until she felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up to see it belonged to Nojiko.
"Don't worry." she said with a smile. "We'll get there it time somehow."
"Hey Dorry!" Luffy shouted, gaining everyone's attention. "When we reach Elbaf, let's fight!"
"You're challenging me squirt?!" Dorry asked before laughing again. "YOU CRACK ME UP! YOU REALLY ARE A FUNNY LITTLE MAN!" he said before the volcano erupted again. Dorry looked at it with a smile before grabbing his gear.
"You're fighting again?" Vivi asked. "Even though you fought not that long ago?!"
"Yes." Dorry said. "Even with these wounds, I will fight! If I were to run from this duel because of that, I would lose my pride!" he said before walking off to battle.
"He's crazy." Vivi said.
"He's a warrior!" Luffy said with a grin.
()()()()
Deep in another part of the jungle, there was what looked like a house made of wax with a charred dinosaur in front of it.
"Gotta say, only you could make a house in the middle of this place." said Mr. 5. "However, this job is still mine, so stay out of it."
"Is that so?" Mr. 3 said as he enjoyed his tea while Miss GoldenWeek was sleeping against the wall. "What a sad excuse from a weakling."
"Take that back!" Mr. 5 shouted.
"Why?" Mr. 3 asked in calm voice. "Remember that we're professionals. To lose and let our targets live means risking our organization being known to the world. That's why our orders must be completed without fail. Still, since you're here, we'll give you 30% of our work." he said before giving Mr. 5 a dark look. "I suggest you take it before I make you vanish along with those pirates and that traitor Miss Valentine." he said, making Mr. 5 gulp in nervousness. "Calm down. Here, have some tea." he said as he handed him a cup before explaining that it's for a special occasion. "On this island, we have yet another job to add to our list."
"Another job?" Mr. 5 asked.
"Indeed." Mr. 3 said before showing him a wanted poster of Dorry and Brogy and explaining about how 100 years ago, both were captains of the Giant Pirates who wreaked havoc over a century ago and that both are still wanted by the government, and that each was worth 100,000,000 berries each, making the reward 200,000,000 berries.
"200,000,000?!" Mr.5 said in shock before he noticed his legs were being covered with wax. "Hey, what are you doing?!"
"Simple." he said. "I'm a little...upset that the bomb you planted failed to go off." he said as a bit of wax came toward Mr. 5's neck before morphing into a sort of blade and stopped just inches from killing him.
"Hey man, it's not my fault!" he said as sweat started forming on his face. "I put the bomb in the rum like you asked!"
"Indeed you did." Mr. 3 said before making the wax disappear from around Mr. 5. "That's why I'll be taking care of the giants now. As for you," he said before finishing his tea. "Only one person could've figured out and stopped that bomb from doing it's job. So Mr. 5, your new objective...is to kill Miss Valentine yourself and retrieve Princess Vivi for me." he said with that same dark look. "Understood?"
"Yeah. I got it." he said, still nervous.
A/N: And thus another chapter done. Tell me whatcha think with a review.