A/N: Hello everyone! I know it's been a while since the last update, but I am officially done with my college courses. I am happy to be graduating in the spring and even more excited to focus on this story again. This chapter is a little longer than usual, but I hope you enjoy the read!

Chapter 8

"Ladies and Gentlemen, are you ready?"

The audience cheered in response to the announcer's question, their voices filled with excitement. It was almost noon and the sun shone brightly overhead with a cloudless sky. People had gathered around a makeshift shooting range on the outskirts of the town, their attention focused on the stage. A large man dressed in a black suit and top hat stood at the front of the platform and a megaphone was held to his mouth.

"For those who are new, this is Simorea's Semi-Annual Sharpshooter Showdown. Here's how it works: each contestant will be assigned a target and will have one shot per round. At the end of the three rounds, the shooter with the highest score will receive a log pose."

The crowd applauded at his words, everyone eager for the contest to begin.

"The rules are simple: no interference or violence is allowed. In the event of a tie, a tie-breaker will be held."

Akali and Laura watched the proceedings from the sidelines, both impressed by the setup. The targets were at a distance from the stage and the atmosphere was electric.

"It seems like a fair competition," Akali noted, her arms folded across her chest.

"I wonder if there's going to be a lot of people participating," Laura replied, her eyes scanning the crowd.

"Oh, look, there's Remi," Akali pointed out, nodding her head towards the line of contestants.

"Really?" Laura peered in the direction Akali was indicating and spotted Remi standing beside a few others. He was holding a pistol in his hands and seemed to be inspecting it, his expression relaxed.

"He looks calm so that's a good sign," Akali commented.

The announcer was now introducing the participants and the duo listened intently as each contestant was called. There were a total of four entrants, one of them being their navigator.

"Alright, let's introduce our first contestant, Vane!"

The audience clapped politely as a middle-aged man with tan skin and short, blonde hair stepped forward. He wore a simple black shirt with dark pants and boots. In his hands, he held a rifle and he looked over the weapon with a critical eye.

"Our second contestant is the local gunsmith, Gareth!"

A short, pudgy man wearing a blue vest, black pants, and sandals walked up. He had light brown hair and a pair of glasses rested on his face. His weapon of choice was a rifle as well and he held it weapon with ease. The crowd cheered loudly, clearly familiar with the man.

"Next is our third contestant, a newcomer named Remi!"

Remi moved so the audience could see him better and Laura noticed some of the people whispering amongst themselves. It was obvious that they had heard of him and she wondered if it was his bounty that was the topic of their conversations. Nevertheless, he received a round of applause and a few shouts of encouragement.

"Last, but certainly not least, another newcomer and our final contestant, Elsie!"

A petite girl with dark skin and wavy, black hair in a ponytail strutted forward. Her big, brown eyes seemed to sparkle and her lips were curved into a confident grin. She wore what appeared to be a pirate outfit that consisted of a dark blue jacket, white shirt, black pants, and white boots. Around her neck was a light blue bandana and she had several firearms strapped to her person. She received loud applause as well as a few whistles from the crowd.

"Thank you all for coming today," the announcer said into the megaphone. "Now, let's begin!"

At his words, the first round began and the contestants lined up behind the starting mark. Each one had their respective firearm drawn and was waiting patiently.

"On your marks," the announcer started.

The contestants readied themselves.

"Get set."

They gripped their weapons tighter, their sights focused on the target.

"Fire!"

The four competitors pulled the trigger and a loud bang sounded as the bullets were shot. Smoke rose from the barrels and the crowd cheered as the targets were inspected.

"It appears we have a bullseye!" the announcer announced, his voice amplified by the megaphone.

The woman named Elsie had hit her target dead center and her smile widened at her success. The rest of the shots had been off the mark and the three men groaned, disappointed with the results.

"Our next top score is Remi followed by Gareth," the announcer called, the audience listening intently. "Vane is going to need to shoot better next round if he wants a chance at the prize."

"Let's just get on with it," Vane replied, not wanting to waste any more time.

"As you wish," the announcer conceded, "On your marks!"

The audience fell silent once more as the second round began.

"Get set."

The contestants lifted their guns and aimed, their concentration unwavering.

"Fire!"

Another round of shots was fired and the crowd cheered as the targets were revealed.

"It looks like we have another perfect score," the announcer stated, his voice full of enthusiasm. "Remi has hit the target right in the center!"

Laura smiled as she heard the news, pleased that their navigator had gotten a good start. "Go, Remi!"

"I have to admit, he's decent," Akali said to herself, noting his performance. "He's doing well so far."

"And the next score best is…" the announcer trailed off, looking at the other targets. "Elsie! She slightly missed the center, but unfortunately, Gareth and Vane won't be able to catch up."

The crowd clapped at the results and Elsie and Remi readied themselves for the third round.

"You're doing great, Remi!" Laura yelled, hoping her voice would reach him, "You can win this!"

Remi glanced in her direction and gave a slight smile, acknowledging her praise. He took a deep breath and returned his focus to the target, his grip steady.

"This is it, the final round!" The announcer declared, "Either way, it's going to be a close finish!"

Elsie turned to Remi for the first time since the competition started, her lips upturned. "You're not half bad, but I don't plan on losing."

"I wasn't expecting you to," Remi replied, his tone casual.

"You two ready?" The announcer asked, his eyes darting between the two.

"Always," Elsie responded while twirling her pistol.

"Yes," Remi answered simply, his gaze sharp.

"Alright then, on your marks!"

The tension was palpable as the two readied themselves for the final round.

"Get set!"

Both were prepared to take the victory.

"Fire!"

Two shots rang out and the audience hushed as the targets were unveiled.

"And the winner is…" the announcer said while examining their targets, "Elsie! She hit another bullseye which means she is the victor of the Sharpshooter Showdown!"

The crowd roared at the announcement, the noise deafening. Laura let out a huge sigh, disappointed that Remi had lost.

"Well, it was worth a try," Akali muttered.

The host presented Elsie with a log pose and she accepted it with a grin, pleased with her accomplishment. Laura and Akali rushed over to Remi as the crowd dispersed, hoping to comfort him.

"Don't worry about it, Remi," Laura started, not wanting him to feel bad. "You were really good."

"Exactly, you did your best," Akali added, agreeing with the sentiment.

Remi smiled at the two of them, but he still wasn't proud of his performance, "Yeah, but my best wasn't good enough."

"What should we do now?" Akali asked, not expecting the outcome.

"I'm not sure, I wasn't prepared for this," Remi replied with a sigh while rubbing his forehead. "We need a log pose though to sail in the Grand Line."

"You guys are headed to the Grand Line?"

The trio turned to see Elsie approaching them. It was she who had asked the question, having overheard the group.

"Uh, yeah, we are," Laura answered, unsure why the woman was interested in their discussion.

"I'm headed to the Grand Line as well," Elsie confessed, a smile on her face. "Maybe we can help each other out?"

"What do you mean?" Akali questioned, not understanding the proposal.

"It's a mutually beneficial deal. I could never make it to the Grand Line by myself and well I'm assuming you need a log pose."

"No, thanks," Remi declined, his response immediate.

"Hey, what do you think you're saying?" Laura interjected, shocked by his rejection.

"She's right," Akali agreed, siding with Laura. "This would benefit us greatly."

"That may be, but we don't know anything about her," Remi replied, not willing to change his decision.

"Well it's two against one so looks like she's coming with us," Laura declared, ignoring Remi's comment.

Remi glanced at Elsie, "Could you excuse us a moment?"

"Sure, no problem," Elsie responded, smiling sweetly.

Remi placed each of his hands on Laura and Akali's shoulders and led them a few feet away. Once he felt that Elsie could no longer hear them he continued to speak with his fellow companions.

"Do you two have a death wish or something?" Remi asked in a harsh whisper, his expression serious. "There are consequences to trusting a random stranger."

"We've been fine so far," Laura argued, not seeing the issue.

"This isn't a game, Laura," Remi scolded, his voice stern. "You need to take these kinds of decisions seriously."

"I am taking this seriously," Laura responded, frustration evident in her tone. "It's not my fault you're paranoid."

"I'm not paranoid, I'm cautious," Remi corrected, his posture stiff.

"Can you two stop fighting?" Akali interjected, not liking the current atmosphere.

"Tell him he's being ridiculous," Laura ordered, not willing to compromise.

"I don't even know why I agreed to take you with me," Remi said, annoyed with her behavior. "You've been nothing but a burden."

Laura's eyes went wide, his words causing her to flinch. She knew that he still had some reservations, but hearing him say it aloud hurt more than she imagined.

"Hey, that's enough!" Akali snapped, not wanting things to escalate further.

Laura couldn't control the tears forming in her eyes and she did her best to hold them back. Without warning, she spun on her heel and ran towards the beach, wanting to escape.

"Laura, wait!" Remi called out, realizing he had gone too far.

"Leave her alone," Akali advised, glaring at him.

"But-" Remi started, his expression apologetic.

"She needs some time to calm down," Akali interrupted, her tone leaving no room for argument. "And honestly so do you."

Remi looked in the direction Laura had run and sighed, knowing that Akali was right. He felt horrible for making her upset and he was regretting his outburst. There was a tense silence and Elsie suddenly cleared her throat, causing them to turn their attention to her.

"Uh, I hate to interrupt, but what about my proposition?" Elsie asked while eyeing the two.

"We'll have to discuss it later," Remi answered, his mind preoccupied with his argument with Laura.

"Okay, no rush," Elsie replied, a slight smirk on her face. "I'll be in town."

With those words, the woman walked off, her posture relaxed. Akali glared at Remi again and shook her head, displeased by his behavior. He glanced back at her and opened his mouth to say something, but she beat him to it.

"You're an idiot, you know that?"

A/N: A special thanks to LevelNineCPU for their OC - Elsie!