One Piece: Brave New World

by ShadowNinja77

Monkey D. Luffy sets out to find the One Piece in a world that is more expansive than expected, with vast characters and locations. Expanded crew, story arcs, and settings in general. I do not own One Piece or anything else I bring in.

13. Emiko's Past

"The clash of their weapons was said to have parted the sky above through sheer force."

"Wow," Emiko murmured from her bed, trying to picture that. "Can you do that?"

Her mother chuckled softly. "Unfortunately no. I don't have that kind of power in me. But there are some out there who do."

"I'm going to be just like them," Emiko said. "I will be a great warrior who will make all her enemies tremble before her."

Her mother chuckled again before kissing her on the forehead softly. "I'm sure you will, Emi."

Emiko scrubbed the floor with the mop, washing away Big Bethany's latest spill. She didn't know why these memories were washing over her right now but she just wanted them to stop.

"I don't understand," Emiko said, doing her best not to tremble. The last few hours had been a real whirlwind for her. Her mother had vanished and then someone had broken in, claiming to be her father. He had taken her away and then told her that her mother was dead. "Sh-she can't b-be…"

"She is," her father told her. "Killed by her enemies. I am sorry it took me so long to find you. I wish we could have met under better circumstances. Ever since I learned about you, I've wanted to meet you. I'm just sorry I was too late to save your mother."

Emiko couldn't stop the tears no matter how hard she tried. Her mother couldn't be gone. It just wasn't possible.

"Come. There is no time for tears," her father said firmly. "Our enemies are gathering and we don't have much time. I will train you to defend yourself so that you can fight back."

Emiko closed her eyes, fists clenched tightly. Her whole body felt like it was consumed in pain. Her mother…they had taken her mother from her. She didn't just want the pain to go away. She wanted them to feel it as well, to inflict as much damage as possible.

She wanted them to suffer before she killed them.

"Will you make me a warrior?" she asked.

"Yes," he replied. "I will turn you into the greatest warrior there is."

Emiko gritted her teeth, the lies and falsehoods of that day making her blood boil.

"Again!" She felt the whack of the staff as her arrow missed the target. "You must be better than this. Keep at it!"

She took a breath and aimed, her small arms trembling from the strain of the bow. She prayed that the arrow would make it this time but, like last time, it went wide, striking outside the circle. She did her best to brace herself but still the strike came, the staff striking her in the shoulder painfully.

"Again!" her father barked angrily. "You see the target, don't you? So line up your bow to it and fire."

"But I can't keep-" she tried but the staff came down even harder, making her cry out in pain and almost bringing her to her knees. She just managed to catch herself, knowing if she fell, she would just get hit even more painfully.

"No excuses! I expect only the best from my daughter. You wish to be the best, don't you? To help and serve your father on the seas?"

"Y-yes."

"Then keep at it! As you are now, you are only a liability and I will have no use for you. Now, again!"

Emiko ignored the twinge in her shoulder, as if was still feeling all those painful hits. She scrubbed even harder, seeing a particular stubborn part of sick.

"No!"

Emiko just stopped herself from crying out as she was suddenly yanked away from the window. She'd been staring hungrily at the baked treats in the windowsill. The cakes and pies and assortment of muffins, each looking more delicious than the last, had gotten her stomach rumbling. Now, they were gone, as if it had been an illusion.

"Have you forgotten?" her father snapped. "You are beyond such things. You do not need such things. They are only distractions. Now tell me what are you?"

"A…a weapon."

"Again!"

"I am a weapon."

"Whose weapon?"

"I am your weapon," she replied, hardening her heart and pushing away the memory of those treats. He was right, they were beyond her. If they provided no real use, then she did not need them. She was his weapon and anything that did not aid her was of no use.

"Good. Never let me see you get distracted like that again! Or I will have to reconsider what use I have for you at all!"

Emiko clenched the mop tighter, scrubbing furiously against the floor.

"Do it Emi!" Komodo roared in her ear as she held up the bow to Oliver's bowed form, arrow aimed at his head. He was her enemy, the enemy of her father. It was her duty to kill him. He had almost killed her father a few weeks ago. She had helped nurse him back to health and she had sworn she would kill him for that.

But now he was right in front of her and he didn't stare at her in hatred or loathing like she expected. Not even in fear or sadness. He looked at her with sympathy in his eyes, something no one else had ever done.

She had worked hard to impress her father. He had made a deal with the group known as the Outsiders, aiming to make a mark in the East Blue. In their way stood Queen Robert who was gathering enemies to oppose them. The battle was coming and Emiko knew she had to prove herself worthy as her father's weapon. And this was her chance.

She'd recently learned that her mother wasn't dead like she had thought but apparently working for this Robert. She couldn't understand why and her father didn't know either but he had promised to help. And now, in front of her, stood another ally of Robert. His son, Queen Oliver, who had been dismantling all their work these last few weeks alongside her mother.

"Where is she?" Emiko demanded. "My mother? Where is Shado?"

"Emiko! You don't know what you're doing! I don't know what he's told you but it's a lie! He-"

"Shut up!" Emiko screamed, hitting him. She could still remember the warmth of her mother's embrace, hear the stories she told Emiko as she fell asleep. When her father came for her and told her that her mother was dead, she'd felt empty and cold inside, like the light had been stolen away. And now, her mother was back somehow and working for the enemy. And she needed to know why. "You…you a your father, you corrupted her! You turned her against my father and me!"

"No, Emiko." Oliver wasn't shouting anymore. This time, he looked at her calmly despite the blood running down his face. "I'm your brother. And this man isn't-"

"More lies!"

This time, it wasn't Emiko who said it. She was too stunned by Oliver's words, unable to comprehend why he would say such a thing. Instead, it was her father who spoke, striking the man again. "Don't let that snake talk anymore," he told her. "That's how they tricked her, how they turned your mother against us. Kill him, now!"

This was her moment. After everything Oliver had done to her father, to her mother, he deserved this. And she would be able to prove herself to her father and the Outsiders and all of them and finally make her father proud of her.

Yet…she hesitated.

She had always longed for battle. Ever since she'd been a toddler, hearing the stories whispered to her as she went to sleep of brave warriors battling their enemies. The glory and epicness of it all make her heart soar. It was why she always tried her best under her father's tutelage.

But this? There was no glory here. Oliver was no vanquished foe on the battlefield. He was their prisoner; an unarmed, cuffed man who just stared at her sympathetically. He'd made no threats to her, no attempts to save his skin. He just kept spouting things that didn't make sense.

Or did they?

Ever since her mother's apparent death, her father had taken her in to reach her full potential as a warrior and a weapon, to be the best she could be. She knew failure could not be tolerated and that if she didn't fire the arrow, there would be consequences.

Still, she just couldn't do it.

"Kill him Emi!" her father commanded. "Prove yourself!"

"Don't do this, Emiko," Oliver whispered to her softly. "He's lying to you. Don't."

She stared at him, feeling his words cut through all her defenses. She hadn't heard such gentleness since her mother died and she suddenly couldn't hold on anymore.

"I-I can't," she said, tears appearing in her eyes, her bow lowering.

"I guess you haven't completely ruined her yet, Komodo," Oliver said.

Her body hit the ground from her father's sudden blow, her ears ringing. Oliver cried out in alarm and she saw the concern and fear appear across his face, all for her sake. She couldn't understand that. Why was he so worried for her, his enemy? Why did he care about her at all? The way he looked at her, it wasn't from a stranger or an opponent. It was oddly familiar.

It reminded her of her mother. It was look of family.

"Brother?" she mumbled under her breath.

Emiko could feel the tears streaming down her cheeks but ignored them, scrubbing harder than ever.

She could feel the blood running down her hands, feel Robert's last breath against her skin. Her father, or the man she thought was her father, had fired an arrow at her. She hadn't known what to do. She couldn't really believe it. She had been defending her mother and he'd warned her but hadn't thought he would actually shoot her.

He'd been trying to ward off Robert and Oliver but in the end, the arrow still went off. And Robert dove in front of her, taking the hit.

She didn't see the arrow strike Komodo, didn't see him fall. At that moment, she only had eyes for Robert as he collapsed to the ground. He didn't look like he was in pain. He was smiling, his hand stroking her hair before it fell listlessly to the ground.

This man…was he really…

"Emiko," he murmured in such a way that it made her heart stir. She didn't remember much that happened next. Oliver and his allies took care of the remaining Outsiders and Komodo…he disappeared. And she just kept staring in disbelief at the body of her real father, his final moments constantly replaying in her mind.

"Komodo," Emiko growled under her breath. He had taken her, tried to shape her to his will. And then, he had taken her real father from her before she could even know him.

She wanted him to die. And she wanted to be the one to do it. To see the life drain from his eyes just like she'd seen happen with Robert. It was no less than what he deserved.

The battle was over. The Outsiders defeated. But…things weren't better. Her mother was going to take over the Outsiders, lead them from then on. And Oliver…

"Emiko?"

She looked up to see Oliver kneeling down in front of her, eyes full of pain and regret. His father had just died too. So he really was her brother. After everything that happened, she wasn't sure how she should feel about that.

"I can't force you to leave these maniacs," he said, gesturing to all the warriors around them, including her mother. "You've been lied to as well. Even more than me. The Outsiders have ruined your life. But no matter what, you're my sister. I'll take you with me, take you away from all of this."

She stared at him, not sure how to respond to that.

"He's right," her mother told her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "The choice is yours Emiko. I won't do what Komodo did and force you to stay. You can go if you want."

"But…" she began, looking up at her mother. All she'd wanted was to be reunited with her. She still wasn't sure about her actual father or her newfound brother, but one thing was clear to her. All she'd ever wanted was her mother back and now it was true. Nothing else mattered to her. "But I am with you mother. I am an Outsider. It's all I know."

Oliver bowed his head in resignation. "If that's what you want. But I'm done. I wish you the best Emiko."

He said some words to the others, including her mother, before walking off. However, before he could leave, Emiko found herself calling out to him. "Thank you!"

He turned his head slightly, giving her one last look and a small smile, before he disappeared.

She should have gone with him then. It would have spared her. She felt the mop in her hand tremble but she didn't care.

"What are we doing here, mother?" Emiko asked, staring at the shrine.

"We are paying our respects," her mother replied, bowing her head to the shadowed statue in front of her. "Through no fault of your own, you have lost your way. Komodo molded you into what he wanted. Now, I will help set you on the right path."

Curious, Emiko kneeled down next to her mother. "How?"

"This shrine is a designation that this island is the territory of the Shadow Pirates."

"The Shadow Pirates?"

"One of the fiercest and most powerful pirates in all the world who operate with the World Government's approval seeing as our captain is one of the Warlords of the Sea."

Emiko's eyes widened at that word. Not 'Warlord' but 'our.' "What do you mean 'our' captain?"

"I too am a member. A side member. I do not yet have the luxury of stating that I am a part of the main branch due to the events of the last decade. But now with Komodo behind us, we can once again return to where we belong."

Emiko stiffened ever so slightly at that word. Belong. She didn't like how her mother said it. It sounded far too similar to how Komodo said it about her, like she really was just a tool. From the way Oliver had looked at her and how her real father had died for her, she thought that maybe she could move on from it.

Apparently not.

"Now bow your head, Emiko and show your loyalty to the Shadow Pirates."

'Is this how Oliver would treat me?' she wondered. Part of her had wanted to go with him but she'd chosen her mother because it had been so long since she saw her last. She'd thought they'd go on those great adventures she'd always fantasized as a child, become a true warrior. But this…this didn't feel right. She'd thought she'd been doing the right thing with Komodo, by training to be just his weapon. But she'd been wrong. She didn't want to be someone else's tool anymore. She wanted to fight her own way. Be her own weapon.

No. Be her own warrior.

"No mother," she said softly.

"What?" her mother asked, her head whipping up to look at her. "What do you mean no?"

"I mean I will not bow to some idol to become someone else's tool. I've lived too long that way. No more. If this is what you consider to be the right path then…then I can't walk it with you," Emiko said simply, feeling her heart shatter inside.

"Emiko, there is no backing out from this. You said you wished to come with me. These are the consequences of that decision."

"I didn't know that then. I thought…I thought you wanted something different for me and for yourself. I thought things would return to how they were before. Before Komodo."

"This was how things were before Komodo," her mother told her. "You were just too young to see it. You've been a member of the Shadow Pirates since the day you were born."

Emiko gaped for a second at that information but then brushed it aside. It didn't matter. She'd never aligned herself with them so she held no obligation to them. "I'm sorry mother, but I can't do this. This is not the life I want. And if you can't see that then…then this is goodbye."

"Emiko, you made the choice to come with me."

Suddenly, her mother's voice took a dark and dangerous turn that made her hair stand on end.

"You cannot just back out from that. If you had chosen to go with Oliver then, I would have understood. But now…now it is too late. You are part of the Shadow Pirates whether you like it or not. Now bow your head and pay your respects or suffer the consequences."

This wasn't her mother. The mother she knew was kind. She told her stories and ran with her in the fields and took care of her when she was sick. This…this person standing before her, threatening her, acting like a monster…this was not her mother.

For a split second, Emiko glanced at the statue and imagined her life if she bowed her head to it.

She didn't like it.

"No," she said firmly. Then she ran as fast as she could.

She heard her mother's cries from behind her. She heard running feet chasing her. She felt the arrows shooting down at her, just managing to dodge them. If there was one thing she could thank Komodo for, it was for training her as hard and as well as he had. She acted on pure instinct, dodging all the attacks that came her away, taking down the few Outsiders that came close. She soon reached the docks and she leapt onto a small sailboat, her hands untying it from the dock and unfurling the sail. Komodo had taught her the basics of sailing and soon she was rushing out to the horizon.

"EMIKO!"

The scream echoed across the water, striking her like an arrow to the heart. But Emiko refused to look back. That was her past. Her future was all that mattered now.

She sailed on, doing her best to ignore the salty seawater dripping down from her eyes.

Emiko had never heard from her mom again. She'd done her best to forget that memory, preferring to remember her mom from her childhood. The good stuff only. But that last scream still haunted her.

"Emiko?" Oliver gasped, looking at her.

"Long time no see, brother," she said a little cheekily, though inside she felt anxiety rise up. She'd arrived on Star Island that morning but didn't have a clue as to how to find her brother. She'd wandered around for a while, looking for where he might be, until night fell and she settled down on some rooftops. She was hungry with no food or money and no idea what to do now.

At that moment, she'd heard a scream from below and looked to see two men harassing a young woman. She'd briefly wondered whether or not she should get herself involved but the next scream had her moving, firing off an arrow right into the first man's shoulder, causing him to scream out instead.

Before Emiko could move on the next man, another arrow appeared, cables flying off it to wrap around the second man and tie him up firmly. A figure in a green hood appeared, bow in hand, and Emiko recognized him from the battle with the Outsiders. Before she could say anything though, he dragged her away from the mess to a secluded corner where he lifted his hood up.

"What are you doing back on Star Island? Where's Shado?"

"She's a liar," Emiko said. "So was Komodo and all the others. They all lied to me and used me. Except you. You always told me the truth right from the start."

He looked at her carefully. "You said you wanted to go with Shado before. What changed?"

Emiko hesitated. "She…she's crazy. I don't want to do what she does. She doesn't really care about me."

Oliver looked at her again and she felt another swell of nervousness. Was he going to turn her away? She didn't know what she'd do then. She had nowhere else to go.

"Alright," he finally said and she almost slumped in relief. "You can stay. We'll figure out everything in the morning. I'll take you home and introduce you to everyone else."

"Everyone else?"

Everyone else included Fyff Henry, the guy who kept the inn running; Harper Roy, Oliver's apprentice; Harper Lian, Roy's young daughter; and Diggle John. Emiko smiled at that memory. John had been an ex-Marine and one of the first people to join Oliver on his mission to help the people of the island, to rid it of crime. John had apparently become disillusioned with the methods used by the Marines and their version of justice and so had left. Emiko didn't know where he was right now though. He'd left the island a little while before Oliver had. But he'd been a good mentor to her in some ways and an even better friend.

"So you're leaving, huh?"

"Yep," Oliver replied, putting the last of the items away on his boat. "Tide's ready, boat's all packed. I'm all set."

Emiko sighed. She knew the day had been coming but it still hit her hard. Ever since she'd come to Oliver, she'd felt like she'd finally found a real family. Now he was leaving. She couldn't really blame him for it. Things on the island were quiet and peaceful and he had become restless these last few months, leading to him deciding to head out into the greater world.

Part of her wanted to join him. She'd even offered but he'd gently refused. She'd argued with him long and hard, working and training more than ever to prove it to him that she could do this but he still said no.

"Why not?" she'd complained fiercely, glaring at him. "Why can't I go with you? I've survived plenty of dangerous situations!"

"I'm going to the Grand Line, Emiko. That's a whole different breed of danger."

"So what? I can take it! I survived Komodo and my crazy mother! I think I can tak-"

"That's exactly why I can't take you," Oliver said firmly. "I know you can survive with me, that's not the problem."

"Then what is?"

He sighed and knelt down so that they were face to face. "For the first time in a long time, things around here are peaceful. So, I want you to try living now."

Emiko frowned, confused. "What? What do you mean living? I've been living this whole time!"

"No, you've been surviving. There's a difference. I want you to stay here and just, for a little while, live a normal life. I know it won't be forever, it's not in your nature to do that. But for now, that's what I want."

Emiko stared back at him, still not really getting it. What more to living was there?

"I know you don't understand right now, but you will," he said softly. "And when you do, you'll be ready to come join me."

Emiko frowned, folding her arms over her chest in frustration. It took her a while to come to terms with that. She'd been getting bored on the island with nothing to do to and she thought that she might have that journey she'd wanted with her mother before, of the two of them sailing off for amazing adventures together. But apparently not.

When the day came for Oliver to set sail, she still didn't really get it. But she reluctantly accepted it. She would just train harder and become better. That way, when she was ready, she would be able to surpass Oliver as an archer and warrior.

When she told him, he just grinned and nodded. "Of course you will."

He pulled her close and she hugged him back. She wasn't much of a hugger and didn't like much physical contact. But she thought this kind of situation warranted it. Still, she did slug him in the shoulder afterwards, just to remind him not to get used to that kind of treatment.

"Ow," he mumbled though she knew it hadn't hurt him at all. He then leaned in and put a hand on her shoulder. "I have one more favor to ask you, Emiko. Watch over Star Island for me, will you? I know I can sail out of here with a clear mind if I know you're here to protect the place."

"Of course I will!" She was planning on saying it defiantly, as if it should have been obvious from the start, but for some reason she didn't understand she'd started crying. "Don't worry Oliver! I will protect this island and its people with my life! I promise!"

"Let's not go too far. Besides, you'll have Roy with you as well."

Emiko snorted. "That wuss? As if! I can take care of this island better than that back-alley thug."

"Aw thanks, Emiko," Roy said dryly. "Really feeling the love."

"Thug! Thug!" Lian chanted, pointing a finger at her father.

"Ok, you're fixing this later. I refuse for that to be my nickname."

Oliver just chuckled at all of them. "I will miss this place and all of you so much. I am sorry for doing this."

"Don't worry, we got this. You go do your thing," Roy told him.

"Yeah, I got this!" Emiko said firmly. "I will protect this island until I'm old enough to join you. Then the thug can take care of things."

"Thug! Thug!"

Oliver patted her head one last time. "I'm counting on you kid. And just remember to always be yourself. Not your mom or your fake dad or anyone else. You're the only you that you need to be. That's why I love you. And when we see each other again, I know you'll kick my ass."

Emiko choked back a small sob, trying her best to stop the swell of emotions filling her up. They hadn't been together long but she'd never been happier than when she'd been with him. "You're d-damn right, moron," she managed.

She watched him sail away until he'd gone past the horizon, watching until the sun faded into the waters. She wanted the moment to last forever so that he never would truly leave her behind. So she waited, until the sky went dark.

Emiko ignored the tears running down her face, just focusing on the damn mop. There were still a few spots left to clean.

Still, try as she might, she couldn't stop the final, worst memory from washing over her.

She stood in front of the doors, bow in hand, rage in her heart. It had been several months since Dragon Richard and his Longbow Pirates had arrived and they had already done so much. Emiko hadn't paid much attention to them at first which had been a mistake. They hadn't seemed that problematic, just another rowdy crew making a stop.

And then, slowly, all the major players in the island's crime rings as well as the corrupt officials and rich assholes went silent, each and every one of them being folded in. Even the damn Marines who were supposed to protect them all from Pirates joined the crew.

Emiko hadn't connected the dots, hadn't seen the pattern, until it was too late. Now, the Longbow Pirates controlled Star Island completely, all under her nose.

Oliver would be ashamed of her to have let this happen. He had trusted her to protect his home and she had failed completely. Years of peace and quiet had rendered her sloppy.

So, she faced those doors, ready to bring down the pirates who'd invaded her home.

"You should wait for Roy," Henry had told her when she'd been gearing up.

"There's no time," she replied. Roy was away on another mission and they didn't know when he'd be back. "How much more powerful will they get by the time he gets back. They need to be taken out now. Don't worry, though. This is what I've been training for. I'll take care of this, no problem."

She breathed out carefully and nocked an arrow as she faced those doors and the dangers inside. "This one's for you, Oliver."

She fired the explosive arrow, blowing up the doors with a loud BOOM! that shook the whole block. Instantly, she could hear cries of alarm as the pirates were alerted to the danger. She dashed through the smoke, spotting the first of the pirates coming her way. Some were part of Richard's original crew but others were new additions, thugs and criminals from all over the island who had seen the Longbow Pirates as a stepping stone to greater things.

"Traitors," she muttered, loosing arrow after arrow at them, striking them down. She was still hesitant to outright kill. Oliver had drilled into her head the importance of life and how killing should only come as a last resort. After seeing how brutal Komodo and even her mother were, Emiko could understand his way of thinking. Still, she made sure every shot hurt like hell.

More than a dozen pirates had fallen by the time she'd crossed the courtyard, making for the mayoral building that Richard had taken over for his main office. But when she was only a few feet away from it, the doors suddenly exploded outward in a shower of splinters, knocking her back.

"Well, well, what do we have here?"

Emiko looked up to see the hulking figure of Brick, the muscle of the Longbow Pirates. She'd seen what had happened to his victims, their crushed remains. For someone like him, she couldn't afford to hold back. She glared hatefully at him and nocked an arrow, firing it right at his heart.

Only to see it bounce off harmlessly.

"What's the matter?" he grinned brutally at her shocked expression. "You never hear of me before? My skin's as tough as rock. Your arrows aren't enough to pierce my skin. But go on, keep trying."

Emiko grimaced, realizing she'd just made another mistake. She hadn't done any real reconnaissance on her opponents, just attacked outright. She knew there were people out there with superhuman abilities like Devil Fruits and such based on Roy's tales, but she hadn't expected to find one on Star Island.

She grabbed her second explosive arrow, ready to nock it, when something struck it, snapping it in two. She saw a large metal dart embedded in the ground and turned to see a woman in a red coat standing nearby, some strange gauntlet on her wrist.

"None of that, little girl."

Red Dart. Emiko grimaced again. She'd been hoping to take down one of the main Longbow Pirates before the others appeared but no such luck. Oh well.

"So who the hell are you, kid?"

"Does it matter?" Brick asked. "She's gonna get squashed no matter what. So let's just get to that part."

Red Dart shrugged. "Suppose so."

"Rah!" Brick roared, charging forward. Emiko dodged his fist but as soon as she did, she sensed the incoming projectile and twisted her body midair, just managing to avoid the second dart. She landed on her hands and knees, panting a little.

"Acrobatic one aren't you?" Red Dart commented.

"Your little darts will never hit me," Emiko said. "I can fire three times as many arrows as it takes for you to fire off even one of those little needles."

"Ooh, big words from such a small thing. Well come on then, give me all you got."

Emiko growled and rushed forward, nocking two arrows at once. But before she could fire them, she saw Brick rushing in from the corner of her eye and was forced to leap aside. She fired the arrows at him instead, the two projectiles forming a cable between them that tied around his neck as they stuck into the wall behind him. For most people, the arrows would hold them fast. But Brick just grabbed hold of them and snapped them into pieces, freeing himself instantly.

"Annoying pest," he snarled. "And you, Dart! Stay out of this! I call dibs!"

"What are you, a child?"

"Shut up, you crimson hag!"

"You really have no idea how to speak to a woman, do you? No wonder you don't have a girlfriend."

"Shut up! I can get a girlfriend any time I want to!"

"Uh huh, sure you can."

"Gah! I'm going to smash you as soon as I'm done with her."

Brick turned around just in time for the arrow to strike him right in the eye. He roared out, stumbling back from the blow as his hands instinctively covered his face.

"Don't you know how stupid it is to have a conversation on the battlefield?" Emiko asked. They'd been so preoccupied with one another they hadn't seen her nock a fresh arrow.

"You little bitch!" Brick cried out, throwing her arrow aside. She was hoping she'd taken out his eye with that but when she saw the point there was no sign of any blood and when she looked up at him, his eye was closed but again there was no blood. "That really hurt, you know! Every time I blink now my eye hurts!"

'Just his eyelid,' Emiko thought, realizing he must have closed his eye a fraction of a second before her arrow struck. Just dumb luck or pure instinct. Well, his eye was still incapacitated so she'd consider it a win.

She heard a slight whirring sound and dodged to the side as Red Dart fired a barrage of small balls that instantly exploded as they struck the ground where she'd been standing. They weren't as powerful as her explosive arrows but they still would have done some damage if they'd hit her.

"What the hell is taking you so long?"

Emiko winced as another voice joined the crowd, a winged individual flapping down to them. Killer Moth, the lowest ranking member of the main Longbow Pirates but still a nuisance, especially that large gun of his.

"Shut up, you winged freak!" Brick snarled at him. "What are you even doing here?"

"The Captain's getting annoyed that this little girl is kicking your asses. So he sent me to take care of things."

"Oh please, the day the Captain lets you take care of anything is the day the world comes to an end," Red Dart replied.

"Ha!" another voice cried out and Emiko turned to see the shield-carrying Longbow Pirate Kodiak appear, his twin sharpened shields strapped firmly to his wrists. "So true. That's why I'm here. Don't worry you little pipsqueaks. I'll take care of this easily."

Emiko took in the four pirates surrounding her, her odds not looking good. She'd been too impulsive, barging into the base like that. She should have planned ahead, taken them out one by one when she could. She thought she could just handle this head on.

Well, she would just have to keep going, no matter what.

"Alright, which one of you fuckers is first, huh?" she called out, pulling out a fresh arrow. "I'll turn you all into fucking pincushions by the time I'm done with you."

"Got quite a mouth on her, doesn't she?" Red Dart commented.

"I like it," Kodiak grinned. "A feisty one. Almost a shame to put her down, huh?"

"Not really!" Brick roared, charging. Emiko, already knowing he'd be the first one, fired her prepped arrow at him while already drawing a new one. "I told you," Brick cried as the arrow struck his face, "your arrows won't do sh-"

The arrow exploded in a burst of purple ooze that instantly stuck to Brick's face. A delightfully nasty combination of blueberries, syrup, glue, and whatever else little Lian had managed to get her sticky hands on before they'd found her. After taking forever to clean it all up, it had been a unanimous decision to weaponize the new concoction. And it worked like a charm.

"What the hell is this?" Brick cried.

"Ha!" Kodiak laughed.

"Shut up!"

"I got her!" Moth cried, flapping his makeshift wings again and soaring towards her. She fired her next arrow at him and he just raised his gun, sending a stream of pressurized air her way, knocking her arrow off course. But, she just slid underneath the attack and fired her next arrow underneath the airstream, striking him in the thigh.

"YAH!" he screamed out, dropping instantly. "You bit-"

He didn't get to finish as Emiko rushed forward, punching him in the face as hard as she could and knocking him down.

She turned and was nearly decapitated by the incoming shield, only barely managing to throw her head back to avoid the blow, the shield missing her face by an inch. It struck the wall behind her and bounced off, whirling through the air until it returned to its owner's hands like a boomerang.

"We'd better handle this girl quickly or she'll make us look like the Longbow Pirates look like damn fools!" Kodiak roared, charging her.

"You don't need my help for that," Emiko shot back, firing arrows at him. He raised his shield in time, blocking all the attacks easily. He rushed her, the sharpened twin points at the end of shield coming right for her and she jumped, grabbing the rim of the shield as leverage to leap over the man and land firmly behind him. While midair, she nocked a new arrow and fired it as soon as she hit the ground.

"Nice try," Kodiak smirked, turning around at the last second to deflect the arrow, "but I don't go down as easy as those losers!"

"Shut up!" Brick roared, having managed to wipe away most of the slime from his good eye so he could see again. "I'll kill you, brat!"

Emiko vaulted over him as he threw another fist at her and struck out at the back of his knee with all her strength. A surge of pain rushed from her foot but she was gratified to see Brick actually stumble from the blow, almost going down. Seemed he wasn't as invulnerable as he claimed.

She suddenly felt something strike her and screamed in pain, seeing several long darts imbedded in her left arm and shoulder.

"You let yourself get distracted, little girl. Your mistake," Red Dart called to her.

Emiko cursed and started running. Every time she moved her arm now, she had to clench her teeth from the pain. This was going to make things ten times harder for her now. She didn't even know how she could hold her bow like this. But she wouldn't give up. In all those stories she heard, no matter how bad things got, the warriors kept going despite all the pain and suffering. If they could do it, then so could she.

"Come on you ugly bastards! Is that all you got? I'm going to strike you all down and drink from your fucking skulls!"

"Ew," Red Dart murmured. "That's kind of gross."

"Heh," Kodiak grinned. "Spunky. You won't give up, will you? I respect that. But this is the end."

"It's not over til I say it is!" Emiko screamed, rushing him this time. She managed to nock an arrow and held up her bow, biting through the pain. She wasn't able to hold it too steady but that was alright. This attack didn't require precise aim.

As Kodiak readied his shield, she fired off her arrow, the head cracking apart on contact with his shield and unleashing its deadly contents. "Acid arrow," she grinned. "It'll eat through anything."

"Will it now?" Kodiak grinned back at her and she faltered, seeing the acid just slide off his shield, smoking a little but doing no real damage. "My shields are made of special metals that won't get melted away by some damn acid."

Emiko grimaced. She might have been able to get a clear shot before but now there was no way she could get past his shields with her bad arm. She would have to get close to defeat him. She lowered her bow and pulled out one of the batons she used for close combat, twirling it between her fingers.

"Oh look, a stick," Kodiak smirked. "How scary."

Emiko glared hatefully at him and charged, dashing across the ground as fast as she could. But she hadn't even made it a few steps before she saw movement from the corner of her eye and dodged, more needles striking the ground.

"Did you think I'd make it easy for you?" Red Dart called out cheekily.

"And don't forget me!" Brick roared, charging her. She charged him as well, sliding down beneath him and hitting him in the groin with her baton as hard as she could, doubling him over as she came from under his legs.

"She really is make us look like fools," Kodiak said, shaking his head. "Just stay out of this, I'll take care of her."

Emiko leapt for him but at the same time threw her baton to the side as hard as she could, forcing Red Dart to dodge out of the way. Emiko swiftly pulled out her other baton as Kodiak raised his shield, the two weapons clashing together. Emiko felt her arm throb from the impact, Kodiak's shield much denser than it looked. But she didn't give up, dropping down low to attack from the ground. But, as she kicked out to swipe his feet from under him, his shield dropped down as well just in time to block it.

"Nice try," he said, kicking out as well. She rolled to the side and jumped back up, swiping at him only for him to block it again with his right shield. She growled and attacked again, trying to find some way through his defenses. But no matter how many times she swung the baton, one of his shields was ready to block it.

"I think it's time we ended this," he told her as she swung again. This time, instead of blocking it, he moved his shield in such a way that her baton landed squarely between the two barbed points at the end. Then, before she could react, he twisted his shield around and wrenched the baton from her grasp.

"Wha-" was all she managed, taken aback, before his other shield came around, the barbed points striking her right in the middle.

She flew backwards, landing with a thump on the hard ground. Her armor had done well but those barbs had still pierced her, blood flowing down from her stomach. She groaned, fighting to sit back up. But before she could, she was suddenly grabbed around the middle and lifted up.

"Ha!" Brick cried out, squeezing her tightly. "Now I've got you! I'm going to crush you into dust you lit-"

Emiko grabbed hold of an arrow and jabbed it into his good eye with all her strength.

"YOW!" Brick roared, instantly letting her go to clutch as his eyes once more. Emiko hit the ground and just managed to catch herself, groaning in pain from Brick's crushing grip as well as the puncture wound Kodiak inflicted. But she couldn't even stop to rest as she sensed more needles coming her way, just barely dodging them. One even managed to graze her ankle, drawing a line of blood.

"Ooh, so close," Red Dart huffed.

Emiko focused on the woman, deciding she needed to be taken down. She was limiting her ability to attack with those needles. Once she was gone, Emiko could take down the others. She knew she could. She wouldn't let Oliver down.

She moved, nocking an arrow and keeping it ready, when the shield came at her. She let out a small yelp of alarm and lifted the only thing she could in defense, letting Kodiak's shield strike her bow dead on. It bounced off thankfully and Emiko began to let out of breath of relief. But it faded an instant later as the shield was grabbed up by Kodiak who came charging in like a bull, taking her by surprise and instinctively forcing her to raise her bow again as he brought his other shield around to attack.

CRACK!

Emiko gasped, seeing the shield shatter her bow in two, and her mind went blank. The shield carried through and slammed into her chest, knocking her off her feet and driving her into the ground hard. Her whole body rocked from the impact and a spray of blood shot from her mouth, pain roaring through her.

"A good effort, little girl," Kodiak told her. "But this is the end fo-"

Emiko screamed out and jabbed her arrow into his arm, stabbing him as deep she could with all her strength.

He roared out in pain, flinching back, and Emiko scrambled away from him. Her whole body was riddled in pain but she wasn't done yet. She could still win this. She pushed all her feelings aside, focusing solely on the mission. She got up on her feet, focusing on Red Dart, taking out her remaining baton.

Then, everything went silent.

She blinked, all sound gone, like the world had gone silent. Had she gone deaf? Had Kodiak's attack somehow impacted her ears? Had…oh.

She whirled around but was too late, the blow hitting her in the side and definitely cracking her ribs. She stumbled but just managed to keep herself from falling. But she couldn't even rise up again before another blow struck her in the stomach, doubling her over.

The last member of the Longbow Pirates elite. Silencer. Emiko hadn't understood where the name came from before but now she knew. This woman somehow had the ability to quiet everything around her. It may seem like a useless power but now Emiko realized just how much she relied on hearing. Without it…it was like her brain had gone numb. And in a battle, that was practically a death sentence.

She tried to get up, tried to keep moving, but her injuries were slowing her down, wearing her out. She was having trouble even breathing. She felt the strikes across her face and then one then sent her flying to the ground.

She wasn't feeling too much pain anymore. It was all just numb now.

"So, this is the one who's been causing such a ruckus?"

She knew that voice. The one behind everything, the one who had taken her town from her, the one she'd swore to protect. Dragon Richard.

She made to rise up, to keep fighting and beat this bastard for everything he'd done. But she'd hadn't even risen up an inch before a foot slammed down into her chest and knocked her back into the ground. The air exploded from her lungs and she couldn't even make a noise.

"Now, now, Silencer, I think that's enough for now."

Just like that, the pressure on her chest ceased but the pain remained, acting as its own force keeping her down.

Emiko could hear him walking up, feel his shadow fall across her, and sense him kneeling down next to her. She wanted to make a move against him, wanted to grab an arrow and shove it into his fucking eye. But all she could do was breathe.

'Just wait,' she thought to herself. She would rest up for the next minute or two, get her strength back, and then attack him when he least expected it. She would probably die doing it, the other pirates killing her in revenge, but it would be worth it. Star Island would be free and Oliver's home would protected.

He appeared above her, a man in a well-dressed suit with a bald head and arms that looked like they could tear her apart in seconds.

"So, why have you gone to so much trouble, huh?" he asked calmly. "What have I done to you? Are you perhaps the daughter of someone I killed? Or a rookie pirate seeking to make a name? Or perhaps just a naïve little girl trying to prove herself in some way?"

Emiko glared hatefully at him. "You hurt…the people…of the island," she managed to gasp out.

"That's it?" She could hear the smirk in his voice. "That's all it is? You take out my men, assault my top members, all because I hurt these people?" He snorted loudly. "Such a strong-willed girl, to go that far for such an idiotic purpose. Part of me wants to know if you'd be interested in joining my crew." He leaned in close then, so that Emiko could stare up at his hardened face and she felt her breath hitch slightly. His face…it was more terrifying than anything she'd seen before. She'd practiced over the years what Komodo and later Oliver had taught her, how to read the deeper meaning behind people's expressions. And she saw hatred and a deep fear in his, one that guided him forward.

One that made him the monster looming over her.

"But I know you won't," he whispered, his voice as lethal as a blade and Emiko felt her whole body stiffen. He then stood up suddenly. "Do what you will with her. Just make sure she's alive by the end of it. I want her to be an example for the rest."

"With pleasure."

Emiko didn't remember much after that. All she knew was that there had been pain. More pain than she ever thought a human body could experience. And it kept going without any sign of stopping. To the point where she wanted to die, to leave everything behind.

'Don't.'

She felt her eyes flicker at the voice. "Oliver?" she mumbled, her voice barely even a whisper.

'Don't give up,' she heard him say. 'Just hang on a little longer.'

Emiko felt the tiniest trace of a smile grace her face as his words reached her. It had been so long that she'd almost forgotten what he sounded like. She didn't care if this was real or a dream or a damn hallucination. She just wanted him to keep going.

'You've been so brave, Emiko,' he told her. 'So don't give up yet. Just hold on.'

She didn't remember much after that. The next thing she was aware of was she was in a bed, covered head to toe in bandages. She'd had trouble even opening her eyes much less moving. She'd had trouble recalling anything that happened until the flash of the Longbow Pirates attacking her entered her mind. And suddenly she was rising, groaning the whole way.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Henry cried, suddenly appearing. "She's awake!" he yelled out the door before forcefully pushing her back down, Emiko embarrassed with how easily her body gave in. Every part of her ached, feeling like she'd just been run over by a herd of horses.

The door opened and she let out a breath of relief to see Roy there who returned her smile. "Oh thank the gods," he muttered, rushing to her side. "I was worried you might never wake up."

"The…the Long-longbow Pirates," she gasped out, still struggling to speak. "What ab-bout-"

"Emiko, stop," Roy said firmly. "Be grateful you're alive."

"But…what happened?"

Roy and Henry exchanged a look. "Henry told me what happened when I arrived," he said. "Must have landed just a few hours after you'd left. When he did, I came as quickly as I could. But by that time, it was over." He clenched the side of her bed forcefully, so much so that it seemed to be might break the frame. "They'd…they'd hung you up on a cross in front of their headquarters as a symbol. I was able to cut you down but…you were almost dead, Emiko," he gasped. "I barely managed to find a pulse, it was so weak. I ran you back here and grabbed the doctor. It was touch and go for a while but he managed to patch you up. That was two weeks ago."

"Tw-two weeks?" Emiko gasped, shocked. She'd been out for that long? "B-but…Richard! We have to…"

"Stop!" Roy ordered. "Just stop. There's nothing we can do."

"But those pirates! And the island! We have to do something or else…"

"Or else what?" Roy asked, giving her a look. "Emiko, you nearly died by them. And you didn't even go up against Richard personally. I did my own research on the guy and he's a monster in battle. No one who's ever faced him has come back alive. You got lucky he let you live."

"But…but you're here now! Together we can-"

"What? Storm their base? Take them head on?" He sighed deeply. "Damn it, Emiko, why didn't you wait for me? That might have worked before but it won't now. They've tightened their defenses and even made a deal with the damn Marines."

"What?" she gasped. "They…they can't do that."

"They did," Roy replied solemnly.

"Ok fine, but…" Emiko thought desperately. "We can still fight! We'll just take them down individually then! One at a time. Then we-"

"That won't work either," Roy replied, gritting his teeth. "He made a warning. Any time one of his crew goes down, he'll take it out on the civilians."

Emiko gaped at him. "What?"

"We can't make a move on them," Roy said angrily. "We can't even attack them directly now! We're not…damn it, we're not strong enough!" he cried, slamming his fist down.

Emiko stared at him in shock, not fully believing what she was hearing. "But…we can't give up! We can't let them win! That's not what Oliver would-"

"Oliver's not here!" Roy yelled, shocking her. "He's gone! He left us behind and this is what we have to deal with! I'm sorry, Emiko, but we can't do anything about this! He's too strong!"

"So…that's it?" Emiko asked. She could feel something wet go down her cheeks but she ignored it. "We just give up? Let them win?"

Roy sighed. "I don't know what else to do," he replied. "They took control of the island, Emiko. It's theirs now. Any move we make, they'll just take it out on everyone else. We could try to storm the base but, try to take them out but…I can't guarantee we'll win and…"

He looked to the side and Emiko followed his gaze, spotting a small figure with bright blue hair poking out of the doorframe. She instantly scurried away when she realized she'd been spotted. Emiko lowered her head. "Right," she muttered. They couldn't be sure they would win even while working together and if they didn't…the Longbow Pirates would take it out on Lian and every other person here.

She fell back into her bed, ignoring the flaring pain from the impact. A dark hole opened up inside her, threatening to consume her completely as the realization hit her. She'd failed. She'd broken her promise.

"We'll leave you now," Roy said, walking out with Henry in tow.

"Don't worry about everything right now," Henry told her. "Just focus on getting better. We'll figure something else out later."

Emiko couldn't even bring herself to thank him for the attempt to cheer her up. She didn't want to be cheered up. She didn't deserve to be. She had one job, to protect the island from anyone who would do it harm. Oliver had entrusted her with that duty and she'd failed him. After everything he'd done for her, he'd only asked one thing and she couldn't even do that.

She knew if he'd been here, the Longbow Pirates would have been taken out long before they became a problem. But because of her, they now controlled the whole island and everyone would suffer because of it. She'd even made the stupid mistake of attacking them head on, thinking her powers alone would lead her to victory.

She'd never stood a chance.

"I'm sorry Oliver," she said, letting the tears fall. "I'm so sorry. I couldn't do it. I couldn't keep my promise."

SNAP!

The mop in Emiko's hands broke apart, finally giving way to her grip. She looked down at her hands, seeing they were trembling.

Why am I remembering all this? she thought.

"Emiko?"

She snapped around to see Lian a few feet away, the girl nearly jumping away from Emiko's look. "Sorry Lian, what is it?" Emiko said.

"Oh, I just wanted to ask if you were ok," the girl replied.

"I'm fine, Lian. You don't need to worry about me," Emiko assured her, putting on a fake smile.

"Oh, uh, ok then."

Emiko felt a pang as Lian walked away. The girl had it easier. She hadn't lived the way Emiko had, hadn't lost almost everything that had mattered to her. After they first met, Emiko had done her best to ignore the girl despite Lian's efforts to get to know her, seeing her as a big sister. Emiko had just seen her as an annoyance. A girl who had a loving father who doted on her every whim, who'd never known real pain or hardship. It had made her sick.

It was after she'd snapped at Lian to leave her alone and run back to her mommy and daddy that the girl had burst into tears and run off. That's when she'd learned that Lian's mother had left a long time ago. Evidently, Roy had gotten involved with a pirate called Cheshire. One thing led to another and Lian was born. But, apparently, neither Roy nor baby Lian were enough for Cheshire to give up her life so she'd left one night and never come back.

Lian may not have suffered like Emiko had, but that didn't mean she'd never felt pain before.

After Emiko apologized, they became much closer and Emiko did start to see her as the sister she'd never had. Because of that, Emiko had decided that Lian or anyone else should never have to suffer like she had so she'd promised herself to make sure that never happened. It was why she disguised herself as the Green Arrow in her quiet war on the Longbow Pirates. She didn't want anything to lead back to Lian in any way.

"So…" a voice drawled, making her jump in surprise, "what did the mop do to you?"

"Damn it, Roy," Emiko muttered, seeing him standing a few feet away. "Don't do that!"

"I walked up to you normally. It's not my fault you didn't notice," he told her shrugging. "Now, you want to tell me why we have to go get another mop?"

Emiko sighed. "Not particularly."

Roy sighed right back. "Alright then. But I gotta tell you, given how you went, I am really not looking forward to Lian's moody teenage years."

"Oh shut up," Emiko said, rolling her eyes. "I wasn't that bad."

"No, what was bad was your per-"

Emiko whacked him on the head with one end of the mop. "Shut up!" she growled, blushing furiously.

Roy just chuckled, infuriating her even more. "So, what are you thinking about now anyway?"

"Now? The best ways to sneak toilet water into your sake."

"Well if that's the case, I guess I'll just swear off sake for a while," he grinned. But, just as fast, his grin vanished and he looked at her seriously. "Emiko," he said softly, "I saw you crying just now. The last time I saw you cry in front of me was during your per-"

WHACK!

"Will you stop!" Emiko practically snarled at him. "And I'm not cry…" she stopped as she instinctively wiped at her face and was shocked to feel how wet they were.

"What's going on kid?" Roy asked.

"Nothing!" Emiko said firmly, turning away from him. But he didn't let her, catching her shoulder.

"Memories?" he asked gently.

"None of your business," she shot back, trying to tug out of his grip.

"Emiko, stop," he said. "Just talk to me."

"Why are you butting into my business all of a sudden?"

"Because I care!"

"Oh wow, you disappear for months at a time and leave us to deal with all the real shit around here and now you care?" Emiko snapped. But a second later, she regretted it, seeing the pain flare across Roy's face. "S-sorry, that wasn't-"

"Don't," he said, holding up a hand. "I deserved that."

"No, you don't. Your bounty hunting keeps us afloat. Better off than most around here," she said, taking a look around the inn at the sad and haggard faces of those just trying to numb life's problems.

"Doesn't change the fact that I should be here," he replied, rubbing his face. "I'm always worried about you. Lian, maybe Henry sometimes, and you."

"You don't need to be worried about me, I can take care of myself."

"No you can't."

She blinked. "Well that's insulting," she said, glaring at him. "And with no hesitation either."

"You didn't see yourself when Richard was done with you," he replied and Emiko felt her glare disappear. "You know something, you weren't the only one who made a promise to Oliver. He was worried about you and I promised him I'd look after you no matter what. And when I found you…" He trailed off, closing his eyes. "That was the worst moment of my life. I thought you were dead. I could barely find a pulse. You dipped in and out for those two weeks, only just clinging to life. I thought I'd failed, that I'd let both him and you down."

Emiko hadn't heard him talk this way before. "It wasn't your fault," she reminded him.

"Maybe, maybe not. Doesn't change the fact you were alone against those bastards. And I don't want that for you."

Emiko frowned, her tone changing slightly. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Look," he said in a voice that made her narrow her eyes at him, "back when I was with my old crew, the one thing that I took with me was that-"

"Oh dear god," she murmured.

"Now hold on," he said while she face-palmed. "I was a bit of an ass back then. Thought I could take on the whole world by myself. But they showed me that there are some problems you just can't solve by yourself. Nearly got myself killed learning that but thankfully Dick pulled my fat out of the fire."

"What are you saying here?" Emiko demanded. "What, that I should go along with that idiotic rubberbrain?"

"Yeah."

Emiko gaped at him. "Are you serious? You have met him right? I still can't believe those others chose him as their captain. What makes you think I will?"

"Because you want to go with them."

Emiko tried to repute that but couldn't find the words. As much as she hated to admit it, she did kind of want to go with them. She'd felt it during that fight a few hours ago. They had worked together to defeat those pirate militia and afterwards, when Luffy had stared them all down, she'd felt like…

She shook her head, trying to get rid of those feelings. But it was hard. All her life, she'd had someone by her side. But, she also hadn't. She barely remembered her time with her mother as a child and even now those memories were tainted. Her time with Komodo…well, he'd never really been someone she felt close to, especially now. And even when she'd been with Oliver, it had only been a short time they'd worked together before he left. She treasured that time because it was the one time in her life where she hadn't felt alone. Afterwards, she had worked with Roy and Diggle but they'd gone off more often than not to do their own stuff. She wanted what she'd had briefly with Oliver, the friendship and comradery of partners.

Or crews.

She'd felt it, during that fight. That feeling she'd had with Oliver. And she wanted to keep feeling it.

But really? she thought to herself. That moron? Him?

"He chose to help me and others around him for no real reason other than he wanted to," Shang-Chi's voice echoed in her mind. "With him…I feel more free than I have ever felt my entire life. And when I'm by his side, I truly do believe we can accomplish our dreams. I don't know why…it's just a feeling he evokes."

"My dream," she murmured so softly it wasn't even a whisper. She didn't even really know what her dream was. She'd never really thought about it. She just wanted to go out there and have the adventure of a lifetime.

And she really didn't want to do it alone.

Luffy hadn't really thought about it when he'd asked her to join his crew. He just wanted her. And not to use her in some way or have her serve him without question. One look at the rest of his crew had shown that much. No, he just wanted her because…

Just because, it seemed.

"Ok," she muttered. "Maybe, just maybe…it would be nice to be on a crew…with…them," she just managed to say.

Roy grinned broadly at her, making her want to punch him. "Was that really so hard?"

"Shut up. Ugh," she groaned, rubbing her face. "Out of all the decent pirate crews to sail in here, why'd it have to be them? I don't really want someone like him as a captain."

"Ah, he might be a little weird, but he's honest. And he's a good person," Roy pointed out.

Emiko nodded along to that. She had definitely seen that side to Luffy. But, while it was nice to imagine herself on a crew, even if it was this weird crew, it couldn't happen. Not yet away.

"Doesn't matter," she said. "They've already left."

"Well, I think they'll be back," Roy replied.

"Why?" Emiko asked dubiously. "They'll get their ship from the Gecko Islands and then sail on to the Grand Line where they'll most likely die. Why would they come back here?" Roy gave her another look and she just rolled her eyes. "They're not coming back for me. They barely know me. And even if they did, which they won't, it doesn't matter."

"Why not?"

"Because…I can't leave," she said, feeling a pang in her heart as she said it. "Not yet. Not while Richard's still in charge."

Roy's expression became blank as she talked. "Emi-"

"Just stop, Roy," she said. "I don't want to hear it. You know I can't leave. I gave Oliver my word that I would keep this island safe and I failed. I can't let him down anymore by abandoning it."

"You are not le-"

"Yes I am!" she shot back. "Maybe I can't stop Richard alone and maybe you do have plans to wait him out for either Arlong or Smoker or whoever to come and take him down. But no matter what, I can't leave. Not until he really is gone and the island is safe again."

She owed that much to Oliver. He'd saved her, given her a real life. And if she couldn't save his home, well then, the least she could do was stay here and not abandon it. Even if that meant putting all her dreams and goals on hold indefinitely. Even if Luffy and his crew sailed away and she never saw him again. Even if no one else ever came by with an offer to join their crew. Even if she stayed here for the rest of her life. That was her promise. And she refused to break another one.

It had been a small fantasy to think about herself on Luffy's crew, surrounded by loyal companions. By friends, even. But it was just a fantasy. This was reality and like it or not, she had to deal with it.

"Now, I think table 3 is in need of a refill," she said, walking away.

"Wait, Emiko!" Roy started to say, going after her.

CRASH!

The doors flew open, cracking down on the floor. Emiko instantly reached for her bow but realized it was in the back so pulled out her batons instead. She saw Roy doing the same. "Is this Ros again?" she wondered aloud. "That idiot doesn't know how to…"

She trailed off as six figures entered the inn, her heart stopping as she recognized them. The Longbow Pirates formed up in the doorway, preventing anyone from leaving. And at their head was the man Emiko hated the most. He walked smoothly into the center of the room, staring directly at her.

"Well now, if it isn't the lovely Queen Emiko," Dragon Richard said, his smile cold and lethal. "Or would you prefer the Green Arrow?"

---

"He turned out to be nice guy after all, huh?"

"That was unexpected to say the least," Sabine replied, shaking her head.

"From everything Emiko and Lian and even Roy said, I was expecting more of a fight," Shang-Chi commented. "Richard clearly destroyed our boats as revenge for beating up our men to trap us here. So why would he suddenly turn and give us a boat like that?"

"No idea," Luffy said cheerfully. "But now we get our own ship! Isn't that great?"

"Sure, but…" Nami tapped her finger on her chin. From her experience, pirates didn't do something like this out of the kindness of their hearts. Luffy maybe but he clearly was a different kind of pirate, and possibly human. She knew pirates like Buggy or Arlong or any of the others she knew would never do something like this. So why was Richard? What was he up to?

Next to her, Zoro was also deep in thought. So much so that Shang-Chi had to keep pulling him back with them when his feet automatically began to take him down a different route, making him wonder if Zoro's brain was somehow set to wander randomly.

This doesn't make sense, Zoro thought. He had seen the Longbow Pirates. They'd been ready to fight, like they'd been waiting for them to appear which made sense seeing as they smashed the boats. So why had Richard backed off? Was it a trap of some kind? But why go to such lengths?

The only one not confused by the whole situation was Luffy who was grinning to himself, hands behind his head, as he walked down the street behind Richard's assistant Kimberly who was leading them to the peninsula where the docks were so that could look at the different ships and choose from one of them. Both Shang-Chi and Zoro had noted the nervousness in Kimberly's step but Zoro had figured it probably had something to do with escorting pirates around.

Shang-Chi didn't. He knew that as Richard's personal assistant she was around pirates all the time. And she didn't seem so on edge in his presence or even in the other Longbow Pirates'. It was their presence that was making her nervous.

No. It was Luffy's. Every time he talked, she shot him a look like he was about to go off. She wasn't just nervous, she was absolutely scared of him. But why? She didn't know him. At this point, he was just a rookie pirate with barely any fame to his name. Shang-Chi knew that Roy had heard of their exploits but even so, there was only two of them so far and they'd barely been anything. Even if Luffy had beaten Buggy the Clown, Richard had a higher bounty. So why was Kimberly acting like Luffy was somehow scarier?

"Hey Luffy?" Shang-Chi said, walking up to him. "What was it that Richard said to you as we were leaving?"

"Hmmm?" Luffy turned to him. "Oh that. He was just asking about my grandpa."

Shang-Chi frowned, not expecting that. "Your grandpa? Who's that?"

"Oh he's-"

"Look out!"

Shang-Chi looked up in time to see a cascade of water coming down on top of him. He just managed to duck away in time, dragging Luffy out of the way too before the water splashed down, soaking the spot they'd just been standing in.

"Whoa, nice dodge," Sabine complemented. "But what was that?"

"Ugh, I told them they need to empty out those damn water barrels," Kimberly growled, looking up at the large barrel on the building above them that was hanging crooked, creaking a little. "Otherwise they overflow and the barrels can't take it and this happens."

"Water wha?" Luffy asked.

"Water barrels," Nami answered. "They're used to collect rainwater. Look, the rain goes into the barrel up there, goes down this pipe and into the barrel down here for collecting," she said, gesturing to it all, tapping the barrel a few feet from them which was directly connected to the pipe along the building. "But I'm guessing no one bothered to collect the rainwater in the bottom barrel when it was full and it eventually overflowed at the top leading to this little accident."

Kimberly sighed, glaring around the area. "The people are too lazy here to do any of the menial labor that isn't paid for."

"Why have this system at all?" Zoro asked.

"Free water," Nami replied. "Clean water too."

"But why not just keep the bottom barrel? Why even have one at the top?"

"More water," she replied. "I'm sure there are areas around town designated where you can put water barrels freely but it's not like you can leave them out in the street. Your own barrels would have to be close to the building and there's no way you can get more than half of it out from under the roof's edge to collect rainwater without it blocking part of the street. So, you'd only get half the falling rain. With it on the roof, you have all the space you want."

"Yes, yes, fascinating stuff, but shall we move on?" Kimberly interrupted.

"Yeah! I want my boat!" Luffy cheered, quickly following her.

Shang-Chi rushed to catch up. "Wait, Luffy. What was that you said abo-"

"Here we are!" Kimberly suddenly proclaimed, interrupting them. Shang-Chi shot a look her way but she had her back turned to him so he wasn't able to read her expression and tell whether or not that had been intentional.

"Whoa!" Luffy exclaimed, staring at the row of ships. "So cool! And I can have any of them?"

"One," Kimberly corrected but Luffy wasn't listening, dashing along the length of the docks. They'd been here before when they first arrived at Star Island and had tried to dock here before being turned away. Now they could all see the ships clearly, a long line of large vessels stretching across the docks with more than a hundred people running around. Shang-Chi noted several ships still being repaired while others were being fitted with supplies as well as cannons.

"We're getting a ship, we're getting a ship, we're getting a ship," Luffy chanted over and over as he ran along the length of the docks.

"We should probably go for a caravel class," Shang-Chi commented. "A galleon like these would be too difficult to sail with so few crewmembers."

"Right this way," Kimberly said, leading them to a different part of the docks where Shang-Chi could already spot the smaller class ships.

"Oh wow!" Luffy gaped at the sight, jumping up and down in excitement.

"You're not actually buying this, are you?" Zoro asked as they walked up.

"Not for a moment," Shang-Chi replied. "Kimberly must be aware of what's really going on. But it seems Luffy is the one that scares her the most."

"Luffy?" Zoro asked. "Because he's the captain?"

Shang-Chi shook his head. "No. I think there's something else at work here."

"But what?" Nami asked, butting in. "I know pirates. They'd never do something like this, especially someone like Richard. From what we know, he needs all these ships for his fleet. So to just give one away like that is…"

"He was acting strangely when he talked to Luffy. Almost…" Shang-Chi paused, trying to recall Richard's expression when the two had conversed. The man had not come across anything like he'd expected. He was picturing a man like Buggy or Morgan or someone like that, someone eager to push others down to make themselves feel bigger. So why…

It had to do with Luffy. Shang-Chi looked at his captain who was walking down the line of caravels with Sabine, claiming each one was better than the last though they all seemed identical. Richard couldn't possibly know of Luffy and anyone's first impression of him was that he was a weird goofball of a person with impossible dreams.

So why had Richard seemed almost wary of him. And what had Luffy been about to say about his grandfather? That had been a topic of conversation between the two. Why was Richard interested in Luffy's grandfather? What was going on?

He wasn't able to ponder it for long as he heard some commotion back the way they'd come and turned. A slight crowd had gathered at the gate and he could make out some shouting and crying out. He frowned, walking closer.

"Hey, what's going on?" Nami asked, noticing as well.

"Not sure."

"Nothing to do with us," Zoro replied, eyeing the ships. "Shouldn't get involved."

Nami tilted her head. "Yeah, we probably shouldn't cause any unnecessary trouble."

Shang-Chi narrowed his eyes before closing them all together. The sight in front of him was jumbled so he relied on his hearing instead, tuning out everything except the voices ahead of him. He knew he recognized one of them. He pushed aside the voices of the guards arguing with the last person. It was a woman, no, a girl. Her voice was shrill, young. And he recalled where he'd heard it before.

"Zoe."

"Huh?" Nami and Zoro asked.

"That girl we met yesterday, Zoe," Shang-Chi said to Zoro. "The one we rescued from those thugs and she told us about Verdant Inn."

Zoro blinked before nodded slowly. "Right her. Wait, she's here?" he asked, looking towards the commotion now as well. "What is she doing here?"

"She wouldn't come here unless something was wrong," Shang-Chi commented.

"We don't know that," Nami suggested but the two were already walking back the way they'd come towards the gate. By the time they got there, one of the guards had roughly grabbed hold of Zoe and was carrying her away.

"Stop!" she cried out. "Please! I need to get through! I need to-" She stopped suddenly, spotting Shang-Chi and Zoro walking up. "Hey! You two! I need your help, please! Where's your captain?"

"Put her down," Shang-Chi told the guard holding her.

"No way," he scoffed. "This girl's a menace. Came here creating a scene, trying to find someone named Luffy and started scratching the guards when they told her no. We're taking her to the boss for punishment."

Zoe shivered in fear and as she did, Shang-Chi noted the way she held her side as well as her arm. He also saw some bruising forming across her face.

"Seems that you used excessive force to get her to leave," Shang-Chi said as calmly as possible. Next to him, he felt Zoro tense up.

The man snorted. "Whatever. Girl should learn her place anyway. There's no room for scum like her around here. Now you two beat it or you'll get the same treatment she's getting."

"Put her down, final warning," Zoro said.

"Oh?" the man laughed, his friends joining in. "Why don't you make me, you little r-"

Shang-Chi didn't get to hear what term they'd be called, his fist already planting itself firmly in the man's face, making it ripple on impact. The man made a soft groan before flying into the wall behind him. As he did, Shang-Chi snatched Zoe from his grip, lowering her gently to the ground.

"You bas-" one of the other guards started but an instant later he was down as well, followed shortly by all his companions as Zoro waded through them, not even bothering to use his swords.

"Nice work," Shang-Chi commented.

"Isn't it always?"

"Just take the compliment."

"Don't be salty just because I took down more than you."

Shang-Chi gave him a look. "I had to rescue Zoe here."

"Excuses."

"Alright, for the next one we'll go all out and see who can take down more."

"Sounds fun," Zoro grinned.

"Men," Nami muttered next to Zoe who had been looking back and forth between the two in awe.

"Hey!" They looked up to see Luffy running up to them. "What happened? Why'd you beat them up?"

"They were attacking Zoe here," Shang-Chi explained.

"Bastards," Nami said, checking Zoe's injuries. "We should really get you to a doctor sweetie, some of these look pretty bad."

"No, I need to talk to you!" Zoe claimed, shaking Nami off to run towards Luffy.

"What is the meaning of this?" Kimberly demanded, running up to them as well. "You can't jus-"

She stopped when Zoro's sword stopped inches from her throat. "One more word, lady, and you'll find out firsthand how sharp my swords are."

She could only gulp in response.

"You need to go back!" Zoe said urgently, tears streaming down her face. "It's Dragon Richard. He's going to attack!"

"Attack where?" Luffy asked.

"Verdant Inn! I was at the market in the main city getting supplies and I saw him and all the Longbow Pirates heading for the Glades. They said they had sent you over here to keep you out of the way and that they would kill everyone at Verdant!"

Luffy stood up straight, shadows over his eyes. Nami and Sabine gasped while Shang-Chi and Zoro just clenched their fists in anger.

"Why though?" Sabine asked. "Why would they attack Verdant?"

"Maybe because of the skirmish a few hours ago," Shang-Chi suggested.

"Talk!" Zoro demanded, pressing his blade into Kimberly's neck so that a line of blood started spilling out. "Why's Richard doing this?"

They all blinked in surprise but no one made any comment on it, watching as Kimberly nervously eyed the blade at her neck, clearly gauging if it would be better to suffer Zoro's punishment or Richard's. It didn't take long for her to make up her mind.

"It's because of that Emiko brat," she basically spat. "He's gone to kill her."

"Why?" Luffy asked, his voice full of anger.

"Because she's the Green Arrow."

That took them all aback. "She's the Green Arrow?" Luffy asked. "Oh wow, that's so cool!"

"That actually makes sense, given her efficiency with a bow," Shang-Chi noted.

"Wow!" Zoe gushed despite the pain she was in. "I can't believe it. That is cool!"

"I want her on my crew even more now!" Luffy grinned.

"We'll have to save her first," Zoro reminded them, pulling his sword away from Kimberly. "And if that's the case, we have a fight on our hands."

"Good luck!" Kimberly said, grinning viciously at them. "You stand no chance against Richard and the Longbow Pirates. They'll kill you and have you sleeping with the fishes, no matter who your grand-"

Before she could finish, Zoe stepped up and kicked her hard in the shin.

"Shut up!" Zoe cried as Kimberly howled in pain. "You're just an evil bitch! The Straw Hat Pirates will take down the Longbow Pirates and free Star Island for good!"

"That girl's got a mouth on her," Sabine mumbled to Nami.

"I know. I kind of like it."

Shang-Chi however was focused on something else she said. "Wait, what did you call us?"

"The Straw Hat Pirates," Zoe said brightly. "You know, because Luffy's your captain and he always wears that straw hat. Even Emiko kept calling him Straw hat. So, I thought that was your crew name."

They all collectively blinked at that before looking over at Luffy's straw hat, Luffy looking up at it in his case. Then, he grinned wildly and gave a huge thumbs up. "Sounds good to me!" he said. "We are the Straw Hat Pirates!"

"Oh lord," Nami murmured.

"Not threatening at all," Sabine groaned.

"What kind of name is that?" Zoro sighed.

Shang-Chi just bobbed his head a little. It did sound non-threatening and definitely not pirate-like. But then again, that wasn't what they were going for. As Luffy kept saying, they were a different kind of pirate crew. Besides, it kind of did have a nice ring to it now that he was hearing it.

"The Straw Hat Pirates," he repeated. "Yeah, I think I can get behind that."

"Great!" Luffy cheered. "Now, let's go!"

---

Emiko felt her heart skip a beat at Richard's words. "What do you mean?" she asked, trying to remain calm. Still, as he looked at her she couldn't help but feel a bolt of fear shoot through her as she remembered lying in that courtyard, battered and broken in front of him. Completely helpless.

She hated feeling like that and yet, looking at him now she felt it again.

"Oh I had you followed last night. Very sloppy work there," Richard said, pacing across the room. As he did, Emiko saw Roy make a motion towards Lian who began to scurry away. But she hadn't made it a few steps when Richard suddenly grabbed a knife from a nearby table and threw it her way, the blade striking inches from her face, causing her to shriek out.

"Lian!" Roy cried, moving towards her.

"Not another step," Richard warned, another knife already in hand. "No one leaves this room. Not until I am done. And I have got a lot to say."

Roy glared at him hatefully but backed off. Emiko's fingers twitched, missing her bow and arrows. But they were in the back and given Richard's skills, she didn't know what kind of chance she had of reaching them in time.

"Ok, so you had me followed," she said, playing along. "What does that prove?"

"Oh do cut the bullshit, you're insulting yourself now and wasting my time. Silencer over there identified you in the Green Arrow outfit, following you to where you attacked my associate, Hunt Adam, and robbed him. I presume that if I search these premises, I'll find the money."

Emiko snorted. She hid the money in an alcove just outside her bedroom window at an angle impossible to see from the street. There was no way they'd find it. "Go right ahead," she told them. "You won't find anything."

"Doesn't matter, I don't care about that money. I care about all the other money you've stolen from me over the years. You know," he said, raising a finger at her, "I let you live after what you did to me. You attacked my home and my crew. Most other captains would have had you killed. But not me. I gave you a chance. And surprise, you survived. Your endurance and persistence impressed me, so I let you live. And how do you repay me." He shook his head, a dark look that made Emiko quake in fear appearing across his face. "You continue to attack me. You steal from me, disrupt my plans and operations, assault my men, and basically go out of your way to piss me off."

"I don't know wha-"

Richard's hand shot out, grabbing hold of Lane Quentin's neck who gulped and trembled. All the other patrons gasped and Emiko felt a surge of fear rush through her.

"You tell me one more lie and I will snap his neck," Richard promised. Behind him, the rest of his crew smirked and snorted at the scene. "Now, I'm going to ask you again. Are you the Green Arrow?"

Emiko glanced over at Roy but his attention was mainly on Lian. Still, he gave her a glance back, his face utterly terrified. She looked at Quentin's desperate face and sighed.

"Yes."

There was another round of gasps across the room but Richard ignored them. He loosened his grip on Quentin's neck, though only fractionally.

"I gave you a chance, girl. I allowed you to live after what you did. Not many get that chance. And now, you've squandered it."

Emiko gritted her teeth as she glared at him. "You've been killing everyone here slowly, forcing th-"

"Oh spare me," the man sighed. "I honestly couldn't care less about your reasoning. I just care that you did it. Silencer, what's the rough estimate of what she's taken from me."

"20 million Berry," the woman replied.

"Well now, that's a problem. In the past couple years, you've taken that much from me. Honestly, kind of impressive. But you didn't keep it for yourself, you gave it back to the people to make their lives better. How noble of you." He clicked his tongue and shook his head. "But you see, that's a problem. I want all my money back. Now, I'm not a monster so I'll give you a week."

Emiko blinked. "You know that's impossible," she replied, desperately trying to think of some way out of this but nothing was coming to mind.

"Then make it possible. Or else," Richard shrugged, "she dies."

Emiko felt a slight jolt of fear in her heart as she asked, "who?"

Richard lifted up a hand and snapped his fingers. Instantly, Brick charged across the room towards Lian before anyone could react. She gasped and tried to get away but he was too fast, latching onto her quickly and squeezing her tightly so she couldn't escape.

"Lian!" Roy cried, rushing to her. But he hadn't made it a few steps before Richard appeared in front of him, having moved so fast he was just a blur. His leg came up and he struck Roy in the side, knocking him down. Emiko moved towards him before she saw his arms up, having only narrowly blocked Richard's blow.

"Impressive," Richard acknowledged.

"Let my daughter go," Roy said, his voice overflowing with rage and a promise of violence.

"You're in no position to bargain. Your daughter will serve as collateral. If young Emiko there doesn't return all my stolen money by the end of the week, little Lian there will die."

Emiko stared at Lian's terrified face as she struggled helplessly in Brick's grip. One move from his part and he could snap her neck with ease. She stared back at Emiko, tears brimming her eyes, trying her best to put on a brave face but failing miserably.

Damn it! Emiko cried mentally. It had all gone to fucking hell. She should have done something else. Found some other way to help the people. Because it was all happening like Roy had warned her. She'd stepped too far and now the ones she cared about were paying the price.

She knew what Richard really meant when he said 'return the money.' He wanted her to take the money from all the citizens here in the Glades or the forest district. She knew if she went after anyone associated with him, he'd just add that money to her debt. She would have to betray the people she'd sworn to protect to save Lian's life.

Damn it Oliver, she thought. I failed you again.

"That's not happening."

Her head shot up to Roy who was glaring at Richard with such hatred it was practically steaming off of him.

"Like I said, you're in no position to bargain," Richard said, sighing. "If you want to blame anyone for your troubles, blame Emiko over there. She is the one who put you in this mess in the first place."

"No, you are," Roy said without hesitation, making a tear appear in Emiko's eyes. "You're just a thug and bully, punishing everyone around you to make your tiny little ego feel better." As he talked, Richard's eyebrow twitched but he made no other expressions. "I've had to deal with your tyranny for these last couple years and I've been gone for a good part of that anyway. I can't imagine how my daughter or my friend have fared. But it's over now."

"Is it?" Richard asked curiously. "How so?"

"I challenge you to single combat," Roy replied, a steely edge to his voice.

There was a hush across the room. Most of the Longbow Pirates were taken aback but Richard just seemed amused. Emiko felt like her heart might stop altogether. Could Roy take Richard? She knew how strong Roy was but she'd never seen Richard fight before. No one had. But they all knew how powerful he must be to keep the Longbow Pirates in line and Emiko knew firsthand how powerful they were.

Come on Roy, she thought desperately. She knew it was selfish of her to have him solve the problem she created, but she didn't know what other choice they had. Beat this guy.

"Sir," Kodiak stepped forward. "There's no need for you to deal with this trash. I'll take care of him."

"No," Richard stopped him. "I will. It's been too long since I had a good fight. And like I said, I really need something to punch right now."

He then took off his suit, letting it fall to the floor. His chest was covered in scars, two particular nasty ones across his shoulder and stomach. But he was also muscular in nature, most of his body looking like it was carved from a statue. He clearly hadn't grown complacent in his years ruling Star Island. He then reached into his pocket and pulled out two gloves, putting them on. Metal spikes adorned the knuckles

"Shall we begin?" he asked.

"Yeah."

There was no other warning, the two men instantly rushing each other. Roy went on a side route though, moving towards a nearby table and grabbing a fistful of different items that he began chucking at Richard as soon as he was in range. But Richard had somehow seen that coming, grabbing hold of a tablecloth on his way and twirling it so fast and hard in the air that he was able to knock away any projectile with ease.

"Stop playing around, boy," Richard growled. He cracked the tablecloth like a whip and wrapped it around Roy's arm before he could react, yanking him forward. Roy did his best to adapt but Richard was too fast, rushing the distance in an instant and landing a blow towards Roy's side.

The fist came to a stop, Roy's hand gripping Richard's wrist inches from his ribs.

"Good," Richard said, smiling. "Now we're having fun."

Roy couldn't respond, choking out as Richard's foot suddenly struck his ribs instead, the attack coming out of nowhere. He stumbled back and Richard came at him again, his spiked fist cocked for another attack. Roy forced himself back even further, just avoiding the spikes. He hit the ground and heard the jeers of the Longbow Pirates but ignored them, instantly kicking out and catching Richard's foot.

But it didn't budge.

Instead, Richard slammed his own foot down on Roy's so hard he could feel it crack. He just barely managed to keep himself from crying out. He knew he was in trouble now, Richard holding him in a precarious position. He probably expected Roy to try pulling himself free. So he'd just have to try something else.

"You feeling alr-" Richard started to say when Roy lunged forward, the sudden movement throwing Richard off balance and forcing him to back up. Roy made it to his feet, testing his wounded ankle. Not broken but still injured, him feeling a throb of pain every time he put weight on it. Not a good sign.

His mobility was limited now. He was always more of a long-range fighter given he was an archer. But that didn't mean it was his only trick. He reached into his belt and pulled out his two batons. He wasn't as good as Oliver or even Emiko with them but that didn't mean he wasn't good.

"Hmph," Richard grunted. "Full of tricks, aren't you. Well so am I."

"Just shut up man," Roy replied, raising the batons in readiness.

Emiko watched by the sidelines feeling more and more worried. This wasn't going well. She had always thought that Roy would be a match for Richard, that if they could take out his crewmembers then they could take him down. It might be difficult but she did believe in Roy. But evidently, that wasn't the case so far.

You got this Roy, she thought desperately. Kick his fucking ass.

Richard came at Roy suddenly, moving fast from the side. Roy swung his right baton his way but Richard avoided it, his arm batting Roy's out of the way so that his own right fist could come. Roy brought his left baton around, just blocking the spiked fist.

Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Richard's left fist coming and he brought his right baton back, knocking the blow aside. He then swung it at Richard's right arm, still locked in with his left baton. Richard released the grip and grabbed hold of the coming baton instead. Roy held fast but Richard still used the grip to lunge forward, slamming his forehead into Roy's face.

Roy again managed to avoid crying out, fighting through the pain to instead slam his free baton into Richard's unprotected side as hard as he could.

"There we go!" Emiko grinned, watching Richard wince in pain. But it was a short-lived victory. Richard instantly went on the attack again, jabbing fast punches at Roy and forcing him on the defensive. Roy was able to block them easily at first but then Richard punched even faster, his arms becoming blurs as he moved and Roy struggled to keep up, continually moving the batons through the air in front of him to block all of Richard's attacks. Emiko could barely keep up, watching the two move.

Roy grimaced, trying to break free but there was no way out. With the way Richard was moving his fists, if he missed even one of them it would be a serious injury. He couldn't even hit back, the strikes coming in too fast. He could barely even think of any counter-strategy.

"Gale Force Strike."

Roy barely registered the words before Richard moved, his body twisting around so fast that he didn't even have time to react. Richard's leg whirled around, creating a gust of wind through sheer force, and came down right on Roy. He just managed to get his batons up in a cross in front of him, taking the blow.

CRACK!

Roy blinked, seeing the cracks appear across the batons from Richard's attack. He threw himself backwards, dropping the batons to the ground where they broke apart, and watched as Richard's kick came down, only just missing him. But he had a feeling he hadn't been the target.

He was right. With his batons gone, Richard lunged forward and both his fists hit Roy's stomach, the spikes going in.

"Roy!" Emiko cried.

Neither opponent said anything, staring at each other dead in the eye.

"Impressive," Richard finally muttered, ripping his hands free from Roy's grip, only tiny droplets of blood appearing on his spikes. Roy had managed to grab his wrists in the final instant, preventing himself from being impaled.

Still, Roy knew he was in trouble. Close combat was not his thing. Not with these kinds of weapons anyway. If he stood any chance against Richard, he needed…

"Roy!"

Everyone turned to the back room and saw Henry there, throwing something Roy's way. Roy caught it on instinct and grinned, slipping the quiver over his shoulders and moving the bow into position, an arrow already nocked.

Now he stood a chance.

"You ready, Dragon-boy?" he called out. "The real fight starts now."

He saw some of the Longbow Pirates bristle but Richard remained expressionless. "Good," he said, nodding at the bow. "I prefer fighting you at your best. Then there can be no doubt as to the winner will be."

He moved but Roy was ready firing an arrow and already nocked another one. Richard dodged the first arrow, deflected the second with his fist, and then caught the third, snapping it in two.

"The second best bounty hunter in the East Blue, and this is all you can give me?" Richard asked, catching a fourth arrow. "How-"

Wires suddenly sprung out from the arrow, latching onto the nearest things in sight. Tables, chairs, stools all were shot and then yanked from their places right towards Richard. Other wires smashed through bottles and cutlery, a few even coming close to people though only Killer Moth got hit.

"Wha-" was all he managed before he was yanked as well.

"Onto-Grabber arrow," Roy murmured.

"Huh," Richard said as it all came flying towards him. He dropped the arrow and leapt into the air, jumping over a table and kicking a chair out of his way. One chair did strike his back but he just brushed it off. He grabbed the rim of an incoming table and threw it aside.

"Boss!" Moth cried, being yanked right towards Richard. But before he could strike, Richard used a chair to knock his man out of the way, rolling his eyes slightly as he did.

Try this on now, Roy thought, firing another arrow as Richard deflected more furniture, the Onto-Grabber arrow still sending out more wires. Richard saw the arrow coming from the corner of his eye and reacted, using his fist to knock it aside.

"Flashbang arrow," Roy smirked.

Bam!

A flash of white-hot light filled the room, blinding anyone with their eyes open. Roy and Emiko, who had recognized the arrow, managed to close theirs but everyone else cried out in shock and pain, their vision white. Richard both growled in frustration and chuckled in amusement. A good trick indeed.

He also knew that Roy would use this time when he was incapacitated to attack with something special. So he dropped down to the floor and then grabbed hold of a small table that had been yanked towards him, using it as cover. Still, given what he knew about the Green Arrow's arsenal of trick arrows, there had to be a more powerful one coming fast and this table wouldn't help block it. So, he lifted the whole thing with a surge of strength, tossing it up the last foot, before punching it with both fists.

Roy cursed and hit the ground, sliding under the table as it flew overhead, smashing into the wall behind him. He rose back up, firing the arrow he'd been nocking. But Richard's eyesight had improved enough for him to make out the coming projectile and he kicked a chair up at it, just knocking into it. The arrow instantly exploded in a small pile of foam.

Richard was familiar with the stuff. The last time the Green Arrow had used it, it had taken them five hours to free the men trapped in it.

But now it was time. He had spent the last moment of the fight analyzing Roy's fighting style, techniques, and timing with his bow and arrow. He now had everything he needed to win.

He paused, facing his opponent calmly.

Roy paused as well, confused as to what Richard was doing.

"Here we go," Kodiak muttered, Brick and Red Dart grinning beside him. Silencer said nothing though she had leaned in ever so slightly, all of them excited for the action to unfold.

"Breath of the Dragon," Richard said, his voice carrying a deep vibration with it. As he took a breath in, an aura formed around him, catching Roy off guard.

What is this? he thought. His energy just spiked? What did he do?

He didn't wait to even think about the answers. He just started shooting as fast as he could, letting instinct take over as yanked arrow after arrow from his quiver and loosed them at his enemy.

But the Richard shot into the air and twisted around, his leg moving so fast and with so much force that it created a blast of air right at the arrows, knocking all of them aside.

"Oh that's not good," Roy muttered.

Richard landed back on the ground and shot forward, his feet tearing up the floor as he charged. Roy fired two more arrows at once and Richard easily ducked under them.

"Net arrow." Roy shot the arrow up, the net springing from the tip and enveloping Richard and for a second there, Roy thought he had him.

"Talon Strike."

Richard's arm came down hard, slicing through the net like it was paper instead of hardened wire. The punch followed through so fast that Roy barely had time to get his arm up, Richard's fist smashing into it with such force that it knocked him sideways, cracking his bone.

"Gyah!" he cried, almost falling down.

"Draco Dive."

He looked up just as Richard dropkicked him, his feet smashing into Roy's ribs at full force. Roy crashed into the back wall, cracking it as he spat up a wad of blood, pain filling his entire body.

"Roy!" Emiko cried. She moved to help but she hadn't taken a step when a large red dart appeared on the pillar next to her, stopping her cold.

"Uh, uh, uh," Red Dart tutted. "Just watch and learn."

"Dad!" Lian cried out, still struggling in Brick's grip.

Roy slowly got up on his feet. He hated that his daughter was seeing him like this. Broken and defeated. He couldn't fail now, not when so much was at stake. He'd let her and Emiko down too often. He refused to do it again.

He needed something big to win this. Something booming.

"You just don't know how to give up, do you?" Richard asked, seeing Roy nock two arrows into his bow.

"Not really my style," Roy replied. He pushed through all the pain in his arm as he lifted up the bow, focusing solely on this shot. He fired off the first arrow and then immediately the second but with even more force behind it, doing everything he could to stop his hand from trembling.

The second arrow shot right through the first arrow, severing it in two right towards the tip as it sped to Richard.

"How predi-" Richard started to say right as the second arrow struck the first's tip.

BOOM!

The explosive arrowhead went off right in front of Richard, the force of the explosion sending him flying this time. He slammed into the pillar behind him, grunting from the impact. His skin blistered from the heat of the blast but his breathing technique had hardened his muscles and bones to absorb most of the damage dealt. Still, that had been too close for comfort.

"You're stronger tha-" Richard started to say as he rose back up. But he couldn't finish as the smoke parted, Roy parting it with his bow drawn tightly.

"Pulse arrow."

Richard twisted his head to the side, the arrow flying past him to the center of the pillar where it detonated, sending a shockwave out. Richard hunkered down, feeling the force push him back but he managed to stay on his feet. From the corner of his eye, he noticed Moth go flying and the rest of his crew struggle to stay on their feet. Even Roy had gone flying from his own attack but had landed smoothly on one of the booths.

Crack!

Richard's eyes shot over to the pillar where the arrow had gone off. The beam was damaged heavily there, cracks and splinters shooting off all over it. From his scan, he could tell that if it got hit again, it would fall apart for sure. Or if something else happened.

Richard tapped the floorboards beneath his feet. Flimsy. Perfect.

He saw Roy already nocking another arrow and moved towards the pillar, sharpening his breathing and focusing his power and energy into his right leg. With a fierce stomp, his foot shattered through the floorboards beneath the pillar, shaking the thing.

He saw the arrow coming his way and kicked a chair up to it, letting the foam consume it instead. He grabbed hold of the pillar, feeling its weak foundation and now focused his power into his arm.

"Titan Claw!"

With a surge, he ripped the section of the pillar free, cracking the wood apart. He saw Roy stop in surprise and rushed forwards, launching the pillar right at him.

Roy gaped, not expecting that attack. But if there was one thing he was good at, it was thinking on the fly. He moved fast, just ducking underneath the pillar before it could flatten him and sliding out the other side. He instantly twisted around, the arrow he needed already in the bow. He pulled the bowstring and released in one fluid movement, letting it hit the pillar as it demolished the booth behind him.

He turned and gasped as Richard's fist slammed into his gut, feeling his whole body tremble on impact, the spikes penetrating his stomach.

Damn, should have expected that, he thought.

"Roy!" Emiko cried and had to duck the dart that came her way as she moved forward again.

"This is it," Richard said.

Roy spluttered, feeling a little dizzy, but he still managed a grin at his enemy. "Yeah, it is," he agreed, attaching the end of the cord to Richard's wrist and pulling.

"Wha-" Richard started to say right before his wrist was yanked forward by the wire, nearly pulling him off his feet. "What is this?" he growled right before he sensed something. He looked up just as the pillar came right towards him. "Oh," he managed to say as it hit.

Roy felt like falling to his knees. This was one of the toughest fights of his life. He couldn't help but think back to a certain bounty hunter in a black and orange mask that he and Oliver had fought against and then later he and his old friends. Two fights that had pushed him to his limits that they'd barely won.

Please let it be over, he prayed. But as he saw the pillar shift upwards, he knew it wasn't. Not wasting a second, he rushed forwards, hoping to take Richard by surprise.

But Richard of course saw him coming and swung the pillar piece fiercely, the speed of the attack almost taking Roy out for good. Instead, he jumped forward, grimacing from the pain of the move as he landed on the pillar. He grabbed the first arrow in his quiver but couldn't even nock it as Richard suddenly jerked the pillar upwards, making Roy slide down right towards Richard who raised his spiked fist menacingly.

Even off balance, Roy managed to plant his foot down on the pillar for only an instant to propel his other foot around just as he came into Richard's range, kicking Richard's fist out of the way before he could get hit again.

He didn't have time to celebrate as Richard instantly dropped the pillar, letting Roy fall with it. He didn't have time to brace, hitting the pillar and the ground beneath it badly. He grunted once before he saw the foot coming and just managed to move out of the way before it could stomp him, seeing it splinter the pillar instead.

Thinking desperately, he grabbed another arrow and fired it. "Needle arrow," he muttered as Richard threw a piece of debris at it, knocking it aside and activating it. All along the head and the sides, the built-in needles shot out everywhere in front and around it, showering the area. Roy hoped it would be enough of a painful distraction to get in another attack, already readying another arrow.

"Titan Wing."

Richard jerked his arm to the side in a blur of motion, the wave of wind generated knocking the needles coming at him aside. They pattered against the floor harmlessly instead. Roy felt his heart clench and he brought his bow up, trying to fire his next arrow just as Richard charged him.

But he was too slow. His wounded arm throbbed and he winced, losing a precious second.

CRACK!

His eyes widened as Richard's fist smashed through his bow, breaking it apart on impact. He couldn't even react in time as the fist continued, hitting him across the jaw at full power and knocking him back. He flew for a few feet before landing on his feet, stumbling the rest of the way until he hit a fallen table, tripping over it and hitting the ground.

"No!" Emiko screamed. This time, she saw the dart coming and dodged it, no longer caring about it. She rushed towards Roy, determined to help in any way.

"Do not interfere," she heard Richard say right before he kicked behind him, his foot hitting her chest and slamming her to the ground with ease. "Remember," he told her, "this is all on you. These are the consequences of your actions."

Richard saw Roy's crumpled form squirm, the man attempting to rise again and he stepped towards the man. As he did, he heard the laughter of his crewmates, the hushed mutterings of the citizens, the groans of Emiko, and the cries of Roy's daughter. At this point, they all knew what the outcome of this fight was. Like there had ever been any question though he would admit Roy had given a good fight.

"If you're not done yet, get up and meet your end like a man," Richard said firmly, looking down at his enemy. "But if you are done, accept your fate and stop. This squirming is pathetic of you."

"Oh…shut up," he heard Roy growl and the man slowly stood back up, fists clenched tightly as he raised them up in defense. "I'm not…done yet."

Richard scanned him. Hunched from the pain in his stomach, left arm trembling from the blow there, face bruised and scarred from the blow there, half-blinded from the same blow. The man was barely holding himself together but he was still willing to fight. Brave, but very stupid. He clearly thought he still had a chance.

As that thought crossed his mind, Richard recalled the way Roy squirmed and his eyes shot to the man's uninjured fist which was clenched a little differently than the other.

Just as he did, Roy opened it up, his index finger and thumb coming together to flick something right at Richard.

"Flashbang."

The arrowhead bounced off Richard's chest and went off, sending another wave of burning light out. Richard felt the heat wash over his body and made out the blinding white that covered his vision.

But he didn't see it.

He opened his eyes and saw Roy coming at him, another arrow in hand now for his final attack. With contempt, Richard powered his leg and kicked the arm aside, cracking it in the process. As Roy began to cry out in pain, Richard stepped forward and grabbed the man's head, bringing it down hard on his kneecap.

There was a snap and a small explosion of blood. Richard pulled Roy's head back up, seeing his broken and barely conscious face. The man was groaning in pain, his jaw broken and his nose a wreck. "It would be so easy to snap your neck right now," he commented.

"No!"

Richard turned to see Emiko rising up as well, facing him with anger and desperation. "No?" he asked, regarding her with a curled lip. "Why should I listen to you? What would you give me for sparing his life?"

She blinked, fear clouding her face. "I…I…"

"How about this?" Richard said. "You will give me double what you owe me for sparing his life after he and you attacked me. And I want the first payment to be delivered to me at the end of the day. And if you don't, I will kill him. And if you still fail, I will kill her," he pointed to the whimpering girl in Brick's arms. "Fail again, and I will turn all the cannons aboard my armada towards the Glades, blasting this hideous neighborhood and all its inhabitants into ash and dust." He dropped Roy into a pile on the ground and stepped forward, grabbing Emiko's face and squeezing it roughly. "I own you now, brat. You are mine to do with as I like. I spared you once, as a reward for your boldness and determination. And you repaid my kindness by biting back. So now, your entire life belongs to me. When I order you to do something, you do it. Steal money, you do it. Imprison people, you do it. Kill someone, you do it. And if you disobey, just know that someone else will get punished. Your friend in a pile there, that little girl crying, that whimpering fat fool in the back room, or any of these people living in the Glades. I will make them suffer for your mistakes. Do you understand me?"

Emiko stared at the monster in front of her, feeling her blood go cold, feeling her heart stop pumping, feeling like her brain stopped working. She felt like she was already dead.

"Do you understand me?" he roared, shaking her face.

"Y-yes!" she managed to get out.

"Good. First payment, this evening, at my headquarters. If the sun finishes setting and you haven't arrived, Harper Roy will hang from the noose. And don't even think about stealing from any of my associates, or I'll make his death painful."

He snapped his fingers and Kodiak stepped forward, picking up Roy's fallen form and hefting it over his shoulder. Emiko could only watch, the world nothing but a cold, sickening buzz around her now. She heard Lian cry her name, saw the Longbow Pirates leave the inn with Lian and Roy in tow, watch them all give her satisfied smirks. She saw the customers leave. Some gave her sympathic looks, others nasty, hateful ones.

Richard was the last to leave, staring at her hard. "This is the price for your mistakes and failures. Make sure to never forget it."

When she was alone, she sank to her knees and fell onto her hands. She felt a sick rush in her gut and spat up some bile.

I failed, she thought. It was all over now. There was nothing she could do.

She'd always had this hope that some Marine would come and see what was happening and put an end to Richard. Or that some powerful bounty hunter would show up and end him. She'd always thought Oliver would come back, stepping off his boat and taking down the Longbow Pirates with ease, freeing all of them.

But those were just pipe dreams. This was reality and the reality was there was nothing she could do. If she wanted to save her family, she would have to betray herself and steal back the money from the people here. She'd have to make everyone's lives worse because of her actions, because she wasn't strong enough to take out Richard and his crew.

She'd betray Oliver for being too fucking weak.

"I'm sorry Oliver," she gasped, sobbing. "I failed you. I made you a promise and I failed you. I-I'm not strong enough. I can't beat him. He's too powerful." She made a fist and slammed it into the ground, ignoring the pain shooting up her wrist. "HE'S! TOO! POWERFUL!" she screamed, pounding the ground with each word. "AND! I'M! TOO! WEAK!"

She could feel blood on her wrist now but didn't care.

"I! CAN'T! BEAT! HIM!" she kept screaming. "I'm all alone! And he's got his fucking crew! I'M! ALL! ALONE!"

She raised her fist to pound the ground again when a voice stopped her.

"That's why you need a crew."

She froze and for the first time since Richard appeared in the doorway, she could feel her heartbeat start up again. She turned and saw him standing above her, the goofy smile gone. With the light shining around him and that deadly calm expression on his face, he did look like a real captain.

"Wha-what are you doing here?" she said, gaping a little. "Why are you here?"

"You can't stop him alone, you said so yourself," Luffy told her. "But you don't have to do it alone."

Behind him, Emiko saw them. Shang-Chi. Zoro. Nami. Sabine. They were all here.

"Why?" she asked again, looking back at Luffy in shock. "Why would you help me?"

"Because you need it," he said simply.

She almost scoffed. "Pirates don't help people just because," she told him.

"I'm a different kind of pirate," he repeated.

She stared at him hard and felt something rising up in her that she hadn't felt in a very long time. A spark of hope. She stood up and faced him. "If I join your crew," she said slowly, "and give you my boat, will you help me? Will you stop Dragon Richard and his crew and free Star Island? Will you…will you help me keep my promise?"

Luffy took her hand and smiled at her. But it wasn't the goofy smile he usually wore. It was one full of promise and determination.

"Of course," he said with firm resolve. "I am your captain after all. And I'd do anything for my crew."

---

Yeah, that feels like a good place to stop. Hope you all enjoyed it and stay tuned for next time. I'm already hard at work with the different fights. Zoro's is finished up and honestly his was one of my favorite fights I've ever written so look forward to that. I'm curious as to what all of you can guess the matchups will be.

This arc will last one or two more chapters and then I'll dive into Syrup Village. After that, I'll do a new arc that I am super excited for. And to anyone who is able to accurately predict all of Star Island's final fights, I'll let them know the name of the new arc.