Bold is for attacks

Italics indicate thinking.

Steve's POV

"Your wrist is too tight, try relaxing it a bit." I told Lil.

"Like this?" she pulled her arm back "HYA!"

She pulled her arm forward and swung hard, cracking the whip against a rock.

"Yeah, now you're getting it." I smiled.

"Still feels a little strange to use." She rubbed her arm "And my arm is sore."

"You haven't built up the muscles needed for it is all." I explained "That comes with training."

"I don't wanna be all gross and muscly like you Papa." Lil laughed.

"What's that supposed to mean?!"

"I think you look fine." Robin walked up "Though I do wish you two would have discussed this type of training with me before hand."

She reached down and touched Lil's arms.

"Uh oh busted." Lil said as Robin saw the bruising on her arm from where the whip recoiling had whacked her a few times.

"Hmm." Robin gave me a stern look.

"It's bound to happen when you learn how to fight with a whip, I got ones way worse than that when I was a kid." I explained.

"It's ok Mama I asked to learn how to use this, it's so I can protect you." Lil said.

Robin smiled softly and touched her face.

"You don't have to protect me Lil, I'm the parent I should protect you." She said "Now go talk to Chopper about those."

"Yes Mama." Lil nodded looking a little dejected.

The girl scampered off leaving Robin and I there.

"I know what you're trying to do and I understand but this is dangerous." She said "the more confident she gets in her abilities the more risks she'll take, the more danger she'll be in." Robin said "You were fortunate that you didn't have a bounty when you were that age but I did, and I know the pain it causes."

I wasn't really sure how to respond to her, she was clearly upset about it but I also knew Lil was determined to do this.

"I think this is something you need to take up with Lil." I said "But she's not going to stay little forever and the things we face only grow stronger, she needs this confidence in herself to fight and be a Strawhat Pirate just like you and I am. You've seen this place, how strong they are even Luffy got captured, I'm not leaving Lil behind but she needs to be able to hold her own."

"I'll…give it some thought." Robin smiled "But if it continues you must be more careful, I don't want to see her covered in bruises you know."

I gave her a kiss "On that we can agree."

"Some of us are going to scout around in town some more, you should consider joining us." She touched my arms.

"Maybe I've got my own training to do." I said "Gotta be strong to take on Kaido."

"Fufufu, yes you do."

LATER

I had spent most of the afternoon meditating, trying to get a hold on my inner turmoil, I needed to stay strong, keep the fire under control, only let out that rage when I needed it.

Things never seemed to slow down lately and that was stressful, you get everyone back together one minute and your splitting up the next, it's hard…but it's worth it. I wouldn't make any changes to my journey and I want the adventures to continue, to find the One Piece, to be King of the Pirates.

"Like hell I'm letting some monster stop me." I stood up and got back to training throwing a few punches to get my blood pumping "I'm coming for you Kaido, and when I find her again, that old hag too."

I went through my paces for a bit with various exercises and maneuvers but I never felt like it was enough.

"This won't be the peak; I won't let it." I said as I felled a half dead tree with one punch "Kaido, Big Mom, Dad…I will surpass them."

I knew Robin had gone to town with the other, I figured it was probably too late to catch up but I made a walk towards town anyway only to come across a frankly bizarre situation, there was an execution ongoing which didn't seem to be out of the ordinary around these parts yet everyone was exceptionally broken up over it, yet their faces betrayed their words and tears.

"So, this is what they were talking about." I said "The inability to anything but smile."

"It's a terrible sight isn't it." The old man from the shrine came over "A terrible curse placed upon them, not by the spirit but by man."

"I've been many places, fought plenty of bad people but…I can just never understand what could make people so callous towards others." I looked around "To make them want to kill, pillage and destroy the lives of others."

"It is because they have no heart, no light, people like Orochi have only darkness in their souls."

"So…Orochi did this huh?" I brushed some of my hair back "I'm a pirate, I'm no hero still…"

"Try not to get yourself so worked up." He hummed "I'm not wasting my energy on that demon again."

I cracked my knuckles "It'll be under control, I guess this is what you call a righteous cause. Hey old man, how many places are they showing this little song and dance execution?"

LATER

I took off with my wings and scoured the land, I wanted to see this for myself up close, the pain, the devastation, I hated it, I wanted to burn it all.

"RAHHH!" I landed with a meteor like strike in the center of town and instantly activated my Black Iron Body to deflect a bullet with my back.

"Which one of you is Orochi." I said looking back while holding a little girl's head down out of the way.

"Steve!"

"Is it you." I looked back at the squirrely looking fellow with the rifle surrounded by guards "You must be because I can't think of anyone else dumb enough to shoot at a kid. I really don't like people who pick on little kids, especially when they make them cry!"

"Hurry up and shoot that freak already. I don't care who he is!"

"DROP THEM!" I glared and let off a burst of Haki knocking out half the guard "ZORO, SANJI, CATCH!"

I grabbed the girl and hurled her over the fence to the others.

"I'm sure I'm making quite a mess of things but I'm really sick of sitting around waiting Luffy." I grumbled before shifting forms "I think I'm just gonna have to start without you."

I opened my mouth "BRIMSTONE!"

I blasted out a red-hot energy beam right at Orochi only to have it cute through by a samurai.

"Fine, I'll take you all on!" I spun around "Hell Twister!"

I felt off a whirlwind of flames to push them back before a giant lizard charged through and attempted to bite me in half.

"GRAH!" I held the jaws open with my hands "You'd hold me off and let that little rat escape huh."

I looked back and saw Orochi fleeing.

"Weren't you a marine once Drake?" I glared lifting him up "You're just like the rest of them!"

I slammed him down and flew up.

"You can't hide from me Orochi, run to your palace you coward, Kaido can't protect you forever." I yelled "The clocks ticking, it won't be long now till you're dragged to hell!"

"Protect Orochi at all costs." A group of people appeared before me.

"How many of you insist on getting in my way." I glared.

I man be angry but it's different than before, I can't let the anger and fear control me, the anger it's fuel to be strong for others, to protect them."

I pulled my arms and wings back "HELLFIRE TSUNAMI!"

I beat my wings while throwing out double punches to send a wave of heat and flames out towards them.

"Well, someone's fired up." Rose landed on a roof next to me with her arm already in blade mode "Try not to turn the town into rubble though, ok?"

"We'll need a way out of here, think you can manage that?" I asked.

"You that sure we're getting out of this alive?" she asked.

"Of course, we have to." I smiled "After all this was on the screen, they were displaying it all over the country and I'm sure they'd love to break the will of the prisoners with it."

"HAHAHA!" she laughed "I thought it was strange of you to rush in and attack a whole army."

"I had a feeling someone was taking their sweet time breaking out and needed a kick in the pants." I smirked "Besides I still needed to protect that kid."

"This is fine and all but now you've started a riot how do you plan to get us out of here?" Rose asked.

I pointed up "I'll just fly us out."

LATER

"That was reckless, you made a such a scene." Robin said.

"If I hadn't someone else would, or at least I like to think they would have, come on you think you all would have just stood around and let him shoot that sweet little girl."

"Papa's right about that." Lil laughed "And you saved Toko."

"She is a good girl." Robin smiled "Who has lived a hard life in just a few years. I will keep an eye on her for now."

"Hmm." I nodded "Don't get any ideas though ones enough."

"Fufufu." Robin laughed "I know I know."

She gave me a kiss.

"Now there's work left to do." I looked out "Kick Kaido's ass and bring Orochi down."

AN

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Pick Up- Chapter 954

Till Next Time!