Mew's Adventure 12

Clash that shakes the heavens! Luffy versus Arlong! Nami vents years of frustration! Sanji and Usopp versus the Dread Pirate Chew! Gin versus Kurobii! Zoro versus Hatchi!

Or

Frankly a whole lot of battles as the plot continues to go more and more off the rails

The bolt of lightning combined with Nami's kick sent Arlong flying. The shark fishman crashed through several walls of his pagoda looking palace before coming to a stop. Luffy's foot barely touched the ground before he launched himself into the building after Arlong. The crashes from their fight were audible despite the distance.

This also left Nami in a bit of a predicament. Just her alone against the rest of the Arlong's crew. A crew that she had just very obviously betrayed. She was just about to panic when Mew's warm weight settled across her shoulders and whispered, "Mew." Into her ear.

She spun her improved bo staff through the air as she turned to face the rest of the crew. The whole staff sparked with electricity so that it appeared as if she wielded a bolt of lightning instead of a staff. This was no longer Nami of the Arlong Pirates, before them now was Weather Goddess Nami of the Strawhats.

"Today's weather forecast predicts heavenly showers of lightning and a 100% chance of fried fish. All Arlong Pirates are advised to flee if they don't want to die."

"Gum-Gum Skull Bash!" Just before Luffy's head slammed into Arlong's jaw and shattered another set of shark's teeth, his entire skull hardened. The mystery power that Mew had unlocked was certainly powerful, even if the number of uses was limited.

I've only got a single use of Skull Bash left. Gonna have to use my other skills even if it's hard to break Arlong's teeth with them.

Those were the thoughts that ran through Luffy's head as he twisted his arms together, grabbed onto Arlong, and then spinning smashed him through another wall.

Chew blocked a quick pair of kicks from Sanjij only to flinch as a slingshot bullet cracked him across the brow. Roaring in anger, Chew caught Sanji's next kick and threw the cook out over the water, before he turned to Usopp. Just in time to catch a rotten egg to the face.

"Long-nosed brat, I'll kill you!"

Chew wiped the egg from his face, flicking the disgusting egg yolk away. He started to charge at Usopp but skidded to a stop only inches away from the other pirate and stared in confusion.

"Oh my! I simply must thank you for defeating that ruffian. Father will be so pleased that he might even offer my hand in marriage. But a handsome man like you deserves a more immediate reward." The southern belle, who certainly wasn't Usopp in a dress and a wig, proclaimed as he/she pulled out a liquor bottle and then another. Shoving both bottles into Chew's hands, he/she gestured frantically for Chew to drink.

Totally caught up in the act, Chew tilted his head back as he raised the bottle to his lips. He didn't even get the chance to taste it however as the bottle exploded, covering him in highly flammable alcohol. Snarling with rage, he swiped a hand through the spot that he thought Usopp had been in but caught only air. Frowning, Chew wiped his eyes clear of the liquid with the hand that still held the second liquor bottle.

"Hey Fish-lips!"

Chew's head snapped up to see that Usopp was on the other side of the ship, the rubber band of his slingshot pulled all the way back and holding a cheerfully burning sling bullet.

Chew looked from the burning sling bullet to Usopp, down to himself coated in alcohol, over to the liquor bottle in his hand, back to the sling bullet, then back to Usopp. His eyes went wide as he frantically shook his head.

Smiling Usopp rapidly nodded back.

Chew shook his head no desperately.

Usopp's grin grew even wider as he vigorously nodded back.

Chew brought up his hands pleadingly as he put everything he had into shaking his head.

Usopp's smile had transformed into a slasher's grin as he nodded so rapidly that his head had begun to smoke from the air friction.

"Sure-Kill Firestar." He released his grip on the pouch of the slingshot, launching his attack. Chew burst into flames as the fire set the alcohol ablaze, the fire so hot that the bottle in his other hand shattered as well. Coating him in even more alcohol and spread the flames even further.

Flailing his arms Chew booked it towards the nearest railing. But before he could get there a pair of shiny black shoes landed on it.

"One Fish, seared, cooked in alcohol, served with tangerine sauce, and a side of kicks and chips!" Sanji's foot lashed out, sending Chew flying away into the distance. The flames remained there in the outline of Chew for several more seconds before flying after him.

"Usopp, did that seem odd to you?"

Usopp took a minute to respond as he stuffed his patented 'Thankful Damsel Mk1' costume back into his bag.

"Sanji, our captain, is made of rubber and is best friends with a creature that I'm increasingly certain is some kind of chaotic gremlin god. Nothing seems odd anymore." Usopp deadpanned, pausing only briefly to pick up the plate of fish and chips that somehow occupied the spot that Chew had previously.

A huge twister made of water shot into the air a short distance away from the ship, catching both of their attentions. Neither of them got a chance to say anything as with a flash something split the twister in half. Zoro leaping through the sudden rain shower that he had created as he sheathed his swords. Hachi splashed into the water behind him, soon followed by Gin smashing Kuroobi onto the rocks nearby.

Sanji shot Usopp a look that seemed to say "see what I mean?"

Usopp shrugged as he popped a chip into his mouth and chewed. Sanji would understand that things like this just happened around Luffy and Mew. There wasn't any point in worrying about trivial things like logic.

A few minutes earlier

Gin deflected Kuroobi's strike with the end of his tonfa, countering with a stab with the end of the tonfa in his other hand. Kuroobi swam backwards out of the strikes way. The fishman martial artist using the extra strength and speed from fighting underwater to his advantage.

Now, as Gin wasn't a fishman himself he was in a bit of a situation. That being that he was desperately in need of air but he kind of doubted that his opponent would let him do so. Now how to create an opening to escape.

Gin's eyes landed on the rudder that was drifting upwards now that Kuroobi had abandoned it. Well, he'd successfully worked with less, now he just needed to wait until the fishman came in close again.

Gin kicked his feet to remain where he was as Kuroobi sped towards him, one arm tucked against his body, water visibly swirling around him. Gin slid his hand halfway back along his tonfa, fingers curling around the switch hidden there. Just a little bit closer and there! Gin closed his eyes as he squeezed the switch.

The cannonball head of Gin's tonfa snapped open like a four petaled mechanical flower, exposing the inside to the water. More importantly though, it exposed the special compound that Gin had made to the water. A compound that reacted poorly when it was exposed to water.

Even with his eyes closed and head turned to the side the brilliant flash of light that lit up the water was blinding in its intensity. Apparently Gin had misjudged how much of the compound he needed, he would need to lower the amount for next time.

While Gin was left blinking spots out of his eyes as he desperately swam towards the broken rudder, Kuroobi clawed at his eyes as he howled. He had been looking directly at the tonfa when the light went off and now all he could see was blackness. He'd recovered enough to see in seconds but those were seconds he couldn't spare.

Gin latched onto the rudder with the hand that still clutched his used up tonfa, the mechanisms already closing it up. Gin pulled himself against the rudder's side as he shifted his other tonfa so it was resting flat against the wood. The cannon ball head pointed away from him.

Bubbles escaped from his mouth as his lungs seized. He couldn't hold on any longer, he needed air! He squeezed the hidden trigger on his other tonfa.

If there was one thing that Gin had learned from Krieg, more so than anything else, it was to always keep at least one final ace up your sleeve. Such as an explosion powered stake hidden in the head of one tonfa. One with enough gunpowder stashed inside of it for 6 shots.

Bang!

One. The rudder began to rotate.

Bang!

Two. Gin clutched the rudder as it spun faster and faster. Water dragged along in its wake.

Bang!

Three. Fingers dug into the wood to prevent himself from getting thrown off. More and more water getting pulled inwards.

Bang!

Four. A twister, an underwater twister was forming, dragging more and more water into it. Along with anything that happened to be nearby. Like a still somewhat blinded martial artist fishman.

Bang!

Five. The twister had become so large that the surface of the ocean just above it began to dip. But only for a second as it began to bulge upwards mere seconds later.

Bang!

Six. A huge twister of water shot up into the sky only a dozen feet away from the Merry. Sanji and Usopp watch it rise high into the air from the ship's deck. The world took a breath and Zoro sliced through the twister. He landed and sheathed his swords slowly.

High up in the air, Gin was falling. Arms and legs spread to create as much drag as possible. He wasn't slowing his fall out of a worry that he wouldn't survive. Instead he was positioning himself above the still stunned Kuroobi that was now below him.

Gin pulled his arms and legs and dove. Tonfas crossed in front of him, no sign of what they concealed visible. He slammed into Kuroobi with all the force of a shooting star. The crossed haft of his weapons pressed against the fishmans neck.

"Fatal Guillotine!"

The pair slammed into the rocky shore, stone cracking beneath the impact. Blood sprayed from Kuroobi's mouth before the fishman's body went completely limp. He wasn't going to wake up anytime soon.

Gin stood up, tucked his weapons into their sheaths, casually wiped off some of the water that still clung to him, and took a deep breath.

"Ahhh, fresh air and such a peaceful day." Gin ignored the crashing, the sounds of people getting electrocuted, and the cries of pain from behind him. Much like how he ignored Zoro floating by inside of a giant pot, the swordsman shouting insults at Sanji as the blonde haired cook laughed at Zoro's predicament.

There was just one thing that bothered Gin. Where the hell had the rudder gone?

Blood pumped through his veins as three swords clashed against 8. A dance of whirling steel conducted to the sounds of blade clashing against blade.

Zoro felt alive like he never had before. Everything was so much clearer, so much brighter then it had ever been. All around him was the thrum of life, the heartbeat of the world.

Every cut and slash he made his new blades fought against. The creature was full of pride, it knew how to fight, it seemed to scream with each slice. Just let me be in control!

But a sword, even a sentient sword, must be wielded to be of use. No true swordsman would let themselves be controlled by their weapon. Thus each blow wasn't just Zoro's skill against Hachi's, but Zoro's will against Pairobla's will. Two wills grinding and clashing against each other again and again. And as iron sharpens iron, both wills were honed.

The fight against the octopus swordsman had gone from Merry's deck and onto the wall that surrounded Arlong's compound. Zoro couldn't help but grin as sparks flew from the clashing blades. It felt like he was on the cusp of discovering something, of being able to take one step closer to becoming the world's greatest swordsman.

Ever since he had met Luffy and Mew, Zoro had found his skills and strength growing at an accelerated rate. Zoro could tell that Mew was behind the growth somehow, even before the new swords, but how Mew was doing it was a mystery. It wasn't a mystery that Zoro felt inclined to solve, after the fight against Mihawk, Zoro would take every advantage to make himself stronger. The fact that whatever Mew was doing affected the whole crew, and anyone that seemed to hang around them for a few hours, was just a bonus as far as he was concerned.

A huge twister of water shot into the air as Hachi leaped away from him, spraying ink at Zoro to blind him. Zoro swayed out of the ink's way as the world took a breath. Now was the time to strike.

"Oni.."

'A true swordsman cuts only what he chooses to cut, no matter what it is Zoro.' Cut only what he wished to cut, Zoro finally understood those words.

"..Giri!"

Zoro's three swords flashed as he struck Hachi, his leap carrying him past the fishman and through the remains of the water twister. Drops landed on him as the water rained down.

Zoro landed on the lip of a giant pot that was just randomly floating there, and slowly sheathed his swords. There was a loud crash back towards the wall and as Zoro turned his foot slipped. He fell straight into the giant pot, still on his feet at least. But when he went to pull himself back out the pot tilted hard to one side and Zoro briefly found himself underwater before the pot righted itself.

A vein on Zoro's temple pulsed as laughter drifted over to him from Merry's deck. Zoro turned his gaze to where a certain swirly eyebrowed cook was pointing and laughing.

"I'd like to see you do any better,shitty cook!"

"What did you say mosshead!"

In the background of all of this Arlong's castle crumbled as Luffy stomped Arlong through several floors. Incidentally shattering the foundation as well.