#''what if we're attacked by bad guys'' ''usopp WE'RE the bad guys''

[franeridan]

the way luffy regularly goes "we are the bad guys, actually" in the manga is something so dear so special to me

[problemswithbooks]

So, watched live action One Piece and now I'm watching/reading the OG stuff. No where close to done but my brain decided to fixate on Arlong so I can't help but talk about him a bit.

Something that I find kind of interesting about Arlong is that if you read his backstory then go back to the main Arc he was in you actually realize he's way more mellow then he was in the past. Now, he's still awful but given what we're shown of him in Jinbe's flashbacks I think it kind of shows that he did, in a weird way (and not in the way Fisher Tiger would have wanted) changed due to Fisher Tiger's words on not killing humans.

In the past Arlong was constantly advocating for killing humans and terrorizing them so they'd learn their place. He never warms up to Koala despite the rest of the crew--including his own friends coming to like her. Everyone is sad to see her go even Kurobi who is later one of the worst in Arlong's crew.

After Fisher Tiger's Death it's clear Arlong was going to kill everyone in Koala's village (and no doubt would have killed Koala). He was stopped and put in Impel Down--a notoriously hellish prison (run by humans). It's not clear how long he was there, but probably at least a few months, which is a long time in a place like that.

After his pardon he leaves Jinbe and the Grand Line. Presumably he started taking over villages pretty soon after.

Now, what I find interesting is that this is by far the most justified Arlong is in his hate of humans, yet it's also the nicest we ever see him being to them. Before Fisher Tiger's death and reveal of being a slave, or his time in Impel Down Arlong hated humans because of things that although affected him were not things he himself suffered.

Arlong was never a slave, and at least Hachi, Chew and Kurobi were also never slaves. They were all orphans and this might have been the fault of human pirates who attacked Fish-Men Island, but we don't know that for sure, and it's never brought up as a grievance of theirs. They know Fish-men and mermaids are taken as slaves and they surely get racist treatment from the visiting humans, but they don't have first hand experience with human cruelty--like slavery or murder.

Not until Fisher Tiger is killed for helping a human girl go home after being a slave do they experience real loss due to humans. From there, Arlong is captured and imprisoned in Impel Down where he was surely treated terrible by humans during his time there (given they treat everyone bad there). Yet, despite saying he's the anger of the fish-men he does not actually kill nearly as many humans as you'd think, given how he acts in the past.

In fact in a lot of ways he seems to try not to kill humans if he can get away with other methods of control instead.

This is when he takes over Nami's village. This is not long after Fisher Tiger's death which Arlong wanted to kill an entire village for. Yet, now, despite a huge uprising happening, with nearly the entire village of humans trying to attack them, he's not going for the kill.

This is him probably less then a year before the panel above. He's furious and saying he embodies the rage of all Fish-Men. Yet he arrives to the village and tells his crew not to kill anyone despite their open hostility.

Yes, he wants money because he (supposedly) wants to take over the East Blue(world?) but he's already got his money and killing a few villagers should be no big deal--he plans on taking over more anyway.

In the end though, he does only kill Bell-mere due to her lack of money. She makes a good example, of course, but he was more then willing to let her live, despite her shoving a gun in his mouth before she used the money for Nami and her sister.

This is a huge change in a short amount of time.

This is another time he and his crew don't kill for zero reason. They have been attacked all day by members of Luffy's crew. Zoro absolutely beat the shit out of his guys earlier that day. He was furious when Usopp dared to fire on him (to the point of flipping a damn house) but now they just leave two strangers (so not cash cows) alive? Usopp--was worth Arlong's anger, but suddenly two other random humans doing the same thing aren't worth killing?

This is how he responds to Zoro being what I would assume is racist given what Arlong says. He does not know who this guy is--Zoro was found tied to a boat and just brought to him and his first words are racist. Yet, Arlong lets it 'slide once'. Again this is the guy who hit a child for no reason except she was human way before he lost Fisher Tiger or went to the human torture prison. Yet now he's putting up with a stranger calling him racist names?

Going back to Usopp, this is how furious Arlong was when he was attacked:

He's so furious that for a moment he's willing to destroy one of his money making villages, right after losing one not to long ago, just to kill one human guy who didn't actually hurt him, nor are they a rebelling villager.

Yet this is how he acts once Usopp gets caught.

This is after he comes back to Arlong Park to find most of his crew beaten to a pulp by Zoro. He flipped a house he was so pissed off at Usopp, ready to destroy an entire village that he gets good money from (and which he needs to keep Nami around) but suddenly after his crew is hurt he's not in the mood for killing Usopp ASAP?!

Also, he was only in Nami's village because he saw Genzo had a weapon. He thought the village was going to rebel like the last one and he wanted to nip it in the bud and kill Genzo before it got to far. That was the only reason he was there and yet, after Usopp makes him absolutely furious he and Kurobi leave Genzo alive.

Flashback Arlong, who was barely held back by Fisher Tiger would never have left any of these humans alive. They were in his eyes disrespectful, not fearing him like he wants, and most did not give him money--the only benefit he sees to keeping humans around. Yet, he lets all of them live--maybe he has plans to kill them later, but again, past Arlong would kill them ASAP.

I know that the most likely reason for this is because Oda didn't have everything with Arlong and Jinbe's past in his brain at this point (there's ten years or more between these parts in the story). Not only that he can't have important people like Usopp and Zoro being killed off. He also seemed less willing to kill characters off in the start of the manga, which is why Genzo and Zoro's friends lived (killing Genzo would also have been way to mean to Nami).

But from an in character perspective you could see this as Arlong being affected by Fisher Tiger's words of not killing humans. No, he can't fully follow that rule, let alone Fisher Tiger's orders to not treat humans badly. Arlong has hated humans for far to long, and he was barely managing to restrain himself for Fisher Tiger despite respecting/caring for the man with his whole heart.

He can't not kill humans or treat them like crap--but he can come up with excuses that limit how many he kills. A 'well, if they pay me, they can live', or a 'they're to weak to kill so I won't', or 'I'll give this guy a warning for insulting me before I kill him'.

He lets his crew drag him away from Nami's village because he doesn't really want to destroy it (for monetary gain not kindness obviously). Kurobi doesn't kill Genzo because he wasn't told to so he lets him off, despite that being the only reason they came in the first place (despite defiantly knowing killing him wouldn't get him in trouble and is Arlong's intention). That gives Arlong time to calm down and by the time Usopp is caught he's more willing to take the time to ask him what he's doing there and then let Nami deal with him.

Part of it might also be Arlong knowing Jinbe will come kick his ass as soon as he finds out he's been killing/terrifying humans. He can bribe the Marines, but only to a point. If he was slaughtering every human that looked at him wrong or said something racist he'd be to much of a threat for higher-up the Marines to ignore. Eventually they'd tell Jinbe to deal with him and Jinbe would. Arlong would know that and given he was beaten easily by Jinbe he also knows he'd lose immediately (and either be killed or sent back to Impel Down).

Either way, he's showing some restraint even though he doesn't have someone like Fisher Tiger, or Jinbe directly telling him to. For whatever reason Arlong is way more willing to keep humans alive if he can come up with an excuse for it. Which I find kind of fascinating and adds some depth to his character that I don't think was necessarily intentional, but is the strength of the writing that Oda was able to add something years down the line that somehow didn't conflict with what's already established.

[brainyxbat]

Chapter 2: A Raid! The Tin Tyrant, and Tin Plate Wapol

(episode 79)

"Everyone, come here! This is bad!"

"Huh? What is it, Vivi?"

"It's Nami-san! She has a terrible fever!"

"I have a favor to ask of everyone. I know it's not my place to ask this as a passenger on your ship, but my homeland is in a terrible state now, so I'd like to hurry ahead! We can't waste even a single minute! So I want this ship to head for Alabasta at its fastest speed!"

"O course! That's what we promised!"

"You can count on us!"

"So let's find an island with a doctor on it right away! Let's cure Nami-san as quickly as possible, and then go to Alabasta! That's this ship's fastest speed, right?!"

"Yeah! We can't go any faster than that!"

-

Vivi and Sanji watched with worry, as Nami panted in bed. "She needs to see a doctor as quickly as possible. At this rate, Nami-san will..." Vivi trailed off, unable to finish.

On the deck, the rest of the crew were bundled in blankets, with Zoro on the crow's nest, and Luffy, Usopp, and Venus waiting for any reports. "Hey! See any doctors?!" Luffy shouted to Zoro.

"Do you expect him to, you idiot?" Usopp reprimanded.

Using binoculars, Zoro spotted something... off up ahead. But strangely, no island. "Hey, guys. Do you think... people can stand on the ocean?"

"Can people stand on the ocean?" Luffy asked.

"C'mon, Zoro! What kind of question is that?"

"Then... what's that?!"

"Huh?" Luffy turned around.

"What's that?" Usopp followed suit, and sure enough, there was a man in a guady jester suit, and a furry cloak, standing on the waves like they were solid!

"Huh?" Venus blinked, before the three rubbed their eyes, in case they were hallucinating. But when they looked again, he was still there. "Zoro, you were right!" She looked up at the swordsman. "There's a clown standing on the ocean!"

"I think he's a jester, Venus-chan," Usopp kindly corrected.

"Hi," The strange man gained their attention, "It sure is chilly today."

After a tense moment of silence, Luffy and Usopp turned to each other. "Yeah! It is chilly today!" The former agreed.

"Y-yeah! Chilly, chilly!" Usopp played along. "Today's very chilly!"

"Really?" Everyone flinched at the jester's response, and stared silently once again.

"Increase buoyancy!"

"Yes, sir!"

Out of nowhere, a huge, round vessel emerged from the waves under the jester, sending Usopp and Venus rolling back. "What is that?!" Luffy exclaimed, gripping on the railing. "A watermelon?!"

The sudden movements were noticed by Vivi downstairs. "Why are we shaking?!"

Sanji held the bed to keep it upright. "Hold the rudder! If anything happens to Nami-san, I'll gut you all!" He threatened, then suddenly changed his tone. "Except you, Venus-chan!"

Zoro stared at the round, steampunk abomination in front of them in shock. "Don't tell me this... is a ship?!" Just then, a giant prow lined with gears, the front resembling a hippo's head wearing a crown came out from the front, followed by a flag bearing a crown-wearing, tin-jawed Jolly Roger on the top.

"Crap! A p-pirate ship!" Usopp stammered.

"W-wow!" Luffy gawked.

"Just when we're in a hurry," Zoro griped.

Evil laughter rang out from the ship, amidst the coat-clad occupants. "Did our jumbo underwater ship, the Tin Tyrant, surprise you?!"

At that, Sanji began sprinting out in concern. "Vivi-chan! You're in charge here!"

"Okay!"

"Hey!" Sanji burst out. "What's going on?!" As no one answered, he lit and bummed a cigarette. "So? What's going on?"

"The ship's being attacked," Luffy replied calmly.

Sure enough, every one of them were surrounded by gun-wielding men. "Well, I figured as much, from the look of things."

As she kept her hands up, Venus shivered from the cold. She was regretting her choice of clothes right now; they didn't cover her nearly enough. "C-can I put a coat on real quick?"

"No!" She grunted when one of them jabbed her back with his gun.

The stout captain of the Tin Tyrant ate a piece of meat messily. He wore a fur skin with a hippo head, had dark blue hair, and had large, tin jaws. "Are you really pirates? You're strange. Is it just you five?" To Luffy's surprise, he bit off the blade of his sword, like it was a pepperoni stick! "I find it hard to believe, that a pirate group would only have five people." He finished off, by eating the handle of his weapon, as the Straw Hats watched in shock.

"What is that guy?!" Luffy squinted. "He even ate the knife!"

Usopp grimaced, as he kept his arms up like the witch. "Just watching hurts!"

"Well, no matter. I'll start, by asking this..." He chewed, "We want to go to the Drum Kingdom. Do you happen to have an Eternal Pose, or a Log Pose?"

"Nope," Sanji refused. "Never even heard of the place."

"Okay, you're done, right?!" Luffy glared. "So leave!"

"We're in a hurry!" Venus added. "We don't have time to mess with you!"

The man sighed. "Don't rush life like that. But if you have neither, then oh well. For now, I'll take your treasure, and this ship."

"What?!" Luffy sneered.

"No!" Venus protested.

"But first, I'm feeling a bit hungry!" To everyone's shock, his jaw opened at massive proportions, and bit off a good portion of the ship!

"Merry!" Venus exclaimed in horror.

"What is this guy?!" Usopp gawked.

"Don't eat our ship!" Luffy shouted.

"Hold it right there!" One of the men kept him back with his gun. "Wapol-sama is currently eating!"

"Shut up!" He punched them both down effortlessly.

"Damn that bastard! Fire!"

Zoro smirked, as they began shooting. "Should've done that from the very start." He whipped his blanket off.

"Oh?" Sanji smiled eagerly. "We can have at 'em?"

"Sounds good to me!" Venus beamed.

"No, wait!" Usopp climbed down the mast. "We can discuss this!"

From the Tin Tyrant, the jester watched with a man sporting a black afro, and a pom-pom mustache. "They started it themselves," The former remarked.

"The fools! They're in a hurry to die!"

"Gunfire?!" Vivi's eyes widened. "Karoo, watch Nami-san! I'll be right back!" She ran upstairs, as he quacked in agreement.

"Don't do anything you can't handle!" Sanji sent one gunman to the floor with one kick. "Reception!" Several more prepared to attack, but he took them all down with little effort.

More of them fell from the crow's nest, before Zoro ran down the mast. He sliced through all of them with lightning speed. "All bark, and no bite."

"Witchy-Witchy... Balls!" Venus managed a little more of a powerful attack, blowing her pursuers away.

"W-Wapol-sama! These guys're-!"

An angry Luffy punched his way over to Wapol, who was still chowing down. "Are you still eating it?!"

"Say, this ship doesn't taste half bad."

"Hey, you!" He turned around, and Luffy was running over, anger in his eyes.

"Fool! You're no match for Wapol-sama!"

"Time to get eaten by the power of the Munch Munch Fruit!"

To Usopp's horror, he was heading straight for Wapol's open maw. "Luffy!" On cue, he chomped down, but Luffy's arms were still outside, and stretching far out.

"W-what is this?!" Vivi glanced around at the commotion.

"Oh, hey Vivi-chan," Sanji greeted her casually, "Has something happened to Nami-san?"

"Eh?"

"What a hard-to-chew person!" Wapol griped.

"Why, you-!" Luffy sent his arms launching back, freeing himself, and sent Wapol soaring. "Go flying!"

The jester and afro man watched in shock, as their leader disappeared in the horizon. "Wapol-sama!" There was silence, as the crew smirked victoriously, and Vivi stared in awe. "Hey, this is bad! Wapol-sama was sent flying!"

"This is terrible!" Afro Man exclaimed. "Wapol-sama is unable to swim!"

"He will surely perish if we don't rescue him before he sinks!" The jester pointed to the Straw Hats. "This isn't over, you! We will make you pay for this!"

"Remember us! We'll get you for this!" The Tin Tyrant started drifting away.

"Please, remember us! Please!"

The crew watched them drift further and further away, until they were completely gone. "W-what was that just now?" Usopp asked. "They seemed to call him Wapol, but-"

"Doesn't matter," Sanji shrugged, "Don't worry about it. He's just a moron; that's the only possible explanation."

Vivi's mind started to wander. Something about him seemed familiar to her. "Have I seen him somewhere before?"

-

Later at evening, Luffy and Sanji rejoined Vivi downstairs to watch over Nami. "Are you sure she's not just hungry?" Luffy asked, before perking up. "If so, she should eat enough meat for 100 people! Eating meat makes sickness go away!"

"Look, you-"

"Come on!" Luffy cut Sanji off, and stretched his ears out. "Cheer up! Look! Look!" He tied his face up, in an attempt to look silly, but to no avail. "She's not laughing... not one bit." Nami continued panting. "Won't her fever go down if we dump water on her?"

"You idiot!" Vivi and Sanji kicked him to the door.

"This isn't good," Sanji remarked, as Luffy dropped to the floor, "The sun's about to set for the day, Vivi-chan."

"Yes, you're right," She agreed, "Let's drop anchor somewhere. We can't navigate at night without Nami-san's instructions."

"Yeah." Behind them, a picture frame fell from the wall, and on Luffy's face.

That night, Nami sat up in bed, felt her hot, sweating forehead, and was surprised to see most of the crew, Vivi and Karoo included, gathered together in the room, fast asleep. Vivi had her head in her arms on the bed, Zoro laid against Karoo's back, Luffy laid by the door, the picture frame stuck in his forehead by a corner, and Usopp was against the wall with one of Luffy's feet on his shoulder, and Venus in his lap over his blanket, arms crossed on her chest like always. "Oh!" Nami's eyes widened at the sniper's sudden voice. "You want my autograph that badly?!" He then slumped back down, to her relief.

Outside, Sanji was on night watch, so he sat in the crow's nest, covered with a blanket. "Whew, it's cold." He turned to look up at the sky. "Almost a full moon." That surely explained Venus' power surge earlier that day.

In the cabin, Nami smiled, as she watched everyone sleep around her, before she curled up, and drifted off herself.

After hours passed, Usopp's eyes blinked open after a blissful dream, so his mind wandered to earlier; while poor Merry was getting munched on, all he did was hide away from their adversaries. He couldn't let her suffer!

He went to stand up, but stopped at feeling a strange weight on his lap; he looked down, and smiled warmly at Venus' peacefully sleeping face. It was as if she didn't have a care in the world. From the angle, her head had tilted to the side, and was rested against his stomach. He carefully lifted her head up, shimmied his legs away, then tenderly laid her back down, using his bunched-up blanket as a makeshift pillow for her. She let out a big yawn; the urge to stroke her soft bangs out of her face was strong, but he pushed it away, settling for a simple, comforting head pat.

He walked upstairs to exit the cabin, and shivered at the cold breeze outside. In the bedroom shared by all the guys, he bundled up into warmer pants, and a brown furry coat, and headed back out.

In the crow's nest, Sanji blinked his groggy eyes open at the sound of a hammer pounding. "Brr!" He shivered. "Oh, crap, I fell asleep!" He looked down, and saw the sniper hammering wood in where Wapol stole a bite. "You're up early, Usopp!"

"I can't just sit around doing nothing! We gotta get out of this jam as quickly as possible!"

Sanji watched him for a moment. "Yeah, good point."

"Blehhh!" Luffy was trying his cheer-up method again, but like the first time, nothing came of it, as the coat-clad Zoro walked in. "C'mon, Nami! Look! This is weird. She won't smile! C'mon, smile, Nami!"

"What's goin' on, Luffy?" Zoro asked. When Luffy turned around, he jumped back at the goofy clown makeup on his face, as he stretched his lips. "Quit that! You're creepin' me out!"

"Really? Thanks!"

Meanwhile, Venus, now wearing a warm coat, pants, and boots, with her hair in low twintails, emerged from the bedroom she normally shared with Nami. She silently watched Usopp repair the damages; without a word, she grabbed a spare hammer.

"Huh?" He turned in surprise at the pounding noise, and saw her hammering a nail in the wood close by. "Oh, I got it-"

"You're not doing this on your own," Venus cut him off, "Merry is important to all of us."

He smiled, as she continued repairing. "Thanks, Venus-chan." She briefly returned the gesture through her work.

"Say, doesn't this area seem calm and cold?" Sanji remarked.

"Yeah," Usopp agreed through hammering, "Sudden, strange calms; I guess that's another thing that happens in the erratic Grand Line."

"That's not necessarily so," Vivi chimed in, "It's probably proof that an island is nearby."

"Really?" Venus perked up.

"Sanji-san! Could you look carefully out at the horizon?"

"Vivi-chan?" Sanji was befuddled, but did as requested.

"A winter island is nearby. I'm certain of it."

"Winter island?"

Just then, Usopp accidentally hammered one of his fingers over his glove instead of the nail, concerning Venus. "Oww!"

"Climatically, there are four basic types of islands in the Grand Line. Summer islands, spring islands, autumn islands, winter islands... and each one generally has four seasons of its own. In short, when on the Grand Line, there are at least 16 seasonal levels you must conquer, from summer island summer, to winter island winter. Of course, there are many exceptions and unknown climates."

"I get it," Usopp remarked after recovering, "The Grand Line has all these different islands one after the other, and that's why the seas between them have such unstable weather."

"That's right. Which is why stable weather means an island is nearby."

Sanji used binoculars to look. "Yeah... I see it!" Everyone looked in his direction at his announcement. "We found an island!"

"An island?!" Luffy, now makeup-free, beamed from downstairs. "Oh! An island! We found an island! Hey, Nami! Good for you! There's an island! You can get better!" He rambled. "There's an island! An island! Island! Island! Island! Island! Island!"

"Just go look," An annoyed Zoro ordered, "I got her covered."

Luffy ran outside, and grinned brightly. "An island! White! It's so white! It must be snow! A snow island, huh?!"

"Hey, Luffy! Just so you know, we're not here to have an adventure!" Sanji reminded him. "We're dropping by to find a doctor! We're leaving once we get Nami-san looked at!" The captain wasn't listening. "Hey! Hey, Luffy!"

"Snow is so nice and white!"

"It's no use. He doesn't hear me."

"H-h-hold on!" Usopp shivered, more out of nervousness than the cold. "Is this a good idea?! If there's snow, couldn't there be snow monsters too?! Besides, we're not even sure if people live there or not! Oh no! My chronic Can't-Go-to-the-Island disease!"

Venus patted his shoulder sympathetically, this time not falling for his lie. "The doctor can look at you too, after Nami."

'Snow! I love snow! It's white!' Luffy swooned in his mind.

"Guess I'll get us ready to land," Sanji decided.

As they drifted closer and closer, the crew stared in awe at the snowy landscape with towers reaching incredible heights. "All this snow!" Luffy beamed. "I'm so happy!"

"This is really somethin'," Sanji remarked, "What's with those mountains?"

"Say, Luffy," Usopp noticed he was still wearing his usual vest, shorts, and sandals, "Aren't you cold, dressed like that?"

"It's -10 C right now!" Vivi added. "That's when bears get ready to hibernate!"

"Huh? Oh." After a beat of silence, he began shivering. "So cold!"

"Took you long enough!" Usopp and Sanji shouted at him simultaneously.

At the prow, Vivi, Zoro, and Venus saw a small waterfall up ahead. "It's a waterfall of melted snow," Vivi pointed out, "We may be able to stop around here."

"So, who's going doctor-hunting?" Zoro asked around. "No, I guess people-hunting comes first."

Luffy raised his hand. "I'm going!"

Sanji balled his hand into a fist. "Me too!"

"Okay! Have fun!"

Just after Usopp's words, they were surrounded. "That's far enough, pirates!"

All around them were men pointing guns at them. "Hey, I found people," Luffy said.

"But... they don't seem too friendly," Usopp remarked.

Amidst the lineup, a man in a green coat emerged. "Attention, pirates! Leave this place at once! This instant!"

A wary Venus had her hands back up. "We come in peace!"

"We're not on another planet," Zoro rolled his eyes.

"We came to find a doctor!" Luffy informed.

"We have a sick person onboard!" Vivi added.

"We won't fall for that trick, you filthy pirates!"

"This is our island! We won't let any pirates land here!"

"Raise anchor, and leave now! Or else we'll blow your whole ship up!"

"They really hate our guts," Sanji lamented snarkily, "And we've just met too."

"Don't talk back!" Just then, a gunshot narrowly missed his foot.

"They're shooting!" Usopp exclaimed.

"You didn't just do that!" Vivi had to hold Sanji back from doing anything reckless. "Bastard!"

"Stop, Sanji-san!"

Another shot sent her falling, as the crew gaped in horror. "Vivi!"

[bleachanimefan1]

King and Queen of the Pirates Part 63

Wapol's Corps Lands on the Island!,

"We don't have time for this! We need to get to the doctor quickly!" Sanji shouted and kicked away one of the Lapins. "Move it, you damn bunnies!"

"They're coming!" Ichi shouted. He jumped out of the way as one of the giant rabbits lunged at him. Luffy was about to attack one of the rabbits, but Sanji stopped him.

"Listen, Luffy. I don't want you fighting these guys." Sanji spoke.

"Why not!?" Luffy shouted.

"Nami will be able to feel every move you make. She's too sick to be able to handle it, it would be too much! She could die!" Sanji explained then he turned to Ichi. "And the same goes for you. If you move around too much, then L's injury will get worse." 

"Okay, I won't fight!" Luffy shouted. Then a Lapin swiped its sharp claws at Luffy. Luffy quickly ducked, holding on to Nami. "Then what should I do!?"

"Just dodge! Dodge and run! But don't run too fast!" Sanji shouted, trying to fend off the large creatures.

"That's way too hard!" Luffy cried out.

The three started to run and the Lapins began to chase them. The snow was making it harder as it was getting deeper with each step the three took.

"Flanchet shoot!" Sanji yelled out and kicked away a rabbit, knocking it back a few feet.

"Sanji!" Luffy shouted.

"Damn it. It's hard to get a good kick with my feet buried in the snow." Sanji hissed. Then the Lapins all charged at the group.

"They're coming all at once!" Ichi cried out.

"Head for the forest! I'll cover both of you!" Sanji told them. The three ran as the rabbits tried to pounce on them again. Sanji was keeping them back. "Keep going! We'll head for the mountain. We need to get rid of them somehow!" 

A Lapin tried to attack Luffy and Luffy tried to kick it away. Sanji quickly grabbed Luffy's foot, stopping him and quickly pulled him out of the way. "Stop!" Sanji shouted. "I told you to leave it to me! This is a matter of life and death!"

"Sorry!" Luffy said. "Hey, Sanji! Ichi! We can climb up from here!" And he pointed up to a ledge of a cliff.

"Alright, go on ahead!" Sanji told them. Luffy quickly jumped grabbing onto the ledge and pulled himself up. Then Ichi jumped up with ease and Sanji followed behind him when a Lapin jumped at him from behind. Sanji kicked the rabbit, giving himself a boost and landed on the ledge with Luffy and Ichi. They saw the Lapins trying to jump up to them, but they fell back down. Luffy grinned and began to make faces, sticking his tongue at them. Just as the group was about to leave, they gasped in shock as they saw the rabbits were able to make the ledge and were now chasing them.

"They're still after us!" Ichi shouted.

"Just keep running all the way to the top!" Sanji shouted. "Why did you have to taunt them!?"

Back at the village, Usopp, Aya and Vivi were still waiting outside. They noticed the wind was starting to pick up, blowing harder and more snow began to fall down.

"The snow's starting to get bad." Usopp spoke.

"Tell me something. Who are you guys?" Dalton asked.

"Why do you want to know?" Aya asked, hoping that he wouldn't ask again. They didn't need more attention and enemies on them.

"A group with only nine people traveling the Grand Line in a ship without a doctor seems incredibly reckless." Dalton frowned, suspiciously.

"In case you forgot, we're pirates. That's the reason you guys were pointing all those guns at us, remember? We may be a small group but with a brave warrior of the sea on board there's nothing to fear from anyone or anything. Even though we are very brave, we are looking for someone to be our ship's doctor. We we're hoping to find one here on this island. Of course, I wasn't expecting was that the doctor here was a witch living in a castle." Usopp spoke.

"She's all we've got. You certainly seem much different from the pirates that we're used to." Dalton said.

"Hello, Dalton! I was looking for you!" A woman ran up to the group an walked over to Dalton. Usopp quickly bowed his head.

"Bow to the bear!"

"It's not a bear." Aya said.

"What can I do for you?" Dalton asked the woman.

"I've heard you newcomers we're looking for Dr. Kureha." She told Usopp, Aya and Vivi.

"Yes. The sick woman's friends have already taken off to the mountain." Dalton told her.

"That's too bad because I've heard the doctor's in Coco Weed right now!" The woman said. Usopp, Aya, and Vivi's eyes widened in shock and so did Dalton's.

"She left her castle!?" Aya exclaimed. 

"She's where!?" Vivi and Usopp shouted as well.

"Then we need to go there now!" Dalton shouted. "Forgive me. I made a mistake! I got word that the doctor had come down from the mountain yesterday. So I didn't think that she'd come again so soon! But I was wrong!"

"Hey, it's okay! It's not your fault!" Vivi spoke. "Those three took off in such a hurry. It's not going to be easy to catch up with them! If the doctor's here in Cocoweed, we'll just have to ask her to return to the castle!"

"Let's hope she'll do it!" Usopp smiled.

"I'm sorry." Dalton apologized again.

"Huh? What are you apologizing for?" Aya asked him, wondering.

"If this country had more doctors..."

"There's no need to apologize, Dalton!" Vivi assured him. Dalton nodded and quickly got a sled ready. The group drove it to Cocoweed Village and headed to the bar that she visited and treated a little boy, only to find out that the doctor had already left.

"Huh!? She's already left town!?" Vivi exclaimed in disbelief.

"No way! We just missed her!" Usopp shouted.

"She made me better a little while ago." A little boy told them.

"Are you looking for the doctor, Dalton?" the storekeeper asked him.

"It's an emergency! Do you know which way she went?" Dalton asked. One of the customers spoke.

"I heard from someone that she was heading for Gyasta."

"Where's that?" Aya asked.

"It's a lakeside town just north of here. They like to ice skate there."

"Let's go! We've come this far! There's no time to waste!" Vivi insisted. Suddenly, one of Dalton's men busted through the door and ran inside, panting.

"Dalton! Is Dalton here!?"

"What's wrong? You're supposed to be on guard..."

"All the other guards are dead! A submersible ship suddenly appeared out of the sea and it's crew killed everybody! Dalton, please save us! We need your strength!" He shouted. Dalton's eyes widen in shock and he frowned, trying to calm the man down.

"Calm down. Who killed them?"

"Wapol! He's back!" the man shouted, crying a little. 

"Wapol!?" One of the villagers cried out in fear.

"Where is he now!?" Dalton asked.

"The village! Bighorn's in danger!"

Dalton quickly rode off, taking a horse, leaving Vivi, Usopp and Aya behind before they could stop him.

"Hey! Dalton! What about!?-" Usopp cried out. But Dalton was already gone. "He left us!"

Luffy, Sanji and Ichi continued to run as several Lapins were still chasing after them. Then they noticed that the rabbits had stopped following them and were jumping around continuously.

"What are they doing?" Luffy asked.

"I thought they'd given up. But what are they up to?" Sanji wondered.

"They're jumping up and down making a lot of noise." Ichi pointed out. The rabbits were making a lot of noise on a mountain covered entirely of snow...Then Sanji's eyes widened, in realization, his cigarette fell out of his mouth.

"N-No. Wait a minute! They can't be!

"Let's get the sled and take to Gyasta since Dalton's abandoned us." Aya spoke. The three quickly climbed into the sled and Usopp drove it while Vivi and Aya tried to read the map.

"Vivi, are you sure this is the way to Gyasta? Where this witch supposed to be!?" Usopp asked.

"I'm not exactly sure." Vivi frowned, trying to look at the map again. The snow and the wind was making it harder to read.

"That's not very reassuring!" Usopp shouted. "Listen if Nami makes it to the castle and the witch isn't there, what are they gonna do!? You're a princess, aren't you? Do something!"

"How about you look at the map, then, Ussop!" Aya shouted.

"Are you crazy!? This whole island is covered in snow!" Usopp argued.

"Weren't you listening? Somewhere along the way there's supposed to be a sign that says "Gyasta" on it. We can't miss it!" Vivi pointed out.

"Okay! Leave to me!" Usopp shouted. But while the group were talking to themselves, they drove straight past the sign, leading to Gyasta, in the opposite direction. As they drove higher up the mountain, sled got stuck in the deep snow and wouldn't budge.

"The snow's so thick the sleigh won't move!" Usopp shouted.

"We must be very high up!" Vivi said.

"Wait, do you guys hear that? What's that rumbling?" Aya asked them. The two listened, hearing the low rumbling as well. They looked up and their eyes widened in horror and in shock to see a wave of snow coming down towards them. An avalanche!

The three screamed and braced themselves as the snow came down on top of them.

The avalanche was coming down, fast, at Sanji, Ichi and Luffy.

"They've gone and done it, those darn rabbits!" Sanji growled underneath his breath.

"Sanji, what's wrong?" Luffy asked, not realizing what had happened. 

"We're getting out of here, you two!" Sanji shouted. Ichi quickly followed behind him and Luffy as well.

"Where?" Ichi asked him.

"Anywhere! Anywhere but here!" Sanji shouted. "Those rabbits are going to pay for this!"

"What do we do, Sanji!? What do we do!?" Luffy shouted.

"HOW SHOULD I KNOW!? BUT NAMI COMES FIRST! THAT'S THE MAIN THING! PROTECT HER WITH YOUR LIFE! YOU GOT THAT!?" Sanji shouted.

"Got it! But how!?"

Then Sanji saw a ledge in the distance. It might be high enough to avoid the avalanche! He pointed out towards it. "There! That ledge! Get to that ledge! Climb to the highest point you can reach!" He shouted. Luffy nodded and so did Ichi. They quickly headed towards the ledge, trying to catch their breaths. They saw the avalanche heading towards them.

"HERE IT COMES!" Sanji shouted. "GOOD WE MADE IT-IT'S NO GOOD WE'RE NOT HIGH ENOUGH!" The three were knocked off from the ledge and were about to be taken away by the avalanche! "We'll be buried alive!"

"Now what? I know." Luffy grinned as an idea came to his mind. "Sanji! Ichi! Grab on!" He stretched his arms out to Sanji and Ichi and they grabbed Luffy's hands. He pulled them onto a nearby tree that was torn down by the snow. "WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET BURIED BY THE SNOW! BUT WE'RE HEADING BACK DOWN THE MOUNTAIN REALLY FAST!"

The three screamed as they rode down the mountain.

"This is ridiculous! We were almost there to Chimney Mountain! A little further and we'd have reached the doctor! We've go to find some way to stop! Darn those blasted hippity hops! Next time I see them, they're stew!" Sanji shouted, angrily. Suddenly, they saw the Lapins sledding down right beside them. Luffy, Sanji and Ichi's eyes widen in shock and in disbelief.

"WHAT!?" Luffy shouted.

"NO WAY!" Sanji cried out.

"THAT NOT FAIR!" Ichi shouted. The rabbits tried to attack them again. They tried to dodge their claws, while staying on the tree, which was difficult as they didn't have much room to move around.

"What're they so mad about!?" Luffy shouted. "Yikes!"

"Luffy, watch out! Up ahead!" Sanji warned and pointed out to rock in front of them.

"AHH! A ROCK!? WE'RE GONNA CRASH!" Luffy screamed. 

"You can't crash! Nami's on your back!" Sanji shouted. "And you got L!" Then he grabbed Luffy and Ichi and the two looked at him confused.

"Mr. Cook what are you?-" Ichi spoke.

"Huh?"

Sanji quickly threw the two of them off from the tree and Luffy and Ichi landed safely on a ledge nearby. Their eyes widen in horror as they saw the tree that Sanji was on collide into the rock, breaking it. Sanji was knocked off and a sharp piece of the tree scrapped his side.

"SANJI!" Luffy cried out.

"Ugh! It worked..." Sanji fell into the snow about to be taken away by the avalanche. 

"YOU IDIOT! DON'T TRY TO HOG THE GLORY!" Luffy shouted and threw his arm, digging around the snow. "Sanji!" He screamed only to see that he had grabbed Sanji's mittens instead. Luffy gently set Nami down and handed her his hat, placing it on Nami's head.

"Nami, are you cold? Just hang in there a little longer. Hold this for me and rest here for a minute! Ichi, stay with her and L." 

"Luffy, wait! What are you-!?" Ichi cried out to stop him, but Luffy had already jumped into the snow. "Captain!"

A few minutes had gone by and Ichi watched looking around worriedly as he didn't see Luffy or Sanji had come out yet. 

"Luffy! Sanji! Where are you!?" He cried out.

The avalanche began to slow down and stopped. Ichi wildly looked around, waiting. But still no signs of anyone. Nami was going to die and so was L. He couldn't lose his brother. Ichi couldn't lose Nami either. She was always so nice to him!

"Captain Luffy!" He cried out again, burying his face in the snow. "I can't do this by myself!"

In the distance a baby Lapin was crying as it tried to pull its parent out as they were buried underneath the snow. A hand shot out from the snow and Luffy crawled and stumbled out, pulling Sanji out with him. He walked over to the baby rabbit and it stood in front of it's parent, trying to protect them. It closed it's eyes as it saw Luffy reached out and Luffy grabbed onto the adult Lapin's paw and pulled them out of the snow. The baby hugged their parent while Luffy walked back to Sanji and picked him up, carrying him.

"I'll get you there, I promise! Don't die, either of you!" Luffy spoke. 

Ichi's eyes widen and he smiled as he saw Luffy was alright and that he found Sanji, who was unconscious on Luffy's back. He noticed that the two looked worn out and their clothes were slight ripped. Luffy picked up Nami, tying her onto his back.

"Are you alright?" He asked worried.

"I'm fine. Let's get up to that mountain!" Luffy told him. Ichi nodded and the two headed out. 

However, they weren't alone. Wapol and his crew had been caught in the avalanche as well, but were saved by Wapol's devil fruit powers as he swallowed them and buried themselves in the ground. He spat them out.  One of Wapol's men spotted Luffy and Ichi through his telescope and handed it over to Wapol. 

"Look there they are, King Wapol!" He pointed out. Wapol growled, grinding his teeth angrily.

"I'll beat them do death!"

[brainyxbat]

Chapter 6: Luffy, Completely Surrounded! Commodore Nelson's Secret Strategy

(episode 59)

"We're out! We're out!"

"Make chase at once!"

"O-one other thing, Lt. Commander! While in pursuit of them, Eric-sama also reappeared, and has just returned to ship!"

"Look at 'em come! Look at 'em come!"

"The Going Merry is faster and more agile, but what are we going to do when we get to Warship Island?!"

"We'll be okay!"

"How will we be okay?!"

"We just need to find the dragons' nest first, so Grandpa Ryu can get better, right?!"

"Doesn't look like that's going to be an option."

"The small fries have leapt forth. Open to the left and right! Crane Wing Formation!"

"What now?! They have us blocked off!"

"Jump onto a ship, kick the guys off, and cut the links! That's the only choice, obviously!"

"Doesn't sound too bad to me!"

"Alright! Let's go!"

"I'm going too!"

"Alright!"

-

The Merry was rocked all around from cannonballs launched nearby, but never took any hits. The dominant ship was outside the circle, as Nelson watched from his throne. "Marvelous! A truly marvelous view!" He fanned himself. "Listen, now! Do not let the attacks falter even a bit!"

"Yes, sir!"

"But do not hit the raft!"

"Yes, Commodore!"

Nelson chuckled evilly. "For so many years, I've sought the Millennial Dragon, and I've finally found it! The elixir of immortality, the Dragonite, is now as good as mine!"

From the circle, a Marine saw the flags blowing on the dominant ship. "Sir! The commodore's flagship says his plan has succeeded! He says his attack is still ongoing!"

"Looks like our mission is over now," The Lt. Commander decided, and walked past the mercenary.

'If they fall into Nelson Royal's hands now...' Eric thought, before speaking up. "Hold on, Lt. Commander!"

He stopped dead in his tracks. "Do you still want something?"

"Prepare one paddleboat, and three proficient seamen."

"A paddleboat?! What for?!"

Eric smirked. "Because a mast would get in the way."

"Don't tell me you're going into the enclosed area?!"

Eric turned away from him, smirk undeterred. "Just do it already."

The Merry was still being rocked left and right, as everyone held onto something tightly. "Apis! It's dangerous!" Usopp scolded when she ran out of the cabin, and fell over rom the attacks. "Go back inside!"

"I can't leave Grandpa Ryu all by himself!" She protested, and kept running.

"Hey, you! Wait!" He ran after her, but she was sliding down the rope by the time he caught up. "That's dangerous! Get back here! It's your fault if you fall!"

"Grandpa Ryu! Just hang in there a little longer! I promise I'll take you to the dragons' nest!"

"Man, she's brave!" Usopp remarked. "Dammit! That moves me to tears! Alright!" He grinned confidently. "I'll break through the front lines, and take you to the dragons' nest!" His moment was ruined by a cannonball-induced wave knocking him back to the cabin. "Oww! Hey, we've been hit from behind!" He cried fearfully. "Hey! Sanji! We've been hit! Venus-chan! We're done for! We're sunk!"

"Pipe down!" Sanji ordered. "We ain't been hit."

"Eh? Seriously?"

"Yeah."

Usopp slumped over in relief. "I'm saved! Who the hell thought of this plan anyway?!" He ranted.

"You did," Venus responded, and he winced.

"That's it! That's it! Go!" Luffy laughed, as Nami steered from inside. "Hey! A ball's coming this way!"

"I can't do any more than this! Do something on your end!"

"Okay! I'll do something!" Luffy ran along the ledge, until he was in its path. "Gum-Gum... Balloon!" He inflated his belly to a massive size, so the cannonball bounced off, and was sent flying back to one of the Marine ships.

"No way...!" Apis watched from the wagon.

"No way!" Nelson's eyes were wide. "You impudent bastards! How dare you damage one of my warships?! What are you doing?! Hit them with the Super Giant Cannon!"

"Yes, sir!"

Nelson raged in his seat. "There's no escape! There's no escape! There's no escape for you!"

"Prepare to fire the Super Giant Cannon!"

A giant cannon descended from the front of the ship. "The pirate ship has been trapped up ahead! Ready to fire!"

"What is that?!" Nami exclaimed. "A direct hit from that, and our ship'll be blown to shreds!"

"We'll be okay!" Luffy assured nonchalantly. "I'll just bounce it back again!"

"Don't be stupid! I'll turn the ship about; you guys work the rear sail! Hurry!"

"Yeah!" Luffy, alongside Zoro, went to just so.

Usopp stood by one of their own cannons, vengeful. "An eye for an eye! I got a shot ready for you too!"

"Here we go!" Luffy pulled the rear sail back.

"Eat this!" Usopp shot the ball at the bigger ship, landing like a marble in the huge cannon.

"Fire! Fire!" But due to the interference, the cannon was totaled, and Nelson was knocked out of his seat. "What just happened?!"

A Marine ran over, and saluted. "An enemy cannonball hit our main cannon perfectly!"

"W-what?! Hurry, and lift me up!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Howdya like that?!" Usopp taunted. "This is what happens when Usopp-sama gets serious!"

"Not too shabby, for a fluke," Sanij commented.

"You're so full of it," Zoro added.

"What?! I can do that anytime!"

"Wow... he hit it!" Apis stared in awe. "You're so cool, Usopp!"

"Yeah!" They exchanged thumbs-ups.

"Seems your aim is still perfect as always," Venus grinned genuinely.

"T-thanks, Venus!" Why was he getting so flustered at her compliments?

Luffy watched over Ryu from the ship. "It'll be okay! Don't worry! You just keep Apis safe!"

"Who're you talking to?!" Usopp approached him.

"Grandpa Ryu."

"Huh?"

"Now's our chance! Nami announced. "Let's act quickly, and cut some links to open a path!"

"Right, Nami-san!"

"Luffy," Zoro turned to the captain.

"Leave it to me! Gum-Gum... Bridge!" The three joining him crossed the makeshift bridge, with Zoro holding one of clumsy Venus' hands to keep her from falling into the ocean below. "Alright! Grandpa Ryu! Just hold on! Here goes!" After Zoro, Sanji, and Venus board the Marine ship, he launched himself over to them. Unfortunately for poor Zoro, he crashed into him, and they hit the cabin. "Sorry, Zoro."

"Why, you...!"

With struggle, Nelson's throne was lifted back up. "Report! What are they doing?!"

"Yes, sir! Four people from the pirate ship have boarded portside Ship #1!"

"Huh?! Say what?!"

Zoro observed the chain links keeping them from escaping. "Steel chains, huh..."

"Think you can cut 'em?" Luffy asked.

"There's nothing I can't cut!"

"Really? Then they're all yours."

Sanji noticed Venus watching the cabins intently. "What is it, Venus-chan?"

"Sounds like we've got company," She observed.

Sanji turned to see hundreds of Marines filing out of the cabins, and surrounded the four, pointing their guns. "Talk about coming out of the woodwork."

"I like it when things are lively!" Luffy grinned.

"Sure, whatever."

"I'll leave the small fries to you," Zoro decided.

"Yeah!" Luffy, Sanji, and Venus agreed simultaneously.

"In the name of the Nelson Fleet, we won't let you break through here!" They charged in, but essentially had their asses handed to them by Luffy's gatling, Sanji's kicks, and Venus' energy balls.

Meanwhile, Zoro spent a few seconds in deep concentration, before he made a slice... that did nothing. "What?!"

Venus noticed his trouble, and ran over. "Everything okay?"

"I got it, Venus."

She raised an eyebrow at him. "Here, I'll soften it up for you." She laid herself over the ledge, and prepared an attack. "Witchy-Witchy... Ball!" As she let the energy ball weaken the chain, she kicked away any Marines that took advantage of her being sidetracked, sparing hardly a glance. After a minute passed, she straightened up. "Okay, try it now."

Zoro looked at her for a moment, then sliced at the chains again; to his surprise, his sword cut it right through. He turned back to her, dumbfounded. "I can do it again if needed," She shrugged innocently, then returned to combat.

"Yeah! That's it! That's it!" Usopp cheered. "You're so wonderful! Keep it up! Chop those things up good!"

Nelson snarled in anger. "Curse you! How dare you lousy pirates try to break my links! Capture them, at all costs! Or else I'll maroon every last one of you!"

Marines ran to the ship with the intruders, using the chains as bridges. "Gum-Gum... Gatling!" Luffy rapidly punched them into the ocean, but the officers simply kept coming.

"Done!" Venus weakened another chain, and Zoro cut it, sending more Marines plunging.

An excited Luffy was running, as yet more officers ran after him. "Here they come! Here they come!" He then held them back with his arms stretched out. "Gum-Gum... Slingshot!" Hopping off the ground, he sent them soaring back, even breaking a piece off the ship. "Hiyaaaaaah!" With a kick, more were sent into the ocean.

"Wow..." Apis watched from the wagon. "I didn't know they were like this.

When another chain was weakened, courtesy of the young witch, Zoro chopped it. "There's only one chain left!" Nami pointed out. "Let's get moving!"

"Aye-aye sir!" Usopp followed her.

"No, no! Someone stop them!" A strong whirlwind stopped the Merry from getting any closer.

Turned out, it was Eric, still in his paddleboat. "Oh! Eric!" Nelson grinned. "Well done! Now the Millennial Dragon is mine!"

The boat bumped into the wagon, startling Apis. "That scared me!" She yelped in terror when it wasn't any of the Straw Hats. "You're the Sicko Sicko Fruit guy!"

"Not "Sicko." The Sickle Sickle Fruit!" Usopp and Nami ran to the back of the Merry. "Girl! It's time to hand over the Millennial Dragon!"

She ran in front of Ryu's head. "No! I'll never give you Grandpa Ryu!"

"Hand it over like a good little girl!"

"No!"

Eric readied his hands. "I can chop you into pieces with wind slashes at any time, you know." Apis gulped fearfully.

"Stop right there!" Nami yelled. "Lay a hand on the kid, and you'll pay!"

"Y-yeah!" Usopp stammered. "I, Usopp-sama, won't sit by quietly either!"

"Fools. I made that wind slash just now miss on purpose." Nami gasped in surprise, as she remembered the strange whirlwind that knocked them back earlier. "Get in my way, and this time I won't miss! I'll blow your entire ship apart!"

Luffy walked over to Zoro, Sanji, and Venus watched what was happening at the Merry. "What's wrong?"

"It's him," Sanji glared.

"The Sicko guy," Venus sneered.

"Huh? What's he doing?"

"Looks like he's planning to take Apis hostage, and steal the dragon," Sanji observed.

"Tie the raft to our boat!" Eric ordered.

"Yes, sir!"

"That's bad!" Luffy frowned, and went to intervene with Venus.

Zoro stopped them with his hands on their shoulders. "Stop! If you lay a hand on him, he'll take Apis, and the others out with his technique!"

"Oh! Right!" Luffy prepared to go again. "Then I'll use my foot!" Zoro punched him in the head, as Venus facepalmed. "Huh?!"

"Listen better!"

Eric began to sail away with the wagon in tow. "I'm taking the Millennial Dragon now! Nothing personal!"

"You fight dirty!" Usopp shouted. "Give Apis back!"

"Oh no!" Venus exclaimed.

"Eric! Well done!" Nelson praised. "Now, bring it here!"

"No thanks. This isn't for you."

"Eh?! What did you say?!"

"The only reason I obeyed you was to use the Marines' information-gathering capabilities."

"What?!"

"It's not like you were any different. You tried to use me too."

"I hired you for a great sum of money!"

"I think I've worked off that chump charge by now. I have no obligation to obey a sea lion like you anymore!"

"S-sea lion? You're calling me a sea lion?!"

"I'm going to use the Dragonite I get from the Millennial Dragon to make myself perfect!"

Nelson growled furiously. "You'll pay! You'll pay for this! Shoot that backstabber! Shoot him! Shoot him!"

Cannonballs were shot at the paddleboat, frightening Apis, but they all missed. "They're starting again!" Usopp observed.

"If you don't want to get blasted to pieces, you'd better start rowing!" Eric commanded the rowers, and they fearfully obeyed.

Apis turned away from the action, as she started choking up. "Stop... stop!" She then turned to her captors. "I'm begging you! Please don't harass Grandpa Ryu anymore! He hasn't done anything wrong!"

"Be quiet." He turned to look behind the wagon.

"I have to take him to the dragons' nest right away! So please stop this!" Eric lifted her up by the back of her dress. "What're you doing?! Let go! Let go, I said!" She thrashed.

"Listen, girl. You're a hostage. And I'm taking the Millennial Dragon."

"I'll never let you have Grandpa Ryu! Never! Never!"

"I've had enough, girl!" He gripped her chin. "Any more shouting, and I'll chop you apart!" Instead of backing down, she bit down on his hand. "Oww!" The rowers watched in shock at the exchange, before he threw her down in the boat, rendering her unconscious. "Let go!" He rubbed his sore hand, oblivious to Ryu menacingly rising right behind him. "Damn kid, giving me trouble." He was confused when the Marines screamed in terror, and dove into the ocean, swimming away. "Hey! What are you running for?! Get back here!!" He turned, and realized what scared them off; he yelled fearfully, just before Ryu smacked him away with his wing. "Dammit!"

Ryu stared down worriedly at the unconscious Apis, as memories of them together crossed his mind. He shook with anger, then spread his wings, and let out some loud, bird-like screeches, making everyone in the vicinity cover their ears. "I can't stand this!" Nelson complained.

"Oww! My ears!" Usopp exclaimed.

"Grandpa Ryu let out a sound!" Luffy observed.

When the screeches came to an end, hands lowered, as Apis came to. "Oww..." She perked up at seeing her friend standing up. "Grandpa Ryu!" She hugged his snout. "You can move! That's great! That's great!" She pulled away at his words to her. "What?" He straightened up, and started slowly flapping his wings. "Really?!" She beamed.

"What the...?!" Usopp tried to see what was going on.

"You don't suppose he's..." Nami started.

"Yeah! You can do it, Grandpa Ryu!" Luffy encouraged. "You can fly!"

With a creak, from the wagon, he was doing it! "You're flying!" Apis cheered. "You're flying, Grandpa Ryu!"

Nelson's hand tightened into a fist. "No! If the Millennial Dragon is just going to escape, then I don't care if we kill it! All I need is its Dragonite, anyway! Fire! Fire! Fire like mad!"

Cannonballs were fired again, only this time, they weren't as careful as before. "Stop!" Apis protested. "Grandpa Ryu! Run! Run to where the cannons can't reach you!"

"That's it! Shoot him down, quickly!"

"Stop that!" With a stretched-out punch, Luffy took out some cannoneers, as did Zoro with his swords, Sanji with his kicks, and Venus with her energy balls.

"Now's your chance to run, Grandpa Ryu!" Apis urged.

"What are you doing?!" Nelson raged. "Attack it with this ship too!"

"Yes, sir!"

"It must be shot down!"

As Ryu attempted to fly off, he was bombarded by cannonballs. "Grandpa Ryu!" Apis tried to stop him. "No! Don't go that way!"

To Nelson's terror, Ryu was flying straight for the bigger ship with a vengeance. "What?! It's coming this way! Shoot it down, quickly!" Ryu let out another deafening screech. "It's coming! Shoot it, quickly! Shoot it!"

After more cannonball shots, Ryu slowed to a stop, and plunged into the ocean, as Apis and the Straw Hats watched in pure horror. Luffy launched himself in the air from the ship's mast, and flew above the dragon. "Grandpa Ryu!" Apis could only cry silently, unable to say a word, as Luffy landed on his back. "Grandpa Ryu! Hang in there!"

"Oh no," Venus whimpered, on the brink of tears.

"Hey, now! What are you saying?! Don't talk about dying!" Luffy protested. "Yeah. I know. I will save Apis! And take you to the dragons' nest!" He vowed. "So try hard to stay alive!"

Apis stayed quiet, until the urge to speak returned. "Grandpa Ryu!" She screamed.