This chapter is dedicated to XxScarletMaidenxX, one of the most brilliant One Piece writers here on Wattpad. I find their stories complex and fascinating, and adore their writing style. They really are one of my favorite Wattpad authors, without a doubt!

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Raya's POV

I'm not going to explain to you exactly why I'm glaring at Sanji like he's somehow personally wronged me. It would take too much time and frankly, it'll only piss me off more. But I'll give you a brief overview of the situation. Sound good? Good. Cause that's all you're gonna get right now.

First off, the gates didn't open as planned, because of something unnaccountable: The three-headed judged wasn't dead. He'd managed to drag his scorched ass up to one of the towers and stopped the Franky Family from lowering the gates at the very last second. 

I was thisclose to diving down from the roof and slitting all three throats of his once and for all, but Luffy's hand had caught me by the back of my tank and kept my madly kicking form from doing as planned, placing me gently back at my post. Actually, a different post. This one was beside Zoro, and he was more than strong enough to keep me from doing things that reeked of stupidity. Even when I unjustifiably kicked him in the chest.

Oh, and Franky ( miraculously conscious after everything that happened to him) torched some important blueprints for a massive warship, which promptly resulted in him getting kicked off the tower by Spandam. 

We weren't even given time to worry, what with Kokoro's rough voice blasting over crackly loudspeakers, ordering us to jump straight into the waterfall. 

Because we're all marginally lacking in sanity or forethought, we did as bid and launched ourselves off the roof, only to be caught when Rocket Man came barreling through, smashing the gates opened like a bat outta hell, Kokoro, Chimney and Gonbe at the helm. 

After we'd all recovered from our sweat dropping hysteria (landing somewhat safely on the other side of the precipice with Franky among us) and Spandam had had another of his whiny tirades, ordering the CP9 to quote-unquote butcher us (with the exception of Lucci whom he kept as a sort of bodyguard), we all filed into the tower.

And of course, the first room we entered, we found the disturbingly round member of the CP9 clinging to the walls like a fat-ass cobweb. There's a possibility I threw a rock (the closest thing to me that wasn't Ussop - I mean Sogeking) at his large (and very easy to target) head when he told us it was pointless to go after Robin, seeing as how she wasn't even in the same room we'd seen her in with Lucci and Spandam. No, she was already heading for the Gates of Jutsice.

You know. The very thing we came to save her from.

You can imagine the pissed-off scowl that marred my face while he laughed at our misfortune.

Basically, after that, he told us that the CP9 would prevail and that we'd all die here blah, blah, blah. He ranted for a while before he said anything else even remotely useful, that being the fact that the Seastone cuffs bindign Robin's powers could only be taken off by a specific key, which was somewhere among the remaining CP9 members. We'd have to defeat them in order to free Robin completely.

So after getting partially beaten up by Luffy, Boulder Man left, leaving us to consider our options. We decided that Luffy alone would go after Lucci and Robin while the rest of us scattered in order to find the keys. I'd protested at first, thinking Lucci (the goddamn leopard bastard) was too much for even Luffy to handle all by himself. But he'd smiled -  that perfectly childish smile of his that I absolutely adore - and promised me that he'd be alright, said thanks for worrying about my cap'n. 

How can I not worry, when you're so stupid?

Of course I didn't say that; I'm not that cruel, not really. At least, not with my crewmates, anyway.

But I still wasn't quite happy with the final decision. Nevertheless (because if anything I listen to my captain's orders) I went along with it.

Which is how, after some fruitless searching for the CP9 on my part, I stumbled across Sanji. Slumped against the wall, beaten to a pulp, doused in his own blood and looking like a shiny soap bubble doll.

Nami and Chopper were already there, explaining the moment I came in that they'd found him like this, that they didn't know what'd happened to him. 

And here we are. Because I know why Sanji's like this, why he lost and why he's showing such obvious scars.

"Kalifa," I growl, narrowing my eyes at the woman leaning out over the destroyed railing above us. She doesn't say a word, simply watches us with undisguised amusement. On its own accord, my fist slams into the wall; blood wells up between my knuckles, trickles down through the lines of my palm. But there's no pain, because all other sensations are overshadowed by pure, unbridled rage.

"Sowwy...." Sanji's voice is dry, cracked. "I lost.... I couldn't... get... the key...."

"H-Hold on, Sanji! I'll give you first aid!"

"Sanji..." Nami tightens her grip on the Climatact previously held loosely between her fingers. She's looked up as well, her eyes fixed on Kalifa's smirking face. "You really... couldn't win....?"

"It's obvious, isn't it?" I snap, my hand moving for Honoo's hilt, needing something solid to hold at such a disjointed time. "He couldn't fight her because he can't fight any woman. It's his weakness, Nami. He's gentlemanly to a goddamn fault." I bare my teeth in a savage snarl, locking eyes with Kalifa. "And he'll get himself killed because of it!"

"I'm sorry... about the key..." 

"That's not it!" Nami shouts, rounding on the deflated cook again while I keep an eye on our opponent. "We're just saying that if you keep holding on to your stupid kishido, you'll be endangering your life! What if Raya's right, Sanji? Will you keep it up even if you keep ending up like this? What if you die?!"

He starts, clearly surprised by Nami's passionate response, though he sinks back into his lowly state a second later, his glassy teeth gritted. "It's not like... I want to die. But... I was taught to never kick a woman. That's just how I was brought up. That's why... Even if it kills me.... I refuse to kick a woman...!"

My fingers cinch tighter around Honoo's blood-red hilt, my jaw clamped shut so furiously that I can feel the pressure grinding my teeth. I swallow the lump in my throat, squeezing my eyes shut for a moment, two, then I explode.

"Idiot!" I ram my heel into Sanji's back at the same moment Nami attacks him with her Climatact, much to Chopper's horror. Momentarily dropping my hand from Honoo, I drop down to my knees and haul Sanji up by the slippery lapels of his suit jacket. "You're always saying you'll do anything for us, right? For me, Nami and Robin? So what the hell is up with this? You can't do one simple thing, kick that woman's ass and be done with it so you can save your nakama?! You don't know her Sanji, for Kami's sake, and Robin should be your priority right now, not some absurd kishido that only you agree with!" My eyes drift to where Kalifa is still standing, waiting for someone to make a move. She cocks her head, like she's beckoning me to come to her. 

Oh, sure as hell, I'm going to come to her. 

I drop Sanji unceremoniously to the ground, allowing Chopper room to do what he can with his injuries (it's not much, really, considering the weird state he's in right now). Honoo vibrates wickedly under my hand, growling like a tigress ready to pounce. I stand slowly, never breaking gazes with Kalifa. "You know," I shout up at her, resting my hand lightly at my hip, "I'm all for gender equality, so I hope you appreciate it when I melt your painted face off, cause it's the same thing I'd do to you if your chest was flatter."

"Ooh, you've got spunk, Daughter of Red-Hair." Her smirk widens a fraction, nearly engulfing her face. I feel my eye twitch a bit spastically in response. Must everyone see me only as Shanks' kid? It's getting more annoying everytime I see it on someone's lips, but especially from this bitch. "I didn't think much of you in the shipyard, but you've changed in my eyes since then. I'll gladly take you on. I think we'll get along rather well..."

I jerk a thumb at my chest, my scowl transforming into a confident smirk as I look back at my friends. "Leave it to me, guys. I'll make sure she realizes how idiotic it was for her to take on the Straw Hats in the first place. You just take care of Sanji for now, got it?"

Of course I don't wait for a reply. That's valuable time I'd be wasting! And I also really don't want to hear their reasons for keeping me there any longer. My blood is boiling, practically singing, anfd every muscles in muscle, every tendon, every frayed nerve is screaming for me to end Kalifa in the most horrific way possible.

I'm halfway up the steps when an explosive entrance from below makes me spin around, eyes widening at the sight of the cotton-candy haired behemoth hurriedly chasing after me. I haven't even done anything to this guy? Just what the hell is he after me for?!

"Hurry up, Raya!"

I snap my head around to stare at Nami, who's whipped her Climatact in front of her, spinning it in a deadly pinwheel, with Chopper morphing at her side. "Hurry up!" she repeats. "Don't worry about down here; just take care of Kalifa! We'll deal with this guy!"

I nod my thanks, once and only once, before turning my gaze forward again and quickening my pace to reach the blonde woman I suddenly have a desire to rip apart.

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Flames lick at my boots, dancing across the shimmering floor. It looks like oil on water, just not as explosive, seen when my flames greedily devour the bubble slime, boiling it to smoky wisps that drift through the air, mixing with the fully-formed bubbles floating sporadically around the room.

"Oh, what a shame. You didn't fall for my trap."

I step carefully into the room, the soles of my feet still alive with flames in case she's got any more bubble traps set up around the entrance. If I'd come rushing in here like I planned, no doubt, I would have slipped and trapped myself in puddle Kalifa had all lined up for me. But it just so happened that a random bubble drifted out the door before I stumbled in, giving me a moment to think before any rash actions.

Bubbles apparently really don't like fire.

"Course not," I sneer (I'm not usually one to sneer, but the situation definitely calls for it). "But don't you think I deserve a prize for being so clever? Like maybe, I dunno, getting out of the goddamn tub and fighting me?"

She is, in fact, half submerged in a tub positively brimming with sparkly bubbles, her legs draped lazily over the sides, arms dangling just above the ground. 

"Isn't this, like, bad for you anyway?" I ask, shifting my weight from foot to foot impatiently. The blood thirst is seriously getting to my head right now. "I mean, these trippy bubbles are obviously some sort of Devil Fruit. You're not immune or something, are you? Cause if you are, I'm going to feel very cheated."

"Oh no, immune?" She stands gracefully from the bath, slipping behind a screen as I dart forward, seeing no better opportunity to start things off - and end them.

"Of course I'm not immune to water. But a woman's got to keep herself clean no matter what, don't you agree? After all, her body is her beauty, and must be taken care of."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." I roll my eyes, cocking back my fist (bathed in flames). "Tell it to someone who gives a damn!"

I lunge for the screen, only for a wall of bubbles to spring up in my path. My flames flare to life instinctively, bursting from nearly every pore, every inch of my skin, but it's too late. While I manage to burn off the majority of the bubbles, enough sneak through my fire to smother my leg. The bubbles pop before I can swat them off, the liquid soap seeping through my jeans, coating my skin with the sticky substance. 

I clamp a hand over my mouth, smothering the gasp that bubbles up in my throat. Tingles erupt all along my skin, wherever the soap touches. Numbness slithers through the coiled muscles, and my knee gives out fist, dropping me to the floor with a hand braced on the ground to keep me upright. I grit my teeth, refusing to ask the obvious question: What the hell did you do to me?!

I'm forced to wait and watch as Kalifa dries and changes, taking her sweet time with both. I'm rubbing furiously at my numbed leg, trying to burn some sense of sensation into it, but it's no dice. It's not just that it's numb either; I feel like, even if I could move, this leg wouldn't be able to support my weight. My strength's faded. 

Bubbles, right? I narrow my eyes to glinting slits, thinking over Kalifa's style up to now. Ok, so she can clean shit now. Lovely for her. But what the hell does that mean for me...? Well, cleaning. Cleaning... takes away dirt and grime, right? 

Wait. This isn't happening. She can't be serious... She's literally cleaning off my power?!

Oh I'm going to kill her now. 

A jolt runs through me as feeling suddenly returns to my leg. I'm testing my weight, starting to stand, when a growl ripples through Honoo, her trembling voice warning me to move. I throw my weight to the side, barely dodging the cloud of foamy bubbles aimed at my chest. I don't exactly land, touching down for a second before continuing on in a roll that sends me across the floor, head first into a wall.

Because I am oh so special like that.

I shake my head, dislodging my muffled thoughts, then raise my eyes to inspect Kalifa.

She's covered herself in bubbles. And now she looks like a sheep.

"You dodged the first round," she says, a hint of acknowledgement in her voice, "but you won't be so lucky twice." And with that, the sheep explodes, splattering ball-sized globs of bubbles in all directions, absolutely drenching the room.

I summon a wall of fire, heating the soap until it bursts and dissipates in little crystaline sparkles. In the smoke that follows, the onslaught stops, and I dive forward again, intent on ending this with Ace's signature move.

This better not be considered plagerism!

"Fire Fist!"

The flames writhing with beauty and vigor around my arm, I reel back my fist, throwing it forwards with all my strength behind it as I crash through the smoke. There's an explosion of fire that blisters even my insulated skin, super-heated air raking through my hair, scorching my cheeks. Something cracks beneath my fists; slippery goop gives in, my fist shoving forward another inch or so. But there's no blackened flesh, no blood, no gore.

Just soap.

I fall back in surprise, stumbling on my own two feet.  Kalifa's face peers out at me from behind a wall of half-melted soap, hardened into a sort of shield around her entire body. It begins to liquify, still steaming from contact with my flames, slowly losing its shape and falling away from Kalifa's body. 

"You're kidding," I breath as she steps out, looking no more worse for wear than before. "You have to be kidding..."

"There are no jokes here, Raya," she tells me plainly, taking another step towards me, a loose smile on her lips, "only simple elegance. Now, don't you realize you've stepped too close?"

I flinch back in horror, realization dawning on me just a little too late. I scramble to my feet, jetting out a column of flames behind me as I move - but she reaches for me anyway, a layer of hardened soap protecting her arm from my fire. She catches my wrist in her grip, jerking me back until I'm pressed roughly against her chest. I try to wrench myself free to no avail. 

Shit!

The situation is made infinitely worse when I feel her gloved hands snake down to my ankles and begin an incredibly invasive journey up my thighs, sliding around my waist and abdomen. My skin prickles with unease as, once again, my clothing is rendered useless, the soap seeping through with little to no resistance. I can feel my heart racing, spiked with fear and anger and a deep-rooted hatred.

The horror lends strength to my adrenaline and blazes erupt from my entire body, throwing Kalifa back with enough force to slam her into the opposite wall.

I collapse to my knees, then sink pitifully to my side, trembling like a leaf caught in a twister. I can't move my legs, can't feel them at all. Everything below my waist is completely numb, unresponsive to any of my silent commands.

Wanna know what's worse? I'm starting to look like Sanji, my body glistening like a glass doll's, smoothed down and shrunken.

"What the hell did you do?!" I snarl, twisting around as best I can to scowl at her, my eyes raging beneath my sweat-ridden bangs. 

She stands calmly, dusting herself off. "It's beautiful, don't you think? Anything I touch will gain beautiful luster. Allow me to make your skin shiny... on every part of your body."

"How about I make your skin crispy on every part of yours?" I shoot back in a growl, my voice pitched low and feral, my eyes sparking. She's not touching me again, so help me Kami. I have never felt so violated in my life. But with my legs like this...

"Ohoho, you've still got your spunk?" She adjusts the glove of one hand with the other as she stalks closer, sashaying like she means business. My jaw clenches at the helplessness overwhelming me. Fire doesn't do any good with her armor like that, the very one she's cloaking her body in as she walks. I can't run, I can't fight, there's no way I'm calling for help. Chopper and Nami have their own problems at the moment; they don't need to be worried about me.

And I promised they could leave her to me. I'm not breaking any promises so long as there's air in my lungs.

Kalifa disappears, and my head whips around, some vague part of me sensing her approaching from behind. I manage to roll out of the way, forcing my arms to work overtime in order to compensate for the loss of my legs. But she's there, pinning me down, running her fingers across my cheek.

"Golden Hour!"

Pins and needles this time, and then numbness. 

She cups my chin, twisting my face around so that our eyes are locked. She smirks. "You're so pretty too," she muses, letting her soap slither its way down my throat, over my chest, my shoulders. "Now you'll be gorgeous. I'm doing you a favor, Raya, remember that. You'll have such luster to your skin!"

I gasp out something like a threatening curse just before she places her hand over my mouth, silencing my pitiful noises. She pets my hair, still smiling like she's never had so much fun in her life, slowly draining my strength and morphing my body into a grotesque doll - just like Sanji.

I was way too rough on him... It's not like I'm doing any better here...

"There." Kalifa stands, smug and arrogant over her victory. "It's pointless now. You won't be able to get up, much less fight me. And with your strength so drained right now, I doubt you can summon your precious fire." She slips a hand between her breasts, digging out a small silver key that she twirls carelessly around her finger. "This key will never leave my hands, Raya dear, and you will never leave Enies Lobby alive."

Angry, burning tears prick the back of my eyes, welling up among my lashes. For the love of... I can't believe it. Am I really the weak link in the chain? Am I really the most pitiful Straw Hat? That I can't even win when everything is on the line for us? Just... just what kind of a loyal pirate am I, then? 

How can I... How can I face Luffy again, knowing I've let him down in our most crucial hour?

....Tears are uncalled for here, Raya.

My breath hitches. Honoo?

Of course. Aren't I always here for you? 

A smile threatens to twitch at my lips, only held back by the tingling numbness. Kalifa gives me an odd look over her shoulder, as she's moved to stand beside her door, where she'd been peering out into what might be the aftermath of a battle. 

Yeah. You are. And sorry about the crying. I know I look like a hot mess.

.......

No pun intended?

Be still, Raya, and watch for a moment.

I blink in confusion. The air feels charged, different from before, more... expectant. Then something inside me stirs. A blistering heat spreads through me, traveling through my veins, spreading from fingers to toes and then... gone. All gone.

And yet I'm left feeling blissfully warm.

I have a sudden thought. It's one I can't decide whether to think of as good or bad. Strange. Following my train of thought, I manage to move my arm enough that my slick fingers brush over Honoo's hilt, and that's when the second jolt hits me.

Honoo's spirit, her life, her fire.... it's vanished.

I'm two seconds from bursting into tears and allowing the shriek that's been building to tear from my lips when something brushes againt my cheek, calming me. Warmth. Crackling warmth. I flit my eyes to the corners, widening. What the.... That isn't --

A deafeaning roar rips through the room, bringing with it a vicious heated wind that tears into everything it can sink its claws into.

Amidst it all stands the fiery silhouette of a tigress, and it is radiating a murderous intent that may surpass even Zoro's. It pads closer on silent paws, tail swishing around to wisp over my cheek again, drying my escaped tears. Its mouth splits in a fanged grin.

"...Honoo...? Is that.... you....?"

Another ground-shaking roar answers me.

So this is Honoo's spirit?

Goddamn. 

I've been missing out.

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Hey guys! Sorry for the insanely long wait for this chapter. I hope the action makes up for it a little! And, if you'd be so kind, would you all be willing to vote for Destined for Flames in the @AnimeWattyAwards in the One Piece category? Or maybe for ZoRaya as your favorite ship? It would mean so much to me if you all thouht DFF was worthy of taking home the gold.

But regardless, thank you all for a great ride so far with this story. THANK YOU FOR 100,000 READS!