(A/N: YOU GUYS CAN BET YOUR BEHINDS THAT I DID IN FACT WRITE A WHOLE CHAPTER IN JUST OVER 24 HOURS! I WAS FEELING THAT ANGST!! WOOOOOOOOOOOO!

enjoy the early update :3c)

...

"Release the celestial dragons! Or else," the marines commanded again. Unaware of the triple threat that approached them.

Luffy, Law and Eustass (Tani later learned his preferred title is Kid) walked along side each other, steps echoing through the long hallway that lead outside.

Not too far behind the captains, the crews followed. Remaining silent, because who wants to ruin their captains' entrance?

Law's crew lingered by Tani, giving her excited looks. Tani didn't understand what the hell was happening with that crew, but the bells on their wrists... Even the way the string is tied, was her style of tying knots.

Sunshine hit the pirates eyes, and as promised. A platoon of marine soldiers surrounded the building, guns at the ready. The captains continued walking until they stood outside the building, lined up in a row. Law standing to the right side, Kid in the middle, and Luffy to the left. All of them bickering among each other, though the air seemed friendly.

The marines looked at the powerful trio, the marine captain remained confident.

"Where's the hostage?" the marine leader demanded. The captains all shrugged, not really caring about the celestial bastards. The marine leader wasn't having it.

"Open fire!" he commanded. The marine soldiers clicked their weapons, aimed and fired at the three captains.

Worst mistake they'd ever made.

The trio grinned with varying degrees of malice, giving each other enough distance so as to not hinder one another.

Luffy started with a "gum gum balloon", bouncing the bullets away. Kid and Law looked at him with mixed emotions, ranging from "What kind of power is that?!" to "That looked really stupid". Luffy ignored them.

The bullets that sprayed towards Kid, paused in the air. Kid's smirk stretched far across his face, as the bullets were sent flying back. Hitting each marine that fired, right in the chest. Many men dropped to the ground, squirming in pain.

Law had lifted his hand up, Tani wasn't at the right angle to see what he was doing, but she did notice the blueish haze that surrounded the area. It wasn't Luffy, and Kid looked like he had a magnet or metal manipulation power.

"Those guys are screwed," the penguin hat guy snickered to orca hat guy.

The bullets that neared Law, just like Kid, paused before they hit him. However, instead of firing back, Law let them fall to the ground. The marines realized their guns wouldn't work against these opponents, dropped the firearms and charged with a range of melee weapons.

Law grabbed the handle of his ridiculously long sword. The marines drew closer. Law withdrew the sword, slicing quickly.

Tani couldn't believe her eyes.

Every marine that had charged towards the armed man... Well they were dismembered. Their bodies floating casually in the blue dome that Law had created.

"Hey Robin," Tani nervously laughed, pointing at Law. Who was now playfully swapping and sticking random body parts in spots they shouldn't go. "We found that guy you were talking about on Thriller bark."

Robin gave a humorous snicker. "So it would seem,".

Kid held his arm up, metal rattled around. Clinking and scraping against each other. Kid flicked his wrist, a storm cloud of metal guns, swords, lances, batons, literally any weapon that the marines had (that contained metal) floated into the air. Kid waved his arm towards himself, the metal followed his lead, flying towards him. They danced and molded around his arm, taking the shape of a metallic monster arm.

Kid went running into the crowd of marines, laughing manically as he smashed his giant fist into the ill-prepared marines.

Luffy was zipping around the marine group, his skin steaming from the use of gear 2nd. He was having a ball, punting marines around.

This battle was too easy.

"Stand your ground! An admiral is on his way." the marine leader informed his men. Probably not intending to share this with the pirates. Kid decided he didn't want to stick around for that.

"Oi straw hat," Kid smirks at the captain who came barreling through a group of marines. "I ain't sticking around to deal with an admiral, so you better leave too." Luffy continued to fight, "Next time we meet, I ain't gonna be so cooperative. We're rivals." Kid declared.

"Good! I'm the one who will find One piece. It wouldn't be fun without a challenge." Luffy grinned. Kid let out a bark of laughter.

"Spoken like a real pirate," Kid waved his crew over. The rag tag team of punk dressed weirdos came rushing to their captains side. "You better not die, Straw hat." and with that, the captain of the Kid pirates ran off. Down right slaughtering his way through the ever growing crowd of marine reinforcements.

"I'm heading off as well." Law said casually. Dropping his blue dome, leaving the marine amalgamations to flail over their? Each others? Body parts.

A group of unaffected marine soldiers charged at the off-guard captain. Tani felt a gust of wind as orange blurred in her vision. Bepo attacked the unfortunate soldiers with his surprising agility.

"Penguin, Shachi." Law addressed his two remaining men. Tani held back a laugh, of course the penguin hat guys name is Penguin. The two grinned at their captain, standing by his side like loyal guard dogs.

"I'm guessing we'll meet again?" Tani stated. Law paused in his exit, giving her that smirk.

"We will," he assured. "It was lovely to see you again." he concluded. Leaving Tani with new questions to be answered.

"Bepo!" Law called for the polar bear, who ceased his assault against the marines. Running back to his captain's side, sputtering apologies.

"Oi Tani! We're heading out too." her own crew informed. Nami already forming a thunder ball tempo for their escape.

The flying fish riders came to pick them up, Nami released the thunder cloud. You know, a dramatic exit for the straw hat pirates. Flying off into the distance, while marines scramble for their lives.

Good times.

...

The crew, Hachi, Camie, Papagyu and Rayleigh (who decided he wanted to tag along), arrived at a little bar owned by a lady with short black hair, who smoked a pipe.

"Hello Shakky," Rayleigh greeted the woman. Who gave him a playful eye roll.

"6 months," she recounted. Rayleigh laughed, walking into the back room of the bar. He must live here?

Rayleigh came back with a first aid kit, handing it to Chopper. The little doctor got to work, fixing up the injuries on Hachi.

"So... Dark king Rayleigh." Robin starts, giving a cheeky smirk. "It's a surprise to see someone so notorious, living a life of peace." the old man gave laugh.

"You know him Robin?" Sanji asked. The woman shook her head.

"Personally? No. I did see his extravagant bounty posters while he was still active." she replied. All eyes turned to Rayleigh... Except Luffy, who was raiding Shakky's fridge.

"You a pirate or something?" Zoro asked.

"Former first mate of the Roger pirates," he revealed.

There was silence over the room, the information slowly registering into the straw hats brains.

"YOU WERE ON THE PIRATE KINGS CREW?!" Came the shouts of surprise. Robin sat back snickering, while Brook remained unsure of who Roger was.

"How are you still alive? I thought the whole crew got captured and executed," Sanji asked, the question burning everyone's throats.

"We didn't get captured, Roger turned himself in." Rayleigh recalled. Taking a seat at the bar, Shakky slid him a drink.

"Why would the pirate king, the most powerful man to roam the seas! Turn himself in?" Usopp tossed into the pile of questions.

"Roger, the bastard. Found out four years before his final journey, that he had an incurable disease." Rayleigh sighed. Taking a swig of his drink. "Idiot wanted to go out with a bang," he laughed.

"So you're telling me." Nami said, "That Roger conquered the Grandline, while he was sick?" the navigator was in awe. Rayleigh nodded.

"We in-listed the help of a doctor named Crocus, he kept Rogers health in check." Rayleigh explained. That name sounded familiar.

"That's the guy who takes care of Laboon," Luffy commented, spraying half chewed food on the ground. Brook went straight as a board at the mention of Laboon.

"He joined the Roger pirates because he was looking for another crew." at the mention of that, Brook began to cry. Happy to know that Crocus was still taking care of Laboon.

"So what happened next?" Tani asked, she found the story so fascinating. A pirate crew that managed to conquer the world? It's incredible!

"Roger conquered the sea, was dubbed the pirate king. A meaningless title, since he was dying. Yet the bastard enjoyed it while he could." Rayleigh recounted, nostalgia blooming on his face. "We partied for weeks afterwards. Then after a month, we disbanded quietly. Roger turned himself in a year later." Rayleigh concluded, the story was bitter sweet.

"His last words to me, and I'll never forget them." Rayleigh laughed. "I ain't gonna die yet, partner." he quoted. Tani could hear the snark in such a phrase.

"The marines thought that executing him publicly would strike fear into the hearts of young pirates. Roger had another idea."

Tani's vision blurred, she blinked to clear it. Only to have her perspective shifted, she stood among a crowd of cheering people. Staring up at a familiar platform, a man crouched on his knees. Hands bound by wooden cuffs. A devious grin on his face.

"Where's all your treasure?" a man called from the crowd. The man on the platform looked up.

"My treasure? You want my treasure?" he grinned, Tani couldn't help the feeling of adventure that swelled in her chest at those words.

"If you want my treasure, you can have it!" he declared. Voice booming over the crowd. "I've left everything I gathered in one place. You just have to find it,"

The executioners moved, stabbing right into the man's chest... No, not just any man.

That was Gold Roger.

The crowd erupted into chaos, cheers and cries. It was a sight to behold, the immense power that those final words held.

No wonder so many people took to the sea.

The world blurred again, the girl blinked. Finding herself back in the bar, Rayleigh drinking the last of his alcohol.

"Say, Luffy." the older man addressed. Luffy looked up from the fridge. Swallowing the chewed up food in his cheeks. "Have you seen Shanks recently?"

Luffy instantly paid attention, the mention of his idol hooking him in. He shook his head.

"The brat visited me a couple years ago, talking about some kid he met in the East blue." Luffy had a wide grin on his face, hands grabbing at the brim of his hat. "That hat suits you well. Shanks wouldn't shut up about how much you and Roger acted alike." Rayleigh said. Luffy blushed, pulling his hat down while grinning like an idiot. Swaying his head, happily chanting Shanks' name.

"Yeah, Shanks gave Luffy his hat." Tani remembered aloud. "They promised not to meet each other again, until Luffy became a powerful pirate."

"Of course the brat would say that." Rayleigh shook his head with amusement. "That kid hasn't changed a bit, always issuing challenges."

"How do you know Shanks?" Luffy asked, lifting his hat up.

"The brat was an apprentice on Rogers crew, along side another pirate named Buggy."

"Buggy the clown?" Nami asked. Rayleigh gave a nod.

"So you have met him? How's he doing?"

"Luffy kicked his ass," Zoro answered. Rayleigh laughed.

"So Shanks was on Rogers crew?" Luffy grinned. "He's so cool," the captain swayed. God he was so cute, Tani's heart couldn't take it.

"Does that mean you've seen the one piece?" Usopp chimed in. Rayleigh nodded. "What is-"

"USOPP!" Luffy screamed. Shocking the crew with his out burst. "Don't you dare finish that sentence," Luffy glared. "I don't wanna know anything about the one piece! It'll ruin our adventure. I don't want to have a boring adventure," Usopp shut his mouth, zipping it and tossing the key.

"So you truly intend to conquer the Grandline?" Rayleigh inquired. Luffy shook his head.

"I don't wanna conquer it. The man with the most freedom in the world, is the one who becomes the pirate king." Luffy grinned. Rayleigh returned the look, satisfied with the youngsters answer.

"I'll have your ship coated within three days." he informed. "Free of charge, as a thank you for saving my friend," he motioned to Hachi. "And for your pleasant company."

Nami was certainly happy about that outcome.

"You lot might want to keep out of trouble for a while." Shakky said, breathing smoke from her pipe. "There's an admiral on the island," she gave a lazy smile. Luffy rubbed the back of his neck.

"We could split up?" Usopp suggested. "That way we won't draw too much attention."

That wasn't a bad idea... Except-

"Zoro would get lost," Sanji, Nami and Chopper sighed. The swordsman snapped at all three of them. Luffy let out a laugh.

"Take these then," Shakky held out a piece of paper. The corners all folded, pointing towards Rayleigh. "It's Rayleigh's vivre card. After three days, make your way back here." she smiled softly. Luffy grabbed the page, and tore it into pieces for the crew to take.

"So... Where are we all heading?"

...

The crew left the bar together, planning to split up in a moment, but not quite ready to do so. It may only be three days, but they'd still miss each other.

"I still vote we go to the amusement park," Luffy grinned, hands behind his head, taking big steps. He was still buzzing from the thought of Shanks! Talking about him.

"We can't all go to the amusement park," Tani rolled her eyes playfully.

"I wanna go!" Chopper cheered. Brook also opted to join team amusement park.

"Tani, you have to come with me." Luffy grinned, dropping his hands to catch hers. His hold was tight, but not bone crushing. "Captains orders." he added for good measure.

"I said we'd go on a date, didn't I?" she teased. Luffy cheered, spinning around, dragging Tani with him.

"What the... Shit!" Sanji called out. Luffy paused, turning to face the looming figure of a giant man. The straw hat crew tensed, fear present in their faces.

"Who's this guy?" Luffy asked. Taking a defensive position, Tani pushed behind him.

"A big threat, that's who!" Usopp trembled. Kuma looked at them silently, his demeanor was... Off.

"Run!" Franky commanded, firing a Coup de vent at the warlord. Kuma didn't move at inch, but it provided a distraction.

The group split from each other, leaving behind a confused Luffy. Who was activating gear 2nd, if this guy was scaring his whole crew, luffy wasn't gonna go down without a fight.

Zoro and Sanji flanked their captain, ready to protect their running crew mates.

"There's something wrong with him." Zoro comments, placing Wado into his mouth. Sanji takes a look at Kuma and agrees.

"He seems... Robotic?" Sanji offered. Zoro nodded. "Then let's kick his ass, I've got shit to do," Sanji stretched out a leg.

"You've got my back?" the swordsman asked, Sanji chuckled.

"And you've got mine?" Zoro nodded, the pair worked like clockwork.

The pair waited for the right opportunity to strike.

Tani, Nami, Robin and Chopper split away from Franky, Usopp and Brook. The first group headed for somewhere to hide, while the other looked for higher ground, planning a counter attack.

The girls (plus Chopper) hide behind a wall, watching the battle from the safety of their cover.

Kuma didn't flinch at any of the hits sent his way. He stood there, as if waiting for an order? Or charging something up with our showing off any signs of-

The warlord opened his mouth, his head turning towards Franky's group. A yellow glow appearing in the back of his throat.

Shut up! Is that a laser?! When did he get lasers?!

The laser fired, Franky noticed in the knick of time. Grabbing Usopp and Brook, and diving out of the way. Holding both crew mates close.

"There's something very wrong here." Zoro snarled.

"His fighting style is different." Sanji declared. Luffy nodded, though he didn't know who this Kuma guy was, there was no life in him. Luffy didn't know how he knew, but Kuma was empty.

"This isn't the real Kuma then," Luffy stated. "That means there's more of them on the island." he concluded. Zoro and Sanji agreed.

The trio attacked the Kuma together, pulling out their most powerful moves. The Kuma stumbled, firing off lasers in an attempt to get the pirates off, or destroyed.

His attempts were futile.

The Kuma stopped moving, smoke erupted from his throat. He dropped to the ground with a loud thunk, the earth shaking beneath his cold, metal body.

"A robot?" Luffy kicked the deactivated bot. Zoro and Sanji exchanged a look.

"Kuma had metal in his body," Sanji pointed to his leg. "I kicked the real one before, almost snapped my leg."

The straw hats regrouped, curious about the robot Kuma. Usopp and Franky instantly dissecting the thing.

"This is super! Hardcore robotics." Franky commented. Knocking on the metal chest plate. Prying it open, he recognized the style of wiring and build.... Because he used the same.

"The weakness is on the inside, if we're attacked again-"

"We will be attacked again," Tani interrupted.

Franky sighed, "When! We're attacked again. Aim for the mouth, or between joints." he instructed. That sounded easy enough.

...

It was not easy! Not easy at all!

Tani narrowly dodged the Kuma's laser as he blasted at her. She waved her arms frantically, gathering the attention of the second Kuma. Who was also charging up a laser!

Act as bait Usopp said! It would be easy Usopp said! You're the fastest person here Usopp said!

Well Tani says that Usopp will pay for this when she's brutally murdered via lasers. She's haunting his ass for the rest of eternity!

Another laser went off, this time it was directed at Chopper. He'd shifted into arm point, and dealt a nasty blow to the bot. Franky jumped in, throwing a painful strong right into the Kuma's face. The laser missed Chopper, but it didn't miss hitting a target. Robin bloomed many arms, clutching the robot's jaw downwards, the Kuma hit himself. Legs exposing wires and support beams. Robin breathed heavily, head aching from over use of her fruit.

Zoro wasn't fairing any better, his injuries from Thriller bark caused his movements to be sloppy and lacked his normal power. Sanji kept by his side, picking up the slack that Zoro couldn't physically complete. The swordsman appreciated the help, even if he hated himself for needing it.

Brook went speeding around the battle field, his sword stabbing into the joints of either Kuma when he could approach, without being exploded. Nami was standing with Usopp, the former spun her clima-tact batons, preparing for a thunder-lance tempo. Usopp kept his eyes on Tani, waiting for the perfect shot to take out the Kuma from the inside.

Another laser went off, Tani dodged just in time. Usopp had found his perfect moment.

The sniper fired a fireball star directly into the Kuma's mouth. The thing jittered and sparked, head twitching while limbs forgot what to do.

Luffy charged at the defective Kuma, teeth biting into the tip of his thumb and blowing. Air filled his bones, arm inflated until it was ten times as large as himself. The captain stared the fidgeting robot down, no remorse in large eyes.

The fist flew, slamming into the Kuma. The robot sank into the earth below, leaving only a head which spun the spot.

"Thunder lance tempo!" Nami called, firing a blast of concentrated electricity into the second Kuma. Luffy used the rest of his gear 3rd energy to take out the final bot. Smashing it into the groves' tree.

They'd done it! They took out the bots.

The straw hats ran towards Luffy, who stood with pride. His crew were so strong, and talented. He couldn't have defeated those bots alone. Their tired smiles, the wobbling of worn limbs. They'd earned this victory.

They could take on the world-

Luffy dodge-rolled away from an axe that slammed down in his previous spot. A wide man with short black hair and red clothes stood there, massive axe in hand.

Thinking beside the axe man, stood... Another Kuma bot. Luffy stares at his crew, all of them breathing in deeply, Zoro and Robin could barely hold themselves up.

There was no way they would survive another battle. Luffy knew when to quit.

"Split up! We'll meet again in three days!" he commanded, keeping the shake from his voice. He wasn't afraid, Luffy doesn't feel fear.

He believed in his crew. He knew they would walk away from this unharmed, and have a party when they meet again in three days.

Usopp grabbed Zoro from Sanji, the blonde was hesitant to leave the heavily injured swordsman behind, but Usopp and Brook were fast runners. They would get their first mate out of harms way.

Nami grabbed Sanji by the wrist, dragging him with her and Franky. The trio running in another direction.

Chopper shifted into heavy point, and grabbed Robin. Luffy stretched to grab Tani by the hand, yanking her towards himself. She clutched around his hand, her skin sweaty and gross. Luffy clutched back, their holds on each other were iron tight.

He wasn't letting her go-

The axe man came flying towards Luffy, his palm chopping into Luffy's torso. The captain went flying towards the mangrove tree. Slamming into it... It hurt.

Luffy felt pain, from a blunt force action. Just like a fist of love. This axe guy... He was dangerous.

And right next to Tani.

"You're not human are you?" axe guy commented. Tani stood on the spot, fear rendering her legs uselessly glued to the spot. "You're life force is nonexistent... Unless you're hiding it." he leaned in, Tani held her breath. Unsure how to respond.

Does she talk? Fight back? Run away!

She couldn't move.

*bang*

The world flashed a bright white, the source coming from the direction that Usopp and Brook were taking Zoro in.

Shit!

The Kuma bot that arrived with axe guy, was now chasing after Nami, Sanji and Franky.

Shit! Again.

They were surrounded. No where to run, no where to hide.

They weren't surviving this. Unless some miracle of god decided to rain down good fortune on them.

It's Luffy after all... He's always managed to pull through.

Right? Right!

Tani felt herself glaring at the axe man, if she could cause a distraction. Anything at all. She could let her crew run.

It's not like she could die anyway.

The girl moved with adrenaline fueled speed, her heart racing. Hands grabbing at the axe mans' red clothing. He had a long flap of cloth that could be flipped over his head if she timed this right.

She leaned onto the balls of her heel, the moisture in the grass made it easy to slide her heels into each other. Activating her wavers. She flew upwards. Red cloth in hand, she flipped herself over. Caught by surprise, the axe man flailed. Grasping for the object that blinded him. Tani screamed for her group to-

"Run!"

Tani grabbed her bat, moving to take a swing at axe guys ankle. Only to have him block with his weapon. Tani staggered, barely regaining her balance before the guy struck at her again.

Luffy stared with horror as his nakama were all pursued by enemy after enemy.

Zoro was being dragged away from the admiral! Who had arrived at the worst possible time. Usopp and Brook kept being knocked back by the powerful man. His devil fruit being some light manipulation thing.

Nami, Sanji and Franky all struggled against the Kuma bots. A second one arriving on the scene, this one was holding a book in its hands.

Tani was struggling to keep the axe guy off their backs. Sacrificing herself for the sake of Robin, Chopper and himself.

Luffy... The captain.

He tried to get off the ground, struggling to get back on his feet. He couldn't let her do this alone.

He couldn't leave his crew to fight this alone.

They were going to become free, just like him.

They just needed to survive.

"ZORO!"

The light guy charged up a laser in his foot, hovering it over the downed swordsman. Zoro couldn't move, everything hurt, it all hurt.

He wasn't strong enough... He was going to die-

The admirals foot was smacked away, a new leg popping into view.

"Rayleigh!" Usopp and Brook cried with relief. The older man gave a grin.

"Now, now Kizaru. You can't snuff these sprouts out before they've bloomed." he teased.

"Well... Well... If it isn't... Dark king... Rayleigh," the admiral said slowly.

The former king of the pirates first mate, knocked the light marine away from Zoro and his group. Giving them some room to regather their bearings and-

The second Kuma bot flew towards Rayleigh and Kizaru. The bot pausing before Rayleigh's ear, his mouth moved ever so slightly.

Realisation dawned on the sniper.

"THATS THE REAL KUMA!" he shrieked, the straw hats froze at the declaration.

No... No not again... Not him again!

Tani wanted to scream, curse the world for being so cruel.

Kuma zipped away from Rayleigh, instead landing in front of Zoro. The swordsman looked down right terrified.

"Where would you like to go?" Kuma asked softly. Hand lifting up, Zoro couldn't move.

*pop*

Eight left.

It all happened so fast. A blink and you'll miss it situation.

"Zoro…" Luffy's voice was small and weak, his eyes wide with disbelief. How could Zoro... Roronoa Zoro, the man who would become the world's greatest swordsman, the straw hats first mate... Luffy's oldest nakama. Vanished, with nothing more than a pop.

"Zoro…" his voice shook with a tone that felt new to him.

Fear. 

"Zoro!" he shouted, as if the small patch of indented grass could respond with the ever laid-back and smug voice of the beloved swordsman. 

"ZORO!" Luffy screamed with anguish. They were meant to escape! Find a hiding spot and meet again in three days.

Where was Zoro?!

"Everyone!" Luffy begged. "Everyone run! Run away and find safety! We need to find safety now!" he screamed at the remaining eight crew members. 

Kuma turned his head towards the two men that surrounded Zoro. Brook and Usopp attacked with everything they had. Their assault bouncing off the warlord, who continued to approach.

Brook nervously slashed the torso of Kuma, "I'm so scared, I can feel my skin crawling... Except I don't have any-"

Kuma swiped, tapping the skeleton before he could finish his joke.

*pop*

Seven left. 

The next target of the warlords attack was the scurrying sniper. Who scuttled backwards, rapid firing. He couldn't stop shaking, his shots were off centre. He couldn't breath, like he'd caught "I can't be on this island anymore" disease.

*pop*

Six left. 

Sanji roared with pain, his crew were disappearing! And he was too weak to stop it. First Zoro, then Brook, now Usopp! He couldn't watch another one vanish. He either takes this bastard down... Or he dies trying!

The chef left Nami and Franky behind. The pair screaming for Sanji to stop.

"Sanji stop!" Luffy cried with them, his attempt to stop the blonde was in vain. The enraged cook dashed towards the enemy, legs ablaze. He launched himself into the awaiting palm of Kuma.

*pop*

Five left. 

Tani kicked her wavers into gear, leaving her previous foe in the dust. This was more important, escape was more important. She headed for Robin, only now noticing that Chopper was gone.

Kuma turned to face Nami and Franky. The cyborg grabbed Nami around the waist, and ran as fast as he could. The navigator was on the brink of tears, fear filled her eyes.

Kuma teleported in front of the pair. Franky tossed Nami away, the red head landing harshly on her body. Watching as Franky prepared a strong right.

Kuma took the hit, grabbing the metal chain that connected the arm to the cyborg. He tugged it towards his awaiting palm. Nami let out a scream.

*pop*

Four left. 

Luffy activated gear 2nd, he raced towards the lone woman. Nami was paralysed with fear, she turned around to face her approaching captain, as he held his hands out to take.

"Luffy!" she begged. Their fingers so close to touching.

"Help m-" she didn't get to finish, her words disappearing with the wind. Luffy was left slamming into the empty space that once had his nakama.

*pop*

Three left.

Kuma teleported away from the captain, his sights set on the monster form of Chopper. Who was rampaging the grove, tears rolling down his eyes.

He just wanted to help his friends.

*pop*

Two left. 

Luffy stared at his two remaining crew mates. Robin and Tani ran as fast as they could. Robin in the lead while Tani flew towards her.

Luffy raced for the girls, raced to save the last of his nakama. He couldn't lose them. Not after working so hard to get this far.

Kuma had other plans.

Luffy drew closer, as the warlord stood in front of Robin. The woman showing fear on her normally neutral face. The captain held a hand out for her.

Robin reached for him as she cried his name. That same fear of death that she held, while crying for her life at Enies lobby present in her wide blue orbs. Then nothing.

*pop*

One left. 

Tani wasted no time sprinting over to Luffy, she knew she was next on the list. That just how the trope goes.

The captain would be all alone.

She wouldn't let that happen.

Tani met Luffy half way, the captain was shaking. She grabbed his hand and boosted away. She wasn't letting go, she wasn't going to let Luffy suffer this alone. 

She couldn't let him suffer alone-

A strong grip grasped around the girls waist. Tani wheezed as the air was knocked out of her system. Luffy's hand slipping from her grasp, all the blood, sweat and tears... She stared at Kuma in horror.

"Where would you like to go?" he asked her.

She turned to look at Luffy.

The boy only got a split second to stare in her horror filled eyes, while she stared into his. This can't be it… she can't die here… he can't be alone. 

"Luffy!" she screamed at the top of her lungs, hands held forward for his now stretching hands to hold. 

"Tani!" he screamed bloody murder. Their fingers graced each others before. 

*pop*

Zero left.