Canon Fodder

CHAPTER 82 ALUBARNA

“Okay, they’re gone!” Vivi yelled after Crocodile and Robin left. I walked down the hall. 

“Weston!” Nami and Luffy yelled. They were locked in a seastone cage with Luffy, Zoro, and a marine. 

“HA!” I laughed. “How the hell did you get captured, Smoker?” He grumbled smoking on his cigars. 

“I thought you ran here,” he said. “Then I got trapped with your idiot crewmates.” 

“Weston, what’s going on?” Nami asked. 

“Nothing, we just turned Miss All Sunday to our side,” I said. 

“But she just walked out of here with Crocodile. And they were mean to Vivi,” Luffy said angrily. Vivi did look a little beat up. 

“All part of the plan,” I said. 

“What plan? You know the water is rising in here, right?” Zoro asked. I looked down and he was right. The water was rising. I didn’t remember this at all. 

“The plan to get Crocodile,” I said.

“Why didn’t you come down earlier, and fight him?” Nami asked, angrily. 

“Because Luffy wanted to beat him up, obviously,” I said. 

“I do, but Weston, come on. There’s water, rising,” Luffy said. 

“In a minute,” I said. “Okay, quick overview of the plan. Robin just left with Crocodile. They are on their way to Alubarna. I didn’t come in here to kick his ass, because he hasn’t done anything that we can prove yet. So we need to keep him going with his plan for now, until we have hard proof that he is sabotaging the country. Miss All Sunday is on our side now, and will keep an eye on him for us.” 

“You got Nico Robin to join your side?” Smoker growled. 

“Well, yeah, that’s what I said.” The water at our feet was over ankle deep. “Now how do I get you guys out of the cage?” 

“The key is below us,” Vivi said. “One of the crocodiles ate it.” We were in Crocodiles evil lair. Below the casino it was covered by a giant aquarium that was below the fountain outside of the casino. Swimming in the aquarium were giant 30 foot long crocodiles. 

“What’s going on down here!” A voice yelled. We all turned to see Sanji walking from where Crocodile and Robin had left. 

“Hey, Sanji, check it out, these guys got captured,” I said. Sanji looked over laughing. 

“Oy, I’m gonna kick your asses when we get out of here,” Zoro growled. 

“The crocodile’s are coming up!” Vivi said, getting scared now. A large trap door opened allowing the banana crocs to come up.

“Sanji, you want to take care of those?” I asked. He nodded. Raising his black boots he was soon running at the first croc. Knocking it out in one kick. 

I pulled out one of my knives. Moving to the seastone cage door I began to pick the lock. “You can pick locks too?!” Luffy asked excitedly. 

“No idea, probably, I’m a ninja,” I said as I began trying the lock. It took time. As Sanji kicked the 4th crocodile the lock clicked and opened. “I’m amazing, “ I said. I turned to see Sanji kick another croc. This one spat up the key and a large white ball. 

“Did that thing just give birth?!” I asked excitedly. The ball was perfectly spherical, but as I ran up to it the ball began to deform and melt. Then a man was jumping out. He wore a striped shirt and had his hair formed into a number 3. 

“I am revived!” The man yelled as he burst out of the wax ball. 

“Who are you?” I asked. 

“Mr. 3!” He said excitedly. “Crocodile thought he could feed me to his pets, but he was wrong. I will-” He stopped talking as he turned to those coming out of the cage. “You!?” He yelled seeing the straw hats. 

“You know this guy?” I asked. 

“Yeah, he was a pain in the ass on that prehistoric island,” Zoro said. I frowned, drawing my arm back I knocked the guy out with a single punch. 

“Alright, shall we?” I asked. 

“I wanted to hit him,” Luffy said sadly. 

“There are plenty of crocodiles left,” Sanji said. More poured out of the trap door. The rubber man wore a smile as he started punching them. But his blows were wild. Hitting the wall more than once, water began to pour out of a crack he formed.

“You idiot, we are underwater!” Nami yelled. The cracks with water began rushing in faster. The room was starting to fill up, zapping Luffy and Smoker’s strength as they dropped down. 

“Grab the captain,” I said. Moving to Smoker I picked him up. Zoro grabbed Luffy. The water was quickly 10 feet up. 

“Let me go,” Smoker said. 

“No,” I said. “This isn’t where Smoker dies.”

“What are we going to do?” Nami asked as the level of the water rose more. 

“Swim down, through the trap door,” Sanji said. We soon made eye contact and nodded. Easily moving through the water Sanji kicked another crocodile as we swam down through the trap door then around the small lair. Up and up we went until we breached at the top of the fountain in front of the casino.

I threw Smoker onto the shore. He coughed up some water growling, “Why did you save me?” 

“Because the captain would have been pissed if we didn’t,” I said truthfully. “You can’t swim.”

“I’ll still capture all of you,” Smoker said as I helped others out of the fountain. 

“Good luck with that,” Zoro said as he pulled Luffy out of the water by his stretching nose. 

“Where is Chopper, by the way?” Nami asked. 

“He distracted Crocodile when I was pretending to be hurt,” Sanji said. Crocodile and Robin only left the layer because Sanji had beat up the Baroque Works guards outside. 

“Alright, we good on the plan?” I asked as Luffy finally felt well enough to stand. 

“No! You haven’t told us the whole plan!” Nami said angrily. 

“I was trying to, but you guys kept wanting me to free you from the cage,” I said.

“Well tell it now,” Vivi whined. 

“You were there, you know the plan,” I said. 

“I know, I’m just nervous,” she said quickly. 

“Okay. Crocodile is away. But Nico Robin told us that Mr. 2 pretended to be the king. Inciting the rebels to attack the castle today. The rest of Baroque Works is already in the capital, Alubarna. When the rebels attack the Baroque Works will help cause chaos. She also said that they had the king captured already. So the plan is to-”

“Hey guys!” Chopper yelled from atop a crab. The crab had run right through the city. It was at least the size of a building. “This crab said it will help us run out of here!” I had forgotten that as an animal he could talk to other animals. He was way more useful than that guy I took the place of in MHA.

“Perfect,” I said. Just spitballing because I couldn’t remember this crap at all.

“Finish the plan!” Nami yelled. 

“Alright. Broad strokes. You guys fight the Baroque Works people, Luffy fights Crocodile, catching him in the act of trying to take over the country, then I fight the rebels.”

“Fight the rebels?!” Vivi asked. “That wasn’t part of the plan earlier.”

“How else are we going to stop them?” I asked. “Don’t worry, I have a ninja skill to help.”

“Fine, let’s just go,” Nami grumbled. 

“Where do you think you’re going?” Smoker said. He was standing again. Facing us with his Jitte in hand. 

“To save a kingdom,” Luffy said. 

“Yeah. Go do your job as a marine and catch the real bad guys,” I said. Grabbing Nami and Vivi I ran away on the water. Jumping up to the side of the crab Chopper was riding I set the girls on top. 

“I wanted to carry them!” Sanji yelled as he jumped over the fountain water. 

“You can next time!” I lied. “Let’s get to Alubarna.” 

“Which way is it?” Chopper asked as he began to talk to the crab. 

“That way!” Vivi yelled excitedly as she moved closer. The other straw hats were soon on top of the crab and we were running in the direction she pointed. “It’s really happening. We are going to save the kingdom.” 

“Yosh,” Luffy said excitedly. Raising his arms as we left the city. “I’m gonna kick that Crocodile guy’s ass.” 

“You remember his weakness, right?” I asked Luffy. 

“Right, cats,” He said. 

“Goddamn it, Luffy,” I mumbled. The crab picked up speed.  

“Kitty litter?” He asked. 

“It’s-” I was stopped as a gold pirate claw attached to sand lopped onto Vivi’s arm, grabbing her. She yelled, but before I could grab her Luffy switched places with her. Holding onto the hook as he threw Vivi back to the crab.

“That was Crocodile’s hook!” Nami yelled. We turned to see the body of the sand man further away. Luffy was being pulled to him by the golden hook. 

“Damn pirates. Okay, new plan,” I said. “You fight Baroque Works. I will grab the captain.” I moved to the edge of the crab.

“What about the rebels?” Vivi asked. 

“Don’t worry. I will be back in time to help. But we need Luffy,” I said. Jumping off the crab I was soon running across the sandy landscape. The crab was fast though. It was a good mile away. When I got to the fight between Crocodile and Luffy, Luffy was losing. The Sand-Sand Fruit allowed Crocodile to turn into sand. Much like Smoker the sand could dispersed without damage from blows.

I began to channel water-chakra. Throwing it as far as I could, it splashed on Luffy as he blocked a blow against Crocodile. Luffy’s fist connected with the sandman for once. The water caused the dry material of his body to clump up. No longer bursting on impact. 

I channeled more water chakra as I skidded to a halt outside of the fight. “Weston!” Luffy yelled. “I remember now.” His water drenched body began to hit blows against Crocodile. 

“I can see that!” I said. Crocodile began to be pushed back. “Watch out for the hook for a hand!” Luffy ducked in time for the gold hook to miss him. 

The pirate captain’s fought. Luffy’s body dried up and Crocodile began to turn into sand with hits so I splashed more water on Luffy. Then the fight would start up again. Luffy was actually winning a little. Crocodile munching on his cigar put on an angry face. 

“I don’t have time for this!” He spat. Luffy began pummeling the sandman as I threw more water on him. I could have done seawater, but it was important for Luffy to beat the guy. He had to fight stronger and stronger people in order to be able to make it through it all. In MHA I planned to take over, but in One Piece, I wanted Luffy to stay the protagonist. I had no interest in becoming the Pirate King. 

“Then leave!” I yelled. “Our crew is already on it’s way to put a stop to your fake rebellion.” 

“Ha!” Crocodile said moving back. Catching his breath as Luffy did the same. “What can you kids do to stop it?”

“The princess is with them. You know as well as us that she can stop the rebel leader. They’re childhood friends, remember?” I asked. Trying to get him to leave. This wasn’t part of the plan to fight him off camera. He had to be dead to rights when it was all over. He was a Shichibukai. They wouldn’t believe he had put the kingdom into such chaos without concrete evidence.

Crocodile growled. Bursting into sand he became incorporeal as he headed East to Alubarna. “Great job, Luffy! Let’s go!” I said. 

“Aw, I wanted to kick his ass,” Luffy said. 

“You were doing really well, but we need to get you a barrel of water or something. You’ll have a chance to fight him in the capital,” I said. He nodded and we began running toward Alubarna. As we ran we were stopped by a hawk. A man-sized hawk landed in front of us. 

“Hey, you were with Vivi,” I said.

“Yes, I was,” the hawk said as he turned into a man. “Do you know where she is?” 

“Off to Alubarna, mind giving us a ride?” I asked. The hawk nodded. We grabbed onto his legs and he flew us to Alubarna much more quickly than we could have run there. We told the hawk man, Pell, what was happening and he sped up. We got to the town. Fighting was going on everywhere. The rebels had stormed the capital and were facing off against the city guards. 

“Drop me off in the middle!” I yelled. The hawk nodded, I had told him the plan on the way. “Remember, get water, Luffy. Go to the palace or somewhere around there. I’m sure you will find Crocodile.” 

“Awesome,” Luffy yelled. “Let’s get some meat too. I’m starving!” 

“You heard the captain,” I said with a smile. I was glad he never changed. Pell swooped down, allowing me to fall to the courtyard outside the palace. The rebels and guards faced off against one another. Unwilling to make the first move in the civil war. 

“I am your king!” I yelled. Casting a transformation jutsu I turned into the king, Cobra Nefertari. He was a tall man with long black hair, a stern face, and guotie. Vivi had shown me a picture of him earlier. I was suddenly in long robes and other attire he was known to wear. People began to whisper around me.

I turned the jutsu off. Back in my normal face. Turning to the rebels I said, “It is not hard to take the facade of the king.” One of the rebels raised their gun at me. I sent chakra into him, putting him to sleep as the sand ninjas had done to the tournament bystanders at the Chunin exam. “This entire war was faked, by the Shichibukai Crocodile!” I yelled. I cast another transformation turning into Crocodile. 

“What are you talking about?” A man from the rebel side said. 

“I am saying that there was no drought!” I yelled. “The lack of rain was caused by Crocodile. He used Dance Powder all over the country to make sure it stopped raining!” There were gasps in the crowd. Robin had told me about it. The Dance Powder was outlawed in the country a long time ago. They caused rain, but only where they were used. Then the surrounding around wouldn’t get any. Crocodile only used the cards in areas he controlled. Causing everywhere else to experience a drought. 

“Crocodile is trying to take over this nation. He is using you all to do it,” I said. The rebels slowly dropped swords and guns. “My crew is fighting Crocodile and his lackeys now. Princess Vivi is with us. She asked me to stop all of you from fighting. Fighting for no reason other than you were tricked.” 

Another person raised their gun. I cast another genjutsu through the Chikyugi Necklace since they were so far away. “Do you see that? Crocodile’s people are on both sides of this fight. Trying to trick you into killing one another. Everyone. Drop your weapons.” 

People looked around. A few did set their weapons down. But not enough. “Do you hear that?” I asked. Looking up to the sky. The area was quiet as thunder rumbled above. “You wouldn’t have heard it if you were fighting.” There was a slight darkness to the clouds overhead. The rain wasn’t there, but it would be. I remembered it, because the rain is what stopped the fighting in the manga. 

“You were all fooled,” I said. “Fooled by simple gimmicks.” I transformed into the king again, then Crocodile, then my Kakashi guise. “The king loves his country. And all the people in it. Put down your arms.” More people did. Then as more thunder rumbled overhead more and more people did. 

I let out a sigh. “Weston!” Vivi yelled as she ran down an alley. “The bomb!” I nodded. One of the things Nico Robin had mentioned was a bomb was also set, big enough to kill the rebels or guards, whoever came out victorious. Grabbing the princess by the waist I decided to double check Robin didn’t double cross us. 

“Let’s go,” I said, picking Vivi up and leaving the courtyard. Running up the wall of the nearest building the clocktower was in sight. Jumping to the base I ran Vivi and I up the front until we were at the face. A small door at the base of the clock front I opened it. 

“Would you stop screaming?” I asked as I walked in. 

“We just ran up a wall!” Vivi yelled. “Warn me next time!” Inside the clock face was a large black spherical bomb. Nico Robin stood inside. 2 of Baroque Members were tied up next to it. What worried me was that Robin was worried. 

“I can’t stop it!” She yelled. 

“What?!” I asked dropping Vivi to the floor. She hit with an oompf. “What do you mean you can’t stop it?” 

“I mean these 2 idiots made it so no one can stop it!” Robin said, pointing at them. 

“There is no secret code?” I asked, pulling out my Chikyugi Necklace. 

“Haha no-” The man named Mr. 7 said. I pulled him into the dungeon. It was not pretty, and by the end he admitted he was playing with the wires and had no idea how to stop it anymore. He began crying as soon as he was out of the dungeon. 

“Fuck,” I said. “How much time?” 

“2 minutes!” Robin said. “We have to run.” 

“You run,” I said. “I’m getting rid of it.” I didn’t wait. Scratching the itch the first gate opened in seconds. Breathing out as my muscles bulged. I began on the second gate. My body began healing rapidly. The 3rd gate was slower. My body turning red, hair standing on end, veins bulging. I screamed out in pain as the power awakened in my body. The girls were yelling at me, but I ignored them. I felt invincible. 

The large bomb had handholds for holding onto. I grabbed them and lifted the giant ball with ease. I didn’t wait. Running back I jumped through the face of the clock. Bursting through, my power was boundless as I fell through the sky. Landing on the building below, chakra pushed into it in waves, lightening the heavy load I had on my shoulders. I began running it straight out of the city. I couldn’t remember how they got rid of it in the past, but this time I was the one to handle it. 

My body light as a feather as I jumped over building gaps. The 15 foot diameter cannonball shaped bomb was going to be taken out of the city. My lungs working overtime to bring air in I kept it going. Increasing in speed. I wasn’t sure how long I ran, but when I got to the walled exterior I began to spin. Twirling around like some olympic thrower I made the ball gain centrifugal momentum then threw it out of the city. It soared further than I expected. As my gates were closed a white light appeared in my vision and I was thrown back as the force of the bomb hit me. Thunder rumbled in my ears, and soon enough the rain started.