| abstract
| - It was three days before the deadline and I had nothing. I was supposed to be writing about a notorious pirate and figuring out what lead up to their bad turn in life. It was not a mandatory assignment, western Ink only paid for actual news not educational fiction. It was a volunteer project, a challenge of sort for all the writers inside of the news department. Old Zed was even bribing us all with a price, a Devil Fruit no less. Who in their right mind would pass that up? As a result everyone went to work immediately scooping out criminals and writing up stories, not me though. I was too busy, I signed up, but instead I spent my time in front of the water cooler. There were plenty of funny stories and snacks to chew on, not including the actual work I was doing as well. Instead I simply keep putting it off, and now twenty something days later I was here, no story, no criminal, and very little chance at winning the prize. “Just my luck”, I spoke as I looked down at the desk. I wondered what in the world was that fruit. What power lay in its scrumptious looking frame, thought I have to admit I heard devil fruits tasted horrible. “Hey Noodle”, spoke Inuyasha as he walked up to my desk. “How is it shaking?” As he spoke his eyes turned down to my desk and the folder of sloppily placed criminals. “You have not started yet have you”, he spoke as he looked at me with disappointed eyes. “No I have not”, I spoke as I lowered my head in shame. This was Inuyasha, the greatest writer the Western Ink had ever seen. He was a five time Noble Letter Prize winner and the author of The Age of Whitebeard. Needless to say he was my role model and though I would never tell him that. We have been friends since we were kids and have written some good work together. “Too much water cooler too little work”, I spoke as I rubbed the back of my head. Inuyasha gave off a sigh as he looked me up and down. “Well Noodle you still have three more days. That is enough time to throw something together. At least then you can save face, don’t expect to win that fruit”, he chuckled as he walked away.” “Good to see you again too”, I spoke as he walked away. Man that embarrassing, still Inuyasha was right. I had better come up with something. If I did not write up anything I would end up being laughed right out of the department. “I will come up with something after lunch”, I spoke as I rose from my seat and walked toward the stairs. A dark cloud loomed over my head as I knew good and well that it was not going to happen. Distraught and hungry I shuffled my way down the stair case. As I reached the bottom I was meet by an old geaser. “Tomas”, I spoke with surprise. I did not expect him back for weeks. He was supposed to be doing a job in the Eastern Blues, what was he still doing here. “Noodle”, he spoke with excitement. “Just the man I wanted to see actually.” “Oh”, I spoke as I looked him up and down. He did not look dirty, nor did he look like he needed money so I could not guess what he wanted to talk to me about. Though Tomas did take notice of my eyes. It seemed I did not hide my facial expression. “I don’t need to borrow any money”, he spoke. He hammered the nail on the head. “That was one time Noodle, it is not like I borrow money from you every day.” Quickly I tried to place on my poker face, but the smile in my cheeks gave me away easily. However Tomas was one not to linger and in order to get past this acquired situation he coughed to clear his throat. “Any way Noodle I have some big news. The Seven Flags are sailing in this region of the Blues, though the marines have not pinpointed their location.” “The Seven Flags”, I shouted with shock and surprise. The Seven Flags were no small crew of ragtag pirates. They were the real deal. Each member of their crew had a bounty over a hundred thousand were considered some of the most dangerous people in the world. They were so dangerous they were on the Royal Task Force most wanted list, and that spot is usually reserved for Revolutionaries. If the Seven Flags were around that usually meant trouble, and the fact Tomas was talking to me meant. “You don’t”, I spoke. “I do”, spoke Tomas as an evil smile crossed his face. The perfect pay back, which was most definitely going through his mind at the moment. “Noodle you are one of our greatest investigative journalist.” “You mean the one who dodged the most bullets Tomas”, I shouted. “That last assignment you sent me on nearly got me blasted by a buggy ball! I thought you all said I had two months off from high threat level investigation!” “No we said you could have two months off, note the could Noodle”, spoke Tomas. “It was not guaranteed.” “Ah the technicalities”, I spoke as I realized my defeat. One always had to be careful with news companies. They always love to catch you with the fine print. “Look Noodle this is a once in a life time opportunity”, spoke Tomas. “We will never know when we will get a chance to meet up with the seven flags again. For all we know they could be dead by tomorrow, but while there is a chance Western Ink will get the story, and by Western Ink Noodle I mean you.” My sour expression told him exactly how I felt about the matter. “Look kid we are willing to pay you double for this one and give you four months off once the job is complete. All you have to do is try to get a interview with at least one of their members and you would have completed the job. It is a sweet deal.” “Sweet if you like nearly being cut in half”, I spoke as my mind drifted back to the Job with Blue Beard. “You’re an investigative journalist, near death experiences are part of the job. “ “Sure was not in the job description”, I added. “Look Noodle are going to take this job”, he spoke while giving me a stern look. “You are going to take this job or you are going to walk out that door”, he spoke as he pointed toward the marble door frame. “So Noodle are you going to take the seven flags job or are you going to quit. Those are the only two options available to you.” Curse you, I shouted in my head! Curse you to Chiaubhuhluhu! “Fine”, I spoke in anger. I had already put six years into this organization and I needed the money. Walking out now would be a full choice, but then again doing this job was just as foolish. “That four months better be guaranteed”, I spoke as I looked into his eyes. “Four months guaranteed”, he spoke as a smile crossed his face. “Now I need to make preparations to travel to the East.” “Safe travels”, I spoke as I turned away from the door leading outside the building and walked to what seemed to be a closet door. Angrily I opened it up to see another door, but this one was made out of steel and had no handle to turn. Next to it was a number pad in which I typed the numbers 879. Upon receiving the code a large machine on the other side of the wall woke up and began to rumble. “Great another interview with pirates”, I spoke to myself as I waited for the metal door to open. With a loud boom the door shot up and a meal locker was pressed forward. Inside of the locker was combat suit personally tailored to me? In the office we call them interview suits, but their real names were Kings Model A5. It became customary for us investigative journalist to wear these whenever we interviewed pirates or went out to find leads about them. When interviewing outlaws and cutthroats one wrong question could turn the conversation from smiles and mead to bullets and bleeding. This suit helped moving things in our odds toward survival, and so far since we have been wearing them we have lowered our journalist casualty rate by seventy percent. A good investment in my book, but on the Eastern front they are calling it a frivolous waste of resources, that what that meeting Tomas was attending. Taking the suit from the locker I walked to the bathroom and placed it on. The building had a no hat policy, which was enforced by a fifty four thousand eight hundred and forty two beli fine, which meant that I could not place the helmet on till I got outside. The fine had nothing to do with manners or building educate. It was more like Tomas trying to get back some of the money he pays us, but I never really wore a hat so it did not bother me much. “I swear that old man will drown in his own money one day”, I spoke as I finally walked out the door. Now my list of things to had just expanded even further. I have to first get lunch, and second come up with a story. After that I have to go to the local marine base and see if I can bribe information out of them about the whereabouts of the seven Flags. If I somehow manage to get out of there without either being mauled by recruits or thrown into prison for corruption I would have to find the pirates and then try and get an interview. “Well my month is going to be cap”, I spoke as I pulled the helmet up to place on my head. “Stop at once”, a voice shouted in a commanding tone! Immediately my body froze in place. At the moment I did not recognize who the voice belonged to, but my body knew fully well who it was. As I turned to see were the voice was coming from my eyes were meet with a peculiar image. There it was, a woman with a snake body. Her skin and scales were the same pale white and her hair a pitch black. She wore a deep red kimono with a light pink trim. Despite being half snake she carried herself with a unique dignity that only could belong to one person. “Yoza”, I spoke as I stared on. I moved the helmet from my head and turned to greet her. Yoza was a hammer, or in more common tongue a devil fruit eater. She had eaten a rare devil fruit and as a result she had gained her snake body, thought from what I understand she does not have to look that way. She could turn into a complete human or snake if she so desired, but I, and I doubt anybody else in the village, had never seen her do so. Yoza always looked like a Lamia, she seems to like that form. “Yoza”, she spoke with surprise. “Here I thought you would call me grandma Yoza or Granny Yoza like all the other kids”, spoke the serpent woman as she arrived in front of me. “You do remember that I am two hundred and five years old right.” “Yes, yes, Yoza we all know you have eternal youth”, I spoke as I moved to place on my helmet. “You put on that helmet and I am going to have to punish you”, she spoke as she gave an innocent smile. Immediately my blood ran cold and I removed the helmet far away from my head as possible. I remember well how cruel Yoza punishments were when I was a kid. It was unpleasant to put it lightly. “Oh look you are starting too sweet”, she spoke as her tail moved up and whipped the liquid from my forehead. “It seems you remembered the book training from when you were a boy.” “How can I forget”, spoke Noodle in horror as his mind ran through the memories. “You made me carry a thousand books around the island for a thousand laps. Who does that too a child”, he spoke as he stared at his hands. “People who want them to grow up into gentlemen”, spoke Yoza as she pulled her tail from his face. “Now are you going to buy me lunch or am I going to have to bring back even more of your child hood trauma”? Reluctantly I let off a sigh. “Where would you like to eat at my lady Yoza”, I spoke as I gave a slight bow and stretched my right arm across my chest. At the sight Yoza face lit up like a charismas tree. It seemed I was not the only person who could have flash backs. Immediately the maiden grabbed me and pulled me close. Her grip was strong, despite her being over two hundred years old, if I did not have my combat suit on she might have even cracked my spine. “Oh Noodle I remembered when you and Cooper use to do that when you were a little boys”, she spoke as she began to swing me around. “It has been ages since I last seen that.” “Yoza, yoza”, I spoke barely able to get the words out. “Come on Yoza you are crushing my spine!” “Oh”, she spoke as she let me go. My body fell straight to the ground and my face fell flat into the dirt. “As strong as ever”, I spoke as I got up. My helmet still remained on the ground. As I reached to pick it up Yoza wrapped her tail around it and brought it up to her own hands. “Sorry about that”, she spoke as a slight blush crossed her face. “I forget how strong I am some times”, she spoke as she held my helmet. I reached my hands out to get it back, but the maiden showed no sign of handing it over. “Umm”, Yoza, I spoke, but the maiden refused to give it. “Nope”, she spoke. “You will get your helmet back once out little date is over. If I gave it back to you now you would put it on and run off. Remember this is not the first time you promised to buy me lunch only to run away once we reached the store. I will keep this a collateral till our exchange is over.” “Whatever”, I spoke as I turned toward he street looking for the cheapest restaurant around. Yoza was right though, I was totally planning on running off. Not only was she detrimental to my health, but she was also a very big eater. The last time I took her out to eat she ate half of my monthly pay check. “Well how about we go to Joes”, I spoke as I pointed to a restaurant not far down the street. Joes was cheap and had an interior that Yoza would not complain about, and as a plus sigh Joe usually gave Yoza a discount. “Nope”, she spoke as she slid up and grabbed my arm. The serpent woman clamped down on her grip sending a small wave of pain rippling through my body. “Considering the fact that you left me hanging last time”, she spoke as she tighten her grip. “Don’t you think you should make up with some better quality food?” I cringed not at the pain in my arm, but the thought of what this was going to do with my wallet. Yoza was always one to get her vengeance. You were either going to pay for it with your body or with your wallet. “Besides Cooper took me to Elven Wood last time we went out together. You would not want to fall behind Cooper now would you?” “Elven Wood”, I spoke in horror as I knew my wallet was dead. Elven Wood was the most expensive and fancy restaurant on the island. It was the place to be if you were rich and the place you did not want to be if you were middle class. That restaurant was sure to send you back down the economic ladder with their outrageous high prices. Still it was a bit surprising to know that Cooper had taken Yoza there. Cooper was not really a rich man, or at least I thought. He did get that new job over at The Larkensons Company. If I remembered correctly he was supposed to be doing some work with machinery there, but more importantly he was supposed to be getting paid less than me. If he was taking Yoza out on dates to Elven Wood he must have been lying. No honor amongst us orphans any more, still he was the closest thing I had to a brother. So I guess I can let him off the hook this time. “Good then you agree”, spoke Yoza as she began to drag me off. At the moment I was contemplating leaving the helmet behind, but the maiden’s firm grip pretty much set my destination in stone. Great now Cooper was going to have even more money than I did. How am I supposed to pay for this on a reporter’s salary? “I am sorry my poor wallet”, I spoke as tears began to flow from my eyes. It seems I might have to void my vacation time. I was really going to need some money after this. After twenty minutes of walking I had finally accepted my fate. Yoza and I were sharing stories from my youth. How me and Cooper use to get into trouble and how we nearly burned down Toms. Some of the stories I wish to never remember and some of them were good times. There was a good feeling between me and Yoza. She was always an important part of my life, and a person I valued more than others. However the weight of my wallet always weighed heavily on my heart as she made it her personal goal to lighten it. As the two of us approached the restaurant a commotion erupted in the streets. Something was going on down the road and apparently everyone was getting down on their knees. It was the first time I had ever seen such a thing. All the people were bowing and placing their faces into the dirt. “What is going on”, I spoke with curiosity. To my surprise Yoza had let go of my arm. From what I could see there was a strong man with a very strange hat walking down the road. It was almost as if he was wearing a helmet to breathe underwater with. The sight nearly made me chuckle, but I remembered hearing about this somewhere, I just could not put my finger on it. “Get down you idiot”, shouted Yoza as she grabbed the back of my head and forced me into the ground. The maiden has stuffed my face into the dirt as she placed her own. “Hey Yoza what in the ….”, I spoke, but she cut me off. “You idiot I taught you better than that”, she spoke prompting me to shut up and listen to her. “That person walking down the road is a world noble. If you stand up you will be gunned down”, she spoke. “World Noble”, I spoke as I pulled my face out the dirt. I turned to get a better look at the man. Yea there was no mistaking it. At first I did not realize he was such as I had never seen a World Noble before. Now that I was thinking about it he fit the description perfectly. “So that is a world noble”, I spoke as I looked on. I wondered what was the difference between him, and me. We were both men, though he was a lot older, and we were both born from our separate mothers, except he was a noble and I was a commoner. “Head in the dirt idiot”, spoke Yoza as she pushed my head back down and stuffed my face in the dirt. “I swear, why are my kids so stupid”? Obedient to the village elder I kept my head down and my mouth shut. The noble continued to walk down the street looking at everyone he passed by. His eyes specifically focused on the women, which was not weir for one of them. However he seemed to be looking for someone. Finally he came down to the section of the street were me and Yoza were. The moment he laid his eyes on her serpent body his eyes lit up. “There”, he spoke as he and his escorts walked past everyone else and came up to our positon. Holy crap I thought to myself. A World Noble wanted something to do with us. I was not sure if I should be frighten or excited. There were very few people who actually meet a world noble. This could be good for the news at Western Ink, or it could be my introduction into a lifetime of slavery. “You there snake woman”, he spoke. My eyes immediately shifted over to Yoza who seemed to be just as shock as I was. What did he want with Yoza I thought to myself? Yoza was young, well young in the face. She was really over 200 years old. Still she had the look of a beautiful maiden. Could the noble man want to make her his bride? “Me sir”, spoke Yoza in a meek tone. It was the first time I had ever heard her speak so. Normally she was always high and mighty. She had been the village elder for so long that everyone in the region respected her. Even the lesser nobles would not dare talk down to her. “Of course you, you stupid plebeian”, he spoke. His harsh words and his disrespectful tone sent a wave of anger through my body. I wanted to jump up and punch the old man in the face, but my reasoning skills kept me in place. I clenched my hands into the dirt grinding up the sand inside of my fist. From what I could see everyone else from the village was feeling it too. I saw marks on the ground were other people had done the same and a few faces in windows biting there tongs. However nobody moved. Everyone knew better than to just go out and attack a World Noble. “Forgive me”, spoke Yoza as if she was the one in the wrong. Her meekness only further enrage me as she simply sat there and took it. The maiden kept her face in the dirt. The World Noble did not tell her to raise her head so she did not do so. “Are you Yoza”, he asked. His words caught everyone by surprised and made everyone raise an eyebrow. Even Yoza herself was surprise the noble knew her name. Sure she was popular, but she was only popular in this region of the Western Blue, she did not think anybody outside of it would know who she was. “Yes I am Yoza”, she spoke. “The village elder of Apple Village”. “Hmm”, he spoke as he looked at her. “Raise your head woman so I may see your face”, he spoke and Yoza obeyed. The maiden raised her head from the dirt and gave the nobleman and his guards a view of her face. The World Noble looked on with surprise as he looked into her black almond shaped eyes and pale white skin. He had expected to see some signs of aging, but she looked as a teenager. “So it must be true”, he spoke. A puzzled expression crossed her face as she looked at the World Noble. “What must be true”, she asked in a questioning tone. As she spoke the world noble pulled out his gun and raised it to her face. Her eyes opened wide as she looked down the barrel. Everyone in the crowd held their breath as they saw their precious elder being held up by this aged man. “That you have consumed the fruit of The White Snake, and gained its legendary powers”, he spoke. Yoza stared on as sweet began to pour down her head. It had been a long time since Yoza was close to death. In her entire life nobody had ever held a gun at her face, especially one so powerful as a World Noble. “Why should I die like a normal human when a commoner like you gets to live forever”, he spoke as he put his hand on the trigger. “That power was obviously meant for somebody superiors like me. You did a good job holding it for me, but now it is time for me to take it back”, he spoke as he pulled slowly on the trigger. “Lady Yoza”, a voice shouted out. The sound stopped the World Noble and took the guards by surprise. Everyone eyes turned to the source of the voice. There standing in the middle of the road was a man, and to my great shame it was not me, but rather it was Cooper. From the window of Lorkensons he probably saw what was going on and came down to stop it. He was brave, far braver than I was. For Yoza he was willing to stand up to a World Noble. All I was doing was gravelling on the ground like a little coward. “How dare you threaten”, he spoke, but a quick flash soon removed his head from his body. My eyes opened wide as a shadowy figure swung his hand clean through Cooper’s neck. Most people probably would have not even seen him move his hand, but my time dealing with pirates and watching my surroundings had given me keen eyes. I could see his hand slicking through Cooper’s flesh almost as if it was a sword. Within a fraction of a second he had already cleaved clean through Cooper’s neck severing the bone and moving out the other side. He did it so fast that not even Cooper knew he was dead before his head started to roll. The man, Cooper’s killer, was dressed like a monk. He was old, just like the noble he was guarded and seemed to have a calm demeanor around him. There was something about him. The way he stood. The way he moved. It was almost as if he was enlighten. I had heard of monks who had reached a level were the world was open to them. They could predict the future and know what you are going to do even before you do. Could he have been one of these people, one of the enlighten? As I thought on the monk and what I had just seen my heart began to ache and anger began to flood my system. They had just killed Cooper, a man I grew up with and considered to be my brother. Rage and anger built up in my heart and began to move toward my head, but suddenly the monk turned. His eyes narrowed and began to focus on me. “Are you next boy”, he asked? It was almost as if he could read my mind. Immediately a wave of fear shot through my body and the flames of anger were immediately put out by the chilling embrace of fear. “What”, spoke the noble as he turned his gaze toward me? In his eyes I could see he was willing to kill me as well. For him the idea of me being angry at him was an insult. Who was I to judge his actions; who was I to have an opinion of him? World Nobles, they were truly the pinnacle of arrogance. Still however he held my life in his hands. I could see him about to mouth the order to kill me as well, but suddenly his attention was turned from me and instead placed on Yoza. Like a cobra the maiden pounced off the ground and shot toward Cooper’s body. She moved so fast that the noble did not even have time to reach. His eyes and attention immediately turned to her forgetting me for the moment. “Cooper”, she shouted with pain and agony as tears began to pour from her eyes. The pain in her tears struck a chord in the hearts of all the villagers looking on, but the fear and power of the World Noble kept them from acting. “Cooper”, she shouted again as she grab onto his headless body and held it in her arms. It was clear that she loved him, like she loved all the children she raised. “Yoza”, I spoke as I looked on. Tears began to form from my own eyes as I looked at Coopers severed head. He was like a brother too me, my one and only brother, and now he was dead. He was dead for doing what I should have done. I was a coward. I let fear keep me down when I should have stood up. I cowered in the face of their power even when my own mo…, I mean Yoza was threaten. “Ugh so annoying”, spoke the nobleman as he raised his gun to fire at the back of Yoza skull. My eyes opened wide as I looked on. They had already had taken away Cooper and now he we about to take Yoza. My muscles tense as I was about to move my body, then it came in a flash. The old man I had seen earlier. He had never taken his eyes off me. Before I could even move he was upon me. His hand at my neck. The pressure pressing against my veins ready to cut. “Stop shooting”, the words stopped him and grabbed everyone’s attention. The guardsman looked surprised and even more so was the World Noble. There standing in the middle of the road was a young woman with a blank expression. Her eyes showed no sign of life, but her body moved as if she was. “I said stop shooting”, she spoke again as she crushed the World Nobles’ gun in her hand. “Who dares”, spoke the World Noble as he looked on with shock. The old man removed his hand from my neck leaving a small cut. He then instead turned his attack toward the maiden who to his very surprise blocked his attack with her arm. “Your arm”, he spoke as he jumped backwards dodging a flying slash and grabbing the World Noble and clearing the space. “Motaru”, spoke the World Noble as he looked at his bodyguard. This was the first time the old man had ever touched him. Normally he would simply block an attack or get in between him and whatever the problem was. “Careful Lord Hardon”, spoke Motaru as seven people stepped forward out of a nearby shop. “Here we go again Shinobu getting us in trouble”, spoke a young voice. “Hush”, spoke a swordsman as he sheathed his blade. “Now is not the time James. You can do so once we get out of this situation.” “Yes Greggory has a point”, spoke a green hair maiden. “It seems we have found some real trouble.” “Real trouble indeed Gwindalin”, spoke another female. “That looks like a world Noble.” “A world Noble, you don’t say Nya”, spoke another voice. “He may be our excuse to get the task force off our back.” “More than likely it is going to get them glued to us Morgan”, spoke a big man as he looked out upon the crowd. “He looked around and saw all the eyes glued to them. “It seems we are well known in these parts, that or our sudden exit of a shop pegged us a Shinobu’s friends.” “I think it is probably the later Borgus”, spoke a walking Lizard. “The guards were giving me a weird look when we first entered port, but none of them acted crazy.” “You have a point Talick, but”, spoke Greggory as he monitored the situation. “I think we have already found some trouble.” “Holy crap”, I spoke as I stared on at this group of people. I knew them, and I knew them well. I was not the only one to realize who was standing before us. The World Noble’s guards had taken notice as well and at the sight of them their eyes widen. “That, that”, spoke one of the guards as he stuttered. He looked down at a pile of wanted posters. That is the Seven Flags he shouted “Pirates here”, shouted the World Noble as the marines with him began to shoot at the members. The big one named Borgus stepped forward and smashed his gigantic shield into the ground blocking most of the bullets and shielding his fellow pirate members. “They don’t play nice”, spoke Gwindilin as she listen to the taping sound from behind the big man. “No one attacks my friends”, spoke Shinobu as she turned to go fight the marines. Meanwhile everyone else began to flee. The civilians ducked back into their homes and the guards of the World Noble began to do battle with the pirates. One of the guards was calling for assistance from the nearby base and a call was sent out to an admiral. Bullets flew everywhere and the screams of marines could be heard in the street. A call was sent out for the town militia. Everyone who was not a combatant fled, everyone other than me. For a moment I simply sat there. The shock of everything that was going on had frozen me in place. The sounds of fighting and screams of pain all faded out as I simply stared into the dirt. Blood was running down my neck and was beginning to stain my white armor. That old man Motaru had nearly cut my head off, and Cooper…. I turned and looked at his body still being held by Yoza. Cooper was dead and Yoza. Yoza would be next. Wait a moment. Yoza I thought as the chaos was going on. Yoza needed to be kept safe. If Cooper was alive he would have done that. Cooper gave his life trying to help her I, I should be willing to do the same. I stood up and my foot kicked my helmet. It seemed that Yoza had dropped it. Slowly I leaned down and picked the helmet up and placed it on. A sound beeped into my ear as the helmet came alive. “Yoza”, I shouted. My voice was muffled by the helmet and came out deformed. “Yoza”, I shouted again as I rushed up and touched her on her shoulder. Suddenly her tail lashed out and she wrapped her body around me. “You killed him”, she shouted with her eyes filled with tears. Her grip tighten far greater than any hug she had ever given me. I thought she was going to break my spine before, but now I was sure she was going to snap me like a twig. “Yoza it is me”, I shouted. Enough of my voice go through the stupid helmet for her to realize who I was. “Noodle”, she spoke with surprise as fear as she released her grip. A tingling sensation radiated throughout my entire body, but I was fine. “Noodle what are you….” ,she spoke. “No time to talk”, I spoke as I began to pull her away. “We are going to need to get you out of here, before the World Noble comes back for you.” “What”, she spoke as she tried to hang onto Cooper’s body. “There she is kill her”, shouted the World Noble as he pointed toward Yoza. A group of soldiers turned and took a knee preparing to shot us both dead. “Not a chance”, shouted Gwindalin as she fired off Gwindalin Mark II, the laser rifle blew the group of soldiers away, but the noble was too far away to be hurt. “You rotten pig”, she shouted as she charged up another shot. “I heard what you said about killing the woman. Garbage like you deserve to die”, she shouted, but suddenly the gun was shot out of her hand. “What the”, spoke Gwindalin as a member of the Royal Task Force came into view. “Task Force”, shouted Gwindalin as she took cover behind Borgu’s planted shield. The big man himself was somewhere else at the time. “Move”, I shouted as I picked Yoza up off the ground and dashed toward the alley way. She held onto Cooper’s body till the bullet storm hit it and knocked it from her grasp. “Cooper”, she said as she reached back unbalancing her body and slithering herself out my arms. “Yoza no”, I shouted as I turned back and grabbed her shoulder. With all of my strength I threw her a few feet back into the alleyway. As I did so I noticed the maiden from before gun. It had a bullet lodged into the top of its muzzle, but from what I could see it seemed as if it could work. Immediately I grabbed it and then turned my attention to Yoza. “Noodle what you are doing”, spoke Yoza as she began to slither back toward the road. “We have to save Cooper”, she spoke. “Yoza get a hold of yourself”, I shouted as I grabbed her shoulder. “Cooper is dead Yoza”, I shouted my words cut deep not only in her heart, but also in mine. “He is dead and we will be next if you do not move.” In order to remove all hopes of saving Cooper from her I turned and shot the top of the nearby building. The laser caused an explosion causing rubble to fall near the end of the alley way. With no way to go back Yoza had no other choice to come forward. “Cooper”, she spoke as she stretched out her arm. The situation was starting to dawn on her. Reluctantly the maiden followed my orders and began to follow behind me. “We need to move quick and fast”, I spoke as I began to sprint toward the end of the alleyway. “We need to get you off the island.” “Noodle you need to save yourself”, spoke Yoza. She was depressed over Cooper and she was starting to think that I was going to be next. “We need to find a ship”, I spoke as I moved to a corner in the alley way. Taking a piece of broken glass I looked around the corner first making sure it was clear and then began to move. “Noodle listen to me”, spoke Yoza. “You need to let them kill me and take the fruit”, she spoke. Her words forced me to stop. “They don’t know your face Noodle you had the helmet on. All you have to do is take off the armor and hide it and you.” “Stop right there Yoza”, I spoke as I turned and looked at her. “No more talk about letting yourself die.” “But”, she spoke, but I cut her off before she could continue. “Yoza what would Cooper want”, I asked her. My words stopped her in her tracks. Taking the opportunity I began to speak. “Cooper wanted you to live Yoza. He wanted you to live. That is why he died today. He died trying to stand up for what was right. He died because he had the courage to do so. If you let that World Noble kill you and gain your power you will make his sacrifice pointless”. My words cut deep into her heart. “But what about you”, she asked. Her eyes were filled with fear and want. “I am willing to give my life for Cooper’s memory”, I spoke. “They are over here”, shouted a marine at the opposite end of the alley. I turned and fired the gun blowing him and whoever tried to turn the corner away. “And for my mother”, I spoke as I began to push forward. “Mother”, she spoke with surprise, but my pace would not allow her to question it. Quick to avoid the embarrassing question I turned the corner. It was then that I took a hit. For a moment everything seemed to be in slow motion. A bullet from a rifle flew forward and hit me in the chest. The force of the shot knocked me off my feet as I fell back onto the ground. “Noodle”, shouted Yoza as she rushed to leave the alley way. The marine soldier who had shot me had a smile on his face. It was a clean shot. The bullet hit me dead in the center of my chest. The force knocked the wind out of my sails for sure. However there was something that the marine nor I at the moment did not realize. I was wearing body armor. “Holy crap I am alive”, I spoke. The marine eyes widen as he saw my surprise expression. He had just realized that the job was not over. As he moved to lift his rifle I pulled the trigger on my gun. The lazar fired off and missed the marine, but it landed close enough to him for the explosion to knock him off his feet. “Noodle”, spoke Yoza as she looked with surprise! A happy expression crossed her face, but at the moment we did not have the luxury. “No time for hugs and kisses”, I said as I pulled myself off the ground. “We need to move”, I spoke as I began to look around. Suddenly a beam of light was fired from across the city and smashed into the nearby building. The explosion threw both me and Yoza off our feet. The explosion sent me flying back, and lucky for Yoza her body was on top of mines. When I hit the ground the friction of me sliding created sparks. “Crap”, I spoke as everything seemed to be spinning. I had no idea what they hit us with, but I know it must have been big. I looked forward and saw the rifle was still in my right hand. That was good, we would be in real trouble if I had dropped it. As I prepared to get up I realized that Yoza was lying on top of my body. She was unconscious but the movement of her chest told me she was alive. It was the first time I had seen Yoza in her complete human form. Normally she never turned back into it. Her skin was still pale and her hair was still pitch black, but she had legs. At the very least she was not as heavy as she was before that meant I could get her off me a lot easier. “Yoza”, I spoke as I pushed her off me. I stopped for a moment to look around. I was looking for the marines that had fired whatever it was we got hit with. Suddenly a figure appeared in the smoke and began to move our way. A loud clanking noise filled the air as I soon began to realize just how big this thing was. “Yoza”, I spoke in fear as I began to shake her. My eyes however never turned from the figure as it walked up to us. The smoke and debris was staring to clear and the image of a twenty four foot tall man stood before us. “Pacifista”, I spoke in fear. I had heard of these pirate slaying monsters, but I had never seen one myself. So the rumors about the world government having cybernetic death cyborgs was true. “Granny Yoza”, it suddenly spoke as it scanned the unconscious woman. “No bounty applied order to kill on site.” The monstrosity then turned to me. “Masked Criminal”, it spoke. “No bounty applied order to kill on site. So this was what it was I thought as I looked up to the metal monster. It began to charge up its lazer preparing to annihilate us both in a single shot. This was the thing that blasted us earlier. I knew that whatever they had shot us with had to be big, but I did not think it was that big! A wave of fear began to shoot down my spine as I looked up at the giant monster. I did not want to die here. I did not want Yoza to die. We were good people, why was something like this happening to us. We were not low life criminals or ambitious warlords. Why were we under the eye of a monster created to bring them down? This was not fair. It was not right. “Screw the system”, I shouted as I pulled up the gun and fired. The moment I fired the laser the pacafista’s finish charging. My own beam of light however reached first and caused the energy in the pacafista to explode. With a loud boom smoke and dust flew everywhere. “Did I kill it”, I asked, but a bright light appearing in the dust told me otherwise. There it was, standing there with little damage. The beeping increased as the pacafista prepared to fire. The dust had masked much of its charging. The machine would be ready to fire again before I could lift the rifle in an attempt to defend myself. “No”, I spoke as a tear flowed from my eye, and then it was gone. The pacafista just vanished and not to long later came a booming sound of an explosion. I turned and looked in the direction of the sound. There embedded into the earth was the giant of a man named Borgus, underneath him was the pacafista and on his face was the mark of a boot. I had no idea at the time what just happen, but a brilliant flash of light soon informed me of such. “Ooooh, still alive”, spoke a voice in a tone I would usually associate with a person on mushrooms. There standing before me was a man in a yellow suit and wearing a white jacket. He was of a darker completion and wore a pair of yellow tented glasses. At first I did not realize who he was, but after a moment it dawned on me. “Kizaru”, I spoke. My eyes opened wide as I realized I was standing before an admiral. The man’s head turned and looked at me. His eyes mainly focused on Yoza and the dirt that covered my body. “Civilians need to exit”, he spoke. The Seven Flags had done Yoza a good term earlier when their member stepped out and stopped her from being shot, but I had no illusions about myself taking on an admiral. I felt sorry for the big man, but I had to retreat myself. “Right”, I spoke as I throw the laser gun over my shoulder and picked up Yoza princess style. “Come on we are almost home free”, I spoke as I looked down to cheek on Yoza. She was still breathing. Suddenly I ran into something. I looked up to see the admiral who was just behind me standing in front of me. “What the”, I spoke with confusion. “That rifle”, he spoke as he looked at the weapon. The way he spoke was so slow and drawn out. I was sure he was high on something, but I did not let him know that. “Did that not belong to the seven flags”. Immediately my eyes widen as I realized what he was implying. He thought I was a member of the Seven Flags. I would make sense for such a notorious crew to have small members to punk around, though the seven flags, which apparently there are eight members, have had no such minions. With me holding one of their rifles however, it looked as if I was one. “Wait no”, I spoke as I rose my hand in defense. My actions however caused me to drop Yoza. The maiden fell and hit the ground. The shock of the fall woke her up as she began to panic. “What is going on”, she shouted. “What happen, where are we, are you alright”, she spoke. Her words seemed to come all at once as she began to barrage me with questions. The admiral the whole time simply sat there examining us both. It was almost as if he was trying to determine if we were criminals or not. However he no longer had the time to decide. “Borgus”, a voice came out of now where as a giant lizard man jumped off from the top of the building. The admiral vanished into light before the lizard monsters attack could reach him. He reformed a few feet back as he began to access the situation. “Oh, Talick,” he spoke in that same slow tone. The Lizard man did not waste a moment as he charged forward with his sword. The admiral placed his hands together and formed a blade out of light itself and clashed with the Taran. Their clash caused a shock wave to burst out as the force from the attack blew both me and Yoza back a few feet. “What in the world is going on”, shouted Yoza as I looked on in amazement. The two warriors clashed for a moment. They both swung their blades at amazing speed. At first glance it would seem as if the two of them were moving at the same speed, but in truth the Taran was lagging behind. The moment their blades clashed the Taran would immediately move his sword. He would move his blade to the next clashing point even before the admiral swung to attack it. There it was again. This enlighten power I had heard about. Twice today I had seen it firsthand. “We need to go Yoza”, I spoke. I knew it would not be long before one of them pulled out a bigger move. At the moment they were in a dead lock, which meant that one of them was going to get desperate soon and from what I could tell it was going to be the lizard man. Not giving Yoza the opportunity to ask another question I scooped her up in the princess carry again and began to run off. “Wait Noodle”, she spoke as a blush crossed her face. It was the first time in years since she was carried like this and for her it was a bit embarrassing. This embarrassment was soon followed by the realization that she was not in her half snake form that she loved so much. She wanted to turn back immediately, but with me running with her in my arms she realized that it would be a bad idea. Behind me I could hear the scream of the Taran as a bright flash of light radiated from behind. The admiral had gotten the better of their clash, but the sounds of the other voices of the Seven Flags assured me that they were going to be alright. The Seven Flags were artist in the skill of escaping, I figured I would be reading about them in tomorrow mornings paper, well if we make it to tomorrow. “Got to get to the sea”, I spoke to myself as I pushed forward. In the distance smoke rose from the city as the battles with the Seven Flags had left much of the town destroyed. I wondered if the other guys at Western Ink were ok. I wondered what they would say about me. The fool from their company that dare go against the wishes of a World Noble. Tired and exhausted I feel to the ground. We had finally made it to the outskirts of the island. The sea was right in front of us, though it was down a few hundred feet off a cliff. This was a good spot. Not many people came here often so I doubted the World Noble would keep an eye on it if they were looking for us. There was a small peer down the cliff which was used by smugglers. I was sure they left a boat or two around there. All we needed we needed was an oar, and possibly a rope to get down the cliff, but that was something to think about another time. Right now all I was thinking about was catching my breath. As her body touched the ground Yoza reverted her legs back into her serpentine form. “You need to remove the helmet”, she spoke as she pulled the steel contraption off my head. Immediately I felt a rush of fresh air as my breathing improved. As I lay there sucking wind Yoza looked out over the village. A fire had started somewhere and smoke and flames could be seen from over here. A couple of the buildings seemed to be completely blown up and one building laid in pieces a hundred yards away from where it once stood. Finally getting enough air to sit up I saw a flash of light radiating across the sea. It seemed the Seven Flags were making their escape. “So that was the Seven Flags”, I spoke as I watched the ship dip over the horizon. Several marine ships followed in toe, but the superior speed of their vessel was clearly seen. “Why did this happen,” asked Yoza as she stared out over the village. The question was obviously not directed toward me, but I could not but help answer it. “Greed”, I spoke and left it at that. I needed to catch my air. “Cooper”, she spoke as she looked at the flames. She was going to start to cry again. I missed Cooper as much as she did, but I could not take her crying. We were still in danger and we still needed to move. There was no time for crying. “We need to get moving”, I spoke as I forced my body off the ground. Every muscle in my body was screaming at me, but I knew we had to move. It would not be long before the marines managed to find this area. It was not a popular spot, but it was still known to the locals. I reached down and grabbed my helmet and placed it over my head. “We need to get to a bo”, I spoke as a sudden pain radiated through my breast. I fell backwards and then I heard the sound. There standing next to a tree was the world noble from before. “You”, I spoke with a shaky voice. I looked down to see a hole piercing straight threw my armor. What kind of pistol was he using, I thought as the weight of my own armor pinned me to the ground? “Noodle”, spoke Yoza as she wrapped her tail around a rock and tossed it toward the noble. His bodyguard suddenly appeared and sliced the rock into two. The man was covered with small cuts and bruises, but for the most part he seemed to be alright. He had done his job very well as the World Noble did not have a single scratch on him. “Well, well, well, you have given us quite the chase”, spoke the Noble as he raised his pistol and shot me again. The bullet pierced through my armor like paper and lodged itself in my chest. The force of the attack caused me to spit up blood. Just for good measure the Nobleman shot me again lodging another bullet in my chest. “Noodle you evil”, she shouted as she attempted to attack the noble man. As she lunged forward her tail was grabbed by his bodyguard. With a strong jerk he pulled her backwards throwing her body onto the ground. “Protect Saint Hardon”, shouted some marines as the rushed up and piled their bodies on Yoza limbs. Their weight prevented her from striking out at the man as he started to walk over toward me. “How dare you defy me”, he shouted as he began to shoot multiple shots into my chest. The pain levels spiked as the bullets went through my body one by one. I could start to feel the blood seeping into my lungs as I lay on the ground. I attempted to speak, but my lungs had no air. In desperation I rose my hand in attempt to grasp at the World Noble. In a flash it was chopped off as his bodyguard rushed in to insure I did not lay a hand on his master. “How dare you try to touch me”, spoke the world noble as he looked down at my severed forearm. Just to mock me he shot my severed hand with a bullet. “Toss that garbage off the cliff”, he spoke as a couple of marines walked forward and grabbed me. With no strength left to struggle they dragged me over to the cliff. I looked back at Yoza. The world noble was saying something to her. He held out an apple and pointed the gun to her head. Before I could see the rest I was suddenly tossed over the cliff. Bang! That was the last thing I remembered. Suddenly I hit the ocean and everything went cold.
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