Chapter 31: Interlude 2

Interlude 2

-Between Chapters 29-30-

"Hoh hoh Usopp-kun, you're a natural! In less than a month, you've fully grasped the method I taught you." A man in black armor shaped to resemble a beetle congratulated Usopp.

"You really think so Heracles-san? I mean, of course it was me, the great Captain Usopp who discovered the full potential of pop greens!" Usopp struck a pose, holding his slingshot aloft and gazing off into the horizon.

"Bravo, as expected of my star pupil! Wait until your friends see you now. Although, I'll be sad to see you go." A tear slid out of the corner of Heracles's helmet.

"Heracles-san.."

"No, no. Don't be sad, just an old man getting emotional. It's been twenty years since I last had human contact. This was nice. The important thing is that for every plant to grow the next generation, they must spread their pollen throughout the world. Go! Branch out into new depths, to unfound horizons! Become the King of Snipers that I know you can be! Follow your dreams, and when you become weary from the travel, enjoy retirement!"

"I'll never forget you Heracles-sa! Woah, what's that! Islands in the sky!" Stopping mid sentence, Usopp turned towards the approaching floating islands mouth agape.

"Stay hidden in the shadows Usopp-kun. I shall investigate! Kreeee!" Heracles cried out in a high pitch tone. Moments later, a giant beetle charged out of the forest. Heracles jumped onto its back, and flew towards the approaching islands.

"Man, anything can happen in the Grandline. I knew meeting Heracles was to good to be true. Something terrible is going to come from this, I just know it." Usopp began to panic, and work himself up into peak nervousness.

Clang

Clouds parted, and the sound of ringing metal sounded out for kilometers.

The grinding sound of metal on metal was soon to follow, as each combatant sought to push the other away.

"Jihahaha, I never expected to find an old friend out here in the boondocks!"

"Old friend? Old friend?! You. You're no friend of mine Shiki! You and everyone on that crew were demons!"

"JIHAHAHA! Yes, we were quite the wild bunch, every single one of us. Including you! I vividly remember the experiments you got up to! There isn't a biologist more feared in all the Blue's! You left that old man, and sought out us. Said he held you back from achieving perfection.

Don't play innocent now. It was you who destroyed that nation! It was you who implanted those vicious inventions of yours into the children. Don't deny it!"

Heracles felt his insides squirm, as the guilt of twenty years ago caught up to him.

In response, Shiki looked down at Heracles with a mixture of derision, and joy as his words hit home.

"I-I-I had good intentions!" Heracles stuttered.

"I-I-I" Shiki repeated Heracles' words, saying them in a mocking tone of voice.

"And did you ever succeed?" At this point, a deeply curious, ravenous look took place on Shiki's face.

"No." Heracles responded in a quiet voice.

"Tch. All you have to show for it is some dumb giant plants and animals. Creatures that act purely on instinct. What have you been doing out here all these years? Exiled yourself to this island in the middle of nowhere? All the life you took amounted to nothing in the end. Your dreams have fallen to the wayside. I can't imagine anyone more pathetic. I once considered dropping my dreams, giving it all away! But no! Not even decades in Impel Down broke my spirit! My fire burns strong, and yours can again too! Join me Heracles, and together we can make our dreams come true!"

Shiki pulled back from the power clash, and smiled magnanimously at Heracles.

"…If it was a month ago that you made this offer, I may've said yes. But things change. This mighty oak has seen it all, it's time to pass things on to the next generation."

"Hmph, so that's your answer then?" Shiki scowled. Without waiting for a reply, he lunged forwards, catching Heracles by surprise. Slashing his legs back and forth, the beetle Heracles was flying on was diced to pieces.

During their clash earlier, Shiki had placed his palm on Heracles's armor. As a result, Heracles was sent towards the ocean at mach speeds due to the power of Shiki's float-float fruit.

When Heracles began dropping towards the ocean, Shiki shouted out to him. "For the sake of our old friendship, I'll let you off this time! But in exchange, I'll take your remaining life's work! With this, my food supply is guaranteed, thank you my friend!"

"Who knew the plant you nurtured back then would turn into a giant island? Jihahaha!" Shiki mumbled to himself. He then flew towards the giant plant islands, and placed his hand on the soil supporting the island. Moments later, the plant floated in the air to join the rest of Shiki's collection.

"Heracles-san!" Usopp shouted in anger tinged with fear at the plummeting man. Moments later, Heracles collided with the water, eliciting a great crash.

Usopp stood still, and gripped his fists tight in anger.

"I have to save him…but how? And even if I could, that floating guy could chase me!" Sweat began to accumulate on his forehead, slowly dripping along his lengthy nose.

"No! I have to do something, I'm the Great Captain Usopp! Kreee!" Imitating the call Heracles did earlier, a giant beetle made its way over to him.

"Let's go save Heracles-san! Hyaa!" Usopp grit his teeth, imbuing himself with a false sense of courage. He nodded, thumbed the side of his nose, and jumped on top of the elephant sized beetle.

At the same time, the island had already joined the formation of floating islands. Usopp was hundreds of meters above sea level.

Mid flight, the beetle began to tremble.

"Beetle, what's wrong?"

"Chirp!"

"Huh? Stupid beetle, talk normal! Why did you start flying in the opposite direction! Heracles is down that way!" Usopp slapped the beetle's exoskeleton, and pointed towards where Heracles had fallen.

"Chirp chirp chirp!" The beetle replied and suddenly swooped downward.

A large talon similar in size to the beetle's whole body swiped downward exactly where the beetle had been a second ago.

"Hiii! Beetle, fly, fly faster! You can do it, I believe in you!" Usopp encouraged the beetle onward. With increasing speed, the bird, some cross between a seagull and eagle chased after them. Each time the bird caught up, the beetle would dodge at the last moment.

"Wait a minute, I have this! Eat fire bird, Burning Green!" Placing a special pop green in his slingshot, Usopp launched a flaming star at the giant bird.

The bird had moved in for another attack, and was about to strike the beetle. They were less than a car length away from one another when Usopp unleashed his attack.

The hit landed, and nothing happened for a second.

"Oh come on!" Usopp lowered his slingshot in despair.

The bird's eyes had a moment of panic and fear, showcasing some intelligence. However, realizing nothing had happened, it released a stronger murderous intent. It began to laugh as it closed the gap.

Suddenly, a large fiery explosion in the shape of a cross expanded outward, enveloping the bird.

"Huh, it worked? I, of course it worked! Yataa, success!" Usopp fist pumped.

However, Usopp's celebration was short lived. The explosion was so close, that the resulting shockwave sent him tumbling from the beetle's back.

'Is this it? Luffy, Nami, guys.' Usopp thought to himself as he fell from great heights.

"No I don't want to die!" Usopp cried out, closing his eyes.

"Huh, I'm not dead?" Opening his eyes, Usopp looked around in amazement. While Usopp thought he was going to fall to his death into the ocean, the truth was, he fell less than five meters onto the ground.

"OOOaahhh! Ah ah!" A pink shirted gorilla walked up to Usopp, making a loud ruckus.

"Oof!" Usopp began to get up, but fell down flat on his face. During the tumble, his mask had fallen out of his knapsack, and collided with his head when he hit the ground.

"Haah? Let me down you oversized Gorilla!" Usopp began beating on the gorilla's back to no avail.

The gorilla easily carried Usopp towards a group of buildings. When they reached their destination, the gorilla gently placed Usopp on the ground.

"AAHH AH AH!" The gorilla gently placed Usopp down inside the room. Dozens of workers sat at chairs staring at monitors, and interacting with den den mushi inside.

"Honk honk honk." A blue haired clown in a lab coat approached the gorilla. Each step of his long red clown shoes made a sound effect.

"Hmm, what have we got here, Doctor Indigo?" Shiki floated down from the sky and into the room.

"Apa! Cha, heheu!" Indigo danced left and right, formed a triangle with his arms, then raised his chin.

"Riiight." A drop of sweat fell down the back of his head, Shiki turned towards the Gorilla.

"And what about you Scarlet, what has you so excited?"

"Ooo, ooo, ooAHHH!" Scarlet rummaged through a sack, and pulled out a wanted poster.

-Sogeking: Wanted Dead or Alive. Bounty: 200,000.-

"Ah! Indigo, you were saying that this young man here is Sogeking, that guy who declared war on Enies Lobby. The guy who destroyed the entire island." Shiki slapped his fist into his open palm in realization.

"Who's Sogeking?" Shiki immediately asked afterward.

Indigo face vaulted, and Scarlet raised his arms.

"Alright, alright, I understand." Shiki waved his hand back and forth like a person waving away a potent stench from their nose.

"So how about it kid, want to join my crew? You've got big ones to declare war on the World Government like that." Grinning from ear to ear, Shiki crossed his arms, waiting for Usopp's reply.

Usopp began to panic on the inside. 'Damnit! I escape that bear guy a month ago. I landed on a man eating island. Now I have to deal with this maniac who has a steering wheel lodged in his head! Maybe if I say I'm a Strawhat, he'll let me go? No no no, he thinks I'm Sogeking! I have to act the part, otherwise, who knows what he'll do!'

"You hurt Hercu-Ahem, I the great Sogeking, King of all Snipers, warrior of the sea am a great man. Who are you to demand that I, King of Snipers, Sogeking join your crew?!" Usopp stood up, and assumed a haughty disposition.

"Jihahaha, you've got spunk! I'm glad you rejected my offer, you wouldn't be the man I thought you were if you accepted so easily! As to who I am? Has the world forgotten already? Boy, have you heard of that man, Roger? He was my rival! For I am the Golden Lion, Shiki!" At the end, Shiki held his arms up in an imposing manner. Scarlet and Indigo, along with all the staff inside the room began to clap uproariously.

In all the ruckus caused by the clapping, Usopp let out a small confused question: "Who?"

Shiki's ear twitched, and a scowl adorned his face. "Stop the clapping. I said stop the clapping!" Shiki pulled a gun from his waistcoat, and shot the last man to stop clapping. His corpse began to leak a small pool of blood. The workers in the room swiftly turned their attention to the screens in front of them.

"You mean to tell me, everyone has forgotten about the terror of Wano? The sole man to have escaped Impel Down? The only one to have destroyed half of Marineford? Ah? Ah?" A deranged look took place on his face. Shiki walked up to Usopp, and touched the barrel of his still smoking pistol to Usopp's cheek.

'That guy's not getting up. If I'm not careful, that could be me! This guy's ruthless, he didn't even stop talking, pause or stutter after killing one of his own nakama!' Usopp's gaze fell onto Shiki's latest victim. A look of panic slowly began to take shape all over Usopp's face.

'Fortunatly I have this mask on, otherwise, who knows what this Shiki guy would do to me if he saw my expression right now!' Usopp bemoaned to himself.

"Huh?! Ahahaha! Well about that. Marineford was destroyed by Blackbeard, and uhh Impel Down just had a mass breakout. Ooop!" Usopp nervously recounted past events, and quickly put a hand over his mouth.

"Jihahaha! Jihahaha! I'm old and forgotten is what you're saying?!" Shiki staggered back from Usopp's words. It was as if he had taken physical blows to his body.

Shiki raised his gun.

Usopp gasped, knuckles turned white from gripping his giant slingshot.

And Shiki sheathed his gun.

"I misspoke earlier. Not only do you have the big ones, you have a pair to spare! Backtalking to me like that, brings back memories of my kohai! That dumbass dragon was always looking for a fight, jihahaha! You can't join my crew, I see that now!"

'Few! Is he going to let me go?!' Usopp thought to himself.

"I should've realized it from the beginning, it's in your name! No normal man could stand before me as calm and collected as you! Sogeking, King of all Snipers, join my Kaizoku Sovereign Alliance! Together, we'll rule the world!"

Click

Absalom scratched the back of his head in frustration at the end of the call.

"Captain doesn't think I called him a government dog, right?" Absalom asked himself as he disembarked his boat.

Yellow stood by a carriage to greet Absalom, and thoughtlessly replied: "Haha, yep!"

"I do believe he may be drawn to that conclusion." Kuro likewise stood by to receive Absalom's return.

Soft laughter traveled from the boat, drawing everyone's attention.

"Angel!" Absalom's eyes swooned, and he squirmed at the attention. All fear of future retribution dismissed for temporary bliss.

"The mission Moria-sama assigned I presume?" Kuro replied sardonically.

Absalom still in a rapturous state completely ignored him.

In response, Kuro clenched his fist while maintaining a flattering smile. "Don't keep us in suspense sir. Introduce the young belle."

"You're right Kuro! Everyone on Thriller Bark should get a good look at her. Then they'll know what they can't have. Guards! Escort the prisoner to the mansion. Remember Captain's orders, political prisoners are not to be harmed!"

"Aye!" Standing one in front, and one behind, the guard zombies escorted the prisoner down the gangplank and on to the dilapidated pier.

"Yellow, see to it that Nojiko receives the best treatment! I mean the fluffiest pillows, the cleanest sheets, the finest food!" Absalom ticked off his fingers one by one, taking the matter with extreme seriousness.

"Uhh, sure, sure Erosalom!" Yellow chimed loudly, and escorted the blue haired hour glassed beauty away.

When showing her back to the pair of men, Absalom's mouth began to water uncontrollably. Drool began to patter on the ground uncontrollably. It didn't end until Absalom let out a sigh of contentment.

Kuro's eyes flashed with disdain; however, the flattering smile never left his face.

"A clever tactic sir. I believe the method you're using is excellent for lowering the targets guard. Whatever purpose Moria-sama has in capturing her, your tactic is sure to be in our favor." Kuro praised.

"What?" Startled out of his stupor, Absalom wiped off the remaining drool with the back of his sleeve.

"Your technique. I do believe it would be beneficial for inducing what is referred to as Stockholm Syndrome. Quite clever if I do say so myself." Kuro pushed up his glasses, deep in thought.

"Technique? Oh, tactics! So, you do understand women! I thought all you could do was smile and crunch the numbers." Absalom looked at Kuro like he was seeing him for the first time.

"That's not what I-"

"C'mere brother! I haven't met a man of culture in years!" Absalom embraced Kuro in a manly hug, patting him roughly on the back.

"Whooo" Kuro let out a wheeze of air from the vigorous back pounding. His face hidden from sight and currently over Absalom's shoulder began to look more and more manic.

"Well that's that! Say Kuro, gather Perona, Kenji, and Saga along with their personal crew. The living ones that is. Captain gave me some instructions, gather up their fingernails. Today you'll experience the miracles of origami." Absalom chuckled to himself, and turned away from Kuro. He began to whistle a chipper tune while walking away.

Kuro wildly began to inhale and exhale. His body had a slight tremble to it.

"Hey buddy, you alright?" A concerned zombie from the ship placed a hand on Kuro's shoulder.

At the sensation of contact, Kuro's body went deathly still. Like a switch had been flicked, Kuro stopped all movement.

"Fine. Fine, what fine weather we're having today." Without a further word, Kuro turned around, and walked toward the mansion to carry out his tasks.

"That four eyes punk didn't mess with you, did he Jerry?" A zombie on the ship asked.

"Nah, I think he was just having a bad day was all."

"Makes sense, makes sense. Uhh one thing though."

"What's up?"

"Did you always have finger sized holes riddling your body?"

"Maybe?"

"Maybe!? Jerry, how does that add up?"

"I don't know!" Jerry responded in panic.

After a moment of stillness, and nothing happening, all tension left their shoulders.

"Eh, just another Monday. Zombie Night?"

"Zombie Night!"

Both zombies grinned at each other in anticipation, their woes quickly forgotten.

Within a dimly lit room, two figures sat across from one another. The tension had been building for some time until one of them broke the silence.

"I'll admit, never expected you to know my name. You've got my attention, what do you want?" A sword wielding man sat with his fingers crossed. His expression was stoic in the presence of his guest.

"What do I want? No, no, no, I believe I'm here to discuss what you want." A cloaked figure responded.

"If you're here to play games, then I'm out. Ro-"

"You wouldn't want his death to be in vain, would you? The man who gave you life." The cloaked figure leaned in close, anticipating what was to come.

The swordsman stumbled in his action.

"The thing's that happened to poor Ro-"

"Shut up! Don't you dare say his name!" The previously sitting, and taciturn swordsman stood in a hurry. Fierceness and savagery entered his eye.

"Hoh hoh, and I thought the boy had no teeth. Little did I know, you were quite the romantique! It's only our first date, and you've stolen my heart!" The cloaked man mocked.

"Enough games! How do you know all this! What do you want?! Did Joker send you?! The swordsman took threatening steps toward the still sitting figure.

"Help me. Help you. Help me."

"I want answers!" The swordsman held up his hand, and squeezed his hand as an act of aggravation.

"In simple terms, an alliance. More specifically, a trade. I know what you want. I can help you obtain that desire. In return…"

"With you?" A skeptical look took place on the swordsman's face. At the same time, his posture became more relaxed. His arm descended, and a calculative look took place on his face.

"If. And I mean if! If I was to work with you, what do you want?"

"What was it you had promised him? You know what one of your capabilities can offer. A life for a life. This is my offer."

"That's…" The swordsman looked down. Inside his mind, despair warred with hatred in a struggle of dominance.

Tidal waves of despair crashed upon his psyche. His primal instinct for survival was crying out at him, telling him to turn back. That another option would present itself. At the same time, molten magma that had long lain dormant within his veins had finally found an outlet. This was a chance. Perhaps the only chance to realize his goal! In a violent, chaotic surge, his hatred had transcended its lava like state, and erupted onto the scene.

An ashy fugue clouded the swordsman's mind. His anger, his rage and anger had overtaken the despair. No longer was he adrift in the sea, bereft of rudder, sails torn. He was offered a deal by Davy Jones, but what option did he have.

"I'll take it." Hatred burning in his veins, the swordsman shook hands with the Devil.

"Wise decision. I have a plan, and can help you on your quest. All it requires is patience. After all, what's a little time here and there compared to that sweet satisfaction you've been craving?"

A crooked smile plastered itself across the swordsman's face. "Of course there would be strings attached."

"There always is my friend, there always is!" The cloaked figure stood to his full height, and made to leave the abode.

"Mm, here you can take this back." The swordsman held up his previously clenched hand and acted like he was going to return something.

"No need, no need!"

"Huh?" The swordsman's hand grip had suddenly turned empty. Sufficiently distracted, and surprised by the turn of events, the swordsman didn't notice the cloaked man's departure. All that kept him company in the room was a small lightbulb, and the surrounding darkness.

AN: Will probably never write from Usopp's perspective again. I don't think I did his character justice. Maybe as a tool for exposition regarding Shiki. Idk. I might write a small Luffy segment in the future to see how the butterfly effect plays out. What do you guys think?