"Shit!" shouts Run, suddenly jolting back to consciousness. "Aaah...my head is killin' me!" With a groan he sits up quickly, scanning his surroundings and finding himself not in some darkened room but the Sunny's kitchen. He quickly discovers that he's not alone, either. Sanji, Zoro and Luffy are sitting on a trio of chairs, having been...decorated by whoever carried the four of them back to their ship. "Dahahahaha~! What the hell happened to the three of you?! Dahahaha~!" After several long minutes of laughter, however, the door to the room is suddenly thrown open and Run glances back quickly to find Usopp standing there. "Aah, hey there, Usopp."
"I-I found them!" Usopp shouts quickly, and the rest of the crew suddenly crowds into the room as Run stands.
"Damn it, red hair!" Franky says. "I thought you were going to spring Luffy! What happened?"
"Aah, about that," Run begins. "I had a little run in with Moria, and the bastard actually stole my shadow. Can you believe that?"
"Why are you so calm about this?!" demands Usopp. "This is serious! If we can't get your shadows back then we can't leave this creepy place!"
"Relax, relax! We'll get 'em back! But first..." The red head motions to the still sleeping Luffy, Zoro and Sanji. "...we need to wake up these three." Franky actually grins as he steps forward, cracking his knuckles loudly. The cyborg slaps the three of them around for a bit but when it appears that they aren't going to wake up just from a little pain he finally seems to become a little irritated.
"Alright!" Franky announces. "Enough playin' around! If a few little taps won't wake you up then let's try--"
"Whoa-ho! Hold on, now! We're trying to wake 'em up not blast 'em!" A grin splits Run's face as he approaches the three downed men. "Let me give it a shot. These three only understand one language. Ahem! Oi! There's a beautiful master swords-woman with meat!" The three suddenly twitch violently...and begin pushing themselves up.
"Beautiful?"
"Master Swords-woman?"
"Meat?"
"Dahahaha~! See? Told ya! All it takes is a little finesse, Franky...!"
- - -
After having a few moments to collect themselves, the four of them are naturally curious about just how they got back onto the Sunny. The rest of the crew explains exactly what has happened to them, not sparing a single detail. While Run had lept head first into the tigers den, so to speak, the rest had been snatched when everyone's back was turned, had their shadows stolen, and finally placed back on the Sunny to be shoved back out to sea to prevent them coming back for them. Run finds it a very uneasy feeling to be missing his shadow...like he's been stripped of a part of himself. Luffy, however, seems to be more concerned about the fact that the zombies have taken everything but their emergency rations.
"Putting that aside," Sanji grunts. "Where's Nami at?" Usopp and Chopper begin sweating bullets almost instantly. The two of them sheepishly explain what has happened...and obviously, Sanji flies right off the handle. "You two let her get taken away?! Why didn't you go after her?! You should have chased after her to the ends of the earth!"
"I-I-It's not like we could just go after her!" Usopp defends them. "J-Just hear me out! Frankly speaking, there are two things we need to get back right away!"
"Our food, Nami, and our shadows, right?" Luffy interjects. "That's three things, isn't it?"
"W-Well, the order is a little off but...it doesn't matter! First off, let me fill you in about Nami and your shadows!" As soon as Usopp begins his explanation with Nami's forced marriage Sanji hits the roof.
"He's got guts to marry Nami...and there's a giant version of me? So that's how you make a zombie?"
"So we've found Luffy and casanova's shadows," Run begins. "Any idea who they stuck OUR shadows into?"
"Wait a second. If the zombies act just like us then I think I bumped into your zombie, Zoro." Luffy stares at their swordsman for a few moments before finally nodding. "Thankfully, I knew it wasn't you since he was wearing sandals!"
"Then, we need to find a zombie in sandals, Luffy's giant and the cooks dogguin," Zoro says. "Our shadows will come back if we toss some salt in their mouths, right?"
"More or less," Franky tells him.
"It's good that you manage to figure that out, Franky," Run praises, grinning at him. "We could have been in a bit of trouble if we didn't have an idea of how to get our shadows back!"
"I don't think that losing your shadow counts as a 'bit of trouble'," Robin tells him.
"Aah, it'll be fine! Now that we know how to get them back, it won't be lost for long."
"Well, I didn't exactly figure it out on my own," Franky says. "We're just lucky that we ran into Brook. He's the one who told us about it."
"Oh! You guys saw Brook?" Luffy asks, grinning.
"Yeah, we saw that guy. And I had the urge to ask him a stupid question. I totally rejected his existence when you first brought him aboard the Sunny. He might be a perverted bag of bones but when I spoke with him I found out he had an iron-like back-bone. He's...a real man." Franky lays out the whole story for the rest of the crew. How Brook and his crew had left behind someone over fifty years ago with the promise that they would return to him. Unfortunately, Brook and the rest of his crew passed before they could return...but no matter what, Brook intends to keep his promise and return...return to Laboon.
Luffy, Sanji, Zoro, and Usopp all remember it clearly. Their entrance into the Grand Line, and their meeting with Laboon was something none of them would ever forget as long as they lived. Of course, it was hard to believe that Laboon had grown from such a small whale into what he is today.
"Alright! It's settled!" laughs Luffy. "Brook is gonna be our crew mate even if I have to drag him with us kicking and screaming! Any objections?"
"Even if there were, would you change your mind?" Robin giggles.
"Damn it, you've got my vote!" Franky bawls.
"Let's go and get him!" Usopp cheers.
"I'm not afraid anymore!" Chopper cries. "Let's go!"
"I'm more concerned about stopping that marriage but let's do that, too!" Sanji tells them. Noticing that Zoro is missing from the deck of the Sunny, Luffy looks towards the dock quickly, and then dashes to the railing of the ship to look down at a retreating swordsman.
"Oi, Zoro!" Luffy calls. "Where are you going?"
"I'm going to raid the place," Zoro calls back. "Don't we have one more shadow to recover now?" The others don't waste any time in jumping the railing of the Sunny and preparing for battle. They decided that they had to split into teams if they were going to accomplish what they had to. Sanji and Usopp were going to stop Nami's forced marriage while Zoro and Franky go to help Brook out. That leaves Luffy, Robin, Chopper and Run go to stop Moria. If they can beat him then everyone's shadows will naturally come back.
Of course, all of this HAS to be done before sunrise. They aren't sure how long the fog is going to last...if it disperses at dawn then without a doubt their chances of victory are going to be zero. With everything decided, and after Usopp passes each of them a bag of salt, they take off back up the stairs heading for Nami and their shadows. While Zoro and Franky peel off from their group, Luffy and Sanji sprint ahead of everyone else, scattering any zombies that are unlucky enough to block their path. Making it back to the dance hall where they'd found Chopper and Usopp takes only a few minutes.
"These two don't even need salt!" Usopp shouts, dashing up the stairs after them. "Their hearts are completely burning with anger!"
"Aren't they worried about their shadows?" Chopper wonders. They've barely cleared the first flight of stairs when a number of ghosts come flying out of the hall in front of them.
"Oh, no!" Robin gasps. "I forgot about those ghosts!" Sanji and Luffy are immediately struck by them, and instantly drop to their knees.
"What just happened?" asks Usopp.
"Aah, well, those ghosts seem to sap your will," Run tells him. "If one of them passes through you, then you seem to lose your will to fight completely. As of right now, we haven't figured out a way to ward them off or counter them."
"What?!" The Zombies quickly surround the two and begin picking them up as if they don't weigh anything. "Crap! Since it's come to this...Lead Star!" Usopp fires off several pellets at the Zombies, forcing them to drop Luffy and Sanji before they sprint up the stairs and pick them up. Run slings Luffy over his shoulder while Usopp quickly grabs Sanji. "Now let's...run away!" Run glances over his shoulder, finding the Zombies and ghosts chasing after them quickly.
"Oh-ho, CRAP!"
"Wh-What is it?! What's behind us?!"
"I wouldn't!" Usopp and Chopper glance over their shoulders regardless, eyes growing as large as saucers as they find themselves confronted by the chasing Zombies and ghosts.
"Waaaaaaahhh!!" scream Chopper and Usopp in unison, sprinting as fast as their legs can carry them.
"Dahahahaha~! I told ya!"
"Stop laughing! This isn't funny!"
"No!" Chopper shouts. "I don't want it! I don't want everyone to get caught!" Chopper has barely finished his sentence when the ceiling of the room comes crashing down! The ground shudders, and shakes under the red head's feet, and he quickly tosses Luffy off his shoulder forward through the storm of dust and debris. Unfortunately for Usopp, Sanji and Run, they're caught up in the collapse of the room and quickly begin to plummet towards the ground below.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! We're falling!"
"Dahahahaha~! Angle towards the bridge!" Run laughs, grinning from ear to ear. "Look out below! We're comin' in-- oof!" A large chunk of rock strikes the red head, knocking him away from the bridge towards the forest below. He strikes a tree branch, bouncing off it and then into another...and another...and another. "Really?! Still?! Still falling?! How many--" The words die in his throat when he strikes the ground finally, lying in a small pile of leaves and splintered tree branches. "A...Aaah..." With a groan he rolls onto his hands and knees and stands before placing a hand into the small of his back. "...I landed on a rock! Aah! I hate it! I hate this place!"
"Ahahahahaha~! Looks like you're having a rough go of it, eh?" laughs an unfamiliar voice, quickly drawing his attention to a dark haired man seated on a stump several meters away. Run's eyes narrow slightly as the man...no, the zombie raises the bottle in his hand and quickly polishes it off before tossing it aside. "Aaaah...nothing like a drink in the evening to ease the spirit." He leans down, picking out another from a small crate by his feet before uncorking it. The zombie wears a light colored, short sleeved henley, dark pants with the legs rolled up to his knees and a pair of sandals. A high collared grey coat is draped over his shoulders, and a cutlass with a yellow hilt is tucked into a crimson sash around his waist, resting at his right hip. "Aah...drink, red hair? It's not sake...but it'll do."
"Well, don't mind if I do!" Run approaches with a grin, reaching out for the bottle before suddenly jerking back. The blade of the saber passes inches before his face as the zombie spins with the attack before planting his foot firmly in the red head's chest hard enough to nearly drive the air from his lungs. With a grunt he sails backwards, toppling several dozen trees before eventually getting his feet under him and sliding to a stop. "Offerin' a man a drink an' then kickin' him in the chest? Aah, now THAT is a dirty trick." The zombie calmly approaches, stepping over several toppled trees before coming to a stop several meters away.
"Aah, sorry, sorry. Normally, I don't believe in sneak attacks but unfortunately the boss wants you lot dealt with before you cause any more problems. Besides, you looked like you could--" Run disappears, reappearing in front of the man with a grin.
"Sea King's Bite!" A loud 'boom!' echos through the forest as the zombie intercepts his fist with the flat of his cutlass, and immediately slides backwards. "Aah, sorry! Didn't mean to cut you off but I'm sort of working against the clock."
"Oh-ho! Not bad! I felt that all the way up my arm!" Run glances down at his knuckles, a small bit of blood welling out of the inky black skin.
"That's an interesting sword you've got there. Felt like it actually bit back when I hit the blade." The zombie surges forward quickly with cutlass raised. Run's eyes widen as the blade suddenly begins to glow a bright crimson, arcs of what appear to be red lightning crackling from the weapon. "I know that...!"
"Crimson Tide." With a single swing, a wave of energy races in his direction, gouging through the earth and trees. Run leaps skyward immediately, raising his arms to shield his face from the resulting spray of earth and splintered wood that batters against him. Sensing something fast moving he glances skyward quickly, finding the zombie in the sky with the blade held above his head. Once more it glows a bright crimson, arcs of energy crackling along the blade.
"...technique!"
"Sundering Tide." The zombie brings the weapon down, as Run twists sharply, barely avoiding the blow and resulting wave of energy. A loud explosion echos through the forest, the shock wave tossing him through several trees before he finally crashes down, rolling to his feet quickly and back pedaling as the zombie quickly closes in.
"So, you must have my shadow, then!"
"Don't know what yer talkin' about, I'm afraid." The zombie appears in front of him, the cutlass cutting a wide arc through the air towards the red head. A loud 'clang!' echos, a brief shower of sparks dancing before their eyes as the blade is sharply redirected inches from Run's fist. Once again the zombie spins, aiming a kick at the red head who simply catches his ankle. He turns, throwing the zombie through a nearby tree with ease. The zombie reaches out quickly, fingers biting deep into the trunk of another tree and tearing a large chunk out as he stops his momentum. The zombie spins in air, righting himself just before his feet touch the ground, and then surges back in his direction. Once again the blade turns a bright crimson as the zombie closes in, thrusting the weapon out at Run. "Red Line Strike."
Rather than give ground, however, Run surges forward as well tilting his head just as the blade thrusts in. To his utter surprise, a thin cut actually appears on his cheek, slicing cleanly through the Busoshoku hardened skin even though he'd avoided it by several inches.
"Sea King's Bite!" The zombie's chin snaps down firmly, even before his fist has landed on it. A second loud 'boom!' echos across the island as the ground behind the zombie explodes in a shower of dust and dirt moments before he's thrown back through it. "Dahahaha~! Looks like ya can't copy everythin', huh, pal?"
"Red Line Strike." Yet another wave of energy barrels in his direction, and he turns his shoulder sharply to avoid it. Once again, a thin cut appears across his chest, regardless of having avoided it and protected himself by reflex alone.
"What IS that sword?"
"Aah, aren't you a curious one?" The zombie calmly strolls through the cloud of dust in his direction, free hand massaging his chin for a moment before turning and spitting out a molar. "Well...I've heard that it belonged to a famous pirate a long time ago. Boss man said that the stronger your 'Will' the stronger the blade becomes...whatever that means."
"Really? What a nice sword ta have that would be..." Run reaches up to scratch the stubble on his jaw, a smirk appearing on his face. "...looks like I'll be needin' my shadow an' that sword, pal."
"I told ya before that I ain't got a clue as ta what yer talkin' about but...I suppose you'll just have ta come an' take 'em both from me." The cutlass begins to glow a bright crimson as he raises it to rest on his shoulder. "If ya can, that is." Run moves forward immediately, covering the distance between the two of them even as the zombie raises his sword. "Churning Tide!"
"Soru!" The red head disappears as the zombie swings his sword, a trio of cuts appearing on the ground before numerous more, all seemingly racing across the ground before finally erupting in a giant explosion of sliced wood and rock. Run appears several meters behind the zombie, a grin plastered on his face. "Whoa-ho! That technique is more powerful than I remember ta be sure! But..." Run dashes forward towards the zombie's back, as he raises his sword once more. "...just flinging my own techniques at me ain't gonna--" The zombie shifts slightly, the blade turning enough that a sliver of moonlight reflects off it, and Run dodges immediately, sharply turning his shoulder and jumping to the side.
"Sundering Tide." The zombie appears in front of him, the tip of the cutlass almost seeming to gently touch the ground before a massive split appears and an explosion shakes the island. The red head flinches as a rush of blood gushes from his nose, and a few stray strands of crimson hair float down between the two. Run disappears, reappearing several meters away. "Ahahahaha~! I thought that might be ya done in fer a moment, red hair!"
"What? Nooo! I'm just gettin' all warmed up. That said...I was fer sure that ya would avoid a killin' blow seein' as how my shadow will disappear if I go an' bite the dust."
"Aah? Never heard a that. I was just ordered ta stop the intruders fer they caused anymore trouble."
"I see. Well...I ain't plannin' on dyin' here so I guess I really oughta take ya seriously from here on."
"Hmm...ya know, ya got a real strange accent, red hair."
"Huh? Not really sure I wanna hear that from my own zombie but everyone talks like this in my hometown. Some might call it a bit of a...rural accent. Tends ta slip out when I'm excited or frustrated."
"Well, ain't that good ta hear! I thought I was the only one enjoyin' our scrapin'!" Both men stare at one another for several moments before they begin to laugh loudly. Their laughter carries through the silent forest, echoing through the trees before coming to an abrupt halt as both disappear. A brief shower of sparks illuminates the now silent clearing, and a loud 'boom!' chases it, toppling the few remaining trees in their area. Both men reappear, the zombie spitting out another tooth while Run reaches up to gently prod a cut through his right eyebrow. He closes the eye as blood races down his face and sighs.
"C'mon, pal! It ain't that serious! Can't ya just stay down?"
"Aah, 'fraid not. Orders are orders."
"No matter how much I beat on ya yer just gonna keep bouncin' back..." The red head reaches up and rubs the back of his neck. "...aah, what a pain in the ass zombies are." Run sighs heavily before suddenly disappearing and reappearing in front of the zombie. "Sea King's Bite!" Once again the zombie's chin snaps down, and the ground behind him explodes before he's thrown backwards, sailing through the forest before finally crashing down and sliding to a stop. "I 'spose I could use salt on ya to get my shadow back but that don't seem very sportin' since yer givin' yer all same as me."
"Aaah...my head is ringin' after that, red hair." The zombie slowly pushes himself up, his free hand pressed to his temple. "Yer really not pullin' them punches." The zombie starts to rush forward and suddenly staggers before catching himself, a gush of blood rushing from it's nose. "W...What in the hell...?"
"Dahahahaha~! I heard ya zombies don't feel any pain...which ya think would be a blessin' in a fight. But it's one'a those things that just bites ya in the ass since yer body don't know when ta call it quits."
"Ahahahahaha~! I see! I guess I never saw it that'a way. Two hits ta the chin like that would be enough ta scramble a normal person's brains...even if ya weren't usin' that ability ah yers." The zombie shucks off his coat, tossing it to his side before raising his cutlass to rest on his shoulder. "I can't really judge the damage that's been done but...I'd say I got maybe another good swing in me. Whaddya say? Ya up fer it, red hair?"
"Aaah, why not? One final rush..." Both men are moving the next second, rushing head long towards one another. "...winner takes all!" The zombies cutlass crackles loudly as he raises it while Run raises a fist, his palm opening. Both men appear before one another.
"Red Line--"
"Sea King's Bite!" Run passes the zombie before he can react, a disgusting 'crunch!' filling the air moments before a 'boom!' sounds. The red head slowly lowers his extended arm, glancing over his shoulder at the zombie who calmly stands with his back to the red head. His left arm has been torn from it's socket, and four large gashes have nearly cleaved the zombie into pieces.
"Aah. Looks like ah was...just a bit too slow." The zombie drops to his knees, bracing himself with his remaining arm. "I tell ya what..." He rocks back and then reaches out to retrieve the sword still clutched in the remains of his left arm. "...it'd be a shame if this sword were ta go ta the grave with me." He tosses the cutlass over his shoulder, the weapon tumbling end over end before embedding blade first into the ground in front of Run. "Take it." He tosses the sheath next, and glances over his shoulder at Run. "Yer gonna need it if yer plannin' ta fight the boss. Hah. See ya 'round, red hair."
Saying that, the zombie opens his mouth before suddenly seizing, and spitting out a dark mass that sails in Run's direction before striking the ground at his feet. The red head watches as it quickly forms into the shape of his shadow, and he smiles bitterly as the zombie drops face first to the ground.
"Aah, ya really were fun ta fight." He reaches out and grasps the hilt of the cutlass, pulling it free from the ground with ease. "Hooh..." The blade turns a bright crimson, and then an inky black in color as it crackles with energy. A crimson saw patterned hamon stands out against the black of the blade. Run raises the cutlass and turns sharply. "Crimson Tide." A wave of crimson energy, races through the forest, tearing up trees, rocks and earth along it's path before finally exploding loud enough to set his ears ringing. "...so, are you satisfied with my 'Will', then?" The blade slowly returns to it's normal color, the energy dying off as he bends to retrieve the sheath, slowly shoving it back into it. "Dahahahah~! Good! Because we've got a long way to go, yet, partner!" Run glances over at the discarded coat of the zombie, and then approaches to retrieve it and drape it over his shoulders. "Now, lets--"
"Come out, Straw Hat Crew!!" booms a voice across the island, immediately his attracting his attention to the mansion in the distance, and the head of a massive creature he can see peering over it's roof.
"Dahahaha~! That's one big zombie!" Run disappears immediately, reappearing several feet from the wall of the mansion before leaping straight up to land on the roof. He lands with a grunt and calmly strides up one side, finding the giant zombie looking around in all directions. "Man, that thing is massive! I--"
"Oi! Red! Up here!" calls a familiar voice, attracting his attention to a giant tower. Zoro, Franky and Brook stand at the top of the tower, staring down at the red head who grins at them.
"What are you doing on the roof?" Run shouts back. "Better yet, what the hell happened TO the roof? You-- what am I doing?" Run tenses for a moment before disappearing, this time reappearing beside the three on the roof with a grin. "Long time no see, fellas."
"What the hell happened to you?" Zoro asks him.
"Aah, I had a little run in with my zombie but I managed to get my shadow back." Run looks at Brook, or more specifically, the shadow under him. "I guess I'm not the only one, huh, Brook?"
"A-Ah, yes!" Brook tells him. "Zoro managed to defeat Ryuma and reclaim my shadow!"
"Looks like you got yourself some souvenirs," Franky observes.
"Dahahaha~! You bet!" Run tells him. "Turns out my zombie had a pretty interesting sword. Seemed a shame to leave it lying there so I took it with me. That makes two of us, huh?" Run motions to the new sword at Zoro's hip with a smile. "Nice sword."
"Nice sword yourself," Zoro grunts back with a smirk. "More importantly, that just leaves mine, curly cook and Luffy's shadow. Speaking of..." Zoro motions with his chin towards the red skinned giant in the distance, and they all follow his line of sight to a familiar blond standing several meters away from the giants feet.
"Oi! Move your butt!" calls Sanji. "Why are you getting in our way, Luffy?"
"Luffy?" grunts the zombie. "He is my enemy. My name is Oars. Nice to meet ya!"
"Oh, shut it!" Sanji pauses to light a cigarette, exhaling a small cloud of smoke. "What's 'nice' about this? That's such a birdbrained thing to say. You sound just like Luffy."
"He's trying to pick a fight with that monster," Franky mutters.
"Wow," Run chirps. "He's finally lost his mind."
"Did that moronic cook actually manage to save Nami?" Zoro asks. Oars raises one of his massive arms, looking at something on it for a moment before looking at Sanji and then back several times before finally nodding firmly in response.
"Oh, you look just like your wanted poster," Oars tells him.
"Pfft! Daha~! Dahahahahaha~!" Run laughs, bracing himself against the tower. "He...He thinks he...he looks like the poster! Dahahahaha~!" Oars looks at the photo again and then back to Sanji before leaning forward slightly to completely stare down at him.
"You're definitely one of those pirates...I'm gonna crush you!" Oars drops to his knees and begins throwing punches immediately, intending to crush Sanji with a single fist. Unfortunately for him, Sanji is far quicker than he has anticipated, and he dodges each one with ease. "Little twerp is jumping all over the place!" The speed of his punches increases, surprising all of them and putting an end of Run's laughter. A huge cloud of dust is kicked up from every impact, eventually blocking their view, and Oars as well. When he finally stops, all of them wait in silence, hoping Sanji hasn't gotten himself crushed. Several long seconds pass before their cook casually strolls out of the dust cloud looking no worse for wear.
"Whew...I was actually worried for a moment."
"Hmm...you won't get away again!" Oars raises his hand quickly. "Gum-Gum..."
"Can he use Luffy's techniques, too?!"
"...Sickle!" Although he arm doesn't extend, he pulverizes the ground with ease none-the-less. But when he's got such long reach it doesn't really matter in the end. It's pretty clear now that his huge body isn't just for show. He's got not just their size but the strength of a giant as well.
"I see that freakishly huge body isn't just for show," says Zoro.
"Just one hit would be enough to cause some serious damage," adds Franky. Sanji rushes at the red skinned giant, and leaps up towards his face quickly.
"Collier Frit!" shouts Sanji, aiming to kick Oars in the chin. He surprises them all, however, by snapping his head down and intercepting his kick with a head-butt. Sanji lands several meters away from the giant who has apparently suffered no damage. Before he can react, he's punched by Oars hard enough that it sends him flying several hundred meters back to crash into the side of a building behind him.
"Not just strong but fast!" Run says quickly. "That's a hell of a combination!" Oars rushes after him faster than any of them thought possible, and grabs a falling Sanji in one hand. "Aah, hell! He's gonna kill him!" Run slides down the tower, and leaps to the mansion roof before quickly dashing in their direction. "Hang on, casanova, I'm comin'!" He pulls the cutlass free of it's sheath quickly, the blade turning an inky black and crackling with energy as he disappears before reappearing beside Oars outstretched arm. "Crimson Tide!" He slices into Oars' wrist, surprising them all by almost completely cutting through the giants entire arm. His hand goes slack, and Sanji drops from his limp grip.
"Irritating red hair!" grunts Oars, back handing him with his undamaged hand. Run is sent smashing through one of the far walls, and disappears in the dust and rubble. The red giant raises his damaged hand and grips his cut wrist tightly. Loud, wet cracking and popping sounds as he forces it to rotate...and when he's finished he flexes his formerly slack fingers as if they'd never been damaged.
"Sanji, Run!" bellows Usopp, watching Oars look first as Sanji and then in Run's direction as if he can't decide who to finish off first. "Fire Bird Star!" Usopp fires off a flaming pellet at Oars before he can make a decision. It strikes him in the back of the head, and immediately sets him ablaze. Only after several long moments does he turn to face their direction. He raises his arm to look at the posters.
"There is the black haired lady and the reindeer eating cotton candy."
"Aah! He's coming over here!"
"Shit! Franky! Lure him over here!" demands Zoro, drawing his swords. The cyborg smirks in response and raises his right arm.
"Now we're talkin'!" agrees Franky. He rotates his forearm, and fires off a barrage of bullets from his hidden machine gun. Oars surprises all of them by ducking the barrage, and then kicking the base of the tower. It shatters completely under his strength, and Zoro takes the opportunity presented to him. He leaps off the top of the tower, and dashes up the zombie's leg.
"Get off the tower, you two!" He leaps up towards Oars face. "One Gorilla...Two Gorilla! Three Sword Style...Two Gorilla Slash!" Oars jerks his whole body back at the last second, losing one of the fangs on his lower jaw but little else. He looks straight up at the swordsman.
"Gum-Gum...Volcano!" announces Oars, kicking Zoro high into the sky.
"Chew on this, monster!" growls Franky. "Weapon's Left!" Oars back-flips out of the way of the attack, avoiding it completely. "What the?! How is he so nimble for being so big?!" The red giant reaches towards the tower of a near-by building, and rips it off with a bit of a grunt...before launching it at Franky and Brook. It knocks them off into a sea of rubble which swallows the two whole.
"Dang it!" screams Chopper. "We've got to catch Zoro! He'll die for sure if he falls from that height!"
"Cien Fleurs!" calls Robin, crossing her arms. "Spider Net!" Numerous arms sprout from the rampart, spinning themselves into a make-shift net to catch a falling Zoro. They've barely managed to catch him before Oars appears right in front of them, remains of the stone tower raised high above his head.
"Aah! You may be a giant but you're still a zombie!" shouts Usopp. "Eat this! Special Attack! Salt Star!" He fires the salt pellets right down Oars' throat. He blinks in confusion as he swallows them and then stares at the three in front of him. "He's too big! It's not enough salt!" Oars twitches slightly, and slings the remains of the tower in their direction, smashing the bridge completely...
- - -
"Aah...hell!" complains Run, tossing aside a large piece of stone with his free hand. "Dahahaha~! That big bastard sure packs a hell of a wallop!" He pushes himself up with a grunt and briefly turns his head to spit out a small mouthful of blood before wiping his mouth with the back of his palm. Run approaches the hole he's created and slowly scans his surroundings. Oars is nowhere to be found...and other than seeing Sanji lying out in the open, he can't see anyone else. With a grunt he leaps down and approaches their downed cook. "Hey, Sanji. You still alive?" He kneels beside him and gives him a firm pat on the chest.
"Hnngh...aah, what the hell?" complains Sanji, opening his eyes to stare up at the red head who grins at him.
"Dahahahaha~! Good to see you're still with us, casanova. C'mon. We need to find the others." He gives him another firm pat on the chest before standing and helping their cook to his feet. They search the surrounding rubble for the other members of their crew. They find Franky, Brook and Zoro easy enough...but it takes a bit of digging to find Robin, Usopp and Chopper. They toss aside large chunks of stone and debris to free the rest of the crew and Run offers Robin a grin as helps her to her feet. "How are you feeling?"
"I've been better," Robin admits before carefully examining him. "But...you look like you've been through the wringer." She carefully reaches up towards the cut on his eyebrow and he winces slightly from the pain. "Are you alright?"
"Aah, I'll live. If a little uglier than before."
"We'll need to get you looked at as soon as we can."
"You two done, red?" Zoro questions them, earning a hard stare from Robin. With everyone finally brought back together...they turn their attention to Oars. They have to find him and take him down to get Luffy's shadow back. Luckily enough, it doesn't take much to find someone as large as him. The massive giant is standing on top of one of the buildings, and staring through one of the windows.
"Damn, that's one nasty monster," Franky complains.
"He's not just strong but fast for being so big. What was his name, again?"
"Wasn't it Rose?" Sanji wonders aloud. "No, it ended with an 'S'."
"Hughes."
"That doesn't sound close to right."
"Orse?"
"Can't be, it ends with an 'S', remember," Run retorts. "Hmm...maybe that backhand knocked a few screws loose."
"It's Oars," Robin informs them all.
"I-I'm sorry, everyone," Brook stutters. "I-I still can't..."
"Aah, don't worry about it," Run tells him with a grin. "Just give us some space, Brook...and try not to get caught up in this." They stop several meters away from the red giant. "Hey! Oars!" He tilts his head up to look at them. "Moria stuffed Luffy's shadow into you...but that just means that you shouldn't underestimate the strength of the crew..."