Chapter 138 - My SI Stash #38 - In The Shadows by Some Guy In An Ambulance (One Piece) (2/2)
”Prisoners great shadow khan!” Blue raised his hands in excitement.
”Good news- Prisoners great-” Yellow stuttered, his pallor turning a sickly shade of green.
Red and Blue looked as if they'd seen a ghost, they quaked where they stood.
Clearly shaken, Yellow began to speak ”Moria-sama,” but was interrupted by a loud voice.
”Here's the prisoners Moria-sama.” In walked a giant spider monkey dragging two heavily depressed men trapped in webbing. The head and arms of a monkey with the body of a spider, I'm not even shocked anymore. That begs the question, why did it bring in two depressed guys to see me? Oh. Oh no! That's Zoro and Sanji!
Somewhere in the distance, a straw hat wearing individual shouts out ”Oh yeah!”
Sweat poured in endless torrents down my back as I paced Moria's, dance chamber turned bedroom turned throne room. I'd done it. I'd taken their shadows, and placed each shadow in a corpse. A mad cackle escaped my lips, I barely noticed the small squeak from Yellow, I was so engrossed in my worry.
I tried to rationalize it. If I didn't take those shadows putting them into a brief coma, they would've woken from the pain, and kicked my ass. Do I kill them now? No, that's foolish, Luffy would probably literally murder me if I did that. And when my minions capture Luffy…I can't kill him either! Garp would kill me in one fist, not to mention Dragon.
Maybe I don't have to fight Luffy? Yes. Yes! This plan will be perfect.
”Quick Red, summon my Generals to me! Blue and Yellow, wrap these two in chains so tight they have no wiggle room. Cover their mouths with a gag, and place them within a cage.” I commanded. A genuine smile broke upon my face. Perhaps I'm not doomed after all.
While waiting for Doctor Hogback, Absalom, and Perona, I reclined upon my throne. The lazy SOB that Moria is, my ”throne” was a giant bean bag. Have to hand it to the guy, at least he knew how to relax. I played with my shadow, forming shapes, and intricate sceneries, on a whim, I decided to play with the shadows created by the candles on the walls. I suddenly stopped; my mouth agape. Moria is such an idiot, he's the 'Ruler of Shadows' and he never used the shadows of an inanimate object to attack!? I facepalmed out of sheer stupidity.
As I pondered the newfound uses for my power, I was interrupted. Again. Seriously, I'm the boss, the villain, when I want to monologue, I.
”Oi, untie this rope, you huge leek!” An enraged Straw Hat Luffy shouted at me.
My ire escaped me and it was as if a bucket of ice water was dumped on my back. Shocked out of my stupor, I eyed a small man in golden armor. He sat before me in a cage and covered in webbing. Black hair, a scar beneath the left eye, and that voice. There's no mistaking it. That's Straw Hat Luffy. How did Moria's second rate crew capture this guy? No. I'll leave explaining how Moria's crew captured him to Oda, for now I have to focus.
”Give Usopp, Nami, Chopper, Sanji, and Zoro back to me! Where have you taken them?! His voice rang out in anger.
Those eyes. There's so much determination in them, I can't help but tremble for a second. No, I must maintain this façade if I'm to succeed. Time to break from cannon, God Usopp, don't fail me now.
”Ki shi shi shi shi! So, you're Straw Hat Luffy? Excellent! Simply wonderful! The man who challenged Enies Lobby, rescued Nico Robin from the clutches of the World Government, and defeated the Shichibukai Crocodile. You have my respect!”
”Then let my friends go! And give me back Brook's shadow!”
”Not so fast Straw Hat. It's the pirate's rule to take whatever they want, to live free on the sea.” I answered in a patronizingly bored tone, as if I was lecturing him.
As he was about to do something I'd regret, like chew through the bars, I quickly interrupted any action he was about to take.
”I said I respect you Straw Hat, what you did to the World Government took guts. I'll give you your friends back, and let you sail free. However, that one you call Brook, his shadow is mine. It has been for the last five years. If you want it, I propose we make a wager.” I kept the same cheesy grin on my face during the entire exchange. Please accept, please accept, please accept.
”What kind of wager?” Luffy now looked at me with a suspicious, yet curious glint in his eye.
”Simple! I have a swordsman, and the fame of Rurono Zoro as an up and coming pirate is well known. I challenge your Straw Hat Pirates to a swordsman vs swordsman duel! If you win, you get Brook's shadow. If I win, I keep it. Simple, no?”
He seemed to think about it for a second. I tried a different approach.
”Wouldn't it be cool to have two crews settle an issue with their top expert swordsman?” I said with a sly grin.
My palms started to sweat a bit as I saw his face darken. This is my final attack, if this doesn't work, I'll have to fight him for real. ”And the winner will have a feast in his name!”
”UOOOHHHH! You've got a deal Mory! Zoro will kick whoever you send out's ass!”
(End Chapter)