~Third~
After having made a daring escape from the marine base G-8 the Strawhats were flying along in the night sky in their ship the Going Merry, the call of a hawk interrupted the peaceful silence as the majestic bird of auburn feathers landed on the extended arm of Nicole, her golden yellow eyes scanned the letter flicking between word, a smile curled her lips.
"What does daddy dearest say this time?"Zoro asked leaning on the railing next to her, Nicole gave him a quick glare "Don't ever say that it sounds weird, anyway he's just saying how proud he is that i got my first bounty"she said smiling again as she looked at the letter "He's proud of that fact?"Zoro asked "Yep"Nicole simply said already writing a reply to her father.
Nicole tied the letter on the hawks leg and send it off "What kind of a bird is that anyway?"Zoro said "It's called a Globetrotter Hawk, it's a species of hawk that can fly without a brake for an entire year and it's fast enough to need only that much time to traverse the entire world"Nicole said (made up bird, my book, my rules) "Huh i guess that's interesting"Zoro said.
Just then the flame dial keeping the octopus that was keeping them up inflated went out and the octopus started deflating almost immediately, the Going Merry fell down to the sea but thankfully the drop hadn't been too long so at least the ship was in one piece, they let the octopus go into the sea before continueing to sail on their ship normally, however before they could even get to work a huge wave caused by sea monkeys swept them away.
~skip~
After a while of sailing around the Strawhats ran into a ship with no sails and practically no crew, most of them dismissed it but Nicole had a hunch to what happened to them, after that the Going Merry and her crew arrived on an island where everything was ridiculously long, even the animals.
Luffy, Usopp and Chopper went on land first and immediately set off to explore it, the others didn't got far from the ship as another ship showed up and blocked the Merry in with chains "We are the notorious foxy pirates we want more then just a fight we wanna showdown!"some guy said.
~skip~
"You said the fight's already started?"Nami asked "That's right a Davy Back Fight begins as soon as one captain accepts the challenge from the other captain no take backs"some guy said "In other words your captain is fighting our captain whether you like it or not all you can do is sit back and deal with it"another guy said.
"I don't get this if it's a fight why do i have to sit and wait? Let's do this right here right now"Zoro said, Sanji sighed "You don't know anything do you? It's not a real fight it's more like a sports match between different pirate crews"he said "Exactly, supposedly the game originated in a far away place called pirate island as the name implies it's a sort of secret paradise for pirates, at any rate the purpose of the Davy Back fight is to plunder desirable members from another pirates crew"Robin said.
"Pirates plundering other pirates?"Nami asked "Pretty much yeah"Nicole said "No wonder your puny little crew only has eight members, a Davy Back fight is the best way to pull in new recruits"some guy said "Since you're so clueless i'll tell you how it works after each match the winner can take any member they want from the losing team"another said.
"And once that person is chosen they gotta pledge their undying loyalty to their new captain on the spot"one guy said "Both crews take their oath in the name of Davy Jones the pirate of the deep"another one said "So if you lose, you lose a crew member?"Nami asked "No you're getting it, also if the losing team doesn't have any members worth plundering the winning captain can add insult to injury by robbing the ship of its jolly roger"one guy said.
"So you're not just betting your crew mates but the pride of your ship too winning might make you stronger but losing will leave you with nothing at all might as well be betting your life"Sanji said "I see that explains it that ship without a captain or a navigator or sails, they must have lost everything in a Davy Back fight"Nami said.
"Oh so you saw the fang frog pirates or what's left of them at least how about we give you a chance to admire our handy work in person here let's have a round of applause for our brand new recruits"one guy said as another walked forward, the members that were taken from the fang frog pirates.
"What about your crew huh? You don't care? Just join a new ship and leave them out to dry?" Zoro asked "Yeah no kidding those poor saps got a one way ticket to a watery grave"Sanji said "Watery grave? That's their problem don't look at me"the guy said, Nicole glared a bit at them "You're nothing but scum we're not playing your stupid game got it? There's no way we'd ever sink to your level!"Nami said.
"You can say that all you want but it ain't the crews decision to make the Davy Back fight begins as soon as one captain agrees to the challenge from another captain"one guy said "What's the matter don't you have faith in your captain? If you don't agree with the decisions he makes maybe you're better off joining us after all"another guy said.
"Sorry Nami but they're right, all pirates take an unwritten oath to follow their captain to the bitter end if we turned our back now we'd be sailing away in disgrace"Sanji said "So who cares? That's better then losing"Nami said "Maybe for you but i rather die then live in disgrace"Zoro said "The same goes for me"Sanji said "You don't get it at all do you? Do you seriously have zero pride in yourself?"Nicole asked Nami.
"Ugh forget it, i'll stop Luffy by force if i have to"Nami said running off "I'm guessing no"Nicole muttered, Zoro nodded in agreement "Don't bother, it's too late all that's left now is to wait for the captains to fire a shot to signal the beginning of the match"one guy said but Nami ignored them all as she continued running.
Just then they could hear two shots in the distance "Well too late now"Nicole said "Guess that settles it"Sanji said "Well i'm not complaining"Zoro said "Should be interesting at least"Robin said "He's agreed to the game!"the foxy pirates cheered.
~skip~
The Foxy pirates set up a whole festival for this one single fight, you had to admit at least they knew how to make it entertaining, the Strawhats were gathered at the back of the party listening to the rules and so forth, anyway Luffy picked three games "It's settled then, let Davy Jones be our witness!"the other captain said tossing the coins into the sea.
"Huh so who's this Davy Jones guy?"Chopper asked "A pirate who was cursed by the devil and forced to spend all of eternity at the bottom of the sea"Robin said, it reminded Nicole of a story her father used to tell her all the time.
"I've never heard of people living underwater"Chopper said "Well that's what the legend says and all the treasures and ships that sink below the waves go to his locker never to be seen by any one again"Robin said "I knew the ocean was scary but that's crazy"Chopper said biting into cotton candy.
"Davy Jones has been taking his picks from all sorts of pirates for as long as anyone can remember that's why we call it a Davy Back fight in honor of the pirate that may someday claim your crew as his own"Sanji said "It's kinda tragic if you think about it, at least from the story my dad told me"Nicole said.
"Hey you know the rest of the rules right? Exactly eight people from each team will participate in the game, each person may play no more then one round, you may not change the grouping once the game starts"some guy said walking over explaining the rules to the Strawhats and handing the a list of the events.
"Damn you!!"Usopp said squishing Luffy's rubbery face in "It's all your fault!!"Nami said doing the same "Hey don't worry when we win we can get a shipwright"Luffy said with a careless grin "Why would we want someone from that kind of a pirate group?!"Usopp yelled at him "The games are racing, sports and combat"Zoro said reading the list.
"I'll take combat"Zoro said "What?! NO! I wanna fight!"Luffy yelled "No let me! My legs are itchy already!"Sanji yelled "I don't really care where i'm put in"Nicole said with a casual shrug "It's decided then, i'll turn in our listing"Robin said.
The teams were Nami, Robin and Usopp for round one Donut Race "Actually i just remembered that i have the dies if enters a boat race syndrome"Usopp said trying to lie his way out of it "I don't want to do this either but you need to toughen up!"Nami yelled at him "If it's eight people everyone needs to participate"Robin said.
For round two Zoro, Sanji, Nicole and Chopper "Don't get in my way"Zoro said "That's my line!"Sanji said "I'll do my best!"Chopper said, Nicole sighed "I have a feeling i'll have to do all the work"she muttered, for round three Luffy was all on his own "Yeah!"he yelled not too concerned about it.
"First up it's the obstacle course around the isle the Donut Race! You are given two oars and three barrels to make your canoe, you are disqualified if you use any extra materials, this is a chance for the shipwrights to show off, now for the self introduction, i am the party captain of the foxy pirates Slim Tim! I will broadcast the race from the air with my super sparrow of the south sea, Gigin! Now introducing the Strawhat team, they are the navigator Nami, sniper Usopp and archaeologist Robin! The boat they will use is called Barrel Tiger!"the commentator said.
"This won't sink will it?"Nami asked "I told you i'm not a shipwright"Usopp said "It'll probably sink"Robin said "And now representing team foxy, she is our sweetheart Porch, in assistance are the fishman Kapouti and Monda the star shark, their ship is the cutie wagon!"the commentator said.
"Hold on a second they have a fish on their team!"Nami yelled "Yes so? There's no rule that disallows fish crew"Porch said "Kick their ass!"Luffy yelled "I will make you sink"Porch said "Bring it on!"Nami said "Both teams get ready! But first the objective, it's very simple just go around the island once, oh by the way guns, cannons, swords, any weapon is allowed if you don't like it the you don't deserve to be a pirate!"the commentator said.
"What kind of a boat race is this?"Zoro asked "A pretty standard one if you ask me"Nicole said "I'm warning you Usopp! If any of the ladies get hurt i'll slice you into pieces and feed you to the fishes!"Sanji yelled at him "Don't lose! Usopp! Nami! Robin!"Luffy yelled "I'm so excited!"Chopper yelled.
The teams were handed an Eternal Pose each so they wouldn't get lost and the race got started however the starting shots were aimed at the Barrel Tiger sending the boat overturning, then a boulder was sent to flatten the Strawhats team however they avoided being sunk just in time, the Barrel Tiger started catching up to the other ship however the fishman used fishman karate to split the ocean.
Again the Strawhats managed to avoid being sunk, Robin used her powers to flip the fishman sending him colliding with the shark, this was their chance to pull ahead, on the shore as the others were cheering for their crew Nicole noticed Foxy sneaking away, she was sure he was up to something but she believed Nami wouldn't fall for his tricks so she stayed.
Meanwhile on the sea the Strawhats were trying to catch up to the foxy crew and after Usopp used an impact dial they flew right past them, the foxy crew caught up and regained their lead however Robin used her powers to hitch a ride, however they caught on the Strawhats seemed to have no choice but to use another impact but Usopp was being all cowardly.
However to their luck they reached some reefs and with Nami on board they had no problem navigating through the reefs using the wild currents to their advantage, even though Foxy blinded them with smoke they didn't have to do anything because the current took them right through the reefs.
The crew on the boat used another impact to clear the whirlpool at the end of the reefs and go right over the long cape, the Strawhats had a massive lead now and Nami wasn't falling for Foxy's cheap traps including a fake goal which actually fooled Foxy's own crew giving the Strawhats an even bigger lead, the foxy crew was in hot pursuit however but with some quick thinking and Usopp sniper skills they made some bamboo near the shore fall on the foxy team knocking out the fishman.
Porch wasn't letting them get away that easy however and used an attacked called flower shuriken which made a hole in the Strawhats boat, they could make it though however just as victory seemed assured Foxy used his devil fruit powers to slow down the Barrel Tiger, the others had been distracted so the foxy pirates won.(let's just pretend the foxy crew had four members in this round okay?)
Foxy explained his powers to the Strawhats and even gave them a demo, after that Foxy claimed Chopper as a part of his crew "Chopper!"Luffy yelled "Those bastards they took Chopper cause he looks like a rare pet"Sanji said "Is he a collector of rare pets?"Nami asked "Hopefully not a collector of rare pelts"Robin said "Eh reindeer aren't that rare"Nicole shrugged before chugging from the bottle she and Zoro were sharing.
"What?! This is not the time for jokes! They took out friend!"Usopp yelled "Listen up! Doctor Chopper you are now one of us you must swear loyalty to me! Put on the mask"Foxy laughed "Everyone"Chopper whimpered "Chopper!"Nami called "I'm sorry we lost Chopper!"Usopp yelled.
"Everyone, i, i don't want this, i started sailing with you guys, Luffy! Luffy asked me, i only went because Luffy asked, i don't wanna join these people!"Chopper yelled, Zoro slammed the bottle down.
"Shut your mouth Chopper! You are being disgraceful! It was your choice to get a life on the sea, dead or alive the choice was yours alone, don't blame it on others, we accepted the challenge! Usopp and the others tried their best, in the pirate's world tears won't get you anything, if you're a man the just sit tight and quietly watch the game!"Zoro said, Nicole smiled a bit emptying out the bottle.
"How could you say that?! He must feel terrible now!"Nami yelled at Zoro, however Chopper did as he was told and sucked it up "Let's get round two started already"Nicole said standing up "That's right there are two more matches, we have to retrieve our emergency food friend"Sanji said.
"The exchange is complete and the excitement explodes as the Davy Back Fight enters round two!"the commentator said "Hey wasn't Chopper supposed to be in the second round? How can he compete if they took him?"Usopp asked Robin "Good point"she said "That's one of the most thrilling parts of the game remember the rules you cannot change your teams roster no replacements allowed"one guy said.
"In other words only the remaining three contestants can participate in round two's game the Groggy Ring"the commentator said "Actually you could sit this one out too"Zoro told Sanji "Nah but feel free to do the same thing you loser"Sanji said, Nicole just sweatdropped as the two got into a fight, this was not looking good