The Spades save Ace. Thriller Bark part 4
The fight with Kuma
Zoro tells the everyone else to stay out of their fight. Kuma called out him and Ace. Hopefully the two of them can end this before he can hurt any other member of the crews.
Zoro starts the fight with Ace right behind him. But they can’t land a hit on him and he’s knocking them around with ease.
Ace doesn’t understand in the forest they seemed to be evenly matched but now it’s like the man got a power up. Was he holding back before? It doesn’t matter he’s not going to lose.
Ace and Zoro are trying their best. Thankfully Ace already figured out Kuma’s ability in the forest and was able to share it with the others.
But knowing what he can do is not helping them stop him from deflecting Zoro’s swords and Aces Fire.
Franky questions why they are worried about someone with kitten paws and gets slammed in the chest with Kuma’s paw cannon taking him down.
He then releases a barrage of paw cannons on Ace and Zoro. Zoro dodges but Ace just turns to fire and avoided it all. He rushes Kuma but the man teleports before he can land a hit.
Kuma appears behind Zoro and is ready to kill Luffy’s first mate. Ace, who had rushed Kuma to get his attention off of Zoro is furious and tries to turn his course to intercede but he knows he won’t make it in time.
Sanji rushes in and kicks Kuma in the face. Zoro starts to yell at him. He didn’t want any other crew members involved, hoping to keep them safe. Yet his yell stops when he sees that Sanji’s kick only managed to break his own leg. Which is horrifying to everyone as they had just watched Sanji kick Ora, the castle, and the giant chain without hurting his leg at all. What is this man built out of?
“Black leg Sanji I expected more from you” Kuma says rubbing salt in their wounded shock.
Usopp tries to take the man’s attention away from his two injured teammates only to get his fire star sent right back at him. “And the king of snipers steps to the plate. A title you clearly gave yourself”
Kuma makes his Ursus Shock ball full of compressed air Nami, Robin, and Mira are the ones who figure out his plan.
Kuma offers to spare all of their lives in exchange for the head of Strawhat Luffy.
Ace’s heart drops to his stomach because he can’t let Luffy die. If any one here agrees to that deal he’ll kill them himself.
Luckily everyone all at once shouts “Never”
“You brought this upon yourselves” Kuma says as he releases the Ursus Shock.
Ace has only one thought in his head. Protect Luffy. As Kuma releases the Ursus Shock Ace turns to flames and zips over to Luffy. He gets there just as the shock wave is released. He doesn’t have time to get Luffy out of there but he can shield him with his own body. To do that though means he can’t turn into flames to avoid this attack. He has to take the full brunt of it. But right now the only thing he’s think of is to shield Luffy. He materializes and through himself over top of Luffy right as the explosion goes off.
“Nothing happened”
Once the air clears Kuma walks by the unconscious bodies of the Strawhats and Spades. Making his way right to Luffy and Ace. Ace who’s snaked his head hard when protecting Luffy. Who’s spent an exhausting night fighting Kuma. Ace who is not used to Physical hits anymore (as the fight with Blackbeard shows) Ace who is now passed out on top of Luffy.
Kuma reaches to knock Ace away and grab Luffy but is stopped by an attack from Zoro.
The rest of the interaction with Kuma goes the same as in canon. Zoro offering his life for Luffy. Sanji trying to step in. Zoro knocking him out. And Kuma giving Zoro Luffy’s pain.
Ace wakes up and freaks out because Luffy isn’t with him. He jolts up, ignoring the pain, panicked thinking Luffy is dead only to see his bumbling little brother jumping around and celebrating. At first he is relieved but then the pain of his own body kicks in and he has to wonder how Luffy is up already. His brother should be down for days. So how is he up?
Slowly the Strawhats and Spades start getting up and coming over. Deuce immediately coming over and sitting down next to Ace to check on his injuries. While the Stawhats marvel over Luffy’s recovery.
That is until Sanji wakes up and takes off. Deuce and Ace share a look. Something is going on. They missed something big. Something that allowed them all to live and for Luffy to be bouncing around.
Sanji returns with an injured Zoro and the crews freaks out, Chopper and Deuce rushing forward to help. Luffy dashing to Zoro’s side, Ace having to pull him away so he’s not in the doctors’ way. He understands where Luffy is coming from. God does he understand but he also knows they aren’t doctors and that Chopper and Deuce need room to work.
Clean up.
Ace and the Spades helps the Strawhats clean everything up. Ace is suspicious of how all of Their stolen items plus all the items (food and treasure) from the Thiller Bark pirates ended up in their ship. But he’s more focused on figuring out where Kuma went, how Luffy healed so fast, and what happened to Zoro. He’s got a sinking feeling they are all connected.
The two pirates come in to tell them what happened and Sanji drags them outside. Ace’s hasn’t left Luffy’s side since he woke up, but he can’t miss this. He shoots a look over to Mihar nodding his head towards Luffy. His old crewmate understands loud and clear (watch him for me) and nods back. He knows how much trust is in this request.
Ace follows Sanji and the two pirates. Sanji tries to get him to leave. “He’s your captain but he’s MY little brother. You’re out of your mind if you think I’m missing this.” Ace needs to know what happened. He needs to know how soon Kuma will be back.
The two pirates tell them about Zoro’s sacrifice and Sanji tells them not to tell anyone else. “How do you think Luffy will feel knowing Zoro’s like that because of his pain.” And Ace agrees.
Ace is shook to his core that Zoro would do that. He understands. If he had been awake he would have taken the same deal. He owed Zoro for this. He knows 5he man would never accept his thanks or him telling him he owed him, Zoro didn’t do this for praise or to collect a debt later. He did this because he loves Luffy and their crew. A sentiment Ace understands.
But the whole thing brings to light something he’s been worried about for a while. He needs to find Deuce.
They rejoin the group. The party starts. Luffy goes over to have his talk with Brook. Ace sits down with Deuce who is staying with Zoro. Deuce can see Ace watching to room (Luffy) but can tell he wants something because he’s not glued to his younger brother’s side. He tells Chooper to go join the party and that he’ll watch over Zoro, giving the two of them a little bit of privacy.
It’s Deuce, Ace, and an unconscious Zoro. Skull is dancing with the other strawhats and Mihat is sitting with Robin. Ace without taking his eyes off of Luffy speaks. “Hey Deu can I ask you a question?”
“Of course.” Deuce already has a feeling of where this is going.
Ace finally turns to look his friend dead in the eyes. “Do you think Luffy and the others are ready for the New World?”
