Chapter 25

The Cursed Holy Sword

Part 2

"What did you do to her?"

"I had to gain control of her. Her will was too strong just like yours the normal means. But with the way I gained control no one would be able to fight it at all."

Zoro looked at his friend and saw the sword glowing as well.

Zoro tried to move to fight his friend but couldn't he felt his arms and legs trapped by the water Rena controlled. He looked at her glowing red eyes.

That moment Usopp groaned and woke up looking around. "What is this place?" Usopp asked. "This cave sure is weird" he said, as he walked around.

"Huh" he said. "There's a tunnel here" he said to himself. "O-over here too, there's tunnel all over the place!" Usopp exclaimed, as he looked at the many places they could take. "Dammit" he said. "I wonder if this is how Zoro feels when he goes off on his own" Usopp muttered the last bit.

"Luffy" Usopp called out. "If you're down here, answer me" Usopp said. "Oi, where are you?" He asked, as his voice echoed throughout the cave. "Come out, come out, wherever you are" Usopp called out his voice echoing as well.

"Luffy" Usopp called out before hearing the sound of laughter, as the rubbery boy came running towards him. "Luffy, you jerk" the long nosed boy said as he ran towards the rubbery boy.

"Oh, Usopp," Luffy said, as he came to a complete stop.

"If you were here, you should've answered, jerk!" Usopp exclaimed handing the raven haired boy his hat.

"Thank you, Usopp!" Luffy exclaimed, putting his hat on before laughing again.

"W-what's so funny?" Usopp asked.

"Well you see, when I pulled on a string, that thing came rolling down!" Luffy exclaimed, as he pointed towards the way he had just came from. Usopp screamed when he saw a boulder rolling towards them.

"W-w-what is that?" Usopp asked.

"These tunnels are fun!" Luffy exclaimed.

"S-s-s-s-stop laughing and do something!" Usopp exclaimed.

"Gum Gum Pistol" Luffy said, punching the boulder and destroying it.

"I was having fun" Luffy said.

"Jeez, can't you worry a little more about other people?" Usopp asked. "But I'm glad to be alive" he said.

"Some big rock isn't enough to beat us" Luffy said.

"Luffy, don't make me worry so much" Usopp said.

"Anyway, we gotta get out of here" Usopp said. "Is there an exit?" He asked.

"I'm pretty sure it'll be this way" Luffy said.

"Okay" Usopp said as the three started to walk the way Luffy had pointed. "Hm, now which way?" He asked as the group came across two tunnels.

"This way" Luffy said, as he ran to one of the tunnels.

"O-okay" Usopp said as they ran down the tunnel.

"Hey, a string" Luffy said, walking over to a string handing from the ceiling.

"Huh, don't" Usopp said when he saw the rubbery boy grab a hold of the string and ripped it off the ceiling.

"Huh, it broke" Luffy said, looking at the broken string.

"Whew, I thought it would be a trap" Usopp said, sighing in relief before the cave started to shake. Usopp quickly jumped onto Luffy's back when a rock came crashing down on the area he was just standing in. "It is a trap!" He cried as the two started running from the falling rocks.

"This cave is full of adventure!" Luffy exclaimed, while carrying Usopp.

"Watch out, watch out!" Usopp cried.

Luffy laughed as they went sliding down a slope in the cave while Usopp whimpered. "This is fun" Luffy laughed as they slid into another tunnel.

"This is not fun!" Usopp exclaimed.

"Huh, what's that?" Luffy asked, as they looked towards a rock. "Something's written on here" he said.

"Kumo" Usopp read.

"Oh! Look Usopp!" Luffy exclaimed. "It's the exit" he said.

"W-we made it!" Usopp exclaimed as the two ran to the opening of the tunnel.

"We're out, huh" he said, as they looked around.

"The only thing out here is that weird tower" Luffy said, as they looked up at the tower in front of them.

"Well, we're out, but where the hell are we?" Usopp asked. "There's no point in getting out if we can't find the others Luffy" he said, as the raven haired boy looked at their surroundings.

"Maybe we can just go the opposite way at that weird sign" Luffy suggested.

"Maybe, yosh, let's go" Usopp said.

"Yeah" Luffy he all went running back into the cave.

"W-wait up Luffy" Usopp said as the rubbery boy was running ahead of him. As Luffy stepped on a certain part of the ground that sunk in, the ground cave in, causing the rubbery boy to quickly grab the edge before falling into the hole, as he stretch down further down.

"Luffy" Usopp said, falling into the hole, grabbing onto the rubbery boy so they wouldn't fall any further as Luffy threw them back up onto the solid ground and they continued to run, Luffy carrying Usopp on his back once again.

Usopp's head hit one of the stalactites, falling backwards as Luffy continued to drag him behind him. Soon the two came across another rock with writing on it.

"Found it" Luffy said.

"Tonroh" Usopp read as they ran to the opening they had found.

"We're out" Luffy said, before dropping Usopp as they looked at the tower they had found.

"Another weird tower" Usopp said.

"Nami, Sanji! Are you here?" Luffy asked.

"Guess we'll have to turn back again" Usopp said, after a while of walking the two were soon running up a slope that had water coming down it. Usopp, who slipped and came sliding down, Luffy quickly grabbed the boy's long nose.

"Don't pull my nose" the long nose boy said.

"How many traps are there in this place?" Usopp groaned since him and Luffy where avoiding spears being thrown at them. He was more scared and irritated with all the traps as they were soon chased down a tunnel by some rolling stones that were in the shape of a wheel.

"Here's another one" Luffy said, as they came across another rock with writing on it.

"Hagun" Usopp read, as he took in a deep breath, amazed that he had survived all those traps. He was pulling arrows out of his bag and freaked out seeing one was in his hair attached to his bandanna.

"I've got a bad feeling about this" Usopp said, looking at the rock.

"Over there" Luffy said as he spotted the opening of the tunnel. "Oh, here's another one Usopp, this is the third one" he said as he ran out to find another tower.

"Y'know, finding these things isn't cheering me up at all" Usopp said.

"I'm hungry" Luffy said, his stomach growling, before falling backwards.

"Me too" Usopp said, his stomach growling as well, as they both fell backwards falling asleep.

The next morning everyone was up and about.

Chopper stuffed his face with food as Maya poured some tea. "Does your arm still hurt?" She asked.

"Nope, it doesn't hurt a bit" Sanji said, as Maya sat the cup of tea on the table, next to the blonde.

"As soon as you've finished eating, you must leave this island" the old woman said. "I warned you last night" she said.

"We can't leave until Luffy, Rena, Zoro, and Usopp get back, right?" Chopper asked.

"That's right" Sanji said.

Ace looked up from his food, "I don't know what happen but Rena isn't the same and I will be helping her. Luffy though good luck finding him."

"I'm sure those Two got lost and have been walking around the entire island" Nami said.

"Probably saying something like, 'it's an adventure'" Sanji said.

"Then, when your nakama come back, you will immediately-" the old woman said.

"Do you really want us gone that badly?" Sanji asked.

Ace was wondering what she knew. He looked at her wondering if she knew about what was going on with Rena.

"Is it because we're pirates?" Chopper asked.

"It's not that, we're saying this out of concern for your safety!" Laquos exclaimed.

"Oh, you mean our lives are in danger?" Nami questioned.

"Young lady, you and your crew came to this island after hearing the rumors of the Seven-Star Sword, correct?" The old woman asked.

"Yep, Nami loves treasure!" Chopper exclaimed.

"Chopper, you didn't have to tell her that!" Nami snapped.

"As I feared" the old woman said.

"The Seven-Star Sword isn't the kind of treasure you think it is" Maya said.

"Oh, Robin was saying something like that too" Nami said.

"The tragedy began on the night of a Red Moon" Robin said. "On that ominous night, the three princes of the Asuka Kingdom beheld a beautiful priestess and all fell in love with her" she said. "In order to win the favor of the priestess, the princes brought forth the Seven-Star Sword, the symbol of the royal family and fought for it" she said. "The cruel battle between the brothers spread throughout the kingdom, the land and the sea were stained with the blood and suffering of the victims and so the Seven-Star Sword, having absorbed the blood and hatred of so many, began to bring about massacre and destruction" she said, as they looked at the drawings on and writing on the statue. "It became a cursed sword and the Kingdom of Asuka was destroyed" she said.

"A cursed sword" Sanji questioned, sitting on the stairs.

"Incredible, you read all of that?" Maya asked.

"Robin's an archaeologist, she's super smart!" Chopper exclaimed.

"But, I can't read any further" Robin said, seeing that a part of the statue was broken and covered in moss.

"Huh" Chopper said.

"It has long since deteriorated" Robin said.

"I will tell you the rest" the old woman said.

"Grandmother" Maya said.

"Allow me" Sanji said, standing up so the older woman can walk up the stairs.

"The dreadful cursed sword, the Seven-Star Sword, as blood begot blood, it continued to spread war, until it engulfed this entire region" the old woman said, as she walked over to the statue that was destroyed by the heavy blonde headed man.

"Our beautiful ocean because a world ruled by darkness" she said, "And then, in a final effort to save the people from war, the priestess took all of the hatred from the Seven-Star Sword into herself and sacrificed herself" she said. "Upon learning of the death of their beloved priestess, the princes vowed to atone for their sins, the Gods of the Seven Stars of Asuka granted them three jewel orbs, which sealed the powers of the cursed Seven-Star Sword" she said. "But, once every 100 year, when the Red Moon shines, the cursed sword gathers enough strength to break the seal and awaken to spread its dark power again" she said.

"Dark power" Robin questioned.

"Therefore, Maya purified the sacred orbs and was going to take them to the three towers and perform the ritual to erect a barrier around this island, but…" the old woman said.

"The night of the Red Moon" Nami questioned.

"It's tonight" Laquos said.

"What?" Chopper asked.

"So that's why those Marines were trying to stop the ritual" Sanji said.

"Their leader, Saga, is in possession of the Seven-Star Sword" Laquos said.

"The Seven-Star Sword" Robin questioned.

"Saga is trying to revive the power of the cursed sword and the Sealing Ritual would have stopped him, by stealing the sacred orbs, he can prevent us from performing it, but, those who have accepted the dark powers of the cursed sword cannot touch the orbs" Laquos said. "That is why he used the outsider, your nakama, to steal them" he said.

"Wait a second! Who's this Saga guy?" Nami asked. "You're saying that Zoro did this for him" she said.

"That's a lie, that's not possible!" Chopper exclaimed.

"They are friends who studied swordsmanship at the same dojo when they were young" Maya said.

"What?" Nami and Chopper asked.

"When Saga still lived in this village, he would reminiscence by telling me about it, he also told me about the promise they made" Maya said.

"A promise" Nami questioned.

Maya began to tell them part od the past between Zoro and Saga.

"Are you Pirate Hunter Zoro?" A pirate captain asked after watching the swordsman take down his men.

"I heard that you were the strongest pirates in the area" Zoro said. "Looks like it was just an over exaggerated rumor" he said.

"This fights not over yet!" The pirate captain exclaimed as he drew two guns from his coat.

"You can't beat him with those" Saga said.

"What? Who the hell are you?" The pirate captain asked, as Saga slashed the guns out of his hands and punched him in the stomach and caused him to fall over, clutching his stomach in pain.

"Long time no see" Saga said, as he looked to Zoro.

"Is that you, Saga?" Zoro asked.

"I've also started on a warrior's journey to hone my skills as a swordsman" Saga said, smiling. "I knew that I'd find you someday, Zoro!" He asked, as the swordsman shook his head.

"You still have that?" Zoro asked, looking at the knife in the man's pocket.

"Of course, this short sword represents our promise, after all, did you forget?" Saga asked. "The morning that you left the dojo, we made a promise to each other, you would become the world's greatest swordsman and I would master the sword of justice!" He exclaimed

"I'll never forget" Zoro said.

"You jerk" Saga said, smiling as he put an arm around the swordsman's shoulder and lightly punched him in the chest before laughing.

Time went on and one night that was just normal bounty hunting for the two.

"Kill 'em, kill them all" a pirate said as they raided a ship.

"You greedy pirates, who do you think is on this ship?" Saga asked as he and Zoro attacked the pirates.

"Saga" Zoro said, as the silver haired man was knocked over by the anchor crashing into the ship, right where he was standing. The chain of the anchor was wrapped around his arm as he dangled there.

"The gunpowder's caught on fire!" Saga exclaimed as he saw a fire burning close to the barrels of gunpowder.

"Saga" Zoro said, looking down at the dangling man.

"Zoro" Saga said.

"Wait for me" Zoro said.

"That won't work" Saga said, as the swordsman tried to cut the iron chain. "Dammit, Zoro, on the ship we were on, in the captain's cabin, there's an axe" he said. "Go get it" he said. "You might be able to cut through the chain with that" he said.

"Idiot, I'm not gonna leave you behind!" Zoro exclaimed.

"I can handle things here myself, hurry up and go, Zoro" Saga said.

"You'd better not die" Zoro said.

"Yeah" Saga said.

"I'm coming back to save you!" Zoro exclaimed.

"You'd better not die either, Zoro" Saga said, just as the swordsman jumped off the ship, it exploded.

"Saga" Zoro said, before screaming as the force of the explosion threw him back. "SAGA" he screamed as the two ships exploded.

"Despite miraculously surviving the explosion on the pirate ship, Saga lost the use of his right arm" the old woman said as they all walked. "Plagued by despair, he drifted to our island in the Grand Line" she said.

"So he saved Zoro's life" Nami said.

"A promise, eh" Sanji said.

"Judging from that story, Saga doesn't seem like an evil man" Robin said.

"When Saga first came to this island, he was lethargic and distant" Laquos said. "But, with Maya-sama's encouragement and kindness, he slowly began to open up and regain his hope" he said.

"I had thought that those two would wed and live in the village together" the old woman said.

"Maya-chan, does that mean Saga's your…?" Sanji asked, as Maya ran off.

"Then, a year ago, pirates came and attack our peaceful island" Laquos said. "Saga took a sword and fought alongside us" he said.

"But then, in the palace across the lake, Saga came across the cursed Seven-Star Sword" the old woman said.

"Maya-chan…"Sanji said.

Maya started to tell them what happen that night.

While fighting the pirates to protect Maya, Saga dropped the knife that Zoro had given him for his and Zoro's promise. The silver haired male was soon wounded while the pirate slapped Maya away. "Maya" Saga said weakly. "If only I had more power" he said, as the cover on the tomb fell off, catching the pirate that was about to kill and do worse to Maya attention. "Maya" he said, as his hand rested on the Seven-Star Sword

She looked to see what he was about to do and felt as if a knife just stabbed her."Don't pick it up" Maya said.

"I'll save you" Saga said, as his hand touched the handle of the sword.

"Stop, Saga" Maya begged. "Saga, no" she cried out, as the man's hand wrapped around the sword and a green glow started to admit from it. "Saga" the blue haired female said as he stood up and slashed down all the pirates. "Why?" She asked, her body shaking in fear as lighting struck outside. "Why?" She asked again her eyes wide as the silver haired man started to laugh. "Saga" she said, falling forward before the man caught her laughing as he held her passed out form.

I see, so in order to protect Maya-chan, Saga took the Seven-Star Sword" Sanji said.

"If I had protected Maya-sama…" Laquos said, as they all looked at the blue haired female who stared out to the sacred temple.

"Quiet, no one is to blame!" The old woman exclaimed. "No one" she said.

"Ever since then…the power of the cursed sword…has been controlling Saga's mind!" Maya exclaimed, tears rolling down her cheeks. "And now, Saga…no, the Seven-Star Sword…has gathered Marine swordsmen and is once again trying to create a world ruled by darkness to feed its bloodlust" she said.

"What?" Nami and Chopper asked.

"A dark world where people wage war, blood is spilled…and all is brought to ruin" the old woman said.

"Man, we've been at this since yesterday" Usopp said, as the three were once again in the cave. Currently the long nosed pirate was pulling arrows off of his bag.

"How long is it gonna take to get out of these tunnels?" He asked.

"It's this tunnel" Luffy said, as he looked between the two tunnels that they had stopped at. "I've decided we're going" he said.

"Wait, Luffy" Usopp said, stopping the rubbery boy. "If we let you decide, I'll be dead before we make it out!" He exclaimed. "We'll go this way" the long nosed boy said, heading towards the other tunnel. "Ah, it's the wrong one!" He exclaimed as the two were rolling down the tunnel with rocks under them.

"Haha, this is fun" Luffy said laughing. Before groaning as they had a rough landing with the ground.

"No more, I can't move" Usopp cried.

"Haha, that was fun" Luffy exclaimed.

"Why does this all keep happening to us?" Usopp asked.

"But I'm still hungry" Luffy suddenly said as his stomach started to growl.

"Dammit, this is all Zoro's fault!" Usopp said. "Zoro had to go and leave like that" he said. "Water" he questioned as the two heard the sound of running water.

"Hey, it is water" Luffy said, climbing up onto a rock as he saw the steam of water that was running through the cave.

"What are these?" Luffy asked as he saw the three orbs. "Oi, Usopp" he said, as he picked the three orbs up. "I found some weird balls-" he said before falling into the stream and hitting the wall of the cave, causing it to sink in.

"Did you find the water?" Usopp asked as he climbed up to where Luffy is, as water shot up. All two held their breath as the water shot through the tunnel, while Luffy continued to hold onto the three orbs.

Ace did not like eany of it the thought of Rena being controlled by a cruse sword.

"Grandmother, isn't there any other way to stop the Seven-Star Sword from reviving?" Nami asked.

"Without the jewel orbs that were to be placed in the three towers, we can't perform the ritual" the old woman said, as the group walked back to the village.

"All because of Zoro" Chopper said.

"So, all you can do is sit and watch?" Nami asked.

"There's only one other way" Maya said.

"Maya" the old woman said.

"What is it?" Nami asked.

"The priestess in the legend is my distant ancestor, if I sacrifice my own life…" Maya said.

"Maya-sama" Laquos said.

"Maya's gonna die!" Chopper exclaimed.

"What're you saying? That's just a legend, isn't it? It's just a fairy tale!" Sanji exclaimed. "I'm not going to believe that rubbish" he said.

"But, the Seven-Star Sword really does exist!" The old woman exclaimed.

"Even so, you have no idea if that story's true and you're willing to let your darling granddaughter die!" Sanji exclaimed.

"YOU THINK I'M WILLING TO DO THIS?!" The old woman screamed.

"I'm sorry, I said too much" Sanji said.

"Never mind" the old woman said. "I'm grateful for your thoughtfulness, this is our destiny" she said.

"Destiny" Nami questioned.

"Our family has been charged with being priestess for generations, but to my knowledge, there has never been anyone gifted with the abilities as Maya" the old woman said.

"Abilities" Chopper questioned.

"With the power of prayer" the old woman said.

"Prayer" Robin questioned.

"Although we cannot use the power of the orbs, by relying on Maya's power, we will perform a ritual that will stop the revival of the Seven-Star Sword" the old woman said. "That is our destiny, forgive me" she said, as she held Maya's hand.

"I understand" Maya said.

Ace snorted bring attention to him. "I don't believe in destiny… I think you make your own choices no one controls what we do. Look I will save Rena. I have meet a devil fruit user who could control people. Rena saved me by killing her. So I figure all we need to do is destroy that sword. Won't be too hard."

"IT WILL NOT BE THAT EASY!" Laquos said.

"What's that sound?" Nami asked as the ground started to shake.

"Can it be? Is this the precursor to the Seven-Star Sword revival?" Robin asked.

"What?" Chopper asked, looking at the raven haired woman.

"It's too early for the moon to be out" Sanji said, before a burst of water came out of the ground.

"You moron" Usopp snapped as he, and Luffy were shot into the air by the water. Luffy laugh.

"Luffy" Nami said.

"Usopp," Sanji said, as Chopper laughed.

"What's going on?" The old woman asked as the two crashed. Luffy continued to laugh as Usopp was trying to get his head out of the ground having landed head first when they fell.

"What're you two doing?" Sanji asked as he and the other Straw Hats came running towards the two.

"Oh, guys" Luffy said.

"We were worried about you, Luffy" Chopper said.

"Sorry, sorry" Luffy said.

"Ah, we finally found the others" Usopp said, wincing.

"Look at you two" Nami said.

"Hey it was him who…" Usopp said, as Maya, Laquos, and the old woman came running up to them as well.

"Is this where you went?" Luffy asked.

"This is Maya-chan's village" Sanji said.

"Your name's Maya?" Luffy asked, looking at the blue haired woman.

"Yes" Maya said.

"I'm Luffy" Luffy said.

"I'm Usopp" Usopp said.

"What have you guys been doing?" Nami asked, looking at the two with her hands on her hips.

"Well you see, we fell into a cave, that cave was so long, that we got stuck running around inside it yesterday and we finally…" Usopp said, as Robin looked into the hole the water had made when it busted through the ground.

"With all the danger around here you two have been off enjoying yourselves" Nami said.

"Enjoying ourselves" Usopp said, standing up.

"It's been dangerous for us too!" Luffy exclaimed, standing up.

"That's right, captain" Usopp said.

"Yeah" Luffy said.

"Yep" Usopp said, as Luffy wrapped a rubbery arm around Usopp's neck, chocking him.

"Yeah, whatever" Nami and Sanji said.

Later after Luffy had finished eating they soon found out some interesting info. "Luffy, you fought Saga at the Marine Dojo!" Nami exclaimed after Luffy, and Usopp had told them about the fight, while the sun was starting to set.

"I see Zoro went to see him to keep a promise" Luffy said, after hearing what the others told, him, Usopp.

"We saw it first-hand" Usopp said. "That sword he had was the Seven-Star Sword that you guys were talking about" he said. "It definitely not natural" he said. "It was like, it gave you the creeps and emitted this weird light, it was more than just making you feel weird!" He exclaimed.

"Anyway, are you serious about sacrificing yourself?" Usopp asked. "Hey" he said, looking to Sanji.

"Maya-chan's made up her mind" Sanji said.

"What're you saying Sanji?" Usopp asked.

"I'll be back" Luffy said, standing up as his hat covering his eyes.

"Luffy" Nami said.

"I just have to kick his ass, right?" Luffy asked.

"You won't succeed" the old woman said. "Even if you defeat Saga, you won't be able to even scratch the Seven-Star Sword, young Straw Hat, this will take more than strength" she said.

"We won't know unless we try, granny" Luffy said.

Ace sat up yawing "My brother is right. This Saga guy had control over those Marines. Zoro may have teamed up because of a promise. But Rena is being controlled. She does what she feels is right. She would not team up with them. Something is wrong. If it means beating Saga I am fine with that." He held his hand up with fire in his hand. "If I have to I will find a way to destroy that sword."

"Ace you haven't been there, and Luffy, we already know that you won't be able to reach the Marine Dojo directly" Sanji said.

"You're just going to end up falling into that hole again" Usopp said.

"What?" Luffy asked.

"It's okay" Maya said.

"It's not okay!" Luffy exclaimed.

"I'm afraid of dying! But, this is all my fault!" Maya exclaimed, tears welling up in her eyes. "That day, when Saga held the Seven-Star Sword, it was in order to protect me!" She said. "If I…if I hadn't been there, he would never have come across that cursed sword!" She cried out. "I'm the one who changed Saga, it's my fault!" She cried, falling to the ground. "I caused Saga to…" she whimpered as she cried, the old woman crying as well as she comfort her, while Chopper was close to tears also. "It is also my fault for everyone he is controlling."

"You still love that guy, don't you, Maya-chan?" Sanji asked, crying as Skylar looked away sadly.

"Grandmother" Maya said.

"Hm" the old woman hummed.

"I'm going to do it" Maya said.

"Maya" the old woman said.

"This time, I'm going to save Saga, even if it costs me my life!" Maya exclaimed. "I will protect this island and everyone in the village, because I love them!" She exclaimed.

"Well said" the old woman said, crying as she hugged her granddaughter.

"Grandmother" Maya said, hugging the older woman back.

"Maya-sama" Laquos cried as he fell to his knees.

"You cry too much!" Sanji said, crying as he lightly kicked the man.

"You do too" Usopp said, hitting Sanji in the chest.

"I'll give you a present, so cheer up!" Luffy exclaimed, as Skylar smiled.

"A present" Nami and Sanji said, as the rubbery boy took the three orbs out of his shirt.

"Here, pretty balls, huh" Luffy said, as he held the three orbs out.

"Huh" Usopp said.

"What?" Skylar asked as she saw Sanji and Nami's reactions.

"T-those are, the jewel orbs they stole" the old woman said, as her limbs stretched out and she stood up tall. "Where did you get them?" She asked.

"I picked them up while I was running through the tunnels" Luffy said. "You gonna you 'em for something, granny?" He asked.

Ace shook his head seeing what his brother found. "Luffy, that's what Rena and Zoro stole."

Luffy nodded and smiled.

"Use them, why were they in that cave?" The old woman asked as she went back to normal.

"What's up with this old lady?" Usopp asked.

"Grandmother, we can perform the ritual!" Maya exclaimed.

"Yes" the old woman said.

"Which means, Maya-chan doesn't have to be a sacrifice" Sanji said.

"Maya, you won't have to die" Chopper said.

"But, Saga will not be unprepared, if they attack during the ritual, there will be many more casualties" the old woman said.

Ace looked to her, "then we will fight the marines off. And don't say anything. We are all pirates and used to fighting Marines. We have to fight to get Rena and Zoro back."

"I guess the only way is to stake my own life" Maya said.

"You believe in Saga, don't you?" Luffy asked. "Then you have to trust him completely! No one decides your fate, you decide it for yourself" he said.

"Yeah" Maya said, taking the three orbs and nodding her head.

"We're with you, Maya" Luffy said.

"Yeah" Sanji said. "The Straw Hat Pirates are here" he said.

"Leave it to us" Usopp said, giving the girl the peace sign, while Skylar smiled.

"Let's do it, and Ace are you going to fight Rena?" Nami asked.

Ace looked to them "Rena is strong, if I can I will fight her. Otherwise be careful around her."

"Maya, when it's time to do it, we do it" Chopper said.

"Chopper" Maya said, looking down at the doctor.

A/N: Hey guys sorry it has been so long… I decided I would split this chapter up. I have been working on marine ford parts so only need to get you there. We are getting so close. I am sorry for being late. I do have a now. YAY…. I have been working on that and been bugged by some to make one for fanfic. I am letting you know it is just for my art but if any of you want a fanfic reward please let me know.

Also I am getting married. My future husband is the one who told me to post some stories. Now if you guys want to see some lemon I don't really know so let me know and might put some stuff in.

The other is applying to some companies one being rooster teeth and riot games wish me luck. And come check out my art pages links are on my profile.

Another note I am looking for an editor I know i make mistakes and I don't notice all of them. I am hoping someone would like to take the task on. I am looking for people for all my stories. So PM me if you would like to. Thanks and please review. Still deciding if I kill Ace off and how rena and Zoro fight will go.