Battle with Crocodile

One Piece belongs to Oda. This story is based on Luffy's first battle with Crocodile, and was inspired by a picture on called Guardian by useregnum.

Luffy stood before the intimidating Crocodile, glaring at him as he balled his fists in anger over what he's done to his friend Princess Vivi's country, not to mention her and her father's reputation. "You're going down, Zipper Face!!"

Crocodile fumed. How DARE this insolent brat make fun of his scar! "I've killed for less than that, Rubber Boy!"

Luffy got into a fighting stance. "Oh yeah? Well bring it on! And try not to bust a stitch. Your nose might fall off!"

With a roar of rage, Crocodile charged at the straw hat captain, drawing his hooked arm back to hit him with it. Luffy dodged the attack and kicked him, only to find that his foot went through Crocodile effortlessly courtesy of Crocodile's Sand Sand Fruit powers. Crocodile sneered at him. "Is that all you've got, boy?"

"GUM GUM GATLIN!!" was Luffy's answer as he sent a rain of punches on the Baroque Works leader, who only laughed as the punches went through him like he was sand.

"My turn!" Crocodile growled. He grabbed Luffy's wrist and pulled him closer, then slammed the back side of his hook into Luffy's chest. Luffy fell back onto the sand, grimacing in pain as the sand had turned into shards of glass.

Crocodile laughed. "That's right, boy, I can manipulate sand into glass! Impressive, isn't it?"

Luffy got up and glared at him, "Yeah. You should've been an alchemist instead of a zipper faced thug!"

Crocodile growled murderously, then disappeared into the sand. Luffy looked around. "Hey, where'd you go.. AAHH!" he felt a sharp pain go through him as Crocodile came from behind and impaled him on his hook. Crocodile laughed as he shook him off his hook with a swing of his arm. Luffy fell back, then stood shakily back up. "You won't..get rid of me.. that easily.." He charged at the sand thug. Crocodile smirked and started to summon a sandstorm in his hand. Thinking quickly, Luffy slapped his hand to stop it from forming completely. "Oh no, you don't!"

"Oh yes I do!" Crocodile morphed his fingers into sand blades, which he used to slash Luffy across the chest. He then punched him hard, sending him flying onto the glass shards.

Luffy laid on his back, moaning from the pain of the cuts on his body. He tried getting up, only to fall back painfully.

Crocodile smirked at his victim as he walked closer to him, intent on sucking the water out of him. "You put up a good fight, boy. But I'm afraid it ends here."

"YOU'RE DARN RIGHT IT DOES! FLAME FIST!!" yelled a voice out of nowhere. Before Crocodile could react, a fist of pure flame knocked him back a few feet, landing him on his back. He looked over and was shocked to see a tall, muscular figure gently lifting Luffy into his arms, talking softly to him.

"A-Ace?" Luffy whispered as he was being gently lifted.

"Shh, rest easy, Luffy. I'll get you to safety." Ace answered soothingly. He gave a murderous glare to Crocodile, who was too stunned to move. "As for you, scumbag, I will kill you if you EVER touch him again!"

Crocodile could only give an astonished look, wondering how Ace managed to break through his defenses and actually hit him.

THE END