One Piece: I Can Repel Anything

The three women exchanged another glance. They knew what Chris was like.

If he said so, asking any more questions would get them nowhere.

"Just wait. I'm going to watch closely and see if it really goes the way Chris said."

Honey Queen still couldn't believe Burgess might lose.

Belo Betty took a drag on her cigarette and said evenly, "If Chris said so, then Lafitte's sure to win."

"But I'm curious too. We should get a good look."

Baccarat rolled her eyes at them and chided them.

"You two..."

"Why are you so eager to stir things up? You're getting more excited the longer you talk about it."

"We're women. Let's not get caught up in their fight."

Honey Queen patted Baccarat's shoulder and said with a smile, "We're just bored. We're looking for a little fun."

Three hours later.

"I see it! I see it..."

"There's an uninhabited island off the port bow! Off the port bow..."

The lookout knew what was about to happen and could barely contain his excitement.

He shouted the warning at the top of his lungs, putting everything he had into it.

(Next up was the First Mate Challenge between Burgess and Lafitte. Who would win? Were you excited to find out? Hee-hee~~ ︿(￣︶￣)︿)

Training Room.

"Whoa..."

Excitement lit up Honey Queen's pretty face. "Quick, quick! Let's get out there."

For once, interest showed on Belo Betty's delicate face.

"Let's go see whether Chris was right."

Baccarat looked at Chris, still hard at work, and smiled gently. "Aren't you coming out to watch?"

"The outcome's already decided. There's nothing to see."

Chris had yet to finish his task. He kept swinging Blood Red, wholly focused on his work.

Belo Betty strode toward the door. "I knew he'd say that."

"Our captain only cares about training. Why would he bother with any of this?"

Honey Queen hurried after her with a smile.

"Exactly. I guessed Chris would say that too."

Baccarat gave Chris one last look and smiled sweetly. "We'll come back and tell you the result. You carry on."

The three women soon left the Training Room and headed for the deck.

"Go, Captain Burgess!"

Pato loved a commotion. He bounced up and down, grinning. "You too, Captain Lafitte! Do your best! Hee-hee~~"

In a rare move, Doc Q stood up. He gave the two men a strange smile.

"Don't let what the captain said make you hold back."

"If you're going to fight, fight like you mean to kill."

"That's what a man would do!"

Burgess glared at him and roared.

"Doc Q, quit saying that crap."

"If the captain kills you one day, don't expect me to speak up for you."

Lafitte adjusted his top hat and said politely, "The captain clearly likes to have his way. Keep defying him, and he really might kill you."

"I'm sure he's capable of it."

Honey Queen came over and smiled. "Exactly."

"Doc Q never stops stirring things up. Chris might really deal with him one day."

Belo Betty added flatly, "And when he does, we won't speak up for you. You know that."

Baccarat rolled her eyes at them. "All of you make Chris sound so ruthless."

"Our captain may be a little forceful, but he wouldn't do that. You're overthinking it."

Lafitte glanced toward the Training Room and asked courteously, "Isn't the captain coming out to watch?"

Burgess shrugged. "I knew he'd stay in there. He's not interested in this sort of thing."

"Training's all he cares about."

"Isn't that a good thing?" Doc Q smiled, continuing to bait them.

"With the captain away, you can cut loose and have a proper fight."

"What fun would it be if you didn't bring the house down?"

Burgess couldn't be bothered with Doc Q's death wish. He looked at Lafitte and burst out laughing.

"Come on down. I'll show you how badly I can beat you! Wahahaha..."

With that, he jumped straight onto the island, eager for the fight.

Lafitte didn't take offense. As polite as ever, he smiled faintly and said, "As you wish."

He vanished in a blur, leaving the Chris as well.

Honey Queen looked at Doc Q and asked curiously, "What about you? Aren't you going down to join the fun?"

"I'm frail and sickly. How could I leave the ship?" Doc Q slowly made his way to the railing.

Belo Betty glanced at the other two women. "Come on. Let's go to the railing."

Soon everyone had gathered at the railing to watch the island.

The small island was shaded by leafy trees and covered in oddly shaped flowers and plants.

It looked as though no one had landed there in a long time.

"Go, Captain Burgess! Go, Captain Lafitte! Do your best, both of you~~"

Pato sat on the railing, beaming with delight.

"Captain Burgess, I'm rooting for you! Don't lose!"

"Let the storm rage even harder..."

"I'm so worked up, I want to hit someone! What am I supposed to do?!"

"Captain Burgess! Captain Lafitte! You're both amazing! You've got my respect!"

"I now declare the fight begun!!"

The men loved a show of strength, and a fierce fight was just their kind of spectacle.

Every one of them was fired up, shouting encouragement so loudly their voices shook the air.

With cheers crashing around her like a tidal wave, Baccarat shook her head and gave a rueful smile. "They never miss a chance to make a spectacle of things."

"You can say that again."

Honey Queen watched the two men below, anticipation written all over her face.

"With them shouting like this, I'm getting excited too. I almost want to cheer along."

Belo Betty lit a cigarette. "It's about to start. I want to see what Lafitte can do to earn Chris's confidence."

On the island, Burgess and Lafitte stood facing each other.

A breeze swept through. Leaves rustled, and the flowers and grass swayed gently.

It was almost as if the island were cheering them on.

"Lafitte, I'm warning you one last time. You can still surrender."

Burgess rolled his neck, warming up for the fight.

Lafitte twirled his cane and replied courteously, "I'd love to surrender, but the First Mate position is calling to me."

"Don't worry, Burgess. I'll be careful not to hurt you."

(This chapter spent a little time building the mood, so it may feel padded. I hope you won't mind. It won't be like this later, I promise. (*￣︶￣))

"Enough chatter. Let's get on with the fight!"

Burgess was a straightforward man who hated wasting words, and he said exactly what was on his mind.

"If you won't surrender, I'm coming at you."

He pushed off the ground and charged at Lafitte, quick as lightning.

Lafitte twirled his cane. "You're far too slow. Why not use your Devil Fruit power?"

Whoosh! He flashed more than a dozen meters away.

No one could see how he had moved.

Everyone was stunned.

Not one of them had expected that.

"Did you see that? How did he do it?"

Honey Queen stared at the other two women, surprise on her face. She couldn't make sense of it.

Belo Betty frowned in confusion. "I didn't see a thing. It was like he suddenly vanished."

"I've only ever seen one person move that fast."

Baccarat nodded in agreement. "Neither have I, apart from Chris. It's frightening."

"Captain Lafitte, that was amazing!"

Pato didn't care how Lafitte had done it. He thought it was fun and burst into applause.

"Not bad. You're fast."

Burgess laughed. "Then it's time I got serious."

Roar!

A roar rang out. White-blue light gathered in his mouth, with traces of lightning flickering through it.

"That looks powerful!"

Lafitte adjusted his top hat and smiled faintly. "You're not the only one who ate a Devil Fruit. I have one too."

Whoosh...

A pair of white wings suddenly appeared on Lafitte's back.

In the sunlight, they gleamed snow-white. They were beautiful.

Once again, everyone stared in astonishment.

"Wow, wow, wow..."

Pato gasped and clapped over and over, grinning. "Such pretty wings! This is so much fun! Hee-hee~~"