jynmi88

The Safe Haven

This looks great! I want in!!! :D

One Piece: The Journey of a Thousand Miles

For a moment, the legion pirate didn't have any idea what was going on. The girl was doing something. Then the cook was doing something else. Before he knew it, he was being volunteered to be used as a human shield. "No!" Dying was one thing, every legion pirate knew that, but dying for an enemy was the greatest insult. He tried to pull himself away, at least enough to allow the force of the explosion to hit his captor but he didn't manage it in time. A surging wall of ungodly heat smashed into him. The one up side was he was killed before his brain could even register the pain, much less damage he was enduring.

The tavern exploded, or at least a large part of it. That was fine. Everyone was expecting that. Burning air forced a few of the weaker combatants to grit their teeth and lean against the burning pressure but the stronger opponents were able to fight on. What came as a shock was the second, much stronger detonation. Not only was it bigger than an explosion caused by cheap booze had any right to be, but also by the fact that everyone's guard was done so even Abbygail, thanks to her closeness was thrown off her feet. Several of the masks men were killed instantly, but that didn't have any effect on the fighting force. Their spirits couldn't be hampered by things like death of alleys. They were the ants of the pirating world, only seeing the enemy, and only understanding that to swarm was to win, and to win was to live another day, or not.

"Hey!" The masked man with the number 8 said. He raised a hand and pointed at the stranger with the sheathed sword. "Someone take care of that guy. He's causing a lot more problems than any villager should." There was a shift in the chaos as several figures rushing towards the burning tavern turned their attention to the swordsman. "No problem." A man with a mask with the number 73 said. "We'll be done with him in a Jiffy." He hefted a wooden stick, thicker than a bat and rushed towards his target. "Come here boy. Let me should you the price of butting in." AS he yelled two other men in metal mask starting hurrying behind the man with the sword. Each held a knife their hand, and were going to lunge forwards once their target deflected #73's blow.

"Damn it!" Abbygail snapped, pulling herself to her feet, and dusting off the dirt. "What the hell was that?" If anyone replied, it didn't do her any good as the ringing in her ears rendered all other sounds irrelevant. "You!" She snarled, eyes narrowing on the man with the number eight. "I'm going to slice you from crotch to chin!" WEapons in hand she started towards the apparent leader of the group.

★·.·´¯`·.·★ We'll Teach you About Evil ★·.·´¯`·.·★

Wow! This looks amazing! Are there any spots left?

One Piece: The Journey of a Thousand Miles

Time begins to slow down as the flames lap across the dry wood like a predator licking its kill before sinking in its teeth. The kegs of liquor only a few inches away.

"Hostage?" The aggressive bar patron's head tilted in confusion. "He's not a hostage. I'm going to slice him up. Honestly, I kind of forgot you were here."

"Hey! What're you doing!" The blade fell from the figure's hand. He tries to reach up and pry Kyy's fingers off him but he's incapable of doing much.

The burning beast's tongue touches the dry wood of the keg. It's hunger is peaked. Ready to devour the wood the red hunter rapidly crawls up the container of explosive fluids. The temperature inside shoots up. The pressure inside comes to a boil.

Bill didn't make it as far as he would've liked before his body came to a stop. It happened on its own. He didn't command it to do so. It was one of the legion pirates. He could recognize the masks anywhere. "It's them, the legion pirates." The tavern owner swallowed. His bladder suddenly felt fool, which was odd considering how dry his lips and throat were. It would've been nice if the human body was designed to move fluids throughout the body where they were needed. He licked his dry lips. His tongue wasn't moist enough to make much difference. Like an insane man he tried it again, hoping for a different result but not at all surprised when it was the same.

There were men with masks, lots of them. At first they only peaked here and there from outside corners of buildings, more from curiosity than fear, but that only kept them interested for so long. Soon, they became bored of games and began moving forwards. At first there was one, then two, four and eight. Holes in the damn cracked and before anyone knew it the trickle became a flood and dozens of the masked figures started lining up, forming a circle around the burning tavern.

"What's this?" The purple hair woman muttered. A scythe appeared in one hand and the weighted piece of steel with the blade appeared in the other. "Some kind of army?"

"What do we have here?" One of the masked men said. Several other men with metal helmets stepped aside from the one speaking to come forwards. "You giving us some trouble again, eh Billy-boy?" There was an eight in front of the man's mask. "I'm surprised, honestly I am. You'd think the lesson would've gotten through to you first couple of timestime?" The masked man shrugged. "I guess sometimes you've got to spank a child a few more times before they get. And Looks like one of us already took care of your tavern. That's great. It'll save us some time."" The figure raised his left hand and snapped his fingers. The men with masks, like the waves of a storm, surged forwards. "Alright boys, you know what to do." Number eight called. "I want every building within five blocks a pile of rubble before the hours over. "

One Piece: The Journey of a Thousand Miles

A trail of fire crawled up the tavern's counter like desperate vines rushing for sunlight before the nutrients failed and death caught up with them. The aggressor's movements went according to plan. It was his target's motions that didn't seem to know the script. One second he was pushing the guy towards the flames and the next he was the only one in motion and the ground was coming up faster than any sedentary object had any right to. "What in the..." The next word would've been hell, but the floor got to his face before the sound could exit his mouth. "Damn it."

"Great!" The purple hair woman sighed in frustration. "Glad we've settled the fact you can take care of yourself." She yanked the end of her chain back and quickly rolled it around her arm. "The tension was killing me. Now, can we please get out of here?" The words were well out of her mouth before she was able to realize she didn't have a stake in the situation as she was in no way affiliated with the others still in the tavern. "Or not, I'm getting out before the booze bombs. Hope you guys make it out alright." Without waiting for a reply, the stranger leaped from the window.

The counter proved little obstacle. The flames quickly reached the flat summit and snaked their way over the top like a herd of cattle escaping a predator. The edge meant nothing to the hive minded bovine and they continue onward like a herd of lemmings in a Disney documentary.

"Don't you worry, little girl." The masked figure grinned behind the metal plate covering his face. "Best case scenario for you, they're a few blocks off. Worst case, they're here and there'll be a hale of bullets ready to great you once you're outside. As for you, I was never a fan of your meat pies." The man let out a manical laughter as he made another grab at the cook's leg.

Unharmed the snaking flames touch the ground, and take off, not bothering for a breath, straight towards the wooden barrels of wine old Bill kept meaning to polish off on a rainy day but never quiet got around too.

-------------
Outside, hoots and hollers from dozens of voices echoed up and down the empty streets. The sounds came from every direction and they were getting louder, closer.

One Piece: The Journey of a Thousand Miles

"Hurry up and put it out!" Bill shouted as the newcomer rushed out to take care of the flare. Normally, he wouldn't be so pushy, but there were lives at stake. "We don't have time." After the stranger extinguished the light, and returned into the building, asking why it was he injured himself, Bill stepped towards the door and looked up. "Maybe. Maybe not." His eyes narrowed at the long line of thick green smoke that moved up towards the heavens like vines snaking their way up a tree's trunk in order steel its light. "Depends on if any of the legion pirates are close enough to see."

Frowning, Bill turned to his new cook. "He's calling for back up." On Bill's shoulder there was a towel. He tossed it over the counter and started moving towards the door. "A bunch of this bastards friends will be here soon, and when they do, they won't leave anything standing." The Boss stopped to look back one more time at his tavern, doing his best to save its current appearance to memory. "We've got to go." There was a crash as flames erupted from the woman, and quickly started making their way towards the counter, with all its life beverages behind it.

"If it isn't one thing its!...." Bill sighed. "Everyone out now!" The bar's patrons didn't need to be told twice. In fact, with the exception of the main group, all the other barflies were starting to move by the time they saw the flare appear in the aggressor's hand, and most were out by the time the green smoke was pooling into the sky.

Bill, didn't wait to see what the others were doing. He rushed to the door in a calm and mannerly fashion, but only if such a term could be applied to a full speed sprint which would've knocked down anyone in his way.

"I'm not going anywhere!" The man behind the mask laughed. He wrapped his good arm against the man who was tending to his hand, and began pushing him towards the counter.

"Freaking lunatic!" The purple haired woman yelled. She pulled on her, hoping to catch the man off balance so the cook could get free.

One Piece: The Journey of a Thousand Miles

"Let him go?" The man's body didn't move. His neck, a picture of stone pillars holding up a building, continued to aim the blank mask towards at the bartender. "Who're you telling to let this man go? Do you know who I am? Who I'm with?" The figure shook his head. The neck creaked like rusted hinges being forced to move. "No. Of course you don't, or you wouldn't have opened your mouth."

"Look...." The man behind the counter said as sweat poured off him in cascades. A ring of liquid form on his collar. He lifted his arms in surrender, revealing more dark patches. "There's no need to be aggressive. Everyone needs to calm down, please. I don't want any trouble."

"I told you already,I don't...." The masked man paused at the sound of a new arrival. Once again the head didn't move, and the body followed suit, but the blood lust that had to have been coming from the man's eyes was redirected towards the stranger at the door. "A party" the figure said. He was smiling now. "We're having ourselves a good little party. So come on in. Attendance is mandatory." He pressed the blade deeper into the man's throat. Blood didn't start pouring, but the skin turned red with the pressure.

"Sober!" The masked man spit the words, probably regretting them instantly as there was nowhere for the saliva to go but back at him. Of course, he wouldn't admit to the unpleasantness. Instead, he focused his anger on the woman who suggested he let the booze take their leave from his system. "Sobers the last thing I want! I want to make the world go black and warm."

"Look, I'm sorry." Bill said in the most relaxing tone a voice like gravel could produce. "Just go, forget all this and I'll throw in a keg, you can take back to your boss."

"A keg?" The man's voice went soft and his body slouched ever so slightly, like a giant finding himself under a house. "A keg wouldn't be bad." He pulled the blade away and tapped it against the mask's forehead. "Tempting.
Tempting." He twirled the knife as he spoke. "But it's not going to do you any good." The blade stopped in his hand, the dangerous end, as tradition would dictate, facing towards what it was, exactly, he wanted to poke.

The blade shot forward. A flashed of light flickered as it arched towards Bill's face. Something flashed to the trouble maker's right like a snake after a mean. Blood shot across the floor and the masked man screamed loud enough to cause nearby dogs to howl.

"What?" Though his eyes weren't showing, the man's confusion was evident. It wasn't in his voice, or the way he moved his neck. It was the fact there was a serrated blade going through his hand, through the handle of the knife, and past where several fingers used to be, and he wasn't screaming bloody murder. Attached to the piece of steel there was the chain. It dropped to the floor and slithered down to the feet of a woman the man hadn't noticed before. She had purple hair.

"That's enough." The woman muttered. "Nobody here is interested in seeing this. We all just want to drink and forget there's a reason for our drinks."

"you did this?" The man said, holding up the remains of his hand. The still chain jingled as he moved. "To me, a member of the legion pirates." He laughed. "You must be crazy." He raised his good hand and pointed at everyone in the room, even the drunks who were hoping they'd get out of everything unscathed. "You're all crazy." Quick as a snake he reached into his pocket and pulled out a red stick. His thumb dug into the red material before shooting up, ignite the big match.

The room flared green. "Ha! I win!" The man, paused to look at Bill, who to his credit was smart enough to move out of range. He didn't hesitate though. Another target was close enough. He swung his injured hand towards the woman with the juice. while the other hand pulled back before tossing the green flare out the window at the opposite end of the bar. It sailed four feet past the window before bouncing off the tavern's deck and harmlessly onto the dirt on the back street.

----
"Someone get that flare!" Bill shouted. He wanted to cry, was trying to do his best not to cry, but the tears were already welling up at the corners of his eyes like children waiting for the last day's school bell.

One Piece: The Journey of a Thousand Miles

@Noodles@grandia20@Crimson Lion@Digizel
Okay the first post is up. I kind of wrote myself in the small world area problem so if you guys need me to change it or help figuring out an intro let me know and I'll get on it.

One Piece: The Journey of a Thousand Miles

The frozen saint, despite what its name would imply was not cold. It was hot. In the shade it had to be well over ninety degrees. It was also, despite what its name would imply, not a godly place. There was nothing godly about the area. Some could argue that the lack of murders were proof of divine intervention, but then others argued a lack of evil was a sign of divinity's absence. In short it was the same as any other book that couldn't be judged by its title, person by his appearance, or friend by a first meeting.

The streets were mostly empty with the exceptional man or woman who needed something from one of the many general stores that managed to eek out a living. Some walked by with arm loads of groceries for the evening's meal. Others rolled carts filled with heavy tools behind them as they made their way back home. Most only needed a single bag's worth of goods. Whatever the case was, they were sweating an unhappy with being outside their homes.

On the side of the town's busiest road there was a tavern called the pork's perk. Most people passed it by without a second look. The ones who noted the place either did so with a glare or a quick turn in the opposite direction. While on the inside, the barflies and workers didn't even realize the world outside existed. Everything that meant anything was either at the bottom of their mug or inside the barrel. Only a single individual noted the outside world.

She was a young woman, with one hand on the handle of a mug and the other one under her chin, which itself was propped on a table. Her hair was long and purple like light bruises already on their way to healing. She had eyes of warm water under a clear sky. Despite the color they weren't soft. They were hard and ready like the handle of a blade that could be pulled out of it's sheath at a moment's provocation.

Her interests wasn't in the people who called this place home, but the ones who didn't or ever would, because they never could. She needed to find others, if not like herself, than at least with the same place of residence, a hunk of wood on the never ending sea. Her boat had sunk a few leagues out to see and it was only by luck she'd manage to make it to the island before her legs gave out. There were a few that stood out as obvious seafarers but none of the caught her attention. They flew through the net of interest like water.

"Wha?...!" Hiccup! A shout echoed through the room. "What do ya mean." Hiccup. "You won't give me any more." There was a crash as a mug flew in the air over Abbygail, smashing into the wall, sending ale everywhere. "Do you" Hiccup! "KNow who I am?!?!"

"I know. I know." The man behind the counter sighed. "I know. You've continuously told me, and I'll be happy to give you a bottle to drink on your way, but it has to be on your way."

"You're kicking me out!" The man's words came out like a child during its first time walking on ice. "Me, out."

Abbygail swiveled her chair to look at the source of the commotion. The figure's face was hidden behind a strange metal mask with the number four written on it. His thin, soft hands were on the counter, which did little for keeping his swaying body still. Even with the support it looked like he'd collapse at a moment's notice.

"I'm sorry." The man behind the counter, he introduced himself as Bill to Abbygail but William to the first customer to come in after her, said. "I don't want any trouble."

"Ah well." Hiccup! Despite the mask covering the man's face, his sneer was as plain as day. "I want to drink some more ale here in peace, but looks like you're just not going to allow us to get what we want and have a goo day, are you?" Keeping on hand on the counter so he wouldn't fall over like a tree whose trunk suddenly disappeared, the masked man grabbed Bill by the shirt collar. "So I'll just settle for having an okay day." The man's other hand came up, a knife was there, doing the opposite of a magician's vanishing act. He pressed it towards Bill's throat. He did it hard enough to prove a point, but not hard enough for the point to draw blood.

YGGDRASIL: Defenders of the Multiverse

so?.....