The Power of One Dream (A One Piece x Fairy Tail Story)

Part 31: Final Battle (Part 1)

The apparitions didn't hesitate to attack.

Luffy was set upon by (very) solid illusions of Doflamingo, a girl who kind of looked like Zoro's rival Tashigi, and a pink Fish-Man he'd never met, but could give Jinbei a run for his Beri. Natsu meanwhile was tangling with some guy who kind of looked like Rogue and a ponytailled monkey-faced guy, closely followed by Gray hurling insults (which wasn't that unusual). Strangely enough since the assault began, Luffy (and he guessed the same for Natsu looking at him) found all his injuries from their previous bout fully healed. But replaced with a potent weariness. A weariness that in the heat of battle could prove just as deadly.

He needed to make some breathing room to plan a counter-strike. Quickly he shot his left hand out, stretching it towards a crystal column in the distance for a Gomu-Gomu no Rocket. But his body didn't follow.... He was stuck in place!

Though selective Busoshoku Haki kept him being slashed by Doflamingo's razor-sharp strings and the girl's katana, it still hurt getting pummeled by the Fish-Man. But as hard as it was to concentrate, he could see out of one eye some guy with glasses, a weird man-bun and a fancy suit casting what Luffy guessed were Magical symbols around him and Natsu in a square formation. Symbols that seemed to keep him and Natsu frozen in place while the illusions were unaffected! And then there was the itching sensation in his arm?

Luffy looked to the distant crystal column where he had thrown out his hand earlier. At once he realised the freezing effect of this Magical seal only extended as far as the square formation itself. And as itchy as his arm was, he still had use of his left hand!

He let go of the column and with all the willpower he could muster, stopped the hand snapping right back. Instead sending a balled fist to the back of the head of the glasses guy. "Gomu-Gomu no Kamal (Gum-Gum Sickle)!!" It passed through his head, dispersing his body into amorphous shadows, but it had the desired effect. The interruption of the illusion's focus likewise dispersed the Magic symbols. And Luffy was freed from their power. But it still didn't help much.

Whilst not immobile exactly, he now felt an intense pressure all around him. One that seemed to be coming from monkey-face guy, and again not affecting the other illusions. But clearly that wasn't going to stop Natsu (taking his own abuse from the Fake-Rogue and Fake-Gray), who nevertheless ignited both fists and slammed them together.

"KARYU NO KOEN (Fire Dragon's Brilliant Flame)!!!

The following explosion lit up the area and caused the surrounding illusions to waver. Although the oppressive pressure around them didn't fully dissapate. But it was enough for Luffy to get his own move in.

"Gomu-Gomu no Ono (Gum-Gum Axe)!!" Luffy cried throwing his foot up and stretching it out high in the air above them, where again it seemed the force around them didn't extend beyond a certain boundary. Then brought it down full force on the monkey-faced guy's head. Straight after, the oppressive aura disappeared. And the two fighters, now standing back to back, took the opportunity to clear the playing field.

"KARYU NO HOKO!!!!"

"GOMU-GOMU NO JET GATLING!!!!"

Natsu's fiery breath blast swept over one side of the crystal arena whilst Luffy's rapid-fire jet-black punches barraged their enemies on the other side. Then both paused a moment to see their opponents reduced to swirling waves of amorphous shadow. But slowly the shadows were starting to take on shape again.

"These guys... aren't like the guys I've... fought before... (Luffy panted)... How are they... reshaping like that?", "My guess.... They're Historias... (Natsu answered, also panting).... Memories of.. a person's toughest... opponents, given solid form... by Magic. But the only guy.... I knew who could do that... was some weirdo.. called.... Neinhart......"