(no subject)

[moveyourdeadfros]

We open up to a splash-page of Usopp in a swimming competition with otters, and I must once more fan myself over how New!Sopp is built and how awesome he can look when he’s not looking dorky.

Rayleigh oversees the monster trios escape with proud eyes- remembering the times he trained Luffy and helped him reach this level, he calls out to them with encouraging words and leaves the rest to them.



Well, he does help them a little bit by drawing a line and kindly informing the advancing army that crossing it MIGHT not be such a hot idea. Just FYI. But as Luffy, Sanji and Zoro make their escape they find themselves cornered by ANOTHER squad of marines, but wait… what’s that familiar-looking ball of ectoplasm?



Why it’s Perona, looking hella classy in a new dress and showing up to chew Zoro out for making such a scene and for being so ungrateful when she actually lead him there… meaning Zoro hasn’t gotten any better at directions, just at picking the right assistance. Also Sanjis reaction to seeing an honest to God adorable actual GIRL is… well. Let’s just say it’s a good thing he’s at least good in the kitchen. Perona warns the gang that marine battleships have showed up near the island while we cut to Grove 42, where Brook finally joins up with the rest of the crew! And what does he do after not seeing his closest living friends for two years?



Oh Brook. Keep reaching for that dream there buddy, you’ll… well. Keep reaching. Nami succintly summarizes matters with her observation that none of the guys have matured at all, while from the skies… oh yes. Oooh yes Chopper brought some crew in to help him look…



And we finally get it. We finally get them all together on the same place and image. Strawhats Two Years later people… it doesn’t get any better than this. Brook and Usopp are almost in tears, while Sanji catches a nice glimpse of Nami and Robins cleavage from his elevated position aaand que the explosive bloodloss.

And so, in short order Luffy nearly has an orgasm over seeing Frankys new and improved body, Chopper waves goodbye to his bird-pal while Usopp does his best to keep Sanji alive despite his alarming blood-loss, and Brook just stands back and chills with a cup of tea when suddenly- cannonballs! Oh yes, it’s the marines again people, and they have the Strawhats firmly in their sights!

Unfortunately for them, that means they miss out on the interlopers arriving outside their sights… Kuja pirates, waltzing in like the HBIC that they are and forcing the marines to stop. Robin informs Nami about the Kuja while Usopp and Brook damn near receive heart attacks at the radiant beauty of Boa Hancock as Sanji… well. Dude doesn’t need to be shot with no beam to be turned all stiff and immobile, is all I’m saying.



And with a wink that sends Brook into cardiac arrest (even though he has no heart) and Sanji into deranged jealousy mode, the Kuja pirates save the Strawhats from bombardment while Margaret and Sweetpea ogles Luffys crew, saying that they all look so bizarre and interesting. As Franky inflates the bubble that will eventually cover their ship Usopp wonders why so few marines are following them when they should be hounded by everyone and their dog, prompting an awesome set of scenes to unfold. For Perona and Rayleigh aren’t the only ones helping them escape...



… As Heracles-un shows up with a troop of oversized beetles to preoccupy some of the forces while the Weatherian wizards use their skills to cause rainfall over some other troops, leading to their gunpowder becoming wet and useless, as back at the scene where Perona used her ghosts we see AAAAAAH


… Well. I. guess that one transvestite really liked their man-meat and that marine just… got too close.

One last nightmare shot for the road, for juxtaposing justice.



While Sanji freaks out a little and feels like someone walked over his grave, Nami explains how the coating works- the bubble around them will esentially make the ship lose it’s boyancy, whereupon the ship will raise its sails and use the underwater currents as ”wind” to sail. Zoro and Luffy claim they get it which of course means they don’t, and I have no idea if this is scientifically feasible but man, who cares. Because captain has some words he wants to say…







And when he speaks, we readers listen. Oh yes… how we listen.

There is pretty much nothing about this chapter that isn’t magic, miracles and double rainbows all the way. The reunion of the Strawhats, brief as it is so far, is filled with the love they have for each other, the squabbles that make them entertaining to watch, and the promise of great adventures ahead. All that is left is for the adventure to progress to the land that we have longed for all this time…

Fishman Island. Here we come.

Comments

[kick-up-a-notch.livejournal.com]

This chapter was just pure amazing. Sanji lost Zoro levels of blood there, if Chopper wasn't around, he may have died.

Also I'm wondering if okamas just get HUGE HEADS as they level up.

[moveurdeadfros.livejournal.com]

... Now I am envisioning Bon Clay come back with an enormous head. That is both terrifying and amazing.