(Going Merry, Nighttime after "interrogating" Dias, Atoli and Ann.)
The Strawhats managed to solve the issue about their newfound friends and decided to help them fight the Drayke Pirates and return the Emblems to Rainbow Island.
Everyone had a little too much emotion for one day and decided to rest for the night. Ann slept with Nami Dias and Atoli in her room whereas the rest of the guys did the same, only difference was that the first 6 members were training their Spiritual Power inside Kaizo's mindscape.
(Inside Kaizo's mindscape)
*SWISH*
Kaizo's head was cut off by Izanagi while he was getting surrounded by Luffy and Sanji while Zoro went straight towards him.
Kaizo's body fell limp on the ground and Izanagi kicked him towards Zoro. The swordsman slashes the body in half and continues his rush but he's stopped by Izanagi's sword that was thrown at him.
The swordsman evades the lethal slash and only gets a piece of his left cheek scratched but Izanagi was not done.
Izanagi used [Flash Step] and grabbed Zoro's left arm and threw him towards Luffy, who was already in position to shoot his fist.
Luffy catches Zoro but is immediately hit by Sanji's "lifeless" body that was decapitated by Izanagi after he kicked Zoro.
Izanagi then pierced both Zoro Luffy's hearts through Sanji's body and killed them both. After everyone was dead, the Sword Spirit sighed in tiredness and clapped his hands.
"Alright, that's enough for the day." Izanagi.
Immediately after he spoke those words, everyone's bodies began to heal and they all "revived".
Everyone gasped for air as Nami got angry at Kaizo and tried to smack him but Kaizo managed to get away.
"Kaizo!! How dare you use me as a shield!!" Nami.
"I didn't 'use you as a shield', I simply pushed you out of my way and coincidentally blocked an attack from the side." Kaizo.
"You totally pushed me!!" Nami.
"Relax, and besides, Izanagi was going to kill you anyway. I just saved you the trouble of doing that pathetic dash you call 'fighting' so, your welcome." Kaizo.
Nami wanted to yell at him but Izanagi stabbed the floor with the sword, earning everyone's attention.
"As much as I find your quarrel entertaining, more pressing matters have appeared." Izanagi spoke.
He pointed at the Strawhats and energy began to come out from their bodies and became spheres.
"Normally, Spiritual Power is light-blue but since we're using unorthodox methods to awaken it within yourselves, the color has changed." Izanagi.
Luffy's Red, Zoro's Lime Green, Nami's Orange, Usopp's Yellow and Sanji's Royal Blue.
"Wow, so this is our Spiritual Power?" Nami.
"It is indeed. Now, allow me to play my part." Izanagi.
The room began to rumble as Izanagi clapped his hands and gathered Spiritual Power in them. He then shot the Spiritual Power towards the spheres and puts them back inside their respective hosts.
"What was that?!" Usopp.
"I simply "spawned" your sword spirits, so to speak." Izanagi spoke.
"What do you mean?" Nami.
"There were three key steps for you to access your Sword Spirits. First: to make a pact with me, second: to awaken said energy through the training and third: to merge my energy with yours." Izanagi.
"Was it really necessary?" Sanji.
"Sword Spirits are like the sails in a ship, without them you cannot sail using the wind, which is easier than rowing." Izanagi.
"In other words, it's not entirely necessary but it is extremely helpful." Nami.
"Yes." Izanagi.
"What will happen now?" Zoro.
"Can't say for sure, they may appear or not, this is the first time I've tried something like this." Izanagi.
"Didn't your previous masted did the same?" Kaizo.
"He did, with people that had already Spiritual Power and Sword Spirits. This is completely different since you all lacked everything." Izanagi.
"So, we get the mysterious power?" Luffy.
"Yes, Luffy, I'm ending the training for the day. Enjoy the new voices in your heads." Kaizo.
"Wait, what--" Nami was about to retort but everyone zapped back to reality.
Except Kaizo who's speaking with Izanagi.
"You sure this won't end badly?" Kaizo.
"Extremely sure. No ill shall befall our friends." Izanagi.
"Good, I better kick it up a notch then." Kaizo.
"Let's go with the advance healing Kido then." Izanagi.
And Kaizo went to train for the whole night whereas the rest of the Strawhats were having their fated encounters with their Spirits.
(The scene was a white void.)
There was no sound, nor sensation in Luffy's body. He only saw a silhouette in the distance that was getting closer.
"Aw man! I didn't want to meet you yet." The Being spoke.
"Who are you?" Luffy.
"Someone fun."
Luffy looked around and saw the nothingness surrounding him.
"Well, this doesn't look fun, are you sure about that?" Luffy.
"Yeah, anyway. Aren't you curious about me?"
"Eh? Not really, I don't think you're a bad guy, and I kinda feel happy being near you." Luffy.
The silhouette smiled and looked at Luffy.
"Thanks! Now, I'll explain who and what I am!"
Luffy sat and for some reason felt like paying attention for once.
"Well... it's a little rough to answer. You remember that Izanagi is a Sword Spirit, right?"
"Yeah. What's that gotta do with this?" Luffy.
"You… you didn't paid attention, did you?"
"Nope! Shishishi!" Luffy.
"Well, I'm kinda similar but at the same time am not."
"?????" Luffy.
"Ok, you remember when he was talking about you guys getting power when making a pact with him, right?"
"Yeah, if one of us dies, Kaizo will get weaker." Luffy.
"Alright, you see, I am what you would call the sword spirit born from you."
It took Luffy less than a second to understand what that meant.
"So... CAN I LEARN TO SHOOT BEAMS!!!???" Luffy.
The silhouette laughs at Luffy's expression and looks at him with a mocking face.
"Of course, not. Baka...! Shishishi!!!"
"Oi! Don't laugh at me!" Luffy.
"Sorry, Shishishi, you're quite the funny guy, that's all."
"So, why am I here, and WHAT is here?" Luffy.
"Your mind. Remember when Kaizo took you guys inside his?"
"Yeah." Luffy.
"Well, this is yours."
Luffy looks at the empty blank space.
"It looks empty." Luffy.
"It was empty-er before I arrived, believe me."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Luffy.
"It means that you've become strong enough to reach the next level."
"COOL!!! WHAT'S NEXT?!" Luffy asked excitedly.
"In short words, I'm gonna show you how to use Spiritual Power the best way possible."
"Wasn't Izanagi already teaching me that?" Luffy.
"Yes, but that geezer was teaching you as if you were Kaizo. Spiritual Power must be teached by one's own Sword Spirit to maximize its usage."
"Ah…" Luffy looked confused.
"I teach you and you'll be stronger."
"Ah, ok!" Luffy.
"Let's begin."
The scene changes and we're in the same situation but with Zoro in the middle of the void alone. He saw nothing and did the only thing he thought after not being in the mood to train: Sleep.
He went back to snore loudly as a voice yelled at him for the unnatural loudness of the snores.
"YOU DIMWIT!!! WAKE UP!!!"
Zoro's snot bubble popped up and he looked at the small silhouette in front of him.
"*YAWN* What?" Zoro.
"Get up already!"
Zoro unknowingly moved himself and stood in front of the silhouette. He looked at the child-tall being and remembered what Izanagi explained.
"Are you, my Sword Spirit?" Zoro asked.
"Wow, you must've grown a braincell or two since the last time I've seen you."
"Seen me? Have we met before?" Zoro.
"Forget it, you're still the same braindead grass-head that I remembered."
"Oi!" Zoro.
"Anyway. Yes, I am your Sword Spirit and I will be explaining to you how you can apply Spiritual Power into your swords."
"You had my curiosity, but now, you have my attention." Zoro spoke while sitting.
The spirit sighs and gives a small smile.
'Never change, Zoro, never change.' The spirit thought.
(Moving again from mindscape)
Nami was floating aimlessly in her mindscape waiting for something to happen. Eventually, a silhouette appeared in front of her and as you'd expect, she had a ton of questions.
"So, are you, my Spirit?" Nami.
"No, I'm the vengeful ghost of those you have scammed over the years."
"You're shitting me." Nami.
"Yes, and you boringly didn't react the way I wanted you to."
"You remind me of Kaizo." Nami.
"I'll take that as a compliment, given that he's way stronger than you."
"Why you little---" Nami was cut off when the spirit's hand shushed her.
"Look, I care for you and all but you've got to admit, you are really weak."
"I know but--"
"No buts, remember Arlong?"
Nami stiffened.
"I was watching, I've always been watching. You lost your childhood and mother due to your weakness."
The spirit waves his hand and shows Nami her own memories. The pain of losing Belle-mére, her village getting destroyed by Arlong and every time she got hurt stealing from others.
"Are you planning to always rely on them whenever fighting is necessary? Are you planning on remaining weak and never stand your ground?!"
Nami snapped and looked at her spirit with a defiant gaze.
"NEVER!!!"
The spirit smiles.
"Well, let's begin with you getting stronger. I'll explain the details later."
Nami only nods as she follows her Spirit.
(Change of scene)
Usopp was freaking out about his surroundings until he remembered Izanagi's words and waited patiently for his Sword Spirit to come, eventually, he began fantasizing about how it would look like.
Eventually, a small Spirit approached him.
"Yo."
"Hello, I'm the great Captain Usopp!!!" Usopp.
"You do realize that I live here, right? Which means that I know your lies."
Usopp sweatdropped.
"Ahem! So, what's this whole deal going to be like?" Usopp.
"Well, I was gonna explain some stuff about how this works and then we'll work on your Spiritual Power."
"Wasn't Izanagi already in charge of that?" Usopp.
"Yeah, but I'll teach you how to use it as a sniper."
"Cool!" Usopp.
"Okay, the first thing is to cure your illness."
"What illness?" Usopp.
"The 'I'm-such-a-pussy-that-I-can't-fight-right' illness."
Usopp sweatdropped.
"I beat that Fish-man!" Usopp defended.
"After nearly giving up and disguising it as an honored defeat. Face it, you're too cowardly and I refuse to teach you shit until you fix that."
Usopp gulped and followed his Spirit.
(With Sanji)
The cook was, surprisingly, the only one that didn't get surprised at all, as a matter of fact, he was eager to meet his Sword Spirit.
Why?
Because there was a chance of his spirit being a She, that was the rabbit hole that the blonde jumped into after he asked some private questions to Izanagi.
He eagerly waited for his Spirit to appear until it finally did, to his demise it was a male-looking silhouette and Sanji lost all will to train so, he just laid there motionless.
Until his Silhouette kicked him.
"Move you, dumbass!!!"
"ARGH!" Sanji grunted in pain.
"I know I'm not a girl but show some interest, you perverted bastard!!!"
"Shut up! I had the sweet idea of a beautiful woman caressing my training but it's just some stinky guy!"
"Who're you calling stinky?! You barely know me, whereas I've known you your whole life!!!"
"Screw you! I was really looking forward to this, I won't train today." Sanji.
"What?"
"Izanagi told me that the personal training with our respecting Sword Spirit can only happen when both parties agree, you and me, so, I'm not training today." Sanji.
The silhouette didn't have a visible form yet, but even so, a tick mark was visible in his head.
"Ok, I guess I better tell Izanagi about that 'incident' of yours."
Sani's ears perk up.
"What are you talking about?" Sanji.
"Oh, nothing. It's just that when you had just reached that 'age', a voluptuous woman showed up at the Baratie for lunch and you were the first one to get up, and I'm not talking about serving her."
Sanji has Vietnam Flashbacks.
"So, I wonder, if I tell Izanagi this and he tells Kaizo this, what would be his reaction?"
Even though Sanji couldn't see its face, he could swear that the Spirit was showing a shit eating grin.
"You think I'd let myself be pushed around just by that?" Sanji.
"Yes."
"YOU'RE GODDAMN RIGHT!!!" Sanji bowed.
"Good, now, about those kicks of yours…"
They began to talk about Sanji's fighting style but the latter was more focused on his dark past and a way to keep his Spirit quiet about it.
(With Kaizo)
Kaizo was on the ground, grasping for air as Izanagi approaches him.
"I told you, [Shunko] is a very advanced technique for you to be learning it now. You'd better focus on you [Shunpo]." Izanagi.
"I can't, the world is changing and everyone is getting stronger, even our enemies. I cannot allow myself to be any weaker, taking into account what you said about my fruit." Kaizo.
"That is true, but you're gonna make a mess out of yourself if you keep overworking." Izanagi.
"Don't worry, I know how much my body can take. Now, let's continue." Kaizo.
"You're one heck of an idiot. By the way, I must tell you something." Izanagi.
"What?" Kaizo.
"You remember that their Zanpakuto Spirits are bound to me, right?" Izanagi.
"Call them Sword Spirits, and yeah." Kaizo.
"No. Since they're birthed from myself and they don't have another Zanpakuto to use as a medium to awaken, you'll have to lend me to your crewmates so that they can awaken their Zanpakuto." Izanagi.
"Wait! What will I use to fight then?" Kaizo.
"That's the thing, you will be weaponless and cut off from any ability I proportionate." Izanagi.
"Fuck!" Kaizo.
"Yeah, that's why I want you to focus some more in other type of weapons and hand-to-hand combat just as a precaution." Izanagi.
"Good thing you told me beforehand, otherwise, yikes!" Kaizo.
"That said, there is a benefit from them having awaken their Shikai." Izanagi.
"And that is?" Kaizo.
"Hm. That's a surprise for later, I promise you that it won't disappoint." Izanagi.
"Power-Up-teaser." Kaizo pouted.
"Now then, shouldn't we be meeting a young lady that can speak with animals?" Izanagi.
"Yeah, Apis. She should appear, unless something comes up and she doesn't, either way, I'm just here for the ride, not the end point." Kaizo.
"Then, allow us to keep evolving, Master." Izanagi.
Izanagi changed into his Shikai clothes and aimed his Nodachi towards Kaizo.
"Yeah, let's get even stronger!" Kaizo.
He raised his sword with both hands and took a low stance.
*FWOOSH*
Both of them disappeared and clashed their weapons.
And with that, the Straw Hat Pirates sailed through the night while training in their mindscapes. Whereas the little Apis was sailing amiss the ocean running away from her persecutors.
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"Hey, what gives?! Wasn't the tittle meant to be "Another mysterious encounter? Apis: The Animal Whisperer."? Why is it a different one?!" Kaizo.
"Who cares! I got a Sword Spirit!!!" Luffy.
"This is serious, doesn't he knows that on top of irregular monthly uploadings and incoherent storylines, he may lose readers like this?" Kaizo.
"Meh, if people want to read him, they will, if they don't, they won't. Why bother about that when all the author wants is to write a story?" Luffy.
"If I didn't know that you're not the canonical Luffy, I would be worried by how much sense your words made." Kaizo.
"I make sense! Like in Arabasta when I told Vivi to beat Crocodile's ass, Enies Lobby when I declared war against the World Government for Robin, Whole Cake to take Sanji back and more recently in Wano to defeat Kaido." Luffy.
"Fair point. Anyway, see you later, Readers." Kaizo.
"Yeah, next time in One Piece: Shinigami of the Straw Hats." Luffy.
"Another mysterious encounter? Apis: The Animal Whisperer." Kaizo.
"See ya next time." Luffy.
"I'm gonna be the King of the Pirates!" Kaizo.
"That's me, YOU MORON!!!" Luffy.
"HAHAHAHA!!!!" Kaizo.