Episode 246: Annihilation of the Straw Hat Pirates? The Terror of Model Leopard!

  • English Title: Annihilation of the Straw Hat Pirates? The Terror of Model Leopard!

  • Japanese Title: 麦わら海賊団全滅？モデル豹の脅威！

  • Romaji: Mugiwara kaizokudan zenmetsu? Moderu hyou no kyoui!

  • Air Date: 2005-10-23

  • Manga Chapters: Chapter 349 (1-19/19), Chapter 350 (1-17/19)

  • Manga Equivalency:

* The first 10 minutes of the 30 minute episode is a recap, covering from the time the Straw Hats landed on Water 7 to current events.

Pre-intro

Robin opens the windows to leave, but Luffy still refuses to let her get away. As Luffy chases after her, he is stopped by Lucci, and Robin quickly disappears.

Zoro was taken down by Kaku and Luffy was tossed to the side easily by Lucci. Kalifa reminds Lucci and Kaku that it's almost time to set the ignition switch on. Before that time came, Lucci wanted to show the Straw Hats something interesting... he transforms into a giant being that leaves Luffy and the crew completely stunned. He reveals his Devil's Fruit, the Neko Neko Fruit, Model: Leopard. Paulie just couldn't believe what Lucci had been hiding for so many years.

Post-intro

The great fire on the Galley-La building burns but the efforts to stop it are futile. Many of the shipwrights are still looking for Iceberg in the buildling. Despite his injuries, Paulie gets up and becomes determined to protect Iceberg. Lucci concludes that the Zoan type's greatest strength lies in close combat. As Kalifa notifies Lucci that the shipwrights are arriving, Lucci uses Rankyaku (Tempest Leg) to send a powerful slicing wave across the entire building, causing the roofs to collapse.

While the roof crumbles, Chopper makes a quick but bold decision to save Nami by ramming her out of the way without being able to save himself. Paulie runs to Iceburg's aid. Filled with rage, Paulie continues to ask why his former companions are betraying him. Lucci raises his giant claw above his head and is interrupted before his swipe at Paulie. Luffy's long arm punches Lucci in the face, but it only caused Lucci to lose little balance. Luffy prepares for an assault but Lucci retaliates back with Shigan (Finger Gun) and pierces Luffy in the chest. Lucci licks the blood off his claw.

Lucci grabs Luffy by the head and throws him out of the building, breaking the wall. When the smoke from the debris cleared up, Zoro, as weak as he was, runs to attack Lucci, but Lucci defends himself with Tekkai (Iron Mass). Zoro's assault on Lucci's giant arm with Sandai Kitetsu becomes futile. Lucci easily knocks Zoro's blade away with that same arm, and swiftly kicks Zoro out of the building as well. Zoro drops Sandai in the building as he is sent away. Nami calls out for Zoro, but she suddenly finds herself facing Lucci alone. As Lucci overshadows her, Zoro falls into the roaring ocean.

The building becomes completely engulfed by flames and the entire building is doomed to fall apart. The shipwrights of Galley-La continue their efforts to put out the fire. From a distance, Kokoro and Chiminey watches the giant smoke cloud from one of the rooftops. Kokoro figures that something bad was happening and only hopes that Iceburg was still alive. All of this was happening because of that certain "thing".

CP9 gaze at the blazing fire from the outside the great fire and were confident that this case would remain shrouded in darkness. Paulie and Iceburg were tied against each other back to back in the flaming building. After a moment, Lucci decides that it's time to go after Tom's other apprentice, Franky, or rather, Cutty Flam to get the real blueprints of Pluton.

The shipwrights aren't able to go into the building anymore, but are still very concerned about Iceburg. They begin to accuse the Straw Hats for this mess when they find Nami on the ground unconcious. They were determined to get the awakened Nami to tell them where the rest of the crew are, so they can capture them and send them to the Marines.

Under the full moon, CP9 jump and soar in the sky with their giant leaps on the rooftops. Kaku turns his head to see the Franky Family squabbling about their yell to lure the Straw Hats out. They also mention Franky's name - this was exactly what CP9 wanted to hear. Lucci drops down with his face covered by a mask to ask them personally. With Lucci calmly demanding answers, the Franky Family run to attack him.

In the warehouse underneath the bridge, Franky, Mozu and Kiwi wails at Usopp's story about leaving the crew because of the ship. Usopp thought that telling them the Straw Hats were no longer his companions may shut them up. Franky lifts his head up, and brings out his guitar to sing about Usopp's harshness. The sisters cheer Franky on but Usopp thinks they're just making fun of him.

When things calmed down a bit, Franky sits on his couch asking for tea while Usopp continues his attempts to fix Going Merry. Franky assumes that there was some grudge left in Usopp about earlier, but Usopp denies it. For that, Franky compliments on his manliness very seriously, but happily says that they spent all of the money. He just wanted Usopp to drop the matter since the Franky House was completely destroyed the same time his subordinates were beaten up. Franky also suggests that Usopp should join him to be a dismantler, but Usopp quickly refuses and says that he was still a pirate at heart. Franky is brought to tears again and whips out his guitar once more. The sisters cheer him on again, but Usopp exclaims at their attempt to make fun of him again.

Usopp sets his hammer aside and asks Franky a series of questions about Aqua Laguna. Franky reveals that the sea train was built only 10 years ago and before its creation, people lived in depression because they believed that the city was going to completely sink. Franky begins to reminence about the train that took all the despair away, Puffing Tom. It was all thanks to the carpenter and inventor of the sea train, Tom, who was believed to have saved them all.

Zanbai cries out into the night for Franky as he tries to flee from Lucci, but he is quickly taken out. As soon as Lucci drops his facemask, all four members of CP9 return into the air to go to where Franky is: the warehouse underneath the bridge.

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Anime/Episodes/246 (last edited 2006-06-30 17:18:33 by Cinder)