A Fruitless Start
One Piece belongs to Oda.
Chapter 17- The Doctors of Drum
…..
Usopp had a huge smile as the wind hit his face, he was too excited to rest after the events on the island of Little Garden. The island itself was already one of the most cool and bizarre things he had ever seen in his life, a place that time forgot and was full of dinosaurs, volcanoes and even the trees were completely new with the most strange fruits. But none of that was the main attraction for him.
Giants! Bonafide real giants! He can't wait to see Kaya again and tell her about that, also about Elbaf when he finally reaches it. Usopp was truly and utterly enchanted by the giants Dorry and Brogy, the two of them were once pirates that traveled the Grand Line until they reached the island of Little Garden and entered in a dispute, a contest to see who was the greatest among them.
That was 100 years ago and to this day the two are still fighting everyday to see who was right, who the great god of their land, named after their land or vice versa favored to choose a winner and allow that one to return to their home triumphant.
Usopp was in love with such a story and when they left the giants he promised to one day visit their island and tell everyone that the giant pirates were still in conflict, still being judged by Elbaf and still good friends even after a century of fights.
Besides all that Little Garden was a nice place to visit… thanks to the fact that he, Vivi, Karoo and Igaram had Luffy with them the whole time until they got enough food for a longer trip. Funnily enough Broggy commented that the reason for their contest was 'who got the bigger hunt' after seeing Zoro and Sanji fighting for the same thing making Dorry and many present laugh at the events.
"USOPP! STOP DREAMING AND COME HELP HERE!" Sanji called for him and Usopp crossed the deck to help Sanji carry some plates to the table in the kitchen. "Dinner is almost done. Please go call Nami-swan, Vivi-swan and the others."
Usopp rolled his eyes to the guy, always naming the girls and ignoring the rest. Most of the time the only guy he treated with a modicum of respect was Luffy and that was when the captain was not trying to steal food. He was also being really nice to Igaram but maybe that was more for Vivi's benefit than for the man himself.
Leaving the kitchen Usopp screams. "GUYS! GRUB IS READY! COME TO EAT!"
"CALL MY FOOD GRUB AGAIN AND I WILL KICK YOU!" Raising his arms to try and appease Sanji's wrath, not that he needed since the cook had no plans of harming him in reality.
Soon everyone started to fill the kitchen, there was not much space but the table could still fit everyone. "This food is amazing Sanji!" Luffy compliments the chef who accepts with a smile, the girls avoided giving him direct compliments but there was no real complaint on the table.
"This is the second greatest food I ever ate!" Igaram said keeping tradition.
"Hard to compare to your wife's!" Sanji replied back with a smile, the first time Igaram said something similar Vivi just said he was married and refused to believe that any food could surpass the one his love makes and in that moment Sanji just accepted that without further questions.
Nami was checking her Log Pose and decided to speak. "The Grand Line is such a confusing place. The needle is still pointing to Little Garden and if we don't stop in an island it will stay there for two years?"
"Pretty much." Vivi cleans her mouth before continuing. "Didn't your friends in the East explain that?"
"Yes but nobody told me about an island with such a ridiculous condition!" She sighs exasperated. "If we didn't have a Log Pose pointing to Alabasta we would have to pick a direction and try our luck."
"That is only possible now that the giant sea king is not around anymore." Usopp's comment made all look at Luffy who was now patting his full stomach. "I can't believe he just jumped in the water and fought a beast of that size… is what I want to say but then I remember Laboon!"
"HA! Even the giants were impressed!" Zoro thinks a bit and then says. "Luffy! I hope you know that the sea king was one of your fights and now it is my turn again!"
"Fine by me." Luffy finished picking his teeth with a toothpick. "If Nami is not bothered! But I think it is Sanji's turn" Zoro chose to ignore the last part and take a look at the orange head.
"Sure! Fight the next whoever, I need to check the maps again. I think we are close to Drum!" At the name of the nation Usopp couldn't help himself.
"Any particular reason that is important?"
"From the information that I had gathered that is the island with the best doctors, both at the beginning of the Grand Line and even the rest of it." Nami then places a small book she was reading on the table picking a map out of it. "I didn't know about Little Garden but Drum is actually really famous and, if I am not mistaken, we must be close."
"You want to find a doctor there?" Igaram asks with a shake of his head. "While I would have no problems in this during most circumstances and away from me to say where this ship should go I must insist we proceed to Alabasta with due haste!"
Some could see that Luffy wanted to protest, to say that he was the captain and he decided the route but he was more considered than that. "We can go there after we save Alabasta… By the way, once we have saved your kingdom I demand a party! With lots of food and drinks!"
"LUFFY!" Nami was ready to reprimand him. "IF YOU ARE GOING TO DEMAND SOMETHING DEMAND MONEY!" For the wrong reasons.
"I can't promise any money, Alabasta doesn't have that much to begin with." Vivi took all in stride. "But a party? Sure! Once we have Crocodile out of the country we can party all night if you want!"
"We still need to speak with his majesty, princess!" Igaram interjects. "I am sure that he will approve of such endeavors but please, let us avoid making promises without the input of the king."
"Nah! He probably is going to love it!" Luffy was sure of what he was saying. "Being a king is hard and having a party from time to time is relaxing."
"Mamama! No offense Captain Luffy but what do you know about the habits and needs of a king?" At Igaram's question Usopp wondered the same thing.
"Believe or not but he knows plenty." Nami said, her eyes moving between the map and the book. "Even If we are not going to Drum now we need to prepare. That one is a winter island which means that the shock of climates may make a storm around here.
Usopp was glad that Nami was at the top of her game but he couldn't help but feel an uneasiness in his stomach.
"Are you alright Usopp?" Sanji was looking at him with a raised eyebrow. "You barely touched your plate."
"Yeah it is just… I am not hungry." He also was feeling a bit tired at the moment but that was normal considering the excitement of Little Garden was just yesterday.
After a few more minutes of conversation everyone had gone to do their own thing, Usopp decided to work on a few gadgets, he had an idea of a fake giant hammer he wanted to make work and the best idea he had was to make it using a balloon.
Usopp then picks his ammo and sling shot, and thinks of the fact that he still hasn't fought yet… While Zoro once said that there was no problem and that all Usopp needed to do was his own thing it still bothered him that he hadn't made any significant contribution.
He hears the sound of music coming from outside. Igaram's weapon was still a musical instrument and that impressed Usopp a lot, the idea that something common could actually be something deadly and still have its normal function was something that appealed to him both in curiosity and in utility.
The sniper was still trying to find a way for him to use that kind of stuff but he at least had finished the belt. It was simple, made of leather with pockets in every part except in the front where the buckle would stay, the challenge was to adjust to fit him perfectly and keep lots of ammo and other stuff.
The bag would still be used but only for anything that couldn't fit the belt itself, it was always good to have options and Usopp was sure that if he had enough of them he could actually win a fight or hold the enemy at bay long enough for his friends to bail him out.
Now he was trying to make a cane, a special one that would open and shoot an explosive pellet with enough strength that could hit and defeat a group of people while he was at a safe distance by using springs and his aim to reach the target.
Problem? The design was not working, sure it was inconspicuous and easy to carry in his bag but he couldn't get it to fire properly, the spring system wasn't able to shoot very far giving him the impression that maybe he would have to use gunpowder which was expensive compared to springs and if that was what it would take to make it work then he will have to give up the ideas he had for it.
Concentrating on his job he cleans the sweat out of his forehead feeling tired even if his work had barely begun. Maybe he should take a break for the day? Rest for tomorrow when he would be more relaxed to try and finish the job.
He really doesn't want to give up on the idea, lure an enemy closer or pretend to need a cane to just up and shoot the guy… he was too young to pretend to be old isn't he?
Then maybe make a lot of small staff to… he was basically making multiple small guns with one bullet each to carry around! Once the realization setted in he threw his stuff all around him. "GODDAMNIT!"
Moving to pick his hammer again slowly he grasped it only for his fingers to let it go a few seconds later. Usopp found it strange and looked at his hand... hands? Three of them? Odd. He was sure he only had two and the other was on the floor.
There appeared to be nothing wrong with it either, he made a fist and felt his fingers just fine. Moving to pick the hammer again he felt terribly tired and was sure he needed some rest after he put away his tools.
Then his side was on the floor, he could feel the Merry as it navigated the waves going in gentle ups and downs, it was even making him feel sleepy.
Deciding to take a nap Usopp tried to move his arms to get some of the instruments around him but he was really out of it, being unable to truly move anything, even his own body at that point but he kept thinking he was just exhausted.
After some time the door opened. "Usopp?" Zoro came in to get his weights, it was the only reason he passed by Usopp's 'corner of the ship'.
"Hey Zoro. Aren't you here a bit early? You usually only train with your weights in the afternoon." Usopp commented while Zoro approached.
"It is already- GOD YOU ARE WARM!" Touching Usopp out of concern of why the guy was on the ground allowed Zoro to realize something. "The hell happened to you? You have a really high fever!"
"Really? I must have been distracted."
"Distracted my ass! You are sick." Zoro moved to pick Usopp up but the sniper was already losing conscience when he heard the swordsman call the rest of the crew.
…..
There was just one bed on the Going Merry that belonged to the woman's quarter, said quarter was supposed to be to either the captain or the original owner Kaya but Nami had occupied it since Luffy felt he didn't need the space and prefered to sleep in a hammock when on the sea anyway all it was left for him was to sleep with the rest of the crew in the men's quarters.
When Vivi and Igaram joined the princess shared a bed with Nami while the captain of the guard picked another hammock and joined the guys, even if the man was much more formal he had no problem in adapting to the routine of the crew and even contributed with some music.
There was no music at the moment, Nami and Sanji were doing the best they could to help Usopp but there was a fact that all knew and wanted to deny. "If we don't find a doctor soon, Usopp is going to die." Nami said with a somber tone.
"Are you sure Nami?" Vivi's doubt was fair since it was just a strong fever as far as she knew but it was Sanji who shook his head.
"There are purple spots on his body." It was one of the rare occasions that the chef was missing a cigarette on him. "I have no idea of what it is. I can give him some food and water to help but without knowing exactly what he has there was nothing that I can give in specific."
"I never saw someone get so bad so quickly." Nami said. "There is nothing on the sea other than poison that can do that much damage…"
"But he couldn't have been poisoned." Zoro finished the thought. "Something on Little Garden then?"
"Maybe but that doesn't matter." Luffy says and looks at Vivi. "Sorry but we are going to Drum now."
"I have no problems with it." Vivi also looked worried for Usopp and a hand came to her shoulder, It was Igaram's.
"While our kingdom needs us I don't disagree we should focus on saving the ones here." Then the royal guard gave the captain a serious face. "But I also request that if the doctor insists that Usopp will have to stay behind you let him stay and recover while we move forward."
"That-" Luffy stopped himself and took a deep breath. "We will find a doctor that will want to come with us if we need to but I am not abandoning my friend."
"Neither am I saying you should." Igaram lowers his head to show respect. "I understand your position but please understand ours. If we don't reach Alabasta on time thousands will die for the ambitions of one man."
"Worst happens we just come back after that mess." Zoro said not to sound cold but to calm everyone down. "We can backtrack and get Usopp after he recovers, but before that we need to get to Drum."
"Setting the course is easy, we have plenty of references and the climate is getting colder by the minute which means we are close to a winter island." Nami explained while moving to the rudder.
"Everyone! We are going to Druim. Get in positions!" At Luffy's command the crew moved, while Nami was going to focus on the rudder Zoro and Sanji would man the sails. He then turns to Vivi. "Usually Usopp would be the one on the crowsnest but he is out. I will be there if you need me but can you guys keep an eye on him?"
"Of course!" Vivi said immediately and Igaram just gave a nod. While the straw hats focused on getting them to the island, even without maps or expecifics they would make sure the teenager was well taken care of.
"Thank you." Luffy said but before he could go up Vivi placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You are helping us a lot. This is the least we can do." And with that the princess and her guard moved to the room where Usopp was resting.
"Princess, I will get clean water while you take care of him." At her nod Igaram moved to get the water while Vivi changed the towel to help lower Usopp's fever. The long nose sniper was red and having difficulties breathing, drying the towel she was about to place it back when she noticed that Usopp had opened his eyes.
"We are going to Drum aren't we?" He asked fast and then took a deep breath.
"Don't worry Usopp, we are going to find a doctor for you." Vivi tried to tranquilize him but her reassurance actually made him feel worse.
"Iamsorry." Once again and tried to say fast but she couldn't understand. Once Igaram returned with clean water he motions for a glass. After drinking it Usopp spoke once again. "I am sorry. I am sorry that we aren't going to your kingdom. I am-"
Vivi placed a hand on his chest before he exalted himself more and said. "Don't worry about it. For now get some rest." She didn't hesitate to meet his eyes while saying. "We can focus on that once you are better we can compensate."
The worst part for Usopp was that he could tell the princess was truly worried about him, not carrying any ill will for his condition, for his weakness but before he could say anything else the princess flicked his nose.
"Focus on getting better! And don't you dare to apologize again. You didn't ask to be sick." With that ultimatum the princess and Igaram focused on taking care of Usopp until a few hours later the call came, they found land. "Igaram will stay here with Usopp, I will go take a look."
"Are you sure princess?" He asked while she got a coat for the cold.
"It is going to be fine Igaram. Do you remember the king of Drum? I doubt a man like that can actually bother with a group of pirates." Vivi and Igaram had met the man in the event called Levely where many kings joined together to help decide the direction the World Government would go for the next four years.
Both could still remember the arrogant man, he was sure of his power and that no one could challenge him to the point he felt no fear in threatening or hurting the child of another monarch, the one in question being Vivi herself.
There is a saying that 'power corrupts' but all it does is reveal one's true nature. What would a person do with absolute power? That was relative in reality and a good person may easily find themselves in bad habits only because of opportunity.
King Wapol too was born in power but Vivi knew that both of them were extremely different. She had seen the beauty and horror of the desert and what it did to her people and liked to think she chose to become a better person to help her people to grow despite it.
The actual king of Drum chose the opposite route in her opinion, ignoring the needs of everyone except himself and indulging on anything that caught his fancy. A cruel man like that would never bother to use any resource for the sake of his nation and she doubts that he would invest in the defense of his kingdom.
Exiting the room she suddenly had a lot of guns pointing at her, men dressed for the climate were holding all manners of rifles with a man dressed in green with black sticky hair and a small goatee glaring at them. He was tall, maybe even taller than Igaram and he looked strong with a giant weapon on his back that looked like an oversized shovel.
"PIRATES ARE NOT WELCOMED HERE!" He shouts. "LEAVE OR DIE!"
There is a chance that people changed and that king Wapol had improved and that these guards were the result but the way that some of the men looked haggard and tired gave her the feeling that the situation was not born from a good place but that something prompted the people to arm themselves in despair.
…..
He was the king of a nation, born and raised to be the monarch after his father passed. After the event happened he mourned for a bit and then got straight to work in securing the best doctors possible to guarantee that he wouldn't die like his father did, suddenly and with no warning.
To that end he formed an organization with every doctor of the Drum Island and called it Isshi(doctor) with the idea that the name would have added to it the number of loyal doctors that swore fealty to him, even his royal guard Dalton approved the idea of all the doctors in the kingdom working together under his banner.
Yes, those were the days. He still recalls them fondly in his memories, the good times where he had the best doctors under his control with his underlings making sure that any of his citizens had the best care, after himself and his closest attendants.
Sure there were those that dared to try and disrupt his orders, to make the medicine practice of the Kingdom of Drum more open to the common folk because they didn't understand the necessity of controlling the medicine of their kingdom, a medicine that is recognized around the world as the best one without contest.
So the duties of a king were called to be made once again and he ordered the execution of the rebels. Yes, while looking to the sky on his ship, Wapol could remember clearly when he ordered the deaths of many doctors that dared to go against him leaving only twenty doctors behind, his Isshi-20.
"Sir! We found it!" Kuromarino approached him with Chess right behind, his most loyal followers the magistrate dressed in yellow with a cape and a afro with cloves that looked like hair being the caller while Chess, who was dressed in blues with a style similar to a jester and had a bow and arrows said the following.
"It is Drum sir! We finally came back!" The soldiers around them celebrated, all dressed for the climate while his doctors, always in their surgeon's uniform to make sure they could always attend him, also let out small cheers.
Wapol's smile was huge, even for his already sizable form, with his while cape, hat and armor, all made with the finest skin to guarantee that he never would feel cold, the most striking thing about himself was his metal jaw. Looking to the horizon he could see his island, his kingdom that was waiting for their king to return.
"FULL SPEED AHEAD!" The time had come. "LET'S GO BACK HOME!"
Once again his crew cheered for him, his days as a pirate were about to end and his time as a king would continue unimpeded.
….
"A witch?" Asked Luffy to Dalton, they were in a house on the village of the island of Drum and the man was telling the straw hats about the last doctor on the island.
"Yes." He looks to Usopp who was moved to a bed in the village, his condition worsening by the minute. "Ever since the former king ran from the pirates the witch, doctor Kureha, is the last medic present on the island and, believe me, she knows it. The prices for her treatments are… not going to lie. She will charge you out of a house if she can."
"To think Wapol was that much of a coward!" Igaram was furious. "That man doesn't deserve to be called king!"
"I doubt you will find anyone on the island that will disagree with you Igaram." Dalton gave the older man a small smile. "I am still surprised that you and princess Vivi are traveling with pirates."
And how Dalton wouldn't recognize them? Igaram still looked the same way he had the last time they saw each other in the Levely but Vivi was the one that had made a true impression. It was true that she has grown into a beautiful young woman but her eyes and sense of justice are still the same.
"While it is fun that you two know each other," Zoro focused on the real goal of their presence there, "can you tell us where to find this witch?"
At that Dalton's face turned somber. "From time to time she comes here from the mountain, it is there that the old palace resides. She always comes and goes as she pleases and I can't tell you when she is going to show up again."
"Easy enough." Nami said. "We go up the mountain."
"My lady, I think you are underestimating the cold and the snow a bit too much. I mean, you aren't even using a coat!" Dalton's observation called attention that Nami was using her normal dressing, shorts and a sleeveless t-shirt.
"I am just not feeling cold. What can you do?" She gives a shrug and looks at Luffy. "We can climb the mountain, Luffy there lived on them for most of his life and with my power I can carry Usopp."
"Nami-san please don't risk yourself." Sanji moved forward. "I and Luffy can take Usopp to the top just fine."
"Yes but I can do it more easily and give Usopp a bigger area to rest on the way."
"I would offer Karoo's help but…" Vivi's comment has everyone present looking at the duck who was so close to the fire that if he approached a little more there was a real risk that there would be a duck for dinner. Neither the princess or her guard blamed him since the three of them prefered a more warm environment.
"Your guys can keep an eye on the Merry right?" Luffy asked Dalton who nods.
"If you are worried about your ship, don't be. My men are going to keep an eye until you leave… but if you are going to insist on climbing the mountain I must insist that you take more people or at least wait for tomorrow morning." The man's concern was genuine. "The blizzards of Drum are cruel and few had ever survived unprepared, worse it will be if you go at night with the dangers beyond just the climate. The Lapanhs rule the mountain uncontested, bigger than bears and stronger by a good margen."
"Unfortunately Usopp may not have much time." Zoro liked to think he was being realistic, even if some turned to glare at him, Luffy was just looking at his crewmate while the others waited for his decision.
"Who do you think I am?" Usopp's voice came weakly but everyone could hear him. "I am… the brave… warrior of the sea... the great Usopp… a small sickness like that can't… won't take me down."
Everyone listened to his words, it was evident to all that Usopp was putting a strong front but that was only a lie, he wouldn't make it and maybe out of pride or concern for his crew he was trying to avoid then going out in the storm.
Luffy just let out a tired sigh. "Nami, you aren't really feeling any cold?" After a shake of her head Luffy accepts it. "Then we both are taking Usopp to this witch."
"Wait! Why only you and Nami-swan?" Sanji was not liking this but Luffy gave a good reason.
"Do you have any idea how to climb mountains?" There was no arrogance on the question, it was legitimate and he looked around to ask everyone. "Do any of you?"
"Do you?" Sanji really was against going but Luffy just raised an eyebrow and Sanji retracted. "Right! Raised by mountain bandits… Fine, I will stay here with Igaram to guard Vivi-swan."
"And I will stay here to stop him from trying anything to the womens of the village." Zoro said.
"Why you-" And Sanji attacked, starting a small fight, nothing too big since the two only tried to push each other.
"Vivi!" Luffy calls the princess with a firm tone on his voice.
"Yes!" The princess surprises herself by jumping to her feet and almost saluting.
"You are in charge! Don't let them break anything." Luffy said, picking up Usopp while Nami followed.
"WHAT? WHY ME?" Vivi knew that she was a princess but that was no reason to give her command.
Once again Luffy raises a single eyebrow and then turns his having both watch as the two 'fought'. "Zoro is stronger but his sense of direction is the worst thing possible, Sanji is faster but if a woman asks him anything he will do it for the most part." And with that he moved to exit the small house carrying Usopp with Nami right behind giving Vivi a sympathetic look.
Vivi then turns to the two men, it didn't come to blows yet but Vivi feared that if they did she would not be able to stop them. Maybe Sanji will stop and Zoro will respect it… truth be told she never took command of anything in her life and now she was afraid.
Igaram just lets out a sigh, the pirate gave the princess command and he knows she will do just fine… he hopes after seeing the two fighters starting to break the floor of the house with pure pressure.
Dalton followed the captain and the quartermaster. "Are you sure I can't convince you to wait?" There was genuine concern in his voice but Nami just shrugs.
"Either we go or our friend dies and that is not a real option."
"I won't challenge you on that but…" Dalton was looking at her and usually Nami would tease him a bit but she had no time for that.
"If you have something to say just say it." Usopp didn't have much time and Luffy was already waiting impatiently.
"You are not dressed enough for this." The man was red as a tomato clearly not used to a woman dressed the way Nami was, even if he was much older he was nervous. "Please at least let me get you a coat or something. I would feel awful if you died in the cold not even forgetting the animals that live up there. "
While the sentiment was appreciated it was all that it was, sentiments, feelings. If the cold and the snow were truly in a dangerous level then a coat would do nothing in reality but the man was still worried and wanted to help, if there wasn't a storm coming he probably would escort them himself but there was one coming and Usopp may not survive if they wait for it to pass.
"It will be fine." Now she, standing on the snow "Besides," Nami stretches a bit, getting ready to use her power, "unless it was made from special material I probably would destroy the coat." After saying that she transformed in her bull form.
Dalton was shocked by the transformation and took only a few seconds before he used his own ability to turn into a bison as well making Nami pause to observe his transformation and complete form noticing that they were quite different.
Even if Dalton was a big man than her she was still the bigger one, his fur was brown and his face also had a different structure. Nami couldn't help but think that Dalton looked like a true ox should look while she was the strange one.
"I ate the ushi-ushi no mi: bison model." He explains and Nami feels embarrassed, remembering her own recklessness.
"I have no idea what fruit I ate. I thought it was the ushi-ushi no mi but…" They were too different. What that meant was that he looked normal for a lack of a better term while she looked like a monster of a bull.
"Are your horns really made of gold?"
"Really? That is your question?" Suffice to say she wasn't impressed.
"Sorry it is just… You are completely different from me." Then he started to change again getting to stand on his two legs while looking a bit more human now. He had hands once again but was still covered in fur, still had horns and was taller than he would be on his normal form. "Can you please turn into a hybrid too?"
"Unfortunately I still haven't figured out how to turn into my hybrid form." Much to her shame.
"How long have you had your power?" Dalton was excited and so was she, this was a rare opportunity for two people with similar powers to talk about it. "I have had mine for years now. Took me a few months to get used to it."
"A little over a year, more or less." The frustration on her voice was clear.
"Hey, don't worry. You will figure out how to use your powers better sooner or later." His smile spoke of experience. "Believe me, if you are having the same problem that I had then you are probably overthinking the situation."
"Am I?" Now Dalton was taller than her and she had to look up. "Part of me really doesn't want to look like that… no offense."
"Ha! None taken." Before the conversation could continue Luffy placed Usopp on Nami's back both with clothes proper against the cold and Luffy tied Usopp up with some rope from his bag.
"We need to go." That was all he said and the giant bull nodded, turning to the mountain.
"If we have time we can talk more later!" She shouts while running, starting with a strong sprint. "Luffy I will get us as close to the mountain as I can but the climbing part is with you!" Luffy was right behind her, his job would be to cover both of them while Nami got close to the mountain
"Yes! I will take care of it!" They had to shout a bit to talk with each other at that point but they both were now completely focused on the goal.
"How is Usopp?" Nami felt a bit embarrassed for having lost herself talking with Dalton but now she is completely focused on the mission accelerating more and more while the people of the village got out of the way of their passing.
Luffy moved to check on Usopp from the side, his head was close to Nami's but she couldn't turn without hitting him. After a few seconds Luffy said. "No change." And then took some distance to not hit her.
Both started to run more, going all out while Usopp fought against unconsciousness. The sniper didn't want what was happening, sure he didn't want to die but he also didn't want his crew risking themselves for him.
He remembers the conversation about the Code, the idea of giving mercy for those that were beyond saving. Usopp was the newest member of the crew by far, he knew that just by looking at the camaraderie that the others had, even Zoro and Sanji had moments where they didn't fight or avoided saying things to not cross certain lines.
Sometimes Usopp could see that they communicated with just a few words or not even talking at all… he wanted to say it didn't bother him but that would be a lie and with those final thoughts Usopp lost consciousness once again.
…..
"FIRE! DON'T LET THEM LAND!" One of the coast guys sholted, his rifle screaming to each new shot again and again, it finally fell silent when he was shot down, falling dead.
"Damn it!" Another three were hiden behind a small man made wall cover. "We are fucked!"
"Did we manage to get someone to call Dalton?" Another asked.
"Shit! I don't know!" The man gets up just enough to place his rifle on the wall and start firing, being followed for his two friends in a couple of seconds.
Unfortunately for them they were losing badly, at the start of the fight they were already at a disadvantage because of numbers even if they had the better position, a defensive position where the enemy's huge ship(submarine) would have to reach for landing.
The problem was training. The ones attacking are members of the former army of Drum, the survivors who didn't fought or managed to run from the pirates that invaded with the former king, these were men that trained for years to be able to protect their kingdom and even if they failed against the pirates they could still do easy work against villagers and the few soldiers that stayed behind.
Numbers wise it was a 75 against barely 50 but skillswise, of the 75 only ten were properly trained with the rest being volunteers with just a few days of training at best and it showed. They had the better position, cover and enough ammunition to be able to defeat such a smaller force but they lacked the precision and coordination to use such advantages.
"ARHG!"
"DUDLEY!" An arrow manages to hit one of the three guards on the shoulder, the man couldn't hold his rifle again, once his other friend ran out of ammunition on his own weapon he picked the fallen one.
"HE WILL BE FINE! KEEP SHOOTING!" Unlike his companions this was one of the proper soldiers, it was obvious to see for his composure and determination. His aim was precise and he was ready to keep fighting until the end.
And the end came in the form of an arrow, another dead on the snow field of Drum.
The last one was shocked by the events, to a normal person the result was simply too abnormal. They helped the numbers advantage, the positional advantage and their cause was just, to defend their home from pirates and yet they lost.
The huge ship lands and their crew starts to disembark, the defenders who survived couldn't do anything else at that point for the soldiers who landed first moved quickly to secure the area, neutralizing those who still fought and apprehending those who didn't.
The citizens of Drum knew these men, they knew the ship and that gave them motivation to fight even harder to the point that most defenders were killed leaving them in the thirties. The enemy on the other hand had the pride and joy of Drum, their doctors, working left and right and many preventing casualties on their side.
There were those that moved to secure the prisoners making sure that none would try a surprise attack. Once that was done ten of the soldiers stood in two lines making space for a small processing, in it there were only four and just seeing who they were seeing made the defenders of Drum blood get colder than their island.
How could none of them recognize them? They were always there in the palace above the mountains and more than one had to make the harsh journey to ask for food or any kind of help from the doctors of the kingdom, Chess, Kuromarimo, once officers of the kingdom and leading them sitting on a huge white beast, a Wooly Hippo with plenty of fur that would fight off any cold, was one of if not the most hated person of the Kingdom of Drum, Wapol the Gutton King.
He was still the same, his time in exile didn't change his figure or his eyes that cared indignation at his former subjects. They were brought forward to the once king and made to kneel before him, guns on their heads. The message was clear: try anything and you won't have time to regret it.
Wapol was already big but sitting on his mount he became humongous and more intimidating. He looks to all the prisoners before turning to Chess. "Do you know any of these men?" That question annoys the defeated.
"No you magnificence." Kuromarimo was looking at each and all of them, sometimes moving his gloved hands to take a better look. "They must be the rabble." That comment infuriates them.
"Traitors! All of them!" Chess said to the side, his bow and arrow ready if necessary. "I even saw some of our former soldiers fighting in their midst! How they dare to turn on their great king!" That affirmation brings the anger to a boiling point but not enough to shake off the fear.
"Maybe they didn't recognize the ship." Wapol's smile was frustrating all of those that wished him gone but the next line brought out too much fury for one to bear. "But they need to not worry anymore! Their great king is back!" That was the straw that broke the camel's back.
"YOU FUCKER!" One of the defenders jumped to attack Wapol or at least to try. He had no weapons but the boldness surprised many there to the point that the soldiers hadn't time to react before the man reached the former king only to fall to the snow once his mount moved its head to knock the guy down.
That brought the soldiers out of their stupor and the ones that once formed the lines to surround and got ready to shoot the would be assassin.
"WAIT!" Wapol stopped them. "Who you think you are?" The king was upset by the turn of events but the man didn't care.
"YOU ARE NOT OUR KING! YOU ARE A COWARD! YOU RUN-" One of the soldiers hits the man with the handle of his rifle, silencing him and placing his weapon on his head once again.
"Say the word your majesty and we will have that verm executed!" Chess was also aiming for the man with Kuromarimo positioning on the front of his liege.
"YOU COWARD! RAT! FAKE KING!" He may die but he wasn't going to go quietly. "YOU LEFT US TO DIE! BASTARD! GO TO HELL!" Another hit followed the declaration but Wapol just gave a smile.
"You don't understand do you? I needed to leave for the sake of Drum." That confused the other defenders. "Aren't the pirates gone now?" He questioned the beaten man but when it was evident he had lost his consciousness the monarch turned to the others. "So… aren't they gone?" After some nods Wapol lets out a laugh. "Then it doesn't matter anymore does it? I will even forgive you all!"
The act itself looked good, too good even but the defenders were too tired to question the confusing verdict, even more so when they were let go only without their weapons and any supplies they had. They started to leave in silence with some running while others kept their eyes on their backs afraid of any attack.
There was none. "That was nice of you your royal highness." Commented one of the doctors.
"Feh! Why should I blame a peasant for not understanding the problems of royalty! There is only still one to be confirmed traitor." Wapol started to move. "Depending on what he has to say then he will die."
"Dalton!" Kuromarimo spat at the name. "He refused to follow our king's lead and for that he will face death."
"Yes!" Wapol affirmed his subordinate argument. "He is the only one that could see what was happening and insisted on staying and now we had this," he points to the bodies on the ground, "using our guns he armed our people against us and that is unforgivable! Unless he can justify his action he is going to die."
The doctor that first complemented the king retreated to his peers, not saying another word. In a sense Wapol was right and retreating was the best idea… the problem that the doctors could see was that they ran away leaving the people of Drum to their fate.
But the doctors wouldn't dare to say it, even the soldiers that followed Wapol stayed with him on the argument that it truly was the best option in a bad situation and they had no way of disagreeing with it.
"Now let's move." Wapol tells his closest confidants. "Our time as pirates is over. It is time to rule Drum once again!"
The last part was heard by all and with some cheers they moved to follow the path the defenders had taken. It was the direction of the bigger settlement on Drum and, if Wapol was right, it would be there he would find his former guard.
…..
After their friends left Vivi was admitally nervous about being in 'charge' and she really was in charge. Luffy's word was law and the others easily admitted it and Zoro even admitted that, "If it was either the ero cook or me we would be fighting each other no stop. With you here we don't need to fight as much." That gave her some confidence or at least the peace of mind that there would be not as many fights.
"Why do we have to wait again?" Vivi wondered.
"You never had to climb a mountain did you?" Zoro asked in the middle of his meditation. The man had taken out his coat and was trying to adapt to the cold. At first he wanted to do it outside of the house but Vivi stopped him.
"In Alabasta we live mostly with an eternal summer." Igaram took some time to warm his arms while explaining. Sanji came with some cups with warm drinks for them. "Thank you. We don't have mountains there and we never had any need to climb one on our trips and in our home the most of what you see is some rocks and dunes of sand." He turns to his princess. "I can only imagine that mountain climb is dangerous, especially with a mountain like that."
Everyone turned to look at where the mountain was and took on its size. Vivi tries to think of herself getting up all that. "Is that why you two are freezing?" Zoro asks.
"Yes." Vivi afirms. "Back home it is always warm during the day and even if the nights are cold it is not like this… are you guys sure the others are going to be alright?" She couldn't help but worry.
"Don't worry Vivi-swan, Luffy grew up in the mountains. I doubt he will have problems with that one." Sanji tried to comfort her. Dalton then entered the house.
"You all are going to wait here for your friends." After some nods, Dalton lets out a sigh. "There is going to be a huge blizzard later. I will be honest: once the night arrives I fear for your crewmates."
"Nami is there." Zoro then gets up from the floor, he really wanted to do that outside. "If there is something too big coming she will give Luffy a heads up… not that it will stop him."
"You have plenty of confidence in your crewmates but I suppose that is expected." Dalton then sighs again. "I hope they reach the witch and your friends return fine but I must get going."
" I hope you don't mind me asking but aren't you all patrolling a bit too much?" Vivi understood the need for patrols but that was usually closer to the towns and villages.
"It is because we are afraid." Dalton's face showed sadness almost to the point of depression.
"Afraid?" Igaram wondered, he didn't know Dalton that much but he couldn't see what could make such a man react like that.
"Tell me something. For a recognized kingdom don't you think it is kinda empty right now?" Once he said that everyone paused to try and understand his reasoning.
All of those present are people who got used to living in places full of people, cities of great kingdoms and Drum had the best medicine of the Grand Line, if not from the world itself, even a small village should be more prosperous regardless of the climate.
Looking outside Vivi try to see one of the smaller towns of Alabasta and can't help but feel that Dalton was right, even if there would be a sand(snow)storm later there should be people going around their business, places selling stuff, fisherman going around, even children playing.
But there was nothing or so little that it looked like nothing even with a storm. "What happened to this place?" Zoro was the first to ask.
"Pirates… the worst kind of pirates." Dalton couldn't help but find a chair to sit, the weight of the world on his shoulders as he stared at the ground. "They were four… only four men. They showed up in one of our port towns, no announcements or declaration of anything. Survivors say that they just showed up one day and acted like any bunch of travelers…"
Not a whisper was heard as everyone waited for Dalton to recover enough to tell the story, he was traumatized and no one wanted to interrupt in fear he would not talk about it again.
"I was the main commander of the forces of the former king Wapol." The scorn with which he spoke the name was inmensurable. "I was not there so any tales I could tell you are second hand but for what I gathered it all started with a bill."
" Bill?" That sounded unbelievable for Igaram.
"Yes, prices on Drum are not cheap by any stretch of imagination. We have- HAD the best doctors and they worked directly for the king. The only way to be really attended here was for either having the king's favor or paying an exorbitant amount of money." Dalton really regretted those days, but he once thought that the system worked. "Our doctors were the most valuable and a normal person needed to pay a lot, there were only two doctors, no, rebels would be the better term, that tried to go against the laws in Drum."
"Let me guess: they got killed." Zoro asked, receiving shocked looks from Vivi, Igaram and even Karoo but Sanji didn't even flinch.
"One was, the other is the witch, Doctor Kureha." Dalton smiles a little. "Not that she is any cheaper on her prices but she at least will treat you first to then rip you off if she feels like it." The smile died. "In those times the control of the monarchy was absolute. Nobody wanted to fight with the guy that could with a single order let the people fend for themselves without doctors."
"But if they were that famous a lot of money would come in as well right?" Vivi didn't like this situation, didn't like it at all.
"Yes. Merchants from all over the Grand Line came here for treatments of the most exotic diseases or a chance to extend their lives a bit more." Dalton was ready to answer any other questions but since there weren't any he continued. "Because of the monopoly of our doctors there was little alternative but to pay high prices for it… the pirates didn't care about the doctors but they cared about supplies…"
The rest was clear: they got mad and attacked as pirates. Sure it would be nice to be well remembered in a place there is no marine influence but that crew must have not seen the kingdom as worth it.
"After they started the chaos the army mobilized, I wasn't there on the first attack since we thought 'they are just pirates, four of them at it. A squad of a few dozen was more than enough.'"
"You were wrong." Sanji said.
"Oh god we were. As wrong as we could be." The fear on his face was unmistakable. "We tried to defeat them three times, the first attempt I will admit we didn't know what we were dealing with but I personally led the second one, even the king agreed with it." On his mind Dalton could see the fight once again, the monsters who called themselves simple pirates. "We lost again, this time we had a 100 to 1 man advantage and we were destroyed."
Vivi and Igaram couldn't help but look at Zoro. He had done something similar to the bounty hunter of Whisky Peak. "Don't mix things up." The swordsman said, almost reading their thoughts. "You guys at the time had no coordination, training or teamwork. This was a proper army."
The fact that Zoro acknowledged that meant a lot and the Alabastian natives started to sweat cold while the green haired man kept his focus on the story. Dalton didn't know what they were talking about or didn't even hear them for all his focus was on his memories.
"Even if I said it was four pirates only three really fought, the last one in a pale horse stayed back." Dalton suddenly felt his mouth dry but continued. "Their captain was a big man, not the biggest one of the bunch but his power… he had to have a devil fruit of some kind." The big man started to shake. "Its power... it was dark, it pushed me and many others to the ground. Shots came from everywhere and a masked man from their crew crushed the skull of at least ten people with his bare hands."
Vivi covered her mouth, Igaram's fist was trembling and Karoo had retreated more into the house, both Zoro and Sanji gave each other a look but didn't press the issue. If Dalton wanted to stop there no one would complain.
But once Dalton started telling the story it was like his memories couldn't stop themselves from flowing out, from telling the experience he survived.
"At the end of all that the captain picked me up and looked at me right into his eyes. He was a fat man with broken teeth, if I didn't know any better I would call him a drunk in the middle of the street." With a hand on his face Dalton continued. "But his smile was full of joy in contrast to the aura he was letting out. A presence so dark and oppressive that demanded submission or death. He looked at me with those dark eyes and said 'tell your king I am going for his treasure', then he threw me to the ground and went with his crew to celebrate their win."
The village was not in ruins even if a bit empty so there was not much destruction, howerever…
"What happened with the people here?" Sanji asked.
"This was not the place of the fight and after that many moved, suffice to say that many died and we are using a more distant and well defended position as our capital… even if this is the biggest one."
"Then why leave?" Vivi was not going to like the answer.
"Because this one is too close to the coast and people are afraid. With how many we lost..." Dalton tried to nurse a headache or maybe stop tears. "Me and my men use this place as a base now. We are few and have enough supplies but until we can get some contact with the rest of the world we are living mostly out of hunts."
"But that isn't enough." Sanji pointed it out. "You need a lot more in your diet and this place- You guys are starving!"
"Not yet." Dalton gave a small chuckle. "Let me finish the story and you will understand how we have lasted this long." Taking a deep breath he continued. "I raced with the survivors to tell the king what was happening, including the message of the pirate… he didn't take it well. Wapol refused to listen to reason, until I managed to get through his thick skull how powerful the pirates truly were. I screamed, I shouted with all my strength 'we can't win'. It was a fact and I wanted to make it very clear that we should try to parley with the pirate, give the treasure and beg him to go."
Despair, fear, madness, Dalton was treating the pirates that had attacked Drum like the storms themselves, an event of nature nobody could fight against and if he told that to his king then the other man must have realized that the danger was very real, the actual audience sure is convinced.
"Then the coward runs… he orders the royal vessel, a huge ship that can go underwater, to be filled with all the gold, food and anything of value from the palace. After that he ordered his retinue, his army and all the doctors to enter the ship... " Dalton was getting mad just by remembering that particular sequence of events. "I and a few others refused but others survivors of the army didn't hesitate to run. I blame them less than Wapol. At that point I gathered everyone we had and moved to get some weapons on the royal arsenal, the big guns and cannons. If we were to die it would be fighting with all we had… but that bastard left with the key and we had no access to it."
Dalton would have tried to break the door but his men reminded him that there were explosives there and a lot of gunpowder. He almost cried then and there.
"With little choice left I picked the last of the army and we went to confront the pirate, we didn't know if he would climb the mountain or use our transport to get there but he we managed to find him here." Dalton points to the ground. "He was using this village as a base and having the people give them anything to avoid his wrath, at least he kept his word and nobody else was killed but I still had to tell him that the king was gone, better to do it before he made the trek to the palace and got even madder over it."
Funny enough their own trip down the mountain was easy, there were no storms and the wagon didn't shake much. It was the easiest journey he ever made down the mountain and yet he felt a nose on his neck the whole time, he was marching to his death for all intents and purposes but Dalton had gone anyway, even if just to spare the rest of the kingdom.
"Want to know what the pirate said to us after we told them our king was a coward and had run away with all the treasure?" No movements and no words came, only the sound of Dalton's voice filled the house. "He laughed and said that then the island of Drum would make him company until he grows bored or that there was nothing there for him to do. I tried to oppose him, to say no, I was ready to fight until death… only for him to throw me on the ground and laugh some more. 'You are not worth killing' he said."
Any pride that Dalton had died on that moment. He was weak, vulnerable and worse of all had failed in protecting his people. That more than anything else hurted. Even now, after the pirate had left Dalton can't forget that laugh, that malicious, cruel laugh 'Zhehahahahaha!"
"Before when we had a treasure and something to negotiate the pirate was tolerant, even if just to not have to fight or have someone to transport the stuff but with Wapol's cowardness all that was gone and I feared for the life of all on the island." Dalton then gets up and moves to look outside, the day was still going but there was already a blizzard on the mountains. "I didn't stand still and tried to call for the people to try some sort of defense if possible. We moved everyone to a village away from here and closer to the mountains, an easily defended pass with escape routes to the non fighters if needed. Many, including myself, felt that we would die there." Then Dalton smiles. "But a miracle happened!"
"A miracle?" Zoro was the first one to react to the sudden change of events. Dalton then smiled, a genuine happy smile.
"The next day we expected the pirates to attack us to take whatever they wanted. We were ready for a fight even if we had no chance. To protect the civilians we laid in wait for the pirates to come… but they didn't." The big man's smile just grew, remembering the tension of waiting for the fight only for it to not happen. "For one day we waited, a full day and nothing. They had no need to attack at night and so we rested a bit and got ready for the next one. There was no snow that day but there was a man, we had never seen him before and the man himself said that he arrived on this island that day looking for someone and once he gave the description of the pirate that tormented us we told him where that monster was."
Dalton remembers the rage on the face of the stranger once he heard what the pirates had done to them, he was pissed off and said he was going to solve the problem in violent fashion.
"That strange man was going to fight the pirates by himself if we let him but I couldn't allow it, even if the captain was beyond my power I was sure I could defeat the others or at least distract them, give the guy space to do his job." Dalton was proud of his people when many offered to follow them to only decide to take what was left of the soldiers to the final fight. "But the pirates were nowhere to be seen, they ran away like cowards, maybe because of the man or maybe because they got bored. One way or another it was a miracle and only the stranger looked upset by the turn of events… But the damage was done, the pirates took a lot of our food and most of the money of Drum had gone with either the cowardly king or the monstruos pirate."
The situation itself was horrible, they lost many lives in the conflict, the government body just got up and left, the food stores were sacked by both runners and until new merchant ships passed by, which can take months in the Grand Line, they would have to work with what their island could give.
"The stranger was frustrated for losing his mark but he also felt pity for us. We needed more food and with the risk of blizzards plenty were hesitating to hunt, on our island there are fruits that are hard to find in the winter." That was an understatement if anything else. "In reality we don't know who that stranger really was but he said he would stay for the day and that while he was here there would be no snow and we could hunt and forage as much as possible… ah he also left a message with one of my men but I myself have no idea of what it was."
"That guy had a devil fruit too?" Asked Sanji.
"Pretty obvious if you think about it ero-cook." Zoro's smile said enough.
"Why you-"
"Sanji, Mr. Bushido! Please don't fight!" At Vivi's request Sanji sat on his chair again, while Zoro just shrugged, he had no intention of fighting at that moment. Once Vivi was sure there was not going to be any fighting she asked. "Do you know if that man had a devil fruit?"
"He should have but I have no idea which one it should be, like your friend Nami, the cold didn't bother him. In the end he just decided to leave once we had some supplies." Dalton said.
"And what was this gentleman's name?" Igaram wondered.
"Oh, I forgot to say it in the middle of the story didn't I?" Dalton's memories of the man were vivid but his exit, while expected, was sudden and left many on Drum sad by the departure of their savior. "His name was Ace and he is a good man. If you ever meet him on your trips say thank you for me."
Before the pirates could say anything a shout comes from outside. "DALTON! HELP!" That had everyone running outside to see what it was about. Some of the guards of the place were helping others, those that were guarding the coast.
There were many wounded but there was not even half as before.
Dalton moves to the closest one followed by the straw hats. "What happened?" He demands to know.
"He is back Dalton!" One of the wounded said. "Wapol is back!"
Dalton's face only shows fury and he begins to transform in his full bull form getting ready to charge in the direction the king was.
"If you go like that, what kind of leader are you?" Zoro comments casually, looking completely disinterested but his words shake Dalton and silence everyone else. "If you can trust us to your men, your defeated men, then go ahead and charge hoping to find your enemy before he gets here. But if you are someone who cares, lose the horns and calm down."
That insight stopped Dalton's charge and gave him enough to reflect and take a deep breath before returning to his human form. "You are right, I should be taking care of my people first and foremost."
"I find it funny you talking about someone finding someone." Whisper Sanji loudly.
"Shut up ero-cook." Vivi found the interaction funny and smiled for a second before directing her eyes at the mountain.
She wondered where Luffy and Nami would be at that point, if Usopp was fine and if they would reach the doctor in time.
…..
Before climbing a mountain one needs to reach it and even going full speed Nami has to admit it was taking longer than she thought it would which speaks a lot about the size of the thing itself.
The challenge was not the climb itself, their way getting more and more vertical as they approach their goal, it was everything else. Nami didn't feel cold anymore, she was certain that her power was protecting her from feeling uncomfortable, but running in the snow was not easy, especially as a giant bull in the middle of a snowstorm.
One other problem were the rabbits, not the small cute ones she saw in some other islands in the East Blue. These ones are enormous, the size of bears, fast like a normal rabbit and extremely territorial. Ever since they entered a forest on the way to the mountain they have been attacked constantly.
Luffy jumps over her to hit another rabbit(were these the Laphans that Dalton talked about? She can see how they can be dangerous) with a kick, launching it to hit other two to then jump back over and punch another one who was about to get on her way.
Nami could trample them, to throw her enemies away… but not without risking Usopp. She wanted to look at him to see if he was alright but if she did that she wouldn't have managed to dodge one of the Lapahns that tried to kick her torso. Luffy races back with a kick to cover for her again but two more come from the sides and she needs to accelerate before Usopp is hit.
She makes it but takes damage herself, almost losing her balance when one of the rabbits gets her side. "NAMI!" Luffy rushes again to give her space but Nami refuses to stop or look back, her train of thought was that once they were out of the woods she could relax but not before.
"HOW MANY OF THOSE THINGS ARE THERE?" Her scream had one answer, as more and more Laphans showed up the conclusion that she could make was that even if they were bigger than normal rabbits they still must reproduce like rabbits in some way.
Luffy was trying to hold them back but the Laphans were both faster and stronger than he anticipated. Not only that but Luffy was facing a new problem: He never had fought on that much snow before.
In the Dawn Island there was snow during sometimes of the year but not on the quantity that he was having to deal with at the moment, enough that everytime he steps too hard his boot would sink with his leg and he would fail in protecting his crewmates. Even the place where he met Zoro had way less than this.
If Usopp was not in the condition he was at the moment and they didn't need to race to a doctor Luffy would have loved use the opportunity to train and learn how to fight in the snow properly but there was no time and his friend needs that doctor, that meant that kid's gloves were officially off.
If he had to choose between his comrades or a bunch of animals that were attacking them without provocation, the choice was clear and Luffy finally started to cover his arms and legs with Haki to then jump to the closest rabbit about to pounce Nami. That was until Luffy's fist met its face and its back met a tree in consequence.
Suddenly all Laphans stopped and just looked at him, Luffy didn't care, he had no time to care and started to run again to follow Nami who was making a headway now that the Laphans stopped attacking.
"Why did they stop?" She asks once he was close enough.
"I used Haki!" The attack was strong and Luffy may have killed one of them, being enough to deter the rest. "Are you alright?"
"Took some hits but I am fine!" In reality she was feeling quite a bit of pain but she wouldn't tell him that.
"Once we get close enough to the mountain rest for a bit then go back to the village!"
"WHAT? NO WAY I AM LETTING YOU CLIMB THAT BY YOURSELF!" She would find a way to help get them to the top.
Luffy said nothing, focusing on his run but there was a snowstorm coming and they both could see it, but that made no difference, Usopp couldn't wait the storm to pass and so they kept moving not realizing that the owners of the territory hadn't given up and were just biding their time.
…..
Considering that the former tyrant of a king had come back there were a couple of choices that the opposition had to make, either let him come back or fight him off. Wapol had a battalion of trained men, his lieutenants that Dalton confirmed were descent fighters and every doctor that once belonged to the kingdom.
Compared to that the freed people of Drum had nothing except Dalton, they once had some former soldiers and volunteers but most were dead now and there was barely enough to form a normal defense… cue to the pirates. "Okay, it is my turn to fight so you guys stay out of this!" Sanji said while smoking.
"I don't think you understand the gravity of what is happening!" Dalton complained.
"Sure I do: Evil king is coming to get his power back with an army, he either has a grudge with you, wants you back or you taken out of the picture because you are the one the people listen to and if you are not with him you are a danger." Sanji summarized. "Either way he needs to come here and in my crew I haven't had a decent fight in a while so you sit back and let me take care of the trash for you."
"That… I don't think Wapol cares about me or the people but I can't have you fighting our fights." Dalton was resolute.
"And you will fight with what?" Zoro asked sitting to the side of a house, they were outside at the moment and Dalton planned to make barricades for a proper defense but that would make no difference against enemies that knew the country or could just ignore this village. "Most of your men are defeated or dead. Face it, you need our help."
Even saying that Zoro had no intention of fighting because he knew Sanji had this, some people didn't understand that.
"Mr. Bushido, why are you so… callous about the situation?" Vivi complained. "I know what you are capable of and if you and Sanji worked together I am sure you could defeat the king's troops easily."
The two men looked at each other for less than a second before they made faces of disgust and told Vivi. "Not happening!" In chorus.
"Anyway if we want to make some defenses we need to move fast." Igaram noted. As a guard he was trained to deal with sieges, be either in a palace or a village. "What I am surprised about is that he hasn't arrived yet."
"Wapol rushes for nothing and no one." Dalton tells them with disdain. "When he gets here it will be at his own pace with maximum comfort." He looks up. "He may even come here tomorrow once the storm passes."
And there was going to be another storm, there was no way that there wouldn't be one with the way the clouds looked and it was already snowing a bit at the moment and soon it will pick pace.
But the focus of those around the area was not on it, it was on the convenient distraction that was Wapol's advance. To the people of Drum it was a nightmare taking form, an image that only lost to the return of the pirate that brought the kingdom to the abyss. To the straw hat pirates, it was just another day and another guy that needed his but kicked.
"DALTON! THEY ARE COMING!" One of the guards shouts from the top of a makeshift tower.
"Looks like he also waits for nothing." Zoro says while getting up, he didn't plan to fight. "Come one ero-cook, give me a show to watch."
"Sure, you sit back and relax." Sanji wasn't bothered by Zoro's request, he was kinda excited to beat down a bad king. The cook had some grudge against bad monarchies after all. "Just watch marimo!"
They moved to the outside of the village where they could see it, the parade of the returning king. It could be called a parade by the way Wapol was being presented by his men, they marched in two lines with their king riding his animal on the center. To the king's side were his main attendants and at his back were his doctors ready to take care of any need or wound.
"Is he… doesn't he care about his own position?" Igaram questioned.
"What is wrong, Igaram?" The princess questioned, she knew how to fight but nothing of advanced warfare.
"A march like this is… stupid in the context of the situation, their leader is too much in the front leaving himself vulnerable to assasinations, the soldiers, while well armed, could be easily ambushed and the doctors, who should be far in the back and with a guard of their own, are too close to both the main army and the front themselves." Igaram pointed out, picking apart the scenario before him. "If we had an army of our own this would be no contest."
"Maybe that is why he is confident." Sanji mentions.
"The lack of opposition doesn't excuse carelessness." Zoro comments and Vivi couldn't help but nod at his comment, during her time as a spy no one knew her and Igaram's intentions and yet there was no chance she would lower her guard.
"Doesn't realize that his people don't want him?" Her question made Dalton chuckle.
"Do you realize he doesn't care?" Vivi's face shows her anger. "I am sorry, I didn't want to upset you."
"It is not you who are upsetting me." She says without taking her eyes out of Wapol, the king showed supreme confidence and that made her mad. "To act like this after running away… he doesn't deserve to be a monarch." Her fist was shaking to contain her wrath.
Sanji then places a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry Vivi-swan!" He gives her his best smile as he starts to advance to meet his future opponents on the field of snow. "I am going to make sure he regrets ever stepping his feet on this country again."
"I still don't like this." Dalton whispered as he also moved to stand at Sanji's side. Zoro would stayback with the princess and her guard while no one else from Drum could make a difference if there was a fight. "But being a realist for a second, I don't think I can win this alone, so thank you for helping."
"Don't worry about it." Sanji said before smoking a bit and then letting go of his cigarette that was put out by the snow, the falling snow soon covers the remains "Honestly guys like that just make me mad."
"Have you met many kings?" Dalton suddenly felt curious about this pirate's story.
"In total? This is going to be the third I ever meet in person but the score is a bad asshole that should drop dead and a good idiot that was loved by his people." Sanji resumed.
"A good… idiot?"
"Yes. The guy was a good king but he didn't even want to be king in the first place." While they watched Wapol's parade Sanji thought of a comparison. "Look at it this way, that guy there is treating himself as if he was the greatest thing on the planet. The other guy on the other hand? Never cared! He could have had anything he wanted, his people would move mountains for him, die for him, live for him and yet… he asked for one thing only and that was not even for himself."
"Oh!" That caught Dalton attention. "And what a man that has everything asked for?"
"A devil fruit for a friend." That was all Sanji could say for the procession was closer now.
Wapol's smile grew in size when he saw Dalton standing there, practically alone and when his former chief of the royal guard then looked at him with eyes full of defiance but that didn't affect Wapol who was confident in his army, his other attendants and even his own power.
Once they were close enough that Wapol was sure Dalton could hear him he ordered his men to stop. "Look who we have here! Dalton! How have you been? Protecting my lands?"
"THIS ARE NOT YOUR LANDS ANYMORE!" Dalton almost went and attacked but Sanji placed an arm in front of him to stop that. "YOU LEFT! ANY RIGHT YOU HAD AS A KING IS NOW GONE TOO!"
"HOW YOU DARE?" Kuromarimo shouts back enraged. "WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?"
"KUROMARIMO! YOU ALL RAN AWAY!" Dalton now was on a roll and not wanting to stop. "YOU ABANDONED THE PEOPLE HERE! AS FAR AS I KNOW THIS KINGDOM HAS NO KING!"
"YOU TRAITOR!" Now Wapol joined the shouting match. "WHO ARE YOU TO SAY THAT TO ME? I AM THE KING! I DECIDED WHAT IS RIGHT OR WRONG!"
"IT WAS S ALWAYS WRONG TO JUST ABANDON YOU PEOPLE!"
"IF I DIED THEN WHO WOULD LEAD THEM? MY SURVIVAL IS ALWAYS PARAMOUNT! Wapol truly believed that with all his being.
"WHO YOU WOULD LEAD IF EVERYONE ELSE WAS DEAD?" Dalton was sure that without Ace and with the king leaving that pirate had all intention of slaughtering everyone else.
"ONLY THE USELESS WOULD DIE!" Wapol then opens his arms. "LOOK AROUND DALTON! WITH THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST OF DRUM WE CAN ALWAYS REBUILD!" And around him the soldiers stood on continence while the members of the Ishi-20 got their equipment ready. They were ready for a fight. "YOU HAVE NOTHING! ONLY THE RESTS! AND ONCE THEY REMEMBER WHO THEIR KING IS THEM THEY WILL BE USEFUL ONCE AGAIN!"
There was no celebration from the words, just stern discipline from the soldiers, smug smiles from the main leadership and a very angry Dalton. "Don't-" Too late, Sanji barely got to say the sentence and Dalton was already in full bison mode and charging at the enemy. "IDIOT!"
The soldiers moved to shoot, these men who trained with, served with and fought with Dalton ignored any loyalty that they may have had in the past and didn't hesitate on their attack.
Dalton's green clothing was not bulletproof, he had no real armor and his power didn't give him enough protection that if hit he could survive, Sanji noticed all that then properly kicked Dalton to the side while using the man to dodge the bullets himself.
"DOWN!" Someone shouts from behind the chef warning everyone in the village to get cover. The blond man couldn't focus on it however as he needed to take care of the soldiers quickly before anyone got shot.
"FIRE!" The former soldiers of the Kingdom of Drum organized themselves in lines, the first line had fired at Dalton and would still have at least four bullets on each rifle considering the model. Each line had five men and they were in total of fifty, if someone were to wait for the last line to shoot, unless they were low in ammo from the beginning, the first line would be ready and waiting comfortably.
These mens were used to trains and fight on this conditions, the cold warded off by their coats while their aim would still be functional even in a harsher snow storm supported their fighting styles of attacking and retreating, if the enemy is not used to the same battlefield then they are in a clear disadvantage.
Sanji had no intention of waiting and raced to attack in a zigzag pattern, unlike Dalton he had no intentions of becoming an easy target going in a single straight line. Speed was Sanji's ally and his bread and butter on the Straw Hat pirates, he who have trained with his legs for most of his life could easily claim to be the fastest man on that ship(it was the only reason why Luffy didn't escape with extra food).
Moving fast the first soldier he could reach received a shoe to the face while Sanji managed to get in the middle of the front lines and once there Sanji did the second thing he did best: he started kicking.
First with his hands on the ground he uses them to spin and defeat the first row and some of the second. After that he moved to throw a fast sequence of kicks to hit many close to him all the while jumping and getting closer and closer to the members of the 'royal army'.
The men showed their training, they didn't panic and tried to move to surround the enemy with swords to avoid casualties on themselves, that was exactly what Sanji wanted. Regardless of what their prior actions were, he had no intention of just killing everyone, a good beating was enough to teach them a lesson… a really good beating with lots of broken bones. Sanji will like to see their doctors fix his work once he is done, he will make sure there are plenty of patients.
A axe kick on the shoulder of one, turning around on a roundhouse on the face of another followed by a kick on the guy trying to ambush him on the back to just be launched at other three while Sanji starts spinning again to hit five other guys in succession in a single motion, ending with a jump and another kick to the chest of another soldier.
All the events happened in less than a minute and the chef wasn't done, he kept going doing flips and kicks until the last soldier finally fell to the ground. The spectators were stunned, many jaws were touching the floor.
Sanji picks a cigarette from one of his pockets and lights it, looking straight to Wapol he asks. "Next?" Letting smoke go from his mouth he points his hand to the former king, daring the man to go at him personally.
"Who… is that guy?" Chess asked. "He can't be a member of our army! We had no one like that when the pirates attacked!" Kuromarimo nods in agreement and steps forward.
"WHO ARE YOU?" The man with the afro called Sanji out. "IDENTIFY YOURSELF IN THE NAME OF THE KING!"
Puffing a bit more of smoke Sanji decided to introduce himself. "I am a lover of the ladies! An extraordinary cook! My name is Sanji and I suggest you and your shity king pack your bags and leave before I decide to break your faces." He then looks around himself. "More than I already did, that is!"
Wapol then orders Robson forward and calls out. "HEAR ME! I AM KING WAPOL OF DRUM! YOU ARE IN MY LANDS! LEAVE NOW BEFORE I DECIDE TO KILL YOU MYSELF!"
Sanji raises an eyebrow at that. "Is this guy for real?" He whispers to himself. "AND WHY WOULD I DO THAT?"
"I ALREADY SAID I WILL KILL YOU!" Was Wapol's reply.
"Didn't you already flee from a bunch of pirates earlier this month?" Sanji was almost convinced that the guy was an idiot.
"THOSE PIRATES HAD MANAGED TO KILL AN ARMY!" Wapol justifies. "THEY COULD DESTROY VILLAGES AND KILL HUNDREDS BY THEMSELVES! YOU ARE ALONE AND UNLESS THAT YOU CAN DO MORE THAN JUST KICKS YOU ARE NOT A THREAT!"
Sanji looked around again, he couldn't count exactly how many he already defeated but there were at least thirty people on the ground in his opinion, sure that was not an army on itself but still... "Are you an idiot?" Was his response.
"That is it! Chess, Kuromarimo! Kill that vermin!" The two men stepped forward when called, reading their weapons, arrows and gloves. "You may think yourself strong but my elite could do the same easily!"
Nodding at that, the chef could now see where Wapol's confidence came at the very least. As far as he could see Sanji was on the level of his executives and not the pirates that devastated his island previously. "Tsk. This guy is annoying… wait a second!" Sanji points to one of the executives. "YOUR NAME IS KUROMARIMO?"
That stopped all activity and the man nodded at the question with that Sanji took a long time with his cigarette before he exploded in laughter.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! HEY MARIMO! I FOUND YOUR LONG LOST SIBLING!" Sanji kept laughing much to the confusion of everyone else with the exception of Zoro who was holding his face in his hand.
When Kuromarimo looked at Zoro and his hair the information clicked. "I WILL LET YOU KNOW MY MOTHER WAS A SAINT!"
Sanji, still in mid laughs, then asked. "And your father?" Once he heard that comment the native of Drum shut up and looked to Zoro.
"...Well he does have the family strong chin!"
"I WILL MURDER YOU ALL!" Was Zoro's threat.
"And father's temper." Kuromarimo looked almost convinced that Zoro was family at that point.
Vivi feared for the health of those present when she heard Zoro let out the equivalent of the grumble of a giant jungle cat, ready to trounce everyone in the vicinity. "Can we just…" Zoro looks at her with murder in his eyes. "I will shut up now."
While the people of the village deal with the possibility of peril Sanji finally manages to compose himself. "Okay! Now I have even more incentive to kick your ass!"
Wapol was losing his patience. "Kill him already!" And with that order his commanders charged into the fight.
Chess pulls out his bow and shoots his first arrow. Sanji had to move to the side fast to avoid being hit. The chef was impressed with the speed of the arrow but he had no time to think about it when Kuromarimo approached, arms close to his chest and a smile on his face.
The advisor of the king started to throw punches aiming first to Sanji's chin and then to his stomach. The chef had to start a steady retreat to avoid the attacks, the fighter was good with his punches and had some skill but that was not a problem for the moment. Once Sanji saw a chance he bent his face forward a bit, just enough to give the man an opportunity for an uppercut.
The feint worked and once the man took the bait Sanji does a flip and hits him on the chin with his shoe while also getting more distance. Chess saw the moment his colleague was beaten back and immediately started to shoot again, his arrows flying faster than the bullets of guns.
Such a thing spoke highly both of the bow itself and the strength of the man's arms. To fire at such speeds a customized heavy bow was necessary and the jester dressed man was shooting with it like it was nothing forcing the chef to dodge and reposition himself.
Unfortunately for Sanji that also gave opportunity for Kuromarimo to recover and get back on the fight. Once again he tries to throw punches at Sanji but this time he wasn't falling for traps and feints being careful to not give Sanji any opening… Not that the chef needed then as he proved when he hit his opponent on the chest with a knee.
Delivering a kick at the side of his opponent's face, Sanji races to deal with Chess now, the jester having taken more distance, either in caution or in fear. Chess kept shooting his arrows but Sanji was not Dalton and easily dodged the projectiles, first by just moving his neck to not lose speed but then making a spin when the archer started to aim for his body.
Chess was getting desperate, he started to shoot two then three arrows at once with the hope of hitting Sanji but the blonde was not stopping, getting closer and closer. "KUROMARIMO HELP!" But it was too late.
Sanji finally made the distance and started to kick, chest, sides, forehead then he jumped behind Chess and delivered a kick on the back launching him to his friend. Both men hit the snow while Sanji keeps his leg up, feeling smug about the whole thing. "You guys are not even worth me going all out!"
Igaram looks to Zoro. "We never had a chance back in Whisky Peak… did we?"
"Are you implying you would ever beat me in the first place?" The long haired man started to sweat a bit but Zoro scoffed. "No, you didn't!"
Dalton finally managed to get up after being kicked, he was watching the events with his jaw lose. What Sanji was doing was not much different from what the pirates that attacked Drum did but he was being way more nice… And slower with it but maybe it was because he was avoiding to kill.
Because the soldiers were on the ground, defeated by a single man but that was another thing in reality. Dalton can still call Sanji a man, a very skillful and powerful man but still a man… when he thinks about the captain of the pirates that attacked Drum only the word monster seemed fitting.
"YOU BASTARD!" Kuromarino untangled himself from his friend and got up again.
"I will let you know my parents were married, thank you very much." The chef said somberly, trying to fight off memories he didn't want.
"DON'T CARE!" Kuromarimo charged again, spikes popping out of his gloves which didn't impress Sanji at all.
"You do know that unless you hit me those spikes make no difference right?"
"SCREW YOU!" Kuromarimo charges, this time he throws away any posture and prospect of defense… Sanji delivers a kick with his full strength to the side of the guy's head knocking him out once and fora ll.
"Well… that was easy." Then Sanji dodged to the side escaping five arrows from Chess. He looks at the archer and waits for another shoot, which the man obliges. Multi Shoots, trickshots, sequential shoots, anything that the man could try to hit Sanji.
He fails, again and again. Not because his aim was bad but because Sanji had his complete focus and attention on just dodging. There was no reason for Sanji to hurry, his opponent was an archer and all the ranged weapon users were submitted to a rule, a single rule that was known for making or breaking their fights.
Chess hand moved for another arrow but his quiver was empty, the realization that he used everything he had and was not enough to defeat the blonde was reflected on the terror of his eyes. Sanji on the other hand didn't waste any time and started to run in Chess direction.
The advantage of using a bow is on the possibility of repetitive use of ammunition, at least when the argument against firearms. For example, once a bullet is used it is pretty much impossible to use it again while the arrows can be used twice or even three times if the arrow is well made… and if the archer can get them back from the battlefield.
The time that took the jester to realize he was out of ammo was three seconds, the time it took for him to realize he needed to get his arrows back was another three, the time that took Sanji to reach the man and deliver a rain of kicks on his face was five.
The rain of kicks Sanji threw to the man's face wasn't out of malice, it was a calculated decision. The pirate wanted to give no chance to the man to get up again and give him more troubles and once this clown was taken down only their king would be left standing. Taking all that in consideration Sanji kicked enough to make sure the guy would be dreaming for a couple of hours or even days.
Once Chess hit the ground Sanji started to relax- "WATCH YOUR BACK YOU MORON!" Came Zoro's shout alerting Sanji, warning him to jump to the side and mostly avoid the rain of bullets that came in his direction. Unfortunately he was hit on one of his arms and shoulder while managing to protect his legs.
Wapol was many things, but dumb was really not one of them. Arrogant? Yes. Selfish? Yes. Coward? Absolutely. He may deny, fight off the accusations but deep down he knew that every single one of them were true. It is not a bad thing to be a coward, it gives the initiative to plan when a big problem stands in front of the individual.
The moment that Sanji started to decimate his troops the former king started to plan, direct confrontation is not his strong suit, neither is planning in reality, but Wapol had some things he could fall back on when the things got ugly.
The first was his position, which he didn't had anymore, the second was his army, that was also gone, then his confidants with Dalton on the lead… but when all else fails he still has his trump card, his devil fruit, the Baku-Baku no Mi or the Munch-Munch Fruit. Some would consider it a useless and weak one but Wapol knew its true potential.
Transformation. A simple concept but with infinity possibilities. By eating anything he can spit something different or, in cases where he needs to fight, use the power to transform himself with whatever he eats.
When his two advisors started to fight Sanji Wapol moved fast, jumping out of Robson he first 'ate' himself to turn slimmer and faster, then he raced around his fallen soldiers. Most of the attention was directed to the fight and nobody notices him collecting the guns and swords of the fallen soldiers.
Once he picked them all he started to eat them whole. This was something Wapol didn't want to do or if he was forced to do it then he wanted to use the main arsenal still hidden in his castle but there was little choice left, if he didn't win here he would never see his castle again.
So he ate and ate, every rifle, every sword, any weapon and ammo that he soldiers were carrying was devoured with the goal of turning himself in a moving fortress capable of defeating the ones who dared to challenge him.
Wapol's attack on Sanji came as a surprise to many and Zoro himself noticed the man before his transformation was complete but chose to not interfere. The slim form used to gather the weapons was gone, returning to his more normal self but with plenty of additions, rifles covered his shoulders and hands, his belly was covered in blades like a reverse porcupine and he could feel more swords on his back for extra protection.
There was no doubt in the minds of all those that saw Wapol now that he has become a deadly adversary.
"What monstrosity is that?" Igaram was trying to comprehend what he was seeing.
"It is Wapol's devil fruit," Dalton moved closer to the rest while explaining, "anything that he eats he can use as material for 24 hours. No exceptions." Looking directly at Zoro he asks. "You saw him moving right? Why didn't you stop him?"
"That is not my fight, it's the cook's." Zoro gives a small shrug. "He should be paying more attention."
Sanji also had realized that and was beating himself over it. Devil fruits are common in the Grand Line, by forgetting that simple fact he neglected the possibility that the monarch of Drum was a threat because of his attitude and now Sanji himself was in trouble born from his own dismissal.
"DIE!" Wapol shoots again with the guns of his shoulders forcing Sanji to dodge again, but the weapons on Wapol's arms follow him to add more gunfire to the mix.
The weapons may have changed but the rules were the same, Sanji was going to repeat the previous strategy and just let the ammo run out. The powers of the devil fruit were unknown to him but guns we still guns.
"STOP RUNNING YOU BASTARD!" Wapol was losing his patience and turned to his doctors that were tending his soldiers. "Isshi-20! Report! When will the soldiers be up again?"
The lead doctor was coordinating with his colleagues when he turned to the king. "My apologies sir but they won't wake up anytime soon!"
If he had the time Wapol would love to scream at the doctor and force him to work better on his men but there was no such opportunity, the few seconds that the interaction took was enough to Sanji for an attempt of winning the fight.
It didn't matter that his opponent had blades on his belly and back, the face was still exposed and that metal jaw made for a nice target for a kick. Unfortunately Sanji felt pain once his leg made contact to the face and that was worrying, his opponent didn't have time for a proper defense and was sent flying but Sanji couldn't pursue.
He looked to his leg and saw blood. "HAHAHA!" The chef looks at Wapol, getting up while laughing at the circumstances. "DID YOU REALLY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE THAT EASY?"
In the middle of the blizzard that was gaining strength Wapol's smile was full of confidence as he turned his face a bit to the side and let Sanji see the small blades popping off of his skin.
"I can use anything I eat in any way I want." Then Wapol raised his gun/arm."You can't win now that I am prepared."
Sanji knew now that he would win this fight and his smile was the proof of his confidence. "Heh! Thanks for the information, shitty king!" Now the chef knew exactly what he was dealing with, sure Wapol's ability was a good one but it wasn't strong if the user himself was weak.
Shots are fired, but the chef has already proved that simple rifles are not enough to stop him, much less when the user had close to zero experience in using his weapons in combat. This time Sanji was not holding back using Haki in one of his legs to approach even faster in an angle that would allow his attack with the other.
The king fired again and again but Sanji dodged all the bullets and got in position for a truly devastating kick… that Wapol caught on his mouth. "WHAT?" Sanji was surprised by the turn of events and the scream he let out when Wapol started to bite his leg was full of pain.
"SANJI!" Vivi, Igaram and Dalton got ready to go help the chef but Zoro raised an arm to stop them. "Mr. Bushido! HE NEEDS HELP!"
"If he needs he will ask!" Declared resolute and Sanji didn't disappoint, since Wapol insisted on using his teeth to keep his leg locked, the chef decided to use his other leg, that was still covered in Haki, for another kick.
"LET GO YOU BASTARD!" He had to kick Wapol three times on the face before he was finally let go. Sanji used his good arm to do a flip and take some distance. "Shit…" Looking at his leg he can see the blood that was spilling on the snow, it seemed that the bite was enough to even pass by his Haki.
Attacking the face won't do, to win Sanji needs to aim for the body, an armored body full of blades, fat and whatever else the 'shitty king' has in stock. To win, Sanji will need to raise his attack power even more.
"HAHAHA!" Wapol was confident in his victory now. "Can you tell now how worthless your efforts are? If you beg I may let you work as one of my soldiers!"
Sanji uses his good leg to clean the snow, considering it was snowing and that it would take too long to do it if he was to just clean it, the chef jumps a bit and drops his leg unders the snow, enough to touch the ground. "As if I would work for a shitty king like you!"
The storm was getting worse, soon everyone will have to shout to be heard but Wapol heard the blonde well enough. "And what a peasant like you know about kings?"
"Much more than you! Actually you are the third king I meet in my life!" He really didn't want to dive into those memories again but it was inevitable, the memory of the first king he ever met. "And you know what?" Sanji was going to use these memories to help light the fire. "SO FAR MOST OF YOU SUCK!"
The spinning was hard with only one leg and the snow didn't help but he wanted that, he needed that there to grow stronger. Faster and faster he spins, not sure if what he was doing would work but something inside him felt it would. Was that his Haki telling him this… his soul?
Or was a memory he wanted to deny, the hatred from a past he wanted forgotten. But that was fine, he will march to the future using that past as a step for even if it will help lit the fire what will keep it burning will be his friends… and his love for the ladies, he can't forget the most important part.
Once he stops there was little snow around him and all are shocked, Sanji changes his legs and starts to lift his now blazing foot. "Food is a gift from the gods, but it is said that pepper is from the devil himself." The fire has been lit. "Diable Jambe!"
"WHAT?" Wapol was shocked.
"Is that fire?" Asked Vivi.
"Looks like it." Zoro smiled at the development.
"THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE!" One of the doctors present complained. "HOW IS HE NOT BURNING HIMSELF? WHERE THE FIRE CAME FROM?"
"THIS FIRE! IS MY PASSION! IT CAN'T BURN ME!" Sanji declares.
"THAT MAKES NO SENSE!" The members of Isshi-20 complain in unison.
Ignoring everything else Sanji launches himself against Wapol once again, the snow melting with his passing, his eye with a clear target.
Wapol didn't understand what was happening but he was confident in his defense, the cook could only aim for his face and Wapol was planning to take that leg out with his teeth this time. Even if he can dodge bullets, to the former king, that only meant he would be able to save some ammo to deal with the rest.
A pity that Sanji's target is not the face anymore, he stops in front of the big monarch and pulls his leg back by the knee until it is close to his chest, then he lets it go with all his strength on Wapol's belly.
The swords broke, unable to withstand the power of the flames and Haki combined and Wapol felt pain, the burn was painful, the impact was more and there was nothing he could do as he was launched, over his fallen soldiers and doctors until he finally stopped by hitting the foot of the mountain.
"Show off." Zoro said in almost a whisper that only Vivi really heard but she wouldn't call him on that.
Sanji lowers his leg, letting the fire go. There was some pressure on his foot, that is not a thing he can do all willy nilly. For now, he thinks to himself. There was no way fire would ever escape his control, he was a chef afterall and fire was part of his trade.
The defenders of the village were shocked by the turn of events, Dalton didn't know what to say but the members of the Isshi-20 knew. Their cheers snapped everyone out of their stupor.
"WHY YOU ARE CELEBRATING!" Zoro's shouts silenced the doctors. "I DON'T CARE IF YOU HATED THAT BASTARD OR NOT! YOU STILL RAN WITH HIM!"
There were plenty feeling shame about such actions and one of them steps forward taking off their surgical mask he says. "I know that what we did was shameful but we had no other choice!"
The other doctors start to take their masks as well while Zoro just raised an eyebrow before turning to Dalton. "Your country, your rules. I wouldn't trust this bunch with a cold."
"To be fair Wapol was not merciful with those who disobeyed his laws…" Dalton remembers the days when Wapol was at the high of his power.
"That will be for you to sort it out." Sanji approached Vivi and Igaram who moved to help. The chef still needed medical attention for his wounds at the very least.
"I will make sure that-"
"AVALANCHE!"
…..
The Laphans were not stupid, most people think that just being an animal or living in the woods was enough to make anything savage and useless, without the ability to plan. But that was extremely far from the truth.
Living in a place where danger lurked to all sides and survival was paramount the Laphans evolved, first developing resistance to the elements, second by becoming strong enough so their numbers were used to their maximum capability and finally they grew smart.
Sure there was not going to be any literature or art brought about from them but the Laphans developed basic strategies to complement their instincts, all for the security of their territory and their species.
So impressive was their might that all the citizens of Drum knew better than to try and expand to their land or even to venture in it. While plenty of animals were allowed some leeway, humanity had a habit of changing wherever they passed and the Laphans made a point to harm, main and even kill to keep humans at bay.
For a long time that was how things were done, the forests at the feet of the mountain were mostly theirs and even those who lived at the top knew to not mess with the Laphans.
But something unusual happened that day, a human started to climb the mountain followed by a giant bull with golden horns while carrying another human on its back. That was the first that the Laphan present had seen such an event, not many travelers dared to cross their woods, much less with an animal they had never seen.
The standard tactics of just going there and punching them didn't work, worst even for the Laphans was that the human showed to have an unusual amount of strength being enough to one shot one of them, which should be impossible for a human. Combine that with the fact that they were making no real progress a change of tactics was required.
A fast retreat, a change of position and, like the rabbits who were their ancestors, they started to hop and jump in place above the mountain. The Laphans were obviously much heavier than rabbits and it didn't take long for the snow to fall and the rocks to crack.
It was Luffy who saw it first, his state of alert born from the wish to see his friends safe from this environment. Nami noticed soon after seeing Luffy do a full stop and looking a bit up.
This was the first snow avalanche they both have seen in their life, Luffy having seen and caused some with rocks but that didn't change the fact that the one with snow is as much letal if not more because of the quantity of snow that was coming down the mountain.
Nami knew they didn't have time to dodge and didn't know what to do to help her friends. Luffy did. "Nami!" She heard and looked at him. "I'm counting on you!"
He didn't explain what he meant but stood in front of her, ready to face the coming snow. Nami was afraid, she didn't know what Luffy would do but had no other choice but to trust him.
This is going to be the first time Luffy has tried such a thing, he couldn't stop the snow, at least not in its entirety, but he could keep it away from his friends. In a way he never stopped being that child that the one Shanks sat with and told tales about a great pirate that used his will to do the impossible, to surpass all his limits and reach farther than any before.
Shanks loved his captain, even after the man was gone the Red Hair still told his story fondly as far as Luffy could understand. And if Luffy learned anything from those stories is that with enough will anyone could do anything. Haki is the manifestation of that will and Shanks never lied.
So Luffy stood firmly, ready to protect his friends he started to cover his body with Haki completely, another thing he never was fully able to do but this time he felt no resistance. His spirit didn't want to surrender to the avalanche either and soon his body was completely covered with the black substance.
In this form he could feel its weaknesses but that was something he would debate with his friends later once they got out of this mess. When the snow approached him, Luffy let out a shout and planted his body in front of Nami using his arms to cover as much area as possible.
The navigator saw what Luffy was doing and tried to make herself as small as she could without turning back to her human form. In her mind, human Nami would not be able to get herself out once Luffy gave out and, even if her faith in him was strong, both knew the captain had limits.
He would absorb most of the impact and make sure that his friends would be fine but even he couldn't take it all and Nami must be ready to save him if needed, all the while protecting Usopp who she moves to the side while covering him with her body.
Luffy planted himself as the snow came, a true wave of white. On that moment he felt fear, not of death but of failing, if he wasn't strong enough then Nami would get hurt and Ussop would die. Then he would be strong enough.
Finally the great wave of snow hits him and Luffy feels pain. The pressure and the weight were unlike anything he ever felt in his life, never before he felt himself being crushed like he was feeling then and there.
But he refused to break, Luffy would become a rock and stop the avalanche from reaching Nami and Usopp even if it was the last thing he did.
Nami wasn't the only witness to the act, the Laphans having difficulty to process what was happening, a single human was holding back part of an avalanche. Even if their understanding of physics was minimal at best they understood that there was no possible way they could see anyone surviving those conditions.
Luffy was not holding all the snow back, he was redicting it, acting like a pillar with the goal of keeping the worst at bay for his friends. But he was taking the full force of the impact for all the intents and purposes and he was holding on.
Concentration was key on this, Luffy knew that if he moved there would be not enough focus to help on his survival. His Haki and will were working at full capacity but even then he could feel it, he was not fighting against a simple opponent, the adversary on this was nature itself.
Gravity, temperature, quantity, many aspects made any avalanche dangerous. Every single one of them was built with time and while the stimulation that initiated the process was from external causes, the full might of it came from mother nature itself.
The armor was starting to fail, his spirit was strong, his will unmatched and yet Luffy was reaching his limits. The spirit was willing but the body was not, his very much human body was starting to break. Losing conscious Luffy dove deep on his memories, of all the attempts that Shanks made to offer him the Gomu-Gomu no MI.
One occasion stood above all the others in that moment. How Shanks tried to convince him how cool the powers of the devil fruits could be. "The strongest man in the world," Shanks said, "has one that could destroy the world."
Well, now that Luffy was fighting a fraction of the world, a part of him really wanted to have taken that offer. Pride and arrogance of youth, the things that gave him the determination to reach Haki in the first place, were now gone with the realization that it didn't matter where the power would come from if it was his.
That part was suffocated by the rest of his spirit, his bravery. Luffy didn't care about a dumb fruit, he didn't regret his choices, he grew from them and would make every single one again in a heartbeat.
And that was what kept him going, until the avalanche had subsided and it was safe to move, he stood proudly.
Nami saw all of it happen until the snow finally hit her but not in the quantity she expected. Luffy wasn't able to stop everything but enough that once the avalanche had ended she could move. "Luffy! You did it!" She was ready to celebrate until she noticed her captain was not moving. "LUFFY!"
Full of concern she turns human and pulls him out of the snow, Luffy was hurt with wounds all over his body, he was also really cold, she was sure he was freezing. If her mind was in a better place she would find it weird how she didn't feel the cold around her but could feel Luffy's cold skin.
"Luffy! Luffy! Wake up!" He was out, having used all his mental power to resist the avalanche and his body having reached his limits. "What should I do? Think Nami! THINK!"
Luffy needed to get warm, the cold was the most dangerous thing for him now. She started to dress his wounds with what was left of his coat and thinks on how to make a fire when she looks at Usopp.
If she stays to make a fire Usopp will die, he needs medical attention quickly and the dilemma gets back to the original problem. The only real doctor of the island is at the top of the mountain and the only way to go for him was forward.
But she was not sure Luffy was going to live that long, worst case scenario…
"Na...mi." She turns to Usopp, he had awoken. "You need to get... back to…. the village. Else Luffy is going to die…" He was short on breath and even talking was taking much of his strength. "Just… give me mercy…"
Nami didn't know if Usopp was understanding what he was asking, with things how they are she didn't know if she was capable of doing what he was asking.
"Stop talking Usopp!" She demanded.
"But-"
"Shut up!" Nami picks the ropes again, she would have to tie both of them on her back and race to the top alone, this time without protection and the snowstorm was still going. "If you want to ask for something stupid wait for the captain to wake up!"
It was obvious from his face that Usopp didn't like the answer. "The… Code…"
"Fuck the Code, you aren't dying on my watch, neither of you!" She ties both of them together and them on her back before transforming again, slowly and paying attention to how they moved on her back. "I will take both of you to the doctor!"
Luffy was tough, he would last the journey, she was sure. Usopp was less so and if they didn't get to a doctor soon he will die anyway.
Without wasting anymore time she races to the mountain once again, always mindful of the ones on her back.
The Laphans didn't pursue this time, there was no point. Even if the woman who can transform into an animal could survive, her charges probably wouldn't and attacking now would invite danger for nothing.
The message was properly sent again, humans would be attacked and that was what was important. It was also fear that held them back, no human should have been able to hold an avalanche like that and if he awoke and was well enough they would die for nothing.
So the Laphans left, there is no point in pursuing such hard opponents.
Nami didn't know any of that, all her focus was directed on saving her friends and she just ran. Running to the base of the mountain at top speed in hopes of getting them to the doctor. It was her best bet to save them both and Luffy wouldn't forgive himself if she turned around for him.
The snow was still a problem, the blizzard was another but she kept pushing, her will strengthened with the heat of her friends on her back until she made it to the top.
The foot of the mountain, a mountain that could only be either manmade or work of the divine with a perfect shape. There were some defects, time would damage even the greatest work of art if it was not well cared for but it was still unlike any mountain she ever saw before.
It was like a cup or a glass, going up and up until the perfectly leveled top. The Grand Line was a strange place and their landmarks are as weird as the place itself.
"We are here!" But not at the goal yet. Looking up she sees how long the 'road' really was. "How do I do this?" Before the plan was that Luffy would take care of the climbing with her going back to the village once they got to this point but in reality both knew she was going to follow anyway but now without her captain to carry their friend and ease her burden.
A mountain like that… How does she even start this? Luffy obviously can't do it anymore so it is up to her one way or another and she came too far to quit.
Nami already knows that she can't leave her bull form, her normal self was not strong enough or big enough to carry the others but it is not like her animal was made to climb.
"Uh..." She heard a small whimper, Usopp didn't have much time and Luffy was too still for her comfort.
Well… Haki brought them here; it may as well be the solution, Nami thinks to herself while focusing on her hooves and placing the first one on the mountain. She needed to exert some force for it to sink in but she did just to waste a minute taking it off.
That was fine, first try and everything. If she wasn't pressed for time… Who was she kidding? If she ever had a choice that she wouldn't regret later, Nami wouldn't dare to try climbing that mountain, much less try with a method that she had no clue would work.
"Uff… okay. First step… steps are the hardest but I got this." Nami was trying to hype herself and got ready to go. Since she was a bull the first step would be really the hardest for the change to vertical. "Focus…"
Haki covered her hooves and she started to climb, almost falling in the beginning but once the change to vertical was completely made vertical she found it much easier to pretend that it was a normal walk… avoiding looking to the ground so she wouldn't see both her progress and the consequences of her failure.
Taking a deep breath she continues, at that point only focusing on three things, the sensation of her friends on her back, the Haki on her 'feet' and taking a deep breath every step.
Focusing on her breathing Nami tries to keep a stable rhythm. This is not so hard, she tells herself but almost as if invited by her thoughts the blizzard starts to grow in intensity and she was almost blown out in mid step by the strong winds. "SHIT!" She forces her hooves on the mountain quickly but in her panic part of the side cracks letting loose one of her hooves.
Falling was an unpleasant experience for her but it got worse when she felt the rope relaxing and barely had time to turn her head to see Luffy falling. Reacting quickly she manages to grab his arm with her mouth, now looking down and seeing the was too far away from the ground to let him or herself fall.
"Nami…" She almost didn't hear Usopp talking in the middle of the strong wind. "Go back down… you can still-"
"Shut up!" She tried to say but it came out as a mumble instead but Usopp must have figured out what she was saying. "Grab! Horns!"
Once she felt that the sniper did as told she tried to think on what she would do. Climbing with Luffy like that was out of question, he would get even more hurt. Going down? Same as going up and Luffy gets hurt. Usopp can help? No, he was fighting for his life already on her head and she can feel his grip slack.
Frustration was building up but she again remembered to take deep breaths, all she needed was something to hold Luffy while she placed him on her back again and tied the rope better, that was it.
The realization came to her like thunder, she needs hands, her hands, her very human hands while keeping some of the power of her devil fruit. To become a hybrid, something she has been trying for a long time, ever since she first got her devil fruit even.
But if there was a moment she needed that skill it was now. Ana said that the power of the fruit is secondary to the will of the user, will is Haki and Haki grows with adversity. By that logic both grow from necessity and struggle.
If she fails her friends die. That was a fact, undeniable, cold and absolute. Her failure means the death of her friends, that should be enough so… WHY WASN'T SHE TRANSFORMING ALREADY? She just needs hands, that was it, nothing more nothing else. she doesn't care that she stays like an abomination or ugly but she wanted hands right NOW!
Then why… does her subconscious doesn't want an ugly form? Even in her full ox form she finds herself elegant in a sense, something to be proud of. She found it beautiful in a way and had no shame in turning into it.
Dalton said she was overthinking it so maybe… maybe she should try the opposite. Not a ugly form or abomination but something simple and elegant in her view. Yes, on her mind's eye she can already tell how she would want to transform in a form that incorporates beauty, elegance and power, above all power, power to save her friends.
…..
"... the medicine would be more efficient that way." Chopper, a reindeer with a blue nose, a pink hat with a white 'x', brown pants, a small blue bag on his back and his whole body cover with different shades of brown fur finishes answering his teacher's question. He was pulling a sledge to their home with their payments from the treatments they made today.
Doctor Kureha, an(in her opinion) woman at the peak of her youth(elderly appearance) dressed in purples with a blazer, simple t-shirt and pants that didn't appear to be made for against the cold but that didn't bother her, was proud of her little student.
Behind her sunglasses her eyes were full of joy which her smile expressed. They were getting back home after another day of treating the sick and she felt great when her apprentice gave the absolute right answers to her questions.
That was something necessary for education, the mind was a tool that needed to be cultivated and a question now and then helped a lot. Kureha just used one of the patients of the day as an example to see how Chopper would treat the condition if there were extra symptoms.
Soon the sledge reaches the end of the rope and on their sight is their home, the palace of the former king Wapol. It was a beautiful castle, made of a stone that looked like ice to give the vision and impression of a fairy tale legend.
Not that they live there for the appearence, Kureha was still trying to figure out how- WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT?
Did a Laphan decide to climb the mountain? No, that was too big and the form was all wrong for a Laphan, its ears… are those even ears? They looked like horns. Even Chopper noticed the presence and stopped to take out his reins to get ready for a fight.
On that Kureha has to admit her apprentice already surpassed her abilities but he was still a young fool. "Calm down Chopper."
"But Doctorine…"
The 139 year old woman, was not worried in the slightest. "There is only one reason why someone would be up on this mountain at this point in time." Well two but she doubts Wapol is back with that kind of fire power because size can be a document.
The old doctor leaves the sledge to approach the thing with Chopper, the reindeer taking an almost gorilla like form. Once they got close she could see that the giant, still smaller than a proper one but bigger than the entrance of her house, was a woman.
She had long white hair with golden horns on her head, around her body there was white fur protecting most of her body from the elements but still leaving enough skin..
The hands of the white haired woman had golden nails but little fur while her feets were golden hooves and her legs were covered in white until her waist. The ears were like a cow or ox ears as white as her hair. On her back there was one boy with a long nose while there was another on her arms.
"Please!" The giant woman called. "Please! Help my friends!" The request came with the woman bowing her head, almost falling to the ground but stopping herself in the last minute, clearly not used to her new size.
Well, Kureha mused, 139 years and that was a first, so why not? "Chopper! Go open the gate, quickly!" The reindeer transforms again and moves fast to obey the order. "You keep carrying them, follow me and tell me why you thought that it was a good idea to climb this mountain!"
Chopper transformed back to the form he used to pull the sledge, a proper reindeer, to reach the door and then change again to the human form. Opening the door was easy, there was no need to lock and they entered it, the big woman almost hit her head and Kureha decided to control the situation.
"Chopper pick one of the two and you turn to your full human form!" The surprise prompted the doctor to say. "What? You think it is normal to find people with horns around here? Or the world at large? I can already guess the devil fruit you have but unless you want your friends to die get moving!"
…..
Not gonna lie… this chapter was like pulling teeth in a sense, I didn't want to do it but it was necessary. Drum is, in my opinion, the weakest arc in One Piece, it is the 'this is a shonen and we need to tick boxes' arc.
I like Chopper, Kureha, Hiriuk and most of the characters but they act like they are just going through the motions so Chopper can have a fight, Usopp, does nothing, Zoro does nothing, Vivi does plenty but she isn't a main fighter and Wapol… if he wasn't necessary for future plots(or at least his power) I wouldn't have even bothered but his power may be important so I need to introduce it here.
I wanted to do Drum all in one go but that was a good point to stop but that also brings us to a place of bad news… I am taking a break from writing this story PLEASE READ UNTIL THE END!
I love One Piece but writing this is being hard because I am having little space to be flexible, the world is too much connected by the cannon and the point that I was having more fun was on the beginning where I could play with some crazy ideas. I mean, Luffy king? I had to cut so much there because One Piece is more about movement and the cannon loomed on my head, not even commenting about the division of oceans that it is a plot point.
Don't think I am abandoning this story, I am just taking a break here, the fact is that I had an idea to a new story by mixing two franchises that will basically let me do a lot of fun stuff… and a lot of you won't like it. From your comments and even Pms(please talk on the comments I don't want Pms) indicate that you won't like the next story because yes, there is going to be harems on it… it is going to be a crossover of Fate and DxD.
I read a lot of cool stories there and found a premise that I want to approach. There is also the fact that many writers don't write the beings there as that different from humans, even if they are from another race.
More cooler even, I can throw most of the cannon away in chapter one and just use some stuff, better even I can throw characters and concepts of a lot of different media(mostly anime because preferences) and the world of DxD explain everything by itself, to a certain extent but still.
So yeah, I am taking a break from One Piece but don't worry, I will be back. I mean, I wrote over 200k words, I deserve a break right? I know we are so close to Alabasta, but… I just want to write something different, even with the changes Alabasta will stay the same in a lot of places, not all but come on.
Oda is a genius and his persistence is admirable, the guy is still on that story since the 90s and damn if it doesn't show. I on the other hand am only me and my attention is now going for another thing.
Besides… the writers that I follow(I really 'favorite' some of them) haven't written in a while and maybe that is piling up with the stress of other stuff.
On the commets… Conan(yes I am shortening your name here) ask yourself this: is it a coward's wound if he took it for someone else. THat is kinda what I like most about Zoro, he has pride but he is willing to throw it away without hesitation for another person and I really didn't know that I had to explain that.
Anyway… that is it for this story for a while, who knows, maybe inspiration will strike and I will come back here sooner than I think.
Also, fair warning, if I don't post something in a month… considering that the worst happened, I will always, ALWAYS, fight to get at least one chapter of something per month.
Next chapter: Sakura