This is a LEMON and I guess morbid? in a way for some. It's rated M for this reason. Don't like, then don't read!
Disclaimer- I don't own One Piece or Dark Woods Circus. Just my characters:
Kairi
Vix & Nix
Illiad
Ringleader
Bartender guy
Pirate's #1-10
Circus crowd
and Civilians #1-69
Chapter One: Welcome To Dark Woods Island!
Laughter and the typical sounds of people having a good time filled the bar up to its brim, both pirates and civilians alike throwing their cares out the window as they focused on drink and eating their fill merrily. Not even the sound of the wooden door interrupted them, or the black clad man that walked through it. He made his way to the bar, gazing around a bit before focusing on the bartender.
"What can I do ya' for?" He asked, picking up a glass as he addressed the other man across the counter.
"Have you seen this woman?" The man pulled out a wanted poster of a woman, holding it up for the other man to see.
The bartender then looked up at the stranger who was dressed in all black, the only color being the blue smileys, one frowning and one smiling, around the base of his hat that were attached to red beads. He then glanced at the poster, raising an eyebrow at the sight. The woman was beautiful, with dark hair and light eyes, probably a shade of light blue. Her face held an expression of boredom as a small frown situated itself onto her lips. Her bounty was high, but he'd seen higher.
Finally the bartender just scoffed in response, continuing to dry the beer glass in his hand as he shook his head before looking back up at the mystery man.
"A few weeks ago she came through here, rented a room and a few days ago she just up and disappeared. My best guess was that Ringmaster got to her." He said with a shrug.
"So you know where she is." It was more of a statement than a question and now it was the bartenders turn to frown.
"Kid, take my word for it and leave her. Unless you can convince the Ringmaster to let her out, it's not worth the bounty." He tried to reason.
The man paused a moment, his eyes traveling to the poster behind the bartender and grinning, the act making his childish freckles seem to pop out. "Thanks for the help." He added before leaving, stuffing the poster into his cloak pocket. The man's coal black eyes screamed determination Dark Woods Circus huh? He thought Not surprised...
"You're looking for the circus." the man whipped around, his fingertips already starting to blaze as he activated his devil fruit power. He had been walking for awhile now, searching the town for any information on the place before starting to head down the more unpopulated paths.
The man blinked a few times when he spotted who had spoke, eyebrows furrowing slightly at the sight as he deactivated his power.
There before him stood a boy, peeking out from behind a tree innocently. His hair was short and a golden blonde in color and covered his left eye, leaving only one of his bright emerald green orbs visible. Black eyeshadow coated the skin around his eye and a similar colored teardrop tattoo sat under it. He wore a half cut shirt that clung tightly to his torso, the fabric leaving his shoulder bare but picking up again and running all the way down his arm and around his knuckles, a pair of black and white striped pants hanging loosely off of his waist. What stood out the most about him was the thick line of stitching around the base of his neck, though he didn't seem at all bothered by it at all.
"How did you know?" Ace asked, though before the boy could answer another interrupted him.
"It's the only thing down this path." A more feminine voice rang, the strange boy fully stepping out from behind the tree. Ace looked in a slightly surprised manner at the two conjoined twins since they were the first children Ace had spotted during his visit to the island.
The girl was almost identical to the boy she shared a body with, the same stitching around her neck and hairstyle, though hers was covering her right eye. A red heart was etched below her visible eye like the boys teardrop one and the only other difference was that her side of the shirt was the same red as the tattoo marring her cheek.
"You'll have to wait..."
"For the carriage to take you there..." They started and finished each others sentences in monotone, like it was a well practiced play.
"Is there any other way I can get there sooner?" He asked, almost urgently. Ace wanted off this island as soon as possible and he could only do that with the girl he had been restlessly searching for, for days.
The two shared a look through the corners of their eye before gazing back at the man.
"We can take you..." The boy started again.
"If you really want us to." the girl finished, already knowing Ace's answer as they turned and kept heading down the path in a childish and happy manner. Ace followed, eyes narrowed in suspicion on the conjoined twins back as he thought back to the woman. She had never talked much about her past, only she never stayed in one place for a long time and that he parents weren't the greatest out there. It was a touchy subject, so Ace had never pried.
Unbeknownst to the deeply in thought Ace, the twins had identical and downright sadistic grins on their faces as they walked into the dark forest.
"Here it is." The twins said in unison and stopped in front of a festive red tent. The trio had been walking for a good few minutes, Ace unable to hear the mutterings of the twins the whole way there. They turned to him, grin gone and replaced with an innocent one all children should have. "Excuse us." The said again, slipping into the tent.
"Vix, Nix, back so soon?" A masculine voice asked before all went quiet, only a few minutes later did Vix and Nix come back with someone.
A man wearing a green top hat with checkering on the base walked out behind the twins, his emotionless gold eyes brimmed with heavy black eyeliner landing on Ace. He has just as black straggly hair that reached his jaw and he wore a white dress shirt with a dark green vest over it and dark green bow tie. One of his pant legs was green plaid and the other was green checkered. Only after slight movement did Ace notice the content looking chameleon sitting on his shoulder. "Oh, hello there." He greeted with a small smile. "Come on in. We're just setting up." he added, motioning with a gloved black hand for Ace to step in.
Ace glanced at Vix and Nix who held open the curtain with the same smile the man used. Without a word Ace stepped inside, walking side by side with the man as the twins walked behind them almost robotically.
"My name is Ringmaster." The man suddenly said, as if reading Ace's thoughts. "Vix and Nix informed me you were looking for something?" Ringmaster asked.
Ace tensed, resisting the urge to look at the two as he answered.
"Ace." He introduced, "and yes, I'm looking for a woman. She was last seen on this island and I was told she had come here." he held up the poster, Ringmaster's eyes lingering for a few moments before muttering something softly under his breath then looking back up at Ace.
"So you know my lovely vocalist do you?" He asked fondly.
"Yeah. When she didn't come back I got worried." He said honestly.
"Ah, I see." Ringmaster pressed his lips into a firm line thoughtfully as Ace put back the poster. "I'm afraid I can't let her go." they stopped inside the circus ring, both men now facing each other. "You see, her parents owe me a debt, and unfortunately they're not around anymore to repay it." He explained and Ace's eyes narrowed.
"That's too bad, you see... I can't leave without her." Ace said slowly, letting the message sink in. He was hoping to grab her and leave without much conflict from another party, but apparently it was going to be unavoidable.
"That is too bad." The Ringmaster said quietly, snapping his fingers and before Ace could react, his hands were put into cuffs, making him instantly collapse. He felt unbearably weak, in a way only the sea could inflict upon him. He managed to glare up at the Ringmaster though, who patted Nix and Vix's head as they stood in front of him, demonic grins on their faces. "Remind me again, what devil fruit power did you say you had?"
