Ch. 2: Meet Blizzard

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One Piece © Oda

Blizzard © Me

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The Straw Hats reached their destination with little trouble. They were now docked at a pier of the island the Log Pose had brought them to. Upon getting there, Sanji realized that they had to stock up on food again. Not only that, but Franky had to make a few repairs that he didn't notice until now. Nami decided not to think about that now and decided to worry about where they were going to rest for the night, how long the log for this island sets, and where to get some more ink for her maps.

As the crew disembarked the ship, Luffy saw something from the corner of his eye. Looking to his left, he saw…a dog, sitting in front of a rather large house.

"Hey, look!" exclaimed Luffy. "There's a dog over there!"

The Straw Hats followed Luffy's gaze and saw the dog in the distance, sitting in the pouring rain, all by itself.

"What's a dog doing in the middle of the rain?" Chopper asked to no one in particular.

"Who the hell cares?" Zoro scoffed. "The dog can do whatever the hell it wants. It's not bothering anyone."

"I agree with Zoro," said Nami. "For all we know, it could be a wild stray."

"C'mon, Luffy," Usopp said to Luffy before he noticed that the boy had just disappeared.

"Where's Straw Hat?" Franky asked.

Robin was the first to spot the captain…approaching the dog.

"He's walking up to that dog," she said, gaining everyone's attention.

"Luffy!" Nami called. "Come back here!"

"Leave the dog alone!" Usopp added.

Luffy didn't listen. He stood in front of the dog and got a closer look at him.

He was a big dog, male on closer inspection. He was not as big as a Great Dane, but Boxer-sized. He had fur as white as snow, and had eyes as pink as newly-bloomed cherry blossoms in the Spring. His ears were pricked, like a Husky dog's. Around his neck was a shimmering silver chain necklace with a skull-and-bones charm dangling from it.

For some odd reason, the dog didn't seem to notice Luffy, at all. He just sat there, watching the horizon, letting the rain drench his fur.

"Hey, dog!" Luffy called. "What are you looking at? Why don't you move or something?"

No response. No movement, whatsoever. Luffy waved his hand in front of the dog's face. Still no movement. The dog didn't even blink!

"LUFFY!" Nami called to him. "Leave the dog alone and c'mon! If you don't, I'm gonna come over there and hit you!"

Luffy paid no heed to Nami's warning. He just continued to pester the dog by repeatedly poking his nose and pulling his ears.

"Maybe he's dead," Luffy said to himself before he prodded the dog in the nose one last time.

CHOMP! The very-much-alive dog opened his mouth and then snapped it shut on Luffy's left wrist, his sharp fangs sinking into the rubber-man's flesh.

"AAAAAAAHH!" Luffy screamed as he tried to pull his arm away. "HELP! GET HIM OFF! HE'S GONNA EAT ME ALIVE!"

"Dammit, Luffy!" Zoro cursed before he and the others rushed to Luffy's aid. While Nami, Franky, Robin, and Chopper tried to pull Luffy away, Zoro, Sanji, and Usopp grabbed the dog to try and get him to let go.

"Get him off, get him off, GET HIM OFF!" Luffy yelled.

"We're trying!" said Nami.

"This isn't easy, you know!" Chopper said.

Zoro took Kitetsu III and slipped it underneath the dog's upper jaw, using it like a crowbar to try and pry it lose, but it wouldn't budge.

"Damn dog!" he cursed. "This is like trying to pull a bear trap from a bear!"

"HEY!" shouted a feminine voice. "Stop that! Leave Blizzard alone!"

The Straw Hats looked up and saw a woman come out of the house with an umbrella. She looked like she was in her late-30s. She wore a ten-gallon-hat upon her blonde hair that went down to her shoulder blades, a pair of high-waters, and a mahogany sweater that revealed a bit of her cleavage.

Sanji couldn't help but swoon.

"You heard me!" the woman said. "Let Blizzard go, now!"

The Straw Hats complied and let go of the dog, introduced as Blizzard.

"That goes for you, too, Blizzard!" the woman said. "Let that boy go, this instant!

Blizzard made a soft growl before he reluctantly let Luffy go. At that moment, Luffy saw that the dog had a forceful bite, for his wrist was bleeding heavily.

"Oh, no!" Chopper squeaked. "Luffy's wrist is bleeding really bad! SOMEONE, GET A DOCTOR!"

"You're the doctor!" the crew shouted, except Robin.

"Oh, yeah," said Chopper.

"Bad dog, Blizzard," the woman scolded. "Is that how you greet visitors to our island, now? Biting their hands? You know better than that!"

The dog folded his ears and lowered his head submissively.

Luffy giggled at the woman and Blizzard.

"What's so funny?" Nami asked.

"The lady reminds me of you," answered Luffy, "only the lady doesn't hit like you do."

BONK! Nami laid a punch on the poor captain's head, causing a bump to form.

"OW~!" Luffy whined. "Like that…!"

"I'm sorry about Blizzard," the woman apologized. "He doesn't take too well to strangers, but once he gets to know you, he's just fine."

"Well that's good to know," Nami said.

"I'm Mayor Hillary Rivet," the woman introduced herself. "Welcome to Rivet Island."

Sanji immediately approached the woman, introduced as Hillary.

"The pleasure is mine," he said, suavely before he gently kissed her hand, "your honor."

Zoro sucked his teeth.

"Love-machine…" he whispered.

GRR~! The Blizzard growled at the chef.

"Blizzard, be nice," Hillary scolded, again, before she looked up to the Straw Hats. "Listen, why don't you all come into my mansion? It's freezing out here, plus I just made some hot stew."

"Good idea," Luffy said, rubbing his growling stomach. "I'm starving."