A/n: So I was wondering if I should add more tragic and shocking scenes…..? Maybe? Just a little? 'Cause otherwise there's no point in keeping so much suspense lol xD

And I'm sorry for the super late update. My 12th finals are coming up and I gotta start studying.

CHAPTER 10

The leaves rustled around him, as he sped towards the Castle. The sudden explosion seemed to have come from there.

"Not to mention HIS voice…." Toki gulped as he sped up his pace. HE was not supposed to even be on this island, let alone in the same Castle the others were in. Was this one of those things that Emir and Yagashi had kept from him, or had HE just moved in after Master's death? Nothing seemed to make sense to the large man. Even though he was truly excited to be finally carrying out the plan, the suddenness of it and the arrival of the Mugiwaras didn't seem to be a coincidence.

"Is that why I felt the slight changes around the barrier?" Had HE been making the island move without the knowledge of the others? After all from within the island's barrier, the outside world remained stationery no matter what. Letting out a frustrated groan, Toki made some hand signs as he reached the secret entrance to their hideout. The huge gate opened and he rushed inside to figure out what was going on. The second the huge gate melted into nothingness behind him, he stopped short and gaped at the sight he saw.

The majestic Castle that HE had proclaimed as their home stood before him in all its glory. The four tall towers in the four corners, reached for the sky as several layers of protection surrounded it. But the high walls surrounding it were crumbling and as he skipped across the broken drawbridge, he noticed the column of smoke coming from the farthest section of the Castle.

"It couldn't be…"

Toki increased his pace as he appeared in front of the crumbling wall of the south-east tower. Yagashi and Emir seemed to have already dealt with the situation, as several hooded minions were diligently working to put out the fire. Reaching the side of his two brothers, Toki finally voiced out the question that had been bugging him since he heard HIS voice.

"Why is HE here?" But his question only earned a swift glare and a tired smile. Looks like he had to find out the hard way after all.

"Oi Robin! Slow down! Where the hell are you going?!"

When he didn't get a response, Luffy frowned and frog-jumped over a large rock. Robin had suddenly taken off after that explosion and that strange voice had echoed around the island. Luffy had run after her, but had gotten no response from Robin for all his shouting and calling was worth. Finally Robin stopped and pushed aside some large leaves, as she disappeared behind them. Luffy groaned and followed suit. As he shielded his eyes from the sudden brightness, he could hear Robin walking away swidtly. Squinting he looked around at the weird ruins and decided this must have been what Zoro and Nami had told them about.

"Luffy what are you doing? Hurry up."

At the sound of Nami's voice, Luffy followed the others until they reached some pond like structure.

"This is….."

"Zoro?"

"Yeah. This is what we found the other day." Zoro frowned as he watched Robin steadily move across the surface of the wall, her eyes darting back and forth as she intently searched for something.

"Robin?"

"…..Almost. I know its here."

"What's here?!" Luffy asked in an irritated voice. Zoro looked around and was surprised to find that there were much lesser people than expected.

"Where the hell did Ero-cook, Chopper, Brook and Usopp go?"

"Eh?" Nami asked as she looked around too. It seemed the crew had gotten split at some point of time. Right now, only Robin, who was walking into the ankle deep water of the pool, Zoro, who had a pissed expression on his face, Luffy who was jumping up and down in the water, and her, were the only people here.

"Franky isn't here either." She said worriedly.

"Well I guess we can assume Chopper is with Franky since he can't move around much. Which means the other three idiots got lost."

Nami eyed the green haired swordsman wearily and decided it would be better if she didn't retort back. She walked to the edge of the pool and rested her palms on it as she watched Robin carefully scanning the wall right behind the idol. Luffy seemed to be intrigued by the various stones arranged on the platform and was playing with them. Nami sighed at his childishness as she impatiently waited for Robin to explain what was going on. She couldn't help but wonder when Sanji had gotten separated from them. As far as she remembered he had dragged her through the forest. Maybe at some point of time he had let go, when he saw she had regained her composure. Nami couldn't help but worry about Franky and the others. Just like Luffy had said, it seems they had split up like last time. Before Nami could continue that train of thought, Robin exclaimed and motioned for them to come near her.

The three waited around Robin as she stood up and dusted her dress.

"I found it." She said triumphantly. Nami was initially confused but then her eyes rested on the small scrap of rusted metal that the archeologist held in her palm.

"Whazzat?"

"This, Luffy. Is our key to the mysteries of this island." Luffy didn't look like he cared for the mysteries of the island.

"Will it get us to that mustache freak?" Robin chuckled and nodded.

"Yes it very well might." She nodded at Nami and Zoro and turned towards the wall. As she slid her hand across its surface, she started explaining what she had found.

"You see, its been bugging me for a while since we landed here. This so-called island seemed to be initially uninhabited but we obviously found traces of the opposite. Meaning people ARE living here. If what we found out were true, and this village was brought here, as is, from a different time, then its safe to assume the rest of the island was also formed in the same way. Meaning the flora, fauna AND inhabitants were all moved simultaneously with the land."

She turned to look at her three Nakama.

"The weird fruit Sanji and Chopper found, along with the ammonite remains and the large wasps Luffy and the others found, is proof of this. But, we never found any people." She looked at them seriously. Nami seemed to understand what was going on. Zoro had his classic frown on. And Luffy just stood there picking his nose.

"Did any of you wonder how, in an island cut away from the real world, day and night still existed? Its because at some points of time, the barrier around this so called Island weakens." Nami frowned and crossed her arms thoughtfully.

"Are you saying that the barrier is weakened on purpose?" Robin shook her head and turned back towards the wall. She raised her hand towards some drawings.

"See this sun here? And these stars? I think it signifies that the island automatically adjusts itself to follow the normal time of this world."

"What does that mean?"

"It means, we were mistaken about assuming that these ruins were placed here." She once again turned to look at them, thin frown lines creasing her alabaster skin.

"These ruins are probably the only things that actually belong here."

-Elsewhere-

"OUCH!"

"I'm sorry! I'm really sorry! But with all these roots and branches all over the place, I can't walk in a straight line." Chopper looked at a cussing Franky with teary eyes. The Cyborg shook his head and took a deep breath.

"Don't worry about it. Its my own fault for getting these wounds."

"Maybe it would have been better for you to stay behind Franky."

"What and let a repeat of last time happen? I agree it was my fault for underestimating those cloaked freaks but in this condition I'm as good as dead if they attack again."

"Oi Franky! Chopper!" The Reindeer-man turned around to see a grinning Usopp appearing from the bushes.

"Usopp!"

"We're here too."

"Sanji! And Brook too!"

"Yohohoho~ Franky san you look quite green. You almost match the trees!"

Franky grumbled at Brook's joke as Chopper launched himself at Usopp and Sanji smiled at them.

"So it looks like Luffy and the others got split up." Franky said as he slid down on to the mossy ground. Resting his head against the tree he was leaning on, he looked at Sanji.

"Yeah looks like it." Sanji sighed and lit another cigarette as he sat down on a log.

"So this totally screwed up our plan."

"Eh does it matter? Robin seemed like she had figured something out. Besides-" Franky felt around his shirt and pulled out a small round device. "-We have snail kun with us."

"Ah! Its that ghost sensing device!" Usopp exclaimed as he pointed at the round object in Franky's overly large hands.

"Trans communication device you mean." Sanji said as he rolled his eyes. "So that means…."

"Yep. Nami has its twin." Just as Franky said those words, the device vibrated and crackled.

"Oooh~" Chopper, Brook and Usopp exclaimed as they eyed the device. Suddenly a beam shot out of the side of the device and Nami's face appeared. The three fell backwards as they stared wide eyed at Nami.

"Nami swan~ You're safe~" Sanji sang as Franky grinned at her.

"Well looks like you guys are in high spirits." Nami smirked as she watched them settle around Franky.

"You added hologram creation to it?!" Usopp exclaimed as his eyes sparkled.

"Well shall we move on?" Nami cut in, before the grinning Franky could start about how he did it. When everyone nodded, Nami launched into the tale of what Robin discovered.

"So you're saying Nami san, that the ruins that you found is the only real part of this island?"
"That's right Sanji Kun. And not only that, we also found a key."

"A key?" Usopp asked.

"Then that means there's a lock for it to fit into." Franky said thoughtfully. Nami nodded.

"Exactly. And we found it. Except the lock was on a door and not a treasure box." She added dejectedly.

"A door? Where does this door lead to yohohoho?"

"Luffy and Robin have gone to check it out. But that isn't why I told you all this. Even though we found the door, Robin didn't seem very satisfied."

"And why is that?" Usopp asked as he pushed up his goggles and stopped examining the device.

"Because she thinks what we found was an entrance."

"And if there's an entrance-" Franky started. "-then there should also be an exit." Sanji finished. Nami nodded once again.

"And I'm guessing-" Chopper gulped. "- that you want us to find it?" Nami grinned at him.

"Bingo!"

-Robin and Luffy-

"Oi~ Robin~"

"What is it Luffy?"

"How far does this tunnel thing go~"

"I'm not sure. But we should find some staircases right about-" Luffy fell head first down a long set of stairs as Robin chuckled. "-now."

Luffy groaned and raised his head.

"Mm?" He blinked at the three sharp spears that were pointing at him.

"Well it looks like we found the people." Robin's voice said from behind him.

"Who are you and how did you find this place?"

"Wait just a minute." Robin said as she brought out a small bronze object in the form of a sun.

"That! How did you find that?!"

"If you take us to your leader, I'll be glad to tell you everything."

And so, the two were tied and taken further into the underground tunnel. After a time, the tunnel slowly opened into a very large, empty space. The ceiling was atleast 30 feet high and there were stone pillars erected intermittently along the outer rim of the large space. One of the men disappeared into a small opening at the far end and reappeared a while later.

"Our leader will grace you with his presence now."

Luffy grumbled about being hungry, as they were led from the large space, through a small doorway and into an even larger room of sorts. Both the pirates' eyes widened at the sight before them.

Unlike the dark tunnel, this room was brightly lit by thousands of tiny orbs of light that floated 20 feet above them. The floor was made of white marble, decorated by dark designs. The walls were made of some glowing substance, which Robin decided was limestone. Tall marble pillars were place in a circle 10 feet from the wall and each pillar was connected to the other by intricately carved arches. In the centre of the room the floor was raised in the form of overlapping platforms. The bottommost a large square, followed by smaller squares until it reached the top most square, which was approximately 7 square feet. Atop this platform was a brilliant marble throne, its sides, arms and legs carved intricately with swirling designs and inlaid with precious stones, possibly the same as the ones Nami had found beside the small pond, except highly polished. The same designs were found on the pillars and the light from the orbs reflected off the stones, to throw beautiful patterns of different colours all over the white floor and walls.

But what drew Robin's attention the most, were the people in the room. She hadn't noticed before in the dark, but they wore pure white garments like those the Ancient Greeks and Romans wore. Their hands and necks were adorned with jewelry made of the same stones and their lustrous hair had never before seen varieties of flowers in them. But more than that, they were constantly smiling and their entire demeanor radiated a sense of calm and composure. Robin's eyes slowly scanned the room and finally rested on the man seated atop the marble throne. Unlike everything else in the room, only his attire was of a different colour. The white tunic was covered by a regal purple shawl, that was loosely wrapped around his broad shoulders and fell at his feet in puddles of rich silk. The intricate silver designs on it seemed to glitter with every slight movement the man made. Atop his head was a silver crown adorned with precious stones and gems. His jewelry was the same.

"These people sure are loaded." Luffy said in a low voice. Robin smiled at her Captain, surprised by how well behaved he was being.

"Welcome strangers from the world above." The deep voice cut through the calm air and rested warmly on everything and everyone. Robin bowed and stepped forward.

"Forgive our rude intrusion into your palace." The man shook his head and smiled warmly.

"No no I must say you are very welcome here. For the fact remains that you have somehow, by a stroke of luck, found this place. Which means you are very welcome here."

"I'd like to think of it as archaeological knowledge and not a stroke of luck that we found this place." Robin smiled. The man merely looked at her and smiled.

"You have friends above no? I shall send my men to escort them here. Is the other group of people causing trouble in the south-west exit also one of you?"

"Yes actually they are."

"One of them is seriously injured. And this man here seems to be suffering from wasp bite." He said motioning to Luffy who was slumped against the wall. That explains why he's so quiet. The medicine seems to have stopped working.

"Would it be too rude to ask for your name?"

"Ah forgive me. How impolite of me not to introduce myself. I am Razhea [A/n: Said as Rah-shee-ah] the leader of my people. And you are?"

"Nico Robin. I am an archeologist. And this is my….. leader. Luffy." Robin decided it would be best to conceal the fact that they were Pirates for now. Razhea nodded and motioned to one of the women sitting on the lower level of the platform. After a brief exchange, the girl came up to them and offered to take them to the guest wing.

"I am sure you are tired. You must rest. We can talk after you have freshened up and eaten." Luffy made some signs of disagreement that Robin understood as him wanting to wait for the others.

"They'll be here soon Luffy. Lets just do as he says for now." Robin whispered to him. The dark haired man frowned but made no motion to argue. So they quietly followed their guide.

"My Lord-"

"Hepziban."

"Y-yes my Lord?"

"Call Laquarde [A/n: La-car-dey] here."

"The young Prince my Lord?"

"Is there any other Laquarde that you know of?"

"R-right away my Lord."

Razhea watched his trusted advisor bow and scamper away to find his son. These people. Who are they and How much do they know.

A/n: Well end of Chapter 10~

New twist. I wasn't expecting it. It just happened. Sorry. And I like the name Razhea for some reason :3 On the spot names are the best~ xD

Hope you liked it! More to come! Extra Chapter before I go back to the I-dunno-when-the-next-time-imma-update phase. So wait for Chapter 11!

Love~