Leon felt a strange sense of comfort as he walked through the doors of the Cracked Barrel. It reminded him a lot of Selda's bar back home, from the rowdy patrons to the oddly spotless front bar. The only things missing were the bloodstains on the floorboards.
The young bartender looked them over as they approached, pausing especially long on himself and Emil. "What are you fellas having?" she said, giving each of them a smile and adding a little wink in his case. Leon grinned back and saw Viccy clench his jaw a bit out on the edge of his vision. He wouldn't consider himself vain by any stretch, but he reveled in the obvious jealousy that Viccy put out.
Emil flashed a fanged grin and banged his hand on the counter. "Gimme four handles and a bottle o' Devil's Black."
Viccy's face drained of color.
Leon sympathized with his friend. His first experience with alcohol had been rigged in a rather underhanded way, but at the same time, it was hilarious seeing him so panicked.
"Umm... Sir?" the bartender said. "Devil's Black isn't meant to be taken straight."
"I'm aware o' that, Love," Emil said. "But you can get so much more outta life by doing things the way they aren't meant to be done from time to time."
The bartender frowned at him. "The only thing you'll get out of this is getting drunk off your rocker..."
Emil gave a wide grin and threw his hands in the air. "Exactly! I'm glad we understand each other."
The young woman seemed to debate internally for a moment before rolling her eyes and reaching below the counter. The clatter of tankards on the bar and the swish of the dark liquid being poured seemed to break Viccy out of his flashbacks. His discomfort didn't go unnoticed by Emil.
"You alright, Mate?" he said chuckling. "Don't tell me ya can't hold your grog."
"I... had a bad experience a few months ago," Viccy said. "I think I remember a horse getting involved at some point? Anyway, It's not something I'd want to do again."
"And Cilla's probably going to kill us if she finds out we snuck away to get drunk..." Leon added. "She might kill us either way..."
"Ah come on, Mate," Emil said. "Who said anything about getting drunk?"
"You did," the bartender said. "Not ten seconds ago."
"Every time you open your mouth it cuts into your tip, Love," Emil said.
He turned back towards Viccy and Leon. "You don't have to if you don't wanna, obviously. Just remember I'm spending my money on it."
And with that said, he paid for the drinks, grabbed a tankard, lifted his head back and slugged the entire thing. Cobber followed his example, leaving both Viccy and Leon gaping like goldfish.
Leon gazed down at his own tankard apprehensively. He had drunk alcohol before of course, but he had never had anything this strong. The fumes alone were almost enough to make him gag. He and Viccy looked at each other, having a quick unspoken conversation. Eventually, they both nodded and raised their tankards to their mouths, each taking a swig.
Leon reeled. The liquid itself had a pleasant, smoky taste. Unfortunately, it was completely overpowered by the sensation of 180 proof alcohol burning its way down his throat. He clenched his eyes shut and fought to keep himself from coughing. As he cleared his watering eyes, he glanced over at Viccy, who was sitting unnaturally still.
"Spice?" he said uncertainly. Viccy turned his head to look at him. He seemed just as confused as Leon.
"Are you alright?" Leon said.
"I'm fine," Viccy said. He placed a hand at his throat and rubbed it a little. "That should have burned."
"No shit..." Leon said.
"Well it didn't," Viccy said. "I kinda like it actually."
Leon flinched as Viccy raised the tankard to take another big swig, swishing the contents around in his mouth.
He stared as Viccy downed the rest of it in one gulp. "Weren't you completely blasted that time Selda shoved a few shots worth of that stuff down your throat?"
"That's what you told me," Viccy said. "I can't really remember much of it..."
"You think maybe your Devil Fruit has something to do with this?" Leon said.
"Oh yeah," Emil said. The liquor seemed to have as little effect on him as it did on Viccy. The hand that he pointed at Viccy was steady and his slitted eyes were as intense and unnerving as ever. "I heard about that fruit o' yours. You're some kind of magic gecko Zoan, right?"
Viccy's eye twitched.
"Dragon," he said irritably. "A flying, fire-breathing, ice-chucking, gas-spewing dragon... Where the hell do people get gecko from? Is that some kind of shitty running gag?"
"Dragon? That'd be a Mythical Zoan, right? That's pretty neat," Emil said. "They're even rarer than Logias from what I hear."
"So what's your deal," Leon said.
"My deal?" Emil said.
"They say you took down some big shot pirate crew, but nobody knows how," Leon said. "The Marines haven't even been able to get a picture of you..."
"Oh. That..." Emil said. He leaned back in his chair and began rubbing the back of his neck, looking a bit uncomfortable. He seemed to resign himself and began rummaging inside his cloak, pulling out a photograph and setting it on the bar.
Leon looked at it and immediately recoiled. The bartender, who had been eavesdropping curiously, leaned over and looked at the photograph herself.
"Whoa! What the hell is that?!" she yelled.
The photograph showcased a strange shadowy being in the vaguest shape of a man. But that was where the similarities ended. The thing was twisted and warped beyond anything that could be considered natural. A Cheshire grin stood out clearly against the outline of a head, the creature's sharp teeth adding an extra sense of menace to the image. But the most noticeable part of the photograph were the creature's eyes. Slitted and molten gold in color, they seemed to pulsate with a malignant glee, even through the still photograph.
"It's a picture o' me," Emil said as he refilled the tankards. "Taken two days after I ate the Fear Fear Fruit."
"That's you?" Leon said incredulously.
"Yeah. It's how I turn up in any picture," Emil said. "Gave the marines trying to take one o' me a nasty shock, I reckon."
"What does your Fruit do?" Viccy asked. "Besides make you a freaky ghost thing."
Leon jumped when he heard Cobber's voice. He had almost forgotten the man was there.
"It makes him a monster..." Cobber said. The liquor seemed to be having a much stronger effect on him than his captain. His dark cheeks were flushed and a slight slur was evident in his words. Nonetheless, he refilled his tankard and drained it again. "The kinda beast that hell itself wouldn't let pass through its gates..."
"Thank you, Cobber..." Emil said, a tick appearing over his eye. "By all means, continue. It's not like I'm trying to make friends..."
"Was tha' sarcasm?" Cobber said, his slur becoming even more pronounced.
"Course it was ya bloody fool!" Emil said. "Put the cup down. You've had enough."
Cobber looked sadly at the tankard that was already halfway to his lips. He almost seemed to have to force himself to set it down.
Emil shook his head and muttered in a strange language under his breath. "Anyway, the name Fear Fear fruit is actually kinda misleading. I can sense any negative emotion in general, physical and mental. Sadness, anger, pain," he said.
His eyes trailed down to Viccy's torso and lingered there. "Weakness."
Leon started. Could Emil know about Viccy's injuries? He actually kind of liked the guy, but he was still far from trusting him.
"I can only directly manipulate fear, though," he said. "Cobber wasn't kidding when he called me a monster. Give me a drop of fear to work with and I'll turn it into a flood."
"What's the catch?" Viccy said.
"The catch?" Emil said, chuckling ominously. "There's always a catch, ain't there? It robs me o' my own sense of Fear."
"Wouldn't that be a good thing?" Leon asked.
"You'd think so, wouldn't ya," Emil said. "But listen here, Mate. There's a reason fear exists. I'd die for my crew, but I don't fear for them. The thought of losing them means nothing to me, even though I know it should. Do ya see where the problem is?"
"That's heavy..." Viccy said.
Brushing all modesty aside, Leon knew that he was pretty courageous himself. But to be able to disregard fear altogether? No matter how bad Emil made it sound, it seemed like it could only be an advantage. There would never be any uncertainty or hesitation to your actions. Of course, no amount of power would ever make him consider eating a devil fruit...
The steady purupurupuru of a ringing transponder snail caught his attention. He looked over at Cobber, who dug around in his pockets for a few moments before holding up the small mollusk. "Tha'll be Eri and the gang. Prolly in some kinda trouble..."
The snail clicked as Cobber answered it, its expression immediately transformed into one of panic. "Cobber. Is that you?" the snail whispered.
"Who else would it be," Cobber said. "Wutchu idiots get into this time?"
"Are... Are you drunk? No... It doesn't matter. Listen, I can't take the time to explain right now," the snail said hurriedly. "Just tell me where you are."
Cobber and Emil looked at each other and raised an eyebrow. "We're in a little pub called the Cracked Barrel," Cobber said. "It's bout 2 blocks east of where we left ya."
"We'll be there in a few minutes. Just... Don't go anywhere." the snail said as it closed its eyes and shut down.
"What's going on?" Viccy said.
"Pirates can never be on dry land without something goin' wrong," Emil said. "As for what it is? I ain't sure, but I sense feel their fear through the snail..."
"You aren't bringing any trouble here, are you?" The bartender said.
"Hopefully not, Love. No promises though," Emil said.
"Just so you know," Viccy said. "We're not a part of this."
Nearly everybody in the establishment had heard them, and most of them were making a hasty retreat out the door. At this point, there was no doubt that a few squads of marines would be on their way soon.
Once the bar was virtually empty, the door creaked open slowly and a young man stuck his head inside. He was a few years older than Viccy and Leon and was massive in frame. He would have been an imposing sight, had he not been trying sneak into the building as if nobody could see him. The next two were around their age. A handsome one that seemed to be walking around in confusion, and a short one that kept looking over his shoulder every few seconds.
"Bren," the big one said. "We have to leave. Like, right now."
"You'd better have a good reason, Eri..." Emil said.
"You remember that white-haired girl in the bounty posters a few weeks ago? Well. We ran into her, and you know how Jackie is..."
"Oh for fuck's sake, Jack," Emil said, placing his face into hands. "Please tell me ya didn't try your usual routine on her..."
Leon and Viccy looked at each other. White haired girl?
"Shit," Leon thought, just as the door creaked open.
The shadow standing in the door frame was instantly recognizable. Her blank expression belied the promises of pain and torture that were present in her eyes, which glowed with a cold fury that would have made a Sea King turn tail and run. Caduceus was unsheathed and held loosely at her side, the abnormally sharp blade gleaming evilly.
She ignored Eri's panicked shriek as she scanned the room. Her eyes came to rest on Viccy and Leon, and her previous quarry seemed forgotten as she stalked forward.
Leon was the first to move. He jumped over the counter, ignoring the bartender's yells of protest, and made a mad dash for the rear exit. As his hand reached for the handle and the hope of escape made itself present, he heard a zing over his shoulder.
He turned to see Caduceus whizzing through the air in his direction, the blade slicing through a wooden support column as if it were made of butter. He didn't even have time to flinch before the sword slid through his shirt, nicking his chest and pinning him to the door.
Viccy stood up as Priscilla advanced. While he was mostly healed, he wouldn't be able to put up a very good fight against her in the state he was in, and he knew it. So, he simply rooted himself to the spot, closed his eyes, and prayed for it to be over quickly. The footsteps stopped in front of him, and he braced himself...
Nothing happened. He stood still for a few moments longer before he cracked his eyes open. Priscilla was standing directly in front of him, her face still morphed into a blank mask.
"Um-" he said.
CRACK!
Everyone was surprised at the slap that resounded throughout the room. Even Leon stopped trying to tug the sword out of his shirt for a moment to gape at Viccy rubbing his cheek. It had sounded painful, but against him, it had barely stung. Something that Priscilla surely knew. It seemed that she was more concerned about getting the point across than actually hurting him.
Priscilla turned away from him and back towards Emil and his crew.
"Which one of you was it..." she said.
All of them pointed at the handsome one known as Jack, who upon seeing her seemed more confused than ever. Priscilla began advancing towards him, her palm cupped around her fist and a nearly psychotic gleam in her eye.
The trip back to the Maiden was abnormally subdued. Adelphie kept shooting concerned glances at Priscilla, whose face was still an expressionless mask. She hadn't said a word since they'd left the bar.
Viccy and Leon simply stared forward, aware that they had done some amount of wrong, but also feeling like it was an overreaction on her part. Viccy honestly felt like Priscilla had some abandonment issues that she was taking out on them.
Even Toughsnout the Sermocorn, whose kind you normally couldn't pay to shut up, was keeping quiet. He had been kind enough to offer them a ride back, and considering the amount of stuff they had to carry, they had hurriedly accepted the offer.
They still had more than an hours trek, and eventually, the painful silence became too much for Viccy. Besides, if there was one thing he knew about women, it's that they liked apologies. According to his old man anyway.
He twisted around to face Priscilla, who was sitting at the back in front of Adelphie. "Hey, Doc. About earlier-"
Priscilla held up her hand. "Stop. I don't want to hear it." She seemed to struggle with herself for a moment before taking a deep breath, her shoulders rising and falling in rhythm. "Just... Don't do it again."
Adelphie smirked and patted Priscilla on the head, who scowled and jammed her elbow into the Adelphie's ribs.
"Ow!" Priscilla yelled, lurching and rubbing her own ribs. She turned around and stared incredulously at Adelphie, who only smiled innocently.
"That's bullshit!" Priscilla said. "What else can you do?!"
Viccy felt a tickling sensation from his coat pocket. Purupurupuru the snail rang out. Viccy looked over at Ollie, to whom he had given the only other baby transponder snail they had earlier that day. Ollie shrugged his shoulders.
Viccy tugged the little snail out of his pocket and answered it.
"Hello?" he said.
The snail's face morphed, becoming oddly sharp and robotic looking, but recognizably feminine. "How much time will take you to get back here?" it said.
"Maddy?" Viccy said. "Why? What's going on?"
"A Flotilla of Navy ships pulled in a few seconds ago. Some of the other pirate ships in the harbor have engaged, but they won't last."
"That's impossible," Priscilla said. "There's only single elements patrolling these waters and the bulk of the South Fleet is all the way in Briss. What task group are they attached to?"
"How should I know?" Maddy said. "Just get over here. N-" The snail clicked as the transmission was cut off, and it closed its eyes and returned to sleep.
"Well then..." Viccy said. "What are our options?"
"Run there?" Leon said.
"That would take me about 10 minutes," Priscilla said. "Even more for your lazy asses..."
"I could fly the three of us there," Viccy said. "Ollie and Adelphie would have to stay behind, though."
"Good," Priscilla said. "They don't have records yet. If we die out there, then at least they go free."
"Really appreciate that propitious outlook of yours, Doc..." Viccy said.
"She is pretty reckless," Leon said.
"That's precipitous, Leon," Ollie said.
"Is this really the best option?" Adelphie said.
"It's the only option," Priscilla said. She turned towards their ride. "I'm sorry Toughsnout, but do you think you could move a little faster? Emergency situation and all that."
Toughsnout the Sermocorn sighed. "I'll see what I can do."
Viccy, Leon, and Priscilla hopped off his back and gathered around together.
"Be careful," Adelphie said.
"Err..." Ollie said. "See you later?"
"Don't say it like it's a question, Fuzz," Leon said.
"Fine then. I'll see you guys later."
"Attaboy. Let's go Spice," Leon said.
Viccy grabbed Leon and pulled him in. He hesitated for a second in front of Priscilla, who glared at him.
"Hurry up, Liz. We don't have time for your Cherryboy tendencies..."
Viccy's face flushed like a tomato, but nonetheless, he grabbed the doctor around the waist and began morphing into his hybrid form.
"You're one to talk..." Leon said. "Remember when Hans asked you about-"
"Nobody asked you, Blondie," she said.
Viccy took off, feeling his friends clutch tighter to his clothes. He spared a glance down at them. The doctor's eyes were screwed shut and an almost fearful expression was plastered across her visage. Was she afraid of heights? Viccy's heart began to thump faster and he quickly looked away.
Leon also had his eyes screwed shut, though in his case it seemed to be more to keep the wind out of them than fear. Viccy was suddenly thankful for the nictitating eyelids his dragon form provided.
He burst through the low cloud cover and sped towards the summit of a mountain, the harbor becoming visible as he crested it. He could make out several ships scattered around in it, a couple of which were on fire.
"What can you see, Doc?" Viccy yelled.
Priscilla forced her eyes open and scanned the harbor. "Three Kuzan class cruisers, five Lonz class destroyers, and two Shelby class frigates. Well, only one really, since the other ones on fire... One of the pirate ships is already going down too."
"How's Maddy?" Leon said, scrunching his own eyes and attempting to see what she saw, with little success.
Priscilla grinned as she watched the Maiden unleash a full broadside on the remaining frigate, which went up in smoke. "Giving them hell," she said. "They're focusing on her, though. Could you go any faster, Liz?"
As if to prove her point, the distinct clang of a cannonball striking metal reached them. "Her armor's holding, but the 108lbers on those cruisers will break through eventually."
Viccy obliged, tucking his wings closer to himself and speeding towards the fray.
"FUCK!" Priscilla yelled, holding on for dear life. Viccy suppressed a grunt as his chest twinged painfully. Thankfully Priscilla noticed, as she eased her grip a bit.
"Once more unto the breach, I guess..." Viccy huffed.
deviantart(.com)/art/Death-s-Door-669544453
Uh... See you next time?