Heading off – News of a Demon

"Are you sure we should be doing this?" Sherman asked hesitantly as he stared into the mug of ale. He was hurting from his injuries, but thankfully none were major. Although the fact that he was out and about, not deactivated from Jackal, was a completely different experience. Ever since he had... well, ever since Jackal wrote his name on him, Sherman popped up every now and again to help the village, before Jackal put him back. Now, with Jackal unable to put anyone back, it was... odd, to say the least.

"It's fine." Eliza said, cracking a smile and she downed another mug in one go. "Diego'll survive. He isn't going to let himself be defeated on the first island after all."

"You're too optimistic." Marston said and he stared at Eliza. She was drinking the mugs again and again, showing no sign of alcohol affecting her. Not only had she insisted on them calling her Eliza instead of Eden, she seemed like a completely different person. Different attitude, different way of talking. Marston shook his head to himself.

"No, you are too pessimistic." Eliza replied, swatting Marston arm and she grabbed the bottle of ale. "Diego is going to be your captain. Therefore, you gotta put all your hope into him being alive; otherwise, quite simply, you're screwed." Eliza drank from the bottle and wiped her lips, grinning at Marston.

"Guess I could hope for him to be alive." Marston murmured, before looking back to his brother. Sherman was looking slightly off in the conversation, only speaking up every now and again. Marston felt kind of bad, but nevertheless, they both were adults.

Sherman looked up from his mug and connected eyes with his brother. In those eyes, Sherman could see the brother before this happened, the happy brother. "I'm sorry..." Sherman muttered.

Marston raised an eyebrow. "Sorry? Sorry for what?"

"For, well, you know..." Sherman looked down to the table. "Dying." The last word was almost silent, but nevertheless Marston caught the word. The shooter's eyes above his head, before he promptly smacked Sherman upside the head.

"Are you kidding, me?" Marston exclaimed, standing up and causing conversation to cease. "You're sorry for dying?" Marston rolled his eyes. "That was hardly your fault; I don't blame you for it. Why in hell would you apologize for that?"

"You're not your old self." Sherman murmured. "You don't joke like you used to, you look different than you used to... my death changed you."

"First of all, as far as I'm concerned, you aren't dead. You are right there, sitting and drinking and living." Marston took off his hat and slammed it on the table, causing Sherman to jump. "Secondly of all, I have no idea where this came from, but I chose to look this way simply because that's who I am. My look is in no way related to you being beaten by any means." Marston stroked a hand through his black hair, staring down at his brother. "Are you seriously being that selfish? You always thought about only yourself."

"Brother, I-" Sherman protested, but Marston suddenly embraced him in a deep hug.

"I'm your brother, and my friend. I love you as such. If this is because I'm leaving, or if this is because I'm becoming a pirate... I'm sorry. We all have to make decisions. This is my decision, and quite frankly partner; you can't do anything to stop me." Marston smirked and ruffled Sherman's hair. "I ain't gonna change just because you ask me. We are who we are. Father taught us that, so you got to keep that in your mind. We're brothers, yet we're individuals.

"I have no idea why you are suddenly spouting this nonsense, but stop it, all right. I'll come back, Sherman. Then I want to see how you have developed, because by that time, I'll be the best shooter in the seas."

Sherman stared at Marston, before breaking out in a grin. "I guess."

"You DO have personality. Who knew?" Jackal called out sarcastically, appearing at the table with Woodpecker. "Marston, have you have been replaced?"

Marston glared at the mayor of Whiskey Peak, causing him to wince.

"Evidently not." Sniffing, Jackal shook his head. "You always were a nuisance and half."

"And you were always someone who could never forgive himself." Marston retorted, stroking his goatee.

"Better not to forgive that to forget." Jackal said.

"You can both forgive yourself, as well as remember those who died." Marston stared the mayor deep into his eyes.

"Well... this is a fun conversation." Woodpecker struck in, interrupting the glares of the mayor and shooter. "What's this I hear of you leaving, Marston?"

"Exactly that." Marston grunted. "I've decided to join Dragon Claw and pursue my dreams."

"I'm sure everyone will miss your mood." Woodpecker sarcastically said, before pecking Marston on the cheek. "I'll miss you for sure."

"I'm not leaving yet." Marston said.

"Actually, we are."

At that voice, all heads turned towards the door where Diego was leaning against the wall. The red orb that acted as an eye let of a faint whirring sound as it took in the people in the room.

"Diego!" Eliza exclaimed, standing up but stopped when she sure the eye. "What? Why have you got that again?"

"It malfunctioned earlier. It's working now so I can use it without need of hiding it under an eye-patch." Diego explained, before turning to Marston. "So, you've decided to join Dragon Claw, eh? It'll be good to have a shooter with us. As I said, we'll have to leave soon, isn't that right Mayor?"

Jackal nodded, getting confused looks from Woodpecker, Sherman and Marston. "Indeed it is." Jackal turned towards the group. "As far as the citizens are concerned, it was only us, not Diego and Eliza who got rid of the Maze Pirates. It'll be bad as a whole if they knew pirates saved Whiskey Peak."

"Why?" Woodpecker questioned. "They are our saviours!"

"...because," Marston said, catching on to Marston's meaning. "The Marines would look down on our island if pirates were saviours of the island. With the state of the Marines now-a-days, they would go full pelt on our island and take over. It's better if we don't reveal Eliza and Diego had a hand in the proceeding."

"Guess that makes sense." Eliza mused, before shrugged. "I'm guessing the log is done by now?"

"Of course." Jackal nodded. "I've also thrown a couple of bags of supplies for the three of you. Thankfully you aren't a full-sized crew." Letting of a laugh, Jackal became serious and looked to Diego. "You're the captain aren't you Diego?"

"Only while we are separated from the others." Diego confirmed.

"Good. Have you been on the Grand Line before?"

"I have."

"Then you know your next island?" Jackal asked.

"Little Garden." Diego said. Little Garden, completely different from what the name suggested. It was a forest, not a garden and anything but little. "I know the risks as well. If you are going to tell me to be careful, you don't need to tell me twice. Dinosaurs & Giants are easy to beat if you know how."

"At least you know. I wouldn't want you to die just after helping us." Jackal reached forward and clasped Diego's hand, shaking it. "Thank you. Just... just thank you. The Maze Pirates tried to destroy my life, and almost succeeded. I am glad that they are gone from this world. Even IF we are missing half the island."

"What're you going to do now?" Eliza asked, standing up with Marston soon following.

"I'm going to try and unite the other peaks." Jackal said. "I also want to open up a place to heal and help those who went crazy during Morbius' attacks."

"Good." Eliza nodded. "That's needed."

"Right then." Diego clapped his hands together and nodded at Jackal. "We'll be going then. Let's-"

Diego was cut off by a shout, before a man shot through the doors and skidded to a halt at Jackal's feet, panting hard.

"Mayor... mayor... m-mayor..." The man panted his hat askew and hair sticking all over the place.

"What is it?" Jackal questioned. "Who are you?"

"I'm a t-tr-traveller..." The man gasped. "I, I was coming back from Little Garden, and and..."

"What, speak, man, speak!"

"I saw... something..." The man whispered. "Something horrible..."

"Dinosaurs aren't that horrible." Diego frowned.

"I only wish..." The man moaned. "Not even the giants could hold a hand to this... this figure from the very depths of hell. I had to tell you Jackal, mayor, for I overheard the plan, I overheard it!"

"What is it?" Jackal asked, listening to the man.

"I don't know!" The man screamed, clutching his sides. "I came as fast I could, I almost died! It... it was... horrible! Her face, it was lit up in a demonic smile! Like nothing I have ever seen! It was terrifying, it struck my soul and sucked it dry!"

"What are you talking about? Demonic smile?" Jackal looked completely confused.

"The Devil's Plaything! The Mandrahora!" The man cried out, before promptly fainting into a pile.

The table was completely quiet. Eliza looked around the table, and saw that Jackal, Woodpecker, Sherman, Marston and even Diego looked completely shocked. "What's wrong? What's the Mandrahora?"

"The Mandrahora?" Marston let of a dull laugh. "I'm already regretting my decision on joining you guys. The Mandrahora is the doll of the devil. A demon with powers no man could wish for. Magic, a devil fruit, whatever it is isn't something this world should encounter."

"Sound rather frightening." Eliza said, although she actually looked quite happy.

"Frightening?" Diego shook his head. "When I was on the Grand Line before, I once encountered a ship that had been struck down by the Mandrahora." Diego actually looked worried, something which surprised Eliza. "She is exactly as the man described. A demon from the depths of hell. The ship was completely full of dead people. Cut to pieces. Blood stained the wood and the sails. No-one was left alive. It wasn't a pirate ship either, it was a cruiser. Bodies were of the wealthy, were of the innocent." Diego placed a hand over his eyes, reliving a bad memory. "The children... they were piled in the middle of the ship, speared through the chest like mere pieces of meat."

"The Mandrahora has no emotions." Jackal supplied. "She has no qualms about fighting anyone and everyone. The Marines are too frightened to capture her, so she roams the Grand Line, killing and killing, again and again."

"Eliza." Diego said lowly. "Since we have to land on Little Garden to register the pose, I will warn you right now. The Mandrahora will find us. The Mandrahora will attempt to kill us. With only us two, it is going to take all our power to fight her and to defeat her. Do not be distracted by her appearance. A demon resides in the innocent body." Taking a breath, Diego walked towards the door. "Eliza, Marston, let's go. You know what's at stake, and we may as well get it over with as soon as possible."

(Thanks to Draco Oblivion, L-R-D, and Dthehalfdragon for the reviews! Nice, the first arc has now ended. Onto the Mandrahora (Which will be a shorter arc. Just to forewarn you.)

Next Arc on OPNN – New Trust: Diego, Eliza and new member Marston travel to Little Garden to register the pose. The Mandrahora indeed comes, but soon Dragon Claw learn that the threat isn't just the Mandrahora. Something else resides in the forest, something with the unseemly power to control with colours... Can Diego, Eliza and Marston survive the threat of dinosaurs, giants, and demons alike, or will their journey be cut to a rather bloody end?

With that, till next time!)