Chapter 4

Welcome!

Maxwell sat in front of a desk he had set up bellow deck. It was a spare table and one of the chairs they had in storage. He had even lit a candle with Veilfire, for light. Since they left Reverse Mountain, Maxwell took some time to study. Nami and the others could handle the sailing while the weather was tame.

What was he studying? Well, magic of course. Maxwell had papers strewn all over the desk, notes containing diagrams and writings he made about spell casting. Ever since his epiphany of using magic without a staff, he's been reviewing his skill set and endeavouring to expand it. He was aware of, potentially, 33 spells he could utilize, under the Elemental Schools. But in order to learn theses new spells, he had to review and reverse engineer his current knowledge into these branching abilities.

He looked up as he saw dust fall from the floor boards above, "Luffy and Usopp seem to be having fun." He looked down, sighed, organized his notes, and put everything away, blowing out the candle as he left. He had studied enough for a while. Time to join everyone on deck.

As he walked up the stairs he could hear Nami shouting and then a crack of thunder. "...It was clear and warm just a second ago... It's exactly as Crocus said. The seasons and climate here is beyond messed up," Maxwell arrived to see Nami looking out the window. "Oh, Max. Done studying?"

"For now." He looked over at the two "guests" wrapped in blankets, "Mr. 9. Ms. Wednesday."

"Warlock," they echo their greeting. They were wary and knew better than to try and mess with him. Ms. Wednesday turned to Nami, "You've left your rudder alone for awhile now, you sure that's alright?"

"Awhile? But I just checked our direct—AAAHHH!" She looked down at the log pose. They were going the wrong way. "Max! Turn the ship around! 180 degrees!" she yelled. She knew he could command the ship like no one else.

"Sure thing," he stepped outside and energized the ship into life. Ropes came loose and taught, sails fluttered, and the rudder began to move on it's own. Everyone else had either approached or looked up at him.

"Hey, Max! Something wrong?" asked Usopp. It looks like Nami's scream had interrupted his snowball fight with Luffy.

"We were heading the wrong way. We're turning the ship around to get back on track. Usopp, take the jib. Sanji, take the rudder. Be on guard."

"Got it!" "Hey! I don't take orders from you!"

"STOP ACTING SO HIGH AND MIGHTY AND START HELPING OUT!" Maxwell moves to side to see Mr. 9 and Ms. Wednesday flying out of the cabin. Nami looks down at the crew, "Sanji, do as he says!"

"JUST LEAVE IT TO ME NAMI!" he cheers. Maxwell only roles his eyes. He hadn't the chance yet to really interact with Sanji, but his "exhalation" really grated Maxwell's nerves.

Usopp stops as he feels something, "Hey wait! The winds just changed!"

Nami whips her head towards him, "That can't be!" Maxwell could feel it too. The aroma of a fresh spring breeze.

"Zoro, wake up! We're in an emergency!" "Zzzz..."

"Hey I see a dolphin jumping over there! Let's go check it out!" "YOU JUST STAY QUIET!"

"The waves are getting higher!" "And now there's fog!" "Iceberg at 10 o'clock!"

"WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS OCEAN!"

"Zzzz..."

Maxwell energizes the Merry as best he can and tries to stay in control of the ship. They narrowly avoided the iceberg, and now the winds were gusting against the sea and sails. He tried to keep everything together as the crew scrambled to keep the ship in shape. They all followed Nami's directions as they all tried to sail on the Grand Line.

"Yaaawwwn..." Zoro stretches as he wakes up.

"Ah, that was a nice nap. Hm?" He notices everyone dead tired on the deck, "Hey, come on now. I know the weather is nice and warm but don't you think you're being a bit too lazy?" He looks specifically at Nami, "Are you sure we're going the right way?"

Maxwell opens his eyes, and they are glowing green. He snaps his fingers and a lightning bolt streaks out of nowhere and strikes Zoro. "...Cough...!" Zoro wheezes out a puff of smoke and falls to the ground, smoking from the electricity.

Maxwell seems to rise form the ground like some Eldritch horror as he walks over to Zoro. "You have a good nap?" Zoro's eyes seem to bug out when he realizes Maxwell is pissed. Magic distorts his voice, "The next time we have to wake you up during an emergency, I swear... I will set you on fire, throw you into an icy coffin, AND LEAVE YOU TO THE FISHES! DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR!"

"Eh-hehe... Sure thing, Max," Zoro normally wouldn't be scared to take on Maxwell, but those eldritch eyes were sending shivers all over his body.

"Hey Max, knock it off. We're fine!" Luffy smiles as he sits on the rails between the staircases. Maxwell looks up at his captain for moments before he relents and the glow leaves his eyes.

Zoro shakily gets up, not wanting to set of Maxwell further, but then notices Mr. 9 and Ms. Wednesday, "Why're you two on our ship?"

"You noticed NOW!?" yells Mr. 9. Both of them were exhausted from keeping the Merry from sinking.

"We're headed towards their town right now," responds Luffy.

"What, so we're giving them a ride? It's not like we're obligated to or anything?" "I know."

Zoro crouches down to take a better look at them, "Hmm... there's something sinister about your faces," he grins, despite the scorch marks. Zoro can be just as intimidating as anyone else on the crew, "What did you say your names were again...?"

"M... Mr. 9..." "And I'm Ms Wednesday..."

"Right..." The two aquatinted strangers sweat as Zoro starts rubbing his chin, menacingly, "Something about those names have been bugging me ever since I heard them... I feel like I've heard it before... Or not... Well in any case—Ow!"

Nami had hit him on the head, "Did you have a nice nap!? Maxwell may have already dealt you your punishment but I'm not done with you yet!" She hits Zoro again making him clutch his head.

Satisfied she calls out, "Don't let your guards down everyone! You can never expect what might happen out here! I finally understand just how terrifying the ocean truly is, as well as why thy call it the Grand Line! I understand because all of my navigation skills have failed to work!"

"Uhh... Are we going to be fine?" Usopp had hidden on the front deck when Maxwell had looked like some possessed ghost. And Nami wasn't far behind in that scary factor.

"We'll be fine! Things will work out one way or the other. And as proof of that, look...! The first leg of our journey, is over."

The clouds clear to reveal an island, "I see giant cacti!" It had craggy layered rock as if from a canyon and a river cutting into the mainland. Oh, and mountain sized cactuses in round bulges, towered in the air,

"So this is Whiskey Peak!" Luffy looks out excited to see their first island.

"Thank God we've arrived alive!" Mr. 9, and Ms. Wednesday jump up on the rail and bow, "Now then, we ask you please drop us off here!"

"Thank you for taking us here, my honeys! If fate wills it, then let us meet again!" speaks Ms. Wednesday.

"Bye bye baby!" They both jump overboard, but don't get far.

"YA-T-T-T-TA!"

Maxwell had set up a Static Cage keeping them on deck.

"Oi! Crap—!"

Maxwell smiles with a false-sweetness in his voice, "You think we're just going to let you leave before we actually dock? Now what sort of hosts would we be if we just let our guest jump overboard. We did promised them a ride." Both agents look up at Maxwell fearfully, "Oh no. You're staying with us until we reach the harbour."

Everyone else takes a step away from Maxwell, not wanted to risk his ire, while their "guests" just nod and sit still.

"T-There wouldn't be any monsters on this island now, right...!?" asks Usopp, trying not focus on Maxwell's waning patients.

Sanji grimaces and lights a cigarette as he leans against the rails, "Considering this place in Grand Line and all, I'd say there is a good possibility."

Luffy leans backwards from his seat to look at Usopp, "Well, we can always run away if that's the case."

"Wait just a second. Don't forget we have to stay on this island for a certain amount of time." Luffy looks at Nami curiously as she continues her explanation, "This log pose has to record this island's magnetic field before we can move onto the next island! And the recording varies for each island. There's some islands that take only a few hours to record, while some even take a few days."

"T-Then even if we come to a horrible monster island that we want to run away from, it's possible that we'll have to stay on it for several days...!?"

"That's right."

Luffy turns around in his seat, "Well, we'll worry about it when it happens. So let's just go already! It'd be weird not to go in when there's a river in front waiting for us!"

"For you maybe..." "No, what he says is right. There's no use in worrying about it so let's just go." "I'll protect you, Nami!" "H-H-Hey guys... Listen... I uh... I think I've suddenly devolved a Can'tenterislands disease."

"...Fine, let's go in then." "I'm serious guys. My Can'tente—" "Ready? Be prepared to fight or run at a moment's notice."

Maxwell looks up as they sail into the river maw. He could feel the heat in the air and the suns rays. They would be harsher if the sun was higher up in the sky. This island was definitely a desert island of some kind. It was somewhat hard for him to believe this place was inhabited, given Thedas' history with deserts. He could see people along the shore and it seemed the Strawhats had caught their attention.

"Welcome! To the Town of Welcoming, Whiskey Peak!" "Pirates!" "Welcome to our town!" "Welcome to the Grand Line!"

The towns people were cheering them as they sailed down the river. Maxwell could only blink, and Usopp looks out at the locals, confused, "Huh? Not only are there no monsters, but there are people greeting us."

"What's going on...?" Any suspicion from Sanji is soon dashed when he sees and group of girls cheering, "T-There's a bunch of lovely ladies too!"

"Talk about a warm welcome! Looks like pirates really are the people's heroes!" Usopp decided to soak up the attention, while Luffy cheered from the other side, "Yahoo!"

Soon enough the Strawhats dock on the river bank. The bank was more of a sheer drop, so it was deep enough for the Merry to be tethered without beaching. The crew disembarks from the ride bringing Mr. 9 and Ms. Wednesday with them.

"Welg—ahem!" The mayor, Igarappoi quickly clears his throat before continuing, "Ah Mr. 9, Ms. Wednesday, welcome back! It is comforting to know you have returned safely.

"Igarappoi. The feeling is mutual, and we even brought guest!" says Mr. 9.

"Ah yes, forgive me," he bows his heads to the crew. "Welcome. My name is Igarappoi. You may be a little shocked at the welcome, but this is Whiskey Peak, a town of liquor and music. Hospitality is our middle name. Thank you for bringing back two of our hunters."

Igarappoi smiles, "If it's fine liquor you want, we have an ocean's worth. So please, I cordially invite you to our banquet and hope that you may entread—ahem!" He does a melody before continuing again, "...Entreat us with tales of your adventures."

"GLADLY!" Luffy, Sanji, and Usopp link shoulder to shoulder and cheer merrily into town. The town starts playing music and turns to merriment. Zoro, Nami, and Maxwell however, were not as enthused and stood where they were.

"Well, thanks for the ride!" "And getting us here safely!" "But we really should go." "Bye bye baby!"

Mr. 9 and Ms Wednesday head into town doing tumbles, joining the townsfolk. Perhaps a little too hasty.

The remaining crew eyes each other and Nami approaches Igarappoi, "Ah, by the way, how long will it take for this island's log to be recorded?"

"Log?" He looks down at the log pose on her wrist, "Oh! Please put aside thinking of such weary matters for now and focus on resting from your journey!" He turns to the townsfolk, leading Nami into town, "Everyone! Prepare the banquet! And let us sing to our heart's content for these adventurers!"

"Alright, time for a party!" yells Luffy. Maxwell thought this was a little strange but he'll play along for now. So did the sun set on Whiskey Peak.

The banquet continued into the night. Usopp was getting drunk and telling his tall tales. Zoro and Nami were in a drinking contest with some locals. Luffy had stuffed himself silly, a normal chef's nightmare. And Sanji was busy flirting with a gaggle of girls surrounding them.

Maxwell wasn't sure if he was enjoying himself. The attention was friendly and all but he couldn't help compare the banquet to Great Aunt Lucille's Summer Balls. These people had good food, good wine, good company even, but he felt the eyes on everyone on the crew. It was as if they were waiting for something. The Trevelyan's certainly weren't Orlesian, but the nobles that attended those parties were just as calculating. It unnerved him.

So Maxwell takes another sip of wine and watches the party. He wasn't going to indulge like everyone else. He was going to be responsible, eat his steak and vegetables, and keep an eye out for trouble.

"Hahahaha! What a festib—ahem!" Igarappoi try's to correct his throat again, "—Festive night this is! Your enjoyment means the world to us!" He turns to see Maxwell sitting on the sidelines, "Mr..., forgive me, I never asked you your name!"

"Maxwell Trevelyan, sir. Thank you for your hospitality, please take a seat."

Igarappoi sits down and a waitress approaches with a glass of water. He was their host after all, "Thank you my dear. Now Mr. Trevelyan, how are you enjoying yourself so far?"

"I'm honoured you would throw our crew such a banquet. Honestly it reminds me of some of the parties my family would host. Though this is a lot more... homely than what I'm used to."

"Was your family rich?" Igarappoi raises and eyebrow.

"Nobility actually. Though I was more of the black sheep no one wanted around," Maxwell takes another sip of wine.

"Hoho! You've certainly moved around in the world. You're a pirate now! What made you leave? Were you a trouble maker? A ladies man?" Igarappoi nudges Maxwell jokingly.

"Mage actually," Igarappoi raises and eyebrow at Maxwell, "My family was religious and magic really didn't have a place in the social structure. So I was sent to a... convent, to live in. Only my Great Aunt Lucille had any initiative to include me—and no one dared mess with her! Hahahaha... ugh..." Maxwell shivered remembering some of the times with her.

Igarappoi looked like he was about to speak, but Maxwell interrupted him, "Though, I'll admit I'm a little concerned..."

"Hmm? Why so?"

Maxwell taps the rim of his glass, "When we brought your fellow villagers here, I was under the impression you people were in need of food."

Igarappoi's face turns a bit more solemn, "Ah... I see. Yes, food can be hard to come by here. We live on a desert island, and sometimb—ahem!" he coughs, "Ma~ma~ma~ma~ ...Forgive me, sometimes we must send out hunters, or traders, for supplies. How did you find their majesty, anyways?"

"Wait, Mr. 9 is an actual king?" Maxwell looks at Igarappoi confused.

"Hahaha, no. But he's been good to us townsfolk here on Whiskey Peak, so we humour him."

"Mhmm... Well, after we had—"

Maxwell turns his head when he was interrupted by Luffy suddenly falling onto the floor with a huge thud. It interrupted his line of thought, seeing Luffy stuffed like some inflated druffolo, "Thanks for the meal. I can't eat anymore..." Three different chefs had fallen over beside him, exhausted from feeding Luffy. Nami burst out laughing at him, clearly the booze was getting to her.

Igarappoi gets up from his chair, "Ah, I suppose I better check on the rest of our guests. Have a good night Mr. Trevelyan."

"You too, Mayor Igarappoi," Maxwell raises his glass in a toast as the mayor leaves. He takes a sip of his wine and notices some of the others getting tired from partying. Zoro has his face on a table, Nami's eyes have gone cross, Usopp leans back in the couch he's on, and Sanji seems to be passed out from euphoria. Luffy just fell asleep in a food coma.

"Hmm. Well, I guess we'll... we'll... what...? I didn't even drink that mush... ...zzz..." Maxwell conks out in his chair, and falls asleep.

A little sediment could be seen in the bottom of the glass.