Alrighty,
Thank you for your patience. Out of the flashback and into the calm... before the storm. A short chapter but next one should be longer. I didn't spend as much time looking for grammar mistakes or continuity errors. Sorry in advance but let me know and I'll fix it.
Chapter 11: Answer to the Riddle! Secrets Buried Deep in Stone
Location: Crescend Major, Ruins
Time: Evening
Present Year
The night was cold, the usual chill that teared up the eyes and chattered the teeth. Fortunately, the royal guard known as the Freeze Gentleman was comfortable in the cold just as he was used to the night. In his opinion, he belonged to the night. It was the ideal time for him. Creeping through the ruins on Crescend Major, he was at home. Even the frosted breeze felt like a kiss to him. Probably because of his incline towards the dark and cold was why the Freeze Gentleman often volunteered for the night patrol for the abandon area of Crescent Luna.
Crescend Major exemplified the phrase "silent as the grave," there were no crickets that sang their song only the winds with the ghost soldiers dogging its heels. The Freeze Gentleman found his patrols to be an excellent time to think because in all his years he had never encountered any trouble besides some curious teens wanting to see the ruins. It was peaceful. So the Freeze Gentleman barely had a second to think when a twig snapped and bang of a pistol echoed through the night.
~~BINK~*~SAKE~~
Location: Crescend Major, Ruins
Time: Evening
Present Year
On the other side of Crescend Major, fingers slipped around Brook's neck and proceeded to throttle the skeleton.
Brook screeched from the violent shaking until his head came off with a pop. His skull bounced off the ground and landed at a person's feet.
Brook looked up, "Ah! Ms. Robin!"
Robin stepped out from the shadows the trees provided. "Brook, I thought you were the enemy," she explained, dispelling the extra hands that were used to attack Brook.
"I'm glad I didn't have an actual throat for you to choke," Brook remarked while Robin placed his skull back on his body. "Has your time here been fruitful?"
"Yes, and how about you? How was the town?" Robin asked,
"My people live! Our traditions are…. a bit more commercialized…. How did you know?" Brook questioned curiously.
"You can see the town from the top of the mountain,"
"My, you were very ambitious,"
"This island intrigues me. The disease of Crescend Major is a fascinating disguise for nefarious purposes."
Brook stared blankly at Robin, "I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean, how did you know about the plague? And what nefarious purposes?"
Robin smiled secretively, "I've been listening, follow me," Brook followed Robin through the forest and up higher on the mountain. "I thought there was something strange when I found that little house out in the middle of the mountain."
"That's Angus's house,"
"Did you notice what was written on the door?"
"I… didn't stay long."
Robin nodded. "Someone had recently carved in a message. The height indicated it was likely written by a child but it was written in an older dialect I've seen in some literature a while back. Sad sinmieheg tgeil ni red niets."
"I recognize it but that language is essentially dead. Only the Royal family teaches it to their children because its used in traditional ceremonies."
"This wasn't from any ritual. The phrase translated to 'The secret is in the stone.'"
"What does that mean?" Brook asked.
Robin led the skeleton straight to a crevice in the mountain and gestured to it, "Come and see. It might be a tight squeeze, but I assure you're the other side makes it worth it," Brook bent down as much as he could and shuffled through the narrow crack. Robin pushed in afterwards.
"It's very dark," Brook remarked, unable to see anything but endless blackness.
"If you keep going, you see a light." Robin replied.
Scuttling forward like a crab, Brook ran his bony fingers across the rock. He hoped this light Robin spoke of would appear soon. The darkness was unsettling Brook. The whole mountain suddenly shook as a low rumble ripped through the stone.
"WHAT WAS-" Brook was silenced by an extra hand from Robin.
"Sh, keep going," Robin whispered nudging Brook to continue.
"You're being very mysterious, Ms. Robin," Brook noted, continuing forward towards the now visible light. He was able to make out a rock outcrop and beyond that, he could hear steel clanging against stone.
"Careful," Robin warned, using her hand to push Brook against the rock outcrop, being carefully not to allow his afro to poke out before joining him. The clanging was much louder now and Brook could faintly hear men shouting. Robin indicated for the skeleton to look beyond the rocks. "Don't get spotted."
Rolling onto his ribcage, Brook lifted himself up enough to peer over the rocks. Before him was a large but brightly lit cavern. A couple stories below them was a mining operation. Brook watched as men pushed around carts full of rock fragments. One area was devoted to piles of stone slabs where workers were taking inventory. Other workers were clearing away debris from their latest dynamite explosion. Many of the miners carried weapons, ranging from cutlasses to rifles. From what Brook could see, the workers were like cogs in a well-oiled machine.
"What is all this?"
"Crescend Major's secret." Robin answered. "I was attacked by one of those men, he didn't like my snooping. But with the right persuasion, he was happy enough to tell me about this operation. Crescend Luna has an abnormally large amount of seastone, so much so that you can find surface outcrops. These men are harvesting it to sell on the black market."
"How does this connect to the disease?" Brook asked.
Robin pointed to a pool of off-colored water flowing through a small tunnel. "It likely wasn't a disease but poisoning from the toxic byproducts of the mining."
Brook struggled to comprehend everything he had just learned, "That... that can't be."
"There's no way for these men to not know that what they're doing is contaminating the island, they just don't care." Robin said with a frown. "With the quarantine in place, they have free range to continue poisoning the island to make a profit."
Brook's bones crunched as his clenched his fist, "Those scoundrels."
Robin laid a comforting hand on Brook's arm. "We can't stop them just yet, especially since they have plenty of seastone at their disposal."
"But Ms. Robin, these men are responsible for causing my home great suffering." Brook stated solemnly.
Robin squeezed his arm. "I know. Let's at least learn who's in charge and get the others to help destroy this operation."
"…Hai." Brook pushed himself off the rock but some of it crumbled. Robin and Brook watched helplessly as the stones fell down below. The sound of the rocks tumbling down the cavern echoed throughout and was quickly noticed by multiple miners.
"Intruders!"
Robin and Brook ducked behind the rocks as bullet whizzed over their heads. Robin gave her companion a disapproving glance to which Brook could only meekly say, "Whoops."
The hail of bullets firing and the thundering of boots made it difficult to hear Robin say, "We need to go," but Brook got the message from the firm push Robin gave him towards the crack.
Squeezing back through the crack, Brook and Robin exited on to the mountain. Brook took a moment to relish in the cool breeze of the night. The distant shouts of the miners reminded him that the enemy was not too far behind. Light shined through the bent trees, signaling that Brook and Robin would soon be surrounded.
"Lead the way," said Robin.
"Eh?!"
Robin smiled patiently. "You grew up on this mountain. With your knowledge we can evade the enemy and reach Luffy."
Brook examined where they were with uncertainty and pointed one boney finger at the bushes. "This way,"
The musician took the lead, walking straight through the underbrush. He didn't realize that the slope steepened drastically, his feet slipped right out from underneath him and Brook yelped with a, "Yo-HO!"
~~BINK~*~SAKE~~
Location: Crescend Minor, Royal Tower
Time: Next Morning
Present Year
Morgant tapped his finger against his wooden desk. The rhythmic tapping was soothing his headache from all the paperwork he was attending to this morning. He would like to set the work aside and focus on his other concerns but he would also prefer if he completed this work before today's festivities were fully underway. The door to Morgant's office opened and Lady Stella strode in with a grim expression on her face.
"Stella! Here to give me more paperwork?" Morgant greeted. The red haired guard stopped before the desk, withdrawing a bloody cravat from her pockets. Morgant's cheer disappeared. "Who?"
"The Freeze Gentleman," Stella said, taking a long steady breath. "He didn't report in for the end of his shift. The morning patrol found the Freeze Gentleman shot in the back of the head. His assailant must have been lying in wait."
Morgant put the paperwork down to prop his head into his hands. Running his fingers through his hair in frustration, Morgant looked to Stella. "How the hell did it happen?"
"He was shot from behind."
"But who did it?!"
"From initial assessment, it was pirates planning to quietly infiltrate the island or a thief looking for valuables." Stella explained.
Morgant was silent, thinking very carefully. "Those pirates have overstayed their welcome." He moved to his desk drawer and reached in to grab several wanted posters. Morgant handed the papers over to the guardsman. "The Strawhat pirates arrived yesterday and have been participating in the festivities."
Stella stopped shuffling through the bounties after seeing image of a skeleton, "The Humming Gentleman? He's a pirate? Sir, you should have told me as soon as you knew they were criminals."
"I didn't want to start a panic. Until Crescent Luna's economy fully recovers, we need the revenue that this festival provides from tourism. And, well, seeing Luan - a notable member of our kingdom and known anti-pirate advocate - at peace with them made me consider they weren't all that bad." Morgant rose to his feet and looked out the window behind his desk. The sun had risen high enough to shine down on the town. "At the very least I thought Brook's sentimentality for his old home would make the Strawhats reconsider stirring up trouble but I was wrong. In the past Crescent Luna was famed for its hospitality and music, it didn't matter who you were, those of Crescent Luna would welcome you with a jolly tune. From the stories I heard, The Humming Gentleman embody that mentality."
"That was before the war, sir. And the Humming Gentleman goes by Soul King now," said Stella.
Morgant let out a halfhearted chuckle, "You probably are questioning my leadership."
"It's not my place. What we can do now is get the Strawhats into custody." Stella stated. "I'll distribute these bounties to the guards."
Morgant couldn't hold back a secret smile as Stella exited the office. Closing the doors, Stella looked again at the bloody cravat. She was so lost in thought, Stella walked right into Guston. The bounties fell from her hands. Stella muttered curses under her breath as she quickly picked them up.
"Teacher?" Guston asked, he face darkening. "Are those bounties?"
"Yes, but nothing to be concerned about. Just some updates to current bounties." Stella lied smoothly, "Little early for you to be in the tower. Prince Alto causing trouble already?"
Guston's lips pressed together as he looked away.
Stella looked over her student's defensive demeanor. As prodigal as he was, Guston was still a young boy and Stella was familiar with his quirks. "Prince Alto's run away again, hasn't he?"
"…. Yes."
"How long?"
"Since yesterday,"
Stella sighed, fingering the bounties. "It hasn't been long. Have you checked Mrs. Luan's house? Doesn't he play with her granddaughter?"
"He wasn't there."
"Check again and the rest of the town. We may have to search Crescend Major."
"Do you really think the prince would go to Major?" Guston asked.
"I wouldn't doubt it. Prince Alto's habit of escaping his bodyguards worsened after he visited the ruins." Guston barely react to hearing this information but the Lady Stella could tell that he was tense. "I didn't expect that you could stop Prince Alto from running away when I assigned you to be his personal guard."
Guston frowned, eyes flickering to the bounties. "With all due respects, teacher, I'm a royal guardsman not a babysitter."
Stella moved her arms behind her back, hiding the bounties. "You have high expectations for yourself which isn't inherently a bad thing."
"Then trust me to do more."
Stella placed a firm hand on the teen's shoulder, "I'm trusting you to find the future leader of this kingdom. I can't express crucial this is. Find the prince. That is your only goal until he is safe in the Royal Tower."
"Yes ma'am,"
Wordlessly, Stella walked past Guston and down the hall. Guston watched his teacher go and bowed his head in disappointment. There was a paper on the floor, partially tucked under the rug. Realizing it must be one of the bounties his teacher had, Guston picked it up. He clenched the poster of Soul King's concert tightly.
~~BINK~*~SAKE~~
Location: Crescend Minor, Market
Time: Early Morning
Present Year
"Nami," whined Usopp, careful to stay outside her range to punch him. "I didn't even get to eat breakfast."
Nami rolled her eyes at the sniper. "Stop complaining Ussop, it's way too early for it."
"But why do we have to be up this early?" Ussop asked, gesturing around. The orange sunlight had just begun to peak over the roof shingles, casting long shadows over the streets. There weren't many people out in the market. Most street vendors were preparing their stalls or interacting with a few enthusiastic tourists.
"We practically ate everything in Luan's pantry. The least we can do is get her family groceries."
"But I got stuck helping with groceries last time. Why not take Sanji?"
"I could've if you didn't want lunch ready on time." Nami countered.
Usopp relented with a sigh, "Okay."
Satisfied, Nami went back to browsing the vegetables in the stand, calculating what price she could barter the seller down to. Usopp leaned against the stand, knowing it will take Nami a bit to get the price she wants. The streets slowly begin to fill with more residents and tourists are the sun rose higher into the sky. Towering over the people was the Immovable Gentleman. Bernwald took noticed of Usopp and Nami and quickly looked away – presumably to talk to someone that the gentleman's broad shoulders blocked from Usopp's view. Usopp wasn't too sure why the guard's behavior made him feel uneasy.
"Usopp,"
"Yeah?"
Nami dropped several bags full of vegetables into the sniper's arms. "Pay attention or we'll never get this done." Nami turned to move on but walked right into a broad chest. The cat burglar stumbled back, clutching her nose and cursing.
Usopp, however, felt a dreaded sensation come over him. The Immovable Gentleman now blocked their way, looking down at them with a very grim expression. "Cat Burglar Nami and Sniper King." Nami and Usopp looked at the guard in alarm. "You are under arrest, please do not resist."
"Screw that!" Nami stated, reaching for her climatact. A blue ball came whizzing in and splattered over Nami's side and her weapon. Desperately, Nami tried to free her hand from her waist but the sticky substance held fast. Before Usopp could react, he and Nami were pelleted by the balls. Upon contact the balls exploded into the sticky substance, effectively trapping both strawhats where they stood.
Columba walked around from behind Nami and Usopp to stand beside Bernwald. Casually, Columba juggled one of the blue balls. "Don't even try it, pirates."
"What the hell is going on?" Nami demanded but was ignored.
"Don't you think that was a bit excessive Sir Columba?" Bernwald observed to which Explosive Gentleman merely shrugged.
"Hey don't ignor-" Nami was promptly silenced when Columba threw a ball at her mouth.
"Let's just get these pirates to the prison." Columba stated, eyeing the crowd that was starting to form around them.
"Jail?!" Usopp screeched.
"Of course. It is where your kind belongs." Berwald stated. He picked Nami and Usopp, tearing them from the ground with ease. Hefting them both over his shoulders, Bernwald faced the crowd with a bright smile. "Do not fret, dear citizens! There is nothing to worry about. Please enjoy your day and the festival!"
Columba followed after Bernwald as the pirates struggled fruitlessly in the man's arms. Unnoticed by the guards and the crowd was a blond haired boy dressed in a fine vest and pale shorts. The boy stayed in the shadows of the nearby alley as the guards passed by. Once they were gone, the boy came out into the street and ran off in the other direction.
~~BINK~*~SAKE~~
Location: Luan's House
Time: Morning
Current Year
Sanji tapped his foot as he meticulously cleaned the kitchen. With all the dishes put away and the counters cleaned, Sanji joined his nakama on the house's lawn. With the rambunctious nature of the crew, it was easier to enjoy the day outside. Sonny was fiddling with what Sanji could only guess was a firework. She was explaining how Jean's fireworks were unique to Franky and Luffy, the latter looking on excitedly.
"Nami hasn't come back yet?" Sanji asked.
"She and the long-nosed one are still out shopping." Luan replied.
Chopper trotted over, saying. "Thank you hosting us, Ms. Luan."
"We'll be sure to stock your pantry before we leave." Sanji added.
"It's much appreciated. I don't think we even have enough for lunch."
"If the sea witch doesn't get back soon, lunch won't be ready on time." Zoro grumbled, casually dodging a kick from Sanji. Shifting his swords, Zoro glared over to the corner where he sensed a presence watching them. "Come out,"
A blond haired boy stepped around the corner who Sanji immediately recognized from the other day at the park. "You little punk!"
Luan appeared absolutely surprised by the newcomer while Sonny had a huge smile on her face, "Alto!"
Alto didn't say anything at first, carefully studying the crew members. Sanji realized that the boy had almost an expectant look as his eyes moved. Dissatisfied by what he saw, Alto relaxed and tried to look nonchalant.
"Your friends aren't coming." Alto said. "They got arrested."
The strawhats were in an uproar hearing that, "NANI?"
Alto scratched his nose and shrugged, "I saw Sir Bernwald and Sir Columba take them to the jailhouse."
"I guess things were going too smoothly for us," said Sanji.
"Quit complaining. All we have to do is break them out." Zoro stated.
"We have to rescue them." Chopper declared. "Where is the jail?"
"It's beyond the Royal Tower." Alto answered.
Luffy stood up. "Yosh! Let's go get Nami and Usopp!"
Franky held the firework between his massive hands. "I bet these things would make a super distraction."
Sanji frowned. "That's a little too flashy."
Luan looked horrified. "You cannot actually be planning to storm the tower?!"
"You've all been great but we have to rescue our nakama." Chopper explained.
"Hey! I told you about your friends now answer my question!" Alto demanded. "Where's the skeleton!?"
"You mean Mister Brook? Wha'd ya need?" Sonny asked.
"It doesn't matter what, where is he?"
"He went to Crescend Major this yesterday."
"Tch,"
"Hold it right there, young man!" Luan stated when Alto made to run away. "It's dangerous to go to Crescend Major alone. Wait for him to return."
Alto looked hesitant to agree but conceded.
"We don't have time to wait." Luffy stated.
"As much as I want to save Nami-swan. We can't just rush in there without thinking." Sanji said. "The guards are probably on their way here. Let's plan our attack at the firework guy's place."
Luffy frowned at this but agreed. "Planning can't take too long."
"Hai, senchou."
~~BINK~*~SAKE~~
Location: Crescend Major
Time: Late Afternoon
Current Year
While Brook and Robin managed to escape the caves, the enemy was close behind them. It had been years since Brook has traversed the mountains and his memory was not as reliable as he could have hoped. But making mistakes seemed to be helping them avoid the enemy as Brook and Robin did not take the logical routes. On the other hand, they were not getting any closer to getting off the mountains. If they couldn't get passed the enemy, there was no chance they could escape and warn their nakama and island of the secret operation.
"Hurry up and find those pirates!" A grizzly bear of a man with a scar slashed across his face ordered. "Don't let them anywhere near Minor!"
Brook and Robin quietly waited for another group of men to rush by. Robin let out sigh. "This is getting us nowhere."
"They're defenses are very tight. But not as tight as my—" Robin looked to Brook expectantly, waiting for her crewmate to finish his skull joke. Brook's shoulders slumped, ever so slightly hinting to the exhaustion he was feeling. "Forgive me, Ms. Robin. But I don't believe we can get past these men without a direct confrontation."
Robin thought carefully, weighing all their options. It was true that she and Brook could fight through these men even if they likely had seastone coated weapons. It was still an unnecessary risk that they didn't need to take. She and Brook could easily continue to evade the enemy and eventually get back to their crew. The men seemed more interested in keeping them away from Crescend Minor, probably to keep their illegal activities a secret. While she couldn't be completely sure of the enemy's motive, Robin knew that they were hurting her nakama's home. They couldn't keep getting delayed.
"We will have to confront them but that doesn't mean both of us," said Robin. "I'll act as a diversion. You take this chance to get ahead of them. Tell Luffy what's going on."
"But Robi—" A hand sprouted from Brook's shoulder and a single finger silenced him gently.
"This is for the best." Robin assured.
Brook allowed for some of the hands to tug him to his feet. Pink petals fluttered around them. The wind carried the petals off, letting them slip between the trees and past some of the enemy men. Following the direction of the petals, the lead man spotted two figures shrouded in the dark shade of the overgrown forest.
"There they are!" The man shouted and charged at his targets. But as soon as the man sliced at Robin's figure, she and Brook disappeared in a flurry of petals. "Huh?"
Looking around the area, the man could see the pirates further off, appearances still obstructed by the trees and shade. Cautiously, the man signaled for his allies to approach for a sneak attack. None realized Robin was really hiding behind a tree nearby, arms crossed.
Robin smiled and laughed quietly. "Fufufufufu."
Even though it was midday, the thick overgrown forest formed nearly pitch black shadows. It was perfect for her to construct her hands into constructs resembling her and Brook. With this decoy, Robin could let these men run around in circles – none the wiser as Brook ran for the lake.
~~BINK~*~SAKE~~
Location: Jean's Workshop
Time: Evening
Current Year
When leaving Luan's house, the strawhats thought it best to split up to keep a lower profile. Unfortunately, not everyone remembered the way to Jean's workshop. It was evening by the time Zoro and Chopper entered into the workshop, the young doctor screaming in the swordsman for almost leading them into a squad of royal guardsmen. Luffy restlessly tapped his sandal covered foot on the cement. Jean was not happy at all with all the pirates and Luan showing up in his workshop.
"Don't touch that!" Jean explained, prompt Franky to put down a strange amalgamation of instruments and household appliances who gave them older man an apologetic smile. "My workshop is not a tea house!"
"Don't worry Jean-bro. We'll be out of your hair soon." Franky promised. At that moment, Zoro tossed Chopper off of him. Jean shrieked in despair when Chopper crashed into a cone shaped wire frame.
Luffy let out a frustrated groan, tapping his foot faster.
Sensing his captain's impatienceness, Sanji said. "Let's get started on Nami-swan's rescue."
"And Usopp's." Chopper piped.
"We should just do a frontal assault." Zoro suggested.
"Baka, we can't do that!" Sanji exclaimed.
"Why not? I've only noticed a few guardsmen who could be challenging opponents but we can blow the rest away easy."
"This is Brook's home. We can't just carelessly charge in and destroy everything."
"Yeah but Usopp and Nami are nakama."
"Wait, wait! Rescue?! Assault? What are you guys planning?! Luan?!" Jean shouted frantically, looking to Luan. Luan was holding Sonny and Alto closely, looking very uncertain.
"I.. its…"
"I've heard the stories! You Strawhats leave destruction in your wake!" Jean cried out. "If you Strawhats go into battle with the royal guardsman, the whole town will be razed to the ground!"
"Then we won't break it. Can we go now?" Luffy demanded.
"NO!"
"We promise to be careful," said Chopper. "We just want Nami and Usopp back."
"Crescent Luna's suffered enough." Luan said softly. "It's best if you just leave."
Sonny gripped her tightly, "Granny..."
"We are not leaving without any of my nakama." Luffy stated firmly.
"You heard our senchou and there's no changing his mind." Franky stated.
Luffy nodded. "Now are we planning the rescue or can we go!?"
On trembling legs, Jean stood before the straw hatted pirate. "We've only just recovered from the plague! If you attack now, Crescent Luna is doomed!"
"We're Brook's nakama, trust his faith in us," Sanji tried to reason.
Jean and Luan shared a look. "...…."
"AHH! I can't wait anymore!" Luffy yelled, throwing his arms back. "Gum Gum no….. Rocket!"
Luffy launched himself, right through the wall. Jean yelped to avoid the rumble as the others ran to the opening. His friends and Brook's family watched as the pirate sailed over the town. As if to challenge the straw hatted pirate, a sudden gust of Crescent Luna's freezing winds stirred. Luffy screamed as the winds swirled, tossing him around in the sky. His still stretched arms flapped uselessly.
The strawhats winced as their captain hit the Royal Tower. Luffy's arms swung around the tower and became tangled effectively gluing Luffy to the tower. Because of the tower being plated with seastone, Luffy sagged, too powerless to move. "uuuh…..."
"What luck," Sanji muttered, rubbing his temple with irritation.
Rolling his eyes, Zoro rose to his feet. "Let's go. Before our dumbass captain's captured too."
"HAI!"
"I'll stay here to warn Robin and Brook when they come back." Chopper volunteered.
"Right and look after them as well." Sanji said in a low whisper, Chopper followed his gaze to Luan, Jean, Sonny and Alto. "Don't let them get hurt."
Chopper nodded and walked over to them. Sonny grinned and hugged the reindeer closely. The rest of strawhats left to save their crewmates.
Next time, Strawhat Pirates, infamous disturbers of the peace.
- DigitalGuardian