"I'm not sure how I feel about interrogating a wounded man," Run finally says. It's a strange position to take given how many times he's had it in his mind to kill an enemy...but one that he really can't maintain if they actually intend to find Big Mom.
"It's our only chance, Run," Brook tells him. "Since he feels indebted to us for saving his people maybe he'll even tell us willingly." The sound of wings beating rapidly begins to fill the air and everyone looks around quickly. Massive swarms of insects fly through the trees around them on all sides.
"Theres a whole lot of them," Zoro says, grinning. Wanda and Carrot immediately spur the Warny's into a quick run, and the insects follow after them. As they draw closer, they realize just how big the bugs are, and that each one of them has a large proboscis.
"What are those?!"
"Sutchies!" Carrot tells them. "They're giant insects that suck blood! You Lesser Minks have less hair so they can suck all your blood and kill you in an instant!" Run glances over his shoulder at Franky sitting behind him, and raises his hand.
"Oi, Franky, lie back," Run tells him, flames roaring to life across his palm. Franky drops back immediately, revealing a large swarm closing in. "Heat Haze!" A gout of flame shoots skyward, lighting up the forest brilliantly before disappearing just as quickly. Eight days training as much as he can aboard Bartolomeo's ship...eight days well spent to get a basic level grasp on his new abilities. Ash rains down from the sky above them but it doesn't seem to have made a noticeable dent in their numbers...in fact, the bright light and flames roaring along the red head's palm only seems to have attracted their attention to him.
"Ohhh! So cool!" laughs Luffy, clapping loudly.
"What was that?!" scream Chopper, Brook and Nami in unison.
"Oh, that's right! You guys don't know, yet! While we were at Dressrosa Run ate Ace's Flare-Flare Fruit!"
"We need to exterminate them," Wanda says. They come to a screeching halt in the middle of the path, and quickly disembark from the back of the Warny's. The Sutchies swarm all around them quickly as they go about killing them all off. The little blood suckers are vicious and show no sign of backing off no matter how many are cut, beaten, burned or shocked. It takes less than a minute to kill all of the Sutchies and when all it said and done they quickly set back on the path to Nekomamushi. It takes several more minutes to reach their destination, during what time Brook sings a song he wrote about Nekomamushi for them.
When they finally arrive they're greeted by a whole group of Nekomamushi's men who tell them that both he and Pekoms are recovering well. One of them, a reindeer Mink by the looks of her offers to take them to see Nekomamashi and Chopper freezes on the spot when he lays eyes on her. From the looks of it their little doctor seems to have fallen in love at first sight...at least until she tells him that Nekomamushi is relaxing in the bath right now. Chopper charges head first inside the building to go see Nekomamushi with Robin, Usopp and Brook while the rest go to see Pekoms. He's enjoying a room all to himself and seems to be recovering quickly despite having been shot multiple times. He doesn't look upset with seeing them either, and actually seems to have no problem talking about what happened at all.
"That bastard Bege," growls Pekoms. "Shoot a man in his back...I won't forgive him! I'm sorry, they must have taken Black-Foot with them. He can't get away from the wedding now."
"About that, who arranged the marriage?" Luffy asks him.
"Well, of course, our Mama and the father of the Vinsmoke Family!"
"What kind of man is here?" Run asks.
"He's quiet infamous in the underworld. Have you ever heard the name, Germa 66? Also known as the Warmongers?"
"What are you talking about?!" demands Nami. "That's just a myth!"
"No, it's an actual organization. The Vinsmoke Family is at the top of it! Their boss is Black-Foot's father. To put is simply, the Vinsmoke Family is a family of assassians."
"I don't care," Luffy tells him. "What I want to know is whether he'll come back or not! He can get married if he wants! But we're not gonna become Big Mom's subordinates because of it! So if they get married, you guys become MY subordinates!
"Watch what you say, brat, or I'll kill you! I owe your crew but don't push your luck! Mama is one of the Yonko!" Pekoms suddenly presses a hand to his wounds. "Ohh! You brats are bad for my wounds! Well...either way, he can't escape the marriage. No one can turn down an invitation to one of Mama's tea-parties. No one turns it down because if they do, then they'll find themselves with quite a shocking present. They'll receive the head of a person who was close to them. It could be someone from the Straw Hats, someone from the restaurant in the East Blue...or someone from Kamabakka Kingdom."
"How do you know about those thing?!"
"That's what power can do, Straw Hat! When someone that powerful makes a threat, it's not idle. Who can fight it? That's how powerful the Yonko are! There's one other thing...let me ease your worries. You will not become her subordinates. It's all politics. Mama forms a connection with those who will become her subordinates. This is just a ritual to form a connection to the Vinsmoke Family. From the moment they get married Black-Foot will no longer be a member of your crew!" Luffy lunges forward and grabs him by the front of his shirt tightly.
"That's unacceptable! Sanji is my friend!"
"He's Vinsmoke's son first! Don't get mad at me!"
"I know he'll refuse!"
"In the face of Mama and the vicious Vinsmoke Family? Well, I wonder if he can stay alive after he refuses."
"What are you planning to do?!"
"I'm going back to Mama. That son of a bitch Bege thinks he killed me. He's not gonna get away with it!"
"Good! Then you're taking me and Run with you!"
"Luffy!" shouts Nami. "What are you thinking?!"
"Nami, Run and I can handle this easily. If it's just the two of us then it's fine, but if we all go then it looks like we're trying to pick a fight. We don't have time for that. So, if we tag along with him then we can sneak in and ruin the wedding."
"Screw that!" Pekoms screams. "You're asking me to harbor an enemy?!"
"Consider it payment for patching you up," Run tells him. As they leave the room their attention is drawn by the calling of the crew in the distance. Apparently Chopper has finished with Nekomamushi...who is following behind them and quickly charges in their direction when he catches sight of Luffy. The red head barely gets out of the way in time to avoid the body-slam that Nekomamushi lays on Luffy and even Zoro. It's at this time that Law and his crew finally turn back up, and they fill Law in on Sanji's situation. Naturally, he's against them going after their cook considering Kaido now knows where they are and how to get to Zou. His argument is short lived however as Nekomamushi quickly calls for a banquet for the Straw Hats...
A loud, and absolutely obnoxious ringing sounds across the island. "Ohh," groans Run, his head pounding. The night before is all a blur of music, drink and food...emphasis on the drink. It's been a while since his last hang-over and it's just as crappy as ever, it seems. His eyes slowly open, staring down at the ground, and numerous empty bottles surrounding him. He's sitting cross-legged, and aware of someone leaning against his back, and so he glances over his shoulder to find a head of green hair staring back at him. "Oi." He suddenly drives his elbow backwards into Zoro's ribs, earning a grunt and snort from the man who comes awake instantly. "Get up!"
"What the...ohh," groans Zoro, placing a hand against his temple. "Hm?" Both look around quickly as the Minks sprint past them towards the forest quickly. They quickly wake the others open when they hear the Minks shouting about Samurai arriving in the forest. Although, it proves rather difficult to rouse Luffy from his food-coma they somehow manage it and go chasing after them Minks.
"Why?" complains Luffy. "Why do I have to run so early in the morning?"
"It's good for you," Run tells him. "Beside, Kin'emon and Kanjuro are here. The Minks are in an uproar."
"Another welcome banquet?! I wouldn't mind having two in two days!"
"They're out for blood!" Nami barks at him. The tail the Minks back to the city, sprinting through the streets and eventually catching sight of Kin'emon, Kanjuro and Momonosuke. They pounce on the two men, pinning them down behind several buildings and covering their mouths quickly. "You three, take my advice and return to the Sunny!" Down the street of the town they can see Nekomamushi and Inuarashi squaring off with one another with the other Minks surrounding them, and seconds later it comes to blows. Kin'emon wiggles out of Usopp's grip and marches out from cover quickly.
"Stop this fighting!" demands Kin'emon. Momo and Kanjuro quickly follow, sprinting from cover to stand at his side. The Minks begin to move in their direction quickly. "People from the country of Zou! I'm a retainer of the Kozuki Clan from the Land of Wano, named Kin'emon! I'm here to look for my comrade who is a warrior from the same country! Is he here?!" The crew moves out to stand behind the three of them as the Minks come to a stop several feet away. If it turns into a fight...Haoshoku should take care of the weaker Minks but they might not be able to avoid fighting the strongest. They're thoroughly surprised, however, when rather than fight the Minks kneel.
"We've been expecting you," Inuarashi says. "Raizo is safe...!"
Secret upon secret is being spilled here on Zou. The Minks knew where Raizo was the whole time, and choose to hide him from the Jack and the Beast Pirates. It turns out that they were waiting for Kin'emon's arrival here on Zou, and that he and Momonosuke aren't actually father and son. In actuality, Kin'emon, Kanjuro, Inuarashi and Nekomamushi are retainers of Momonosuke who is the heir to the daimyo of Kuri in the Wano Country. It seems that they've gotten all of the secrets out now, and with their arrival on Zou, they go to see Raizo.
The man has been hidden away in the Whale Forest, or more specifically, the giant whale shaped tree there. They enter through a hidden door and descend a massive staircase with Luffy, Usopp, Chopper and Franky leading the pack. They're so eager to see the ninja that it seems to be all that they can think about.
"My, they're certainly excited," Robin giggles before glancing at Run. "Aren't you going to join them?"
"Not really my thing," Run tells her. When they finally reach the bottom, and find themselves face to face with Raizo Run is...surprised to say the least. Raizo looks nothing like what they imagined a ninja should be...something that the boys seem to take rather hard judging by their expressions. But more than that they're surprised by the red colored Poneglyph at the head of the room.
"That Poneglyph...I've never seen one in such a deep red color."
"We know you, Nico Robin," Inuarashi says. "I've heard that the Ohara People can read those letters."
"Why is that Poneglyph red? None of the ones I've ever seen were that color."
"It has a different purpose. Can you read it?"
"Yes! May I?" When Inuarashi gives her a nod of the head she almost sprints to the Poneglyph, coming to a stop right in front of it. Run follows after her, looking at the letters written on the surface. He squints his eyes and cocks his head as he stares. "Making any sense?"
"Hmmm...no. Not in the slightest." Robin giggles and quickly goes about translating what's written on the Poneglyph while the red head watches. When she's finished she quickly scrawls down what she's translated and passes it to Nami. Apparently, using what Robin has given her Nami can create a nuatical chart, and use it to pin-point a location. According to Inuarashi a red Poneglyph is called a 'Road Poneglyph', and it's the key to eventually finding Raftel. There are four such Poneglyphs in the whole word, and each one gives the location of a different spot on the map. When you've read all four, the intersecting lines drawn between these Poneglyphs will give you the location of Raftel.
Naturally, Luffy is raring to go find the others, and that means picking Sanji up quickly. Nekomamushi tells him that it's not a bad idea since of the four, they're only missing the location of one of them. The other two are in the possession of Big Mom and Kaido. So, naturally, that means they're going to have to fight with both of them if they want to get their hands on the Road Poneglyph's. But this also presents another unforseen problem. Robin is the only person in the whole world who can actually read a Poneglyph.
But the biggest revelation is the fact that the Poneglyph's were created by the Kozuki Clan. The secret of reading and writting the text on the Poneglyph's was then passed down through the Clan...but was stopped at Momonosuke's father, Kozuki Oden, who was killed by Kaido before he could pass it on to his son. Apparently, Oden traveled with Roger all the way to Raftel and witnessed the secret of the world. He wanted that information more than anything and after Oden went to confront the man, giving his retainers and his son time to escape, Kaido set about tracking them down hoping for any information about Raftel.
But Oden never told them the secret of the world, choosing not to 'burden' them with that knowledge. Instead, the only thing he told them before his death was for them to open the country. With all the cards finally laid on the table, Kin'emon and Kanjuro surprise them by asking for their help once again. The want to bring down the current ruler of Wano and Kaido with him...and for that, they ask for the help of the Straw Hat's and Heart Pirates. Something Luffy is only willing to give after Momonosuke asks him for their help personally...
They leave the Whale Tree and head for Nekomamushi's home in the forest. Their plan is more or less set at this point. Luffy, Run, Nami, Chopper and Brook are going to go after Sanji and the remainder of the crew will be heading for Wano Country. They need to secure a foot-hold and gather allies before launching their attack against the ruler and Kaido. They'll be waiting for them to return with Sanji, however, before they make any move against them. Robin asks them that in the event they stumble across Big Mom's Poneglyph, that they take a quick rubbing while she does research on the one that Kaido has in his possession.
"Is there a specific place I should look on the Poneglyph?" Run asks her. "If we don't have time to take a full rubbing, I mean."
"I can't really say," Robin tells him. "The information could be anywhere, really. If you can get all of it, please do. But..." She steps closer, gently grasping his hands in her own. "...don't take any unneccesary risks. It's not like this is our only chance." The whole of Zou begins to shake violently, and then tilt very suddenly. Run grasps tightly to Robin and pulls her close before she can lose her balance. The ground levels out once more, leaving all of them looking around quickly while the giant elephant cries out loudly.
"Zunesha is crying out!" shouts Nekomamushi.
"Who's Zunesha?!" calls Usopp.
"You're standing on it!"
"What's that?!" demands Luffy. "Who's talking?!" Luffy presses his hands against his ears tightly, gritting his teeth in a scowl. Screams from Momo draw their attention to the child who is holding his ears tightly in the same manner as Luffy. Is this happening to both of them?
"What's wrong?" Run asks him, watching his captain spin in circles looking around wildly.
"Who's voice is that?! Show yourself, you bastard!"
"Luffy! What's wrong?!"
"Give you an order to do what?! Answer me! Who are you?!"
"Luffy!" shouts Nami. "Who are you talking to?! We can't hear anything!"
"I can only hear his voice! He's not listening to me and I have no idea who he is!"
"Gol D. Roger," begins Pedro. "I heard that he and Oden experienced the same thing. They heard a loud voice but couldn't get it to respond." Run glances at Luffy as Zou begins to shake violently once again, nearly bringing all of them to their knees.
"Something must be happening to Zunesha," reasons Inuarashi.
"It's Jack!" screams Momonosuke. "Jack is...attacking the elephant! There are five powerful looking ships at the nine o'clock!"
"Momo!" calls Luffy. "How do you know that?"
"I...I don't know! I just saw it! It came to my mind! I...I'm scared!"
"Zunesha's cry," mutters Inuarashi. "And this shaking. It makes sense. Damn Jack! How dare he attack Zunesha!"
"But if he's alive," begins Nekomamushi. "That's good for us! Let's fight back! Guardians!"
"Musketeers! Send out the ships! Return fire against Jack on the water!" The combined force scrambles to follow their orders but falls flat on their faces when Zunesha begins to tremble violently once again. They may not make it if they can't do something quickly. Momo and Luffy grit their teeth again and suddenly something seems to dawn on Momo.
"The one behind this voice is...the elephant!" gasps Momo. "A long time ago...the elephant committed a crime...and now all he is allowed to do is...walk! He's been...obeying that order!" Zunesha trembles again, tilting to his left and nearly sending all of them rolling away into the forest before they can get low and hold on. "He's...asking for permission! He needs someone to order him...to fight! Kin'emon, Kanjuro, what am I supposed to do?!"
"Momo!" shouts Luffy. "Tell him! I have a feeling your voice will reach him! If they bring down the elephant, we'll all end up in the sea! Hurry up, Momo! The elephant is really going to die!"
"Elephant! You can't give up! Make Jack...make Jack go away!" A loud roar from Zunesha is their response, and his whole body shakes violently for several long moments before a second roar echos out and he goes still. Several long minutes pass in silence before all of them slowly stand back up on a level surface now.
"What happened?!" asks Usopp quickly.
"I don't know. I don't see anything or hear the voice now."
"Luffy?"
"Yeah, I don't hear anything, either." Hearing shouting from the forest all heads turn to see a small monkey mink sprinting as fast as he can in their direction. Zunesha's front leg has suffered significant damage from Jack's assault. If something isn't done quickly to treat the injury he may not be able to continue on...and so Chopper offers to assist them in treating Zunesha, something that Luffy whole-heartedly agrees with. They're going to need medicinal herbs, bandages and a way to get down to the injury. After doling out who is going to do what they quickly set about carrying out their jobs and in a few hours time at all they've made short work of what has to be done.
That take some time for last minute preperation and then head for the main gate to Zou. Luffy has Pekom's strapped to a backpack stuffed nearly to bursting with food given to them by the Minks, and Pedro is going to be joining them on their mission to retrieve Sanji, it seems.
"Alright, it's going to be eight of us, then," Luffy says, before turning to Pedro. "It's nice to have you, Peropero."
"It's Pedro," Run corrects him.
"What is Big Bro Pedro coming?" asks Pekoms.
"I'm coming along as someone who's known you well for a long time," Pedro says to him.
"Remember," begins Zoro. "That idiot could be dancing around being happy about his marriage. So don't try too hard."
"Alright!" laughs Luffy. "If everyone is ready..." He stretches his arms out, wrapping everyone up tight in a bear hug. "...let's go...!"
