This is the 15th chapter. I don't own the series of One Piece.
An Island without Doctors? Adventure in a Nameless Island!
Winter Island
After arriving at the Winter Island that was usually called Drum Island, the people on this island including Dalton have shown hostility towards the Straw Hat pirates. Mainly because of one pirate who causes havoc on the island who's called as Blackbeard. Sanji and the others, except Luffy, remembered what Ventus have told them about Blackbeard and Wapol which it would explain why they're being hostile towards them. However, it changed when Dalton recognizes the young Dragoon, leaving him surprised that Ventus remembered him. The rest of the people on the island and the Straw Hat pirates were shocked, but they're looking at each other.
"Ventus?"
"Does he mean that Ventus?"
"Now that I think about it, he does look like him."
"He doesn't look like him, you idiot. He is him."
After Dalton asked is the young Dragoon's name is Ventus Starwind, all of the people began conversation a about him.
"Hey, you! If you're thinking about stealing my Quartermaster, think again!" Luffy shouts with a warning, getting the wrong idea.
"SHUT UP, LUFFY!?" Sanji and Zoro yells with white eyes and shark-like teeth, bonked his head.
"You are Ventus, aren't you?" Dalton asks the young Dragoon. "The Ventus Starwaind who wields a lance and a Dragoon? You are him, are you?"
"Yes, that's me." Ventus nods with a confirm as he takes off his cap, revealed his blonde hair and revealed his harpoon to prove that he is him. They then heard gasps from the people around them.
"So, it is you." Dalton muttered with a shock, but regain his composure as he looks around the people. "Everyone! Drop your weapons at once! Our country's savior has return!"
At that order, everyone dropped their weapons and cheered, leaving the Straw Hat pirates, except Ventus, confused.
"Hey, kid, what's going on?" Zoro asked.
"Yeah, why are they cheering for you?" Usopp added with question, curiously.
"Remember what I told you guys that I've traveled alone?" Ventus counters with a question, earned a nod from his crew. "Well, what I didn't tell you was that I traveled to the Grand Line and traveled here on the island."
"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!" The Straw Hat crew exclaims with a yell, shocked.
"Are you telling us that you traveled to the Grand Line before?!" Sanji demands.
"Yes, but I was with Freya and Sir Fratley long ago for training. I traveled alone a year ago." Ventus explains.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Luffy shouts with a question.
"You didn't ask." Ventus answered with a deadpan expression when Dalton got on the ship.
"It really is you." Dalton said, walking to him. "How are you? You have no idea how worried we all were when the witch delivered a message to us, telling us you're leaving and told us the dragons are pursuing after you."
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but I have circumstances I'm dealing with." Ventus apologizes to him. "And I don't want you or your people get involved with them."
"Well, you can rest assured, these dragons are no longer in pursuit of finding you." Dalton told him, assuring him. "We use reindeer blood to fake your death, so the dragons won't follow you anymore."
Ventus widen his eyes, shocked of hearing the dragons are no longer chasing after the young Dragoon. It's a risky gamble they've been making, but it's a huge relief that it worked.
"Dalton, I thank you for what you did, but you know they'll find out that I'm still alive sooner or later." Ventus told him.
"He has a point, dragons keen sense of smell won't lie, and it can't be fooled for any random blood." Zoro added seriously.
"I understand that, but the witch managed to mix reindeer blood with his own blood, making it that he died. It was enough for them to be convinced." Dalton explains, turned to him. "When I first look at you, I remembered when I first met you and your mother."
"Wait, you knew his parents?" Usopp asks.
"Yes, Merida is the most respected and caring woman I've ever met." Dalton nods. "His father is well-respected Dragon King and all he ever wanted was for dragons and humans co-exist."
The Straw Hat pirates, except Ventus, were surprised that Dalton knew of the young Dragoon's family.
"And it is true about Ventus, he looked a lot like his father, and he got his mother's eyes." Dalton said.
"I'm pretty sure he gets that a lot." Usopp said, scratching his head.
"I'm sure he does." Dalton agrees, turned to Ventus. "Now, why are you here? And why on a pirate ship?"
"I'll explain later, but right now, the reason I'm here is because one of my crewmates is suffering from illness." Ventus explains, making Dalton shocked. "I know this island doctors. If you want us to leave, we'll leave. We already have an Eternal Pose to another island, but it's just before we leave, I need your help."
Dalton can see that Ventus is remaining calm while asking for help because of Nami feeling ill. He seemed to understand the situation as he spoke.
"I understand. I'll lead you and your crew to our village." Dalton accepts, leaving Ventus smiled and Luffy cheered. "However, can I really trust these pirates?"
"You trust me, don't you?" Ventus countered with a question. "I can assure you, Dalton. They won't do anything that would harm your people. Well, except Luffy."
"Huh?! Why me?!" Luffy protests with a question.
"Can we really trust that someone like you wouldn't somehow get us into trouble?" Anna questions, glaring at Luffy. "Don't tell me you forgot all of the crazy things that happened before we got to the Grand Line."
Luffy then give the look of 'did we really do crazy things?" face, causing Ventus, Anna, and Shanise to face-palmed.
"On second thought, don't answer that." Anna said with annoyance.
"Well than, should we get going, Ventus?" Dalton asks the young Dragoon.
"Yeah." Ventus nods, turned his head to Sanji. "Sanji, could you go get Nami?"
"Leave it to me." Sanji replied as he head towards the room to go and get Nami.
As soon as they got out of the Going Merry, leaving Zoro and Karoo behind to watch over the ship, Ventus and the others are following Dalton up the snowy mountain. Sanji is carrying Nami on his back as they walk to the village.
"There is one thing I feel I should warn you about though. The only doctor we have here is actually a witch." Dalton informed them.
"Huh? A witch?" Usopp repeats.
"You've gotta be kidding me, everything about this island is messed up." Sanji grunts. "What do you people call this weird place anyway?"
"Sanji!" Anna and Shanise called him in unison, glaring at him.
"Please excuse him, Dalton." Ventus said.
"Don't worry about it, Ventus." Dalton assures him. "As for your friends question, this land still doesn't have a name."
"An island without a name? Ventus told us about it before we came here." Vivi told him. "I didn't think it was possible."
Dalton can only be silent of her response while heading to the village, until...
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH! A BEAR!?" Usopp screamed with fright. "Hurry everyone, pretend to be dead!"
Usopp then dropped himself down to the snowy ground while pretending to be dead. Dalton and the others notice a giant white orthograde bear carrying a walking stick.
"A Hiking Bear. He poses no threat." Dalton told them. "Don't forget to bow, it's proper manners."
With that, they bowed to the Hiking Bear which it bowed back while hiking, leaving Usopp remained in the snowy ground with his face paled and failed to realize that.
While back at the Going Merry, Zoro took off his shoes off along with his winter coat which he's going to do something foolish in the middle of the snowy island.
"Now I can finally get back to some real training, I was getting sick of that modified training that I had to do. Besides, just watching this ship is boring as hell." Zoro stated, clapping his hands together. "Maybe, some ice water swimming will help me clear my head a bit."
Karoo didn't like where this is going which Zoro is really going to do something stupid.
Winter Island, Bighorn
After Ventus explaining to Dalton how he was with the pirate crew, he was surprised that Luffy is forcing him to join the pirate crew after fought against the Marines and this time, the crew asked him to join them for protecting him from the dragons. Dalton now understands of the young Dragoons explanation and why he's part of the Straw Hat pirates.
And they arrived at the village where the houses are cylindrical and feature roofs with a unique conical shape.
"This is the village where we live, its name is Bighorn." Dalton introduced the village.
"Look at all the weird animals walking around everywhere." Luffy stated, looking at the animals.
"Well yeah, this is snow country." Usopp points out.
"That's to be expected, snow animals can only come in the winter." Shanise told them.
"Look Nami, we've made to a village with people." Sanji said to her with a smile. "We're here."
"Thanks for the help, everyone." Dalton thanked the people that were with them. "If you're not a guard, you can return to your work."
"Are you completely certain that you'll be alright here all by yourself? They are pirates."
"I won't be by myself, don't forget that Ventus is also with us. Besides, if these pirates are his allies, then they should mean us no harm." Dalton told them.
When he said that, it got all their hopes up.
"So, what should we do now?"
"If Dalton says they're alright, then I think we should believe them."
"They do seem pretty harmless, huh?"
"Yeah."
With that, they all left to their homes.
"Alright Dalton, we'll leave them to you."
"Even so, be careful Dalton."
"And call us again if you need anything."
"Ventus sure has a reputation here." Luffy said.
"I'll say, to be called this country's savior." Usopp added, turned his head to Ventus. "Just what did you do to call yourself that?"
"Dalton will give you an explanation, he knows it better than I do." Ventus told him.
"You mean those men we're you land security forces?" Vivi inquires.
"No, they're just ordinary citizens." Dalton answered simply.
"Basically, these people are forming as a group in case if pirates are heading to this island." Anna stated. "And frankly, it would explain why they're being hostile to us."
"That's right, they came here to help me fend off against pirates." Dalton nods, agreeing to Anna's statement. "Come to my house for now."
"Hey! Look over there, Luffy! It's one of those Hiking Bears!" Usopp told him which he's assuming it's a Hiking Bear that was actually a human the size of a Hiking Bear.
"Another one?" Luffy said as he and Usopp bowing to her.
"Hello, Dalton, I heard some pirates on the island." The woman greets, walking towards him. "I hope everything is alright."
"Yes, everything's fine. There's nothing to be worried about." Dalton replied.
The woman then looked at the young Dragoon and had a shocked look on her face.
"Oh my, it can't be!?" She exclaimed as she ran over to him and placed her things down. She then examined his face. "Oh, it is you! He came back! Everyone! Our savior! He's returned!"
Everyone stopped doing their activities and ran over to him. They all examined him and were extremely happy to see him.
"Ventus! It's been a while!"
"I knew you'd come back; we were able to fool those dragons!"
They huddled around him and began to question him. Both Anna and Shanise giggled of this situation, seeing the young Dragoon getting overwhelmed by the people. Dalton knew the people are happy and relieved to see him alive, decided to cut in as he spoke.
"Everyone! I know you are all happy to see Ventus again. However, it seems that sometime after his last visit here, he had someone who needs help." Dalton told them, earned their attention. "Which is why, that I suggest we all should give him some room and save our questions until one of his crew is better."
Everyone agreed to Dalton's suggestion and left him alone, almost everyone. There were a few children who wanted to give him something before they go back with their family. Ventus bend down to their level and held out his hand. In his hand, the little girl placed a doll that looks like him.
'A doll? They must've really missed me, I guess popular is tough.' Ventus mentally thought, smiled.
"You're feeling alright, Ventus?" Dalton asks.
"I'm fine, just being overwhelmed." Ventus answered, stood up. "I've only been gone for nine months after I give them the message and a reason I left."
"Well for them, you've only been gone for years." Dalton told him, changing the subject. "Anyway, let's go to my place."
When they arrived at Dalton's house, he lent them a bed for Nami to sleep in as he gets the room warmed up.
"I guess I should reintroduce myself, my name is Dalton. I'm the Captain of the Island Security Squad. Please forgive our less than friendly welcome." Dalton introduced himself, taking his weapon off of his back as he placed it on the floor. "Excuse me, but may I ask you a question?"
Vivi then turned to Dalton as he spoke.
"It's just that, you look familiar to me for some reason." Dalton said with his narrowed eyes.
"N-No! I just have one of those faces I guess!" Vivi exclaims, stuttered. "Anyway, can you tell us more about this doctor or a witch if that's what she is? Nami's fever has gone up to 107."
"How long has she had it?" Dalton questions, widen his eyes with shock.
"Three days and her temperature has risen steadily." Anna answered.
"I see." Dalton said with an understanding. "She'll likely die if it gets any worse."
"Yes, Ventus already figured the cause was a bug bite, but we don't know which bug." Shanise told him. "And the problem is we don't even know how to treat it either."
"We've got to find a doctor as soon as possible! Any doctor will do!" Sanji added. "Where is this witch of yours?!"
"A witch? Do you see those mountains outside the window?" Dalton questions, looking at Nami.
"Yeah, I notice them earlier..."
Just as Sanji looked at the window, he only saw a snowman made by Luffy and Usopp.
"SUPER MASSIVE SNOWMAN!"
"AND THE FEARED SNOWBEAST SNOWZILLA!"
"YES!"
"WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOING?! DID YOU FORGET OUR MAIN GOAL HERE?!" Anna yelled with white eyes and shark-teeth.
"GET IN HERE BEFORE I KILL YOU!?" Sanji and Ventus yelled at them with white eyes and shark-like teeth.
"Those mountains out there are known as the Drum Rockies, look closely, do you see the castle on top of the tallest one, the one in the middle?" Dalton questions while explaining.
"Castle?" Usopp repeats.
"Yeah, I see it but what's that have to do with it?" Ivan questions curiously.
"That castle lost its king." Dalton answered.
"I see it up there." Sanji said, notice the castle.
"What's so important about the castle?" Vivi questions.
"That castle is where our lands only doctor lives, Dr. Kureha." Dalton explains. "She's the one who people here called a witch."
"What?!" Sanji exclaims, looking at the castle through the window. "Of all places, why does she have to live on top of the mountain?! We need to call her here right now! Nami needs her help!"
"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid there's no way to contact her." Dalton told him with an apology, causing Sanji to look at him.
"You can't be serious!? What kind of a doctor is she?!" Sanji demands.
"Her skills as a doctor are quite impressive actually." Dalton answered. "However, she's an eccentric old woman, she's nearly 140 years old now."
"140?! And she's still alive?!" Ivan exclaims with disbelief.
"140?" Sanji repeats. "No wonder she doesn't get around much.
"Oh and one more thing, she likes pickled plums." Dalton finished explaining.
"Yuck!" Anna shuddered with disgust.
"What happens when people here get sick or injured? Doesn't she help them?" Vivi questions.
"She comes down from the mountain whenever she feels like it, she looks around for patients, she treats them, then before she leaves, she takes whatever she wants from their houses as payment." Dalton explains.
"She doesn't sound like a very nice lady." Usopp said, scowling.
"It kinda sound like she's a pirate." Luffy added.
"But how is a woman as old as she is capable of getting down that mountain?" Vivi questions, wondering how Dr. Kureha getting down to the snowy ground.
"It's an odd rumor around here, when several of the villagers claim they have seen her at night, riding a sleigh of some kind through the sky. They see a silhouette when the moon is out." Dalton explains. "That's the reason she is thought to be a witch. There are others who say that've seen her with a strange creature, a creature that none of them recognize."
When he said that, it got Usopp panicking and talking about the abominable snowman, but Ventus then realize who's the strange creature Dalton is talking about.
'He must be talking about Chopper, no wonder they're still scared of that reindeer. Wonder how he's been when I left the island?' Ventus mentally thought, wondering how Chopper is been.
"But the thing is, Ventus is friends with both Dr. Kureha and the strange creature." Dalton said, making Usopp stop panicking and Ventus snapped out of his thoughts. "I don't know how, but he mostly goes up there on that mountain for a visit or two, whenever he's here."
"VENTUS! What were you doing with a witch and a snow monster?!" Usopp shrieked, causing Ventus to bonk his head hard.
"WILL YOU QUIT PANICKING AND LISTEN!?" Ventus snapped with a tick mark on his head, white eyes, and shark-like teeth. He then calms down for a second. "Anyway, I have a pretty good idea what he's talking about."
"Do you know about that creature?" Anna inquires.
"His name is Tony Tony Chopper, but he goes as Chopper." Ventus explains. "He's no monster, he's a blue-nosed reindeer. The reason why everyone called him a monster is because he ate the Devil Fruit."
"Devil Fruit?" Usopp repeats.
"What kind?" Ivan asks.
"He ate the Human-Human Fruit, this fruit allows him to walk and talk like a human, but he's still a reindeer." Ventus answered, leaving the Straw Hat pirates pondered for a bit.
"Hmm...It make sense if you think about it." Shanise said, breaking the silent. "Though it explains the reason why everyone called him a monster in the first place."
"No wonder they called him a monster." Sanji added, understands what she means.
"Dr. Kureha is the only doctor we have, but she's still a woman I would prefer to stay away from." Dalton said. "All we can do is wait for the next time she decides to come down the mountain."
"Really?" Vivi asks.
"No, dammit! We can't wait for her that long! Nami is getting even worse as we speak!" Sanji growled, wanted for Dr. Kureha to come and treat Nami.
"Hey Nami, Nami, wake up now." Luffy said, lightly slapping her in the face.
"LUFFY YOU IDIOT! WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO HER?!" The Straw Hat pirates yelled, showing their white eyes and shark-like teeth. Nami then wakes up as she opened her eyes.
"Hey! Look, she's awake." Luffy exclaimed, ignoring them. "Here's the thing, the only way to see the doctor is to climb the mountain. So, we're gonna have to climb a mountain."
The Straw Hat pirates didn't like the idea of climbing up on the mountain and it will only her condition even worse as it is.
"Are you crazy?! What about Nami? How do you expect to get her up there?!" Sanji snapped.
"Easy, she'll ride on my back." Luffy answered simply.
"That's only going to make her even more sick." Vivi told him, tried to reason with him.
"What's the problem? I thought we needed to hurry." Luffy shrugs.
"Even so, we can't go like this! Those mountains are like pillars!" Ventus stated.
"Then why don't you use your wings to get us up there?" Luffy suggests.
"I can't carry more than one person, you idiot! Are you that stupid?!" Ventus retorts.
"He's right, climbing up on that mountain will be way too hard on Nami! And Ventus can only carry one person at a time!" Anna added.
"Look, even if we fall or something, we'll landed snow." Luffy protests.
"That doesn't matter! A fall like that would kill even a healthy person!" Vivi remarked, reasoned with him.
"Seriously Luffy, she has a really bad fever." Usopp added with a deadpan expression on his face. "It's so high, she's almost dying. Don't you understand that?!"
This argument isn't getting anywhere because they won't get through to Luffy's thick skull of his due to his stupidity. Nami was trying to say something, leaving Ventus and Anna noticed as they had everyone to quiet down.
"I need to get over this thing...and quickly..." Nami said weakly. "We need to hurry...for Vivi...Come on, Captain...Let's go."
They were all shocked to hear that she would risk her life to get better. All except for Luffy, smiled and spoke.
"That's what I'm talking about." Luffy said, accepts. "Leave it to me."
Ventus couldn't help but sighed with defeat.
"I guess it can't be helped now. Fine then, but I'm coming with you." Ventus declared.
Soon as they head outside of Dalton's house, they're placing Nami on Luffy's back while Ventus goes with them since the young Dragoon hasn't been there for nine whole months.
"I can't believe this! Now our navigator and out Quartermaster are as crazy as our Captain!" Usopp complains.
"You know, you're in no shape for a trip like this, Nami." Sanji points out.
"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Vivi asks with worry. "It'll take you hours to get there."
"Hey old guy, give me some meat for the road!" Luffy demands.
"Meat?" Dalton repeats confusingly.
"Right, I'm coming too." Sanji said, decided to go with them.
"Listen Luffy, be very careful, you can't fall even once or Nami is going to die." Usopp advise the rubber Captain.
"Not even once?" Luffy complains.
"Hold still a second, I need to make that this is tight." Vivi told him, tighten the sash to make sure Nami stays in place. "Okay, you're all set. I'm going to wait for you here. If I came with you guys, I'd only get in the way."
"Yep, me too." Usopp added.
"We'll stay here in case those pirates are coming." Anna suggests.
"Alright." Luffy replies, turning his head to Nami. "Now you just hold on tight to me, okay Nami?"
Nami can only pant weakly for a respond which they won't have time for waiting Dr. Kureha to come.
"I guess you're set on going." Dalton said, earned their attention. "I'm not gonna try and stop you, but I will ask you to at least climb up from the other side. That way you can avoid the Lapahns that are on this side. They're fierce carnivorous rabbits, you run into a pack of them, you're as good as dead."
That got Usopp and the others shocked to hear about the Lapahns lurking in the snowy mountains.
"He's right, those Lapahns tried to kill me many times, but failed in the end." Ventus told them, agreeing to Dalton's statement. "Right now, the Lapahns are gonna try and kill me since they already heard about my return. Sanji, I'm gonna need you help protecting Luffy and Nami from those Lapahns."
"You got it." Sanji complies.
"You can't be serious! You know how easily those things can kill you?!" Dalton protests with a question.
"Yes, I know how dangerous they are, but we don't have time for second thoughts." Ventus told him as he then starts running. "Come on guys."
With that, Sanji and Luffy followed Ventus, running to the Drum Rockies where Dr. Kureha lives, leaving Dalton and the others alone as they watch them rushing towards the snowy grounds.
"Are you sure they'll be alright?" Dalton asks.
"Well, it's not really those three we need to worry about." Usopp answered.
"Nami's the one in trouble, I just hope her strength can hold out long enough." Vivi added. "She's getting sicker by the minute."
Dalton can tell they're really worried about Nami since she's getting worse and without help or the doctor, the only choice for them is to rush to the castle and fight against the Lapahns. Dalton then head towards the house as he was about to get inside, noticed the Straw Hat pirates stayed and watch.
"Why are you standing there?" Dalton questions. "Come on inside, it's cold out here."
"Oh no, that's really okay." Vivi politely declines. "I want to stay out here."
"Me too." Usopp said but shivering in the cold.
"Look, we can only hope they make it in time to visit Dr. Kureha so she can help Nami can better." Anna told them. "I know you're worried, but Sanji, Luffy, and Ventus can take care of the Lapahns."
"She's right, we have done some crazy things with you guys, remember?" Iven rhetorically asks. "I know it's mostly Luffy's fault, but we manage to get through."
Even though, they're making some valid point about the adventure which they are right. Dalton smiled as he spoke.
"I see." Dalton said as he closes the door, joins them when he sits down on the snow. "Well in that case, I'll join you."
They were surprised that Dalton is joining them watching, smiled as they look at the Drum Rockies where Ventus and the others are going while waiting. They've been waiting for a few minutes since the atmosphere has gone silent. Anna breaks the silent as she spoke.
"Tell me Dalton, did this island use to have doctors?" Anna questions, earned his attention. "Besides Dr. Kureha, weren't there usually doctors around here?"
"You're right, we did once have some here on this island." Dalton answered. "Some doctors. However, all of them left some time ago for certain reasons. We're very good at what they did when they were still here. We were even well-known for the advance medicine of this practice on this island."
"So, what went wrong?" Vivi inquires.
"Few months ago, we suffered a vicious attack and our country was destroyed, destroyed by pirates." Dalton explains, making their eyes widen with shock.
"Oh man! The whole country?!" Usopp exclaims.
"So that's why you and your people acted hostile when we showed up." Shanise stated, figured it out.
"Yes, after the attack, the word pirates still terrifies everyone on this island. I'm sorry about the way we treated you." Dalton explains with an apology. "Their group was small as well, only five people, their Captain called himself Blackbeard. That power was so incredible, it destroyed our entire country faster than you would believe."
"And there were only five of them fighting?! That's impossible!" Vivi exclaims in disbelief.
"Blackbeard!" Usopp muttered in dread.
"What's more, there are some here who actually believe it was good for the county." Dalton continues.
"What could possibly be good about that happening?!" Vivi demands.
"That's crazy! Who would say something like that anyway?!" Usopp added, leaving Dalton smiled.
"Thank you, I agree." Dalton thanked them, agreeing as he turned his expression into serious. "But they have their reasons, a king who ruled there before the attack was a horrible man. His rule was despised by all of the citizens, our country use to be known as Drum Kingdom and our kings name was Wapol and he has an older brother named Musshuru. He was the worst king imaginable."
That got them stunned, remembered the encounter between Wapol and Musshuru before they arrived on the island.
"Yes, I remember him! I know that man!" Vivi exclaimed.
"Not Wapol!?" Usopp added with dread.
Dalton was surprised that they know that man who once ruled the island.
"What's that?! You mean you know who Wapol is?!" Dalton questions.
"We only encountered Wapol and his couple of goons few days ago, he's a pirate who attacked our ship. We beat them because they're just all bark and no bite." Ivan explains.
"But now that I think about it, I do remember him saying something about heading to Drum Kingdom." Usopp added.
"Yes, there's no question about now. I remember it clearly, I'm sure I met him once in a Monarch meeting with my father took me too." Vivi told them. "I was very young then, but I remember it to this day."
"A Monarch meeting?" Dalton repeats, gazing at Vivi. "Who are you?"
"Uh, no, I-uh." Vivi stuttered, tried to find the right words but regain her composure. "Well, the point is we do know Wapol. We ran into him yesterday when we were on our way here."
"Yesterday? Are you sure about that?" Dalton questions again.
"Yes, but there's one thing that's been bothering me. Wapol claims that he's a pirate, he never said anything about being a King." Anna points out.
"He's just calling himself a pirate as some kind of disguise. In truth, Wapol is only wandering the seas, trying desperately to return to this island." Dalton explains.
"So then, Wapol and the people who're on this ship with him were kicked off the island because they were no match for the pirates? Is that what happened?" Vivi inquires.
"That's not it, no." Dalton answered with the unforgiving tone. "When it happened, when we were attacked, Wapol's army didn't even try to fight!? In fact, the second he learned how strong the pirates were! Wapol grabbed his cronies and ran like a coward, he was the first one to abandon the country and flee out to sea! After that, the country felt utter despair! We were left behind by our King!"
"WHAT SORT OF KING WOULD DO THAT TO HIS COUNTRY?!" Vivi yelled furiously, earned their attention. "A King abandoning his people?! Just the thought of that makes me absolutely sick!"
"Vivi..." Usopp muttered, shocked of Vivi's reaction.
"You're exactly right, for one good thing that came out of it though was the end of Wapol's tyrannical rule." Dalton said. "The people who would left on this island have come together now were trying to create a new country. So, what we fear most right now was the return of Wapol and his followers, the return of his rule. We can't afford for him to come back now with the country so unstable and it will be the end of us. We want to build ourselves a new peaceful nation on this island. And now with Ventus return on this island, if what you say is true, then Wapol must know where the island is by now and we don't have to worry about his return."
"Speaking of Ventus, how did you know about him? Surely, you must've known him when he got here with Freya and Fratley years ago, but he a year ago, he's on his own." Usopp asks. "And also, you said that Blackbeard and his small group almost destroyed this country, what do you mean by that?"
That got Dalton smiled when Usopp ask that question.
"I remember like it was yesterday. After he rescued me from Wapol and his men while having Dr. Kureha patch me up, those pirates arrived on our island to search for another doctor to join their crew, after Wapol took all of his men and the doctors to flee out to sea, that was when he came." Dalton explains, got Vivi, Usopp, Anna, Ivan, and Shanise interested of that story. "After Wapol left the island, the pirates searched all over this island to search for the witch. If they couldn't find a doctor on any of the villages, they just took the money and food in exchange for our lives. When he found Dr. Kureha in this village, he used force to have her to join. When he was about to do so, a strange creature showed up and was protecting her. He was about to attack it as well, but Ventus jumped in and fought him."
"Ventus fought against Blackbeard?!" Usopp, Vivi, Shanise, Anna, and Ivan shouts with shock.
"Not just him, his crew joined the battle as well." Dalton answered, adding the information which it got them interested even more. "It was a long battle and in the end, it was him against the captain. Ventus looked like he was going to collapse soon, however, yet in the end, he won. I didn't understand why at that time, but then he made those pirates leave the island with the warning and give back everything they took from the villages on this island. Those pirates reluctantly agreed to leave and never come back while taking his warning. The moment they were out of this island's sight, he collapsed. Dr. Kureha brought her to the castle to give Ventus treatment in exchange for saving her and this country. After that, he's been visiting different villages a lot whenever he had time to us, that is. I noticed he brings some meat for the villagers and sweets for the children when he did. After that, he goes to the castle to visit Dr. Kureha. Why he goes to visit the witch and take some leftover meat and sweets to her is an enigma."
'Not sure about the visits either, but saving this village from a pirate crew, especially a strong one, sure sounds like Ventus.' Usopp, Ivan, and Vivi thought.
'He might have a strong connection to Dr. Kureha and Chopper whenever he visits at the castle.' Anna and Shanise thought.
"But then...when Dr. Kureha visited to our village, the strange creature had a sad look. That was then she announced that he left the island because the dragons from Dravania are coming after him. Almost everyone asked if this is a joke, but with that look, it's no joke and the dragons are on their way here because Ventus didn't want anyone, especially us, get involve in his circumstances. Despite that, we formulate a plan to fake Ventus' death by mixing some blood from between Lapahns and reindeer, Dr. Kureha mix it with his blood and having the strange creature fake it like he's dead." Dalton explains. "We were able to fool them, and we were hoping for Ventus to return because the dragons give up the frantic search. And right now, there's no doubt that rumors will spread around the country about his return."
"But, with Ventus gone to take Nami to the witch with Luffy and Sanji, how are you sure that he will come back in time to stop Wapol from bringing any harm to you, especially since the people here respects you and Ventus more than him?" Usopp asked.
"There's no doubt that he won't come back here in time, especially with the path they took to the castle. And knowing Wapol, he might go there to reclaim his throne." Dalton told him. "If he heard rumors about Ventus, there's no doubt that he and his group will try to beat him in order to prevent him from taking his throne. But I highly doubt that Ventus is interested about claiming the throne."
"But Ventus won't stay here, he's a pirate now." Vivi told her, reasoned with him.
"We all know that, but I doubt that Wapol is smart enough to realize that, when it comes to his position as king." Dalton stated. "Either way, if Ventus can take out a group of strong pirates, then he should be able to take down Wapol and his group."
'He sure relies on him to beat the so-called king.' Vivi, Usopp, and Ivan thought. 'More than enough proof that he's talking about Ventus.'
'These people spoke highly about Ventus, even then they hope for his return.' Anna thought, smiled. 'And it's a huge relief that dragons are the least of our worries.'
Somewhere at sea
Meanwhile at sea, Chess is looking through the binoculars when he found Winter Island that was once called Drum Kingdom.
"Wapol, come quickly!" Chess called him from the crows nest.
"What is it now?!" Wapol shouts with a question. "Have you found that pirates ship yet?"
"No, that isn't it, Wapol." Chess told him with teary eyes. "At long last, we've returned home."
"We have?" Wapol asks surprisingly.
"How many long months have passed wandering to sea? That's our homeland! It's Drum Kingdom!" Chess announced.
It got Wapol's group cheered, happy to return to the island. However, Musshuru couldn't care less about the island nor returning to the castle. All he cared about is fight against Ventus for the humiliation the young Dragoon have given him.
'Ventus, you dragon bastard! For months, you have caused humiliation for our Drum Kingdom and my stupid tin-headed moronic brother! When I find you, I'll make sure this is the last time you humiliated me!' Musshuru thought with vengeance.
That's it for the 15th chapter.