Chapter 1
The Florian Triangle
"What—? What just happened?" Nami said nervously.
"The alcohol flew up, lit up, then disappeared!" Chopper looked at the smoking barrel in astonishment. Maxwell and Nami ran down to the deck to get a better look at the barrel.
The mage scowled as he could smell the gaatlok, "I don't think that was alcohol, Chopper."
Robin agreed. "It was a flare."
Zoro just laughs, "Hahaha! Don't you mean Curse of the Sea God?"
"I wouldn't be to concerned about that," Robin replies. "It'd be no problem if this was just a prank, but… perhaps…"
"You think someone might be coming after us now," Maxwell finished her sentence. Robin only nodded in response. That flare was rather large. It probably could have been seen for miles around.
Usopp teeth start to chatter, "Waitwaitwait—! So this might have been a trap triggered by opening the barrel!? And we might have alerted someone to our presence here!?"
Chopper already had a pair of binoculars out, looking out to port, "Can you see anyone anywhere!?"
Usopp had ran to starboard, using his googles as scouting lenses, "I can't see anyone, but—"
"EVERYONE TO YOUR POSTS!" Nami suddenly dashed off towards the cabin, "We're fleeing south-by-southeast! A raging storm is on the way! We have 5 minutes!"
Everyone scrambled to get the ship ready. "I can't see it, but if she says it's coming, it's coming fast," Maxwell could hear Luffy say.
Nami had the uncanny ability to predict the weather, just by feeling the air around them. It's what made Nami such a great navigator. She could feel the atmospheric changes in pressure that directed the winds and made clouds form. It was an invaluable skill to have on the Grand Line.
The weather here could change at the drop of a hat. It could go from from gusts, to dead in the water, to blizzards, then heatwave, all just in one day. The crew had seen hurricanes, storms, hail, and just about every other weather pattern you could think off. And it wasn't even a pattern. Weather just struck at random, and you'd be lucky to survive it. Not to mention this ocean stretched a band around the world.
You couldn't even navigate properly. Each island in this ocean had a magnetic field that interfered with regular compasses. You needed specialized equipment, and a hardy crew, in order to survive the Grand Line.
Thankfully the Straw-Hat Pirates were just crazy enough. "What's the course, Nami!?"
"Bear to 2 o'clock!" Nami watched the skies from the stern, seeing clouds cumulate and gather up ahead of them. Franky had taken up the helm, ready to steer his dream ship through stormy weather. Zoro secured the main sail while Sanji taut the brigantine. Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper secured what was loose above deck, while Robin locked down everything inside. Maxwell meanwhile, had started casting protective spells around the ship.
This was why Maxwell was hoping to negotiate with Sunny. Back on the Going Merry, their old ship—rest in peace, Maxwell was able to manipulate the rigging of the ship just by using magic. Telekinetically moving the ropes and rudder in order to steer the ship. It made bracing for bad weather less of a hassle. The ship practically handled herself and the crew didn't have to worry. Unfortunately, Maxwell and the crew didn't have that option anymore. The Thousand Sunny was resistant to mana like the same ends of two magnets.
Oh, Maxwell could still cast spells, but handling the ship was no longer his domain. He wasn't sure what was in the wood, but since Sunny and the ship were one being, it was Maxwell's hope to have her manipulate the properties of her haul. Ideally, lessen the magic resistance her Adam Treasure Wood made haul provided. Hardy and near indescribable wood or not, it was inconvenient.
Soon enough, the skies had darkened. Rain began to pour and the winds picked the water up in a frenzy. Lightning crackled throughout the clouds, striking the waves with flashes of light. Thunder boomed with deafening volume as it sounded all around them. Sea water rose and fell, churning, as the Thousand Sunny road waves of least 50 feet tall! Maxwell had nearly had his feet taken out from under him when a rogue wave splashed across the Sunny.
Nami growled in frustration as she held on tight, "No good, it's all headwind!"
"Hey!" Franky's voice was heard despite the wind and the rain. He was grinning, "You think that's all this ship's got!?"
Nami then blinks in realization, "That's right! Everyone, take up the sails! The paddles are coming out!"
"Oh! Those things!" Usopp looked excited, despite hanging onto the rails like a flag.
"They're so cool, I love it! Let's do it!" Luffy called out.
"Alright, alright~! Soldier Docking System! Channel 0!" Franky fiddled with the steering wheel, then pulled a lever beside him. The whole crew could hear the hum of an engine as they and the turning of gears, as they worked. They knew that if they were outside the ship, they would see the "1" on the haul turn to "0."
"Alright! Open them up!" Usopp yelled. Both sides of the ship began to open up, lifting like a garage door, in circles framing their haul. Once the gates were open, two cabbed water wheels extended out of the Sunny.
"Cola Engine! Paddle Ship Sunny Go!" Nami called out as the wheels began to spin.
"CHARGE~!" Luffy cheered when they started crossing the waves. The ship was now sailing on it's own power, and hopefully soon they'd be out of this storm.
O O O
Maxwell looked around. The sea had quieted down but the cloud hadn't dispersed yet. In fact, it seem to have become darker. Heavy fog had descended on them and they could only see it with the help of Sunny's lamp lights. They had re-hoisted the sails since the winds were back in their favour.
"…Well, we're out of the storm."
"That's good, but… what's with this sea?" asked Luffy.
"It shouldn't be night yet," Zoro commented, "The fog's so thick, it's almost eerily dark."
Maxwell understood what they were both talking about. While Zoro and Luffy might not have been intimidated, Maxwell was on edge. It was quiet. Too quiet. Even the waves lapping at Sunny's haul were muffled. Then there was the pressure pressing on the back of his mind. Like a spirit was watching them. Maxwell had already commanded his familiars to be on the look out, in case they were attacked.
"…Could it be that we've… We've entered that part of the sea already?" Nami shifted nervously. "My heart's not ready for that yet…!"
"Oh!?" Usopp smiled, looking back at their navigator, "You mean we've already arrived at Fishman Island!?" Most of the crew had gathered at starboard side, on the main deck.
Luffy jumped and hung onto the Sunny's shroud like a monkey. He was grinning mischievously at his sniper, "Nope, first we must cross haunted waters."
"That's right. Don't relax just yet…" Franky smirked behind his sunglasses, "No doubt about it... It looks like we've already been caught in the infamous, Florian Triangle. That strange sea where almost everything disappears, without explanation."
"Eh…?" Usopp suddenly became nervous, his teeth chattering, "Y-You mean ha—hau—haun—Hau—Haunt—"
Luffy giggles like it's the coolest thing, "Hihihi! These seas are haunted!"
"STOP SCREWING WITH ME!" Usopp pointed an accusatory finger at all the guys, "WHY'S EVERYONE ACTING LIKE THEY KNEW THIS BEFORE ME!? I NEVER HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THIS!"
"Old Lady Kokoro told us," Luffy sat on the rails, grinning, "There're living skeletons here!"
Sanji huffed, "That's just your imagination. Don't scare him like that." Chopper had also begun to hide behind Zoro's leg.
"Listen Usopp," the cook lit a match to light his cigarette. Then Sanji held the little wick up close to create shadows over his face, "Every year, in this ocean, over a hundred ship vanish, nowhere to be seen… What's more, ghost ships carrying living corpses wander these very waters… Or so they say…"
"GYAAAAAAH!" Usopp jumped in fright, "THIS IS AWFUL! TELL ME STUFF LIKE THAT BEFORE HAND!"
Sanji than gave him an evil malicious smile, "And what good would that have done?"
"I COULD HAVE PREPARED! I-I-I have to fortify myself with stuff that wards off evil spirits!" Usopp began to spin around in place, clutching his head and looking around, "Let's see—I'm—I'm gonna need garlic, crosses, talismans—!"
Chopper tugged at Usopp's leg, "USOPP, GIMME SOME OF THOSE THINGS TOO!" He didn't want to see any evil spirits either.
"Alright, alright, that's enough messing with Usopp for one night," Maxwell cut in. "Usopp, just calm down. No evil spirit is going to board this ship. They all live in the Fade remember? How about we all just head inside and—"
"Yo-ho-ho-ho~ …Yo-ho-ho~ho~"
…
…
…
Maxwell had frozen mid-step. "What was that?"
"Yo-ho-ho-ho~ …Yo-ho-ho~ho~"
Everyone had frozen still, hearing the eerie musical voice wafting over the fog.
Usopp slowly turned around, listening to where he was hearing the music came from.
…
…
…
"Yo-ho-ho-ho~ …Yo-ho-ho~ho~"
"ONE CAME OUT~!" Usopp screamed at the top of his lungs. And everyone else could see it too!
"GHOST SHIP!"
A truly haunted looking galleon had appeared out of the fog behind them. It's sails were tattered, it's masts were broken. Shreaded shrouds were strung about, more akin to spiderwebs than rope ladders. The haul was blown in pieces! Cavernous holes and black edges were blown into it as if it had experienced some ancient battle. Maxwell was amazed it could still float! Peeling paint and barnacles covered what little was left, and the voice was coming directly from that ship!
"Yo-ho-ho-ho~ …Yo-ho-ho~ho~"
"What is that song…!?" Nami was threatening to have tears come out of her eyes.
Usopp looked upon the ship in horror, "IT'S AN EVIL SPIRIT'S SAILOR SONG! DON'T LISTEN! PLUG YOUR EARS! IT'LL CURSE YOU!"
"YAAAAAAAHHHH!" Chopper immediately copied what Usopp was doing, and yelling incoherently.
"PRETEND YOU CAN'T HEAR IT IF A GHOST TRIES TO TALK WITH YOU! IT'LL DRAG YOU INTO THE SEA IF YOU RESPOND! EVIL SPIRITS WANNA DRAG YOU DOWN WITH THEM!
"NOOOOOOO!" Chopper then covered his eyes covering them with his furry pink top-hat.
"AWESOME!" Luffy ran up to get a closer look as the ship sailed by.
Robin looked it over with a critical eye, "…Is there someone sailing that ship?"
"Yo~ho~ho-ho~~"
The voice was definitely masculine in pitch.
"Hmph," Zoro rest a hand on his katanas, "If it's an enemy, I'll just cut him down."
Maxwell's moustache bristled as he watched the ship, "You assume it identifies with a gender." He already had his staff extended in his hands. That mace he had at his belt was actually a collapsible staff Usopp had made for him. Maxwell may have a had new respect for spirits, but rickety old ships don't just appear for no reason.
Sanji was taking another drag on his cigarette, "Something's there." He had seen a shadow looming aboard the ghost ship. Just a singular figure, leaning abeam to port.
"Gather up all of the crew…~"
It was a skeleton.
"—Time to ship out Binks' brew…~"
And it was moving!
…
…
…
And it was drinking tea!?
Maxwell could hear the slurp.
What kind of Fade possessed corpse would want to sing and drink tea!?
…
…
…
At least it wasn't attacking them. The ship just drifted by them.
Luffy quickly got over his shock and fear, "Did you see that just now? A skeleton was singing!"
"S-S-Stupid!" Usopp cried out in denial, "Skeletons don't sing. You're just hearing things!"
"But didn't you hear him?" Luffy looked around at the rest of the crew. They had definitely heard it. And this was what made Luffy so excited. "C'mon! Let's go! Like right now! There really is a living skeleton! SWEET!"
"Whoa whoa whoa whoa!" Maxwell stepped in front of his captain before he could try to jump ship and explore the old sea vessel. "Hold on Luffy! I'm not sure if that's such a good idea."
He had heard of spirits haunting places before. The subject was available in journals he'd read back in the Circle before. Most instances were either the result of a great tragedy a spirit had taken interest in, or a spell gone wrong. Both were dangerous, and would require investigation if they were to go there.
Zoro just scoffed, "Like that's stopped him before, Max."
Maxwell started to say something but stopped. Then his face scrunched up because the swordsman had a point. Luffy impulse and stubborn at the best of times.
Zoro then brought out a handful of popsicle sticks, "Here. Let's draw lots to see who's going aboard that ship with Luffy."
"What!? Why!?" Usopp immediately protested. "Send whoever actually wants to go!"
Nami and Chopper were similar in mind. "Right! That's what we should do!" "Yeah! Do that!" All three of them were scared witless.
"Are you sure you're okay with that?" asked Zoro.
Usopp, Nami, and Chopper blinked blinked, then looked to where the others were. Maxwell had already joined Franky, Sanji, and Robin on the rails, ready to go with Luffy to explore the ghost ship. Maxwell's reason was obvious. If there really was a possessed corpse on that ship, he should investigate it.
Max could hear Chopper, Usopp, and Nami plead behind him. He looked back to see them clinging onto Zoro's legs as the swordsman walked.
"Please let me draw!" "Wait! Zoro! Wait! Does everyone except the three of us plan on going?" "I'll draw! I'll draw! I'll take my chances! Just don't leave us alone!"
Luffy then looked behind at his friends, "I can go by myself, you know. If we don't hurry, the ship's going to leave." Luffy was actually being considerate when he said that. The Straw-Hat captain had sturdily pulled a few stunts while they've been on this crazy adventure. But that didn't mean he wanted them to think he didn't care.
…Then again—
"That isn't a option," said Sanji.
Luffy's hair-brained stunts had caused no shortage of headaches while they've sailed together. Whenever Luffy went off on his own, trouble was sure to follow… Then he'd bring it back with him.
Zoro took pity on the three scaredy-cats, "Just draw the sticks. Two people will go with him, and it'll be their job to make sure he doesn't do anything stupid."
The rest of the crew looked at each other, then jumped back down on the deck. They could agree with Zoro's plan, though each of them had their own reasons to go. Sanji probably wanted to make sure nothing on that ghost ship could hurt Nami or Robin. Robin was curious, both as an archeologist and her taste for horror and the macabre. Franky just seemed fearless.
So, Maxwell took a stick.
…And he didn't get a short straw.
"…No~!" Nami wailed pitifully as she dropped to her knees. She had drawn a short stick. And Sanji was going with them.
So, the crew lowered a longboat for the three of them to row on. They had seen a broken shroud over the port that the three of them could climb on. Luffy was just all too eager to take up the oars and start rowing.
Maxwell watched them cast off, "…Damn. And hear I was hoping to figure out what kind of spirit it was."
"W-What!?" Usopp looked at the mage in shock, "What do you mean!? Why would you even want to go on that thing!?" Usopp had normally seen Maxwell as one of the more stable influences on the ship. Everyone else was crazy, at times.
Maxwell looked over at the sniper, "'Cause, if you've forgotten already, I normally deal with spirits. This may actually be the first time, since I've set sail, to have seen a spirit outside an island's influence. Not to mention the possessed a corpse."
Maxwell started stroking his beard, "I wonder if the spirit is benign? Normally, over eager spirits want to experience an event and crossover just to do that. But they just end up going berserk because of the loss of sensation and left over psyche of the victims last thoughts."
A perfect example would be swamps of Fallow Mire, back in Thedas. He remembered hearing rumours back in Feraldin, about how the dead rose up whenever someone stepped into the water. Honestly, it was the perfect recipe for a possessed corpse. There was plenty of dead being preserved by the swamp. The region had recently experienced a plague, so he could imagine Fear spirits flocking to those swamps. Add the rain, the clouds, and the fog, you have a perfect place no person would dare… Oh.
…He wondered how long a corpse decomposed in salt water. "Actually I'm surprised it could move at all. There was hardly a lick of flesh on that skeleton—"
"Are you sure you didn't study necromancy before Alabasta, Maxwell?" Robin asked the mage.
Maxwell blushed at being caught rambling, "…Forgive me. Much of my knowledge outside of spellcasting had been theoretical or conjecture. The idea of observing it in person had me curious."
"I find myself curious as well. Most of what I know comes from ghost stories. I assumed you were going to speak about tendons and how a spirit would stimulate the dead tissue?"
"HOW ARE YOU TWO SPEAKING ABOUT THIS SO CASUALLY!?" Usopp yelled at the two scholars.
"…Egg-heads. Yeesh…" Franky had just rolled his eyes.
"GYAAAAAAH!"
They then heard Nami scream from the shots ship.
Usopp already had a crucifix held up and started praying towards the galleon, "Begone foul spirits, begone foul spirits, begone foul spirits—Rest in peace, Luffy~!"
Maxwell looked at the cross, "…You know that isn't going to work, right?"
"Shut up, and let me believe!" Usopp yelled back. "…Actually, I'm going to need more than this. Let's go Chop!"
"Aye!" Both Usopp and Chopper ran back inside to grab more "anti-spirit" gear. Honestly, Maxwell didn't see how a change in wardrobe, a cross, and a garland of garlic was supposed to repel spirits. You either defeated the manifestation or banished it back into the Fade.
Maxwell looked back at the galleon, thinking about Sanji and Luffy.
"…Yeah, they'd probably just beat it up."