After two weeks of poor sailing and bland food, land was a sight for sore eyes. After a few bumps and scrapes, the crew finally docked correctly and went ashore. Giru explained as they walked off the dock, "If we remained on course, we should be at Alabasta. If we tell the people here that we're friendly to non-world government people, we should be in the clear."

Mist tapped his shoulder, then hand signed. "Mist says Alabasta is supposed to be a desert." translated Akuma. Giru sighed, "I thought so. Well, we're at the wrong place, then. I don't see a sign anywhere stating the name of the town, though."

They all stepped onto solid ground, slowing their stride as the people stared at them. Giru realized it was because of him, but it was too late at this point to do anything about it. They stopped as the villagers started to surround them, all except Arata becoming defensive. Giru's tentacles rose up like snakes, the red conical spikes ready to strike. Mist's hand rested on his Flame Linebaugh. Ayane's hands were enveloped in psychic energy. Arata opened a butterscotch candy and popped it into his mouth.

An elderly man came to the front of the circle, walking on a silver cane. "We prayed for saviors... and now a demon comes to our land? Has the devil sent you to aid us? Must we give our SOULS to be rid of this CURSE!?" The old man asked, holding the cross on his necklace. Giru wanted to laugh, but this was a serious situation.

'Akuma, will that cross hurt us?'

'Well, not if he just touches us with it. But if he throws it, it'll hurt more than it normally would.'

Giru looked the man in the eye. "I'm no agent of the devil. I'm just a pirate that's sailed the wrong way."

The man fell to his knees, bowing. "Please, I beg of you, help us!"

The rest of the villagers followed suit, bowing row after row. Giru rolled his eyes. "I don't have any money or a big army. What do you want from me?"

The man lifted his head and pointed to a house atop a cliff, about 30 meters high. "It appeared a month ago, and every night horrible creatures emerge! Half of our village has died already. Please, destroy it and whatever is within!"

Giru rolled his neck around. "Well, we need the experience if we're going for the dragons. Come on, crew."

At the base of the cliff, the crew stood rigid, staring up in anticipation. "The creatures come out at night. Should we wait until then?" Ayane asked. "I'm debating it. If we give them time to realise we're here, they may plan around us. But we know nothing about them, so attacking first is a reckless choice. "

"Well which choice will we pick?" asked arata, still swishing his butterscotch around.

"Well, we're going to kill the Celestial Dragons. Any crew with a goal like that is obviously reckless until the end!" Giru exclaimed with a smirk. He grabbed Mist and began levitating at high speed up to the top of the cliff, while Arata simply ran up the side, and Ayane made a psychic platform and rose up. Adrenaline now rushing, Giru decided to completely throw caution to the wind and break through the wall, doing so with his tentacles. as the dust from the shattered wooden wall cleared, the crew was face to face with a group of humans clothed in black fur and leather. Each except one held a different weapon. Four for four.

All were silent.

The silence was broken by the commotion of combat. Giru faced the largest one, who weilded a giant, spiked sledgehammer. Mist faced the swordsman, who had a very wide blade. Ayane faced their Marksman, who used Flintlocks. Arata faced one who seemed to have no weapon. All spread away from each other for their seperate- and first- serious battles.