Hello!

One Piece continues to be amazing, I am very excited about the next chapter as the final saga begins.

There's a lot of this story I would love to share with all of you but summer became an impromptu hiatus for all of my works. I have some downtime again, so I hope to continue writing. Enjoy. :)

The pirates need supplies to finish repairs on the stolen ship but what dark secrets lay beyond the walls of Nede's Garden?

9/2/2022

Log 6: Nede's Garden

Mary led Valker into a castle like building attached to the walls and entered into a large hall. Gates nearly as tall as the trees were on the far side but Mary took him over to the side where there was a simple secretary desk.

A man was manning the desk, feet kicked up and his head was tilted back so that he was looking up at the ceiling, tracing the lines of the arches supporting the massive hall. Though hearing them approach, he didn't bother to change his position. "If you are here to pick up wood, show yah payment first."

"I didn't have an order," Mary said cheerfully.

Hearing her voice the man flailed, barely keeping on his chair as he sat up. He paled seeing who was before him and, without a word, he ran through a nearby door behind him. With the door slightly ajar, Valker could hear what the man was saying. "She's here!"

"Who's here?" Another voice asked.

"The shipwright girl!"

"The sheep one?"

"Who else?!"

Valker could hear the shudder in the other man's voice. "Her face is so blank. It's like she's soulless!"

"Can you deal with her?"

"No way man, you're on duty!"

"But she's creepy!"

Mary propped her elbows against the desk and hummed to herself, Valker couldn't read her expression but her body language was relaxed. It was like she was overhearing a conversation about weather instead. "I have a job from a marine fellow." she called in a singsong voice. "You don't want to keep the Navy waiting do you?"

"…. Call the boss."

So Valker found himself in a private room with the devil fruit user. They sat together on a red velvet couch facing an identical couch. There was a coffee table between them with tea and papers.

Mary was absolute fascinated with the plushy cushions until a man entered the room and her expression hardened as her fur puffed up, "Nede."

"That's Mr. Nede, you ship rat." Nede sneered and took his place on the opposite couch, crossing his legs with an extra flourish. He looked at Valker and took in his appearance and send in a very business-like tone. "And who are you? You work for Evelyn?"

"I do." Valker lied smoothly. "Our ship was caught up in a storm so I'm commissioning one of the shipyards to repair it."

Nede hummed in thought. "You haven't been working for Evie long, have you?"

"No."

"Easy guess. You don't know how things work around here. When Evie wants a commission done, it comes through me and I contract the shipwright here. Kapeesh?"

"Duly noted," Valker replied. "The ship still needs to be fixed or Captain Evelyn will be displeased."

"Of course she would," Nede rubbing a forming migraine between his eyes and leaned back. "She gets all uppity because she's a 'navy captain.' I think your boss needs to be reminded that this is a partnership."

"I believe that is something you will need to discuss that with Captain Evelyn." Valker said evasively.

Nede didn't look pleased with this response but changed the subject. "Did you bring the new labor she promised? I want to see what's so special about this one."

Mary's ears twitched as her body tensed from the anger she radiated. The guards were instantly reaching for their weapons. Offhandedly, Valker wondered why they let her enter a room with their boss in her hybrid form. Seemed like an oversight. He leveled a no nonsense look and bluffed. "Not right now, the labor will come at a later."

"Tch, Fine, you can get the wood. I'll send the bill to Evie later."

"Do what you must," Valker said standing up. "Captain Evelyn wants this commission to be done swiftly."

Nede waved his hand. "Yeah, yeah. Mogo will get your logs. Good business with you."

With a handshake sealing the deal, Valker and Mary were escorted back to the gate within the hall where Mogo was waiting. Mogo looked like an ancestor of the human race with his broad shoulders and apish features, it didn't help he spoke in grunts and short sentences but everyone listened to him without question - probably because they wouldn't get an explanation.

Several large men turned a wheel nearby, this turned a spool of chains that was connected to the gates, cracking them open slightly. Valker could see a dense and lush forest beyond the gates with trees reaching high into the sky, his eyes narrowing as harsh shouts came through the doors. Ten brawny men dragged a large tree trunk through the door and the gates slamming shut behind them.

When the trunks were placed before them, the men stepped back to catch their breaths.

Mary stepped forward and easily hefted the bundle up on to her shoulder, she turned, causing everyone in the surrounding area to duck less they wanted to be struck as the wood was swung around. Supplies secured, Valker and Mary silently made their way out of building.

-VP-

Agni wandered aimlessly through the trees, trying to find his way out of the forest. He wondered if Yuuna was able to fend off that crazy, little, sheep devil fruit user while Valker was incapacitated. Sheepy had a really mean swing on her, how far did she send him? Either way, he seriously needed to find Valker and Yuuna.

"Hey you!" A man dressed in a green camo uniform shouted, dropping down from trees. "Why are you away from the lumber crew?!"

Agni rolled his eyes and grabbed the man by his face and threw him into a tree. Nodding with satisfaction with the fact that only the man's rear was sticking out of the wood, Agni moved on. He could hear someone shout commands in the distance and trees falling. Agni paused at what he saw.

There was a group of people working, cutting, trimming and hauling the large trees around the forest. Most of them were dressed poorly, full of rips and stained with dirt. All of them straining under the work and weighed down further by heavy iron chains around their wrists and ankles.

There were several men dressed in the uniform of the guy Agni encountered before. They stood at attention as guards but how they were standing and pointed their rifles, it was obvious these people were ensuring the lumber workers did their job. Agni frowned and muttered to himself. "I need to get out of here."

A heavy thud sounded behind him as a shadow over took him. Glancing behind, Agni stared at a monkey faced man with a mean grimace. Agni didn't even get a chance to react before Mogo slammed him into the ground.

"Sir!" A underling called, running over. "I don't know how he got free of his chains!"

Mogo huffed, holding up Agni by his head and shaking him. "No work, no money!"

"I know, Mogo!"

"No money, mad boss."

The underling gulped. " .. we can't waste boss's money."

"Hey, monkey brains. This is your one warning..." Agni warmed his fists so hot they were steaming. "I'm going to wreck yah."

-VP-

Yuuna sat on top of the crow's nest of the Pompen's upside down ship fiddling with parts she scavenged from the shipyard. It was odd to have a crow's nest attached to the middle of a ship's hull but it had a good view of the ocean.

Pompen's men had returned a while ago with their cart full of salvaged wood and joined Pompen with the repairs. They may have be working for the same people that beat them up but Felix and Rufus were in high spirits. They seemed like people who often roughhoused but where quick to make up afterwards. Judging how they were jibbing each other as they worked, they were fairly close and worked well together.

Seeing there was nothing for her to do, Yuuna tried to keep out of their way. Hebi was currently curled up on her stomach, snoozing away. Yuuna twirled one side of his mustache like whiskers in her finger. The snake was starting to grow on her. He was a sleepy like his master but Yuuna was beginning to think Hebi was much more reliable than Valker. She couldn't understand Valker's goal or why he took her into his crew. Why did he want to fight Luffy? For fame? Does he want to win or is he on a suicide run to have his cause of death be a hailstorm of fists?

Yuuna sat up abruptly, seeing dots in the distant ocean horizon. Squinting in suspicion, she grabbed the telescope propped up on the crow's nest. Two marine battleships were sailing right towards the island. "Evelyn" was written across the main sail.

"Oh crap!" Yuuna cursed, sliding down the hull and to the ground. Captain Evelyn was coming to the island. "We're so screwed."

She ran off to warn Valker.

-VP-

Mary didn't speak until they were a fair distance away from Nede's Garden. "You're not one of Eevee's."

"Who?"

"The marine captain. Actually, you're… not a marine. Are you?"

Valker raised an eyebrow. "Why do you say that?"

Mary picked at a piece of loose bark from the logs on her shoulder. "You got mad when Nede talked about the labor."

Valker didn't betray any emotion when he asked. "How did you know?"

"You snapped your pen when he mentioned it." When she mentioned this Valker rubbed the ink stained on his hand with his fingers.

"You're very observant." he remarked.

"Not particularly," Mary hummed. "It was loud to me."

Valker studied Mary's dark eyes. "You didn't react when those men insulted you but it angered you when the labor was mentioned. Tell me about them."

"Everybody knows about the labor but nobody dares talks about them," said Mary. "The marines bring the labor from off the island so I'm not sure who they are but I know they're the ones that take care of the trees in the garden." The shipwright glanced over her shoulder to look at the imposing walls. "Once someone enters the garden to work as a laborer, they never come back out."

"Tell me more about Nede," Valker requested.

"Mmmm, he took over the island when I was ten. I think? Maybe I was older..."

"It doesn't matter how long. Continue."

"We're a shipyard town, nothing like Water 7 but we get by. But then Nede and his gang took over the island… well, you've seen the island."

"All the trees outside the garden have been cut down."

"That was the first thing Nede did so if we want wood, we have to go to him. He jacked the prices of wood so high, there was no way that anyone could make a living from commissions. Some of the shipwrights complained to Captain Evelyn but they disappeared and their shipyards closed down."

"Captain Evelyn must have a deal with Nede. She commissions the ships to Nede and Nede gives the commissions to the shipyards and makes the yard pay for the wood needed for the commission. I doubt the beris is enough to keep a shipyard running, much less live on." Valker guessed. "That's why you scavenge the wood from the coast, to cut down on costs."

"Pompom does anything save money," Mary smiled fondly. "Expect food."

"Hm?"

"She can be mean but Pompom also makes sure we never have empty bellies." Mary explained.

Valker furrowed his eyes, trying to understand her point.

"VALKER!" Yuuna called as she reached them. "The Navy's coming!"

"So you aren't Navy." Mary said with a wide grin. "What are you?"

"Pirates." Valker answered readily as he scratched his snake's head, completely aloof of the situation unfolding.

Something sparked in Mary's round eyes, "Pirates?"

"Don't go around announcing that," grumbled Yuuna.

"You're going to stop us?" Valker asked her.

"No, Evelyn can get hit by a knock-up stream." Mary dismissed and smiled. "You stole her ship, right? And you want to use it for piracy?"

"That doesn't change the fact that Evelyn is on her way here, right now!" Yuuna stressed. "Is that smoke?!"

Valker followed her gaze to see dark smoke rising from Nede's Garden and let out a frustrated noise. "Agni."

"You should go get your friend, I'll get your ship ready." Mary offered.

Yuuna eyed the large logs she was carrying though she show no sign of fatigue from carrying the heavy logs, Yuuna had her doubts. "Will you be able to get back fast enough?"

"Don't worry." Mary replied.

Setting down her load, Mary untied one of the extra logs from the bundle. She reached into the saddle bags resting on her hips, retrieved her tools and got to work.

Yuuna and Valker watched in astonishment as Mary constructed a small sailing boat in a matter of minutes. Lifting the rest of the logs back onto her shoulder, Mary pushed off from the river bank. The boat sank under the weight of the trunks but remained afloat. "See ya later!"

Valker and Yuuna remained speechless as the river carried her away and towards the sea.

Unable to find words for what they just witnessed, they hurried back the way Valker came until they reached the base of the wall on the outskirts of the town.

"We'll enter from here," he stated.

"You want us to go over this?!" Yuuna gawked, head craning back.

"Got any plans?" Valker asked.

Yuuna grinned as her chest swelled with pride. "In fact I do!"

Reaching into her bag, Yuuna pulled out her little project when she was waiting around the shipyard, a makeshift grappling gun. "Tah-da!"

She had to admit it was slightly comical how both Valker and Hebi cocked their heads in curiosity. Like owner, like pet, though the hilarity of the action was lessened by Valker's resting annoyed look.

"We can get over with this!" Yuuna claimed, aimed her grappling gun straight up into the air, and fired.

Her smirk slowly dropped the more of the rope uncoiled. The gun nearly slipped through her fingers when the hook made it as high as it could go before gravity won out. Valker and Yuuna quietly watched the rope coil back up on the ground until the the hook hit the middle of the coil with a *thunk.*

Yuuna flushed in embarrassment and tried to defend herself. "It's a really tall wall."

She felt herself heat up more when Valker had the audacity to smirk and turned his back to her. "Grab on."

"…Why?"

"Just do it." Putting her grappling hook, Yuuna placed her hands awkwardly on his shoulders. His muscles were tense and it didn't feel very welcoming holding on to him.

"Hold on," was Yuuna's final warning and she dug her fingers into Valker's shoulder as he took off into the sky.

Yuuna could feel her hands slipping with each leap, she really wished she had a better grip to start. It was like Valker was running up an invisible staircase. Before she knew it, they made it to the top and she relished the feeling of stone under her knees.

Valker let her stay there for a moment and took in the view that the top of the wall. He could see the Navy battleships at the town's port. They had a limited window before Captain Evelyn would be on to them. He glanced down at his crewmate, "Too much excitement for you?"

"Warn me next time you decide to fly!" Yuuna yelled back, feeling angry and embarrassed. Why did he let her make a fool of herself when he could have easily gotten over the wall? Valker had taken to surveying the forest, the trees were marvelous. Lush and full of vibrant greens, trunks towering even taller than the cement walls.

"We have to find Agni," said Valker.

"The forest is huge and there're probably enemies in there too. How are we going to find him?" Yuuna asked.

Valker closed his eyes and Yuuna thought he fell asleep for a moment before he pointed. "This way."

"How do you know?"

"Haki," Valker said simply.

"You know Observation Haki too?"

It did make sense. It would explain how Valker knew to dodge when they commandeered Captain Evelyn's ship and she attempted to shoot him in the back. Why did some no name pirate from the East Blue have so much expertise in haki? Not to mention Yuuna was sure Valker used that skywalking technique Mr. Sanji took from the Navy agents to reach the top on the wall.

"It's not as reliable as my Armament but it does the trick. Grab on."

"No way!" Yuuna yelped out of instinct.

Valker dismissed her hesitancy, "Can you get down by yourself?"

Yuuna looked over the edge and let out a throaty groan.

A minute later, they were in a similar position on the ground.

Once Yuuna recovered enough to stand, they were off. The forest was dense, with smaller trees crowding in the space between the larger ones. It was nearly impossible to find anything in the forest to distinguish where they are. Yuuna just had to hope Valker knew where he was going.

"Hebi!" Valker shouted suddenly as he tucked into a roll. Yuuna let out an indignant yell as Hebi bit into a branch above and yanked her into the air. Seconds later Agni came whizzing through where the two pirates had been.

"Oh! Hey guys," Agni greeted. Yuuna waved from the tree branch she sat on. "Come to join the fun?"

"You got into trouble." accused Valker.

Agni grinned back. "Define trouble."

As to incriminate him, Mogo landed right before all the pirates and let out an inhuman roar.

Valker held out his hand. "Hebi!" the snake launched into his hands, coating himself in haki. Valker and Agni ready themselves to attack.

Mogo swung, Valker lowered his stance to allow the fist to go over his head – nearly knocking of his cap – and jabbed Hebi into the man's gut as Agni brought a burning fist into his face. Mogo stumbled back but Agni and Valker did not relent in their attack, pounding into the guard. Yuuna watched in awe until she realized they were going so far she couldn't see them anymore.

"Wait for me!" she called, scrambling down the tree to pursue.

-VP-

Boss Nede tapped his finger rapidly against his chin as he and his guest studied each other carefully. Captain Evelyn was an unpleasant woman to hold a conversation with which was only outweighed by how lucrative their deal was for his business. Still her moods were a chore to deal with especially when it came to the particulars about her ships. Whatever mood she was in was much worse than usual.

"I know I was expecting you to bring my new labor but you don't need to stick around," Nede remarked.

"I don't have the new labor."

"What?"

"There was a complication with the transfer." Evelyn slapped a photograph of Valker on the table. "This bastard freed Burning Crackerjack and stole my precious ship! We lost them in the storm but the current should have brought them here."

"This guy was here!" Nede exclaimed. "He's not a marine?!"

"Do you see how he's dressed, it's deplorable!" Evelyn shouted.

Nede shrugged. "He had that whole I-have-a-stick-up-my-ass vibe." Seeing Evelyn ready to blow a fuse, he added. "He came to get wood to repair a ship."

"THAT'S MY SHIP! WHERE IS IT!?"

"He brought with him one of Pompen's strays, its probably at her shipyard."

"And where's that?!"

"It's on the shore, beyond the bluff." Nede explained.

Evelyn sighed in relief. "Alright, priorities Evelyn. One thing at a time, baby's not going anywhere and those pirates need to be captured."

"I know he left for the shipyard a while ago, maybe his comrades are there too." Nede suggested.

Evelyn looked the back of the couch to her two marines standing guard. "Ready the men! We are storming that shipyard!"

"Is that really necessary? I know you're up against Burning Crackerjack but it seems like a waste of resources." Nede voiced, relaxing on his sofa.

"You don't realize their capabilities. Crackerjack may be a powerhouse but he," Evelyn jabbed a finger at the photograph of the frowning Valker. "Is clever. Blends into his surroundings like a viper and waits for an opportunity to strike!"

Nede opened his mouth intending to subtly insult the marine captain but the words caught in his throat as his face paled. He looked out the window behind the marine captain, he didn't have a chance to react before Mogo came crashing through. Glass shattered everywhere as the entire room was upended from his landing.

Agni and Valker stopped at the edge of the hole they created, satisfied with their handiwork.

Evelyn kicked a piece of the broken couch out of the way.

"YOU!" she screeched, pointing accusingly at Valker.

"The marines found us." Agni remarked.

"More like we found them," Valker muttered.

"Ma'am!" The marines called, having come back hearing the commotion.

"What are you doing!" Evelyn shrieked louder. "Go secure my baby!"

"Yes ma'am!" The marines ran off.

Evelyn went back to scowling at Valker. "You're going to pay for making a fool of me!"

Valker ignored her and glanced to Agni. "They're going after our ship."

"Yeah," Agni frowned when Valker jerked his head towards the door that marines had gone through and pointed to Mogo, "No. I don't want to. This guy's my opponent!"

"He's unconscious. Go protect the ship." Valker refuted.

"Don't ignore me!" Evelyn demanded but was completely ignored.

Agni groaned, "Make Yuuna do it."

"Don't you want to mow down a platoon of marines?" Valker tempted.

Agni thought that did sound a bit appealing. "Fine," and ran out the door.

Nede eyed Valker, the intruder wielding a goddamn snake as a weapon, "You really caused a mess at my garden today. Who are you?"

Just as Agni left, Yuuna came crawling in through the window. She took in the destroyed room and the battle ready Evelyn and Nede.

"What's going on?" Yuuna asked.

"Agni left," Valker answered.

Yuuna threw her head back with a groan. "We just found him!"

"Ooooi, are you deaf?" Nede prodded.

Valker glanced his direction. "I don't associate with scum."

A vein popped on Nede's head. "Scum? You really do need to learn your place! This is my garden!"

Despite being too far away, Nede threw a punch. His arm stretched, forcing Valker to dodge away from the attack.

Yuuna's mind instantly went the Gum-Gum fruit's ability, but the arm didn't instantly snap back and Yuuna was dragged forward when Nede grabbed her overalls. Valker smacked Hebi into the arm forcing Nede to let go and hauled Yuuna back to her feet.

She was surprised to see Nede's whole body was stretching grotesquely. His torso was twice as long as his legs, his head would be far taller than the ceiling if his neck hadn't bent so far for his head to level with his stomach. His arms were just as long, having to curl into loops to stay close to his body. It was grotesque and unsettling to see his body so twisted and stretched. It was a bit nauseating seeing Nede's limbs sway and curl.

"This is where I rule!" Nede coiled his legs tightly into springs, building tension. This allowed Nede to launch right into Valker sending them flying back into the forest. "Long-Long Corkscrew!"

"Valker!" Yuuna called. Out of her peripheral vision, she saw a plank of wood coming for her head. She dived for the ground, hearing the swing whoosh over her head.

"You should be more worried about yourself!" Evelyn shouted.

Yuuna drew back her slingshot, "Smokescreen!"

Evelyn hacked harshly when the smoke pellet blew up in her face giving Yuuna time to scramble to her feet and run into the forest. Using her grappling hook, Yuuna reached one of the lower hanging trees. Wrapping her legs around the branch, Yuuna readied another shot for when Evelyn stumbled out. When Evelyn reeled back from the lead ball hitting her in the forehead, Yuuna shot the grappling gun to a higher branch in the distance, the hook latched onto the wood.

Taking a deep breath, Yuuna yelled as she swung to the next branch. It was a bit wobbly when Yuuna's boots hit the branch but she managed to stay upright. A knife whizzed by her, the shock made her loose her footing and drop back to the forest floor.

"Ow…" The fall hurt but Yuuna couldn't stay out in the open because Evelyn was coming after, gun and sabre in hand – charging like a mad woman.

Yuuna really hoped Valker was nearby.

To Be Continued...

CHARACTER SPOTLIGHT

Name: Pompen
Species: Human
Occupation: Shipwright

Description: An elderly lady with a blockish jaw and aging wrinkles. Her white hair is done up in a tall baroque style with a miniature model of a ship protruding from the top. Her puffy striped dress hides well defined muscles, toned from years of hard labor. She wears long sleeved white blouses though half the ones she own lack sleeves. If Pompen is getting into a fight or needs some maneuverability, she'll tuck her dress up and tie it around her so that it's out of the way.

Personality: Pompen values hard work, believing a person must make their fortune through their own merit was the foundation for her starting her own shipyard. Starting from nothing, Pompen is mindful of how she uses her resources, her first choice is to scour the shipwrecks along the shoreline for salvageable parts before she considers buying.

Despite stern exterior, she has a tendency to take in outcasts and give them a place to call home. While kind, she is not one to outwardly show emotion and will express herself through yelling and violence. Pompen is dramatic and throws her heart and soul into whatever she does.

Trivia:

• Pompen's appearance is inspired by the book, "The Lady with the Ship on Her Head"

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