Sanji's food made the last distance for Hamburg to be back at full strength. By the end of his meal, he was licking the plate clean obnoxiously; only Luffy and Gaimon were unperturbed by it, though Sanji listened not to Hamburg's sloppy "Thank you!"s from behind his full mouth and finally had enough, snatching the plate from the ape-man's hands and walking to the sink to give it a deep clean. "You're welcome," he said coldly once the water was running.
"Someone come on back out! We've arrived at a city!" Zoro called out from outside, muffled, but stomping his boots on the deck above them.
All six of them walked back outside into the frigid cold, wondering what city they could have stumbled across. Ahead was an island even snowier than the sea they'd been sailing through all day now. Yet on the coast in front of them was a massive ship, at least five times the size of the Going Merry, flying a Jolly Roger with a peculiar skull shape and an even more peculiar nose on it. "Ugly," Usopp said under his breath as he came outside, wondering if it's based off how the captain looks.
Larger than the ship was the sprawling lights of a settlement laid out on the gentle slope of the hill showing that a massive amount of people were here. Among the "city" were tents as well as a carnival, restaurants as well as kiosks and games and shooting galleries and open-air bars. Along the "streets" were the fires that kept everyone warm, but for main light, bright lanterns were hung up on the posts of the tents that formed the basic skeleton of the "city."
"This is no city!" Hamburg then exclaimed, proudly waving his arms wide and stepping before the Straw Hats with a bow. "This is the camp of my crew, the Foxy Pirates! As I said, we have a huge crew. When we camp out somewhere, especially somewhere as desolate as the Snowy Plains."
Zoro furrowed his brow. "The Snowy Plains? That's what this place is called?"
"Yes, that's what they call it! It's a barren field where nothing but snow resides. But for a crew as large as ours, it's no problem!" Hamburg boasted as the Going Merry drifted closer and closer to the Foxy Pirates. "But we'll gladly welcome you in! Our camps are always merry and we break bread easily. Sanji, my bro! You'll have to show my crew how good your cooking is!"
Sanji's nose was dancing across the air as the smells from the carnival drifted across his nostrils. There was plenty of trashy fried food to be smelled, but Sanji could smell the subtle deftness of street cookery, as well. "I look forward to trying some of your food first. I feel like I can smell all the culinary dishes from all over the world."
"I've never smelled anything like it before!" Gaimon exclaimed in unison as he joined Sanji at the prow, sniffing joyously. He was behind Sanji one hundred percent on anything related to cooking. He could tell he was a master at his craft.
"Where should we dock? I don't see any ready space," Nami said hesitantly as the shore got closer and closer. It was craggy and raised at certain points, but there were obviously spots to dock, as the Foxy Pirates' ship was docked at a rather flat stretch of cliff, close enough to drop gangplank across comfortably.
"There, just further downshore," Hamburg pointed out, just at the edge of the Foxy Pirates' camp. Zoro turned the helm and steered them toward the cliffside where they could lay anchor and come ashore. Already, the Straw Hats and Hamburg noticed some of Foxy's crew forming along the cliffs.
Usopp was the first to notice and point out, "They're all wearing the same mask." He looked at Hamburg, realizing the black markings around his eyes were not part of his fur pattern. "Hey, that's a mask, too! You all wear the same thing?"
Hamburg took the mask off his eyes, making him all the more freakish looking; his eyes seemed to shrink into the creamy tone of his face. "It's our one uniform, though Foxy has recommended wear for those who have no other wardrobe. His color is maroon!"
"I don't care what his color is!" Usopp yelled, waving his arms back and forth emphatically. "Put the mask back on!"
Hamburg obliged him as the Merry drifted alongside the cliffside and Zoro tossed their anchor overboard while the others managed the sail in no time at all. Luffy laid the gangplank out, stretching across to the edge of the island of Snowy Plains. The other Straw Hats and Hamburg followed after him while the mass of Foxy's men who had gathered ran over to see who these newcomers were.
"Hey, look!" called out a fishman on their crew, pointing ahead at the Straw Hats and Hamburg. "They've got our quartermaster!"
"Hamburg! Who are your new friends?" called a pompous but also ridiculous looking fellow who strode past the fishman with the pointy nose, striding wide with his huge hips and skinny legs. His magnificently purple and disgustingly shaped nose matched that of the one on the Jolly Roger and Usopp yelped as he saw the man, hideous as he was to Usopp. It made him feel remarkably better about his own nose.
"He should put a shirt on," Sanji and Zoro said in unison as he approached, noticing that he wore heavy layers but all of them were open and his chest was bare against the snow. He grinned disgustingly at the Straw Hats as he stomped toward them. His arms were held wide. Nami heard the two and had to agree; Foxy needed to button up.
Luffy ran forth to the man and clapped his hands on his shoulders, his teeth chattering as he still only wore his thin red shirt and his shorts. "I need some warmer clothes!" He screamed it so loud that Captain "Silver" Foxy's usually calm demeanor fell off and he tried to shirk away from Luffy, suddenly bound by this young kid's attitude.
"Oblige him, Captain! He and his crew saved my life!" Hamburg exclaimed as he sprang forth to stand next to Foxy and Luffy. "Luffy, unhand the Captain! This is Silver Foxy, Captain of the Sexy Foxy and the Foxy Pirates!"
"How many times are you gonna say 'Foxy'?" Gaimon asked, suddenly growing to dislike Hamburg.
"Give this man your coat, cadet!" Captain Foxy barked at a nearby man bundled up in Foxy's maroon colors.
The 'cadet' threw his hands in the air. "What? I used to be a captain, you can't just make me turn my coat over to this kid." The man was gruff; if he was indeed a captain, he was likely a strong captain by the other Straw Hats' estimation.
"Your coat! Now, cadet!" Foxy barked at him, and the man begrudgingly took his coat off and handed it to Luffy. "Pants, too! This man must be kept warm! There are extra clothes on the Foxy, you know that." The cadet grumbled as he listened to his captain's orders.
"This makes no sense. That guy looks like he should be able to take Foxy down easily," Usopp whispered to Sanji, Nami, and Zoro.
"I think you could take this Foxy guy down," Zoro said.
Luffy's teeth chattered as the 'cadet' was forced to return to the Sexy Foxy to retrieve fresh garments along with two others. Foxy laughed as he watched them go. "My newest recruits. They're not accustomed to life as a Foxy Pirate yet. Welcome to the Snowy Plains! It is not my wardenship, but it is where I find myself!" Foxy exclaimed as he spread his arms wide to the Straw Hat Pirates.
"Uh, yeah, thanks," Sanji said flatly. "Any concern for your castaway crewmate we've returned to you?" he asked as he extended a hand toward Hamburg.
"Of course!" Foxy crooned out, bowing. "I was getting to that. Hamburg, my dear!" He walked to Hamburg and embraced him. "Glad to see you safe, m'boy!" He clapped him on either shoulder as he disentangled from his quartermaster and again addressed the Straw Hats. "Come! Make well here while our camp is erected! We have many an activity to get lost in. Tell me, who are you folks?"
"We're the Straw Hat Pirates! I'm Monkey D. 'Straw Hat' Luffy from the East Blue! Haven't you heard of me?" Luffy wondered, thinking of the word that had spread about his exploits in Loguetown - untrue though they were.
"No, m'boy," Foxy said emphatically but kindly. "Can't say I have! It's a wide world, and a wider sea. Word travels slow, and sometimes not at all." He clapped a hand on Luffy's back and led him personally through the throng of his crew and into the main camp.
The Straw Hats watched as the fishman from earlier and a very tall lady walked over to Hamburg. The lady hugged Hamburg tightly. "I'm so glad you're back safe, Hamburg! What were you thinking, going out on deck like that?" the lady asked.
"It's okay, Porche," Hamburg told her, hugging her back as the fishman clapped him on the back. "These Straw Hats saved me. This is Usopp, Nami, Gaimon, Sanji, and Zoro!" Hamburg said to the other two as he introduced the rest of the Straw Hats. "They're a great pirate crew. Guys, this is Porche, our own navigator, and Capote," he said, gesturing respectively to both of them.
Unlike Hamburg's honest seeming nature, Porche and Capote shot derisive smirks toward the Straw Hats as Luffy was carted off with Foxy and the bulk of his crew toward the camp. Porche even placed a hand on her waist as she looked down on the Straw Hats, especially Nami. "They don't look like much, but excuse me! Thank you for saving our beloved crewmate."
Don't look like much?! Her nose is uglier than Usopp's! Nami thought, feeling bad even as she still measured their noses up. Her's was twice as long and ended in almost a spike. It was offensive.
"A fishman! Amazing!" Gaimon said as he stooped over to Capote, extending a hand to shake his. "Nice to meetcha! I've always wanted to meet a fishman. I'm Gaimon!"
"I know. I heard Hamburg," Capote said derisively to the quartermaster in the box, pocketing his hands.
"Hey, now," Zoro said, drawing a sword. "The rest of these guys've defeated fishmen, but I've still yet to prove I can. Don't give me an excuse to do so now, and respect my quartermaster."
"Woah, woah!" Hamburg yelped as he stood in between Zoro and Capote, his arms held in the air. "Forgive my crewmates! They're kind folk, they're just . . . suspicious. That's all." He chuckled as he said so, as if that made him more convincing.
Zoro sheathed his sword. "Just don't mess around and you won't find out."
Sanji stepped with his back to the Foxy Pirates, gripping Zoro's upper arm as he hissed into his ear, "Simmer down now. These guys outnumber us sixty-seven to one."
Zoro cocked an eyebrow at him and scoffed. "Those odds mean anything to you?"
He stepped past him and the Foxy Pirates to walk after Luffy and Foxy as well as the main throng of inviting Foxy crew. Hamburg called after him, "Zoro! Don't you need some warm clothing?"
"I'm good," Zoro said flatly as he waved over his shoulder.
The other Straw Hats walked with Hamburg, Porche, and Capote as they made their way back into the camp as well, though their walk did end up being far more awkward. Porche and Capote obviously felt disdainful toward the Straw Hats, looking down on them the whole way and intermittently exchanging scoffs and chuckles to one another. It eventually got to Nami, who asked, "Porche, was it?"
"Yes, dollface," Porche replied, snorting from deep in her nose. Capote laughed, covering his mouth to catch himself. Usopp and Gaimon both noticed that Hamburg was blushing even through his fur.
"Dollface?" Nami replied under her breath. "What a beautiful nose you have, is all I was gonna say!" Nami said in a higher tone, grinning spitefully at the other crew's navigator.
Porche bristled at the comment. "At least it isn't ugly and round like your man's!"
"What?" Usopp cried in a high voice, staring Porche down. "Even Sanji wouldn't compliment your nose."
"What's Sanji's word worth?" Capote asked scornfully.
"He compliments every woman," Nami said. "Compliment us, Sanji! Me and Porche."
Sanji panicked, his breath rate increasing, as he looked in between the two opposing navigators. "Nami, you're easily one of the most beautiful women I've ever met. And Porche! Wow!" He pocketed his hands and stared down into the snow. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
Porche bristled even more, melting the snow around her boots as she stormed forth beyond the others to dive further into the camp. Capote scoffed, shaking his head at Hamburg and the Straw Hats. "Nice catch," he said, under his breath though the rest of the party heard him as he stomped off after Porche. Hamburg was without words, scoffing as he tried to beckon them back to join the five of them.
"What's with your crew, Hamburg? They're not nearly as welcoming as you are," Usopp asked as he felt for his slingshot in his pocket.
"I-I don't know. I'm so sorry," Hamburg said abashedly.
"Maybe we just have to save their lives," Sanji suggested suspiciously, holding back on Hamburg's shoulder just behind him to keep an eye on him. For once, Hamburg picked up on social cues to realize this as they continued after their captains deeper into the camp.
Eventually, Luffy and the Straw Hats plus Foxy, Hamburg, and a great deal of Foxy's crew gathered at one of the street cooking stalls. Sanji was at least relieved to see Foxy had good taste in food as he treated everyone to a free round of whatever they wanted on the menu. Of course, he was struck with regret as Luffy ordered one of everything off the menu, but at least had the consideration now to let the cook prepare everyone else's food first.
"Foxy, this is amazing!" Luffy said, staring around at the camp as carnival music blared out around them every which way. People in masks identical to themselves wandered through the camp as if it were a city or a genuine carnival. Luffy then clued in that only Foxy did not wear the signature mask. "How did you get so many people to join your crew? I feel like I've worked so hard for my five!"
"Well, it's due to Davy Backs of course!" yelled one of Foxy's crewmates who had tagged along still as he bound his face in between Luffy and Foxy, grinning widely but disarmingly so at Straw Hat.
"Come now, Itomimizu," Foxy said as humbled as he could, waving his hand in the air as he was handed his dish of food first. "There's no need for such braggery. I enjoy Davy Backs! But I like to think it is the comfort of having such a good and solid crew that attracts folks to join my ranks!" He laughed as he dug into his messy sloppy joe double sandwich plate, getting wet meat all over his hands.
Even Luffy was put off by the gluttonous display as others orders were placed out, but the cook at least was kind enough to get the first of Luffy's order to him so he could have something while he waited for his other food. "The corn dogs! Thanks! That's exactly what I wanted first," Luffy said to the cook as he took the corn dogs, dipping them into the beer cheese that came with them. "I've heard this 'Davy Back' thing mentioned a couple times. What is that?"
"You haven't heard of a Davy Back?" Itomimizu asked emphatically, again stepping in between Luffy's view and even his corndogs he held. Luffy held Itomimizu in place with his foot as he stretched his leg back far enough to pin him afar to enjoy his food. "It's a three round duel of sorts between pirate crews that can generate new crewmates for a crew!"
"You haven't heard of a Davy Back?" Gaimon echoed, chuckling as he received his dish from Usopp. "You are an interesting captain, Luffy!" He guffawed as he dug into his carnival food. He hadn't tasted anything so decadent since his youth in his hometown.
"There are two rounds, the first decided by the challenging captain, the second by the challenged captain," Itomimizu explained, finally backing off from Luffy enough to calmly answer his question from the comfort of the snow in the ground. "Then, the third round is the same across every Davy Back: A one on one between the captains. In the first two rounds, a crewmate is up for grabs; the winning team's captain can pick a crewmate to scalp. But in the third round, it can be a captain, or a disbanding of the pirate crew as they are now. Never again is the losing pirate crew able to fly their previous flag, or else they should be cast into Davy Jones' Locker!"
"Davy Jones' Locker, huh?" Zoro asked as he got his plate of kebab chicken. "Sounds fun. Bet there are lots of tough guys there."
"Oh, Itomimizu, stop with the gallantry! I won't be challenging these fellows to a Davy Back," Foxy declared, digging into his sandwiches all the more.
Hamburg stared at his captain, glad to hear such words as his hopes had been digging into his heart for. "Yes, indeed, Captain! They are rookies to the Grand Line."
"And they saved my dear quartermaster!" Foxy called, clapping Hamburg on the back.
Luffy finished his corn dogs off and tossed the container in the trash nearby. "I'll challenge you to a Davy Back fight! That sounds fun!"
"Wait, what did he say?" Nami said, barely comprehending the rules behind a Davy Back before Luffy had the chance to say such a thing. Usopp himself choked on his corndog, sucking the stick down his throat. He pried it out with his fingers and gagged, more focused on the thought of losing this Davy Back fight to someone as ridiculous looking as "Silver" Foxy.
Foxy was at a loss for words. "W-well," he said as he chuckled through his stutter. "I could NEVER!" He spoke with an alien cadence now, false smiles playing across his face as he walked over to Luffy and side-hugged him widely. "You all had no hope to win against a captain such as myself when it comes to Davy Backs. It's how I have amassed almost my entire crew!"
"Well, yeah, but we don't have a lot of crewmates we're gonna need!" Luffy declared. "So we can't lose. We need a doctor and a carpenter. Do you have any of those?"
Foxy was taken aback yet again. "W-well, yes, but -."
"Perfect! I'll take one of each when my crew beats your crew, and then I'll just leave it there when I win the duel," Luffy said as the cook passed him another one of his dishes, their stoves working overtop for the bulk order they'd just received.
Yet that made all of Foxy's crew grow strangely quiet, averting their gaze from that of the Straw Hats, as Foxy's forehead veins bulged in his forehead. He smiled through whatever pain he was feeling that imperceptible to Luffy, and said, "Well, m'boy, I suppose if you're so confident in your puny crew, we could see what matters most. Quantity or . . ." He examined each of Luffy's crew, including Straw Hat himself. "Or whatever this is."
"Yeah, we'll do a Davy Back fight!" Luffy cried out, spreading his arms wide as he devoured his second dish in one bite.
"It's just a Davy Back," Hamburg explained with cracks in his voice. "And Captain Foxy, a word if you will?"
"We're enjoying a meal, Hamburg!" Foxy replied through gritted teeth. He now didn't even want to be out-eaten by Luffy, though that had not a thing to do with a Davy Back. He slapped his palm on the counter of the restaurant they stood in front of. "Doubles of what I just had, plus three pretzel dogs and a margherita pizza!"
Even though the cook wasn't doing pizzas today, he obliged his captain as they entered a silent eat off that Luffy had no idea he was participating in. Luffy sat in the middle of the road between the tents with Foxy as everyone stood around them, trying to form a barrier from the immense crowds passing by here. "So, should we get started after we eat?" Luffy asked Foxy innocently.
"No, the sun's almost set. And I've been drinking all day, so I'm not sure," Foxy replied, though in reality, he wanted time to cool off through the night. Got to play my cards right for what matters, Foxy thought. "Let's decide our games in the morning after breakfast."
"Ooh! Sanji should treat us to breakfast! He's the best cook I've ever eaten from," Hamburg exclaimed from Foxy's shoulder. Foxy bristled to hear Hamburg praise another crew's cooking over his, but in his mind, it translated to something vastly different.
"I'd love to!" Foxy exclaimed as he glanced over at Sanji with a disgusting grin.
"Uh, Luffy, are you sure you want to do this?" Usopp asked Luffy as he stooped by his shoulder, watching as the whispering around them increased from person to person as groups formed to point and gawk. "This is a crew of four hundred or so . . . and these guys aren't fresh to the Grand Line."
Hamburg was wringing his hands back and forth, twisting his fingers into uncomfortable positions. These guys saved my life! I can't let them do this, he thought and said again to Foxy, "Captain, these guys are too new. Let's give them what advice and hospitality we can instead." He leaned in close once he saw Foxy was listening to him now, whispering the last part. "They don't know what they're getting into against you, Captain."
"Hamburg, are you questioning our new friends here? I explained the stakes, they know the risks and welcome it gladly, correct, New Crew?" Foxy asked them illustriously as he shoveled the last of his sandwich into his mouth.
"We don't welcome it," Usopp and Nami said.
"I welcome it! I can't wait!" Luffy said after them in protest as his third dish was brought out. The cooks were now pitying Luffy, and wanted him to eat up to at least have a fair shot. They knew the captain and the gods would offer him no mercy in a Davy Back against Silver Foxy.
"I say we start on the morrow!" Foxy said, waving his hands in the air as he planned it out in his head. "In the morning, we'll have the first round, a challenge decided by yours truly. Then we'll break for lunch by noon, and spend the afternoon on whatever your challenge will be." He giggled as he grabbed a fistful of napkins and dabbed at himself, using the snow underfoot as slush to wash his hands.
"I like that idea," Luffy replied.
"One of you say something!" Nami exclaimed to Sanji, Zoro, and Gaimon. "We're risking our own position on the crew here! You guys want to belong to this guy's crew?! Wearing those tacky masks?!"
"No, I don't, but I don't think we've got to worry about that," Sanji replied. "We're more than capable of these guys, despite their numbers."
"Yeah," Zoro replied. "I wanna see what this is all about."
"We're pirates, Nami!" Gaimon replied, hands spread wide in some form of defeat. "It's disrespectful and dangerous to decline a Davy Back from a fellow captain."
"You just joined this crew! You should be a little more worried about your standing in it!" Nami threw back at Gaimon, towering over him with a finger pointed down at him. Obviously, it was her that was the more worried for her remaining a Straw Hat between the two of them.
"Splendid," Foxy said as he purposely ignored the pleas of Luffy's crew. After all, it was the captain's wishes that mattered after all. "I look forward to our little bout! And breakfast, of course!" He giggled Sanji's way, winking at him. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm returning to my ship to retire for the night. I want to get a good night's sleep for the day ahead."
The sun had long set and the Straw Hats had nearly not noticed for the huge presence of lights all around. Luffy was only halfway through his round of orders of everything on the restaurant's menu, so he stood and waved Foxy and Hamburg off. "Thanks for showing us around, guys! See you tomorrow for the Davy Back fight!"
"It's just a Davy Back!" Foxy barked back over his shoulder as he and his entourage including Hamburg and Itomimizu departed from the street, bound toward the Sexy Foxy that towered over the massive circus camp.
"What a bunch of weirdos," Luffy said as he sat back in the street to continue eating. The other Straw Hats each released a sigh of exasperation, for even the most energetic to duel against the Foxy Pirates in this Davy Back were wary of what tomorrow's events could entail. Foxy's immense crew spoke volumes enough for his success rate with these duels, but there was something about his and his crew's demeanor that was quite unsettling. None too dangerous, but unsettling.
Yet before any of them could talk to Luffy about it, one of Foxy's entourage stepped forward, revealing she had stayed behind. All the while, she had studied Luffy, struck by him as soon as he'd said his name was Monkey D. Luffy. She sat back, listening to him and her temporary captain talk behind the stupid masks they were given to wear. Oblige she would to every little order, for she knew it was the only way she could maintain safe passage.
"Did you say your name was Monkey D. Luffy?" the woman asked Luffy before he could dig back into his food.
The Straw Hats looked at her, wondering who she could be; none of them knew her. Usopp, Sanji, Zoro, and Gaimon were each struck by her beauty even behind the Foxy Pirates' mask, but Nami felt instantly suspicious. Who was this stranger they hadn't noticed until she wanted herself to be noticed? The strange woman grinned at them one by one in short recognition before focusing on Luffy and not looking at any of them again.
"Yeah, that's my name," Luffy replied. "Who are you?"
Nico Robin chuckled. "Just one of Foxy's crew." She nodded to him and turned to walk off on her own. "Good luck with the games tomorrow." Perhaps if Foxy recruits him, I can learn a thing or two about the Clan of D, Robin thought as she left the Straw Hats feeling very confused.
ATB
Surprise chapter early! I'm not sure how my Thanksgiving tomorrow will look and I'm not sure how yours' all will, either, so I figured, lemme release this one early and not worry about the Thursday chapter this week.
I hope all my readers who celebrate Thanksgiving have a merry holiday. The holidays are a wonderful time to reconnect with family, even among holidays with questionable backgrounds. All the same, we have the capability to morph our holidays into whatever they need to be for us. So whatever this time is for you, I hope it is one of healing if you need it, and gratitude if you do not.
Until next time, everyone
ATB