As Sen expected, the bill wasn't much, despite the fact that it was almost a banquet's worth of food. As soon as they were outside, she pointed south. "If you follow this street for a few blocks, you'll find the shopping district. Can't miss it. I'm going home. I bet my pet is trying to tear up my brother's house by now. I may or may not end up seeing you somewhere around town between tonight and tomorrow." She went on her own way without so much as a goodbye.
"Weird girl..." Sanji mumbled. 'First cigarettes, then whet the old appetite....' He quickly set to his mission of getting his temper and withdrawal under control.
"Weirder city." Chopper couldn't decide whether to walk around on two feet or four, since everyone was staring either way. Instead of going south, he headed west back toward the ship. Since it was a spring island, the constant cloudiness and fog had left it muggy and damp. It wasn't the warmth that bothered Chopper, but the dew that would build up on his fur. Every time he shook it off, it would come right back.
"I have to know more about this place and them..." Nami disappeared as fast as Sen had to the shopping district.
"I was going to suggest that we
stay together." A sweatdrop appeared on Zoro's forehead as he
started off to nowhere in particular.
"You worry too much,
Zoro! The guy at the docks just told us to not get into any trouble
and everyone would be friendly!" Luffy secured his hat on his head
and took off after Sanji to see what other interesting things he
could find.
"I think I agree with you, Zoro... I could see two of the guys that Sen was talking to as she got off the ship. They knew each other. And none of them were happy to see each other." Usopp had nothing better to do, and tagged along.
"I'm more suspicious about these people in general." He put his hands in his pockets and looked around. The fog became thicker as they walked on and things began to look a worn down.
The buildings in this section of city were badly worn and one had fallen into the street. The humid air had the heavy scent of ozone and a shallow layer of water stagnated on the ground.
"Ahh... Zoro... I think it's time to turn around and find another way..."
Zoro ignored him and kept walking. The front of a building that lay crumbled in the street also had fragments of something else that might have been next to it. Aside from concrete, glass, and trash, there were large fragments of shiny black metal. He tried to pick one up, but it gave him a strong jolt. He dropped it quickly and kicked it aside with his boot. It landed on top of another piece, and white sparks came out.
"...What are you doing back here...?" A quiet voice mumbled from amongst the rubble.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Hey! What's with this snail phone?" Luffy grabbed a tiny snail creature with a black wire around its neck and poked at it. It scowled at him.
The shopkeeper became annoyed and snatched it from him. "It's supposed to go to a STM Plate."
Luffy picked a black metal slab the size of a piece of paper and started turning it over. "This? It looks just like the broken menu in the restaurant..."
"It's an STM Plate. You write on it and it remembers even if you write something else on it. The snail phone plus the plate sends your messages to another person with the same setup. What are you, some kind of primitive?"
"Lemme see here..." He picked up the matching black stylus and scribbled something on it. It left a white impression that crackled and disappeared after a few seconds and left a '1' in the top corner. "Coool!! How does it work!?" He turned it over and opened a small panel. Inside was another piece of black shiny metal.
"CLOSE THAT BEFORE YOU-"The shopkeeper couldn't finish as Luffy tapped it and nothing happened. The shopkeeper gaped. Luffy put it back together and put it back on the counter.
"That was a high voltage machine... He should've been seriously hurt... Hey you! What'd you do to it?! If it's broken, you better pay for it!"
"I don't think it's broken. See?" He pointed to the white '1' still in the corner. He tapped it with the stylus and the jumbled scrawl came back.
"Then how could you have touched it without being electrocuted?"
"Rubber doesn't conduct electricity. What else is here?" He bounced around the store marveling at different items, ignoring the sign to not touch anything. A short while later, Nami walked in.
"Nami! The stuff in here is great! They even have... cubes...Umm... What is this?" He picked up a heavy metal cube painted white and blue like the sea and clouds.
"It's Sea Sto-" Again, Luffy's curiosity took over before the merchant could finish. Inside was a set of black gems resting on a white cushion. As soon as he touched it, he froze.
"Luffy?! Luffy!" Nami shook him.
"I... can't move..." He growled.
"Sea Stone..."Now the shopkeeper knew what was going on. "You have the powers of the Devil's Fruit?"
"Naamiiii..." Luffy wanted to drop the stone. Nami took it from him and put the box back.
"And just where do you think you're going...?" The shopkeeper was giving them both a dirty look and had one hand on the counter.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chopper shook the film of water from his fur for the hundredth time and stared up at the ship. The fog that pervaded the island was thinner here at the edge of the island. The Going Merry was quite visible in the afternoon sun, which should've burned off the fog...
'Weird how we didn't see it as we were coming towards the island...' He looked around to make sure he wasn't being watched. He morphed into Chopper-kun and lifted the gangplank to get on deck. As soon as he was on deck, the fog called out to him.
"Good idea to hide, monster..."
Chopper's fur stood straight up as he looked around. "Who's that?"
"I'm like you..."
"Grr... show yourself."
"You're looking right at me."
"The fog?"
"There are others like you and I. People are terrified of me, so I must stay as you see me. These Shunran. These HYPOCRITES. They destroy friend and foe alike, and pretend to be peaceful to catch their prey off guard. But we have a common enemy, creature. They appeal to their Arashan gods and take no mercy from others. One who has caused them to fear me. To fear us..."
"That's not my problem. Tomorrow we're getting the hell off this creepy rock." Chopper went inside to catch a nap.
If the fog had a face, it would've snarled at him. Instead it reached out to the ship and crawled low on the floor until the ship was shrouded as well. Below deck, Chopper hopped up into one of the hammocks and didn't notice the mist crawling along the floor.
"Creature... it would be foolish to think you'll be able to get away from this island tomorrow. The Arashan haven't promised to let you leave this place alive, have they?" The fog rolled across the floor slowly and gathered under his hammock."
"It's not like we can't get out of here on our own."
"The second you're far enough out, they will leave you and your 'nakama' at the bottom of the ocean and reap your treasure and all you hold dear. As Sirens, it is their pathetic way. I only ask for your help because they feel they can control me to do their bidding. I cannot let you leave alive if you do not help me!"
"Yeah right. And what do you want?!"
"You and your nakama must help me... This island and everything on it will be destroyed if we don't stop it!" The fog was thick in the cabin now and was rising to cloud Chopper's vision.
Chopper sat up and looked at the fog coming towards him. "Are you CRAZY?! This place is HUGE! And I don't believe you!"
"All we must do is find the one who started the pain and suffering. My misery. Your misfortune. I can draw it out. I know you and your powerful nakama can destroy it if you work together. Then I may be free from their control, and you can keep your life."
Chopper donned his running form and sprinted above deck, only to find the cloud was so thick that it was impossible to see beyond his nose. He attempted to jump down to the dock to warn his friends, but the ship rocked violently and knocked him off his feet. The anchor was just long enough to let the Going Merry drift away from the dock.
"I hope you know where you're going, creature. One false step and the sea will swallow you whole. Tell your nakama of the Arashan's plan and mine. Your log pose will be set in the morning. I will expect your answer by nightfall. I know where to find you." The fog rolled away and joined the mass on the island. Chopper growled and ran to the Shopping District to warn his crewmates.