Musician: Chapter 3--Dreams

Robin was sitting in a chair reading a book. Drummerman was sitting down close by, twirling his sticks and tapping on the deck. Robin kept glancing in his direction. There was just something about him that was… unsettling. She couldn't put her finger on it, but he was just so, what was it? Conflicted. She decided to ask him a question.

"Drummerman, all of us on this crew have dreams. Mine is to find the secret of history, Luffy wants to be King of the Pirates. I was just wondering, but do you have a dream?" From his grave expression, Robin knew she had hit it right on the mark. She eagerly awaited his answer, but didn't show it on her face. She just smiled softly.

Actually, Drummerman had been thinking about that a lot lately. He didn't know if wanted to answer or not. He saw Robin's friendly expression. Yes, it was okay to tell her. She would understand. He swallowed, looked away towards the sea, and answered.

"Peace. I want peace."

"Peace?" Robin was surprised, and it showed. "Is there any particular reason?"

"Ever since this happened, I haven't been able to find my sanity," he said, pointing at the glass bottle in his head. "I've been given incredible power, but it doesn't satisfy. I…" his voice trailed off. "I want what you people have. I want to know that I have something in this world…" He looked over at Robin. She had a look of worry on her face. "You don't understand, do you."

The truth was, she did understand. She understood that feeling all too well. It was what she had felt in Arabasta, right before she had given up on her life. She spoke softly and gravely. "Don't ever give up on life, Drummerman."

"An island, I see an island!" shouted Usopp from the crow's nest. The crew came rushing to the bough to catch a glimpse of the new land.

"What island is it, Nami?" asked Luffy.

"It's name is Glen Meadows," replied Nami. "It's a summer island. I don't really know much about it, except for what I've read. Apparently, they raise a lot of sheep there."

"Sheep is meat, right?" asked Luffy. No one answered him, because they were too busy rolling their eyes.

As the Going Merry sailed into the port of a coastal town, the crew's excitement grew. They knew that on each new island they visited, an adventure awaited them. This town was a strange site. It should have been bustling with activity, but nothing was happening. The Straw Hats docked their ship, and started walking through the town.

There wasn't a single soul around. Zoro and Usopp were looking in all the windows, but couldn't find anyone. After a while, Sanji heard a young girl crying. "Over here!" he shouted.

A young girl of about ten years was sitting in a doorway, sobbing. Nami sat next to her. "What's wrong?" Nami asked. The little girl looked up.

"They're all gone..." she said mournfully.

Zoro was interested. "What do you mean?" he asked cautiously.

"Everyone is dead!" screamed the little girl. She started crying uncontrollably.

Nami held the little girl close. "Could you tell us what happened?" she asked, trying to comfort her.

The girl calmed down. "Six days ago, some bandits from the mountains came down and stole our sheep. When we tried to stop them, they slaughtered half the villagers. After burying our dead, the rest of the adults went up to the mountains to fight. That was five days ago, and they still haven't come back. They're dead." More small children came out of various houses and gathered around the Straw Hats. "We're the only ones left."

Everyone was shocked. Zoro ground his teeth. "Those heartless..."

Sanji's cigarette dropped from his mouth, and it lay smoldering in the dirt road. Chopper hung his head. Usopp stared into space. Robin frowned. Luffy was in a rage.

Sanji looked at the children. "You're starving!" he exclaimed. It was true. They hadn't had a good meal in five days. And above all, they were sick with grief. The loss of their parents was killing them from the inside. "I'll cook you a great meal." He entered the closest house, and began to prepare a feast.

After the meal, Zoro talked with Luffy. "What are we going to do, Captain?" he asked, a tinge of anger in his voice. "Should we take out those bandits?" His thumb unsheathed his katana. "All these kids… with no family… they deserve to be avenged."

"Right. Let's go," said Luffy, with determination. "Get everyone together, Zoro. We're going to the mountains." Luffy couldn't comprehend the pain that those children must have been feeling.

Zoro returned in a couple minutes, and he looked worried. "I can't find that drummer anywhere, Luffy," he said. "When was the last time you saw him?"

"Well," Luffy thought. "Right before we found that little girl." He looked up at Zoro. "Why, do you think something happened to him?"

"No, Luffy: he's gone to the mountain by himself." Zoro looked towards the mountain. He whispered on the air: "Don't do anything stupid, Drummerman…"

Drummerman was running towards the mountain. He knew he had to do this, but he didn't know why. He needed peace. Was this the way to find it? He didn't know, but he was going to find out. He followed the rough trail as he wound his way toward the bandits' village.

He reached the bandits' camp just as the sun fell behind the mountain. There were two men guarding the small opening into the ravine where the mountain-dwellers made their home. One bladed drumstick, one swift throw, and one man lost a head. The other turned and looked down to see what had happened. He never had time to look up again. Drummerman didn't even have to use a blade for him. The ear is the weakest part of the skull. With a little strength, a normal drum stick can easily pass through the ear drum, into the brain, and out the other side.

Drummerman retrieved his thrown drum stick. The next few weren't too hard to kill. Just a few small dodges, and some well-aimed swings at the neck, sent them to their deaths. The man after them was a large fellow, so Drummerman sent the blade straight into the stomach. A forty-five degree turn and a swift pull left a huge "X" where the man's intestines used to be.

Drummerman stabbed the next man through the mouth. The next man had his legs chopped off, then his arms, then his head. The man after that had his whole body slit vertically, right down the middle. A few more heads rolled. Three men were charging Drummerman in a straight line. He started to twirl his blades with his fingers, faster and faster. He darted towards them, straight through them. One-inch chunks of flesh flew in all directions at once…

The remaining straw hats made their way up the mountain. They rounded a bend in the path, and a horrible sight met their eyes.

Nami's stomach heaved, and she shut her eyes.

Robin turned away.

Luffy, Zoro, Usopp, Sanji, and Chopper stood with their eyes and mouths wide open. "Aaaa…" They couldn't believe their eyes. The small village was one huge pool of blood. Right in the middle of it stood Drummerman, covered from head to toe in red, sticky blood. His chest was heaving as he tried to catch his breath. He was holding his sticks at his sides, the blades still extended. He had killed them: every last one of them.

The Going Merry sailed away from the island the next morning. Luckily, a trading ship had come by, and the village of orphans would be taken care of. Zoro sat against the railing, thinking to himself. "If a man can kill an entire village without thinking twice, what is he truly capable of? How can one man be so full of rage…"

End Chapter 3