Coco: Hey, guys, I'm back, and with another chapter. This one is a bit more action packed, but Wren won't be going all out or anything. I don't feel like she'll be doing anything like that until she comes face to face with Crocodile.
I don't want to make her overpowered, but like in my last story, Wren is stronger than the other Straw Hats. At least in the beginning. I feel like Luffy and the other two certain monstrous members of the crew will catch up as time goes on. Though not until like around the time skip. She was trained by Doflamingo and his commanders until she became a commander herself.
So, in the beginning the villains aren't going to phase her too much. But that will change. As I said, I don't want her to be too overpowered. Anyway, let's get into it, shall we?
As the two groups stared each other down, Wapol pointed to Kureha with a dark grin on his face. His less than friendly expression had Wren unsheathing her rapier from its sheath. She spun it around then held it out at her side ready to fight.
"First, I'll start with you, Dr. Kureha!" Wapol said. "You've committed a major offense by moving into my castle, and an even greater one by flying that strange flag."
Wren glanced back and up at the flag flying behind them. It wasn't one she's ever seen before. She didn't even think that jolly roger even belonged to a pirate crew. If it did, the pirate crew wasn't well known.
"It's not yours!" Kureha said. "Not anymore. It's Hiriluk's grave. I wasn't interested in this rundown place with all the bad things you did here. But we can use it to do some good, and the reindeer insisted on flying the doctor's flag."
Wapol started laughing, which had Chopper stiffening and narrowing his eyes at the former king.
"Oh, I had almost forgotten that fool! HAHAHA!" Wapol laughed then frowned. "How dare you desecrate my castle by flying the flag of that stupid doctor?! I command that it be burned immediately!"
Chopper, who seemed angered by Wapol's words even more, began to change form until he stood taller than Wren and Sanji. His antlers were gone and he took on a more human looking appearance.
"I'll never let you touch that flag." Chopper said. "Or get inside this castle. Never."
He would protect Hiriluk's grave and his pirate flag even if he dies in the end.
"Look, sir." Chess said. "He's that—!"
"You're right." Kuromarimo said. "It is him. It's that doctor's monster. The one that Dalton stopped."
"That flag there…it's a symbol of his faith." Chopper said. "I won't let you take it down! Not now! Not ever!"
Wapol let out a loud obnoxious laugh while not seeming worried at all by Chopper's vow.
"We're going to take it and all of you down!" Wapol said. "And we're going into the castle. Show them no mercy, boys!"
His two henchmen started walking forward, so Wren stepped forward as well. She was sure she could deal with all four of these men on her own. Though she felt as if the tall one—the one who hasn't moved yet—might prove to be a nuisance.
"Old lady, are you going to fight too?" Sanji asked.
"Old lady?" Kureha asked.
She swiftly hit Sanji over the head for his comment as Wren shook her own head. One would think that the blonde would know better than to call a woman an old lady—no matter what her age.
"If they're more than you can handle, Junior, I'll step in." Kureha said.
"Appreciate that." Sanji said as he held his head.
"Don't worry, sir." Kuromarimo said. "We'll get them out of your hair. Speaking of hair!"
He threw two large hairballs towards Kureha, which had Chopper calling out her name in worry. However, it didn't appear he had to since Wren cut down one hairball while Sanji blocked the next one with his leg.
"Hey, big man with the afro, didn't your mother ever tell you it's not polite to strike a lady?" Sanji asked. "Especially a young, hot one?"
Kureha cackled while looking pleased with Sanji's words if her smile was anything to go by.
"Now that's more like it, Blondie." Kureha said.
She then looked to Wren as the wine-haired girl was poking at her side with a frown on her face.
"Feeling any pain, Girlie?" Kureha said.
"No," Wren said. "However, these bandages make it difficult to move without discomfort. May I remove them?"
"No." Kureha denied immediately. "The bandages stay on."
Wren frowned even more. However, she wasn't that surprised. She had a father and a brother who were both doctors, so she knew how these things worked. In fact, she was sure Law would have hit her upside the head for asking if he had been here. She then glanced at the hairball on Sanji's leg that wasn't coming off.
"Hey, Sanji, that hairball doesn't seem to want to come off." Wren said as she gestured to the hairball on his leg.
"Huh?" Sanji murmured.
He then looked at the hairball to see that it was still attached to him. He started shaking his leg up and down, but it still wouldn't come off.
"Damn, why won't this stupid thing come off?!" Sanji demanded. "What's making it stick to me?! Static electricity?!"
Wren supposed that was the best bet, and it had to be pretty strong static electricity since the hairball wasn't budging an inch.
"Exactomundo!" Kuromarimo said.
"Dammit! Get off my leg, ya disgusting hairball!" Sanji demanded.
Wren sighed then walked over towards Sanji. She plucked the hairball off of him to hold in her free hand.
"Is that better?" She asked.
Sanji nodded his head while glad that nasty piece of hair was off of him. It was disgusting. As Wren was wondering what to do with said disgusting hairball, she sensed something heading towards her, so she moved swiftly. First, she jerked her head back to avoid a hairball to the face. Secondly, she jumped up into the air to dodge the hairball heading for her feet. After landing, she flipped into the air once more to avoid a third one. Sanji's eyes widened at how quickly she moved as she touched back down on the ground again.
"Not bad, Girl." Kuromarimo said. "However, you still have one on you!"
Wren looked at the one she had in her hand wondering how she was going to get this off of her. Well, she first needed it off her hand. With that in mind she placed the hairball on her right sleeve out of the way for a moment.
"Hah there's a reason I don't condition my hair." Kuromarimo said.
Wren frowned feeling even more disgusted by this hairball than she had felt earlier.
"And a very good one at that too." Chess said as he raised a bow and arrow. "Their dryness makes them burst into flames much easier."
The tip of his arrow caught on fire as he aimed it right at the hairball on Wren's arm. She blinked not looking all that worried. However, Sanji's eyes widened when realizing what Chess was going to do.
"Oh, no, he's going to burn that thing!" Sanji said. "Wren, give me the hairball!"
He rushed towards her to take it from her, but it was too late. Chess fired the arrow, and it hit the hairball dead on. It burst into flames, but it wasn't burning Wren.
"What the—?!" Chess exclaimed as Wren's coat fell to the ground with the burning hairball still on it.
The girl, who had been wearing it and left it behind, however, was closing in on Wapol and his men. She had her blade ready with murderous intent shining in her visible eye. Wapol let out a yell of fear while feeling as if he was already being placed in his grave.
"Chess, Kuromarimo, protect me!" He ordered.
Chess and Kuromarimo didn't move, however, since they were frozen in place due to fear. Just as Wren was about to cut down Wapol she sensed the fourth man heading right for her. Wren jumped backwards to avoid the attack while also putting distance between herself and her attacker. She tilted her head at him as he made sure to stand between her and Wapol.
"And who are you if I may ask?" She asked calmly.
The man only tilted his head at her in return as he narrowed his eyes as if he was sizing her up.
"His name is Musshuru." Kureha said from behind Wren. "I would be careful with him if I were you, Girlie. He's dangerous, so don't let your guard down. He ate the Noko-Noko no Mi and is a strong fighter. He nearly killed everyone here in the kingdom twenty years ago with that poisonous power of his because he was bored. He was sent away by his father for the people's safety."
Chopper and Sanji both frowned at this with the latter feeling worry for Wren who was face to face with the man. Wren, however, didn't seem to worried as she let out a small hum.
"You were bored, so you killed a bunch of people, hmm?" Wren asked. "Well, well, and I thought I had issues."
She then glanced to the side when Chess tried to attack her from the side. She wasn't all that concerned about his 'sneak' attack, but her companions seemed worried as they called out to her. Chopper even rushed forward to attack and help Wren, but Wapol appeared between Chopper and Chess while opening his mouth as wide as possible. He chomped down on the little reindeer in one big bite with only Chopper's legs sticking out and flailing around.
"Chopper!" Kureha called out in worry.
Wren was about to help the reindeer out, but was beaten to it when Sanji used his leg to slingshot Luffy, who had just returned with a coat on, into Wapol. The man was sent flying, but was stopped when he rammed into one of the furry hippos that helped them reach the top of the mountain. The hippo, however, wasn't so lucky as it was now flying out of sight. And thanks to Luffy ramming into Wapol, Chopper had been spat out.
"It's not every day you get to see a hippo fly." Wren commented casually though she did feel bad for the creature.
Musshuru hummed as if in agreement before looking to his younger brother as his vassals were trying to help him up.
"Hey, Wapol," Musshuru began. "Want me to lend you a hand?"
Wapol, who was pushing himself up out of the snow, shook his head as he looked up at Musshuru.
"No, I can't rely on you all the time, Bro." Wapol said. "I'll kill those damn hippos. I'll show them the true power of the Baku-Baku no Mi!"
Wren's brow quirked as she was interested to see this true power that Wapol spoke of. Though to be honest, she wasn't expecting much.
"Very good, sir." Chess said as Wapol sat up.
"I'll show them the Baku-Baku Factory!" Wapol shouted as he stood onto his feet.
Wren had to admit she was a bit impressed he managed that. He looked like the type that if he took one good hit that he'd be done for. Though he did survive being sent flying from the Merry and falling into the ocean. Perhaps, he was a bit stronger than she gave credit.
"Oh, he stood up," Luffy said soundly mildly surprised.
"Yeah, but how?" Sanji asked. "You hit him pretty hard."
"Guess he's stuff?" Luffy more like asked than stated.
Kureha frowned feeling a bit of worry bubble up in her chest for the kids in front of her. Wapol wasn't just some push over, and that brother of his was much worse.
"Hey, Chess, tell me what I ate today and in the exact order that I ate it." Wapol commanded.
Chess was quick to pull some notebook of some kind from his back pocket before clearing his throat.
"Well, sir, you started with eating two cannons on the ship. One sautéed in butter and the other raw," Chess said. "Then it was a cannonball and gunpowder salad followed by the main course of a toasted cottage."
Wren frowned because none of that sounded appetizing at all. Maybe having cravings for weird and typically inedible things were side effects of his devil fruit ability.
"And you thought I ate a lot." Luffy commented to Sanji.
"You do, but this guy is an even bigger pig than you." Sanji retorted.
Ignoring their comments, Wapol glared at the three (not knowing Wren wasn't one) Straw Hats.
"You see, Straw Hats, whatever I eat becomes part of my body thanks to Baku-Baku no Mi." Wapol said.
Wapol chuckled as he spoke before his body started to shift and change shape. Wren's grip tightened on her sword's hilt ever so slightly as she wondered what kind of transformation Wapol was having. Though instead of some kind of frightening monster, Wapol turned into a house with legs and cannons for arms…honestly, he just looked ridiculous.
"Wapol House!" The tyrant shouted as he finished his transformation.
He seemed so proud of his new form while Wren was actually disappointed, she was hoping to see something at least a little intimidating. Not whatever this was. Though it wouldn't seem as if everyone agreed with her assessment.
"Awesome!" Both Luffy and Musshuru shouted in awe.
Wren turned her head to give Luffy a you've-got-to-be-kidding-me-look as the younger pirate was looking at Wapol in amazement.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to eat! Baku-Baku Factory!" Wapol said before literally chomping down his henchmen.
As those behind her gasped in shock, Wren was wondering why she was even dealing with such ridiculousness. She should have just stayed inside with Nami.
"No way!" Sanji exclaimed. "He's eating his own men!"
"That's so mean!" Luffy gasped.
Wapol continued his munching with Chess and Kuromarimo soon disappearing down into their king's stomach. Once Wapol was done with his eating, smoke spewed from the chimney on his head. He then proceeded to do a small dance that had Wren rolling her eyes.
'How an idiot like this was able to dictate an entire country is beyond me,' She thought.
If it wasn't for Musshuru being around as well, she'd probably leave this entire ordeal to be the boys. Wapol then brought his dance to an end, which had some of the others waiting on edge for what was about to happen next.
"Feast your eyes on this!" Wapol shouted. "Come forth, you miraculous union!"
Wren's brow quirked in mild (very mild) curiosity as she wondered just what Wapol cooked up inside that body of his.
"What kind of union?" Sanji asked actually sounding a bit worried.
The door in Wapol's body slowly started to open up, but it was too dark inside to see exactly who or what was about to step out.
"Allow me to introduce myself," Wren heard Chess and Kuromarino's overlapped voices as this 'union' as Wapol called it started to step out the door. "I am the strongest warrior of Drum Kingdom—Chessmarimo, ha!"
As Wren took in this miraculous thing—and it was miraculous…miraculously stupid—before her, she felt like she was losing braincells the longer she was out here dealing with these fools. Sanji seemed to feel the same since he gave a scoff.
"Miraculous union?" Sanji huffed. "More like ridiculous union."
"Sweet!" Luffy, who obviously didn't think the same, and Musshuru exclaimed in amazement.
Wren and Sanji looked at the two males as if they had a few screws loose, but neither seemed to notice the look.
"It's ridiculous!" Sanji snapped.
"Just don't let your guard down." Kureha warned the pirates. "They might look silly, but don't be fooled…they're tough. So tough that the citizens couldn't stand against them. That's how these thugs were able to exile all the doctors."
Wren honestly couldn't see it, but she kept that opinion to herself as she waited to see what their opponent's next move would be.
"Article One of the Drum Kingdom's Constitution: Those who don't do as the king wishes will be put to death immediately." Wapol informed them. "That's the number one law of this country! You refused my wishes and broke that law! Now you are all going to be punished for your crimes, but first, that quack's flag soiling my regal castle, it's time I take that thing down!"
Wapol fired a cannon ball towards the flag with Chopper looking up in horror. The flag was hit and began to fall, which caused Chopper to shake.
"A pirate flag," Luffy murmured before looking to Chopper. "Hey, Reindeer, that flag…"
Luffy trailed off when seeing the devastated look on Chopper's face. Wren saw it as well and felt her hand tighten on the hilt of her sword. Chopper whirled around giving a small shout as he charged towards Wapol.
"How dare you?!" Chopper shouted. "You attacked Doctor's flag; you creep!"
Chessmarimo tried to stop Chopper, but the little guy slipped right from underneath them. He then transformed into his human form as he attacked Wapol. Chopper grabbed Wapol's cloak with one hand as his other hand curled into a tight fist.
"Doctor, tried to…he tried to save even you!" Chopper practically roared then reared back his fist.
He looked as if he was going to punch Wapol right in the face, but paused with a troubled look in his eyes. For a long moment Chopper only starred at the tyrant before he finally opened his mouth.
"I…I won't hurt you if you just leave this country forever!" Chopper said.
'So, soft hearted…' Wren thought.
It wasn't exactly a bad trait to have. However, it was also one that could get a person killed.
"Chopper, what are you doing?!" Kureha demanded. "Even if he does promise that, you can't trust a word that despot says!"
Chopper turned his head looking so torn on what to do, and even before Wapol made his decision, Wren knew what was going to happen. She sprung forward just as Wapol aimed his arm cannon at Chopper. Wapol fired and smoke entered the air.
"Chopper!" Kureha screamed fearing for her adoptive son's life.
"He's fine." Wren said with her voice coming from behind Wapol. "Though he's probably a bit shaken up."
Kureha gasped as she and Sanji saw Wren walking around Wapol with a smaller-sized Chopper tucked underneath her arm. Kureha's shoulders sagged in relief when seeing Chopper was okay even if a bit confused on what happened. Chopper looked up at Wren.
'How did she move so fast?' He wondered.
Though that mystery would have to wait until later since Luffy, who was suddenly on top of the castle, gave a shout.
"Hey, Big Mouth!" Luffy called down.
Everyone looked up seeing the flag that Wapol tried to knock down was back in place. It almost seemed to be defiantly billowing in the wind as Luffy stood next to it with his hand holding it tightly.
"Straw Hat!" Wapol shouted back as he wondered what the boy was doing.
"You guys weren't real pirates." Luffy said. "You were just fake ones, weren't you?! That's why you don't understand what flying a pirate flag means because you were just a bunch of fakes who didn't risk your lives!"
Chopper stared up at Luffy with wide eyes as he wasn't expecting this kind of demeanor from the guy. Especially since he was running around acting so goofy earlier.
"What a pirate flag means, Straw Hat?!" Wapol scoffed with a laugh. "Don't make me laugh. Flags have no meaning."
"If you think that, you're dumber than you look!" Luffy retorted causing Wapol to gasp in surprise and in anger. "Listen, pirate flags stand for something, Big Mouth. They're not raised as some kind of joke!"
"Moron!" Wapol shouted back. "The only joke is only that I've let you live as long as I have. Since you dared put that flag back after I knocked it down, it's time I delivered the punchline!"
Wapol raised his arm and fired off another shot from his arm cannon, which had Chopper and Kureha stiffening.
"Hey, you, look out!" Chopper shouted as Wren was setting him down on his hooves.
"Do your worst," Luffy said. "You can't break this flag."
Luffy, who had time to dodge, remained firmly in place as his hand tightened around the flag's pole. The cannonball hit and smoke covered both Luffy and the flag making it impossible to see either.
"Luffy!" Sanji called out in worry.
"Was he hit?" Kureha asked.
"He's okay." Wren assured them. "Doing far better than most would after getting hit with a cannonball anyway."
Those two and Chopper looked at Wren in confusion as Wapol was laughing in the background.
"He was blown to pieces!" Wapol said gleefully as he laughed.
However, he was proven wrong when the smoke cleared and Luffy stood tall with the flag raised up in his hand. Both looked a little worse for wear, but they were still in one piece.
"I told you," Luffy said cutting off Wapol's laughter. "You can't break it. I have no idea who this pirate flag originally belonged to, but it doesn't matter. A pirate flag is someone's pledge to risk their life. It's not something to laugh at. It's something you jackasses will never understand in a million years!"
His words thundered through the air, and Wren smirked slightly when seeing Wapol and his men were now shaken. Luffy might be a bit of a goofball, but he was something else as well. Something special it would seem.
"It won't break—ever," Luffy told them. "Because the skull on it is a symbol of faith!"
Chopper stared up at Luffy in amazement. It was like he was seeing the exact image of a pirate that Hiriluk had always told him about.
"Hey, Reindeer," Luffy called down to Chopper. "I'm going to kick these guy's butts for showing your friend's flag disrespect. You in?"
Before Chopper could even reply, Wapol cut in while looking even more angrier than before.
"You idiot!" Wapol shouted. "You just don't get it, do you?! Alright since you feel so strongly about that flag, I'll destroy you long with it!"
Wapol took aim once more to fire at Luffy, but it seemed as if Musshuru wanted to get in on the action this time. The man jumped forward at an inhumane speed while reaching inhumane heights. Musshuru went to attack Luffy, but before he could the sound of wailing entered the air and some kind of slashing force knocked him clear back to the ground. Everyone turned to Wren.
"I believe I will be your opponent, Shroom-san," Wren said as she held her sword out in front of her. "Luffy is a bit busy at the moment as you can see."
Musshuru glared at Wren as she stood calmly and at the ready for what he might do next.
"You really think you can beat me?" Musshuru asked. "I'm stronger than my little brother, you know."
"Yes, I do know." Wren replied. "Otherwise, I wouldn't have bothered coming out here and would have left you all for the boys to handle. I typically don't deal with trash as it's beneath me, so I do hope you can at least last more than ten seconds."
Musshuru's glare darkened at her mocking words as his hands clenched into fists at his side. As he stepped forward, Sanji felt worry bubble up in his chest.
"Wren-chan, don't fight him!" Sanji said as he started hurrying over. "You're still recover—ARGH!"
Wren turned her head at the sound of Sanji's spine snapping with a deadpanned expression on her face. He was worried about her injuries and his back literally just gave out. Before Kureha could even think to subdue the stubborn blonde, Wren appeared in front of Sanji and blew some of that dust she had used on Cain in his face.
"It's time to take a nap," She said as Sanji swayed on his feet. "We don't want you to worsen your condition, Sanji."
Sanji only collapsed as a reply though Wren softened his descent by grabbing the back of his coat before lowering him gently on the ground. Wren then turned back to Musshuru.
"I apologize," Wren said. "I couldn't allow him to continue pushing himself. I hope you can understand."
Behind her, Kureha was poking Sanji with the tip of her boot. The man didn't even react as he snored away.
"Dr. Kureha, please, look after Sanji." Wren said.
She then looked to Musshuru as the man rushed forward. To keep him at bay, she slashed her sword forward with shrill screaming entering the air, and the force of the attack not only sent Musshuru flying out into the trees and out of sight, it sliced right through a lot of those trees as well. Not to mention it kicked up a bunch of snow. As the sliced in half trees fell to the ground, Wapol and his men stared with wide eyes.
"She's a demon!" Chess shouted. "A devil!"
Wren either didn't hear him or decided to ignore him, as she looked down at her sword.
"Hmm, I'm going to need to remember to hold back." She said. "This isn't the New World after all."
She gave a few practice swings as those around were looking at her with a mixture of surprised expressions. Wapol and his men only seemed horrified by how easily she sent Musshuru flying and how much a single swing destroyed so much. Chopper and Kureha were shocked as well and maybe even a little frightened—Chopper was at least. Luffy on the other hand looked completely amazed.
"Wow, that was amazing, Wren!" He said. "Give that guy hell, okay?"
"Certainly," Wren said. "I should be back soon. Try not to have too much fun without me."
She then disappeared in a flash to go and see where Musshuru had ended up landing. Wapol stared at the spot where the woman had just left.
"Just what kind of monster is that woman?" Wapol had to wonder.
Coco: And that's the end of this chapter, friends. Until the next one~
