Coco: Hey, hey, everyone~ I'm back with another chapter. Well, two actually and unfortunately there isn't any fight between Wren and Bellamy just yet. But there will 100% be one in the chapter following these two~ I hope you enjoy them!
'That orangutang needs to learn to respect people's things.' Wren thought with a frown as she helped with repairs to the Merry.
She was bringing wood over to Luffy, and as she sat it down, she placed her hand against the deck of the ship.
'I hope he didn't hurt you too much, Merry,' Wren thought.
Wren looked up when sensing eyes on her and turned her head to see the same small figure in a raincoat that she had first seen before docking at Zenny's island. The figure was peeking around the stairs and seemed to be smiling as it waved at her. A sign of reassurance. Wren smiled at the small figure as well before it disappeared in a whisp.
"I. Can't. Believe. Our. Luck." Usopp grumbled between each strike of his hammer. "Seriously, that orangutang almost sunk us. Now it's up to me to fix it all and keep this thing afloat."
Wren looked at the sniper sympathetically since she knew how hard he had worked earlier to try and repair Merry. Now, he had to make all those repairs all over again with more repairs needed to boot.
"If you ask me, this busted up old ship is on her last leg," Zoro said. "We need a new one."
Of course, his words were meet with extreme disagreement from Usopp who turned to glare at Zoro.
"How dare you even consider replacing this boat!" Usopp snapped.
"Yeah, how dare you!" Chopper added as he mimicked Usopp's peeved expression.
Wren shook her head in amusement at the tiny reindeer as he kept making faces and growling noises while Usopp continued his rant.
"You are aware of the origins of this ship, aren't you?!" Usopp asked Zoro. "You do know what she's capable of, don't you?!"
"Yeah, don't you?!" Chopper added.
Zoro just gave the sniper and the young doctor a look as he continued to try and fix the main mast of the ship.
"We all know the story, Usopp," Luffy assured his crewmate. "And try not to be so defensive. The Going Merry is an important part of our crew, and we all know we have to take care of her. You shouldn't take everything so personally."
"You're right," Usopp said as he started to cry. "I'm sorry."
Though those tears quickly dried when Luffy put too much power behind his swing and broke more of the ship instead of repairing it.
"WAHH! What are you doing?!" Usopp demanded. "We're trying to save the ship; not sink it!"
"Sure thing," Luffy agreed. "Here, I'll fix it."
He did the opposite of that though as he broke off even more of the ship, which had Usopp giving a scream that not even a banshee could pull off. Wren had to admit, it was an impressive feat.
"I believe I am going to check in with Nami to see when we'll be arriving to our destination," Wren said as she backed away. "Havel?"
Said feline, who had been resting at Sanji's feet, perked up at the sound of his name. He then stood and stretched before padding over to his mage. He jumped into her arms as Wren went up to where Robin and Nami were near the figurehead.
"How are things looking, Nami?" Wren asked.
"Well, we left Mock Town and headed east by circling the Northern shore of the island." Nami said as she pointed at the map Robin brought to the crew. "Our destination is here. We're supposed to meet that man there. What's his name?"
"Mont Blanc Cricket," Robin replied.
Wren, who moved Havel to her shoulders, let out a thoughtful hum. It couldn't be coincidence. The man has the same family name as Noland and even lives here on the island where Noland had claimed the City of Gold resided.
'Is he here to prove that his ancestor was right?' Wren wondered. 'That Noland hadn't been lying. Or for other reasons?'
Wren wasn't sure, but she was getting a tad bit excited. Things were becoming interesting.
"And you're sure he'll be able to help us out, right?" Nami asked Robin.
"Even if he can't, I'm interested in meeting this man," Wren said. "Considering his family history."
Nami looked confused as she wondered what Wren was talking about. However, before she could ask, she was distracted by Usopp and Luffy gasping in amazement. Everyone turned their heads seeing they arrived at their destination with a sight they weren't expecting greeting them. Wren tilted her head as she stared at the castle coming into view. This man Cricket definitely was an interesting one.
"That's where he lives?!" Luffy asked pointing. "It's a freaking palace!"
"I've never seen a house this big before!" Usopp said. "This Mont Blanc Cricket must be really loaded."
Zoro, who joined the others on the upper deck, scoffed. He definitely wasn't impressed like their captain, sniper, and doctor were.
"Look closer," Zoro said.
"It's really unattractive," Sanji added. "The guy has got to have some serious guts to build a house that ugly."
Wren had to nod in agreement as Chopper just looked confused. He tried to 'look closer' like they said, but he still didn't get it. Though Luffy, who jumped ship, soon did as he went around the 'palace' to see…
"Waaaha! This isn't a palace at all!" Luffy said as he saw the small house attached to the back of the fake castle.
"WHAT?!" Usopp and Chopper asked in disbelief.
Zoro shook his head at the three of them as they all looked truly upset with this discovery.
"The actual house is only half that size." Zoro said. "What you see is a façade; a fake."
"This guy is even more vain than I thought." Sanji said.
Nami turned to Robin as the older woman was standing next to Wren who shaking her head at Cricket's house.
"Why exactly did Cricket decide to leave his home and come to live here?" Nami asked.
"I don't know all the details," Robin said. "But I think it has something to do with his belief that a large amount of gold lies somewhere in the hills of Jaya."
Nami and Usopp leaned forward excitedly as they stared at Robin with wide eyes.
"Gold?!" Usopp exclaimed.
"Do you think he's here looking for some kind of buried treasure?" Nami asked.
"Well, I just don't know," Robin said.
Nami whirled around with an eager grin as she prepared to disembark the ship. However, before she could get too far, Wren spoke up.
"I wouldn't become too excited if I were you," Wren said causing Nami to pause. "The person who started that rumor is known for lying."
Nami blinked in confusion as Wren left the ship with the others following after her.
"What do you mean, Wren?" Nami asked as Luffy was letting himself into Cricket's house.
"Mont Blanc happens to be a pretty famous family name back in the North Blue," Wren said. "A man who carried the name 400 years ago is still talked about to this very day. Mont Blanc Noland the liar."
Nami frowned as Usopp looked interested in learning more about this famous liar.
"I know that name," Sanji spoke up. "Noland the Liar…it's a story that was published in the North Blue."
Wren nodded in confirmation as the crew continued to look around Cricket's property. Luffy called out no one was home after his search of the house as Wren and Nami came across a book.
"Speaking of that story, here it is." Wren said as Nami picked up the book. "I would say it's very likely that this Mont Blanc Cricket is a descendent of Noland."
"You think so?" Sanji questioned as he walked closer. "I haven't heard of Noland in a long time. Not since I was a kid in the North Blue."
"North Blue?" Usopp inquired.
Sanji nodded as Wren looked at him curiously. She didn't know Sanji was from the North Blue like herself.
"Yeah, I was born in North Blue territory," Sanji told his crewmates. "I'm certain I must have told you guys that."
Wren and Usopp both shook their heads because it was the first, they've heard about it.
"No, that's news to me," Usopp said. "I always thought you were born in the East."
"I grew up there," Sanji explained.
Wren tilted her head wondering how Sanji went from the North to the East Blue. He'd have to have crossed the Red Line. Doing so isn't exactly easy. Especially for the common folk. Though not impossible, she supposed.
"Where Wren-chan and I come from this is a famous story," Sanji said as he gestured to the book. "It's a fairytale supposedly based on the life of Noland who lived in the North Blue a long time ago."
"It was a story to scare children into behaving and into being honest, or otherwise they'd end up like Noland who met an early demise." Wren said. "My father used to read it to me when I would sneak out at night and try to lie about it the next day. To say the least, I wasn't fond of the story."
Sanji chuckled while trying to picture a small, mischievous Wren as Nami read the book aloud mostly for Usopp's benefit since Sanji and Wren knew the story.
"It's hard to imagine you causing trouble, Wren-chan," Sanji said lowly as to not interrupt the storytelling.
Wren almost blushed when remembering her more rumbunctious days back on Era. She had certainly been a bit wilder back then.
—FLASHBACK—
Wren laughed to herself as she hurried out the back door to her family's home into the woods. It was nearly time for dinner, but she had other plans. She hurried up the inclined landscape while jumping over logs and ducking under low branches. As she ran a few sylphs flew down and blew wind around the girl. Wren laughed once more as her hair danced in the wind around her as she continued her trek.
"Our sweet Misce has come for another visit!" The sylphs declared as Wren came into a clearing with a single, large oak tree in the center.
Her mother told her the oak tree had been brought from Magus when the mages relocated all those years ago. It was a piece of their homeland they still held, and it has grown and stood watch over Era for the last 400 years. And even before coming here to Era, the tree had already lived on Magus for many centuries. Making it the oldest tree Wren knows and probably will ever know.
"Grandmother Oak," Wren called out as she hurried over to the tree. "Grandmother, are you awake?"
She gently tapped on the tree as a few more neighbors made themselves known as they stepped into the clearing. They gathered around the halfling as she stared up at the large oak tree expectantly. Soon the bark shifted and moved as a woman seemed to melt out of the tree. She was a beautiful, older-appearing woman with long silver hair and emerald-green eyes and her face held a gentle expression as she smiled at Wren.
"Come to see me again, have you?" Oak asked the girl. "And late as well. You know how your father feels about your late visits."
Wren made a face knowing her father would probably scold her when she returned late to dinner. However, Wren didn't care. She knew Oak liked to sleep well into the evening, so Wren liked to come around this time, which allowed Oak to get her rest.
"It's fine," Wren said then tugged eagerly on the dryad's dress. "Will you please tell me another story? A story about the homeland?"
Oak chuckled at the girl's request as the child looked up at her with hopeful eyes.
"I suppose one story won't hurt," Oak said. "But afterwards, you'll go straight home, yes?"
Wren pulled another face, which had the old dryad laughing in mirth. Though despite knowing the girl would probably run off to have more fun than go home, the dryad sat down while pulling Wren against her side to begin a tale of her time on Magus. Many fae came closer to listen to the story as well as the sun was preparing to set over the horizon.
—END OF FLASHBACK—
Wren always would visit Oak every evening before dinner before going farther into the forest to play with her neighbors. Sometimes Vladimir would find her and bring her back home not long after she had run off. Other times, she made sure to avoid her father until he gave up, which was when her mother would come looking for her instead. And even after coming home and being fed and washing up for bed, Wren would sneak back out; not wanting to rest quite yet.
"I used to cause my father so much grieve." Wren confessed in the same shushed tones that Sanji was using. "Staying out late was one of my favorite things to do."
Aibell had said it was her banshee side that made her favor the night as banshee were nocturnal fae for the most part. Usually sticking to dark places during the day and roaming out in the open under the moonlight. Wren still enjoys the night hours more than she does the day. However, she grew out of sneaking around at night and exploring some time ago. Sanji smiled at the peaceful expression on Wren's face as she seemed to be recalling her childhood. However, both were snapped from their thoughts at the sound of Luffy crying out followed by a loud splash.
"Did he just fall in the water?" Nami asked in a panic.
Usopp was already hurrying over as Wren narrowed her eyes. She could hear a new voice nearby and it wasn't happy.
"What's going on?!" Usopp asked then faltered when the voice Wren was hearing came out of the water.
The owner of the presence Wren had felt was a blonde-haired man who appeared to be in his late thirties to early forties.
"Who the hell are you?" The man—who Wren was going to assume is Cricket—demanded to know. "You've got some nerve relaxing at someone's house without permission. This is my land and I suggest you leave."
Wren was going to suggest that maybe the old man calm down, however, she couldn't as Sanji rushed forward to fight him while telling Usopp to get Luffy. Wren sighed watching as Usopp dived underwater while Sanji and Cricket clashed.
"Can't we handle things in a more civil manner?" Wren wondered aloud.
"Not with this bunch," Havel replied bluntly.
Wren supposed the feline had a point. She then flinched when Cricket pulled out a gun and shot at Sanji before she could react. For a moment, she actually felt as if her heart stopped.
"Sanji!" Chopper cried shrilly.
"Sanji, no!" Nami shouted.
Sanji, who managed to dodge the attack, stood straight, which caused Wren's heart to return to beating.
"Don't worry," Sanji said. "This guy is a terrible shout."
Of course, as soon as he said that Cricket went to fire again. Though this time, Wren did react in time as she quickly launched herself forward to get in between Sanji and Cricket. She disarmed the man swiftly causing him to stumble back in shock.
"I would suggest not doing that again," Wren said as she stared down the older blonde. "I will forgive the first shot because we are on your property without permission as you said and because my crewmate wasn't hurt. However, you won't be so lucky a second time. Which is why I suggest you take a moment to…"
Wren trailed off when Cricket suddenly keeled over and hit the ground with a grunt of pain. She and the others blinked down at him as the man passed out.
"Did he really decide to pass out while I was speaking?" Wren asked looking partially annoyed. "How rude."
"I don't think he planned to just pass out like that, Wren." Zoro said as he joined the group.
Wren, who carelessly tossed the gun over her shoulder, still looked unpleased. Though she and the others forgot about Cricket momentarily as Usopp returned with their captain who immediately started coughing up sea water.
"You really need to learn to be more careful," Usopp chided.
"But I thought I saw—cough!—bubbles in the water—cough, cough!" Luffy choked out. "So, I looked closer, but then a chestnut appeared. But it wasn't a chestnut. It was a guy and he pulled me in!"
He coughed once more before he and Usopp finally noticed that said guy was laid out cold on the ground.
"What's with him?" Luffy asked.
"Chopper, here is your bag," Wren said as she walked into Cricket's house.
Chopper, who was treating Cricket for caisson disease, looked up from where he was putting wet rags on along Cricket's body.
"Thank you, Wren," he said. "He might be nauseous when he wakes, I have some pills inside the bag that might help. Can you get them out for me?"
Wren nodded her head as she placed the bag on the small table in the home. She began digging inside the bag to look for said pills. However, she paused when sensing two voices coming in quick. She picked up two books sitting on the table as two unfortunately familiar monkey men crammed themselves in the doorway.
"Hey, old timer!" They called out in unison. "Are you—ack!"
They both cried out in pain when Wren pegged them both in the head with the books she had picked up. Usopp and Chopper, who had been freaking out at their arrival, both froze as the two men fell backwards out of the house.
"Really, that is enough with the noise," Wren said as she walked over to the doorway.
She placed her hands on her hips while staring down at the two monkey brothers who looked up at her in surprise.
"Cricket-san is currently resting and in the gentle hands—correction, gentle hooves—of our doctor." Wren said. "If he's a friend of yours, I suggest you both remain quiet as he tries to recover and not shout like the holler monkeys you are."
"Yeah, we're trying to help," Luffy added. "So, I suggest you either lend us a hand or find someone else to bother."
Usopp went to shout at Luffy and Wren for saying things that would surely anger the brothers, but he stopped when seeing the stern look Wren was giving him. She placed a finger against her lips as a sign that he needs to keep his voice down. He was then shocked when the two brothers began crying as they sat up.
"Thank you, guys." Both said unison causing Usopp and Chopper to hit the floor in surprise.
"Yes, yes, you're welcome," Wren said as she gestured the two men to stand up and move away from the doorway. "Now, why don't you both wait outside until he's ready to wake? Go on, go take a seat over there."
She shooed the two away like children, which caused Zoro to sweat-drop. What was even more unreal was that the two large men listened to her.
"Yes, ma'am," The said as they walked away.
Wren turned to Luffy next as the boy was sitting down a pan of water beside Chopper.
"Luffy, keep them company, please." Wren requested.
"Okay!" Luffy said with a grin.
He hurried out of the room with Usopp and Zoro following slowly after their captain. Havel went after them as well, and Wren was certain the feline would be taking a nap out under the sun.
"Now that they're out of the way, you should be able to continue your treatment on Cricket-san, Chopper." Wren said.
"Yeah, thanks, Wren!" Chopper said with a smile.
Wren sat at the small kitchen table with Sanji as she was reading over a very interesting book that she had borrowed from Cricket's collection. She had even helped herself to some of the tea he had in his cupboards.
"Interesting," Wren murmured to herself.
She went to take a sip from her cup, but realized it was empty. She sat the cup back down then waved her hand with the teapot lifting itself up and tipping over to pour more tea into her cup. She swept her hand backwards with the teapot stopping its pouring as it sat itself back down. She picked up her cup once more to take a sip.
"Wren, you really take making yourself at home to a whole new level," Nami said with a shake of her head.
"Apologies," Wren said as she sat down her cup. "I suppose I could have gone back to the ship for tea. However, it was just too far away."
Nami sweat-dropped at Wren's words as the older girl returned her attention back to the book she was reading. Nami couldn't exactly see what the book was called, but it seemed like a very old book considering the fading of the words and wear and tear on the cover. The group then looked to Cricket when he started to stir.
"He's waking up!" Chopper said excitedly. "Take it easy, old man."
He reached out to help Cricket sit up with Nami's help. The man took a moment to regain his bearings before looking to the pirates. After he seemed to be okay, Chopper hopped down from the stool he had placed by Cricket's bed.
"I'll go and get Luffy!" Chopper said as he hurried towards the door.
As he was doing that Cricket looked to the pirates inside his home. His eyes lingering the longest on Wren.
"I see you've made yourself at home." Cricket said.
"Yes, well, considering we took care of you even after you shot at our dear, kind cook, I believe allowing us to make ourselves comfortable in your home is the least you can do," Wren said then she took a long sip from her cup.
As Sanji looked at her lovingly while blowing out smoke hearts, Nami shook her head.
"Wren-chwan, you're too kind, my darling," Sanji said as he leaned towards her with his head resting against her shoulder.
Nami sighed at her crewmates as Wren patted Sanji on the head like he was an adorable pet. Cricket just chuckled as he grabbed himself a cigarette.
"I suppose you have a point." Cricket said as Chopper brought Luffy inside.
Usopp came in as well along with Zoro who remained close to the doorway and had Havel laying across his shoulders. His eyes trained on the old man as if Cricket might attack again. Wren chuckled at his protectiveness. He acts all big and scary, but it was obvious he cared about the crew's safety.
"Hey, Chestnut-Head." Luffy said. "I've got a question for ya."
Cricket didn't reply at first as he took a drag from his cigarette before blowing out the smoke. Wren wasn't too sure if someone in his condition should be smoking but made no comment as she returned her attention mostly to the book in her hand.
"I'm sorry I attacked you," Cricket said. "I thought you were nothing more than another group of bandits who had come to steal my gold."
"Did someone say something about gold?!" Nami asked eagerly.
Usopp asked the girl to calm down as her eyes were practically sparkling at the thought of some treasure. Havel snorted at the navigator thinking she better watch what she says, or the old man might go into attacking them again.
"What exactly was it that you wanted to ask me?" Cricket asked.
"We're searching for Sky Island!" Luffy said as he came closer to Cricket's bed. "And we were told you might be able to tell us how to get there."
Cricket turned his eyes onto Luffy with an unreadable expression coloring his face.
"Are you serious?" Cricket asked before he burst into laughter. "Don't tell me you really believe that place exists?!"
He continued laughing with Nami, who was over people laughing at her, going in to attack the old man. Usopp had to grab a hold of her to keep her at bay.
"Hey, stop it!" Usopp said. "You can't attack a sick man!"
"Well, she could," Wren cut in. "However, that is rather low even for a pirate."
"Not helping, Wren!" Usopp cried.
He tugged even harder to pull Nami back as their captain looked at Cricket with a frown.
"You mean there's no Sky Island?!" Luffy asked. "Are you sure?!"
Cricket, who finally calmed down except for a few chuckles here and there, grinned.
"Now, I didn't say that," Cricket said getting most of the Straw Hats to stare at him intently. "Did I?"
