"You're getting awfully good at that, you know?"
Ryoga looked away from the group of pirates he had just dispatched, face dispassionate. "You don't have to say that just for my sake. Being good enough to defeat people like this isn't much of a compliment."
Brandy smiled. "Yeah, but you still did it. From where I stood, it wasn't much of a challenge at all."
He frowned. The way the marine always seemed to know exactly what to say bothered him, even as he'd grown used to it day by day. He shrugged his shoulders, the uniform he'd been forced into weighing on them heavily.
"I'm only following the arrangement we agreed upon." he replied calmly. "When I make a promise, I don't follow it through half-heartedly."
"A good quality for a man," his new handler remarked, "and not just when you're dealing with men, either."
That was another quality about the Captain; he knew what buttons to press. Unable to quell his blush, he turned to walk away. "I'll return to the base. I assume you're able to deal with jailing them, if you came down here personally."
He could sense the pout from behind him. "Your attitude still needs some work."
He couldn't quite quell the smile afterward, either.
One Piece: The Skull Pirates
Chapter Twenty-Three: Window to the Past! Face-to-Face with the Ocean Master!
After a few searing moments that seemed to risk burning out more than their eyes, the light slowly died down, replaced in the pirate's senses by the reedy whistle of a flute. Despite the pressure around her neck at the moment, Emelia blew into the instrument as hard as she could, as though her life depended on it – which just went to show, even idiots and brats could be smart twice a day. Ahab smiled at the empty clearing where the Skull Pirates had all stood moments before, that annoying fishman along with them.
"It's about damn time something worked out how it was supposed to." Ahab muttered, turning his nose up at the whalers. "Not bad work, Johnny, considering."
"C-can I loosen up a lil' now, Ahab?"
"Huh? Oh, if you really want. But if she gets loose, I'm taking her weight out of that balloon you call skin."
Striding up to the girl, he leaned down and smiled; it might have been possible to give a less reassuring one, but only if you lived in the Calm Belt and were bigger than most ships. With a quick snap of his fingers, he retrieved the map from one of his fishmen and spread it out before her eyes. "Tell me, girl, does this ring a bell?"
She turned her head away, refusing to look where he pointed. Still smiling, Ahab snapped his fingers. Letting out a slow whine, Johnny jerked her head toward it. "Sorry…I'm really sorry…"
The machine-man nodded. "Well? I'm waiting – unless you think I'll really believe you could live on this island for years and not know where it is. I wouldn't recommend that."
Emelia shook her head. "I won't show you. Someone like you…should never be there."
Ahab smirked. "Oh, I shouldn't? Well then, I'll just – go home!" Growling, slapped her across the cheek with the flat of his hook. "I don't think you quite get the situation you're in, brat."
He pulled the blow, but that didn't keep a vicious red mark from forming there. The child shook, but did not waver. "I won't."
Snarling, he raised the hook again, but seemed to realize how that would end, sooner or later. Gesturing to the waiting fishman, he moved aside as it took a step forward, jerking Emelia mechanically out of his brother's arms. Johnny blinked stupidly as Ahab stepped closed to him.
The girl barely kept in a cry as he tumbled to the ground, a blunderbuss-shaped bruise forming on his forehead, but Ahab wasn't nearly done there. Planting one foot on the angler's bulbous stomach, he rained more blows upon him from his feet and weapons. "I'm sure you've realized by now. This fish was working for me the entire time you two knew each-other. I ordered him to worm his way into your heart, and he did it to save his own skin. Isn't that awful? Do you have anything to say for yourself, Johnny?"
The fishman said nothing, whimpering behind the blood that now pooled across his face.
Ahab leaned in closer, metal teeth grinding against each-other intently, and shook his head. "I guess not." He aimed the blunderbuss not an inch away from his face. "I don't think she'll mind much if I do her a favor, then, do you?" The gun let out a click that was a cacophony in the silent clearing. The whalers all looked away; Michaels kept staring for them. It's not like he could claim to be any better.
"NO!"
He bolted upright at the yell, aware he'd been shaking for the last few moments. Not half as much as the girl, though: he couldn't see her eyes from where he stood, but the ground underneath was damp. "Try to make me feel worse, why don'tcha…"
"Don't…don't do it, please." she whimpered. "I'll take you to anywhere you want; just don't…"
Johnny let out a low moan.
Ahab lowered his foot and gun, smiling. "Ah, I guess not. Isn't a child's heart just wonderful?"
0
how he felt after the light came over him was a perfect example of the other side. Reminded him of the time he'd stepped on a jellyfish on the beach. Though, the first thing he'd seen after waking up had almost been worse…
When the light finally died down and the spots in his eyes had gone away, Jack found that was much the case here. Well, okay, maybe not quite as bad.
The clearing with the doorway had vanished, replaced with one in roughly, uh, the middle of frickin' nowhere. Dark-looking trees towered up in every direction as far as he could see, and mist spread between them like soup. And as far as he could see wasn't much all that much, considering a tree's branches currently held him like a vice. Gerald, Frank and Mary were held the same way, but he couldn't see Drake anywhere.
The middle of the clearing dipped down, becoming a deep, wide lake. The surface of it glowed, and combined with the mist bathed the area in an eerie light. It was thickest over the center, but underneath the edges Jack could glimpse more ruins like before; the remains of pillars, and even a sunken set of stairs sitting just below.
But there was no time for sight-seeing. He didn't know what this place was, but he knew it wasn't somewhere they wanted to be for long. Everyone else looked unconscious, so it was up to him. How hard could it be, to break…tree branches, right?
"Okay, pretty hard." But there was more than one way to skin a cat. He wondered how the wise guy would react when he split apart, came back together and- "Why isn't my fruit working?" Try as he might, Jack simply couldn't separate. Not even a pinky toe would come off.
It was only after he had given up trying that someone spoke up – in the privacy of the very skull he'd been trying to pop off.
Your power of the devil will not avail you here, pirate.
'Pirate' was spoken like a curse (well, alright, most curses), and the voice speaking it rang through his head like a bell. He winced. "Who the hell are you!?"
The branches increased their grip sharply. You believe you are in any position to make demands? How typical of such bandits.
Jack struggled, but with his limbs bound the way they were he couldn't do much but feel the air getting slowly crushed out of him. "S-so somebody's a tough guy, huh. Why are you talking crap…where I can't see you, then?"
The voice paused, as near as he could tell, before the branches loosened. Snuffing out your life would be an easy task, rest assured. But I am no longer in any position for such grand gestures. I intend to put that spirit of yours to work.
"Not inte-"
You assume it will be a choice of yours? I regret not.
"Jackass."
I hardly care what a common corsair thinks of me. Your companions are awakening now.
This was probably one of the things you definitely didn't want to see when waking up, but his crewmates took it well.
"What in the enfer is going on here? Who is responsible for this!?"
Relatively.
Hm. I see you are not the only one with such forbidden powers. And something even worse besides. But no matter. Listen and listen well, knaves."
Gerald frowned behind his mustache. "I don't see why we should listen to someone who-" He was cut off as Frank's mask gave him a meaningful look.
"I do not think this is someone we should back to, Gerald-san."
The voice gave a harrumph as it spoke again. At least one of your number understands proper respect. Look to the water, land-dwellers. When the pirates did (again, was there any choice in the matter?), the still lagoon began to move and ripple, displaying an image within as clear as looking through a window. It was Drake, moving through the woods as carefully as a six-foot-plus blue fishman could hope to.
Despite your role as bandits, you have managed to win the loyalty of a child of the sea – the beings you know as Fishmen. It is not my concern how this came to pass, but it has earned you a small chance. I have informed him of the situation, as I will now tell you. The image shifted, showing Emelia being carted through the woods by Ahab and his crew. Due to the distraction you have all caused, this girl has been abducted. This is unacceptable.
"And just how the hell is that our-" Jack was cut off as a branch tightened around his neck.
Was that explanation not enough for you? Or are you willfully ignorant? This girl is important to this land; certainly more important than all of your lives.
The pirate's answer was a muffled yell, but it was obvious to everyone what the general gist was. Frank cleared his throat carefully. "So…you would like it if we retrieved her, then? But it may help if you explain why that must happen."
Everyone else half-expected the voice to work its powers again, but one moment later a sigh went through the clearing. I suppose there will be no harm in that. You will know what matters you are dealing with, at least. It may take a while – from your perspective – but you are not going anywhere at the moment, are you?"
"Smug son of a-" Jack began, but even he had to stop and behold as the water shifted again, displaying a far more elaborate portrait this time.
It was a sky view of three islands in a triangle, sitting in a glittering sea. The crewmembers couldn't help but find the sight familiar, but the answer to be gained from that was just a tad hard to swallow.
There is no reason to doubt your memory, pirates. These islands are the very lands you now intrude upon, long ago. Does the sight amaze you?
The Skull Pirate looked around at the trees, and shrugged. "Couldn't be anywhere close to today, right?"
The unearthly voice didn't seem to disagree. Indeed. This was the state of these islands far before any of you had been born, I am sure. It 'spoke' reminiscently. The lands were quiet back then – you humans had not yet spread as far as you have now. Judging by its tone, 'humans' were in about the same category as 'rat'.
One island was focused closer upon, showing many different animals within its trees, almost none of which the Skull Pirates had laid eyes upon during their time here. Beautiful, isn't it? I was here for many years; it was a peaceful place, free from those who would wish to do me harm.
Jack raised an eyebrow.
But that all changed, suddenly. In the picture, ships began to arrive at the islands, carrying with them passengers, supplies, and livestock. Sailors arrived, disturbing these calm waters and the tranquility of these islands. They were noisy. Before them, houses and eventually villages were erected within the woods. And destructive. Hunting began, and animals were brought in for food, among other things. Many fell to their scythes…and yet…
In the portrait, an altar that looked very familiar to Mr. Bones was erected in the center of a clearing likewise. A generous offering from the people's stocks was placed upon it; the air was respectful, almost solemn. They also did things like this. It confused me, unfamiliar with humans as I was. She in particular attracted my curiosity. A woman stood at the front of the group, bowed with her hands clasped. Her bright clothes clearly marked her as some sort of priestess.
The voice had changed quite a bit, becoming almost tender. After watching their ceremonies for some time, I decided to reveal myself to her. The people had been here for long enough that I had grown used to them. And it was impressive, how they had traversed the harsh waters surrounding these islands.
Now the image showed the villagers and their priestess gathered at the water's edge, all of them praying. She was quite amazed by me once I revealed myself to her. As a gift, I taught her many things, and she passed them onto her fellows in turn. They plainly had respect for the land, but respect for the sea soon followed. Smaller ships launched from the beaches of the three islands. With these skills, normal villagers became skilled fishermen. In a way, they worshipped me.
Another sigh went through the trees. This land prospered. She was very pleased about that; they had come from far away, and having a symbol to look up to was quite a boon.
And then, the image disappeared with a quiet ripple, as though it had never been there to begin with. "But…" Mary began.
I would not be telling this story to you if it ended happily, pirate. The water rippled once more, now turning red the shade of blood. It was about ten years after the people arrived here – I had left the island to meet with others of my kind, and on my return… The water suddenly flared like fire. This was what lay before me.
Jack saw Mary, Gerald, and probably Frank all shut their eyes. He didn't; there were a few truths you couldn't just ignore growing up where he had, and one of them was that most pirates weren't in it for friendship or the thrill of adventure.
But it would be nice to say that most of them weren't in it for this, either. Assembled in the bay between the islands were a group of ships flying the Jolly Roger. Their decks were mostly empty, explaining the state of things on-shore: fire and smoke billowed up from the villages, spreading toward the forests as animals fled. People laid on the beach, unmoving. The water near them ran red.
Destruction, pure and simple, and against your own kind. Even those who were helpless… In the village, a sword was lifted over the priestess. …were not spared. It came down.
I had ignored pirates before, fit to let them have their petty struggles. But this was something I could not ignore. The water around the ships, still a moment earlier, began to churn and froth, like pure wrath had been unleashed beneath the surface. Well, not exactly 'like' – it had been. And the water there must not have gotten the memo about whirlpools not appearing out of thin air. The ships spiraled in, collided, and were sucked under, all in less than a minute.
It was a nasty sight for the shore party, to say the least. Less so because they were now stranded on the dead island, and more because of why they had come running back to the ships in the first place. Slowly, a group of predators moved out onto the beach, fanning out around the pirates. Nor was it something I would forgive.
The picture cut out before they actually saw the massacre. Thank goodness for small favors. "So, what's with the girl?" Jack asked as his friends opened their eyes again.
He half expected to pay for that, but it seemed their storyteller was a tad too caught up in the memory for that. One of your own kind, lucky enough to wash up here following a shipwreck. I could not simply abandon a new life to die, especially in a land that had seen so much death. She has grown up here, under my care.
"Yeah?" Jack suddenly growled. "So go get her yourself, then."
Everyone's eyes moved to him, even the ones with no body attached. A single, barking laugh came from the voice. Do you think I would demand the aid of pirates if it was not necessary? I have granted the same talents to her as I did the people before. Enough to cancel any influence I have out.
And there is another problem, besides…
0
"You stupid animals really don't know the meaning of 'finders keepers', do you?" Ahab snarled at the pack of wolves that now surrounded them. "It means I took the girl, and you'll – have – to deal – with it!" He roared, firing into the crowd. Most of the wolves dodged, but some weren't quite so fortunate. The remainder didn't charge, circling around the group.
A sneer spread across the whaler's face, and he looked from them to Emelia, still hanging limp in the arms of two fishmen. "Johnny! Get the brat to tell these mutts to get lost. This is a waste of my valuable time."
The angler cringed, bending low as he stepped closer timidly. "E-Emelia – you know what they'll do to me if you don't help, don't you?"
She looked into his eyes as her face scrunched up further, but lifted the flute to her mouth. A sharp piecing hum came from the instrument, flattening the wolves' ears in submission almost instantly. They slunk away into the trees, and above them came the sounds of others leaving with them. Ahab smiled. "Perfect."
But not quite everything had left. From the greenery, Drake watched as the group moved on. The voice was speaking to him as well; some of it had been the same as what his crewmates had heard, but a few parts were far more interesting. He'd been listening to it silently ever since his crewmates had been taken away.
"I see,"he replied at last, "if what you say is true, then, this goes far deeper than a mere kidnapping. But either way, I don't intend to let him get away it. And," he added, expression darkening, "I could care less what you request me to do while you have my friends held hostage."
The voice uttered something, but he ignored it, moving forward after the whalers. "Whatever that girl represents, it's none of my concern. Nor is whatever you have intended for me. I'm going to get her away from him, and maybe you as well, depending on what I decide. Do you have a problem with that?"
Only silence came in return, but Drake felt the presence's eyes on his back for a few moments afterward. For once it was a shark that felt locked in a predator's gaze.
0
One of the fishman under that man's sway has kept hold of his mind, and works for him willingly. For several months, he has pretended to be a friend of Emelia's – perhaps a better one than I. I did not think she card so much for…
But no matter. That will be a concern for-
"Shaddup."
Like everyone else he'd met who hadn't heard that word before, the voice was speechless a moment. Of course, so was his crew. What did you-
"You heard me, jerk," Jack said, leaning as far forward as the branches would allow, "and just as long as you're listening, I'll say something else: no way are any of us lifting a finger to help someone like you."
Mary got over her tongue-tiedness first. "Jack, I don't think-"
The trees quaked. You dare speak to me in such a way, human?
"You're damn right I am." he growled. "I dunno what you are, buddy, but talking about how you're so much older and wiser than us is pissing me off! So something bad happened here a while ago; what right does that give you to talk to us like it's our fault?"
A contemptuous snort came from the voice. "You fly a flag that labels you as criminals, and then claim innocence? What bad comedy."
Jack narrowed his eyes, but before he could speak up, Gerald did for him. "That's right, we do. And I'd say that's better than claiming we're something we aren't." Before the voice could speak up again, he drove on. "You helped out some people here, but that doesn't make you a god, and you're daft if you think we're going to treat you like one."
I could kill you all with a thought!
"So what?" Mary demanded. "Why should we be afraid of someone who won't lift a finger to help a child? If she's important – really important to you, you'd go help her no matter how dangereux it was. Is someone like that really worthy of fear? I don't think so."
A noise of frustration filled the clearing. I am ORDERING you to-
Jack narrowed his eyes. "Giving orders to pirates? You really don't know much about us. I don't take orders, I break 'em." He grinned. "But I'll try one out now: if you want us to help that girl, you're going to ask us nicely. Hell, more than that; you're going to beg us, or we aren't lifting a finger!"
…You would dare-
"Of course I would, idiot – you just called us criminals, didn't you? If you think I'm a crook that bad, then why shouldn't I act like one?" His eyes glimmered. "And it's not like you have much of a choice, if you really want to save that girl. So get out here already and bend over, buddy."
Everyone expected the voice to answer immediately, especially Frank, who looked rapidly back and forth from the pool to his captain. He gulped. "Um, I don't think you should have-"
Before he could hope to finish, the water churned, making the previous waves look like something out of a kiddy pool. It rose up, foamed, and then burst, showering the trees and their captives. Jack blinked desperately as his eyes were assaulted, feeling like they'd be blown out of their sockets by the force of it. But no way was he going to look scared in front of this turkey. He opened his eyes wide.
"..." There were more than a few words to describe what lay in front of them, but Jack was…uh, too surprised by what lay before him to put them through his mouth. He had had some suspicions about what it was they'd been talking to, but actually seeing it in person was as different as this ocean was to the Grand Line.
A massive, white whale lay before them, even larger than the Fortress Whales they had seen earlier – the pool seemed like it could barely contain it. And it was old, you could tell that at a glance; scars from countless old wounds littered its body, including one just over the eye currently fixed upon the pirate captain. Its mouth (large enough to swallow him whole, Jack couldn't help but notice) was open in an odd expression.
Finally, it 'spoke'. So, now you see me as I truly am, pirates. Something seen as prey by most of your kind, I'm sure you are aware. And a rare breed like me would be worth a fortune to you. There are many names for those of you who travel the waves, but all of it is meaningless: ultimately you treat the sea as nothing more than a trove to benefit from – you think nothing of what you hurt, even if it is your own kind." Its voice was tinged with anger.
Jack stared.
Yet you claim to be different. And you show no fear, when another would surely be quaking.
Before the whale had surfaced, Jack had felt something wash over him that wasn't just the water. It felt like he was an ant being crushed under the foot of a giant.
But he wasn't an ant. He was a pirate, and one that wasn't afraid of the ocean or anything in it. Lifting his head, he glared back, hard.
A few moments passed, where the eyes of someone who'd thought he'd seen it all met the eyes of someone who'd seen far, far more. Finally, the latter bowed.
My name is Ketos. Some of the people called me the Ocean Master. Please, help me.
Jack grinned. "Now, was that so hard?"
To be continued…
Next time, on the Skull Pirates
Ahab: What do you mean they're catching up!? This is a damned steam ship!
Michaels: I never should have listened to you, or this insane plan!
Jack: I think it's about time he learns what prey feels like, eh?
Pursuit! The Skulls Strike Back
?: Didn't you know? All the best cons are two-man operations.
Gambit508 – Glad you enjoyed it. To be honest, I've been realizing I should have thought about this arc a little bit more about what I wanted to happen. What's going on right now really isn't what I first had in mind. But the next one will be better, I'm sure of that.
Thepirateprophet – Yeah, that's part of why I gave him that personality to begin with. Hope you liked this chapter too.