Saiyans on the Grandline
"Kaen, I have a question." Robin said, as they walked deeper into the forest.
"What's up?" Kaen asked, the Cerberus pup playfully squirming in his arms.
"Earlier, how did you figure out the connection to the shadows and Zombies?" Robin inquired.
"I'm curious about that too." Zoro said. "How did you know the shadows had something to do with the Zombies?"
"Well, it's kinda simple really." Kaen said. "On my Earth, there was a theory that shadows, are the visible manifestations of ones soul. When Brook looked in the mirror, and we saw he had no shadow, I realized a Devil Fruit user, had to have been responsible for it, otherwise it wouldn't have been possible. Then we come across Thriller Bark, and we see a bunch of monsters who shouldn't exist, but do. But the thing that synced it, was the unnatural feeling of Ki I felt coming from Cerberus. It felt like the polar opposite to Brook's Ki, meaning Cerberus, was reanimated by the shadows stolen by the Devil Fruit user."
"That does make sense I guess. For a natural Ki user like yourself, you're capable to tell if something is off, or wrong about someone else's Ki." Robin said.
"Putting that aside, what was up with those three ghosts back there?" Zoro questioned. "Kaen, just knocked 'em away like it was nothing. They didn't even phase through him. You destroyed them like they were nothing."
"Most likely because they're products of a Devil Fruit user. With Ki flowing through my body like blood, as well as a light layer of it covering my body, I negated the abilities of the Devil Fruit that user possesses." Kaen said.
"There is a technique called Haki, here on our world, that tends to do the same thing against Devil Fruit users. I wonder if Ki, and Haki are really just the same thing, but with different names." Robin said.
"Could be. If they both derive from one's life force, then it's possible that could be the case." Kaen said.
"So, where are we going now?" Sanji questioned, keeping his mouth shut.
"Looks like we're heading for a cemetery." Kaen said as they stepped out of the forest and into an open graveyard. "Huh… looks like we missed all the fun."
The open graveyard was filled with potholes, and melted corpses, as well as a toppled over and damaged carriage that had been torn apart but sheer brute force. Getting an up close look at it, he found some strong Ki burns on the doors and windows, with Mina's Ki signature resonating from them.
"What happened here?" Franky questioned.
"It looks like a war broke out on a cemetery." Luffy said.
"My guess? Mina went all out and destroyed all the zombies here." Kaen said. "If there were one left, I could test my shadow theory out, but I…"
Kaen stopped when he saw the dirt at one of the graves moving, before a hand popped out and the rest of the Zombie came forth.
"Oh, good there's still one left." Kaen said, crouching down in front of the Zombie, and destroying the top half of its head, with a Ki blast.
"What was that supposed to accomplish?" Sanji asked.
"Just watch." Kaen said.
With the Zombie lying back, its mouth was wide open, before an inky black substance came out of it, and began floating through the air.
"What the hell is that?" Zoro asked.
"Best guess would be a shadow." Kaen said grabbing it, before it could fly away. With the shadow in place, it took form of a man, wearing some sort of uniform.
"That looks like a Navy General's uniform the shadow's wearing." Robin said, Cerberus in her arms.
"Probably that's who the shadow belongs to." Kaen said, using the pencil Robin gave him, and writing something on the shadow's chest.
"What are you doing now?" Zoro asked.
"Testing something out." Kaen said, before releasing the shadow, and letting it fly away. "Come on, Mina's Ki trail leads on this way." He stated, leading them deeper into the forest.
As they were leaving, Kaen seemed to notice a Ki signature, with the same feeling as Brook's, following behind them, as their group went deeper into the forest, towards the mansion. When they were about half way down the trail, Kaen stopped and turned around, looking at the back of the group.
"Alright you can come out. I know you're following us." Kaen said.
There was silence for a moment, before the sound of footsteps echoed through the air, and an old man came out of the shadows, holding a lamp.
"Oh, an old man with serious injuries." Luffy said.
"It's a Zombie you idiot." Zoro and Sanji said.
"No, Luffy's right. His Ki has the same roughed up sensation as Brook's. Meaning he's another victim of the shadow thief." Kaen said.
"That's too confusing why can't he just be a Zombie?" Zoro and Sanji questioned.
"Here, eat this." Kaen said, giving him a Senzu Bean. "It'll heal your injuries."
"Thank you so much young man." The old man said, eating the bean, and before them, his wounds were healed.
"So, what can we do for you?" Kaen asked.
"Hey Monkey boy, we don't have time to get side tracked." Sanji said.
"Sanji, you need to shut it. Kaen won't listen to you." Luffy said.
"Shut it Sanji, or I'll do worse to you, then I did to that Zombie." Kaen glared. "A hero, is never too busy to help those in need."
"Tsk, yeah right, you're no actual hero. You're just a battle obsessed freak with a tail." Sanji sighed, lighting a cigarette. "You should just leave the crew now before you end up in a situation that's way over your head."
"Sanji that's enough." Luffy said sternly. "I get that not everyone is gonna get along and like each other on my crew, that's fine. But you will not stomp on Kaen's dreams of being a hero, is that understood?"
"Luffy…" Sanji gasped.
"My entire crew was built on the concept of fulfilling ones dreams. You want to find the All Blue, and I believe you will, because that's your dream. But don't stomp on Kaen's, when your dream is far more out of reach then his." Luffy said. "I'm not mad because you two are fighting, I'm mad, because you're mocking Kaen for having his own dream, and still believing in your own, when you know that others have done the exact same to you."
There was a moment of silence, as Sanji and Luffy just stared at each other, Sanji in shock as his cigarette fell to the ground bellow, and Luffy with anger as his fist was clenched tightly.
"Enough you guys." Kaen sighed, before turning back to the old man. "I apologize, I'm new to the crew, so we've still got some dynamic to work out. What is it we can do for you sir?"
"I saw how easily you took down that Zombie. You're strong, you all must be, and if you are, then I beg you, please save those of us, who've been cursed to live in darkness, return our shadows to us. Defeat Moria." The old man pleaded.
"Moria?" Robin gasped. "Do you mean, Gecko Moria?"
"Yes I do. He's a monster, who's cursed us to live life in the shadows, never to see the sun again." The old man said.
"You know this Moria fellow, Robin?" Kaen asked.
"Only by reputation. His former bounty, was even higher then Luffy's until several years ago." Robin said.
"Former bounty?" Kaen asked. "What does that mean exactly? How come he no longer has a bounty on his head?"
"There's only one reason he wouldn't have a bounty anymore." Zoro said.
"Gecko Moria, is one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea." Robin stated.
"Is that so?" Kaen asked. "This is the second time I've heard that title. What exactly is a Warlord of the Sea?"
"It's a title given to seven extremely powerful, and dangerous pirates, who end up being supported, by the World Government if they rise in power, and gain a high enough bounty." Franky stated. "The only thing worse then those seven, are the Four Emperors of the New World, the second half of the Grandline."
"Currently, since we took down one of the Seven and revealed his crimes to the World Government, Crocodile is no longer a Warlord, and there's only six of them. But that said, he was actually one of the weaker Warlords." Zoro said. "One of the Warlords is someone I intend to fight, and defeat in combat to claim the title of the Worlds Greatest Swordsman, Hawkeye Mihawk."
"So this Moria guy is strong huh?"
"There's no telling. But if he's amassed an army of the undead through the power of his Shadow-Shadow Devil Fruit, then it certain would explain how he became a Warlord." Robin said.
"An' if he's here on the island, then that means the others are in trouble." Kaen glowered.
~Inside the Mansion~
"Fasfasfasfasfasfas. Fasfasfasfasfasfas. Fasfasfasfasfasfas."
"That's Dr. Hogback's laugh for sure." Chopper smiled, as he was sneaking around through the hall with Mina's group.
"Right, but let's not forget Chopper, Dr. Hogback is the one responsible for all these Zombies, and for desecrating countless graves to make them." Mina said, as they neared the door that was cracked open.
"We still don't know that for sure." Chopper said.
"So is this the secret lab?" Nami asked as they peeked in.
"I sure hope it is." Chopper smiled, bright eyed.
"Chopper. Look at what's on the operating table." Mina pointed out.
"Fasfasfasfasfasfas. My work is almost finished. At last, my beautiful marionette." He laughed. "Behold Cindry, this is a true work of art. The work of a genius."
"The work of a madman more like." Mina hissed.
"I hope the stupid thing blows up and burns your face off." Cindry said.
"Amen sister." Mina smiled.
"Why would you even say that? Cindry please! You make me extremely anxious with all those unnecessary, and frankly hateful remarks of yours." Dr. Hogback said.
"I've prepared a Midnight snack for you." Cindry said.
"Oh, wonderful. What is is tonight?"
"I call it spaghetti soup." Cindry said, before pouring a bag of spaghetti onto the side table full of tools.
"She could have at least put it in a bowl." Nami said.
"Wait, you're spilling soup all over the place, be careful." Dr. Hogback said.
"I wish every last plate in the world would…"
"Yes, yes I know. But considering your hatred for plates, perhaps you should choose a better menu, or at least use a bowl instead. How about roast beef, or turkey, making me some sort of sandwich. You know, solid foods."
"Cindry's here too." Nami pointed out. "Did she really die in an accident, like that newspaper article said?"
"What is that thing anyway?" Ussop questioned, his eyes wondering to the cadaver on the table.
"If I had to hazard a guess, Dr. Hogback's latest Zombie." Mina said. "It has a number on its arm, just like the Zombies in the graveyard I destroyed."
"An' Hogback said he was, almost finished. I think that settles it." Nami stated. "What we're about to see here, is the creation of a new Zombie. An' that means Mina's theory was right. Dr. Hogback is the one responsible for making all the Zombies we've encountered so far."
"Yeah but… even if he's a genius, it can't be that easy to bring people back." Chopper said. "You saw, there were tons of those things. You don't think he made all of them himself, do you?"
"Given that it's been ten years since his disappearance, I'd say the numbers add up." Mina stated.
"Mama's right. A lot can be done in ten years." Eri said.
"Regardless of what we think, we'll see for ourselves. If there really is some secret to bringing the dead back to life, then this has got to be it, right?" Ussop questioned.
Mina and the others continued to look in on Dr. Hogback and his research, but Mina was brought out of the spying, when she felt Brook's Ki, approaching them ever so slowly and eerily calmly. Standing up straight, Mina turned around to face whoever it was coming towards them, and her eyes widened when she saw, it was someone dressed in a style, she'd only seen in her history books, or in festival shows, back in Japan.
"Nyohohohohoho." The figure laughed, alerting the others to his appearance. "Good evening. What's the matter? If you're going to stand there and stare, you might as well go inside."
"Yohohoho?" Ussop questioned.
"That isn't Brook, is it?" Chopper asked.
"No, it's not." Mina said, taking a fighters stance. "It's the Zombie, who has his shadow."
The Zombie grabbed the hilt of his katana, and slashed at them, sending a crescent blade of energy at them.
'A Ki blade?' Mina questioned, before she brought her arms up, and put her Ki output to its maximum, turning herself into a shield.
But as she blocked the Ki attack, she was pushed back, and forced the others through the door, creating a ruckus that alerted Dr. Hogback to their presence there, as they slammed into the side of the operation table.
"Oh, what the hell?" Dr. Hogback questioned, turning to look at them.
Mina was still on her feet, but her arms were trembling as she'd been cut, and was bleeding all over the floor. Through the cloud of dust, the silhouette of their attacker vanished, and left them to face Dr. Hogback's rage alone.
"You three, why are you here?" Dr. Hogback questioned.
"We were running from the Zombie paintings you have on every inch of the castle walls." Mina stated.
"He found us." Nami, Chopper, and Ussop cried out, backing into another of the tables full of smaller tools.
"Indeed, now what did you see? Didn't I tell you, never to peek into my research room?" Dr. Hogback questioned.
"Given how loudly you were laughing, I'd say you have yourself to blame." Mina said, wincing in pain. "Damn, he must have severed some nerves."
"We didn't see anything." Ussop said.
"Right, nothing we swear." Chopper added.
"I didn't see anything at all." Nami stated.
"Really?" Dr. Hogback questioned.
"Really, it's the honest truth. We certainly didn't see… that Zombie you were making." Ussop said, blurting out the truth to their lie.
"Dumbass." Chopper and Nami said, both of them dropping some Berries in Eri's swear jar as she held it out to them.
"Alright fine then." Dr. Hogback said, as Cindry began wrapping Mina's arms. "I'm sure you've figured out, some of my secrets by now, but it's too late. In but a few minutes, the Night Hunt, will begin." He smiled, looking up at the clock on the wall, as it neared Midnight.
"So that's what it's called, when you send your Zombies out to hunt down the poor saps you've trapped on the island with your gate?" Mina asked.
"Woe unto those foolish enough to wonder this island after dark. No intruder shall survive, the Night Hunt." Dr. Hogback monologued.
The time began to tick by at a snails pace, as they all stared at the clock in fear and anxiety. Mina had used every ounce of Ki she had to reinforce her arms, and it still wasn't enough to keep her from getting hurt. If the Night Hunt was as bad as Dr. Hogback said, she'd need someway to eat a Senzu Bean without him finding out about them, and quickly.
~Kaen's Group~
Kaen continued to lead the way with the Cerberus pup in his arms, before he stopped as he felt something on his head, as they neared the mansion gates.
"Guys, feels like there's rain coming." He said, looking up as it began to pour down on them.
"Man, that sure came from out of nowhere." Zoro said.
"It's really coming down too. Should we run for the mansion?" Franky questioned.
"Hang on, a sec." Luffy said.
"Eh?" Zoro questioned.
"I see something, really big by the mansion." Luffy stated.
"So you see it too huh?" Kaen asked. "With the rain coming down, the fog is clearing up, and our line of vision is getting better."
"What is that, a Jolly Roger?" Zoro asked, spotting what they were looking at.
"If I had to guess… I'd say it's a sale with a Jolly Roger painted on it." Kaen said. "Look at the way its bent on both ends."
"What does that mean?" Sanji asked.
"Brook said this island originated in the West Blue right?" Kaen asked. "Think about it. How could an island from the West Blue, managed to have made it all the way out here on the Grandline? An' the name of the island is, Thriller Bark."
"Hold on, are you saying what I think you're saying brother?" Franky asked.
"It's the only thing that adds up. This entire island, is a pirate ship." Kaen said.
"What? Don't be an idiot. There's no way this island is mobile." Sanji said.
"No, he's right. It's the only thing that makes any sense." Franky said. "A Bark is a type of sailing ship with three or more masts with the main mast being in the center. An' the island is called Thriller Bark. So that means, the island is being sailed, just like a pirate ship."
"An' if I had to make another guess. The back of the mansion is where we'd find the main mast, right behind what should be the home of Gecko Moria." Kaen stated, before the echoing of bells rang out, signaling the start of Moria's, Night Hunt.
~A/N~
From here on, the chapters will be longer then normal, until the arc is over.