Chapter 24: Dr. Woodrow
"Where the hell are they!"Shachi couldn't help but yell in slight worry.
"Did they actually ditch us!" Thorn shouted in anger.
"D-Don't be so stupid! Captain wouldn't leave us here…Right?"Rinka stated in a serious but worried tone as well . She closed her eyes for a second and was in deep thought. *There must be a reasonable explanation for this ...What if!?* "Then her eyes opened suddenly as she came up with something. "What if they found the mansion as well and were taken away...or Law made a deal with the person who lives in that big house so they went together with them for supplies." Rinka suggested.
"Everybody? And even the sub?" Thorn asked, a tab uncertain and doubtful by her theory.
"I checked the sub with Penguin before we left camp. And I'm pretty sure it shouldn't even be fixed properly yet." Shachi added.
"Are we going back to the creepy forest again?"Lucas asked, knowing where this is going. They all nodded in agreement.
Soon the small group of Heart Pirates went back to the forest to where the huge building was located to see if they could find or at least find some type of clue from their sudden nakama disappearance.
"Hello there, aren't you guys an interesting group." A low scratchy voice says.
"Who the hell are you?"Lucas asked the pale-looking short man.
"Pardon my manners, the name's Freddy. The master of this island wants to see all of you, so could you all please come with me. The night has just begun, but already the shadows in the forest are deep. Soon, it shall be transformed into a world of terror, far beyond your worst nightmares. Might I recommended you take a ride with me in my carriage? We could go to the mansion together and see your friends as well."
"Alright."Rinka responded while hopping into the carriage.
"Rinka are you sure, I mean this guy is a little too freaky."Shachi said ,having a really bad feeling about this.
"Why not, we were already planning to go back to the mansion."Rinka exclaimed.
Everyone sighed as they all hopped into the carriage as well.
"Here, Have a drink for the trip."Freddy offered with a warm smile.
"Nah we're fine." The group of Heart Pirates say in perfect unison, not trusting this mysterious man in the slightest.
Throughout most of the ride everyone stood silent. Suddenly, the awkward silence was broken by Thorn."So is our crew really at the mansion?"
Freddy only gave him a slight nod in response.
"Ah,we're here.''Freddy exclaimed with a far wide grin on his bony face.
The mansion was very large and had metal gates that surround the creepy building.
When they all stepped out of the carriage they were greeted by a very tall man with snow white hair and had goggles resting on the top of his head.
"Welcome travelers, welcome to Darkwater Island, please make yourself comfortable in my humble home. My name is Dr. Woodrow. It is a pleasure to meet all of you. Oh and who is this beautiful young lady?"Woodrow ask while bending down to kiss Rinka's right hand,
"Uhm uh...it's Rinka."She responded, feeling a little uncomfortable by the weird man.
"Oh what a lovely name."he said with an open toothy grin.
"Where is our captain?"This time it was Shachi who spoke up.
"Ah yes, Trafalgar Law, he is quite an interesting man, especially in the medical field. "
Then his attention was towards Rinka again. "So the rumors really are true, the pirate captain of the Heart Pirates really does have a pretty girlfriend." Woodrow said a little too enthusiastically.
Rinka began to laugh at his comment. "Yeah, like I ever consider that egotistical bastard as my boyfriend."
"Sorry my mistake, now come ,come inside . I already made a fresh new batch of tea " He said while ushering everyone in his home.
The Heart Pirates walked through a dark hallway that had only been lit with candles as a light source. "What the?! Did that painting just move?"Lucas asks while pointing at a picture that had a woman on it.
"Don't be stupid, you're eyes are only playing tricks on you."Shachi reprimanded like a parent would to their child.
When Woodrow opened a large set of doors, Rinka, Shachi, Thorn, and Lucas could see the rest of the Heart Pirates were currently resting.
"Captain!"All but Rinka said excitedly when they saw Law with an amused smirk plaster on his face.
"Sup."Was all Rinka said to her captain with a cool expression on her face.
"So...when does the Log pose set?"She asked, not wanting to stay in this strange man's house for longer than was necessary.
Law responded with a small sigh. "Luckily, about a day but sadly, the sub isn't fixed yet."
Then Dr. Woodrow's voice chimed in. "Don't worry your pretty little head, you and the rest of your crew can stay here in my home ."
"Um.. sure, I guess." She muttered kinda quietly.
Law only gave Rinka and the rest of his crew a light nod of agreement, even not liking the idea as well.
"It's getting late, let me show you guys towards your rooms." Woodrow said with a too wide grin.
All the heart Pirates were led into separate rooms to sleep for the night.
While walking through the long halls of Woodrow's home, she realized he had a lot of dolls laying around that kinda looked a little too realistic for her liking.
"I can see you have quite a collection of dolls."Rinka commented with a sweat drop.
"Oh, most of them belong to my sweet wife."He responded.
"I see,"was all she said.
"Ah, here is your room."Woodrow exclaimed while opening the doors to it.
The room that Rinka was staying in was actually quite nice, had a large queen size bed with a bedside table and a very large shelf that was filled to the brim with books.
While Rinka was getting undress into her pajamas, she had a weird feeling that she was being watched. She closes her eyes and focuses her observation haki to seek out the intruder. "I know you're here."Rinka stated with a small sigh.
Before Rinka could grab her weapons just in case she needed to get her hands a little dirty. Her eyes widened in shock when she saw her swords were now floating in mid air.
"Hahaha...Come and get them."The invisible man said.
"Ah, let me guess you're a devil fruit user."Rinka stated with roll and annoyed eyes.
"You're smart as well pretty, I like you. I ate the Lizard-Lizard fruit, Model: Chameleon. And I can camouflage just like a real chameleon.
The devil fruit user then took off along with Rinka's katanas while laughing.
"You bastard give those back!"Rinka shouted while chasing the strange man.
The Heart Pirates who weren't asleep yet had suddenly come out of their rooms when they heard Rinka's yelling voice.
"Get him! He is stealing my swords!"Rinka shouted while pointing at her floating swords.
Penguin ,Shachi along with Thorn and Lucas were now chasing the chameleon man as well.
"I knew there was something strange about these people. After we retreat my swords, let's wake up the rest of the crew and head back to the sub." Rinka stated while still running .
The men nodded by Rinka's statement, feeling the exact same way as she does.
The group of Heart pirates went upstairs then downstairs then turned to the right and then the left, honestly for a Chameleon-man he is quite fast.
Eventually they were now in a large room that used to be pitch dark until it suddenly lightened up by a chandelier.
"I'm afraid my friend and have called it a day!"Freddy exclaimed while hanging down on the chandelier like a monkey.
"Wait, Freddy!?"Lucas exclaimed.
"Why are you guys down here, you should be sleeping soundly by now."Freddy said in a gentle tone.
"FYL, we're leaving here right now, and there's nothing you can do about it! Now give me back my swords or else."Rinka demanded , now becoming more irritated by this whole mess.
"Heh heh, Looks like you screw up, Freddy." A mysterious female voice exclaimed.
"Who-who said that? Lucas asked with a shaky voice. The Heart Pirates took up a fighting stance, now ready for battle.
You don't have to be so rude to me. I'll take them up to their rooms, okay?"Freddy mumbled with a sweat drop.
"I think it's a little late for that. These 5 pirates have noticed far too much around here. We can't risk them telling their captain or anyone else about us." A woman that looked like one of the dolls Rinka saw earlier was now standing right in front of their eyes..
"Penguin and Shachi, you 2 leave now and get Law and the rest of the crew."Rinka ordered.
"Are you sure?"Shachi asked.
Rinka began to smirk. "Don't worry, Lucas and Thorn can handle these guys."
The 2 mechanics gave her a light nod right before running backup to the stairs.
Freddy sighed, closing his eyes for a second. When he reopened them, his gaze had softened somewhat. "Master isn't going to like this."
The doll woman or whatever she is just rolled her eyes by Freddy's comment.
Rinka charged in full speed at the Chameleon-man so she could retreat her swords, but he easily dodged the upcoming attack by swissly jumping in the air.
The man was now, what?! Flying or walking on air. And last time Rinka checked chameleons couldn't fly. He must be using the Rokushiki martial arts she had heard about because right now it looks like the chameleon-man is using Geppo.
Rinka jumped even higher than the chameleon-man did, he then withdrew one of her swords then tried to slash the girl's shoulder.
Without a weapon of her own she easily blocks the upcoming sword attack with just one hand. With one fluid motion she glided her hand across the sharp piece of steel then hit the man's face almost like if her arm was a real sword.
"No sword style...Monkey arm!"
She took advantage of how the man was distracted by reclaiming that rightfully belongs to her.
"You damn woman, I-I will make you pay!"The chameleon-man shouted in anger while aiming a kick toward Rinka's face.
With a smirking face she easily blocked the upcoming attack with her new katana, surprisingly the man's leg strength is a lot more impressive than what Rinka had expected. But she didn't care in the slightest since her own brute strength is still more superior than his. The man cursed himself right before retreating to where the fight was taking place.
Rinka's eyes widened in fear when she noticed the man was now standing next to a lever that was mostly likely to set off the alarm or a trap.
When the chameleon-man pulled down the lever, then one of traps doors had been set off from where Rinka and along with Thorn,Lucas were currently standing.
-x-
Meanwhile…
"Captain, we need to leave right now!"Penguin shouted when they made it to Law's room.
Rubbing the sleep out of his eyes he gave them a light nod of agreement.
"Is anybody else awake?"Law asked.
"Yeah, Rinka, Thorn and Lucas are fighting a group of dolls or marionette or whatever they are right now!"Shachi responded.
"What the hell?! But they were right here."Penguin stated when the rest of the Heart Pirates were currently in the same room where the fighting had taken place.
-x-
"Ouch...damn that really hurt."Lucas exclaimed while getting up.
"Where are we?"Thorn asks in a worried tone.
"Ah welcome newcomers."A familiar dark voice greeted.
When the lights were finally turned on, all of them realized that they were in a lab with all different types of test tubes and machines that surrounded an exam table.
" why did you bring us here?" Rinka asked while struggling around in a strange sticky substance that is somehow able to restraint her.
"What do you think, I need fresh new human bodies to add to my doll collection."He responded.
"Tina, what do you think? Is her body good enough for you?"Woodrow asked the same doll-woman that Rinka saw earlier.
Tina began to smile widely, a bit too widely for Rinka's comfort, she even gulped in worry.
"She's perfect. Now I can finally have the perfect body and beautiful face that I truly deserve"
Rinka along with Thorn and Lucas began to struggle even more but it was no use, they were completely defenseless.
With only a single touch Rinka's eyes turned completely blank along with Dr. Woodrow's wife as well.
"What the! What's happening to her?"Lucas asks with a worried and scared expression on his face, watching one of the strongest Heart Pirates members being defeated so easily. "What do you mean, I just simply gave my wife the body she deserved."Woodrow responded with a wicked grin plastered on his pale-face.
"Cut the crap, what have you done to her."Thorn shouted now coming impatient by the whole scene.
Woodrow began to chuckle darkly. "I ate the puppet-puppet fruit and this devil fruit had given me the abilities to either switch other people's bodies or just simply take their souls and put it into one of my many dolls, making the perfect army as well. Now it's your turned little boy."
"Boom!"
A loud explosion could be heard from upstairs, which made stop on what he was about to do to Thorn.
"What the hell...I'll deal with you later."
and along with the woman who switched bodies with Rinka has ditch the 2 Heart Pirates alone in his large lab.
-x-
"Woodrow, what have you done to my crewmates?!"Law demanded while gripping tighter onto his nodachi.
"What do you mean Trafalgar Law? I have done nothing wrong."Woodrow said while stepping into the light.
"Come on darling, don't be that way to Mister Law, just tell the poor man the truth."Another familiar voice stated.
All of the Heart Pirates gasped at the sight, what stood next to the mad scientist was their beloved female crewmember.
"Rinka, what are you doing with this man?" Penguin asks with a sweat drop.
"Yeah, what has gotten into you? And why are you calling him darling?"Shachi added.
Rinka began to smirk evilly at the shock pirates. "I am just simply giving my lover the attention he deserves. You got a problem with that?"
"Yeah, because the Rinka that I know will never or ever love a man like him."Penguin stated while pointing at Dr. Woodrow.
The woman began to laugh loudly at him, like if he was completely stupid. "Some friends you are, you don't know anything about me."
Law began to smirk at the woman, since he just came up with a plan to find out whether this is the real Rinka or not. "Oh yeah well, what's your own master's name?" Law asked.
"It's Phyllis of course ."
"Where did you work before you became a pirate?""Law asked.
"The fifth in Command of the country of Vernal Kingdom. Court Pharmacist and Court Herbalist, if you want to be more pacific." She said with a bored expression.
"Okay, here's a harder question, where did we have our first kiss?"Law asked with a wide smirk.
All of the Heart Pirates' eyes widened in shock, not knowing that this was a trick question.
"I'm waiting, where did we have our first kiss?"Law repeated himself again.
"On the sub."She said with a sheepish smile.
"Nope, know why? Because we have never kissed before." Law stated, now ready himself for battle.
Knowing what is about to happen next, Woodrow grabs something out of his pocket and then smoke fills the entire room. Making a clean getaway from the battle that was about to take place. "Men search the building and find our missing crewmates."Law ordered which all of them responded with a "Yes Captain."
-x-
"Psss...Rinka are you okay?"Lucas asks.
"Uh, what happened? What the hell,why am I some creepy doll?"Rinka asked loudly when she saw her reflection through a nearby mirror.
"That asshole of a doctor had switched bodies between you and his creepy wife."Thorn said while still struggling around the sticky substance that covered his and Lucas bodies.
Rinka started thinking of a plan to free her imprisoned friends ,but then a light bulb lit up in her head. "I have an idea but it's not the best idea or even a good idea, but Thorn can I borrow your cigarette lighter."
"Yeah, what for?"He asks while handing her the lighter.
"What do you think, we're going to burn this sticky thing off."She stated right before they could protest.
-x-
Law was really pissed, first his crew was attacked by marine battleships. Second his crew just had to land on this island with a broken sub as well. And Finally 3 of his nakama are missing and he is not sure if Rinka had been brainwashed or something else like that. The more rooms he searches then the more worry he becomes for his missing crewmates. "Yoi, Captain!"A familiar voice called out for him.
When Law turned around he saw Lucas and Thorn had some of their clothing burned off and a few burn marks as well on their bodies but still alive.
Law's eyes narrowed at the doll-looking woman who looked to be chasing his crew, so he lifted his hand and called out his Room. He was now pointing the tip of his nodachi only a few inches away from Rinka's heart.
"Wait Law, it's me, Rinka!"She shouted in a worried tone.
"Yeah, like I'll believe that."He responded with rolled eyes.
"She is telling the truth, I saw it with my own eyes."Thorn defended.
Law lowered down his nodachi, waiting for an explanation on why she looks like a freaky doll.
" has devil fruit abilities that are able to switch people's bodies."Lucas explains.
"I see."Was all he said with a light shrug.
"Well Rinka, enjoy your new body because you're stuck with it." Law said jokingly, wanting to tease the girl just a bit.
"Oh Ha ha real funny."She responded with cross arms .
"Everyone, follow me, I have a good idea of where they're hiding. I don't know how but I have suddenly gained all of the memories by the same woman who stole my body." Rinka stated while leading the way.
"Wait, but how does that even work?"Thorn asks with a raised eyebrow.
Rinka just shrugged,"I'm not sure myself ."
The group of Heart Pirates were now at the middle of an old door. Rinka opened it carefully and saw it led down as if going to the basement. There were small candlesticks attached to the walls, giving them at least some type of light.
They found themselves in front of an old wooden door and Law opened them carefully, peering into the darkness that was inside. Rinka couldn't see much so she had to rely on her other senses but her haki barely helped her since she was in someone else's body after all. When she finally found the light switches,they could see the room was filled with human bodies, numerous tools and materials. The group of pirates walked slowly through the room, passing by the lifeless bodies.
Suddenly they heard a slight sound behind them as one of the puppets lifted their head.
Rinka and everyone else quickly jumped back when one certain puppet came to life, lowering on the wooden ground.
Then suddenly a whole swarm of puppets had come to the group at once with their weapons in their hands.
Thorn took out some throwing needles that were hidden beneath in his uniform and threw them at their target.
Rinka along with Lucas and Law had taken a fighting stance and were ready for combat. One doll lifted one hand and metal-like claws came out of the tips of its fingers. As the puppet rushed towards the girl, she slashed at Rinka, but the girl dodged and jumped away. The doll ran and disappeared among the lifeless forms, but Rinka noticed the blur as it passed behind her.
Before the doll can even graze Rinka, Law had activated his Room and cut the doll into little pieces.
"Well well, you finally found me." exclaimed with a smirk.
"Captain, help us!"Penguin said while being restraint along with the rest of the Heart Pirate crew.
"Let them go and give me back my body you sick bastard!"Rinka demanded with gritted teeth.
"How about no, I like your body too much but don't worry you can keep my old one. I don't need it anymore."The woman in Rinka's body stated, with a wicked grin.
"Give it back, it's mine!"Rinka shouted in pure anger.
Tina began to frown like a puppy. "Oh, if it isn't mine then why can I do this?"
With only that simple comment she lifted up her shirt and was now flashing all of the men who were inside the tiny room.
"Ahhh! Don't look!"Rinka demanded, but in a high pitch tone.
"Okay!"All of the men responded with blood coming out of their nose and had bright red faces. "Best day ever!"Everyone thought to themselves.
Being caught off guard for less than a second one of Woodrow's minions had wrapped seastone chains on Law's legs and arms.
"Surrender Now! Trafalgar Law, or your crew gets it!''Woodrow stated while pointing a blade inches away from Shachi's neck.
Law's expression darkened and he glared at him dangerously. "Watch your mouth...don't underestimate my crew."
Woodrow glared at him, not letting the pirate captain threaten him.
The girl had reached her boiling point and gritted her teeth again. "This is on my last nerves." Rinka started running toward the mad scientist with a killing urge written all over her face.
She stopped the punch that was aiming for Dr. Woodrow when she almost hit Zane instead.
Thank you for reading.