Hello everyone! There are some big spoilers in this if you are not caught up. This whole chapter is really just a summary of the whole Zou Island Arc! I do hope you all enjoy.
Disclaimer: One Piece belongs to Eiichiro Oda.
Chapter 07
Meeting the Ex-King!
(Kachack!)
Perona had hung up the phone before Zoro could say anything else!
"Oi! Why'd you hang up on me?!" He yelled at the ghost floating above him. "What the hell are you talking about?!" Zoro glared at the little thing as it started to shake and quiver! Law studied the little ghost as it froze in its spot. The humming had stopped as well.
The Hallow then jerked and disappeared with a (Poof!) Zoro growled and snapped his to the side. "Fine! Ignore me! Like I care if you fall in a ditch!"
Everyone sweatdropped. 'He does care. . .'
Law was much too focused on the spot that once held the small hallow to notice that the rest of the people on the ship went back to what they were doing before. He was thinking 'That last message was little too rushed. Something must have happened but what would cause her to hang up so fast?' Remembering that he still had her vivre card, Law reaching into his pocket and pulled out the piece that Perona had given him. As he stared down at it, he noticed something odd. The corner was fading!
Law's eye's narrowed and brought his eyebrows together, this was a bad sign. He wondered what he should do as he looked towards Zoro. Then remembered the words Perona had said before hanging up.
-Flashback-
"Trafalgar!" Gaining the Surgeon of Death's attention. "If I find out you're the reason Zoro gets killed, you're gonna have to deal with me! Got it!" She yelled at him and Law thought it best to answer. "Yea, Yea. I got ya."
There was a slight pause. "And one more thing, if you see or hear anything, don't you dare come!"
(Kachack!)
-Flashback End-
'I see, so that's what ya talkin about. I'll wait then.' Law thought as he shoved the vivre card back into his pocket, closed his eyes and crossed his arms. But even with this answer, he had an overwhelming feeling that something bad was going to happen. He shook his head clearing his thoughts, right now he needed to focus on getting to Zou Island, where he was to meet up with his crew.
-Marine Fleet-
The rain poured over the Marine ships and wild waves hit the sides as the Fleet left to transfer Doflamingo to the Impel Down. Mihawk's small boat had been lifted onto the main ship and Mihawk sat near Admiral Fujitora. Both Fujitora and Sengoku where eating noodle as they questioned Mihawk.
"You didn't have to lock her up, she's not so bad." Mihawk smirked at the men. Fujitora replied after swallowing a mouthful of noodles. "We can't make mistakes. I've heard her voice"
Mihawk quirked an eyebrow as he made eye contact with the marines. "And?" He asked curious as to what the Marine will do.
"Well, I never saw her help a pirate and she never exactly attacked me so it's up to Vice Admiral Tsuru to make a decision." Fujitora said slurping some more noodles into his mouth as Mihawk continued to smirk and wait to see what would happen next.
Down below, in the cells of the ship sat two prisoners and Vice Admiral Tsuru who was questioning him. But Doflamingo had made an odd request for the newspaper. Saying that the family of D. has been hiding in the shadows. Wondering when they will show themselves, who will side with who, who will betray who and to tell the Celestial Dragons that they will be dragged down! He talked about how it had been 25 years since Gold D. Roger had explored the whole Grand Line. How his arch enemy, Whitebeard, didn't sit on the throne but stood in front of it and took the reins. And now the number of pirates is ballooning and that there's one seat that's empty! The biggest struggle for supremacy in the history of pirates will start!
He said all this laughing while Perona was force to sit in the cell next to the crazed man. Perona scoffed at him quite loudly which quickly got both Tsuru and the String String fruit user's attention.
The large man who was chained to the floor smirk at Perona. "Do you not agree?" Perona smirked as well deciding that if she was going to be locked up, she should at least have a little fun and mess with the former Warlord.
"Oh no, I fully agree that there will be a war to claim the title of Pirate King." Doflamingo 'hmnd' in accord. "But. . ." Perona paused giving him a side glace to see that although his smirk was still there, there was a slight twitch. "I would put money on the Monkey the beat the ex-king. Horohorohoro!" She laughed heartily at the ex-warlord as his smile tightened at the humiliation he had felt losing to Monkey D. Luffy.
The mood was quickly replace with panic as canons sounded through the air and the yells of soldiers came from up on deck. The ships were shaky enough without being attacked but now Perona could feel herself slide across the floor of her cell as the ship swayed right, pushing her closer to Doflamingo. Tsuru quickly left to see what was happening but not without assigning a guard to watch the two.
"I will be back to have a small chat with you." Tsuru said this looking straight to Perona. But Perona simply huffed and snapped her head to the right.
After Tsuru climbed the stairs, Doflamingo began to chuckle and Perona turned her attention back towards the man. He turned his head to look at the young woman with an overly huge smile. He spoke to her as if she had never commented on his loss the Straw Hat captain.
"So, did you get bored with Moria? And decide to switch Warlords?" He said with snobbish attitude. Perona flinched, her eyes widened and she could feel her stomach tighten into knots! She focused on the man beside her. "W-What?"
"Ah, so you didn't just leave him? Oh well, doesn't matter now." Doflamingo started to cackle at the woman's shocked face. Sweat started to collect on her forehead, she was tense and on edge waiting for him to explain.
Doflamingo took her silence as his go ahead to continue. "Such a weak, desperate disappointment. I thought he would at least fight back a little." He continued to laugh as Perona shook. "And then just like that, 'POOF!' He disappeared from the world!" His laugh echoed in the room as the guard stood.
"Hey! Be quiet in there!" The guard yelled, fear eating up at him.
Perona snapped up, standing above him so she could look down on him. Her anger seeped out of every pour on her skin as she yelled. "W-What the hell did you do to Moria!" She stomped her foot to put emphases on her question, demanding an answer!
Doflamingo smiled menacingly! "I made him disappear!"
-Straw Hats and Law-
Zou Island had turned out to be a massive Elephant that has lived for over a thousand years with an island flourishing on its back! The Straw hats and Law have finally made it to the island! Only to find their ship empty of the other crew members!
With the power of a Devil fruit, Kanjuro drew a Dragon to climb up the elephant's leg, parting ways with Bartolomeo's gang!
The Dragon climbed the leg with much difficulty, he even almost fell into the seat on point. As they climbed a small monkey had fallen, hitting Kinemon and Kanjuro throwing both of them off the dragon and tumbling towards the sea. They ended up being fine and telling the rest of the group to go on ahead.
It was quite the struggle to get to the top but the dragon had made it and even got a loving goodbye.
Ruins sat in front of them and a huge tree made to look like a whale sat in the middle, it was beautiful!
Luffy ran ahead, in search of his crew, well anyone willing to talk to him. The rest fell behind, walking at their own pace. But they were attacked by the Mink Tribe!
-Luffy-
Luffy had made it to the Whale tree and has met up with two of the Mink Tribe and had started to fight! He was trapped head to head when he met up with Law's crew! Wanda, the dog mink and Carrot, the rabbit mink, had helped Luffy free of the Bull mink and Gorilla mink and decided to take the captain to the rest of his crew but on the way the Elephant had sprayed itself and the island with seawater! But Luffy and his crew were reunited in the end, with the exception of Sanji who had disappeared leaving only a note!
-Kinemon and Kanjuro-
Kinemon and Kanjuro were still climbing the leg as water fell over them! Bringing them back to The Sunny! They had decided to wait and continue in the morning seeing how exhausted the poor tiger that Kanjuro had drawn was!
-Law-
Law had separated from Luffy to go to the Whale tree forest, so he could search for his crew. Using Bepo's vivre card he was able to find them with little effort! Bepo even cried, relieved to see there captain in good health!
Finally reunited with his crew, Law could feel some weight lift from his shoulders but even then he couldn't help but wonder about Perona. Pulling out her fading vivre card he studied it as it moved, moving towards where they had come.
Bepo and the rest of the crew noticed Law's troubled look that focused on the card in his hand. So they too focused on the disappearing card.
"Perona? Sorry but whose is that and why is their vivre card fading?" he asked, clearly concerned for the person he had yet to meet. The others listened carefully, wanting to know as well.
"Just someone who helped out on Dressrosa. I'm not sure what's happened to her but I have a bad feeling." Law answered with a straight face as the others watched in worry.
-Luffy-
Wanda explain that the destroyed city was the Minks home, Kurai City! The fault of the destroyed town was pirates, The Beast Pirates, looking for a warrior from the land of Wano named Raizo! This has made the word samurai and ninja taboo in front of the people of the Mink Tribe! She explained all this on the way towards Duke Dogstorm, who had just awoken after being severely wounded.
The Straw Hats had found out that there were two rulers of the land, one for the Day, Duke Dogstorm and one for night, Master Cat Viper! Dogstorm in charge from 6 in the morning to 6 in the evening with Cat Viper taking over the night shift!
Wanda then went on to explain how the pirate Jack, a Mammoth with a billionbeli bounty went on destroying the town and battled Duke Dogstorm! This battle went on till 6 in the evening, leaving Master Cat Viper to battle Jack! Even the Heart Pirates joined the night battle!
The Battle continued till day, having Cat Viper switch with Dogstorm. This was continuous for days! But on the fifth day Jack used a poisonous gas, paralyzing the Mink people! Using this they brutalized the Mink soldiers and ruined their country! The tougher minks were crucified and tortured, including both kings! After the sixth day Jack had left, mind set on releasing Doflamingo, leaving some of his men to search for Raizo!
The Straw Hats had apparently arrived the next day! With the Gas still in the air Nami, Chopper, Sanji and Caesar found the wounded Mink tribe people! Chopper explained how Caesar neutralized the gas after Sanji threatened to crush his heart that Law gave to him for security! Chopper and Caesar started to make an antidote for all poisoned and everyone else helped treat the injured. After finding the antidote they quickly cured all who were poisoned!
Chopper then decided it was time to go check on Master Cat Viper and of course the rest of the Straw Hats decided to go with him!
On the way there Brook explained what had happened next. That Big Mama's ship, that had attacked them earlier on, wanting Caesar, followed them to the island. Pekoms, a lion mink on Mama's ship, and Capone Bege, one of the worst generation, arrived on the island. Sanji and Brook took both to talk nowhere near the people to talk. Pekoms ended up thanking them for saving his people and asking them to hand over Caesar and they'd let the Straw Hats go, but in the end Capone attacked Pekoms!
Capone Bege, having ate the Castle Castle Fruit, surrounded the two with his men he had hid in his body! Capone used Nami and Chopper as hostages and were forced to enter his Castle! They had learned that Big Mama was inviting Sanji to a tea part for a wedding of the third son of the Vinsmoke Family and the 35th daughter of the Charlotte Family, Pudding. This was Sanji's wedding! Even when refusing Capone wasn't taking no for an answer and was threatened with something no one but he could hear. Sanji had ended up accepting with no choices at hand and left a letter for Luffy and the others. He then threw Nami Brook and Chopper outside Capone's body! But he did say he would be back the Capone took off with Sanji still inside his body!
Now Luffy has made up his mind to go to Big Mama to help Sanji!
As they continued towards Master Cat Viper a swarm of Sutchies, blood sucking insects, surrounded them and they were easily defeated but not without stinging Luffy. The rest of the way was filled with Brook sing a song inspired by Cat Viper.
When they got there they met Pedro, the jaguar mink! Cat Viper was taking a bath when arrived and hurt himself when playing with a red ball! After they met with Cat Viper they went to Pekoms to find him awake! They had learned that the Vinsmoke family is a family of assassins! Luffy of course didn't care about that, he just wanted to know if Sanji was coming back!
Just as Pekoms said he would head back to Mama's ship Luffy was quick to decide that Pekoms would be the one to lead them the Big Mama's ship!
Law had finally met up with the Straw Hats and was caught up on all that had happened! After they all ended partying!
Brook, Robin and Franky sat at the end of the island, where they had come up from, keeping guard and not allowing Kinemon and Kanjuro to enter the Island.
He next morning was extremely foggy and all three Straw Hats had fallen asleep as Kinemon and Kanjuro arrive walking right over their sleeping bodies! The monkey that had fallen ran as fast as he could, aiming to warn the Mink Tribe that the samurai were there! And Kinemon and Kanjuro chase after him wanting to know where the ninja, Raizo was!
The monkey rang the warning bell, alerting the Mink tribe to be prepared for attack! Dogstorm and his people ran to the city ready to fight, as well as Cat Viper and his people! Nami tried her best to wake up Luffy but it proved difficult!
-Kinemon and Kanjuro-
The two had ended up in the Whale Tree Forest and had met up with Momonosuke, an Artificial Devil Fruit eater!
Night and Day Mink people ran to the city, the people feared the Dogstorm and Cat Viper meeting each other, for if they do they would surely kill each other! The two had made eye contact!
And the Straw Hats have found the three samurai! Shutting them up, Nami warned them to go back to the Sunny!
Dogstorm and Cat Viper were face to face, dueling each other, but stopped because all three samurai had shown their faces! Kinemon had even introduced himself and asked where Raizo was! But no had attacked! The two kings instead had sat down in relief and in tears exclaiming that Raizo was safe! It had turned out everyone had known and protected the ninja! All of the Straw Hats were shocked and some even cried for the people who had almost died just to keep this secret! But Cat Viper quickly exclaimed that they would never sell out their friends!
As thanks for protect his friend, Kinemon show the Kozuki Clan crest on his back, the same as Duke Dogstorm, Master Cat Viper and Raiso! And now they were on their way meet him!
Poor Raizo had been crying and was chained up! All were quite disappointed to see the large faced ninja, wondering how the hell he could be a ninja! And a Red Ponegliff, called Road Ponegliff, sat in the middle of the room and Robin was quite excited to read it! As she read it the boys surrounded Raizo, asking him to show off his ninja powers! Raizo became embarrassed but became irritated as all the boys began telling him to do things that real ninja's apparently didn't do! He then showed them his different techniques, seeing that he had caused the boys to become a little depressed!
They had climbed the Whale Tree to see the destruction Jack had caused and the three from the land of Wano felt the need to repay the Minks! When they had gone back inside Robin had translated the stone! It was part of a map leading to the last Island, Raftel! It also meant there were three more of the Red Ponegliffs! One in the hand of Big Mama and another with Kaido! The third's place is unknown.
They learned that the Kozuki Clan were the one that made the Ponegliffs! And that the leader, Momonosuke's father and the one who travel to Raftel with Gold D. Roger, was executed be the Shogun on the land of Wano and Kaido the pirate, trying to get information about the last island!
Kinemon had decided to ask a favor of Luffy and Law, to help them defeat Kaido but Luffy refused! He turned to Momonosuke and asked what he wanted, talking to him as the leader of the Kozuki Clan not as a child! Momonosuke had ended up asking Luffy for his help in taking Kaido head! Now allies the Mink Tribe, the Kozuki Clan, the Heart Pirates and the Straw Hat Pirates had a objective, to kick Emperor Kaido's butt! Of course Luffy had also named their group the Ninja-Pirate-Mink-Samurai Alliance!
Now reconciled both Mink Kings the Mink Tribe called a celebration!
Luffy had one condition with this alliance though, that everyone had to stay and wait for him while he and his crew went to get Sanji back!
Now that they were allies the alliance needed to prepare for the upcoming battle! But in the meantime Cat Viper has someone they need to see, the former 1st division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, Marco the Phoenix!
Having discussed the reinforcements they will need Kinemon, Momonosuke and Kanjuro have figured they do not have a bout to take them to Wano but Law decided to interrupt.
"If you come on our submarine, you'll be safe while traveling. And, if you know a place to hide on the island, you'll be alright." Law had said this but had thought of Perona for a split second and as everyone decided to have a banquet Law pulled her vivre card out from his pocket and watched as more of the edge began to fade. He narrowed his eyes as he tried to think of what would have happened for her card to start to disappear.
Law shoved the card back into his pocket as everyone froze and explosive rang from the air! The island was shaking! Both Luffy and Momonosuke could hear a voice. The voice kept telling them to give it an order but both Luffy and Momonosuke have no idea who is talk. The voice was Zunesha, the Elephant!
Momonosuke could see that it was Jack firing cannons at the elephant's leg! Momonosuke could see through the elephant's eyes! He ended up ordering Zunesha to make Jake go away! And Zunesha lifted his trunk and threw it against Jack's ships, throwing them in the air as the elephant brought his trunk back again, striking the ships destroying them!
After all of the excitement was over Luffy decided it was best to start packing to leave. But with Zunesha foreleg injured quite badly, Chopper had decided to help, causing a delay on their trip, to treat the leg. Once they had bandaged the leg Luffy had then decided it was time to finish getting ready to leave and Momonosuke has decided to stay wanting to talk with Zunesha once more. And they had decided to split into four teams, Cat Viper Team to search for Marco, Dogstorm Team will stay on Zou, Luffy Team to head to Whole Cake Island where Big Mama is, and Kinemon Team will head to the Land of Wano! With this the plan was set!
Finally the Sanji retrieval team was on their way! With Pedro and Carrot tagging along!
-Alabasta-
Rear Admiral Hina stood on the deck on the Marine ship with Fullbody and Jango, who were blushing and each had a bouquet of flowers just for her! She had gotten the call that the woman she had been looking for had been found and was being held for questioning.
Hina had been quite upset that she wouldn't be able to question the woman herself but she was ordered the escort King Cobra and Princess Vivi to the Reverie where all of the Kings and Leaders of all different countries and lands were to discuss the current events and problems!
Jango and Fullbody interrupted Hina's chain of thought! "Ma'am! A call is here for you!" Jango yelled giving the transponder snail to the Rear Admiral. Answering the call, Vice Admiral Tsuru voice came out the snail. "Rear Admiral Hina, I have bad news on the woman you wanted questioned."
Confused, Hina questioned the woman on the other side. "What are you talking about, ma'am?" The news she had gotten had Hina shocked, dropping her cigarette!
"The woman has escaped."
Thank you for reading! I hope you were happy with this chapter! I'm still having a little trouble with figuring out how to end this, sorry for the wait.