A/N: Here we are, and so it begins
Another story that my brain spins
It took a while, but we've arrived to the show
Where will I take us? Only I know

So sit back, relax, and kick up your feet
Pry your fingers from the edge of your seat
Call your friends-go on, call them down
As we send for the Straw-Hat clowns

01
Come All, Come One
join us here for a little fun
hold your breath, wait and see
as we reveal the Show of Freaks

"It felt like forever since we were on an island where we weren't running from something. There were no Marines, enemies, pirate crews, nor crazed villagers. It was nice to be able to relax in a town where they were all happy to have us there. And not only were they happy to have us there, they worshiped us.

There were feasts to behold, alcohol to drink, gold laid down at our feet. And the one they worshiped most of all –Captain U~sopp!"

"I don't like this story," Luffy muttered beside me.

"Let him have his fantasies," I told him quietly, gazing out at the rain beyond the windows. It was coming down hard, and usually we'd be out there, making sure things were okay, but on our way to the next island, we had found a smaller island to anchor at. It wasn't big, but it had a small bay that kept most of the waves away from our deck.

In spirit of being able to sit calmly during a storm, we were using the moment to our advantage. We had the lights turned off, and candles laid out around the room.

"Shouldn't they be called the Long-Nose pirates," Suki asked.

"Yohoho! The Long-Nose Pirates –that'd be a sight to see."

"Except you don't have eyes to see it," Suki cut Brooke off with a grin.

"I thought we were telling scary stories," Zoro murmured beside Robin.

"Usopp being captain is scary," Sanji muttered.

"Oi! I'm speaking here," Usopp banged a fist down on the table. As if to emphasize his momentary authority, lightning struck the sea outside, lighting up the kitchen and dining room.

"Oooh, so scary," Sanji mocked. Thunder rumbled. The storm was nearly right above us.

"Just go on, Usopp," I rolled my eyes.

"They worshiped Captain Usopp," he repeated. "Worshiped him so much, that they hated the idea of anybody being 'too close' to him. Including his own pirate crew. One by one, they started to disappear –the ladies disappearing first."

"Boooooo," Suki gave Usopp two thumbs down. "We ladies always go first. Why can't -we be the heroines?"

"You think you can do better?" Usopp muttered. "Go on then!"

"Anybody want a drink?" Harumi said, getting up and heading for the kitchen.

"Nami-swan, Robin-chwan, Suki-chan, a snack?" Sanji got up.

"We're fine," we said in unison.

"I'll have theirs," Luffy grinned.

"I'll have a drink," Zoro nodded at Harumi.

"Make that two," I chipped in.

"Can I tell the story?" Franky asked.

"No –Suki challenged me, she tells the story," Usopp harrumphed.

"Fine," Suki sighed. "A scary story, eh? Let me think." She drummed her fingers lightly on the table, the small candle flickering as someone breathed too heavily. She stared at it intently as she thought, and the shadows danced across her face, making her features eerie. She looked up, suddenly, and a slow grin spread across her face. "I know."

"Here," Harumi placed a glass down in front of me, and another in front of Zoro before sitting down. Sanji returned a moment later, placing a plate of food in front of Luffy.

"Eat it slowly," he warned, taking his place by Harumi. "I'm not making another."

Suki waited for us all to settle down patiently. Then she began.

"This story, I heard from a friend of mine, and he swears it's true," she keeps her gaze low. "The story takes place in a small town in the New World –its name I've long since forgotten. It was a peaceful town, as the weather surrounding the island kept pirates at bay. That was until he arrived."

She paused for a moment, glancing around the table. "He goes by a number of different names, but the name he was known for the most was the Shrieker. This name was given to him by the villagers. They say that after he came, things became disturbed. He had always been different from the other. He was a retired pirate, with scars covering his entire body. Only, this wasn't what separated him from the rest. It was his essence. The atmosphere around him was cruel and overwhelming, making anybody feel uncomfortable, though no one could quite place why. So while they didn't banish him, they made sure he'd be as far away as possible, forcing him to live in an abandoned house in the woods.

"Things were fine for a while… then the children began to go missing. Once a month, on the full moon, a scream would echo through the town, waking the villagers from their sleep. The first time they heard it, they didn't think much of it, until they woke up the next morning to discover one of the children were gone. No one knew who had done it, and at first, no one suspected the man in the forest. He had been quite civil when they asked him if he'd seen the first missing boy. He invited them in for a drink, and everything inside the house was orderly –except for the large fire in the fireplace, burning in the middle of summer.

"When the second child went missing, they came again to the house in the forest, and again, the man let them in –again, the fire was burning. A brave father once asked him why –and the reply he received was 'it ebbs the chill from my soul.' The reply was passed on to the other villagers, and it spread like wild fire, so to speak. By the time the fourth child had gone missing, and with the fireplace still burning in the house in the forest, the men grew certain that it was him that had been taking the children. Surely he had used the fire to kill their children, for where else could they go? They were too young to operate a boat of any size, and they had practically ripped the island apart from head to toe, searching for them."

Suki paused as thunder boomed, shaking the boat.

"So when the fifth child went missing, the decision became unanimous. They trudged up to the house in the forest, knocked the door down and demanded answers. When the man couldn't give the answers the villagers wanted and denied any connection to the missing child, they pounced. They only meant to get the answers out of him, but the violence in their actions led to worse –much worse. They beat him, his screams filling the night.

"They killed him. And at first it didn't bother them –until the next full moon when another child went missing. They were quick to realize their mistake, and instantly regretted their actions. They even ended up finding the real criminal behind the missing children, but by then, it was too late. The Shrieker's soul couldn't be quieted with their apologies to the dead. So even after finding the real murder, the screaming didn't stop. Only, it was no longer the screams of the children –but the same screams from the night they murdered the man in the forest. And merely seconds after the scream, a boney hand would clasp their ankles, and a strained voice would whisper in their ears 'do you believe me now?'. A few days later, that person would get mentally sick, murmuring over and over to themselves 'yes, I do believe you now,' and eventually they'd be driven to madness far enough to take their own lives," Suki pressed her lips together grimly, and lightning flashed through the room. "No one lives on that island anymore. It's quite abandoned… Like this one here, actually."

"You're a very good story teller," Robin smiled at Suki. Even I had to admit that she was captivating –no one had spoken the entire time she had spoken. But as a singer and idol, it was only natural that she had that enticing charisma.

"That's complete nonsense," Usopp muttered, leaning back in his chair. "Such a lame story."

"Don't believe me then," Suki gave a small shrug. "In the end, it's your loss. The Shrieker hates liars and non-believers the most, you know."

"I believe, Suki," Chopper said, shaking slightly in his seat.

"That's good, Chopper," she smiled kindly. "Because even though you can't see it, tonight's a full moon."

"Tonight?" Usopp looked outside.

"Tonight," Suki confirmed. "So, Usopp –do you believe?"

"No –of course not. You just made it up," he said defiantly.

"Suit yourself," she said, leaning back in her chair.

Lightning struck again, and suddenly a scream ripped through the room. Cold, thin fingers brushed against my ankle, wrapping around them.

I froze. It was just my imagination, right?

"Do you believe me now?""

I screamed, jumping away from the table.

Usopp started shouting, "I do believe, I do believe!"

"Fuck off, Brooke," Zoro kicked under the table.

"What?" I breathed rapidly, trying to calm my heart.

"Yohoho, sorry, Nami, it was all in good fun, I assure you," Brooke crawled up from beneath the table. I wanted to be angry, but I had to give credit where credit was due –it had been a good prank. Still, I took off my shoe and whipped it at his head. Lighter than I normally would, mind you.

"Shishishi," Luffy laughed.

"I knew it was Brooke," Usopp said, trying to recover.

"Of course you did, Usopp," Suki rolled her eyes.

"I did! Nothing slips by me," Usopp said triumphantly.

"Whatever," Suki yawned. "Well, I'm tired. If we've had our fun here, I'll be heading off to bed."

"I shall walk you to your quarters," Brooke said, dusting himself off. Suki wrapped her arm around his, and Brooke chuckled as they headed for the door. "We did well tonight –that was such a feminine scream from Usopp if I'd ever heard one."

"Except you don't have any ears to hear with," Suki finished for him.

The door closed behind them, and Usopp sat back down. "I do not scream femininely."

"Now that Brooke mentions it, I think you do," Franky said.

"I do not!"

"Let's check," I heard Robin murmur beside me.

"What was that, Robin?" Usopp asked.

Thunder roared, and another shriek filled the air. Then, from under the table –"Do you believe me now?" and Usopp screamed again.

"I'd say that's pretty feminine," Zoro chuckled.

"Whatever, I'm leaving," Usopp said, heading for the door.

"Do you believe me now?"

"Stop it, you guys," Usopp turned and glared at us all.

"Stop what?"

"Do you believe me now?"

"That!" he exclaimed.

"What are you talking about?" Franky asked.

"Stop doing that 'do you believe me now?' thing, it's not funny anymore."

"We're not doing anything," Zoro said, yawning.

"Do you believe me now?"

"There it is again! Stop it!"

"You must be hearing things," Robin sighed. "I guess your mental health is weak."

"It is not!" Usopp shouted before throwing the door open and leaving through the rain.

"How'd you do that?" I asked Robin.

"Tone Dial," she said, lifting it out from under the table. Luffy laughed.

"May I?" Franky grinned.

"Go for it," Robin returned the smile as she tossed it gently to him. Whistling, Franky followed after Usopp.

"I figure it'll take a few days for him to realize the dial's missing," Sanji said, lighting his cigarette with the candle in the middle. "That's what he gets for leaving it out where I nearly stepped on it."

"Sanji, I'm hungry," Luffy complained.

"Go to bed," Sanji rolled his eyes.

"We should all go to bed," Robin said, pushing herself away from the table.

"Mm –we should be arriving at the next island soon. Sakasu Isle," I stretched as I got to my feet, letting out a small yawn. "If what I heard is correct, we're going at a great time – they're doing their annual festival."

"So?" Zoro asked, following closely behind Robin.

I looked at Luffy, who would surely be excited to hear the news, "Their festivals come in the form of a circus."