I have no idea which fic did I get the mention of Shanks and Whitebeard playing Duel Monsters on motorcycles, but my faithful audience, you might want to thank them. It is because of them that this came into being.
I have no idea if this is AU anymore. I decided that since Yusei is already here, then it's AU, but I will still stick to the One Piece guidelines. Hence, there will not be many major deviances from canon.
Enjoy!
Restructer Revolution
IV: Castle of Dark Illusions
In the distance, a wolf howled.
The Straw Hats ran through the creepy forest, panting hard as they slowed to a quick-walking pace.
"They're not after us any more, right?" Usopp mumbled, looking back. "What in the world's wrong with this island? Undead things are all over the place...Guys, if I turn into one of them, just kill me..."
"What are you saying?" Nami told him.
"I read about zombies in the library of the Sunny," Usopp answered.
"You read that stuff too much." Nami offhandedly replied.
"Usopp San, I think you're exaggerating..." Yusei mumbled.
They reached the gate, stopping briefly to look at the wrought iron functional design meant to keep things out before examining the mansion's Gothic architecture.
"Finally, we're here," Usopp's tongue hung out of his mouth. "I kinda want a glass of water."
Chopper giggled. "I guess I can see him now. I can't wait to see him."
"I don't think a person who lives here is normal," Nami remarked. "That's a bet."
"I would have to agree," Yusei nodded, before reaching a hand out.
The gate swung open before him with a loud creak as he pushed the wrought iron frame lightly, the Straw Hats following his lead in.
"I'm sorry, is this Dr Hogback's mansion?" Nami called. "We're members of the pir– the ship and we're lost now. Can we rest here?"
"Is anyone here?" Yusei called as the quartet approached the mansion.
"What's up with this mansion?" Usopp grumbled as they mounted the sweeping wide marble white front steps. "There's a tunnel right through the middle."
"And it has a huge garden," Chopper agreed.
"Hello?" Nami called again, before sighing in defeat.
"Maybe no one's home?" Usopp suggested.
"That's bad," Nami said. "If we go back, those zombies will be waiting for us."
The thump of metal sounded as a bright white spotlight flashed on, illuminating a pulley well in the middle of the archway that was in the middle of the mansion. A rope dangled down from the wood scaffold into the hole in the ground.
"Look, there's a light there," Chopper pointed.
"Rather a spotlight than a regular light..." Usopp muttered as they approached it. "For this well?"
All of a sudden, the rope ran as the pulley creaked, causing the Straw Hats to start.
"W-What now?" Nami whispered as the pulley creaked.
The figure that rose from the well at the end of the rope looked at them with dead eyes. She sported blonde hair, and must have been quite pretty once upon a time, had her face not been ravaged with cuts that were stitched up very obviously along her right cheek and on the left side of her face. More scars ran along her neck down her chest into the sleeveless black dress with red feather scarf, and in her hands were a stack of plates. "Welcome," the obviously feminine figure greeted in a monotone.
"EEYYYYAAAAHHHH!"
There was a clink of china as she held a plate.
"One plate. Two plates. Three plates."
The deadly china projectiles hit true onto Usopp, the other three watching as their comrade was hit by flying china.
"Four plates. Five plates."
Usopp cringed into himself. "The lady's throwing something at me!"
"Six plates. Seven plates."
"Am I the target?" Usopp yelled again as he was hit by plates.
"Yes, that is right," the woman stated in a monotone again. "I cannot invite you inside." She pointed to Nami, Chopper and Yusei. "You three can come in."
"Eh? Why is that?" all three asked simultaneously.
"You, please leave." she directed to Usopp. "Eight plates! Nine plates!"
"Why me?" Usopp shouted as he went down from the plate barrage.
"That's enough, stop." A deep voice boomed from within the wood doors.
"W-What?" Nami and Chopper were on alert.
"I don't want anymore scary things," Chopper fiercely said.
There was a huge boom before the door swung open, and footsteps echoed.
Usopp, nursing a huge bruise, got up. "Someone came out."
"It's no problem for a guy to come in, Cindry Chan," the voice boomed as its speaker approached. "Sorry for creeping out you guys. This lady once tested all her lovers by breaking their important dishes and got kicked out. That made her the dish hater, Cindry Chan."
"Well, no need to explain– wait, then why can Yusei come in?" Usopp screamed.
The woman narrowed her eyes imperiously. "His face is trustworthy."
"You made an exception based on just that?"
"Also, sorry for the late introduction," the rotund man dressed in tights with a sweeping purple fur cape and black cravat with authentic wide teeth like a bat's complete with fanged incisors, that was the deep-voiced speaker spoke again. "I am the world famous Doctor Hogback! Also known as: Genius."
A sweep of the arm and Usopp went down from another plate projectile.
"H- H- Hey, Cindry Chan, I said enough!" Hogback exclaimed. "If you don't listen to me, what should I do?"
The woman's gaze became as cold as an Arctic winter, complete with cold winds howling in the background.
"Oh, no..." Hogback gasped.
"Dishes should be extinct from this world."
"I know, I know what you're talking about so listen to me!" Hogback complained.
Meanwhile, Chopper was watching with stars in his eyes.
"Chopper San," Yusei asked. "Is that the man you were referring to?"
D- Dr Hogback. The real thing~" the reindeer cried.
"He looks retarded," Nami remarked.
"Shut up, Nami!" Chopper did an about-face.
Cindry then turned towards the doors, walking up the steps before indicating to the Straw Hats. "Then, come inside. Only today can all four of you come in. Welcome."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, welcome to my mansion," the doctor added, flustered.
"I don't know why I wasn't okay, but let's go in now," Usopp groaned, rubbing his head.
"Better than staying out with the zombies," Yusei added. "Also, Chopper San might like it if we stayed a bit longer."
The reindeer had stars in his eyes. "Really? Thanks, Yusei!"
The doors creaked closed, leaving a stunned doctor outside. "I didn't get in... I didn't go inside yet..."
"Fwashfwashfwashfwash!" Hogback laughed, safely ensconced in his chair at the head of the table. They were in a hall, lit by an elaborate candelabra that was suspended overhead, throwing a soft light over the dining hall. Trophies and paintings decorated the walls, giving the air of being watched. "Welcome to my mansion. Look at your dirty faces. So, why are you guys here?"
"Well, there is a lot to say," Nami began. "but first..."
"I have a lot to ask you later," Chopper said brightly.
"We were chased by zombies and came here," Yusei explained, seated as he was on the second chair to Hogback's left.
"Zombies, huh?" Hogback stated.
"We saw a lot of other crazy animals," Usopp interrupted. "What's up with this island? You must know something about it since you live here."
"Oh, so they attacked you," Hogback replied. "You did well getting here alive. Here's the answer to your question: I don't know what the hell they are so I live here."
"So, doctor is researching zombies here?" Chopper's eyes were wide.
"Yes," Hogback stood up. "Most people will freak out when they hear the word zombie... but not if we call it revival... Isn't that the ultimate goal a human can achieve?"
Raise Dead... the power of gods... Yusei winced at the sudden thought.
"There's always someone whom you would love to revive," Hogback continued arguing. "but, bringing people back to life is God's territory. So I, by myself, came here where no one is around to research where no one could see me."
"I see, so that's what's going on," Chopper smiled. "If the research goes well, then there will be lots of happy people. I pray for your success, Doctor Hogback!"
"Nice way of thinking, Dr Chopper!" Hogback grinned, that even his tinted glasses seemed like it was gleaming.
"EEEHhhhhhhh!" Chopper hid his face with his hat, still smiling. "Even if you call me Doctor, it won't make me happy, you bastard~! Can I have your autograph~?""
"Yeah, no problem," Hogback accepted the board and marker, scribbling. "To Dr Chopper Kun."
"Haha!" Stars danced around the talking blue-nosed reindeer. "Can I see your research room later?"
Hogback suddenly loomed over the tiny doctor, such that they were almost nose-to-nose. "Don't ever look in my research room..."
A paling Chopper nodded quickly. "Okay~ okay~"
A hand covered in stitches dropped a pudding onto the clothed table before Hogback.
"Hey, Cindry Chan!" Hogback turned to exclaim. "At least put it on a plate! Will that wish of mine never come true?"
The Arctic winter expression appeared again. "Dishes should vanish from the entire world."
The doctor chuckled. "The tablecloth is clean as hell so no need to worry, you guys."
"Then, itadakimasu," Usopp and Chopper said simultaneously before leaning over to suck at the pudding.
"You could use spoons at least!" Nami barked at them. "Can't you eat like Yusei?"
A spoon with bowl filled with pudding hung in the air as said person looked questioningly at her. "Yes, Nami San?"
"Why can't there be more sensible men like him..." a depressed air hung over the orange-haired woman.
"It's sweet," Yusei observed as the doctor joined the two pigs, erm, pirates, in sucking up the pudding. "It's good. Thank you, Cindry San."
"The bath is ready," Cindry said in a monotone. "You guys are dirty so get in."
Usopp stopped sucking the pudding for a moment. "Oh yeah, old man, it's not about us, but, was there a weird skeleton that came by before us?"
Hogback stopped, his tongue supporting his head. "S- Skeleton?"
"Yeah, he has an afro, is tall and kinda a funny guy, but... well, it's already weird enough that a skeleton is moving and speaking but... do you know anything?"
Even as far as he was from the doctor, years of Duelling allowed Yusei to perceive the outbreak of a sheen of sweat. Blue eyes narrowed calculatingly as the doctor replied in the negative.
Yusei then turned his gaze upon the whole hall, wondering about the presences he felt.
"I see, then never mind," Usopp replied, not knowing what was going on.
"Judai, you utter idiot," the being cursed lightly as his booted feet touched ground. "Why, of all places here? Oh, yes, 'because I thought it was safe', very funny. Will you be able to defend yourself?"
A head, gleaming in the waters, rose and nodded slightly.
"Very well then, thank you." The being turned crimson eyes upon the entrance, his gaze skipping over the ship with the lion figurehead. "Thriller Bark. Inside there, somewhere... Yusei, wait for me."
"Come on, Nami, can't you take a bath by yourself?" Usopp complained as he followed the rest of the quartet down a darkened hallway, lit only by the candlesticks in Nami's hand.
"Yeah, I wanted to hear more stories from Dr Hogback," Chopper groused.
"And even if you couldn't, you could have dragged just Yusei alone, right?" Usopp added.
"Just shut up and follow me," Nami told them off. Their quiet grousing continued until they reached the bath place.
The three males waited outside as the shower ran with Nami inside. "I want to see it..." Chopper sighed.
"Eh? You? Seriously?" Usopp gasped.
"I'm not interested in naked female humans, but I'd love to see Dr Hogback's research room," Chopper clarified.
"Dr Hogback seems very protective of his research," Yusei observed.
"No thanks, too scary," Usopp dismissed. "Anyway, Nami, if you're scared why do we have to guard you? If you're scared just don't take a bath. Oh, Yusei," Usopp leered. "Don't tell me you don't want to see 'it'?" He waggled his eyebrows meaningfully.
The dark-haired man blinked. "Should I?"
This caused Usopp to start. "'Should I', he says, 'should I'. Is he even human...?" An aura of depression was beginning to form around him.
"I can't believe you don't want to bathe after being bitten by zombies," Nami complained. "Disgusting."
"A bath would be nice," Yusei admitted. "But in a strange area you never know. I'd rather wait until we're back on the Sunny. But, Nami San has a point, Usopp San."
"We'll just get dirty again," Usopp groused.
"We're leaving tonight," Nami called over the sound of the shower.
"What? What the hell are you saying, idiot?" Usopp was only barely prevented from charging in by Yusei. "He said we could stay here tonight! Do you know what might happen if we go outside this late? Since it's like this, we should stay put. Luffy and the others will come and rescue us."
"Yeah!" Chopper complained. "I don't want to go out anymore. No more forests, or ghosts!"
"It doesn't matter," Nami called. "Have you taken a good look at this place? Yusei, since you're the only sensible man here, please explain to the two simpletons there what is going on."
"Nami San, that's a bit cruel..." Yusei murmured before turning to the other two pirates, who were already paling. "You're underestimating their brain-power..."
"Don't tell me..." Usopp and Chopper whispered.
"If our instincts are correct, this is the stronghold of the zombies," Yusei explained. "Therefore, this mansion is already full of zombies."
"EEEEEEE!" Chopper and Usopp panicked. "What? Where are they?"
"The most suspicious of them all is Hogback himself," Nami continued from within the bath. "He's lying to us. If he weren't connected to the zombies in some way, he wouldn't be alive."
Usopp and Chopper, outside the bathroom, frowned. "Wh- What do you think, Chopper? If that's true..."
"The chances of it being true are very likely," Yusei analysed. "Think, everyday living under siege by zombies would drive a person to be unafraid of opening the door to strangers, right?"
Usopp shivered at the thought. "Y- yeah, I don't even want to think about it..."
"Just now, Dr Hogback himself opened the door for us," Yusei explained. "There was no fear in him at all, which means that, somehow, he knew that right now he wouldn't be attacked. Considering this island being overrun by zombies as well, you'd think that as dedicated to his research, Dr. Hogback can easily move into a safer field and yet receive the same acclaim."
"Anyway, what we should do is pretend not to notice anything and leave tonight," Nami decided. A while later, she called: "Usopp, Chopper, Yusei, did you say anything?"
"Huh?" Usopp answered. "No, nothing." There was a sound. "Ah, I just farted."
"You stink!" Chopper yelled at him.
"EH?"
"Is everything alright, Nami San?" Yusei called as Usopp and Chopper chuckled over their private joke.
It was a while later, that Nami screamed. "What the hell? There's no one there!"
"That's..." Yusei grabbed the nearby towel and kicked the door open. "Nami San!"
The towel fluttered in the air as he threw it, the thing draping itself over some invisible obstacle that was nevertheless the probable reason why Nami was stuck flush against the wall in her birthday suit.
"Oi, Yu– WHY IS THE TOWEL FLOATING?" Usopp called, not even noticing Nami's flawless skin in favour of freaking out.
"It's an invisible man!" Yusei called. "Usopp San, your weapon!"
"Someone's there!" Nami half-screamed as she kicked the invisible thing at the approximate area where the family jewels were, collapsing to the tiled floor.
The towel dropped to the floor, as the window opened.
"Why is the window opening by itself? What is trying to escape?" Usopp babbled as he aimed. "Hissatsu: Kayakuboshi!"
The resulting explosion took out most of the window and the surrounding stone. "N- Now what? Should I shoot again?"
"No, he's gone," Chopper had reverted to reindeer form. "His scent vanished. If Yusei didn't realise something was wrong..."
"Yusei is really dependable..." Nami sighed, the towel securely wrapped around herself, slumped against the wall, hair still damp from the bath. "I wonder... can we really get out of here?"
"Nami, are you okay?" Chopper asked in concern.
"He heard everything we said." Nami whispered.
"Hey, Nami," Usopp stuttered. "What d'you mean by that? I don't get it..."
"It means that he was here all the time," Yusei stated grimly. "And he heard our plan to escape."
"There's no such thing as an invisible man!" Usopp was insisting.
"Evidence points to the contrary," Yusei rebutted as they walked down the hallway after both baths. Nami herself had changed to a long-sleeved pink top and a brown skirt, but Yusei was still wearing an old shirt of Zoro's and black pants and old shoes that once belonged to Sanji, despite having wiped himself down.
"I'm sure he was there!" Nami argued. "See, even Yusei agrees with me! And we all know how dependent Yusei is..."
"It's only a day and already you're seen as dependent," Chopper said, awed. "That's a skill all by itself, Yusei."
"Eh?" Yusei registered, looking up at a particularly ugly portrait done in oils.
"I said no, so no!" Usopp yelled. "It must've been your imagination! You panicked, saw an illusion, and thought it was real!"
All this after the floating towel? Yusei thought. Usopp San is truly in denial.
"What are you talking about, Usopp?" Nami argued. "Didn't you see the towel floating, and my body being held up?"
"Er, that... I saw nothing!" Usopp argued.
"Yes you did!" Nami yelled, brandishing the candlestick that was their source of illumination.
Usopp closed off his ears with both hands. "That's a trick question! You're going to blackmail me because I saw you naked!"
"What? How cruel do you think I am?" Nami yelled. "You still have to pay though."
"I thought so," Usopp mumbled.
"Yusei is an exception, though." Nami continued.
"EEEHHHH? WHY?" Usopp yelled.
"Does he look like he has cash?" Nami yelled back. "Since he's such a dependable person that to have him in debt means he might leave the ship, and then we'll be short one logical person!"
"Lucky..." Chopper mumbled. "To not have to be in debt to Nami... Yusei, you really have good luck."
"Thanks?" Yusei slowly replied.
"Anyway, I'm not going to believe anything I see on this island," Usopp insisted. "Your naked body, the invisible human, all imaginary. Ghosts are strange birds, and zombies are a strange underground tribe."
"What?" Nami incredulously exclaimed.
"We did see a skeleton brought back to life by a Devil Fruit, but that is a rare, rare case! There's no other fruit that does that and human revival is impossible. Right, Chopper?"
"Eh?" Chopper started from his thought.
"You think so too," Usopp nodded. "It's best to think they're of another species."
"Well, it's true that all of these things are impossible from a medical point of view..." Chopper slowly began.
The memory of Kiryu flashed in his mind, and Yusei grimaced, already knowing the answer.
"But..." Chopper looked at the stone floor. "Dr Hogback threw everything away to research this, so... there might be some miracles occurring on this island."
Usopp shivered. "What d'you mean by that?"
"Don't you trust him a bit too much?" Nami asked.
"Dr Hogback is a great man!" Chopper temper flared. "I really admire him! You're being rude, just saying he's connected with the zombies without having any evidence!"
"Even if you say that, the situation explains itself," Nami pointed out. "The Doctor is the king of the zombies."
"Quit it, guys," Usopp moaned. "You're freaking me out."
"Well, let's just ask the doctor," Yusei pointed out. "That should be a fair decision."
"True," Chopper conceded.
"Yeah," Nami sighed as Chopper waddled down the dark hallway.
Usopp followed, sighing. "When are Luffy and the others coming to save us?"
"I know it's just intuition, but everything is just too creepy," Nami sighed as she followed then, unaware of the eyes from the portraits following them.
Before the steps of the mansion, a large zombie hybrid bowed its head to the individual that had hitched a ride.
"So this is the place?" the being gave a glare towards the panicking zombie, who nodded quickly. "I see. Very well. If you have tricked me, I will find you and give you an afterlife of pain."
The zombie shivered, melting back into the trees.
"So this is the hub," the being scoffed, taking a deep breath. "This feeling... the shitty dragon. Yusei's inside, then."
The candles in the elaborate candlestick burned steadily, throwing a small sphere of light in the hallway as the Straw Hats walked down it.
"Usopp, Chopper, Yusei," Nami began.
"What is it, Nami?" Chopper asked.
Nami indicated the room that they were fast approaching. "That's the room where we were before, right?"
"Yeah," Usopp affirmed. "Uh, why is it all dark?"
"What...?"
They entered the darkened hall, the portraits and trophy heads eerie in the dim hall.
"C- Cindry Chan?" Usopp called.
"Doctor, where are you?" Chopper called.
"Thanks for the bath," Nami called.
The trophies that loomed overhead seemed to be grinning down at them, the paintings grinning, glaring, all the while the feeling of being watched intensified.
"D- Doctor?" Chopper called.
IN a flash, all the candles on the overhead candelabra lit, throwing the hall back into comforting light and causing Nami and Usopp to start.
"Those two already went to bed," a slimy voice said overhead.
"AAAAHHHHHH! Ah!" Usopp turned around and looked up at the bat-man butler. "Hildon! Thanks a lot for leaving us in the graveyard, bastard!"
"I'm sorry, the horses ran away from me and I lost sight of you," Hildon replied.
"Nothing but lies!" Nami scoffed. "Everyone in this forest is working together, right?"
"P- Please don't say such mean things," Hildon extended his arms and glided from the candelabra to the landing on a flight of stairs leading from the hall, very much like a bat. "This way to the bedrooms, please."
"Telling us to follow him after all of this?" Usopp glared.
"Maybe to the real gates of hell this time?" Nami added. "Sorry, but we're leaving now."
"Eh?" Chopper yelled. "Wait, let me talk to the Doctor for a minute!"
A ladylike chuckle echoed from the sidelines. "You got dumped, Hildon."
The Straw Hats started. "W- what was that?" Chopper looked around. "Nobody's there."
Hildon looked irritated. "Leave me alone. I'll take them to their rooms."
The subject of a portrait very much resembling the real-world Mono Lisa, complete with enigmatic smile and stitches across the face, began moving its lips. "That's alright, they're starting to get it now."
Chopper's eyes widened.
"So before they run away..."
"Wh- what?" Chopper stuttered in fear.
Nami's eyes were wide in fear. "The painting is..."
"Ta- tal- talk- " Usopp stuttered.
The woman began to rise from the frame, extending her neck to hover in the air.
"Ehhhhhhh?" the three screamed in fear.
"You're shaking~ so cute," the woman commented. "But, you!"
She pointed at Yusei, who remained stone-faced nevertheless.
"POKER FACE!" the three Star Hats yelled at him.
"To be able to remain stone-faced at this sight..." Usopp murmured. "What godly power..."
"I've seen worse," Yusei shrugged. "Is this supposed to scare me? Because, although my companions might scare easily, I do not."
"Such cute children..." the portrait cooed before flying at them "I can't allow you brats to leave!"
"YYYYAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" they screamed, except for Yusei, who pulled Chopper back from the zombie's approaching grip before socking the zombie in the jaw.
"A zombie came out from the picture!" Usopp screamed. "Go, Yusei!"
The sniper quickly dodged as a sword embedded the ground he was previously standing on.
"I'm the zombie leader of this room, Bunschuck," the pig trophy head cackled from above the fireplace. "Don't think you'll get away, deheheheh..."
"The trophy head... spoke." Usopp stuttered. "Nami, did you see? The trophy head just spoke! The trophy head...!"
"I guess we can assume that most of the objects d'art of the mansion are zombies," Yusei considered as he kicked the female zombie again.
"Ow, ow, ow, who was it that stabbed my back with a sword?" the polar bear rug Usopp was standing on growled as it turned and growled at Usopp.
Usopp screamed. "AAAHHHH! Nami and Yusei were right, this mansion is full of zombies!"
The rug began to float and wave, Usopp sliding about it and screaming.
"Usopp!" Nami called.
"Argh!" Usopp made a daring jump for the candelabra and grabbed hold of the elaborate lighting structure, swinging from it. "You...!" he grabbed a glowing candle and tossed it down. "Take this, rug-bear!"
The bear began to panic as it caught fire. "Oh crap, it's a candle! Dammit!" it swore as its paws caught fire from attempting to put it out.
"Oh no, fire!" one of the other haunted portraits howled. "Scary!"
"The fire is getting bigger!"
"Someone stop those guys!"
Usopp stood on the candelabra, an armful of lighted candles at his disposal. "Okay! Now, I know your weakness, so take this!" he began tossing the candles down. "There! And there!"
The zombies began to panic as the room caught fire and screamed, causing the zombie to retreat and Yusei to back away, a screaming Chopper in one arm.
"We're getting out of here!" Usopp howled. "I've had enough of this mansion!"
"Yeah!"
"I've had enough of this mansion!" Chopper howled as he waddled for the door once Yusei had set him down.
"Hurry up and open it, I've seen enough of the place!" Usopp yelled as he prepared his slingshot and ammo.
Nami and Yusei struggled with the doors.
"What are you doing, Nami?" Chopper yelled.
"No!" Nami began to pound on the doors.
"Don't tell me..." Yusei muttered. "On the one day I left my tools in my pants on the ship as well..."
"It won't open!" Nami called. "We're trapped!"
"EEHHHH?" Usopp howled as the giant rug zombie appeared.
"Damn you for doing that! We won't let you escape!"
"You damn pirates!"
The three Straw Hats watched as the zombies approached. "NNOOOOOOOO!"
"What to do, what to do..." Yusei muttered to himself. "How do we get out?"
There was a crash as the bear's paw crashed through the hall archway towards the door, the Straw Hats dodging at the last minute as they ran.
"We have to get out of this room!" Yusei called.
"To another room!" Usopp howled as they ran.
"We won't let you!" more zombies appeared to block their way.
The Straw Hats ran in the opposite direction, screaming, especially Usopp as a zombie grabbed hold of his cape. As the zombies abruptly let go, they rolled into the fireplace, surrounded by the grate as zombies approached. "Wait!" the undead howled.
"EEYYYAAAHHHHH!" most of them howled.
"This is the fireplace!" Chopper screamed.
"It's no use!" Usopp screamed. "We can't run anymore! But the most important thing is... Yusei, why aren't you panicking?"
"And panicking is supposed to change our fate?" the genius asked, still as stone-faced as ever, causing even the zombies to start.
"No, you see it's the spirit of the thing," Usopp explained calmly. "When someone puts so much effort into scaring you, then the best way to show your appreciation is to scream."
"But they are trying to scare us deliberately," Yusei pointed out. "Why give them the satisfaction?"
"BOTH OF YOU,STOP YOUR DISCUSSION AND FOCUS ON THE SITUATION NOW!" Nami yelled at them.
"AAAHHH!" Chopper felt something, and a quiet click preceded them falling back, past the false wall of the fireplace to a hidden stone hallway.
"Eh?" Yusei quickly sat up, his eyes adjusting to the gloom. "This is..."
"What?" one of the zombies could be heard behind the false wall. "They disappeared! They vanished into the fireplace!"
"Shit, they must have found the secret passageway!"
"The one leading to Hogback Sama's research room!"
"Chase them!"
They pushed against the wall, preventing the zombies from entering.
"Hey, Usopp, give me some space!" Nami snapped at a figure with curly hair. Said figure turned around to reveal stitched features and a wide mouth.
"EYYYYYAAAAHHH!" the three screamed.
"Back off!" Yusei grabbed the tongue, pulled it out and punched the jaw shut, causing the zombie to retreat whimpering from the enforced biting.
"Nice, Yusei!" Chopper enthusiastically cried as the few Straw Hats ran down the darkened hallway.
On the other side of the fireplace, there was the appearance of a very odd being amidst the zombies.
Dressed in smooth black from head to toe, with buckled shoes and jewellery of leather and silver, he looked like the average Goth punk. This impression was reinforced by his hairstyle of spikes coloured black with red edging, his bangs bleached blond and jagged like lightning with a few accentuating the spikes. It was the gleaming red eyes that gave him away; even the zombies quieted as he gazed at them, inspiring fear and terror into every heart.
"More zombies, then?" the being lazily sighed as he held up a card. "I summon..."
"Y- You're not scared?" the pig squealed.
The being gave a disarming grin. "Should I?"
The quartet was running, three of them screaming as they turned corners and ran from zombies.
"This corridor is bad!" Nami screamed. "Any place with pictures is bad! Is there a room somewhere?" She spotted a dark door.
"To that room!" the guys obeyed the command.
They crashed through, Yusei and Chopper quickly shutting the door before leaning against it, the four of them catching their breath.
Summon us... let us fight... they are nothing...
Usopp suddenly backed away. "More pic-"
Nami and Chopper started.
"No, ordinary photographs," Yusei pointed out, indicating a full portrait of a familiar blonde woman, plus several more framed photographs of her in various poses, smiling, all plastered around, on the mantelpiece, on the tables.
"What a relief," Usopp sighed. "It's not zombies..."
"Isn't it that girl?" Nami noticed. "That plate-hating Cindry Chan..." She looked around at the room. "What is... this room..."
"A shrine," Yusei deduced.
"With another look, she's really pretty..." Nami wistfully noted. "That servant, Cindry Chan..."
"Then, this is her room?" Usopp looked around.
"But, would she decorate her own room with nothing but photographs of herself?" Nami commented.
"But she had a lot of scars on her face and body..." Chopper recalled.
"Yes," Yusei noted. "And these photographs don't have any."
"But it can't be another person..." Usopp added. "So... these are old photographs?"
Nami lifted a scrapbook of old clippings, idly flipping the pages. "This is... Victoria Cindry..."
"Huh?" Chopper turned to her.
"Apparently an extremely famous stage actress..." Nami commented. "Take a look. These are all articles about her."
"Eh? A stage actress?" Usopp commented. "Did any of them mention her being a maid sometime?"
"If you'd see this, you wouldn't think of such a career," Nami commented. "It's more like she was from a noble family... and was popular since childhood..." More pages were flipped before Nami started.
"Eh? What?" Usopp asked.
"Disappeared from stage..." Nami whispered. "Ten years ago she... died in an accident!"
"EEEEHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Usopp and Chopper screamed.
"Wha- wha- wha- wha- what are you saying?" Usopp stuttered. "Wasn't she alive just now? She can't be dead!"
"But.. if that article is true... then..." Chopper whispered. "It means she came back from the dead!"
"As a zombie," Yusei added.
The Straw Hats shivered.
"Those on the island were real zombies!" Chopper realised. "What we saw were all revived from the dead!"
"EEEEEEYYYYYYAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" the scream echoed throughout the island.
"What the hell..." Usopp muttered. "This is getting creepier..."
"Whoever did it could not be a professional, then," Yusei dully commented.
"Why the hell are you so calm?" the others yelled at him.
"Yusei..." Chopper whispered in realisation. "Have you seen... real zombies before...?"
"Back home, there is a game called Duel Monsters," Yusei began. "We play this by summoning monsters and then using them to battle, supporting them with spells and traps, as I showed you."
"Hang on," Nami interrupted. "What does this have to do with–"
"In the game, there is a special type of monster, known as the Zombie Type," Yusei continued. "This Type of monster specialises in being summoned from the graveyard, such that no matter how many times you fight it... it comes back... just like zombies... Usopp San, Chopper San, what I never said was... that there is a strange power behind this game..."
"S- Strange power?" Usopp yelped.
"In the right hands... the monsters become real..." Yusei whispered. "They become real, and attack people... and they destroy everything..."
"Yusei..." Nami covered her mouth with her hand. "So-"
"And the spells and traps, they are real as well... I have seen people resurrected," Yusei answered stoically. "There are worse things than zombies than I am afraid of."
"I'd rather..." Usopp backed away. "Not know these things! Ah!" He tripped back.
Nami gripped the fireplace. "WHAT!"
Then she noticed the chest. "Wait, that... Usopp! Isn't that a treasure chest~?"
"Adapting fast!" Chopper exclaimed at the Beli symbols in her eyes.
"It could contain a zombie." Yusei dryly commented.
"Hey, Yusei open it! I wanna see what's inside..." Nami cooed.
"Ah, right," Yusei fiddled with the clasp and opened it.
A zombie like a Jack-in-the-box leapt out. "TOO BAD! The treasure isn't stored here- Ow!"
Yusei slammed the lid down upon the jack-in-the-box zombie and clasped it shut, while the others screamed. "Ah! A jack in the box!"
They ran out at top speed, Yusei quickly following the, as more zombies exited the paintings to hover, leering at them. "You came out!" they howled.
"YAAAHHH! The picture zombies!" They ran in the opposite direction.
All the while, Yusei's temper was flaring as he glared at the zombies. "Leave."
The picture zombies froze there in their tracks as the Straw Hats escaped.
"I have no idea why, but that guy suddenly seems a lot more scary..." one of them whispered.
The clip-clop of sandals reached their ears.
"Oh! The guardian!"
The Straw Hats sighed as the approached an open door, the light streaming from the crack telling them it was occupied, and the strange laughter told them who.
"That's Hogback's laughter!" Chopper sighed with relief.
The adults nodded as they approached the door and leaned close, peeking in.
"What's this room?" Nami whispered.
"The research room~!" Chopper had a big grin on his face.
"Fwooshfwooshfwooshfwoosh!" Hogback laughed,his shadow thrown in sharp relief against the brick wall a la mad scientist. "It's almost finished! The perfect Mario!" He laughed again. "Look at it, Cindry Chan! This is truly art! The work of a genius!"
"It would be great if it died as soon as it wakes up," the deadpan servant replied.
"What did you say, Cindry Chan?" Hogback exclaimed. "Your words are getting more and more depressing!"
"I've prepared dinner," Cindry replied.
"Oh! I see! What is it tonight?"
"Soup spaghetti." Said dish was poured out on the table,splashing against the stainless steel.
"AHH! Look, look! The soup is pouring down on the table, Cindry Chan!"
"It would be good if plates were to cease to exist..."
"Yes, I know, but why don't you choose a more fitting menu to that motion? There's other options, like fried buckwheat noodles or something of the sort!"
"Cindry Chan is there too..." Nami whispered. "If she really died in that accident, then that girl is... I can't believe it..."
"Then I'll skip the soup!" Hogback was saying.
"And the soup spaghetti?"
"I'll eat it...!"
"What's that thing on the platform?" Usopp noticed.
"That's probably... a human body..." Chopper whispered. "Looking at the wounds, he shouldn't be alive..."
"He looks like the zombies from the graveyard," Yusei noted. "And there's a number on him."
"He said he was almost finished..." Nami murmured. "This decides it,I guess... This has to be how to produce a zombie! All the zombies on the island were revived by Hogback! There's no other explanation!"
"But medical practices are only to keep people from dying!" Chopper protested. "No matter how hard you try, you can't cure a dead body!"
"Thinking and understanding are two different things!" Usopp argued quietly. "If we watch him we might be able to understand his mysteries!"
Yusei stiffened slightly as he felt the hairs on the back of his neck prick, and the mark on his arm throbbed.
The mark of the Crimson Dragon... he thought to himself, glaring at the mark hidden under white cloth.
In the hallway, the clip of clogs echoed.
"Crap," Yusei neatly summarised the situation.
"Yohohoho..." the voice echoed. "Good day to you! If you've looked inside, you should also enter."
"'Yohohoho'...?" Usopp muttered.
"Brook?" Chopper hissed.
Yusei squinted at the being dressed like a samurai. "No."
"Yohohoho..." the samurai chuckled, the voice echoing about the dark hallway. "Yohohoho..."
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