I do not own One Piece
Thank you all for your feedback, reviews, and characters... I enjoyed having some conversations with some of you it helps develop the story ideas. Over the past few days I have been swamped preparing to present a five page paper so I have not been devoting any time to responding to the reviews and abundance of PM's but I will get to them maybe tonight but defiantly tomorrow. What time I did have I put into this chapter which I had a lot of fun writing so enjoy.
Chapter 3: An Interlude to Nightmare
" That is to generic and ugly" Kiely thought aloud as she crumbled up a piece of paper tossing it off to the side she has been trying for nearly two days now to draw a good Jolly Roger, but she had failed miserably at every attempt because she had little to no creative skill. She was getting frustrated at what should be such a simple task sighing she stood up. She walked on the deck of her small vessel smiling at the beautiful sight she saw the sun was just rising above the pristine waters this was the time when according to her Grandpa all wars on this earth silenced and a brief and universal peace set in to admire the truly beautiful and remarkable sight. She grabbed an apple thankfully those pirates somehow left her provisions because she would have starved to death by now. She walked up to the bow of the ship and looked at this natural occurrence that inspired so many beautiful hymns. One in specific came to mind one that her brother would sing to her after she awoke from her ever frequent nightmares. It was actually a dark song for one to chase nightmares away but he was always the darker of the two and the more creative; she giggled at the fact she could not draw a simple skull and crossbones yet her brother could paint murals fit for kings. Taking in a deep breath of the cool dew soaked morning air she began to softly sing.
To the East hope will rise
In the dead of night
and save all those who fight
Inspire all no matter their size
Sister rest easy for the sun will rise
and your nightmares will die
So sister do not dare cry
for your demons will meet their demise
In the face of evil the sun will rise
and call you to battle
It will call you to lead hopeless cattle
and quell their hopeless cries
She stopped singing when she heard a paddle hitting the water beside her. She looked over to the side and noticed she was coming up on a man sailing on a strange object as her boat approached the weird object she noticed the man was sailing what appeared to be an ancient sarcophagus ornate incrusted in jewels and trimmed with gold. She called out to the man who just ignored her. This pissed her off she screamed as loud as she could " Hey idiot why the hell are you riding that"
The man turned his head back and peered his brown eyes over his black sunglasses noticing the fast approaching ship and said " Girl you should mind your own way and I'll mind mine for if our paths ever intertwine death will not be far behind" She had a hard time getting a good look at the man in direct sunlight because of his overly shiny white suit he was wearing. Luckily for her a cloud fell on the horizon revealing this man had dark blue hair tied in a pony tail that fell to the middle of his back. He had a clean shaven face with sweat rolling down it. The fact that he brushed Kiely off to the side infuriated her.
"Hey...I asked you a question not for you to tell me I am going to die... besides you know that damn thing does not float very well." She looked away from his blinding suit as the rising sun broke itself from behind the clouds. " You know... as fate would have it appears we are headed in the same direction and since I have no real detestation currently you can hitch a ride... I will drop you off at your destination. You know"
He looked to the side as the ship had already caught up to him " I told you little one death tends to haunt my life I am cursed" He gripped his leg as if in some kind of pain looking up at her and saw the hilt of her sword held an orange stone immediately thiscaught his eye. " Could it be" he mumbled to himself his whole facial expression changed from one that held to no emotion to one of excitement " Sure I will come aboard why not I am just a burden to all who pass me on the high seas." he threw his sarcophagus on board and in one fluid motion hopping on to the boat. "May I see your sword please"
"What happened to your mysterious personality" She pulled it out and held in front of her. He reached out for it only to have it snatched away. " You can see it.. but I think I will hold on to it now just to be safe" He nodded and removed a magnify glass from his pocket getting as close as he could to the orange jewel. " What exactly are you looking at... it is not that impressive it is a Norooz star"
"Simply amazing... that is no simple stone girl" He pulled a tiny sketch book out from his pocket and drew a rough outline of the gem.. He was sketching every detail of the stone on his pad making notes he went at nearly the speed of light his eye held so much intensity as he carefully took each edge stone creating an accurate image. "Amazing to think I would find one of these in the North Blue... it is so cool."
"What the hell are you going on about...it is a stone found on my island" She paused and looked at it her stone closely " I mean sure it is pretty and rare but is it really that impressive... I have never seen one on my island." He looked up from the stone at her face and scowled
" Idiot... do you really think that this is a mere stone not at all this is not found on any islands this is a creation of the people who lives on the "so called" mythical island of Skypiea. This is an amazing tool it basically enhances a swordsmen all you have to do is put blood on its surface and it activates allowing the user to create slashes without removing their sword. It's real name is the Saturn stone because of it color" He runs his hand through his dark blue hair. " Here this should prove it." He bit his finger and poked the stone when he did it started vibrating sending radiating slashes across the deck of the ship.
"What the hell" Kiely said as she spun on her heel knocking the suited man across the deck. "Have you lost your mind... I let you on the boat and you do something like that... I know how this thing works." He picked himself up and did not notice his suit was caught up on a nail as he stood up his suit ripped revealing bandages seemingly wrapped all over his body " I am sorry are you hurt... I shouldn't of hit you so hard" Kiely said running over to check on the possibly injured man.
"No... No... I just wear bandages to imitate being a mummy don't ask questions" He paused and pushed his glasses up back to there appropriate place trying to maintain his cool demeanor despite being smacked across the boat. "Now to validate my hypothesis will you please use an attack... I would much like to see it in action"
"Fine" She said with an annoyed tone. She turned towards the ocean and slowly raised the blade out of the hilt just enough to slice her left hand rubbing the blood over the stone it began to glow she lowered the blade back into the hilt and said " Sacred Blade Style: Unseen Draw." She moved her right hand lighting fast causing a slash to shoot across the water rippling it as it goes with her blade never leaving its sheath. " See Mr. Mummy I know how to use my damn tools."
His faced scrunched up " Don't call me that... My name's Zane Marroon... Zane will do. So your grandpa gave you that huh? It is quite the artifact you should hold on to it... So why are you on the seas all alone." Zane saw a crumbled up piece of paper beside them bent down and picked it up. Kiely looked around and her eyes went wide and a slight embarrassment flashed over her face.
"No don't look at that..." She said but it was too late the blue harried man unwadded the paper and started to snicker. On the paper was a crudely drawn skull with what appeared to be a banana behind it. " Shut up it is a work in progress" She sighed of course she couldn't draw but it did not give him the right to laugh.
" So you are a pirate... " Zane asked as he crumbled up the paper and tossed it into a bin sighing he made a suggesting " You really suck a drawing I can draw your Jolly Roger for you... it is the least I can do since you are giving me a lift... after all a pirate ought to have a good Jolly Roger." Her face became even more red from her embarrassment of not being able to draw.
"I guess that would be okay" She said as she walked in her cabin and came out with a black flag that she found in her crate of food and some paint " I will describe it to you and you will draw it right." He nodded and ready a pencil to outline his drawing. " Well of course I want a skull but behind it... I want my cutlas with my orange stone and all. I guess my boonie also that will work can you get that done."
Zane nodded and sketched the outline quickly filling it up with the necessary paint colors. The whole process took no more than 15 minutes and both parties was pleased with the results. " Ya know it takes a steady hand to study medicine and a even steadier hand to deal with artifacts. So it only makes sense that I have superb drawing techniques."
" Oh what did you say Mr. Mummy..." Kiely was completely oblivious to his statement her face was visually pleased at the results of her flag. His jaw dropped at how quick she could just brush someone off " So Mr. Mummy where are we headed..."
"The name's Zane and we are going to an island named Karagoz... my business is my own." Kiely sighed man this guy was strange. He was an open book two seconds ago and now he is acting like a stranger in the dark. She walked into her cabin and came back out with an apple. Zane eyed over the fruit and his mouth visibly started watering. " Is that an Apple" He asked and she nodded " May I have one... oh please"
She reached in the cabin and tossed one to him. Kiely laughed hearing him mumbled something about an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Sighing she said " You know Mister Mummy you are pretty smart but you act so dense why is that"
" My business is my own and the name is Zane" He managed to choke out through each bite of the apple. It was strange something he savored every bite as if it was a gourmet meal. Kiely found it funny that something as simple as an apple would act as a five star meal. She walked up to the front of the boat and noticed an island off into the sight.
"Hey Mr. Mummy is that the island" He nodded. It was odd as they approached the island there was no ships in the harbor and the stores were all boarded up and looked to be in a state of ruin. " Should we dock here" She looked at Zane who had a swift look of determination on his face as this was his dream coming to fruition.
"Hell yes this is what I have been waiting for" He ran and grabbed his Sarcophagus and ran up to the railing looking back at Kiely he said " Thanks for the ride... but we must part ways" He peered over his glasses to see an annoyed Kiely looking back at him
"I am coming with you fool... clearly you are not capable of doing anything major I mean you tried to sail across the ocean on a damn coffin. So let's go now" She disembarked before Zane could. Making sure that Zane knew this was not up for discussion. "Hurry up Mr. Mummy" she screamed as she walked up the dock towards the ominous town.
As the duo walked through the streets the only signs of life was the occasional stray animal scurrying around for a scrap of food that they would scarf down before competition arrived. The desolate streets opened up into a town square full of buildings ruined from neglect. Kiely reached down placing her hand on her blade as an uneasy feeling settled over her she took a deep breath and let out a slight scream when she noticed through the broken windows that was left in shambles was eye balls that had no visible host staring at her. Zane seemed to notice it too but played it off as nothing to worry about.
As they progressed through the town square an ominous fog rolled and the sun began to concede to darkness even though it rose mere hours ago. Each footstep on the cobble seemed to be like a beat on a drum that echoed through the fog laden streets. A cold chill came from all around them as screams began to echo throughout the town.
Kiely squealed and demanded " get against my back it seems we are surrounded." Zane nodded not wanting to progress into the fog with possible hostiles around him. There they sat back to back as the darkness set in and the screams progressively became louder and louder until they seemed right in front of their face. Kiely tried to remained calm desperately trying to keep her breathing steadied.
Zane was struggling as well he gripped his leg trying to remain calm; however, visions of death were filling his mind. He lifted his sun glasses up trying to peer through the fog he saw some ghastly figure through the fog but could not build up the courage to turn away till he saw a face that he knew well painful memories shot back to him and he grabbed his Sarcophagus and darted after the image.
"Where the hell are you going" a panicked Kiely screamed as she chased after him. As she progressed through the fog she heard screams, children laughing, and the sounds of mothers weeping she knew that sound oh so well. She continued to run screaming " Zane...Mr. Mummy where the hell did you go." She stopped in an opening in the fog breathing heavily she cursed she had no clue where she was in this strange territory. She almost lost it as a little girl walked through the fog. Her silver hair was glistening from the moisture of the fog as it reflected off the light of the moon.
"Excuse me miss but we should not be out at night the monsters will eat us" Monster that word stuck out in Kiely's head what kind of monster was going to eat them. " Hurry come with me we will go to a safe place" The little girl held out her hand and Kiely nodded following her into the fog hoping to find a way out of this god forsaken mist.
She was racing closely behind the girl as the screams and howls seemed to chase them. She leaned forward and saw the girl was panting she was running out of breath tears of fear fell down her face. "Come on" Kiely said as she bent down and scooped the girl up giving her a gentle smile as they ran off further into the fog.
After about five more minutes of running in this mysterious island she realized that they were approaching a large cathedral clearly Gothic because of the stonework on the steps. She ran up the steps holding the girl tight she ran up the steps making extra care not to miss any steps with the girl in her arms. There was a man at the top of the steps beckoning for them. They made it to the door and a group of villagers slammed it shut. " Damn that doctor... my dear Sheena you are safe."
"Hai papa... don't blame Mr. Doctor every man has some good in him he can't be all bad I am sure in the end he will save us." Sheena spoke with such determination and hope in her eyes. It seemed to bring hope to all of the villagers as well not much mind you ,but every bit helped Sheena looked about nine years old and it appears she was the light that kept this village going. " This girl here saved me she is a real hero" Sheena said pointing to Kiely still catching her breath.
The father ran hope and shook her hand ferociously thanking Kiely with all the ability he had. " My name is Sully and I am the leader of this village... for the most part." He said rubbing the back of his neck earning glares from the other village elders. " On behalf of the village we are in your debt thank you for saving my dear daughter Sheena. What is your name hero,"
"Oh I wouldn't call me a hero... Sheena saved me" She walked over to Sheena and ruffled her hair earning a huge smile from the girl. "What did this doctor do. Did he create these monsters your daughter was talking about" The man walked over to a window in the front of the church peering out of it he began to speak.
" The man goes by the name Zarincoph he is completely demented releasing monsters on the island, torturing and killing us, and infecting many of us with an incurable disease. Really dark stuff he is the definition of the devil despite what my dear Sheena says there is no good in some men" He paused " Everyday is a fight for our lives"
"Mr. Mummy was here maybe to see that doctor...is he evil too" She looked back at the starving, tired, and hopeless villagers and said " I am no excellent fighter but I have decided to stake my life on this village I am going to kick that doctor's ass no mistake."
- North side of the Island-
Zane approached a large mansion thanking god that terrible image of his past disappeared but at the same time longing for one more look at the young girl face that he knew so well. This did however fortify his dream to become the best doctor he could. He walked up to the mansion and knocked on the door of the Mansion before it slowly to creak open and a odd figure to appear in the door way " Are you Dr. Zarincoph " The figured nodded " I am here to train under you and become a great doctor" Zane declared and the man reached his hand out of the door beckoning for Zane to come in. He picked up his Sarcophagus and followed the man into the mansion. Zane was now in the den of the tyrant of the island.