Chapter 1

Captured

Pell sped toward the Alubarna Kingdom as Chaka raced him below in jackal form. They were the guards of Alabasta, and peace had finally come now that princess Vivi was back. They could finally relax and have fun again.

Pell flew gracefully and landed at the entrance of the palace. As Chaka trotted to a halt and turned human, Pell laughed at his panting friend.

"You're getting slower Chaka. Is this new peaceful life making you soft?" Pell asked smiling.

Chaka smiled back at his friend who wasn't sweating at all, but looked refreshed.

"Heh-heh, you could say that Pell. I need to practice. I've been slacking off."

"It's okay Chaka, it's not a crime. Want to do some sparring in the garden?"

"Sure"

As they walked into the palace and towards the royal garden, Vivi walked by. Chaka noticed her and froze. She saw him stopped. They watched each other, mesmerized. Pell, who was walking behind Chaka, bumped into Chaka, knocking him out of his stare.

"Ow! Chaka, why did you stop?" Pell asked rubbing where he'd slammed into Chaka.

Chaka, looking embarrassed, looked at Vivi and motioned to the direction of her room. She nodded smiling and winked at them.

"Ummm…. Sorry Pell….. Got distracted…" said gazing at Vivi.

Pell followed Chaka's gaze and sighed.

"Oh boy…."

He pulled Chaka away by his arm. Vivi stared at them a bit longer, and then disappeared down the hall to her room, and Pell and Chaka made their way to the garden. As they walked in the garden, Pell rounded on Chaka.

"Chaka, we should really stop letting Kohza see Vivi. We both know his majesty would never let them…. Well….. You know what I mean!" Pell exclaimed worriedly.

Chaka stared at Pell with dismay written all over his face. Suddenly, Chaka's stare became one full of anger. He pushed Pell out of the way and walked to the exit of the garden.

"You know what Pell? Just shut your sorry trap! Just because you don't have anybody, doesn't mean you break them up! Better yet, you probably will never have a soul mate because you're a falcon-headed freak! Just leave Kohza and Vivi alone, or you'll have me to deal with!" Chaka yelled angrily.

Pell said nothing, and Chaka stormed out of the garden, slamming the door behind him. Pell stared at the door for a few minutes, waiting for Chaka to come back and apologize. When Chaka didn't return, Pell sighed. He turned into his full falcon form and flew above the trees of the garden. He came to a tiny spot: a pond with a large cherry blossom hanging over it.

Pell descended and with his mind full of sadness, sat down by the pond. Pell watched the pond as he leaned on the large trunk of the cherry blossom. He let out a long sigh.

"Am I really a falcon-headed freak?" He thought sadly.

He shook his head and stared into the little pond. His reflection solemnly stared back. Angered by his reflection, Pell slapped the water where his reflection was. When it was gone, he lay back on the grass. Tears ran down his face as he thought about what Chaka had said. After awhile, he felt sleepy, and struggled to stay awake, but soon sleep found him, and dragged him down into its deep waters.

When Pell woke, a soldier was standing above him.

"L-lord Pell? Are you awake?" the soldier asked.

Pell groaned and sat up, brushing grass off his robes. It was the middle off the day. Pell yawned and rubbed hi eyes.

"I'm awake now. What's up?" he asked groggily.

"His majesty wants to see you. He said it was important," the soldier said urgently.

Pell snorted.

"Then why doesn't he just ask Chaka if it's so important?" Pell asked gruffly.

"I think Chaka's the problem Lord Pell," the soldier said.

Pell, astonished and shocked, raced to the King's throne, where Nefeltari Cobra was tapping his fingers impatiently on the arm of his throne.

"Pell!" Cobra groaned. "It's about time you got here…."

Pell flinched and bowed.

"Forgive me your majesty," Pell murmured. "I was just….."

"Never mind that!" Cobra snapped.

He got up and paced back and forth in front of his throne. His face was red and sweating.

"Something is terribly wrong Pell. Chaka is missing. I want you to take Igaram and one of the Spot-Billed Ducks and look for him in Rainbase where I sent him hours ago."

"Hours ago? Missing? What's going on my King? Why is Chaka missing?"

"I sent him after pirates. I got word they were terrorizing Rainbase and sent Chaka to take care of them. That was hours ago and he's not back. I need you and Igaram to go and investigate."

Pell nodded.

"I shall my King," he said and went to find Igaram.

Pell descended on the top of Rainbase and perched there while Ivan X, who carried Igaram, climbed up and was now sitting beside him.

"We need to wait here. The pirates are coming out of Rain Dinners," Pell said.

"Why Rain Dinners?" Igaram asked.

"Trust me. I'm 99.9% sure."

In a few minutes, 3 pirates came out of Rain Dinners.

A big, fat pirate with a black pirate hat with a bearskin over it and torn blue suit walked out first walked out first. He was the captain.

A thin pirate with white blonde hair and pale blue eyes followed the captain. He was first mate.

Finally, a tall, buff, African American pirate wearing a gentleman's tuxedo and long khaki pants came out last. He was second mate. In one hand of the pirate was a sword, and in the other, being held by his neck, was Chaka.

He was cut and bleeding all over. He was unconscious, but alive.

The three pirates cackled with glee as the one with blonde hair dropped a huge sack in the middle of the group.

"Oi Blitz, how many berries did we get?" the captain asked.

"At least 20,000,000 Captain Carnassier" Blitz replied. "We could have gotten more if that Chaka the Jackal hadn't shown up and destroyed everything. Which reminds me, what are we going to do with him?"

Captain Carnassier snorted at Chaka.

"Sinn can just kill him."

The tall pirate, Sinn, shook his head, disagreeing.

"Sir, I believe it would be smarter if we held this man for ransom" he said in a proper gentleman's voice.

Captain Carnassier scratched the bristles on his chin thoughtfully.

"Not a bad idea Sinn….. We could get a lot more berries….. Okay, take him back to the ship." Carnassier said.

"We can't let them take Chaka!" Igaram whispered harshly as Sinn began to carry Chaka away.

"Leave it to me" Pell whispered. "Come down when I release Chaka."

Igaram nodded, and Pell took off. Spinning in the air, Pell unsheathed his sword and slashed Sinn. Sinn yelled in rage and pain, and he dropped Chaka fall to the earth. Almost immediately, Igaram flashed by on Ivan X and hauled Chaka onto the Ultra Spotbill.

"Is Chaka okay?" Pell asked landing by Igaram.

"He's breathing. He'll be alright once he gets medical treatment," Igaram replied.

"Take him back to the palace. I'll take care of these guys."

"Okay, be careful Pell."

As Igaram and Ivan X sped away, Pell turned back to the three pirates, who were glaring at him.

"Who are you?" Blitz hissed angrily.

Pell's eye's narrowed.

"I'm Pell, lieutenant guard of Alubarna!" Pell growled. "That was my best friend you injured…. And you'll pay for what you've done to him and Rain Dinners."

Blitz stepped forward.

"Captain, this guy is really annoying… may I kill him?" he asked angrily.

"No. this one seems a bit stronger than the other one. We can take him instead. Loosen him up a bit." Carnassier said calmly.

With rattlesnake speed, Blitz slashed Pell's arm, causing to drop his sword. He quickly picked it up, but not in time to fend off Blitz's next attack. Before Pell could even blink, Blitz had sped up to him, slashed his side with a dagger, and was back at Carnassier's side.

Pell now fell to his knees, throbbing with pain.

"That should do it. Sinn, do your thing!" Carnassier howled.

Sinn slowly walked to Pell and picked him up by his neck. He locked eyes with Pell and Pell couldn't look away.

"Sleeeeeeeep….." Sinn murmured softly. "Close your eyes…."

Pell's eyelids began to droop, and in a few seconds he closed his eyes and stumbled into dizzying darkness.