Escaping Out of the Zombified Mansion

The Straw Hat group continue with their exploring of the island while trying to search for their friends, and Luffy gets to ride Cerberus after he "tamed" the beast though Cerberus is pretty sad about losing to a human.

"Just be grateful our captain is letting you live." Shirone talked down to Cerberus.

"The poor thing's body looks pretty beat up. I'm surprised it can still walk around." Robin surprised to see how Cerberus' body is right now.

"I wonder what wise ass put this thing together, cause whoever it was, they can't tell the difference between a dog head and a fox head." Sanji stated.

"If this is the first creature we met on the island, I can't wait to see what other stuff we run into!" Luffy excitedly chuckles while Cerberus continues looking sad with whimpering sounds.

"Cerberus seems pretty down in the mouth." Robin pointed out.

"Who cares, dogs are a big bothersome mutt. Good thing I'm more of a cat person, and not just the literal kind." Shirone said.

"You two know that you're only making him feel worse, right? Just leave him alone already." Zoro said, not liking how salts are poured onto wounds like that.

"Can you hear me, Nami sweet?" Sanji called out to his "precious" Nami.

"Hello? Where are you, my feisty truffle?" Sanji called out again, but no response since Nami and others aren't even here.

"Robin, did Sanji just call Nami food?" Shirone asked.

"Well, he is a chef." Robin pointed out.

Franky looks around the area which feels pretty confusing to the cyborg man and it's not just because of the fog.

"I'm all turn around. It's like a maze full o' creepy! Hey, wait up!" Franky ran off to his friends.

The crew kept on going forward through the creepy forest while Sanji kept calling for Nami with no sign of success, Shirone tried calling out to Gasper as well and sensing if his presence is nearby but no luck.

"I got good sense of direction, but I can barely tell my Strong Right and from my Coup de Boo around here." Franky commented weirdly.

"With so much fog everywhere, for all we know, we might be going in circles." Robin stated.

"I know we're still going forward, but it feels like we're not getting anywhere at all. I can't even sense my King with my Observation Haki meaning he's not close around here." Shirone mentioned.

"Haki? I believe I heard of that power before, but I don't think I've met anyone who can use it." Robin interested in Shirone a little more now.

"We would've had better luck if ol' moss-head had just stayed on the boat." Sanji complained.

"How is this my fault?!" Zoro snapped in rage.

"Now Sanji, you should know it was Shirone's idea and pointed out there's not much any of us can do with our ship being stuck in that spiderweb." Robin defended for Zoro.

"Of course, Robin. You're reasoning voice is so beautiful even when you're trying to make moss-head feel better!" Sanji smiled lovey-dovey.

"Now I wish you stayed on the ship." Shirone narrowed her eyes at Sanji.

But when Luffy notices something that is the craziest thing right in front of his eyes, the remain of his crew is also seeing this.

Two strange things in the middle of the forest, one is an old small tree with the face of an old man and a long nose having a drink with some kind of beaten unicorn covered in bandages.

"Luffy, what exactly am I looking at?" Shirone asked.

"I think it's… a tree with some geezer's face is totally getting drunk with a beat-up unicorn." Luffy answered while shaking a tiny bit in shock.

"Okay, just wanted to make sure." Shirone nodded.

The next five seconds, a crazy thing happen. Luffy is chasing down the weird tree that can apparently walk on two legs as he tries to get away from this crazy kid. At the same time, Franky is chasing down the beat-up unicorn because he wants to make a wish on it for some reason.

"(They're acting like children.)" Shirone thought deadpanned.

"Gum-Gum Bug Catcher!" Luffy stretched his arm with the big butterfly net catching the tree guy by the nose.

"Strong Right!" Franky threw a flying strong punch with a chain attached to catch the wrapping around the head and mouth.

"His fist just came out, but it doesn't seem like a Devil Fruit power." Shirone surprised.

"You're right. Franky here is a cyborg, his body was badly damaged years ago after being runover by a train and had to replace most of his body with metals and bolts." Robin explained on what she knows about Franky's past.

"Please let go of me?!" The tree begged, trying to get out of Luffy's grip.

"Hey, Luffy! Whaddya wanna do with these guys?" Zoro asked.

"Don't tell me." Sanji feared of the answer to that question.

"They're so cool! How 'bout you join my pirate crew?" Luffy asked.

"Overruled! Dumbass!" Zoro and Sanji refused to let their captain take in any more weird things in the crew.

"This happens lot, does it?" Shirone asked.

"Unfortunately, yes…" Zoro and Sanji sighed at the same time.

(Hogback's Mansion, Outside)

The scene shows out back and right outside of Dr. Hogback's mansion where some footprints have started to appear on the ground with a panting sound.

"Damn, that was WAY closer than I thought." The invisible man panted, he can still feel the burn from that explosive attack.

"You're there, right, Absalom? What was all that ruckus?" Hogback asked as he is also outside whispering a bit.

"Were you peeking in on a bathing beauty again?" Hogback asked, knowing how the invisible man also named Absalom can be right a beautiful woman.

"I'm on the hunt for a bride, Hogback." Absalom answered with his becoming more visible though his appearance is casted by a shadow.

"The redhead, I quite fancy her. I'll make her mime soon enough." Absalom growled of lust.

"I hate to burst your bubble, but you shouldn't go marrying the golden goose." Hogback advised.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Absalom confused of the phrase Hogback just use, and then a ghost came into the conversation.

"We have eight guests with bounties on their heads this time, including that girl you like. Her captain's worth 300,000,000 berries!" The ghost informed.

"Three hundred million?" Absalom shocked upon hearing there's a pirate with a bounty that high and here on Thiller Bark of all places.

"You don't seem very worried, Perona. If his bounty is that high, we can only assume he's one tough customer." Absalom stated.

"If you understand that, then you'll know you have to go all-out on this one. And that means no chasing skirts." Hogback scolded.

"Looks like we'll have ourselves a busy night tonight." Hogback excitedly while his glasses are glowing red.

"By the way, Dr. Hogback…" Absalom said.

"Yes, what is it now?" Hogback asked.

"Did… Did you know that other girl… That other girl… Is actually a boy?!" Absalom asked a little loudly and embarrassed. He can still remember how he was horrified when he found out Gasper was a boy in the bath.

"Other girl as a boy? Oh, you must be taking about Gasper." Hogback realized.

"I guess he does look like a girl, more so with that outfit he's wearing." Hogback mentioned which only causes Absalom to groan in pain.

"It looks like he only recently joined that pirate crew, meaning he might have a bounty yet, but that doesn't mean he won't escape this island. Fosfosfosfosfos!" Hogback laughed.

"Oh my, it looks like we have ourselves a cutie on board. I can't wait to tell Kalawarna! Horo-horo-horo-horo-horo!" Perona laughed.

(With Gasper and Others)

"This is CRAZY?! First those zombies we ran into, and now a crazy invisible man! There's no way, no way at all!" Usopp tried to convince himself that couldn't be real.

Hearing about the invisible man and how he heard their plan on leaving, Usopp took this as the final straw and tries to draw everything out as everything was just their imaginations.

"But it is real, Usopp. You saw him yourself when I threw the bubbles at him." Gasper said.

"Don't remind me!" Usopp screamed.

"Okay, I think the only explanation to all of this that everything isn't real!" Usopp declared.

"You can't be real." Nami said, unbelievable with this guy.

"But Usopp, everything we have experienced is very real like the zombies and ghost, even you must see that too. Right, Chopper?" Gasper asked the reindeer who was deep in his own thoughts until now.

"Come on, buddy, back me up here! The creatures we saw, there's no natural explanation for them, so they can't be real!" Usopp tried to convince Chopper to take his side.

"If you're looking at this from a medical point of view, then you're correct, Usopp. There should be an explanation for all of this stuff." Chopper said what he thinks on one hand.

"Then again, if Dr. Hogback thought his work on the island was important enough to leave his whole life behind, maybe the natural order of things is turned upside-down on this island." Chopper stated on the other hand.

"That is not what I wanted to hear." Usopp exclaimed, feeling shaken.

"Oh, Chopper." Gasper worried that Chopper might be sad about Dr. Hogback not being a heroic medical.

"Maybe Hogback's not the hero you think he is." Nami said.

"Doctor Hogback is an amazing man, and a medical titan! I think he's incredible!" Chopper snapped, defending his medical hero.

"Chopper, calm down!" Gasper worried that Chopper is overreacting right now.

"How come you think the worst of him? We don't know if he's friends with those zombies! You can't prove anything!" Chopper yelled.

"Proof? Who needs proof when it's plain as the nose on Usopp's face? Your idol is the Zombie King!" Nami believed with everything going on around them.

"Zombie King might be a stretch, but I do agree that Dr. Hogback is involved with the zombies and not in a good way." Gasper stated.

"This is the worse argument ever! Just agree to disagree." Usopp exclaimed.

"Alright, let's go ask Dr. Hogback what he thinks. How's that sound?" Chopper suggested and walked away.

"That sounds horrible! I wish Luffy would hurry up and save us!" Usopp exclaimed, following Chopper.

"Don't worry, Nami, I don't think I trust Dr. Hogback either." Gasper said.

"Thanks, that guy just gives me the creeps." Nami thanked as they walk.

"Hey, huh, Gasper?" Nami asked getting the vampire boy's attention.

"Would you mind holding my hand?" Nami asked, moving her hand slowly to Gasper.

"Huh?! Hold your hand?" Gasper shocked.

"Y-Yeah, I'm still a bit scared from that Invisible Man attack and I could use a strong young man to make me feel better if you know what I mean." Nami proclaimed with her cheeks blushing.

"S-Sure, for p-protection. Of course, always happy to help a friend!" Gasper stuttered nodding and slowly move his hand towards Nami's though felt nervously to grab it.

But then Nami decided to do the deed herself and took his hand into hers, this causes the young vampire boy to almost squeal loud though it was a low soft sound and steam coming out of his head.

"(What is wrong with me? Why am I feeling so nervous with Gasper like this now? Is it because we bath together, when I saw his dick?)" Nami thought tried to think of a reason for her strange reaction and feelings toward Gasper.

"C-Come, Usopp and Chopper are already ahead of us." Nami said.

"Okay…" Gasper nodded as they walk together.

Unknown to them, one single eye from the pirate portrait in the hallway suddenly move in the direction the pirates went.

The group went down the stairs to the dining hall hoping to see if Dr. Hogback is there or somewhere else, but Nami started to notice something off.

"I think I know this, but I have to ask." Nami said.

"What is it, Nami?" Chopper asked.

"Is this mansion making us walk into something like a trance?" Gasper asked nervously.

"No, I think we're okay on that." Nami chuckled, finding Gasper so cute like that.

"What I wanted to ask is isn't this the room we just ate dinner in?" Nami asked as she looks down at the room that is the dining hall.

"I think you're right." Gasper realized.

"Yeah, so how come it's pitch black in here?" Usopp asked as Chopper is confused too.

They enter the dark dining hall where there isn't anything in sight except for the items and other things here, but no people like Cindry nor Dr. Hogback.

"Cindry, you in here?" Usopp asked, even though he might end up getting hit by plates again.

"Dr. Hogback, can you hear me?" Chopper called out.

"Yeah, we're done with the bathroom, thanks!" Nami thanked nervously.

There is no response from either of the mansion residents, nothing but the spooky paintings of people and the chilling silence with the darkness surrounding them.

"Guys, I would say that they might be asleep already, but I have a creepy feeling that is not the case." Gasper gulped, with his hand tighten a little on Nami's hand.

"Hello! Calling Dr. Hogback!" Chopper called out. But suddenly the candles on the chandelier light up, brightening the room again, which spooks the group.

"I'm afraid the doctor and Cindry have called it a day." Hildon informed.

This made Gasper and Usopp scream a bit, but they soon recognize that voice as they turn around and look up seeing Hildon hanging upside-down on the chandelier with that fang smile.

"Hildon!" They were both shocked.

"What's the big idea, ditching our carriage in the middle of a scary graveyard?!" Usopp angered at the bat man.

"I feel bad about that. Out of nowhere, I really had to go to the bathroom. You know how it is." Hildon explained with a lie that Nami saw right through.

"You're such a liar! Admit, weirdo, you're in cahoots with those zombies!" Nami demanded.

"Yeah, and now that I look at you more. You don't seem any different than the zombies with those stitches and the bandages, and you also smell a tiny bit rotten but close to those zombies." Gasper pointed out which made Hildon gasp.

"Now, now, I'm we can all get along." Hildon tried to stay calm.

"Calm like you trying to make us into zombie chow?" Usopp asked angry.

"I don't trust you anymore than I can, fatso. FY, we're leaving this mansion and there's nothing you can do about it." Nami determined to reunite with her crew so they can beat this place up.

"Huh? Wait a minute! Just let me straighten things out with Dr. Hogback!" Chopper begged.

Hildon is feeling overwhelmed that he won't be able to convince these pirates to stay in the mansion any longer.

"Looks like you bungled it, Hildon." A female's voice chuckled.

"Who—who said that? Hello?" Chopper asked as they try looking around.

"You don't have to be so mean to me. I'll take them up to their rooms, okay?" Hildon wanted to complete his task.

"I think it's a little late for that. These three have noticed fat too much around here. We can't risk them telling anyone about us." The woman painting stated, completely shocking the four Straw Hat pirates.

"I-I don't believe it!" Chopper stuttered in shock.

"The painting!" Nami gasped.

"It's… talking!" Gasper pointed out in fear.

"It's holding a conversation with us like it's people!" Usopp shocked in fear.

The painting woman moved within the frame and came out like the painting was actually a window to another room with her neck stretching a little long.

"You're shaking like leaves on a tree. How adorable!" The painting woman chuckled.

"Wanna know a secret?" The painting woman asked sarcastically and pulls out her arms.

"You're so cute, I could swallow you whole right now!" The painting woman charged forward and going for the little blue nose boy first.

Everyone screamed as the painting woman is about to grab Chopper to pull him into her frame, but suddenly the door exploded from the outside of the mansion, and something charged through the dust cloud with a slash on the painting woman to push her back.

"How dare you! You bitch!" The painting woman angered.

"You will not lay a single dead finger on them." A young woman said and held her blue blade for battle and glares at the zombie painting.


KO a new chapter is done and hope you all enjoy it!

It looks like the crew in the mansion are getting closer to discovering the truth about Hogback and the zombies being connected, but luckily for them, someone has come to their rescue and seems to have a grudge toward the zombies.

KO comment, favorite, and follow through of how this story will go!