This is the 7th chapter. I don't own the series of One Piece.
Designs of Zenny, the Moneylender!
Goat Island
After the Straw Hats given Zenny an explanation about the ship at the cliff, they lead him to where they found it last night. Zenny knows that the ship is still unfinished, but the Straw Hats decided to help him by finishing what he started. Usopp, Luffy, and Sanji starts placing the planks on the ship with nails and hammers, Zoro and Ventus uses the axes by splitting the tree into planks, the goats passes the wooden planks to the other, and Chopper is carrying the stack of wooden planks in a human form. Both Nami and Robin were watching them working on the ship, but Zenny isn't happy about it.
"Come on! Can't you work harder than that?!" Zenny shouts when Chopper walk to the other side of the ship. "This isn't a tea party, you know! Try putting your backs into it, why don't you!"
"Look, old timer! Just take it easy!" Chopper argued. "We can handle this without your help!"
"And it would've been better if you quit all of that shouting when we're trying to work here!" Ventus shouts in annoyance. "It's bad enough for seeing you being ungrateful and grumpy old fart!"
"What'd ya say?!" Zenny shouts back.
"You heard me!" Ventus snapped.
"Cool it, you guys." Nami said, puts up a chair. "And he's right, gramps, you should just settle down and take a load off."
Nami then had Zenny sits down on a chair.
"How about a nice shoulder rub to relax you?" Robin offered, using her Devil Fruit to sprout the limbs from his shoulders.
"Wait, where'd they come from?!" Zenny exclaims in shock, panicked when she starts using her limbs to rub his shoulders.
"Like Luffy, she ate a Devil Fruit." Ventus told him, flew up to the ship with his wings.
"Oh, that make sense." Zenny said with an understanding.
"So, I was wondering why are you building a ship of yours way up there in the mountains, old timer?" Sanji asks curiously.
"Ah...It's not a ship." Zenny told him with a relaxing smile.
"Uh, it's not a ship?" Luffy asks in confusion, looking at the ship by turning his head left and right.
"Oh come on!" Usopp complains, points his hammer at him. "If this isn't a ship, then what is it supposed to be?!"
"Well, son, it'll be...my coffin!" Zenny told him with a smile.
"Your Coffin?!" The Straw Hats exclaims shockingly, but find it hard to imagine that the ship they're working on was a coffin, but won't be able to bury the ship that size.
"Yeah, it's my final resting place." Zenny replied.
"I see, we're standing on your grave." Luffy said, praying when Usopp zip towards him.
"Don't jinx him! Stop that!" Usopp shouts in panic.
"Now hold on, slow down." Sanji said seriously.
"Yeah, you shouldn't over prepare!" Chopper protests.
'Could gramps here have a premonition that his life is almost over?' Nami mentally questions when Zenny opened his eyes, making her flinched.
"What are you all so jumpy about?" Zenny questions. "I live all alone on an island, and I have to plan everything. Even the possibility of my own death. After all, I'm gonna die someday, or I..."
Before Zenny could finish his sentence, he slowly closes his eyes which it got some of the Straw Hats, except Zoro, Nami, Robin, and Ventus, beginning to think of what he means.
"It's not so unusual for a grave to be in the mountains." Luffy states.
"Yeah, but why would you want a grave to be a pirate ship?" Sanji questions, but only for Zenny to respond in silent with his eyes closed and his head leans down.
"OLD TIMER!?" Usopp, Luffy, and Chopper screamed in panic with budging eyes and shark-like teeth as they and Sanji ran up the stairs, surrounding Zenny.
"Wait, old man!" Sanji protests.
"Coffin or grave or whatever you want to call it, it's almost finished! You don't want to go jumping the gun, do ya?!" Usopp questions in panic.
"Don't die, yet!" Chopper pleads, but Nami shushed them.
"He's just sleeping, that's all." Nami assures her crew, making Luffy, Usopp, Chopper, and Sanji sighed with relief.
Marine HQ
While at the Marine Base, Minchey have informed Moore of the Straw Hats whereabouts and their current location.
"I see. So, you've located the Straw Hat pirates?" Moore inquires.
"Yes, we've confirmed that they've taken refuge outta deserted island." Minchey replied with a salute. "Just as I reported to you earlier."
"Good, then get ready to attack at once!" Moore ordered, turned to Minchey with a serious look on his face and determination. "We're gonna storm that island with every man we've got! And take those miserable Straw Hats down, every last one of them!"
"If you please, sir, hold on!" Minchey protests, waving his hands to stop him. "Not only do some of the Straw Hats have Devil fruit powers, but we'll be up against the master swordsman, Roronoa Zoro, and the lost Prince of Dravania, Ventus Starwind."
"What does that matter? Are you losing your nerve, Sergent Minchey?" Moore questions, unconvinced.
"Not at all, sir." Minchey said with a smirk, but back to his neutral expression. "No, I'm just trying to avoid any unnecessary casualties."
"And your plan would be?" Moore questions again, causing Minchey to grit his teeth.
"If you will only follow my directions, Captain, I'm confident that we will be able to take down the Straw Hats while sustaining only minimal casualties to our side." Minchey told him, began to explain his plan.
Goat Island
While back at the island, the Straw Hats, except Zoro, Luffy, and Usopp, were doing the chores for Zenny. Robin is feeding the goats while Ventus is learning how to play chess with Zenny, but Nami wanted to make a wager which the young Dragoon won't take any part of her silly bet. Luffy, Zoro, and Usopp were looking for some supplies in order to cook for Zenny while Chopper is making medicine. Ventus started moving the knight piece next to the pawn piece.
"Uh huh, very nice." Zenny muttered as he then eats the cheese, which it got him smiled as he turned to Sanji. "Oh, wow! How did you make this? It's delicious!"
"It's from the milk of the island goats. Eat, it'll give you lots of energy." Sanji told him with a smile, but turns into serious. 'Though, at this point, it'll just be a drop in a bucket.'
Zenny then think of his next move, which he saw an opening as he moves the bishop to the empty square.
"Check and mate." Zenny said, which Ventus sighed. "Hey now, you're up to a good start. You just need to practice."
"Yeah, but only because I've mostly focusing on the lance, aerial combat, and magic." Ventus told him. "The reason is because the Garlean Empire is making it's way to Ishgard, and we were-"
"Garlean Empire?! You mean the kingdom from Altivalios?!" Zenny exclaims in dread which it got Ventus' attention.
"Wait, you heard about the kingdom?" Nami inquires curiously.
"I sure did, they're the nation that controls the majority of the northern and the eastern regions of the Altivalios. That kingdom is the militaristic empire that's strengthen by combining magic and advanced technology, which helped them conquer every small and large kingdoms. It's true that the Garlean Empire weren't affiliated with the World Government or haven't had any revolts and any attempted revolts and intel leaks would be met with extreme prejudice." Zenny explains. "There's not much information going on, but I've only heard about it since years ago."
It got their attention after hearing of Zenny's explanation about the Garlean Empire. But it wasn't long when Luffy, Zoro, and Usopp returned with the supplies.
"Some catch, huh?" Luffy said with a grin, chuckled. "Sanji, make the old goat man something..."
"Shh! The old timer is telling us about the Garlean Empire!" Nami shushed them which it got their attention when they turned to Zenny.
"But...do you even know who's ruling the Garlean Empire?" Ventus asked slowly with dread. "It's important...that we want to know who's in charge..."
"Hmm? Now hold on!" Zenny protests. "I've only heard rumors! And..."
"Just because it's a rumor, doesn't mean it isn't true!" Ventus snapped. "Please! Tell me who is leading the Garlean Empire! This is important! Ishgard and Dravania were about to be invaded by the Garlean Empire as we know it!"
"Ventus, calm down!" Usopp said, tried to reason with the young Dragoon. "Look, we all want to know more about the Garlean Empire, but there's no way that old coot knows who."
Ventus was about to argue with Usopp, but Zenny cuts in.
"His name is Ardyn vos Galvus." Zenny told them.
It got the Straw Hats, including Ventus, shocked, but the young Dragoon widen his eyes in dread and horror.
"No...It can't be..." Ventus muttered. "That was the last name of the current King of Ishgard...but...he can't be related to Ardyn..."
"Wait, if that King is related to this Ardyn character, then that means..." Sanji said, putting two and two together.
"The King of Ishgard is the descendant of Ardyn vos Galvus." Robin finishes his sentence. "What can you tell us about Ardyn vos Galus?"
"Well, if it's a story you want, then I'll tell you all about him since I've heard about him." Zenny said as he began explaining, clearing his throat. "Now then, where to begin?"
The Straw Hats are now listening very carefully when Zenny is about to tell them about Ardyn vos Galvus.
"The legend about Ardyn was one a royal family member of Ishgard a thousand years ago, both he and his brother always traveled together across the land, aiding those in need, despite their royal responsibilities, making them beloved by the people. But on that one fateful day, the dragons of Dravania launched a vicious attack of Ishgard, forcing Ardyn and his brother to fend off the attack alongside of the Dragoons, but during the vicious fight, his brother was struck down, causing Ardyn to inadvertently tap into the dark powers to repel and slaughter the dragons while grieving for the death of his brother." Zenny told them. "However, due to the dark powers, he became cursed, and his comrade turned on him, believing he'll bring ruin to the lands of Ishgard and attacked him."
"Seriously? They betrayed him, just because of his dark power and the death of his brother?" Sanji asks with a scowl. "Damn! That's messed up!"
"Yes, but apparently, Ardyn have barely escaped Ishgard with his life, traveling across the seas until he lands on Altivalios." Zenny continued. "He then entered a state of slumber, but his hatred towards the dragons and heartbreak over the betrayal grows within his heart, feeding the darkness within him until it finally consumes him. After his awake from his thousand years of slumber, Ardyn have recently learned that his name has forgotten and erased from history, framing him the one who killed his brother. And, both Ishgard and Dravania has enter peace, but...Ardyn has sworn revenge for those who betrayed him and who killed his brother. So over time, he build his own empire, muster up the military, while secretly fuels the fire of conflict between both Ishgard and Dravania while finding the strong warriors who can stand against not only two kingdoms, but any outside forces that may intervene, keeping any knowledge hidden, including his own identity since he only wears a suit of armor to hide it."
The Straw Hats were completely astonished of Ardyn vos Galvus, but Ventus however, felt completely stunned after learning the dark secrets of Ishgard and Dravania. Ventus now finally realizes why his uncles have murdered his parents because the Garlean Empire were either having them killing the two or recruited them. He felt his heart is beating heavily while breathing heavily, but Nami places her hand on his shoulder, try to assure him.
"Damn...So that's why...those bastards..." Sanji growled.
"All of this is to try and kill Ardyn, after what he did and this is the thanks he gets!" Usopp shouts with anger. "No wonder he wanted to invade Ishgard and Dravania!"
Zoro then turns to Ventus, who's in a state of dread.
'Guess he now knows why the Garlean Empire are heading to Ishgard and Dravania...Only because they kept that secret hidden...' Zoro mentally thought with a serious look on his face.
"But there's something you also need to know." Zenny said. "The ones in charge of the military and magic were known as 'Five Stars of Death'. They're the ones in charge for the world conquest, magic, technology, and the military."
"Five Stars of Death?" Usopp repeats, but feeling weak in the knees. "These guys sounds very dangerous...and scary..."
"Oh, they're dangerous alright, but they're very powerful as well." Zenny nod with an agreement. "The ones are: Gaius Baelsar, Nael Darnus, Judge Gabranth, Verstael Besithea, and Seymour Grado. Both Gaius and Nael were the supreme generals from the different branches of the Garlean Empire, Judge Gabranth is in charge of law enforcement, intellectual gathering, and sabotage of the enemy nations, Verstael is in charge of the Magitek development, and Seymour is the head of magical development and advanced magic, healing, and boosting magics."
Usopp then started to scream in panic while the rest of the Straw Hats widen their eyes in dread, Ventus' eyes were shadowing from his hair and the tears began to flow down to his face.
'Dammit! These guys from Ishgard and Dravania won't stand a chance against the Garlean Empire!' Zoro mentally thought with a glare. 'We've gotta find a way to get to Ishgard somehow...'
'This is sick...even messed up, after what they did to Ardyn! And now...he'll be going after Ishgard and Dravania for his vengeance...' Sanji mentally growled.
Ventus then stood up from his chair, head towards the forest alone. Robin decided to follow him.
"Hmm, now where are those two whippersnappers are going?" Zenny asks.
"He just needs some time alone. I mean, he just learned the truth about Ishgard, how the Garlean Empire was made, and Ardyn." Nami told him sadly, watching the young Dragoon walking away. "And as far as I know, he's having a lot on his mind."
Zenny then looks at her in confusion, wondering why.
"I don't blame him, after all that crap he's been through, and now this." Sanji agrees, puffing the smoke out of his mouth. "Guess that explains why Anna, Shanise, and Ivan left us and heading back to Ishgard."
"Hmm, now what's this about heading back to Ishgard?" Zenny asks.
"You probably don't know, but Ishgard is Ventus' home. And after what he just learned, he probably wanted to come back to Ishgard." Chopper told him, leaving Zenny shocked. "But the problem is...we don't know how."
"So, why didn't he?" Zenny asks again.
"It's hard to explain." Usopp said.
And with that, the Straw Hats began telling Zenny about Ventus' dark past as he listens carefully.
While at the mountains, Ventus is at the pirate ship alone with a sad look on his face, after learning about Ishgard and Dravania's dark secret. He now knows why the Garlean Empire is heading to his homeland and the reason why the Marines escorting Anna, Shanise, and Ivan to Ishgard. He also knows that both Ishgard and Dravania won't stand a chance against the Garlean Empire, but Ace is heading back to the Whitebeard Pirates to warn about the kingdoms world conquest. With the addition of the Marines and the Whitebeard Pirates, it may or may not be enough to stop the Garlean Empire.
Ventus then uses his dragon hearing, hearing footsteps which happens to be Robin when she notices him at the ship.
"What do you want, Robin?" Ventus asks with a low tone, not in the mood.
"Just thought you could use company." Robin told him, approaches him. "I can tell you got a lot on your mind."
"Since when do you care?" Ventus questions, glaring at her. "You don't even know what it's like to lose someone or force to leave Ishgard."
Robin can tell that the young Dragoon has been through a lot back Ishgard, but what he doesn't know is that she too has lost someone she cared.
"I'm not gonna pretend that I don't understand how you feel, but I'm not here to start a fight or to be your enemy." Robin told him, crossed her arms with a serious expression. "I'm here to help you, but all you ever did is pushing me away, keeping distant, and for what, you would think that I would kill your crew?"
Ventus can only respond in silent, turned away.
"Ventus, you said that I don't even know what's like to lose someone, or force to leave Ishgard. Well, that's where you're wrong." Robin told him. "Because I've lost everything, and I was force to witness something horrific 20 years ago in Ohara. I've lost my mother, my friends, and my home."
Ventus then gasped with his eyes widen, turned to her.
"My home is destroyed by the Marines and the CP9s leader, by using a Buster Call." Robin explains. "I was on a run for only 20 years ever since childhood, I made it to the Grand Line, traveled to Alabasta, and I worked with the Baroque Works for 4 years in order to hid away from the World Government."
Ventus now began to realize why she worked with the Baroque Works, she wanted for protection and hidden from the World Government.
"Ventus, I've been through much worse than you can imagine, but...after what has happened between your home, Ardyn, the Garlean Empire...it's all like you're about to lose more than your family, you're about to lose everything, just like me." Robin continues, approaches him. "Ventus, I'm sorry for your loss of your parents and for what dark secrets you have learned about your homeland, but you can't keep pushing me forever. I want to help you, but the only way for you to do that is given me a chance."
Ventus can tell that Robin is wanting to help the young Dragoon, but he knows that she's trying to get him to open up to her. He then sighed, looked at Robin.
"You've got me a lot to think about." Ventus told her. "Even if what you're telling me is true, about the Ohara incident, working for the Baroque Works while hiding from the World Government. What I don't understand is...why were the World Government after you? Was there something else you're hiding?"
"I guess there's no point in lying to you, is there?" Robin said with a sigh. "The reason why the World Government is after me is because I've been reading Poneglyphs when I was a child. Back in Alabasta, Crocodile hired me for the Poneglyph that's been hidden inside of the royal tomb, but I knew of his true intentions."
"The Pluton?" Ventus guessed, earned a nod from her.
"Yes, he's after the Pluton." Robin told him. "It is the most powerful, yet dangerous ancient weapons that has ever created. It's a highly advanced warship that could bring a world mass destruction. However, it's remained dormant ever since and it is never used. That's why Crocodile is after the Pluton."
"So that's why you lied to him on purpose, to keep him for reaching his goal." Ventus said, now realizing why she lied to the former Warlord.
"And for not having the Pluton or the Poneglyphs fallen into the wrong hands." Robin adds. "I chose this life because I didn't have many options, and hoping for your crew to protect me from the World Government."
Ventus now begins to understand why, and the reason why she's on the run for 20 years. However, the young Dragoon knew that she isn't telling him the whole truth, but with the details she's given, it's enough to be convinced. Robin then walked out of the ship, leaving the young Dragoon alone for him to think.
Later that night, they put up a feast once again. Robin has given her crew and Zenny an explanation, told them that the young Dragoon just needs some alone time after some serious talk. The Straw Hats and Zenny can understand, but the old man was told from the pirates about Ventus' dark past. Zenny understands why the young Dragoon left his homeland and strike out on his own, but was sickened the idea of Grima and Thenien killing his parents. And now, with the Garlean Empire gathering the army, they're planning to head for Ishgard and Dravania for liberation and world conquest.
Ventus arrived at Zenny's home, after having a long thought about what Robin is telling him. The young Dragoon noticed Robin, given her a nod with a confirm which it got her given a small smile.
"Ventus, right?" Zenny inquires, earned a nod from him. "Your crew told me everything about you: your home, your parents, everything. I'm sorry things have gone bad to worse for you. But you best listen well, lad, you can't keep running away from your past. I know what they did to you is terrible, but when that time comes, you'll have to face the past and overcome it. It won't be easy, but it's something that you and you alone will have to face sooner or later, you understand?"
Ventus can only respond in silent with a nod, knows that Zenny is right about it. But the young Dragoon won't do it alone, he had his crew by his side to help him overcome his dark past.
"I'm not telling to do it right now, you'll have to do it when you're ready." Zenny suggested when Nami pours an alcohol next to the golden goblet.
"He's right, whenever we find a way to get to Ishgard, we'll be ready for them." Zoro agrees, looking at the young Dragoon. "And when the Garlean Empire arrives, we'll face them."
"Yeah, and after that, we'll tell those ungrateful bastards everything what we have learned...and I mean, everything." Sanji adds with a scowl.
"And once that's done, we'll head out and look for Altivalios, fight against the Garlean Empire, and put Ardyn to rest." Nami adds.
The Straw Hats are determined to help the young Dragoon fight against the Garlean Empire and Ardyn vos Galvus and the Five Stars of Death. Even though, the Garlean Empire are the very powerful and advanced kingdom in Atlivalios, which neither the Marines, Ishgard, or Dravania would stand a chance against them, but with the addition of the Whitebeard Pirates and the Straw Hats, they'll be able to face against the kingdom.
"Well, that's that, we'll be looking for a way to Ishgard and fight them!" Luffy said with a big grin.
"Guess you're stuck with us for a while." Usopp states with a smile. "You may be a prince, but you're a pirate and our friend no matter what."
Ventus can only give his crew a small smile while Nami turns to Zenny, decided to change the subject to enlighten the mood.
"But enough about that, you know gramps, you really are just like a pirate. You sure drink like one." Nami states when Zenny laughed.
"Nami, do you think that I'm a pirate?" Zenny asks with a smirk, turned to her.
"Well, it would explain why you can afford to have such an exquisite glassware, right?" Nami asks with a smile.
"It does look like it's from a treasure trove." Robin adds, looking at the goblet.
"But if you're not a pirate, then what are you?" Ventus questions.
"You really wanna know?" Zenny questions, earned a nod from Nami along with her crew. "For her first question, my treasure is what I've shared all of my joys and sorrows with, my beloved goats."
The island goats replied with a bleat, smiled while Luffy is in teary eyes.
"What a beautiful story..." Luffy whimpered.
"Ha! Gotcha!" Zenny said with a smirk which they're not amused.
"Oh, come on, gramps, please tell me." Nami said politely, leaning close to him.
"Okay, you asked for it." Zenny said with a serious look on his face. "Of all the great pirates who sailed the Grand Line, I was known as...the only money lender who would do business with them."
"'Moneylender'?" Luffy repeats.
"I'm Zenny the moneylender, not Zenny the pirate." Zenny told them.
"You are?" Nami asks surprisingly.
"Well, that's too bad, huh Nami?" Usopp said with a smirk, amused of Nami's expression.
"He may not be an actual pirate, but it must've taken a lot of brass to lend money to them, right, old man?" Sanji said with a smirk.
"Why is that?" Luffy asks in dumbfounded look on his face.
"Moneylenders are like debt collectors, they lend money to anyone who can pay interest and pay them back." Ventus explains. "But lending money to pirates, that's pretty much a different story."
"Yeah, Luffy, use your head." Usopp adds, raise his eyebrow in annoyance. "Do you think most pirates are gonna take out a loan, and then pay it back with a smile? Not to mention all the interest."
"Your friends are right, every one of those sea faring serpents tried to put me out of my money." Zenny agrees. "They all broke their words, went back on their contracts, and did their best to betray me when it finally come to collect."
"Wow, gramps! I guess it's true that you really do hate pirates, huh?" Nami states.
"If I just sit back and taking it from them, my business would've been wiped out in no time at all." Zenny told them, remembering the time when he sailed towards the pirate ship to collect the money when he was younger. "Every time I went out to collect a debt, I had to fight against at the risk of my own life."
"So, in order to stay in business, you have to be stronger than any of them, wouldn't you?" Zoro inquires.
"Were you that strong, old goat man?" Luffy asks.
"Hell no! I was weaker than a kitten, but back in those days, I had a dream." Zenny told them with a smirk.
"'A dream'?" Luffy repeats surprisingly.
"You did?" Nami asks, also surprised, yet stunned.
Flashback
Just as Zenny arrived at the pirate ship, the group of pirates surrounding him. They even laughed at him when Zenny told them to pay his money back.
"What? Pay back the money?"
"What? Because I'm Zenny the moneylender, not Zenny the moneygiver." Zenny told them with a scowl, holding the fuse and the lighter as he lights it. "I'd soon to see your fry in Hell for letting you skip out on debt. Now what's it gonna be?"
The pirate soon realizes that Zenny is one step ahead when he rigged the pirate ship in dynamites, causing them to panic.
"Now, hold on, Zenny!"
And then, the pirate Captain extends the bag of money to Zenny.
"Well, how strict with you." Zenny said with a smile, grabs the bag of money and was about to leave when the pirates readied their weapons.
"Not so fast! You think we'll just give up?!"
"Nah, of course not." Zenny answered with a smirk, lights the lighter and tosses right at the fuses.
It got the pirates panicked as they jump overboard and into the sea, but what they failed to realize was that the dynamites were actually fireworks.
"Zenny! You're dead! You hear?!"
"Nice doing business with you." Zenny said with a chuckle, sailing away.
Flashback Ended
"I may have been weak, but I had a dream to fight for. Fight for it, I did no matter what the risk." Zenny told them.
"What was your dream exactly?" Usopp asks curiously while Luffy eats the fish.
"Ever since I was just a little kid, I wanted to be a pirate! A real pirate! The King of Pirates!" Zenny answered, drinking his alcohol. "That's why I first get started in the moneylending business."
The Straw Hats were now confused, wondering why Zenny wanted to be a pirate.
"But instead of realizing my dream, I end up getting ambushed by a bunch of pirates out for revenge and marooned on this deserted island, fighting for my survival." Zenny continues. "That was 20 years ago."
"Are you telling me that you've been making your grave that whole 20 years?" Sanji questions.
"At first, I planned to build the ship near the sea, but I realized rather quickly that hauling the lumber down from the mountains was too much, but I wasn't going to give up over a little thing like that. Instead, I build it in the mountains, and it was going to be a great adventure, but somewhere along the way, I wised up." Zenny explains, remembering of building the ship on his own for the last 20 years. "Before I knew it, I was too old to set sail from the Grand Line. It's funny the way that time could sneak up on you like that. So much for my dreams of being a pirate. Well, dreams are just dreams."
Zenny then laughs it off, but the Straw Hats couldn't help but give him a sympathetic look on their faces.
"I don't understand why you gave up, old goat man." Luffy said with his mouth full, earned their attention. "Age doesn't have anything to do with it. If you wanna be a pirate, you just do it."
Luffy then eats the piece of the fish, which it got Zenny widen his eyes in shock.
"Now hold on! What are we gonna do if he starts taking you seriously?" Usopp questions with a protest. "Remember, a pirate..."
"Hey Sanji, more fish." Luffy ordered, not listening to Usopp.
"Heads up." Sanji replied, tossed the piece of fish to him.
"...and this ship is a carpet that's sitting halfway up the side of the mountain!" Usopp finished his sentence.
"Then all we have to do is haul it down, right?" Luffy asks, again with his mouth full, turned to Usopp.
"Don't say it like it's going to be easy!?" Usopp yelled with budging eyes and shark-like teeth.
"That's true, there's still time." Zenny muttered with a ponder.
"I warned you, he's taking it seriously!" Usopp warned him.
"Nonsense." Nami said, leaning close to him with a smile. "He's just a little bit drink, aren't you?"
"That's right. Yeah, I'm drunk, honey." Zenny states with a laugh.
"Really?" Usopp asks with a smile.
"This straw hatted kid has got me absolutely intoxicated, and not just with wine! So here's looking forward to the day when the Zenny pirates finally set sail!" Zenny cheered as the Straw Hats, except Ventus, cheered.
Somewhere at sea
Meanwhile, the Marines are sailing towards the 'Danger Zone', where the Straw Hats are taking refuge and where the Goat Island resides. Apparently, Minchey has other plans, but he's been ordered to lure the Straw Hats out of the island while the Marines fight them.
"Can we really do this, lure the Straw Hat pirates off the island all by ourselves?"
"They're just a bunch of kids." Minchey told him. "As long as we don't lose or heads, we have nothing to fear from them. It's not like I'm gonna fight them myself. Now, calm down."
"But is the Captain really going to be able to take the Straw Hat pirates?"
"I don't really much care one way or another. While the big boys are off fighting for justice, we're just going to be walking off with a bunch of treasure." Minchey said with a smirk. "You needn't to worry, Corporal. I won't forget about you. You'll be taking cared of."
"Thanks."
Though, the Corporal of the Marines is thankful, but Minchey can only respond with a sinister smirk and a chuckle.
Goat Island
While back at the island, the Straw Hats were turning in for the night after the feast. Ventus, however, is still thinking about what Robin is telling him and wanted to help him. He can tell that she's being genuine, but knows that she's not telling him the full truth about herself. But with the information she's given him, it may or may not be enough to trust her.
At the mountains, Zenny is at the deck of the ship, pondering of Luffy's words while the island goats were sleeping.
"Age doesn't have anything to do with it, huh?" Zenny muttered. "He had to go and say something to start an old man dreaming again, didn't he? That straw hatted kid sure is a sneaky son of a gun."
Zenny then chuckled and then drinks his wine when Robin approaches.
"I agree." Robin agrees, earned his attention when she sat against the wooden rail. "Our Captain also rescues people who want to die without asking them, and then lets them live."
Robin then turns to the starry night sky with a smile on her face.
"And are you sorry he let you live?" Zenny questions with a smirk.
"Don't know." Robin answered seriously. "It may be too soon for me to tell."
"No, you're not sorry." Zenny told him bluntly, earned her attention when he smiled. "You may not know it yet, but I can tell by looking at you that your life is just getting started. And I can tell about Ventus that he's dealt with so many hardships, no child ever deserves to learn something that's cruel. But his life is also just getting started, despite being so young."
Robin can only respond with a smile on her face.
"But in my case, my dreams are going to lie buried here forever." Zenny states with a serious look, drinking his wine from the goblet.
Until, the sun is rising from the horizon which it starts a new day when the island goats started bleating which it got their attention.
"What do you see?" Zenny questions.
While at Zenny's home, Chopper wakes up his crew when noticed something from the sea.
"Emergency! Wake up!" Chopper screamed as the Straw Hats got up.
"Chopper, what's going on?" Ventus questions when Chopper rush towards them.
"The Marines! The Marines are here you guys!" Chopper shouts.
"What's that?!" The Straw Hats exclaimed in shock with disbelief, wondering how the Marines got there without crashing into the reefs.
And apparently, Chopper was right when the Marine ship is docked at the shore as the Straw Hats rushes down the hill, running towards the shore.
"Just one ship?" Usopp exclaims surprisingly.
"It don't look like they're about to attack, either." Nami adds when Usopp walked past his crew.
"Then what is it doing here?" Usopp questions skeptically as Minchey revealed himself.
"Straw Hat pirates, greetings." Minchey greets with a smirk. "I'm Sergent Minchey of the Marine Corps, it's a pleasure."
"I bet it is." Nami muttered with a skeptic look, glaring at the Marines.
"Hey, I'm sorry about the other day, okay?" Minchey said with an apology, waving his hands in defense which they're not convinced. "Forgive us, if we had a better idea of who you were, we wouldn't have spent all day chasing after you. Please, accept our apology."
'He's lying through his teeth; I can tell something's off about this guy. And he's not alone.' Ventus mentally thought, sniffing the air which he caught the scent. 'More than one Marine ship from behind him, and...the Marines somehow manage to sneak through the island without having us noticed.'
"Maybe I'm just paranoid, but I always thought the Marines were supposed to chase pirates." Sanji points out seriously.
"It's like he's campaigning for the miss congeniality awards, stay sharp." Usopp warned them when Zoro readied his sword.
"Now, hold on! Let's not be hasty!" Minchey protests. "We know all about how you guys defeated Crocodile back in Alabasta, okay?! The last thing we want to do is go up against pirates as great as you guys without any backup! Think about it, I'd have to be dumb as a bag of hammers to come with just one ship if I was planning to take you on."
"Well, what do you think of that." Usopp said with a smile. "Huh, this Marine is actually afraid of us."
Usopp lets off with a laugh, but Ventus knew that Minchey is just stalling for having his fellow Marines to arrive from the other side of the island.
"Assuming we were foolish enough to risk our lives fighting you, we wouldn't be earning on the deal." Minchey states with a smirk.
"So then, what are you doing here?" Sanji inquires with a serious glare.
"Oh, well, you know how it is, this is a newly discovered uncharted island. We're just here to, uh...investigate it." Minchey told him, try to make an excuse.
"What's to investigate? There's just an old man and his goats." Nami points out.
"Hey, guys, where did the old man get to?" Usopp asks with a whisper.
"Aha! So, Zenny is being taking good cared of here then, is he?" Minchey said with a smirk which it got Nami raises her eyebrows with suspicions. "Once our survey is done, we're planning to return our base. I don't want to be pushy, but I suggest you set sail out of here as soon as possible. No one would blame you, considering what a frenzy Marine Headquarters is into eliminate you all."
"He's got a point, we should get away now while we still can." Usopp suggested. "I'll go grab the supplies. Gotta go call Robin, too."
"I'll go with you." Ventus said as he turned to Nami, whispering to her ear. "There's more than one Marine ships from behind of his own, and the other Marines are at the other side of the island. I need you and your crew buy some time."
Nami responds with a nod as the young Dragoon follows Usopp.
Back at the mountains, Zenny noticed something was off when he saw more than one Marine ships from behind of the Marine ship with his telescope, making him drop his jaw with shock.
"Look there!" Zenny exclaims. "It's a trap! A dirty Marine trick!"
It got Robin shocked, noticing that her crew are in deep trouble.
Back at the shore, Nami gives her crew an explanation of what Ventus told her, telling them that the Marines had set up a trap for them. Zoro and Nami knew that something's up with Minchey, which they're gonna have to stall so Ventus will get Usopp and take down the Marines.
"So, should we play along or what?" Sanji asks.
"Just until Ventus took care of the other Marines. Knowing him, he's using his nose to track them down." Nami states.
"Well, we should at least stall them until Ventus gets back with Usopp." Zoro suggested seriously. "Besides, I'm always itching for a fight anyway."
"Yeah, but he better save some for us, so I can kick their asses." Sanji agrees with a smirk.
"The weather is really good when you get past the fog. Gentle waves, a steady breeze, and we won't lay a single much as a finger on you, I swear it." Minchey told them, which it's a lie.
"I'll go and I'm good and ready! You're not the boss of me!" Luffy remarked with his fist clenching and a serious glare, making Minchey flinched. "You know, if I were a Marine, I'd be fighting against us no matter what the odds were against me!"
"And there's another thing that's strange, how did you happen to know his name was Zenny?!" Nami demands. "We didn't say a word about it, but you came right out of it, like you knew he was here!"
Minchey is now trying to come up with an excuse, but Nami cuts in.
"And I'm getting just a tad bit suspicious of this survey you're planning to conduct." Nami continues with a smirk, but quickly turns her expression into a glare while placing her hand on her waist. "You're not after gramps treasure now, are you?"
Minchey knows that Nami was right, sweating profusely.
"That's it, right?! Don't trust this guy! He lies!" Nami warned her crew.
"Well, so much for the innocent routine. She sounds like she knows all about the mountain of treasures that the moneylender received, in order to settle the pirates debts." Minchey muttered, but it got Zoro, Luffy, Sanji, and Chopper dropping their jaws with shark-like teeth and faces pale while Nami cheered.
Chopper then sniffing the air, noticed the scent.
"I smell gunpowder." Chopper whispered.
"Are his ships cannons loaded?" Zoro questioned.
"Maybe, but it's from more than one ship. Ventus is right, it's from more ships than I can count." Chopper told him.
"Looks like the fog is clearing, I can see the ships from there." Nami states as the fog clears, revealing more than one ships.
"If we'd set sail like our friend here advised, we'd have been caught in a sneak attack that fleet." Sanji points out. "Guess Ventus is right on the mark."
"That does it!" Zoro growled, readied his fighting stance and his katanas. "Come and get me!"
"Wait, please wait..."
"Oh, save the act and the melodrama for someone who cares!" The voice of Ventus shouts in annoyance when he tosses the wounded Marine towards the shore, revealing himself and Usopp from the hills. "The jig is up, Marine, we already know what you're really planning!"
"Nice timing as usual, kid." Zoro said with a smirk, leaving Minchey flabbergasted.
Back at the mountains, the island goats are gathering around at the wooden ship.
"Hurry up and take a warning them, guys!" Zenny warned them.
"It's too late, they'll never make it down in time." Robin told him, earned his attention. "Even with Ventus, he can track those Marines down from the inside out, but it won't be enough."
"But what other alternatives do we have?" Zenny questions, pacing back and forth. "At this rate, your fellow crew members are done for. This whole thing stinks like dead fish. What do we do?"
"You're a pirate, old man, think of something. Come on." Robin suggested seriously, crossing her arms.
"Yeah, great! Maybe I am a pirate, but this ship was my coffin! It's stuck in the mountains!" Zenny exclaims in panic, placing his hands on his head. "And me...I wouldn't know which way to sail..."
'And all we have to do is haul it down, right?'
Those words have echoed on Zenny's mind which he notices the wind is blowing the Jolly Roger.
"The wind blows down from the hills." Zenny muttered serious, turns to the island goats. "Prepare to set sail!"
The island goats replied with a bleat which it got Robin confused.
"What are you standing around for?! Remove those support beams!" Zenny ordered.
And with that, the island goats remove the support beams as they hauling the ship towards the side of the cliff.
Back at the shore, Ventus grabs the Marine while letting out his dragon claw, placing next to his face.
"Tell them the same thing you told me!" Ventus growled in a dragonic tone. "If you try to lie, you know what happens next!"
The Marine swallowed a lump on his throat, feared of the young Dragoon as he decided to tell the Straw Hats.
"Sergent Minchey is after the treasure, and he wanted to kill all of the Straw Hat pirates on his own! He wants to get all of the credit and the treasure for own! He doesn't want to wait for Captain Moore to land!"
"Damn! So, that's why this Marine is here." Zoro said with a scowl.
"It figures." Sanji adds.
"Those rotten creeps!" Chopper exclaims while Minchey sweats bullets.
"Now that we know what he's up to, we won't have to hold back." Ventus states, turns to his crew. "Looks like your plan has gone up in smoke, Marine."
Until, Zenny's ship began to slide down at the cliff with a laugh, sliding down towards the shore.
"Drop sail!" Zenny ordered as the sail drops down while sliding down at the cliff which it got their attention.
"No! Impossible! A pirate ship sailing down a mountain?!" Minchey exclaims in shock.
"Pirates attack! Hit 'em hard!" Zenny shouts with a smirk.
"Goat man!" Luffy shouts with a grin.
Zenny and the island goats are now sliding through the forest, ramming through the trees as they revealed themselves with a laughter and a peace sign.
"How's tricks with you?" Zenny asks with a smirk.
That's it for the 7th chapter.